by Kali Brixton
I check over her shoulder to see if the guys are in place. Franco, Papi Dean’s cellist buddy, throws me a sly smile as his brother Paolo, the violinist, winks at me. Soft notes filter throughout the space between buildings and, by the expression on Ev’s perfect face, into the chambers of her heart.
The ringtone she uses for me after all these years made the first song choice easy, but the lyrics of longing and desire were our story throughout our separation. I spent many a night lying in bed, hungry for something I couldn’t have, desperate for a kiss, a touch, an embrace from her.
Now that I finally have it, I’ll never get enough.
“Dance with me, Evergreen,” I whisper on her lips as I offer her my hand, wanting an answer not just from her body, but from her soul as well.
She nods with glassy eyes and takes it, allowing me to guide us into position, then again when I realize I just need to hold her close. My arms find her waist and back as one of hers slips under my arm while her other hand finds its rightful place over my heart. Her head lays against my neck and my cheek leans against her forehead, swaying together in this cocoon of bliss.
Everleigh knows minimal Italian, mostly affectionate terms and curses. She prefers the curses, of course. Yet, I hope that even with the Italian language barrier, she can feel their meaning, right down to her bone marrow as I serenade it to her.
A warm trickle slides down my neck, the sting of cool night air retracing its path. No, my love. My sister isn’t the only person in the family who can sing.
“I still wake up every morning, thinking this is all a dream,” her soft voice wavers, no doubt trying to hold back the tears I already feel falling. She blames me for her recent bout of “over-emotionalism” as she calls it.
I only claim the happy tears.
“The best dreams are the ones we get to live.” I tighten my hold around her and close my eyes. And sometimes, if we’re really lucky, we even get to marry ours.
Swaying to the ever-changing venue of songs, we stand here for a long time, unwilling to let each other and this moment go. After all, we’ve already done enough of that for two lifetimes.
Now is our time to collide, to burn brightly forever.
Two hearts that were never meant to find completion in each other.
Two lives that weren’t destined to be intertwined.
And yet, in the middle of a cobblestone street, under a blanket of heaven, here we are.
Two star-crossed lovers who defied fate and now blaze together in an orbit all our own.
Always.
I’ll be your excitement and your rest.
I’ll be your adventure and your home.
Just as you are those things to me.
Ever mine, my Evergreen.
Acknowledgments
And to think, this all started with a conversation in a romance chat…
To our friend Andrea, who inspired us to write this series. Thank you for always being our cheerleader and our residential Italian translator. Luca and I are immensely grateful.
To my S&S girls.
For the hilarious videochats and endless VMs (you know how I love them so) and for letting Ev be true to who she is, thank you. She and I love you all! #shankalank
Nicole, thank you for creating that wicked awesome teaser video and loaning me Papi Dean. I can’t wait to collaborate with you on Kieran’s book. Lord, what a ride those readers are going to be in for. ;)
Cara, thank you for the gorgeous cover and graphic work. Addy provided much vixenish entertainment throughout this process. Can’t wait for the world to meet her next. ;)
Shanna, thank you for formatting for everything for us and for leaving the funniest notes of encouragement behind on my Google doc. You are the Queen Madam of edits and I’m super excited about working with you on Kenton’s book. ;)
To Evergreen and Luca.
You two crazy kids are so doggone special to me. You may have veered left when I wanted you to go right, but you ended up exactly where you were meant to be—and more importantly, who you were meant to be. I only hope I did your story justice. Truthfully, I don’t want to let you go, but something tells me I won’t have to for very long…
Ev, keep your blades sharp, and Luca, watch out for her right cross.
To Papi Dean.
Thank you for bringing a piece of my grandfather back to me. You’ll never know how much I love and needed you and all your quirky aprons.
To the man who helps me write our own love story every day.
I wish everyone could be blessed with such an amazing spouse. Thank you for loving me, even at my most imperfect. Even though 2020 wasn’t what we had hoped it to be, I loved making memories with you during the greatest staycation of all time. #quarantinebuddies4life
To our amazing series ARC team.
Thank you for your enthusiasm, your encouragement, and for braving this maiden voyage with us all! I genuinely hope Ev and Luca were worth the wait. ;)
And finally, to you the reader.
Everleigh, Luca, and I are immensely grateful you took a chance on their story. I hope you enjoyed their emotional rollercoaster as much as I loved writing it!
