“Hey!” Vance shouted at Steph. “Knock it off! I’m not afraid to call the cops on you, chick!”
Steph glared at Boston, her chest rising and falling with the labored breath of fury.
“You need help, Steph,” Dempsey growled. “Seriously, you need some help.”
Boston watched as Halle, Kara, and Danielle went about the apartment, retrieving every print and picture belonging to Boston. Vance didn’t move—simply stood between Boston and Stephanie.
Dempsey stood near the door. Each time one of the girls left carryings something, he’d nod at Steph and say, “Stay chilled, Steph.”
Stephanie folded her arms across her chest, still glaring at each person who left the apartment carrying Boston’s things. When the other girls had left, Vance took hold of Boston’s arm and began pushing her toward the door.
“Steph,” Boston began, “I-I’m sorry. I’m really sorry…but I just can’t…”
She was abruptly silenced as Vance’s hand appeared from behind her, covering her mouth.
“Don’t provoke her any further,” he growled in her ear. “Come on, Dempsey.”
Vance dropped his hand from Boston’s mouth but continued to direct her out through the open doorway. She heard Dempsey say something to Stephanie—heard Steph slam the apartment door. It was over.
Boston looked ahead to where her friends stood leaning up against Vance’s pickup waiting. As she approached, smiles spread across each loyal and beloved face.
“And it’s done!” Dempsey exclaimed. “As simple as that, and you’re out of there!”
“Simple?” Boston asked.
Taking hold of Boston’s arm, Dempsey pulled her into a warm embrace.
“I feel like we’ve just liberated somebody from prison!” Max chuckled, hugging Boston once Dempsey had released her.
“You know, Boston,” Halle began as she hugged Boston too, “you’ve freed us all!”
“That’s right,” Kara affirmed, embracing Boston.
“That’s not true,” Boston said, however. “You guys are the ones who did it. I was always too weak to do it on my own.”
“All of us were too weak to do it on our own, Bost!” Danielle laughed. “What a bunch of weenies we are…letting one girl bully us around like that for so long!”
Boston hugged Danielle. She couldn’t believe it. She was free! After so long—so much emotional baggage. She felt more lighthearted than she could remember feeling in years.
“Let’s get home!” Danielle said. “We’ll unload your stuff and then…then you can get ready for your date with Logan without having to worry about Steph pulling some kind of mess to screw it all up!”
Boston nodded, for it was true. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been able to get ready to go somewhere—anywhere, let alone on a date—without having to worry about Steph’s interference. Yet there was one person she hadn’t thanked yet—the one person who had finally managed to make Boston see how truly bad Stephanie was for her emotional well-being.
Turning to Vance, Boston smiled. “Thank you, Vance,” she said.
“For what?” he asked. He shrugged broad shoulders. “I didn’t carry any more than the other guys.”
“No…thank you for helping me to finally wise up…to finally self-advocate for once.”
But Vance shrugged again, feigning ignorance. “Well, I don’t really see that I did anything out of the ordinary…but…you’re welcome.”
He quickly moved past her, sauntering around to the driver’s side of his truck.
“Let’s get back and get this stuff unloaded,” he said. “It shouldn’t take us too long.”
Max and Dempsey hopped in the back of the pickup as the engine roared to life. The girls waved as the men drove off and then headed to Danielle’s car. They’d all ridden over from Danielle’s house together.
“He’s not one to be comfortable with legitimate compliments or thanks,” Danielle said as Kara and Halle got into the backseat.
“So I gather,” Boston said.
“Oh, I just think Vance is too cute…too sweet…and way too hot for his own good!” Halle exclaimed. “Why isn’t he married already? Or at least spoken for?”
Danielle shrugged. “I guess he’s just been focusing on getting his career in line and stuff,” she said. Yet Boston glanced to her. There was something in Danielle’s voice, something she couldn’t identify. Still, the breath of sweet liberation was too invigorating to deny, and Boston smiled.
“He is sweet…and hot,” she said.
“Way hot!” even Kara admitted.
“You guys! He’s my brother,” Danielle giggled. “Please!”
Everyone giggled, and Halle asked, “So…Logan West tonight, eh, Boston?”
Instantly, Boston’s nerves began to twitch. She’d sort of been keeping her date with Logan in the background of her thoughts, having known that moving out of Steph’s apartment would probably be dramatic. Still, other than the flying vase incident, the exodus had been fairly uneventful. Now she allowed her mind to turn to Logan, and it unnerved her.
“Yeah,” Boston finally confirmed. “It’s our third time going out.”
“Ooo! The third time’s usually the deal maker or breaker,” Kara said. “You either want to press forward or not. Has he kissed you yet? Is he a good kisser?”
Boston shook her head. “No…not yet.” Instantly her stomach was churning with anxiety, for Kara was right—there seemed to be so many things about the third date with someone that were telling.
“He sounds like he’ll be a good kisser,” Halle said.
Danielle laughed as she turned onto Main Street. “How can someone sound like a good kisser, Halle?”
Halle shrugged. “Just his name. Logan West. How can he not be a good kisser with a name like that?”
“It is a good name,” Kara noted.
