Page 5

Story: Love on the Line

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“Hello,” said the husky voice. “This isMathias.” His few words were clear, succinct, and surprisingly soothing.

Still, AJ remained quiet, locked up,unsure if she could even do this. She was on the verge of disconnecting thecall when Mathias broke the silence.

“Would you like to tell me your name?”

Oh yes, definitely a voice made for phonesex. Okay, she hadn’t called for phone sex. She wasn’t even the one who called.But did people even do that anymore? Call for phone sex? Mathias’s sexy timbrecertainly made her think of that, giving her goose bumps and making her shorthairs stand on end.

Thanksa lot, Jen,AJ thought, remembering her laughter as she quickly explained her scheme. Realmature for thirty-something.

Oh God, and here she sat with her phone toher ear, listening to this undeniably alluring voice, wishing she had just hungup the damn phone the minute the first word had been uttered.

“…and apparently you do, too.”

I dotoo, what?

“Hello?”

Crickets.

“If you’ve changed your mind, that’sunderstandable. No harm. I’ll just say good-bye, and—”

“AJ,” she blurted. He sounded so down. Disappointed.She felt bad.

Ohmy God, what is wrong with me? I don’t even know him, and here I am feelingsorry for him because I’m the one who won’t speak to a stranger?

She slapped her forehead as she closed hereyes and grimaced.

“Hi, AJ.”

She swore she could hear the smile in hisvoice when he said her name. She was so weak.

“So do you really like hiking andkayaking?”

“Yes,” came her simple reply.

“And you enjoy beer more than wine. Andyou prefer college football over NFL?”

“Yes, and of course.” So her friend reallyhad listed true facts.

“And even though you love to indulge inpizza, burgers, and ice cream, you still manage to keep your figure in tip-topshape as an ice girl for the Idaho Steelheads.”

“W-what!” AJ sputtered.

Mathias’s light laughter echoed in herear. “Gotcha. Just seeing if you were payingattention.”

“The Steelheads don’t even have icegirls.”

“You are correct. Think they have puckbunnies though? Amelia Jane.”

AJ sucked in a quick breath. “You knew myname all along.”

Mathis cleared his throat. “Yes. I got analert you were going to call. I just wanted to break the ice, so to speak. Makeyou comfortable.”

Jenput my full name in the profile? What else did she put in there? Should I knowwhat’s in his?Gah!

“So, I take it you like hiking andkayaking, too?” AJ asked.