Random Acts of Randomness

My Latest Obsession

2007-04-04T01:41:00.000-06:00

GERARD BUTLER. I love this man. I want to do very bad, very sexual, probably half-way illegal things to him. I want to do things to him that would make a porn star blush. That's how much I love this man. I mean, c'mon! Did anyone SEE 300? As if there weren't enough half-naked hunks all sweaty and oiled and homoerotic, we had GERARD in the movie.

How can you not look at all this hotness and not want to rip his clothes off?

Now, I admit that there are women out there that may fight me for him, but I am fully prepared to shank a couple trifling hoes who are out to steal my man. I don't play. How can I when the prize is this?

Thing that should not be thought about in a library

2008-11-24T17:20:00.001-07:00

"God, my nipples are so hard!"

Yeah, that's the thought that just went through my mind. It's fucking cold as shit in here!

And another

2008-10-30T22:31:00.001-06:00

YEAH!

2008-10-24T20:13:00.000-06:00

Genius

2008-09-29T20:00:00.000-06:00

To All Hillary Clinton Supporters Now McCain Supporters

2008-09-07T01:14:00.003-06:00

I thought long and hard before deciding to post this blog but I couldn't hold this in anymore. I dreamed about this blog last night.

So here it goes.

I have two words for all of you.

FUCK YOU!

I'm sorry. I shouldn't say that but it's how I feel. I'm not saying that you need to like Obama but if you're a Democrat you sure as hell need to support him. If only for the fact that he IS our candidate. You see, to me, being a Democrat is more than who your candidate is. It's a fundamental belief, an underlying philosophy about life and politics. It means being Pro-Choice, believing that everyone has the right to affordable healthcare (and yes, I am a Universal healthcare supporter), it's believing that Gay people are entitled to the same rights as everyone else, including the right to get married, it means that I believe that the government is for the people and it is all of our responsibility to take care of those of us that cannot help themselves because we are only as strong as our weakest link.

When I hear former Clinton supporters saying that they are going to vote for McCain because she didn't get the nomination I feel betrayed. I feel that they are betraying not only Mrs. Clinton but their very beliefs. How can you respect that? And the reasons they give? They call sound like sour grapes to me. Their main reson for the defection is that Obama doesn't have enough experience and since Hillary's out of the game, they have no choice but to vote for McCain.

Experience? Really? Okay.

Well, you cling to that 'Experience' excuse when young women start dying in back alleys because the uberconservative Supreme Court overthrows 'Roe v Wade.'

Let 'Experience' keep you warm when our education system starts falling apart because McCain starts issuing vouchers and closing low performing schools, these schools that are mostly in Urban areas that don't get enough funding anyway because crime is so high and property taxes are so low.

Keep touting 'Experience' when these poor and now even more uneducated kids turn to crime, start overflowing our overburdened criminal system to the point where we start building more prisons than schools.

Oh, and let 'Experience' feed your family, put gas in your car, and take care of you when you are sick because the middle class keeps shrinking and working harder to earn less, the cost of food and gas continues to grow, the rich continue to find every loophole in the muddles tax system to pay less taxes than the poorest families, and millions more American jobs go overseas because we keep giving big coporations tax subsidies.

If that future makes you happy, then by all means vote for McCain.

Oh, and for all you Clinton supporters who say that you're not going to vote at all, BITE MY BALLS. Stop being cowards. That's the same as voting for McCain while at the same time assuaging your liberal guilt because you didn't cast the actual vote and can continue to say that you're a staunch Democrat. And if McCain does win, then it's not your fault.

WRONG!!!

I didn't vote for Bush but he's still my President, as much as that fact pains me. I voted for him. I didn't cast my ballot for him but I was part of the process that elected him, both times.

I know that I am being harsh but I can't help it.

Yes, I was an Obama supporter from the beginning, but I also like Hillary Clinton. I would have been pleased if she had won the Democratic nomination. I would have been overjoyed if they both had been on the ticket.

And that's the difference between us Obama voters. I can't speak for all of us, but I doubt that we have had the same response as to be so embittered that we would defect to the enemy camp. Because it makes no sense, at least to me.

I vote on my values. And the Democrats embody the things that I believe as an American, as a person of color, as a woman, as a human being. I would have thrown myself 100% behind Hillary Clinton. I wouldn't need to be convinced. She would have been my candidate.

