Let me Count the Ways!

 By:Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com

Happy Valentine’s Day reader friends! 

It’s February and the expectations of romance are sky high. Will he say it with flowers, candy or a two carat, gold ring?

As a romance author, I’m supposed to believe that tangibles are what romances are made of.  While rose petals spread on satin sheets are lovely, they’re hardly practical and dang they can be uncomfortable. We all know that expensive meals while appreciated, don't always buy true love. Yes, I’m what you call a romantic realist and I'm a true subscriber to show me, don’t tell me, or buy me. 

You can keep your roses, expensive dinners and horse carriage rides, if you don't make the time to spend with me.  I'd rather have the magic moments we create, and simplicity is often the key. 

Those special moments can be created in a kitchen making dinner together. They can take the form of a walk on the beach, or a shared ice cream cone at a sidewalk cafe.  They can be quiet moments curled up on a sofa together, reading out loud. It can be a simple back rub meant to relieve the tension of a stressful day. It can take the form of a glance across a crowded room; a silent acknowledgement that you have my back.  

Years ago, a friend and I spent ten days in Asia. We’d traveled to Tokyo and Bangkok, and by the time we got to Hong Kong, jet lag had set in. Yet we were determined to go out on the town. The long and short of it, we ended up at an upscale restaurant with a dance band. In a matter of minutes, a table of mostly men asked us to join them, and we were being twirled around the dance floor.

One man, a dreamy, silver-tongued Australian, we’ll call X, ended up being my dance partner for most of the night.  After the place closed, we talked for hours and walked the Hong Kong waterfront. As the sun came up, we exchanged business cards and he walked me to my hotel. I figured that was that.

Two hours later, there was a knock on my door. He’d arrived flowers in hand to take me to breakfast. We kept in touch by mail, (email was not an option back then,) and phone. We did see each other again, and while the relationship didn’t last, some very special memories were made. These are the memories I tap into when  I write.

Years later, I got asked to dinner in Chinatown, New York by another guy. I waited on line for what seemed hours to enter a dingy basement-style establishment. My first thoughts were this man doesn’t think highly of me. Then I took the first bite of food. Heaven! Our conversation took off, and by the end of the meal, doves were cooing from the ceiling. It turns out that the restaurant was  a favorite of his and he wanted to share it with me. It also turns out I later married that guy, and that restaurant (now very fancy) became our go to place.

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My two favorite scenes in my recent novellas, Naughty in New York, and Loose in Las Vegas aren’t the obvious ones. In Naughty in New York, it’s not when Anderson  takes Theo on a carriage ride through Central Park, but the one when he follows her home after a party. Some might label it stalkerish, but heck, the man risked embarrassment to go after the woman he wanted. That's romantic to me.

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In Loose in Las Vegas, my favorite romantic scene was not the New Year’s Eve scene as some might expect. It’s the one when Cato’s plane is delayed, and he races down to the parking lot to stop Lana from heading home. Cato’s not afraid to make a fool of himself and go after what he wants. 

While these examples may not be your standard or traditional ideas of romance, maybe you'll share yours with me. Is it the moment when he gives you jewelry, a card or candy? Or is it when he/she whispers those three memorable words in your ear? I Love You! 

 I'd love to hear!  Share! Share! Share!

About  Marcia King-Gamble: 

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This former travel industry executive and current world traveler has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, and caring for her animal family.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

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