by PamelaDuMond
She explained to him that she went back and forth between Romas and Big Boys.
He said, “I expect you to save one for me.”
She and Rafe walked to her apartment door. “The day I met you...” he said as he took her hand.
“What?” she asked.
“I pictured this,” Rafe leaned her back against her front door and kissed her. He pulled her closer to him, tight.
This man, Raphael Campillio was solid and sweet. He liked that she was smart, got her sense of humor, and didn’t care that she was a little wacked. He made her laugh. She hadn’t told him about her empathic curse/gift yet. Annie decided that was a conversation to be shared down the line. And oh God, his skin, mouth, and shoulders rocked. Their kiss and this moment felt more than right. She kissed Rafe back and said his name, “Raphael,” to herself. Then said it out loud, “Raphael, do you want to come inside for a bit?”
“Yes.”
Annie fumbled for her keys in her purse.
Rafe pointed to the pot next to the front door growing basil with the key underneath it.
“Good call!” She reached down, snagged the key and high fived him. Rafe grabbed her hand, leaned her back against her front door and kissed her again. Holy smokes, this was ten times better than smoking!
Annie and Rafe lay on her sofa, arms and legs entwined, sheets draped and twisted over their bodies. They resembled a semi-naked Vanity Fair Magazine cover. Rafe kissed the length of Annie’s neck. “I’m sorry I never call before I come over. I promise…”
Annie put one hand over his mouth. “No.” She ran her other hand down the middle of his six-pack abdomen. “Don’t ever promise me. I beg you. No promises.”
Rafe took her hand from his mouth and kissed her palm. “You’re not free and clear yet, lady. Trespassing at the shrine. Duchess Myra Stoneycliff. Dr. Sanjay Patel? I’m going to press for some community service. I’m part of this community. And I can think of some services.” His hand moved under the sheet and caressed her body. He pulled her down to him, kissed her on the mouth and more. Much much more. Oh, joy.
She watched Rafe walk towards her shower. She eyed his beautiful bod, and felt his yummy clean heart. This romantic thing with Rafe Campillio felt like a beginning, not an ending.
Suddenly Rafe’s muy bien ass was obscured by another, much bigger one.
Derrick Fuller stood in front of her. His silver thong package jiggled as he jumped up and down. “Annie! Pay attention. The detective guy’s hot. Awesome you’re not my murder suspect, anymore. But I will not be ignored. I need your help,” Derrick said.
“No, no, no!” She frowned, and scrunched her eyes closed. “You’re a bad dream, Derrick. You’re in the After-Life, getting some job with a happy ending. Leave me alone!” Her eyes flew open, horrified. “How long have you been here?”
He grinned. “You might be out of practice in the you-know-what department, but I’d play the ponies you catch up in no time.”
“We had a deal, Derrick.”
“Totally not my fault. Your grandmother, Nonna Maria, who is pretty hot by the way, snagged me while I was crossing over. She said ’cause I haunted her in purgatory, that I couldn’t pass to the After-Life until I hit purgatory for a couple of decades. I’m not even Catholic. I love the priest’s outfits and their fun little hats. I admit the art in Catholic churches is to die for. But, I can’t hang out in purgatory, Annie. It’s very beige. I don’t do beige. You have to help me. This is about me, Annie. I Promise you…”
“No!” said, and turned on her boom box. You’re So Vain lamented Carly Simon.
“Oh come on. One of my most important clients was murdered a couple of nights ago. Still here spiritually, but confused, the lovely man reached out to me for advice and help. If we help him, I’ll earn enough good karma points to catapult me into the After-Life.”
“No!” she said, got up off the couch and walked to her kitchen. Opened the door to her fridge and searched her fridge for cookies, or brownies. She settled on a big fat chocolate cupcake. She needed sustenance. She needed sanity. She needed to ditch this dead guy, forever.
Killer Devil’s Food Cupcakes
Description: Dark chocolate moist, rich cupcakes slathered in creamy dreamy icing. Several bites produce hallucinations of nirvana. Perhaps you even died and went to heaven. Or not.
Ingredients & Directions: Wait until your cupcakes are cool before applying icing.
*Special Note: Only inject cyanide into the cupcake, if you sincerely want to murder the person who will eat it.
Appropriate Occasions: Losing unwanted eye circles. The art of negotiation. Connecting the murder dots.
Best Served With: Justice. Cha-Ching! Law & Order (the soundtrack). Rejuvenation. Romance!
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Acknowledgments:
Thank you Ken Lewis at Krill Press for publishing this book. Thanks to three talented novelists: Lisa Lutz of The Spellman Files, Toni McGee Causey of the Bobbie Faye series and Jacqueline Carey of the Kushiel series. You inspired me. Thanks to Emilie Staat, Cheree Plank and MaryJo Schultz for the great notes. Ramona DeFelice Long, professional editor, made my book shine. Thanks Joe Wilson for explaining social media, Tim August for all things computer, and Deborah Riley-Magnus, Author Coach. Thanks to author Julie Smith Dolcemaschio, Rita Kemply, Ed Schneider and Nester O’Tazsu – you’re always there for me. Thanks Sadie Gilliam, photographer, for the photo and for hair and makeup. Mike Snyder and Harry Bromley-Davenport of the Trailer Guys and actress C. Aurora de Blas - thanks for the cool book trailer. Thanks to my family, POV and my clients. The Doctors: Carrie Hartney, Kimberly Krubeck, and John Montaghue. Thanks Erin Brockovich, Karen Rontowski, Carla Shamberg, Kim Kuskin, Monica Mason, Debra Sanderson, Melissa Black Ford, Shelly Fredman, Stephanie MacLean, Julie Weathers, Marsha Boyer, Paula Powers, Cecelia and Peter Douglas Russell, Joanna D’Angelo, Laura Schultz, Lynn Westman, Lori Goldsmith, Betty Macias, Diane Lindsay, Cher Rue, and Michele Montgomery. To all the Librarians. As a kid I stuttered badly. You fueled my love of books and helped heal me. Thank you. You can find more info at PamelaDuMond.com and Facebook. Now, go read a book, and tell someone you love about it!
Xo,
Pamela DuMond
About the author
Pamela DuMond is a writer, chiropractor and cranio-sacral therapist. She discovered and pitched Erin Brockovich’s true life story to a production company. She has written articles on intuition and synchronicity which were published in Soul Moments: Marvelous Stories of Synchronicity-Meaningful Coincidences from a Seemingly Random World, edited by Phil Cousineau. Originally from the Midwest, she now resides in Venice Beach, California. She lives for a good giggle. Cupcakes, Lies, and Dead Guys is her first novel.
Table of Contents
Galley Proof CUPCAKES