Annie

By Amicus

Maybe it’s the novelty or maybe it’s the growing feelings between Jack and Annie as they meet in the off-hours of their work project in Seattle. It’s perfect, if only Annie’s secret didn’t threaten all the trust that’s building between them. Telling him means losing the one thing she wants most in the world and telling him might mean losing him too. Heat Level 2 Romance.

EXCERPT:
“What’s wrong? Is something wrong? Is it my clothes? I didn’t bring anything nice to wear; I hadn’t planned to go anywhere. Jack?”

“You look just fine, Annie, but I wanted to see you in something else, something more feminine,” he stumbled for words, “ah, I see you in, ah, well, Annie, would you let me pick an outfit for you? I’ll pay for it; I mean not a real expensive store, but a nice one. I never get to see you in anything but work clothes, ah, oh, damn, I’m sorry, I...”

Annie laughed and bent over and laughed again, “Dear Mr. Jack. Cool, calm and collected Jack Day, I’ve never seen you flustered before. Sure, I don’t mind. It would be nice to have a new outfit. Where are we going? What are we going to do?”

He smiled broadly, “Good, good, well, I changed the plans. The weather report said it would be the first really warm day this spring and it is just gorgeous out and well, can I surprise you again or do you have to know right now?”

She laughed again, “I always hated surprises, but I love yours; I’ll wait.”

They stood looking at each other for a moment, “Let’s drive the van closer to the mall and leave the pick-up here. Do you have a favorite store you shop at?”

“Several,” she said, “I hope you like shopping.”

After looking and pointing at several display windows, Annie finally said, “So, you want a white or pale colored silk blouse with full sleeves and a buttoned front and a peasant or pleated full skirt just below the knees? That’s what you pointed to almost every time. Belted waist, tight across the hips?” She smiled, “I haven’t dressed that way in a long time, but I know the look you want. You go look at tools or whatever men look at and come back in about a half an hour. Bring cash!”

Jack chuckled as she turned away. For several minutes he browsed through an electronics shop and then a bookstore, stopped and bought two soft salty pretzels and turned back to the dress shop.

The black and red colors in a window caught his eyes and he stopped. Ahh, no, he thought to himself, she’d break my kneecaps. But still he looked, fidgeting in front of the name brand store.

She took a bite of the pretzel and twirled around. “I’ve just got to have this blouse, I love it and it’s not too expensive.” He nodded. “But there are two other skirts; I want you to pick which one and the shoes; fancy or plain?”

“Both,” he said.

She glanced at him, “Both? Okay, I can do that. What’s in the other package? Did you buy something for yourself?”

He turned a bright red and dropped his eyes.

“Jack?”

“The devil made me do it.”

She snatched the package from his hands and peeked inside, “Lingerie?” She tilted her head and gave him a quizzical look and stepped back inside the dressing room.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lot's Cave, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 19, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311016393

Book preview

CONTENTS

Annie

~~~~~~~~~~

Author’s Note

New YA Adult

Young Adult

Other Novels

by Amicus

Jack walked quickly from the noisy, dusty shop area across a small open corridor and pulled open the door to a hallway that led to the receptionist’s office. He walked past three open doorways and turned to his right at the fourth and saw Annie with a telephone to her ear and a pencil working in her right hand. She looked up, smiled and mouthed, Just a minute, and continued on the phone.

A few moments later she hung up the telephone, scribbled something on a daily planner, and then turned slowly to look up at the tall, thin, dark-haired man standing by her desk. She had a way of taking a few seconds to focus fully on his face and adjust her own features, including tossing her long dark blonde hair from side to side and running a hand across her forehead, corralling strands of hair before she spoke, again slowly, Hi. What can I do for you?

His eyes were glinting blue-gray and his mouth was firm as he looked hard at her, a slight frown on his forehead, I noticed, he said slowly and seriously, that our names are next to each other on the field job itinerary. That usually means we’ll be roommates at the motel. I just wanted to let you know that I really don’t appreciate women’s undergarments hanging on the shower rod and I hope you will find other ways to dry your clothes.

He stopped talking for a moment, the serious look still on his face.

She blinked twice with no expression on her face and then laughed and flung her fingers at him from across the desk, I will have my own room, thank you, and I never, repeat never, hang clothes on a shower rod. So there!

Jack opened his mouth to speak when the telephone chirped again. Annie was still taking notes from the phone call when his break period was over and he left with a wave of his hand. She waved back and smiled warmly at him.

He stopped by the office the next day and discovered she had flown out early that morning to arrive at the job site before the main crew.

It was four days later when Jack arrived and two days after that before he saw her again. She was passing out envelopes with per diem cash for meals to the entire night shift. Jack stood by watching until she was finished.

Can you spare a minute? he asked.

She hadn’t done the slow focusing on his face when he took the envelope, but she did now as he spoke to her. He wondered if she gave that particular look to everyone, or just some, or just him. You silly old fool, he thought, why in the hell would she treat you different?

Sure, she smiled, Let me get my stuff together and we can step outside for a minute, I would like some fresh air.

Outside was brisk but not chilling, and damp, not raining for the moment. She smiled up at him tossing her hair, shivering and pulling a wool sweater closed across her chest. Did you have a good flight? she asked.

Yes. It was all right. I sat next to a lady with a little boy. A schoolteacher from Oregon, she was nice. he paused.

What was it that you…? she queried.

He hesitated and stumbled a little as he spoke; Well, before you left, that day in the office, you were busy on the telephone...

I remember, she smiled. You made a little funny.

He tried again, Ah, well, I was going to ask if, well, I know you’re married, but I’m pretty much harmless …I…well, I would like to visit a museum or two and maybe an art gallery while we’re here. But I would really like to have some company, mainly you, since most of the guys can’t even spell museum. So, ah, what do you think? Maybe on a Sunday...?

She flashed him a look, What makes you think I can spell museum? I’ve never been to one. Well, maybe in school, I don’t remember. I don’t know, Jack, I’m terribly busy. I need the time off just to relax and, ‘do my undergarments,’ hee! I hadn’t planned on going anywhere.

Will you think about it? Please. I really want to get away and see the city but I don’t want to do it alone. Please just think about it? he asked.

The look in her eyes as she watched him speak was warm but not focused, if anything it was unfocused, as if she wasn’t seeing him,