Title: Fall
(VIP #3)
Author: Kristen
Callihan
Release Day: October
23rd, 2018
The
first time I met Jax Blackwood things went a little sideways.
In
my defense, I didn’t know he was Jax Blackwood—who expects a legendary rock
star to be shopping for groceries? More importantly, a blizzard was coming and
he was about to grab the last carton of mint-chocolate chip.
Still,
I might have walked away, but then he smugly dared me to try and take the
coveted ice cream. So I kissed him. And distracted that mint-chip right out of
his hands.
Okay,
it was a dirty move, but desperate times and all that. Besides, I never
expected he’d be my new neighbor.
An
annoying neighbor who takes great pleasure in reminding me that I owe him ice
cream but would happily accept more kisses as payment. An irresistible neighbor
who keeps me up while playing guitar naked–spectacularly naked–in his living
room.
Clearly,
avoidance is key. Except nothing about Jax is easy to ignore—not the way he
makes me laugh, or that his particular brand of darkness matches mine, or how
one look from him melts me faster than butter under a hot sun.
Neither
of us believes in love or forever. Yet we’re quickly becoming each other’s
addiction. But we could be more. We could be everything.
All
we have to do is trust enough to fall.
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I clear my
throat. “While I was eating my ice cream—”
He snorts,
but remains tense.
“I thought
about how you looked familiar to me.”
“It was the
guilt haunting you.”
“Or … And I’m
just throwing this out there. You’re Jax Blackwood.”
He actually
flinches. “Fuck. You recognized me.”
“It was bound
to happen. John? Really?”
His chin tips
in a pugnacious angle. “It’s my name. John is … me. Jax is who I am onstage.”
I picture him
performing, all electric energy and raw passion and sheer talent. It’s a sight
to behold. Hell, a couple of really hot fantasies have been induced by that
sight.
While I’m
lost in a teen fantasy, his eyes dart around like he’s expecting someone to pop
out from behind a snow mound and take his picture. Then his gaze snags on me.
My expression must be slightly punch drunk, because his entire body leans away
from mine. Not exactly flattering to realize he’s afraid I’ll try to lick his
face or something.
I snap my gaping
mouth closed. “Oh, calm down. It’s not like I’m going to start squealing and
try to grab your junk.”
His
expression lightens a little. “I think if you grabbed my junk, I’d be the one
squealing.”
“True. I have
surprisingly strong hands.” When he stares at me in horror, I hold them up and
wiggle my fingers. “Yoga. It’s highly effective.”
“My balls
just flinched in terror.”
“Consider
yourself warned.”
He snorts but
then glances at our building. “You really live here?”
“Do you
really think I hunted you down?”
John—because
I can’t seem to think of him as Jax—runs his hand through his damp hair, which
makes his biceps bunch and twitch. “Yeah … that does sound crazy.”
Crazy. This
whole situation is. One day, I’m offered a four-month home in a dream condo,
the next I’m standing on my stoop talking to a rock star. The biggest legend of
my generation. I honestly don’t know how I’m not stammering right now.
“I can’t
believe we’re neighbors,” I say without thinking.
His green
eyes glint in the afternoon light, but he pauses and looks at me more closely.
“You know, not to sound conceited here, but you’re kind of leering at me right
now.”
My chin snaps
up like I’ve been hit, even as my body flushes with embarrassment. Shit. I
totally had been leering. No, not leering. But I had been staring at him
in awe. Ugh. “Well, you do sound conceited. I was simply making polite eye
contact.”
Liar
McLiar-Face.
Kristen Callihan is an author because there is
nothing else she’d rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of
two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from
Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks
by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of
Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of
Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012
by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.
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