One Classic Latin Lover, Please

by McClure, Marcia Lynn

  And as it always does when fatigue, darkness, and separation from a loved one occurs, doubt about Rome’s feelings toward her began to creep into Tierney’s mind once more.

  Still, she pushed her fears and doubts to the back of her mind as she quickly rinsed the hot tub water and chemicals from her body, dressed, and hurried back out to the kitchen to meet the others.

  ❦

  “So I was thinking,” Rome began as he moved his Rudolph Monopoly token six spaces on the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Monopoly board.

  “Well, that would explain the smoke coming out of your ears,” Alec teased. “And I own that Donner’s Cave property, so you owe me rent. Pay up, buddy.”

  “Scrooge,” Rome mumbled as he counted out fourteen dollars in Monopoly money and tossed it at Alec.

  “Thanks, man,” Alec said, adding the paper bills to his quickly growing hoard. “Now what were you saying?”

  Rome sat back in his chair, grumbled, “I always lose this game,” and then, looking to Tierney, continued, “I was thinking that if Alec here can find the guts to ask Celeste out on an official date, then I oughta be able to dig up enough courage to ask you out, right?”

  Tierney’s eyes widened. Was she dreaming? Maybe she’d fallen asleep at the table, waiting for everyone to take a turn at Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Monopoly, and was simply imagining that Rome was implying he was going to ask her out.

  “Wh-why would you need courage for that?” she stammered (just in case she really was awake).

  Rome shrugged. “Because you might turn me down.”

  Tierney frowned. Was he kidding? They’d spent half an hour making out in the hot tub earlier that same evening! Did he really think she wouldn’t want to go out with him?

  “I would never turn you down!” she exclaimed—still astonished, still wondering whether she were awake.

  Rome’s lips curved into a naughty yet wonderfully wonderful grin. “Never?” he teased.

  Celeste giggled, and Tierney blushed.

  “Never within reason. You know what I meant.”

  “Then you’ll go out with me…on a real date thing?” Rome asked, leaning toward her.

  Tierney shook the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Monopoly dice in her hand and let them drop on the board before answering, “Of course.”

  “Okay,” Rome said, rubbing his hands together as if he’d just won something. “How about Monday night? I’ll pick you up at seven?”

  “Monday night it is,” Tierney said, moving her Hermey the Elf token six spaces.

  She landed on the Misfit Island Guest Chambers property, rolling her eyes when Alec clapped his hands and said, “I own that, Tiers! You owe me rent. Pay up.”

  Looking to Celeste, Tierney said, “He never, ever wins Monopoly. That’s why he’s so excited.”

  Celeste giggled. “Well, he hasn’t won yet!” Celeste rolled her dice and moved her Sam the Snowman token three spaces.

  As Alec and Celeste began to barter over the sales of certain properties from one another, Rome leaned over and whispered in Tierney’s ear. “I mean, I think we’re ready for the next step, don’t you? An actual date?”

  Tierney shivered with delight at the feel of his warm breath on her neck. Giggling a little, she turned to him and whispered, “The next step? Usually a date is the first step, you know.”

  “Well, maybe…for most people,” he breathed. “But we’re not most people, right?”

  “I guess not,” Tierney said, shivering with delight again.

  “Dude!” Alec exclaimed. “Get a room, man,” he chuckled.

  “Don’t tempt me,” Rome said, returning his attention to the game board as Alec rolled the dice and moved his Bumble the Abominable token five spaces.

  Tierney felt herself blush as Celeste said, “Sorry, Tierney. Rome’s filter thins out when he’s tired.”

  Rome covered his mouth and yawned. “That’s true, Tierney. Sorry,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “And it’s the only reason Alec is whipping my butt at this game too.”

  “I’m kicking your butt because you stink at this game, dude,” Alec countered.

  “Just wait, man. Rudolph gets the best of the Bumble in the end…and I have the Rudolph token, so watch out,” Rome said.

  “Dream on, Romeo…dream on,” Alec teased.

  Tierney smiled as Alec and Rome continued to talk trash about the game. But she wasn’t smiling about their trash talk (though it was hysterical, listening to them argue over tokens based on an old TV Christmas special). She was smiling about the fact Rome had asked her out on an official date! Monday couldn’t come quickly enough. She knew Celeste must feel the same way about her upcoming date with Alec—about Friday. It was all too wonderful to be true, and she bit the inside of her cheek a little—just to make sure that it was.

