It was the strangest party that Amy had ever attended. The Porter Fine Furniture store was arranged in a series of cubicles resembling rooms, each one displaying a grouping of furniture. The walls of the rooms were less than five feet high, so Michele’s father could see when shoppers had stopped to linger over a particular selection.
Michele had planned her party carefully. She’d used the dining room groupings for food, and the living room groupings for drinks and entertainment. She’d even allocated one bedroom cubicle, the one with the largest king-sized bed, as a place to put coats and boots. It was an enormous party. Michele had invited almost everyone she knew from Hamilton High. Friends and acquaintances were wandering from one cubicle to another, stopping to eat, or listen to music, or relax on over-stuffed lounge chairs and couches. Porter’s Fine Furniture store was a perfect place for a party. It gave the illusion of a mansion with countless interconnected rooms, and there was always a corner for privacy.
Amy and Danny started in the Mediterranean dining room, helping themselves to the big bowl of chips and dip on the polished mahogany wood table. Then they worked their way to the Danish Modern living room for cold drinks which were set out on the teakwood bar. They ended up in a cubicle that resembled a family room, with a conversation pit that featured a U-shaped leather couch, and two leather swivel recliners arranged around a low circular table. Neal and Jessica were seated on one side of the couch, Michele and Colleen were in the middle, and Brett and Kevin were lounging in the recliners.
“Hey . . . how’s it going, guys?” Brett looked up as they walked in. “Great party, huh?”
Amy nodded. It was a good party. There was dancing in the large living room with the fake fireplace, and Michele had put tapes of movies on all the large-screen television sets. But everyone here in the family room looked very subdued.
“What’s the matter?” Danny asked the question that was on Amy’s mind. “You all look worried about something.”
Kevin nodded. “We are. When Jessica went up to her locker, after the game, she found a Valentine card from Cat.”
“Oh, no!” Amy turned to Jessica with alarm. “What did it say?”
“The usual. Except the rhyme was different this time. Maybe he’s getting bored, writing the same thing all the time.”
Amy sat down on the other side of the couch and reached for the red envelope that Jessica pushed to her across the low table. She opened it and started to frown as she scanned the message inside.
“What does it say?” Danny sat down next to her and slipped his arm around her shoulders.
“It says, ‘Roses are red, and crowns are gold. A Valentine queen has values to uphold.’ And it’s signed, ‘Cat.’ ”
Danny leaned over her shoulder to examine the card. “It looks like Cat’s printing.”
“I think so, too, but we’d better check. I saved the vote I got today.” Amy reached in her purse and pulled out the red heart she’d saved after they’d counted the votes. “Here it is.”
Brett got up to look at the card. And then he examined Amy’s vote. “It’s the same as the last time. It’s definitely Cat’s printing.”
“But who is he?” Jessica’s voice held a desperate note. “We’ve got to find out!”
Amy nodded. And then she cleared her throat. What she was about to say would be about as popular as a pack of dogs in a sausage factory, but she knew she had to suggest it. “I think we should consider canceling the queen contest. It’s just too dangerous.”
“You want to cancel the contest?” Jessica looked as if Amy had just slapped her in the face. “But that’s not fair!”
“I know it’s not. But we all care about you, Jessica. And you’re in the lead. Cat’s already sent you one card. What if he sends you more?”
“Amy’s got a point.” Michele nodded. “Maybe Cat didn’t have anything to do with what happened to Tanya and Gail, but you’re still taking a terrible chance.”
Jessica shrugged. “Maybe I am, but it’ll be worth it if I get to be queen. Besides . . . I don’t think Cat is dangerous. He just sends those cards as a sick practical joke, that’s all. What happened to Tanya and Gail is just a coincidence.”
“A coincidence?” Amy was shocked. “How can you possibly believe that? Tanya and Gail were both in the lead for queen, they both got Valentine cards from Cat, and they’re both dead. There’s got to be a connection.”
