News Blues Page 27
“Maddy?”
The door opened and suddenly Jamie stood before me, dressed in low-slung dark blue jeans and tight white t-shirt. His beautiful green eyes looked hollow, circled in dark black, and it appeared he hadn’t shaven in days. It gave him a rough, almost dangerous and unbearable sexy look that warmed something low in my belly.
“Jamie, ” I said. Now that I was here, I didn’t know what to say.
“You haven’t returned my calls, ” he said. The comment was matter of fact. Not judgmental. But I felt more than a squirm of guilt anyway.
“I’ve been . . . busy.” How lame did that sound? How untrue. But what was I supposed to say?
“I’ve heard. Thank God your sister’s okay.” He shifted from foot to foot. “And I guess congratulations are in order, huh? On your new job.”
“Thanks, ” I said, wondering who’d told him. Wondering what he thought about it. “How’s the baby?” I asked.
He winced a little. “Jen and I went to the doctor today. They claim everything’s in order.”
“That’s . . . good, ” I managed to say, feeling sick to my stomach all over again. As much as I loved him, it was still going to take some time to get used to the idea of him becoming, a dad. Just like with my own father’s new baby.
“Yeah, ” he said simply, staring down at me without elaborating. I could see a million questions swirling behind his eyes, but knew he was afraid to push me. He raked a hand through his hair, and I remembered running my own fingers through those soft locks, breathing in the soapy scent of shampoo and aftershave.
“I can’t take this anymore, Maddy, ” he said at last, his voice worn and hoarse. “I haven’t slept in days. I’ve barely eaten. I feel sick all of the time. I’ve tried to stay away, give you space, but I’m at my wits’ end.”
I stared down at the ground. “I know. I’ve felt similar.”
“What can I do to make you see I love you?” he asked, his tone more than a little frustrated. “I know this situation is awkward, but it doesn’t have to be over between us. Why can’t you see that? What we had was so special. Like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. And damn it, I’m not going to let you throw it all away.”
“But what about Jen and the baby?” I asked, needing to be clear. “They’ll need you.”
“Yes. You’re right.” He nodded. “My baby will need a father. And Jen will likely need some financial and emotional support. I won’t neglect my responsibility. I will love my child and be there for him or her no matter what. But that doesn’t change anything between Jen and me. We haven’t gotten back together.”
“But you could, ” I protested. “Once the baby is born, you could.” And that was the real reason, I suddenly realized, that I was resisting so much. I couldn’t bear the idea that I could lose him at a moment’s notice. That I could hand him my heart, only to have it crushed a few months down the road.
“No. That’s impossible.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m in love with someone else, ” he said simply, his words piercing at my heart. “Someone wonderful.”
He looked down at me with love-filled eyes, and it took every ounce of Jedi mind control not to throw myself into his arms right then and there.
“This person you love, ” I said slowly. “What is she like?”
I could hear the smile in his voice, even as it sounded like he was holding back tears. “She’s very smart for one thing. And she cares more about the truth than getting ahead. She’s a loyal sister and daughter, even when she doesn’t feel like it. She is a bit afraid of motorcycles but is brave enough to ride anyway. She loves to dance to eighties music and has all of Depeche Mode’s bootlegs. And she’s convinced John Hughes is a better director than Fredrico Fellini.”
“Well, I’m sure this Fellini guy has his strong points, too, but you got to admit, Sixteen Candles is a tough act to follow.”
Jamie laughed, dropping his hands to my waist and pulling me close. “This girl I love, she makes me laugh and she makes me cry. She’s my muse. She encourages me to follow my dreams.” He dropped his mouth to my ear. “I got a new agent, ” he whispered. “And he’s very excited about the manuscript proposal I sent him.”
“Oh my God!” I looked up at him, bursting with pride. “That’s so awesome! Congratulations.”
He looked down on me with loving eyes rimmed with tears. “I couldn’t have done any of this without you, you know.”
I dropped my eyes to the ground. I didn’t know what to do. He took my chin in his hand and tilted my head to look back at him.
“I know I’m asking a lot, ” he said earnestly. “I know it’ll be hard at times. But I will do anything to ensure that things work out between us. Anything.”
“But . . .” My mind was blanking with all the practical reasons I knew I should be resisting more. “But I’m moving to LA. I can’t stay here, you know.”
“I’d never ask you to, ” Jamie said, sounding astonished that I’d think he would. “But I called some buddies at my old production company. They just won a contract with an LA-based reality show—–Who Wants to Marry a Movie Star.’ It’s at least six months of shooting work.”
