Out Of This World Read online

  Back of the Book

  With a name like Mabel Butt, the library was a safe place to work and hide. Mabel is so far in the closet that even the Jaws of Life can’t pull her out until a beautiful, exotic stranger comes into the library. Whatever the hold that the woman has on her, Mabel is defenseless against her charms.

  To call Celeste a bit eccentric is an understatement. The beautiful woman attracts the wrong kind of attention. When it is discovered that someone is tracking her down, a game of cat and mouse begins.

  Added to the mix is Sydney, a close friend with whom Mabel has been in love since junior high school. Sydney is quick to come to Celeste and Mabel’s rescue, but what is her true motive for helping out?

  Sparks fly all around the three women as they join forces. Who will end up being the one to break Mabel out of her shell of insecurity and show her all that life has to offer?

  Out of This World

  © 2015 by Annette Mori

  Affinity E-Book Press NZ LTD.

  Canterbury, New Zealand

  1st Edition

  ISBN: 978-0-908351-31-2

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this eBook may be reproduced in any form without the express permission of the author and publisher. Please note that piracy of copyrighted materials violate the author’s rights and is illegal.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, character, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Editor: Angela Koenig

  Proof Editor: Alexis Smith

  Cover Design: Irish Dragon Designs

  Acknowledgments

  As always an important person to acknowledge is Erin O’Reilly, because she always gives me the right amount of advice and encouragement. As my mentor, she is like a drug that I don’t think I can ever wean myself from. Whenever I was stuck, she let me bounce ideas off of her and helped me think of ways to make corrections. Erin gives of her time freely, without the expectation of anything in return. I am honored to call her a friend and loved having a chance to meet her in person at GCLS.

  I would also like to express my gratitude to Affinity Press and the wonderful trio (JM Dragon, Erin O'Reilly and Nancy Kaufman) who continue to support this new and somewhat unconventional writer. I am eternally grateful for the opportunities they give me to let my stories see the light of day.

  On my journey, I elicited feedback from my older sister, Val who gave me valuable feedback that helped shape the final version of the story. She continues to be an incredible encouragement to me. My other beta reader and favorite fan, Gail Dodge continues to be one of my strongest supporters. She is the sweetest person and one of the first people to let me know how much she liked my writing. My other family members, who were also supportive, include my nephew, Aaron and his wife, Chelsea, and my little sister, Kim.

  In addition to her talents as a cover artist, Nancy Kaufman was my beta editor and she is always a joy to work with. Thanks to Angela Koenig as the final editor and tightened the story even further. Inevitably, there are those pesky final errors that slip through and I am thankful that the final proof editor, Alexis Smith who caught those before the book went to print. Nancy Kaufman is a rock star with her covers. A triple help, Nancy is also a promoter extraordinaire.

  Over the past several months, Rosie Moore and KA Moll have been wonderful supporters often sharing my posts. A huge thanks to all the other readers and fellow writers who have sent personal e-mails, written reviews and posted nice things on Facebook (you know who you are).

  The Affinity authors are an especially supportive group and often share posts or send words of encouragement, especially Ali Spooner, Jen Silver, Lacey Schmidt, Renee Mackenzie, and Charlene Neil. Finally, my wife

  Dedication

  To all the readers like Gail who continue to support my books. To all the people who ‘color outside the lines’ and like to read unconventional books. To my wife who I love dearly for her patience when I get in a groove and ignore her during ‘our’ weekend time.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Other Books from Affinity

  Also by Annette Mori

  Asset Management

  The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Elves in Love

  (Affinity 2014 Christmas Collection)

  The True Story of Valentine’s Day

  Love Forever, Live Forever

  Prologue

  My name is Mabel Butt and although the story I am about to tell may seem completely unbelievable to you, I swear every word is the God’s honest truth.

  I suppose with a name like mine, you think you’d know what it was like growing up, but I’m fairly certain you do not.

  It’s bad enough that my last name is Butt—a good strong German name my dad would tell you, but Mabel was the cherry that put it over the top for all those budding bullies. I don’t think my parents intended to be cruel when they named me Mabel. I even heard stories that my dad fought hard against the name—at least he had some inkling what it might be like.

  Mom can be a force to reckon with and I guess dad just gave in when I was born. Mabel was mom’s favorite grandmother, and she was determined to have one of her children named after such an influential person in her life.

  My older sister, Veronica, escaped my fate—lucky her. She also changed her last name as soon as she was old enough. I couldn’t do that to dad after I saw his crestfallen face. He was so proud of his German roots and conveniently forgot all the names they had called him as a young boy.

  The only person who never made fun of me was Sydney O’Donnell. She was my unlikely protector all through school, but she couldn’t be there all the time. If it weren’t for my name, I’m sure I could have blended into the background.

