A Funny Valentine

 

I love writing contemporary romantic comedies. There’s something fun about telling two people’s journey toward discovery with humor and real-life insights. If you look at your own romantic entanglements, most of them probably involved something lighthearted and funny. Humor in a relationship is very important to me, whether it’s fact or fiction. I like looking for the offbeat in any situation, and have found that getting someone to laugh is sometimes more important than anything else.

 

Most of my non-series romances contain a lot of humor. Some of it is subtle, and some is more in-your-face. I’m attracted to movies that take this approach as well, especially if they can make me laugh while providing a happy-for-now ending. This month I’m featuring one of my rom-coms from a few years ago, The Sweet Distraction, an intentionally funny take on modern romance.

 

“George Sullivan’s life is a disaster in progress. His last few books haven’t sold well, he drinks too much, he sleeps around, he’s in hock for a gambling debt he can’t repay, and he’d probably trade his last friend for a best seller. His love life isn’t faring much better, due to a bad break-up that still haunts him. When his agent arranges for him to write the memoir of notorious mob boss Vito Pasquale, it’s a chance to make all his dreams come true. What George doesn’t count on is falling for the Don’s beautiful but spoiled daughter, Cookie. It’s lust at first sight for both of them, but George resists Cookie’s blatant seduction attempts because he fears how her father might react. Cookie finally wears him down, but what if things don’t work out between them? Will he end up in the middle of Lake Erie in a cement overcoat for dallying with the Don’s daughter? Worse, when George finally achieves the success he’s always wanted, will it be a hollow victory if Cookie isn’t there to share it with him?”  

To say I had a lot of fun writing this one is an understatement. I totally identified with the main character, since my own career as a writer has taken more dips than a rollercoaster. So has my love life, but let’s save that for another blog. I really enjoyed writing the flirting scenes, and used these to include some funny back-and forth exchanges, like this one early in the story, when Cookie has set her sights on George with no intention of stopping until she wins him over:

 

George perused the history section at Books & Co., seeking some volumes on Italian lore that he could use as background in telling Vito’s story.

 

“Hi, stranger,” a voice said from behind.

 

George turned around and came eye to eye with Cookie. He smiled. “Hi. What are you doing here?”

 

“Getting some cookbooks. We’re booked to do a Thai wedding and I need some recipes.”

 

George thought of the coincidence of meeting Cookie here and gave her a skeptical look. “Are you following me?”

 

She got the most innocent look she could manage. “Why whatever do you mean?”

 

He laughed. Whether she had followed him or it was just a coincidence, he was happy to see her. “Did you get the cookbooks you needed?”

 

“Mm-hmm.” She moved to within a few inches and placed her fingertip on his chest. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

 

He gazed into her soft eyes. “Yeah, I did. You have time for coffee?”

 

She placed her fingertip on his cheek and slowly dragged it down to his chin. “Not right now, but I have an opening later. Would you like to fill it?”

 

“I get the feeling we’re not talking about coffee.”

 

She slowly wagged her head. “No, we’re not.”

 

He took a deep breath then slowly exhaled. “You make it hard for me to say no. You realize that, don’t you?”

 

Cookie rubbed her knee against his thigh. “That’s my goal, to make it hard.”

 

“You’re doing an excellent job,” he muttered.

 

She pouted. “What do you find so resistive about your little Cookie?”

 

“Because you’re someone else’s little Cookie and he might send guys with crooked noses after me if he found out we were together. That kind of thing makes me nervous.”

 

“Then I’ll just have to find a way to calm your nerves, won’t I?”

 

 

Of course, the inevitable happens and she finally breaks his resolve, even though George has some reluctance. Here’s a hot and steamy for you:

 

George answered the doorbell, wondering who was calling on him unexpectedly. Cookie pushed her way in, leaned against the door, and gave George a look that radiated sensual heat. He took a step back and stared warily at her.

 

“Hi,” he said. “What brings you here?”

 

“You.”

 

She pushed herself away from the door and slinked toward him. George slowly backed up, not sure what she had in mind. He stopped when he met the wall. Cookie continued her approach, her gaze boring into his. She placed her hand on his chest with her fingers spread and slowly raked them down to his waist.

 

“You and me,” she whispered. “Now.”

 

“Cookie…” he began to protest.

 

Cookie placed her hands on his cheeks, pulled his mouth to hers and hungrily kissed him. George tried to resist, but couldn’t. His hands went to her shoulders and he felt himself getting aroused, but wasn’t sure if he liked it.

 

She pulled back and peered into his eyes while holding his face. “You just don’t give a girl a chance, do you?”

 

“Uh…”

 

George tried to squirm out of her embrace but she blocked him with her body. Her look softened a bit as she smiled at him.

 

“I told you I’m a sweet treat. Why don’t you taste your little Cookie and find out?”

 

George waged the battle of the century between his brain and his dick. Aw, what the hell. You’ve got to die from something.   

 

Consider this an early Valentine to all my friends in Sweet ‘n Sexy Diva-land. You can find The Sweet Distraction at the link below. Happy reading!

"The Sweet Distraction" is available at Amazon Kindle. 

 

Tim Smith is an award-winning, bestselling author of romantic mystery/thrillers and contemporary erotic romance. His website is Tim Smith, AllAuthor