by Nona Raines
Maybe she’s like that gay guy at the speed-dating. She just can’t face who she really is.
Shit. Tania’s anger dissolved into sadness. What a loss for both of them.
If she hadn’t been lost in her thoughts, she’d have seen the guy approach. She looked up and there he was, right in front of her. A kid, really, barely out of his teens, skinny and pimple-faced with a huge Adam’s apple that bobbed jerkily up and down.
“Uh, excuse me, miss.” Even his voice sounded young, thin and reedy. “Do you know the time?”
She glanced at her wrist. “Yeah, it’s—” Even as she spoke she knew she was in trouble. Her skin prickled with dread. What kind of idiot walks by herself at night in a fucking parking garage?
The kid lunged for her purse, and Tania clung to it, first from instinct and then out of pure rage.
****
No third chance. Latisha hugged her coat close and shivered in the cold wind as she hurried toward the parking garage.
Her steps slowed. Wait a minute. She knew Tania’s full name. Knew she worked at the public library. There was no reason she couldn’t go there, on neutral turf, and at least apologize face-to-face.
Her heart fluttered in her throat as she pictured Tania’s face, her mischievous smile.
And that’s all you want, Latisha, to offer an apology? Girl, please.
Of course not. She wanted more than Tania’s forgiveness. Wanted…
She stepped into the enclosure lined with cars. It was well-lit enough for her to glimpse the red hair of the tall woman several yards ahead of her. Latisha opened her mouth to call Tania’s name when a man darted out of nowhere. Latisha couldn’t hear what he said, but a moment later, he grabbed Tania’s purse.
She didn’t let it go. Latisha stood open-mouthed in shock as Tania scuffled with the mugger, screaming every curse word Latisha had ever heard and a few new ones. The mugger’s eyes bugged as he tangled with the banshee over her purse.
Latisha unfroze and raced toward them, screaming “Stop!”
A voice whirled in her memory. That would make a good weapon.
Her chest burned as she reached them, as she swung her shoulder bag and smacked the man square in the head. The bag exploded and the mugger went down like a sack of dirty laundry.
“Son of a bitch!” Tania tried to kick him, but Latisha snatched her back.
“Are you crazy? Run!”
The mugger must have thought she was yelling at him. He staggered to his feet and stumbled off.
Latisha held Tania’s arm to keep her from chasing him. “He’s getting away,” the redhead yowled.
“Have you lost your mind?” Latisha grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a shake. “Why did you fight him? He could have hurt you!”
“He’s just a scrawny little bastard. I could’ve kicked his ass—”
“He could have had a gun. He could have—” Latisha grabbed Tania and kissed her, hard at first, out of fear and anger, then more gently as warmth spread through her.
Last time, Tania had made the first move, but this time, Latisha needed to take the upper hand. She had to show Tania how sorry she was. Had to prove to her that she was in it for real.
Now, without guilt or fear, she savored Tania’s lips. They were pillowy, fruity and sweet, still tasting of mai tai. Their lips opened simultaneously, their tongues gliding together. The easy warmth Latisha felt instantly ignited to a wildfire. Her breasts grew so full and achy that the only way to soothe them was to press them to Tania’s. Her pussy wept with need.
She broke away, not to reject Tania but to catch her breath. The kiss left her woozy. “Are you all right?”
Tania looked pretty unsteady herself. “I’m fine. I—” She glanced around at the contents of Latisha’s purse scattered everywhere. The bag itself sagged on the garage floor like a fallen prizefighter. “All your stuff. Let me help.”
Silently they gathered what they could. Latisha slid the purse strap up her shoulder as Tania handed her the paperback book. “You saved me.”
Latisha’s mouth quirked. “No. You were going to kick his ass, remember?” Her smile faded as she remembered what she needed to say. “Tania. What happened before? I’m sorry.”
Tania’s russet brows flew up her forehead, then lowered ominously. “Sorry about what happened? Or—”
“Sorry that I hurt you.” But it wasn’t enough. “That I lied about it being a mistake. That I lied to both of us.”
Tania’s features softened and warmth filled her cinnamon-colored eyes. “I’m glad you’re not lying anymore.”
Latisha flushed. “I found Amira, by the way. She’s head over heels for a parking attendant named Carlos.”
“Good for her.” Tania grinned. “Then I’m not the only one who fell in love today.”
“Love?” Latisha’s heart gave a bump.
“Who’d have thought? And I didn’t even want to be here tonight. So now that you don’t have to worry about your cousin, how about you follow me back to my place? We can have a little wine, you can ask me some more questions…anything you want.” She smiled. “I promise I won’t hold anything back.”
Latisha’s lips curved. “And we’ll just see where things go?”
“Well, I told you I like to be spontaneous.”
Latisha’s entire body tingled at the treats promised in Tania’s smile. “Spontaneity is starting to sound very good to me.”
About the Author
Nona Raines became hooked on romances when she first picked up “The Flame and the Flower” by Kathleen Woodiwiss (and she’s not telling how long ago that was). Romances may have changed since then, but her love for a good love story has not. She’s been writing off and on for years, but it was only when she joined the Central New York Romance Writers Association that she finally gained the support and confidence she needed to complete a manuscript.
Nona lives in upstate New York with her many pets and is currently working on her next novel. A former librarian, she enjoys reading books of all genres and discussing them with others. She is thrilled to finally be able to call herself an author and looks forward to hearing from readers.
Visit Nona at
www.nonaraines.com
To chat with Nona Raines and other Wild Rose Press authors of erotic romance, join us at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/thewilderroses.
Also Available
Her Perfect Man
by
Nona Raines
Book 3 of The Man Series
Kim Hansen has terrible luck with men. When her sexy downstairs neighbor shows a more-than-neighborly interest in her, she’s suspicious. She’s been burned too many times, by too many guys. Charlie Keller is smart, hot and successful—so what does he want with her besides a few nights of pleasure?
Though Kim does her best to shut him down, Charlie’s not put off by her attitude. He doesn’t scare easy. Kim thinks she’s clever, using sex to keep him off guard and to maintain her emotional distance. But Charlie sees through her prickly exterior to her tender heart beneath.
But Kim needs to be won over. Sure, their bedroom action is awesome, but given her past mistakes, she’s convinced that Charlie is too good to be true. Just too perfect. But if Charlie has his way, he’ll prove that he’s the perfect man for her.
Thank you for purchasing
this Wild Rose Press, Inc. publication.
For questions or more information
contact us at
[email protected].
The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
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