She wants a summer job and a ride to a wedding.
He wants an assistant and a distraction from the mess his life had become.
They didn’t know they needed each other.
Avery Emili needs two grand. Two grand and a plane ticket–her sister is counting on her to get to Jamaica for her wedding. But the semester is over, and tutoring college freshman and high school students has dried up until the fall.
Atticus Grimes needs help–the messy split with his wife left the twenty-eight year old professor scrambling to keep things together as the semester winds down. Now he’s got a research grant he has to actually do research for and all he wants to do is drown himself in a tall bottle of bourbon.
When Avery sees his ad for an assistant, all she’s thinking is a summer job. But as they spend time together, in the office and out, both of them begin to realize something is there. Something that can’t happen–he’s a professor and she’s a student. And both of them have histories, pasts that won’t let go. Can two broken people pulled apart by expectations find a way to be whole?
Excerpt:
That wasn't supposed to happen—she was supposed to be fun, distracting, something to get help me get my shit together.
This—this is so not what I need.
"Atticus?" she asks, softly, like she's approaching a skittish animal. I blink at her. "What are you thinking?"
It's on the tip of my tongue, to tell her. I swallow the urge and the words. "Coffee," I say, hoarsely. "I need more coffee."
Her eyebrows dart up, but she doesn't call me on the lie—my cup is full.
When I come back with a fresh cup of coffee that I don't need, I've shoved the realization aside and buried it for the moment.
"So my trip."
I look at her. "What about it?"
"I think you should come with me."
Her words, on the heels of my own realization, slam into me. All I can picture is Avery on a white sand beach, her hair blowing in the wind. Me at her side.
"Your family is going to be there," I say dully.
"Yes, well. It's a wedding. Family is sorta expected," she says tartly, and I grin.
"Avery, I—"
"Look, don't overthink this," she says, her voice rushed. "I already paid for it. Daddy ordered the plane tickets. And frankly, I thought it'd be fun. We know that there's an expiration date on this relationship. So I thought, why not? Get a tan, swim in the ocean, watch my sister get married, and get drunk to avoid the great aunts who want to know why I'm not married yet."
There's a hitch in her tone when she says that last thing, like she's trying to control a strong emotion. Which doesn't make sense—she's never made an indication that she even wants to get married.
Author Bio:
Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog.
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I love Atticus- who couldn't love someone with a name like that right?
His best friend Dane seemed to get under my skin as well. I got a few surprises in this book- Nik was one, really wasn't expecting her to as drop dead beautiful not to mention what she did to Atticus. Avery she just is the girl next door- the kind of girl that is beautiful but doesn't know it or flaunt it. What Josh did to her I didn't see coming either. There story is all about finding love when you least except it or even want it which turns out to be one sticky situation. Lots hot juicy sex scenes.
Great ending but I won't lie I totally want to know more about what the future holds for Atticus & Avery.
