Today we're giving away a complete set of the Adrien English audio books -- narrated by Christopher Patton -- to one lucky viewer. Er, listener.
This particular gift was donated by Kim in the Goodreads group, so thank you very, very much to Kim.
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If all goes according to plan, this will be out New Year's Day weekend.
“What the hell just happened?” I asked the universe.
“You’re talking to yourself again,” the universe replied,
pushing open my office door.
Okay, it was Jake, but he was kind of my universe.
For a guy who’d had less sleep than me, he looked unfairly refreshed
and vital on a damp and drizzly Monday morning. He wore boots, jeans, a
tailored white shirt and a brown tweed blazer, which brought out the gold
glints in his hazel eyes. His blond hair was silvering at the temples and just
a fraction longer than he used to wear. He was still hard and fit, but he’d
lost that gaunt, haggard look he’d had six months ago when we’d met up again after
two years apart.
In fact, he looked healthy and relaxed. Like he’d really spent
the last few days on vacation instead of the family holiday from hell.
“Hey,” I said, by
way of greeting. I won’t say I actually fell into his arms, but I was pretty
happy to see him.
“Hey yourself,” Jake replied and kissed me, the warm
pressure of his mouth firm against my own.
Hard to say—and it was a theory I planned on testing a lot
over the next forty years—but I didn’t think I’d ever get tired of kissing
Jake.
Even these quick perfunctory kisses—well, it had started out
quick and perfunctory, but the taste of him: that weirdly erotic blend of
coffee and breath mint; the smell of him: an even weirder erotic blend of
suitcase and Le Male aftershave; and the warm weight of his hand on my
shoulder, drawing me in close, closer…
Reluctantly, we parted lips.
“Jesus, I missed you.” He smiled into my eyes.
“Same here.”
“I got used to spending all day every day with you.”
I said regretfully, “If only it paid better.”
There was definitely a sparkle in his eyes. “Well, I might
have some good news on that front. Are you ready for lunch?”
I laughed. “Lunch? It’s ten thirty
in the morning.”
“Is it?” Jake glanced at the clock on my desk. His dark
brows rose in surprise. “It feels a lot later.”
“It’s been a long morning,” I agreed.
“Everything okay?” He took a closer look at me. “Is Natalie
okay?”
“I think so. I hope so. Actually, why don’t we get a
coffee or something? I need to get out of here for a little while.”
True, I’d only been in there about five minutes.
His brows rose. He said, “Sure. You want to walk or you want
to take a drive?”
I grabbed my black overcoat. “Let’s walk.”
When we stepped outside the bookstore, the rain had softened
to a light, shimmering mist. More like holiday décor than actual wet. Christmas
is the only holiday I can think of where it continues to feel like
holiday-in-progress even the day after. Maybe because people were still bustling
around with heavy shopping bags, and the Eagles were plea-bargaining from
storefront speakers.
If not for Christmas, by New Year’s night…
Window displays were filled with fake snow and glittering
lights and toy trains and anthropomorphic stuffed animals drinking coffee and
showing off engagement rings. Who knew how much penguins relished that holiday bling?
Everyone who wasn’t trying to park or find their car was in
a festive mood. And it was contagious. As in, I needed to remember to take my
vitamin C when we got back.
“Funny how cities have their own smell,” Jake remarked. “London
just didn’t smell like Pasadena.”
He casually dropped his arm around my shoulders and I smiled at him.
It’s not like I needed the physical proof of PDAs, and
frankly Jake’s willingness to put his arm around me or hold my hand in public
meant as much to me as the actual act. But I can’t deny that warm weight on my
shoulders felt good. Right.
“Thanks again for going with me,” I said.
“Not like it was a big sacrifice. I like being with you. I
never figured on seeing London, so
that was actually kind of nice.”
And kind of exhausting. Or maybe that was more my take than
Jake’s. I’d been the one to push for coming home early.
“If we were to travel somewhere for a real vacation or…something,
where would you want to go?”
The arm around my shoulders jumped as he shrugged. “Never
thought about it. Kate always wanted to go to Italy.”
I glanced at him. His smile was a little wry, his expression
distant. He almost never talked about Kate or their marriage, and I understood
that this was out of loyalty to her. That loyalty was just one of the many things
I liked about him.
I said, “Ireland
maybe? With a last name like Riordan.”
“Maybe. Anywhere you’re going works for me.”
I looked down, smiling, and his arm tightened in a quick
squeeze.
