Sudden Attraction

By Mary Suzanne

Summer reached down to secure her skirt as a brisk breeze swept it up around her hips, revealing her shapely calves and her three inch heeled sandals. She knew the image had to scream pure sex to anyone watching but she didn’t care. The déjàvu of Marilyn Monroe in the Seven Year Itch made her smile as an annoying wolf’s whistle broke the tranquil moment. An overexcited young man waved from his convertible sports car as he passed.
“Another admirer, I see,” her friend Becky quipped, her brown eyes full of laughter over Summer’s ‘don’t give a shit’ expression.
Summer groaned, “You get your fair share of attention,
Besides, you know as well as I do that man was thinking with a head neither of us could see.” The male sexual preferences were a constant conversation topic for the two women. Neither of them could rationalize why men did what they did.
“You’re probably right,” Becky laughed.
Summer opened the door following Becky into the foyer of Louiggi’s, knowing it was going to be impossible to get a table. The restaurant was a very popular lunch spot and if you didn’t arrive early, you were out of luck.
They’d worked at Johnson Advertising well past noon, putting the final changes to a sales presentation for a newly acquired manufacturing company. The contract had included
monetary incentives for every day they completed the presentation ahead of schedule. Before leaving the office, they’d placed the finished product on their boss’s desk. Becky then suggested they come to Louiggi’s to celebrate and Summer agreed.
Smiling, Summer stood back and watched her friend’sdetermination build as she approached the host. The woman was no match for Becky when she’d made up her mind. She only half listened to their conversation as she scanned the room noting the size of the crowd. I’ve never seen this many people here before.
Summer thoughts went over everything they’d accomplished this morning. The full court press on acquiring the new client, as well as finishing early, would mean a bonus in her paycheck next week. She knew exactly where she wanted to spend the money. Since her husband, Todd, had started his law practice, money had been tight. This bonus would allow
them to put a down payment on a home of their own.
Her reflections turned to Todd. There was a tension between them; a tension she couldn’t explain. He worked a lot of late nights and maybe the long hours were the issue, but Summer wasn’t convinced it was the only problem. In fact, she’d often thought there might be another woman keeping him away from home. Not wanting to go down that path, she dismissed her concerns and concentrated again on the crowded room.
Summer’s attention locked on a gorgeous male specimen setting by the window, having lunch with a sultry red-haired woman. As their eyes locked, the intense emerald green color of his dumbfounded her. The intensity with which he stared was a sexual lure drawing her into his intimate web.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mary Suzanne
• Release date: Oct 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310915901

Mary Suzanne

Mary Suzanne writes a story feeling the hero and heroine’s pain, happiness and joy over their relationship. It she is able to transport a person from their every day existence to another realm in time; then she has succeeded in giving something special to her readers.Currently there are 99 e-books ready for purchase at Smashwords.com and othet distributors.

Book preview

Sudden Attraction

Copyright 2016 by Mary Suzanne

Smashwords Edition

Chapter One

Summer reached down to secure her skirt as a brisk breeze swept it up around her hips, revealing her shapely calves and her three inch heeled sandals. She knew the image had to scream pure sex to anyone watching but she didn’t care. The déjàvu of Marilyn Monroe in the Seven Year Itch made her smile as an annoying wolf’s whistle broke the tranquil moment. An overexcited young man waved from his convertible sports car as he passed.

Another admirer, I see, her friend Becky quipped, her brown eyes full of laughter over Summer’s ‘don’t give a shit’ expression.

Summer groaned, "You get your fair share of attention,

Besides, you know as well as I do that man was thinking with a head neither of us could see." The male sexual preferences were a constant conversation topic for the two women. Neither of them could rationalize why men did what they did.

You’re probably right, Becky laughed.

Summer opened the door following Becky into the foyer of Louiggi’s, knowing it was going to be impossible to get a table. The restaurant was a very popular lunch spot and if you didn’t arrive early, you were out of luck.

They’d worked at Johnson Advertising well past noon, putting the final changes to a sales presentation for a newly acquired manufacturing company. The contract had included monetary incentives for every day they completed the presentation ahead of schedule. Before leaving the office, they’d placed the finished product on their boss’s desk. Becky then suggested they come to Louiggi’s to celebrate and Summer agreed.

Smiling, Summer stood back and watched her friend’s determination build as she approached the host. The woman was no match for Becky when she’d made up her mind. She only half listened to their conversation as she scanned the room noting the size of the crowd. I’ve never seen this many people here before.

Summer thoughts went over everything they’d accomplished this morning. The full court press on acquiring the new client, as well as finishing early, would mean a bonus in her paycheck next week. She knew exactly where she wanted to spend the money. Since her husband, Todd, had started his law practice, money had been tight. This bonus would allow them to put a down payment on a home of their own.

Her reflections turned to Todd. There was a tension between them; a tension she couldn’t explain. He worked a lot of late nights and maybe the long hours were the issue, but Summer wasn’t convinced it was the only problem. In fact, she’d often thought there might be another woman keeping him away from home. Not wanting to go down that path, she dismissed her concerns and concentrated again on the crowded room.

Summer’s attention locked on a gorgeous male specimen sitting by the window, having lunch with a sultry red-haired woman. As their eyes locked, the intense emerald green color of his dumbfounded her. The intensity with which he stared was a sexual lure drawing her into his intimate web.

The stranger continued to watch her from across the room. She found something intimate in his bold stare. For the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why it was so hard for her look away. She felt heat fill her body. Excitement pulsed through her and she couldn’t explain the sudden attraction to the man watching her so intently.

