Kay Harris's Blog, page 2
February 22, 2018
The story behind the story (sappy version)
“Don’t Let Him Go” is an opposites attract, contemporary, multicultural romance that takes place in the stunning setting of San Francisco. While I have always been inspired to write romance
novels by my sincere admiration for the depth of human relationships and the strength of the human heart, this particular story has its own unique journey to being written.
While the characters in my novels tend to be different from one another in many ways, the idea of people who appear on the surface to be opposites but are at the center one, comes from my own
love story.
Even our closest friends are surprised that my husband and I found one another. But while the differences in our heights, our demeanors, and even our choices in careers seem to be so vastly
divergent, deep down we are one soul separated at birth and reunited at last.
So it should come as no surprise that I finally wanted to address in writing this dynamic in relationships where people appear on the outside to be mismatched puzzle pieces when in fact they are
a perfect fit. In today’s climate, this seemed all the more poignant.
Candace is a conservative-minded corporate lawyer. All she ever wanted was to leave behind her hippy parents and make a life filled with a large salary, nice apartment, and regal career. An
assignment at her brand new dream job slams her into constant contact with Jack Morrison. In a rebellion of his own Jack rejects his family’s business and wealth. He strikes out by starting a
non-profit that fights his father’s corporate greed.
Opposing goals, dichotomous worldviews, and jobs to be done that run in direct conflict to one another—none of this will stop Candace and Jack from finding the common soul they share.
I hope you will take the opportunity to dive into the story of this unlikely couple. Thank you for your time and happy reading!
You can get "Don't Let Him Go" here
February 13, 2018
The story behind the story
My sixth contemporary romance novel “Don’t Let Him Go” is the first one to be published (as opposed to self-published). The journey to having this multicultural romantic comedy published by
The Wild Rose Press is an extraordinary one (at least I think so).
Three years ago I was living in the Bay Area. I lived on the island of Alameda in the East Bay and worked in downtown San Francisco. Each morning I took the ferry across the bay, under the Bay
Bridge and to the historic ferry building (always sipping on fancy coffee.) Each evening I took the ferry back home (sometimes sipping on red wine from the bar in the back of the boat.) It was a
fantastic commute for sure, but it was also the beginning of this story.
“Don’t Let Him Go” is the tale of a conservative-minded corporate lawyer who finds herself stuck working with a bleeding-heart activist. Like the cities that lie on either side of the Bay where
this story is set, the couple is multi-faceted. One is straight-laced and well-put-together but with a strong sense of right and wrong held deep inside. The other is raw, exposed, and far more
comfortable in his own skin. The bridge stretching between them is the connection they unexpectedly find. And like the Bay Bridge that connects San Francisco to Oakland it is regal, proud, and
often overlooked in favor of the shiny red bridge that runs north to south.
Okay, so I’m getting dramatic. But I love this story and I love these characters. They spoke to me each day as I rode that ferry and after I returned home each night I wrote it all out. Last
April I was preparing to self-publish “Don’t Let Him Go” as I’d done with five other books before it, when I attended the Las Vegas Writers’ Conference. It was there that I met the amazing ladies
of The Wild Rose Press and a new future, a new dream for my characters was born.
So that's the story behind the story. You can get your copy of "Don't Let Him Go" here. I hope you all will love it as much as I do!
February 10, 2018
Fiction Infatuation - Mick Evans from Love is Lovelier by Donna Simonetta
We’ve brought the ladies of Rivers Bend, VA here today to tell us what it is that makes
Mick Evans, of the new release in the Rivers Bend trilogy Love is Lovelier, so dreamy. They’re a lively, outspoken bunch, and Heather has mixed up
some cocktails for them, so this should be interesting….
Q. Heather Braden, since you have a long, complicated romantic history with Mick, let’s
start with you. What attracts you to Mick?
(Heather squirms in her seat and her cheeks flush. She attempts to laugh, but it sounds a mite hysterical). Attracts me to Mick? Whatever makes you think I’m attracted to Mick Evans?
(Bethanne Cardoso, one of the town librarians, and Heather’s oldest friend, flaps her hands dismissively) Bless her heart, Heather
is so far down the River Denial on the subject of Mick that she can see the pyramids. We can tell you about him. First off––he’s handsome.
