On the blog today I am getting to reveal one of the excerpts from FOR EVERLY. A book that I absolutely loved.
Thirty minutes later, she finally arrived at the restaurant.
Between traffic and the unfamiliar area of town, it took her longer than she
expected to get there. She thought she had given herself extra time, but she
was still five minutes late. When she pulled up, she found herself at a valet
stand. Rolling down her window, she flagged the valet who eyed her car as
though it had just broken down at his feet. He approached with notable
reluctance.
Waving at the twenty-dollar valet fee posted on a nearby
folding sign, she asked, “Is there self-parking?”
“No, ma’am,” he replied stiffly.
She swallowed and nodded, getting out of her car so he could
park it. She only had twenty dollars in cash, and she had intended to pay for
her lunch with it. She knew the bank account was low until she got paid again
on Friday, but she’d have to risk debiting her meal. Why hadn’t she thought to
set some parameters when Cole suggested the restaurant?
Her headache ballooned as she hurried through the front door
of the restaurant and looked around without spotting Cole. Frowning, she
approached the maître d.
“Miss Wallace?” he greeted her.
Surprised, she nodded.
“Welcome. Mr. Parker is waiting at your table. It would be
my pleasure to escort you there. May I take your coat?”
Damn. She probably couldn’t even afford the free bread at
this place.
Giving the maître d a wan smile, she shrugged out of her
coat, putting her gloves in the pockets and wrapping her scarf around one of
her purse straps. She was sure she was imagining it, but she swore the maître d
held her Target-brand garment a few inches away from his body as he turned to
hand it off to whoever guarded the coat room.
Shifting uncomfortably when he gave her a quick once-over
and lingered disapprovingly on her jeans, she took a deep breath and followed
him into the dining room. There wasn’t anything she could do about how she was
dressed, was there?
Lord, what a hot mess this was.
As she spotted Cole across the dining room at a table with a
beautiful view of the outside terrace, another thought occurred to her. How
should she greet him? Should she shake his hand since this was a business
meeting? Go in for the awkward hug since she was good friends with his brother?
Bow because he looked like a god in his simple black V-neck
sweater and gray pants?
She caught his gaze when she was still about ten feet from
the table. A variety of expressions crossed his features, so many that she
couldn’t read them all. She definitely caught irritation, though, and was
puzzled when he ended up smiling.
OhGodOhGodOhGod…
He stood up. The maître d deposited her with a slight bow,
so she ruled out that form of greeting. Then it was just her and Cole.
“Hello, Everly,” he said, his voice as smooth as a buttered
biscuit.
“Hi.”
Had that been her voice that came out all breathy? She
prayed it hadn’t sounded as ridiculous as she thought.
She started to lift her right hand for a shake, then
realized he was tilting in for the awkward hug. To avoid hitting him in the
crotch, she adjusted her trajectory. He smoothly used his left hand to continue
her forward motion so that her hand ended up encircling his neck.
Then before she knew what was happening, her lips were
pressed against his.
Blog (http://RaineThomas.com/blog/)
Thanks so much for the post, Mandy!
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoyed For Everly, I look forward to more from Author Raine Thomas!
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