Page 68 of Twice as Tempting

Luckily, the walk of shame across the parking lot in the clothes that she had worn yesterday was short, and no one was outside anyway. Kelly found herself humming as she took a shower, dressed, and then hopped in her car. She connected her phone to Bluetooth and called Damian as she drove to work.

“You woke up,” Damian teased.

“It must have been the smell of donuts wafting down the hallway. Thank you, by the way. Nothing like sugar and caffeine to get the body moving.”

“You’re welcome.”

“So, do you have a lot to do today?”

“Yeah. Jim will be here soon, and then we’re going to meet with some suppliers this afternoon. But I’ll be home in time for our date tonight.”

Kelly was still floating from the night before, and the words “our date” sounded particularly promising. She didn’t want to get ahead of herself though, so she simply replied, “Sounds good. I’ll see you later.”

She was about to hang up when Damian said, “Hey, Kell?”

“Yeah?”

“Wear that black one-piece thingy under your clothes tonight. You know the one.”

Kelly squirmed with anticipation, and it was only ten o’clock in the morning! How am I going to make it through the entire day?

“Kell? You still there?”

“Yes, I’m here, and yes, I’ll wear it.” Kelly wondered if the air waves between their cell phones were crackling the way her entire body was.

“Can’t wait,” Damian said, his voice husky.

“Me neither,” Kelly said and then squeaked out a quick goodbye.

Somehow, Kelly made it through the day without bursting into a ball of flames. In between waiting on customers and her other bookstore duties, she thought about Damian. Images from the night before flashed through her mind, along with the sweet words that he had spoken. Even though Kelly felt positive about the future of their relationship, she recalled him warning her that he still had “issues.” She was fairly certain that he was referring to his broken engagement, but she wondered if there was more to it than that. She felt too buoyant to dwell on it, although she made a mental note to dig a little deeper.

Just before the end of the day, Kelly received an email from a college friend of her and Emma’s inviting them and their significant others to a Halloween party in a few weeks’ time. Beth Thompson had lived in the dorm room across the hall from Kelly and Emma at Michigan State, and she had made it a point to have a college friends get-together at least once a year. Kelly read the email twice, noting that costumes were “optional” and that the party would be taking place at Beth’s house in Rochester.

“Hmm. I wonder if Damian would go with me?” Kelly mused aloud. And then she began to visualize Damian dressed up in various costumes. It would have to be something masculine and strong, just like him. Batman, perhaps? A pirate, a police officer, a fireman…a Greek warrior? Kelly was still daydreaming when Emma called.

“Hi, Em,” Kelly answered cheerfully.

“Hi. Just calling to remind you about tonight. The tuxedo fitting is at five-thirty, followed by dinner at the Woodshop.”

“I remember. Hey, did you see the email from Beth Thompson?”

“No. I’m a new mom, remember? I barely have time to take a shower, let alone read my emails.”

“Well, we’re invited to a Halloween party at Beth’s house three weeks from now, and boyfriends and husbands-to-be are invited too.”

“Interesting. Maybe Zack could go as Superman.”

Kelly giggled, since she was in on Emma’s fascination with the superhero and Zack’s collection of Superman underwear. Zack had no idea that Kelly knew, as she was sworn to secrecy. “That’s funny, because I was thinking that Damian would make a good Batman.”

“You could be Catwoman, and I could be Wonder Woman! It’s perfect!”

If Damian liked her in black lingerie, wait until he got a load of her in a Catwoman suit! “Let’s ask the guys at dinner tonight,” Kelly said, and she went back to her daydreaming as soon as she hung up the phone.