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Click over to 'Bonus Material' for the prequel to Keyed Up, and experience Penelope and Sebastian meeting for the first time!
Unexpected Adventures is out, and already with a 4 star review!
tinyurl.com/y7vstz5t
It's the start of new adventures in this snarky, fast-paced romantic comedy!
www.evernightpublishing.com
tinyurl.com/y7vstz5t
It's the start of new adventures in this snarky, fast-paced romantic comedy!
www.evernightpublishing.com
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Be sure to catch all the podcasts and discover authors of the Pacific Northwest!
Here's the link to mine: vikkijcarter.podbean.com/e/episode-1-laura-baird-romance-author/ |
Excerpt from "Love on the Line"
AJ had become so wary of a guy’s intentions, she wondered if
she’d ever be able to hold a simple conversation without thinking
there were ulterior motives involved. She sighed to herself, lifting the
bottle of brew when her eyes caught sight of a man across the room.
Even in the lower light, she could see he was utterly gorgeous, with
his tall frame, perfect build, and stylish glasses on his face making
him even more attractive. Her body responded before she could make
sense of what was happening.
Sheesh, one minute I’m thinking a guy would only talk to me in
order to get in my pants, and here I am about to cream my panties
just by looking at a hottie. Hypocrite.
Even after her self-admonishment, AJ couldn’t help but stare
and wonder about him. Was he an athlete? Was he even available?
There weren’t any women hanging on his arm, but that didn’t mean
he wasn’t involved with someone.
Suddenly, his gaze connected with hers and she forgot to
breathe. The intensity in his look had her suddenly turning away,
seeking an escape. She set her drink down and searched the area for
Jen, seeing she was still tangled up with two guys, not the least bit
concerned it looked as if they should get a room. As she quickly
scanned the bar, trying to discretely locate the hunk, she saw him still
staring and making his way through the crowd in her direction.
AJ felt her eyes widen in panic, thinking there was no way she
was going to engage in conversation with this man. She was not
prepared and didn’t want to look like a fool. Small talk and flirting
was so not her forte. Luckily the guy was having difficulty moving
around the many occupants in the bar, giving AJ a chance to
maneuver out of the booth and hurry across the room. She barely
made eye contact with Jen before she slipped out of the bar and
hurried down the corridor into the furthest bathroom she could find.
Leaning against the counter, AJ tried to get her breathing
under control while also hoping Jen would understand her look and
seek her out. She couldn’t just leave without at least letting Jen know.
Although AJ knew her friend could take care of herself, Jen would be
worried first and then pissed to know AJ had bailed.
After a few moments, the door burst open with Jen coming
through, flushed with a look of confusion marring her face.
“What’s going on?”
“I, uh, I just needed to use the bathroom. I think I’m ready to
go,” she lied. Well, it wasn’t a total lie. She was ready because she
didn’t want to have a run-in with the gorgeous stranger. She quickly
rattled on. “I just didn’t want to abandon you without letting you
know, even though it looked like you were doing just fine and
couldn’t care less about being left alone with those hunks you were
dancing with.”
Jen cocked her brow as a smile lifted the corner of her mouth.
“What the hell, AJ? A hot guy wants to talk with you and you hightail
it outta there?” She made a move to take AJ’s elbow as she said,
“Come on, let’s go back and have some fun. Well, I’ll resume my fun
while you start to have some.”
AJ whipped her arm away from Jen. “No, no, um, I really am
ready to go. Listen, you’ll be fine taking a cab, right? Or are you, you
know, gonna—”
“Am I gonna hookup with one of those boys, you ask?” She
placed her hands on her cocked hips. “I most certainly am, and if you
had stayed put, you might have had the same luck.”
AJ sputtered. “I don’t want any such luck! Listen, I’m just
going to go. It really has been a great evening, but I’m ready to head
home. So, um, are you sure you’ll be fine? You sure you don’t want
me to take you home?”
“Hell, no. I’m about to go home with not one, but two
gorgeous guys who I’m sure will show me more than just their
hockey sticks.” She winked.
Although not a prude, AJ still gasped, causing Jen to laugh.
“All right, listen, hun, you go home then. But I sure wish
you’d stay and at least talk to a guy. It doesn’t have to be any more
than that, you know.”
“Yeah, I know, but I guess I’m just not ready. I can’t handle
all that gorgeousness in my face.” A strangled laugh escaped her.
“Okay.” Jen hugged her. “Drive safe, and don’t worry about
me. You know I can take care of myself.”
“Oh, don’t I know it.”
The two walked out of the bathroom, giving each other one
more hug before Jen made her way back to the bar and AJ made her
escape before anything else happened. She took the first exit and had
to circle around the building before finding Kayli’s car. Once inside,
she breathed a sigh of relief, followed by a groan at how stupidly
childish she had acted.
