Free FanningtheFlames by Eden Winters Page B

anything particular in mind?"
    As excited as he'd ever heard the woman, bowl
    games notwithstanding, Pat gushed, "Oh, I'm dying to take her to Sebastian's. Since she's fairly new to the city, she's never been and..." Pat paused before continuing in a husky purr, "And I really wanted to see her in that little black dress she's got hanging in the closet."
    Barry held his breath, listening closely. Was she blushing? Blushes didn't make noise, did they?
    And Sebastian's? Yes, it was nice, but he personally worried about going there and dredging up the memory of a controlling date, or worse yet, seeing the date himself, leading some other poor soul around by an invisible leash. With the right company, however, Barry supposed he'd like the restaurant much better. Especially if he got to order his own entrée. And beverage. Or was allowed to contribute to the conversation. He shuddered, recalling one horrid night.
    "Enough about me; what are you getting Hot Stuff?"
    And the conversational door swung open. "I'm not sure yet. That's why I called, for advice. I really want to go all out. What's your ideal Valentine's gift?"
    "That's easy," Pat replied, "I'd want to be flat-out ruined."
    Do what? "Say again?"
    A giggle sounded over his phone's tiny speaker.
    "Pampered. As in massaged, facialed, pedicured to within an inch of my life. You know -- spoiled silly."
    Now there was a suggestion. And Barry knew just the place. "Thanks, Pat. You've given me a great idea."
    "Glad to help. Now if only something would come up so I wouldn't have to spend Valentine's alone."
    Barry's heart went out to his friend. Just two short months ago, he'd been facing a lonely holiday himself Fanning the Flames - 7
    before meeting Adam mere weeks before Christmas. "If there's anything I can do... "
    "Thanks, but don't worry about it. Like you said, we'll go out after she gets back." Pat didn't sound very thrilled at the prospect.
    Barry hung up the phone, sad for Pat and Kit, but elated at the suggestion for the perfect gift for his guy.
    Ironically, he wouldn't even have to go out of his way to make the appointment.
    Fanning the Flames - 8
    Putting Plans into Action
    "Hi, Simone," Barry called, stepping into A Day by the Sea spa. A soft background track of ocean waves and crying gulls set the mood inside the tiny lobby of one of the town's fastest-growing businesses. Cool blues decorated the room, very restful to the eyes, and the faint scent of jasmine incense hung in the air. A painted mural of golden sand, frothy whitecaps, and a perfect sunny day covered one wall.
    Soon all of it would change, thanks to him. He'd really miss the mural and hoped to dismantle the sheetrock carefully, preserving the relaxing image. How odd to be staring at a painting of summertime while brushing snow from the shoulder of his jacket.
    "Barry!" A petite brunette peeled her eyes away from her BlackBerry, greeting him with a wide smile. "Right on time." She rose up on tiptoe to buss his cheek with brightly glossed lips. "Do you have the plans?"
    He held up a stack of rolled-up papers, and she
    motioned him to the cashier's counter, unrolling them to run a blood-red nail along the diagram of her spa -- the way it would look in a little over a month. "Oh, I like the changes," she said, eyes lighting up. "This is really going to be amazing." A tiny frown line appeared between her eyes. "The skylights?"
    Barry smiled, caught up in his client's enthusiasm.
    "Just like you wanted... only..." his finger joined hers on the paper, "they need to go here and here, instead of there and there. Otherwise, the afternoon sun will be too harsh."
    She studied the blueprint, nodding. "Ah, yes. I didn't think about that. You're absolutely right. This is much better."
    Fanning the Flames - 9
    While Simone hmmm'd and ahhh'd over his proposed enlargement of her domain, Barry perused the little shop, noticing a huge, Cupid-shaped poster that
    proclaimed, "Sweethearts' special, two for the price of one.