I missed posting this last week because of my inability to type yet, status post rotator cuff and torn bicep repair.
Thank you, Jesus, I’m able to type a little now.
This is a little sumthin’ sumthin’ from book2 in my DotComGirls romance series. There’s a good chance I might be self pubbing this in the near future if no one in the industry wants to to that for me (heehee)
Anyway, Heroine is Nell Newbery, hero is Charlie Churchill and this scene is a little banter between them I kinda like.
My ride had arrived during the time we were being questioned and hadn’t stuck around.
I ordered another one.
“Two minutes out,” I said. “He’s around the corner.”
“I’ll wait with you,” Charlie said.
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to.”
I nodded and readjusted my briefcase strap around my shoulder and sucked on the inside of my cheek.
“Look—”
“I’d like—”
He grinned down at me. “You first.”
“I just want to say…thanks. For everything, from helping me when I fell, to when I banged my chin, and for the burger.” I shook my head. “I feel like I’ve had a black raincloud following me around this entire day and I sucked you into my own personal squall.”
“I’m British,” he said, a bemused expression on his face. “I’m used to the rain.”
I laughed.
“I don’t care about storms, Nell,” he added. “I always have an umbrella stored in my briefcase as a precaution.”
“I bet you were a boy scout.”
It was his turn to laugh. “Something equivalent, anyway. Listen.” He took my hand in his and my nerves instantly ebbed away. “I enjoyed spending time with you this evening and I’d like to do it again.”
“Really?”
“Why do you sound shocked?”
I lifted a shoulder and pulled a corner of my mouth between my teeth. “Raincloud, remember? Plus—”
When I didn’t continue he squeezed my hand. “Did you not have a good time?”
“No. I mean, yes I did, not no, I didn’t. I did. It was fun.”
Lord, when did I turn into such a babbler?
He grinned down at me.
“It’s just, well…I don’t date much.”
“Neither do I.”
My head slammed back up. “I find that hard to believe. I caught some of the looks those women tossed you when they were leaving my lecture tonight.”
“I don’t date students. Ever. That’s a line that never gets crossed. Not by me.”
“Oh. Well.” I swallowed. “I’m sure you know other women who aren’t students.”
He nodded. “None of them, unfortunately, know Dr. Strange isn’t a rapper or confuse Stan Lee with a famous martial artist from the sixties.”
My pulse rate jumped a half dozen beats when he tossed me a cheeky grin, laughter in his eyes.
“I do have some talents,” I said.
He lifted his chin to something behind me. “I think this is your ride.”
With his hand still wrapped around mine, he walked me to the curb. Habit had me checking the license with the one I’d been texted.
“It is.”
He opened the passenger door for me and I got in.
“You never answered me,” he said when I was seated. “Would you like to do this again?”
I’d lived my entire adult life taking chances in my professional life but shying away from them in my personal one. The reasons to avoid becoming involved were valid ones, in my mind, and they’d served me well.
But there was something so different about this man, something that wanted me to finally give in and take a chance that he wouldn’t be like all the other men I’d gotten close to. He wouldn’t use me to his own end purpose; he wouldn’t betray me; he wouldn’t lie to me about who and what he was.
And dammit, I deserved to have some fun in my life.
All this ran through my head as he stood, patiently waiting for my answer.
It really didn’t take much effort on my part to make a decision. With a half grin and my gaze staying zeroed in on his, I reached into my briefcase and pulled out one of my business cards. While the driver waited, I wrote my private cell number on the back of it. There were only five people on the planet who had this number.
Now, Charlie did as well.
As I handed it to him, I cocked my head and said, “Maybe next time we can get through an evening without me needing first aid or being mugged.”
His jaw wide smile made my stomach muscles flutter. He leaned in, gave me a quick peck on the cheek and said, “Where would the fun be in that?”
Intrigued? Stay tuned for my decision on self pub or traditional.
Until next time ~ Peg
Peggy Jaeger, Author 