TUESDAY TALES - BAKING

 

We're back this week with more from "Someone Like You." The word prompt is "baking." Mark has picked up Carlotte for their dinner date. We catch up with them in the car on the way to the restaurant 

When you've finished reading this, please visit the other Tuesday Tales authors. Find them HERE.  

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A suspicion fluttered through Mark’s brain.
“No, couldn’t be,” he thought to himself. He took a breath and voiced the question on his mind.

“That’s a lovely scent you’re wearing. What is it?” 

“Chanel Number Five,” she responded.

Mark’s heart stopped for a second. He slammed on the brake to avoid hitting an Amazon delivery person.

“Mark!” She faced him. “Are you all right?”

Sweat broke out on his forehead. Yes, he thought there was something familiar. That was Nancy’s favorite perfume. Of course, perfume never smells exactly the same on two different people. Still, it had been baked into his brain, familiar enough to give him a jolt.

He yanked a handkerchief out of his pocket and mopped his face.

“Please. Don’t wear it again. Okay?” He couldn’t face her.

She touched his shoulder. “If you don’t like it, I won’t. Are you okay?”

He nodded. Not like it? He loved it. He’d drained Nancy’s bottle of Chanel drop by drop over two years, bringing it to his nose over and over to conjure up images of his late wife.

His eyes stung with unshed tears. He wiped his face again, pulling the cloth over his eyes as well.

“Mark?”

“I’m okay.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

“What happened?” she asked. 

That's all for today. Come back next week to find out what happened next. Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment.  

TUESDAY TALES: SNOWY

 

Welcome! This week we're writing to the prompt "snowy". I've got another snippet from "Someone Like You." I hope you enjoy it. When you're done, don't forget to visit the awesome Tuesday Tales writers. Find them HERE. 

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“I don’t have anything to wear. I can’t exactly show up for his class wearing painter’s overalls, can I?”

“You don’t have any date clothes?” Kitty asked, a look of astonishment on her face.

“Nope. No school clothes, either.”

Corey reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He plucked out a credit card and put it on the table. “Here. Kitty, take her shopping. Please don’t spend more than three hundred bucks, okay?”

Charlotte’s eyes wetted, Emotion choked her. Unable to speak she simply smiled and nodded.

“He got you to read. You’ve got a shot with him. He’s a good guy,” Corey said, patting his sister’s shoulder.

Charlotte pulled a snowy white hanky from her pocket and dried her eyes. Then she put her hand on Corey’s forearm. “He didn’t get me to read. You did.”

Her brother’s eyebrows shot up. “I did? How did I do that?”

“When you moved out, you left behind a couple of books. Without Pop to talk to, I had to do something to fill the time. And I was curious, so I read them.”

Corey chuckled, his cheeks reddened. “You finally found those?”

“You left them on purpose?” Her eyebrows shot up.

“Yeah. I picked a couple I thought you’d like and left them in the kitchen. I hoped you’d be curious enough to read them.”

“Why Corey Anderson! What a sneaky thing to do!” Unable to maintain an angry demeanor, she smiled. 

That's all this week. Thanks for stopping by. Don't forget to leave a comment! 

TUESDAY TALES - ANGRY

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week we're writing to the word prompt "angry". I have another snippet from "Someone Like You." When you're done, please hop on over and read the stories of the other Tuesday Tales authors. You'll find them HERE. 

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The doorbell jarred her out of her dreamy mood. It was Corey and Kitty.

“Hi, Sis. Here, breakfast,” Corey said, thrusting a small bag of donuts into her hands. “Got more coffee?” he asked.

“Sure. Help yourself,” Charlotte said, putting the bag on the counter.

“How are you? Kitty asked, getting down two mugs. “I mean after last night?”

“Fine,” Charlotte said, turning away to hide the blush in her cheeks.

Corey poured the coffee and Kitty added milk to both mugs.

“Did he walk you home? Did he kiss you goodnight?” she asked.

Corey held up his hand. “Please! I don’t wanna know.”

“That’s kinda private,” Charlotte said, avoiding their stares. She took a plate from the cabinet, unpacked and arranged the donuts.

“That means yes, to both,” Kitty said.

Corey picked up a donut and took a big bite.

“I have good news,” Kitty said.

“Oh?” Charlotte raised her eyebrows.

“My dad gave the green light for you to audit Professor Garrett’s English class,” Kitty continued.

“Oh no. Really? I can’t do that,” Charlotte said, shaking her head.

“Why not? You’re reading the books on the syllabus anyway,” Corey said, shrugging his shoulders.

“What’s a syllabus?” Charlotte asked.

“The list of books that are required reading for the class,” Corey said.

