Michelle Hasker

Will sighed as he stood at the bus stop. Yet another boring day. The only excitement he got was at night when he sat down at his computer to write. Even though he sold five books already, the editors were still asking him for another in his series. And now they wanted him to make public appearances. Obviously they hadn’t looked too closely at the photo on the back cover of his books. Who’d want him to speak to a group of writer wannabe’s?

Was that a raindrop? Will looked up and sighed as the clouds burst, rain falling heavily to the ground. Great. Could this day get any worse?

Suddenly, Will was pushed from behind. He fell forward, dropping his briefcase as he tried to stop his momentum. His palms stung as they landed on the rough concrete and his left knee burned, leaving no doubt that he’d skinned it, if not more. What happened? And where’s my briefcase? Panic flared as he looked up to see what happened to it.

It lay in a puddle. Will groaned and reached for it, pulling it close.

“I’m sorry. So, so sorry,” a soft voice trembled behind him.

Will merely grunted as he opened the briefcase to see if water had gotten in.

“Are you okay?”

Will grunted again and peered inside. There didn’t appear to be any water.

“Oh I love that guy. He writes so well. I can’t wait til his next book comes out.”

“A lot of people would agree with you.”

“You don’t?” she gasped.

Will turned and looked at the woman for the first time. Long auburn hair fell past her shoulders. It curled riotously from the rain and he couldn’t help but smile.

He glanced up past her small nose with a few freckles, to her amazing green eyes. They were pale, speckled with dark green and reminded him of a piece of jade.

“I didn’t ruin your stuff did I?”

“No.” He shook his head. She was the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen. And she was talking to him, not trying to get as far away from him as fast as she could.

“Your book is getting all wet.”

“Oh.”

Will shook his head to clear his thoughts. He put it inside his briefcase then took it back out again. He sighed heavily and looked at her again.

“Here.” He shoved the book at her. “It’s signed.”

“What?”

She stared at him, her mouth dropping open. She blinked a few times then grabbed the book and opened it to read the inscription.

“You are giving me this signed copy of a book by Ryu William?”

“Yeah.”

Will shrugged, closed his briefcase and rose quickly.

“This is amazing. Are you sure?” She asked, clutching the book to her chest.

“I’m sure.”

“Thank you so much. I’ve been trying to get him to come to our library for a book signing session since he lives in the area, but everyone keeps telling me he’s not available, that he doesn’t do public appearances.”

Will frowned. He didn’t want to do public appearances. Wasn’t it bad enough his face was on the back cover of the book? Sure it was an old grainy photo and it didn’t really look like him, but that was good.

“Perhaps if you asked him yourself.” Will shrugged.

“He’s reclusive. I’ve already tried to locate him.”

Will shrugged again.

“Well, it was nice meeting you Miss…?”

“Sara, Sara Marcum.”

She held out her hand. Will took her hand in his, freezing when she gasped. He tried to pull away but she held on tightly.

“You’re bleeding. I thought you said you were ok?”

Will stared at his hand trying to decide if the shock that ran up his arm at her touch was good or not. Blood? He thought she’d felt that frisson as well. Perhaps the attraction was one-sided as usual.

“Come to the library with me. It’s just down the street. I can fix you up at least. I mean it was my fault that you were injured.”

“But the library’s closed.” Will’s eyebrows furrowed as he let her tug him down the street. “They won’t let us in.”

“I’m a librarian. I have a key and know the security code. I often work late so it’s easier.”

“Cool.”

Sara led him into the library and took him back to a row of doors. She opened one at the end and hurried him inside.

“Have a seat at my desk and I’ll get the first aid kit.”

“Sure.”

Will sat down, setting his briefcase on the floor. He looked at the desk and saw a pile of letters. Frowning, he leaned closer and examined them. They were all addressed to him and marked with a rejection stamp. He lifted them and paged back to see that she had indeed asked for him several times. The rejections started out polite and ended with the last one, a stamp.

“I’ve tried everything I could think of to get him to come here.” Sara sighed. Pushing the papers aside, she sat on the edge of desk. She opened the first aid kit and asked him for his hands.

