by Susan Kohler
“He liked your breasts? Was he cute?” Tina went straight for the bottom line.
“Gorgeous,” she sighed before she caught herself. “I mean, I guess he was okay.” She gave an exaggerated shrug. “Every time I looked at him I felt really weird though, like a jolt of electricity buzzing around in my stomach and the room seemed to get smaller. I didn’t like the feeling very much.”
Her voice trailed off until she realized Tina was looking at her with amazed speculation in her eyes. “No, don’t even think it. Really. Drop it. He’s not my type.”
“Your partner, Jack, threw this party?” Tina asked with overstated innocence. “His wife’s name is Laura, right?”
“You know damn well what his wife’s name is, Tina. You conspired with Laura to get me to that damn party, remember? What are you thinking?” Lanie knew something was up. She could practically see the gears turning in Tina’s head. “It had better not be what I think it is. Don’t you even dream of calling Laura. I’m warning you. Hell, I’m even begging you. Please.”
“I was just wondering if Laura is still the unofficial matchmaker to the western world,” Tina mused.
“I think since she and her friend Kate joined forces, the UN finally voted on it and made it official worldwide,” Lanie replied sternly, possibly even a little snidely. “And you leave them, both of them, out of this. The guy is a total jerk. He’s a gorgeous jerk with a super smile and great buns, but still a total jerk.”
“Nonsense, I’ll give Laura a call tomorrow,” Tina said as she beat a hasty retreat. “Don’t give it another thought.”
“Why?” Lanie called after her.
“Because you’re showing more emotion right now than you ever did with Cassie’s father.” Tina turned and raised her voice to emphasize her point. “Cal made you hide your feelings, tamper them deep down inside your soul somewhere. Whoever this guy is, he’s made you release some of those buried emotions, and he managed it during your very first meeting. You’re so angry the room is getting warmer. That’s got to mean something. I don’t know what, but I bet we find out, real soon.”
“But if I’ve released all those buried emotions as you say, it’s only all the negative emotions,” Lanie protested. “Frank makes me furious.”
“It’s a start.” Tina turned around and grinned at her. “Besides, at first Cal made you feel wonderful and romantic, then you seemed to just go numb. Look where that led you.”
“Yes,” Lanie smiled, “it led me to Cassie.”
“Maybe I’ll call Mom, too,” Tina mused.
“Please Tina,” Lanie begged, “anything but that. Remember, I’m begging here, do not call in Mom.”
“Nonsense,” Tina opened the front door, “just leave everything to me.” With that she swept out the door. “If Mom thinks she can help fix you up, she might lay off me for a while.”
Lanie waited for Frank to call about the damage to his car but he never called. She figured if the damage wasn’t too high, she could pay it herself and leave the insurance company out of it. She sighed and thought sadly that Cassie would just have to wait a little longer for a new bike. She told herself that was the only reason she jumped every time the phone rang. She told herself that she wasn’t disappointed when it wasn’t him.
Several days later, Lanie was running errands all over town. She had a very busy day. She’d bought some new clothes, stopped at the auto repair shop to have her side mirror fixed, shopped for her weekly groceries and picked up her dry cleaning. That’s where it happened.
She stepped out from the small, dark dry cleaning shop into the bright afternoon sunlight and was momentarily blinded. She muttered under her breath about lost sunglasses as she paused for a moment to let her eyes adjust to the sharp light. That’s when she felt something large and solid crash into her from behind. Whatever it was had bumped her so hard that she lost her balance and her packages dropped on the sidewalk as she struggled to keep herself from falling to the ground.
In spite of her efforts, she fell to her knees on the rough cement. Her dress flew out of her hands and fell straight into the gutter which was filled with muddy, dirty water.
Fortunately, the filmy plastic covering from the dry cleaners saved the dress, for a moment. Unfortunately, the clumsy oaf who had run into her also lost his balance. His arms waving as he tried to prevent himself from losing his balance, he stepped backwards into the gutter. His foot landed right on the dress, grinding it into the muddy water so that in spite of the flimsy protective plastic, the dress was totally ruined.
“I just got that dress cleaned,” Lanie moaned as she struggled to her feet. A large hand reached out to help her. That’s when she finally spotted the person who had bumped into her. “You. It had to be you. The jerk,” she muttered in dismay.
“Hey! Keep going, that sounds like the idea for a song,” Frank joked weakly, trying to take her mind off her scraped knees and the ruined dress.
“What?” Lanie wasn’t thinking of songs or weak jokes at the time. Her scraped knees hurt.
She told herself she wasn’t glad to see him. She also told herself that he didn’t look ravishing in his faded, tight jeans and soft blue polo shirt. She even told herself that she hadn’t noticed his tight, round butt when he turned to pick up the dress, or the intriguing bulge behind his zipper when he turned back to hand it to her, or the flex of his biceps when he helped her to her feet. She lied to herself and, deep inside, she knew it.
“The phrase you used: It had to be you,” Frank tried to explain, “it would make a great song.”
“It’s already a great song, you idiot.” Against her will she realized she was struggling not to grin. “And there was also a song in the old days called The Jerk, which fits you to a T.”
