Sweet Saturday Samples - Aug 11

I’ve missed the past couple of Saturdays, but now I’m back with more from my WIP, Elly and the Geriatrics. To bring you up to date: Elly wrecked her grandmother’s golf cart, Derek came to her rescue, and now they’re chilling at the local Sonic Drive-In, evading Mrs. Bagley’s snooping eyes. (I skipped ahead a little.) You’ll find my previous Sweet Saturday Samples post here.

     Moments later Derek found a spot in the Sonic parking lot, asked Elly what she wanted, and placed their orders.

     Then he turned and faced Elly. “Are you ready to tell me what went on back there?”

      Elly bit her lip.

      Can I trust this man.

      I don't know him well … but he’s always been kind to Granny.

      Besides, he’s an employee of the retirement village, not a member of the Geriatric Government.

      She looked up and saw Derek’s dark eyes full of concern.

      Oh, who cares what old Bagley said about his history with women?

      She stared into Derek’s eyes, watching for the reaction she hoped she’d find. “If you have to turn me in, I’ll understand, but I hope you won't.”

      Derek reached across the seat and took Elly’s hand. “Good grief. What is it? Did you run over Mrs. Bagley’s petunias? Did you steal a bottle of water from the rec center refrigerator? You didn’t go skinny dipping in the neighborhood pool, did you?” His lips twitched.

      Elly squeezed his hand, took a deep breath, and looked down at their fingers twined together. “I’ve been living with my grandmother for almost two months.” She looked up at Derek, wondering what she’d see in his face. All she found were raised eyebrows and a smile. He squeezed her hand.

      “I see. And?”

      “Derek, I know I’m not supposed to stay in the park for more than a month, but Granny needs me, and I need her too.”

      Elly told him about the postponement of her career plans while he nodded as if he understood. He slipped his arm across the back of the bench seat and pulled her to his side. As she shared her worries about her grandmother, he gave her a hug. Feeling safe and protected, tears fell when she told him a little about Rick. “He lied to me. And now I’ve destroyed Granny’s surrey. And Mrs. Bagley is going to cause trouble. And I don’t know how I’m going to—”

      Derek put his hand under Elly’s chin, tilted it up, and gently kissed her lips. With his thumbs he wiped the tears from her cheeks.

      "Things will get better,” he whispered.

      Without pausing to think, Elly raised her hands to rest on his chest and kissed him back.

There's nothing like that delicious first kiss, is there?

What's Sweet Saturday Samples?

Each week, writers post brief samples of their work on their own blogs and then link them to the main site, so readers can conveniently “hop” from blog to blog, meet new authors and become better acquainted with ones they already know. All samples are rated PG-13 (or milder), though the books from which they're taken may be spicier. 
For more SWEET SATURDAY SAMPLES, click HERE.

Photo of lips: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32135406@N00/2843391506/
The candy photo is mine.