She found his rough features irresistibly handsome. An unexpected shiver raced down her spine. After what seemed forever, sensible thoughts finally returned and she managed to look away.

Summer couldn’t understand what had come over her in the last few seconds. She’d never looked at another man with that much interest since marrying Todd. Something about the stranger mesmerized her. Feeling flustered, she turned to Becky still involved in her negotiations for a table. There was something happening to her that she couldn’t explain as she tried to shake the thoughts of the rugged stranger from her mind. She didn’t understand the Sudden Attraction she felt.

* * * *

Riley Madison looked at his sister-in-law, Chris, seated across from him. Do you see the attractive brunette over near the entrance? He nodded his head to where Summer stood. Riley felt his insides stir with excitement just looking at her. The woman had captivated him in the span of a few short seconds, something that felt foreign to him.

He couldn’t understand his reaction to a stranger knowing he would never see her again.

Riley, Chris broke into his private thoughts. The look on your face reminds me of a love struck kid.

If I didn’t have to head back to Florida tonight, I’d find a way to meet her. For now, I guess I’ll have to accept the fact that this one got away.

Riley slowly shook his head resigning himself to the fact that meeting the luscious brunette wasn’t going to happen for him. A server arriving with his order took his intense interest away from the woman he’d watched so avidly.

* * * *

Summer purposely looked in the opposite direction. She hadn’t wanted the dark green-eyed stranger to see how he intrigued her. By watching him, she’d almost missed seeing the familiar couple sitting behind the green trailing vines.

Her breath caught in her throat as she gazed at her husband sitting with his chair pulled close to his secretary, Carla. When he turned and his lips captured Carla’s mouth, Summer could hardly hide her anger. From the long drawn out kiss, she realized it was more than a friendly gesture. She swallowed the lump in her throat and felt like marching across the room to confront them. But, she held onto her pride and decided the time and place to do that would be in the privacy of their home. She wasn’t about to give everyone in the restaurant a show.

Her thoughts returned to the past few months. She’d felt all along that something wasn’t right in her marriage. As she continued to watch the interplay, she secretly knew she wasn’t imagining the scene-taking place.

The last thing she wanted was for Becky to spot her husband and secretary cuddled in the secluded spot. Taking a deep breath, she turned to where Becky stood talking to the host.

Becky, let’s not wait any longer, she urged, her voice almost cracking with emotion. I’m sure we can look around and find somewhere else to eat. We’re not even sure we’ll get a table in an hour.

As Summer turned her head, she encountered the stranger’s green stare again. For the next several seconds, she forgot what she discovered about Todd. Again, she felt mesmerized by the intensity of his bold look. There was no explanation for the way she reacted to him. Quickly lowering her head, she broke the invisible spell the stranger created over her by just a look.

I suppose you’re right. Becky sighed. It’s just that I was so looking forward to a big celebration today.

There has to be another place within walking distance.

Turning to the host, Summer watched Becky talking to her, but she barely listened to what she said. Soon Becky joined her near the door. Sorry, I didn’t realize Louiggi’s would be this crowded. She continued to babble on obviously not aware of how subdued Summer had become.

Walking out of the restaurant, Summer let her breath out with a sigh. She hadn’t realized she’d been holding it.

I know where we can go, Becky said cheerfully. There’s a small diner only a block from work. It may not be as fancy as Louiggi’s, but I heard they have good food.

Sounds like a working plan to me. Summer tried matching her cheerfulness, but food was the last thing on her mind.

Eventually, the lunch hour ended and Summer sighed gratefully. She felt so weary of trying to put up a pretense in front of Becky. She knew that Becky would listen and lend her support, but she felt the need to keep her suspicions silent until she confronted Todd. Back at the office, she’d be able to go to her own desk while Becky went to hers. Maybe, with some privacy she could think more clearly.

On the way back to work, she silently came to the decision to stop by Todd’s office that afternoon and have it out with him. Maybe he had a logical explanation to give her. She hoped this would clear the air between them and what she witnessed wasn’t really an office romance.

It took everything she had, with all the phone interruptions, to finish the rest of the day without any mishaps. At five, she turned off her computer and entered the main office.

Are you headed home? Becky asked, glancing up at her.

No, I’m going to drop by Todd’s office. She lowered her gaze hiding what her thoughts really were.

With the bonus, you’ll finally have the down payment on your dream house, Becky said with enthusiasm. I’ll bet he’ll be happy, as well as surprised.

He probably will be surprised. Summer wasn’t referring to the same thing. I’ll see you tomorrow and maybe we can rope in another manufacturing firm.

You’ve got a deal, Becky said, winking at her.

Summer waved and walked toward the elevator. Suddenly, her legs felt so numb, she wondered how she managed to move them. Her one thought was that she could have been wrong about today and Todd would have a good explanation for what she’d seen.

Driving across town, she mentally worded what she wanted to say to Todd. By the time she reached his workplace, all thoughts fled her mind. She entered his office building and noticed how quiet it was as she walked over to the elevator and pressed the button for the fifth floor.

The elevator stopped and Summer stepped into the hallway. When she reached Todd’s office, she turned the doorknob and gently pushed it open but neither Todd nor Carla heard her entering. She stood for several seconds watching the intimate activity going on between her husband and his secretary.

A lump filled her throat seeing them stretched out on the couch he’d insisted on putting in his office for clients. Now she understood why he had been so adamant about wanting it when she questioned him. He had said this would be more