Then, he moves. He walks on his hands. Back and forth.
Like he’s performing.
Showing off his most unique skill set.
I chuckle louder.
Then louder still when he holds himself up on one hand only, waving to us.
“What a show-off,” Veronica says.
Lars clears his throat. “And sometimes, we see the unexpected sights of Copenhagen.”
I do what any curious onlooker might do. I grab my phone, and snap.
Snap.
Snap.
The man stands, takes a bow, and waves.
My chest heats up. The temperature in me flirts with mercury levels. He’s a stunner. My God, he’s like Skarsgård, from this distance.
And, because I believe in speaking my mind, I cup my hand over my mouth, and shout, “Bravo. All of it.”
He doffs an imaginary top hat and takes a bow. “My pleasure.” His voice booms across the water, his accent a British one.
Sparks unexpectedly race down my chest. That accent is delicious. “Oh no. The pleasure is truly all mine.”
His lips curve up in a smile. A wickedly handsome one. “Then meet me tonight at Jane!”
Veronica nudges me. “That’s a club. Say yes. Say it now.” Her voice is marked with urgency,
“You’re insane,” I whisper.
“This is the wild thing to do. Not a boat ride.”
Is she crazy?
As the boat motors on, the idea seems both intoxicating and dangerous. Stupid, maybe, too. For a second, I imagine asking Lars to stop the boat. Skarsgård would jump in the water and dolphin his way over to me, parking his hands on the edge of the boat, and flashing a gleaming smile, his hair wet, his face covered in droplets of water.
Oh hell, I want to say yes to the naked man.
He barks at me once again, shouting a street name that starts with a K, since every word here has a K in it, and ends with something like haven. “I’ll be there at seven.”
I swallow. Is he mad? Am I? Or am I doing what I’ve told myself I should do for some time now? Seize the day.
I cup my hand over the side of my mouth, and call out, “Perhaps I’ll see you at seven.”
Once one of the most beautiful views ever fades from sight, Veronica arches a well-groomed eyebrow. “You’re going, right?”
A prickle of nerves skates down my spine. “I am?”
“Did I detect a question mark?”
“Don’t you think it’s dangerous to have drinks with a man you don’t know?”
Shaking her head, she rises, flicks her chestnut brown hair off her shoulders, and strides purposefully to the front of the boat. Once Lars finishes a tale about the Danish navy and their warships, he lowers his shades, drops his mic, and cocks his head to the side.
Veronica says something to him I can’t hear.
But his eyes tell me everything. He’s said more than “perhaps.”
As she saunters back to me, a determined look in her eyes, she’s daring me to go. She’s chosen her own adventure for tonight.
Flopping down in the seat, she declares, “You better get your ass to Jane on whatever street that was.” She pokes my shoulder. “You have a date, and so do I.”
Why is it that last nights in foreign countries make you do crazy things?
I mean, think crazy things.
Clearly, I’m not actually going out with him.
I might have a bath in the marble tub at the hotel, sip a glass of champagne, and lose myself in a new book, the story of a young couple who travel to Rome and get lost and found.
“It’s insane.”
Veronica grabs my arm, her eyes imploring. “You’re not going to his house. That would be insane. You’re going to a bar. That’s safe.”
But is it? Is it safe for my heart?
Once I ask the question, though, I know the answer.
It’s only one night. There’s nothing safer.
And that’s why there’s nothing fate can do to stop me. I’m making this choice.
* * *
PART-TIME LOVER releases on June 4 on all retailers!
Next up is COME AS YOU ARE, releasing April 16! Here’s a brief excerpt….
* * *
She’s flirting with me, and she has no idea who I am, and I have no idea who she is. Yes, this mask was a brilliant idea in my list of brilliant ideas. The music picks up speed, and I twirl her around once more.
“So tell me, where did you learn to dance?” she asks.
“Don’t laugh.”
“I’ll probably laugh.”
“YouTube.”
She laughs sweetly. “Seriously?”
I nod. “I figured I needed a life skill beyond math, numbers, and computers. I learned how to dance online.”
She curls her hands over my shoulders. “You’re a nerd.” The words come out as if she just said I was a rock star or a pro quarterback. She says it with affection and, honestly, a whole lot of desire.
“Shocking, isn’t it, that I’m a nerd?”
“A hot nerd, to be precise,” she adds.
I bring her closer. “So are you.”
“You’re a very hot, witty nerd.”
I’m damn close to kissing her on this dance floor. But I’d rather get her away from everyone else. I lean in to whisper, “Same to you, you incredibly sexy hot nerd I want to kiss.”
She lets out a murmur, and when I pull back to meet her eyes again, I ask, “Have you seen the library here?”
“There’s a library?” Her pitch rises.
“Yes. Why don’t we check out the books and you can tell me more about your Monopoly strategy and the taxi apps you didn’t fund?”
“Why, yes, your grace. I’d love to.”
I laugh. “I’m not a duke.”
“Can we pretend you are?”
“Of course, Angel. I can be whoever you want.”
As long as it’s not me.
* * *
ABOUT COME AS YOU ARE
* * *
I couldn’t have scripted a more perfect night.
