EXCERPT REVEAL
Releasing July 16, 2019
Synopsis
A new
standalone, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy by New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting.
Cosy Felton is great at
her job—she knows just how to handle the awkwardness that comes with working at
an adult toy store. So when the hottest guy she’s ever seen walks into the shop
looking completely overwhelmed, she’s more than happy to turn on the charm and
help him purchase all of the items on his list.
Griffin
Mills is using his business trip in Las Vegas as a chance to escape the broken
pieces of his life in New York City. The last thing he wants is to be put in
charge of buying gag gifts for his friend’s bachelor party. Despite being
totally out of his element, and mortified by the whole experience, Griffin is
pleasantly surprised when he finds himself attracted to the sales girl that
helped him.
As skeptical
as Cosy may be of Griffin’s motivations, there’s something about him that
intrigues her. But sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas
and when real life gets in the way, all bets are off. Filled with hilariously
awkward situations and enough sexual chemistry to power Sin City, Making Up is the next standalone in the Shacking Up world.
Excerpt
We’re
a couple of minutes away from my apartment, which also means we’re almost at
the end of our date. End-of-date protocol often means a goodnight kiss.
And
I’ve eaten onions. Lots of them. What the hell was I thinking? I feel around in
my shorts pocket, hoping I have a random stick of gum. I find a tiny square
packet and pull it out, along with an old tissue. I shove that back in my
pocket and sigh with relief as I carefully open the Listerine Pocketpak.
There’s one strip left. I pop it in my mouth, wishing I had water since my
mouth is dry and I’m suddenly super nervous.
Griffin
pulls up in front of my apartment building. I swallow a bunch of times, trying
to get the strip to dissolve on my tongue and glance out the tinted window,
seeing it from his perspective. I don’t live in a bad part of town, but I sure
as hell wouldn’t leave this car sitting out here for any length of time unless
I wanted it keyed or stripped down.
Griffin
shifts into park and turns to me, one hand resting on the back of my seat near
the headrest. “I had a great time, Cosy.”
“Me
too, thanks for dinner.” I tried to fork over my share, but he was quick on the
credit card draw.
“It
was my pleasure.” He leans in the tiniest bit, a nonverbal cue that he’s going
in for a kiss.
I
mirror the movement, giving him the go ahead. My stomach flutters in
anticipation. I exhale slowly through my nose. Even though the Listerine strip
should be doing its job to mask the onions, I don’t want to ruin the moment by
breathing that in his face.
His
fingertips skim my jaw, and I close my eyes. And then his lips brush my cheek.
I wait for them to move a couple of inches to the right, but after what feels
like a lot of seconds—and is probably only a few—I crack a lid.
Griffin
is still close, a wry smile on his lips and a smolder in his eyes.
“Seriously,
that’s it? A kiss on the cheek?”
His
smile widens, making his eyes crinkle at the corners. He’s nothing like the
guys I usually end up on dates with. College boys don’t take things slow. If I
were out with one of the guys from school, I’d be sitting in a beat-up Civic
with some stupid music playing, and he’d be all over me with his tongue halfway
down my throat, copping a feel.
“I
thought all the onions you ate were the equivalent to garlic for vampires.”
Griffin fingers my hair near my shoulder. I’d really like him to finger
something else. Wait. I mean I’d like to feel his hands on me. Not in my pants.
Okay, maybe I’d like them in my pants, but not after date number one.
“I
wasn’t thinking, and I really like onions. A lot. In hindsight, it’s not a
great date food. I feel kinda dumb. And I guess at first I wasn’t so sure about
you. How was I supposed to know you’d actually be kind of normalish?”
“Normalish?”
“Well,
you drink club soda on purpose, so you can’t be all there.” I tap his temple.
Griffin
circles my wrist with his fingers and drops his head, lips brushing over my
knuckle. “We can’t all be perfect, now, can we?”
“I
suppose not, and perfect is boring.”
“That
it is.” He hums against my skin, and I feel it through my entire body. “I would
like to try that kiss again, if you’re still interested.”
From MAKING UP. Copyright © 2019 by Helena
Hunting and reprinted with permission from St. Martin’s Paperbacks.
About the Author
NYT and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She's writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.
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