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“I hate to see you leave. I mean, I knew you wouldn’t stay forever. Hell, I didn’t thinkI’dbe here this long. But still.”
Carly’s lips twisted into a wistful smile, reminding Sloane that the original plan had been to stay in Pine Mountain for a year, tops. Until Carly had gone and fallen in love with a local contractor, her new job,andthe tiny Blue Ridge town.
“Ah, true love,” Sloane said with a dreamy sigh. “Maybe I should write you into a short story. I could probably sell it in four seconds flat.”
Carly’s smile held the tiniest threat. “Don’t even think about it. Anyway, are you sure about leaving? Maybe you could just write the book from here.”
“Only if I want to kill my career in one swift move. Let’s face it, I have to knock this book out of the park, and I haven’t had a decent idea since I landed here. I don’t just write on location, sweetie. Iliveon location. It’s where I’m most inspired, and it’s time for me to move on. If I want to spark my creativity and write a bestseller, I’m going to have to pack my bags. It’s my process. Always has been.”
Her stomach began to ache, and she kept swirling her untasted soup. Forget going to Greece to write a book. If she couldn’t come up with some money, and stat, she wasn’t even going to be able to afford her rent.
Which meant her only available option would be to move home and try to write a career-saving book under her mother’s disapproving nose. Talk about your hostile conditions.
“You know, selling a short story isn’t such a bad idea. Maybe you could try that,” Carly said.
“The whole problem is that small-town settings are off-limits, remember? And we are smack in the middle of a small town.” As much as she hated to admit it, Sloane was utterly out of story ideas, other than the one Belinda had shot down. If she wanted glamorous ideas, she needed a glamorous locale.
“Maybe you just need a little inspiration,” Carly said, but the suggestion only prompted Sloane to bark out a laugh.
“Please. Do have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve had a littleinspiration?” She hooked air quotes around the word, counting backward in her head to recheck her math.
Wait, was it January again? Already? Jeez, no wonder her muse was pissed.
“I’m sorry,” Carly said. “Maybe that wasn’t a good suggestion.”
“Actually, it’s a great suggestion.” Sloane released her spoon with a plunk, and all the frustration swishing around in her chest burst forth. “Believe me, nothing would make me happier than to be earth-movinglyinspiredright now. As a matter of fact, considering the lack of inspiration going on in my life, I think I’m due for a downright out-of-body experience. Not that I’ve ever reached the summit of Mount O during the actual act. Nope, not me. If I’m gonna get there, I’ve gotta fly solo.”
What a joke. She had to be the only romance writer on the planet who’d never achieved orgasm with someone else in the room. No wonder she had an epic case of writer’s block.
“Sweetie.” Carly’s eyes widened, but Sloane had hit her limit. She lifted a hand, stopping her friend mid-sentence.
“No, really. Karmically speaking, is it too much to ask for the universe to send some mind-blowing orgasms my way? I’m tired of doing all the work. Plus, it’s all in the name of research. I mean, show a girl a little joy, for heaven’s sake!” Sloane knew she was ranting, but blowing off the steam she’d slowly built up felt divine. “Just once, I’d like to give new meaning to the phraselife imitates art. After all the fumbling lovers I’ve put up with who couldn’t find my G-spot with a map and compass, I deserve some really hot, toe-curling, religious-experience sex!”
“Um, Sloane?”
But the sinfully good release prompted her to continue without pause. “I mean it,cucciola. In spite of what I do for a living, I’m starting to think men who can dish up Richter scale orgasms are just a cruel myth.”
Finally stopping for a breath, Sloane registered the odd look on Carly’s face with apprehension. “What? Oh, God, don’t tell me they reallyarea myth?”
The deep rumble of a throat being cleared cut Sloane’s breath short in her lungs.
“Excuse me, chef. I don’t mean to interrupt a…delicate conversation, but I’ve got an emergency I need to discuss with you.”
The sound of the very smooth, very male voice over her shoulder froze Sloane into place and ignited every one of her nerve endings to a slow sizzle. Stunned, she whirled in her seat, only to find herself face-to-crotch with a pair of flawlessly tailored charcoal dress slacks. The wearer jerked backward, looking both startled and more than a little put out at her sudden movement.
Carly cleared her throat too late to hide the laugh beneath the gesture. “Sloane, you remember my restaurant manager, Gavin Carmichael, don’t you?”
Knowing she should be utterly mortified and praying for a fault line in the earth to swallow her whole, Sloane threw on a cocky smile instead. Letting her gaze float slowly upward, she looked Gavin right in his stunning, melted-chocolate eyes and said the only thing she could think of.
“Nice pants.”
Dyingto see how Sloane and Gavin stir up trouble together? Grab their grumpy/sunshine + single dad/nanny romance, Stirring Up Trouble, right here! And don’t forget to check out the whole Pine Mountain series to get caught up on all these sexy small-town romances.
Notready to leave Pine Mountain just yet? Check out the full series right here. You can also keep reading to see all my books in reading order.
DidJackson and Carly make you swoon? If so, I’d love it if you’d consider leaving an honest review for Gimme Some Sugar on the vendor you purchased the book from, Goodreads, and/or BookBub. Reviews—even short and sweet ones—help other readers just like you find my books more easily. More HEA for everyone! How cool is that?!
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