The Shy Girl and the Stripper
Cooper McKenzie
Chapter One
“I don’t know if I can do this without you.” Sunflower “Sunny” Carlyle looked at Shey Jones, her best friend, business partner, and the one who had arranged this trip. “Why did your mother have to get sick now?”
Shey pulled her in for a hug before stepping back. “You’ll be fine. Gigi will meet you at the airport and make sure you get where you need to be when you need to be there.”
Sunny sighed. “I know. But she isn’t you and won’t put up with my crap like you do.”
“So don’t give her any crap. Pretend you’re bold and brave and show everyone that beautiful smile of yours.”
“I don’t know, maybe I should just cancel,” Sunny said, looking over her shoulder to where Shey’s car was parked at the curb.
“No way. You are going to have a wonderful time, and if you really love me, you’ll bring me back a bunch of autographed books and a boatload of stories about everything that happens. Oh, and I want pictures. Lots of pictures. Now go, relax, let go, and have a good time.”
Her heart pounding, her entire body in a cold sweat, and her stomach threatening to turn itself inside out, Sunny headed to the security line. Hiding in her home writing her erotic romances was fun. Going out in public to talk about her books, her lovably flawed characters, and her writing process not so much. But Shey had signed her up for this writers’ convention eight months ago, promising to be her entourage and protector if things got too overwhelming. But Shey’s mother had come down with a cold that had turned into pneumonia. While Sunny knew Shey needed to be with her mother, she now had to go fly halfway across the country and spend the next four days with strangers, without her best friend.
Six hours later, Sunny followed the couple in front of her from the airplane up the Jetway to the airport terminal. She was tired, hungry, and her back hurt from sitting in uncomfortable seats, both on the airplane, and in the terminal for too long. Stopping at the restroom to relieve her screaming bladder, she turned on her phone and found two texts from Gigi that had been sent in the last thirty minutes.
Text me when you land.
Geo will meet you in the baggage claim area.
Geo? Who in the hell was Geo?
Adjusting her briefcase on top of her rolling carry-on, Sunny took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and started walking, joining the masses as they walked at various paces to make a flight, or find their way out of the airport. She followed the signs toward the baggage area, walking slowly while feeling like she was marching to her own execution.
Shey and Gigi had been close friends since college, which was why Sunny gave into Shey’s begging and pleading about attending this convention, where Gigi was in charge. She had even met Gigi, once, when she had stopped to see Shey on her way somewhere.
As Sunny stepped onto the escalator to go to the lower level of the airport, her pocket buzzed. She had another text. The number was not one in her phone book, but when she opened it, she saw it was from the mysterious Geo.
Under the welcome sign wearing white T-shirt and jeans.
Dragging her suitcase behind her, Sunny kept moving forward. The hall eventually led to the large room with a half-dozen baggage carousels where checked luggage would be arriving in a few minutes. Looking around, she found the sign welcoming travelers to town. Dropping her gaze, she saw him.
Tall, dark, and panty soaking breathtakingly beautiful, Geo stood like a statue, reading something on his phone. White T-shirt, blue jeans, and cowboy boots showcased the perfect male body that Sunny had dreamt about, and written about, more times than she was willing to admit. She slowed her approach as her * clenched, her nipples tightened, and her breathing became fast and shallow. How was she supposed to speak to this gorgeous god of a man much less ride to the hotel with him? He probably even smelled delicious.
She slowed even further as he slid his phone into the pocket of his jeans and lifted his head, looking directly at her. Curly black hair cut longer on top and military short on the sides, reflected the lights overhead. Bright golden brown eyes locked on hers and would not let her go. She clenched her free hand and reminded herself to be bold, be brash, be the person the Internet world thought she was. What she really wanted was to run and hide.
“Sunflower Carlyle?” Even his voice was beautiful, deep, and warm as he took two steps toward her.