The MSA Fall Flashers month officially begins!

This month, many of the Midnight Seductions Authors will be posting flashfiction stories--stories with 500 or fewer words. I'm kicking this event off with a little tale that actually inspired a much longer story.

Special Delivery

This time, I was going to do it.

Looking at the clock, I wiped my sweaty palms on my pants. He would be here any minute now, and I would be ready. I would not sit and stare like an idiot, wishing I had the courage to take action. I would speak coherently rather than stuttering. I would…

Then the door opened, and I lost my breath. The most beautiful man I’ve ever seen entered the office, carrying a package and a clipboard. His tanned forearms, revealed by the short-sleeved brown uniform shirt he wore, were all muscle. The hands clutching the box and the clipboard were large and well-formed, and I couldn’t help imagining them on me.

All of my mantras and false bravado flew out the window.

After placing the package on my desk, he handed me his clipboard. He smiled at me, revealing his perfect, white teeth, his blue eyes sparkling with good humor. “You know the drill, Mark. Sign on the dotted line.”

I smiled back helplessly and took the clipboard. As I scrawled my name on the line, I struggled to think of something to say. None of the speeches I’d rehearsed earlier came to mind. My mind was utterly blank.

Defeated, I handed the clipboard back to him. I managed to stammer out, “Th-thanks, Tim.”

With a tip of his hat, he turned to go. “Have a good day, Mark.”

The second he left, I let my head drop to the desk. What was wrong with me? Why did I turn into a blank, stuttering wreck every time he came into the office?

This morning I’d been so sure today would be the day I asked him out, or at least really talked to him. I’d chosen my clothes carefully and spent extra time on my hair—all for nothing. I might as well admit it. I’ll never ask him out. I’ll be lucky if I can manage to string a sentence together.

A man as hot as Tim would never be interested in a boring, shy guy like me. I needed to face facts and stop making a fool of myself. Disappointment and frustration welling up, I sighed.

“You okay?”

I jerked my head up. Tim stood in the doorway, looking concerned. My misery was complete.

“I’m fine.”

He approached my desk, holding a small box. “This one’s so small, I almost forgot it in the truck.”

Forcing a smile, I reached for the clipboard. “No problem.”

When I grasped it, he didn’t let go. His eyes were locked on my face.

“I didn’t really forget the package. I left it on purpose.”

I stared. “What? Why?”

“I wanted to have an excuse to come back up here.”

“You don’t need an excuse.” Had I just said that?

Tim grinned. “Does that mean you’ll go out with me?”

I grinned back, so happy I wanted to jump up and dance. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Cassandra Gold

Hit by Love and Alpha, Omega now available from Torquere Press!

Fantasies: New Year’s Eve and Fantasies: Independence Day now available from Red Rose Publishing!

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