Multiple pairs of eyes focus on me. Piper’s brows go up. “I didn’t hear about this. What’s going on?”
“So, there’s this pterodactyl and somehow it impregnates the main female character of the book, and it’s just a wild story.” I wrinkle my nose and look back down at what I’m doing, trying not to laugh.
Quinn’s eyes light up. “Oh. Is that code for ‘Zoey doesn’t want to talk about this right now?’”
Madison laughs. “Well, I don’t ever feel like we actually talk about the books anymore for more than just a couple of minutes anyway, but go ahead, Zoey. Why don’t you tell us how the pterodactyl manages this.”
My face flushes beet red because I’m still a little panicky about the conference and don’t know what to say, but I also don’t actually want to expIain the process by which that pterodactyl knocked up the lady in the book either. I can’t help myself, I bust out laughing. “Fine, fine. Mi—Mr. Steele, I mean …” I hesitate, exasperated with myself, and bite down on my lip. “Miles Steele.”
Piper covers her mouth, giggling.
I cringe, wrinkling my nose. Oh my gosh, it’s a good thing I’m among friends. “Mr. Steele has asked me to attend the East Coast School Counseling Leadership Conference later this month.”
Hadleigh raises her hand. “Okay, wait. Can we all just back up for a second? Are we ever going to address this Mr. Steele thing or do we just keep thinking it’s cute?”
Madison raises a hand. “I vote we discuss.”
Sophia. “Definitely up for discussion.”
A burst of laughter comes from Quinn, and she slaps her hand over her mouth, glancing at me apologetically.
Aw, crap. My vote is to just keep thinking it’s cute. I can’t help it that I keep calling our administrator by his first name instead of his surname. He just looks like a “Miles” to me. I’m comfortable with him, I guess. And—
Sigh. I guess I do think about him more than is strictly necessary. It’s just—a silly crush. Nothing but a crush. Yeah, Zoey, keep telling yourself that.
“Okay, okay, I’ll start.” Hadleigh winks at me. “Want to know something funny? Every time she says ‘Mi—Mr. Steele’—we now know she’s been struggling not to say his first name.” She pauses with dramatic effect.
Everyone nods, and I’m sure they’re wondering where Hadleigh is going with this like I am.
“This whole time, I totally thought she was calling him ‘My Mr. Steele.’ I’d forgotten his name was Miles until she said his full name just now.”
Sophia chokes on her water, immediately laughing. Tears spring to Madison’s eyes, and Quinn shakes her head, covering her mouth.
Piper squeals, “Aw. That is about the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
I groan. “Girls, I’m embarrassed.”
Madison smiles from where she’s measuring out ingredients for another batch of cupcake batter. “Don’t be. I happen to think he’s adorable. Nothing wrong with crushing on a super cute guy.”
“And he was so kind to me and Sawyer with the whole he-who-shall-not-be-named situation.” Hadleigh smiles encouragingly.
Quinn nods. “He was the same with me and the rumor mill issues. Incredibly kind.”
Sophia, ever the mother hen of the group, eyes me, and I positively squirm. “Zoey, you blush every time someone brings him up. Admit it.”
I give her my crazy-eyes face. “Do not.”
Piper laughs. “You’re literally blushing right this minute.”
My hands clench beside me. “I know.”
“He’s a bit of a silver fox, Zoey.” Hadleigh wiggles her brows at me.
Another burst of heat hits my cheeks, and I wave her off.
“What? He’s got that little bit of salt and pepper in his sideburns. Totally hot.”
Quinn cocks her head to the side. “Do we have any clue how old he is?”
I know exactly how old he is. He’s thirty-six. And, yes. I absolutely have a crush. What else is a twenty-six year old single woman to do with her time, other than notice the handsome older man she works with day in and day out? Like my friends have already mentioned, he’s kind, he does his job well, and yep, he’s got that little sprinkle of silver throughout his hair that I think is dead sexy. I’ve been tempted more than a dozen times to walk up behind him at his desk and run my fingers through it. He’s always immaculately dressed, too, always in a shirt and tie, nice dress shoes. It makes me hot all over.