Barack Obama IS my candidate. He believes in what I believe in. He has my same values.

And if you won't listen to me, then listen to her...

YOUR CANDIDATE

If there was any doubt about why I'm a Democrat

2008-08-28T23:42:00.003-06:00

Take a look at these two websites...

The Democrats

AND

The GOP

How petty and disgusting can you be? Just look at their website!

Obama must really have them on the run for them to dedicate this much effort into exaggerating facts and throwing that much mud on a good man.

I mean seriously! It's not even about your candidate. It's about discrediting Obama. McCain's crazy face isn't even on the page.

Bastards!

Making History!

2008-08-28T23:29:00.002-06:00

I have never been prouder of my country than I was tonight. If Barack Obama's speech didn't move you or stir you, then I don't know what will. We were lucky to host the DNC in Denver and my Dad was part of history as he watched Obama accept the nomination for president at Mile High Stadium. I did not go but more on that later. Plus pics!

God Bless Barack Obama and God Bless America!

Funny!

2008-08-25T22:23:00.001-06:00

I'm evil

2008-08-10T23:47:00.005-06:00

I always thought that the commercial with the old lady who falls down the stairs and says 'Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!' was HiLaRiOus! Not that old ladies falling is funny but the acting and the obvious set up of the fall made me chuckle.

Now they have an updated version of that commercial. I just saw it and it just gave me a huge belly laugh because the 'old' lady is about 20 years younger and she's in a darkened studio with nothing to indicate what she may have tripped over and she's looking directly into the camera saying her 'Can't get up' line. And just in case there's any doubt, it's subtitled beneath her tortured face.

I laughed so hard.

I'm evil.

What I know about geography...

2008-08-10T15:47:00.003-06:00

Could fit into a thimble.

Now, I never said that I was good at everything. I'm a genius, I know, but even Einstein couldn't tie his shoes.

It's just that every once in a while, the glaring spotlight of my ignorance will shine through and I'm unmanned. Or un-(wo)manned in this scenario.

Case in point: The geographic proximity of China to Alaska. I have always believed that China was on the opposite end of the earth from the U.S. But when you're dealing with a sphere, the 'opposite' end of the world is not that far considering it wraps around.

I spent at least an hour last night marveling at how close China is to Alaska. Really, they're only separated by the Bering Sea. How is that possible?

China is here and Alaska is right here. (You can't see my demonstration but trust me, they are really fucking close!)

Why don't I know this? And why when I tell people I don't know this they look at me as though I've got buck teeth and am drooling profusely from my mouth?

Seriously, geography is one of the few categories on Jeopardy! that could floor me.

I kick ass at Trivial Pursuit and the home game of Jeopardy! As a Gemini, I have an endless capacity for useless information.

That must be it!

Geography is use-ful information.

Just Bought a MacBook

2008-08-05T17:15:00.002-06:00

Shit! It was expensive. $1600 for the Black MacBook (because really, I only do Black for electronics). The $1600 included the MacBook with iWork pre-installed because, hey, I'm a writer and I need a prodictivity suite. I also bought a remote and a notebook case. The good news is that I did get $100 off because I work in a school. Any little bit helps.

I'm so happy. I almost hyperventilated as I was buying it because it was more than I had spent on any single purchase other than my car. And I've never had a brand new laptop in my life.

And while I am ecstatic to have bought it, let me let you in on a little secret. So, I saved $100 which is great but I also paid $100 in taxes. So I went to Amazon to see if I could buy it cheaper. Amazon also has a $100 discount PLUS I wouldn't have to pay taxes, I think. Of course I did this after I had already purchased it through Apple.

I do this all the time. I constantly second guess myself about everything. I can't just let myself be happy. I bought my dream laptop but I overpaid by about a hundred dollars. I already know that I should have waited until October or November because that's when the updated Macs come out and I could save some money by buying this year's model. But knowing me, I would want the newer model so I wouldn't really be saving anything. I might actually pay more because who knows how the new MacBooks are going to be updated? It could be really, really cool. Maybe the new MacBooks have HD screens. My MacBook doesn't have HD. That sux! What the hell? Why didn't I wait?

I know why. I decided buying a new MacBook was worth the 2-3 months of bliss because the anger and frustration associated with my current laptop was driving me up a fucking wall. We'll just have to see in October or November if I'm really going to be happy.

Sigh.

I'm insane.

