Brownoski.”
Lauren overheard what sounded like a girlish giggle being filtered through gravel, and wondered if Mrs. B. ever regretted that pack-a-day habit.
“I’m so pleased to meet you.” Barbie’s squeaky voice drilled into Lauren’s ears. “You’ll have to excuse the way I’m dressed, but Gram left a message at work that I had to come over right away, so I didn’t even have a chance to shower after teaching my last step aerobics class.” She giggled. “Say, you look like you’re a work out kinda guy. Maybe you could stop by the fitness center sometime. I’d love to give you a rundown on our programs, especially our individualized ones. If you’re looking for a relationship with a great personal trainer, I’m your girl! And I know you’ll just love our club. We’ve got the best equipment and the most experience in town.”
Lauren didn’t doubt that she did.
“Thank you. I’ll tuck that information away for future use.” He cleared his throat. “I do hate to be rude and break up this delightful meeting, but I must be getting back to my date.”
There was that word again! Lauren grabbed the plate off of her knee before Jamie could see her looking like the Karate Kid getting ready to have dessert. This time she couldn’t resist, and glanced over her shoulder at the little group concentrated in the center of the hallway. Yes! Barbie and Mrs. B. were looking quite taken aback at Jamie’s proposed abandonment.
Shocked, even.
Now wait a minute, it shouldn’t be that impossible an idea. Lauren turned around, head lifted in defiance, the world’s most saccharine smile pasted on her face. She tried to ignore the way Barbie was clinging to Jamie and running her hands over him as though assessing him for the perfect personalized exercise program right there in the hallway.
Mrs. B.’s owl-like eyes fluttered in double-time behind her glasses, her dentures clacked together. “Well, erm… yes. Of course, we’d hate to keep you from—”
“Good night, ladies.” Jamie nodded in salute to the pair, pried Barbie’s grasping hands from his arm then turned his attentions back to Lauren, whose aching cheeks were grateful to relax her false smile into a genuine one.
“Now then, where were we? Oh yes. I was thanking you for saving me from a dreadfully boring evening alone, and was ready to beg you to do it again sometime. Soon.”
His aquamarine gaze was riveted to hers. He took her free hand, brought her knuckles to his lips, and whispered a feathery kiss against them. Lauren’s knees buckled and she lost her grip on the plate, which slid to the floor with a smoosh.
Jamie scooped it up and set it beside the door. “Thank heavens for saran wrap. No harm done, if you don’t mind it being a bit lopsided.” He straightened and leaned in closer, whispering against her ear, “Remember, if you want more you know where to get it.”
His pressed forward, his lips slanting over her mouth, and Lauren discovered she could indeed still taste the lingering flavor of chocolate cheesecake on him. Her heart started to drum in her chest; her face felt flushed with heat.
A vague awareness of being watched crept into her now-fuzzy consciousness, and she giggled into Jamie’s mouth. Jamie, laughing along with her, caught her lower lip playfully between his teeth before covering her mouth with his own once more.
Somewhere beyond them, Gladys Bronowski’s door clicked shut with a decided attitude of disapproval, which Lauren savored almost as much as Jamie’s amazing kiss.
Almost.
About the Author
Jennifer Harrington lives on the beautiful New England coast with her husband, two small children, and two even smaller cats. When she isn’t reviewing books for Dangerously Curvy Novels or murdering flowers in her sad little garden, she’s sitting in front of her computer avoiding both her housework and writing that breakout novel.
L OVE B YTES
Sue Ann Jaffarian
T HE I NTERNET PERSONAL ad began: Middle-aged,
Lauren overheard what sounded like a girlish giggle being filtered through gravel, and wondered if Mrs. B. ever regretted that pack-a-day habit.
“I’m so pleased to meet you.” Barbie’s squeaky voice drilled into Lauren’s ears. “You’ll have to excuse the way I’m dressed, but Gram left a message at work that I had to come over right away, so I didn’t even have a chance to shower after teaching my last step aerobics class.” She giggled. “Say, you look like you’re a work out kinda guy. Maybe you could stop by the fitness center sometime. I’d love to give you a rundown on our programs, especially our individualized ones. If you’re looking for a relationship with a great personal trainer, I’m your girl! And I know you’ll just love our club. We’ve got the best equipment and the most experience in town.”
Lauren didn’t doubt that she did.
“Thank you. I’ll tuck that information away for future use.” He cleared his throat. “I do hate to be rude and break up this delightful meeting, but I must be getting back to my date.”
There was that word again! Lauren grabbed the plate off of her knee before Jamie could see her looking like the Karate Kid getting ready to have dessert. This time she couldn’t resist, and glanced over her shoulder at the little group concentrated in the center of the hallway. Yes! Barbie and Mrs. B. were looking quite taken aback at Jamie’s proposed abandonment.
Shocked, even.
Now wait a minute, it shouldn’t be that impossible an idea. Lauren turned around, head lifted in defiance, the world’s most saccharine smile pasted on her face. She tried to ignore the way Barbie was clinging to Jamie and running her hands over him as though assessing him for the perfect personalized exercise program right there in the hallway.
Mrs. B.’s owl-like eyes fluttered in double-time behind her glasses, her dentures clacked together. “Well, erm… yes. Of course, we’d hate to keep you from—”
“Good night, ladies.” Jamie nodded in salute to the pair, pried Barbie’s grasping hands from his arm then turned his attentions back to Lauren, whose aching cheeks were grateful to relax her false smile into a genuine one.
“Now then, where were we? Oh yes. I was thanking you for saving me from a dreadfully boring evening alone, and was ready to beg you to do it again sometime. Soon.”
His aquamarine gaze was riveted to hers. He took her free hand, brought her knuckles to his lips, and whispered a feathery kiss against them. Lauren’s knees buckled and she lost her grip on the plate, which slid to the floor with a smoosh.
Jamie scooped it up and set it beside the door. “Thank heavens for saran wrap. No harm done, if you don’t mind it being a bit lopsided.” He straightened and leaned in closer, whispering against her ear, “Remember, if you want more you know where to get it.”
His pressed forward, his lips slanting over her mouth, and Lauren discovered she could indeed still taste the lingering flavor of chocolate cheesecake on him. Her heart started to drum in her chest; her face felt flushed with heat.
A vague awareness of being watched crept into her now-fuzzy consciousness, and she giggled into Jamie’s mouth. Jamie, laughing along with her, caught her lower lip playfully between his teeth before covering her mouth with his own once more.
Somewhere beyond them, Gladys Bronowski’s door clicked shut with a decided attitude of disapproval, which Lauren savored almost as much as Jamie’s amazing kiss.
Almost.
About the Author
Jennifer Harrington lives on the beautiful New England coast with her husband, two small children, and two even smaller cats. When she isn’t reviewing books for Dangerously Curvy Novels or murdering flowers in her sad little garden, she’s sitting in front of her computer avoiding both her housework and writing that breakout novel.
L OVE B YTES
Sue Ann Jaffarian
T HE I NTERNET PERSONAL ad began: Middle-aged,
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