âSo how exactly do you plan to teach me about erotica?â Bryce asked
Joan squirmed nervously in her seat. âI was just pondering my lesson plan,â she murmured. âI think weâll need to take a hands-on approach. Very hands-on.â
Her words washed over him like a caress. Bryce slid his hand over hers, twining their fingers. Then he lifted their joined hands and pressed a slow kiss to her fingers. It was time to get their school for scandal under way. âIâm ready for class to begin.â
She shivered, a slight tremor that brought him tremendous satisfaction. âSoon,â she said, closing her eyes. He brought the tip of one finger into his mouth, his tongue spiraling around her soft skin. Her breath hitched. âVery soon,â she whispered.
His teeth grazed lightly over her finger as he slipped the digit free, then pressed a kiss to the inside of her wrist. âGood,â he said. âJust so you know, I always ace my classes.â
THE LITTLE BELL above the door of Archerâs Rare Books & Manuscripts jingled as Jack Parker slipped out the door and into the dark. Joan Benetti looked on, amused and, if truth be told, a little sad. After almost a year of marriage, Veronica Archer Parker, her boss and friend, was about to follow her husband out the door and head off on her belated honeymoon.
How cool was that?
Joan sighed. Pretty damn cool, actually. For years, Joan had done the New York singles thing, hopping from bar to bar and guy to guy. It had been a hoot and a half, no doubt about that, but nowâ¦well, maybe now it was time to get serious. And not just about a man. About a lot of things. Lately Joan had been using Veronicaâs life as a mirror, and over and over Joan had found her own reflection wanting.
âHey?â VeronicaâRonnie, as everyone called herâtapped a fingernail on the glass display counter, her voice pulling Joan from her reverie. âYou in there?â
Joan looked up, manufacturing a grin. âOf course. Iâm just tired. This four in the morning thing sucks.â
Ronnie laughed. âCanât help it. The plane leaves at six and I needed to grab a few things from the office. But you didnât have to get up.â
Joan yawned, the talk of sleep making her tired all over again. âI didnât get up. I was already up.â She was temporarily living in Ronnieâs old apartment above the bookstore, so sheâd thought she might as well come down when she heard Jack and Ronnie come in for the reference books and notes Ronnie was taking with her to Paris and London. The honeymoon was a working trip, but Jack didnât seem to mind.
âAwake all night,â Ronnie said, her expression amused. âAnd what does this one do?â
Joan rolled her eyes. âI wasnât with a guy.â
Ronnieâs brow furrowed. âBut itâs Saturday night. Well, Sunday morning.â
âYeah? So?â Joan knew she sounded defensive, but she couldnât help it. Instead of dating, sheâd spent the weekend reading and thinking. Big, sweeping life thoughts. âWho-Am-I and What-Should-I-Do-With-My-Lifeâ type questions. Ones best pondered in the dark with a Nina Simone CD and a bottle of merlot. Of course, while she was pondering in the dark, sheâd missed flirting with Roy, the DJ at Xyloâs, and sheâd really missed the barâs famous chocolate martinis. But, for the most part, sheâd enjoyed her weekend alone. Well, okay, so it was only one night alone, but still⦠Sheâd made some important decisions, and that was the key.
Ronnie shrugged. âItâs no big deal,â she said. âI just assumed youâd have a date.â
âYeah, well, Iâm on hiatus.â Joan grinned, then waved to Jack whoâd stepped back inside. Ronnie moved easily into his arms, and Joan felt that little tug at her heart again.
The truth was, it was Ronnieâs impending honeymoon that had kick-started Joanâs meditative mood. Jack had rolled out the fairy-tale golden coach for Ronnie and he was whisking her off to the ball. And as far as Joan could tell, Ronnieâs coach showed no signs of turning back into a pumpkin.
That was the trouble with all of Joanâs dates. Trey, Andy, Martin, Jimâand all the rest of them. They were no princes, and no matter how much fun she might have had at the ball with them, the fantasy always came to an end. It sucked, and Joan was tired of it.
âIâm swearing off drive-by dating,â Joan blurted, trying her resolution on for size. Ronnie and Jack both looked up, their expressions curious but not too surprised. Okay, so maybe Joan did tend to make a lot of resolutions, but they usually involved diets or exercise. This one she intended to keep.