But an insane person who could have her new laptop by Friday.

Now if only the external hard drive that I bought a week ago were to be delivered first, that would be a miracle.

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAMA!!!!

The MacBook Just Gave Me An Orgasm

2008-08-03T03:23:00.000-06:00

So I plan on buying a MacBook next week because my current laptop is a piece of crap. And while I realize that this will put me further away from my dream of being totally debt free by a couple more months, it is a necessary purchase. The laptop that I have now I literally want to snap in half. If it were possible to actually break it over my knee and toss that shit out the window then I would.

And yes, I do have a desktop but that's more of the family computer and I need the laptop for when I'm writing which is usually late at nite or at coffee shops.

So I decided on the Mac because, A) they're cool and B) I used to always use Macs because they were just the better computer. They still are. So, I've been searching and comparing prices and while the MacBook has more upfront costs, they are cheaper in the long run, especially considering I won't have to deal with antivirus software or subscriptions.

I did give serious consideration to the PC. But there is something about the MacBook that draws me to it. I spend hours endlessly on line, staring at pictures and watching videos. It's like geek porn to me. Pleasure vibrates through me as I shift through these pictures and videos. It's like fire racing across my skin that burns so bright and so sweet that I would gladly get lost in the flame.

Just tonight, I was looking at photos of my MacBook to be. I was caressing the screen as though I could feel the softness through the LCD display on my crap machine. I bit my lip to keep from moaning aloud as I imagined rolling around in a field of wildflowers with my new Mac. I shivered as I thought of what it would be like to get my hands on him. And yes, my Mac, is a man. Unlike all of my other machines, like BABs (synonym for Bad Ass Bitch) my iPod or Midnight, my Honda.

I envision him to be a smart yet cool Quirky but down to earth. We spend hours together discussing Proust but our evening are reserved for Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow. He wears funky sweaters with hip jeans ripped at the knees and scuffed Vans. We are a perfect fit. We go hand in hand to out of the way cafes and at night I use him without mercy.

Yes folks, tonight a MacBook gave me an orgasm and I am still shuddering from the aftereffects.

Sigh!

God Bless Steve Jobs!

What I'm Listening To

2008-08-01T03:46:00.001-06:00

Joss Whedon Rocks!

2008-07-18T23:44:00.001-06:00

This is genius!

Dr. Horrible

Sunday is the last day!

Funniest Movie Quote This Year!

2008-07-15T04:09:00.001-06:00

Form the HiLaRIoUs and Heartwarming Film JUNO:

Abortion Clinic Worker: Would you like a free condom? They're boysenberry.
Juno: Uh, no. I'm kind of off the sex... right now.
ACW: My boyfriend uses them everytime we have intercourse. They make his junk smell like pie.

Fucking Genius! I laughed for five minutes.

What's your movie quote of the year?

So LONG!!

2008-06-21T00:21:00.003-06:00

Hello Blog Reader!

I cannot believe that it has been two months since I've blogged. I've gone back on my word and not blogged at least 2x/week. But I swear that I will do better.

Let's see. What to talk about? Well, my birthday was Thursday the 19th (Juneteenth, look it up people!). What did I get, you might ask? Well, my mom got into a car accident---in my car. So I've been dealing with insurance adjusters for two days and my rear quarter panel looks like an accordion. This is funny. At this very moment, it's covered with plastic because I think that it's going to rain and my trunk won't close. So, yeah. That's very ghetto. Happy Birthday to me. It was the 2-9, btw.

What else has happened? I went to Costa Rica for 10 days. I LOVED IT!!! I want to move there. Live there. I was almost impregnated by Jesus (Hey Zeus). Not really, but not for lack of trying on his behalf. But poolside sex when I'm on a trip surrounded by Mormons is sure to send someone to hell. I had so much fun. I sag Karaoke. Badly. Mostly because I had laryngitis and my voice was for shit. But it was fun.

I'm now enjoying a 10 week vacation. I work in a school so I'm off for the summer. I'm trying to do more writing. It's hard because I'm a natural procrastinator and I'm lazy as shit.

That's it for now. More later.

Redeemed

2008-03-23T20:15:00.002-06:00

So, maybe not going to hell. At least not in a kerosene handbasket. During Good Friday services, not one snicker passed my lips. In fact, my eyes teared up. Who wouldn't cry listening to the Passion?