  ❦

  Late that night, as Tierney lay in bed, glad that Rome had pulled out the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Monopoly win after all, she sighed as she thought about her time in the hot tub with Rome. She wondered if he knew how completely he owned her—all of her. She wondered if he enjoyed kissing her as much as she enjoyed kissing him.

  Closing her eyes at last, she thought about nothing but Rome. No worries pricked at her mind—nothing. No worries about how in the world she would ever exist on just a part-time salary, about whether Celeste would break Alec’s heart, or whether she would ever have to deal with Elias Potts alone again—none of it entered her mind. There was only Rome—handsome, gorgeous Rome Novak and his perfect lover’s caresses—his perfect, stereotypical Latin lover’s kiss.

  Chapter Ten

  “So how do you feel about going full time, Tierney?” Jessica asked.

  Tierney could not hide her relief and delight. “I would love it! Thank you so much, Jessica!”

  Working at the florist full time meant Tierney would gain the financial self-reliance she so desperately craved. Oh, she knew Alec was in no hurry for her to get her own place—knew he’d help her out financially for as long as she needed him to, and willingly. But Tierney needed to know for herself that she could make it on her own, and Jessica’s offer of full-time employment was the beginning.

  “You’re just so talented, Tierney,” Jessica remarked. “I can’t believe the arrangements your mind conceives. It just amazes me. I feel so fortunate that you moved to Leavenworth—as if you were meant to come to work for me.”

  Even for the little nagging anxiety that was pulling at the back of Tierney’s mind where Elias Potts was concerned—for certainly there would be a higher chance that she may indeed run into Elias more often now—Tierney was ecstatic about Jessica’s offer.

  Therefore, she pushed her discomfort regarding Jessica’s husband to the very farthest corners of her mind and simply enjoyed the relief of knowing she would make money to survive on her own.

  In fact, it seemed nothing could dampen her heightened spirits that lovely Monday in November. Still, as the snow began to fall on her way home, Tierney wondered if her ravenously anticipated first official date with Rome was going to have to be postponed.

  The snow was piling up quickly, and as Tierney entered the house to see Alec decked out in his snowplowing gear, her heart sank to the pit of her stomach with a painful thud.

  “You guys are going to be out all night again, aren’t you?” she asked her brother.

  Alec exhaled a heavy sigh of compassion as he nodded.

  “It’s not fair,” Tierney grumbled. “You got to have your date with Celeste. Why is it my evening that has to be ruined? Stupid snow.”

  “I’m sorry, Tiers,” Alec said, “really…but it can’t be helped. I swear that if I could control the weather, I’d postpone this storm so you could have your scandalous evening with Rome. You know that, right?”

  “I know,” Tierney sighed as her shoulders began to droop. “And it wasn’t going to be scandalous, for your information. Just…just fun.”

  Her cell rang. The caller ID said Rome, and she a
nswered, “Hello?”

  “Hey there, bootylicious booty babe,” Rome greeted, causing a broad smile to spread across Tierney’s face. Date or no date, the sound of Rome’s voice always titillated her.

  “Hi,” Tierney giggled.

  “Are you up for a little change of plans?” he asked. “Not a postponement or cancellation…just a little change in what I originally had in mind.”

  “I’m up for anything,” Tierney answered as her hopes began to soar once more.

  “Oooo! Anything?” Rome teased.

  “Yep,” Tierney ventured.

  “Good! Then wrap yourself in one of those way-too-sexy sweaters of yours and those cute little snow boots and meet me in front of your house in thirty minutes, okay?”

  “Okay,” she answered.

  Tierney’s heart was hammering so hard the rhythm was echoing in her ears. Rome hadn’t canceled their date after all! In fact, the idea of being with him all night again as he plowed sounded even better than a regular date with him. After all, a regular date lasted only a few hours. With any luck, Tierney would be with Rome all night long!

  “All right then. See you in a while, my little pancake batter bubble,” Rome flirted.

  Tierney giggled, “Bye.” She loved Rome’s ridiculous terms of endearment.

