It’s a relatively warm night for November in New England and there isn’t much of a chill coming from the ocean.
I inhale the salty air and lose myself in the crispness of the moment.
“Hey,” Tom says, coming out onto the porch with me. “It’s a beautiful night.”
I nod, rubbing my bare shoulders.
Even though it’s not that cold, the night is still rather nippy, especially for someone with bare shoulders.
“Here, why don’t you put on my jacket?” he says, taking it off.
I’m about to tell him no, but the moment that I feel the warmth that’s emanating from it as a result of his residual body heat, I can’t resist, especially, if I want to stay out on the veranda much longer.
“There are so many stars out here,” I say, looking up at the sky.
Tom follows my gaze and for few minutes we stand in silence admiring the beauty of the Milky Way.
“So, Carrie’s parents seem nice,” I finally say.
“Yes, they are. Especially to strangers,” Tom says.
“Not to you?”
“No, not exactly.” He shrugs. “I mean, I don't know. They’re just difficult to get along with.”
I’m about to inquire as to why, but then I realize that I don’t really care.
There’s probably some convoluted explanation that goes all the way back to Carrie introducing Tom to them and that’s just too much history to deal with on a night like this.
“Robert did seem to take a liking to Aiden,” Tom remarks. I shrug and nod, continuing to stare out at the dark water ahead.
“So, I was meaning to ask you,” I say, “with everything that Carrie said about BuzzPost expanding so much into real news, why aren’t you going out on the campaign trail? It has always been your dream to report on politics. This seems like the perfect opportunity.”
Tom shrugs and shuffles his feet from side to side.
“It’s just not something that Carrie or Robert think is a good idea. I mean, they say it’s not a good use of my resources. They don't think too much of beat reporters and don’t really see the point of me doing it. Since there are so many more prestigious jobs to be had at the magazine.”
I nod, pretending to understand.
It’s a whole bunch of bullshit, and both Tom and I know it.
The problem is that he refuses to tell them what he really wants and to go after it, and no one else can do it for him but him.
But I’m not in the mood to get into this now.
“So, tell me about your book,” Tom says after a few moments.
I hesitate for a moment and then tell him everything.
The cat’s out of the bag.
Aiden has already told them pretty much the whole story, so there’s no use in shying away from it now.
“Wow, I can’t believe you’re doing this. I mean, it takes a lot of guts, Ellie.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I mean to just say fuck you to traditional publishing altogether and not even bother submitting anything there. I mean, I just never knew you were so confident in your work before.”
I nod.
Hmm, maybe he’s right.
Maybe this does make me confident.
Or maybe arrogant or cocky are better adjectives.
Who knows?
Maybe I just don't know any better.
“You’re just putting it all out there. I mean, I know that you’re a good writer. But…I don't know if I could do it.”
“What? Publish and market yourself?”
“Yeah, I mean, I’m not particularly outgoing and neither are you. But you’re just saying ‘who cares?’ What will be will be.”
“Well, I have a little bit more of a plan, but yeah, pretty much. I mean, I’m not going to wait around to have some editor or agent somewhere read my work and tell me it’s good. I know it’s good. At least, I think it’s something that readers would want to read. So, I’m going to make it available for them.”
While I am talking, I don’t notice how close Tom has gotten to me.
He’s standing barely a foot away.
In the cold air, I watch as he breathes in and out and his breaths get faster and faster.
“You’re just so…amazing,” Tom says, putting his hand around my shoulder.
At first, it feels like his hug is just that of an old friend. But then, it doesn’t.
Tom moves some of the hair away from my neck.
Before I realize what he’s doing, he leans over and presses his lips onto mine.
* * *
Thank you for reading Black Rules. Can’t wait to read what happens to Ellie and Aiden? One-Click BLACK BOUNDS Now!
I don’t belong with her.
Born into darkness, life made me a cynic incapable of love.
But then Ellie waltzed in. Innocent, optimistic, kind.
She’s the opposite of what I deserve.
I bought her, but she she stole my heart.
Now my business is going up in flames.
I have only one chance to make it right.
That’s where it happens…something I can never take back.
I don’t cheat on her. There’s no one else.
It’s worse than that. Much worse.
Can we survive this?
One-click BLACK BOUNDS Now!
* * *
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Books by Charlotte Byrd
Debt series (can be read in any order)
DEBT
OFFER
UNKNOWN
WEALTH
About Charlotte Byrd
Charlotte Byrd is the bestselling author of many contemporary romance novels. She lives in Southern California with her husband, son, and a crazy toy Australian Shepherd. She loves books, hot weather and crystal blue waters.
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Copyright © 2018 by Charlotte Byrd
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