So I guess all is well.

Until the next time someone yells Fuck Me! in my ear.

Holy (Fuck!)

2008-03-21T17:05:00.003-06:00

So last night was Holy Thursday and as a member of my church's choir, I was singing last night. And we were singing a perfectly lovely song, in Latin of which I understood exactly none of.

Now, admittedly, I have a dirty mind and the circumstance or place does very little to curb that. So, you can't blame me for giggling when the words, in Latin, are pronounced 'Fock May.' C'mon, you know that sounds like Fuck Me. And you know that that's funny. So I had a bit of a giggle at rehearsal. I straight up busted out laughing during the service when the woman next to me practically yelled it in my ear. FOCK MAY!!!

Hehehe.

But what made the night even better is that the words 'Fock May' were running through my head for the rest of the night. Making me giggle. Especially during the communion service when I was giggling as the Pastor talked about the Last Supper and Jesus being betrayed. I am sure that everyone in the congregation thought that I was laughing at Jesus and his betrayal.

And that made me laugh harder.

Okay

2008-03-18T20:21:00.002-06:00

So I lied about that whole posting 2-3x/week. It's more like whenever I get a wild hair up my ass.

So my life:

I sent off 'On Business' now officially retitled as 'Lucky Number Four' off to Kate Duffy at Kensington. It should get there tomorrow or Thursday. Wish me luck, person who never reads my blog. (I know no one actually reads this stuff.) I don't know why it's taken me so long to send it out (almost 11 mos! What the FUCK!!!) but it's done now and could be sold by this time in June. I'm not thinking about that now.

I'm working on a romantic suspense. 50,000 words into it and not a drop of sex. I need to rectify that.

Just got a crown. Am I the only person on the planet that finds the sound of a dentist's drill soothing? Seriously, I was about to fall asleep. I find it a bit comforting. Now the smell...yeck!

Oh, and a treat! I'm working on Luck of the Irish! Should be done soon.

That's it. Nothing else.

Later

Pieces of me

2008-01-13T03:13:00.000-07:00

So the other day, my mother and I were in the car. And because I control the radio when I'm in the car and because I'm Black, I was listening to the hip-hop station.

On this particular day, that Ludacris was on the air. You know that song, "What's Your Fantasy?" The one where he and some random skank want like lick each other in non-sanitary areas and get really freaky in what I can only consider very uncomfortable places. I mean, really, on the 50-yard line when the Atlanta Falcons are playing? Bitches will get trampled!

Anyhoo, that song began to play when my mother exclaimed, "Ooh, I like this song!" and proceeds to turn up the volume.

*thud*

"What? What are you talking about? You can't like this song?"

"What?" she replied. "At least I know what they're talking about. Unlike your father."

(Side note: My father really likes that song 'Pony' by Ginuwine. He had no clue what it was about for years. Yeah, that's my family.)

"No, it's not," I cringed. "It's worse. You like a sex song. I'm dying. Is there blood coming out my ears?"

"Monica, please! How do you think you got here?"

"Shut up! I don't want to hear that."

She didn't say anything else. Just proceeded to dance her old lady car dance. I was too horrified to change the station. I think I died a little inside that day.

Another Installment: I'm Going to Hell

2008-01-09T20:49:00.000-07:00

So, I love going to church. I go every week. I especially enjoy the church that I attend. The people are nice (although it IS church so what would you expect), the pastor makes me laugh (which if you know me is the number one way to my heart) and I feel stupid saying this but I feel like I get filled up when I go.

That does not, however, mitigate the fact that I am Monica and my mind is a sick, twisted, demented morass of evilness. (Heidi, you may not want to read past this point!)

This is the scene last Sunday. It was Epiphany Sunday (know your Liturgical calendar people!) and so we were celebrating the Three Wisemen, The Star, The Shepherd, yadda yadda yadda. And in the service, they were singing a very sweet song called "Mary Did You Know?" which asks if Mary, Mother of Jesus, knew that she was carrying the Messiah. (Which of course she did! Duh! The angel came to her to ask to implant her.)

Anyway, one particular line struck me. It was "Did you know that when you kissed his head, you were kissing the face of God?" Innoculous enough, right?

Au contraire, mon freres!

THIS is where my sick, twisted, demented mind goes.

So, if she gave birth to the mortal face of God, His presence on earth, did that mean that she then breastfed God?

