He smelled like sea salt and soap, and she inhaled it thoroughly. But then reality teased her senses, and she realized he’d tensed against her attack. So she backed up. Quick.
Sure, they were friends, but she’d never been a hugger. Maybe if she’d started out hugging him as boss or friend, this could have been a regular occurrence.
Heck, she should’ve hugged him after her first interview.
“You’re welcome,” he said, his voice thick and awkward.
What had she done?
Clarise forced a snigger. “Sorry. Carried away, I guess.”
“No problem.” He ran a hand, with long fingers, she noticed, through his hair. The short blond and brown waves rippled with the touch and made her wonder how those locks would feel running between her fingers.
Then he smiled.
Her thighs clenched, a typical response to an Ethan Eubanks smile. Man, she had to get over this thing for her friend.
Friend.
“Clarise?”
She looked directly into those blue-green eyes and instantly remembered all of those afternoon coffees, the two of them laughing and chatting and learning more and more about each other. As friends. “Yeah?” she asked.
“Be careful while you’re gone,” he said, depicting genuine concern and reminding her that he was truly a friend first and a boss second. He inhaled, as though he was going to say more, then he slowly exhaled.
Hoping to hear the rest, Clarise waited a heartbeat before responding.
“Have fun, Clarise.” He gave her an easy smile, then left.
She sighed. Maybe it was the preparations for stripping in Tampa that had caused her to cross over that invisible boundary that existed between friends. The line that says friendship is here; more than friends is there. She’d never even attempted to venture to the other side before, but she sure had today. And Ethan, being a true gentleman, graciously ignored her momentary lapse in good judgment and even told her to have a good time.
If she accomplished the items on her list, “having fun” wouldn’t be a problem. “Don’t worry, Ethan,” she whispered. “I will.”
THE EDITOR’S DIARY
Dear Reader,
All’s fair in love and war . . . even a few white lies, a little bloodshed, and a dash of attempted burglary. And that’s just in love. Check out our two Warner Forever titles this December to see why.
Romantic Times BOOKclub Magazine
raves
Shari Anton
’s previous book is a “charming delightful romance” that “sparkles with originality.” Well, prepare to be enchanted by her latest,
MIDNIGHT MAGIC
. Though she is betrothed to another, Gwendolyn of Leon finds the King has given her hand in marriage and her land to a knight with her family’s blood on his hands. His arrogance astounds her, his steady gaze and teasing smile intrigue her. But on this knight’s hand rests the ring Gwendolyn needs to activate an ancient magical legacy . . . and she will do anything necessary to wrest it away—even seduce him. With the seal of the dragon slipped on his finger, Alberic of Chester has gone from landless knight to titled baron. Marrying Gwendolyn would secure his position and Alberic is intent on taking what is rightfully his by king’s decree. But winning the heart of his sensuous and fiery wife-to-be may prove his most daunting fight yet.
Good girls never lie . . . unless it’s their job. Lettie Campbell from
Kelley St. John
’s
GOOD GIRLS DON’T
knows that all too well. As a well-paid cheating consultant for
My Alibi
, the cover stories come easily to Lettie . . . until she discovers the man on the receiving end of one of her whoppers is none other than Bill Bannon—her best friend in high school. How can she lie to him now? But even more shockingly, when did the boy next door have the power to make her heart flutter and her toes curl? As the lies pile up and Lettie and Bill start to burn up the sheets, Lettie knows she has to come clean. Will she ‘fess up before Bill discovers he’s been conned? Grab a copy of this sassy and sensual debut from brand new Warner Forever author Kelley St. John today.
To find out more about Warner Forever, these titles, and the authors, visit us at www.warnerforever.com.
With warmest wishes,
Karen Kosztolnyik, Senior Editor
P.S. Believe in love and the afterlife vampire-style in these two irresistible novels:
Susan Crandall
delivers the poignant story of a woman who lost her husband and unborn child in a fire and the man who gives her a reason to believe in love again in
ON BLUE FALLS POND
;
Michelle Rowen
tells a death-defyingly funny debut about a girl who goes on a blind date and comes home a vampire in
BITTEN & SMITTEN
.