  “I take it by the crazed look in your eyes that your date with Rome is still on, huh?” Alec asked, smiling.

  “Yep,” Tierney said.

  Alec shook his head with amusement. “If I had the guts, I’d call up Celeste and ask her to go with me too. But…I don’t want to push my luck, you know?”

  Tierney frowned. “Alec, ask her! If she can’t go, she’ll tell you why, and if she can, she will. You’ve got to reach out and take hold of her, Alec. She likes you!”

  “It seems like she does,” he mumbled, retrieving his cell from his pocket and staring at it.

  “Do it, Alec,” Tierney demanded. “Just call her.”

  Inhaling a deep breath of courage, he did call Celeste. And as Tierney listened to the conversation, as she watched a smile of relief and excitement spread across her brother’s handsome face, she knew it would be a night to remember for Alec as well as herself.

  ❦

  “Are you ready for some action?” Rome asked as he reached over, assisting Tierney with her seatbelt.

  “I was born ready,” Tierney ventured.

  “Ooo! Ho!” Rome laughed. “You’re already frisky tonight, huh?”

  “Frisky?” Tierney asked, her eyes widening.

  Still smiling, Rome shook his head. “I didn’t mean frisky in a…you know…frisky way. I meant frisky, like a kitten with a new catnip toy thing.”

  Tierney giggled. “Well then, yes, I am feeling frisky already…just like a kitten with a new catnip toy.”

  Rome’s smile broadened. “Can I be the toy?”

  Tierney blushed, rolled her eyes, and shook her head with disbelief. “You’re unbelievable.”

  “No. But the date I had planned was,” Rome grumbled with discouragement.

  “Really?” Tierney couldn’t help but ask.

  “Yep,” Rome assured her. “I had it all planned out—a romantic sleigh ride outside of town, complete with jingle bells, a warm blanket to snuggle up under, a thermos full of hot chocolate. I think you would’ve enjoyed it. And I was hoping to make it onto your ‘top five best dates’ list.”

  For some reason, Tierney found that she was feeling a bit more confident than usual in that moment. Perhaps it was the smile on Alec’s face as he’d left to pick up Celeste. Or maybe it was the fact that she now had full-time employment. And though she suspected the reason was the fact Rome hadn’t canceled their date altogether, it didn’t matter. What mattered was she did feel a bit more frisky than usual.

  And so she ventured a flirtatious compliment. “This is already on the top of my list, Rome…because, after all, I am with you.”

  “Frisky!” Rome chuckled. “And I like it.”

  Tierney blushed and looked forward, out into the blowing snow.

  “But, since our romantic sleigh ride had to be postponed, I figured a guy has to make do with what he has,” Rome began. “So I still brought the thermos of hot chocolate, a warm blanket to snuggle under—just in case we end up in a snowdrift or something—the soft music. And for a little added adventure, I figure I’ll teach you how to drive the truck and operate the plow tonight…just in case you ever need to fill in for me if I’m sick one night or something.”

  Tierney laughed at the idea of herself operating a snowplow blade. “It sounds like the first date of a lifetime to me,” she told him.

  Rome winked at her and said, “Baby, I promise you it will be a first date you’ll never forget.”

  Tierney shook her head, still smiling (and blushing a little) as Rome lowered the plow blade and drove them off into the dark, snowy night.

  ❦

  Eight hours later, Tierney didn’t even care that she only had five hours to catch a little sleep and get ready before having to be at work—for her first official date with Rome had been magnificent! Hot chocolate, warm and entertaining conversation, even an adventure when the truck had gotten high-centered and Rome had had to get out and dig it out—it truly had been the greatest first date Tierney had ever experienced. The fact that it eventually came to an end only after a deliciously passionate hour of kissing made it all the more wonderful—so wonderful that the only thing that finally wiped the happy smile from Tierney’s face was the sight that met Tierney when she walked into the floral shop at 8 am. Jessica was not in the front of the shop as she usually was. Instead, Tierney found Elias Potts there.

  “Good morning, Tierney,” Elias greeted as Tierney removed her coat and hung it on the coatrack in the back of the shop. “Jessica is home with the flu or something today. I told her I’d fill in this morning, but you’ll be by yourself for the afternoon. Hope you don’t mind.”