“See? I’m ignorant. No, no. Last night was wonderful. And I’m sure dinner with him on Saturday will be great until he finds out how uneducated I am. Then it will be over,” Charlotte said, picking up her mug.

“What?” Kitty practically jumped out of her chair. “We didn’t do world’s most incredible makeover for you to slink away with some stupid notion you’re not smart enough for the guy.”

“I thought you wanted him? I mean, you’ve got him, hook, line, and sinker. I’m a guy

and I know when a guy is hooked. Mark’s got it bad for you. Don’t blow it by running away.”

“He’ll see through me right away. He’s too good for me,” Charlotte said.

“I don’t ever want to hear you say that again!” Angry, Corey pounded his fist on the table. “What would Pop say?”

“Okay, okay. But I’m not his equal. Not intellectually.”

“Yeah? And I bet he can’t refinish a floor or build a table. So you’re even,” Kitty put in.

That's all for this week. Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment -- they make my day. 

TUESDAY TALES - FAMILY

 

Welcome! This week we're writing to the word prompt "family." I have an excerpt from "Someone Like You" that a bit different. It's a scene between Callie Caldwell and her husband Mac. They are having lunch. Kitty and Corey confided in Callie that they think Charlotte should audit Professor Garrett's lit class. 

Callie has taken it on herself to convince her husband, Mac, who is the president of Kensington State University, to let Charlotte audit the class. When Callie makes up her mind to convince her husband, she pulls out all the stops. 

When you're done visit the wonderful Tuesday Tales authors HERE. 

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Callie looked down at her food. “I know how you feel about people sneaking around, not paying for classes…”

“Who’s sneaking around?” Mac asked, raising his eyebrows.

“No one,” she said, quickly. “Corey suggested to me that Charlotte should audit Professor Garrett’s American Lit class.”

“Audit? Does the girl even have a bachelor’s degree?”  Mac finished the shrimp salad.

“Well, no, but…”

“So what’s your point?”

“Would you approve Charlotte Anderson auditing just that one class?”

“I’ll think about it,” he said, moving to the living room. He picked up the newspaper.

Callie had to do something. It was time for summer class registration. If she didn’t get Charlotte approved quickly, the young woman might be shut out. Callie unbuttoned the top button of her blouse. She moseyed over to the sofa and eased down next to Mac. Then she inched closer until they were touching.

“You know, Mac, I don’t ask for much,” she started.

Mac put down his newspaper.

“No?”

“No. And we’re family,” she watched his gaze move over her shirt and stop to rest on her exposed cleavage. She pushed up crushing her breasts against his chest and slid her hand underneath his T-shirt. “You’re still the sexiest man on campus,” she said in a low voice.

“Yeah? Prove it,” he said, grinning.

She swung a leg over his middle, leaned down, then kissed him hard, and swiped her tongue over his lips. Mac reacted immediately. He cupped her behind, holding her against him, and pushed to his feet. He picked up Callie in his arms.

“Shall we take this upstairs?” he asked in a husky voice.

“Will you let Charlotte audit Mark Garrett’s class?” she asked.

He laughed. “Yes. Of course. I already said so this morning when Kitty asked me.”

Callie’s eyes flew open. “Why you! You didn’t tell me!”

“Nope.”

“You’ve been stringing me along?” She said, wearing a mock frown. 

“I haven’t been seduced by you in a long time. Couldn’t resist,” he said, heading for the stairs.

Callie laughed. “You’re still the best.”

“And who am I to stand in the way of Garrett finding true love?”

“Cupid’s got nothing on you,” Callie said, grinning.  

Mac entered their bedroom and nudged the door closed with his heel.

 

That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by. If you're so inclined, a comment woudl make my day

TUESDAY TALES - FUSSY

 

Welcome! It's time for Tuesday Tales. This week we're writing to the word prompt "fussy". We have another peek into the mind and heart of Professor Mark Garrett. When you're done, don't forget to visit the other Tuesday Tales authors. Find them HERE. 

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As beautiful as she was, she wasn’t some delicate flower weak enough to blow away in a strong wind. He noticed how toned her forearms were. And when they danced, he felt muscle, not flab at her waist. She was strong. Maybe she worked out, or maybe she was a physical trainer? He didn’t care. He found her physical strength sexy.

As he came to the end of his drink, he dropped off the glass in the kitchen sink, then retired to his bedroom and got undressed. He got into bed and turned out the light. The dark cloud that had enveloped his heart faded into mist and dissolved. Perhaps being fussy about women had paid off?

