Sam snorted and backed away. “Only sudden for you because you’re in denial, babe.”
When he got to the door, she called out to stop him. “Sam—wait.”
With one hand on the doorway, he looked back expectantly. The familiar action was both reassuring and yet strange to her today. After kissing him, she just couldn’t see him in quite the same way.
“Are you sure this isn’t just some kind of mistletoe madness? We’re both lonely. Maybe your interest is just something that will pass in time. Maybe when the holidays are over you’ll feel differently.”
“Maybe, but I don’t think so. Life—as we’ve both learned the hard way—is too damn short not to live fully. If I start sleeping with someone else, I’ll be having coffee with her and not you. That’s just how I work as a man. That’s what’s stopped me from accepting any of the offers I’ve gotten in the last few months of dating. I wasn’t ready to have coffee with another woman.”
Eve sighed. “You kiss well, Sam. I’ll give you that.”
Sam snorted again. “I do a lot of things well. I might be a wee bit out of practice, but it wouldn’t take me long to figure it all out again. I did make you moan twice today. Maybe you should give the reasons why that was possible some thought.”
“That’s pretty arrogant of you. Maybe I was just groaning in frustration,” Eve declared, fisting hands on hips.
Grinning and not answering a protest they both knew was false, Sam headed back to the kitchen, spaghetti box in hand.
Chapter 3
“I don’t believe you. You’re making this up,” Hilde said.
“Why would I make this up? Sam kissed me under the mistletoe—in front of witnesses—and then slipped me tongue later in the pantry when we were alone. The kids teased us about the mistletoe kiss all through dinner. I’m starting to think they’re trying to get us together,” Eve said.
Hilde Peppercorn, her best friend since kindergarten, gaped at her over her cappuccino.
“Your children are trying to hook you up with him? Never mind. That’s weird, but not relevant to this conversation. The main question is, what do you want to do about your attraction to him?”
Eve felt the breath all leave her. She’d been doing that a lot lately. She’d even done it on the air last evening with a caller. It hadn’t helped knowing Sam had likely been listening to the second night of on-air discussion about how risky it was to have sex with someone who was a long time friend. When intimacy of that sort didn’t work out, it often ruined the best of friendship situations, which had been her ongoing caller’s problem. As far as Eve knew, caller Cassie had declined her chance so far.
But her own dilemma was her focus today. Sam hadn’t shown up for coffee this morning and she had no idea what his absence meant. She had never worried about that before, not once since he’d started doing it a few months after Angeline died. Now she wondered how badly her discussion with the caller had bothered him last evening. He hadn’t mentioned having other plans this morning. And damn it, she had missed him. After his passionate—yes and arrogant—declarations in the pantry, somehow she’d thought Sam would be more persistent in trying to kiss her like that again.
“Earth to Eve,” Hilde said loudly.
“Sorry,” Eve said, sighing again. “I don’t know what I want. Sam kisses well, but the thought of having sex with him—I don’t know. I don’t think I’m ready.”
Hilde shrugged. “Okay. So let him move on then. He can take his pent-up urges to one of those other women he’s been dating.”
Eve frowned into her cooling coffee. “I know. That’s only fair. Right?”
“Screw fair. This is your love life, girlfriend. It’s every person for his or her own self these days. How would you feel if Sam didn’t come for coffee anymore because he was having it at home with someone else?”
Eve laughed at the frustration on her best friend’s beautiful, mocha face. “You look just like Halle Berry today. It’s a good look for you, Hilde.”
“I look like an old Halle Berry with lots of gray streaks. You can’t afford pricey color jobs on a college professor’s salary,” Hilde complained.
“Forty-seven isn’t old,” Eve protested.
“Agreed. So what’s happened to you? We’re the same age. Did you go through the change early and decide you hate sex? That’s happened to a lot of my other friends,” Hilde said, sipping her drink.
Eve shrugged. “No. I thought I just didn’t want sex anymore because there was no available man. With David gone, I figured that ship had sailed and left me high and dry at the port.”