She banged her head against the steering wheel and mumbled.
“Thirty-two years old and acting like I’m twelve.”
With a deep breath, she buckled up and headed home,
promising herself she’d try to act more mature next time. If there was
a next time.
****
AJ had become so wary of a guy’s intentions, she wondered if
she’d ever be able to hold a simple conversation without thinking
there were ulterior motives involved. She sighed to herself, lifting the
bottle of brew when her eyes caught sight of a man across the room.
Even in the lower light, she could see he was utterly gorgeous, with
his tall frame, perfect build, and stylish glasses on his face making
him even more attractive. Her body responded before she could make
sense of what was happening.
Sheesh, one minute I’m thinking a guy would only talk to me in
order to get in my pants, and here I am about to cream my panties
just by looking at a hottie. Hypocrite.
Even after her self-admonishment, AJ couldn’t help but stare
and wonder about him. Was he an athlete? Was he even available?
There weren’t any women hanging on his arm, but that didn’t mean
he wasn’t involved with someone.
Suddenly, his gaze connected with hers and she forgot to
breathe. The intensity in his look had her suddenly turning away,
seeking an escape. She set her drink down and searched the area for
Jen, seeing she was still tangled up with two guys, not the least bit
concerned it looked as if they should get a room. As she quickly
scanned the bar, trying to discretely locate the hunk, she saw him still
staring and making his way through the crowd in her direction.
AJ felt her eyes widen in panic, thinking there was no way she
was going to engage in conversation with this man. She was not
prepared and didn’t want to look like a fool. Small talk and flirting
was so not her forte. Luckily the guy was having difficulty moving
around the many occupants in the bar, giving AJ a chance to
maneuver out of the booth and hurry across the room. She barely
made eye contact with Jen before she slipped out of the bar and
hurried down the corridor into the furthest bathroom she could find.
Leaning against the counter, AJ tried to get her breathing
under control while also hoping Jen would understand her look and
seek her out. She couldn’t just leave without at least letting Jen know.
Although AJ knew her friend could take care of herself, Jen would be
worried first and then pissed to know AJ had bailed.
After a few moments, the door burst open with Jen coming
through, flushed with a look of confusion marring her face.
“What’s going on?”
“I, uh, I just needed to use the bathroom. I think I’m ready to
go,” she lied. Well, it wasn’t a total lie. She was ready because she
didn’t want to have a run-in with the gorgeous stranger. She quickly
rattled on. “I just didn’t want to abandon you without letting you
know, even though it looked like you were doing just fine and
couldn’t care less about being left alone with those hunks you were
dancing with.”
Jen cocked her brow as a smile lifted the corner of her mouth.
“What the hell, AJ? A hot guy wants to talk with you and you hightail
it outta there?” She made a move to take AJ’s elbow as she said,
“Come on, let’s go back and have some fun. Well, I’ll resume my fun
while you start to have some.”
AJ whipped her arm away from Jen. “No, no, um, I really am
ready to go. Listen, you’ll be fine taking a cab, right? Or are you, you
know, gonna—”
“Am I gonna hookup with one of those boys, you ask?” She
placed her hands on her cocked hips. “I most certainly am, and if you
had stayed put, you might have had the same luck.”
AJ sputtered. “I don’t want any such luck! Listen, I’m just
going to go. It really has been a great evening, but I’m ready to head
home. So, um, are you sure you’ll be fine? You sure you don’t want
me to take you home?”
“Hell, no. I’m about to go home with not one, but two
gorgeous guys who I’m sure will show me more than just their
hockey sticks.” She winked.
Although not a prude, AJ still gasped, causing Jen to laugh.
“All right, listen, hun, you go home then. But I sure wish
you’d stay and at least talk to a guy. It doesn’t have to be any more
than that, you know.”
“Yeah, I know, but I guess I’m just not ready. I can’t handle
all that gorgeousness in my face.” A strangled laugh escaped her.
“Okay.” Jen hugged her. “Drive safe, and don’t worry about
me. You know I can take care of myself.”
“Oh, don’t I know it.”
The two walked out of the bathroom, giving each other one
more hug before Jen made her way back to the bar and AJ made her
escape before anything else happened. She took the first exit and had
to circle around the building before finding Kayli’s car. Once inside,
she breathed a sigh of relief, followed by a groan at how stupidly
childish she had acted.
She banged her head against the steering wheel and mumbled.
“Thirty-two years old and acting like I’m twelve.”
With a deep breath, she buckled up and headed home,
promising herself she’d try to act more mature next time. If there was
a next time.
****