Wet Ink (Plus Size Loving) BBW Erotic Romance Read Online Free Page A

you’d be done with the editing yet, but…”
    “No.” He cleared his throat again, and Valerie frowned—was he nervous? “Actually it doesn’t have anything to do with your book. I… I want to see you again.”
    Valerie’s mouth opened, but no words came out. Was Alex Stone actually calling her up and asking her on a date? No way. This was so not real.
    “Valerie, it’s okay if you don’t want to. I… I just really enjoyed spending time with you the other day.”
    “I’d love to,” she whispered, her eyes shut tight as if to shield her anxiety from the man on the other end of the line.
    “ Oh, great! So… what do you think about tomorrow night, at the Mill Pond House in Centerport? I’ll pick you up.”
    “Sure!” A thought suddenly occurred to Valerie, and she frowned. “Do you even know where I live?”
    “No… but Random House has your address on file and I know the town you live in is only twenty minutes from Centerport. It’s been awhile since I’ve last been to Mill Pond, and they’ve got killer seafood. Don’t worry, my trusty GPS will take care of it. And if I get lost, I’ll call you.”
    “Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “Looking forward to it.”

     
    ~ * ~ * ~

     
    Valerie took a deep breath as she gave herself one final look in the mirror. She’d chosen a summery blue halter dress that skimmed just past her knees, and a pair of strappy heels that made her calves look longer and slimmer—like drumsticks instead of hams. She’d accessorized with a matching topaz teardrop necklace and earrings set, and had pulled her mass of curly hair on top of her head, letting only a few tendrils hang down to frame her face. The overall effect was flirty, but not too classy—after all, they weren’t going to The Mark again.
    Still, she fretted for a moment, wondering if she should pull her hair back down to help cover her cheeks, or choose a dress that wasn’t quite so short because really, those heels didn’t change her calves that much. The doorbell ringing decided it for her; and with one last quick pat of the hair she grabbed her purse from her bed and rushed to answer it.
    “Hey!” Alex greeted her with a wide smile and a bouquet of pink roses. His eyes traveled up and down her body in a once-over that left her flushed, breathless, and not a little nervous. “You look beautiful.”
    “Thank you.” She took the roses and inhaled—they smelled heavenly. “You don’t look so bad yourself.” He was dressed in beige slacks and a short-sleeved, green button up shirt that showed off lean, well-defined biceps. His sandy hair was styled in that careless, windswept fashion, and it made her want to run her fingers through it. “Let me go put these inside.”
    She placed the roses in a crystal vase on the kitchen counter, allowing her fingertips to gently graze the rose petals for a moment, and then came back outside. His Lexus was waiting at the curb, and like a gentleman he opened the door for her and helped her inside before moving around to the driver’s side.
    He started on the road, and then turned on CD player. Valerie blinked, and then smiled as the lyrics to Chop Suey came blaring out of the speakers.
    “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a System of a Down fan.”
    His brows rose, but he smiled at her. “Really? What would you have pegged me for?”
    She shrugged. “I don’t know. Michael Buble, or maybe Frank Sinatra.”
    “I have a wide variety of taste when it comes to music. If you don’t like it I could put something else on.”
    Valerie shook her head. “No, it’s fine. Unusual music for a first date, maybe, but fine.”
    He laughed. “I’ll make sure to think of something more appropriate next time. Did you know he used Frank Sinatra for inspiration?”
    Valerie’s jaw dropped. “Serj Tankian?”
    Alex laughed again. “No, silly. Michael Buble.”
    “Oh.” She shook her head. “You had me going there for a minute. No, I had no idea, but it makes a