Love Lessons

by Kari Lee Harmon

  I laughed. “Yeah, well, we’ll have to see what my boyfriend has to say about that.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m pretty persuasive when I set my mind on something.”

  “Really? I never would have guessed.” I chuckled and dialed my brother.

  Tom answered on the first ring. “Hey, Gavin, I’ve been expecting a call from you. You finally ready to admit you need my help with this, or what?”

  “Tom, it’s Mandy. You can help Gavin with whatever he needs help with--which is plenty, I’m sure,” I winked at Gavin, “but right now, I need your help.”

  “Oh-kay. Dare I ask?”

  “Funny. Listen, do you know if Mason is still stationed in Germany?”

  A paused filled the line, then my brother said, “Yeah, why?”

  “Yes! I knew it.” I shot Gavin a thumbs-up, but he just scowled at me, so I turned away. “I’ll explain why later. Do you happen to have his number?”

  “Sure.” Tom rattled off Mason’s number. “But just so you know, he--”

  “Later Tom. And thanks.” I hung up and dialed the number he gave me.

  “Oh, you are not even calling Germany on my cell phone, are you?” Gavin surged up off my desk and took two long strides in my direction until he stood just inches from me, his nose a breath away from mine.

  “Actually yes.” I leaned back and flattened my hand on his chest to stop him from knocking me over, and his pectorals flexed beneath my palm. I blinked. Who knew he was so built? I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry, but then I remembered my task at hand. I inhaled and took a large step back. What was my problem today? “I know. I know.” I smiled stiffly. “I owe you big. I got it. I just have to do this now. I can’t wait any longer. You understand.”

  A muscle in his jaw bulged, and he looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t so much as utter a word or attempt to take his phone back. He just stood there like he wasn’t quite sure what to do. I tipped my head to the side and raised an eyebrow at him, but then someone spoke through the phone, distracting me.

  “Gillard residence, Mrs. Gillard speaking.”

  My mouth fell open, and I gasped.

  “Hello, is anyone there?” a far away voice said through the line.

  “Uh, I’m sorry. Did you say, Mrs. Gillard, as in Mrs. Mason Gillard? As in his wife?” I blinked at Gavin, but he didn’t look surprised in the least. In fact, if I didn’t know better, I would swear he looked smug, standing all arrogant with his feet spread wide apart and his arms crossed over his chest. His rather wide chest. When did that happen?

  “Yes. Who is this?” the woman asked.

  I tore my gaze away and said, “You can call me Ms. Stupid, and let’s just say I have the wrong number.”

  I hung up and thought, Boy did I ever.

  LESSON FOUR

  A way to a woman’s heart is

  definitely not through her stomach,

  especially from some phony boloney.

  Thursday afternoon, gift number four arrived right on schedule. I had to admit, the flattery of a secret admirer was wearing thin. This was becoming way too much work, and quite frankly, it was starting to freak me out.

  I picked up the box on my desk and unwrapped it when a knock came on my door. “Well,” asked Gavin, entering in typical Gavin style without waiting for an invitation. Then again, who was I kidding? He knew I’d never refuse him.

  “Well what?” I asked, teasing him with a smile.

  “You know what. You’ve been dragging me around all week, trying to figure this whole secret admirer thing out. I can’t help but wonder what you got today?”

  I held the box out for him. “See for yourself.”

  He took the pastry box from my hands and peeked inside. “Mmmm. I haven’t had Chocolate Caramel Surprise since the last time you took me to that mom and pop bakery,” he paused for a minute and looked at me, “what was it called?”

  “Russo’s Little Slice of Heaven.”

  “That’s right. Mind if I have a piece? There’s enough here for two.”

  I laughed as he dug in before I’d even said yes, confident of what the answer would be. I had to admire that Gavin pretty much got whatever Gavin wanted. I often wished I had that confidence, but I tended to second guess everything and not proceed unless something made perfect sense.

  “Help yourself. Oh, wait, you already did.” I snickered.

  He smirked, shoveling a forkful of the heavenly gooey concoction into his mouth. “Oh, God, can you blame me,” he mumbled between chews and moans. He filled a fork once more, only this time he grabbed my hand and pulled me between his knees and held the fork up to my mouth.

  “Um, uh, oh my,” I managed a second before he poked the fork between my lips, and a rush of heat flooded my body. Did I have a fever? Maybe I was coming down with a spring flu.

  “Come on, you know you can’t resist any more than I can.” He licked the corner of his lips and stared at mine, his teasing smile gone and his breathing seemed to grow heavier. “You have chocolate right there.” He swiped my bottom lip with his thumb before I had a chance to grab a napkin and then brought his thumb to his mouth to lick the chocolate off.

  I gasped. “Oh, well, thanks,” I croaked. Something seemed off between us today. Electricity charged the air surrounding us. Maybe it was a full moon. That had to be why he kept giving me strange looks and acting weird, and for some reason, I couldn’t stop staring at his mouth. Why had I never noticed how full his lips were?

  “So, what’s next Sherlock?” He playfully shoved me out from between his knees. “How do we find out who knows your favorite dessert is Chocolate Caramel Surprise?” And with that, the tension evaporated.

