Lexi laughed. “I’m going with that group of guys over there. The asses are a dead giveaway.”
“Are you scoping out other guys?” Grant asked, coming up and wrapping his arms around Lexi’s waist, and kissing her.
“Definitely not. Your skater’s butt is more than enough for me,” she said. Grant played in a rec league with Adam.
“Glad to hear it. And yes, Amanda, Adam played in the AHL with a few of the Strikers, so some of the guys are here tonight,” Grant said, and Penny looked toward the bar. It was a hot looking group.
“Hey, Harty. Over here,” one of the guys called out.
Penny took a sip of her drink and scanned the bar, her gaze stopping at the door, where Harty stood, and her heart dropped to the floor.
No. It wasn’t possible.
He wasn’t looking at her, his face was turned to the side, but she caught the hint of the crooked smile she knew so well.
Memories flooded her, and she was back in Tuscany. Back to her sham of a honeymoon. She’d needed to get away from everyone after Michael’s betrayal and the trip to Italy had already been booked and paid for. She still couldn’t believe she had gotten on that plane and gone to Italy on her own.
But it had been worth it. She had met him.
They had crossed paths during a tour of a vineyard near Montalcino. He’d sat beside her at the long farmhouse table for lunch, and as the wine flowed, so had their conversation. He’d been so easy to talk to. His laugh had captured her, intrigued her. He laughed without a care in the world, and at that moment, she’d coveted his unbridled happiness.
And a couple nights later, after too many bottles of wine, one thing had led to another, and…and she had just needed to forget her life at home, her called-off wedding. Liquid courage, they called it, and boy had it delivered. For every moment of the next week in Tuscany, he had been there, making her smile. Making her forget. She could still taste the wine-drenched kisses.
It had been a fling. A fantastic fling, but a fling nonetheless. They hadn’t even exchanged last names.
“Penny?” he asked, his shock most likely mirroring hers. Of course, hers was more of a panicked shock.
“Ethan? What are you doing here?” Her voice came out on a crack. How the hell was he here?
“I should ask the same of you,” he said, his voice tight.
“I live here. You know that. But why aren’t you in New York?” Penny asked, her hand clutching her martini glass so tightly that she feared she’d snap it.
“Penny, what is going on?” Lexi asked, shifting closer to her. Penny’s gaze darted between her friends and Ethan, concern and question in their eyes.
“Umm. I should go. Big day tomorrow,” Penny said, setting down the fragile martini glass and clutching her bag. She had to get the hell out of there.
“Penny. Wait, is this Italian Ethan?” Lexi whispered, her eyes wide.
Oh God, here it comes. She couldn’t face their questions now—or ever. The woman obsessed with making lists and checking them twice—or three—or thirty times, had thrown pros and cons to the wind and had a week-long fling with a stranger in a foreign country. It so wasn’t her. Hell, she still couldn’t explain it to herself, let alone anyone else.
Fuck. This wasn’t supposed to come back and bite her in the ass. She lived here. He told her he lived in New York. He was currently on the wrong coast for that to be true, so what else had he lied about? Panic was firing on all cylinders now.
“Penny,” Amanda said, dragging her name out in clear question.
“I should go. Sorry. Lexi, I’ll see you at work tomorrow,” Penny said, giving Ethan one last look before rushing out of the bar, the questions yelled at her fading to silence as the door shut behind her. She shivered in the crisp night air, her coat forgotten as her fight or flight instinct kicked in. Tonight, she’d gone for flight.
What the hell had just happened? She walked briskly down the street, praying for either a sinkhole to open up and swallow her whole or a cab to stop. Frankly, it was a toss-up as to which one she’d prefer.
Head over to Amazon and grab Breakout to see what happens next.
About the Author
Stephanie Kay has always loved a good romance. Reading them, writing them, and watching them on TV. She got hooked on the dirty ones at the tender age of 14, when she told her mother that if the cover wasn’t a bodice ripper, then there was no sex in the book. As an avid mystery reader, her mother never checked to see if Stephanie was lying. Twenty years later, Stephanie’s most prized possession is her Kindle, and she may have a Hallmark movie obsession.
Stephanie loves strong, swoony heroes and independent heroines that go after their dreams. She married her own strong, swoony guy, and convinced him to get married over the anvil in Gretna Green, Scotland, so she could live out her historical romance dream. Since he agreed, she decided he’s a keeper.
She has called California, Maryland, and Rhode Island her home, but now lives in New Hampshire with her husband where she asks him incessant questions until he escapes to go hiking in the mountains. That’s the only time she can get him out of the house so she can get her writing in. Married couples shouldn’t both work from home!
Stephanie loves to hear from her readers. Please sign up for her newsletter for upcoming releases and exclusive excerpts. You can also email her at [email protected] or find her on Twitter or Facebook. For more information, please visit her website, www.stephkaybooks.com. You can also join my reader group on Facebook, Stephanie Kay’s Sassy Strikers. We discuss books, romance, dessert, and hockey butts.
I hope you enjoyed Skating the Line and reviews are always welcome!
Book Signings
Come see me in person!
I will be signing at the following events:
February 9, 2018
Love and Fifty Author Signing
6-10 pm
Embassy Suites
100 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, CA (my hometown!)
Grab your ticket today!
March 3, 2018
For Love of Books signing
Courtyard Boston Downtown
275 Tremont Street
Boston, MA
Signing from 10-4
Grab your ticket today!
April 14, 2018
Talkbooks Author Event
Boston Marriott Burlington
1 Burlington Mall Rd
Burlington, MA
Tickets will be available starting October 1st!
Join the TAE Facebook page to stay updated.
April 27, 2018
Let Your Imagination Take Flight conference
Signing Friday night 6-8 pm
Boston Marriott, Burlington, MA
October 19-20, 2018
Wanderlust in Historic Salem signing
Signing on Saturday, the 20th
Boston Marriott, Peabody
Books by Stephanie Kay
Unmatched
Last Call
Breakout
Skating the Line
Are you curious about what really happened in Italy between Ethan and Penny from Breakout?
Sign up for my newsletter for a bonus novella and find out just how much fun Penny and Ethan had on her non-honeymoon.
Stay tuned for Delay of Game in January 2018.
Rose Lanzi and her tiramisu are back!
Skating the Line (San Francisco Strikers Book 2) Page 28
