Page 56 of Twice as Tempting

“No, thanks.”

“Are you sure? You have a lot of things to carry.”

Kelly stepped out of the truck and gathered her bag of clothes and the Tupperware container with the leftover chocolate-chip cookies. “I got it.”

They stood together alongside the Chevy and stared at each other for a few beats.

“You’re killing me here. You know that, right?”

“I’ve got the idea,” she said and boldly glanced down at the bulge in his shorts.

“Well, what are you going to do for the rest of the night? It’s still early.”

“I don’t know yet, but I’m going to start out by taking a warm shower. I smell like lake water.”

Damian swallowed hard again. “Ok. When you’re done…if you want to get together…I mean…”

“I know where you live,” Kelly said and then leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “Thanks for a fun day,” she called over her shoulder, and then she sashayed away without a backward glance. When she got into her apartment, she leaned her back against the door and breathed a heavy sigh.

Kelly argued with herself while she took a shower, re-dressed in a tank top and loose knit shorts, and assembled her hair in a messy bun. What would be the harm in inviting him over? They could play some more “getting to know you” games. Ha! Remember what happened the last time? But Damian was right—it was still early. Too early to get in bed, unless…no, don’t go there!

Kelly was walking from her bathroom to the living room when she heard the first rumble of thunder. She peered out her front window and eyed the line of dark clouds that was headed their way. So much for the perfect weather from earlier. Typical Michigan, she thought and went into the kitchen to dig up a snack. Her head was buried in the refrigerator when the next roar of thunder came, and that time, it shook the floor beneath her.

“You’re ok, you’re ok,” she chanted, and peered out the window again. She saw the bolt of lightning flash in the sky and decided that was it! She picked up her phone from the kitchen counter, but before she could dial, it rang.

“Hello?” she answered in as calm a voice as she could muster under the circumstances.

“Guess what’s on TV tonight?”

“Tell me.”

“Die Hard!”

BOOM! There went the thunder again.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Come on over.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Right now!” she said urgently as the wind rattled her window pane.

“Ok, ok. I’ll be there in a sec.”

She watched for him out the window, and he made it across the road just before the sky broke open and let out a deluge of rain. His feet were barely in the door when she launched herself into his arms.

“Whoa, I didn’t expect this. Not that I mind…” Damian said and hugged her tight. After another minute of her clinging to him, without speaking, Damian pulled back. “Kell? What’s wrong?”

“I’m kinda…sorta…afraid of storms,” she admitted with a grimace.

Damian pulled her back into his arms. “Well, this one sounds like a doozy, so you better hold on to me a while longer,” he said, nuzzling her neck.

This time, she pulled back. “Nice try. You came over to watch Die Hard, remember?”

“Oh, yeah, that’s right.” Damian stepped around her and picked up the TV remote from her coffee table. “Got any popcorn?”

“Only the microwavable kind.”

“That’ll have to do.”