Page 7 of Write on Time

And come up with the perfect romantic song to sing to her.

I grimace. I just wish I could sing. I sound more like a foghorn going off but it’s the thought that counts, right?

CHAPTER 6

Alanis

Ilaughed at something one of my new friends said. Delia had asked me to come tonight with her friends and it’s obvious that she gets along with everybody. She glows with happiness. I hope it’s rubbing off on me.

“What are you going to sing, Alanis?” The young brunette woman that I found out is the new librarian in town asks me with a smile.

“Oh, ummm.” I hem and haw. “I’m a really terrible singer. I like to listen and cheer but I don’t want to torture all of y’all with my singing voice.”

Delia glares at me. “This is for fun, Alanis! There’s no judgement. I don’t care if you sound like Foghorn Leghorn. We’re just here to have fun!”

I laugh, waving my hands around. “Okay. Okay. I’ll try and come up with a song.”

“Pick something fun. I guarantee you’ll forget worrying when you’re singing. It’s just a good time.”

“Alright, alright!” I laugh and head up to the table where they’ve got the book of songs. “I already said yes!”

I flip through the book and run my fingers down the list, unsure what I want to perform.

“Hello, Alanis! You look beautiful tonight. I was hoping that I’d get to see you.”

I suck in a sharp breath and wonder how I missed feeling him behind me. As soon as I saw him my belly flipped and I blushed like an idiot.

Now it takes everything in me to turn around and glare at him. “I’m sorry, I can’t return the favor since I still don’t know your name. I just know that it’s not Lily L’Amour.”

He grimaces and his dark eyes shimmer with something that looks an awful lot like an apology. “I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you so many times. But it’s hard to say in person let alone on a blank sheet of paper. I wish I’d never started it but it’s actually usually my policy to stick to Lily when I answer fan’s letters. And by the time I realized that there was more to you than just a fan, I’d already used my pen name to write you back quite a few times.”

I sigh and nod my head. “I can understand it, kinda.” When he smiles I hold up my hand. “But that still doesn’t entirely excuse you for keeping me in the dark for two years! I mean, that’s a heck of a long time. I’d think in that amount of time you could figure out how to talk to me. I thought we were friends.”

He reaches out and his hand touches mine. “Weare!I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I just got caught up in talking to a woman who I really liked.”

I smile slowly. “You really mean that?”

He wraps his fingers around mine. “I swear. I do. You made my long days feel a lot better when one of those envelopes showed up.”

I giggle. “I suppose you did the same for me too. But you still haven’t given me your name.”

“Oh…shoot.” He flushes and pushes a long hank of dark hair out of his dark eyes. “I’m sorry. My real name is Drake Masters.” He holds out a large hand to me. I slip mine in his and he smiles. “It’s a real pleasure to meet you, Alanis.”

I shake my head. “It’s nice to actually meet the man behind the books I love.”

He nods his head towards the stage. “Are you doing a song?”

I roll my eyes and he chuckles. “Yes. Apparently I am but I don’t know what to sing.”

“Do you mind?” He looks at the book and I grin.

“Don’t tell me that you’re going to sing too?”

He stiffens and fakes a haughty glare that makes me giggle lightly. “Of course I am. I’m an excellent singer. Everyone here deserves the rare treat of hearing me.”

I choke on a laugh and nod seriously. “I agree. I can’t wait to hear what you sing.”

“I can’t wait to hear what you sing either. Have you decided?”

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