Valentines Say I Love You Read online

  When the phone rang later Saturday night, she assumed it would be Jonathan. Not bothering to check the caller ID, she answered, “Hey babe!”

  “Wow, Peach! That’s quite a greeting. I mean, I knew you liked me . . . but you do realize I’m taken, right?” Manny’s chuckle was warm but not as full as normal.

  “Manny?! How are you? Are you home?” Georgia smacked herself on the head. She had totally forgotten that Chad told her they expected Manny to be discharged that day.

  “Yep. Sure am. Chad is now waiting on me, and taking care of my every need.”

  “Now, Manny, don’t abuse the poor guy.” She could just imagine Manny asking for this drink or that book or those slippers. The guy could be high maintenance.

  “Oh, don’t worry about that. Doc said I’m not allowed to have sex—”

  “La, la, la,” Georgia sang loudly. “I don’t want to hear about your sex life, Manny.”

  His retort was quick. “That’s fine, we’ll talk about yours then. How’s the picture guy in bed?”

  Damn him! Weren’t the drugs supposed to slow down his brain? “For your information, we haven’t gotten that far yet, and even if we had, I wouldn’t be sharing the intimate details with you. Unless you need some pointers . . .”

  “Touché, my southern belle!” She heard talking in the background. Manny must have relayed her comment to Chad.

  He came back on the line. “Seriously, are things going well for you?”

  Georgia hoped he could hear the smile in her voice. “They really are. He is such a nice guy. We’re having dinner next weekend. He’s cooking for me.”

  “I’m proud of you, Georgia. I’ve been waiting for you to find someone to fill the hole in your heart. Jonathan just might be the guy.”

  “Thank you, Manny. It means a lot.”

  She heard talking again in the background. There was a shuffling noise and then Chad came on the line. “I’m so happy for you, Georgia. Now, I have to be the rude husband and kick you off the phone. Manny needs his rest.”

  “Of course. Go pamper your patient with some TLC.” Georgia laughed before yelling, “Good night, boys!”

  ****

  Georgia followed her GPS’s directions to Jonathan’s home. She wasn’t very familiar with Rio Rancho and didn’t want to be late. She entered the community and easily located the two-story home. She felt a bit jealous — the walking trails looked nice as did the pool even though it was covered for winter. Plus, the neighborhood was quiet compared to living in the business district of Santa Fe.

  She parked and checked her hair and lipstick one last time. Grabbing the bottle of Merlot off the passenger seat, she walked up to the front door and paused before ringing the bell. While they had talked and texted, she hadn’t seen Jonathan since the night Manny was stabbed. Georgia’s heart raced with nervousness.

  Jonathan’s warm, welcoming smile put all her nerves to bed. “Ah, Georgia. It’s so good to see you.” He stepped back so she could enter the house. After helping her out of her coat, he set the bottle of wine on a table before he pulled her into a hug and kissed her sweetly.

  His lips lingered against hers as he wrapped her tightly against his body. Jonathan initiated another kiss, this one possessive, when his tongue delved into her mouth. She liked his passion; her tongue dueled and explored alongside his. Georgia moaned into his mouth while her hands skated up his chest to grasp his sweater. Her body decided he wasn’t allowed to break the kiss anytime soon. Breathing be damned.

  The timer on the oven blared, cutting through the haze of lust that surrounded the two. Jonathan groaned before pulling back. He muttered, “We need some effing uninterrupted time together.”

  Fate certainly did have a way of keeping them from too much intimacy. She watched as Jonathan tried to discreetly adjust himself as he jogged to turn off the timer. An unrepentant grin graced her face. The knowledge that she was the reason for his desire empowered and invigorated her.

  She sauntered toward the kitchen, desire making her add some hip to her normally stiff gait. “You know, Jonathan,” she began, her voice silky smooth, “that dreaded timer saved us from having dessert before your lasagna. No way are you getting out of serving me your delicious Italian dish.”

  Jonathan paused with the steaming dish in his hand. “Is that so?” The look in his eye indicated he liked this playful, more aggressive side of Georgia.

  “That’s right, mister. You best get that pan on the hot pad A.S.A.P.” She jerked up her chin, trying to maintain the forceful façade. It only lasted a moment before laughter spilled from her body.

  Jonathan joined with her laughter while carefully setting the lasagna on the counter. “It looks good, don’t you think? Although, Aiden did help with the preparations; if anything tastes off, we’ll blame it on him.”

  “Speaking of the cutie, where is the little guy?” Georgia looked around, suddenly noticing how quiet the house was.

  “Sleepover with his grandfather. He was very excited. My dad will have him spoiled in no time.” Jonathan walked around the counter and grabbed her hand, directing her toward the dining room table. “Aiden wanted to make sure you got this.” He picked up a crayon drawing off the table and handed it to Georgia.

