If Jack blushed then I bet Sue is in for a complete meltdown (Bell reaches for her chocolate and waits for the next post...)

I'm with you, Bell.

men don't blush!!!!!! awwwww come on Jack, give her the dip! .....Give her the dip!!!!!! And I ain't talkin' about dancin'!



You write them as the sweetest couple, Lisa!!!!!!!


Impatiently waiting for more.......

Next Year....

I hope Jack has a copy of your bestselling book, Top 100 Romantic Dates. You are going to write it, right....Surely, he will run out of amazing ideas without the help of your clever ideas.

You are good, Flip...very good!

Can't wait for the next surprise...I am sure it will be unbelievable, amazing, and incredibly sweet...especially since it has Jack blushing and nervous.

JAck already thinking for the next year
He is so

I'm wondering what the surprise is ....

Men don't blush.............PFFFFFFT!

I love how he is already thinking about next year, and when he say his heart won't let him change his mind............

Uh -- Sue, that's because Flip has taken over Jack's mind! You lucky girl, you!!!

Playing catchu up and can't quote all I'd like to -- but couldn't resist this.

kav (hurrying off to read some more)

“Okay,” she said, turning in front of her door with an eager grin, “We’re upstairs. What’s my surprise?”

He laughed self-consciously before revealing a cellophane wrapped basket. “I, um, thought you might enjoy a nice, long soak since you have the rest of the afternoon off.”

“That’s why you are embarrassed?” she asked, confused. “I think it’s very thoughtful.”

“Yeah, well, suddenly I’m feeling very unsure of myself,” he admitted.

“Why?” she questioned, watching him pull at his collar uncomfortably. Turning her attention to the contents of the basket, she praised him. “You’ve bought my favorite scent. How did you know? Did Lucy tell you?”

Finding his feet fascinating, he had a hard time raising his head so she could read him. “Um, no. I relied on my nose. I’d know that scent anywhere.”

“Wow,” she exclaimed, impressed. “I still don’t know why you feel so unsure about this.”

“It’s the book,” he finally admitted. “I, um, ordered you a book, and I’m not sure if you are going to like it.”

She peered back into the basket, seeing the outline of what looked like a paperback book in the center. “Why wouldn’t I like it?”

He couldn’t meet her eyes. “It’s a romance novel. I heard girls, um, women, like to read them. Only, um, it happens to be personalized.”

“Personalized?” she repeated, “How?”

He shrugged one shoulder, still looking anywhere but directly in her eyes. “I found a website, picked out the general type of story I wanted, filled out a questionnaire which included our names and several facts about us and this lady wrote a story. It seemed like a Valentiney thing to do at the time, but now that I am saying it out loud, I’m not so sure.”

“Have you read it?” Sue wanted to know, her curiosity tweaked.

His eyes shot to hers, a comically horrified expression crossing his face. “Are you kidding? It’s bad enough I ordered it. I’m not about to read it. What would the guys say?”

Sue laughed, shaking her head. “I think they’ll be jealous of how all the women that find out about it will swoon. It’s very romantic, Jack. I look forward to reading it.”

“Well, good,” he sighed, obviously not wanting to talk about it any more.

“What a perfect way to end a short work day...A long, hot soak and a book,” she gave him a small smile and a nod, before turning and slipping the key into the lock, startling when his hand appeared from behind her, settling on her hand. Looking back, she was further unnerved by his closeness. She turned, expecting him to step back, but he stood his ground, his features softening as his gaze roamed her face.

“You know we’re not done, right?” At her hesitant nod, he continued. “I need to do a few things, but I’ll be back, ready to take you to dinner at 7:00 PM.”

“I’ll be waiting,” she promised. “Where are we going?”

He rolled his eyes with good humor. “I’m not gonna tell you that. It’s a surprise.”

“This day has already been full of surprises, Jack. You don’t have to make dinner one,” she cajoled. When he raised his eyebrows and shook his head, obviously not backing down, she tried another tactic. “If I don’t know where we’re going, I won’t know how to dress,” she argued, her logic completely escaping him.

“Sue, you always look nice. Anything will be fine,” he assured her. She simply continued to stare at him expectantly, so he added, “How about we call it casually nice? And as much as I’d love to see your beautiful, long legs displayed by a dress, I think you’ll be more comfortable in slacks.”

“Thank you,” she conceded, “That does help...a little.”

“Good,” he answered with a wink. “Guess I’d better go, and get done what I need to get done, so I can get back to you,” he rambled. Taking a breath, he reined in his loose lips. “I’ll see you in a few hours then,” he promised, reluctantly turning to leave. He’d only made it a few steps when his name from her lips had him turning just in time to catch her as she threw her arms around him and hugged him close.

“Thank you, Jack, for everything. This has been a really great day,” she added before pulling back slightly and cupping his face in her hands. She impulsively kissed his cheek before awareness of her actions registered.

