Worth the Trip

Table of Contents

 

 

 

“An entertaining romantic frolic . . . Fast-paced and filled with humor.”

 

“The author strikes just the right note . . . A terrific group of secondary characters round out the cast and contribute to some of the best lines and scenes in the book, many of which had me rolling with laughter. I thoroughly enjoyed
The Bliss Factor
and look forward to reading more books from Ms. McCall.”

 

“The intrigue in McCall’s latest is hilarious . . . This romp gets two thumbs-up for adventure.”

 

“A fast-paced, action-packed book, incorporating humor and sensual romance with edge-of-your-seat suspense. I could not put this book down!”

 

“Readers should buckle up and hold on as Rae and Con-nor race to beat the bad guys. I do have to say that
The Bliss Factor
did leave me blissfully happy.”

 

 

“A great story, nonstop action, snappy dialogue, witty humor, and chemistry between the hero and heroine that is white-hot. I’m very happy to give
Packing Heat
the highest possible recommendation.”

 

“This action-filled novel will knock your socks off with intense chemistry and intrigue that holds your attention from the first page. An awesome read!”

 

“[A] fast-paced thriller . . . Action-packed romantic suspense.”

 

 

“Humor and witty repartee are sure signs that you are reading a McCall romantic adventure.”

—Romantic Times
(4 stars)

 

“This story is a keeper . . . Don’t walk, but run to the nearest bookstore and pick up
Ace Is Wild
.”

 

 

“Razor-sharp repartee and sexy humor add fun to this high-stakes game of hide-and-seek . . . McCall is quickly making a mark on the romantic suspense landscape.”

—Romantic Times
(4 stars)

 

“A keeper . . . I could not put this book down.”

 

“A humorous, exciting romantic suspense thriller starring two likeable protagonists and a horde of eccentric treasure hunters. The story line is fast-paced from the moment that Tag drops in on Alex and never slows down until he confesses everything, including his love.”

 

 

“Here is one pint-sized librarian with plenty of moxie! Aubrey Sullivan and Jack Mitchell are like highly combustible oil and water, and their head-butting is sexy and amusing. After a debut like this, there’s little doubt that McCall has a bright future ahead.”

 

“A fast-paced bumpy ride with some surprising twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. The chemistry between [Jack and Aubrey] was HOT.”

 

“A fast-paced story full of suspense and excitement. Sure to get your pulse racing and keep your interest all the way through.”

 

 

“Smart, sexy, and fun, McCall knows how to deliver!”

—Suzanne Enoch,
New York Times
bestselling author

 

“A terrific new voice in romantic suspense: snappy dialogue, nonstop action, and sexy writing.”

—Lori Foster,
New York Times
bestselling author

 

“Penny’s writing is pure fun!”

—Ruth Ryan Langan,
New York Times
bestselling author

 

“Lots of witty dialogue and some laugh-out-loud funny scenes.”

 

ALL JACKED UP
TAG, YOU’RE IT!
ACE IS WILD
PACKING HEAT
THE BLISS FACTOR
WORTH THE TRIP

 

 

 

DOUBLE THE PLEASURE

Published by the Penguin Group
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

 

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

 

WORTH THE TRIP

 

A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author

 

PRINTING HISTORY

Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / November 2010

Copyright © 2010 by Penny McCusker.

 

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

 

eISBN : 978-1-101-44523-5

 

BERKLEY
^®
SENSATION

Berkley Sensation Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
BERKLEY
^®
SENSATION and the “B” design are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

 

 

 

“NO, HOLLIE, I’M NOT DATING ANYONE,” NORAH
MacArthur told the perky blond host of
Chicago in the Morning
for at least the fifth time, with enough sarcasm to make the live audience snicker and Hollie frown at her. At least Norah thought it was a frown.

Hollie’s eyes narrowed slightly, but the rest of her face stayed Botox smooth. “But you wrote this book on relationships . . .” she said, not even holding it up for publicity’s sake
—publicity
being a very loose term since
Chicago in the Morning
was in the ratings basement and only a handful of episodes from gasping its last televised breath. “
The Gender Bridge, or How to Create Your Mate
,” she read off the cover, sounding perky with an edge of snark.

Norah appreciated the snark, but she could do without perky. She got her fill of perky from the coeds who crowded into her classroom on a daily basis, thinking she knew the secret to finding a husband. She might have told them that bouncy breasts, buns of steel, and pretty faces were enough to accomplish that task all on their own, but they knew that better than she did. Men were slaves to visual stimuli, after all.

But Hollie required verbal interaction, which she proved by clearing her throat daintily and prompting, “You were saying?”

“
The Gender Bridge
,” Norah began with what she considered admirable patience, “is intended to demystify the workings of a relationship and give the reader some tools for bridging the communication gap between the sexes. Both males and females are preprogrammed to think and behave in certain ways. So many couples break up or get divorced, when all they really need is to read behind the words and behaviors of their partners.”

Hollie smiled, just her mouth moving. It was train-wreck freaky, but Norah tore her eyes off the expanse of frozen, pink forehead, trying to stay in the conversation this time so she didn’t get nervous. When she got nervous she tended to blurt out whatever was on her mind. Since her mind stored every useless fact she ran across, there was no telling what might come out of her mouth, but it almost always made her look like an idiot. She hated looking like an idiot . . . and she’d completely lost whatever conversational volleyball Hollie had just lobbed her way.

Myra Newcastle, student advisor at the college where Norah taught, turned agent extraordinaire and the perpetrator of Norah’s current predicament, stood in the wings, both hands fisted in her spiky red hair and a panicked look on her face.

Hollie wasn’t happy about the dead air, either. Hollie was probably taking Norah’s inattention as an insult. “Your book is subtitled,
How to Create Your Mate
. Can you tell us a little bit about your claim that any woman can turn the man of her choice into the ideal mate?”

She shot Myra a look, since the subtitle had been her idea. “Actually,
Hollie
, I haven’t guaranteed anyone anything. We’re all bombarded by perfection. Television, movies, the Internet, and especially magazine covers. Men subconsciously use those images of airbrushed models as a comparator, and consciously as status symbols, so women feel pressured to reach that impossible level of perfection, and if they can’t achieve it naturally, there’s always plastic surgery, liposuction, Botox . . .” Norah tried not to, but her glance twitched up, just for a split second, to that smooth, dead forehead.