So Facebook, and Gail McHugh and her fans, have been mighty kind to me. I reached over 200 likes today on my little nothing of a page and I wanted to celebrate by sharing a teaser of Man of My Dreams. You can check it out on my author page or you can just read it right here.

So without further ado, I give you…Teaser #1

October 1998

“Hey, aren’t you in my psychology class?”

I glance over my shoulder to see who this unfamiliar voice belongs to only to come face to face with one of the most gorgeous men I’ve ever laid eyes on—and there are plenty of gorgeous guys to take your pick from on campus. I would have definitely noticed if this guy was in my psychology class. Hell, he’d be more than in my psychology class, he’d be in my pants.

My not-so-lady-like thoughts cause me to blush. I tuck a few errant hairs behind my ear, peering up through batting lashes. “Um, no, I don’t think so?” Not sure why it’s coming out as a question.

“You’re Mia, right? I know you from somewhere.”

Oh my God, those eyes. I want to agree with him just so he’ll stay put and stare at me like that a little longer. But I’m not about to start this off with lies. “Yes, I’m Mia, but I’m certain I’ve never seen you before.” I give him another once over, hoping it reads as I’ve never seen you, but I’d love to see more of you.

“Mind if I pull up a chair, Mia?”

“I would love that…” I trail off hoping he’ll put a name to his flawless face.

“Declan. Sorry, my name’s Declan.”

Oh. Even his name—I’ve never heard of a Declan before. It’s so different. So intriguing. So sexy.

He sits next to me at our obscure table in the library and my roommate, Whitney, eyes me knowingly. “I’m pretty much done here. I’m heading back to the dorms. Catch you later?”

“Sure thing, Whitney.” I discreetly wink over my shoulder. It’s a promise to fill her in on all the details later.

“I hope I didn’t interrupt your studying, but when I saw you here I just couldn’t ignore you.” He’s leaning against his chair, one arm hung nonchalantly over the back. But there is nothing nonchalant about the way his eyes are roaming me.

“You’re not interrupting, Declan.” Wow, I really like saying that! “And I wasn’t really studying, more like wasting time.” I’d rather be wasting time with you than with Introduction to Ethics.

“Well, then I’m glad I got up the nerve to finally come talk to you.”

“Finally?”

He looks down at his hands; they’re mangled together in knots. Oh my goodness, he’s nervous. How cute. “Yeah, I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I’ve wanted to talk to you since I spotted you at orientation.”

I can’t hide my surprise at his admission. My voice goes an octave too high, “Since orientation? Last year? It took you a whole year to build up the nerve to talk to me?” I feel bad for sounding so amused, but really, a year? I’m nothing special. I can’t believe he’s been pining over me that long.

“No,” he flashes a smile.

I melt.

“Not since last year. Since last month. I’m a freshman. I take it you’re not?”

Hello stupid mouth, how do you like the taste of my foot? For the first time since the start of this conversation I’m the one who’s nervous. “Oh…I…I just assumed you were a sophomore too. I’m sorry.”

He laughs, tilting his head back, brushing back a piece of his dark, wavy hair with his manly hands. “Nothing to be sorry about. I get that a lot. I guess I won’t have a problem getting into the local bars then.”

How could he have a problem getting in anywhere? “No, probably not.” I practically stammer, wanting to gain back some control. “So, Declan the freshman, what made today different than the last thirty?”

He leans closer to me and any prayer of being in control, in such close proximity to this beautiful boy, is out the damn window. “I decided I was tired of not knowing you anymore. There was this voice in my head telling me I have to get to know you.”

Okay, this one’s good. Either that’s his pick up line or he’s just the sweetest thing alive. And the voices in his head—kudos to them. “Oh really? Well what is the voice in your head telling you now?”

He leans back in his chair, devouring me with his eyes again. “It’s telling me to ask you out.”

I force myself to take a mental step back. What have I done to deserve this? I’ve spent the last year messing around with random nobodies in the hopes of sowing my oats and enjoying my freedom. But Declan and his delicious offer have me uncharacteristically hoping for all the things I never thought I wanted at my age. A steady boyfriend to cuddle at the movies with, to lounge around and study with, to hold hands with, to fall in love with.

