Page 57 of Sex Coach

Aunt Blair read the article on her iPad, her brows arching up ever so slightly from time to time .

My face was on fire .

I could feel it .

I didn't know why I hadn't just emailed it to her instead of coming down here to her office to visit. It wasn't like I hadn't ever been here. I came in once or twice a year anyway, but never just to see what she thought of an assignment .

I was too...nervous for that sort of thing .

Or at least I was. Normally .

Today, though, I had to get out of the house. After the little trip down nightmare lane, then thinking about the upcoming date with Jake after how awkward I'd made things, staying inside my apartment had just been too much .

I hadn't exactly expected Jake's little trip over to my place to inspire an article, but once I made myself sit back down and write, I'd fallen into the zone and finished in a frenzy .

Then I'd had to take a cold shower, and after that, I'd locked myself in my room and cried for twenty minutes. The emotional roller coaster, more than anything else, had driven me out of my loft .

"What are you thinking about, sweetheart ?"

The sound of Aunt Blair's voice jerked me out of my reverie, and I whipped my head around, staring at her .

"What?" I asked blankly .

"You looked so distant," she said, waving a hand at me. "I just told you the article was fabulous, and you didn't even hear me. You look like you're on another planet entirely. What are you thinking about? This mysterious man of yours? Your next article ?"

"Ah..." I had no idea how she'd guessed about a man. "Um...the next article, of course ."

It was a lie .

I had no idea what I might write about next. Apparently, she wanted more, but since she mentioned it, that gave me a distraction and a way to get her to focus on something other than a man – which I needed because I didn't want her thinking about Jake or anything like that .

Not that she knew it was Jake, but if she asked too many questions, I might blab and –

Distract her! the voice of reason screamed .

"So, I assume you want more articles?" I blurted out, my voice too high and too fast. I knew I hadn't successfully distracted her. The narrow-eyed look she gave me told me that, in spades .

But she gave a slight shrug, apparently deciding to let it go before answering me. "Yes, we definitely want more, sweetheart. What else do you plan to write out ?"

"Ah...well..." Hmmm. How in the hell did I answer that? "I've got ideas, but I'm a little superstitious about discussing them until I've hammered out the details," I lied glibly .

That, at least, she seemed to believe .

* * *

"A winter storm warning is in effect..."the voice of the weatherman droned on as my phone chimed, announcing the delivery of a text .

I read it in nervous anticipation, because for the past twenty minutes or so, Jake and I had been teasing each other back and forth – something so new and novel that just thinking about it made me giddy .

So...you never did answer me. What are you wearing ?

The texting had given me an idea, and I thought maybe I'd try my hand at an article about the titillation that could come via naughty texts. Not that I planned on writing an entire article about sexting, because after having had the real thing with Jake, no sexts would count, but there was something to be said for anticipation .

Tapping out my reply, I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at my decidedly un-sexy ensemble .

Pajamas and a pair of slippers. It's COLD, Jake. Too cold for sexy .

A thought I'd just had was bubbling in the back of my mind, trying to turn into an idea, and it distracted me enough that several minutes passed before I realized he'd replied almost immediately. Actually, several replies. One right after the other .

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