(Deidre Anderson, Heather’s older sister, interrupts) And hot! Like surface of the sun hot.
(Bethanne nods in agreement. Actually, there is a general murmur of agreement from all the women, except Heather. Bethanne
continues) He’s tall, a former NFL player, so you know he’s built! Brown hair, amber eyes, cheekbones so sharp, you could cut paper with them. He’d almost be pretty, if he wasn’t so
masculine.
(Magda Horvath, fiancée of Heather’s brother, Jeff takes a sip of her cocktail, and says dreamily) He’s all man. You know what
Mick reminds me of––the male cover models on romance novels.
(Mrs. Wilson, elderly housekeeper of the Retreat at Rivers Bend, where Heather and Mick both work for her brother Jeff, looks
thoughtful) He is all that they say, but what I like most is the way he dresses. His suits are all custom-made and fit that hard body like a glove.
(The other ladies all laugh, and Caitlin Anderson, Heather’s college-bound niece shrieks in horror) Mrs. Wilson! What are you
doing looking at Mick’s hard body?
(Mrs. Wilson rolls her eyes) Please, child, I may be getting a little older, but there is nothing wrong with my eyes, and that man is fine.
(Heather bites her bottom lip, and makes her first contribution to the discussion) There’s more to Mick than his looks, you know.
He’s smart––he went to Stanford University, and he’s done very well in the business world since his knee injury ended his NFL career.
(Bethanne inclines her head) You’re right, Heather. There is more to Mick than his oh-my-gawd hotness. My husband and I have a
baby son, and Mick is terrific with him. Whenever I see that big, strong man holding baby Cisco, I melt a little inside. He’s so gentle with him.
(Joyce Braden nods) My first impression of Mick was about his amazing handsomeness––
(Heather interrupts, aghast) Mom!
(Joyce waves her hand dismissively at Heather) You can’t help but notice, honey, I’m sorry. What I was going to say is, he’s so
serious. When you first meet him, you don’t expect him to be so good with kids, or to have a sense of humor. But he does. He’s a lovely man––inside and out.
(All the women nod in agreement, and Heather speaks so softly, we can barely hear her) He is all of those things, and more. He’s
good to his momma, sister, and brothers. He’s great at his job––
(Caitlin interrupts) He drives that cool convertible!
(Heather smiles at her niece, and continues) He does have a smoking ride. And he can cook, which is bonus for me, since I survive
on takeout. He doesn’t let himself get close to too many people, but once he does, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for you. Any woman would be lucky to have him.
Hmm…sounds like Heather might be ready to give in to her feelings for Mick? Will things
work out for them? Read Love is Lovelier to find out!
Heather and Mick have a long history together, and Heather wants to leave it in the past where it belongs. Yet, here Mick is, very
much in her present, thanks to her brother Jeff, who hired Mick to be her boss at the Retreat at Rivers Bend.
It wouldn’t be so bad, except Heather and Mick are still attracted to each other like metal to a magnet. Oh, and her brother is
considering offering Mick a partnership in the Retreat, which by rights should be hers. And even if they act on their attraction, Heather is a small-town, country girl, and proud of it, whereas
Mick can’t get far enough from his West Virginia coal-mining roots.
Will they be able to get a second chance at their first love and find their happy ending together in
Rivers Bend?
Get your copy of
"Love is Lovelier" here:
Amazon: http://a.co/evyW3O3
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-is-lovelier-donna-simonetta/1127826062?ean=2940158723117
The Wild Rose Press: https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/5637-love-is-lovelier.html
Amazon UK: http://amzn.eu/avKGJZq
About Donna Simonetta:
My career has been a winding road. I worked in the business world for years, got my MLS and worked in a school library, and am now living my dream as an author. I love to read and write
contemporary and fantasy romance. I live in Maryland, with my husband, who is my real-life romance hero. We both enjoy traveling to visit our far-flung family and friends, and spending time on
the beach with an umbrella drink and a good book.
https://www.facebook.com/donnasimonettaauthor
https://twitter.com/donna_simonetta
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15422407.Donna_Simonetta
https://www.amazon.com/Donna-Simonetta/e/B06X415TWW/
February 6, 2018
Fiction Infatuation - Mark Bolton from IF I WANT YOU by Rachel Brimble
Mark Bolton is a widower and single father trying his best to raise his daughter and find happiness again after the sudden death of his beloved wife. He’s a man who is heartbroken, kind, caring,
but also unimaginably strong, both physically and emotionally.