Frank was so entranced looking at Lanie’s silky, tanned legs and tight white shorts, not to mention the way she filled out her hot pink tank top, that he almost forgot where he was. Until he heard a loud honk and he suddenly realized that he was still standing in the gutter with a bus hurling at him. He made a quick move to step out of the mud, but his foot slipped on the muddy plastic. Seeing him start to slip Lanie reached out and grabbed his hands in sheer instinctive reaction. She gave a mighty pull and prevented his fall. The only problem was that when she jerked him so hard, it worked along with the impetus of his forward jump so that he landed flat up against her chest.
Immediately she let go of his hands, only to have them wind up sliding around her waist and up her back. For a long moment they stood there, her hands wedged against his body between their chests, and his hands wrapped tightly around her, stroking her back. They were both breathing heavily and their eyes were locked onto each other’s, as if time stood still.
“Let go of me you clumsy oaf!” She finally found her voice, her strident voice.
“I don’t think so,” he said, teasing her. “I think I’m going to hold you like this all day. In fact, this could easily become one of my favorite positions unless you pay the price.”
“What are you talking about?” she asked, almost against her will. “What price?”
“I’ll let you go for--” He paused, thinking. “A kiss now and dinner later.” His voice was soft, persuasive.
“Or I could simply start screaming rape and struggling like hell,” she countered dryly. “That should get me free from your evil clutches soon enough, especially if there’s a cop around.”
“You wouldn’t do that.” He knew it somehow with total certainty. “You’re not the type to make false accusations about anyone, not even a jerk like me.”
“Okay, you’re right,” she sighed, defeated but not entirely against her will. “I wouldn’t make false accusations even about a total jerk like you.”
She had been studying his lips and vaguely wondered how long it had been since she’d last kissed a man, any man. She also wondered what it would be like to kiss this man, with his smartalecky spirit and that sexy mouth. Her mind was made up in an instant. She thought to herself,
what can it hurt? He wants a kiss; well, she’d give him something to remember!
“You get the kiss, but not dinner,” she told him with mock severity. “You’ll just have to settle for that.”
“Dinner, too,” Frank tried.
“Don’t press your luck, Bub.” She thought for another second, then smiled to herself and went into action. “What the heck?”
Sliding her arms around his neck, she kissed him defiantly and with a touch of anger that soon turned into a flare of passion.
He’d expected a token, reluctant peck on the cheek; instead he found himself responding to the most explosive kiss he’d ever shared with any woman. She nipped and licked at his warm, firm lips to gain access to his mouth, sliding her tongue in to meet his. She molded herself to his frame, gently grinding against his body. She could feel the solid bulge of his arousal against her body. Her breasts were rubbing up against him, her nipples already tightening into hard nubs.
Soon she was as lost in passion as he was. The noise and people around them faded away and they were alone, in a world apart, in another dimension. The kiss went on and on. People passing on the street stared and made rude remarks.
In spite of his surroundings, Frank was very aroused. Lanie was aware of his arousal, his hardness pressing urgently against her. Suddenly, Lanie broke off the kiss and stepped back. Both of them were breathing heavily.
Grinning, she pointedly looked down at him. She could feel her blush as she said, “It looks like my work here is finished, Tonto. You can have the damn dress; it should look good on you.”
With that, she turned and started to storm away. Frank was quicker, however. He reached out and grabbed her by one hand and swung her back to face him.
“You’re not leaving me this way,” he muttered to her.
“What way?” she asked, feigning innocence.
“Um, uh, all dressed up and no place to go.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her before accusing, “Admit it. You teased me, got me all excited, and you did it deliberately!”
“And I enjoyed it!” she added, tossing her head. “Immensely!”
“Immensely. That’s not the word I’d use but I’m glad you think so.” Frank grinned.
With his free hand he reached down and retrieved the dress. Holding the dripping, muddy garment a safe distance in front of himself, he used it as a shield to hide his aroused condition as he took her other arm and together they walked to her car.
“Lanie, please go out to dinner with me,” Frank asked her softly. “Please give me a chance to just talk with you and get to know you.”
“No way.” She smiled sadly. “Not now, not ever. Please understand me, there’s nothing wrong with you. It’s just that you’re really just a complication I don’t need in my life. Now, please let me leave, I want to go home and put some antibiotics on my knees. Frank, don’t call.”
“Never?” Frank tried a sad, pleading look.
“Never,” she said firmly as she got into the car. “Frank? I know this sounds rude and heartless, and maybe even cold, but please don’t call me. I just can’t let myself fall for someone like you.” She started the battered car and drove away slowly.
Frank was planning his next move even as he watched her drive away. An idea came to him. He had to call Kate, or should it be Laura? Which one would be the best for helping him plan his next meeting with the lovely Lanie?
Suddenly he smiled to himself. I’m a complication? He thought, I’ll show her just what a complication is. He was whistling as he got into his car. He stuck his head out the car window as he heard her call out to him.
“Hey, Frank,” Lanie shouted to him, “I thought you were going to call me about the damage to your car.”
“Lanie, make up your mind,” he shouted back, “you just said not to call you. Not ever.”
