I’ve been thinking a good bit about romance lately — about lighthearted romances, angst-filled romances, married romances. The last one has been on my mind because I’m still working through the rough draft on my next book which deals with a married couple.
While my style tends to be more reality-driven fiction, which means there’s lots of drama and the occasional need for a tissue, there are still some fun, flirty moments. And I thought I’d share one of my favorite scenes between my main characters in Kept.
To set the stage, Miska and Dillan are at a church’s singles’ shindig (say that three times fast) on Memorial Day and are playing on opposite teams in an impromptu Frisbee soccer game. They’re not dating — and Miska isn’t even a Christian yet, so Dillan, a ridiculously tall assistant pastor, is doing just about everything he can to treat her right and not flirt with her. ‘Cause she’s got some issues he’s witnessed firsthand. But here, in this scene, in this moment… It gets fun. :)
Here we go!
They jogged farther down the field. Dillan’s team kept the Frisbee near her goal, and Miska and Dillan stopped to catch their breath. Behind the trees on the far side of the park, the sky began to turn pink and lavender. She squinted at the occasional ray of light that jumped between swaying leaves and tried to blind her.
Somewhere someone was grilling. “Smell that?” she asked.
Dillan sniffed the air.
“What is that? Ribs? Steak?”
He pointed behind them. “It’s coming from over there.”
She looked but couldn’t find the source. When she turned back, Dillan was yards ahead of her, sprinting for the Frisbee heading their way.
“Dillan!” She chased him.
The Frisbee stayed up, and Dillan leaped high into the air, nabbing the edge and pulling it into his palm. He landed hard on his feet, almost falling to his knees as she skidded to a stop. He flung his arm out for balance.
Two of his teammates stood alone by her team’s goal. Once he stood—
Miska leaped onto his back.
He laughed beneath her. “Uh, foul.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist. “Drop the Frisbee and no one gets hurt.”
People began to laugh and cheer. Someone wolf-whistled.
“Miska.” Dillan coughed. Laughed. “Get off.” He twisted, his left arm coming back to his chest to fling the Frisbee.
Miska lunged over his shoulder for it.
He laughed again, straightening. “Are you serious?”
She slipped. With a yelp, she tightened her hold around his neck, one hand grabbing a fistful of shirt.
He stumbled back a step.
Safely on his back again, she made another grab for the Frisbee.
“Please.” Amusement tinged his voice. He held the Frisbee out, way beyond her reach.
“No fair. Your arms are like six feet long.”
“And you climbing on my back is fair.” He brought the Frisbee in close, let her reach for it, and held it out again. Pulled it close, let her reach for it, held it out again. And again.
Across the field laughter grew. Jordan flopped onto the grass, an arm across her stomach, while Garrett watched with his hands on his hips. “Let me have it, Dillan. You’re making a scene.”
“So?”
“So I can live with this. Can you?”
“Watch me,” he said and started to run.
She jerked backwards. Her mouth flew open, and she grabbed his shoulders. “Dillan!”
His long legs ate up the distance. Miska hung on, each fist clenching the front of his shirt, each step jouncing her up and down. She pressed her cheek against the side of his head, his hair cushioning her jaw. They passed everyone until only one man stood between them and the goal.
Dillan leaned over the shorter guy’s head and tossed the Frisbee in.
His team erupted.
Miska slid off his back and landed in a heap on the ground. Dillan high-fived Cam, then turned to her, a grin across his face. He offered her a hand up.
She swatted it away. “You cheated.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. What was I thinking?”
On her feet, she flipped her hair over her shoulder. “You weren’t, I’m sure. There’s not enough oxygen up there. How are you even alive?”
Laughing, Cam shook his head and jogged downfield.
Dillan pointed toward his ear, his chest heaving beneath his crumpled Cubs T-shirt. “You’ve got grass in your hair.”
She ran her fingers over her curls. “Did I get it?”
“No, it’s still—” He brought his hand closer. “You’re right below it.”
She shook her head, moved her hand up. “Here?”
“Let me.”
Her hair gave beneath his fingers, a curl separating his skin from hers. And then his fingers were in front of her, a blade of grass—brown and jagged at one end—in his hand. He tossed it to the ground. “There.”
“Any more?”
“Don’t think so.” He checked both sides of her head. “You’re good.” He took a step toward the center of the field, and Miska fell in beside him, seeing the Frisbee take off at the other end.
Cam said something to a guy who glanced over his shoulder at her and Dillan.
“Why does everyone keep looking at us?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
“While we were eating and just now. Every time I look up, guys are watching us.”
He shrugged. “Got me.” He eased into a jog and began to leave her behind.
“What are you doing?”
“Playing defense.” He smirked over his shoulder. “I’ll explain it to you some time.”
