Passionate Kisses

by Various

  “How are you, dear?” Maggie asked.

  “Daisy moved to New Mexico,” Liz blurted.

  “Oh, honey. When did this happen? I know you’ll miss her—”

  “Yesterday!” Liz cried. “She’s taking my nephew away from me! I’m going to miss out on everything.” She burst into tears. “I want to believe that she’ll put the baby first,” she said through her tears, gesturing wildly, “but I’m afraid she won’t. Our baby shouldn’t grow up at a New Age resort far from family. He should grow up here, knowing his grandparents and his aunt!”

  “I agree that home and family are important,” Maggie said. “But, Liz, this isn’t your baby. Daisy has to do what she feels is best as the mother.”

  “But the baby needs me!” Liz grabbed a tissue from her purse and wiped away the tears that just wouldn’t stop coming. “Daisy is so…all over the place! And the father’s not in the picture.”

  Maggie got up from her chair and sat next to Liz, pulling her into her arms for a good cry.

  When she’d finished, Liz sat up and sniffled. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to cry all over you.”

  “I know how much you were looking forward to helping with the baby.” Maggie stroked her hair. “And you will be a wonderful aunt even if it’s a little more long distance than you thought.”

  Liz sniffled. “Thanks.” She gave her a watery smile. Suddenly famished, she snarfed down three cookies in record time. She drank some tea to wash them down. Then she remembered the reason for her visit. “Maggie, now that Daisy’s gone, I won’t be visiting every day anymore. Of course, I’ll still visit regularly.”

  Maggie let go of Liz and looked her in the eye. “Ryan was still paying you, wasn’t he?”

  “Yes,” Liz admitted. “But I would’ve come even if he hadn’t been.”

  “I’m going to kill him,” Maggie muttered. “I wondered why you stopped by every day. I thought you must really need me. Let’s just hang out when we have plans. Deal?”

  Liz nodded. Then she grabbed another tissue and blew her nose. “I’m glad we’re friends. Do you want to give knitting club another try tomorrow?”

  “No way. I quit, remember? I’ve got something better in mind.” She smiled. “We’ll go for a ride. I think a change of scenery is just what you need.”

  “Okay.” Liz stood with the tissues in hand to throw them out. “Actually tomorrow’s my birthday. The big three-oh. My parents are hosting a party at Garner’s tomorrow night at seven. I’d love it if you’d come.”

  “Sounds great.” Maggie grinned. “I’m sure we’ll be pumped for a party after our day together.”

  A tickling of unease went through Liz as she headed for the kitchen, but she pushed it away. Maggie was right. A change of scenery was just what she needed.

  ~ ~ ~

  Ryan rang Liz’s doorbell and waited, holding a bag from Ernie’s diner, two towns over, with their famous chicken noodle soup and a DVD. He didn’t expect to stay, but Gran had told him earlier today that Liz had quit and was, as Gran put it, “devastated” over her sister leaving. Bringing Up Baby always cheered up Gran, and she’d told him it was one of Liz’s favorites. It was funny—if you liked old black-and-white movies.

  No response to the doorbell. He knew she was in there; he’d seen her car out front. His heart kicked up a notch. He knocked hard and didn’t stop. “Liz, you all right?” he called through the door.

  The door swung open suddenly to Liz standing there in a long Snoopy T-shirt that ended mid-thigh and nothing else. Her slender legs, bare and beautiful. He never thought a Snoopy T-shirt could look so sexy. He tore his gaze back up to her face. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her hair wasn’t perfect. It was mussed up on one side.

  “Quiet down,” she said, “you’re going to disturb my neighbors.”

  “Did I wake you?” he asked. It was only seven, but…bed head and Snoopy nightgown.

  “What are you doing here?” She sounded worn out.

  He shoved the bag and DVD into her hands. “I brought soup and a movie that always makes Gran laugh. I thought it might make you feel better.” He took a step back. “So…goodnight.”

  “Wait!” She waved him in. “Have some soup with me.”

  He stepped in slowly.

  She looked at the movie. “Oh, I have this one. It’s my favorite.” She smiled. “It was so sweet of you to bring it, though. And the soup. Thank you.”