“Kind of like Max Ironside?” Boston teased. Boston had always liked Max’s name. It was kind of brutal sounding, whether or not it fit Max’s appearance.
“Exactly!” Kara laughed.
“Logan West,” Halle mumbled. “Logan West. Yep…he’ll be a good kisser, Boston.”
Boston shook her head. Oh, how she loved her friends! Oh, how glad she was she had them. Her heart pinched, however—sympathy for Steph. Even after everything, Boston still felt sorry for her.
Boston closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath, exhaling slowly in an attempt to calm her nerves. Everyone had returned to the apartment and helped unload Vance’s pickup. Dempsey, Halle, Kara, and Max left after unloading the truck, but Vance had stayed to help Boston and Danielle find a place for everything. Thus, the day had waned, and it was nearly time for Logan to arrive.
Boston had phoned him the night before, informing him of her new address. He would be arriving any minute, and Boston’s anxieties were making themselves known by churning her stomach like mad.
Something was wrong. Boston couldn’t quite put her finger on the problem—but something was wrong. Something was wrong because her anxiety and nervous state weren’t caused so much because Logan was taking her out but because she wasn’t sure she actually still wanted to go out with him. All afternoon she’d agonized over her feelings—feelings of uncertainty, even disappointment. Was she simply so nervous about the fact that this was her third date with Logan—the numbered date that often saw a couple born or two people deciding they weren’t interested in each other? Was she nervous because she knew Logan may try to kiss her goodnight again, and with Stephanie nowhere to be found, he might actually be successful?
Boston knew her emotions were chaotic merely because of what had happened earlier in the day with Steph. She still couldn’t believe Steph had thrown a vase at her! Perhaps just residual stress was causing her uncertainty and trepidation. Still, there was something else—something Boston didn’t want to consciously admit.
Standing before the mirror in the bathroom, she looked at her reflection—studied herself
long and hard. Then, taking another deep breath, she whispered, “It’s Vance!” There! She’d said it! Vance was what, or rather who, was keeping her so wound up in regard to Logan West. There in the bathroom, Boston finally confessed to her conscious mind that, ever since Vance Nathaniel had appeared, Logan West had lost his luster.
She argued with her inner self as she brushed her hair once more. “You’ve known him a week, Boston Rhodes!” she whispered. “Furthermore, he’s not interested…not one hint that he might be interested…in anybody…but especially you. What a drama queen he must think I am! All this mess with Steph?”
Boston shook her head, determined to purge any daydreams of knowing Vance Nathaniel as anything more than a friend. Inhaling a deep breath of courage and attempted calm, Boston left the bathroom.
Vance was sitting on the sofa watching some show with fast cars and lots of explosions. At the mere sight of him, Boston’s resolve to purge him from her fantasies was vanquished. Quickly, she turned her attention to Danielle.
“Well?” she began. “How do I look?”
Danielle smiled and pretended to study Boston from head to toe. “I like the green shirt—it brings out your eyes. And that skirt is perfect! He won’t be able to keep his hands off you.”
Instantly, Boston felt nauseated.
“What?” she squeaked. “Danielle! You know how I get about things like this!”
“Things like what?” Danielle teased. “Things like going out with the hottest guy to ever work at Channel 7? Things like you look gorgeous?”
“You know what I mean, Danielle,” Boston said. “Halle’s right. It’s the third date…the make-or-break-it date…the first-kiss date.”
“He tried to kiss you last time—on the second date, if I remember correctly,” Danielle reminded her.
“I know! That’s what I mean! What if he’s like a guy who wants to…you know…” Boston glanced to Vance sitting on the sofa. He seemed completely unaware of what was going on.
“You mean a loose guy?” Danielle offered.
“Yeah! What if he is? What if he’s a guy who expects a girl to…you know…expects more out of a third date than a kiss?”
“What if he’s a guy who doesn’t?”
Boston sighed, “Well, that’s almost as bad! What if he hates me? What if I sicken him? What if I’m a terrible kisser? Oh my heck! Just today the girls said Logan looks like he’ll be a good kisser! What if I’m not?”
“Boston, you’re wigging out over nothing,” Danielle said, lowering her voice. Danielle glanced to where Vance sat watching Mike Rowe perform some nasty task on Dirty Jobs. Boston glanced at Vance again too. He still appeared to be completely unaware of the conversation she was having with Danielle. He even exclaimed, “Oh, man! That is sick!”
“You do this every time you’re dating a new guy,” Danielle said. “You’re always worried about this…and the first kiss…and I’m sure you kiss fine! How many guys have tried to get you to do way more than kissing? Am I right? Then you know you must kiss well…so quit worrying about it.”
“But this guy is different, Danielle,” Boston said. “He makes me nervous all over.” She glanced at Vance, still intrigued by whatever was on the TV screen. “But I can’t decide if it’s because I like him or because I don’t. I mean, you’ve seen him. He’s totally handsome. You’ve seen how together he has everything. How would you feel?”
Danielle nodded. “Nervous, I admit. But not as whacked as you’re getting right now.”
