THE 27 CLUB
Kim Karr
New American Library
Time to get down to business.
I stomp out of the bedroom and down the stairs. The TV is on and I can hear the weatherman announcing the same info the driver relayed to me. βTropical Storm Angela seemingly having stalled out once it passed over Cuba is picking up wind speed as it makes its way toward the Florida Keys.β
The rain is still beating down, but there are no calls for evacuations so I can only assume I am fine staying here.
Determined to get this conversation over with, Iβm stopped dead in my own tracks. Nate is standing in front of a built-in coffee maker, waving his hand frantically up and down cursing under his breath, βMotherfucking piece of shit.β
βWhat happened? Did the Miele not do what you told her to do?β
He turns.
I feel like Iβm watching him in slow motion.
Without warning, the air crackles.
Heβs momentarily taken aback, but then a look of amusement crosses his face. βZoey Flowers, you are . . .β
Words pop into my headβsexy, beautiful, hot as hell, fuckable.
Where did those come from?
That grin lingers on his mouth. βYour brotherβs sister, without a fucking doubt.β
Tears prick my eyes. Not the words I hoped to hear, but so much more meaningful.
His face contorts, the glow of amusement gone from his eyes, shadowed by something darker. He sets two cups of coffee on the counter that separates us. βHey, Iβm really not good at this stuff. I didnβt mean to make you cry.β
I swipe the drops away. βNo, really, itβs okay. I just miss him. Thatβs all.β
Nateβs hands grip the counter and his head falls. βYeah, me too.β
Silence sweeps the vastness of the space, but strangely itβs not uncomfortable.
His gaze lifts. βZoey, itβs nice to finally meet you.β
I canβt help but be charmed. βItβs nice to finally meet you too, Nate.β
He clears his throat and a bit of shyness seems to cross his face.
I fear I might be staring, so I avert my gaze to look down at the counter and it lands on the two cups. βAre those lattΓ©s?β
His head lifts at the same time mine does. The connection is immediateβa jolt of electricity travels between us and I swear I see a little smileβnot a smirk, but an actual smile on his face.
The most adorable boyish grin.
My belly flutters and I canβt help but return the smile, feeling a little shy myself.
βYeah, well thatβs what theyβre supposed to be. I didnβt know what you drank, but thought Iβd try these.β
I move closer, close enough that my hipbones nudge the edge of the counter. βLucky for you, Iβll drink anything made with coffee beans.β
Then it hits me, that his hair is the color of the finest imported coffee beans.
βYeah, lucky for me,β he repeats.
Taking a seat on one of the barstools, I blow on the top of the lattΓ©. The froth is not exactly froth-like, more like big soap bubbles or maybe clumps of soured whipped cream.
βYouβre a schoolteacher, right?β he asks.
βSomething like that,β I say. βIβm employed by the University of Rochester. Youβre a landlord, right?β
His lips tip up a fraction. βSomething like that.β
I laugh. βJust kidding. I know all about youβbig successful CEO of an up-and-coming development company, who buys unprofitable businesses, turns them around, and then sells them.
Zach said you are very business savvy.β
This is true, but what I fail to mention is Zach told me so much more about him.
He raises one brow in the sexiest way. βYouβre going to make me blush if you keep talking like that. But it sounds to me like youβre leaving some crucial things out. Iβm sure your brother must have given you some dirt on me.β
How does he know Zach told me all about his inability to commit, his obsession with work, and his need to always be in control? He never spoke of him in a demeaning way though. No, rather Zach seemed to idolize this man. The words integrity, hard working, and respectful always followed anything that might have been construed as negative. Zach once mentioned that he thought something must have happened that triggered Nateβs extreme behavior.
He could understand that.
Honestly, so could I.
βZ never could give a compliment without making sure to put a little bite in it. My guess is he would have said something like this: βBig shot asshole of some Β rising development company.β
I shrug. He did have my brother pegged. βMaybe it did go more like that.β
He smirks, and God help me. I have to look away.
I try to tuck my emotion aside by sipping on my lattΓ©. It tastes more like water, but the coffee lover in me is distracted by the trouble thatβs watching me.
His eyes seem to darken as they follow the liquid into my mouth and then down my throat.
His breath seemingly goes shallow as if heβs picturing my mouth on something else.
