“I’m sorry to hear about your husband, ma’am. I just don’t know if it’s safe for you to be traveling on the road by yourself.”
She nodded her understanding. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I had another woman traveling with me until two days ago. But she found herself a man and decided to get married.
“Look, I’ve proven two things to myself on this trip. I can drive this camper across the country and I can chase off bad guys. If I go down, it won’t be without a fight.”
He stood. “Well, ma’am, I hope that you find someone else to travel the road of life with.”
She thought for a moment. “That would be nice, but I don’t know if I will ever find anyone as good as my George.”
The officer stepped out of the camper. “Be safe, ma’am.”
Brenda watched the young man leave and laughed. She hadn’t had that much fun the entire trip. Outwitting those crooks had felt good, damn good.
Deep in her heart, she’d known she was a survivor, but it had taken two thieves to remind her she had courage.
Chapter 7
“I can’t believe you signed me up for speed dating,” Marianne said to Paige as they hurried into the restaurant. “I had to skip my biology class.”
The woman just wouldn’t quit. She’d signed her up for online dating which was a bust, a spa day that had mixed results, and now speed dating. Good grief, when would Paige realize she wasn’t interested in finding a man?
“So you miss one class. It’s not going to kill you. Besides, we both need some new excitement in our lives.”
“What happened to John?”
Paige shrugged. “He keeps calling, but I’m just bored with the whole experience. There’s no thrill anymore.”
So far in the last four months she’d gone through five guys, none lasting more than five to ten days.
“So you’re dumping him?”
“You are so conventional. If not for the thrill, why be involved? Really, I thought you’d left the old Marianne in Texas.”
The effect of her words had Marianne sizzling like fried bacon and questioning her decision to come today. “I can only be myself.”
Before Paige could respond, they stepped inside the restaurant. A sign directed them to a banquet room where an attendant handed them a sheet of rules and regulations, gave them a name badge, and told them to take a seat.
Fifteen men and, with their arrival, fifteen women, filled the banquet room, all eager to make that lifetime connection.
Or at least fourteen of them were. Marianne wasn’t certain Paige wanted to connect with just one person and spend the rest of her life with that man. But then again, she wasn’t ready to reattach the ball and chain of marriage to herself anytime soon.
So what in the hell was she doing here? She needed to learn how to say no.
She took the first vacant seat, relieved that Paige sat at the other end of the room. They were divided up into small little tables where the conversation could be intimate between them.
The leader of the group tapped a fork on a glass to get attention.
“Hello everyone. Thank you for coming. If you’re new, I’ll explain how this works. For five minutes, you’ll talk to the person across the table from you. If you think there’s a connection with this person, then either during the five minutes or at the end, you can share contact information with each other. Remember, we do not screen our members. You do not have to give your last name, and in fact, we recommend that the first few dates be in a public place until you know more about this person.”
Great, just great. She could be meeting a serial killer, a rapist, or a child molester. Just what she needed, more drama in her life.
“At the end of the five minutes, the men will move to the next table. Afterwards, we invite everyone to hang around for the lunch buffet. I’m setting the timer now. Let’s all have fun today.”
Marianne gazed across the table at the geeky guy whose wrinkled shirt was only missing a pocket protector. She felt nothing, no interest whatsoever, and wondered again if she’d made a huge mistake in coming. Biology was her best subject, but still, she shouldn’t have skipped class.
“Hi,” he said nervously. “What do you do?”
“For a living?” she asked, wanting to confirm the question.
“Yes,” he responded, licking his lips. “I’m a systems analyst.”
“Great,” she replied, thinking this could be the longest five minutes of her life. “I’m a full-time college student.”
He nodded. “Aren’t you a little old to still be in school?”
She forced a smile while she envisioned penciling in horns and a mustache on his face. Why had she come? “Yes, it’s my second time around.”
“Oh,” he said, his voice toneless, no enthusiasm as monotone as a robot. “What’s your major?”
It was a fair question and one she had yet to determine. What did she want to spend the rest of her life doing? Definitely not speed dating.
“Marketing,” she said, just to answer him, knowing that was the furthest from what she wanted to do.
“One minute,” the coordinator yelled.
Thank God. She glanced down the line of men. She had fourteen more of these to go? Dear Lord, how would she do it?
He leaned into her. “Do you like oral sex?” he asked, in a hushed voice.
“What?” she asked, uncertain she’d heard his question correctly.
“It’s a question I ask all the girls I date. I don’t date anyone who doesn’t like oral sex.”
She gawked at him in astonishment, his question like a slap to the face. She drew her body up like a prizefighter prepared to fight, anger her shield.
“That is none of your business. I don’t date anyone who asks me that question before they ask me my name.”
“Oh, I did forget to ask, didn’t I? It’s just oral sex is so important to me. You worship my penis.”
She was just about to tell him to get the hell away from her. Never in her life had she had anyone say such a stupid thing to her.
“Time.”
“So, can I call you?”
“Absolutely not,” Marianne said and watched as he moved to the next chair. Thank goodness, he was gone. If that was the type of people she was going to meet, then this would be over long before she made it through the men who were here today.
A tall, dark-haired man took his seat. He smiled and she took a deep breath and tried to return his smile. Her hands were clenched and she slowly unwound them. The nerve of the creep. She had to fight the urge to leave.
“Hi, my name is Brett.”
“Hi, Brett, I’m Marianne.”
“I’ve never seen you at these before. Is this your first time?”
“Yes,” she said, thinking at least that this guy appeared articulate.
He leaned in closer. “Let me give you the lowdown.” He took a deep breath. “Todd, the guy you just spoke to, is into sex games, or so the girls tell me. John, at the end of the table, is a player. He wines, dines, promises forever, and then moves on to the next. David is going through his third divorce and he bemoans how the world is treating him. Phil, the slick older guy, just likes to date, and Bob is rumored to be bi.”
The man bombarded Marianne with information overload, overwhelming and leaving her with a strange distaste. Talk about TMI. “What about you, Brett? What’s your deal?”
He grinned. “Me, I’m just a hard-working Joe. When I meet a woman I’m interested in, I go for what I want. And you’re one pretty piece of flesh.”
In zero-to-sixty, she went from mildly interested to freezer burned. Something about being described as a ‘pretty piece of flesh’ let her know she’d just be a bauble on his arm and that wasn’t what she was looking for.
“One minute,” the timekeeper called.
He pulled out a business card and laid it in her palm. “Here is my information. I expect a phone call from you. We’ll go to Sambini’s and spend the weekend discover
ing one another.”
She smiled, knowing the card would be in the city dump on the next trash pick-up day. She’d already discovered everything she wanted to know about Brett. He was a loser.
She glanced at Paige, who smiled at her and held up two cards. Why in the world did she let her friend talk her into these stupid adult games that didn’t interest her? This was a total waste of her time.
The next three guys were even less interesting, though one insisted that she take his card, and the other two mumbled, asking for hers. She became very blunt, telling them she wasn’t going to waste their time.
The next candidate moved into the hot seat. With relief, she realized he was the last one. He took her hand in his and introduced himself. “Hi my name is Stuart Wymer and I’m a real estate agent.” He released her hand. “I’ve been married once for twelve years and have two children that are in high school. I don’t get out much, because most of my time is spent with my boys.”
A flicker of interest had her sitting up straighter in her chair. He actually seemed normal. “Hi my name is Marianne. I was married for nineteen years and my only daughter is in college.”
“You have a daughter in college?” he asked, his eyes wide with apparent surprise. “Did you have her when you were ten?”
She laughed. “Hardly.” She stopped and asked a daring question. “Why did your marriage end?”
He took a deep breath. “It was my fault. I let my business get in the way and I didn’t spend enough time with my wife and kids. My wife had an affair and now she’s married to the guy.”
“I’m sorry,” she said and volunteered the reason her marriage ended.
“Wow,” he said. “I guess I’m thankful Pam didn’t get into games.”
The timekeeper called time.
Stuart gazed at her, his big brown eyes earnest. “So, would you like to have dinner some night?”
“Yes, I would,” she offered, surprised by her response.
He gave her his card. “Call me. I’d really like to see you again.”
“Me, too,” she said, and for the first time she meant it. She liked Stuart and wanted to see if her second impression was as good as her first. Maybe today hadn’t been a total waste of her time.
Katie sat in her dorm room alone, working on her English Thesis. Friday night, date night, and she sat home alone. Her roommate, Crystal, was gone on a date, while Katie did her schoolwork, not really into it, but what else was there to do?
A knock on the door drew her attention from the paper she was writing. “Who is it?”
“Open up, its Jake.”
Jake was here now? Crap! She sprinted into the bathroom and checked her hair and makeup, brushed lip-gloss over her lips and hurried to the door, throwing it open.
His right arm was braced against the doorframe, his blonde hair was tousled, his blue eyes twinkled with amusement, and he looked like he’d stepped out of a million dollar jean ad.
“Hi,” she said, her heart beating excitedly.
“Hi,” he responded, assessing her. “So why are you alone tonight?”
“Who says I’m alone?”
He peered into the room. “I don’t see anyone in there. Should I check under the bed?”
She laughed. “Hardly.”
“So, you’re alone?”
“Yeah, I was working on my English Thesis.”
He frowned. “Boring.”
“Yeah, but it is why I’m here.”
While she wasn’t a straight A student, she worked hard to pass her classes and knew that she was preparing for life ahead. A life that hopefully would bless her with a decent job.
“True, but when is the paper due?”
“Next Friday.”
“God, you have a week, why are you spending the night inside this room, when you could come play with me?”
Katie folded her arms against her chest. So why was he here? And could she restrain the urge to jump up and down like a five year old?
“What about Jennifer?”
“What about her?”
She craned her neck to look behind him and down at his leg. “I don’t see her attached any longer.”
