Ten first dates, p.34
Ten First Dates, page 34
“Holy crap,” he murmured. “Arianna, that’s amazing! How long did you have to go to school for that?”
“A little over four years. I just received my bachelor’s degree in May and then went to San Francisco for an internship.”
That meant she was young, he realized. Nine years younger than him. And for some reason, that bothered him—probably more than it should have.
“What made you pick California for that? Weren’t there any hospitals closer to home for you to do that?”
“Oh, there definitely were. I graduated from UNC in Chapel Hill, which is about three hours from where I grew up, but one of my classmates mentioned doing an internship out of state just to get a little travel in before settling into a job, and I really latched on to that. We never traveled much when I was growing up, and I felt like I would go crazy if I saw nothing but North Carolina.” She shrugged. “So I picked someplace as far away as I could find and was able to live the last three months completely free of my family.”
“You don’t like your family?”
“I actually love my family, but I come from a large one, and sometimes it’s overwhelming. Plus, I’m the baby of the bunch, and it always felt like someone was hovering over me all the damn time. I got my first taste of freedom while I was in college, but I was still expected to come home at least once a month. And occasionally, on the weekends I didn’t go home, a random family member would show up in Chapel Hill. Going to San Francisco was my only hope of getting to have some time on my own and be around people who didn’t see me as the baby of the family.”
The more she said baby of the family, the older he felt.
“And the job…?”
“Like I mentioned to you yesterday, I come from a really small town. We don’t even have our own hospital. There is a medical complex though, and I’m going to be starting with the oncologist there.” Then she sighed. “I have a feeling I’m going to be bored as hell because it’s such a tiny practice—especially after this internship—but I figured I can do it for now and start looking at positions in bigger cities.”
She clearly did not enjoy small-town living; something he was looking forward to.
“So…how far from your family do you think you’ll go?”
“Honestly? I have no idea. I know it’s not going to happen right away. When I get home, they’ll smother me with love, and they’re having a big graduation party for me because I wouldn’t let them have one back in May.”
“How come?”
“Because my oldest brother—who is also a Marine—would not be there. He’s coming home on a short leave this week so we can all be together,” she said with a happy grin. “It wouldn’t have felt right if he was missing.”
“How many siblings do you have?”
“Four. Three brothers, one sister. I know it sounds like I’m complaining and looking forward to leaving them, but maybe once I settle in back home, I’ll feel differently about moving. After all, I have been gone for a while.”
He made a noncommittal sound. “And what do your siblings do?”
“They’re just all over the place,” she said dismissively. “My parents own a pub that’s been in the family for four generations. We’ve all worked there after school and weekends, and on summer vacation. My brother, Jamie, still works there full time. I think he’s going to be the one to take it over when Mom and Dad retire.”
“Are they thinking of retiring?”
“No, but I think they’d like to cut back and travel a bit. It was hard for them to get away when we were kids because there was no one to run the pub, so maybe now they’ll get to go somewhere other than the North Carolina coast.” She smiled sadly. “I really hope they do. They’ve been married for thirty-five years, and I swear they are still ridiculously in love. It’s the sweetest thing in the world to watch them.”
Will smiled with her, but he had no idea what that would feel like. His father had been gone for so long, even before that he was deployed so often that he couldn’t remember ever witnessing his parents showing any sort of affection toward one another in front of him.
Well, that’s depressing…
“They have one of those old-fashioned jukeboxes in the pub and their wedding song is still on there. At least once a week, Dad puts it on and the two of them dance in the middle of the dining room. It’s adorable.”
“That does sound sweet,” he commented.
Arianna took one of his hands in hers. “It truly is. So hopefully, with Jamie taking over some of the responsibility, they’ll relax. Plus, my sister, Ryleigh, is also around helping out. I think one of the reasons I wanted to get away is because I’ve watched how protective they are of her. She works at the pub, cooks, and does what they expect her to do, but…I don’t know, it’s like there’s a lot of pressure on her to be this good girl and get married and have a bunch of kids like they did.” Then she snorted a laugh. “She wanted to take a gap year after high school because she couldn’t decide what she wanted to do career-wise, and unfortunately, she never left. She did the community college thing, but…the pub and our family have been her life.”
“That’s…unfortunate. I know I caved to the pressure of going into the military, but people should be allowed to pick their own careers without anyone else telling them what to do.”
