Read Online Valentine Vote by Susan Blexrud - Free Book Online Page A

pulled her into his arms, he saw desire in her eyes, as well as fear.
    “Sure you’re ready for this?” Eric asked.
    “Uh, I thought I was.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “Could we maybe order that pizza now?”
    Eric chuckled. He moved away from her, rolled his shoulders and relaxed back into the sofa. “I was wondering when propriety would win out.” He picked up his cell phone from the coffee table. “What do you like on your pizza?”
    “You must think I’m a wuss.”
    Eric turned his body to her and took her hand. “Courtney, you’re the most interesting woman I’ve ever met, but I don’t know what you want from me, and I suspect you don’t know, either.”
    “I’ve never had a relationship. I was the poster girl for geek until Helen got hold of me. ”
    “Geeks need love, too.”
    “Yeah, but this geek is hell-bent on sabotaging it.” She inched away from him and watched his expression change as he dropped her hand. His smooth brow morphed to exclamation wrinkles between his eyes, and the corners of his mouth turned down. She hadn’t meant to, but she’d just shut him out. Her heart plummeted to the pit of her stomach.
    “You don’t strike me as a woman who gives up easily.”
    “Not unless I hit a brick wall.”
    “Is that how you feel, like you’ve run into an immovable object?”
    “No. Yes. I don’t know.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I think I should just go home.”
    Eric rose from the couch. “I’ll take you home, but I want you to think about something.” He pulled her to standing and took her chin in his hand. “Let go.”

Chapter Nine
    “After you told Eric you wanted to go home, you didn’t say anything during the drive?” Helen’s mouth gaped as she sat on Courtney’s queen-size bed.
    “Not a word.” Courtney’s voice cracked. “I’m an idiot. Everything was humming along beautifully. We were about to get the ball rolling, and then I just froze.”
    “Look at this logically, Court.” Helen crossed her legs and held up one finger. “One, you’re attracted to this guy.” She stabbed her second finger in the air. “Two, this guy’s attracted to you.” She added her third finger and made the Girl Scout salute. “Three … ” She turned her hand palm up. “I don’t see a three. Aside from you running so hot-and-cold, he probably thinks you have multiple personalities.”
    “Oh, God, I know. At any moment, demure Courtney morphs into weepy Courtney.”
    “And don’t forget sexy Courtney.”
    “Yeah, but who’s the real me?”
    “They’re all you, and they’re all good.”
    “I don’t think so. I’ll match you finger for finger.” Courtney stabbed one finger in the air. “One, I never used to get emotional on the job. From the first day I met Eric, I cared more about his vote than I should have. So what if he doesn’t vote for higher taxes on tobacco? I can’t convince everybody. Why is his vote so important? But no, I went and made his vote a crusade.”
    Courtney jumped off the bed and started pacing the room. “Two”—another finger went up—“this whole physical attraction thing is new to me. I ache when I’m not with him. It’s like the worst kind of homesick.” Courtney stuck finger number three in the air. “I had sex in a nice little personal compartment until I met Eric, and now I’m all befuddled. I think he’s insanely hot, but whenever we get close, I chicken out. Why am I sabotaging myself?”
    “Court, you’re putting too much pressure on yourself worrying about trying to be some kind of sex goddess. Just be yourself!”
    “I don’t know.” Courtney chewed on her lip. I’ve never met anyone so, so, special … his sweetness, his dedication, his commitment to Travis. And when he kisses me, I want to die in his arms.”
    “Okay, that’s important. Ponder that. And while you’re in a contemplative mood, chew on this for a while—what scares you more … failure or success?” Helen waggled her eyebrows. “In