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Subject: A test

How do you think you’re romantic? Not a lot of guys understand how to be romantic or even what romance is. And LOL, I was joking. I’m not really the type to fall that fast. Especially since I got burned by a cheater.

I don’t actually live in Coyote Bend. I’m just visiting. I assume you live here?

~Sunflower

I hit send, then shower and blow dry my hair. As I’m fluffing my pillow, I check my messages, swearing it’ll be the last time.

To: Sunflower

Subject: I’ve been burned, too

We’ve walked a similar road. My ex cheated with a friend which was a double punch to the gut.

How am I romantic? I believe romance comes from the heart. But it’s more than giving flowers or gifts. More than sweet talk. More than having common interests or goals.

Romance is when a heart is centered on someone else. It’s when the other person’s hurt feels just as painful as your own. You’re not happy when they’re unhappy. You want the best for them. I think real romance is rooted in trust and respect.

I guess I admire the way my folks love each other. They’ve been through hell, but their love has always been rock steady.

Anyway, that’s my long-winded answer on romance. Did I pass the test?

~Midnight Cowboy

I read his response and my heart feels funny. Weirdly, not because of him but because I thought of Maverick. But my pen pal’s comment about his family makes me feel wistful.

To: Midnight Cowboy

Subject: You get an A

That’s a pretty good take on romance. I’ll take trust and respect over flowers any day. But I do think gestures like flowers or whatever the person likes are important, too.

More tomorrow. Goodnight, Cowboy.

~Sunflower

I close out of the program to finish getting ready for bed. I’m feeling…content?

It’s easy to talk to my pen pal. I wonder what he looks like. If he’s tall. Or if he’s as handsome as Maverick.

I groan in frustration. I know why that pain in the ass popped into my head. It’s because he lied about us dating. What a nightmare that would be if it were true.

I imagine him smirking at me. Looking at me with “such beautiful amber brown eyes.” Then I imagine his gaze dropping to my lips. My nipples harden like they’re fans of his. Like they want to feel the roughness of his beard scratching across them.

I swallow hard and try to dissipate the thought, but it lingers and Imagination Maverick runs his beard across my abdomen…and drags it lower. My legs part in anticipation.

I bite my lip hard enough for it to hurt and slam my legs together. No. He will not be the star of my vibrator episode.

But I desperately need relief. I switch the vibrator on and let it start the magic.

Imagination Maverick is persistent and he’s on me…tasting me…driving me insane with his tongue. Rubbing his beard on my sensitive parts.

I’m a pool of wetness and need. I surrender to it and as I find release, his image smirks. Damn you, Maverick Calhoun!

Chapter 4

Maverick