“Yeah, well…that’s the Donovan way,” she said before leaning back in her seat.
“Donovan?” he repeated, unease creeping up his spine.
Arianna turned her head toward him and smiled. “Oh, right!” Then she laughed. “We never even exchanged last names! I’m Arianna Donovan.” She playfully shook his hand before releasing it and reaching for her drink. “And you are…?”
Screwed. I am totally screwed.
Clearing his throat, he said, “Um…Jameson.”
“It’s nice to formally meet you, Will Jameson!”
It wasn’t possible, he thought. What were the odds of him meeting the sister of one of his best friends? On the other side of the country? It was too convoluted! Donovan was a relatively common last name. Maybe he was getting upset over nothing. Liam came from some coastal town, and his family owned a bar, but…surely they aren’t the only Donovans in North Carolina. But to be sure…
“And your family owns a pub in…?”
“Laurel Bay,” she told him. “Super small town. I won’t be offended if you’ve never heard of it. No one has. Trust me.”
Unfortunately, Will had heard of it.
It was where he was supposed to pick up Liam next Sunday.
Beside him, Arianna chatted about life in a small town, but his head was spinning. Over the last few years, he and Liam had become good friends, and one thing always came through loud and clear when he talked about his family—no one was good enough for either of his sisters. Actually, he pretty much repeatedly said how he’d likely pound on any guy who hit on his sisters.
Yeah. I’m so screwed.
Will did his best to keep his revelation to himself. He didn't want to get into it with Arianna in the middle of the plane. Plus, the last thing he wanted to do was come between her and her family.
And specifically her older brother.
So, where did that leave him?
Well…basically, he would have to say goodbye to her when they got to Atlanta, but only he would know it was for the very last time. There wouldn’t be any video chats or calls or texts.
Rather than focus on that, he decided to make the most of the last hour of their flight. They joked and talked and laughed and kissed. When the flight attendant did her final walkthrough, Will stopped to ask which gate his connection was at. She told him they were landing at Concourse B, but his flight was out of Concourse E. He thanked her and sighed.
“Listen, um…I have a super short layover here,” he told her as they taxied to their gate. He saw the sadness in her eyes and braced himself. “Like only twenty minutes to get to the other concourse. There’s a train I need to catch to get to it, and…” He sighed. “I’m going to have to make a run for it.”
She nodded but didn’t say anything. Instead, she held both his hands in hers.
“Arianna…”
Holding up a hand to stop him, she said, “Let me have your phone.”
“Um…what?”
Nodding, she said, “Yeah. Your phone.” Then she reached for her purse, pulled hers out, and handed it to him. “Put your number in here and I’ll put mine in yours. Then you can text me when you get on the plane so I’ll know you made it.”
Shit.
With no choice, he did as she asked and then smiled as she took a picture of herself with his phone. “Now you’ll have something to put as my contact picture. I would have made it a little sexier if we had more time.”
She was killing him.
They each took their phones and were soon at the gate waiting to deplane. “I hate that I have to run—literally—from here,” he said gruffly. “I wish it didn’t have to be like this.”
I wish you weren’t related to one of my best friends…
“I know, Will. Me too,” she whispered. “I need you to do one last thing for me.”
“What’s that?”
“Kiss me.”
Reaching up, he cupped her cheek and rested his forehead against hers. “You didn’t say truth or dare,” he teased, even though there was nothing funny about this situation.
“Will…”
He couldn’t bear to hear what she was going to say, so he closed the distance between them and kissed her, pouring everything he felt into it. All the passion, the happiness, the sadness, the frustration…everything.
This was it.
This was their goodbye.
Forcing himself to break the kiss, he breathlessly looked at her. “Take care of yourself, Arianna,” he said. “And thank you for two of the best days of my life.”
She looked at him oddly. “Will…we’re going to talk later. And you can call me anytime. You sound as if…”
All around them, people got to their feet and began collecting their carry-ons. “I need to go,” he told her as he carefully got to his feet. Beside him, she did the same and stepped out into the aisle to give him room. He took one step before turning and kissing her again. This time it was brutal as he mentally cursed his rotten luck. Again.
When he broke this kiss, however, he didn’t stop and look at her and didn’t say a word.
And he never looked back.
It was better this way.