As soon as Mark stepped onto the page, I was intrigued, excited and ultimately attracted. There is nothing sexier to me than a strong man battling with a huge emotional hurt. Yet, does all he can
for the people he loves…and sometimes, even the people he doesn’t.
Mark is that type of man.
When he meets Tori Peterson, he is thrown into a dangerous and frightening situation he knows he cannot leave her to deal with alone. He recognizes the fear in her eyes, the vulnerability in her
attitude and body language. No part of him can walk away without helping her…no matter how much she might initially reject his help.
It was this innate willingness to stand by his daughter and Tori, no matter what, that sealed my infatuation with Mark. He is a man every woman needs in their life. A man who won’t turn away when
she is at her weakest or grumpiness. If he falls in love, he is in it for the long haul…come what may.
In short, Mark Bolton is a real man. A keeper. A confidante and protector…and yes, I’m more than a little in love with him.
Sensing her discomfort, he stopped and leaned against the bureau. God, did he frighten her? Surely not, or she wouldn’t be here. Or did she sense his attraction toward her and would do all
she could to deflect it? He didn’t doubt for one minute his eyes gave away his appreciation whenever he looked at her.
He lifted the can to his lips. “So, what have you been thinking about?”
She tapped a peach-painted nail on the bureau. “This.”
“The bureau?”
“Principal White’s bureau.”
He frowned. “How did you know it was hers?”
“She mentioned you were working on a bureau for her when I was in the school office. I assumed this is it.”
“It is.”
“Good, because that makes it all the easier for me to give you your first assignment.”
“You want me to talk to her.”
She smiled, took a few tentative steps closer to him. “Got it in one, Watson.”
He smiled, pleased to see genuine mischief shining in her eyes. “I’m Watson?”
“Yep.”
“So that makes you Holmes. Not sure I like being anyone’s sidekick.”
Another couple of steps closer until no more than a couple of feet separated them. She met his eyes and his heart kicked. Her V-neck shirt was just the right side of professional. Yet, the
way it revealed her collarbones and hugged her full breasts made him want to reach out and pull her into his arms, kiss her, taste her…
“You’re staring, Watson.”
He blinked and snapped his gaze from her breasts, rare heat hitting his face. “Sorry. You look nice.”
“Thanks.” She raised her eyebrows and nodded toward his chest. “So do you.”
He smiled. “Why don’t we go inside? It’s way too hot out here.”
IF I WANT YOU is available right now! Here’s the blurb & buy links:
When local journalist, Tori Peterson, fails to prevent a child abduction outside her niece’s school, her horror and guilt sparks a vow to do whatever it takes to get little Abby Brady home to her
parents.
While Tori battles the vile memories of her own kidnapping as a child, she accepts the help of widowed father, Mark Bolton. As he and Tori join forces with the local police, their attraction and
intimacy grows…along with their fears for Abby.
Links are uncovered between Abby’s disappearance and Tori’s kidnapping, and Tori is forced to accept the monster who held her captive is back. But this time, Tori is all grown up, and there is no
way she will let him hurt another little girl.
Buy Links:
Amazon UK: http://amzn.eu/190CYmx
Amazon US: http://a.co/c5O5R7s
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/if-i-want-you-rachel-brimble/1127157672?ean=2940158911118
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/if-i-want-you
Google Play - https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Rachel_Brimble_If_I_Want_You?id=E-g7DwAAQBAJ
About Rachel Brimble:
Rachel lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK.
After having several novels published by small US presses, she has also written eight books for Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and four Victorian romances for eKensington/Lyrical
Press.
She is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was
selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English
countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.
She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance
writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!
Links to Reach Rachel:
Facebook Street Team - Rachel's Readers
Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Brimble/e/B007829ZRM/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1490948101&sr=8-1
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1806411.Rachel_Brimble
January 24, 2018
Diary of a Secretary - Part 10
Need to start at the beginning? Click here for Part 1 then use the link at the bottom of each post to advance to
the next chapter.