Will held out his left hand, sliding closer to the desk so he could watch her. Sara administered to his wounds quickly and efficiently. While she played nurse, the scent of jasmine tickled his nose. He leaned closer and took a deep breath, drawing in both the flowery smell and her own feminine scent. His cock sprang to attention, growing painfully hard as she bowed her head over his hands. When she finished, she looked up, her mouth inches from his.

“Oh!” She blushed and started to pull back.

Will quickly pressed his lips to hers and kissed her chastely for fear that anything more would frighten her. He couldn’t understand how this small beautiful woman stirred these feelings in him, but he wasn’t about to let her go without showing her how he felt, either. Chances like this happened only once in a lifetime. His last girlfriend had shown him that you had to take a chance when it was within your grasp. Otherwise you could miss out on a golden opportunity. Of course now she was in Vegas dancing with a bunch of other ladies on a stage in some casino. But she was happier there than she had been here.

“Mmm.” Sara sighed, then blushed and stepped back, picking up the first aid kit and holding it against her chest.

“I won’t hurt you,” Will said. “I just had to kiss you. To see if you taste as sweet as you look.”

“I’m not scared. I was surprised,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry, I find you extremely attractive, but I won’t touch you again. I promise. I appreciate the way you treated my scrapes.”

“I’m sorry I knocked you down.” She blushed.

“If you hadn’t we wouldn’t have met.”

Her eyes brightened and she turned to look at the book he’d given her. It was sitting on the corner of her desk.

“I don’t suppose you know Ryu William?”

Will nodded his head slowly. “Yes, I do.”

“Really?”

“I could mention that you want him as a speaker, but he doesn’t do signings or anything. He’s a very shy person.”

Sara leaned close again. “We have a fan club that meets once a month to discuss his books.”

“But he’s only written five.” Will blinked rapidly.

“I know, but he’s got a lot of excerpts on his website. We often discuss them, what we think will happen and which one he’ll publish next.”

Will sighed. He didn’t feel right not telling her the truth, but he didn’t know if she’d leave him alone if she knew who he was.

“So how well do you know him? To just give away a signed book to a total stranger?”

“I’m Ryu William.” Color burned his face as he glanced away. Damn, he was not good with people. What was he thinking telling her his identity? But he sensed she was different. He turned back and met her eyes, looking for something. What it was, he didn’t know.

“Well, Ryu.” She smiled and walked over to the door. She pushed it shut and turned to face him, pressing her back against the door. “Now that I have you here--”

“You’re going to have your wicked way with me?” Will interrupted.

“No. You aren’t leaving until you agree to come to my book club meeting.”

There was a loud crack and a flash of blinding light. When Will looked around he noticed a beautiful blonde wearing a thin white dress. She glared at him, then at Sara, then back at him again.

“You…how…what…I must be dreaming again. I should have known.” Will grumbled and wiped his hand over his face.

“This is not a dream!” the vision of beauty snapped. “How much more obvious can I make this? William, for years you’ve dreamed of a red-haired green-eyed beauty. Sara, for years you’ve dreamed of a sensitive man who would treasure you and treat you with respect. I create a storm and push you into him and still neither of you can see what is right in front of you?”

Sara’s mouth dropped open as she stared at the goddess. Will knew right away who she was even though he’d never believed in her.

“Now I know I’m dreaming.”

“You are not dreaming! This is as real as it can be. You two are perfect together and I won’t let either of you leave this room until you see that for yourselves.”

There was another loud crack and more blinding light, then they were alone in the room once more.

“Oh, my.” Sara whispered. “We were dreaming of each othere? What are the odds?”

“I’d say pretty good since I have been dreaming of you for years.”

Sara gasped and pressed more tightly against the door.

“I just didn’t realize it was you because of your reaction to me. The woman I’ve dreamed of wants me as much as I want her.”

“But I do want you.” She clasped her hand over mouth and blushed. “I mean--”

“I know what you mean.” Will crossed the room and kneeled in front of Sara. “We could try dating, but if Aphrodite is correct, then we might as well move ahead full steam. Will you marry me?”