  She smiled, although her insides were a jumbled mess. She was stuck on ‘sleepover.’ Could he be implying I should stay? Do I even want to spend the night? Georgia finally managed, “That’s so sweet. He did a great job.” Aiden drew what Georgia guessed was a steaming pan of lasagna with stick figures representing her and Jonathan. She traced the smile on her figure’s face. Never before had a child made something so special for her.

  “Why don’t you have a seat, and I’ll get a plate ready for you?” Jonathan pulled out her chair and waited until she was comfortable before heading back to the kitchen.

  Georgia’s mind drifted as she watched Jonathan walk away. For some reason — the drawing, maybe — the prospect of spending the night wasn’t so frightening. In fact, a comfortable warmth coursed through her body, sparks firing low in her belly. For the first time in a long time, her heart was filled with something other than dark spots and gaping holes. Desire and Jonathan twined together to sew those holes back together. Never had she felt so cared for or so special. Jonathan gave her the reason to do more than just go through the motion; he brought life and love and the prospect of family to her lonely life.

  “Hey, everything okay?” Jonathan set a plate, overflowing with lasagna and salad, in front of her. He knelt by her chair and took her hand in his.

  She blinked away her unfocused gaze and gave his hand a squeeze. “Everything’s fine.” More confidently and with a playful glint in her eye, she continued, “In fact, things are perfect.” For the first time in her life, she knew what she wanted. And what she wanted was right in front of her: Jonathan.

  “If you say so.” Standing, he brushed a kiss across her lips before turning to head toward the kitchen.

  She interrupted, “Jonathan, do you think the food can wait?”

  Jonathan glanced toward her plate. “Aren’t you hungry?” His brows furrowed with uncertainty.

  She rose from her chair and stalked toward him, forcing him to back up until his hips hit the counter. Georgia slid her hands around his waist and gripped his sweater. Stepping between his legs, she met his eyes while her teeth nibbled on her lower lip. “I thought I might like to have dessert first — if you’re up for it, of course.”

  Georgia watched as Jonathan’s eyes darkened with desire. Good, the man’s a quick learner. His teeth gently bit her ear before his lips skated down her neck, nipping and sampling. He breathed against her skin. “Dinner can definitely wait. To the bedroom.” In one graceful move, he picked her up and carried her up the stairs.

  ****

  Georgia tip-toed barefoot down the stai
rs, clad in one of Jonathan’s T-shirts. The strong aroma of coffee greeted her as she made her way through the great room to the kitchen. She paused, watching Jonathan juggle various cooking utensils. On the counter, she noticed a tray complete with a red rosebud and a glass of orange juice.

  As Jonathan turned with a loaded plate in his hand, his shoulders sagged slightly when he noticed Georgia. “You’re supposed to be in bed. I was going to surprise you with breakfast.”

  She walked over and placed a kiss on his bare chest. “Sorry to ruin the surprise, but I missed you.” Georgia teased her fingers over his nipple before skating her hand toward the waistband of his pajama pants.

  “You look great both in and out of clothes. I hope to see you in my shirts more often.” His voice was husky as he pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

  “Is that an invitation for another sleepover?” she teased.

  “Absolutely. And of course, breakfast is included.”

  “Breakfast . . . well, you’ve got yourself a deal.” She chuckled before grabbing his pants and tugging him toward the stairs. “Bring that plate. We’re going to need the energy for what I have in mind.”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  Valentine Surprise

  Jennifer Conner

  Valentine Surprise

  Copyright 2011

  By Books to Go Now

  For information on the cover illustration and design, contact [email protected]

  First eBook Edition –January 2011

  Printed in the United States of America

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.

  If you are interested in purchasing more works of this nature, please stop by

  www.bookstogonow.com

  If you enjoy Valentine Encounter please look for Jennifer’s other short stories

  Valentine Surprise

  Cupcakes and Cupids

  Do You Hear What I Hear?

  New Year Resolution

  The Duke and the Lost Night

  The Reluctant Heir

  The Wounded Nobleman

  Christmas with Carol

  Auld Lang Sigh

  Rush of Love

  Fields of Gold

  Christmas Chaos

  The Christmas Horse

  The Music of Christmas

  All I Want for Christmas is You

  Weddings First Chance

  and novel

  Kilt by Love

  Valentine Surprise

  Chapter 1

  Cecilia Clayton took another sip of her latte and waited for her best friend’s brother to finish his phone call. This was the downside of Lee being a lawyer; he was always on the phone. He should let calls go to voice mail. That would be the polite thing to do. Hadn’t he been the one who called her to come over? Geesh!

  Wheeling the office chair back a foot she waved her fingers. He spotted her and shrugged a broad shoulder in apology. Barefoot, with Levi’s, chocolate-brown hair that tipped his collar and laser-blue eyes, Lee was suck-the-breath-out-of-you good-looking. She met him and his sister in college where Cecilia grew to be best buddies with Tami. For the past six years she was the tag-along-friend that came with his sister.