  Tierney certainly didn’t mind being by herself in the afternoon, but she certainly did mind that Elias would be there all morning. The emotional red flags in her mind began to slowly unfurl—and she tried to keep them in check. After all, what could the man possibly do to harm her, there in the broad light of day, in a floral shop?

  As it turned out, Elias was more annoying than anything else. He spent the whole morning following Tierney around the shop asking insipid questions. And although he drove her nearly batty, he didn’t do or say anything inappropriate. By the time he’d left for the day at one pm, Tierney had convinced herself that perhaps she was just being paranoid where Elias was concerned. It seemed it was one of those instances where, though her red flags were keeping her on guard, Tierney was safe enough. And besides, what woman in her right mind would quit the only full-time job she’d ever had (and needed) over the fact that the boss’s husband simply creeped her out?

  ❦

  The two weeks before Thanksgiving were fantastic for not only Tierney but Alec as well. Rome had begun to call, text, or drop by to see Tierney every day—and it was marvelous! He always kissed her good-bye, always sat with his arm around her shoulders whenever they were together, and even managed to find a night when he didn’t have to plow to take her on the romantic sleigh ride he’d planned before.

  Tierney was so in love with Rome, there were times she couldn’t breathe—times she’d find herself weeping in bed with fear that he would lose interest in her and move on. She tried to convince herself to live in the moment—enjoy his attention, affections, and company while they were focused on her. But the truth was, her heart would begin to break every time she’d think of Rome not wanting her anymore—not liking her anymore—not kissing her anymore.

  Alec was as torn up over Celeste as Tierney was over Rome, and it was many a night the siblings spent consoling and encouraging one another. For Alec’s sake, Tierney knew that Celeste would marry Alec in a single heartbeat if he asked her. She never revealed the fact to Alec, being that she knew his relationship with Celeste ne
eded to take its natural course. But the more she saw Alec and Celeste moving toward a serious commitment, the more Tierney began to think that it didn’t make any sense for a brother and sister to end up marrying a brother and sister. Things just didn’t work out that way in the world—where everybody had their happy ending. Percentages probably proved it.

  Therefore, as much time as Tierney spent in the bliss of having Rome’s attention, she spent nearly as much time waiting for it to end. It wasn’t a healthy way to think, she knew—but she couldn’t seem to help it. When added to her fears of Rome’s growing bored with her, Tierney’s anxieties over Elias Potts nearly overwhelmed her at times.

  Elias had begun to spend more and more time at the floral shop each day—whether or not his wife was present—and Tierney’s emotional red flags were full out flapping in the wind most of the time he was around. Still, she needed her job, and she loved the floral arranging. And so she endured—just tried to ignore her worries—made certain that she focused on thinking of Rome as much as possible. And in the end, everything seemed to be rolling along fine at work.

  So, figuring that life was simply a rollercoaster of joys and worries, Tierney settled in to life in Leavenworth—to her job, to watching Alec and Celeste’s romance erupt, and, most importantly, to falling more deeply in love with Rome at every turn.

  And all at once, it was Thanksgiving Day. Tierney found herself wrapped in the warm and welcoming embrace of Nikki and Edward Novak’s home.

  Mrs. Novak had asked that Tierney arrive first thing in the morning to help her and Celeste with the pies, rolls, stuffing, and other delicious wonders that would embellish the turkey in making the Thanksgiving meal. Tierney had been more than willing—and not just because of Rome. Tierney and Celeste had become close, finding they had so much in common that it was uncanny at times. Furthermore, Rome and Celeste’s parents were even more wonderful than Tierney had first imagined. Always welcoming, always friendly, Nikki Novak was a sharp contrast to Glynnis O’Brien. Loving, compassionate, and always putting others before herself it seemed, Nikki was someone Tierney wanted to emulate and enjoyed being around. Edward Novak was a jewel as well, and Tierney loved to observe him and Alec together. Edward was good for Alec. Someone to be emulated as well, it was obvious that Edward had a true admiration of Alec and what he’d accomplished in his young life, as well as for the kind of character Alec owned. The camaraderie with not only Rome but also his father was a great gift to Alec, and Tierney knew her brother recognized it.