CANDY KISSES
by Jean C. Gordon
Available at: Avalon Books
ISBN No. 978-0-8034-9834-1

CANDY KISSES
© Jean C. Gordon

Priceless: <Mara, you there?> Candy typed into the computer.

MaraNara: <Yep, I just had my away message on to screen messages.>

Priceless: <I think I'm making progress on my little summer project.>

MaraNara: <What project?>

Priceless: <Hooking Mike up.>

MaraNara: <Oh, that project.>

Priceless: <We have a competition going.>

MaraNara: <You and your competitions. What's it this time?>

Priceless: <Finding the perfect kiss.>

MaraNara: <And how is that going to help hook Mike up?>

Priceless: <I'm giving him tips on what women want. How to read their signals.>

Sheba jumped up and settle in on Candy's lap. She petted her absently.

MaraNara: <He could use some help there.>

Priceless: <I picked up on that during our kissing session.>

MaraNara: <You and Mike had a KISSING SESSION?>

Candy's cheeks flushed. She blamed the heat on Sheba's sleeping on the radiator again. Or was it embarrassment? It couldn't be anything else. Candy shook off that thought, too. This was Mara, to whom she had told all for years.

Priceless: <As part of the competition.> Candy hit the enter key with a defensive bang.

MaraNara: <Sure.> Mara slammed back.

Even though Mike and Mara had never been more than friends, she still thought Mike was hot. Another wave of warmth flushed through her. Maybe he was right. She was working herself sick. Candy put her hand to her forehead. No temperature.

MaraNara: <You still there?>

Priceless: <Yeah.> Candy typed.

MaraNara: <I've gotta sign off.>

Priceless: <Tall, blond, and built?>

MaraNara: <Yeah, Luke.>

Candy could see the dreamy look on Mara's face. The one she'd always get when she talked about a new man in her life.

MaraNara: <But we gotta talk tomorrow. I wanna know more about this competition and the KISSING SESSION.>

Priceless: <Get off it, Mara.>

MaraNara: <Okay, till tomorrow.>

Priceless: <Bye.>

Candy shut the computer down and absently petted Sheba. “Mara's got a date and Mike over playing at Jesse's. It's you and me, girl. Should we watch a movie or call it a night?” Sheba blinked twice, jumped off her lap and ran out the door. Abandoned by her cat even.