Release Date: July 15 2014
Genre: (Adult Fiction) Paranormal Romance
Excerpt
HARPER
I sat silently, watching Agent Doyle’s bicep flex beneath his tight shirt as he sipped his coffee. We were holed up in some twenty-four-hour diner he’d recommended, which worked for me because I was starting to get hungry now that the meds were working and my headache was subsiding. Since taking the meds the doctor had given me I was having a harder time not listening to others’ thoughts. Even with my full effort to keep from hearing them I was still getting traces of them here and there. I knew this was a touchy issue for him, so I figured I should let him know what was happening so he would try to shield the things he didn’t want me to know.
“Agent Doyle, I’m not quite feeling back to normal, and I wanted you to be warned that I might catch glimpses of your thoughts unintentionally. The medication is making it a little hard for me to control my ability at the moment, so please try to refrain from thinking about things you don’t want me to know.” I sat back, watching him closely. “I’m sorry,” I added, feeling guilty, which was a little absurd given the fact that I couldn’t help it at the moment. I might not agree with his approach to me, but I did totally understand his apprehension and dislike of me invading his privacy.
“First off, please call me Reid. Unless we are in an official capacity, then we will need to address each other formally as Agent. Secondly, you have nothing to be sorry for. I would rather you didn’t have access to my thoughts, but given the circumstances I understand and respect you for being honest with me about it. I know what it is like to have to work hard to maintain control over an ability, and managing like you have must be incredibly hard. I want you to know I appreciate and thank you for your efforts in blocking me out all the time. I’m sorry I’ve been so difficult in that regard, it’s just…well…there are certain things I’d rather you not know.”
I was trying to formulate some sort of reply but I kept coming up empty, I didn’t know what to say. It was odd enough having him talking to me at all, but for him to be nice and pay me compliments on top of everything else was like the equivalent of seeing a dog walk on its hind legs. You know it can happen, but it’s weird every time you see it. Lucky for me the waitress perkily interrupted, giving the distraction I was looking for.
“What can I get you?” She asked, chewing her gum annoyingly loud while perking up her “Ashley” nametag situated on her rather large chest. She was clearly trying to get Reid’s attention, which was probably something that I would have to deal with a lot given that he was incredibly sexy.
“Scrambled eggs and rye toast,” I ordered, watching her jot down my order on her notepad without so much as a glance in my direction. These were the moments I was thrilled I could read minds; I let my shield down, opening my mind to hers.
Sure enough, her thoughts were dripping of him. I could slip him a note letting him know where to find me after my shift. I mean, this girl he’s with is not even close to being cute enough for him.
I smirked, trying my hardest not to burst into laughter at her persistence, while Reid was watching me curiously.
“Lumberjack breakfast with sausages,” he offered without taking his eyes off me. She lingered by the table a bit longer, still trying to get his attention, but gave up mumbling something inaudible as she stalked back to the kitchen. He cocked an eyebrow at me. “What are you thinking about?”
“You have an admirer. She doesn’t feel that I’m up to your standards,” I replied, laughing.
He laughed this great, throaty laugh. “And you would know this how?”
“Oh please! You don’t need abilities to know that but…they do help,” I scoffed, smiling wickedly.
“Well she’s young. The young ones are always easier to get. But she’s also wrong.” He laughed again.
“Wrong about what?” I asked, curious and a little confused.
“About you not being attractive enough; that’s just jealousy talking.”
I felt my faced flush at his compliment. “So it is true, then, that vampires eat real food. I didn’t quite believe that when I read it in the vampire facts 101,” I rambled, trying to change the subject because the conversation was heading into uncomfortable territory, and I didn’t want to keep blushing like an idiot.
“Yes, we do eat regular food too. Although someone somewhere down the line had knowledge of our existence, the movies fabricated a lot of things. And before you ask, I can’t fly or turn into a bat.”
“What about sparkling? Is there any sparkling involved? Please tell me there is,” I teased, knowing full well that the vamps I’d met thought that was the most ridiculous thing they had ever heard.
“No sparkling. But I do glow in the dark,” he said, sending us both into a fit of laughter. It was sadly the first time in all the time I’d spent with him that we actually laughed together.
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BIO:
My name is Jessica Page, I’m an aspiring author who may or may not have a minor addiction to reading novels (both YA and adult fiction), watching movies and television series, especially ones that have vampires, werewolves, and/or steamy romances in the storyline. I live in Northern Ontario Canada with my husband and pets where I spend my days working in a ‘pencil-pushing paradise’ but I find myself writing Adult and YA fiction whenever I have a free second which never quite feels like long enough… but given the fact that my retirement will not happen for a very long time I’ll take what I can get in the meantime. I’ve always been an imaginative person (and admittedly probably a little neurotic) with a passion for good stories and characters and I’m thrilled (and anxious) to finally be sharing my writing beyond my computer’s hard drive.
Follow Me on:
Twitter: @JessicaPageAuth
Author Elissa Daye 