Serial Holiday Shorts: Mr. Mysterious - Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine's Day!
Mr. Mysterious is one branch of a three-pronged holiday short series by myself and two of my alter-egos. We follow three women through the year, each with a different goal that may be achieved in ways they can't even fathom just yet. This is Laura's story. You can read the first part here. All stories are posted in draft form. The combined, edited version will be released in December 2013.
A Rose for Laura
“Say cheese!” Laura waited for the man at Melanie’s side to smile and made sure she zoomed in on the driver’s license in his hand before taking the photo with her phone. She checked to make sure it came out clear, and then smiled.
“All set. Have fun, you two, and don’t forget to check in, Melanie.”
The other woman nodded. “Are you sure you’ll be okay by yourself? Jodi left so quickly, and I hate to just bail on you...”
Laura waved her off. “Of course, silly - that’s what this is all about, remember? Go. Have fun. I’ll be just fine.”
“Okay then. I’ll call in by midnight. Have a good time!” Melanie walked out the door with her new conquest in tow, and Laura waved as they passed by the window.
Swiveling on her stool to face the bar, she checked her phone again. She hadn’t heard from Mysterious since that last text on New Year’s Eve. She’d been angry, worried, and ultimately disappointed, but still some part of her had expected him to show up.
About to order another drink, she was pleasantly surprised when the bartender set a glass of something that looked tropical in front of her.
“From the gentleman over there,” he said, pointing to a booth in the back corner. She turned to look, her breath catching at the sight of the quintessential tall (or she imagined he would be), dark and handsome man sitting there watching her. His stare was so intense, so engaging that she felt almost compelled to go to him. He inclined his head ever so slightly. It was all the invitation she needed.
Sliding into the booth, she held out her hand across the table.
“I’m Laura,” she said, nearly jumping out of her skin when he touched her. “I--thank you. For the drink, I mean.”
“I know. And you’re welcome. It’s nice to meet you, Laura.” He smiled, the expression hinting at secrets only he knew. There was something about his eyes, something almost familiar though she couldn’t be certain. He released her hand and she reluctantly took it back. His words rolled around on her brain until finally it sunk in.
“You’re Mr. Mysterious,” she said, leaning back against the cool seat. “I didn’t think you’d come.”
“I wasn’t sure I’d be able to,” he replied. “But I’m glad I did.” He reached into his pocket and took out a small white box tied simply with a red ribbon. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
Laura shook her head. “Oh...wow. You really didn’t have to get me anything. I mean, I know it’s a holiday, but I didn’t--”
He chuckled, sliding it across the table. “Just open it.”
She hesitated for a minute more, and then pulled the ribbon off, lifting the top. Nestled snugly in a piece of black velvet was a delicate crimson rose pin like the one her grandmother used to wear. Taking it out, she held it up and shook her head.
“Thank you,” she breathed, her pulse racing. She couldn’t believe he remembered that story. ”Where did you find it? They don’t even make them anymore, do they?”
He winked at her and slid out of the booth, kneeling down at her side. “A guy can’t give away all his secrets. May I?”
She handed him the pin and he carefully attached it to the snug black sweater, his warm fingers sliding between the silky knit and her skin, super-charging every last nerve they touched. He lingered for a moment, and then pulled away to stand up and offer her a hand.
“Dance with me?”
Laura nodded. It was almost surreal, like a dream. As they stepped onto the wooden floor he pulled her into his arms, holding her close, but not too close as they swayed to a slow, romantic tune.
She wasn’t sure how long they danced, and when he led her back to the table, she felt bereft as he took the seat across from her again.
“Why didn’t you respond to my last text?” she asked. “I waited in the chat room a few nights too. You never logged on. And yet you’re here.”
His expression grew stern, as if remembering something unpleasant. “It was work-related,” he said, pitching his voice low. “I can’t share the details, but I regret that I couldn’t get away to talk to you. I shouldn’t even be here now, really. I just...I had to see you. Just for a little while.”