I KNOW!!! I'm SICK!!! Who thinks about breastfeeding God? No one. Just me. But if you follow the logic of it, then it really makes sense. I mean, a baby's got to eat! And if she didn't breast feed him, did she then pawn off the breastfeeding of God off to some crazy milkmaid. What? Was she too good to breastfeed the Messiah? Or did she just feel extra weird about God sucking on her titty?

Don't worry, people, I've got my handbasket all ready because you're going o need it for this.

So, after contemplating the breastfeeding of God, I move on. Oh, yes, I move on.

My next stop on the road to hell is thinking about Mary and Joseph. Having sex.

Would you, COULD you, have sex with a woman that you knew gave birth to the Christ child? I mean, how do you hit that knowing who had been all up in there? You've got to be thinking, "I'm doing God's old lady!" I mean, I know that God didn't have sex with her but in a case like that it's really just semantics.

And you know Joseph had to have some massive inferiority complex. You know that when they were doing it and she was moaning, 'Oh, God' he had to be thinking 'Does she mean that literally?'

I'm depraved.

Wow

2008-01-04T14:30:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time. My new year's resolution is to blog at least three times a week. The good news is that I finished my 50,000 words for NaNoWriMo. The bad news: it's only half finished. I'm working on finishing it. A good romantic suspense is at least that long. I don't know how successful I will be in this particular genre but my next tackle is a paranormal.

On a side note, I love my new job. Who hates having two weeks off?

Untitled Excerpt

2007-11-24T00:47:00.000-07:00

Fucking whore!

Fucking whore!

The dark clad man paced the small confines of his apartment. All around him were pictures of the cause of his pain. His agony.
Carmen.

Bitch.

Whore.

Most of the shots were candid. Indeed she had been unaware that he was there, photographing her. Keeping tabs on her.

How dare she talk to me like that? Her! A whore who screwed everything in her path. Like a dog. One word and she spread her legs from anyone who
asked. Like that Todd, guy. How dare she go home with him? Him? A man so unworthy of her.

Well, he’d taken care of that. He’d made sure that Todd was sorry that he’s even dared to touch her.

But it was an empty high. It wasn’t Todd’s fault. Not really. He was snared by her just like a fly was helpless to resist the lure of a black widow’s web. Still, he needed to pay for daring to put his hands on her. He could still remember the feeling of the knife in his hands, the slick feel of the blood on his skin as it sprayed over him. Like a baptism. He’d been renewed.

While Todd hadn’t been his first kill. It was the first time he’d attempted it with a knife. It had slid into Todd’s flesh as easily as a knife through warm butter. Or like sliding deep into the warm body of a willing woman.

He’d been there. The night she’d taken Todd home. It was the first time she’d done that in a long time. She’d been celebrating. Getting drunk and flaunting her body on the dance floor. A siren’s call that Todd had been unfortunate enough to answer.

He had followed them back to Todd’s place. He’d watched through the blinds from across the street as she and Todd made love. No. Not love. Fucked.
They had fucked like animals. Like animals in heat.

The thought was enough to cause his cock to twitch. He ignored it. That’s what she wanted. She wanted him to think about her and rub his cock. She wished that he would pleasure himself. In his mind’s eye, he imagined her across the room. Her curly ebony hair flared out on the pillow. Her caramel skin glowing against the red satin sheets.

“Come on, baby,” fantasy Carmen pleaded, running her hands down her naked body, stopping on her breasts to pinch her nipples. “Let me see that big, hard dick.”

“Whore,” he hissed, his hands clenching and unclenching at his side.
Behind his zipper, his penis twitched and grew longer, more demanding. He would not give her the satisfaction.

Fantasy Carmen pouted. “You know what to do. You know what I like.”

“Fucking bitch,” he spat, his fingers coming up to the button at his fly.
Unconsciously, they made quick work of his zipper until he sprung free. “Evil slut. Is this what you want?” The man grabbed his cock in his hand and began to pull.

Tears gathered at the corners of his eyes. She did this to him. She was Jezebel. She was Circes, leading mean to their doom. He was a good man. But that didn’t matter to her. She cared only to spread her wickedness to decent men. Men like him.

Tears fell harder as he sped up the motion of his hand.

“Yes, yes,” fantasy Carmen moaned. Her hands left her breasts running along her flat stomach.