When he closed his eyes, all he could see were Charlotte’s, and her dazzling dress. The second their eyes connected, he’d been hit by a bolt of lightning, shooting electricity through his body. Surprise had mixed with delight.

He’d already written off ever falling in love again. Maybe he’d been wrong? Her lilting laughter echoed in his head, and his hand, once again, felt the soft strength of hers. He smiled at the memories, especially her resting her head on his shoulder at their third or was it their fourth dance? He felt alive when she beamed her warm smile his way.

He couldn’t mistake her reaction to his kisses. He chuckled to himself. Yes, being forty-two gave him the experience to know something about a woman, and the confidence to know it had to do with him. Charlotte Anderson was an amazing young woman, and this had been a night to remember.

Thanks all for this week. Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment, if you're so inclined. Have a great day!

TUESDAY TALES - PARADE

 

Howdy do! Welcome! This week out word prompt is "parade". We have another snippet from "Someone Like You." But our piece is from the professor's voint of view today. When you're done stop by and read the pieces by all the talented Tuesday Tales authors. Find them HERE. 

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When he returned to his cozy home, Mark Garrett was anything but sleepy, He paced, hoping to work off his excess energy. Then he made a gin and tonic and flopped down on the leather loveseat in his home office.

Charlotte Anderson. Damn. Heat he hadn’t felt since Nancy died flooded his veins. One passionate kiss and he’d been aroused enough to have taken her right there on her doorstep. Fortunately, he’d regained control.

Beauty and a gentleness he hadn’t seen in a woman since Nancy. Yes, that was it, exactly. Nancy had beauty and a kindness about her. It’s what drew him to her like a moth to a flame. And now he’d seen it again. After the parade of women who didn’t meet his standard had petered out, he’d almost given up hope.

Mark sipped his drink, hoping the alcohol would calm him down. There was simply something magical about that young woman. She drew him in so fast he’d almost lost his head. If he continued to see her, he’d surely lose his heart. They had a date for the weekend. That gave him an entire week to pull himself together and act like an adult, not a lovesick teenager.

He was forty-two years old and had better damn well act like it! She was much younger. Instead of feeling old, her presence made him feel young. Maybe, just maybe, he’d have the chance to become a father? Wasn’t that rushing things a bit?

When Nancy got ovarian cancer, their hopes of being parents went up in smoke. Her illness took front and center. He kept his sadness about not becoming a parent to himself. All her energy and most of his went to keeping her alive for as long as possible. 

When she died, the fact that they didn’t have children tore at his heart. If they had, at least he’d have a piece of her around until his time came. Instead, he had nothing, and no one to grieve her passing with him. It had been the loneliest time of his life. Did Miss Charlotte Anderson represent a chance at a new life for Mark?  

That's all for this week. Thanks for stopping by. Please let a comment and make my day!

TUESDAY TALES - PIE

 

Welcome to another edtion of Tuesday Tales and another snippet from "Someone Like You." And yes, he's walking her home and things heat up. 

Don't forget to read the other stories of the great Tuesday Tales authors. Find them HERE: 

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When they reached the front door of the gracious old house. Charlotte pulled out her keys.

“Well…” she said, slipping her arm out of his and stepping back. “This has been a wonderful evening.”

Mark grabbed her waist with both hands. He stepped back into the shadow of an old oak tree and pulled her right up against him. When she looked up into his eyes, he brought his mouth down on hers for a sweet, gentle kiss. When she didn’t resist, he came back with more passion. He swiped his tongue against the seam of her lips and she opened. The heat his kiss generated almost knocked her off her feet. She leaned against him for support as her knees threatened to give out.  

Then as quickly as it began, it was over. Mark raised his head and stepped back into the light of the moon. He drew a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped her lipstick from his mouth.

“I’m sorry if that was over the line,” he said. “But I couldn’t help it.”

“Oh no. No. Not at all. It was… it was…”

He laughed. “Yes, it was. Exactly.”

She regained her footing, and leaned against the building for a moment while the tingling in her body calmed down. She’d never had a kiss like that before. Derek? Well, Derek simply couldn’t compete with Professor Mark Garrett. She had never been that aroused that quickly in her life. Derek was as bland as apple pie -- but Mark Garrett was as tart and provacative as raspberry rhubarb!

Mark took the key from her unsteady hand and opened the front door. He accompanied her up the stairs to her apartment.

“A gentleman always sees a lady to her door,” he said with a slight bow.

Charlotte inserted the key. “Thank you…”

“No, no. I should thank you. You turned an evening I was dreading into a beautiful night.”

“For me, too,” She said. Why couldn’t she find more eloquent words like he did?

That's it for this week! If you like this story and want it to continue, please leave a comment. Thanks for stopping by.