by Mel Blue
“Sherri, I’m sorry. Would you excuse me?”
Her smile dimmed, but she nodded. He double-checked the bar and then headed outside. It was late as hell, so he doubted she’d walk back to the hotel. Fuck. His temper had gotten the better of him. Was he still annoyed? Yes. Was it worth leaving things as they were between them? No.
He ran a hand through his hair. “Dammit.”
The last image of her was burned into his brain. She’d looked hurt, conflicted. It bothered him so much more, because of what they’d been to each other. What they could have been. He cursed again. The people walking down Bourbon Street didn’t even blink.
He flagged down a cab and jumped in. Tomorrow, she’d be gone. He didn’t even have her cell phone number. It hadn’t seemed necessary when they were nearly always together. There was too much left unsaid, and he’d be damned if he would swallow it back now.
The streets were packed, and the cab drove at a slow crawl. Twenty minutes later, he walked into the hotel. Seraphina stood at the reception desk, flipping through papers. When she saw him, she waved him over.
“Evening,” he said and tried not to look as impatient as he felt.
“I thought you would like to know, Miss Washington checked out of the hotel ten minutes ago.” Her voice was cool.
His breath knocked out of his lungs. “What?” he whispered.
“Something about an emergency with a client.” From the way Seraphina said it, he figured she doubted the truth of the explanation. “I thought you’d want to know.”
The glare she gave him felt well deserved. He couldn’t undo the last hour and make a different choice. After she’d uttered the word lesson, he’d lost all perspective. And now he couldn’t even apologize for it.
“Fuck,” he muttered.
She efficiently grabbed a pen and a paper. “You can leave a message. If and when I hear from Amelia again, I can send it her way.”
Numbness made his head feel like it was filled with cotton. Amelia had wanted to know what he planned to do. She’d wanted to know what he’d do while she worked. In that respect, he’d been in the right to say what he’d said. She didn’t live. She worked. He knew that loneliness. It was a life he didn’t want for either of them.
He pushed the pen and paper away. “Give me your email address. I’ll send you an email by the end of next week to give her a message.”
Her gaze lit with interest. “Next week?”
He rolled his shoulders. “Yeah. I have to get my shit together. I should have something to say by then.” He hesitated before walking away. “Thank you.”
She smiled. “No need. I’m just doing my job.” She tilted her head. “What exactly are you planning to do?”
“Travel.”
His chest still felt tight, but he’d gotten to know Amelia. He knew the fear that kept her paralyzed. And quite frankly, he wasn’t done arguing with her yet. If she didn’t want him after he made his offer, fine. But he was done being scared.
***
Amelia didn’t need a twelve-step program. She needed pills for her crazy. One week had changed her life. She liked to think for the better, but that could just be the crazy talking.
She closed her eyes and lifted her face up to soak in the California sunlight. It was turning out to be a beautiful day, at least weather-wise. Despite the noise of engines revving, and the chaos of people running to and fro, she felt content to just stand there and take it in. She wore jeans, a loose t-shirt, and sneakers. Her backpack felt incredibly light and practically useless, as far as luggage was concerned.
Yup. She was certifiable.
Then again, she’d gone back to work, determined to put all that happened in NOLA behind her. It hadn’t worked. She’d lost her patience with the mogul and fired him as her client. The man hadn’t done anything she didn’t normally have to deal with. He knew what he wanted, even though it wasn’t what he needed. He refused to budge and consider, just maybe, he was wrong. The situation reminded her too much of her own. It had frustrated her beyond belief.
And then she’d gone to Leroy and Denise’s wedding and cried harder than the mother of the bride. The muffled wailing wasn’t the first sign that something was wrong, but it was definitely the one with flashing neon lights.
Dwayne had broken her in a way that when she put the pieces back together, she wasn’t the same. That first crack hadn’t happened when he strode from her in the bar, but when he first kissed her. Two weeks had flown by since their last kiss. Weeks where she bounded between mad enough to see red, and mopey.
Yet never in her life had she wanted to apologize more. Since she couldn’t take back her actions, she wanted Dwayne to know she was a basket case. He got the sane Amelia for most of the week, but the insecure woman who was frightened of what she was feeling for him had finally decided to rear its ugly head and had forced them to implode.
She couldn’t tell him any of that. They hadn’t exchanged something as simple as cell phone numbers, and Seraphina wasn’t giving up the goods. The stubborn woman had only emailed her what looked to be an itinerary. There were dates, times, and locations that stretched across America and Europe.
It was an invitation. One that meant she still had a chance to say she was sorry. To let go of the part of herself filled with insecurities and doubts and embrace sanity again. The part of herself who took a vacation at least once a decade. The her who hadn’t lived until she’d been kissed by a virgin.
So she stopped dawdling and strode across the tarmac. She was looking for a red and white Cessna. Or, rather, a smallish red aircraft, since she didn’t know shit about planes.