“Hell of a metaphor,” Hilde said.
“But mostly true. Men in general haven’t affected me that way in a long time,” Eve said, grinning at her friend’s wince.
“If Sam didn’t get your engine started again, then tell him so, Eve. He’s even older than you. Life’s too short to be lying about that kind of stuff. But if you even think you want a sexy man to spend your golden years with, you better start looking before they’re all taken or dead. I found Stuart on one of those Internet sites. He rings my chimes every time—and I mean every time. That’s what you need. You’d see the world with very different eyes. Trust me.”
Eve laughed. She couldn’t even imagine a man proficient enough to give her an orgasm during every lovemaking session. “Yes I know that’s what I need, and now everyone in the coffee shop knows too. Your voice carries as well as mine does.”
“You think I give a shit? I stopped caring about what people thought of me in my thirties. And don’t play innocent with me. I know you don’t care either,” Hilde declared.
“No. You’re right. I don’t care,” Eve agreed. “But I don’t know how I feel about Sam.”
“Well why don’t you just try him out? You’re both adults. Take that attraction to each other for a spin and see what comes of it,” Hilde ordered.
“Don’t you mean ‘who’ comes of it?” Eve demanded.
Hilde laughed. “Making dirty jokes is not an effective way to change the subject. I’m too sharp for that. Ask my students.”
“I’m sure you are, Professor Peppercorn,” Eve said.
“Keep it up. I’d love to start a good scandal in your favorite coffee shop. I’ll sit on your lily ass and sing Aretha at the top of my lungs until the cops come.”
“Oh, so now the cops are coming too. Are you suggesting I engage in an orgy with Sam and some of our local boys? Should I do one at a time or all together?” Eve asked.
She belly laughed when Hilde gave her the finger, then laughed harder when three tables full of people hastily made their way to the door to leave.
Eve shook her head. “Ah, the dignity of youth. How easily most are offended by older women having fun.”
“Not from what I hear every day in my classes. My students make me grateful that I have the kind of yelling voice that shuts everyone up,” Hilde said.
A sharply dressed, mahogany hued man came through the door and made his way to their table. “Hello baby,” he said, smiling at Eve first.
In return, Eve openly sighed with envy when Stuart leaned down to Hilde for a serious hello kiss.
“I heard that great big sigh, Evelyn,” Hilde said, when Stuart let her go.
“Don’t call me that here. And don’t give me a lecture. An ice woman would melt with someone like Stuart coming around and whispering ‘Hey baby’ in that deep, sexy voice of his. He’s worse than listening to Issac Hayes. Makes me want to jump the next man that walks through the damn door.”
Eve grinned when Stuart’s ears turned red. The man who looked all serious business was cuckoo-cuckoo nuts for her outspoken, irreverent friend. “Sorry Stuart. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
He laughed and shook his head. “Why should I be embarrassed? That was a compliment—right?”
“Yes. Definitely,” Eve said.
“Oh. My. God. I don’t believe this. Get ready to jump Evelyn. Guess who just walked through the damn door,” H
ilde demanded.
Eve’s head swiveled fast on her shoulders as she turned to look. An elderly man who had to be ninety if a day was heading to the counter to order. She turned back to give her friend a dirty look.
“Interesting reaction there, Eve. Just who were you expecting might come for coffee?” Smiling, Hilde stood and gathered her purse. “Don’t make me state the obvious. Your head practically spun on your shoulders looking for the man. Go home, invite him to dinner tomorrow, and jump him while the kids are out of town.”
Eve sighed again and stood. “Merry Christmas, Hilde. I love you. Thanks for the advice even if I can’t bring myself to take it.”
Huffing out a breath when she was enveloped in a choking hug that would have broken a smaller woman, Eve giggled at Hilde’s hastily given well wishes in return. Stuart looked on smiling at the two of them.
“At least kiss the man again. Get some more mistletoe if you need an excuse,” Hilde ordered.
