Finding Jordie
Jordan Spagnato Series-Book 1
By H.J. Harley
Synopsis
A widow of eight years, Jordie is devoted to her daughter and knows how
to protect her own heart... until Nathan Harper lends a hand when she's
punched by a drunkard being forcefully removed from her NYC East Village
bar.
Nathan
is fascinated by the sassy bar owner, who doesn't recognize him from
the Silver Screen and who appears more interested in conversation than
sex.
But
when shared words spark mutual passion, the menacing phone calls begin,
and a stalker, who will stop at nothing to have Jordie, turns his
crosshairs on Nathan.
Excerpt
“Fuck!” I blurted out as I reached my steps. Nathan was perched there halfway up and, my Lord, he was looking fine.
“Is that a statement or a request?” He grinned mischievously at me, a grin that touched those amazing blue eyes.
Oh shit, he’s here … on my front porch. My heart slammed into my throat
and I was pretty sure I had lost the ability to form a coherent
sentence.
“Hi?” was all I could manage to say. What was he doing here at three A.M.?
“I wanted to make sure you made it home safely,” he said, as if answering my silent question.
“Nut. Job,” I mouthed slowly to him.
He laughed, unveiling that beautiful, perfect, white-toothed smile that
made his eyes even brighter. Then it happened. With that one smile, I
surrendered to whatever it was inside of me I was fighting. I could no
longer worry about how this story would end when all I wanted to do was
start it. I walked past him. “Want to come up for a beer or something?” I
unlocked the door and waited for the impact of the rejection.
“Or something.”
I could hear the smirk in his tone.
“Is
that a statement or a request?” Ugh, what are you doing? Is this
flirting? I silently sighed. Rachel had never been more correct — it had
been too long. “Lock the door behind you, please.” I started the
two-flight journey to my apartment. We reached my door, and I took a
deep breath while I unlocked it. We walked in and I tossed my crap on
the table as usual. He closed the door, and I heard the click of
the lock.
“Want
some breakfast?” I asked him, walking past the large sectional in my
living room into the kitchen. Nathan followed but stopped in the dining
room and took a quick glance around my place as he leaned against the
wall.
“Assuming
I will be here for breakfast?” he asked in a sultry voice full of
humor. Flushed, I popped my head out from behind the fridge door. “Smart
ass, I meant now. I’m starving. Yes or no?”
“Sure.” He got dimples when he smiled.
“Can you make some coffee?” I pointed to the pantry closet door.
“Yes,
ma’am.” He stepped into the pantry. “Pop Tarts? You eat Pop Tarts?” His
muffled words became clearer as he walked out, holding coffee in one
hand and a box of Pop Tarts in the other. He closed the door with his
foot.
“I enjoy a good Pop Tart.” I pouted, crinkling my eyebrows.
“Seriously? Strawberry? I thought you said you enjoyed a good Pop Tart.” He eyed me suspiciously.
“Shut
up — it’s the sprinkles. They make me happy.” I quickly looked back
down to the pan, trying not to stare at his amazing blue eyes.
“Do you know what these are made of?” He sounded appalled, as if I were eating a cockroach instead of an artificial pastry.
“No, please enlighten me.” I noticed my cheeks hurt because I had been smiling for the past five minutes.
“All
right, sassy pants, I will.” He was attempting to be serious, but began
to laugh while he poured water into the coffee maker.
“C’mon
educate me, I need a good schooling, and have you ever made coffee
before?” I playfully grabbed the coffee from his hands, swiftly dumped
four scoops into the top of the machine, closed the lid, and pressed the
start button.
“Impressive.”
He hopped onto the counter holding the box of Pop Tarts again, watching
me. “It’s a sugar coma is what it is. I can’t explain it. I just know
anything that has a shelf life of fourteen years and is still edible
after a nuclear winter can’t be good for you.” He held his head high and
tightened his lips as if he was triumphant in convincing me.
I
stared blankly at him, trying my damnedest not to laugh, but the
corners of my mouth betrayed me as they tightened. We both burst out in
laughter.
“Really?
That’s all you got?” I snatched the box from his hands and put it back
on the counter. “Like I said, it’s all about the sprinkles, so if there
is in fact a nuclear winter, at least I’ll be happy.” I tossed him a
loaf of bread.
“Can you make toast?”
“Can I make toast?” He hopped off the counter. “Of course I can make
toast.”
toast.”
When I turned to look at him he was standing at the toaster with a confused look on his face.
“You’re kidding me, right?”
My mouth popped open wide in shock and he laughed.
“Gotcha.” He winked, pushing down the lever.
Oh my, no no no. I won’t survive this night if he keeps shit like that up.
Author Bio:
I
grew up in Bricktown New Jersey, less than an hour away from New York
City. As a teenager and my early twenties, I loved hanging out in the
glamor of NYC. I was a "City Brat" so it was pretty hard for me when I
packed up all my crap and three cats in 2005, for a life changing road
trip and moved to California. I travelled around the country until I met
my other half in 2005.
After serving twelve years in the Air
Force, the man of my dreams ended his military career and we moved to
Georgia six years ago. Since then, we've settled down in Leesburg GA,
and had our first child.
No place has ever come close to
replacing the magic of New York City in my mind. So when I decided to
try this romance writing gig out, naturally I set my first book,
‘Finding Jordie’ there.
I enjoy reading, and spending time
with my family. Reality shows are my guilty pleasure. I'm a sucker for
romantic comedies and Robert Pattinson. I am a pro at goofing
off, I talk with my hands, (I'm Italian!) I drink way too much coffee,
and get too little sleep. Oh, and I have a thing for Jackie-O sized
sunglasses. I have four furry kids and most importantly, I have a
beautiful daughter. I'm always striving to be the best Mom possible.
I'm very passionate about the
things I love, that's why I was outraged when they cancelled SMASH and
Southland! It should be considered to be a small miracle if you ever get
to see a serious or pic of me posing all nice and pretty...yeah, I'm
not that girl. I'm a spontaneous goof and believe the best things in
life come naturally. Yes, that includes random no make-up selfies during
a 2:00a.m. writing marathon.
Giveaway
H.J. is giving away 3 signed copies of Finding Nathan and 3-e-copies of Finding Jordie.
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