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Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780578098470 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | BroadLit, Incorporated |
| Publication date: | 04/24/2012 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 241 |
| File size: | 2 MB |
About the Author
* The stories presented here were first published as "true stories" . . . at a time when it was necessary to hide the true identities of the women associated with these tales to avoid scandal. We have chosen to maintain the veil of the authors' anonymity to protect the innocent . . . and the not so innocent.
TruLoveStories.com parent company BroadLit, presents Falling in Love... Again the first book in a brand new book series TruLove Collection. Here you can find dozens of exciting of stories from the pages of True Romance and True Love magazines. Where timeless romance lives on. Now also available in paperback.
Read an Excerpt
THE UNEXPECTED PACKAGES OF LOVE
After bad dates that included burping contests and a Three Stooges Film Festival,she’d given up on romance.
“Men are pigs.”
After my latest dating disaster, the name-calling was more than
justified, and, to be perfectly honest, I thought I was being quite
charitable by referring to the latest loser as merely a pig.
I dropped my backpack on the floor, toed off my shoes, and sank
onto the blue-striped, overstuffed sofa in the off-campus apartment
I shared with my best friend.
“They’re the slime on top of a stagnant pond. They’re pocket
lint. They’re like parking spaces: all the good ones are always
taken. They’re—”
“Nicole? Is that you?”
My roommate interrupted my tirade as she emerged from the
bathroom where she was obviously primping for a late Friday-night
date. Her ebony hair was twisted around a mass of hot rollers, and
she had her left eyelash crimped in a metal curler. At five feet ten
inches, she was my total opposite. In my bare feet, I stood at five
feet and a smile, with honey blonde hair cut in a short bob. Last
year, I’d finally taken the plunge and ditched my wire rimmed
glasses in favor of tinted contacts that enhanced my green eyes.
“You’re going to blind yourself with that contraption one day,”
I cautioned. I grabbed the television remote, stabbed at the power
button, and surfed through an endless series of “tell-all” shows.
“Bad date last night?” she asked, picking up on my lousy mood.
I gave her a “no kidding” look and rolled my eyes dramatically.
“Mimi, it was beyond bad. It was beyond dreadful. It was
approaching nuclear disaster.”
I muted the sound and tossed the remote onto the coffee table.
“Why can’t I just meet a nice guy with table manners who can
talk about something besides himself? Is that too much to ask?” I
flopped back on the sofa and released a huge sigh.
“Nope, that’s not too much to ask at all.” She carefully released
the eyelash curler and dropped it onto the small dining table
against the wall of our combination dining/living room. “Maybe if
you’d just—”
“Just what?” I gave her a look that would have blistered paint.
“Lower my standards? Recognize spitting as an acceptable method
of social interaction between males? Enjoy wrestling matches?”
Mimi’s mouth gaped in shock. “Did Freddy Jenson take you to a
wrestling match?”
“Yes, he did. And I think those two sat in front of us.” I pointed
to the television and indicated a group of scantily clad women
engaged in a catfight. “Oh, look, there’s our waitress from the
Pancake Shack. I recognize her tattoo.”
“I’m trying to be serious, Nicole. You don’t have to lower your
standards. You just need to understand that love can come in
unexpected packages.” Mimi reached up, pulled a roller from her
hair, and set it beside the eyelash curler.
“Such as?” I was eager to hear her suggestions since my own
efforts at meeting men had led me to believe that I was a serious
loser magnet.
“The lobby of the veterinary school building? It takes brains to
be a vet,” she offered.
I shook my head. “That’s where I met Barney Larson. He took
me to watch bulls being castrated.” I shuddered at the recollection
of that evening, which was forever etched in my brain.
“Eeewww.” Mimi made a face and continued pulling curlers from
her head to release long curly strands of hair. “Then how about the
music building? Some of those guys are really cute.”
“Two words: Gregorian chants.”