  That was when she learned about Lee’s ‘problem’. He was a technophobe. Cecilia asked him once why he hated computers. At college, he said he spent so much time with his nose buried in law books he never learned more than the basics of computer know- how. It just wasn’t important to him.

  Through their college days he began to pay her to type up his dictated papers. He tried to do a paper himself once and it took five hours to hunt-and-peck three pages. The arrangement worked well, and the extra funds helped her pay for food and rent.

  Now she was the lead developer of a growing software design firm. So, why was she still jumping every time Lee called?

  Lee said he’d still happily pay her, but she hadn’t taken money for her tech help in four years. It was much easier to think of herself as a ‘good Samaritan’ than what she was - hopelessly in love with him. This time of the year made her sappy crush on Lee worse than ever.

  It was all that damn Valentine merchandise.

  The day after New Year’s when all the Christmas decorations came down, up went all the sparkly bling hearts and flying cupids. Cecilia hated it. Every store held a blazing reminder that she was alone.

  When Lee called earlier that afternoon, her heart leaped in her throat, but just as quickly dropped down to the carpet. Virus updating? Lee didn’t even know what it was or why the computer was asking for it. Cecilia tried to talk him through the steps, but after fifteen minutes, she decided it was easier to make the five minute drive to his place and fix it herself.

  Cecilia put her palms down on the desk and scooted forward. She needed his password login to update his virus protection software. Lee never made any sense with his random passwords—then couldn’t recall them later. Whatever popped into his mind at that moment became the password.

  Cecelia tapped a pen to her lower lip trying to think of what he may have chosen.

  Porsche.

  No access. Okay, so it wasn’t his car.

  lawyer. court case. court house.

  Nope, didn’t work either. He’d used those in the past, it was worth a try.

  Man of my dreams. Love potion number 9. Cupid, get me out of here!

  She sighed deeply and looked to see if Lee was finished with his phone conversation. Nope still talking away. From the heated debate she could hear on his end, it would be awhile.

  Cecilia noticed a blue folder. It stuck out because it wasn’t the color of the others stacked high on the desk. She shouldn’t snoop but maybe there would be some good celebrity gossip. The local rich and famous who’d posted bail and retained Lee as their lawyer. She lifted the corner with the tip of her finger, looked to make sure he was still on the phone, then flipped it open.

  Cupid’s Okay. It took a minute for the cover sheet info to sink in. An online dating service? What the….

  At first, disappointment flooded her, but then like a beam of Valentine light shining down from above, she had an idea. The only way she was going to get Lee Maxwell out of her life, and her mind, was to find him true love. Then he could stop being her fantasy man.

  She read the first page. Sure enough, it was an introductory packet they’d mailed to his house.

  It was still a shock. Lee could have a date every night with any woman he wanted. Handsome. Rich. Smart. Outdoorsy… was this some kind of a joke? But, he’d told her how busy he was. Maybe that was it. There wouldn’t be much time to meet anyone. He was probably as lonely as she was.

  Cecilia placed the first sheet of paper to the side and read on. He’d started to fill out the first page of information with a pen in neat hand writing. She could read every word. Definitely a lawyer, not a doctor.

  Height: six-foot-two. Weight: One-eighty-five. Nice. Cecilia knew the other personal facts on the sheet.

  Lucky for her the first page was filled out with his password and login:

  leemaxwell. porsche. Predictable. She rolled her eyes to the ceiling.

  She opened the Web,
found the Cupid’s Okay website, and finished the steps where he started the sign- up process. He must have gotten stuck; there was no information entered past the first page. Quickly Cecilia typed his info into the boxes.

  She flipped to the next page in the folder and stopped. He’d handwritten the entire box of About Me: A little bit about me: I am a mature, self-confident man. I love travelling, camping (especially next to water) and doing anything outdoors. If you see yourself in this description, and are interested in meeting, please contact me. No pressure on any potential dates, let’s just take it easy and become friends.

  Could be better, but a good start.

  She flipped to the next page. What kind of women I like. Written was: Petite. Blond. Not a lot more, but she was sure that would be enough.

  The last ‘date’ she remembered seeing Lee on was with a French advertising exec, Aurelie. She was everything Cecilia wasn’t. Petite, blond, AND spoke French. How could she compete with that? Computer programming language probably didn’t count as a foreign language—only to Lee.

  To finish up the application, she found a photo on his desktop of Tami, Lee and her river-rafting. Dragging it into a photo editing program, she cropped herself and his sister out, then resaved the file. Cecilia reached out and touched the screen. She loved this photo. It was such a happy day. Lee’s face was tan, his eyes matched the sky, and his hair was damp and dark from the river’s spray.