Read Much Ado About Mother Online

Authors: Celia Bonaduce

Much Ado About Mother (27 page)

BOOK: Much Ado About Mother
12.54Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads
“I read that you should work out whenever—and wherever—you can,” he said.
“Oh? You read that?”
Jude laughed. “Well, I downloaded a workout video to my iPod so I could listen to it while I was skateboarding. Same thing.”
Erinn arched an eyebrow. Jude suddenly looked up at her.
“What about Tin Lizzy? That would be an awesome nickname for you!”
“You know, Jude, I'm not sure this is going to work out.”
He looked up. “Oh? Why not?”
“Well,” Erinn faltered. “I just think that, if two people live in such close proximity to each other, there should be some symbiosis . . . if you get my drift.”
Jude looked at Erinn for a minute, then smiled.
“Oh, you mean 'cause I'm in such good shape,” he said. “Don't worry about that. I can help you get rid of that spare tire in no time.”
“No, no, no,” Erinn said. “I appreciate your offer. Although I wasn't aware I
had
a spare tire.”
“Oh, big-time.”
“It was more along the lines of, well, I don't feel we're . . . intellectually compatible.”
Jude frowned.
“I'm not smart enough to rent your
guesthouse
?”
He held up the rental agreement and waved it in her face.
“Is there an I.Q. test attached to this?” he asked.
Erinn stood up so fast she knocked the chair over, and stormed out of the guesthouse. Jude sprinted after her, and Erinn wheeled on him.
“I'm sorry, Jude, but clearly this isn't going to work.”
“Tell me about it. You think you're some sort of god because you wrote one important play a hundred years ago? Nobody can even make a joke around you? I'm out of here.”
“I assume you can see yourself out?”
“If I can find my way around your huge ego, yeah,” Jude replied, as he walked toward the main house. He stepped over the cat, which was sunbathing on the walkway.
“See ya around, Truck.”
Apparently, Jude had not succeeded in giving
her
a nickname, but poor Caro did not escape unscathed.
Erinn went back into the kitchen, stung by Jude's comments. To distract herself, she decided to make a pot of soup. She pulled out her large stockpot, added some homemade chicken stock, and started scrubbing tubers in a fury.
Who does he think he is, talking to me that way?
she thought.
I dodged a bullet with that one.
The phone rang. Erinn wiped off her hands and reached for the cordless, hesitating just long enough to grab her half-moon glasses, and checked the caller I.D.
It was Suzanna.
Erinn put the phone down without answering it. She took off her glasses and returned to her soup.
© William Christoff Photography
Celia Bonaduce
is a producer on HGTV's
House Hunters
. She is the author of the Venice Beach Romances and lives in Santa Monica, California, with her husband in a beautiful “no-pets” building. She wishes she could say she has a dog. You can contact Celia at
www.celiabonaduce.com
.
The Merchant of Venice Beach
 
The Rollicking Bun—Home of the Epic Scone—is the center of Suzanna Wolf 's life. Part tea shop, part bookstore, part home, it's everything she's ever wanted right on the Venice Beach boardwalk, including partnership with her two best friends from high school, Eric and Fernando. But with thirty-three just around the corner, suddenly Suzanna wants something more—something strictly her own. Salsa lessons, especially with a gorgeous instructor, seem like a good start, a harmless secret, and just maybe the start of a fling. But before she knows it, Suzanna is learning steps she never imagined—and dancing her way into confusion.
 
“
The Merchant of Venice Beach
has a fresh, heartwarming voice that will keep readers smiling as they dance through this charming story by Celia Bonaduce.”
—Jodi Thomas,
New York Times
bestselling author
eKENSINGTON BOOKS are published by
 
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
 
Copyright © 2014 by Celia Bonaduce LLC
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
 
Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
 
 
First Electronic Edition: May 2014
ISBN: 978-1-6018-3126-2
 
ISBN-13: 978-1-60183-127-9
ISBN-10: 1-60183-127-7
BOOK: Much Ado About Mother
12.54Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

Mr. Paradise A Novel by Elmore Leonard
The Time-Traveling Outlaw by Macy Babineaux
Soaring Home by Christine Johnson
The Rhyme of the Magpie by Marty Wingate
Deep Wolves by Rhea Wilde
The Heart Remembers by Peggy Gaddis
Princess In Love by Meg Cabot
The King's Gold by Yxta Maya Murray
The Music Box by T. Davis Bunn