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WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
AGE GAP
WIDOWER
BRITISH HERO
FOUND FAMILY
SLOW BURN
FORBIDDEN
ENEMIES-TO-FRIENDS-TO-LOVERS
EXCERPT
Copyright ยฉ 2023
By Penelope Ward
My phone rang, and I looked down to find it was Lourdes, a woman Iโd hung out with over a year ago. Sheโd been texting me lately to get together, and Iโd been ignoring her messages. I silenced the ringer.
โWho was that?โ Abby asked.
โSomeone namedโnone of your business.โ
โA woman? Is that why youโre in such a rush to get back to London?โ
โTrust me, I havenโt met anyone worth rushing anywhere for.โ
โWell, excuse me, Mr. Picky.โ
I rolled over a bit to face her, resting my chin on my hand. โYou think itโs odd to be selective?โ
โI donโt think youโre being selective. I think youโre closed off to everyone. Thereโs a difference.โ
โYou seem to have me pegged, but what about you? Why are you single?โ
โI had a bad experience, as I think Iโve mentioned, and havenโt felt like having my heart toyed with again.โ
โHow long ago was that? The guy who broke up with youโฆโ
โNearly three years now.โ
โBut youโve dated since that breakup.โ
โYeah. Thereโve been a few briefโฆโ
โHookups?โ I arched a brow.
โI guess I can admit that now that youโre not actively assessing my character.โ
โWhy would I judge you for that? Sex is naturalโnecessary for survival, if you ask me.โ
โYou just donโt want to have anything to do with the women after.โ
Unable to deny it, I shrugged. โThere havenโt been that many women since Britney. At least nothing compared to when I was younger. Most of the time, I meet someone and decide not to go through with anything. But of the encounters I have had, yeah, itโs never mattered whether I saw them again.โ
โWhat was different about Britney? I mean, when you met her? How did you know she was the one?โ
My chest constricted. โIโd love to be able to give you a less clichรฉ answerโbecause I hate clichรฉsโbut I just knew. After about an hour together, I never wanted to be apart from her.โ
โFair enough. They say thatโs what happens sometimes. You just know.โ
โYouโve never experienced that?โ
โNope.โ Abby shook her head. โStill waiting for it to happen to me.โ She smiled. โAnyway, for the record, I donโt just hook up with people randomly, like some people.โ She elbowed me. โI have to know them first.โ
โKnowing you, Abby, I canโt imagine you not asking someone a million questions before you sleep with them.โ
โWell, yeah. I need to know who Iโm dealing with. Iโm not going to waste my time with anyone whoโs not a good personโeven if Iโm wildly attracted to them.โ
โSometimes less is more,โ I mumbled.
โThis from the man who interrogated me the first time he met me.โ
โWell, I need to know a bit more about someone whoโs going to be carrying my child than I would someone Iโm merely going to…โ
โF*ck?โ She finished my sentence.
The word on her tongue gave me an unwanted thrill. I wouldnโt have minded hearing her say it a few more times, which probably meant I needed my head checked.
โYou wanna go?โ she asked.
Somehow Iโd forgotten my urgency to leave. Iโd become pretty comfortable in this spot on the hay. It wasnโt about the hay at all, though, was it?
โWell, now youโve made me lazy. Youโre a bad influence, Knickerbocker.โ
She leaned her head on her hand. โWhy donโt you just sleep at the inn tonight? Lavinia loves your company.โ
โSheโll be conked out by the time we get back there, but I suppose you have a point. At this hour, I might as well just drive into London with you in the morning.โ
โYou keep work clothes at The Bainbridge, right?โ
โYes. I have everything I need in my room.โ I looked out through the barn door. It was now completely nightfall. โNow that itโs dark, you need to be careful driving back.โ
โYouโll be behind me anyway, in case I run into trouble, right?โ
โWell, you wonโt find me driving in front of you ever again,โ I teased.
โGood one.โ She laughed as she stood and brushed off her dress. โCan you turn around for a minute?โ
I narrowed my eyes but did as she asked. โOkayโฆwhy am I doing this?โ
A few seconds passed. โAll good now.โ
โWhat was that all about?โ I asked.
โYou promise not to make fun of me?โ
โNo. But tell me anyway.โ
โI had a piece of hay stuck in my underwear.โ She flashed a goofy smile.
And thenโฆI laughed for what felt like the first time in years.
AUTHOR BIO
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