Valentino in Vancouver
Valentino in
Vancouver Synopsis
Val
When I need to get away from the heat in Los Angeles, I head
to a friend’s house in Vancouver, Canada.
I just need to hide out. Oh, and that cute redhead? A mighty fine way to
pass the time. Will this fling become something more by the time things cool
down?
Seamus
When I’m invited to my boss’s house for a party, I’m
thrilled. And nervous. Then I meet a guy
who helps me relax. Even when I find out who he is, I keep coming back for
more. Only it turns out I might be way over my head. Can I get out before I
fall for him?
Tagline:
Hiding
out may be the hottest thing he’s ever done.
Excerpt 5
Finally, I
headed outside. Opening the screen door with both hands full proved
interesting, but I managed. I was shutting it when someone appeared to help. A
petite someone. The sun was bright off the water in the pool, but I quickly
figured out who it was. “Thanks, Julie.”
She smiled. “Of
course.”
The woman was
so beautiful she sometimes took my breath away. Almost-white blonde hair,
stunning green eyes, and a smile as wide as any ever offered to me. She took
the bowl of mixed nuts. But as she gazed into my eyes, she faltered.
“Is something
wrong?”
“You’re very
flushed. Did you walk here? Have you been out in the sun too long?” She pressed
a hand to my forehead.
“Uh, no. I’m
fine. I’m totally fine.”
“Thomas.” Her
voice held a note of concern.
“No, really,
I’m fine. Just the sunshine is bright and—”
Before I could
offer more, my boss appeared. He removed his sunglasses, and the concern in his
brown eyes was obvious.
“Really, I’m
fine.” My brain was fried, and I’d just had a hand job, but really, I was fine.
Julie grabbed
the other bowl from my hands, and then Thomas grabbed both mine in his.
I winced. Yep,
scrubbed a little bit too hard.
He glanced down
at my hands, then back up at my face.
Was I beet red?
Undoubtedly.
“What’s going
on?”
No missing
Thomas’s concern.
“I just washed
my hands before I got the nuts and chips.”
“Thomas, what’s
going on?”
Great, now
Peter was involved. Could this get any worse? The gorgeous movie star stood in
the shallow end of the pool with a toddler in his arms. He was all slicked-back
wet hair, muscular chest, and nice biceps. Basically sex on a stick. I’d
overheard Thomas using that description—I didn’t think I was supposed to
overhear—and I’d never use it myself. That being said, it fit perfectly.
“Something’s
wrong, Peter.”
No, Thomas,
nothing is wrong. Please believe me.
Something told
me protestations and denials would only make things worse.
“Val.” Thomas
whispered the name under his breath. So low I wasn’t even sure Julie heard it.
“No—” Crap.
Val…Valentino… Yeah, probably the same guy. And something told me he wasn’t
just the caterer.
“Hey, I brought
salsa.” Valentino, no, Val, stepped onto the patio.
Thomas lunged
for him, but Julie was faster.
I managed to
grab the salsa bowl as she hauled him up. I honestly believed she was going to
hit him—a move she could perfectly execute—but she spun him around, kicked him
in the ass, and he went flailing into the pool.
She dusted off
her hands.
I stood
stunned.
Skylar clapped.
Oh my God, I
want to die.
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