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The woman standing before him was offering him an evening of movie watching and eating snack foods. It was all innocent, but he did see himself as the big bad wolf in this scenario. His thoughts had traveled to a more sinister territory this afternoon. And she’d even put on a nice top and a jean skirt with black leggings that accentuated her shapely legs. He was getting off track again. If he was going to have a shot, whatever the shot was, he was going to have to slow down from warp gigolo speed to her speed. Which was around junior high, first boyfriend speed. Suddenly he felt like a schoolboy again.

“What movies did you rent?” he said suddenly.

She rattled off the movies, although she still had that suspicious look in her eye.

“Good choices.” He took off his jacket and laid it on the arm of the couch. Antonio walked up to her and took her hand off the door handle. “What do you have to eat? I’m starving.”

* * *

He’d survived the popping of the popcorn and the drizzling of the toppings. He’d survived the frozen hors d’oeuvres she’d put in the oven. He’d even survived her suggestion they make a fort on the living room floor and watch the movies. So what had him so perplexed was that he enjoyed being with her and the novelty of the evening. When his lust-riddled haze cleared, he could see it was not a night of seduction but a night of intimacy. She wanted to feel close to him.

The look of terror even dissipated when he reached for the blanket on the couch and covered them both without trying anything funny. By the time he loaded the third DVD, Lucy was running out of steam but putting up a good front. She was drifting in and out, and subsequently nestling closer to him every time she did. She was soft, undeniably feminine, and vulnerable in her own Lucy kind of way. Hardly the kind of woman you’d have a good time with then run out on.

Antonio glanced around the room and was not surprised with what he found. Her apartment was as colorful as the outfits she wore. Vibrant paintings draped the walls and eclectic sculptures were placed sporadically on tables. She lived and breathed color just like he did.

Although the only action going on tonight was on Lucy’s flat-screen television, he was glad they didn’t do anything. She wouldn’t have to regret it tomorrow and that meant he’d be able to see her again. This wasn’t going at all according to his diabolical plan and suddenly he felt he wasn’t the one calling the shots. Antonio was out of his element and didn’t like it one bit.

* * *

Antonio decided he wouldn’t answer calls from back home for a while but couldn’t help but answer when he saw Lauren’s face appear on the screen. He missed her.

“Hey gorgeous,” he said sweetly into the phone.

“Hey handsome.” Lauren giggled. “Staying out of trouble?”

“What do you think?”

“No. But I will give you the benefit of the doubt.”

“How’s everything? Everyone?” he asked.

“Everything and everyone is fine. I called to see how you are doing. How’s the project for the community theater going?”

Antonio let out a big sigh. “There is so much history there. There are a few famous people who started here. Lots of stories. Weird little theater group.”

“You should send me some pictures. You know I love looking at things through your eyes. And you are rubbing off on Zaria. She’s developing her own photographic eye.”

“She does take excellent pictures. I will one day to be able to say she was my protégée.” He laughed.

“So, have you met any women?”

“A few.”

“That translates to…five in your book. Anybody interesting?”

“Just the usual. There is this one. I don’t know what I would call her—an entity? She called me a whore.”

Lauren laughed till she choked. “And you’re angry about that?”

“Not angry. But this woman is maddening. She’s one of those flighty creative types. She owns a store filled with all these eclectic things and she does her artwork there. She flits around town in overalls and the longest scarf known to man. And she’s prim and thinks she knows everything, especially about me.”

“She sounds unique,” Lauren said warmly. “I like her.”

“You don’t know her.” Antonio huffed.

“She sounds like a breath of fresh air.”

“She called me a whore.”

“She called a spade a spade. Which means you were not able to convince her otherwise or you wouldn’t sound so sore about it still,” Lauren said sincerely.

“And she has a list of things she wants in a man. It has fifty-seven items on it.” He seethed.

“So she knows what she wants.”

“She’s impossible and unrealistic.”

“Do you want her?”

“I want to prove her wrong. And I don’t know why. I’m not ashamed of the way I live my life. I am content,” he said defiantly.