My imagination must be in overdrive. I shake it off and point to my cup. βNot bad.β
He takes a sip of his and practically spits it out. βNot bad! It tastes like shit.β
I can feel my lips turning upward again. I swear I havenβt smiled in so long that I snap and just let the laughter roll through meβmy body quaking, my hair bouncing like a lionβs mane.
Nate stares flabbergasted, and I can see his body tensing.
Once Iβm finally able to speak, I manage to say, βReally, it doesnβt taste terrible. You just have your timing and ratios off, thatβs all. Steam the milk a little longer, and add more beans.β
He sets his cup down and gives me a skeptical look.
βI used to work at a coffee shop when I was in college. I can show you if you like?β
Our gazes lock.
When he doesnβt respond, reality crashes down around me. I canβt let this become flirtatious.
I clear my throat. βWell, anyway, can we get back to why youβre here in the middle of the night? You can be honest with meβhave you been staying here?β
A muscle twitches along Nateβs jaw, but he doesnβt answer me. Instead, he picks up his cup and turns to the sink, dumps his full lattΓ© down the drain, and then walks to the back of the house in the darkness.
My head twists so my eyes can track him.
He flicks a light switch on and twists his own head.
I know he must have caught my stare, and God knows what possessed look I might have had on my face. I quickly turn back.
βZoey, I think we need to talk.β
βI know we do. And Nate, itβs okay. Really. I donβt mind that youβve been staying here,β I reassure him as I turn back around.
He opens one of the many sliding glass doors and the sound of the storm gets louder. βCome over here. I want to show you something.β
Something draws me toward him.
Heβs a man of authority. I can tell heβs used to getting his way, but Iβm not usually one to submit to dominance. Iβve been around it enough at workβmale professors are the poster children for authoritative personalities.
But still I move forward, approaching him with caution.
The sound of the waves crashing against the shore is beautiful. With the door open the smell in the air is pungent in the most delicious way, or maybe thatβs Nateβclean, fresh, manly.
Without realizing it, Iβm standing right in front of him. I get lost in the wind, the air, the soundβand him. I tilt my head back to look at him. Iβm tall, but heβs almost a head taller than I amβhe must be six-two. Something about his proximity makes my body feel possessed.
Itβs nothing like Iβve felt before.
He steps out the door and onto a covered deck, scrubbing his stubbled jaw. βI told you Iβm shit at this kind of stuff so Iβm just going to get this over with.β
Relief takes over.
Here it comes.
Finally!
Pre-order The 27 Club
Amazon: http://amzn.to/10gaL58
B& N: http://bit.ly/1x0uC5f
iTunes: http://bit.ly/1DVODu2
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1sN6enW
RELEASE DATE: March 3, 2015
You donβt know whenβ¦
You donβt get to choose ifβ¦
When itβs time to joinβ¦youβll know.
You might think you want to be a memberβbut trust me this is one club you donβt want to join. Itβs not a place where people go to live out their deepest, darkest sexual desiresβthere are no handcuffs or blindfolds.
The 27 Club only admits those who die young and tragically. My brother was recently bestowed membership and joined many of our ancestors before him. I know Iβm next. This is my destiny, and I was ready to yield.
But then I met Nate. He awakened a sensuality in me that had never been explored, never satisfied. I knew then I could no longer accept my destiny. Nateβs presence controls me. Iβm overwhelmed by his touch, his words; my every thought is consumed by desire. I believe he was brought into my life for a reason.
Nate doesnβt believe in destiny.
But I do.
And if thereβs a way to cheat itβI must.
View a book trailer here: Β https://vimeo.com/109601829
I live in Florida with my husband and four kids. I’ve always had a love for reading books and writing. Being an English major in college, I wanted to teach at the college level but that was not to be. I went on to receive an MBA and became a project manager until quitting to raise my family. I currently work part-time with my husband and full-time embracing one of my biggest passionsβwriting.
Stalk Her: Β Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Shannon
Latest posts by Shannon (see all)
- ARC Review: My Royal Showmance by Lexi Blake - June 10, 2024
- ARC Review: Forgotten Desires by Corinne Michaels - June 10, 2024
- Release Blitz: My Royal Showmance – Lexi Blake - June 4, 2024
- Release Blitz: The Surrogate – Penelope Ward - February 26, 2024
- ARC Review: Tempting Promises by Corinne Michaels - February 13, 2024