I let out a little sigh. When I hear giggles, I snap back to attention. “What?”
“You were totally on your way to swoon town over there.” Piper pats my shoulder as she walks past me to put a tray of cookies into one of the industrial ovens.
I glance around at my friends, and a soft smile creeps over my face. “Fine, I admit it. I totally have this huge crush on him.” Flustered at saying the words out loud, I wring my hands in front of me. “I don’t know what to do about it.”
Hadleigh crosses the room to me and wraps me in a big hug. “You should just be you. Maybe the conference will be a turning point of sorts?”
I shrug. “Maybe—”
Sensing my discomfort, Sophia interrupts. “We’re here if you want to talk more about it.” She claps her hands. “Now, how do you feel about reading a paranormal romance? It’s my turn to choose our next book and I’ve got an itch to read something with vampires.”
“Sounds good. And thanks. I knew I could count on you girls not to go completely off the rails with the Miles talk.”
Quinn snickers. “Plenty of time for that later. Maybe at our next meeting we should meet somewhere you non-pregnant ladies can have a few drinks.”
“Fine by me.” I shoot them a carefree grin. Drinks are the only fun I have these days.
Also by Amanda Bailey
Change of Heart series
PREQUEL: Meant for Each Other
BOOK 1: The End of Me
BOOK 2: I’ll Wait for You
BOOK 3: Make You Mine
BOOK 4: Stay with Me
BOOK 5: It Was Always You
SPIN-OFF: Steal My Breath
Dare to Dream series
BOOK 1: Tempt Me
BOOK 2: Adore Me
BOOK 3: Kiss Me
BOOK 4: Tease Me
BOOK 5: Love Me
SPIN-OFF: Dare Me
Also by Amanda Bailey
Flirting with Forever series
Book 1: Lost in You
Book 2: Fight for You
Book 3: Burn for You
Book 4: Fall for You
Book 5: Charmed by You
Dear Reader
I knew Quinn and Liam were going to be so good for each other the minute I put them in the same room together at the cider mill. He’s just what she needed to clear those cobwebs away! HA! I can’t resist a single dad, especially when he’s sweet to his teen daughter. Liam’s such a damn good guy—apparently, Quinn couldn’t resist him either.
It seems awfully strange to me to be so close to wrapping up this series. I’m currently writing the final book in the series, and O-M-G, it’s giving me all the feels. Zoey and her man will be coming your way in February 2020. Will Zoey finally stop stuttering and just call him Miles? I guess you’ll have to read on to find out!
If I haven’t said it often enough, I am so appreciative of those of you who are following me on this writing journey and loving my characters right along with me.
Do you know the best way to let me know you are loving what you are reading? Reviews. Yep! Whether it’s on Amazon, BookBub, Goodreads, or elsewhere, reviews count.
So, if you want more of what I’m writing, share with me what you love about the books!
Find me on these platforms if you want to review:
Amazon
Goodreads
BookBub
Until next time,
XO Amanda XO
Acknowledgments
To Rebecca Kimmel, as always, you took one look and helped me make everything be
tter. Thank you!
To Krista Dapkey, DTD. Not a document that defines the tagging structure of an SGML or XML document. LOL
To Diana TC, yet another gorgeous cover. I seriously get so many compliments. You make me look good.
To KB, your reactions to these books always amuse me. My favorite thing you said this time was, “That whole scene was soooo dramatic.”
To KN, still cracking up over you reading post-procedure.
To SM, you give the best advice! Thanks for making sure I got that bit with Olivia right!
And, to my family, as always, you guys are the best. I probably don’t say it enough! XOXO
About the Author
Amanda Bailey lives in Virginia in her dream home in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. She enjoys staying home with her two children and husband, watching movies and reality TV, and reading books. She writes what she loves to read—steamy, dreamy romance with a little angst thrown in on the side.
NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP & FREE BOOK
Connect with Amanda on FaceBook & Instagram:
https://facebook.com/authoramandabailey
https://instagram.com/author_amandabailey
About the Author
Join my reader group!
Bailey’s Book Babes
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3135653649812801
About the Author
Fall for You (Flirting with Forever Book 4) Page 18
