Skin by Dale Mayer Page A

bathroom and photograph him in the shower.
    And what did that say about her?
    “It says you’re a healthy female who met up with someone who sparked your attraction. It is new for you. It’s also a good sign,” she said out loud. Bull.
    After a long, cooling shower, Tania curled up in a tight ball, her hair wrapped up in a towel, the housecoat miles too big on her small frame, cell phone clutched in her hand. Feeling guilty, almost dirty, she’d completed her shower in record time and called Jillian.
    “You don’t understand. I ran from him. The words I wanted to say wouldn’t come out. My heart was pounding.” Tania stared around the cold hotel room and wanted to cry. “I’m sure he thought I was terrified of him.”
    “And instead, you were terrified of your reaction to him.” Jillian gave a delighted laugh and said, “You are going through something most women go through in their teenage years and honestly, even now when I have a new relationship, I’m exactly the same.”
    “But I don’t have a relationship with him,” Tania said in exasperation. “I just made a fool of myself. The last thing he’s going to want is a relationship with me.”
    “So? Women make fools of themselves over men all the time and vice versa. Understand it’s normal. It’s natural. In fact, it’s a damn good sign. Be as natural as you can be. You’re attracted to him. It’s going to feel like high school for a while, but you will handle it.” Jillian sounded so positive and happy that it gave Tania hope.
    “I hope you’re right. I feel like he’ll never talk to me again.”
    Laughter filled the phone line again. Everyone loved Jillian – especially men. If she said this was normal even for her after all the relationships she’d had…then maybe it was.
    “He’ll talk to you. That’s the great thing about where you are and what you are doing. He can’t avoid you. He’s part of the seminar, too.” Then she sobered up slightly. “Just make sure he’s not some damn wife beater or alcoholic, will you? You need a nice, stable, caring man to be in your life. Not someone with huge problems of his own.”
    “Everyone has problems here,” Tania said. “I don’t know which of his brings him here.”
    “Well, he’s in therapy, so look around at the hotel guests and staff. Maybe there’s a different man, one without the huge baggage a man in therapy might have.”
    At that, Tania laughed. “Really? So a man who’s willing to step up to deal with his issues is a worse bet than some guy in the bar who won’t even look at them?”
    “No. And if the therapy was over and this guy had done what he’d needed to do, he’d probably be a great bet. In the meantime, remember everyone is part of the session for a reason.” Jillian’s voice deepened with worry. “Especially him.”
    “What? You don’t even know him,” Tania said in outrage. “Don’t be so judgmental.”
    “I’m not trying to be, but you…you’re an innocent in life. And someone is likely to take advantage of you.”
    Shivers rippled down Tania’s spine. As long as it was Kane, she just might be okay with that.
    “It’s too early. You don’t know this man. You need more than a one-night stand.”
    “Do I?” she whispered. “What if you’re wrong there? It would allow me to test drive sex as to whether I can do it or not. Then if it doesn’t—”
    “If it doesn’t work, you’re going to be even more traumatized.” Jillian’s voice turned pleading. “Please, don’t do this. Flirt a little, enjoy the sensation of feeling that kind of heat, revel in knowing that your body is responding…but do not jump into bed with him – at least not yet.”
    Tania hung up on her. Her hand trembled as she stared in shock at the closed phone. She’d never hung up on anyone before. She collapsed to the bed and let the tears run. After a few moments, when the sobs died down, she stood up and went to the bathroom to wash her face. She took a