Page 1 of Twenty Years Later

Chapter One

Jayda

"TheseMiamiboys sure are hot," Kaileen said, eyeing one of the baristas.

I elbowed her. "Kaileen! Shh. Isn't he a little young for us?"

"So?" She raised a brow.

"Jayda?" the young girl at the counter said. "Here's your mocha frap, extra whip, extra chocolate."

As she put the cup on the counter, she looked up at me, and her jaw dropped.

I knew then that she had recognized me. It didn't happen often, but it was always kind of sweetandweird when it did.

"Omigosh," she started. "You're Jayda Jenkins, liketheJayda Jenkins, who wrote Chassidy Rising!"

I smiled, a little embarrassed but also flattered. "That's me."

"I adore your books. Please, please,pleasetell me when the next one is coming. You left off on such a cliffhanger. I'mdying."

I had to laugh at her enthusiasm, but Kaileen took over. "Well, dear, I'm her agent, and her next one issupposedto be in by the end of the year. Then we need to edit and all that stuff. So it might be a whole other year."

Her face fell. "A whole year?"

I nodded. But really, I hadjustreleased the last one a few months ago, so I didn't feel all that guilty about it. But I certainly understood what it felt like to have to wait on something you loved.

"Sorry, sweetie," I said. "I'm working as quickly as I can."

She sighed. "I understand. I'll just keep re-reading."

Her face suddenly lit up as she looked behind me at something. Curious, I turned around to see what had caused that reaction and bumped right into a solid wall of muscle.

Oh, whoops.

Glancing up, I took in a chiseled jawline complete with sexy stubble and sensual, full lips before my eyes peeked all the way up into a pair of soulful, brown eyes.

Those eyes. I knew those eyes.What on earth?

Those eyes went wide, and my gut clenched while my heart nearly leaped out of my chest.

Alex Hernandez!Alex Hernandez stood in front of me!

My mind went blank, and I felt my jaw go slack. My gosh, he looked hot, even hotter than in high school when I'd been so madly in love with himall four years.

"Jayda?" he asked.

I nodded, still not able to speak. Somewhere in the back reaches of my brain, I could sense Kaileen staring between us. But my heart couldn't calm down enough to pretend to have any manners for introductions.

"Wow," he said with that deep, sexy voice that made my knees wobbly. "I can't believe it's really you. I haven't seen you since graduation night."

Taking a shaky breath, I tried to speak, but nothing came out.

"You must be here for the reunion, right?" he asked, his eyes searching my face.

What? What was he even talking about?

"Reunion?" I heard Kaileen say.

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