Another ten yards, and she saw him. He had a clipboard in his hand, and his hair was mussed by the wind. He stood tall and looked a bit more tanned. Aviator glasses were tucked in the top of his white t-shirt. He moved with ease and certainty. He checked something on the clipboard then patted the plane as though it was an old friend.
What to say to a man you pushed away? One you were too scared to claim as your own. Catch him off guard, but let him know she was here to stay? No. No. Make him laugh.
His back was to her when she approached. “Where’s the rest of the plane?”
Dwayne’s shoulders bunched beneath the shirt. He took his time to face her and when he did, his gaze drunk her in. “This is it, but don’t underestimate this beauty. She looks new, but she’s an old soul. Sturdy. Survived a few brushes that could have left her in a junkyard. She’ll take you where you need to go and show you what it’s like to live between heaven and earth.”
Her heart was thumping. “Is that what flying feels like for you?”
He didn’t move toward her though it was clear how he felt about her being there. If he were a different man, he’d pulled her into his embrace. But this was Dwayne. He’d take it slow and savor the fact she was there to take him up on his invitation for adventure.
“Have you ever been driving, and you hit a beautiful stretch of road? It hits you that there’s just endless wonder and possibilities. That’s what flying feels like for me.”
She adjusted her backpack. Her palms were damp, and she wanted to delay the inevitable. Yes, she was scared, but seeing him had thrown her. She’d missed him like hell.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
He tilted his head. “About?”
She sighed. “About what happened in the bar. I could have handled it differently.”
There was laughter in his gaze. “You don’t regret breaking up with me?”
“You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”
He shook his head and crossed his arms. “Nope.”
“Fine. Okay. I haven’t slept well since I ended things with you. Whenever I start to drift off, my mind goes back to that moment in the bar. After you told me I could have met you halfway, I should have grabbed your shirt and admitted that you were right.” She exhaled. “And when you flirted with that woman, I wanted to hit you in the back of the head with a beer bottle. I’m n
ot a violent person, so it took some time for me to see you were right.”
He laughed. “When I told you about meeting me halfway, I should have kissed you to make it clear I was still willing to be with you until you could figure it out. You should know I came after you, but you’d already gone.”
She hadn’t let herself imagine what happened after she left the bar. It was too much even for her. “What happened?”
“I didn’t sleep with her. I didn’t touch her. When I noticed you’d left, I went to apologize.”
“But—”
“I flirted with her to spite you and fucked up in the process. I’m sorry for that.” Pain creased his forehead. “What I want more than anything is for you to get on this plane with me, so we can see the world together. Experience it together. We do pretty well when we’re not jealous and insecure. And maybe we can be honest and say we’re falling in love with each other. We won’t be able to get away from it if we’re traveling.”
She gasped. “You’re falling for me?”
He shrugged and looked smug as hell. “You’re not too bad.”
She laughed, her heart jumping. “Ditto.”
He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I’m waiting.”
She was still reeling from his confession. “For what?”
“For you to either kiss me or tell me you’re falling for me, too.”
“I don’t know.” She stepped forward. “I mean, do you think we need ground rules before I tackle you on this tarmac and probably have sex with you on the plane?”
He nodded, seeming to take her words seriously. “You’re right. First ground rule: we’re having sex on this plane.”
She snorted. “Second rule: It’s okay to be scared, but it’s not okay to take it out on the other person.”
He took his hands out of his pockets. “If you realize you’re in the wrong, apologize.”
She took another step forward. “Kiss and touch often.”
He balled his fists, not touching her yet. He looked like he wanted too, though. “And after we’re done traveling?”
This she had thought about long and hard. Whenever she felt right there on the brink of hunting him down, this conundrum always stopped her. “I’m on vacation. It’s much needed, but I will be going back to work. I love what I do.”
“Me too,” he said. “And I came up with a solution for our other problem.”
“Yeah?” She wondered why he wouldn’t touch her already.
“I’ll teach,” he said. “You can be cupid, and I’ll teach what I know. I’ll meet you half way and make sure I teach wherever you are. Often. I don’t want to have hot and heavy phone sex six months out of the year. You were right to hate that idea.”
“So you’ll teach, and I’ll hook up clients, but first we travel?”
He ran his thumb over his mouth. “It made no sense to be alone, when we could have each other.”
Damn. Was there any wonder why she had it bad for him? “I’ve been falling for you, Dwayne.”
He grinned at her. “Are we agreed then?”
That’s all she needed to take the next step. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, deeply. She didn’t know where they’d end up, but they’d be together. And that didn’t scare her one bit.
ABOUT MEL BLUE
Melissa Blue’s writing career started on a typewriter one month after her son was born. This would have been an idyllic situation for a writer if it had been 1985, not 2004. Eventually she upgraded to a computer. She’s still typing away on the same computer, making imaginary people fall in love.
