From award-winning author and two-time GOLDEN HEART® finalist Amy Patrick comes a New Adult contemporary series about twenty-somethings entering the world of TV broadcasting, where what happens behind the scenes is the real news.
22-year-old Heidi Haynes is almost one year into her “real life”. She has her first reporting job, her first apartment, and a comfortable relationship with her college sweetheart. But for some reason she’s not as eager to talk about walking down the aisle as he is.
Heidi secretly longs for big cities, big-market breaking news, and real independence from her way-too-close-by helicopter parents. Problem is, the last time she left the security of home for new places and new people, things didn’t go so well. Disastrously, in fact, and she came running back to a local college and a “safe” boyfriend.
Aric Serrano is definitely not safe.
He’s six-feet-four-inches of missing-Hemsworth-brother-hotness and plans to stay in small-market-Southern-Hell just long enough to grab a cup of coffee and put together a kick-ass “escape tape”. He’ll serve his one-year contract, then he’s taking off for a higher rung on the TV sports ladder—alone—the way he likes it. Then he meets his new co-anchor.
Heidi would be so much more comfortable if she could simply ignore Aric. He’s just her type—the type she’s so careful to avoid these days. But that becomes impossible when she's forced to work closely with him on the
I opened the door to the parking lot and was
relieved at first to see the rain had slowed to a drizzle. Then I saw my car
and groaned.
My Mini was sitting in a huge
puddle that had definitely not been
there when I’d arrived for work today. I would have to wade through it to get
in. At least I was still wearing my rain boots. I crunched across the gravel
lot, sinking into the ground with each soggy step.
When I reached my car, the full
scope of my dilemma became clear. The newly-formed lake surrounding it was so
deep, if I opened the driver’s side door, the water was going to flood inside.
I walked around to the passenger side to see if perhaps the level was lower
there. Nope. Even worse.
What was I going to do? Daddy
could’ve easily towed my car out with his pickup truck, but he’d been asleep
for a couple hours by now. “Well, shoot,” I muttered.
“Language, language, please.”
The teasing voice behind me
drew shivers from my rain-damp skin. I turned to see Aric’s large form
approaching, framed by the security light behind him. Was the warmth suffusing
my body relief, or something else? I swiveled my head to scan the parking lot.
His Tahoe was there. I’d been so focused on the sight of my poor drowning car I
hadn’t noticed his still parked across the lot.
When he reached me, he pulled
off his rain jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders, drawing the hood up
over my hair. It was so warm. The scent I’d noticed the first night we met
surrounded me, threatening to make me light-headed.
“Thanks,” I breathed, looking
up into his face. His cheeks were becoming coated in a light mist. My fingers,
warm inside his jacket, twitched with the urge to reach up and brush the
moisture away from his smooth skin. “I didn’t know you were still here.”
Aric pulled the sides of the
jacket closed around me. “I waited for you. I wanted to make sure you got back
okay.” His smile set my insides to a low simmer. “So, it looks like what we
have here,” he said, “is the little engine that couldn’t.”
I glanced over at my
water-logged car. “Poor Minnie Mae. Do you think the water’s getting inside?”
“Minnie Mae? You gave your car
a grandma name.” He chuckled. “I think as long as the doors stay closed, the
seal will keep it out of there. But—you won’t be taking… uh… Minnie Mae home
tonight.”
Standing with his hands on his
hips, Aric surveyed the situation, then glanced back at my face. Raindrops
decorated the crown of his head, illuminated with the reflected shine of the
building’s exterior lights. His eyes narrowed, and his lips twisted in a
calculating expression.
“You know, I’d like to offer
you a ride, but I did promise not to extend any more unwanted invitations.” His
voice trailed off in a questioning note as he studied my face.
I gave him a rueful grin,
putting on an overly-polite voice. “Would you mind giving me a ride home? I
would really appreciate it.”
He furrowed his brow, shaking
his head dubiously. “Well… if you’re sure
you want it, and it’s entirely your idea… I’d hate to pressure you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Aric… will
you, pretty please with Cool Whip and rainbow sprinkles on top, give me a ride
home? You will have my undying gratitude.”
Aric put a hand to his chin, as
if he was giving the matter deep consideration. “I like Cool Whip.” He grinned
at me. “And undying gratitude. Let’s go.”
Amy is a two-time Golden Heart finalist (2013 and 2014) who writes Young Adult fiction as Amy DeLuca and New Adult romance as Amy Patrick. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband and two sons and actually craves the heat and humidity of Mississippi, where she grew up. She's been a professional singer and news anchor and currently narrates audio books as well as working as a station host for a Boston TV station.
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