“Huh?” Mimi scrunched her nose and then shook her head, dark
curls falling around her shoulders.
“The campus radio station?”
“I tried that. I spent an entire Saturday night listening to a guy
record himself announcing the station’s call letters.”
“Then I guess I won’t suggest the campus television station,” she
said.
“How kind of you.”
“Then how about fraternity row? Or the theater department?”
She ticked off her suggestions on her fingers.
“Have you ever been to a burping contest? Or a Three Stooges
film festival?” Memories of a drunken frat boy belching the tune
to “YMCA” slid into my brain and right back out. “Mimi, I know
you mean well, but you’re incorrigible. Face it; I’m destined to be
single.”
“Incorrigible, huh? Is that good or bad?”
I was tempted to throw my shoe at her, but I settled for a sofa
cushion instead. She grabbed it in midair. “One more idea. Hear
me out, okay?” she pleaded.
“Like I have a choice?”
“Patrick and I are going to the Save the Planet festival on
campus tomorrow. Why don’t you come with us?”
“Ooohh! A third-wheel pity date.” I slumped deeper into the
sofa and picked the lint off a cushion. “That’ll be fun.”
Mimi sat on the coffee table directly in front of me. “You know
that Patrick and I never think of you that way. Come on, we’ll
have a great time.”
“Right.” My voice dripped with sarcasm. Mimi and I were best
friends and loved each other like sisters, but I didn’t want to be
dragged along on her date just so she wouldn’t feel guilty. “I can
just imagine who I’d meet at an environmental festival. Those
guys are into composting and recycling, and they look like Albert
Einstein reincarnated.”
I stood and turned toward my bedroom. “Thanks anyway, Mimi.
I’m going to pile up in bed with a good book and try to forget last
night ever happened.”
Then Mimi played her trump card. “We have an extra ticket
to the concert. That jazz band you like so much is playing.” She
pulled the ticket from the back pocket of her jeans and waved it
at me. “It’s yours if you want it.”
I spread a plaid blanket under a tall oak and decided to enjoy
the festival atmosphere. I had tried to fill my day with chores and
studying, but by three o’clock I admitted to myself that I had failed
miserably. After glancing at the concert ticket numerous times,
I finally capitulated and rushed to make the four o’clock start
time.
As the band began its warm-up, I stretched out and gazed
overhead at the cotton candy clouds. A head suddenly blocked my
view, but the sun made it impossible to distinguish if it belonged
to a man or a woman.
“Is this spot taken?”
Definitely a man—a man with a baritone voice that made my
insides melt like chocolate left in the sun. When I tried to answer,
I realized that my voice had melted too, and all I could do was
shake my head.
He spread his windbreaker on the ground beside me and plopped
onto it.
“I’m Rafe Shoreham,” he said, offering his hand.
Yes you are. A lock of dark hair drooped over his forehead and
his espresso-colored eyes stared straight into my soul.
“And you are?”
Oh dear heavens, the man had turned my brains to mush. “I’m
Nicole,” I stammered and took his proffered hand.
“Nice to meet you, Nicole. Are you enjoying the festival?”
“It’s been…interesting.” I didn’t want to appear negative just in
case he was a die-hard environmentalist. “Um…have you done
any composting lately?”
“Nope, never tried it.”
“Recycling?”
He leaned back on his elbows and stretched out his long legs. “I
have one of those blue bins if that’s what you mean.” There was a
trace of laughter in his voice.
I studied him closely. He certainly didn’t look like Einstein, and
he’d just admitted that composting wasn’t on his to-do list. Score
one for the mystery man.
“I have to admit, I’m not really into this save the earth stuff,”
he confessed. “Oh, I do my part. I use that blue bin I mentioned,
and I drive an economy car. I turn off lights when I leave the
room, and just last week I bought some recycled trash bags. But I
haven’t done any organic gardening lately. Couldn’t do much if I
wanted to since I have a black thumb anyway.” He raised his hand,
wiggled his thumb and winked at me. “I just came for the concert.