I pull the pictures up on my computer and go through the finished product of each. After a final run through, I bundle them and send them off to my newest client.
Sitting back in the chair, I let out a deep, satisfied sigh. The end of the first week of having my own photography studio leaves me exhausted, elated, and intensely excited.
I am just reaching back to the computer to shut it down when the bell on the front door rings. My head snaps up and I grin. Claude waltzes through the door, locking it firmly behind him.
He is truly a thing of beauty. No picture I’ve ever taken of him has done him justice. And that’s saying a lot because I am good, very good. But Claude’s utter sexiness is only partly due to his
incredible good looks. It is also owed to his demeanor, his stride, his confidence, and his bone-deep kindness.
“Hi,” I say, tipping my head up.
He takes my hands and lifts me out of the chair before wrapping his arms around me and pulling me in for a searing kiss.
“Are you going to take me out to celebrate?” I ask, fiddling with the collar of his deep wine-colored shirt.
“Yes. We’re going to a very fancy restaurant where we will meet up with my entire family.”
My eyes are wide. I love Claude’s family, but I wasn’t expecting this. “Oh.”
“Yeah, see, they want to celebrate with us. Not just the first week of your business, but something else as well.”
I cock my head. I’ve written everyone’s brithdays and anniversaries in my calendar and I don’t remember today being special for any particular reason. “What else?”
“I’m going to ask you to marry me.”
I manage to remain standing. My arms lock on his neck and I stare, open-mouthed, at his handsome face.
“But I didn’t want to risk you saying no. So I thought I’d discuss it with you in private first.” He winces. “If you loosen your hold on my neck a bit, sweetheart, I’ll get down on one knee.”
“No,” I say, my voice sounding like a clap in a quiet room.
His face falls. “No?”
“No! I didn’t meant that kind of no!” I am frantic. “I meant, don’t get down on one knee. Jesus.” I press my forehead against his chest and breath hard. Then I look back up and gaze into his
eyes. “I want you right here at my level.”
“Okay.” He sounds unsure, and it is both charming and sad.
“I’m sorry. Can we…”
“Start over?” he suggests.
I nod.
“No knee?”
I shake my head.
“Ring?”
I nod and grin like an idiot.
Claude pulls an incredible ring out of his pocket. He pries my left hand off his neck and holds it in front of him as he slips the ring on. Then he kisses my hand and pulls it to his heart. “So,
is that a yes?”
I nod.
He holds my gaze, waiting with infinite patience.
“Yes, Claude. I’ll do you the great honor of being your wife.”
Diary of a Secretary - Part 9
Need to start at the beginning? Click here for Part 1 then use the link at the bottom of each post to advance to
the next chapter.
I stare at Candace Gleason. She looks like a completely different woman. The last time I saw her, a little over a month ago, she was living in a state of stress. Then she disappeared.
Now, Candace is practically glowing. She looks confident, content, and incredibly beautiful. Her face lights up like the freaking sun when she sees me and she rises from her desk to pull me into
a hug.
I wish I had half the sense of comfort Candace seems to be swimming in. I am a conflicted mess as I take a seat opposite her while she settles at her desk.
“It’s so good to see you, Janice,” she gushes.
We chat idly for a while. She asks me about the assignment I’ve been on in her absence. Then she proceeds to tell me she can’t live without me in her new position. I blush as she heaps praise on
me and describes how she pulled strings with the head Mr. Morrison himself to keep me as her secretary.
Finally, she settles back and examines me. “But, you don’t seem as excited about all this as I am.”
Her intelligent eyes see right through me. “It’s…complicated,” I admit. “I don’t want you to think that I’m not completely flattered by you offering me this opportunity,” I say quickly. “It’s
just…”
Candace leans forward. “What’s going on Janice? What’s wrong?”
I run a hand through my hair. “Nothing’s wrong. It’s that everything is so right. I met someone. And I know that should have nothing to do with my career. But it does. It has everything to do
with it.” I stop talking, afraid I sound like a lunatic.
“Go on,” she encourages. Her expression is completely unreadable.
