A Surprising Day
by Ava Delany
Breathless Press
Calgary, Alberta
www.breathlesspress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or
persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
A Surprising Day: The Beginning Series Book 3
Copyright© 2011 Ava Delany
Published by Breathless Press at Smashwords
ISBN: 978-1-926930-76-3
Cover Artist: Victoria Miller
Editor: Spencer Freeman
All
rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced
electronically or in print without written permission, except in the
case of brief quotations
embodied in reviews.
Breathless Press
www.breathlesspress.com
To the man who’s always my hero. I love you.
Chapter One
“Dude, just go ask her out.”
Todd shook his head. “Nah, man, I look like a member of the Young Republicans in this outfit. You see how she’s not even looking at me.”
He leaned his head back against the wall behind the booth and toyed with the ketchup packet he held. The tall brunette working the counter at Happy Burger smiled at a fleshy man who stood waiting for his food. Something long and jagged, perhaps the claws of a tiger, or some sort of tribal art, stuck out of her collar. His fingers itched to pull back the boring Boy Scout-brown uniform and explore the black lines on her white skin.
“She’s not going to come over here, jump in your lap, and say ‘hey big boy, got any tatts?’ Especially not if you just sit here. You’ve always been the impulsive one, the one who makes choices on the fly. Be the Todd I’ve always known, and get your ass over there.”
“I’m thinking.”
He was thinking about the ring, which surely lay under the Band-Aid on her nose. Is it gold or silver? Diamond or emerald? Tattoos and a nose ring, all hidden under the button down costume? Damn, she’s a hot little mystery.
“Besides, you’re one to talk about being assertive and going after the girl. Rici just fell into your lap, so don’t tell me how to pick up women. You got lucky.” Todd popped another fry in his mouth.
“Skill got my girl. Not luck, my friend, skill.” Daniel smirked, propping his arm on the back of the booth.
“What would Rici say if she heard you say that?”
He shrugged, his eyes sparkling. “Probably something like ‘you wish’ or ‘I took him for pity’.”
“You’re so gone for her, man.”
Daniel’s smile deepened, but he didn’t say anything.
“Anyway, don’t worry about me. I’ve just got to plan my strategy. I’ve never seen a cooler chick and I’m not letting her get away just ‘cause I look like I just applied to your grandpa’s acappella group.”
“Don’t joke. My grandpa was a big-time ladies man.” Daniel glanced at his watch. “Well, good luck. I’ve gotta meet Rici. I actually want to touch a flesh-and-blood girl today, not just sit in a booth and spank my mental monkey.”
“Har har har.” Todd rolled his eyes.
The beauty with an edge handed a bag to the round man at the counter, and he flashed her a chipmunk cheeked smile, then turned toward the door. Daniel walked out the door, and held it open for the big guy to leave. Finally, they were the only two who remained in the front of the Happy Burger.
Debbie, as her nametag had informed him when he’d ordered, walked around the counter, rag in hand. She moved to a table near his and began wiping the surface with the rag.
He took a deep breath. Daniel was right. Gotta start somewhere. “Hey, what time do you get off?”
Her eyebrow lifted, but she kept wiping the table. “Who wants to know?”
“Name’s Todd.”
He lifted his chin in greeting, then let his eyes wander to the bit of ankle that her stretching pants exposed when she leaned across the table, her leg extended by her reach. Black ink flashed into view. He wondered what might be under there. Just like a Christmas present, what fun she’d be to unwrap.
“What can I help you with, Todd?”
So many things. “Go out with me.”
Debbie shook her head and a long brown hair escaped from her bun, framing her face. “I don’t date customers.”
Damn. Sounds like code for “You look like a total dork.”
“You never make exceptions?”
“Nope.”
She moved to the table closer to his, even though it was clean. Something about him must be drawing her. He leaned back and draped a hand across the back of the booth.
“What if you and I made a wager?”
“What kind of wager?” The rag stopped its circling.
“I bet you I can surprise you—really shock you—if you go with me tonight. If I don’t, you’re free to leave early. If I do, you have to hang out with me at least until midnight.”
“Why midnight?”
“That’s when I turn into a pumpkin.”
She laughed. A musical laugh, almost like bells or a wind chime.
“What do you say? Will you take the bet? Or are you too scared?”
“Ooh, I do love a man who knows reverse psychology.” She rolled her eyes, still smiling. “I’m off at two, Freud. I’ll meet you out front.”