  How could I not fall in love with Sydney? She was the only one who was ever kind to me. Everyone fell in love with Sydney so I definitely had no chance to win her heart. She had her pick of the school and I was the fruit left rotting on the tree—flawed and unappealing.

  Chapter One

  “Hey, Mabs. Whatcha reading?” Sydney leaned her long lanky body on the counter and gifted me with one of her slow sexy grins.

  “Oh, hello Sydney.” I quickly stuffed the book under the counter and away from her piercing blue eyes.

  “Syd, all my friends call me Syd, how many times do I have to tell you that? You must be reading that book, Fifty Shades of Grey. I didn’t think you had it in you.” Sydney winked.

  I’d been in love with Sydney since the fifth grade, but I was so far into the closet that even the Jaws of Life weren’t able to pry me out.

  I blushed at her teasing. “Um, no, it’s not that book.” I sat up and tried for my professional librarian look. “Can I help you find something, Sydney?”

  She sighed. “I’m never going to convince you to call me Syd, am I?”

  I shook my head. “You’ll always be Sydney to me.” I wanted to add, Sydney, my hero and divine object of hidden desires, but I didn’t.

  “Hollie wanted me to pick up that new lesbian romance by Janet River. Do you have it yet?” she asked.

  I did have it. That was the book I’d just hidden under the counter but I couldn�
�t tell her that. “We do, but someone just checked it out.”

  “Damn, I didn’t think there were that many lesbians in our sleepy little town. Who checked it out? Maybe I can ask how long she’ll have it and I can get it when she brings it back.”

  Busted. I thought of something quick and only felt slightly guilty for the lie. “Oh I’ll just call you when it comes back in. You know, confidentiality and all that.”

  “Oh, sorry. Someone in the closet, huh? I just don’t get it. Be out and proud. It’s not like it’s the fifties or anything. No one’s ever bothered me.”

  Sydney was one of the beautiful people, popular, confident, and unfortunately, definitely spoken for, not that I would ever have a chance with her. Coming out was a non-issue for her. She just acted as if it was the most normal thing in the world to be a lesbian and it worked. No one ever challenged her. The fact that she began dating the head cheerleader, who happened to be the most sought after girl in high school, certainly didn’t hurt. They were the golden couple. I thought she could do better because Hollie wasn’t a very nice person, but maybe that was just wishful thinking on my part. I fantasized that one day she would realize she was really in love with me.

  “That’s because you’re beautiful and everyone loves you. It isn’t like that for everyone,” I blurted out. If ever there was a time I wanted to be born a deaf mute, it was that moment.

  Sydney quirked her eyebrow at me. “Are you flirting with me, Mabel Butt?”

  Fortunately, at just that moment, the door to the library opened and the tinkling of the bell interrupted our conversation. I looked up and saw the most astonishing woman I’d ever seen in my entire life. I was speechless and I could tell Sydney was too. The woman had the kind of ethereal beauty that you almost never come across. Little did I know how accurate a description that really was. I wasn’t aware at the time, but this moment would be the spark that changed my life forever.

  Chapter Two

  The strange woman nearly floated into the library and my mouth hung open just waiting for all the flies to gather inside and claim squatter’s rights. Sydney was nearly my twin as she gaped at the woman.

  She wasn’t very tall, maybe five-seven, give or take an inch. Her hair was an unusual white blond and shimmered like silver, but it wasn’t exactly the color of silver. Her eyes were what really captured my attention. They were a bright lavender color. People talk about Elizabeth Taylor’s unusual eye color, but it wasn’t like that at all. They were so bright, yet almost translucent. It’s hard to describe the color. If Easter collided with Christmas, maybe you’d get that color, a sparkling light-purple in a shimmering Christmas ornament.

  I was startled from my trance when her melodic voice reached my ears.

  “I am looking for information on this planet, Earth. I am told the library contains the data I require.”

  Sydney blinked her eyes. I remember thinking she must have been in the same trance as me. I wondered at the time why she didn’t take charge and introduce herself. It’s what she usually did whenever someone new came into town. Sydney was always outgoing and, even though she never passed up an opportunity to meet a beautiful woman, she was fiercely loyal to her relationship with Hollie.

  “I think I can help you if you can be a little more specific with what you are looking for. Do you want information on geology of the planet, geography, cultures, history?”

  She cocked her head to the side. “Yes, all of it. I wish to study you as well. There is something special about you.”

  Even though her voice was appealing, her words were unusual and kind of alarming to me.

  “What do you mean, ‘study her’? She’s not some lab rat. Who the hell are you anyway?” Sydney got in her face and glared at the strange woman.

