It Started With a Kiss Read online

  It Started with a Kiss

  Copyright © 2017 Melanie Moreland

  Registration # 113526

  All rights reserved

  ISBN # 978–1-988610–00–9

  Published by Enchanted Publications

  Edited by:

  by D. Beck

  Interior Design & Formatting by:

  Christine Borgford, Type A Formatting

  Cover Design by:

  Melissa Ringuette, Monark Design Services

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and places portrayed in this book are products of the author's imagination and are either fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Table of Contents

  It Started with a Kiss

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Books by Melanie Moreland

  Acknowledgments

  Friendship is a gift we give ourselves.

  I am blessed to have some wonderful people in my life.

  The beautiful souls that lift you up and shout your worth when the world seems

  too much to handle and you forget who you are.

  This is for you—friends, old and new.

  Thank you for being part of my life.

  And to my Matthew—who shouts loudest of them all.

  Avery

  “I swear, Avery, Ryan does this thing with his tongue . . .” Beth’s voice trailed off and her eyes glazed over. “I came so hard I saw stars.”

  I glared at my best friend, dropped my fork, and held up my hands in supplication. “For God’s sake, Beth, I’m trying to eat here.”

  Not at all worried over my reaction, she smirked. “I’m just saying.”

  “I know what you’re saying.” I lowered my voice as I looked around, feeling self-conscious. “You and Ryan have a great sex life. I don’t. I get it.”

  She speared a forkful of salad and lifted it to her mouth, chewing as she regarded me thoughtfully. “When’s the last time you got laid?”

  I exhaled hard. “I think Justin Trudeau’s father was Prime Minister.”

  “Since you weren’t even born then, I doubt that.”

  I shrugged. “Let’s just say it’s been a while.”

  “You’ve been on a few dates since you broke up with Grant.” She eyed me with concern. “That was over two years ago. Surely you’ve had sex since then.”

  I dug my fork into my salad with a little more force than necessary. It had been a long while. “A few dates, yes. But, no, I haven’t.”

  “You didn’t sleep with any of them?”

  “No.”

  “What about that guy you said you hooked up with at the bar a few months ago? You even messaged me. No good?”

  I squirmed a little in my chair and picked up my iced tea. I had texted her while slightly tipsy, thinking it was funny. “Hook up may have been too strong a word.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “What word works then?”

  “Well, we did hook up. By that I mean, the key ring I keep clipped on my purse caught his sweater. I had to spend a couple moments unhooking the clip as he berated me for being so careless and causing his precious cashmere garment damage.” I lifted one shoulder in embarrassment. “Strangely, he didn’t ask me out after that happened.”

  Beth blinked at me, then threw back her head in raucous laughter.

  I chuckled at her mirth.

  For someone so outwardly elegant and classy, she had the most guttural, dirty laugh I ever heard.

  She wiped her eyes with her napkin. “Oh, Avery. Only you. What am I going to do with you?”

  I shook my head. “Nothing, Beth. I’m not like you. Sex, for me, is private and—” I waved my hand around, trying to find the right word.

  “Non-existent,” she finished.

  “I’m okay with that.”

  She regarded me fondly, then shook her head. “I worry about you sometimes. You’re such an introvert.”

  I smiled, brushing off her concern. “I get out, Beth. I’m not the social butterfly you are, but I don’t sit in my apartment all the time.”

  “I know that. You take care of all your elderly neighbors. You run them around, take them grocery shopping, help them in their homes. But I’m not sure that is enough.”

  My throat tightened. “I like doing that. I’m comfortable with them. They make me feel needed.”

  “I know. But who is looking after Avery?”

  “I’m fine.” Wanting to get the focus off me and back onto less personal ground, I changed the subject. “How’s work lately? You’ve been so busy, I’ve barely heard from you.”

  “I know. This latest assignment has been driving me crazy. There’s a ton of paperwork and the interviews have been endless. I just want to get in there, then film and put it together.”

  “What is—” Her phone vibrated on the table cutting off my words.

  She looked at the screen, mumbling a curse. “Sorry, I need to take this call.”

  I dug back into my salad while she answered the phone. I pushed through the lettuce and tomatoes looking for more of the grilled chicken, coming up with one tiny piece. Grudgingly, I speared it with some lettuce, ignoring the tomatoes. I didn’t like tomatoes. And really, why call it a “grilled chicken salad” when there was scarcely any chicken? It should be called “big bowl of salad with a teasing glimpse of chicken.” I pushed back the bowl, not wanting any more.

  I studied my best friend as she spoke on the phone. Beth was tall, elegant, and refined; at least until she opened her mouth. Her long hair was a deep chocolate brown, hanging to her shoulders in smooth waves. Her makeup was perfect, her hazel eyes piercing and shrewd. She was passionate, driven, and talented.

  However, at the moment, she was also incredibly pissed off.

  “Fucking great,” she mumbled, tossing her phone on the table. “I swear the stress of this shoot is gonna kill me.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Another volunteer canceled. We’re set to shoot tomorrow and I’m down a person.”