There were so many questions Laura wanted to ask, so much she wanted to know, but in that moment, she couldn’t think of a single one. Reaching across the table, she covered one of his hands with hers, absently running her thumb over his rougher skin.
“I’m really glad you did,” she said, flashing him a quick smile. “I don’t know what you do, but it sounds horrible. Do you have to go back?”
He nodded, checking his watch. “Actually, I’m late. But it’s been worth every minute.” He covered her hands with his free one, and squeezed. “I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get away again. It might be awhile, but I’d like to see you.”
Laura smiled. “How about we try for St. Patrick’s Day? There’s a bar called O’Malley’s on the other side of town. Meet me there at seven?”
“Let’s make it eight. I’ll buy dinner.” He slid out of the booth, tossed a few bills on the table and helped her up, lacing his fingers with hers as they walked to the door. “Can I walk you to your car?”
“I’d like that.”
She walked beside him, her heels clicking on the pavement as she tried to think of something to say. It was ridiculous, really. They’d spoken for hours online and on the phone. But something about actually having him with her was...intimidating, though it shouldn’t be.
“This is me,” she said, pointing out her sedate silver sedan as they walked through the lot. “What are you driving?”
He shook his head as they stopped by her car door. “I have a ride waiting.” He took the keys out of her hand and unlocked the door, but didn’t open it. Moving closer, he rested his hands lightly on her hips, pulling her into his chest.
“I know this is forward, but I have to do this.”
Her heart raced as he leaned down and placed a light kiss on her lips, tasting, inviting. She opened for him, her tongue mingling with his for a mere few seconds before he gently pulled away.
“I have to go,” he said, backing away slowly. “I’m sorry.”
Laura nodded. “I’ll see you at O’Malley’s. Wear green.”
He smiled, and then turned to walk away.
It wasn’t until later, after Jodi and Melanie had both checked in and Laura lay in bed reliving that amazing kiss that it hit her.
She still didn’t know his name.
“All set. Have fun, you two, and don’t forget to check in, Melanie.”
The other woman nodded. “Are you sure you’ll be okay by yourself? Jodi left so quickly, and I hate to just bail on you...”
Laura waved her off. “Of course, silly - that’s what this is all about, remember? Go. Have fun. I’ll be just fine.”
“Okay then. I’ll call in by midnight. Have a good time!” Melanie walked out the door with her new conquest in tow, and Laura waved as they passed by the window.
Swiveling on her stool to face the bar, she checked her phone again. She hadn’t heard from Mysterious since that last text on New Year’s Eve. She’d been angry, worried, and ultimately disappointed, but still some part of her had expected him to show up.
About to order another drink, she was pleasantly surprised when the bartender set a glass of something that looked tropical in front of her.
“From the gentleman over there,” he said, pointing to a booth in the back corner. She turned to look, her breath catching at the sight of the quintessential tall (or she imagined he would be), dark and handsome man sitting there watching her. His stare was so intense, so engaging that she felt almost compelled to go to him. He inclined his head ever so slightly. It was all the invitation she needed.
Sliding into the booth, she held out her hand across the table.
“I’m Laura,” she said, nearly jumping out of her skin when he touched her. “I--thank you. For the drink, I mean.”
“I know. And you’re welcome. It’s nice to meet you, Laura.” He smiled, the expression hinting at secrets only he knew. There was something about his eyes, something almost familiar though she couldn’t be certain. He released her hand and she reluctantly took it back. His words rolled around on her brain until finally it sunk in.
“You’re Mr. Mysterious,” she said, leaning back against the cool seat. “I didn’t think you’d come.”
“I wasn’t sure I’d be able to,” he replied. “But I’m glad I did.” He reached into his pocket and took out a small white box tied simply with a red ribbon. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
Laura shook her head. “Oh...wow. You really didn’t have to get me anything. I mean, I know it’s a holiday, but I didn’t--”
He chuckled, sliding it across the table. “Just open it.”
She hesitated for a minute more, and then pulled the ribbon off, lifting the top. Nestled snugly in a piece of black velvet was a delicate crimson rose pin like the one her grandmother used to wear. Taking it out, she held it up and shook her head.
