Jamie (31 page)

She shook her head. “I'll just tell you that you shouldn't keep messing around with Penny Wilkerson. ”

His face went hot.

Sounding too much like an adult, Cory said, “She's too old for you, and Joe will find out and he's going to lecture you. You're still a kid.”

“I'm almost fourteen.”

She shrugged. “Luna is going to be upset with you.”

That made him frown. He didn't want to upset Luna or Joe, but geez, all he'd done was kiss Penny. Who cared if she was sixteen? It was her idea to sneak around behind the ice-cream shop and—

“Doesn't matter whose idea it was.” Cory sat up. “She's bad news. Stay away from her.”

Riled, Austin sat up too. “You aren't my boss!”

She shook her head in pity. “Clay and Willow will only stay in the lake a few more minutes.” She handed him back the glasses. “You might want to butt out. Willow will be upset enough because she's going off to college and she's worried. But it'll work out, just not right away.”

Upset? It'd be okay, but not right away? Head pounding, Austin leaned toward her to snarl,
“Just what does all that mean, Cory?”

It was so hot that sweat dotted her forehead and the tops of her flushed cheeks. She rubbed her pug nose and left behind a streak of dirt that mixed with the sweat. “I don't know. I'm just a kid, too. But I know it's true.”

Blasted irritant. He focused on the most important part of what she'd said. “You swear Willow will be okay?”

“You want to know if she'll be happy?”

Austin nodded.

“And you'll believe me?”

Did he have any choice? Cory might be a pest, but she was always right about stuff. “Yeah, I'll believe you.”

She grinned, putting dimples in her cheeks and making her hair bounce again. “I swear it. Willow and Clay will both end up happy.” She scrambled to her feet but didn't leave. Lowering her voice, she whispered, “Wanna hear another secret?”

Curiosity kept him from saying no. “I guess.”

“Promise you won't tell.”

Intrigued, Austin squinted against the sun and stared up at her. “Yeah, okay. I won't tell.”

“One day I'm going to marry you—and there's nothing you can do about it.”

Austin choked, then choked some more. Marry Cory? He didn't even like her!

By the time he'd caught his breath and thought of a good reply, Cory had already skipped away. Feeling a little sick, he fell back to the sun-warmed grass and stared up at the blue sky.

Cory? No way. She was a know-it-all, and bossy, and forever dogging his heels. She said weird things and knew crazy stuff, and she could see into his head. It
was
freaky—regardless of what anyone else said about it.

Little kids said crazy things, right? He nodded to himself. Maybe Cory just wanted to bug him. Maybe she just had a goofy crush or something.

From now on, he'd stay away from her and somehow he'd find a way to change his own fate. He'd start by inviting Penny and her giggling girlfriends to the lake to swim. Maybe if Cory stopped liking him, it'd change everything.

But deep down, he knew Cory wasn't like other kids.

And far as he could tell... she was never wrong.

Can't wait for the next Lori Foster story?
Keep reading for a sneak peek of
Once in a Blue Moon,
featured in the new anthology Delicious,
coming in December 2013 from
Kensington Books!

 

 

 

 

Lunacy, that's what they'd call it. Pure, plain, lock-'em-up-and-throw-away-the-key lunacy. And all because of a stupid moon—the second full moon in July. If anyone knew, they'd label him crazy for sure. Not that he planned to tell anyone. He'd tried that once as a kid, and everyone had had a freakin' shit fit, so no more.

But damn it, why now, when he had a full week of landscaping work, a book deadline, and a newspaper interview to get through?

As Stan Tucker walked down the clean sidewalk of Delicious, Ohio, enjoying the fresh air and bright sunshine of July, he did his best to block the voices. Not much of a problem there since most people's thoughts were boring as hell. Grocery lists, appointments, and work woes vied with guilt, jealousy, and self-pity. It amazed him that mankind didn't have more important things to think about.

He ran a hand through his hair, mussing it worse than half a day's work and uneasy breezes had already done. Dirt and noticeable sweat stains covered his shirt, and dried mud clung to his boots. But despite his occasional celebrity status, he still worked hard, and if the interviewer didn't like it, he could take a hike. His publicist would snarl and groan, but Stan just plain didn't care.

As he passed people on the sidewalk, more voices battered his already fractured senses. Stan narrowed his eyes, again tuning them out. It didn't take much effort to put their private thoughts, their personal conversations, on hold, but it bugged him that he had to bother. He'd hoped that moving to Delicious, away from the crowds and human congestion, would help. But thanks to the approach of the full moon, the second in this month, he'd become privy to the introspection of all who got close to him, and not a one of them had a thought worth hearing.

Disgusted, he shoved open the fancy, etched-glass double doors of the small bookstore, The Book Nook, owned by Jenna Rowan. The bookstore was across Jonathan Avenue and up one building from his garden center. Stan owned several acres that backed up to Golden Lake, with his home next door to the garden center. A short jaunt would take him to the town square and the fancy fountain erected by the citizens long before he'd moved in.

Thanks to the apple trees growing wild around the lake, the town's structures had some whimsical names, including the Garden of Eden Salon, Johnny Appleseed Museum, and Granny Smith's Apothecary. Old Orchard Inn, a charming but outdated B&B and restaurant, used the apple trees on their lot for daily fare offered to the guests. In the afternoon you could smell the scents of cooking applesauce, apple pie, and apple cider.

Stan appreciated the novelty of Delicious as much as the laid-back, easy pace.

The second he entered The Book Nook, chilled, conditioned air hit his heated face and the scent of fresh cinnamon got pulled deep into his lungs. Stan liked The Book Nook, every tidy shelf, polished tabletop, the scents, the colors... and the proprietor. Yeah, he especially liked her.

As usual, his gaze sought out Jenna, and he found her toward the back aisle, stocking new books on a shelf. Today she wore her honey blond hair twisted into a sloppy loop, clipped at the back of her head with a large gold barrette.

He soaked in the sight of her, making note of her long floral dress and flat leather sandals. He'd known Jenna about six months now, ever since he'd moved to Delicious to escape the chaos of Chicago. Thanks to him, her bookstore had become a tourist attraction, not that she gave him any special attention for it.

Jenna treated everyone, young and old, male and female, with a sort of maternal consideration that never failed to frustrate him. He wanted her, but she saw him only as a friend.

In nature and appearance, Jenna was the sweetest thing he'd ever met, caring and protective of one and all. He liked the fact that she was near his age, close to forty. She'd been widowed about three years now, yet she never dated, never gave any guy—especially not him—more than a friendly smile and platonic attention. With just the smallest encouragement from her, he'd make a move.

But she never encouraged him.

When he released the door, the bell chimed, and Jenna glanced up. Dangly earrings moved against her cheek, drawing attention to a dimple that formed when her mouth kicked up on one side. “Hello, Stan. All ready for your interview?”

She straightened, and the dress pulled taut over her sumptuous behind and thighs. Unlike younger women he knew, Jenna had a full figure meant to attract men. Feeling strangely intense, Stan strode toward her and for a moment, only a single moment, he forgot to bar the thoughts bombarding his brain.

ZEBRA BOOKS are published by

 

Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018

 

Copyright © 2005 by Lori Foster

 

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

 

If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

 

 

Zebra and the Z logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

ISBN: 978-1-4201-3318-9

 

First Electronic Edition: June 2005
eISBN-13: 978-1-4201-3418-6
eISBN-10: 1-4201-3418-3

 

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