I graduated last year and I’m back here in Raleigh on a recruiting
trip for my employer. I thought this might be a nice change of pace
from my hotel room.”
“Me, too,” I admitted. “A change, that is, not a recruiting trip.
I’m a senior.”
“So you’ll be graduating next month?” He plucked a blade of
grass and stuck it between the most luscious lips I’d ever seen on a
man.
“I wish. I’m in accounting and it’s a five-year program. I have
another year after this.”
“Good choice. Every company needs a good accountant; you
shouldn’t have any trouble finding a job.”
Silence threatened to settle between us and I smiled at him
awkwardly. After months of dating the absolute worst of the worst,
here was a man who had a sense of humor, didn’t seem hung up
on himself, and hadn’t burped once. I wanted to get to know him
a little better. “So…where’s home?”
“Dallas. How ’bout you?”
Just my luck. I’d met a real contender for Mr. Right and instead
he was Mr. Thousand-Miles-Away. But before I could answer, the
music started, and we were both absorbed in the soothing jazz
melodies.
When the last notes had died away, Rafe stood and pulled
himself to his full six-foot height. He extended a hand and helped
me to my feet.
He gave me a sheepish grin and kicked at the grass with the
toe of his boot. “I know we just met, but would you like to go
somewhere for dinner? I noticed that the vendors here are only
serving stuff like soy burgers and sprouts, and I gotta tell you, that
won’t cut it for a boy from Texas.”
An hour later, we were chatting over steaming plates of pasta
at Nick’s Bistro, a cozy Italian restaurant a few blocks away. Rafe
was so easy to talk to, and by the time we’d finished the last bites
of a to-die-for tiramisu, I felt as if I’d known him forever. I wanted
to spend more time with this intriguing man, yet a little voice in
the back of my head kept reminding me that in another week he
would be gone and I’d be back to the usual college boys.
After Rafe walked me to my door and gave me a chaste kiss on
the cheek that same little voice had calmed down a bit, and was
telling me I should enjoy Rafe’s company while it lasted.
Didn’t I deserve this after months of dating disasters? As I slept
that night, my dreams were filled with images of a tall handsome
cowboy who drove a compact sedan instead of riding a horse, and
wrangled computers rather than cattle. When Rafe called the next
day and invited me to lunch and an afternoon movie matinee, I
jumped at the chance to spend more time with the man of my
dreams.
Man of my dreams? Where on earth had that come from? We’d
known each other less than twenty-four hours and already I was
thinking in terms of happily ever after. I gave myself a good mental
shake, and convinced myself that my reaction to Rafe was simply
a matter of contrast. Compared to all the college jerks I’d been
dating, Rafe was a dream man. And soon the dream would end, so
I’d better not get too attached.
After lunching on hot dogs from a street vendor, we drove to the
theater complex where I fully expected him to hustle me into the
latest crime drama or action-adventure film. I was left speechless
when he asked for two tickets to a popular new romantic
comedy.
“Hey, I’m in touch with my feminine side,” he offered,
undoubtedly in response to my surprised look. Then he winked
and added, “When I came to pick you up today, Mimi told me
you’ve been itching to see this because you have the hots for the
leading man.”
“I do not!” I felt a blush creep up my neck and swatted playfully
at his arm. “Okay, I’ll admit that I have wanted to see it, but you’d
probably rather see that film about the international spy ring, so
why don’t we just—”
“Why don’t we get a bucket of popcorn, a couple of sodas, and
just watch two people fall in love?” He gently took me by the
elbow and led me toward the concessions stand.
He stole another little piece of my heart at that moment, and
I knew that when he returned to Texas it would be the most
miserable day of my life. But I would survive, just like I’d survived
all the bad dates in my life. I’d just have wonderful memories of
this one instead of regrets.