He saw the moment she realized their closeness and closed his arms around her waist, impeding her escape, keeping her flush against him. He slowly walked his fingers around to her sides and then began a torturous journey up her torso, leaving a path of awareness in his wake. He faintly registered her hands clasping on to his waist as he focused on her full lips. “I think you missed,” he whispered, watching with fascination how she reflexively moistened her lips. “Fortunately, being a former sniper, my aim is deadly accurate,” he assured her, his head descending to brush his lips across hers in the lightest of touches, waiting for her to adjust to his closeness. When he felt her breathy sigh whisper across his mouth, he could wait no longer.

You just had to leave it there, didn't you??? I guess that means it's a cliffhanger sort of night, huh?

You made my monday!! Now I can plow through Tuesday with a smile on my face!

a personalized romance novel I wonder who the author will be?????

Now, Flip, I have been begging for them to kiss for days now and look what you have done.... left us all on the cliff with anticipation....I bet you aren't posting again either.....Argh! or should I say

for the kiss that will be there eventually

cliffhanger.............oy!

Can't wait to read the book!!!!!!!


Jill

A personalized romance novel. What an incredible idea.

Maybe Jack couldn't wait any longer, but it looks like we're going to have to.

Flip, this is sheer torture - of the sweetest kind!!!

Joy

This is just wonderful..........I still want to know where you get your romantic ideas from, Flip!

He could wait no longer!...........Pfffft, what about us?!?!

Romantic Jack!

That was not nice Flip!!! You leave us there?!?! That was only a hint of the warm fuzzies. We want the full blown scene! Picky aren't we!! Definitely looking foward to reading your next post!

By the way...loved the blushing Jack. Got a "visual" on that one and it definitely made me smile!

You can leave them hanging to each other's lips anytime, Flip!

Are we going to be privy to some paragraphs of that book ?

The aim talk again...<roll eyes><grin>


Great job!

I loved the " my aim is deadly accurate' part!!!!!!!


A romance novel by Jack! This is gonna be gooooooooood!!!!!!!!!!!!

Give the kids a few chapters to read and get to the computer lab and type!!!!!!!!!

What's in the book?

Where are they going?

What are these things Jack has got to do?

Where are you?

When will you be back?

Please, no interruptions this time Flip!!! I could use something to warm me up, it's been really cold here, around -23 C daily, for the past week and I would like to go from this to this . Please?

Katinka

OOOOH I so needed this

I really don't mind that you left that post there...

BUT

now I really need more...

so....

you

I

I would love to do just that, Jolan. I even copied my post onto a floppy, brought it to school - and discovered I did something wrong. I can't get any of the computers here in the lab to read the disk!

I'm stuck here with conferences - and then my son has a basketball game. I'll be home around 7:30 PM CT and will post then. It's the best I can do.

And Mat? It's not a book by Jack - Jack ordered it online - someone else - near and dear to everyone's heart - wrote it.

I wonder who that could be??? Are we going to get to "read" some of it???

Joy

Hmmmmm........ ........Probably so...........eventually...

Cool!!! I can't wait!!!

Joy

Sounds promising enough!! Can't wait!

“Sue, is that you?”

Jack heard the voice of Sue’s elderly neighbor just as his lips settled on Sue’s, her hands sliding to grip his forearms. Biting back his irritation at the interruption, he lifted his head, smiling with satisfaction at her obvious distress. Running his fingers down her cheek, he motioned to his left. “Mrs. Rapp is calling for you.”

“Oh,” Sue murmured, stepping back quickly, running a quick hand through her hair. Looking over Jack’s shoulder, she saw Mrs. Rapp waving her way, motioning her over. Giving Jack a regretful smile, she stepped around him and inquired, “Is everything okay, Mrs. Rapp?”

“Everything is lovely, Dear. I’ve been waiting on you to get home. The nicest delivery man came by earlier with a beautiful bouquet for you, only you weren’t home. I told him I’d keep it for you and let you know as soon as I saw you.”

Sue smiled indulgently, glancing back at Jack. Noting the frown on his face, she turned back to her neighbor. “That was sweet of you. Why don’t we get it out of your way?”

“It’s rather big, Dear. I’m not sure you can lift it. I had to let the little boy put it on my table before he left.”

Grinning at the 90 year old’s description of the delivery man, she pointed at Jack. “Jack is with me. I bet he can manage it without any trouble.”

Jack nodded politely when Mrs. Rapp asked him to retrieve the bouquet, his frown deepening when he laid eyes on the lavish gift. Hoisting it from her dining table, he carried it out into the hall, not missing Sue’s gasp of appreciation.

“It’s beautiful, Jack,” she complimented, hurrying to her door after bidding good day to Mrs. Rapp. “Let me get my door open and you can put it on the table.” Following him inside, she stared in awe. “You shouldn’t have,” she chided gently when he turned back to her.