“Got it hanging in every doorway already,” Eve protested. “If Sam comes around, I’ll at least kiss him again to make sure it wasn’t an aberration. How’s that?”
Hilde held up a finger and wagged it in warning. Eve laughed and nodded. She didn’t want her friend worrying about her over the holidays.
***
Eve walked into the radio station at three to finish her preparations for the early evening show. She was starting at five instead of six and ending at ten. After she signed off, the station’s engineer would be switching to holiday tapes for the last couple of hours.
Just like last year, Christmas Eve was a sparkling night with no snow on the horizon even though the cold cut through her wool skirt with no problem. She would go home and have a fire, she decided. Eve was both sad and glad for the lack of flurries, since she would be driving home alone tonight.
She was heading into the production area when she noticed the sound booth was decorated with silver and blue tinsel, just like she had on her tree.
“Evening Stanley. Who decorated?” Eve asked, shucking her coat.
“Some guy came in earlier and asked if he could do it for you. There’s flowers and a card. Nice man. Is he your boyfriend?”
Eve laughed. “What’s a boyfriend? Do women my age still have those? Okay, I’m kidding. I have no idea. Maybe it was a crazed fan. Did you make sure he didn’t bother anything in the booth?”
Stanley held out his hands. “Engineer, sweetheart. I was in there and watched everything he did. Check out the card, Eve. Let me know if you want me to rip down the festive setting your admirer created for you.”
Walking into the sound booth that she shared with two other specialty broadcasters, Eve spun in a circle under blue lights strung across the ceiling like stars. It was truly magical to have those tiny twinkling lights overhead. The cheerfully lit booth felt like a different world.
On the chair was a white rose with a long red ribbon. Next to it was a card with her name scrawled on the front. She lifted both before gingerly setting them in her lap while she sat and made her final adjustments to the programming.
An hour later, she lifted her head from her work and leaned back in her chair, doubly grateful she had prepped most of the show over the last two weeks. Looking down, Eve lifted the rose, sniffed the beautiful aroma, and then opened the card.
I started to write ‘Merry Christmas to my best friend’, but I can’t think of you in just that way anymore. Santa is just going to have to add me to the naughty list for my wicked thoughts about kissing you again. Well that and maybe palming your breasts to see if they feel as good as they always look. You’d be worth getting a lump of coal in my stocking. I’ll be listening tonight, Eve. Send me a message over the air and I’ll meet you under the mistletoe again. ~ Sam
Holding the card in her hand, Eve fanned herself with the envelope.
“Want me to turn down the heat?”
Eve yelped, then laughed when she saw Stanley’s head sticking through the booth’s cracked door.
“Sorry,” he said. “Didn’t mean to startle you. Your face was flushed and you were fanning yourself. Oh, you read the note. Must have been really good. My bad for mentioning it.”
“No,” Eve denied. “It’s not like that. The note—he’s just a friend. I’ve known him for a long time.”
Stanley snorted at the rose clutched in one of Eve’s hands and the card in the other. “Everyone needs a friend that can make them that hot on a cold day like this one.”
“Stanley—stop. You’re married,” Eve protested, the rose and card hitting her lap again.
“Which means I know what I’m talking about,” he said, grinning at the woman he’d never seen blush before. “So this ‘just a friend’ have a name?”
Eve nodded. “Yes, but I’d rather not say who he is. I’m not—we’re not—oh, hell. I’m holding on to the magic I guess. This has happened kind of fast.”
“Hold on as long as you can, Eve. Magic lasts longer that way. Have a good show,” Stanley said, winking as he shut the door.
Eve looked at the rose and the card. “Damn it Sam. What am I supposed to do with you?”
The question conjured the memory of his tongue sliding along hers. It was obvious what Sam wanted to do with her. She sniffed the rose again as she slipped the card into her purse.
Since thinking about him made her head hurt, Eve put her head in her hand trying to close out the thoughts. She turned just in time to see the clock on the wall moments before the light in the booth went green. Reaching out, she swung the boom microphone down to her mouth and pressed the button when Stanley pointed through the glass.
