Skip to main content

Embarrassing Escapades + GIVEAWAY

Having a tweenie in the house definitely brings back memories of those awkward teenage years.

Do you remember your first crush? Your first dance? Your first kiss?

I can honestly say that I’ve never been tongue-tied around the opposite sex; however, I do have a habit of being a wee bit clumsy. For example, when I was sixteen years old, I had a mad crush on a guy I used to work with. One day he walked into the kitchen, I looked up, and literally dropped an entire tray of coffee cups at his feet.

That brutal torture eventually came to an end, but it was completely mortifying at the time. My heroine, Lady Rosalia Armstrong, has certainly had her share of embarrassing escapades in Temptation in a Kilt. This is one of them.
 

A warm voice spoke from behind her. “We will turn our backs. Go ahead and change your wet clothes,” murmured Ciaran.
She twisted around to make sure they did not peek. She removed her tunic and trews, the fire warming her bare skin. She attempted to pull on the day dress, finding it difficult since her hair and body were still damp. What the hell was wrong with it? It clung to her and did not want to budge. Besides, she could not pull it fully over her head due to the soreness in her arms. The dress was the one piece of clothing that was dry. She would make this work. She had no choice in a hut full of men.

As she grunted and maneuvered to don the dress, Ciaran spoke. “Do ye need assistance?”
God’s teeth! It was stuck on her shoulders. “Donna turn around!” she spoke hastily.

“I didnae, but ye sound as if ye need help. Are ye sore?”

She tried to reposition the dress. “Aye. Howbeit I will manage. Please donna turn around,” she pleaded.
As a last resort, she gave the dress a firm tug, hearing the fabric tear at the same time. The dress covered her, but it was way too tight for her frame. What was she going to do? Her mother said Rosalia ate as much as her father’s men. She should have listened. Not only did the dress not fit, but now she could not lift her arms to remove it because it was far too tight. Never had she been so humiliated. She was not even sure how she’d managed to pull it on as far as she had.

Her blood pounded and her face grew hot with humiliation. Searching her bag for something else to wear, she found that everything was soaked. She closed her eyes and sighed. This was truly a nightmare. Rosalia again attempted to lift her arms but the dress continued to cling to her frame as a second skin, not moving an inch for her to maneuver it. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she needed assistance.
Her embarrassment quickly turned to annoyance.

“Umm… Ciaran?” she whispered. The thought of speaking to him about this almost made her cry.
“Can I turn around?”

“Nay!” She reached out and pulled Ciaran two steps back away from his men. She stole a glance at them as they tried to look occupied with their backs still turned. She yanked on his tunic and he lowered his head toward her. She whispered her dilemma.
“What?” he asked, not even attempting to lower his voice.

She swatted at him. “Shh…” Thankfully, Seumas started talking to Calum. “I put on the day dress from the maid at the village and it doesnae fit. I cannae remove it and I need your assistance,” she repeated, mortified.
He paused for a moment. “Do ye have something dry to put on?” he murmured.

“Well… nay. I will just wear what I had on,” she spoke quietly.
“And ye will catch the ague,” he said with cool authority. Grabbing his sack, he rifled through it and pulled out a tunic. Seumas looked at him, and she could swear he smiled. Why did men have to be such beasts? Stepping backward, Ciaran reached behind his back and handed the tunic to her. “’Tis at least dry,” he whispered.

There was an uncomfortable silence.
“Do ye still need me to assist ye to remove your clothing?” He spoke in an odd, yet gentle tone.

“Aye,” she sighed. Her humiliation could not be alleviated.
“I will have to turn around,” he whispered.

“I know. I will give ye my back.” Mercifully, he could not see the crimson in her face.

My poor heroine. We've all been in those situations at one time or another. Care to share?
One lucky commenter will receive an autographed copy of Temptation in a Kilt as well as a Bad Boys of the Highlands t-shirt. US and Canada only, please. Please be sure to leave your e-mail address and the winner will be announced on Friday, November 16th.

Comments


  1. The main lobby of my high school had flagstone flooring. It also had large metal trash cans, and in my haste to make an afternoon bus, I ploughed right into one, sending it crashing to the floor, garbage flying everywhere. The noise was deafening, as was the ensuring silence. I can still hear it... and I can still recall the name of the girl who popped off a bench and asked if I was OK. Thank you, Carolyn Piedy!

    ReplyDelete
  2. And why is it out of all the wonderful things that happen in our lives, we will never forget that single solitary moment? Ugh. Thanks for sharing, Grace!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I was HORRIBLY SHY!!!! So the worst thing I had to do was give a speech in front of class. I'd made a "sculpture", head and bust of someone famous and was standing there holding it and speaking when the head rolled off the bust across the floor.

    I started laughing and couldn't stop. I don't remember anyone else laughing. I was just soooo embarrassed.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Terry, that is so funny! I wouldn't forget that one either!

