Starstruck In Seattle Read Online Free PDF Page A

trembled inside at the thought. Whether from nerves or desire, she wasn’t sure.
    Anna rummaged through her unorganized first-aid kit and withdrew a box. “Oh,” she sighed. “I only have fluorescent pink Band-Aids, sorry.” She held up the bright strip and Karl shrugged.
    â€œIt’ll do. Probably be all healed by the time I get home anyway.” He held up his finger and Anna wrapped the plaster around it.
    â€œThere, all better.” She tossed the box back in the first-aid kit then led Karl from the small kitchen into the almost-as-small living area.
    â€œI take it you like candles,” he said, glancing around at the excessive collection adorning every available surface in the room.
    Wait till he sees how many I’ve got in the bedroom.
    Wait – will he see my bedroom? Should he see my bedroom?
    Maybe this was happening too fast. . .
    â€œI love candles, but hardly ever light them. I just like the way they look.”
    And I’ve been waiting forever for a night like tonight to use them.
    Karl approached the television that had various sized candles all around it and picked up the lighter. “Turbo lighter, awesome!” He pressed the switch and a flame emerged. He held it toward the wick of a candle and it glowed to life. Then another, and another, until all the candles sported flickering blobs of gold. He lit the pillar candles on the dining table, then the tea lights on the wall sconces. Trust a man to find a toy to play with.
    He flicked off the lights. Fragrant aromatherapy oils and the scent of wax floated through the room, glowing with an atmosphere of anticipation. The candles weren’t the only things that glowed. Anna restrained a giggle as a pink Band-Aid approached her face and Karl’s hand cupped her cheek.
    â€œNow, where were we?” Without waiting for a response, Karl commandeered her lips again. Anna surrendered, the nerves in her body heightened with pleasure. She could hear a choir singing in an angelic falsetto. . .hang on, that wasn’t her imagination.
    Anna broke away, covering her ears as a high-pitched sound overtook the room. Her eyes homed in on the source – the fire alarm on the ceiling, a thin smoky haze wafting around it.
    â€œQuick, blow out the candles!” Anna yelled. Karl turned on the lights and did as he was told, though it only created more smoke as the wicks released their heat. Anna opened windows, dashed into the kitchen and returned with a broom, and jabbed it at the fire alarm.
    Beep. . .beep. . .beep. . .beep!
    â€œC’mon!” she urged, jabbing furiously.
    â€œHere, let me try.” Karl took the broom and aimed toward the button in the middle of the alarm, but unlike Anna it wouldn’t surrender to his magic touch.
    â€œI don’t understand why it’s not turning off, it’s never done this before,” Anna said loudly.
    â€œWhat? I didn’t hear what you said!” Karl’s eyes squinted and he angled his ear toward Anna.
    â€œI SAID, I DON’T UNDERST–” Oh forget it. Anna dragged a dining chair over and positioned it underneath the fire alarm.
    â€œHere, let me.” Karl climbed onto the chair and tilted his face to get a better view. He pulled at the alarm, opening the lid, then tugged the ribbon on the battery pack but it was jammed. He yanked harder and the sound abated as the battery pack burst from its socket and hit his forehead. Karl rubbed the spot with his hand, bent down and collided with Anna’s head as she straightened up, having picked up the battery pack from the floor.
    â€œOw!” they said in unison. The chair wobbled, and Karl toppled over backwards and landed with a thud on the floor.
    â€œOh my God, are you okay?” Anna didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. This date had turned into a scene from a B-grade slapstick comedy movie.
    Karl eased himself up, one hand on his forehead, the