Inner Diva by Laurie Larsen Read Free Book Online Page A

“I thought we’d just walk down to that playground a
few blocks away.”
    He nodded. “On Highpoint Avenue?”
    “That’s the one.” She gave him a cautious
scrutiny, her eyebrows hiding in her bangs.
    “Let’s do it.” He couldn’t tell if she was
happy he was coming, or just happy he hadn’t fought it.
    They bundled into jackets and the girls added
scarves and gloves. They hiked the couple blocks to the playground.
He parked himself on the picnic table while Monica pushed Luisa on
the swing. Quick bursts of steam accompanied each bit of laughter
and speech between them. Their cheeks were getting red from the
early December chill, but it wasn’t too cold.
    He had an idea and called to them, “Give me
ten minutes. I’ll be back.”
    They both nodded and waved and he headed
across the street to the coffee shop on the corner. He bought two
coffees and a hot chocolate. Not sure how she liked her coffee, or
even if she liked coffee, he put cream and some sweetener in it and
carried the cups back to the playground.
    When they saw him approach he waved them over
to the table and handed out the steaming cups. “Slowly, you know, hermana, ” he reminded Luisa as she squealed at the hot
chocolate. She nodded and blew carefully on her drink before taking
a cautious sip and smiling her appreciation at him.
    He paused with Monica’s cup in his hand. “I
wasn’t sure if you liked coffee, but I thought I’d take a
chance.”
    “That’s very nice of you, thank you.” She
wrapped her hands around the cup, gathering its warmth into her
gloved fingers. She took a sip. Carlos walked to a nearby picnic
table and hoisted himself up to sit on the tabletop.
    Then, she moaned. Carlos yanked his mouth
from his coffee cup and stared at her. Her face twisted in
pleasure, her eyes barely open, and her mouth full of hot java.
    This was definitely a woman who wasn’t afraid
to react to things that pleasured her. Would he love to pleasure
her in his own way and see just how she reacted.
    She opened her eyes, swallowed the coffee and
smiled at him. “It’s perfect.”
    Uh huh.
    “It’s just how I like it. Half and half, and
two sweeteners, right?”
    She was waiting for a response so he’d better
clean his mind up and answer her. “Yeah.”
    “I thought so.” They drank in silence until
Luisa finished her hot chocolate, spotted a friend on the see-saw
and ran off to join her. They watched her play.
    “So, tell me about this bad day of
yours.”
    She took a long drag on the coffee, then
swallowed it. She studied him long and hard before she said,
“Really?”
    He nodded.
    “Why do you want to know?” She stood a few
paces away from him, her tone wary, cautious.
    “Look, I know you think I’m a real hard ass
because I’ve given you trouble when it comes to Luisa. But I have
to admit you’re really good with her. She’s crazy about you
already. So I figured the least I can do is get to know you
better.”
    She stood motionless for a moment, then took
a few steps toward him. She climbed onto the top of the picnic
table, and sat beside him. He inhaled her fragrance – something
floral and sweet.
    “I manage a community theater. I’m sort of a
one-woman show because I have the only paid position in a
non-profit organization staffed with volunteers. ” she said, her
voice soft.
    “Wow.” He was right, then. She must be
successful, not to mention creative and smart.
    “Oh, believe me, it’s got its ups and downs
like any job. But for the most part, I like it. Usually I either
work independently on behind the scenes stuff or I have a group of
volunteers reporting to me to accomplish some task. Pretty low
stress.” After another sip, she sighed. “But I really blew it
today.”
    Somehow he couldn’t imagine her blowing
anything and he told her so.
    She looked at him and her glance hovered on
his lips, his cheeks and then his eyes. “No, I screwed up on a
presentation to our Board of Directors and if I don’t pull