“Not necessarily. Tanya died because she tripped on the stairs, and Gail was in a car accident. It’s awful, but these things happen.”
“How about the half-heart necklaces they were both wearing ?” Danny spoke up to defend Amy’s position. “That has to mean something.”
“Maybe. But I’ve got that worked out. If someone sends me a half-heart necklace, I’ll just throw it in the trash.”
“But how about the threats Cat makes?” Amy took up the argument again. “He says you have to pass his test to be queen, and then he warns you that an unworthy queen is better off dead. Doesn’t that worry you at all?”
Jessica laughed and hugged Neal. “It did, but I’m not worried now. Neal’s promised to be my personal bodyguard. He’s going to stick to me like glue, until the night of my coronation.”
“That should work.” Kevin nodded. “Neal’s big enough to take on anyone that bothers you. But what about when he goes to basketball practice? He can’t be with you then.”
“I’ll have him drop me off at the hardware store, and Dad’ll protect me. Or I’ll stay at home with Mom. There’s really nothing to worry about as long as I’m with someone all the time.”
“Will you promise me that you’ll never go anywhere alone?” Amy was still concerned.
“Sure. I’ll even take my mother to the bathroom with me if it makes you feel any better. I think it’s sweet that you’re so concerned about me, Amy . . . but I really think you’re going off the deep end over this whole thing. I’ll live to be the Valentine’s Day Queen. You can bet on it!”
Michele raised her eyebrows, and laughed. “I’d watch my back if I were you. Don’t forget that I’m in second place. If something happens to you, I’ll be next in line for queen.”
“Michele!” Amy was shocked.
“Relax, Amy.” Michele leaned over to give Jessica a hug. “Jessica’s been my best friend since the first grade. She knows I was only kidding, don’t you, Jessica?”
“Of course I know.”
Jessica nodded, but Amy noticed that she wasn’t smiling. And the moment that Michele stopped hugging her, Jessica moved closer to Neal. Amy wished that she’d voiced her objections to the queen contest more strenuously when Tanya had first suggested it. All this competition wasn’t good, and it was ruining friendships that had been in existence for years.
Danny’s arm tightened around her shoulders, and Amy looked up to find him watching Jessica and Michele. Danny had noticed how Jessica had moved away from Michele, and Amy was sure it had bothered him as much as it had bothered her.
“Let’s go get some food.” Danny stood up and held out his hand to Amy. “Does anybody want anything?”
Michele nodded. “You could bring us back a pizza. They’re all on the table in the Colonial dining room.”
“Anything else?” Amy got to her feet.
There were several other requests, and Amy and Danny agreed to bring back all the food they could carry. After they’d left the family room area, Danny led Amy into one of the deserted living room cubicles and pulled her down on a couch. “Amy? I have to ask you something.”
“Yes?” Amy frowned slightly. Danny looked very serious.
“All the rest of the girls want to win the contest. How about you? Don’t you want to be queen?”
Amy looked up at him, and shook her head. And then she gave a relieved smile. “No way, Danny. And don’t you dare vote for me! I’m really glad that I’m not even in the running.”
The party was still going strong when Amy and Danny left. It was eleven-thirty, and Amy had a midnight curfew. They parked in front of her house with fifteen minutes to spare, and Amy hesitated, her hand on the door. Would Danny remember what she’d said earlier, about continuing their conversation?
“Oh, no you don’t!” Danny reached out to grab her hand. “Don’t forget the promise you made.”
“What promise?”
Amy tried to sound as if she didn’t know what he was talking about, but it didn’t work very well. Danny just laughed and pulled her close.
“Hey . . . you know exactly what I’m talking about, don’t you?”
Amy nodded. She had to be truthful. “Yes. I do. But you made a promise, too, that night at the game.”
“I did?” Danny sounded surprised. “What did I promise?”
“I asked you if you’d ever take advantage of me, and you said you wouldn’t.”
Danny sighed. “That’s because I didn’t know I’d feel this way about you. Are you going to hold me to it?”