She sighed. “So have you met your distraction yet?”

“Distraction?” he said innocently.

“Yes. Let me think. Gorgeous. Would fulfill all of your grown-up boy fantasies?”

Instantly Monica popped into his mind. He couldn’t bring himself to answer her question. “So, where’s my brother?”

“In the kitchen making paella.”

Antonio’s stomach rumbled. “Oh. Why did you have to tell me that? He makes an awesome paella.”

“I know. That’s why I am getting so chunky.” She laughed.

“You are not chunky. You are perfect just the way you are. You are eating for two, after all.”

She sighed. “Yeah, I know.”

“So are you ready for number four? Or maybe four and five?”

“Antonio, bite your tongue,” she squealed.

“Well, you are the mother of twins. It’s possible that it could happen again.”

“I don’t know what I would do.”

“You know what to do,” he said comfortingly.

“Yeah, strangle your brother.”

“Did you want to have another baby?” The thought had been on his mind since he’d learned she was pregnant. She seemed a little uneasy about it.

“To be honest, I was content with the status quo. Alejandro and I had a long talk and he really wants this baby. I was a little hesitant at first but then he explained to me why it was important to him. And then I really wanted this baby.”

“What you won’t do for love, right?” he said.

“So the song says. And my heart too.” She cleared her throat. “I’m not saying that you should want what your brother and I have. I’m not even saying you should want to be married. I know aside from the hurt talking, you’re the kind of person who loves adventure and that feeling will never die. You’re a free spirit. One day you will meet another free spirit who will go off on those adventures with you. Who says you can’t love and be in motion at the same time?”

“Lauren, the last time I was hurt was when my mother told us my father wasn’t coming back.”

“That was quite a while ago.”

“I know.”

“Why should I give anyone else the opportunity to screw me over again?”

“The right person won’t do that. I promise you, Ant.”

“How can you promise me something like that?”

“Because I know in my heart that there is love for you. And I want you to find it before you give up and settle for someone instead of seeking out the person you were meant to be with.”

“It’s always that simple, isn’t it?” He chuckled.

“Always.” He could hear the smile in her voice. “Talk to you soon.”

“OK.”

* * *

Lauren padded into the kitchen to see if she could talk Alejandro into letting her taste the food.

“Hey babe,” he said as she walked into the kitchen. “Antonio on the phone?”

“Yes.” She went over and kissed him. “My gosh, you’re nosy. You heard me all the way in here?”

“You’re damn right. My pregnant wife is on the phone talking to some man about relationships, you better believe the hearing aid is turned up to supersonic.”

She laughed. “You are so silly. You are my one and only.”

He smiled. “I know. So what’s going on with him?”

“Your brother is falling in love. And resisting it.” She sighed.

“And why do you think he’s falling in love?”

“He keeps trying to figure out why he and this artist woman keep bumping heads. He’s found the one woman in that state who doesn’t find him attractive for the usual reasons and he’s angry at her for that and angry at himself for giving a shit. Sound familiar?”

“Very.” He grinned.

* * *

Lucy made her way down Main Street in a really good mood. She’d had a great time at the movie theater with Antonio last night. Since movie night at her place was such a success, they’d been slowly spending time together. A coffee date here and there. Dinner with him and Felix again. A trip to the mall. She’d wanted to see that foreign film that was playing at the art house and they agreed to go see it. Antonio had fallen asleep halfway through it. She’d nudged him gently once the movie was over and the lights were on. They were the only people in the theater.

“I can’t believe I missed the ending again. What happened?”

“I’m not telling.” She chuckled. “Serves you right for falling asleep.”

They’d had dinner at an Indian restaurant on the edge of town and enjoyed each other’s company. He’d walked her home and given her a sweet kiss on the cheek, no funny business. She couldn’t have asked for a more perfect date.

