the newspaper story, too?” Pam asked.
Gina nodded. “The reporter hypothesized that the kiss was the motive for the assault. According to all the witnesses, it happened shortly before she nailed him with the snowball.”
“There were witnesses?” Pam asked. “He kissed you in public?”
“Of course there were witnesses,” Rachel exclaimed. “That’s why he kissed me. For revenge.”
Gina crinkled her brow. “Gee, Rach, I’ve become somewhat of an expert at revenge these days, and kissing isn’t exactly a weapon of choice.”
“So how does he kiss?” Pam asked.
Rachel bent down to relace her other shoe so they wouldn’t see the flush in her cheeks. “It was a very short kiss. I can’t really describe it.”
“Thumbs-up or thumbs-down?” Gina asked.
Rachel sat up, brushing her hair off her face. “Thumbs...up, I guess. It’s hard to remember after all the excitement with the ambulance and everything.”
Gina and Pam exchanged glances. “So maybe you should refresh your memory tonight,” Pam suggested. “I mean, it’s not every day a woman gets to kiss the mayor.”
“Let’s get real,” Gina said. “It’s not every day a woman gets to kiss a hunk like Drew Lavery.”
Rachel had no intention of kissing that particular hunk again. Especially when his kiss left her reeling. Drew’s brief peck on the lips had affected her more than the long, deep kisses she’d shared with Russell. She didn’t even want to imagine what would happen to her if he really kissed her. Full-fledged, mouth-to-mouth combat. Her stomach flip-flopped just thinking about it.
“Look, Drew may be handsome...” Rachel began.
“And smart and successful,” Gina added.
“And the hottest man to cross your path in years,” Pam declared.
“But his interest in me all boils down to one thing. He sees me as the competition. This boycott issue has become a contest to him. And he’s determined to win, no matter what it takes.”
Gina thoughtfully tapped one finger on her chin. “Let’s see, so far his strategy includes asking you out for a date and kissing you. I wonder what else is on his agenda?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Rachel said firmly. “Because I’m putting a stop to this nonsense. After tonight, Drew will realize I’m not going to change my mind about the boycott. Then he’ll leave me alone.”
“I think you’re underestimating yourself again,” Pam said. “The guy couldn’t even wait until your first date to kiss you.”
“Our only date,” Rachel amended. She had no intention of giving him any second chances. She might be solidly behind this boycott, but she wasn’t made of stone. And Drew seemed to know just how to break through her defenses.
Pam shook her head. “This boycott may have brought you together, but I’m willing to bet he’ll be disappointed if it keeps you apart.”
Rachel got up, grabbing her car keys off the credenza. It was almost eight o’clock. Time to give up hope that he was going to call and cancel. “Well, as far as I’m concerned, Drew Lavery will just have to get used to disappointment.”
RACHEL SLOWLY WALKED up the lighted walk that led to the two-story frame house. Boards creaked as she climbed the wooden steps of the wraparound porch, swept clean of snow. This place certainly didn’t look like a typical bachelor pad. It looked like a home straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting; with gingerbread trim around the eaves and leaded glass in the windows. From the street, she’d seen a pair of apple trees in the big backyard, surrounded by a sturdy white picket fence.
Rachel double-checked the address on the scrap of paper in her hand. Maybe she’d written it down wrong or Drew had inverted the numbers when they’d spoken on the phone last night. After all, the man did have a concussion.
She reached into her purse for her cell phone, then hesitated. Calling him from his front porch might seem odd. And if this wasn’t his front porch, she could
Gina nodded. “The reporter hypothesized that the kiss was the motive for the assault. According to all the witnesses, it happened shortly before she nailed him with the snowball.”
“There were witnesses?” Pam asked. “He kissed you in public?”
“Of course there were witnesses,” Rachel exclaimed. “That’s why he kissed me. For revenge.”
Gina crinkled her brow. “Gee, Rach, I’ve become somewhat of an expert at revenge these days, and kissing isn’t exactly a weapon of choice.”
“So how does he kiss?” Pam asked.
Rachel bent down to relace her other shoe so they wouldn’t see the flush in her cheeks. “It was a very short kiss. I can’t really describe it.”
“Thumbs-up or thumbs-down?” Gina asked.
Rachel sat up, brushing her hair off her face. “Thumbs...up, I guess. It’s hard to remember after all the excitement with the ambulance and everything.”
Gina and Pam exchanged glances. “So maybe you should refresh your memory tonight,” Pam suggested. “I mean, it’s not every day a woman gets to kiss the mayor.”
“Let’s get real,” Gina said. “It’s not every day a woman gets to kiss a hunk like Drew Lavery.”
Rachel had no intention of kissing that particular hunk again. Especially when his kiss left her reeling. Drew’s brief peck on the lips had affected her more than the long, deep kisses she’d shared with Russell. She didn’t even want to imagine what would happen to her if he really kissed her. Full-fledged, mouth-to-mouth combat. Her stomach flip-flopped just thinking about it.
“Look, Drew may be handsome...” Rachel began.
“And smart and successful,” Gina added.
“And the hottest man to cross your path in years,” Pam declared.
“But his interest in me all boils down to one thing. He sees me as the competition. This boycott issue has become a contest to him. And he’s determined to win, no matter what it takes.”
Gina thoughtfully tapped one finger on her chin. “Let’s see, so far his strategy includes asking you out for a date and kissing you. I wonder what else is on his agenda?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Rachel said firmly. “Because I’m putting a stop to this nonsense. After tonight, Drew will realize I’m not going to change my mind about the boycott. Then he’ll leave me alone.”
“I think you’re underestimating yourself again,” Pam said. “The guy couldn’t even wait until your first date to kiss you.”
“Our only date,” Rachel amended. She had no intention of giving him any second chances. She might be solidly behind this boycott, but she wasn’t made of stone. And Drew seemed to know just how to break through her defenses.
Pam shook her head. “This boycott may have brought you together, but I’m willing to bet he’ll be disappointed if it keeps you apart.”
Rachel got up, grabbing her car keys off the credenza. It was almost eight o’clock. Time to give up hope that he was going to call and cancel. “Well, as far as I’m concerned, Drew Lavery will just have to get used to disappointment.”
RACHEL SLOWLY WALKED up the lighted walk that led to the two-story frame house. Boards creaked as she climbed the wooden steps of the wraparound porch, swept clean of snow. This place certainly didn’t look like a typical bachelor pad. It looked like a home straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting; with gingerbread trim around the eaves and leaded glass in the windows. From the street, she’d seen a pair of apple trees in the big backyard, surrounded by a sturdy white picket fence.
Rachel double-checked the address on the scrap of paper in her hand. Maybe she’d written it down wrong or Drew had inverted the numbers when they’d spoken on the phone last night. After all, the man did have a concussion.
She reached into her purse for her cell phone, then hesitated. Calling him from his front porch might seem odd. And if this wasn’t his front porch, she could
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