Spotlight
Carl Jenson gave up on love ages ago. There’s no room for romance in the life of an undercover operative with a shady past, and no point in making plans for the future. Spying for the Restored United States isn’t the kind of job that needs a pension plan.
Felicity Chen isn’t looking for love. Running a business takes all her time and energy. When tall, blond, and handsome walks into her yarn shop, she sees dollar signs, not a potential lover. Once he leaves, it’s too late for regrets.
When fate brings Carl back to Felicity’s shop, it’s a gift she’s ready to grab with both hands. She can’t afford to risk her heart, but she won’t turn down fun when it keeps showing up on her doorstep.
Felicity’s offer is the answer to Carl’s prayers. A temporary arrangement is all he can offer, and it’s all she expects. What more could he ask? In the end, they both get a lot more than they bargained for.
The future will bring technological revolutions and political upheaval, but some things are timeless. Lovers meet, lives change, and letting go is never easy.
Felicity Chen isn’t looking for love. Running a business takes all her time and energy. When tall, blond, and handsome walks into her yarn shop, she sees dollar signs, not a potential lover. Once he leaves, it’s too late for regrets.
When fate brings Carl back to Felicity’s shop, it’s a gift she’s ready to grab with both hands. She can’t afford to risk her heart, but she won’t turn down fun when it keeps showing up on her doorstep.
Felicity’s offer is the answer to Carl’s prayers. A temporary arrangement is all he can offer, and it’s all she expects. What more could he ask? In the end, they both get a lot more than they bargained for.
The future will bring technological revolutions and political upheaval, but some things are timeless. Lovers meet, lives change, and letting go is never easy.
Excerpt
Parker explored every corner of the shop, touching everything as he went. Carl sat down on a couch and leafed through a printed book of patterns until his brother brought over a selection of tools and spilled them onto the table. Parker crouched down and arranged them for review. What do you think?
Carl regarded the collection as objectively as possible. He considered and rejected several lines of inquiry before settling on, “Are you planning to knit something or assassinate someone?”
A warm, husky voice nearby said, “I was wondering that myself.”
Carl blocked the startle response before he moved, although the edges of the book in his hands crumpled slightly. Parker shot to his feet, but he recovered fast and settled his face in a polite mask. The strain across his shoulders was the only thing that betrayed the internal shift from standby to red alert.
Almost the only thing. Carl reached over and removed the knitting needle from his brother’s grasp. Just in case.
The woman they’d seen earlier crossed her arms and leaned casually against the curve of the archway. Her eyes were a warm, light brown that was a close match to her skin tone. Her smile revealed crooked teeth and a wry sense of humor. “Can I help you make up your mind? It’s my job, after all.”
Parker could do an excellent imitation of a helpless puppy when he put the work into it. He sat down beside Carl and gave it his best shot. “Please?”
The woman walked over to assess Parker’s choices and bent over the table with a twinkle in her eye. Then she shook her head and picked up everything except the mate to the needle Carl was still holding, “Which is it, girlfriend or gory accident?”
Parker looked to Carl for a translation, but he could only shrug in equal confusion. “Excuse me?”
Her gaze darted between the two of them, reassessing. “Oh, is it boyfriend? Are you looking for gifts for a friend, or finishing up some kind of physical therapy for a hand or wrist injury? Those are the usual two reasons newbies end up here.”
She meant male ones by that, and resigned disappointment pressed sharply through the pleasant alto voice like a knife wrapped in silk. She was looking for action.
Carl deflected Parker’s elbow before it hit his ribs, caught the man’s wrist and used grip strength that sent its own kind of silent message. My social life is none of your business.
Parker sat there and radiated but you seriously need to get laid, and Carl briefly considered fratricide. He settled for redirection and pointed at Parker. “Gory accident. Both hands. We’re brothers. No boyfriends or girlfriends. ”
The woman grinned. “Good to know.” She held out a hand. “Felicity Chen. Nice to meet you both.”
Click "Read more" or "Read in browser" to see today's deals
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|