“Yes.”
“And you think that if I kissed you, I’d be taking advantage of you?”
Amy thought for a minute, and then she shook her head. “No. Not as long as I wanted you to.”
Danny started to grin his sexy grin. “And do you want me to kiss you?”
“I . . . uh . . .” Amy stopped. Thank goodness it was dark! She knew she was blushing, because her cheeks felt as if they were on fire.
“Well?”
Danny was still smiling his sexy grin, and Amy began to shiver in excitement. “Yes . . . I do want you to kiss me. I’m not sure if it’s a good idea, but I thought it over and I . . .”
Amy’s voice trailed off as Danny reached out to tip up her chin with his hand. Her mouth was still open, and she clamped it shut as his face came closer and closer. She’d never been this close to anyone before, and it was a little frightening to know that she was alone in a car with someone who could make her tremble all over.
“If you keep your eyes open, they’ll probably cross.”
There was laughter in his voice, and Amy winced as she quickly shut her eyes. Would he know that she’d never been kissed before?
And then she waited, and waited, holding her breath for the moment his lips would touch hers.
“Sweet.”
Amy felt the word, even more than she heard it. It was a puff of air against her lips, and she had the insane urge to giggle. Of course, giggling wasn’t appropriate . . . but, then, neither was sitting here, holding her breath, waiting for Danny to kiss her.
And then Danny’s lips brushed hers, very lightly. And Amy felt a current of pleasure ripple through her, from her toes all the way up to the hair on her head. She sighed, and did something without thinking, something she never would have done if she’d stopped to consider it carefully. She reached up with her arms and placed them around his neck, pulling him even closer. And then she sighed again, and moved her mouth against his.
The kiss went on for what seemed like forever, lips pressed together, warm and soft, with a firmness that was surprising. Amy sighed again, and let her fingers touch Danny’s shoulders, moving up to feel the short hair at the base of his neck. Although her eyes were closed, she thought she could see him staring at her in the darkness. But it was only an illusion because his image was replaced with swirling spots of bright red, and electric blue, and deeply gorgeous purple.
“Wow!” Amy breathed the word against his lips and snuggled a little closer. Kissing Danny was wonderful, much better than she’d thought it would be. But then it was over, and she opened her eyes to find him smiling at her. So she said the first thing that came to her mind.
“Thank you, Danny.” Amy felt limp, as if she’d been swimming in the river all day and now she was stretched out on the sand, basking in the warmth of the sun. “I’m glad you kissed me.”
Danny chuckled, and then he laughed, a deep, rolling sound that made Amy feel good. “You’re amazing, Amy. You haven’t learned any of the tricks. Most girls would have played the game a little, teased and flirted, things like that . . . and then they would have acted shocked when I kissed them. But you just say whatever’s on your mind.”
“I know.” Amy sighed. “That’s always been my worst fault.”
“It’s not a fault. It’s wonderful. So tell me . . . how did you like your first kiss?”
“You . . . you knew!” Amy’s cheeks turned hot with embarrassment. Colleen must have told him that she’d never been kissed.
Danny laughed. And then he said something that let her know he’d read her mind again. “No, Colleen didn’t tell me.”
“Then . . . how did you know? Was I terribly bad at kissing?”
Danny chuckled again. “You’re not bad at all. As a matter of fact, I’d say you’re a natural. But when you thanked me, I figured that it was your first kiss.”
“Oh. I see.” Amy nodded. “Is that why you stopped? Because it was my first kiss?”
Danny nodded. “That’s part of it. And the other part is that I promised I wouldn’t take advantage of you.”
“But you weren’t! I . . . I liked it.” Amy felt terribly disappointed. “If I’d been older and more experienced, would you have kept on kissing me?”
“Well . . . yeah. I guess so. But that kiss would have been different.”
“How?” Amy couldn’t help being curious.