“Hello Lexington. It’s Christmas Eve and you’ve tuned in tonight to a special edition of Delight After Dark. I’m your host, Evelyn Jade, and it is my pleasure to delight you and your loved ones this frosty December night. So pull that special person close to you right now and give them a kiss while we listen to Harry singing his heart out while he waits under the mistletoe. Any takers out there?”
Eve laughed softly before flicking over to the song, humming along until Harry Connick Jr. sang loud enough for her to fade out. Then she cued up the next three songs as she waited for her turn to talk again. For several hours, she talked to callers about holiday plans, wished them a Merry Christmas, and cued up music to go along with everyone’s festive moods.
Then finally time grew short and she had to decide about the note. She thought once again about the kiss in the pantry as she pulled the microphone down to her mouth.
“Hi we’re back. I’m Evelyn Jade and you’re listening to a special Christmas Eve edition of Delight After Dark.”
Eve’s fingers were busy as she talked, queuing up the last song.
“Santa’s out making deliveries and the big day is tomorrow. It’s been a rare pleasure for me to get to spend this wonderful evening with you and your loved ones. My children are off enjoying their skiing holiday, but I have this friend—a really good friend—who wants to make my Christmas Eve as merry as possible. And I’m thinking I may just let him. Now it’s time for the last song before I head out. Whatever kind of love your heart desires this Christmas, I sincerely hope you find it in someone’s arms. I’m dreaming of a glass of wine by the fire and the company of a good friend. Tell him for me, Mariah. You do it so much better than I ever could. Thank you Lexington for letting me be part of your life. Sam, in case you didn’t get all that innuendo, this is my invitation. Meet me under the mistletoe again. This is Evelyn Jade saying good-night and Merry Christmas to everyone.”
As the song filled the booth, Eve gathered her purse and coat. She waved to Stanley whose wife had come to spend the last hours of the station’s broadcast time with him.
In the parking lot, she climbed into her car and headed home, wondering if Sam had listened long enough to catch her closing comments.
Chapter 4
Sam warned himself to not get too excited when Eve’s car pulled into her driveway, but after what she’d said over the air, it w
as not a command his body could heed. Wearing his Santa hat, he grabbed a heavy coat from the closet and headed out into the cold to go to her. Her garage door was still up and Eve was climbing from her car when he reached her side. In her hand was the rose he’d left for her at the station. Seeing her clutching it made him smile.
“Great show tonight,” he said. “I want to kiss you again. Do I have to wait until we’re under the mistletoe?”
Eve laughed nervously. “I don’t know. I’m still not sure how I feel about kissing . . . ”
Her words trailed off as Sam stepped close and bent his head. She tried not to freeze up, but some panic state took over. Her hand came to his chest automatically and it took all her effort not to push him away. When his lips finally brushed hers in the most gentle of kisses, the tingle returned stronger than ever. She heard herself make some sound of distress that had Sam backing away and laughing.
“That throaty moan of yours was worth every second of the cold walk down here,” Sam said.
“Throaty moan? No. That was nerves taking over when I realized we were giving the neighbors a show. Hopefully none of them were listening out their doors,” Eve said.
Sam grinned and shrugged. “I’m sure they’ve all been wondering why I come to your house every morning anyway. Do their opinions worry you?”
Eve laughed and shook her head. “No. Not really. Would you be interested in having a glass of wine with me by the fire?”
Sam held out a hand. “I’m interested in anything you’re offering tonight. Hearing you say my name over the air was a rush, Evelyn Jade.”
“You’re easily pleased then,” she said.
“Not always,” he said, grinning as he tugged on her hand. “But I’m in the mood to be patient. I promise to give you some warning when I can’t wait anymore.”
Sam’s flirting was making her nervous, but she couldn’t decide if he was doing it intentionally or not. Not wanting to seem churlish after inviting him to visit, Eve put her hand in his. Just before they went into the kitchen, Sam pressed the garage door button and sealed them inside.
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