“I didn’t.”

Her eyes widened perceptibly, noting his dark look. “Oh, um, well...I wonder who did.”

“That’s what I’d like to know,” he confirmed, his errands suddenly forgotten. “Why don’t you read the card?” he asked, snagging the envelope from amid the beautiful flowers, his face tightening at the familiar “Suzie” that was scrawled across the front, knowing only one person who called her that. Handing it over to her, he waited impatiently.

Seeing the name, her features relaxed into an affectionate smile, her eyes catching Jack’s. “I think I know who sent it,” she tried to assure him, unaware of what he was thinking.

“I hope it isn’t who I think it is,” he muttered darkly, his mood quickly taking a dive south.

Sue slid the card from the envelope, her eyes swimming with tears, a hand moving to her mouth. Combing through the words one more time, she looked at Jack. “You talked to my dad? When? Why? How?”

Jack’s eyebrows furrowed together. “That’s from your dad?”

“You talked to my dad?” she repeated again, her mind no longer capable of forming a coherent thought.

He began to feel a bit uncomfortable as she repeated her words. Staring intently at her, trying to gauge her reaction, he cleared his throat and shrugged. “Um, yes,” he stuttered, “I was going to tell you tonight, at dinner.” When she continued to stare at him, he added, “I thought it was the right thing to do, to let him and your mom know my intentions. Are you upset?”

“You talked to my dad,” she repeated, wonderment now evident in her voice. Giving him an adoring smile, she propelled herself into his arms, her lips raining kisses over each reachable square inch of surface, her continued verbal praises disjointed.

Jack’s hands settled at her waist, steadying them both while at the same time assuring she stayed close. Leaning against the table, he allowed his hands to journey up her back and tangle in her hair, pulling her head from his chin. “There you go again,” he whispered hoarsely, smiling into her eyes when she glanced up. “We’re really gonna have to work on your aim,” he swallowed, his focus shifting to her lips. “I’m available right now if you want to practice,” he challenged lightly.

Shyness enveloped her as she suddenly became aware of their intimacy. Their bodies were pressed together from chest to knee, his hands in her hair keeping her from bolting. Her hands had found their way to his shoulders, where she was kneading the sinewy muscle she could feel beneath his shirt. She searched his face, finding nothing but acceptance and anticipation, giving her enough courage to call him on his dare. She maneuvered her hands to his face, tilting his head towards hers, inadvertently sliding her body sensuously against his. She stopped, licking her lips nervously, when she felt the vibrations in his chest. Staring into his face, she watched his eyes pop open.

“Why’d you stop?” Jack studied the innocently enticing woman in his arms. Her eyes were wide, a shadow of doubt now clearly evident. “Need some help?” he volunteered, puckering his lips, hoping to ease her distress.

“You’re okay?” she asked instead of answering his question. “I thought I may have hurt you.”

“No, Sweetheart,” he answered, completely unaware of the endearment that slipped so easily from his mouth, “You didn’t hurt me. Now come back and finish what you almost started,” he taunted.

Taking them both by surprise, she closed the distance between them and fastened her lips on his, hoping he’d rescue them from her inexperience.

He did.

You have a rare talent. To be able to convey so much in so few words is brilliance!

You write so romantically! I've gone from a solid to a liquid

What a beautiful post! Loved that Jack talked to her dad...

Loved the kiss...but I want more....

Flip, I love the way you put Jack and Sue together!!! **sigh**

Joy

What she said...no more words needed...and even if I wanted to..I can't even think of more words right now ...

sooooooooo romantic

Flip you fuzzed up my fuzzometer. It was sadly lacking! I can't believe I let so many posts escape me...well I didn't let it happen, darn work got in the way!!! Now I'm so tired I can barely see straight but I'm going to have sweet dreams tonight. You're amazing!

kav

Oh, I have a feeling that her lack of experience won't be a problem whatsoever! Thank you for not putting off their kiss any longer, flip! Wonderful post!

For a second I thought it was Tony, but I remembered that Tony called Sue 'Suzie Q'

What a wonderful post that was, Flip! The neighbour seems to be a very nice lady - I almost anticipated her to comment on Sue's good taste in men.....

I loved the way you portray a jealous Jack, and his shyness when Sue found out who the flowers were from.

One question though:

I am clueless here (although, when I will read the answer, it will probably a silly question) but who are you referring to?

Mirjam, I believe Jack was referring to Tony Capone from New Mafia, although Lilsmoochiegirl is right, he actually called her Suzie Q!

Joy

He did call her Suzie Q - but it's Valentine's Day...Jack has stepped out in a BIG way...do you really think he'd be thinking clearly?????? I don't! But, hey! That's just my opinion.