I take a deep breath and try to muster up every ounce of sense I have to attempt to make an articulate explanation. “His name is Claude and he’s the interior designer and even though we’ve only
been dating for a few weeks, he’s changed my perspective on life. He’s changed everything.”
I must sound like a fool. But Candace just smiles and turns her hand in a circular motion to indicate I should keep going.
“See. The think is…I’ve always wanted to be a photographer.”
Candace nods. “I know.”
This takes me by surprise. I hadn’t realized she’d paid that much attention to me. “Yeah, well, Claude wants to help me make that dream a reality. His parents are kind of…investors in careers.
They want to lend me the money to set up a studio. I never would have considered this before. But, Claude makes me…he makes me feel like I can do this.”
A massive smiles spreads across Candace’s face. “I understand completely.”
I am dumbfounded. “You do?”
“Yes. Completely.” Candace stands and walks around her desk so she’s right in front of me. “I will miss you Janice.” She holds out her arms. I get up and let her pull me into a hug. “Go pursue
your dreams.”
Stay tuned for the final chapter...
January 22, 2018
Diary of a Secretary - Part 8
Need to start at the beginning? Click here for Part 1 then use the link at the bottom of each post to advance to
the next chapter.
From the moment I walk into Hayden Morrison’s office, I am terrified. The man looks downright grumpy. His handsome face seems to actually turn down at the corners.
His expression does not changed once during my presentation. I spend exactly twenty minutes presenting Claude’s ideas and my recommendations. This is the result of three weeks of work I’ve
consolidated into one short presentation, because up until today Hayden has blown off all our scheduled meetings.
I am articulate, include pictures and diagrams, and speak in a clear and confident voice. It should be perfect, I’ve spent hours practicing in front of my mirror, my cat, and Claude.
When I am finished I sit back down, leaving the easel where it sits opposite his desk. Hayden stares me for an excruciating minute. Then, miraculously, his frown turns upside down.
“Awesome, Janice.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. This looks great. And I’m going to take every one of your recommendations.”
I let out my breath and feel myself relax into the chair. “I am so glad to hear that.”
“I’m very impressed. You did amazing.”
“Well, since you’re happy.” I wring my hands in my lap. “There is something I need to tell you.”
Hayden had been in the process of turning back to his computer, but now he settles back in his chair and gives me his full attention once again. “Shoot.”
“I…um…this is so hard to say.”
Hayden leans forward, his elbows planted on his desk. “Is something wrong?”
“I’m afraid I did something wrong,” I say. He cocks his head but doesn’t speak. So I continue with my confession. “I’ve started seeing Claude…the interior designer.”
Hayden grins. “I see.”
I am utterly flummoxed by his expression. “Isn’t that a problem?”
He waves his hand. “Caught your boss’ bug I see,” he says in a bit of grumble. “It’s no big deal Janice.”
“It’s not?”
“No. The guy is already hired. So it’s not like he’ll get any benefit from dating a Morrison employee. And you still work together well, don’t you?”
“Yes. Absolutely.” Claude and I are amazing together, in about a thousand ways.
“Good. Then I can still have you work with him part-time.”
I go still. Something is wrong here. “What do you mean part-time?”
“Clarice is going start telework next week and I want you to team up with her on the Cimmeron project. Plus, Candace is coming back.” Mr. grumpy is also back with this statement.
“She is?” I ask, completely surprised.
“Yes,” he says flatly. “She’ll be heading up her own department and have a new job title, but she’s requested you to be her Assistant.”
I can see Hayden is no longer in the mood to talk, so I gather up my stuff and leave his office. As I wander down the hall a sense of dread envelopes me.
Stay tuned for Part 9...
January 18, 2018
Diary of a Secretary - Part 7
Need to start at the beginning? Click here for Part 1 then use the link at the bottom of each post to advance to
the next chapter.
So I’m stuck in an elevator kissing the guy I’m supposed to be working with for my new temporary job. This is not good. And at the same time. It is so
good.
I don’t get around too much. Though, like I told Claude, I’m a sucker for testosterone. As a result I’ve been in a few relationships that I probably had no business being in and I’ve had a few
poorly thought-out flings. This one might the worst of all. Because I can already feeling myself getting lost in this quiet, sweet hunk of a man.
