Page 79 of The Love Interest
“Okay.”
“When can I see you again?”
“You want to see me when we’re in the city?”
“Come to my place. It’s winter. You can wrap yourself up when you’re outside so no one recognizes you. And then I’ll unwrap you as soon as you’re in my apartment.”
He kisses the top of my head, and I press my face into one of his pecs.
Dizzy with love.
36
WILLIAM DEXTER
You Can Viscount on Me by Fiona Walker – Chapter 20
William Dexter was no stranger to scandals involving married women, but this was the first scandal that involved his own wife. It was the first scandal involving a woman he truly loved. It was the first scandal of its kind in theton.
The unmasking of erotic romance author Harriet Sedgewick as Lady Camden was swift and shockingly ruthless. William never had much faith in those who claimed to be his friends in London. But even he was disappointed in the number of hypocritical acquaintances who had feigned consternation within his family’s social circle.
Though his wife was the subject of harsh gossip, her place in society was now protected by marriage into the aristocracy. However, it had a dire effect on her sisters’ marriage and social prospects this season. Lucy was most guilt ridden over these repercussions in particular. Adelaide had been so fond of the Duke of Maybrook, who had been showing her a great deal of attention until now. It was Lucy’s mother, Catherine, who was most unforgiving. This was to be expected.
William’s mother had been very fond of Lucy from the start, and she was one of the few avid readers who had rallied around her following the exposure. But it was his father, the Earl of Camden, who surprised William the most. He was the one who had suggested that William and Lucy retreat to Camden Manor until things settled down.
“Take your love to the manor,” he’d said. “Let it bloom there until the end of summer.”
William was touched by his father’s generosity of spirit during this crisis. They had never quite seen eye to eye, despite William’s longing for the earl’s respect. Growing up, living in the shadow of a great man had made it all the more difficult to be good. But William felt something akin to good, now that he was married to a woman who inspired him to be a better man.
* * *
Right.
Are we actually tryin’ to make readers puke now?
I know this here’s a first draft, luv. But maybe if you want to be a professional author, you can still manage injectin’ a bit of conflict into our story, even when you’re happy as Larry after he’s been shaggin’ all day. Know wot I mean?
Let’s not gloss over the good parts just cos you’re at the good part yourself now, yeah?
Take it back to London. Show me all their troubles. Gimme all the angst.
I bet your lad’s not havin’ any trouble chasin’ his hero up a tree and throwin’ stones at him.
Back to work, then. Chop chop.
37
JACK IRONS
The Departure by Emmett Ford (The Jack Irons Series, Book Six)
Jack’s apartment felt smaller now. It was like this every time he returned to Oceanside. Didn’t matter if he’d been across the country or on the other side of the world. When he walked into this apartment, it felt small. Or maybe it felt empty.
It felt wrong.
He was a fool.
For a few bewildering hours, he had allowed himself to imagine a life with Catalina. She had melted the chains around his heart, and by some strange alchemy, the melted iron had been forged into a shield that protected both of them. Or so he’d thought.