“Good grief! Men are so stupid! I didn’t mean don’t call about that.” She was exasperated. “I owe you for the damages and I intend to pay. I meant don’t call me for anything else.”
Chapter Three
At the office the next day, Frank made sure he had all his urgent business under control before he went in search of Kate. He found her in her brand new office poring over some month-end accounting reports.
“Hi Kate, you’re looking good,” he greeted her, looking over her bright print skirt and yellow sleeveless blouse. “I see you’ve moved up in the world. I’ll bet you don’t miss your old cubicle one tiny bit.”
Kate’s new office was large and airy, with pale blue walls and flower lithographs. Her furniture was also new, sleek and comfortable. This office was even big enough for her to have two extra chairs for a visitor. Frank used to have to perch on the corner of her desk when he wanted to talk to her.
“Not a bit. The best part is, I got this new office and a promotion, and no one has even hinted that it’s only because I’m sleeping with the boss. Heck, they’re all behind me. I even think there’s a pool on how soon Bob and I will get married.” Kate smiled before asking, “Isn’t there?”
“There are three pools about you and Bob, actually,” Frank told her, honestly.
“Oh?” It was a question. “Let’s see. I can guess at two, but what’s the third pool about?”
“One for your engagement, the second one for your marriage.” Frank paused, grinning.
“And?” Kate arched a brow and waited.
“And the last one for a baby.” Frank’s grin grew. “Not only when but also how many.” Kate had a set of twins and Bob had two sets of twins in his immediate family.
“Thanks a lot, rat. I have three kids already.” She sighed and grinned back at him. “How’s the betting going?”
“I’ll tell you in exchange for some inside information.” At Kate’s nod he continued, “All the engagement slots are filled for the next month. Most people have picked marriage slots for about two months away, and the due date for the birth of your first baby, actually twins by popular consensus, is almost exactly nine months to one year away.” Frank gazed at her intensely.
At Frank’s gaze, she blushed but said nothing.
After a long moment she asked quietly, “Is anyone betting against an engagement? Or against marriage?”
“No, not a soul.” Frank grinned. “Who’d be that stupid?”
There was another long break in the conversation.
Finally Frank broke the silence and asked, “What’s the big deal with this fancy-schmancy party you and Bob are throwing?”
“Beats me,” she told him. “It was supposed to be a family reunion, for his family not mine, but then he added my family and all our friends and everyone from the office to the guest list. He’s rented a banquet hall and hired caterers. Now it’s totally out of control. The good news is I haven’t had to do a thing. He even bought me a dress. A very beautiful dress.”
“Come on, Kate, this is Frank. You can tell me. Is this going to turn out to be an engagement party? A secret engagement party?” Frank persisted.
“If it does, it’s a secret even to me,” Kate told him honestly.
“Would you like it if that’s what this is?” Frank asked even though he knew the answer.
“I want to be married to Bob more than anything I can think of,” Kate told him. “So if this does turn out to be an engagement party, I’ll be the happiest woman alive.”
“And if it doesn’t?” Frank asked gently.
“I don’t know. I would survive but I’d be really disappointed.” Kate looked almost sad. “I just don’t believe Bob would let me build up my hopes and expectations if he didn’t have anything planned. He’s not stupid. He knows how I feel, and I know he loves me.”
“At least there’s hope for you.” Frank had a hangdog expression. “Lanie seems to genuinely hate me. She told me not to call her. She even said I’m a complication she doesn’t need in her life.”
“She called you a complication?” Kate asked, with a hint of laughter in her voice.
“That’s what she said. Is that
good?” Frank questioned, hearing the amusement in her voice.
“It could be,” Kate mused. “If she wasn’t interested, in spite of herself, I don’t think she’d worry about whether you were a complication or not. You have to matter, at least a little, to be a complication.”
“You mean if I’ve got her worried it’s a good sign?” Frank begged for clarification. “Is that one of those things about women and men being from different planets?”
“Forget different planets, try different universes,” Kate told him. “Now let me think for a few minutes and see if I can come up with something. I also have some work I need to get done. I’ll buzz your office later.”
Frank left and Kate got down to business. Later that day she paged Frank. When he answered, she greeted him, “Hey, Romeo.”
“What’s up?” he asked. “Did you come up with any ideas for me?”
“Come to my office,” she ordered.
Soon he appeared in her doorway. “What’s the plan?”
“Not so fast, lover-boy, first I want you to agree to do something for me,” Kate said firmly. “That’s the deal.”
“What?” Frank was prepared to bargain.
“I need a spy in the enemy camp, so to speak,” Kate said in a dramatic whisper. “The male enemy camp. I want to know exactly what Bob has up his sleeve.”
“As much time as you spend with him,” Frank quipped, “I thought you’d know what was up either one of his sleeves, not to mention”
“So don’t mention it. Will you spy for me or not?” Kate returned him to the subject at hand.
“Sure. I’ll spy for you,” Frank agreed, “even if it makes me a traitor to all mankind. Now, what can you do for me?”
“Two things: I can have lunch with Lanie and sound her out.
I can uncover her feelings about you, and if there’s any particular reason she’s holding back on those feelings. I can also offer this suggestion: Remember the dress you ruined?”