If you have a spare moment to leave a quick one, honest, constructive reviews are always appreciated and helpful us authors become better storytellers. :D
Now, go watch some first-time reactions to The Righteous Brothers’ music on YouTube. You’ll thank me later. ;)
As Ev says, you don’t listen to a Righteous Brothers song, you experience it… ;)
Star-Crossed Secrets Playlist
“Knock You Down” Keri Hilson
“Shape of You” Ed Sheehan
“Your Woman” White Town
“The Power of Goodbye” Madonna
“Haunted” Beyonce
“Rehab” Rihanna
“Dreams Pt. II” Lost Sky feat. Sara Skinner
“Realization” Valter Nowak
“Vicious” Tate McRae
“Ready for It?” Taylor Swift
“Goliath” Woodkid
“In the End” (Mellen Gi Remix) Tommee Profitt
“Desperado” (Tik Tok Tunes Remix)
“Unchained Melody” The Righteous Brothers
“Unchained Melody” Auri Ford
Sneak Peek at High Rise Secrets by Cara Wade
Prologue
Addison
Valentine’s Day
I slide into the booth where my sisters, my best friends, are waiting for me. It’s an annual tradition for us girls to spend Valentine’s Day together. We always book a table at one of the fanciest restaurants around the city and spend the night drinking and laughing.
After, I usually head over to RISE and find some lonely stud to take to bed and play with him until I’ve had no less than three orgasms. He’s always more willing to please on Valentine’s Day, trying to be romantic and shit. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest; they usually try harder.
What does bother me? Ethan Freeman’s date for the evening. She’s his flavor of the month and annoying as hell. Her laugh? Ugh, like nails on a chalkboard. She must have a magical vagina or something, because I can’t figure out what he sees in her. Oh, and he happens to be in the same restaurant we’re at.
Coincidence?
Never. I set up his reservation last week for him and wanted to keep an eye on him.
“Lia, so glad Landry gave you up for the evening. Was he a sad panda?” I ask, taking a sip of my appletini.
“He told me he has a special evenin’ planned when I get home.” Her eyes sparkle with love as she talks about her husband. They make me sick, but in a loving way.
I look at Everleigh, who smirks at me, daring me to say something about her not being with Luca tonight. I see her hand twitch with the need to give me a witty comeback or whip out her butterfly knife. I love the girl, and she is loyal to a fault, but she’s a stabby bitch through and through.
“Hi, Ev, glad you could make it tonight.” I blow her an air kis
s over the table.
“Wouldn’t miss this night for the world. One question, though.” She places her hands under her chin and gives me a chilling smile. “What the fuck is Ethan Freeman doing here?” She flicks her chin in his direction.
I feel my cheeks heat as I turn to look in the direction she’s motioned to. “Oh, is he? I didn’t realize.” My eyes lock with his over his date’s shoulder, and he smirks at me. I wave a few fingers and turn in my seat again.
“Girl, I love you, but you need to move on. Clearly, he hasn’t seen what’s right in front of him after all these years. You’re amazing, and he’s a dumb fuck.”
I chortle and choke on my drink as I roll my eyes at her. She’s not wrong, but I’d never admit that to her. My slight obsession with my boss is my cross to bear. “Hey, Eady, how’re you doing?”
“Fine. Happy to be here with you girls tonight.” She bumps her shoulder against mine as we all settle in with drinks and order a few appetizers.
The conversation is flowing as is the alcohol and food. This is the only way to spend a shitty holiday made popular by the card companies—with my girls. I feel his eyes on me though, and I can’t help but turn around just in time to see his date storm off, taking her purse with her.
“Doubt she’s just running to the bathroom,” Ev says, hiding her smirk behind her hand. Ethan is a statue of calm as he takes a sip of his drink, eyes glued to our table. A few patrons at the tables close by are watching him, but he doesn’t even seem to notice them.
"I need to go check on him, make sure he's okay," I mumble as I slide out of the booth.
"You're gonna ditch your girls for dick?" Ev asks, shaking her head. If she didn't have a smile on her face, I'd think she was mad at me.
"Chicks before dick, Addy," Eady chimes in.
"You know how much I like dick, and that one is my filet mignon. Just for a minute, I'll be back," I reason with them.
I know it's a lie as soon as my eyes lock with his gorgeous brown ones. He waves me over to the table, and like a willing lamb, I gravitate to the big bad wolf. Ethan Freeman will always be my ultimate, even if has no clue of our past and who I really am.
Ethan
I knew this date was a mistake the moment Addison fucking Snyder walked in and sat down at a booth three tables away. Yes, I've counted just how fucking close she is to me, and I'm sure I'm imagining it, but I can smell her signature scent from here.
