“Mr. Buchanan,” her low-pitched voice was forced to find its way through the narrow crack in the door, yet still he could hear it over the rumble of the traffic on the highway and the surf’s crash-and-shush at his back. The goose made another march down his spine. “You called me. Remember?”
Right. There was that. With a sigh, he pulled back on the knob to gaze on her again, girly as all get-out. “Look,” he said, “it’s nothing personal. It’s just that I’ve sworn off women.”
His last chef had worked out great. Sandy was businesslike, quiet, and a lesbian to boot. When she’d recommended her friend Nikki, Jay had assumed—which reminded him of one of his grandfather’s favorite old saws, “Assume makes an ass out of u and me”—that she’d be of the same sexual persuasion.
But after studying the woman on his doorstep…well, to put it bluntly, this leggy darling was no dyke.
“Mr. Buchanan—”
He held up his hand, once again wishing like hell he’d had a cup of coffee waiting for him when he rose, which was just another reason to regret this pretty chef person wasn’t an ardent fan of The L Word. “I’ve got enough trouble right now, okay? Believe me, I’ve sworn off women.”
Those eyebrows slammed over her nose again. “Then we’re even, because I don’t like men.”
Jay stared in surprise. Could it be? Could his lack of caffeine have impaired his usually impeccable, spot-on radar? “You…” He shook his head, because now he noticed something even more remarkable about her. Pretty chef person, Leggy with Braids, Nikki-who-said-she didn’t-like-men had the most amazing eyes. One was blue, and one was green. Like a mermaid, like a witch, like a…?
Could it really be? He frowned. “You don’t like men?”
She took a breath.
He leaned forward so as not to miss her answer.
Another female’s voice found him first. From the vicinity of his back door floated a light, sugary voice that he was painfully familiar with. “Jay? Jay, darling. I can’t go another minute without seeing you.”
Tension tightened a strangling hand around his neck. He closed his eyes, opened them, and was distracted for a second from the sticky problem coming up behind him by Nikki’s pretty, pretty face and those witchy, witchy eyes.
Hmm. Was she or wasn’t she?
“Jay?”
Uh-oh. The sticky problem was getting closer.
“Jay, honey, where are you?”
Nikki’s bi-colored eyes were big and full of questions.
Jay had one of his own, of course. Did she really dislike men or didn’t she? But there wasn’t time to speculate, not with the minty breath of his worst double-X chromosome mistake bearing down on him.
And then, bam, it hit him. Call it an impulse, call it a brilliant idea, call it both. He kicked aside the unsettling warning that not all his impulses or even his brilliant ideas had panned out to be oh-so-successful.
Like Mom said, Jay was a hoper.
And now he hoped to kill two birds with one stone. A single, simple move—and oh, how he liked things simple—could clear up one little question as well as one big problem.
As high heels clacked on the tile behind him, he grabbed Nikki-who-might-not-like-men, yanked her across the threshold, then pulled her close for a kiss.
