TUESDAY TALES

This week we take a break from "Sexy Night at the Museum" to take a peek at the sequel to "Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights" called, "April's Kiss in the Moonlight" the newest book in the Moonlight series:

As April McKenna drove her small car around the bend and approached a tiny town, a good looking, big man with short, reddish brown hair stepped into the street and stuck out his thumb.

“Yeah, right, Mr. Serial Killer, like I’m going to give you a ride,” she said aloud to herself, speeding up to pass him quickly but unable to direct her gaze away from his.

She averted her eyes hastily, trying instead to concentrate on sorting out her life. Driving the back roads from Willow Falls, NY to San Francisco gave April time to think. She had finished her MBA and was heading back for an internship in her father’s company, prelude to a staid, boring, corporate life. The thought of such a future left her restless . . . and restlessness was fast turning to unhappiness. April didn’t want to go back . . . didn’t want to live her father’s life. She wanted to break out, but didn’t know how, she she’d always been the good girl, doing the right thing, what was expected of her.

With her mind occupied, she was driving on automatic pilot and saw the glass scattered in the road too lates to avoid it. Her tire lasted another half mile before it blew. She pulled onto a muddy shoulder and got out of the car. She rummaged around in the car trunk having no idea where the spare tire or the jack were or even how to use them if she found them. She pulled out her cell phone only to remember she’d forgotten to recharge it before leaving school. Then she laughed when she realized there was no one to call anyway. You’re supposed to hang something white on the door handle when you need help. April returned to the car, took off her white lace panties, the only white object she had and hung them on the door handle, closed the door and waited.

Only a few houses dotted the lonely country road, but acre after acre of green fields was bursting with ripe crops.  Standing on tiptoe, she could make out a farmhouse in the distance. The tall corn stalks of late July blocked her car from view by anyone at the house.

Half an hour passed and no car came by. Was she about to spend the night there in her car? Then she saw him in the rear view mirror. It was Mr. Serial Killer, coming around the bend, and heading straight for her car. She felt panic rise in her chest as she locked all the doors and hunkered down.

 He walked up to the car and knocked on the window, startling April, who jumped. When she turned to look at him, he was smiling at her.

“Flat?” He asked.

She nodded.

“Pop the trunk,” he said.

Can’t you get inside the car through the trunk? He could attack me . . .

“Take it easy. I’m not a mass murderer. Want to help you change your tire,” he called to her.

April popped the trunk. If she didn’t want to spend the night alone in the dark, accepting his help was her only choice.

“Are these yours?” he asked, plucking her panties off the door handle and holding them up to the car window. The white lace bikinis looked ridiculously small in his large hand.

April felt heat seep into her face and knew she had turned several shades of red. Avoiding the stranger’s gaze, she opened the car window and snatched the panties from him. He laughed, shook his head and headed for the trunk, as she struggled to put the panties back on while sitting in the front seat.

“Easier to jack up the car if you’re not in it,” he called to her.

Reluctantly, she got out of the car, keeping an eye on him and perched on a large rock at a safe distance to watch him, hugging her knees to her chest.

“Rusty,” he said, extending his hand after taking off his backpack.

Look for "April's Kiss in the Moonlight" to be published soon. Thank you for stopping by. Please give me your feedback at sunnydaysbook@gmail.com.