Shower Of Stars
Page 27
“That's just because they think it's going to be a gut,” Jack teased his wife.
“Aren't you concerned about having these two in the same department?” Charlie said, gesturing to the brothers.
“The prospect is a bit daunting,” President Stillman said, as she eyed the two tall men standing shoulder to shoulder. “However, a little sibling rivalry is healthy in a faculty. It spurs them on to greater efforts.”
“President Stillman! The receiving line is forming already!” another gowned man called as he jogged up to their group.
As the president was escorted away, Miguel shook Jack's hand. “Well, amigo, now you're way too smart for your own good. Congratulations!”
Jack gripped his friend's hand fiercely. “I wouldn't be here without you. You know that.”
“Just remember that when I need a meteorite authenticated,” the big man said, giving Jack a staggering clap on the shoulder. “Since Sahara-Mars didn't give us the definitive proof we crave, I'm still searching for that sign of life in a space rock.”
“Won't you miss it, Jack?” Peter asked. “Traveling all over the world, tracking down leads, wondering if the next meteorite you find will be the big one, the scientific breakthrough?”
“Not at all, little brother,” Jack said, wrapping an arm around Charlie's waist as he watched Sallyanne helping Mari duck under the bronze tiger's chin. “I've got all the stars I need right here.”
The End
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Other books by Nancy Herkness
Second Glances Series
Second To None, a novella
Second Time Around (Book 1)
Second Act (Book 2)
Wager of Hearts Series
The CEO Buys In (Book 1)
The All-Star Antes Up (Book 2)
The VIP Doubles Down (Book 3)
The Irishman's Christmas Gamble, a novella
Whisper Horse Novels
Take Me Home (Book 1)
Country Roads (Book 2)
The Place I Belong (Book 3)
A Down-Home Country Christmas, a novella (Book 4)
Single Titles
A Bridge To Love
Music of the Night
Acknowledgments
Friends are a treasure in all aspects of one's life. However, for a novelist, friends become an invaluable resource in one's work. My hearty thanks go to:
Lawrence Jenkens and Catherine Drake, professor and lawyer (and also relatives), for answering my many questions about the adoption process. Without them, Charlie would still be childless.
John Lacey, Esq., for his assistance with the legal aspects of my story.
Elena Brunet, translator extraordinaire, for making Miguel linguistically correct, right down to his fondillos.
James Sturm, professor of electrical engineering at Princeton University, for his help with the Princeton commencement ceremony, and recommending just the right restaurant for the graduation celebration.
Kathleen Brower, EMT, for her information on how an ambulance squad would check for concussion. From her description of the symptoms, I think I may have one.
Lynn Freeman Scott, for donating her professional proofreading skills and for never doubting that I would be published someday.
Robert Jenkens (who also happens to be a relative) and John Fahey, for giving me the most wonderful food and shelter so I could spend my days at the Smithsonian Institute reading every single label in the meteorite exhibit.
All errors and/or omissions are entirely my own.
NANCY HERKNESS
Nancy Herkness is the author of the Wager of Hearts and Whisper Horse series, published by Montlake Romance, as well as several other contemporary romance novels. She is a two-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award.
Nancy has received many other honors for her work, including the Book Buyers Best Top Pick, the Maggie Award for Excellence in Contemporary Romance, and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in English literature and creative writing.
A native of West Virginia, Nancy now lives in suburban New Jersey with her husband, two mismatched dogs, and an elderly cat.
For more information about Nancy and her books, visit www.NancyHerkness.com.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2004, 2011 by Nancy Herkness
All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without permission. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the author is illegal and punishable by law. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
Cover design © 2011 Nancy Herkness
Cover design by StoryWonk
For information, contact Nancy Herkness at
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Published by Red Car Press