Rock Candy Kisses(15)

Holt leans his head back a moment. "He's the lead singer in a band that  performs at the Black Bear-the 12 Deadly Sins." He looks to me. "In the  event you haven't noticed, they added about five extra transgressions."                       
       
           



       

Good God. I roll my eyes.

"His name is Blake." Baya nods at my mother. "He's amazingly sweet, and  he has a voice that makes ovaries cry for a ten mile radius."

My heart thumps at the idea. She nailed it all right.

Bryson shoots her a look before pulling her in close, and she giggles.  It's nice seeing him so happy. He was so depressed, and rightfully so,  after his friend Stephanie died. He thought she killed herself over him,  but she was pushed off a cliff by that evil witch, Aubree. Baya is  lucky she survived Aubree's clutches. My thoughts drift to Blake, how  horrible he must feel to have lost his brother just this past summer,  and now I can't wait to see him in just a few short hours. He hasn't  talked much about his brother, but I want him to. I want him to tell me  everything there is to know about him. I want to be that person for  Blake-someone he can share his intimate thoughts with.

Bryson lifts a finger. "Don't worry, Mom. Holt and I already talked to  this clown. He and Annie are just friends-less than friends,  acquaintances." He lifts his brows as if demanding that's all Blake and I  will ever be.

Acquaintances, huh?

Mom holds out her hands a moment. "So much is changing, and I have no  doubt Annie will have someone special in her life soon enough." She  looks to me heavy with concern. "Don't rush into things. They say women  are complicated, but, believe me, men are complicated, too, if not more  so. I wouldn't get too attached to this Blake person. You're young. You  have your whole life ahead of you. Men are like shoes, you want to try  on a few good pairs before committing to just the right one."

Holt and Bryson slouch in a manner that lets me know they're less than  pleased with her analogy. I'm positive she didn't mean for it to be  sexual in nature, but Baya is practically crying she's laughing so hard.

"Anyway"-Mom is as desperate to change the subject, as I am-"back to  your hearing. I booked an initial consult with an associate clinic in  Jepson. They can send their findings to the Los Angeles branch, and if  you qualify, we can schedule the surgery as early as November."

Surgery. I can practically feel the scalpel as she signs the word.

I want to say no thanks, but offer a bleak smile instead.

I know two things for sure. I'm about to make Blake Daniels more than an  acquaintance in just under an hour-and I won't be anywhere near Los  Angeles come November.

The idea of Blake and his ovary exploding voice comes back to me.

Why does it feel as if I'm running in all sorts of scary directions at once?



* * *



It takes many text messages and stare downs with Baya to convince her to  drive me back to the dorm. Who knew a football game was on, and my  brothers had plans to sit glued to the set for the next four hours?  Thank God for Baya, or I would have been stranded. Another reason to get  my license ASAP. Last year both Kaya and I took our driver's education  courses. As soon as she could, she went down to the DMV and got her  license. Kaya is a great driver-correction, Kaya is one of the safest  drivers I've ever been in a car with. No offense to Baya, of course.  Although it does feel sort of like a roller coaster at times, but I  attribute it to the fact she's probably not used to my brother's truck.  Maybe this winter break I'll get my brothers to help me log a few hours  behind the wheel, and, after the New Year, I can finally get my license.  I'll admit the idea makes me nervous, but Kaya assured me that everyone  feels that way at first, hearing or not.

Baya pulls in front of Prescott, and I do a quick sweep for any signs of  Blake, but thankfully there aren't any. I think if I saw his big truck  I'd keel over. My heart is still racing from trying to break out of my  mother's house, but now it's picking up speed at the thought of being  alone with Blake for the first time in a week. It's still ten to three,  so I have a few minutes to run up and change.

Baya leans back in her seat and inspects me.

"So what time is he picking you up?"

I open my mouth to refute the idea then wisely close it again. I've met my quota on lies for the week.