What? You say I'm the writer? Oh yeah! Then he was definitely talking about Tony!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

He was the one sighing with relief when she came to him, his senses thrown into chaos by her initial, hesitant touch. Ensnaring her further with gentle but firm hands, he reveled in the petal-soft feel of her lips, his own moving slowly over hers, coaxing her into a deeper response. He lightened his touch, peppering kisses along her lips, leaving no surface unexplored. When she began repeating his actions, he dared capture her lips again, this time demanding more. He tilted his head, bringing them into closer contact, and darted his tongue along her lower lip, delighting in the small noises she made and the way she gave herself over to him, leaning into him for support.

He enveloped her every sense, overwhelming her with pleasure on all fronts. More than willing to follow his lead, she strained to get closer, wanting to experience every wonderful sensation she inexplicably knew he could show her. Feeling his tongue brush against her lip, she shivered as excitement raced throughout her frame.

Jack eased back, smiling into the kiss before lifting his head. His eyes caressed her upturned face as he fought the temptation to continue kissing her, watching her eyelids flutter open, her eyes struggling to focus on his. They simply stared at one another for several seconds, lost in their own thoughts of the other and their changing relationship.

“I guess we won’t have to practice after all,” she finally sighed, her eyes twinkling.

“Hmm?” he murmured absently, before shaking his head and giving a more articulate reply. “What do you mean? Practice what?”

“My aim,” she giggled, rolling her eyes. “I think I got it right the first time.”

“You think so?” he asked, raising one eyebrow and settling his hands loosely at her waist. “If I recall correctly, you tried twice before getting it right. That last time might have been luck. As with all things, practice makes perfect. And now,” he stated, giving her a kiss on the nose, “I really need to get going so I can make it back to you in time for dinner. Don’t forget, 7:00 PM.”

“I won’t,” she promised, giving him a lopsided grin and watching him make his way to the door. “Jack,” she called, almost forgetting her question of earlier.

“Yes?” he answered, stopping and turning toward her.

“Are you going to tell me about your conversation with my dad?”

He looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding. “Yes, when the time is right,” he said mysteriously, giving her a wink before shutting the door behind him.

Sue retrieved the card that had dropped from her nerveless fingers earlier and reread its words:

Suzie,

Happy Valentine’s Day!

For years I’ve had the privilege of being your
Valentine, but something tells me that my time
has come to an end.

For years I’ve prayed for that special someone
God has prepared for you, and He has answered
that prayer, Suzie. Know that your mom and I love
you with all that is within us and that we couldn’t
be happier for you.

With All My Love,
Daddy

She swiped at the sentimental tear that made its way down her cheek, whispering a reply to her dad. Turning to admire the flowers another time, her gaze fell to the gift basket Jack had surprised her with. Curiosity getting the better of her, she untied the cellophane and rummaged through the contents, finding bath oils, candles, bubble bath, lotion, powder, and perfume, all in her favorite scent. And there, nestled in the midst of the treasures was the book that had Special Agent Hudson squirming. Love Will Be the Tie That Binds Us she read, “A personalized novel written by Kav.” Flipping the book over, she read the brief description:

Special Agent Jack Hudson is given a second chance when the object of his affections rescinds her decision to take a job in New York. Will he have the courage to make different decisions the second time around or is he destined to make the same mistakes over and over again?”

Sue smiled, clutching the book to her chest, anticipation building within her. She’d never been the subject of a story before and couldn’t wait to start reading. Checking the clock and noting with satisfaction that she had time to take a long, leisurely bath, she hurried to the bathroom to get the water started.

Several minutes later with snacks and drink within reach, she lowered herself into the soothing waters, leaned back on her bath pillow and opened her book and was soon lost in the delightful world created by Kav.

I love the kiss! I love the note! I love the basket! I love the book!

Of course I love the book......and the thought of reading Flip reading Kav ......good thing there aren't any cherubs around. That would so liquify their wings!

So bring it on!

Jill

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!

I loved this whole post!!!!!!!!

Now check your email FLipster!

LOL! Seems as if I have read a story or two that Sue has been the subject of. If she only knew, huh?

Flip, this story is so amazingly romantic! I'm constantly coming into the computer to see if you have posted again! I love it!

Oh and Flip, I realized that Jack wasn't the one writing it, It was faster and easier to just type, it that way! I was in a hurry!




I love this story....... and did I say....... I love this story?

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!
This is EXCELLENT! I love it You're such a great writer.
I wonder what you'll surprise us with next!!

Yep, me too.

I agree with Jack - just because Sue hit his lips once, that's no guarantee that she can do it again - she definitely needs practice!!!

Oh, you picked such a lovely story from Kav!! There's a good possibility Sue will be so ingrossed in her book that she will forget the time, and Jack will find her still in the bathtub!! More's the pity!!!

Joy

You amaze me with your ability to reduce me to puddles after every post!