He watched with hungry eyes as her thighs parted, revealing her mound. In his mind, she was completely shaved, just as he remembered. He watched as milky fluid

She was hot for it, for him. She was begging for her just like the dog that she was.

“Cunt.” His hands moved over the length of him, faster, pulling harder until the point of pain.

Fantasy Carmen laughed. “You’re pathetic. What kind of man are you? You couldn’t satisfy me. That’s why I left. You and your tiny pena.”

The man’s tears fell harder. “No, no,” he sobbed, never breaking the rhythm of his hand.

Fantasy Carmen sat up in bed, her normally languid brown eyes small and mean. “You wish you were man enough to handle me.”

Despite himself, Carmen’s words only added to his arousal. He knew he was sick. But she did this. She made him this way.

“Go on. Play with your puny, pena. I’m surprised that you could even find it. I know that I couldn’t.” Carmen’s eyes laughed at him.

“Shut up. Shut up,” he shouted hoarsely even as he reached the breaking point. He threw his head back as thick wave of desire and shame washed through him, a tidal force that almost brought him to his knees.

When he opened his eyes, she was gone. She was always gone. She and her taunting eyes. Fucking bitch.

Fucking cunt!

He pulled up his pants and ran over to the wall, began tearing down the pictures that hung there. He looked at the photos of Carmen. Carmen smiling. Carmen laughing.

Soon, he thought.

She wouldn’t be able to forget him. Not again. He would make sure about that.

“So, Dr. Santiago, I saw you talking to Dr. Mitchell.”

Carmen looked up from reading Dr. Gower’s preop orders for their next patient. Carmen was trying to figure out a way to wrangle her way assisting. She had spent the rest of her morning performing scut work, chasing down labs, finding x-rays, and generally doing those things that were delegated to med students but Gower had a sudden belief should be given to Carmen. Which she accepted with a smile on her face. It wasn’t the first time she’d been made to eat shit.

This time, however, she was relatively certain that she wasn’t going to run into
Yummy. After their encounter at lunch and the shitty way that she’d treated him, she would be surprised if he spoke to her again. Which was fine with her, she assured herself.

The mindless scut work had also enabled her to forget about the phone call she’d gotten. Even though it was twice in the space of two days, she was convinced that either someone was playing a stupid prank or that they had the wrong number.

Looking up, she saw the RN who was the day ward supervisor. Molly. She was a cute curly-haired redhead who gave Carmen a run for the money in the bust department. She was also happily married, had three kids, and was the biggest gossip in the entire hospital. After working here for almost 20 years,
she knew everything and everyone.

“Yeah?” Carmen hated her hostile tone.

Molly smiled mischievously. “So? He’s only the most eligible doctor in the hospital. Every single nurse under the age of forty, and some married ones too, have been trying to get his attention. No luck. It’s so sad about his wife, though.”

“His wife?” Acrid anger burned deep within Carmen’s stomach. The bastard was married.

“Oh, yeah,” Molly continued, unaware of the daggers that were flaring from
Carmen’s eyes. “She was so young when she died. Only twenty-nine. They’d only been married for a couple years. Although, I tell you what, if I were married to a doctor I would’ve given up my career like that.” She said with a snap of her fingers. “Especially if I did what she did. I can’t imagine having to go into people’s houses and removing kids. I don’t envy that job.”

That’s it! Carmen knew now why that name was niggling at the back of her mind like a persistent puppy. Dr. Mitchell. His wife Julie was a social worker who’d been killed during a home visit that had turned into a shootout. It happened almost ten years ago, during Carmen’s freshman year in college. She vaguely remembered the grainy pictures of a man torn apart by grief at the loss of his young wife.

Carmen felt shamed by her irrational jealousy. From what she remembered about Candace Mitchell, she was a beautiful woman. Very blonde. Very pretty in a wholesome kind of way. The pictures that she’d seen of them together had reminded Carmen of the typical cheerleader who married the captain of the football team.

“I don’t remember him when I was doing my rotations in med school,” she mused out loud.

“Oh, you wouldn’t have,” Molly answered. “He took a sabbatical a couple
years ago to start that clinic for victims of domestic violence and their families. He only came back a few months ago when they offered him Chief of Medicine.”

Carmen groaned inwardly. Great. Not only had she pissed off a senior staff member, but the Chief of Medicine no less. She was sure that he spoke with Dr. Crosby, the Chief of Surgery. One misplaced word could kill Carmen’s
career before it had really started.