I don’t bother pulling away. What’s the point? We’re making out now. So I just tilt my head, open my mouth, and invite him in. Claude pulls me closer and accepts my invitation.
It could be a minute or an hour that we’re fused together like that, mouths playing, hands roaming. It only ends when the elevator starts to move again.
Claude and I both stand, our hands still locked together. We stare at each other as the elevator moves smoothly back down to the main floor. No words are spoken as the door slides open and we
emerge into the lobby to the amused greetings of a dozen construction workers.
The foreman takes us to a nearby bar and buys us a drink. And since it’s after five, I decide to head home after that. Claude walks me back to the construction site where we’ve both left our
cars. On the way there we mostly talk about the elevator, the construction crew, and what a nice guy the foreman is.
When we reach my car, Claude turns and leans me against it. I pull back. “As much as I want a repeat performance,” I say, my hand on his chest. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“How can I make it a good idea?”
Utterly confused, I ask, “What do you mean?”
“Do I need to give up the Morrison account?” he says, his eyes reflecting nothing but genuine madness.
“You can’t be serious? You’d give up what has to be the biggest account of your career to make out with me a little more?”
One corner of his mouth ticks up. “Well, actually, for that kind of career suicide I was hoping for a full-fledged date. I was thinking dinner, movies, walk on the beach, the whole nine yards.”
“You’re crazy.”
Claude takes both of my hands in his and holds them between us. “I’m not stupid. And I’m not the kind of man that throws away an opportunity for nothing. And I am genuinely scared of my sister-in-law. She’d have my head for this. But I have also never had this…immediate connection with anyone before. There is
something about you, Janice. And I feel compelled to explore it. So, please, will you go out with me?”
No one had ever…
What could I do? “Okay. Friday night.”
January 15, 2018
Diary of a Secretary - Part 6
Need to start at the beginning? Click here for Part 1 then use the link at the bottom of each post to advance to
the next chapter.
I watch Claude’s face as I weave my tale. He gives nothing away. “I was working for this guy Kent back then. He’s also a lawyer at Morrison and Sons. He was the new guy then, just
like my current boss is now. That’s my gig, I guess. I get the new people. They tell me it’s because I’m good.” I shrug. “I don’t know.”
“It’s sounds reasonable to me,” Claude says. “I would give one of my best to the newbies so they had a good chance at getting off on the right foot and succeeding.”
He has a point, one I’d never really considered before. It makes me feel a little proud, which in turn, makes me embarrassed. So I move on. “Anyway. He was assigned to keep tabs on Jack Morrison.
Have you heard of him?”
He nods and grins. “Oh yeah. Jack is the black sheep of that family. Tennant and homeless advocate, right?”
I nod. “He runs a non-profit and spends a lot of time protesting real estate companies.”
“Like Morrison and Sons.”
“Exactly.”
“So, this Kent guy was supposed to what? Sabotage him? Spy on him?”
“No. Neither. See, Jack’s dad, the head of the company, he just wants to keep Jack out of jail. He’s more worried about Jack getting into trouble because he’s going after rich and powerful men
than he is about any damage Jack might do his company.”
“Really?” Claude looks surprised. He’s not alone in that sentiment.
“Yeah. So Kent’s job was basically to keep Jack out of harm’s way. But, of course, Jack didn’t want any of that. He did everything he could to keep Kent off his case. But Kent persisted. Every
once in a while Jack would agree to meet with Kent just to keep him from calling every day. So one day when I was at Jack’s office with Kent…”
“Yes?”
The elevator moves. Not a smooth I’m-starting-up-again kind of move. A jerk. A terrifying jerk followed by a hard stop.
I scream.
Immediately, I blush. I can see the pain on Claude’s face as I pierce his eardrums. “Sorry,” I say softly, my voice shaky.
Claude scoots beside me and wraps an arm around me. “It’s okay, Janice. Don’t panic.”
The phone rings and Claude reaches over with his long arm to open the little metal box and answer it, while still keeping me close.
I listen as he talks for a minute. Then he hangs up the phone and turns to me. “That was just a result of the guys working on the elevator. Everything is fine. They’ll have us out soon. Tell me
about Jack.”
