Happy Tuesday! This morning I’ve got a teaser for you from WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER #2 in the At the Shore series. In this scene, Connie has just had a run-in with one of her male colleagues and is heading out to get some air and cool down when Jonathan Pierce surprisingly hops on her elevator. He’s in the building to talk to his accountants and a conversation and lunch invitation ensues . . .

WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER is available for pre-order and will be released on June 5! You can purchase it at these retailers:

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2y6hi4h
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/2y92UIQ
B&N: http://bit.ly/2BJNcov
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2hKg3BW
iBooks: http://apple.co/2hKgP1J
Kobo: bit.ly/koboWHS

Don’t forget there is also special 99 cent pricing for #1 in the series, ONE SUMMER NIGHT. You can purchase ONE SUMMER NIGHT at these retailers:

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2krMwfE
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/2kYLWZV
B&N: http://bit.ly/2kNuo0p
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2ik8EfG
iBooks: http://apple.co/2qsqdwx
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2fuEphL
Radish: Read three chapters for free – http://bit.ly/2AERQFk

And now for the teaser . . . .

Teaser

“Anything interesting?” She covered her mouth with her hand, a little too late since the words had burst from her before she could control herself.

A dimpled grin erupted on his face and his eyes, as blue as the Sea Kiss ocean, glittered with amusement. “I assume that’s the gearhead asking,” he said and she was grateful for the out he had provided.

“Of course. Who wouldn’t covet a car like the Lightning?”

* * *

Jonathan wanted to tell her that all she had to do was say the word and he’d have one built and delivered to her, but he knew Connie’s pride would never let her accept such an extravagant gift. She had worked hard for everything in her life and if she wanted a Lightning, with its nearly 200,000 dollar price tag, she’d pay for it herself.

“Thanks. We’re stoked about how it turned out,” he said as the elevator doors opened and they stepped into the lobby of the building. She hesitated, almost as if she might actually want to extend this chance encounter, and he’d never been one to not seize the moment. “I was just going to grab a bite. What are you up to?”

She fiddled with the wristlet in her hands. “I had planned on working through lunch.”

He grinned and pinned her with his gaze. “And that would be more fun than lunch with me because?”

She met his gaze directly, the green of her eyes looking more blue today thanks to the deep midnight color of the suit she wore. “You really are sure of yourself, aren’t you?” she teased.

He wanted to say that he was never sure of anything around her, but he wasn’t ready to give her that kind of power. At least not yet.

“How about it? I promise it will be quick and good – ”

“Two words that don’t seem well-suited together,” she shot back and a becoming stain of color erupted across her cheeks.

“Why, Reyes. Are you flirting with me?” he said, which upped the color on her cheeks exponentially.

“Never. But I did need to get out of the office and I hate eating alone.”

He clasped his hands together and brought them close to his chest. “How could I refuse an invitation like that?”

“You invited me, remember?” she said and jabbed him playfully, the way a guy would jab another guy. A defense mechanism, but he wouldn’t pass up this opportunity because he had to restore order to this relationship. For Owen and the relationship with Maggie which was still blossoming nearly two weeks after the dinner they’d all shared in Sea Kiss. For himself because he felt like this part of his life was incomplete.

“I did invite you first, so is that a ‘Yes’?”

Chapter 4

The Italian restaurant was only half a block away on Forty-Second Street. It was a place for business lunches and special occasions with colleagues. Definitely not a romantic venue, especially at midday, and Connie was thankful for that.

The eatery was on the busy side, but the host quickly seated them at a corner table in the large noisy back portion of the restaurant. The ambient chatter toned down the intimate feel of the cozy corner location. The host held the chair closest to the wall out for her and
Jonathan took the spot across from her, but even with that, the table was so small that their knees bumped. She shuffled her chair back until it hit the wall, ending the contact which despite its innocence, was way too distracting.

She hid behind her menu while she gathered herself, but when she put it down, she found herself staring into Jonathan’s too intense gaze.

“You seemed a little . . . angry when you first got on the elevator,” he said.

Shrugging, she averted her gaze. “A little. Just some typical office bullshit.”

“Care to share?” he asked, but luckily the waiter came over at that moment to take their orders.

As soon as the orders were placed and the waiter walked away, she shifted the topic to Jonathan because most men she dealt with were generally more interested in talking about themselves. “What projects were you discussing with your accountants?”

He wagged a finger and shot her a lopsided grin. “Not until I hear what pissed you off.”

She’d give him points for that, as much as she didn’t want to share. But she did. “A male colleague who thinks his dick and ethnicity should move him up the corporate ladder.”

“Totally wrong on both counts. Besides, you have more balls than he does,” Jonathan said and snagged a slice of focaccia from the bread basket the waiter placed on the table.

She arched a brow, examining him, but he clearly had meant it as a compliment. “Thanks,” she said, but just in case, tacked on, “I think.”

“Just telling the truth and definitely a compliment. I know that whatever you want, you’ll work hard to get it. Right?”

She nodded and it made her wonder about him. Whether he had changed despite her comment days earlier to Emma. “What about you? Have you been working hard or hardly working?” she said in a tone that was half kidding half serious.

He broke off a piece of the focaccia and munched on it thoughtfully, scrutinizing her features. It was long moments before he finally said, “Working hard even though you might doubt that.”

She hated that he could read her so easily. Grabbing her water glass, she took a sip before she uneasily replied, “I don’t doubt it, but . . .”

He made a face and looked away for a moment before returning his attention to her. “You’re confused, right? Maybe because you don’t want to admit that I’ve changed a little?”

“Maybe,” she said quickly and decided it was time to move away from the personal since it could only bring hurt.