Page 149 of His Secret Gift

“Her name is Danai Ballas. She’s from Athens, but she also just so happens to be vacationing here after working her butt off writing the last few months.”

Hmm. That name doesn’t ring a bell. “What kind of stuff does she write?”

“Romance, the same as Yannis. Although her work is much more futuristic, instead of historical, like his. Here.” He leans to get something out of his backpack, and he then hands me an iPad. “I have her latest work on there. Go ahead and take a look.”

I flip through the books on his Kindle app, until I find her name. The book is calledPetrichor.

“It’s the smell—”

“The earthy smell after rain,” I finish his sentence for him.

He just smiles. “Exactly.”

From the first page, which reads, “As my beautiful pluviophile slept in the woods, I marveled in the fact that there were tones of red, purple, and silver in her dark hair,” I am freaking hooked.

Chapter 45

Out With It – Jack

As Kayla reads, I lie down and close my eyes. The sun reflects in my closed eyelids a hue of green.

Was Dimitrios incredibly happy with my decision to cancel on Yannis the last minute? No. But I also didn’t think it was my business to tell him what a piece of scum his client was either.

That, I figured, would be up to Yannis to explain—if he had the nerve, that is.

“Oh, my god,” Kayla exclaims, and I pop my eyes open before shading them with my hand.

“What is it?”

She on her belly and facing me. “This is amazing stuff. No offense, but it’s even better than Yannis.”

I grin. “I’m glad you like it.”

“The way she depicts sex between Seth and Alanna is so beautiful and natural. It isn’t forced or overly grotesque. It’s just… sensual.” She’s exaggerating her point with her hands, and it’s adorable.

I also flip to my belly as she continues to rave about Danai’s work.

“The way she writes, and not just the sexual scenes, it’s like she was born to do it.” Is that weird of me to say?”

I shake my head. “Not at all.” I’m not exactly the demographic for Danai’s stuff, so I didn’t get exactly what Kayla is getting out of it, but I’m happy to hear praise from her female perspective. Personally, I feel that way about more obscure writers, likeChuck Palahniuk, who wroteFight Club, Invisible Monsters, Choke,and many classics, so I understand what she’s saying.

I then raise my bent arms and rest them on either side of me before resting my cheek on my hands.

However, I’m interrupted when a beach ball flies up and hits me on the back.

“Oops! Sorry, boss!” Callie calls out.

I sit up and take it. “Was this you?” I ask, pointing at her?

“Yeah, I’m sorry!” She’s wearing a pink swimming suit with white frills and has her short hair tied in low pigtails.

Feeling like having a little fun myself, I then run into the water and fling her over my back. As I know Callie knows about us, I don’t fear that Kayla will get jealous or anything. She and I are merely friends as well.

In response, Callie flails her arms and legs.

“Put me down!” she pleads jokingly.

Kayla then joins us and tickles at my sides in an attempt for me to release her friend.

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