I tell you, readers, I caught myself grinning from ear to ear every time I worked on this scene. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. And as I write this, Amazon has the ebook on sale for $1.99! They’re controlling this sale so I have no idea when it’ll end. So if you’re interested… and like a little flirty, angsty, reality-driven fiction, check out the Amazon reviews and read the sample.
As always, I love hearing from you! Anyone have a fun, flirty moment to share? Or a favorite scene from a recent book? No need to post the scene, but do give us the author and title and fill us in on the details!
Sally Bradley writes big-city fiction with real issues and real hope. A Chicagoan since age five, Sally has been fascinated by all things Chicago (except for crime, politics, and traffic) for almost as long. She now lives in the Kansas City area with her family, but they get back to Chicago for important things -- like good pizza and a White Sox game. A freelance-fiction editor and former president of her writing chapter, Sally has won a handful of awards for Kept and another work-in-progress. Visit her online at sallybradley.com or on Facebook.
I read and loved Kept. Definitely a good read for lots of drama and bits of light-hearted fun, like the scene above. :)
Ginger, thank you so much! That means a lot. :)
Enjoyed the post, and it sounds like a fun book. I enjoy flirting scenes in romance. :)
Yes, we all need a little good, clean flirting, don’t we? :) Thanks, Heather!
This looks like a fun story. :)
Kimberly, I’m going to be completely unbiased here and say that you’re right! ;) Thanks for the comment! Have a fabulous Monday.
I read and really enjoyed your book Kept. It is one of those books that I hated to see it come to an end.
Nancy, that’s so kind of you to say! I did kind of hate to see it end too, but I knew how the characters’ lives would continue. I’m finding my readers can’t read my mind–surprise, surprise–and that following the characters might be a very good thing! Thinking through ideas to come…
I love writing flirty scenes, too! And reading them. We do get ourselves in the strangest situations at times, don’t we? Ahem. I mean, our characters do…
Haha, Valerie! Yes, our characters! Never us!
Every so often there’s someone out there who blasts Christian romance and says it ruins marriages and relationships, but I know that reading a good, clean romance makes me value my own marriage that much more. And reminds to do a little flirting with my own honey. Sometimes life gets too routine, and we take each other for granted. Romances remind me I need to do otherwise.
What a fun scene! I’m still smiling after reading it :)
Thanks so much, Autumn! That scene gets me every time. :) It was one of the few scenes I didn’t get tired of reading during the editing phase.
Kept is one of my all time favorites! Love that scene too and it made me smile as well. Looking forward to more books by Sally!
Dana, judging from the pictures on Facebook, you’re going to be smiling big for a while! Thanks for putting Kept up there on the list! Working on the next book and starting to see it come together. Phew! :)
Great scene, Sally! It’s such a challenge to portray falling in love without writing racy scenes. You walk that line beautifully!
Thank you, Lee. We sure need good, legitimate romances, don’t we?
I loved the line about “not enough oxygen up there.” :)
Ha, Merrillee! I wondered if that would connect with readers who haven’t read the book yet. Dillan’s six nine, so… the air’s a little thinner for him. ;)
Such a fun scene! If I hadn’t already read Kept and enjoyed it, I’d be off to borrow or buy a copy now!
Aw, thank you, Diane!
I haven’t read this book, but wow Dillian is 6’9″?? I’ve met a few who are 6’4″ at the most, so I can’t imagine a person that tall…haha!
I do like a good flirty scene too, makes me fall in love with each character more. You get to see the fun side of a budding romance. Even me as a married person, have our flirty moments and the fun we have together :-) Never want to lose that side, it’s what keep the sparks flying :-)
Thanks for sharing that fun scene from your book!
Exactly, Trixi! Flirting isn’t just for the dating stage, is it? :) Glad you enjoyed it. And yeah, Dillan’s kinda tall, isn’t he? And it’s not random, either. There’s a reason.
I worked for a man who was 6’8″ tall. I had a permanent kink in my neck for several years.
I bet, Valerie…..Oh my! My best friends husband was 6’4″ and I dated a guy in high school who is 6’2″. I’ve always loved tall men, but God paired me with a husband who is one inch shorter than me…LOL! I have no complaints though :-) He’s the love and light of my life & I wouldn’t trade him for the world!
LOL, Valerie!
I remember standing by our college’s basketball center during a soccer game. He was 6’10” or 11″, I think. He was jumping up and down on the bleachers, and so was I! But not because I was trying to jump. :)
What a fun scene!
I enjoy writing flirty scenes. I think they help the reader root harder for the couple.
Very good point, Hallee. When there’s lots of angst between the two, the flirtiness would help the reader continue to root for them. Hadn’t thought of that.
Sally, I loved this scene in Kept! Thanks for sharing :)
Thanks for loving it, Narelle! It’s definitely one of my faves. :)