Speaking of Love (Perfect Kisses) (20 page)

“Why?” I asked, knowing that Molly was excellent at steering me from tab rags with bad press or pictures that made me look fat. “Is there something new?”

“No,” she said immediately. “Well, yes and no. It’s not
new
, per se.” I was already on my feet in front of the rack, scanning the covers for what she was warning me about.

Then I saw it.

It wasn’t
my
face on the cover that time, but it might as well have been.

“Are you talking about
Recognise
?” I tore the magazine from its stack, then stared at the picture on the cover. “Huh. I haven’t seen his face in almost a year.”

Molly huffed. “Your ex is a moron,” she uttered flatly. “Why is it the more symmetrical the face and perfect the abs, the more idiotic the personality? Look at the title of the cover story.”

I read it aloud: “‘Miles Carlisle’s Tortured Heart.’” Now
this
was a laugh. “Still tortured after almost a year? Maybe he needs to write a song about cheating on his girlfriend then swear it isn’t autobiographical. That used to make him happy.”

“He needs to be castrated,” Molly stated. “Don’t call him.”

“Like I would.” I sat down, crossed my legs, and opened the magazine. “I’m on dating ice, anyway. Until I find a combination of Clark Kent and a young Paul McCartney, I’m out of the game.”

“You’ll be single for a while, chica.”

I chuckled my agreement, mindlessly flipping through the magazine. That’s when I noticed something else: The large, ice-blue eyes of the girl on page five stared back as though I was gazing into a mirror. I remembered this photo shoot. It was five years ago, right at the beginning of my new life. Against my better judgment, I flipped to the center.

There she was again.

I leaned forward. “I’m in it, too.”

“I know,” Molly said. “The article is total crap, though. Taking that idiot Miles’s side. Horrid cow of a writer.”

I rubbed a fist into my forehead, massaging away a new headache. “Ya know, a year ago, Christian would have bought up every copy in the store and hid them in the trunk of his car.”

“I know.” I heard a sad smile in Molly’s voice. I was smiling, too. “I never knew what he did with all those,” she said. “But I’m sure he recycled.”

I started to laugh but choked instead, as reality resurfaced:
Christian isn’t here now. He’ll never be here again.
I felt the magazine shaking between my trembling hands.

“Grab the stack,” Molly ordered, almost as if she’d heard my thoughts. “Grab them, Abby.” I walked toward the magazine rack, quickly looked around me (no one was close by, of course), and snagged the few mags that were left. “Drop them on the floor.” I did this next. “Now kick the lot of them under the rack.” I paused for a moment, then obeyed.

As I stepped back, I wiped my hands on my jeans as if I’d just been touching something dirty.

About the Author

Ophelia London was born and raised among the redwood trees in beautiful Northern California. Once she was fully educated, she decided to settle in Florida, but her car broke down in Texas and she’s lived in Dallas ever since. A cupcake and treadmill aficionado (obviously those things are connected), she spends her time watching art-house movies and impossibly trashy TV, while living vicariously through the characters in the books she writes. Don’t call when
The Vampire Diaries
is on. Ophelia is also the author of
Playing at Love
, first in the Perfect Kisses series, and
Abby Road
, her first full-length novel. Visit her at
http://ophelialondon.com
.

Find your
Bliss
with these new releases…

His Reluctant Rancher
by Roxanne Snopek

The last place city girl Desiree Burke expected to find herself was living at and working on a ranch, much less butting heads with the ranch’s sexy cowboy owner, Zach Gamble. Zach’s been through a traumatic car accident, and he doesn’t believe he deserves to find love again. But as Des works her way into his ranch, his family, and his life, suddenly the last person who belonged there is the only one he believes belongs…with him.

Playing the Maestro
by Aubrie Dionne

Melody Mires has sworn off dating musicians, but when the sexy European conductor Wolf Braun takes over her struggling symphony, her hesitation almost flies out the window—until he opens his mouth. Wolf is arrogant, haughty,
and
he’s her boss. Dating is out of the question, but as their feelings reach a fever pitch, can they risk both their careers for a chance at love?

Falling for Her Fiancé
by Cindi Madsen

Danielle and Wes have been best friends since college, and so when Wes needs a date for his sister’s wedding and Dani needs a partner for her company’s retreat, they devise the perfect plan: a fake engagement to get through both events unscathed. But neither expects the feelings that develop. Putting their friendship on the line is dangerous, but so is passing up a chance at true love…

Luck of the Draw
by Kelley Vitollo

Rowan McKinley isn’t looking for one wild night while vacationing in Vegas, but she gets it anyway when she meets professional poker player—and professional ladies’ man— Breck Wilder. After their crazy one-night stand she never expected to see him again, but when he shows up on the doorstep of her B&B looking to get away for a few weeks, she takes him in anyway. Can two people unlucky in love find luck in each other?

Real Men Don’t Break Hearts
by Coleen Kwan

Ally Griffin was jilted at the altar six years ago, but it’s not her ex-fiancé she blames—it’s Nate Hardy, his cousin. Now the infuriating playboy is back in town and, even worse, is her new landlord. The last thing Nate needs as he’s trying to reinvent his life is an attraction to Ally, but as their short-term fling starts to feel more serious, can Nate provide what Ally really needs: a real man?

Kissing Kendall
by Jennifer Shirk

Kendall Grisbaum is finally taking charge of her life—pouring her heart into opening a new bakery business and even allowing her best friend Georgie to play matchmaker for her. Trouble is, the one guy she secretly wants is Georgie’s older brother, Brad. When policeman Brad offers to help Kendall renovate her new bakery space on the side, their attraction flares back to life. Can two friends take a chance on love when it means risking everything?