“And after that?”
“I’ll find something else, ” he said sincerely. “I’ll make it work—whatever it takes.”
“But I don’t want you to rearrange your whole life . . . because of me—”
“Don’t you get it?” he asked, shaking his head. “I don’t care. It’s worth it. You’re worth it.”
My heart fluttered at his words. He thought I was worth it. No one had ever said those words to me before. No one ever made sacrifices like this for me before. And now it was my turn to make a sacrifice for him. To trust him. Believe him. Give him a chance.
“You mean that?” I asked, my one last question before accepting the idea that perhaps all my dreams really could come true.
“With all my heart.” He pressed a hand to his chest to emphasize his point.
“Well . . .” I realized my whole body was trembling as I made my decision. “I guess we could . . . you know, give it a try.”
His face lit into a bright smile and his whole body seemed to sag with relief at my words. Then, he threw his arms around me and pulled me close. I rejoiced in his familiar scent tickling my nose. I’d missed this. I’d missed him.
“You won’t regret this, ” he murmured in my ear. “I won’t let you down. I love you, Madeline Madison.”
“I love you, too, Jamie Hayes.”
And then he kissed me. And somehow, as he pressed his lips against mine, sending my pulse racing in the way that only he could do, I realized he could be right. This could actually work.
And hell, if not, I guess I could always pitch a “True Love That Kills” piece at the next Newsline story meeting.
It’d probably get great ratings.
PRAISE FOR MARIANNE MANCUSI!
MOONGAZER
“An enthralling combination of The Matrix and Snow Crash with a bit of Blade Runner thrown into the mix, Moongazer immediately draws the reader into one woman’s terrifying struggle to understand her identity’is she Skye Brown, a successful game designer living in Manhattan or is she really Mariah Quinn, a woman haunted by the postapocalyptic dreamland she escapes to every night? But what is reality? And who can she trust to find out the truth?”
—SF Scope
“Dreams, reality and virtual reality collide in Mancusi’s exciting and frightening new futuristic thriller. Complex plot threads weave around intense emotions and give real punch to this chilling tale.”
—RT BOOKreviews
“Moongazer is an amazingly innovative novel for the romance genre, and one that will have lots of allure for a broad range of readers. Even if you don’t normally read SF/fantasy romance books, you will want to pick up this one. I found it a thrilling, page-turning yarn, and I highly recommend it.”
—Romance Reader at Heart
“The plot is well
-written and the twists and turns keep readers guessing.”
—Romance Reviews Today
MORE PRAISE FOR MARIANNE
MANCUSI!
WHAT, NO ROSES?
“A romance that’s fast, funny and as bubbly as bathtub champagne… Mancusi’s witty, tongue-in-cheek remarks and sprightly dialogue make for a joy ride of a read with an ending that’s as surprising as it is original.”
—RT BOOKreviews
“Humorous and sexy.”
—Booklist
“Slapstick, sarcastic, silly, and downright laugh-out-loud funny, What, No Roses? is Ms. Mancusi’s second foray into the genre and it’s just as entertaining and hilarious as her first, A Connecticut Fashionista in King Arthur’s Court.…What, No Roses? is a hoot! For a great summer beach read, don’t miss it!”
—Romance Reviews Today
A CONNECTICUT FASHIONISTA
IN KING ARTHUR’S COURT
“Sassy…a cute hoot…Talented author Mancusi clearly knows her Arthurian lore.”
—RT BOOKreviews
“A sparkling debut…a nice twist on the modern girl’s search for prince charming.”
—Publishers Weekly
“This is not your mother’s Camelot!! Spicy romance, hilarious thrills, and a heroine who kicks butt in her stilettos’this book is a definite keeper.”
—Alesia Holliday, author of American Idle
“Marianne Mancusi’s debut is super-snappy, pure fun, fast-paced, and even educational’in more ways than one!”
—Melissa Senate, author of See Jane Date
“Fun, fashion, foul play, and fearless knights. Marianne Mancusi’s fresh take on the Arthurian legend is a winner!”
—Michelle Cunnah, award-winning author of 32AA
Other Love Spell books by Marianne Mancusi:
MOONGAZER
A HOBOKEN HIPSTER IN SHERWOOD FOREST
WHAT, NO ROSES?
A CONNECTICUT FASHIONISTA IN KING ARTHUR’S COURT
Writing as Mari Mancusi:
SK8ER BOY
Copyright
LOVE SPELL®
March 2008
Published by
Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Copyright © 2008 by Marianne Mancusi
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E-ISBN 13: 978-1-4285-0338-0
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