“Thank you,” she breathed, her pulse racing. She couldn’t believe he remembered that story. ”Where did you find it? They don’t even make them anymore, do they?”
He winked at her and slid out of the booth, kneeling down at her side. “A guy can’t give away all his secrets. May I?”
She handed him the pin and he carefully attached it to the snug black sweater, his warm fingers sliding between the silky knit and her skin, super-charging every last nerve they touched. He lingered for a moment, and then pulled away to stand up and offer her a hand.
“Dance with me?”
Laura nodded. It was almost surreal, like a dream. As they stepped onto the wooden floor he pulled her into his arms, holding her close, but not too close as they swayed to a slow, romantic tune.
She wasn’t sure how long they danced, and when he led her back to the table, she felt bereft as he took the seat across from her again.
“Why didn’t you respond to my last text?” she asked. “I waited in the chat room a few nights too. You never logged on. And yet you’re here.”
His expression grew stern, as if remembering something unpleasant. “It was work-related,” he said, pitching his voice low. “I can’t share the details, but I regret that I couldn’t get away to talk to you. I shouldn’t even be here now, really. I just...I had to see you. Just for a little while.”
There were so many questions Laura wanted to ask, so much she wanted to know, but in that moment, she couldn’t think of a single one. Reaching across the table, she covered one of his hands with hers, absently running her thumb over his rougher skin.
“I’m really glad you did,” she said, flashing him a quick smile. “I don’t know what you do, but it sounds horrible. Do you have to go back?”
He nodded, checking his watch. “Actually, I’m late. But it’s been worth every minute.” He covered her hands with his free one, and squeezed. “I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get away again. It might be awhile, but I’d like to see you.”
Laura smiled. “How about we try for St. Patrick’s Day? There’s a bar called O’Malley’s on the other side of town. Meet me there at seven?”
“Let’s make it eight. I’ll buy dinner.” He slid out of the booth, tossed a few bills on the table and helped her up, lacing his fingers with hers as they walked to the door. “Can I walk you to your car?”
“I’d like that.”
She walked beside him, her heels clicking on the pavement as she tried to think of something to say. It was ridiculous, really. They’d spoken for hours online and on the phone. But something about actually having him with her was...intimidating, though it shouldn’t be.
“This is me,” she said, pointing out her sedate silver sedan as they walked through the lot. “What are you driving?”
He shook his head as they stopped by her car door. “I have a ride waiting.” He took the keys out of her hand and unlocked the door, but didn’t open it. Moving closer, he rested his hands lightly on her hips, pulling her into his chest.
“I know this is forward, but I have to do this.”
Her heart raced as he leaned down and placed a light kiss on her lips, tasting, inviting. She opened for him, her tongue mingling with his for a mere few seconds before he gently pulled away.
“I have to go,” he said, backing away slowly. “I’m sorry.”
Laura nodded. “I’ll see you at O’Malley’s. Wear green.”
He smiled, and then turned to walk away.
It wasn’t until later, after Jodi and Melanie had both checked in and Laura lay in bed reliving that amazing kiss that it hit her.
She still didn’t know his name.
###
Join us for the next installment of Laura's story right here on St. Patrick's Day - March 17, 2013. Curious about what Melanie and Jodi were up to while Laura was meeting Mysterious? Check in on Melanie later this afternoon at AlexWesthaven.com (horror), and Jodi this evening at TrinityMarlow.com (erotic romance). Thanks for reading!
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Suspense/Thriller
| Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please note - If this is your first time posting, your comment will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
Posted by Jamie D. at February 14, 2013 
Categories: love, drafts, Writing, Free Reads, Just for fun, Reading, Romantic Suspense, Excerpts
Tags: free reads drafts romantic suspense romance love mr mysterious
Categories: love, drafts, Writing, Free Reads, Just for fun, Reading, Romantic Suspense, Excerpts
Tags: free reads drafts romantic suspense romance love mr mysterious
Ms. DeBree, I feel like I am a cat and that you are toying with me. That is all! LOL!!!
Hugs,
Ardee-ann
Reply to this