Buy TAKE ME TENDER (Billionaire’s Beach Book 1)
Buy TAKE ME FOREVER (Billionaire’s Beach Book 2)
Buy TAKE ME HOME (Billionaire’s Beach Book 3)
Buy THE SCANDAL (Billionaire’s Beach Book 4)
Buy THE SEDUCTION (Billionaire’s Beach Book 5)
Buy THE SECRET (Billionaire’s Beach Book 6)
Christie Ridgway’s Book List
Almost Wonderful (Almost Book 1)
Almost Always (Almost Book 2)
Almost Everything (Almost Book 3)
Almost Paradise (Almost Book 4)
Take Me Tender (Billionaire’s Beach Book 1)
Take Me Forever (Billionaire’s Beach Book 2)
Take Me Home (Billionaire’s Beach Book 3)
The Scandal (Billionaire’s Beach Book 4)
The Seduction (Billionaire’s Beach Book 5)
The Secret (Billionaire’s Beach Book 6)
Light My Fire (Rock Royalty Book 1)
Love Her Madly (Rock Royalty Book 2)
Break on Through (Rock Royalty Book 3)
Touch Me (Rock Royalty Book 4)
Wishful Sinful (Rock Royalty Book 5)
Wild Child (Rock Royalty Book 6)
Who Do You Love (Rock Royalty Book 7)
Love Me Two Times (Rock Royalty Book 8)
Rock Royalty Boxed Set – Books 1-3
One Look (One & Only Book 1)
One Kiss (One & Only Book 2)
One Night (One & Only Book 3)
One Love (One & Only Book 4)
Make Him Wild (Intoxicating Book 1)
Make Him Want (Intoxicating Book 2)
Make Him Stay (Intoxicating Book 3)
7 Brides for 7 Soldiers - Multi-Author Series
Ryder - Barbara Freethy (#1)
Adam - Roxanne St. Claire (#2)
Zane - Christie Ridgway (#3)
Wyatt - Lynn Raye Harris (#4)
Jack - Julia London (#5)
Noah - Cristin Harber (#6)
Ford - Samantha Chase (#7)
7 Brides for 7 Brothers - Multi-Author Series
Luke: Barbara Freethy (#1)
Gabe: Ruth Cardello (#2)
Hunter: Melody Anne (#3)
Knox: Christie Ridgway (#4)
Max: Lynn Raye Harris (#5)
James: Roxanne St. Clair (#6)
Finn: JoAnn Ross (#7)
Must Love Mistletoe (Holiday Duet Book 1)
Not Another New Year's (Holiday Duet Book 2)
Holiday Duet Boxed Set
First Comes Love (In Hot Water Book 1)
Then Comes Marriage (In Hot Water Book 2)
Nothing But Blue Skies
Out on a Limb (novella)
Snow Job
The Thrill of It All
Three Little Words
About the Author
Christie Ridgway is the author of over 60 novels of contemporary romance. All her books are both sexy and emotional and tell about heroes and heroines who learn to believe in the power of love. A USA Today bestseller, Christie is a six-time RITA finalist and has won best contemporary romance of the year and career achievement awards from Romantic Times Book Reviews.
A native of California, Christie now resides in the southern part of the state with her family. Inspired by the beaches, mountains, and cities that surround her, she writes tales of sunny days and steamy nights. For a complete list of books, excerpts, and news on the latest going on with Christie:
Visit Christie’s website
Meet up with her on Facebook
Follow her on Twitter
Sign up for Christie’s Newsletter
The Real-Life Inspiration for Crescent Cove
Prepare to add another item to your Bucket List! Because the fictional setting of the Almost series, Crescent Cove, is based on an actual place in Orange County, California, called Crystal Cove. It’s all there—the sand, the sun, the sea. The cool, anything-goes cottages that you can rent for a night or more.
The place is now designated as a California State Park, including backcountry acreage, and the cottages are on the National Register of Historic Places. The tide pools are there, as well as a restaurant, The Beachcomber Café (they have fabulous photos on their website, http://thebeachcombercafe.com/_crystalcove/, and the food just tastes great when you’re seated steps from the surf.
Native Americans lived on this stretch of land first, but later it became ranchland ultimately owned by the Irvine family. It was a favorite place and they allowed friends and family to camp there from the 1920s, with tents and ultimately more permanent structures like mobile homes and wooden structures. The California Coastal Commission bought the property in 1979 and it became space for all to e
njoy.
Fun facts: The raising of the cocktail flag is a true tradition that continues today and was instigated by a resident who was also a member of the Shriners’ Top Hat Band. It has been, and remains, a popular place for plein air painters. Every time I’ve visited, I’ve seen artists creating beautiful landscapes on canvas.
As mentioned in the series, there is also a movie connection. Among others, “Treasure Island” was filmed there in 1918 and “Beaches” in 1988.
I’ve visited there more than once and anyone who has come with me or has gone on my recommendation has not been disappointed. There’s just something about the place that makes you believe in happy-ever-afters.
Almost Paradise (Book 4) Page 35
