Full Court Devotion by Cami Checketts
Shivering in the vicious canyon breeze, Kazlyn skirted a group of slow-moving girls and ran directly into the back of an insanely tall guy. Her bag flung from her fingers and books scattered in the crusty snow piled up next to the sidewalk.
“Snot!”
Tall dude turned and gave her a friendly smile. “No, it’s Tyrese.” His smile grew as he looked her over, white teeth flashing against his smooth, dark skin. “Most people call me Ty, but you can call me anything you want to.”
“Ugh!” She ignored his flirtations and pretty-boy face. You’d think a man that large would have a face like Andre the Giant. Grabbing at books, she shoved them into her bag.
“Here, let me get that for you.” Ty reached farther across the snow bank than she could; with octopus arms it was probably easy.
“Thanks,” she muttered.
He retrieved a few more books and her peppermint lip gloss. Of course, he would find the only feminine thing she had time for during school. His grin got even bigger. “This looks…” He glanced over her face before focusing on her lips. “Yummy.”
Could the guy get any more arrogant? Kazlyn held out her hand. He surrendered the books, but held onto the lip gloss. She sighed, shoved the books into her bag, then held out her hand again. He placed the lip gloss into her palm and wrapped his warm fingers around her freezing ones.
“Wouldn’t want you to lose that.” Ty squeezed her hand. “Maybe you’ll give me a sample one day.”
Her eyebrows shot up. She yanked her fingers from his and stomped around him. “No free samples, buddy.” She tossed a challenging look over her shoulder, almost hoping he’d call her bluff. He winked and grinned.
Kazlyn whipped back around, smacking herself in the face with her long, blonde hair. First, she ran into him. Then, she whacked herself with her own hair.
He laughed. “Maybe I could be an exception.”
Kazlyn kept walking. He caught up to her in four steps, though she’d taken ten. Curse his long legs. She couldn’t resist looking at him and almost wished she could dislodge the picture—fabulous smile, dark eyes surrounded with thick lashes she couldn’t have achieved with heaps of mascara, and chocolate skin.
“Why are you following me?”
“I’m not. I’m walking next to you.”
She huffed. “That’s because you walk so stinking fast. If you didn’t have giraffe legs, you’d be following me.”
He laughed. “Come on. I have more muscle on my legs than most giraffes.”
She allowed him a small smile. “Knobbly-kneed giraffe.”
“I told you it’s Tyrese.” He pumped his eyebrows. “Now, you get to share your name with me.”
“Not happening. I don’t tell strange men my name.”
“Aw, come on. You already gave me a hug from the back.”
“I ran into you!”
“And I forgave you immediately.” He winked. “I’m sure most people would forgive that beautiful face of anything.”
Kazlyn wanted to glare at him, but she couldn’t. Her dad used to say a similar line to her. “Are you always a schmoozer?”
That brought her another chuckle. “Didn’t your momma teach you not to call names?”
“Didn’t your momma teach you not to follow people?”
He laughed louder. “She said it was okay if the girl was really pretty.”
- The second story was An Unexpected Kiss by Cindy Roland Anderson. Loved it. I doubt I'd ever kiss a stranger, but the story was wonderful nevertheless. It is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit! I loved the inaction between Cole and Lucy, (especially the kisses ;) as she works to change Cole's mind about Christmas. This is a fun story. Good job, Cindy!
Here is an excerpt:
An Unexpected Kiss by Cindy Roland Anderson
Unlocking her door, Lucy opened it and slid in behind the wheel. She closed the door, knowing Cole probably wondered what was wrong with her. Just as she started the car, a knock on the driver’s side window made her jump.
Cole stood there watching her, his face reflecting both a mixture of confusion and amusement. Lucy lowered the window, and he leaned down so they were eye level.
“Are you running away from me?”
Why did he have to be so direct?
“Yes.”
He grinned. “That’s the second time you’ve done this. I’m beginning to think you don’t like me.”
She snorted an unladylike laugh. “Right.”
“Don’t laugh. I’m getting a complex.”“
If it’s any consolation, it’s me not you.”
That earned her another perplexed look. “That’s a little cliché. I’m sure you can do better than that.”
Yeah, she could, but she didn’t dare blurt out how much she liked kissing him, and admit that that was what scared her.
Inadvertently, her gaze dropped to his mouth. She noticed the faint shadow of dark whiskers along his jaw, and she suddenly wanted to kiss him again.
“Aren’t you freezing?” she asked, hoping to distract him as much as herself.
“Yes.” He unexpectedly rounded the car, opened the door and took the passenger seat. “That’s better.” He held out his bare hands in front of the vent, which blew mildly warm air.
The scent of his cologne permeated the air, and having him so close started a slow burn inside Lucy’s belly. Who needed heating systems with this man around?
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to get warm.” He looked her way, that smile back on his face. “And trying to get a straight answer out of you about why you keep running away from me.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Is it about that kiss we just shared?” His blue eyes twinkled. “Or about the ones in the airport?”
Both. “I said I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Okay. What do you want to talk about?”
She laughed. “I never said I wanted to talk about anything.”
Cole studied her silently, like he was really trying to figure her out. Lucy felt the intensity of his gaze, and was unable to pull her eyes away. The interior of the car seemed to shrink, and the air pulsed with an electrical energy that prickled her skin with goose flesh.
As if a giant gravitational force was at work between them, she felt herself leaning toward him. Cole slanted closer until she felt his warm breath mingle with hers. She should move away, make some wisecrack…anything to stop this crazy attraction.
Instead, her eyes fluttered closed as their lips connected. Slowly, he moved his mouth against hers, and like a beautifully choreographed dance, she returned the kiss. Heat infused every part of her, leaving her limbs languid.
Her heart thumped wildly, and a sigh escaped as he deepened the kiss. Barley cognizant of her surroundings, Lucy was both relieved and frustrated when Cole ended the kiss and edged slightly back.
“Lucy, I’m coming to pick you up tomorrow.” His voice was rough with emotion, his eyes serious.
She swallowed, and knew it was pointless to argue. “Okay.”
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ETERNITY CRUX by Jamie Canosa