Well, when you fuck up, you do it big, Santiago.

“Anyway, you two looked awfully cozy when I saw you. What were you talking about?”

Carmen knew Molly’s type. One word to her and she would have Carmen and Greg screwing in the bathroom. “Uh, we share a patient.” It was the truth.

Mostly.

Molly’s face fell. “Oh. That’s it?”

“That’s it. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to run down to pick up some labs. See you later, Molly.”

Molly eyed her skeptically. “You, too, Dr. Santiago.”

Carmen turned and made her way down the hallway, her mind still on what Molly had said.

When Carmen left the hospital that night, she was exhausted. Like she’d been run over by a bus. Although she hadn’t been able to get in on a surgery, she’d done more than her share. Carmen’s steps as she made her way to her car dragged, as if she were walking through quicksand. She was so exhausted that it took a few minutes for the other steps to filter through her mind. She paused. The steps paused. Carmen quirked her head, her ears strained to detect any sound. There was none. Her heart jumped into her throat.

“Hello?” she called, her voice shaky. Nothing.

Trying to shake off the feeling of dread, Carmen continued walking. For several seconds, she heard nothing. Then there the subtle scrape of rubber on concrete.

Carmen whirled around. “Who is it?”

She expected no answer and wasn’t disappointed. “Listen, fuckface, I’ve got mace and steel-toed boots. You better back off if you want to keep your balls.”
True to her word, Carmen rummaged through her purse until her hands came upon a small, black plastic container. She pulled it out and deactivated the safety.

“Do you hear me?” she yelled.

More silence.

This time, Carmen wasn’t taking any chances. She booked it. By the time she reached her car, her breath came is raspy shudders so loud that she couldn’t hear anything over it.

It took her two times before she was able to find the lock with her key. Her hands were shaking so badly she was terrified that she was going to drop them on the ground.

When she felt the hand on her shoulder, she couldn’t help it. She screamed. She swiveled around so quickly that the man standing behind her had to take a step back.

“Hey, hey. It’s okay. It’s only me.”

It took a few seconds for Greg’s voice to register. When it did, Carmen felt her knees give out. She had to catch herself before she fell down. She stayed like that for a while, hands braced against her knees, face pointed down. She concentrated on bring her breathing under control. Calm again, the fear receded and was replaced by acrid anger. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Greg stared at her as though she had grown a second head. “With me?
You’re the one who’s screaming bloody murder.”

Carmen’s face flared with heat. “Yeah, well, that’s what happens when you decide to accost women in parking garages. Asshole.”

Greg has the decency to look sheepish. “You’re right. I apologize. I wasn’t thinking. I guess I assumed that you had heard me coming.”

“That’s what you get for thinking.” Suddenly, a nasty thought came into
Carmen’s mind. “How long were you following me?”

She watched him blink in shock. “What are you talking about? I didn’t follow you.”

Carmen wasn’t sure that she believed him. “So you just happened to be leaving? At the exact same time I was?”

“It does happen. What’s up with you?”

“You didn’t see anyone?”

“No one. Why? Was someone following you?”

Carmen saw the change come over him immediately. Like a switch had been flipped. His easygoing posture stiffened and his eyes took on a sharp focus as he scanned the area around them. “Where was he? What did he look like?”

Carmen cursed herself for saying anything. “It was nothing. Probably just my overactive imagination.”

She saw the speculation and disbelief enter is midnight eyes. “Are you sure? After that phone call today…”

Carmen stiffened. “That phone call was a wrong number. And probably the reason that my mind is playing tricks on me.”

* * *

Greg considered the pugnacious jut of her chin and knew that there was little that he could do now. Little that she would let him do. “Well, if you want, I can ask the security guard to walk you to your car.”

He knew right away that it was the wrong thing to say. Greg didn’t know that it was possible to become any more rigid, but she went straight as an aluminum bat.

“I can take care of myself, thank you very much, Dr. Mitchell.” His name was spat at him with enough force to push nails through redwood.

“I’m not saying you can’t. Don’t be an idiot. You said yourself that a woman alone at night needs to take some precautions.”

“Are you calling me stupid?”

Greg groaned. He wasn’t sure that if he wanted to kiss her or shake her. He did know that either choice was going to lead to her knee in his balls. He looked up to the long fluorescent light bulbs that ran the length of the ceiling and prayed for patience. None came.