Brittany, my date, returns from the restroom and flashes a megawatt smile until she sees me staring at Addison’s table. Brittany looks over her shoulder to see who I smiled at and turns back to me, her eyes narrowed. "Who's that?" she asks, crossing her arms, resting them on the table.
"My assistant," I reply, taking a sip of my drink.
Did Addison make this reservation knowing she was going to be here, too?
Don't be an idiot, Ethan.
Tatalina is one of the fanciest restaurants in town and hard as fuck to get a reservation at. I knew when I asked her to get me a table somewhere tonight, she would come through. She always does. Nothing more.
The waiter comes over just in time to avoid a disaster that's waiting to happen. Pretty girls like Brittany are all the same, in my experience anyway. If there is another woman who's caught my eye, she gets jealous. We place our orders, and I distract her by asking about work and the charity work she's involved in.
The evening seems to be dragging on, and I've barely said two words to her, my focus on the table three spots away. Thank God Addison isn’t facing me. I wouldn’t be able to pretend to be enjoying this date if she was.
“Brittany, this was a mistake,” I cut her off as she drones on about the latest gossip in her social circle. I wince at the bite of my words. I sound like the biggest asshole, and I know she’s going to cause a scene.
She scoffs and grabs her purse. “A mistake?” she seethes. “You’re right, this isn’t working out. Fuck you, Ethan.” She stands and storms away from the table. A few people are looking at us, but I don’t care. I only care when Addison turns to look at me, and I motion her over to the table. When she willingly stands and saunters over to me, I feel like the luckiest man alive.
“Ms. Snyder,” I say cooly as I point to the empty seat in front of me.
“Mr. Freeman, it appears you lost your date for the evening.”
“I have. I’d love it if you’d join me.” She glances back at her friends and bites her lip. I lower my voice. “Don’t make me beg, Addy. I just lost my date for the night. Show a guy some mercy on Valentine’s Day.” Oh yeah, I’m laying it on thick. I take a moment to appreciate her amazing body before she smiles and sits.
“To see a big bad CEO beg, that would be a sight to behold.”
“Deny me, and I’ll have no option.”
Her smile widens and I catch a mischievous glint in her green eyes. I wonder where her mind just wandered to. Does she think about me the same way I think about her? Unlikely.
“I can’t stay too long, I have a date in a little bit,” she says.
“Well then, he’s one lucky guy to have caught your attention. Just stay with me long enough to have a drink, and then I’ll let you get back to your friends. I don’t want to keep you.”
She reaches across the table, placing her small hand on top of mine. My flesh buzzes where her hand is, and it takes everything in me not to trap her against me by covering her hand with my own. “You’re not. I wanted to make sure you were okay. Brittany ran out of here so fast.”
“Yeah, well, she caught me staring at a pretty girl.”
She pulls her hand back. “Oh, well, why isn’t she sitting here then?”
She is. Not that I can tell her that. I can’t date my assistant, no matter how much I want her.
High Rise Secrets premieres February 13, 2021
PRE-ORDER NOW
About Kali Brixton
Kali Brixton is the alter ego of a mild-mannered English teacher who adores the written word and a good ol'-fashioned love story (or song). Cinderella will forever be her bread, butter, and jelly, and glitter runs in her veins.
She believes in the healing power of hugs, humor, and HEAs. All things sparkly, cheesy, and Wizard of Oz-zy are guaranteed attention-grabbers.
Although rooted deep within the Appalachian Mountains, she has a heart full of wanderlust. Kali dreams of one day becoming a full-time author and traveling to faraway lands. Until then, she will continue to teach high school students the indisputable importance of Poe and puns.
Kali resides with her own Prince Charming/partner-in-crime/husband of more than a decade and the dreams that are now too big to stay within her wild imagination.
Want to stay in touch with Kali?
You can find her at the following social media haunts, boys and ghouls:
http://kalibrixton.com
http://facebook.com/groups/kalismagicalmenagerie
Also by Kali Brixton
Now Available
To Have (Vows Book 1)
Christmas Treats: A Rom-Com Anthology
Coming 2021
Sin and Secrets Collection
RISE
Star-Crossed Secrets (Coming in January 2021)
*Stay tuned for spin-off books from the RISE world coming in the future*
(Not So) Meet Cute Anthology
To Hold (Vows #2)
From This Day Forward (Vows #3)
'Til Death Do Us Part (Vows #4)
Coming 2022
For Richer or Poorer (Vows)
To Love and to Cherish (Vows)
In Sickness and in Health (Vows)
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