A wry smile drifts to my lips instead as I pull out my phone. 3:30 Please don't tell.

"I won't." She laughs. "But you're an adult, Annie. You're allowed to  see whoever, whenever you like. And if you like Blake"-she shrugs-"then  that's the way it goes."

Do you think he's a good guy?

"Are you kidding?" She talks extra slow, so I don't miss a word. "For  all that bad boy persona he puts on, he sure is a sweetheart. But don't  tell your brother I said that. I'd hate for him to think I was looking  in another direction." She gives a full-bellied laugh, and her hair and  shoulders jump in turn. "Just be careful. Everyone's a good guy until  they're not. Don't you even think of letting him touch you. You deserve  an epic romance, not some one-night stand by someone who doesn't care  enough to get to know you. Your brothers just want the best for you.  They want you to fall in love."                       
       
           



       

I wrinkle my nose. No they don't. They want me to be single with ten cats for the rest of my life.

Baya bounces as she giggles. "Leave the cats to Izzy. You do you." She  holds up a finger and types something into her phone. Go have fun on  your date. Do me a favor, though, don't give your heart away until  you're absolutely sure he's the one. And please don't give your body  away. You only get one first time, and you deserve both magic and  romance-and, according to your brother, a wedding ring, so be careful.

"I will," I mouth before leaning in giving her a nice, tight hug. Baya  is like the big sister I never had. I give her a quick wave before  speeding upstairs.

"Where have you been?" Marley has three outfits ready for me on the bed.  I choose the one with a blush-colored sweater and tight well-worn blue  jeans.

What are you doing here? I thought you were headed up to surprise your  man? I spot those navy velvet cuffs she's been dying to test out sitting  unused on her desk.

"I sort of called and asked first." She shrugs before picking up her  phone. He couldn't get out of a study group he's leading. I guess we're  out of luck until next weekend. I had a feeling he wouldn't want me  around.

I text back. Sorry to hear it.

Don't be. She answers. I'm headed to the local sex shop to get some  inspiration for my next article. I'm not a pervert. I'm simply taking  one for the team.

I give a wry smile. How noble of you.

She lends me her cowboy boots once again and shoves a packet of breath  strips into my hand. "Put these in your pocket. You can sneak them into  your mouth whenever, and the evidence melts away leaving you with fresh  breath." She shuttles me to the door before spinning me around to see  her face again. "Oh, and don't kiss after coffee." She wrinkles her  nose. "And, whatever you do, don't eat fish or garlic or anything  remotely disgusting." She jumps with excitement. "I can't believe you're  going to have your first kiss!"

I'd shake my head or refute the idea, but a part of me wants to believe  it's true. There's only one goal I have for the rest of the day and  that's to land Blake Daniels' lips over mine.

I type into my phone. I'm going on a date not a kissing marathon. There  is no actual plan to fuse our mouths together. I show her the phone and  can't help but think I've espoused yet another lie.

Marley tilts toward me. There's a practicality about her that overrides  her sweetness just enough, and I admire that. She whips out her phone.  You do realize he's into you. And don't even try to deny the fact you're  into him. She gives my arm a quick rub before finishing her thoughts.  If things happen naturally and you're feeling it-go for it. Just enjoy  the ride. What could a little kissing hurt?

My stomach pinches with heat at the thought of his lips touching mine.

I just hope I don't pass out.

She bites her lip as she jots down a reply You won't. And, if you do,  odds are he'll be holding you so you won't hit the ground. Now get out  of here!

And I do.



* * *



By the time I step outside the building, Blake is already there, front  and center, with his window rolled down, his head leaned back, his eyes  half closed in that sexy bedroom eye kind of way. He hops out as soon as  he sees me and breaks into a giant grin. Tiny comma-like dimples dig in  on either side of his cheeks, and my stomach squeezes tight at the  sight of them. I have a feeling today is going to be filled with  autonomic responses I have no control over. Like Marley said, just enjoy  the ride.