  Thank God!

  I stepped back as he packed up my dessert box, and I thought about who my secret admirer might be. My mind made a mental grid of all the other scenarios I’d run with no success. Then I groaned in disgust. “Oh, God, I know exactly who it is.”

  Gavin arched a brow at me. “Is it really all that bad?”

  “Are you kidding me? It’s worse than bad; it’s horrible. I mean, the guy is nice enough in his own way, he’s just sooo not my type.”

  Gavin’s jaw worked overtime. “Really, now. Well, if you’re not into him, then you’re not into him. It’s as simple as that. Just be honest with the guy.”

  “No, it’s not as simple as that.”

  He looked into my eyes. “How so?”

  “Russo’s is my favorite bakery, you know that. But if Mrs. Russo doesn’t stop trying to fix me up with her son, I’ll just have to stop going there, period.” I stared at the dessert box, and an overwhelming sense of loss filled me. “How will I live the rest of my life without ever eating Chocolate Caramel Surprise again?”

  Gavin chuckled, and the tension seemed to evaporate from his shoulders. “I’m sure it’s not as bad as it seems, and somehow I doubt Sleazy Sylvester is your secret admirer. Why don’t you call him and find out? You can even use my phone.” He held out his cell and grinned.

  “Um, no thanks. If it is him, I’d rather not know. He is such a phony boloney.”

  “So, what are you going to do then?”

  I sighed. “Absolutely nothing. Quite frankly, I’m getting tired of playing this game. I mean, if the guy likes me, then why doesn’t he just come out and say so? Why all the secrecy?”

  “Maybe he’s afraid you won’t like him back?” Gavin toyed with the ribbon on the dessert box. “I mean, you’re not the easiest person to read, you know.”

  “Well, he’ll never know unless he tries, now will he?” I plunked my hands on my hips, growing more irritated by the second. “I mean, be a man already. Jeesh.”

  Gavin’s eyes hardened, and he looked almost angry. “Maybe he figures if you can’t figure out who he is, then maybe you don’t know him as well as he thinks.”

  I tossed my hands up. “Well, that’s just stupid. How am I supposed to know who he is when he’s sending me gifts that tell me about me? I kn
ow absolutely nothing about him.”

  “Yet he seems to know everything about you.”

  “So it seems.”

  Gavin looked at his watch. “Well, guess I’d better hit the road. I have to pack.”

  “Oh, that’s right. You leave for Egypt tomorrow. I can’t believe you’re going away for two whole weeks.”

  “Why not? Tomorrow’s the last day of school.”

  “Well, what am I supposed to do without you?” I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling lonely already.

  “Come with me. You sure I can’t get you to change your mind?”

  “Um, let me think about that.” I put my finger on my chin and squinted as though deep in thought. “That would be a NO.” I laughed. “But I’ll miss you.”

  He smiled, looking almost sad. “Will you?”

  “Of course I will.” I looked at him strangely. “You’re not sick or something and just not telling me, are you?” I grabbed his hand. “Because you’ve been acting strange.”

  He stared down at our joined hands and squeezed as he looked back up at me with a normal “Gavin” smile and a wink. “I’m fine, dollface. Just gonna miss you, too.”

  “Then don’t go,” I said, suddenly not wanting him to leave.

  “Ah, you know me. Can’t sit still for long, but I’ll be back. No worries, okay? I just need to get away for a while. Clear my head. You’ll be fine.” He got up and headed for the door.

  An unfamiliar panic seized me. Desperate to make him stay, even if I did sound selfish, I blurted, “Hey, what about helping me find out who my secret admirer is?”

  He looked over his shoulder one last time. “If you haven’t figured it out by now, love, it probably wasn’t meant to be.” Then he was gone.

  I just stood there, staring after him, feeling lost and confused. What the hell did that mean?

  LESSON FIVE

  Love makes the world go round,

  but when you combine love with friendship,

  you get the most precious gift of all.

  A soul mate.

  TGIF? Not today. I entered my classroom on Friday afternoon, depressed about Gavin leaving and frustrated that I hadn’t figured out who my secret admirer was, but I had pretty much given up hope.

  Setting my purse on the edge of my desk, I stared down at a box beautifully wrapped in my favorite lavender colored wrapping paper. I ran my fingertips over the silver satin bow taped cockeyed to the corner and noticed the paper was a bit wrinkled and uneven. I couldn’t help wondering if my admirer had wrapped this gift himself.

  I smiled, touched in spite of my frustration. A bit rough around the edges, but maybe this guy wasn’t so bad after all. I chewed the inside of my cheek as I noticed gift number five came with a card. Tearing the paper open, I studied the oddly familiar handwriting, but I was too shocked by the words to try to figure out who it belonged to.

  My dearest Mandy,

  This is it. Your final clue. If you finally figure this out, you’ll know where to find me. If not, it’s been fun. Keep it real and loosen up a little, would ya. Have some fun.

  Forever, your secret admirer.