“Well? Are you going to leave me hanging all day? Or maybe make me wait another month?” Declan interrupts my silent fairytale imaginings with a coy grin, one corner of his delectable mouth turned upward.

“Declan, I don’t know you from Adam, but I can’t bring myself to say no.”

“So is that a yes?” His ice-blue eyes are wide, sparkling with excitement.

***

On our first date, five days later, Declan takes me to an off campus lounge-type place that accommodates the underage crowd. The Alibi hosts open mic nights and live bands. He couldn’t have known it, but this is exactly my type of scene. Tonight there’s a cover band that plays their own interpretations of everything ranging from the hits of the ‘80s to Pearl Jam and Matchbox Twenty.

I tap my foot, singing along to Rick Springfields’s Jesse’s Girl as Declan excuses himself from the table. My guess is he’s headed to the men’s room, but when I see him over at the stage, talking to one of the band members, I can’t help but wonder what he’s up to. He looks over at me with a devilish grin and a raised index finger, signaling that he’ll be a minute.

The next thing I know, Declan’s on stage, standing with the mic in his hand, peering down at me with a shy smile. The lead singer of the band tilts the mic to his mouth to make an announcement.

Is this really happening?

“I’m gonna rest my pipes for the next set while my man Declan takes over. Seems like Dec wants to make a special first impression tonight. Take it away, buddy.”

Declan rolls his eyes, and fake punches the lead singer in the gut. I guess they’re friends. The band starts to play, the drum beat is sensual, mesmerizing. After a bar or two of the drums and the practiced strumming of a guitar, Declan starts to sing and I all hear are the words…I want you. He repeats them again, you make me want you.

Oh. My. God.

This is one of my favorite Third Eye Blind songs, and as sexy as I think Stephan Jenkins is when he sings this, Declan blows him away. And he’s singing it about me! I lose track of all reality as his raspy voice takes me away. I can barely make sense of any of the lyrics, the ones I’ve sung along to at least a hundred times, but hearing him sing those words makes my heart race at galloping speed. This is the best first date ever! I wouldn’t mind it being my last first date either.  

When he’s finished making me feel like the luckiest girl in the world, the mass of rowdy boys and swooning girls cheer, mobbing Declan with high-fives. He makes his way back to our table and sits down as if nothing’s happened.

I stare at him in disbelief.

He takes a sip of his Coke and says nothing.

“Seriously, dude? Are you kidding?” I pinch his arm, deflating back into the booth.

“What?” he says with a wicked grin.

“What? So that’s how we’re playing this? Okay, I’ll just come out and say it then…um, amazing. That was amazing, Declan. No one has ever done something like that for me before.”

“Who said I was doing it for you?” he arches an eyebrow.

I slap his arm this time, tilting my head as if to say “really?”

“I’m kidding, Mia. But not about what I said up there. I definitely want you.”

I motion to the waitress to get us the check.

Declan narrows his eyes, grimacing. “Check? Is our date over?”

I lean over the table and give Declan an inviting, pre-game peck on his soft lips. “Date’s definitely not over. But can we get out of here? I kind of want you too.”

***

We escape the loudness of The Alibi in to a brisk, beautiful October night. I love the fall, the way the weather starts to cool, foreshadowing all the things that I love about the last three months of the year—winter and the holidays and the way they spark a kind of innocent magic that I’ll never outgrow.

Declan takes my hand in his, entwining our fingers together. His touch sparks something, but it’s not innocence. The simple gesture is sweet, but after the way he just serenaded me, sweet isn’t going to cut it. I don’t want him to think I’m some slut ready to give it up to him on our first date, we hardly know each other. But God help me for not wanting to reciprocate his sweet, gentle wooing. I want him to kiss me with the same eager desire that gleamed in his penetrating eyes when he sang those words to me.

