The Guy Next Door - By Lori Foster, S Donovan, V Dahl Page 0,86
walk from the gate to the unsecured waiting area, and Jesse.
Forget walking. Gail ran. Within seconds she saw him standing beyond the security scanner, a huge bouquet of flowers in his hand and the biggest, widest grin on his face. His earring flashed in the fluorescent lights.
She jumped on him. He crushed her body to his and spun around, kissing her hair, her cheek, her neck, while Gail kept repeating, “I missed you so much. I missed you so much…” The feel of his stubble on her skin made her cry. She was with him. Finally.
Jesse let her slide down the front of his body until her sandaled feet returned to the floor. He grabbed her face in his hands and studied her.
“You’re real.”
Gail laughed. “Of course I am.”
When the tears began to form in Jesse’s blue eyes, she felt a tidal wave of tenderness and love for him. It had been a rough go, but he was sure about her and she was sure about him. There were no more doubts. Now, all their focus was on the future.
Their plan was for Gail to spend a month in Key West, while Holly stayed with Hannah’s family and got ready for school. Then Jesse would return with her to Pennsylvania, where they’d all spend the autumn together. Beyond that, who knew? Gail was even looking into positions at the community college in Key West. Jesse was willing to live part of the year in Beaverdale. Anything could happen. Everything was possible.
He kissed her quickly then retrieved her bag and the bouquet from the tile floor, where they’d been tossed in the heat of the moment. Jesse slid his arm around Gail’s waist as they walked to baggage claim.
“Holly sends her love,” Gail said, looking up at him.
Jesse laughed. “Tell me about it. She’s been texting me all day, warning me to be on my best behavior.”
“No!” Gail said, surprised. “What did she say?”
“Well, I believe her exact words were—” Jesse pulled his phone from his pocket and clicked to his messages—“Try not to be such an asshat this time.”
Gail gasped. “I don’t even know what that means!”
Jesse laughed as he shoved the phone back in his pocket. “I get the general drift.”
“She thinks you’re great, you know,” Gail said, grinning at him. “She told all her friends that I’m dating a famous writer.”
“A famous asshat,” he said, and they both laughed.
After they waited for her luggage, they walked out to the parking lot together. Gail felt the heat slam into her.
“It’s so good to be back!” she said, stretching her arms out in the humid air.
“Have you thought about what you’d like to do while you’re visiting Key West?” Jesse’s eyes were full of humor as he tossed her suitcase into the trunk of his car.
“Of course. I made a list,” Gail answered.
“Is it a long list?”
“Very. An entire month’s worth of activities.”
Jesse came toward her, his grin getting bigger as the distance between them disappeared. He nudged her until her butt hit the side of the car then pressed his hard and strong body against hers.
“Do we have to do them in any particular order?” he asked.
“That won’t be a concern.”
“Oh? And why’s that?”
Gail gazed up into his dark blue eyes, wagging her eyebrow teasingly. “Because there’s only one item on my list, but I want to do it over and over again.”
Jesse laughed, moving in for the kiss. “I’m sure that can be arranged, my wild one.”
JUST ONE TASTE
Victoria Dahl
This story is for Tara. Thanks for bringing me back to Boulder.
Dear Reader,
Welcome back to Colorado! The first time I saw Boulder I couldn’t believe it was a real place. For a girl who grew up on the plains, Boulder looked like a magical town plucked from a television show. (Specifically, Mork & Mindy. It was set here.) But the real town is even better than anything you’d see on film. Boulder is a stunningly beautiful place. There are mountain peaks, aspen groves, ice-cold creeks and gorgeous neighborhoods. And there are the people of Boulder, who are smart and creative and take pride in being a local.
I hope they don’t mind that I’ve added a few more locals to the mix with the Donovan family. This family of three siblings runs Donovan Brothers Brewery right in the heart of Boulder. Tessa is the youngest of the family and the only sister, but she keeps her brothers wrapped around her little finger…while she keeps them in the dark about her