For one fantastic evening, at a masquerade party in the heart of Manhattan, I’m not the millionaire everyone wants a piece of. Fine—multimillionaire. But who’s counting all those commas? Not me, and not the most intriguing woman I’ve ever met, who happens to like dancing, witty banter, and hot, passionate up-against-the-wall sex as much as I do. There’s no need for names or business cards. And that’s why I’m eager to get to know her more, since my mystery woman seems to like me for me, rather than for my huge…bank account.
Everything’s coming up aces. Until the next day when things get a little complicated. (Newsflash — a lot complicated.)
He’s charming, brilliant, an incredible lover, and right now I want to stab fate in the eyeballs.
I’ve had one goal I’ve been working toward, and lo and behold, my mystery man is the very person who stands between me and my dream job. A job I desperately need since my hard-knock life has nothing in common with his star-kissed one.
But it’s time to put that fairytale night behind me, and focus on learning what makes him tick. Too bad it turns out his quirks are my quirks, and his love affair with New York matches mine.
And as we spend our days together, I discover something else that feels like a cruel twist of fate — I’m falling for this naughty prince charming, and that’s not an ending I can write to our story.
***
COME AS YOU ARE releases on April 16 and can be preordered on most retailers now!
Acknowledgments
I am grateful to so many people put made the story possible. Thank you to Rose Hilliard for being the match that started the Wanderlust fire, to Michelle Wolfson for making all things possible, and to KP Simmon for guiding me to yes. A special thank you to Helen Williams, who was my British eyes and ears and who devoured each chapter. Thank you to Jen for reading along and weeping when I hoped you would, and to Lauren Clarke for loving this story and helping to
shape it. Abiding thanks to the people who checked my French – Monique Daoust and Katie DSP. Thank you to the ladies who make the books shine – Karen, Tiffany, Lynn, Virginia and Dena. A special shoutout to several books that were immensely helpful in research – Planting Schemes from Monet’s Garden by Vivian Russell, Curiosities of Paris by Dominique Lesbros, Coming to My Senses by Alyssa Harad, Perfume: The Alchemy of Scent by Jean-Claude Ellena, and Angels of Paris by Rosemary Flannery.
* * *
Most of all I am thankful to my readers, and to the city of Paris for giving endless inspiration.
Also by Lauren Blakely
FULL PACKAGE, the #1 New York Times Bestselling romantic comedy!
* * *
BIG ROCK, the hit New York Times Bestselling standalone romantic comedy!
* * *
MISTER O, also a New York Times Bestselling standalone romantic comedy!
* * *
WELL HUNG, a New York Times Bestselling standalone romantic comedy!
* * *
JOY RIDE, a USA Today Bestselling standalone romantic comedy!
* * *
HARD WOOD, a USA Today Bestselling standalone romantic comedy!
* * *
THE SEXY ONE, a New York Times Bestselling bestselling standalone romance!
* * *
THE HOT ONE, a USA Today Bestselling bestselling standalone romance!
* * *
THE KNOCKED UP PLAN, a multi-week USA Today and Amazon Charts Bestselling bestselling standalone romance!
* * *
MOST VALUABLE PLAYBOY, a sexy multi-week USA Today Bestselling sports romance, and MOST LIKELY TO SCORE!
* * *
THE V CARD, a USA Today Bestselling sinfully sexy romantic comedy!
* * *
The New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Seductive Nights series including Night After Night, After This Night, and One More Night
* * *
And the two standalone romance novels in the Joy Delivered Duet, Nights With Him and Forbidden Nights, both New York Times and USA Today Bestsellers!
* * *
Sweet Sinful Nights, Sinful Desire, Sinful Longing and Sinful Love, the complete New York Times Bestselling high-heat romantic suspense series that spins off from Seductive Nights!
* * *
Playing With Her Heart, a USA Today bestseller, and a sexy Seductive Nights spin-off standalone! (Davis and Jill’s romance)
* * *
21 Stolen Kisses, the USA Today Bestselling forbidden new adult romance!
* * *
Caught Up In Us, a New York Times and USA Today Bestseller! (Kat and Bryan’s romance!)
* * *
Pretending He’s Mine, a Barnes & Noble and iBooks Bestseller! (Reeve & Sutton’s romance)
* * *
Trophy Husband, a New York Times and USA Today Bestseller! (Chris & McKenna’s romance)
* * *
Far Too Tempting, the USA Today Bestselling standalone romance! (Matthew and Jane’s romance)
* * *
Stars in Their Eyes, an iBooks bestseller! (William and Jess’ romance)
* * *
My USA Today bestselling No Regrets series that includes
The Thrill of It (Meet Harley and Trey)
and its sequel
Every Second With You
* * *
My New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Fighting Fire series that includes
Burn For Me (Smith and Jamie’s romance!)
Melt for Him (Megan and Becker’s romance!)
and Consumed by You (Travis and Cara’s romance!)
* * *
The Sapphire Affair series...
The Sapphire Affair
The Sapphire Heist
* * *
Out of Bounds
A New York Times Bestselling sexy sports romance
* * *
The Only One
A second chance love story!
* * *
Stud Finder
A sexy, flirty romance!
Contact
I love hearing from readers! You can find me on Twitter at LaurenBlakely3, Instagram at LaurenBlakelyBooks, Facebook at LaurenBlakelyBooks, or online at LaurenBlakely.com. You can also email me at [email protected]
Wanderlust Page 26