Now she was on her way to the bookstore. The sun felt good on her face. She felt like the warmth somehow radiated inside her as well. She was beginning to look forward to seeing Antonio. His smile, the way he talked to her in a sincere, friendly, yet intimate voice. The way he opened doors for her, and paid for their meals even though she insisted on paying a few times. There was a subtle hint of romance in their budding friendship.

She was so enthralled with her own depictions that she hardly heard someone call her name.

“Lucy. Daydreaming again?” Antonio said in a playful voice.

She looked up and there was her daydream come to life. And he looked good. “Aren’t you a little dressed up for a Saturday afternoon?” She smiled.

“I suppose so. I have a date,” he said quietly.

For a moment Lucy thought that he was speaking another language because “I have a date” definitely contradicted the nice daydream she was having up until that moment. But one look at him and she could tell the always perfectly coiffed photographer was a little more snazzed up than usual.

Lucy struggled to find some words, any words that would get her away from him without showcasing the shock and disappointment she felt. “Of course you do. That was silly of me to ask.”

A faint female voice called out to him from down the street. They both turned to see Monica from the coffee shop, dressed to kill, and coming their way. Antonio waved to her.

“Well, have a good time,” she said drily and turned to walk back down the street. Doubling back was a small price to pay to get the hell out of Dodge.

Antonio reached out and grabbed her arm. “Lucy. I was going to tell you.”

“You don’t have to tell me anything, Antonio. What you do is none of my business.” She shrugged and pulled out of his grip.

Chapter Five

After spending hours in her apartment feeling foolish for having run into Antonio as he was on his way to a hot date, she decided to seek out her remedy for the blues. An evening at Belle’s Books always made her feel better.

Lucy was so engulfed in her own grief, she had no idea Blake had been standing there.

When she looked up, she saw him standing primly with a book under his arm. His hair was disheveled from his constant habit of running his hand through it. He wore a tan blazer with brown leather patches on the elbows and a pair of jeans that had seen better days. All that was missing was a dickey and a pipe. Sometimes she wondered if Blake subscribed to this style of dress as a way to inspire himself to greatness.

“Lucy, are you all right?” he asked with a quizzical look on his face.

“Yes,” she managed to squeak out, “everything is fine, Blake.”

“You look like you’ve been crying.”

“I was. But not anymore. What brings you to the bookstore?”

Blake grinned. “There is always something new to learn. A friend once told me.”

Lucy smiled back at him. He was quoting her. They’d engaged in a debate at one of Felix’s cocktail parties about book reading being a dying art.

“And?” she said, expectantly waiting for his answer.

“It helps bring commerce to the local businesspeople, like Belle.”

“I’m glad to see you took my words to heart.”

Blake let out an exaggerated sigh. “You were right. If I’m going to use this town as my artistic haven, the least I could do is funnel my money back into the community. You are rather persuasive. You should have been a debater or a politician.”

Lucy laughed. “I don’t have the stomach for either, I say my piece and I keep moving.”

“I have noticed that about you. Kind of like a Zorro of public opinion. You make some outlandish statement and then make your exit before people can ask your identity.” He chuckled.

“You make me sound like I avoid people,” she said thoughtfully.

“I think of it as you not needing their input to complete a thought.”

“You do have a way with words.”

She knew Blake was charming, but she also knew he tried a little harder when she was around. Things always seemed too light and funny. Talking to Blake was virtually no trouble at all. And here they both were, standing in Belle’s Books on a Saturday evening.

“Want to tell me why you were crying before?”

“Not really. But you did cheer me up.” She reached out and patted his hand.

“How about we get a bite to eat? I can continue to cheer you up.”

An image of Antonio and Monica popped into her head. If they were the perfect sexy, gorgeous couple, then she and Blake must be their exact opposites. Antonio was wrong about a woman having to doll herself up to get a man’s attention. She was getting treated to dinner and didn’t have to put one bit of mascara or eye shadow on her face. Blake didn’t spur her to think of everything she might be doing wrong. He accepted her as she was. Being in the same vicinity as Antonio made her more self-conscious, partly because she knew how he watched women and probably crudely critiqued them in his mind.