Page 6 of Twenty Years Later

He laughed again, this time even louder. "Nope. Interesting guess, though. But I'm actually an orthopedic surgeon."

"Wow. Okay. That's pretty amazing."

He shrugged. "Just lots and lots of school."

"I'm sure you're being modest."

Smiling, he seemed uncomfortable and asked, "What about you? What keeps you busy besides being the incredible mother I know you are?"

Oh, this man. He was smooth. I realized I needed to watch my heart around him or I'd completely lose it... again.

"I'm a writer," I finally said.

His eyebrows shot up. "Really? What kind of writer?"

"I write young adult fiction."

"No way," he said, his eyes widening even more. "That's amazing, Jayda."

The way he said my name set off flutters deep in my belly that I tried not to think about too much. "Thanks. That's why I'm here actually."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm here for a writers' conference at the Marriott."

As if on cue, the young girl from behind the counter came over to our table. "Ms. Jenkins, I'm so sorry to bother you again. But can I get a picture with you?"

I laughed to hide my embarrassment. "Sure."

She leaned down next to me and aimed her phone at our smiling faces. "Thank you so much," she said, dancing away. "I can't wait to show my friends."

Alex stared at me, shaking his head. "I always knew you'd do something incredible."

I felt my cheeks flush. "Nah, not really. Whatyou'redoing is incredible, helping people, fixing people."

"But you've created something that apparently people adore." His eyes on me were intense. "What's your book called?"

Why, oh, why did he want to know that? "Um..."

"Come on. Please tell me." He flashed that sexy smile, making those butterflies flutter around. How could I resist that?

"Well, it's a series, actually, called Chassidy Rising, about a teen girl finding her powers. I just wrote the fourth one. And the next one will be the last."

"So you're like the new Stephenie Meyer."

I couldn't help but laugh. "No. Not even close. But I do all right."

His eyes narrowed. "Okay. So Chassidy Rising. Chassidy Rising. I've got to remember that."

"Please don't," I begged.

"Chassidy Rising. Chassidy Rising," he repeated, a light in his eyes that took me all the way back to high school trig when he'd sat next to me and used to make me giggle with his teasing.

"You really haven't changed. Still love to annoy me."

"Always," he said, his eyes staring into mine and something in his voice sending shivers down my spine.

His phone buzzed, breaking the spell that had descended on us, and I was glad. It was too intense. Being around him was almost too much. Everything felt magnified. Everything somehow felt more significant.

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