The Tour Stop
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![]() About the BookBlurb![]() Buy LinksAmazon UK | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | KoboAbout Jamie DeaconAuthor Bio![]() Connect with JamieWebsite | Facebook | Twitter | GoodreadsGiveawayTo celebrate the first anniversary of the release of Caught Inside, Jamie is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner. For your chance to win, simply enter via the Rafflecopter below. The contest closes at midnight EST on October 13, 2017, and is open to entrants worldwide. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveawayTour StopsSeptember 25Guest Post at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words September 26 Author Interview with A.M. Leibowitz September 27 Exclusive Excerpt at Shh, I Am Reading September 28 Exclusive Excerpt at Outrageous Heroes of Romance September 29 Author Interview with Drops of Ink September 30 Guest Post at Stories that Make You Smile October 1 Exclusive Excerpt at Abibliophobia Anonymous October 2 Character Interview with Liz's Reading Life October 3 Exclusive Excerpt at Loves Great Reads October 4 Character Interview with My Fiction Nook October 5 Exclusive Excerpt at The Bookworm Lodge October 6 Exclusive Excerpt at Books, Dreams, Life October 7 Author Interview with Love Bytes Reviews October 8 Guest Post at Boys on the Brink ![]()
EXCERPT
“OK, ready to impress?” I pull my T-shirt off over my head and turn to Theo, squinting against the late morning sun. Beyond him, the sea stretches out like a sleeping monster, tranquil and vast. The barest breeze ruffles the surface of the water and takes the edge off the heat. Terrible surfing conditions, but ideal for teaching Theo the basics. He grimaces. “Think I'm still hungover." "Not making excuses already, I hope.” Sprawled on the blanket in her bikini, Zara pushes herself up on her elbows to watch us, eyes shielded behind dark glasses. "Why?” Theo asks. “You up for showing us what you're made of?" "Hardly. I'll leave it to you to make a fool of yourself." "Hey, have some faith,” I say. “He's learning from a master, don't forget." Theo shakes his head with a smile. “Still, somehow I don’t think I’ll be impressing anyone. Not after that display of surfing prowess yesterday.” “Trust me, you’ll be an expert in no time.” Theo looks sceptical, but crosses to dump his T-shirt on the blanket and retrieve the longboard we unearthed in the shed. His stomach muscles, tanned the same pale gold as the rest of him, ripple as he straightens and lopes to join me. My cheeks warm. I glance away, gesturing for him to lay the board on the sand. To begin with, I show Theo the correct way to stand, left foot centred in front, right foot at an angle towards the back. Then I lie flat on the board and demonstrate propelling myself to my feet in a single fluid motion. The first time Theo tries it, I laugh. “What?” He shoots me a quizzical glance. “Did I do it wrong?” “No, that was fine. It’s just…you’re goofy footed. You put your right foot forward instead of your left.” “Oh, is that bad?” “Never did me any harm. Seriously, that was great for a first try. Have another go.” I make him practise a dozen more times. Once I’m satisfied he has it down, I clap him on the back. “Knew you’d be a natural. Ready to try it on the water?” “As I’ll ever be.” With a thumbs-up to Zara, who returns the gesture from behind her magazine, Theo hefts the board and we plunge into the waves. Being a strong swimmer, he masters the art of paddling with ease, and his upper body strength helps him keep the board stable. “You’re doing brilliant,” I tell him. “But now for the tricky part.” I get him to turn and head a little inland. With the water lapping around my chest, I hold the board as steady as I can on the swell while Theo attempts the same manoeuvre we practised on the beach. He powers to his feet, struggling to find his equilibrium, before toppling away from me into the water. He emerges, grin rueful, and pushes the sopping hair out of his eyes. “That went well.” “Hey, you almost had it there. No one does it first time.” “Not even you?” “Not even me. Give it another go.” This time, he manages to stay upright for a few seconds before losing his balance, almost collapsing on top of me. I reach out to catch him and, for a split second, the leanness of his chest grazes mine. Something hot, embarrassment spiked with a reaction I can’t define, jolts through me.
1 Comment
James Escol
10/5/2017 12:07:26 pm
"What am I ever going to do to you?"
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