“That’s because I set her free.”
“So, you’re unattached? No girlfriends?”
Her pulse beat a little faster. The boy was a player, but with her, she was certain he would be faithful. She’d keep him happy and he wouldn’t have any reason to be looking at other girls.
“I’m always free. I just don’t happen to have a lady right now. Some brunette taunted me to call her when I was free.”
“And here you are.”
Excitement catapulted through her at the fact that he’d come to see her. Her English paper could wait. She wanted to go play with Jake.
“Yes. Maybe we could grab a burger somewhere.”
He was asking her out on a spur of the moment date and she couldn’t be more pleased. She smiled and tilted her head playfully.
“We could,” she said slowly. “Do I have to worry about other girls attacking me for being out with you?”
“I’ll protect you,” he said, leaning into her, his voice deep and husky. “I’ll let them know that you’re the one.”
Katie shook her head at him. “For the moment.”
He grinned. “Life is but a series of moments. I try to make sure they are all moments of pleasure.”
“I just bet you do,” she said.
“So are you in or not?” he asked and she knew he meant more than just hamburgers.
“Let me get my jacket.”
Three hours later, Katie and Jake strolled slowly down the street toward her dorm room. They’d gone to eat and spent time at a local game room where they’d played video games. Katie had showed off her prowess and managed to at least make it to the fourth level before being annihilated.
Jake seemed impressed and told her she should play with him in the college tournament. She didn’t know if she was that good, but she enjoyed the compliment.
Halfway home, he’d taken her hand and tucked it inside his pocket, pulling her close. His body was warm and solid against her and sent delicious shivers through her body, straight to her middle. The boy could arouse a woman without even really trying.
The aroma of Jake surrounded her and she had to concentrate on what he was saying, her mind wandering to what else they could soon be doing. Visions of the two of them intertwined ran through her mind in a naked slideshow.
“So anyway, my Mom says that my grades have to come up or she’s no longer paying my tuition.”
Thank goodness her parents had warned her in advance that she would receive four years of paid college, but after that it was all up to her. She had a set amount of money and once it was gone, the party was over.
“We could study together,” she volunteered.
“Could you help me with my history term paper?”
“Sure. What are you writing about?”
“The constitution and how it relates to us today.”
She nodded her head. “We could write it together.”
He nodded his head. “Thanks. That would be a big help.”
“So what’s your major?”
He shrugged. “Something that will make a lot of money. I keep thinking I should become a doctor, but I love video games.”
“That’s a given. I don’t think any of us want to live in poverty, but how do you plan on making all this money?” she asked, remembering her mother’s words of advice and thinking Jake had no plan, only a wish.
“If I knew that, I’d have my major be something other than computer programming, which I find boring.”
“So, what else interests you?” she asked.
“Besides video games, partying, and girls?” he asked.
“Yes, nerd swipe.”
“Ohh…she’s got a mean streak.”
“You just named off typical boy stuff. What do you like to do when it’s just you and no one else is around?”
“T
hat’s kind of personal,” he said with a snicker.
Well he was certainly all boy. Junior high jokes and no plan on how to succeed.
“Would you be serious,” she admonished. “Do you like to read? Build stuff? Work with your hands? Computers? What do you like to do?”
He stopped and pulled her until they were face to face. Close enough she could see his breath in the cool night air. Close enough she could feel his heart beating against her chest and see his eyes darken.
He leaned his head toward her and she didn’t even hesitate to meet him halfway. His lips covered hers, desire blossoming inside, shaking her to her very core. She’d been kissed before, but never experienced a sizzle all the way to her toes.
His kiss was thorough, sensual, and left her wanting to rip her clothes off right there in the street. She had to get a hold of herself.
She placed a hand between them, needing a moment to collect her thoughts. She opened her eyes and stared into his, awed at the desire shimmering in his gaze. He wanted her and that knowledge made her feel powerful and desired. God, she relished in the feelings.
“My apartment is a couple of blocks from here. We could start on that term paper,” he said, kissing her neck, his tongue lingering in her ear.
She leaned her neck back, giving him more access. Enjoying the moment for just a minute longer. She let him continue kissing her ear, a shiver rippling through her and settling like a tidal wave in her center.
She wanted her first time to be special, memorable.
“Come on, baby. My apartment is only a few blocks away.”
“When is your term paper due?”
“Screw the paper. I want you,” he openly declared.
Katie placed her hand between them. “And I want you, more than you know. But not tonight and not like this.”
He tried to kiss her again. “Come on. It’ll be good. I promise.” Gently, he bit her neck, sending hot flames of lust cascading through her.
She stepped out of his arms, knowing she had to get control over her emotions or wake up in his bed. “I have no doubt it will be good. Just not tonight.”
Jake drew himself up, sighed, and took her hand. They continued walking toward her dorm room. “I really do want your help with my term paper.”
Secrets, Lies, and Online Dating: Three Generations Learn to Love Again (Women's Fiction) Page 12