  “Surely you have backups?”

  “That was my final backup.”

  I patted her hand. “You’ll figure something out. You always do.”

  She stared at me for a moment, nodding as if she had made a decision. “I need a favor.”

  “What?”

  “I need you to be my replacement volunteer.”

  “What would I have to do? Help cart stuff?” I had done that for her on previous occasions. It was always fun.

  “No. You’d be in front of the camera this time.”

  I blanched a little. “Oh, um, doing what exactly? I’m not an actress.”

  “I don’t need you to be an actress. I need you to be Avery.”

  “And do what?”

  “Kiss a stranger.”

  Avery

  The sounds of the busy restaurant faded away as I stared at Beth in complete shock.

  “You wa
nt me to do what?” I frowned at her calm face. She must be teasing.

  “I need you to come to the studio tomorrow, and kiss a stranger.”

  “A kiss, like on the cheek? A quick, hello-type kiss?”

  Beth huffed in exasperation. “No, Avery. Lips pressing.” She grinned wickedly. “Tongues meeting, if you want. That type of kiss.”

  “With a stranger.”

  “That’s the idea.”

  “You seriously don’t have another volunteer you could ask?”

  She shook her head. “No, I don’t have the time to go through the application process. I know you. I trust you.” She leaned across the table, clasping my hand, her hazel eyes pleading. “You’re off work tomorrow—you have the time. I need this favor. Please?”

  “Why are you doing it again? What is this for?” I asked.

  “I was hired by a company to film this segment. It’s a social experiment, to see how people respond physically and emotionally to a stranger in an intimate moment.” She quirked an eyebrow in jest. “Hence the kissing.”

  “Well, I can save you a lot of trouble. I’ll behave as if I was embarrassed—because that’s exactly what I’ll be. I won’t even be able to speak. You know how nervous I am with new people.”

  Beth laughed. “Speaking isn’t what I want your lips to do. C’mon, Avery. I need you.”

  I took a sip of my iced tea, stalling for time. I couldn’t remember the last time I kissed someone. One of the few disastrous dates, I supposed. None of them left a lasting impression on me, that was for certain. I doubted I made it memorable for them either, since no second date had occurred. Now Beth wanted me to kiss a stranger? Simply the thought of meeting a new person was daunting, never mind kissing them.

  Beth sat back, sipping her coffee while she waited for me to agree. Because she knew I would. I found it impossible to say no to my best friend.

  “Is there, like, an age limit?” I shuddered. “I really don’t want to kiss an old man. Or even worse, some young, pimply teenager.”

  “It’s all mapped out,” Beth explained, her voice patient. “We’ve matched up age groups and sexual orientation. My volunteer who canceled was your age and you’d be a perfect replacement.”

  “Do you know who I’ll be, um, kissing?”

  “Nope. Only that he’s male, thirty-two years old, and likes females in his age category.” She smirked. “Perfect for you. Maybe you can ask him for a date after. Or you know . . . hook up.”

  I scoffed at her teasing. It had been weeks—no, actually months, since I’d been on a date. I was sure it was less than a year—but I couldn’t swear it.

  “How long a kiss are we talking here?”

  “Whatever you feel like.”

  “What if I don’t like him? Or he has bad breath or . . . oh God, Beth, what if he’s a clown in his spare time? What if he wants to go to the circus?” I hated clowns—they scared the shit out of me.

  Beth threw up her hands. “It’s not a ‘hey, let’s get to know each other’ type thing! You don’t have to like him, or get to know him. All you’re going to do is kiss him and you can walk away. There’ll be no clowns or circuses—I promise. And your pockets will be full of mints, so you’ll be fine.” She shook her head. “Please, all I need is a few moments of your life. You won’t be the only one there. I’ll be in the room too, and I’ll make sure you’re okay. Please.”

  I gave in. I could never say no to Beth and she knew that fact only too well. “Okay.”

  “Really? You’ll do it?”

  “Yes.” I shook my finger. “If he’s got a red nose, big feet, and halitosis, I’ll never forgive you.”

  “Big feet are a plus. I keep telling you that.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Is it always about sex with you, Beth? It always comes down to, ah, penises—doesn’t it? Large ones at that.”

  “Have you noticed the size of Ryan’s feet, my friend? My man is packing. And it’s a cock. Say it after me.” She spelled it out by enunciating each letter. “C-O-C-K. You can’t actually have sex without saying it, you know.”

  My face flushed. “I’ve had sex, Beth. It’s just been a while.”

  She grinned in delight. “Well, maybe tomorrow will be the start of a new era for you.” She pushed a card my way. “We’re using a different studio than usual. Here’s the address. Be there by eleven.”

  With a sigh, I picked up the card, holding it by the edges as if it were going to bite me.

  What had I agreed to do?

  I yanked another shirt over my head, tossing it on the ever-growing pile on my bed, huffing in frustration. What should one wear when they are about to kiss a stranger? Everything I tried on felt wrong. My turtlenecks said I was closed off. My blouses seemed too formal, and the last shirt I tried on made me look like a slut. Should I wear my hair up or down? Makeup? Perfume? What if he was allergic? Kissing someone sneezing and with watery eyes would not be fun. None of this felt fun.

