Sondra Delaine, reporting from the small town of Serenity Falls. Back to you in the studio.”
“How did you get out here so fast?” Julia demanded.
“I faxed them a press release this morning.” Sue Ellen proudly buffed her acrylic nails against her hot pink angora sweater.
Julia gave the Diane Sawyer wannabe an accusatory look.
The reporter just shrugged. “What can I say? It was a slow news day.”
Julia didn’t have to wait long for the reaction to the segment on the noon news to set in. The first call came within minutes from Fred, a reporter with the Serenity News , wanting an exclusive interview . . . with the llamas if possible.
The next call came from Walt, and he quickly made his opinion known. “Did you see that segment on the noon news?”
“No.”
“Well, I did. The story depicted us as wacky. The station called me, asking if I knew that Sue Ellen was referred to as ‘Our Lady of the Outlandish’ in town. I’m telling you Julia, we do not want the description outlandish attached in any way, shape, or form to Serenity Falls. The Best Small Towns in America judging committee isn’t looking for wacky or outlandish. There’s no place for that on their form. No place at all.”
Walt only paused long enough to draw in a breath before barreling on. “To have the llamas as possible prognosticators is one thing. I mean we already have the precedent of the groundhog over in Punxsutawney and even the woolly worms in Lewisburg. But to bring Jesus into this . . .” Walt almost wheezed in the middle of his hissy fit. His voice lowered to a semi-whisper. “People take religion very seriously. I know I do, and I certainly don’t want anyone thinking we’re committing blasphemy or anything like that. People are very touchy about these things.”
Julia sighed. “I realize that.”
“Then how could you allow this to get so out of hand?” His voice was booming once again.
“Me? I had no idea Sue Ellen was faxing out press releases to the media this morning. In fact, I didn’t even realize until this morning that she knew I had llamas in my backyard.”
“Oh, please. Everyone in town knows you have the llamas. They have to go.”
“I agree. Everyone in town needs to go home.”
“Not the townspeople. The llamas. They have to go.”
“Again I agree. There isn’t enough room in the backyard. My mother plans to move them within the next day or two.” Angel didn’t exactly work on a time schedule.
“No, I mean they have to go now . Before midnight. Before more media shows up.”
From where she was standing in the hallway, Julia could see out the front picture window that two television vans had just pulled up. “It may be too late for that.”
“I don’t want to hear that.”
“I’m not real thrilled with the news, either.”
“The news? More television crews? Oh, no. Hold on. I’ve got another call.”
Julia walked into the kitchen with the cordless phone and stood on her tiptoes. Pop-Tarts. She had to have Pop-Tarts. Now . She didn’t care who saw her scarfing them down at this point.
“Here.” Luke placed a balancing hand on the curve of her hip, his thumb brushing her bare skin at her waist where her polo shirt separated from her khaki pants. “Let me help. What do you need?”
What did she need? Him. Touching her. Skin to skin. Mouth to mouth. Tongue to tongue. Tongue to skin. Mouth to skin.
The possible erotic combos made her go all warm and squishy inside. She suddenly yearned for the pleasure Luke promised her with every teasing touch and seriously hot look. She wanted him to tumble her to the kitchen floor—or better yet lift her to the kitchen counter—and have his wicked way with her. Maybe then this powerful need would stop burning deep within her.
She glanced over her shoulder, fearful that she might be conveying her thoughts to him like some kind of blinking neon sign glowing on her forehead.
Uptight librarian wants you. Take me now .
Almost afraid of
“How did you get out here so fast?” Julia demanded.
“I faxed them a press release this morning.” Sue Ellen proudly buffed her acrylic nails against her hot pink angora sweater.
Julia gave the Diane Sawyer wannabe an accusatory look.
The reporter just shrugged. “What can I say? It was a slow news day.”
Julia didn’t have to wait long for the reaction to the segment on the noon news to set in. The first call came within minutes from Fred, a reporter with the Serenity News , wanting an exclusive interview . . . with the llamas if possible.
The next call came from Walt, and he quickly made his opinion known. “Did you see that segment on the noon news?”
“No.”
“Well, I did. The story depicted us as wacky. The station called me, asking if I knew that Sue Ellen was referred to as ‘Our Lady of the Outlandish’ in town. I’m telling you Julia, we do not want the description outlandish attached in any way, shape, or form to Serenity Falls. The Best Small Towns in America judging committee isn’t looking for wacky or outlandish. There’s no place for that on their form. No place at all.”
Walt only paused long enough to draw in a breath before barreling on. “To have the llamas as possible prognosticators is one thing. I mean we already have the precedent of the groundhog over in Punxsutawney and even the woolly worms in Lewisburg. But to bring Jesus into this . . .” Walt almost wheezed in the middle of his hissy fit. His voice lowered to a semi-whisper. “People take religion very seriously. I know I do, and I certainly don’t want anyone thinking we’re committing blasphemy or anything like that. People are very touchy about these things.”
Julia sighed. “I realize that.”
“Then how could you allow this to get so out of hand?” His voice was booming once again.
“Me? I had no idea Sue Ellen was faxing out press releases to the media this morning. In fact, I didn’t even realize until this morning that she knew I had llamas in my backyard.”
“Oh, please. Everyone in town knows you have the llamas. They have to go.”
“I agree. Everyone in town needs to go home.”
“Not the townspeople. The llamas. They have to go.”
“Again I agree. There isn’t enough room in the backyard. My mother plans to move them within the next day or two.” Angel didn’t exactly work on a time schedule.
“No, I mean they have to go now . Before midnight. Before more media shows up.”
From where she was standing in the hallway, Julia could see out the front picture window that two television vans had just pulled up. “It may be too late for that.”
“I don’t want to hear that.”
“I’m not real thrilled with the news, either.”
“The news? More television crews? Oh, no. Hold on. I’ve got another call.”
Julia walked into the kitchen with the cordless phone and stood on her tiptoes. Pop-Tarts. She had to have Pop-Tarts. Now . She didn’t care who saw her scarfing them down at this point.
“Here.” Luke placed a balancing hand on the curve of her hip, his thumb brushing her bare skin at her waist where her polo shirt separated from her khaki pants. “Let me help. What do you need?”
What did she need? Him. Touching her. Skin to skin. Mouth to mouth. Tongue to tongue. Tongue to skin. Mouth to skin.
The possible erotic combos made her go all warm and squishy inside. She suddenly yearned for the pleasure Luke promised her with every teasing touch and seriously hot look. She wanted him to tumble her to the kitchen floor—or better yet lift her to the kitchen counter—and have his wicked way with her. Maybe then this powerful need would stop burning deep within her.
She glanced over her shoulder, fearful that she might be conveying her thoughts to him like some kind of blinking neon sign glowing on her forehead.
Uptight librarian wants you. Take me now .
Almost afraid of
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