  He followed her to the kitchen and read a strange list on her refrigerator: my bed, dancing in the living room, guilt-free wine drinking. Sounded like a hot date in reverse. A few minutes later, he sat at her small kitchen table, a bowl of soup in front of him. “So you like to dance in the living room?”

  She shot out of her seat, giving him a glimpse of silk panties as she tore the list off the refrigerator and stuffed it in a drawer. She returned to her seat and carefully placed a napkin on her lap. He waited for her to make eye contact. There it is. Her blue eyes flashed anger, bringing a fierce energy to her. He knew he shouldn’t—he just couldn’t help it—he liked it when she was riled up. A lot. It sure beat the prim control she wore like a shield.

  He suppressed a smile and ate his soup.

  “Would you like a drink?” Liz asked after a moment.

  “I’ll take some guilt-free wine,” he replied.

  She stood, eyes ablaze, and said in an even tone, “You can leave now.”

  His eyes widened. “Damn, Liz, I was just joking. I don’t even drink.”

  She pointed to the door.

  He wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood. He’d been trying to make her feel better, take her mind off things, and he’d screwed it all up. “Liz, come on…”

  She blinked rapidly. Not the tears. Anger he could handle. But a crying woman? The worst. He never knew what to say to them. He always made things worse. Shane was much better at this girl stuff—Mr. Sensitive. He exhaled sharply. He sucked at talking. Damn, damn, damn. I can’t leave her like this.

  “C’mere,” he said and pulled her into his arms for a hug. She stood stiffly for a minute, arms at her side, then slowly put her arms around him and sighed. She fit perfectly in his arms. She looked up at him with those weepy eyes, and he just wanted to make it all better.

  Cradling her face with one hand, he leaned down and kissed her. Her lips were soft and yielding and made him want more. Her hands clutched at his shirt, which he took as a good sign, so he deepened the kiss, loving the taste of her, a little salty from the soup. She made little moaning sounds in the back of her throat that had him going rock hard. He stroked her back, feeling the heat of her skin through the thin cotton, urging her closer, needing to feel her curvy body pressed against his.

  Suddenly, she shoved against his chest, and he released her.

  She was breathing fast, eyes wide, staring at him. “You should go,” she said in a shaky voice.

  He jammed a hand in his hair, feeling like a complete ass. He’d come to cheer her up, and instead, he’d taken advantage. He struggled for the right words and came up short.

  He left, shutting the door quietly behind him.

  ~ ~ ~

  “I just kissed Ryan O’Hare,” Liz confessed to Rachel with a hysterical laugh. She’d called her friend the moment the door shut behind Ryan.

  “Omigod, hold on, I’m checking out a customer.” There was a rustle in the background. “I think you guys are really going to enjoy this one. Very uplifting and funny too.”

  She’d forgotten Rachel stayed open late on Mondays to host The Thinking Mom’s book club. She wiped her sweaty palms on the back of her Snoopy T-shirt. She could hear Rachel talking to someone in the background.

  “Okay, Janelle’s taking over the register,” Rachel said into the phone.

  “I can call back.”

  “It’s okay. We were just wrapping up, and they’re buying the book for next month. Janelle’s got this. Okay, I’m in my office. Talk.”

  Liz flashed back to that intense heat, the overwhelming
pull she’d felt toward Ryan that made her forget everything—who she was, where she was, what she was doing. Luckily, she’d come to her senses. She’d known the boy he was, but she barely knew the man he was now. Could she ever look at him and forget The Humiliation?

  Her body screamed, Yes!

  Stupid hormones.

  “Are you there?” Rachel prompted. “What happened?”

  “I was just so sad about Daisy leaving, and he came over with soup and a DVD—”

  “What movie?”

  “Bringing Up Baby.”

  “He’s good. Did you tell him that was your favorite?”

  “No, but Maggie and I talked about it.”

  “Go on.”

  “Then he hugged me, and the next thing I knew, we were kissing, and it was just too much. I kicked him out.”

  Rachel gasped. “How was it too much?”

  “I don’t know. Just too…intense.”

  “Intense,” Rachel echoed. “So let me get this straight. The guy you worshipped for an entire summer finally kissed you, it was freaking intense, and you kicked him out? Liz, forget about The Humiliation, and just go for it!”

