Nicole Castro

I turned on the water then returned to the door jamb. __hat__ not fair, you__e nice and clean.___ am?_ He took a few steps toward me.__ren__ you?___o,_ he scowled and shook his head. ____ dirty. But you knew that._ Now, if you haven__ heard an Irishman say the word __irty_ before, I will compare it with dynamite in your ovaries. They say it with like, seven Rs.

I could only nod as emotions rolled in like a destructive storm. This was it. It was over. My incredible time with this beautiful talented man was up. I had to clench my teeth and swallow hard to mask the loss that threatened to overcome my calm exterior. I was holding on for dear life then he said two words with pure tranquility.

If I weren__ a gentleman, I would pound you into the ground right now._ He unfisted his hands in order to dismiss the temptation.

Put your f***ing finger down now before I break it off.

Alyssa tried to lift her chin. She was going to do the one thing she loved again- something that reminded her of her mother; something dear to her. So what if she felt this undeniable attraction toward the dark-haired man. Correction. Earl.So what, indeed.

Hell if I know. I__ twenty-six, single, just signed a year lease on an apartment_ She touched her eyebrows with her fingertips. __amn, why did I move back here?_ __orry._ I grimaced. __he job market isn__ as bad as it was. I__ give you a job if you really needed one.___hanks. Not sure how good of a bouncer I would be.___aybe hair holder for drunk girls.___ounds great,_ she said flatly then made a gagging sound.

Yes, I just_ Should I be honest and sound like a complete loser? Oh why the hell not? __ have not had a kiss like that in a while._ I licked my lips.He looked me dead in the eye. __ood._ A wave of silence crashed over us. I didn__ know what to say to that. __ell, I better get going. See you soon?__ nodded dumbly. __mm-hmm._ He smiled and began to walk away. I couldn__ just let him go! __eclan!__e turned. __es, Cake?__ome on, brain! Think of something! __hat should I wear? I mean, what kind of place is Shellshock?_ Yes, yes, that was fine_ damage averted.__alifornia casual.___h, ok._ I think I knew what that meant. Spend three hours getting ready to make it look like you just threw any-ol_-thing on. __ave a nice night.__e flicked his head my way. __ou too._ Then he was gone.And then I was sad.It was ridiculous. Preposterous, even. I was going to have to come clean about the ring- eventually. I hoped he didn__ bring it up because I would probably tell the poor guy my life story to get to why the ring he bought meant so much to me.