  I tore open the gift and held it up to study it. It was a paperweight in the shape of an ancient Egyptian pyramid. I frowned. This wasn’t one of my favorite things. In fact, this was more up Gavin’s alley than mine. I blinked. Gavin’s alley.

  Gavin???

  Well, Duh! I slapped my palm to my forehead. Figuring out Gavin Malone was my secret admirer didn’t require any calculation whatsoever. How could I have not have known? How could I have been so blind? How could I have been so stupid? Of course Gavin would know all my favorite things. He knew everything about me.

  I laughed, elated at finally coming to the proper conclusion, but then my heart started pounding and my palms began to sweat. Solving this puzzle didn’t bring on a feeling of satisfaction like it normally did, it brought on sheer terror.

  Oh my God, my secret admirer was my best friend!

  What was I going to do? I sat down hard on my chair. Gavin meant the world to me. I couldn’t lose him, but what if a romantic relationship ruined our friendship? My heart felt like it was breaking in two. I tried to think of Gavin in a different light and realized I’d noticed on several occasions how handsome he was, how big and masculine, how great he smelled.

  How I always felt safe and protected when I was with him.

  I already knew we got along fantastically, but was it enough? I wanted the fairytale, the happily ever after, the butterflies in my stomach, and I wouldn’t settle for anything less. I was scared to death, but I knew there was only one way to find out. Picking up the paperweight, I headed down the hall to his room, more nervous than I’d ever been.

  His door stood ajar, and he had his back to me as he filled his leather satchel with papers, getting ready to head for home. Head for Egypt for two whole weeks. Head away from me. What I had to do couldn’t wait two weeks. In fact, it couldn’t wait another second.

  I took a deep breath and knocked.

  He turned around and froze when he saw me, his hand hovering above his satchel. I held up the paperweight, and his eyes narrowed, studying me for a minute. He simply said, “Took you long enough, Einstein.” He slowly lowered the papers to his desk and started walking toward me. “For someone who’s so brilliant with numbers, you can’t put two and two together, babe.”

  “H-how long have you felt this way?” I asked as he drew closer.

  “Since the day I met you.” His eyes filled with raw emotion, and he looked vulnerable for the first time ever.

  I sucked in a breath, wanting desperately to hug him, but terrified to do so. “W-why me?”

  “Why not you?” He stroked my cheek so tenderly I wanted to cry. “What’s not to love?”

  I swallowed, my throat clogged with my own emotion. “Did you just say love?”

  His eyes burned a path straight to my soul. “Yes, Amanda Renee Winters, I love you. I have for a very long time.”

  “But--” A tear slipped down my cheek.

  “Shhhh.” He pressed his finger to my lips, wiped away my tears, and took me in his arms. The strongest sensation that I’d come home settled over me, and I melted into him, letting out a soft sigh. “No buts, no doubts, no second guesses, and for God’s sake, no logic. I don’t give a damn if this makes sense or not, just open your heart and let me in.”

  I looked into his eyes and wanted nothing more than to do just that, but we’d been friends for so long, I wasn’t sure it would work. What if we didn’t add up? “What if I don’t know how?” I asked in barely more than a whisper.

  “I’ll teach you.” His head dipped lower, his eyes never breaking contact even after his lips touched mine, and the butterflies began to dance.

  My eyelids fluttered closed and I moaned, then he wrapped his arms around me tighter. Plunging a hand into my hair, he loosened the knot at the back of my head until the strands tumbled out of the clip and spilled free. A fire like I’d never known licked my insides, warming me to the core, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, trying to get closer, needing to be one with him. With Gavin. My Gavin.

  An eternity later, we broke apart, chests heaving for air.

  “H-How’d I do?” I gasped.

  “A plus. Was there ever any question?” His eyes teased.

  “Well, you’re a great teacher. It worked.” I smiled, pushing my doubts aside and letting my heart fill my eyes. “I’m pretty sure I love you, too. By the way, you’re not going to Egypt without me. In fact, you’re not going anywhere without me.”

  His gaze softened, and he tweaked my nose. “Right answer again, genius.”

  “I always was a quick study, but um ... I think I might need another lesson.” I licked my lips.

  He stared at my mouth and groaned. “Baby, I don’t think we can survive another lesson. I mean, we are still in school.”

  “Extra credit maybe?” I bit my bottom lip.

  He chuckled. “God, I thoug
ht you’d never ask.” His mouth swooped down over mine as he kicked the door closed, but my heart was wide open, and class was most definitely in session.

  The End

  About the Author

  Kari Lee Harmon lives in central NY with her own hero of a husband, her three strapping boys, and her little Darling Diva. When Kari's not writing about heroes, she's playing the role herself, for it takes someone pretty heroic to handle her wild crew.

  Fun Facts

  ▪Kari is a closet karaoke wannabe singer.

  ▪She is an adventure addict and isn't afraid to try anything daring like parasailing, scuba diving, zip lining, etc. Next up on her list is hand gliding and bunji jumping.

  ▪She is deathly afraid of rodents of any kind.

  ▪She loves country music.

  ▪Her first job was in an ice cream shop, followed by a grocery store and then a waitress.