  “It’s not that easy.”

  “It is,” Rachel said firmly. “We’re sexy singles, remember? Invite him to your birthday party.”

  “I don’t know…”

  “I’ll do it. You’re welcome.”

  “Rachel, no! It would be so awkward, and he probably wouldn’t even want to come. My mom said he’s been a bit of a hermit since he quit the police department.”

  Rachel murmured noncommittally. “He was shot, you know.”

  “Do you know what happened?”

  “No one does. Just that he was shot and then left the force. You should ask him.”

  Liz rolled her eyes, thankful Rachel couldn’t see her. “I’m sure after he hasn’t told anyone all this time, he’d just love to confide in me.”

  “Dial back the snark. I’m trying to help you here.”

  Liz sighed. “Sorry, it’s just so hard. Ryan is so…so—”

  “Hot? Sexy? Lickable?”

  Liz flushed red, opened her mouth and then shut it.

  “Wear the Wonderbra tomorrow, and shave your legs,” Rachel instructed.

  “Rachel!”

  “Calling F-U-N now, bye!”

  Liz stared at her phone. Rachel was so going to pay for this.

  Chapter Ten

  The next morning, Liz drove to Maggie’s house for their planned change-of-scenery drive. Maggie was already in the passenger seat of her convertible when Liz pulled up. She wore a red kerchief and large, round sunglasses.

  “Happy birthday!” Maggie exclaimed. “Ready for a change of scenery?”

  “Sure am,” Liz replied, getting into the driver’s seat. “Where to?”

  “We’re heading for Laurel Mountain. I printed the directions off the computer.” She waved a paper in the air.

  Liz took the paper and studied the route. Laurel Mountain was two hours north of them up in the Catskills. She pulled out of the driveway and headed out of town. If she’d known it was that far, she would’ve packed a cooler for lunch. She preferred to prepare her own lunch so she knew exactly how many calories she had to account for, but, hey, it was her birthday so calories didn’t count.

  “I got you a present,” Maggie said.

  “You did?” Liz glanced over.

  Maggie was smiling.

  “Oh, you didn’t have to do that.”

  “I wanted to. I’ll give it to you when we get there.”

  “Okay.” Liz noticed Maggie didn’t have her usual oversized faux-leather purse, only a fanny pack snapped around her waist. It must be a tiny present.

  Once they hit the highway, Maggie dozed off, giving Liz plenty of time to think about her birthday party tonight. Rachel had texted that she’d left the invite message on Ryan’s voice mail and hadn’t heard back. Liz didn’t know which would be worse—if Ryan showed up or if he didn’t. If he showed up, she’d have to deal with the awkward we-kissed-and-I-kicked-you-out scene. If he didn’t show, she’d feel like a total loser on her birthday. It was a classic lose/lose scenario.

  The big three-oh promised to be just as horrible as Liz had imagined.

  She woke Maggie two hours later after she took the Laurel Mountain exit.

  “Where to now?” Liz asked. “Should we just drive around?”

  “Oh, no, I have a destination in mind,” Maggie said. “Just stay on this road and follow the signs for Adventure Zipline Tours.”

  Liz’s stomach dropped. “Maggie, are we—”

  “Happy birthday, Liz!”

  Liz drove in stunned silence.

  “What’s the matter, dear?” Maggie inquired. “You look a little pale. Don’t worry. I saw the video on their website. This is going to be a blast. We’re going to fly like a bird through the forest. Talk about a change of scenery!”

  “Talk about…” Liz repeated numbly.

  Maggie pointed frantically. “Ooh, you almost missed the sign, turn here. Right! Right!”

  Liz jerked the wheel right and considered a U-turn.

  “They’ve never had an accident.” Maggie patted Liz’s arm in a gesture of comfort. “I wouldn’t give you a birthday gift that would kill you. What fun would that be?”

  Liz stifled a groan. When a sweet seventy-two-year-old woman was braver than you were, something was definitely wrong. Either with her or with Maggie, she wasn’t sure which.

  But even worse than that, Ryan thought she was so the opposite of wild that she should be a calming influence on his grandmother. Maybe Liz needed a little bit of wild in her life.

