Free Flirts! 5 Romantic Short Stories (The Flirts! Collection) by Lisa Scott Page B

you?” Her eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, my. Oh, my word.” She turned around in a circle, unsure of where to go or where to look.
    I wrapped the blanket around myself and stood up. I pulled Tony up from the couch in his boxers. “This is Tony. From the parking lot the other day.”
    My mother’s gaze went from the dragon tattoo on his calf to the six-pack abs and bare chest, to his goatee and long hair. “You brought home your attacker?”
    I dropped my head back and groaned. “This is the guy who saved me.” The blanket started slipping and I pulled it back in place.
    Tony stepped forward and held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Gold.”
    She gave him a weak smile and didn’t take his hand. “You too,” she whispered. She yanked her sweater closed in front of her. “Thank you for helping our Kristen.” She stared at the floor.
    Beth’s eyes bulged. “Can I talk to you? Privately?”
    “I’m going to go get dressed,” Tony said, heading for the bedroom.
    “Good idea,” my mother said. She looked at her cookies, neatly stacked on a new, silver serving platter under pink cellophane wrap. “I’ll take these into the kitchen.”
    With the blanket still wrapped around me, Kristen dragged me into the bathroom. “What are you doing? Are you crazy?”
    I yanked my arm out of her grasp. “What?”
    “What are you doing hooking up with someone like him?” She shook her head. “You shouldn’t have blown off Rob. He is a catch and a half and you’re lucky he agreed to go out with you after…”
    “Three broken engagements?” I pulled a robe off the back of the bathroom door and slipped it on.
    She shrugged. “Word gets around, sis.”
    I tied the robe’s belt in a tight knot. “I like Tony. And I’m in charge of my love life. Keep your promise and don’t fix me up with anyone else.”
    “But you’ll take him out there? He looks like a criminal.”
    “You know what? He was. But he’s turning his life around and looks like I’m going to be part of it.” I surprised myself by saying that. But now that I’d been with him, I didn’t see myself leaving anytime soon. “You might as well get used to it now.”
    She set her hand on my arm and softened her voice. “I think you’re just a little confused after what happened. You probably just think you owe him something.”
    I stepped back from her and knocked my moisturizer off the sink. “I think you and Mom better go. If you hadn’t noticed, I’ve got company. And next time use the doorbell or, better yet, call first.”
    I went back to the family room, and Tony came out of the bedroom wearing his jeans and shirt from the night before. “I should get going so you all can visit.”
    I grabbed him by the arm. “Actually, they were just leaving. You and I’ve got plans today.”
    He arched an eyebrow.
    My mother and sister made a quick path for the front door. “Call me later!” Mom said.
    I closed the door behind them, and leaned back against it.
    “That was fun.” Tony joined me against the door and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
    “I’m sorry about that. The key was supposed to be for emergencies. I guess they thought not hearing from me since the holdup was an emergency.” I shrugged.
    “Hey, they care. Not everyone has that, you know.”
    “They care as long as I do what they want me to.”
    He stepped away. “And I take it they don’t want you with someone like me.”
    I twisted my lips. “They were surprised, that’s all. And I don’t care what they think. Dating their type has only gotten me three broken engagements.”
    He took my hands in his and raised them over my head against the door. He nudged his nose against mine. “So, what are these plans you promised?”
    “You’re going to have to get undressed again to find out.”

    Finally, by dinnertime we decided we needed to go out for food. “Let me take a shower first.”
    “I’ll join you,” he said.
    I pushed him out of the