Not that she didn’t miss Max. Thanks to the internet, she’d followed his book tour from San Diego to Seattle, cheering in her living room when, at the final stop, he shared the good news that his novel would be made into a movie. The celebrated author was going to break a slew of hearts as he smiled from the red carpet.
Likely with a beautiful starlet on his arm.
Whoever she would be, Anna hoped the woman would know how lucky she was.
“If you don’t need me anymore, I’m going to head home,” Sylvia said, pulling Anna from her thoughts. “I’ve shelved all the returns through an hour ago, but I can check the bin again if you want.”
“No need. I can get to them.”
As Sylvia filled out her timesheet, she said, “Any big plans for the weekend?”
“Nothing tonight, but Lynnlee and I are seeing a movie tomorrow.”
If Lynnlee had her way, Anna would be joining her sister’s entourage at a local club later that evening. She’d given the new hot spot a try the week before, enduring two hours of screaming to be heard and dodging come-ons from men barely old enough to drink. That had been more than enough nightlife for Anna.
Kicking off her weekend with a glass of wine and a good book was a much better way to spend her time.
“What are you going to see?”
Anna signed the timesheet Sylvia slid her way. “I have no idea. It’s Lynnlee’s turn to pick, so I’m sure the cast will include some kind of man candy, as my sister calls it.”
The older woman laughed. “That isn’t such a bad thing, is it?”
With a knowing grin, Anna said, “Not bad at all.”
Sylvia pulled a set of keys out of her purse. “I almost forgot. A package came during your book club meeting. I set it on the back counter there.” She pointed to a long, thick manila envelope. “It’s from Los Angeles.”
“Thanks,” Anna said. She knew only one person who lived in Los Angeles.
Moving the envelope to the front counter, Anna examined the package. Both the library’s and the return address were on typed labels, which provided no clues. Not that she’d recognize Max’s handwriting if she saw it.
Whatever was inside was too big to be a book. Too thick to be a magazine. And too heavy to be a stack of fliers. Sliding a letter opener down the right side, Anna lifted the opposite end and poured the contents onto the counter.
A bound manuscript fell out, along with a long, white envelope that read Flip to the marked page first, then open this. As she traced a finger over Max’s pen name, printed beneath the title The Boy in the Books, Anna couldn’t help but smile. Even now, he was still giving her orders. And as always, she obeyed.
A tattered slip of paper stuck out the top of the manuscript, which turned out to be a bookmark for the dedication page. With a heavy heart, she read the simple sentiment.
For my Anna. I will never forget you.
Her eyes misted. “I’ll never forget you either.”
She dabbed at her eyes before opening the smaller envelope and withdrawing a thick sheet of paper that had been folded into quarters. When she saw the picture, Anna’s heart dropped.
In bold pencil strokes, wearing nothing but a string of pearls, Anna sat perched atop Max’s headboard looking like a goddess who knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it. Her hair tumbled in a mass of curls over one shoulder, while her lips curled up in a seductive grin.
The picture was beautiful. No, Anna corrected. She was beautiful.
After refolding the drawing, she closed it and the envelope inside the manuscript.
The Boy in the Books. A perfect title for the story he’d told her. Without reading it, she knew the book was sure to be another bestseller. Especially knowing the personal connection involved.
Staring at the cover, she said, “Thank you, Max.”
“You’re welcome,” returned a familiar voice.
Anna’s head jerked up to see him standing before her, hands in the pockets of his low-slung jeans, gray eyes somber.
A million things ran through her mind, but mostly, Anna was thankful to have the counter between them. Without the obstacle, she would have embarrassed herself by tackling him on the spot.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, going for the obvious.
“My tour is over. The book is done, as you can see.” He nodded toward the manuscript. “And I missed you.”
She couldn’t have heard him right. “You missed me?”
“Yeah.”