    ReplyDelete
  5. First congratulations on that RT nomination! Woo-hoo! Loved the post and the reminder that we are all human. Sexy cover and very "tempting" title! There are too many of those awkward moments in my life to list...Husband says I'm as graceful as a hippopotumus on ice and I think he's paying me a compliment!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great excerpt! I can totally relate to doing embarrassing things, only I don't think I ever grew out of it. LOL. But thank goodness, I don't melt into a puddle of mortification anymore. :)

    One incident I recall from my freshman year in college is my heel became stuck in a tiny hole in the sidewalk. I couldn't move, so I had to take off my shoe, get on my hands and knees, and pry it from the hole. Of course, this couldn't be unwitnessed. No, it had to be in front of a guy I had a huge crush on and his equally hot friend. (They were swimmers.) And they laughed, so they weren't very gentlemanly. *pout*

    ReplyDelete
  7. If it isn't bad enough to be embarrassed, but it has to occur in front of a crush. Thanks for sharing the pain, Samantha. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think I've done a lot of blocking of embarrassing moments! I do remember having a huge crush on a boy in high school. He worked at the grocery store and a friend and I ran into him working one evening. I did my best flirting (which was pretty pitiful)and smiling. In the parking lot my friend told me I had lipstick all over my teeth! I don't think I ever spoke to that boy again. I was so embarrassed.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think I've done a lot of blocking of embarrassing moments! I do remember having a huge crush on a boy in high school. He worked at the grocery store and a friend and I ran into him working one evening. I did my best flirting (which was pretty pitiful)and smiling. In the parking lot my friend told me I had lipstick all over my teeth! I don't think I ever spoke to that boy again. I was so embarrassed.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh, Heather. At least it wasn't toilet paper on the shoe.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congrats on your new book. Sounds great. I love the cover. I have done many things that were embarrasing. I am reall clutzy.

    Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I was in college at the time and had been terrified about a Literature course exam. Spent days studying and going through my notes. Thankfully, could study through the weekend and so didn't bother leaving the apt for a couple of days. By the morning of the exam, adrenaline was coursing through my veins and I truly felt ready. Grabbed my backpack and coffee and headed for the door. Didn't make it past the door. The lock was stuck and I was on the second story of a duplex. The people renting the first floor were not home. I resorted to shouting out the window to someone hurrying by and the face that turned upward was that of my Literature prof. He was quite concerned and ran up the stairs to try to get me out. He failed and had to head to class because he had cut the time too close. In the end, I called the local Ace hardware store for advice and they had me use a butter knife to unscrew the lock. I got to the exam at the midway mark for time. Prof commented on the desperate measures students took to try to get out of his tests, but hid a smile. I was shaking with nerves and embarrassment, trying to keep up my GPA for a scholarship. Thank heavens he gave me extra time. Never lived the incident down with that prof or my classmate/friends.

    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow. I don't think I could've made that up if I tried. I hope you at least aced the exam.

    ReplyDelete
  14. The first day of freshman year in high school, I tripped going up the stairs and before I could think, someone was helping me up--Mr. Powanda, one of the Chemistry teachers:) His smile of understanding made the laughter around me easier to take.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love those teachers who seem to take us under their wing.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love those kinds of scenes. They're so fun and cute and sexy. The book sounds really good!

    ReplyDelete
  17. What fun responses!
    I know I was shy, maybe still am in the right circumstances but know how to hide it. I also am fair and had the tendency to blush...what a terrible trait for a teenager!

    (no need to enter me in the drawing, just having fun commenting!)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh, I loved the excerpt - it's my favorite genre and love the accents! It's horrible how these things can stay with you even many, many years later. My best friend in high school talked me into asking a boy to a girl-ask-boy-dance because he was the best friend of a boy she wanted to ask out. Against my better judgement I agree. I hadn't really dated and this boy was one of the most popular boys but I did it anyway. When I asked him he hit the locker with his hand and said "I knew it." I was mortified. But what was even worse, he said yes while the boy my friend asked said no. I had to go now and she wasn't going. What a mess. In hindsight I wish I had told him to jump in a lake lol. To make matters worse I got my period and had horrible cramps and was worried the whole night about having an accident. It was a night to forget lol.

    ReplyDelete
  19. oops forgot my email just in case :)
    catslady5(at)aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I liked excerpt very much.

    I had been seeing a family friend for years. One day just after we'd spent the afternoon, my three year old nephew came to spend the night announcing this man was going to propose to his mother at a plush dinner with elegant table setting she had prepared for the proposal.

    I ditched the guy because if my twice divorced sister had such strong feelings for a man I'd dated for years, I didn't want to have anything to do with a man who would seriously date two sisters at the same time.

    This is a story I don't tell in my family. Oh course, he didn't understand why I stopped dating him.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great scene! I wish you all the best with your new release!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I was always socially awkward around guys as I tend to be shy and sometimes just don't know what to say. I'm definitely not as shy now, but can still have those awkward moments at times, wish that wasn't the case though, hah...

    Really enjoyed the excerpt and look forward to reading more! :)

    chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Lexi, thanks for stopping by!

    Catslady, those mortifying teen years. Ugh.

    BJ, what a nightmare. Two sisters at one time?

    Thanks so much, Amanda!

    Hi Winnie. I would never want to go back to those awkward teenage years.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Great cover, love the title and tons of good wishes and much success heading your way from me!
    Amelia

    ReplyDelete
  25. I am a klutz and easily embarrassed so I turn very red when I have to speak in front of a group. I tend to trip over my own feet so I have far too many stories to pick just one. Congrats on the nomination!


    elewkf1 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. After class, I approached the teacher to ask him a question. I began with "Mr. uh, uh.....I couldn't remember his name. He finally said "Campbell" - thankfully he was amused by my temporary memory loss.

    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. And the winner is... Winnie! Congratulations! You won an autographed copy of TEMPTATION IN A KILT and a BAD BOYS OF THE HIGHLANDS t-shirt!

    ReplyDelete
  28. OMGosh!!! Totally tongue tied as a teenage girl. I had a major crush on the captain of the football team. He was a Senior, I was a Freshman. He was in my gym class, which was mortifying.....I had to wear shorts and I was totally self-conscious! One day we were picking teams. There was only three of us left and he said "Your on my team"! I just about died and went to heaven.........he talked to me!!! LOL!! Now I can talk to them all and not bat an eyelash! :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment