Tuesday Tales: From the Word POWERFUL

Wow! The last Tuesday in August. School is back in session for some while most of ours start next week. While the weather is still seasonal, the ealier darkness warns us that autumn and pumpkin spice time are just around the corner. This week the Tuesday Tales authors are writing to the prompt POWERFUL. I’m continuing with Naughty Rudolph, my Christmas Romance Comedy. Enjoy.

Rudy

Powerful emotions swept over me, leaving me dumbfounded and unable to speak. In the four years since I’d lost Becca, I’d never been attracted to a woman the way I was to this one. My jaw gaped open. This was Mara Howard? Impossible! She wasn’t anything like the woman I’d imagined. She was drop-dead gorgeous, with a rack no man could ignore, and a body with curves in all the right places. She was every man’s wet dream and more … and no more than thirty years old.

Some of the activities we’d planned for her would need to change. For a second, I wondered what Callie would think of the woman who closely resembled the pictures she had in her room of her mother, but I dismissed the thought. I was seeing what wasn’t there. My wife had been much shorter, much thinner with a boyish figure, chestnut hair, and brown eyes like my daughter’s. Those carrot curls of hers could be blamed on my Scottish grandmother who had titian hair.

This goddess was at least five foot six, had eyes the color of a clear sky on a summer day, and hair the color of ripe wheat. I’d never been much for blondes, but this one was different. Her skin was lightly bronzed as if she spent lots of time in the sun or had Mediterranean roots. I suppose living in a desert climate like she did, she spent considerable time outdoors. I hardened and cursed the tights that would make my problem obvious. I tugged on the tunic, praying it covered my faux pas.

I shook my head. Whatever resemblance I saw in her were clearly brought on by Callie’s letter to Santa and my lack of female companionship these last few months.

She furrowed her brow in concern. “Mr. Elf, are you not waiting for me?”

My manners and training kicked in. I squeezed the RECORD button on the camera and smiled.

“No, I mean, yes. Welcome to Winnipeg, Ms. Howard. I must say that you’re a bit of a surprise, but a good one. Let me take your luggage. The car is just over in the reserved parking area. You’re lucky it’s mild out. If this were a typical Manitoba winter, you’d need a hat, gloves, boots, and a much warmer coat.”

Her frown grew deeper, and she stepped away from me, suddenly confused. What had I said to upset her?

Don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.