  Maybe Maggie was the one who had life all figured out and Liz’s safety-first attitude was wrong.

  Liz surprised even herself when she said quite firmly, “Okay, I’ll do it.”

  ~ ~ ~

  “AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!” someone screamed in a high pitch that startled all the birds from the trees. Wait, was that her? Liz clung to the handles of her zipline with a death grip as she hurtled across the forest canopy, praying she landed on her feet when she hit that platform. Dear God, she was going to knock right into their tour guide, Will. “Lo-oo-oo-ok out!” she hollered as the platform raced up to meet her.

  “Yay, Liz!” Maggie shouted. “Me next!”

  Liz landed on her feet on the platform, where thankfully Will had stepped out of range. Will’s assistant, a baby-faced Lorenzo—seemingly unaware of the great height they were at—nimbly moved forward to release her from the zipline. He guided her to where Will and the rest of the group stood at the other end of the platform.

  She placed a hand on her pounding heart. She couldn’t believe people paid good money to go through such terror! Will gestured as he pointed out the red spruce and paper birch trees found at this altitude of the mountain range. She made the mistake of looking down, got dizzy, and bent at the waist, putting her head between her knees. Breathe, breathe. You’re wearing a harness and a helmet. Ha! she thought somewhat deliriously. Like a helmet would do any good when she was four hundred feet above the ground. Why did she think this would prove she could be wild? More like terrified.

  “Woo-ooo-ooo-hoo!” Maggie hollered.

  Omigod. Liz straightened and turned to see Maggie hurtling through the forest, hands up in the air. Like a crazed witch without her broomstick.

  “Don’t let go of the handles!” Liz shrieked. “Hang on!” Her hand flew to her mouth as she willed Maggie to hang on. She was almost there, the platform only a few feet away.

  “Look, Ma, no hands!” Maggie cackled gleefully. She landed on the platform, laughing, her cheeks full of color. Lorenzo caught her and kept her upright.

  Liz took a deep breath for the first time since she’d seen Maggie in flight.

  The older woman slapped Liz on the back. “Now this is living. Didn’t I tell ya, girl?”

  “Maggie, I think we should go. This is far too dangerous.”

  “No
way to get down but across these ziplines,” Maggie replied. “And this next one is even steeper and faster. It’s gonna be a ride! C’mon, get in line, you’re next.”

  Liz turned and looked for the end of this torturous journey. Five more ziplines until the end, each longer and faster until the final, fifty-miles-per-hour line—the one advertised in bold neon letters on the Adventure Zipline Tours brochure she’d picked up just before she’d been fitted for her useless helmet. She seriously considered climbing down a tree. But she’d probably get stuck, and they’d have to call the fire department to get her down. And she couldn’t leave crazy Maggie behind.

  Liz gripped her shaking hands tightly, unable to concentrate as Will pointed out another deciduous species native to the area.

  “Almost your turn.” Baby-face Lorenzo touched her elbow. “Ready?”

  Liz looked toward her next date with terror. A tiny person with pigtails and a purple T-shirt zipped away from her at alarming speed, nearly at the next platform. The girl landed where another baby-faced tour guide waited and walked over to the group gathering there.

  “Your turn,” Baby Tour Guide urged.

  She stood, frozen.

  “C’mon,” Maggie said. “This is the family friendly tour. Look, an eight-year-old girl just did it. Surely if she can do it, you can do it.”

  Liz didn’t budge. No more ziplines. Humans were not meant to be hurtling through the forest canopy faster than they could run. It wasn’t natural. She was meant to be walking at a leisurely pace down Main Street, window-shopping. She envisioned Clover Park’s main commercial district: Shane’s Scoops, Book It, Garner’s Sports Bar & Grill. Garner’s made her think of her sister, her opposite, the wild one. She girded her loins. She was going to prove—to herself and everyone here—that she could take risks and experience at least as much adventure as a seventy-two-year-old woman. If that meant ziplining to her death…well, she had life insurance.

  “Oh, okay, I’ll go next,” Maggie said, grabbing the handle of the zipline. Lorenzo attached her harness, and she took off with a flying leap. “I’m a bird, I’m a plane, I’m super Maggie!”