The movie proved to be even better than the reviewers had
indicated, but I didn’t fawn over the leading man like I normally
did. How could I when I had a man just as handsome and oh-socaring
right beside me?
That night, Rafe gave me more than a chaste kiss. When
we stood outside my apartment door, he lowered his head and
brushed his lips against mine. My legs felt like rubber and my pulse
pounded like a thundering herd of cattle. When his tongue traced
the seam of my lips, I parted them slightly and met his tongue with
mine. A jolt of electricity sizzled right through my body, and when
I opened my eyes to look at Rafe, I saw that his eyes had darkened
with desire.
Putting both hands on his chest, I pushed myself away. It was
too soon for this kind of spark between us. We’d just met the day
before, and here I was ready to suck his tongue out of his mouth.
“Um…we need…I need to take this slow,” I said in response to
the puzzled look on his face. “I…I….”
I was aware that Rafe traveled frequently with his job, and
I was most likely just one of many girls in many ports. I didn’t
want to get involved in a relationship that was destined to end in
heartache. But that didn’t stop my body from reacting to him in a
decidedly lustful manner.
He took both my hands in his and pressed a kiss to my knuckles.
The look in his eyes told me that he understood.
“Sleep tight Nicole,” he said, turning my insides to mush.
Monday morning brought a return to the routine and to my
heavy schedule of classes, but the day was anything but ordinary
because I couldn’t stop daydreaming about Rafe during class. He
was far more intriguing than tax codes. Yet, despite my attraction
to him, I dawdled on my way home from my last class afraid he
might call and ask me out again.
Why was I so confused? I’d been lamenting my status as a loser
magnet, yet here I had a real winner and I was avoiding him. If he
called, would I go out with him again?
The moment I stepped into my apartment, the blinking light on
the answering machine caught my attention. I was across the room
in three strides, and jabbed the play button to retrieve the first of
two messages.
“Hi, Nicole. It’s Rafe. I was wondering if you’d like to have
dinner with me tonight at Nacho Mama, and then I could hang
around with you at the library while you study. Give me a call on
my cell.”
Decision time had arrived. But before I returned his call and
gave him my answer, I let the machine play the second message.
“It’s me again, Nicole. I’m really sorry but I just got called back
to the home office and I’m taking the three forty-five flight to
Dallas. I’ll call you when I get back home.”
A quick glance at my watch showed me that I was thirty minutes
too late. Thirty minutes: the amount of time I’d spent browsing
the magazine section at the campus bookstore.
Thirty minutes earlier I’d been filled with confusion and doubt,
but now I realized that the best thing to ever happen to me had
just flown away.
Save the Planet was a rousing success—again—and I was
enjoying every minute I’d spent working at the Feral Felines
booth. The last year had brought a lot of changes to my life. I had
made a decision to stop letting life pass me by and to start living
for the moment. So what if I hadn’t had a decent date since my
last evening with Rafe? My life was no longer defined by the men
I dated
Table of Contents
From Losers to a Leading ManTHE UNEXPECTED PACKAGES OF LOVE.........................9
After bad dates that included burping contests and
a Three Stooges Film Festival, she’d given up on romance.
We Lust After the Couple Next Door!
Love Thy Neighbor........................................................22
A wife-swapping tale of just desserts
This Gutsy, Go-Getter Won’t Be Any Man’s Fool!
HE LEFT ME CRYING IN THE CHAPEL!...........................47
Now I get my revenge. . . .
Sweet Mini-Romance
A FAMILY AFFAIR................................................................66
Our romantic love reunion was bound to happen—
and make both our “fractured” families wonderfully complete!
Making a Bid for Love
THE BACHELOR AUCTION...............................................74
Who will bid $100 for the service of this young man?
When a Lover Dies
CAN YOU HAVE A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE?...........91
After 4 years, I still awoke with a feeling of dread.
Give Romance a Shot!
IN LOVE WITH MY NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR..............115
He’s cute—and close! But can I trust him?