One More Time (Ruby Falls #2) - Aurora Rose Reynolds Page 0,16
back as I grab a pan from the dish drainer next to the sink, put the bagels on it, then place it in the oven under the broiler.
“So what’s your plan for the day?”
“Umm…” She looks around. “I need to start unpacking, then I have a call with my agent this afternoon.”
“Agent?”
“For my books.” She shrugs. “She’s having a meltdown, because I haven’t given her another series idea, and my last publisher is anxious for her to pitch something new to them after my last series.”
“What kind of books do you write?”
“Science fiction.”
“Science fiction,” I repeat, unable to hide my surprise, and she raises a brow. “Sorry, I thought you’d say romance. I didn’t know you were into science fiction.”
“Well, sir, we don’t know each other, and I actually do kind of write romance. Each of my series are centered around main characters who find themselves tossed together to fight evil. Over the course of each book, they fall in love, which most of the time makes them stronger and impossible to defeat.”
“Got it.” I lean my hip against the counter. “So what are you working on now?” I ask, and my interest piques as her cheeks darken.
“I’m not really working on anything. I… I’ve just been trying to come up with an outline for my agent to pitch.”
“Have you come up with anything?” I turn to the oven and open it to check the bagels. Seeing they are a golden-brown, I grab a towel and use it to take the pan out.
“Not really,” she says, then sounds put out as she continues. “Why didn’t I ever think of using the oven to toast my bagels?”
“Probably because you’ve always used a toaster.” I grin, then mutter, “I’m also single and don’t have a toaster.”
“You don’t have a toaster?”
“Don’t say it like I’m some kind of monster. I had one when I was living with my ex, but she took it when she left, and I didn’t bother buying a new one after I realized I could just use the oven.”
“That seems very logical in guy thinking.”
“I’m just gonna pretend that’s a compliment.” I open the cream cheese, then ask, “Smoked salmon, or honey pecan?”
“Smoked salmon, please.”
As I start to slather her bagel with cream cheese, I meet her gaze. “So how do you normally come up with a new series?”
“Until now, it’s always just kind of happened.”
“I’m sure getting settled here will help.”
“Maybe,” she agrees, taking the plate I hand to her, then I watch her place the two pieces of her bagel together like a sandwich and set the plate down. After making my own bagel, I do the same, then take a bite.
“Leo still makes the best bagels.”
“His grandson actually makes them now.”
“His grandson?”
“Babe, when we were in school, Leo was pushing seventy. He retired about seven years ago. Everyone was worried his shop was going to close, but his grandson, who used to spend summers helping him in the shop, decided to move here and take over.”
“That’s cool.”
“Yeah,” I agree, finishing off my bagel then rinsing my plate. “Since I didn’t get anything done last night, I’m gonna paint today. Then tomorrow evening, I’ll lay the carpet.”
“You don’t have to do that. I know you have other jobs that need your time.”
“Yeah, but this job needs my time right now.” I pick up my coffee, walk around the stack of boxes, and head toward the living room. “Shout if you need me to lift anything.”
“You know, I could help you paint if you want.”
At that statement, I turn to look at her. “All right, but you’re gonna have to put something on that you don’t care about.”
“I can do that,” she says excitedly as she hops off the counter. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
I watch her ass as she heads for the stairs and know I just fucked myself, because the more I’m around her, the more I want to kiss her. And I don’t think I have the kind of willpower that will prevent me from doing just that.
Chapter 6
Aria
HIS LIPS HOVERED over hers as his hand roamed down her side and her eyes slid closed. As their breath mingled, she knew she would never be the same if he kissed her…
Sitting at my desk my fingers hover over the keyboard before I groan and press Delete, watching the last two sentences I wrote disappear. When I first thought about writing a romance novel, I figured it would be easy, then Tide showed up and