As we walk in silence, hand in hand, to the bus stop where the shuttle back to campus picks us up, I can’t control my devilish musings. Whitney won’t be back at the dorm tonight, I intend on asking Declan to come up and continue our date. My turn to show him how much I want him.

“You’re awfully quiet. What’re you thinking about, huh?” Declan’s free hand tips my chin up so my eyes meet his.

I’m almost positive that all of my secret intentions spill out through my dilated, fiery gaze, so I lower my eyes, taking in how perfectly my hand fits inside his.

“I’m thinking about what a great time I had and how I don’t want it to end just yet. It’s still kind of early. Want to watch a movie back at the dorms?” Step one: get him in the room. Step two, and all the rest, will come later.

“I’d love that. But I kind of want to take care of something first.” He drops my hand from his, leaving it cold and lonely without his fingers wrapped around mine.

I look up into his eyes. They glisten with tiny gold specks illuminated by the street lamps. Only they’re not focused on mine, they’re paying very close attention to my mouth. I lick my lips, as if to extinguish the flames that radiate off them from his scorching stare.

He leans forward and I think this is it, but instead he takes a few strands of my hair, playing with them, flipping them through his fingers. Come on! You can’t come that close just to touch my hair, you tease. I want to move in and take matters into my own hands, but I also want Declan to possess control of our first kiss. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of the way it feels to watch a guy lean in and tilt his head, the anticipation of his lips melding to mine for the very first time. The thought of watching Declan do this sends thrilling tingles fluttering through my stomach.

But he hasn’t taken the usual stance a guy takes before going in for the kill. He’s backing away, hesitant, almost nervous even. I take a step closer, maybe he needs some help, or more proof that what I want more than anything is to be kissed. By him.

He doesn’t lean down and tilt his head, he brings his hands up to my face, his thumbs caressing my blush burned cheeks. I close my eyes to savor the smooth, amorous touch, taking it all in, and then I finally feel the connection of his lips on mine.

They’re soft and just moist enough to make me want more. His tongue pokes through my puckered pout, forcing a slow, delicious entrance. I part my lips to give into his sweet intrusion, and his tongue explores my mouth with slow circles and flicks. He pulls back, grazing the tip of my tongue ever so slightly with his own and that’s when I can’t control it anymore.

My hands reach up to bury themselves in his hair and I deepen the kiss by pulling him closer. My tongue caresses his with a dreamy intimacy. I pause from the wild stroking to trail my tongue across his top lip. In response he nibbles my lower lip with his teeth, before capturing it with a subtle suck. This is, hands down, is the best first kiss I have ever had. Ever!

We go on like this for what seems like hours, under the ashy moonlight and shallow thumping of the music we left behind, alternating between slow, tender pecks and more intense groping. The sound of the bus pulling up at the curb is what finally breaks us away from each other.

“Wow!” He says to me, wiping away the remains of my lipstick from my mouth with his thumb.

“Wow is an understatement. Incredibly, breathtakingly awesome is more like it.”

***

Back in my dorm room, we can’t keep our hands off each other. So much for that movie. But it looks like my plan is working. I’m so glad Whitney is spending the night at her boyfriend’s apartment. No room for interruptions tonight.

“Mia. Wait. Stop.”

Declan’s hands are in my hair, his lips still trailing kisses on my neck. No, don’t stop that.

“What? What’s the matter?” I say, panting, trying to unbutton his jeans.

“It’s our first date. There’s plenty of time for…for our first time.”

I’m starting to wonder if his choice of song was the right one.

“Declan, I thought we made it clear back at the bar that we wanted each other. This is me wanting you.” My eager hands find their way back to his pants, but are stopped by Declan’s manly grip on my wrists.

He places my arms at my side, and we sit up on the bed, regaining normal breaths. He lifts his hands up to my face and cups my chin with one, pushing my bangs out of my eyes with the other. “Mia, I want you. I’ve never wanted someone so badly…ever. But…”

“But what, Declan? It seems simple to me. I want you, you want me. What more is there to know?”

He pauses, looking down at his fidgeting legs. “I’m a virgin, Mia.”