Drinking in the sight of him, Anna ordered herself not to get too excited. “Did you come back for the weekend?” No matter how much she wanted him, her pride wouldn’t tolerate becoming his weekend drive-by.
He shifting from one foot to the other. “I rented the apartment again. Took a pretty penny to convince the landlord to toss the current tenant, but once I agreed to pay the person’s relocation costs, and a year of rent up front, he agreed.”
Hope shot through Anna’s chest. Along with disbelief, shock, and suffocating fear.
“You did all that for me?”
“I’d do anything for you, Anna.”
Her hands longed to touch him, but her heart wasn’t ready to give in.
“And you plan to stay for a year?”
“To start,” he said. “We can see what happens from there.” Anna was still processing the “we” part when Max added, “I lied about something the day I left. Before I went through security, I said no regrets.”
“Yes,” Anna said. “I remember.”
“That was bullshit.” Max said, taking a step toward her. “I’ve regretted leaving you every minute since I got on that plane. And if I don’t touch you soon, I’m going to lose my mind.”
Anna cried and laughed at the same time. She couldn’t believe this was happening. In her wildest dreams, she never could have hoped that this incredible man would walk back into her life, let alone want to stay.
“I’m afraid if I touch you, I’ll wake up and this will all be a dream.”
“Not a dream, Anna,” Max said, lifting her over the counter as if she weighed little more than a feather, then sweeping her into a kiss that threatened to melt her unmentionables. When they finally came up for air, Anna was light-headed and happier than she’d ever been.
She was also highly aroused.
“Today seems like a good day to lock up early,” she said, sliding her palms down Max’s chest. “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to walk a girl home?”
Sliding his hands down to her bottom, Max pulled her tight against him, his erection clearly evident. “I have a better idea,” he whispered in her ear. “Why don’t we lock the door and see what we can get up to in the stacks?”
Meeting his wicked smile with one of her own, she nodded. “We could start in the romance section. I can think of several scenes we might want to try.”
Like the rake that he was, Max brushed a thumb across her hardened nipple and said, “Anything for my Anna.”
THANK YOU FOR READING! TURN THE PAGE FOR A LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR.
Dear Reader,
I originally wrote this story in 2007. It was the first work of fiction I ever finished, and I loved it. Thankfully, I’ve learned a great deal in the passing years, meaning Anna and Max changed quite a bit as I revised their story for publication. But the core of the story is still here, and I hope you enjoyed the reading as much as I enjoyed the writing.
I want to thank Eloisa James for her guidance in turning Awakening Anna into something I can be proud of, and teaching me how to write an alpha hero, among other things. My gratitude to Fran Colley, Marnee Bailey, and Kim Law for being great beta readers/proofers, and Jessica Ruddick and Kimberly Dawn for their stellar edits.
If you enjoyed this story and would like to explore my other books, you can find them on my website at www.Terriosburn.com. Awakening Anna is a much hotter and more sensual story than my other works, which are mainstream contemporary romances. If this is the first time you’ve read one of my
stories, I hope you’ll give the other books a try, but know that they aren’t quite so steamy.
If you’d like to keep up with my future releases and general shenanigans, you can subscribe to my newsletter on my website noted above, or follow me on Facebook .
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my work. Without you, I wouldn’t have the best job in the world—spinning tales of love and laughter—always with a happy ending. I am truly blessed. If you’re willing, all reviews are greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Terri
About the Author
Terri Osburn writes contemporary romance with heart, hope, and lots of humor. After landing on the bestseller lists with her Anchor Island Series, she moved on to the Ardent Springs series, which earned her a Book Buyers Best award in 2016. Her new Shooting Stars series is set against the glittering and gritty world of the Nashville country music scene. Terri’s work has been translated into six languages, and has sold more than a million copies worldwide. She resides in middle Tennessee with her college-student daughter, four frisky felines, and two high-maintenance terrier mixes. Learn more about this author and her books at www.terriosburn.com. Or check out her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TerriOsburnAuthor.
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