“Well . . . uh . . .” Danny stopped, and frowned. “Look, Amy. It’s something I can’t really explain.”
“Then show me.”
Danny shook his head. “No, Amy. I can’t do that.”
“Why not? Just pretend that I’m Renee, and kiss me the way you’d kiss her.”
Danny laughed, and reached out to tousle her hair. “I really don’t think that’s a very good idea.”
“Well, I do!” Amy faced him squarely. “Come on, Danny. How am I supposed to learn how to kiss when no one will teach me?”
Danny started to laugh. “Asking a question like that could get you into a lot of trouble. It’s a good thing you’re with me, and not some other guy.”
“That’s just it. I am with you, and I know I can trust you. That’s why I’m asking you to show me.”
“You’re sure that’s what you want?”
Danny was grinning his sexy grin, and Amy’s breath caught in her throat. But she really wanted to know, so she nodded. “Yes. I’m positive.”
“You really know what you’re asking?”
“Of course.” Amy nodded, and moved over to cuddle up against him. That felt so wonderful she reached out to wrap her arms around his neck. Then she smiled up at him, and sighed. “Go ahead, Danny. I’m ready.”
Danny groaned, deep in his throat. And then he bent down to kiss her lightly. “Open your lips, Amy.”
“But . . . why?” Amy stared up at him.
“Just do it. You want me to kiss you like I kissed Renee, don’t you?”
Amy nodded, and parted her lips. And then she gasped as Danny gathered her close in his arms and took possession of her mouth. His warm tongue slid over her lips, and darted between them, tasting the heat of her mouth.
“Oooh!” Amy gasped, and her mind floated free. Danny’s tongue was darting into her mouth, licking and tasting, making delicious shivers run through her whole trembling body. She couldn’t think, or analyze what she was feeling. She could only feel, and gasp with wonderful pleasure.
“Enough?” Danny pulled back to touch her nose with the tip of his finger.
“Nooo.” Amy didn’t wait for him to ask again. She just pulled his face down to hers and started the kiss again. It was different this time, and it lasted even longer. And when Amy pulled away, she was breathless.
“Oooh, Danny! That was wonderful! I felt hot and cold at the same time, and my toes started to tingle!”
Danny threw back his head and laughed. “That’s definitely a first. I’ve never had that effect on a girl before.”
“That’s because I’m not just any girl. Let’s do it again and see what happens.”
Danny raised his eyebrows. “You’re really asking for trouble, Amy, and it’s getting late. Don’t you think you’d better . . .”
“No.” Amy reached out for him again, before he could raise any more objections. “Once more, Danny . . . please? Then I’ll go in, I promise.”
Danny laughed, but Amy noticed that this time he reached for her. His lips came down on hers, and she sighed as the kiss deepened. Again, she didn’t think. She just reacted to the thrilling sensations flowing through her. Every inch of her body felt graceful, and she seemed to be floating on a sea of pure pleasure, riding the waves and cresting their peaks for an eternity.
Her tongue swept out to merge with his, thrusting and licking and tasting. And her fingers wound through his hair and stroked the sides of his head. She felt suddenly beautiful and brilliant and very, very desirable. And then it was over, and he was holding her in his arms and smiling at her.
“How was it, Amy?” Danny brushed back her hair with his hand in an incredibly tender gesture.
“Ooh . . . it was wonderful! And the music . . . it was incredible !”
“Music?”
“Yes. I’m not exactly sure, but it was like classical, and folk, and jazz, and blues, and the best of rock, all rolled up into one. It was the most fabulous music I’ve ever heard!”
“Amy?” Danny’s voice was shaking slightly. “Will you promise me something?”
“Oh, yes! What is it?”
“Remember when I promised not to take advantage of you?”
“Yes, Danny.” Amy breathed the words. She’d never felt so happy and content in her life. “I remember.”
“I’d like a promise from you, too.”
“Yes, Danny.” Amy smiled up at him. “What is it?”
“I want you to promise not to take advantage of me!”