  I saw her lavender eyes capture Sydney’s and then she did the strangest thing. She touched her on the wrist and a soft purple light spread from her hand all the way up Sydney’s arm. I watched as Sydney’s head turned into a kind of neon backlight and shimmered for a few seconds before I heard a pop.

  Sydney smiled at her. “I’m sorry. I’m being rude. Of course you need Mabel’s help. Mabs is the best. She can find information on just about anything you want to know, except for maybe herself, on that she’s like a vault.”

  The strange purple light was a major clue and looking back, I wonder why I didn’t figure things out from the very start, but I didn’t. Even when she revealed all and I had a brief acceptance of the surreal, I quickly reverted to my safe and stubborn view of the world and its limited possibilities.

  She tilted her head again and looked directly at me. I could swear that I heard her ask me if I was frightened of her, but her lips never moved and the words felt like they were just floating inside my mind. I shook my head as an answer to her mind question. That’s what I called it because I didn’t really have any other kind of way to describe it. I felt a lyrical laugh inside my head and then the words mind question reverberated inside my skull. I experienced an immediate sense of peace and then I laughed.

  “I do apologize. I am not used to the primary Earth language. I am in need of a sponsor—an earthling to show me around.” Her lavender eyes focused on me. “You are my choice.”

  I didn’t realize I was answering her when the words just tumbled from my mouth. “I would love to help you find what you need.” I looked into her beautiful eyes and I wanted to be her host. I felt flattered that she picked me. “I can show you around town since you’re not from around here.”

  I convinced myself that she was just an eccentric out of towner who needed my assistance.

  For the first time since I fell in love with Sydney, someone new drew me into her sphere. In that moment, I would have done anything this strange woman asked of me without question. Well almost anything. I don’t think I would have murdered anyone for her, but for some strange reason I knew she would never ask me to do anything harmful to another human being. My initial assessment was that her beauty did not stop at her physical appearance. I suspected that she was truly beautiful—inside and out.

  “Thank you. Is Mabel the name you wish to be called?” she asked.

  No one had ever asked me that. I’d never been called anything else, except by Sydney. She called me Mabs and I liked how she would shorten my old fashioned name, but I didn’t want this exquisite, exotic person to call me Mabs. I wanted a special name that only she would use and in my mind, I saw the name Bella. I was a huge fan of the Twilight series and I wanted a name that meant beautiful, something I definitely was not.

  You are beautiful. I heard her say inside my head. Again, I ignored my inner voice telling me something was not matching up.

  “I will call you Bella. It is an appropriate name. You may call me Celeste,” she added in her lyrical voice.

  Sydney seemed to be in a trance during the whole interchange between Celeste and me, but appeared to snap out of it when she heard Celeste call me Bella. She raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything. I just stood there frozen with my mouth hanging open.

  Celeste turned to Sydney. “Your Hollie is throwing a hissy fit. What is this hissy fit?”

  Sydney blinked twice. “Um. What makes you think that? Do you know Hollie?”

  Celeste brushed Sydney’s arm and I saw a slightly muted version of the light I’d witnessed earlier.

  “Oh, you want to know the meaning of the slang phrase hissy fit. It means she’s not happy with me right now and probably expected me ten minutes ago. Gotta fly, Mabs. Can you recommend another book that I can appease her with or else I’m in deep shit?” Sydney asked.

  I absently pulled the book I’d hidden from Sydney earlier from under the counter and handed it to her.

  She looked at the book, scrunching up her face. “I thought you said someone had already checked it out.”

  I shook my head. “Sorry, they must have returned it and I just noticed it was queued up to be reshelved.”

  “Okay, thanks. Can you take care of the paperwork? G
otta run.” Sydney waved as she ran out the door.

  I turned to look at Celeste and she was smiling at me. I noticed her perfect white teeth lined up like miniature soldiers all in a very neat, straight, row. I felt my face flush and offered her a tentative smile back.

  “Um, shall we start with geology?” I asked. For some reason, this thought popped into my mind. Geology was always a fascinating topic to me. I wasn’t just a nerd, I was the definition of a nerd. I’m sure next to the word nerd in a dictionary, you can find a picture of me.

  Her head inclined slightly. I took that as my cue to lead her to the section in the library where the books all about Earth’s geology were located.

  I took pride in my library, making sure that I aligned every book perfectly according to the old-fashioned Dewey Decimal system. First published in 1876 by Melvil Dewey, the system withstood the test of time after twenty-three major editions with the most recent in 2011. Nerd alert. I knew the most inane facts. No one gave a bleep about the history of the Dewey Decimal system.

  I knew that paper books were becoming passé quickly with the explosion of e-books, but I still loved smelling the old leather and touching the pages. I would always want to handle the books. I just hoped that others would remain loyal to the printed page as the years and the technology grew.