Nothing But Trouble by Trish Jensen Page A

the kiss and a date Sunday.”
    “How do you know I don’t already have plans?”
    “Do you?”
    “No.” 
    “Then I want you al day Sunday. And I want that kiss.”
    She took a deep breath. “Okay, but only because I owe you.” He nodded. “Yes, only because.”
    “What are we going to do?”
    “First, we’re going to roam bookstores. Then we’re going to have supper on my parents’ yacht.”

    * * *

    BRANDON HAD disappeared soon after that intriguing invitation and didn’t show up at al Saturday night, which had both agitated and relieved Laura. She’d caught herself looking far too often toward the front door and getting mad at herself for being disappointed when a certain person wasn’t walking through it.

    He had called early Saturday evening to get her address and to fix the time of their date, but that cal had lasted all of five minutes. What had he been doing the rest of Saturday night?
    She couldn’t help but worry that he and Ned had gone to a more exciting bar. That he’d found another woman who wouldn’t force him to play pool just to get a kiss. Or more.
    It wasn’t as if it was any of her business. She just didn’t like getting leftovers. Or so she kept tel ing herself Sunday as she tore through her closet in search of something to wear.
    Who’d ever heard of a date where you went roaming bookstores? That sounded like a jeans and T-shirt type date. But then supper on a yacht? That sounded like a glittery evening gown type of date. How was a person to decide?
    Leave it to that infuriating man to make it ambiguous. In fact, al of her feelings had become ambiguous since meeting Brandon Prince. And she didn’t care for that at al . She liked being opinionated and stubborn, and she hated being confused.
    And from the git-go, al the man had ever done was confuse her.
    Laura final y gave up on the wardrobe decision. He could just show up and darn wel wait while she dressed, once she saw what he was wearing.
    She glanced at the clock and saw she had fifteen minutes, if he was on time and if he hadn’t met another woman last night and forgotten al about her and their kissing date.
    Picking up her cel phone, she punched in Hannah’s number. Hannah was another concern. She hadn’t shown up last night either, which really wasn’t unusual since it wasn’t a workday, and her co-op was about twenty-five blocks from Nothing But Trouble. What worried Laura was that Hannah had never returned from dinner with Ned. And the way those two went at it, Laura wanted to make sure Hannah was okay.
    Of course, Hannah was one woman who could take care of herself. Still . . .
    “Yeah?” Hannah’s groggy voice answered after four rings.
    “You’re stil in bed?” Laura asked. “It’s almost one o’clock!”
    “What time is it?” Hannah muttered.
    A muffled male voice answered her.
    “Oh. My. You have a man over there?”
    There was a long pause and the definite rustling of bed sheets. “Umm, wel —”
    “Who is it?”
    “Who is it?” she heard the male whisper.
    “Umm, well?”
    “Wow, let me circle this date on my calendar,” Laura said.
    In al the years she’d known Hannah, the woman hadn’t even had a date, much less a fling. Unless you counted the dinner the other— “Ned!” she shrieked.
    “Umm, wel —”
    “Holy cow.”
    “Can I call you back?”
    “You darn wel better call me back! But wait, I’m going to be gone all day.”
    “Where are you going?”
    She didn’t think she wanted to disclose that she was going on a kissing date. “Bookstores.”
    “Jeez, Laura, you’re on vacation.”
    “What better way to spend it?”
    “Well, umm—”
    Laura laughed. “Yes, I guess you might have other ideas. Ali predicted this, you know.”
    “She did?” Hannah said with a gasp.
    “She did. Right after you and Ned left Friday night.” Laura didn’t think Hannah would appreciate knowing she was going to end up marrying Ned, so she kept that bit of news to herself.
    “Wel ,