Don’t worry!!
This is not the end of Will & Arianna’s story!!
Find out what happens next in
Coming October 4th, 2022!!
Learn more about The Donovans Series
ALSO BY SAMANTHA CHASE
The Magnolia Sound Series
Sunkissed Days
Remind Me
A Girl Like You
In Case You Didn’t Know
All the Befores
And Then One Day
Can’t Help Falling in Love
Last Beautiful Girl
The Way the Story Goes
Since You’ve Been Gone
Nobody Does It Better
Wedding Wonderland
Always on my Mind
Kiss the Girl
Meet Me at the Altar
The Engagement Embargo
With this Cake
You May Kiss the Groomsman
The Proposal Playbook
Groomed to Perfection
The I Do Over
The Enchanted Bridal Series:
The Wedding Season
Friday Night Brides
The Bridal Squad
Glam Squad & Groomsmen
Bride & Seek
The RoadTripping Series:
Drive Me Crazy
Wrong Turn
Test Drive
Head Over Wheels
The Montgomery Brothers Series:
Wait for Me
Trust in Me
Stay with Me
More of Me
Return to You
Meant for You
I’ll Be There
Until There Was Us
Suddenly Mine
A Dash of Christmas
The Shaughnessy Brothers Series:
Made for Us
Love Walks In
Always My Girl
This is Our Song
Sky Full of Stars
Holiday Spice
Tangled Up in You
Band on the Run Series:
One More Kiss
One More Promise
One More Moment
The Christmas Cottage Series:
The Christmas Cottage
Ever After
Silver Bell Falls Series:
Christmas in Silver Bell Falls
Christmas On Pointe
A Very Married Christmas
A Christmas Rescue
Christmas Inn Love
The Christmas Plan
Life, Love & Babies Series:
The Baby Arrangement
Baby, Be Mine
Baby, I’m Yours
Preston’s Mill Series:
Roommating
Speed Dating
Complicating
The Protectors Series:
Protecting His Best Friend’s Sister
Protecting the Enemy
Protecting the Girl Next Door
Protecting the Movie Star
7 Brides for 7 Soldiers
Ford
7 Brides for 7 Blackthornes
Logan
Standalone Novels
Jordan’s Return
Catering to the CEO
In the Eye of the Storm
A Touch of Heaven
Moonlight in Winter Park
Waiting for Midnight
Mistletoe Between Friends
Snowflake Inn
His for the Holidays
ABOUT SAMANTHA CHASE
Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance that’s hotter than sweet, sweeter than hot. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than eighty titles under her belt – including THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE which was a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2017! She’s a Disney enthusiast who still happily listens to 80’s rock. When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 32 years and their two sons in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
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REBEL SECRET
ZOE YORK
Josh Kincaid just wants to keep his head down and do his job as a racing team mechanic. But when the billionaire owner’s daughter asks him to teach her a thing or two about motorsports, he can’t say no. And when a night at the track spills into dinner, then a race down the freeway, it’s time to admit he doesn’t want the night to end. In the morning, they’ll have to pretend it never happened. But all alone in the hills above Los Angeles, he can lose himself in Monica Fischer’s body and pretend that he’s good enough for the young heiress to the racing empire.
Copyright © 2022 by Zoe York
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
About Zoe York
CHAPTER ONE
One shouldn’t make rash decisions while deep in a well of self-pity. Monica Fischer knew this, and still…here she was, about to hit on the hot mechanic who had just returned from vacation.
Why?
Because he was probably the only guy in the building who didn’t know who she was, and she needed a crash course in car racing.
She’d spent the last two weeks dodging subtle barbs and not-so-subtle shade about her suitability for the sweet marketing gig she’d been handed by virtue of being the boss’s daughter. She’d expected all of that. She hadn’t been prepared for the sharpest cuts to come from her father himself.
“You don’t need to know anything about racing, sweetheart. You just need to remember how often people want you to post on Instagram.”
That was her whole job, it seemed. Posting blink and you’d miss it slice-of-life video from the Fischer Racing campus to the team’s Instagram Stories. And if someone had Instagram and didn’t know how to use it, she could “consult with them”.
Nobody wanted her consultation.
She pushed through the interior door between the executive suites and the back garage bay and leaned against the wall. She’d watched him earlier, during the team workout in the morning.