  I sat down, my head in my hands. I should never have agreed to do this for Beth. I was introverted. I became tongue-tied when I met new people. I never knew what to say, or how to act, so I remained quiet.

  Beth told me to come as myself. Except, I wasn’t sure what myself was when it came to the situation I found myself in. Standing up, I studied myself in the mirror. I looked unremarkable, to be honest. I had certainly been told often enough. The only people who had ever called me pretty were my parents and grandmother. I pushed aside the memories of being called “the ghost” at school by taunting classmates, or the teacher who’d muttered my pale hair color made me look like an old woman.

  My hair was blonde—so blonde it was almost white, and hung past my shoulders in a mass of curls and ringlets. It had a mind of its own, and I’d given up trying to tame it. I was average—my eyes were my one positive feature. Large, wide, and a light shade of green, they were unusual. There was a beauty mark high on my cheekbone, next to my eye, and I had freckles. Silly little dots of color scattered across the bridge of my nose and the top of my cheeks like a small road map. I hated them, and I had tried every home remedy to get rid of them, to no avail. I was short and curvy—my figure an overall softness, not a well-placed voluptuousness I envied in others. Beth boasted Ryan could bounce a quarter off her hard abs, whereas a quarter would probably hit mine and roll off. If I could find my abs.

  God, this was stupid. Why was I worrying?

  I was going to walk into a room, kiss some man, and walk out. No doubt, he would forget about me as fast as I would forget about him. We’d never see each other again. He certainly wouldn’t be looking at my abs—or lack thereof. I would probably be a blip on his radar. I simply needed to be comfortable.

  Reaching into my closet, I pulled out my favorite, flowing gypsy skirt in black and teamed it with a white tank top. I grabbed my beloved shrug I had found at a vintage shop—vivid red with small flowers embroidered all over the neckline—and pulled my hair back from my face, leaving it hanging down my back. My shoes were my usual simple flats. Heels and I didn’t get along. The only jewelry I wore was a pair of small, antique hoop earrings and my anklet with charms that tinkled and swayed as I walked. I never took either of them off because of sentimental reasons.

  In the bathroom, I slipped in my contacts, blinking furiously at the pain caused by the right one. Confused, I slid my glasses back on, and grimaced when I saw a small tear on the edge of the contact. Checking the cabinet, I groaned—of course, it was my last pair. I had no choice but to wear my glasses or go in blind.

  I added a touch of mascara and lip gloss, then looked in the mirror. I looked like me—maybe a little paler than normal, but me. I started to walk out the door, but turned back at the last minute and added a spritz of my perfume.

  If he was allergic, too bad.

  However, I did tuck my lip gloss in my skirt pocket and a few extra peppermints.

  In case.

  I stood across the street from the studio, hidden in a doorway, popping peppermints and
tugging on the strap of my purse slung over my shoulder. I had seen quite a few people go in, and I wondered if any of them were the person I was supposed to kiss. A few looked around my age, but I wasn’t sure. I knew Beth said there were four different rooms with crews taping people all day, so it was a busy place. I sucked in a long breath, wondering if there was any way I could get out of this without risking Beth’s ire.

  My phone buzzed with an incoming text and I pulled it from my pocket, causing my remaining peppermints to scatter over the sidewalk. Cursing, I crouched down to pick them up while looking at my screen.

  I see you across the street. Your mystery man isn’t here yet. Get your scared ass upstairs.

  Well, dammit, I thought I was being sneaky, hiding in the doorway. I should have known she’d be looking for me.

  With a huff, I bent forward to get the last three wrapped peppermints just as a boot landed on my searching fingers. I yelped in pain as the large foot pressed down heavily, crushing two fingers into the cement. Muttered curses filled the air as the foot pulled back and I fell on my ass, my glasses flying off. I held my aching fingers in my good hand, trying not to cry.

  A figure materialized over me. “Fuck, I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you there! Are you okay?”

  I looked up at the tall man encased in black, looming over me. Without my glasses, all I saw was a blurry face topped with dark hair. I squinted a little, trying to bring him in to focus, but it didn’t work. Between the tears I was fighting and no glasses, I didn’t have a hope of seeing anything.

  “I think you squashed my peppermints,” I whimpered.

  The unclear face bent closer, his voice low and concerned. “I’m actually a little more worried about your hand than your candies.”

  I looked at the sidewalk. “I needed those peppermints. I only have one now. I’ll have to share if there is halitosis.”

  Mr. Blurry chuckled. It was a nice, friendly sound. “Um, okay. We’ll figure something out. Can I look at your hand?”

  I blinked as his soft, comforting voice enveloped me, its cadence soothing.

  My phone buzzed, and I bit back a groan—I could feel Beth’s impatience coming through the sound. I had no doubt she was getting impatient and would stomp downstairs any second to drag me upstairs to kiss my mystery man.