Vance strained his ears to continue eavesdropping. He felt kind of bad for Boston, owning such anxiety over anticipating a first kiss. What was the big deal? The guy would kiss her, and that would be that. He tried not to glean too much amusement at her predicament; he was certain it was very serious to her.
Mike Rowe vomited over the side of a ship and coughed. Vance winced and groaned, “Ooo!” His attention was immediately arrested again, however, by the conversation going on behind him. He smiled as he realized Boston was breaking into one of her characteristic babbling marathons. For some odd reason, he really enjoyed when she got on a roll.
“This is Logan West, Danielle!” he heard Boston exclaim. “Logan West! Do you understand how long I’ve had a crush on him? He’s, like, totally perfect, totally gorgeous, totally smooth! And you’re right—he was actually going to kiss me last week, but good ol’ Steph interrupted it. And you know, that’s another reason I’m glad to be out of an apartment with her. I mean, like today, while Vance and Dempsey and everyone were moving my stuff, there she was…eating my Fruit Loops! Just last week she was chewing a hole in me for borrowing one of her eggs. But no! She can eat three bowls of my Fruit Loops and not even blink? And what if Logan goes to kiss me tonight and I’m not ready? What then? What if I decide I don’t want him to kiss me? What if I do want him to kiss me and I chicken out? Oh my heck! I don’t think I’m going to be able to look at him when he gets here. And that still doesn’t solve the problem of how am I ever going to find the nerve to kiss him back if he kisses me. What if he sicks me out? What if, after all this time of liking him, he turns out to be a womanizer? Or a crazy man? I can’t even think about it without feeling like I’m going to throw up! It’s the anticipation that kills me! You know I’ll never be able to settle down and enjoy the date!”
“You’ll never make the date if you hyperventilate from talking and pass out,” Danielle said.
In the reflection on the glass of the front window, he could see Boston moving toward the door. He glanced over his shoulder to see her raise herself on tiptoes and look through the peephole.
“He’ll be here any minute, and I’m gonna throw up,” Boston said. “I’ll throw up all over him. That’s what will happen…and then where will I be?”
“I’m pretty sure if you do that, you won’t have to worry about him kissing you,” Danielle teased.
Vance turned off the TV. He got off the sofa and walked to where Boston stood with her hand poised on the doorknob, waiting for her hot date.
“Seriously, Danielle,” Boston began again. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. Maybe I should cancel…say I’m sick or something. I just know I’ll botch this up…I just know I will! One way or the other. Whether it’s the kissing or simply deciding he’s not—”
“Boston,” Vance mumbled.
“I mean…Logan…he’s like the man of my dreams! Why would I blow it? What if—” Boston continued to babble.
“Boston,” Vance said. The commanding sound of his voice caused Boston to cease in her prattling and look to him.
“What?” she asked, somewhat grateful he’d interrupted her panic attack.
Vance frowned and shook his head.
“Shut up,” he said. “You’re all worked up about nothing.” He reached out, slipping one hand beneath her hair to the back of her neck.
Boston was so startled by his touch, she couldn’t speak. She could only stare up into his mesmerizing green eyes. His hand was strong and warm, powerful and reassuring.
“If it freaks you out so much…just kiss in the dark,” he said.
Boston watched as Vance put the heel of his free hand to the light switch. In an instant, the room went black. Boston gasped slightly as she felt Vance’s mouth press to hers in a soft, lingering kiss. Rendered entirely breathless with astonishment, she did not move as he kissed her again, coaxing her lips to part a little.
“Kiss me back,” he mumbled against her mouth, kissing her a third time. “Just let nature take its course, and you’ll be fine,” he said. His mouth was warm and moist against hers. “Instinct is all you need.”
Again he kissed her, one hand still supporting her at the back of her neck, the other powerful arm going around her waist—pulling her body against his—and Boston thought she must be dreaming. Vance was kissing her? It couldn’t be! She had to be dreaming. Yet she wasn’t, and as he continued to kiss her, Boston placed one hand on his cheek, intending to push him away—for she couldn’t possibly allow her
self to kiss a man she’d only known a week, a man who was only kissing her to prove a point, whatever it was. Yet she found her hand would not obey her mental command to push him away. Instead, she began to revel in the feel of his strong, whiskery jaw against her palm, awash with a warm sensation of blissful intoxication, unable to deny herself the opportunity to live a dream.
Slowly, alluringly, he kissed her—tutored her in meeting the pleasant demands of his mouth. His skill at toying with her mouth—at drawing a desire from her so thoroughgoing it was nearly frightening—was ethereal! And his kiss—his kiss itself was indescribably wonderful—invigorating—captivating—delicious!
“Vance Nathaniel!” Danielle scolded. “You are going to totally wig her out!”
Vance broke the seal of their lips and released her. Boston opened her eyes as glaring light vanquished the rich, delicious darkness.
“Oh, she’s okay,” he said. He grinned and rather slap-patted her on one cheek. “You see? You’ll do just fine. If you can kiss me, you can kiss anybody. Right?”
Boston nodded—managed to say, “Thanks for the tip.”
“Anytime,” Vance said, winking at her. “They don’t call me Vance Romance for nothing.” He sighed as he reached beyond Boston and opened the apartment door.
Kiss in the Dark Page 12
