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Chapter 19
Maranda as Veronica
I laughed so hard that my sides hurt and Brian looked like he was in considerable amount of pain him self. I took him to an underground stand-up comedy show.
The man did some very funny impression, picked on some people, made fun of him self, then his family, and then when everyone was reduced to laughter tears the main act came on.
She was twice as funny, if that was possible. She had Brian on the floor most of the time, which only added to my laughter.
I made a mental note to give Jake a considerable bonus.
We walked out of the comedy show 2 hours later, literally, holding our selves up.
“That was the funniest thing I’ve seen in my life.” Brian was still laughing. He got picked on a considerable amount for rolling on the floor. In turn, me being his date also got picked on. But it made it all the more funny.
After we were settled in my car and finally breathing some what normal I looked over at Brian. “Where do you want to eat?”
“What you didn’t plan out our whole evening?”
I laughed, “Hardly, finding this place was hard enough.”
“I’ll remember that.” He sat forward and cracked his back. “Um, we can go back to Nick and I’ll cook you something. We’ll have to deal with them because we didn’t stay out late, but…” Brian trailed teasingly.
“No, apartment’s a mess, but you can cook at my place.” I smiled as I turned on the car and headed into traffic.
“Thanks for the honor.”
“It’s my pleasure really.” It wasn’t even that funny, but we were still in a laughing.
Soon we were eating spaghetti dinner that Brian made.
“Brian, this is great.” I laughed as I tried to get some slippery noodles into my mouth.
“Thank you.” He smiled and watched me eat. I knew what he was doing, but it made me nervous.
“Do you like watching me eat?” I smiled.
“MmmHmm.” He smiled.
“I’m sorry, but if I eat another bite I’ll explode.”
“Well we don’t want that. Let’s take our drinks to the living room.” He picked up my wineglass and his while extending his arm for me to take.
“Such a gentleman,” I smiled and we sat on the couch. I pulled off my shoes and tossed them on the floor. “Sorry, I’m more a tennis shoe girl.”
“It’s fine with me.” He sat back and leisurely put his arm on the back of the couch behind me.
I smiled. He seemed very comfortable in his own skin. While right now I just felt aware of it. It scorched as I looked at him and as his fingers lightly touched my arm. It felt as if my shirtsleeve would burn off beneath his touch. I took a deep breath trying to control my emotions. I was failing miserably and I could feel my neck heat up. Surely my face would be that crimson red in a matter of seconds.
We started talking, but I stayed quite for the most part. I didn’t want to lie to him unless I had to and right now I didn’t have to. I added truths hear and there. I told him about Charles, which was hard for me in general and in a whole. He seemed happy that I confided that in him. I told him with my moving away at an early age ended our relationship harshly. When he asked why I moved I had to lie.
“I went to live with an Aunt. Things were pretty rough in my neighborhood and my parents just wanted to protect me.” That was partly true, they only wanted to protect me and things were pretty rough for me.
I woke at 4 o’clock when my apartment phones when off. I looked around confused to my where abouts and then I remembered I was in LA What I didn’t expect to find was that I fell asleep on Brian’s chest in my living room. Jumping up I ran into the small kitchen.
“Hello?” I whispered.
“What’s whispering? Having guests?” I could just see Jake’s smirk.
“That’s not the point. What do you want?”
“Well, my money and to update you.”
“At for in the friggin’ morning?”
“You got something better to do?”
“Yeah sleep. Call me at 11.” I hung up the phone and walked back to the living room. Brian was still asleep. I took a blanket and covered him up then went into my room, changed and crawled into the unfamiliar bed.
I didn’t wake again until the smell of fresh coffee entered my nose. When I looked over at the clock it was 9 o’clock. It didn’t hit me that I was in LA until after I looked around. Then I heard sounds from the kitchen.
Immediately I groped for my pistol at my bedside. I quietly made my way across the large bedroom and entered the hall. I had my back to the wall and my gun drawn to my chest. I eased my way to the kitchen and made a sharp turn where I came face - to - face…with Brian.
“Brian!” I clasped my hand to my mouth, dropping the gun to my side.
Brian put his hand over his heart and leaned against the counter. “You carry a gun?”
I looked down at my pistol. “This is really bad.” I turned and faced the stove. I held the gun in both hands. “I’ve been really edgy lately and I forgot you were here. I would have never don’t that…I’m sorry.”
“It’s OK, I’m just shaken up.”
I turned and laid the gun on the counter then rested my forearms on it. “So…let me hear it.”
“Hear what?”
“Brian I know what you’re thinking. I’m some fruitcake girl who just pulled a gun on her date.”
Brian cracked a smile at that. “Well you’re not a fruit cake and I won’t tell Aj if you don’t.”
“Tell Aj what?”
“He thinks you carry a gun.”
“But I do.” I turned and leaned my back against the door.
Brian seemed to ponder on that subject.
“You’re right, though, I’d rather not tell anyone. People tend to think the worst. Like I’ll get jittery and pull a gun on them.” I shook my head and laughed. “That’s the first time I’ve ever done that. I woke up and I didn’t know where I was, then I heard noises from the kitchen and panicked.”
Brian slid his arm around my back and pulled me around in front of him. He wrapped both arms around me and I suddenly became aware of his bare chest.
“What happened to your shirt?”
“It’s in the wash. I think it’d be better if I went back home with a clean shirt, don’t you?” He smiled.
“I don’t know. It might be just as suspicious.”
I looked down at his strong body that I was pressed so tightly to. Timidly, I rose my hands until my fingers lightly touched his chest. I traced the creases of his toned abdomen with my fingertips.
His arms seemed to tighten around me, urging me on. I pressed my palms on his chest and rose them to his neck. My fingers tangled in his curly hair as my eyes got lost in his.
Absently I moistened my lips, as his eyes seemed to drill holes in my skull. Slowly we leaned towards each other, closing the space between us till I could feel his breath on my lips.
I could almost taste his kiss when a loud screeching sound startled us both. I turned to find that the eggs that Brian was making were scorched and burning. I quickly took the skillet to the sink and drowned it. Then I shut off the stove and searched for the fire alarm. Once I found it, I discovered was above my refrigerator, too far back to reach with my height.
Annoyed, I grabbed my gun and took aim. One shot and the sound died with a whine.
I started to laugh.
“What’s so funny?” I turned to Brian who was obviously surprised to see me get aggravated and shot the alarm.
“This.” I motioned around. “Everything. Haven’t you noticed when we get thisclose to kissing something happens? That time it was Aj, we kissed, but who showed up? Then last night, we came close so many times, but a noise or a distraction and that was it. Then, today, an alarm. It’s a government-“
I was cut of by Brian’s swift movement from a cross the kitchen to me. He pulled me into his arms and firmly press his lips to mine. His lips softened against mine as the wrap of his arms around my waist tightened. My arms went around his neck, I placed the gun on the counter and my fingers found his curly hair.
The kiss was more passionate than the first, if that were truly possible. He kissed my top lip, then my bottom. Teasingly his tongue traced my lips until I bid him entrance. His tongue danced with mine like warm velvet. It was like nothing I’d ever felt. My skin would surly burn off and my bones would melt in a puddle around him if he didn’t hold me up.
Just as we broke from the kiss, both breathless, the washer’s buzzer went off.
Brian smiled with
a glint of amusement in his passionate eyes. “Sounds like the government
is falling behind.”
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