Greg ran an impatient hand through his head, causing parts of it to stand on end. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m calling you. Stupid and so fucking hard headed that even if someone where to take a baseball bat to it, I have every confidence that the bat would break.”

Carmen’s lips twitched. She couldn’t help it. He looked too fucking adorable.

“What?” he demanded. “Why are you smiling? I just insulted you.”

Carmen snorted. “That’s not an insult. Do you think you’re the first person to call me hard headed?”

“No. And I probably won’t be the last.”

“You’re right about that. And you’re right about the escort. I usually do have one but with the sun setting so much earlier, I forgot.”

Greg shook his head in disgust. She was not short of a complete enigma. “I don’t get you. I’m nice to you, you treat me like dog shit. I insult you, and you laugh.”

“What can I say? I’m a complicated gal.”

It was Greg’s turn to smile. “That you are.”

“Um, I have to go.”

“Hot date?” Greg tried to ignore the irrational twist of jealousy that clenched his heart.

“Are you kidding? I’m a surgical intern. I have no life. Just a warm bed and a copy of Surgeon Today. I need to get some rest. I’m on night call tomorrow.”

Greg’s brows shot up. “That surprises me. I expected…”

“What? That I was some party girl out there shaking her culo every night?”

The words were harsh but softened by the smile that spread across her face.

Actually, that was exactly what he’s been thinking. “Sorry. I shouldn’t judge.”

“No, you shouldn’t.” Carmen muttered beneath her breath. Greg couldn’t understand exactly what she said but he thought it sounded like pendejo. He wasn’t familiar with Spanish but he was sure that she’d just called him a bastard.

“You know, when you get angry, your accent really comes out.”

He knew instantly that that was the wrong thing to say. Carmen’s half-smile faded and her face once again settled into its normal severe lines.

“Thanks.”

“I know I risk a kick in the nuts but do you mind if I ask where you’re from?”

“Why? Looking for a Green Card?”

“No, just curious.”

At fist, he was sure that she wasn’t going to tell him. “Puerto Rico.”

“Really? I went there on my honeymoon.” Greg groaned. It was never sexy to mention your ex. Even less sexy to discuss your honeymoon with your dead wife.

“Really? Good for you. I hope you enjoyed El Yunque and were lulled to
sleep each night by the melodic sounds of the coqui.” Sarcasm coated dripped icily from her lips.

Huh. This was different. Most Puerto Ricans that he knew had an almost perfect devotion to their country. This woman sounded as though she would gladly let it fall back into the ocean.

“Okay, this has been fun. I mean it. Next time you want to scare the living shit out of someone, please find some other insane partner. Later, Mitchell.”

Carmen turned to get into her car. She was stopped once again by the hand on her arm. This time her accelerated heart rate had nothing to do with fear.
She ignored the shiver of desire that wiggled down her arm and straight to the place between her thighs.

“What?” she demanded, her voice harsh with suppressed lust.

“Well, seeing as how I almost made you crap your pants, don’t you think that you could at least tell me your first name?”

“Carmen. But you can still call me Dr. Santiago.”

Carmen ducked into the car and slammed the door so quickly that Greg had to jump out of the way or else break a few fingers.

Through the red haze of her tail lights, Carmen saw Greg still standing where she left him, watching her car as it disappeared from sight.

You may not know this

2007-11-23T18:09:00.000-07:00

But I expanded "On Business" to almost 30,000 words. When I did that, I renamed the story. It is now called "Lucky Number Four." You'll find out why later. I'll post the updated story soon. Or at least excerpts. I'm sending it to Kate Duffy at Kensington to be a Brava novella.

(How's that for thinking positive!)

Well, when I did that, I added the character of Maria Carmen Concepcion Flores y Santiago. Or Carmen Santiago for short. She is one of my absolute favorite characters that I've ever written. So much so that she is the subject of my NaNoWriMo. Which has the bones of being a pretty kick-ass romantic suspense. It's the first time I've attempted to write this genre but after struggling for almost three weeks, I have to say that I think that I'm getting the hang of it. I think that when it's done, I'll have over 100,000 words. My most ambitious yet!

So stay tuned. An excerpt to follow.

In a couple hours, actually.

Wish me luck. I have about 36,000 words now. Only 14,000 words and 7 days to go!