I am actually shaking. Claude rubs my shoulder with his hand and I lean into him. He is so warm, smooth, and covered in hard muscle. And right now I don’t really want to talk about another man
when I am in this one’s arms. But at the same time I know how dangerous it is to be this close to an amazing body. So I continue.
“Jack and I made out. He was so appealing to me, rough and tumble, very manly.” I glance up at Claude. He’s double what Jack is in that department, and I wonder of he realizes it. “And for some
reason he was attracted to me, too.”
Claude reaches up and touches my cheek. “Lots of reasons,” he says softly.
We stare at each other for a long moment. The silence is warm, his gaze is hot.
“What happened?” he finally asks.
“Nothing. Jack’s a player. It never went anywhere and I got a new boss who didn’t take me with her to his office. I might have tried to hook up with him the next time I saw him, but then I think
he fell for Candace. Not sure what happened there. Doesn’t matter…I’m not interested in Jack anymore…I’m…” I am actually babbling. Claude is mesmerizing me.
“Glad to hear it,” he says. Then he leans down and takes my lips in his.
January 11, 2018
Diary of a Secretary - Part 5
Need to start at the beginning? Click here for Part 1 then use the link at the bottom of each post to advance to
the next chapter.
“So, I might be slightly claustrophobic,” I confess to my companion in disaster.
Rather than being alarmed, Claude appears to be completely calm. He hangs up the little phone in the elevator and turns to me. “They are already working on it,” he says, that liquid voice
soothing me. “It won’t be long.”
“Still. You might see an unpleasant side of me,” I warn. I can already feel my face getting hot and my breath getting shallow.
“Let’s sit down, shall we?” Claude says, still ridiculously calm.
I watch him lower that long body onto the floor of the elevator and sit cross-legged on the metal. Without any better ideas, I follow suit.
“My sister-in-law is extremely claustrophobic. She takes the stairs everywhere. She has incredible calf muscles.” He lets out a low chuckle that does something strange to my stomach. “I find it’s
best to talk about something else. Take your mind off it.”
“Okay. What should we talk about?” I am way too high up on the freaked out scale to make a decision as big as choosing a topic of discussion.
“You, Janice. I want to know so many things about you.”
I am stunned. “Why?” I blurt out.
He shrugs his massive shoulders. “You are a smart, classy, very attractive woman. I think it’s normal, albeit slightly unprofessional, for me to be intrigued by you.”
“I’m…I’m speechless,” I admit.
“I’m sorry if I overstepped,” he says, a contrite look on his face.
“No. It’s okay.” I reassure him. “I’m flattered.”
“Good. Flattered beats offended. So tell me about yourself.”
“I’m not sure where to start.”
“What’s your greatest passion?”
I smile. This I could talk about all day. “Photography. I’ve loved it since I was a kid. Even wasted some time and money getting a degree in it.”
“Wasted? Why do you say that?”
“Because I can’t make a living doing it.”
He cocks his head. “Why not?”
I bite my lip. As I do, I notice Claude’s eyes travel to my mouth. My stomach is acting up again. “What about you? How did you get into interior design?” I ask, deflecting.
He rips his eyes off my lips. I feel a little bereft. “Always liked it. I used to rearrange my parents furniture at least once a week when I was kid. Me and my friend Tommy built doll houses and
gave them away to the local shelters and stuff.”
“And no one questioned…” I stopped. I shouldn't gender stereotype. I oughta be ashamed.
“Did anyone think I was gay?” He laughed. “They sure did. And Tommy sure is. He actually works for a firm across the bay. We’re still best friends even though we compete for clients
sometimes. I love that guy. But, alas, I’m straight.” As if to prove the point, his gaze wandered over me. When it returns to my eyes he blushes. “Sorry.”
I smile at him. “I have to tell you that I am against mixing business and pleasure. I did that once. It was a bad idea.”
“Okay. That’s a fun subject. Tell me about it.”
“Um…” What else do I have to do? Besides, I really do need to keep my distance from this gorgeous man, and telling him a story that is an abject lesion in why we shouldn’t immediately jump into
one another’s arms is probably a good idea. “Okay. So it was about a year ago…”
