Full Steam Ahead (Sea Swept #1) (23 page)

“I suggested that unless he wanted his intimate parts to get real familiar with a butter knife, among other things, he’d leave you the hell alone.”

“What is it with you and dull knives?” Jace asks her, and they laugh. After a moment, I’m laughing too, more from relief than anything. I’m so lucky to have them.

“You think it worked?” Yasmin says seriously when our laughter dies down.

“I hope so,” Jace says. “For
his
sake.”

Overcome with gratitude, I give kiss each of them on the cheek. “Either way, thank you, guys. Thank you so much.”

Jace loops an arm around my shoulders. “No one gets to torment you but us,” he teases, though there’s a serious note in his voice. For a few days after the cruise, I was seriously considering going to the police and confessing myself, but Jace and Yasmin convinced me that it wouldn’t do any good to stir up something that is—in the scheme of things—not so bad. They told me that I’ve been punishing myself for months already, and Yasmin pointed out that no one got seriously hurt because of the false insurance claim.
 

Instead, I sentenced myself to a thousand hours of community service. When break ended, the rest of my sorority sisters weren’t entirely sure why I started spending every spare second helping homeless people put résumés together at a shelter in New Orleans, but it makes me feel better to think that I’m in some way redeeming myself.
 

Of course, nothing changes the fact that I’ll be looking over my shoulder for the next few years, wondering whether that audio file will come to light before the statute of limitations expires. Whatever happens, thought, I know I can get through it. And I know at least two people who will be at my side.

I smile, feeling lighter than I have in a long time. “Who wants lunch? My treat.” I’m still broke, though I’ve signed up for double J. Crew shifts, but certain times call for a celebration.
 

Yasmin checks the clock on her phone. “I wish, but I have class.” She hugs me tightly. “I’ll catch you later at the house, okay?”

After she trots off, I turn to Jace. “Lunch? Or should we meet up later?”
 

He gives me the smile that has brightened every day of mine since New Year's Eve.
 

"Can't it be both, Georgie?" he says, and kisses me deeply. When he raises his head, my knees have forgotten how to work again. This time, though, there's no fear, only the bright sunshine and Jace's glinting eyes.

“Don’t call me that,” I say, but I know he’ll never stop. And I don’t want him to.

Grinning, I drag his lips back down to mine.

~ ~ ~

Dear Reader

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Psst, Book 2 of the
Sea Swept
series,
WITH EVERY BREATH
, will be Yasmin’s story and will launch in Spring ‘14!

~ ~ ~

Dear Reader,
 

Thank you so much for reading
Full Steam Ahead
!
 

I hope you enjoyed Jace and Georgia as much as I enjoyed writing them. It has been so much fun to watch them fall in love (not to mention doing research on cruise ships!), and I’m honored that you picked up this little book of mine.
 

If you liked reading
Full Steam Ahead
, I would absolutely love to hear from you. If the book wasn’t quite your cup of tea, I’d be happy to hear from you too! My inbox is always open, and getting messages from my readers is a dream come true. So please don’t be shy! You can write me at
[email protected]
, or you can contact me via
Twitter
or
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.
 

Finally, would it be okay if I asked a small favor?
 

I’d love your review of
Full Steam Ahead
. Book reviews can be tough to come by these days, and you—the reader—have the power to make or break a book. So whatever you thought of
Full Steam Ahead
, I’d be so grateful for your feedback!
 

Thank you again for reading!
 

XOXO,

Val

~ ~ ~

About Valerie

Valerie Chase
writes New Adult romance in the suburbs of our nation’s capital. When she isn’t typing away on her laptop or dreaming up swoon-worthy kiss scenes, she loves sipping hot tea, taking long walks by her house, and getting lost in bookstores. (You’ll probably find her in one right now.)
Full Steam Ahead
is her first book.
 

~ ~ ~

Copyright and Licensing

Copyright © 2014 by Valerie Chase. All Rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations used in articles, blog posts or reviews.
 

This is a work of fiction. Names, locations, characters, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, actual events, locations, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

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