An all-new office Romantic Comedy—and their first collaboration together—is out this week from authors Aly Martinez and M. Mabie, and I have a sneak peek for you.
Excerpt
While he spoke, I tilted my head toward him to listen, but I did everything I could not to make direct eye contact. There was something about his ability to hold my gaze that set me on edge. Less was more, or I’d be naked before the night was said and done.
Well, maybe just one little look.
Out of the corner of my eye, I stole a glance at the sharp, handsome features of his face. “Why did you move here?”
“A job. A much-needed change.” He huffed. “Guess I got the job part down well enough. Maybe not so much the change part though.” He was speaking my language.
“Change is good. Not everyone gets the chance to take a leap of faith and throw caution to the wind in their life.” After all, wasn’t that why I was here? Grabbing life with both hands the way my mother never had a chance to?
“You’re probably right.” He turned on his stool to face me and propped a foot on the bottom rung of my seat. “You know, tomorrow on our date, we can throw the fuck out of some caution if you want. I’ll have to warm up my arm first, but I should be all right after a few practice tosses.”
With those dark features, he easily could have come across menacing. But his eyes were so warm, his smile so charming, and his persistence was utterly endearing.
“Is your hearing bad? I already ate tomorrow.” I hadn’t given him a firm answer, but I couldn’t deny that, as far as meeting someone new the first time I’d ventured out went, I’d kind of hit the jackpot.
Good looking. Check.
Easy to talk to. Check.
Funny. Double check.
He countered without missing a beat. “Is your hearing bad? I said our date. That doesn’t have to mean dinner.”
I glanced at him just in time to catch him wink. Damn. A winker too? I didn’t stand a chance.
He grinned. “I wouldn’t want the fare to disappoint you on our first date. What kind of precedence would that set?”
Fighting back a well-earned laugh, I arched an eyebrow. “If I agree to this date, what would we do on it?”
He tsked and wagged a long finger at me. “Now, if I told you, what fun would that be? You’ll just have to take that leap of faith you were talking so fondly about and come with me.”
The smile on my face had settled there permanently, and God, it felt good. I pretended I was still debating my decision and twisted my lips to the side.
Conspiratorially, he looked around the room and then nodded toward himself a few times, gesturing for me to lean into him. Without much thought, I did, curious to find out what he might say next.
“Say yes.”
I sat silently while he took that deep dive into my eyes again. My chest pounded and my mouth went dry.
Shane whispered even lower, “Maggie, say yes. Please.”
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