Player(98)
My senses abandoned me completely. The effect of him was amplified by his proximity, and there was nothing to do but submit. And so, there I was, tucked into Thomas Bane’s side with his arm wrapped around me like hot, heavy steel.
It took every ounce of willpower I possessed not to curl into him, fist the lapels of his jacket, and bury my face in his chest.
I couldn’t have reached anything else if I’d tried. My nose came approximately to his nipples.
“Do you have your phone?” he asked, but the rumble of the words through his chest vibrated through me to the point of absolute distraction.
“Ah…um…”
“Here, we’ll take one with mine.” With a slight shift, he retrieved his phone, holding it out for a selfie. “Say irredeemable asshole!”
A laugh burst out of me. And then his hand lowered.
I stiffened. “Wait, did you take it?”
He nodded, smiling down at his phone. “I’ll tag your blog on Instagram.”
“But…I mean…is it okay? I’m not…”
He looked down at me, and for a second, I lost myself in the vision of him this close, from this angle. I could see the fine lines in his lips, the thick clusters of his lashes, the depth of his eyes—the brown was finally visible, so deep there were almost hints of a deep, dark crimson.
“You look gorgeous. See?”
I tore my eyes away from his to glance at his phone and almost didn’t recognize myself. My eyes were closed, my nose scrunched, my smile big and wide and happy as I’d unwittingly leaned into him.
A hot flutter brushed my ribs. “Oh…that’s…”
He laughed, a short sound through his nose as he pulled away. “I’m glad you came today. Tell Janessa to email my brother if she wants any more books signed, and we’ll send them to the office.”
“O-okay.”
The girl behind me cleared her throat, and I glanced back at her apologetically. She looked furious.
“Sorry,” I said quietly.
“Ugh, life is just not fair.” She brushed past me and plunked a stack of books on the table.
Thomas Bane’s smiling eyes were on me as he took his seat, and I waved lamely before turning to walk away.
And I swear I could feel those eyes burning a hole in my back the whole way out the door.
BOOKED, coming January 24, 2018
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Thank you
Once again, my husband Jeff gets the first thank you, as without him, I would not only be a soggy, lost, miserable mess, but would have no idea what true love was. You’re the reason for everything, babe. Thank you for every bit of your love.
Kandi Steiner — Thank you for always listening, always making me smile, always granting me your love from thousands of miles away. I love you forever and always, more than tacos.
Kerrigan Byrne — You make everything better. Everything, always, all the things. Working with you, laughing with you, tearing my hair out with you, everything has changed me in the best way. Cheers to another book under our belts, and here’s to many more.
Abbey Byers — Eights rule. Eights are basically the best thing to ever happen to the world (which we are sure to tell that to everyone who asks and all the people who don’t), and you’re one of the best things to happen to me. When we put our crazy eight brains together, magic happens. I am so thankful for you, for your time and energy, for your devotion and utter brilliance.
Jana Aston — Goddammit, woman. Working with you, plotting with you, laughing with you, has been one of the highlights of writing this book. I am so glad we glommed onto each other like barnacles and are working together daily. You make my days better and brighter and less lonely.
Kyla Linde — Blurb hound extraordinaire. Pinch hitting beta. My extra set of eyes and my daily dose of companionship. I am a richer woman for knowing you, and I am fortunate to call you one of my best friends. Thank you, thank you, thank you for everything.
Sasha Erramouspe — YOU, my darling, are an absolute gem. Once again, you read for me in a pinch, petted my hair, sent me all the feedback, listened to all my waffling, and laughed at my corny lines like a champ. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your time and energy and brain and heart and soul.
Laura Leiva — Thank you so very much for taking the time to read this and correct all my Spanish, even those words that had no meaning and made no sense! Next time I’m in Spain, paella is on me.
Marjorie Whitehorn — To the President of the Staci Hart Hair Petting club, thank you for always reading my excerpts and telling me how pretty and smart I am. Some days, I really, really need that to go on, and you have always got my back for that.
Scott Kolman-Keen — Thank you for finding the time with your busy schedule to help me with the ins and outs of belonging to a pit orchestra. Your advice was instrumental to this process and story, and the life you breathed into this aspect of the novel is undeniable.
Carrie Ann Ryan — Thank you for the abundance of advice and support you’ve given me! You have helped shift how I see so many things in ways that have made a huge difference
Karla Sorensen — Thank you once again for reading for me, for your honesty and practicality. Your advice is so necessary in my life, and I’m so honored to be the neediest person in your life that didn’t actually come from your body.