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BACKLIST TITLES
Under His Kilt, Under The Kilt
Jocelyn Pearson is determined to spend her last month as a twenty-something doing everything she’s too busy or scared to try. Her imagination runs wild and then fixates on Ian Baird. He’ll be working at the Langston Museum for a short stint as a consulting curator. He’s Scottish. He believes sex is fun to be had. He’s the perfect choice for a fling. She only has to get him break his rule about sleeping with co-workers. Seducing a man was on her bucket list…
Ian is no one’s fool and knows exactly what Jocelyn wants―him. If she didn’t work for the Langston Museum, he’d be more than happy to oblige any and every fantasy she desired, but she’s the curator. She’s sweet, inexperienced and well liked by everyone including the museum owner and director. Ian can’t risk losing such an important contact for his consulting business. Not even when everything within in him craves a taste of her.
When Jocelyn sets her sights on him, there’s no way Ian can deny her. They agree their affair will end in thirty days. No emotions, no entanglements, just sex. The closer the end date looms, they start to question if it’s possible to walk away. They’ll either have to come to terms of what they’ve become or stick to their original agreement.
Her Insatiable Scot, Under The Kilt
Keri Pearson is currently between jobs, so there’s nothing to lose when her cousin promises her a glowing recommendation from a top expert in their field in exchange for a small favor. All she has to do is lie about who she is and pretend to be married to a charming Scot for three hours. Her sexy-as-hell pretend husband makes it too easy to play the part of newlyweds. The last thing she should do is trust him or the genuineness of his lust or adoration, but his touch ignites an unexpected desire.
Tristan Baird turned his back on his past with plenty of regrets, but when his brother blackmails him, Tristan can’t say no. Given his brother saved his neck, an afternoon doing what he does best doesn’t seem like too much to ask. And it’s for a good cause. Doing the job right guarantees his brother and new wife will have the home of their dreams. But his stunning accomplice complicates the job. She is everything he always wanted and couldn’t have. The kind of woman who is too smart to ever trust a former conman.
The three-hour commitment stretches into five sexually charged days as they fight the explosive connection. As each day passes, Keri must remind herself what is true and what is false, but the lines are blurring. Tristan can only hope his past doesn’t come back to ruin their future.
Kilted For Pleasure, Under The Kilt
Callan Baird used to laugh more than he frowned, but that was before his wife died. Now his life is duty, debts and a general apathy for anything else. And then Victoria Burke burst into his life. She’s everything he wants to corrupt.
Victoria has two choices: agree to a grouchy, sexy Scotsman’s extortion or call her boss to explain why she can’t do her job. Since she’s spent the last three years rebuilding her career as antique appraiser, and this one commission could make or break it, the decision is a no-brainer. Except everything about Callan is complicated.
He sees no problem turning their work relationship into a sexual one. She refuses to break her boss’ no-fraternization rule. He’s the one thing she wants and the one thing she can’t have. He’s had his one great love, and doesn’t want a replacement. His heart doesn’t agree, because she’s everything he desires.
Callan will have to let go of his past if he wants Victoria to be in his future.
Kilt Tease, Under The Kilt
Kate Campbell promised to have an affair with a Parisian, says yes more than she says no and sin so she can actually have something to repent on Sunday. As a way to honor her grandmother’s wishes, she takes a job as a traveling nurse so that she can see Europe—a trip they had once planned on taking together. She never bargained on meeting a sexy Scot who makes bad look so, so good, and he needs her help.
Quinton Baird, a retired, high-profile rugby player, has spent over a decade surrounded by people who all want something from him. From his former coaches to the groupies. He now has two rules for anyone he deals with: Don’t
talk to the press. Don’t talk about him to anyone. Ever. His rules are the only way to protect himself from people wanting him to be their meal ticket. No matter how much he likes the sweet, sassy nurse, he can’t believe she’ll help him while asking for nothing in return.
The deal between them is simple. All Kate has to do is pose as Quinton’s girlfriend in public. In exchange for helping him salvage an important business deal, Kate gets many opportunities to say yes—in bed and out of it.
Then reality, and the press, threaten their fictional romance. Quinton will have to trust that Kate’s feeling for him are genuine or risk losing her for good.Kate Campbell promised to have an affair with a Parisian, says yes more than she says no and sin so she can actually have something to repent on Sunday. As a way to honor her grandmother’s wishes, she takes a job as a traveling nurse so that she can see Europe—a trip they had once planned on taking together. She never bargained on meeting a sexy Scot who makes bad look so, so good, and he needs her help.
Quinton Baird, a retired, high-profile rugby player, has spent over a decade surrounded by people who all want something from him. From his former coaches to the groupies. He now has two rules for anyone he deals with: Don’t talk to the press. Don’t talk about him to anyone. Ever. His rules are the only way to protect himself from people wanting him to be their meal ticket. No matter how much he likes the sweet, sassy nurse, he can’t believe she’ll help him while asking for nothing in return.
The deal between them is simple. All Kate has to do is pose as Quinton’s girlfriend in public. In exchange for helping him salvage an important business deal, Kate gets many opportunities to say yes—in bed and out of it.
Then reality, and the press, threaten their fictional romance. Quinton will have to trust that Kate’s feeling for him are genuine or risk losing her for good.
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EXCERPT UNDER HIS KILT