Phoenix: Book One of The Stardust Series (20 page)

Ethan stood frozen, his
hand hovering over a drink in the fridge. “So was that beginner’s luck or . . . ”
and trailed off.

Realizing they were
still staring at me expectantly, awaiting an explanation, I shrugged. “I know
how to shoot a Glock 19; it wasn’t that different.”

I saw Theo’s jaw drop
before Knox patted me proudly on the shoulder. “I told you she’s not like other
girls.”

I was puzzled by Knox’s
statement, but he seemed to intend it as a compliment. The rest of the guys
apparently accepted my answer, at least for the moment, and moved around the
pool house, grabbing drinks or popcorn.

With the exhilaration
of the game wearing off and the chill of evening setting in, I rubbed my arms
once to warm them. Before I could even ask for a blanket, Theo anticipated my
need. “Here’s a blanket for you.” Theo threw it toward me, and in a funny, high
pitched voice exclaimed, “It’s so fluffy I’m gonna die!” The room erupted in
laughter.

Watching
Despicable
Me,
it became clear that his “fluffy” comment was a line from the movie. My
cheeks were sore from smiling at the delightful movie, especially knowing the
guys selected it specifically for me. Snuggled under a soft blanket between
Chase and Knox, I was amazed by how at home I felt.

I glanced around the
room, my eyes quickly running over Chase, Ethan, Theo, Liam, Jackson, and Knox.
Individually, they were each so unique, but together, they were truly
remarkable.

I thought back to what
Ethan told me the night he shared my bed at the cabin. Sometimes home isn’t a
house or even family. Sometimes it’s a group of friends who always have your
back or finding a career you’re passionate about.

Being here with them, I
could actually see what Ethan meant. There was still a lot I didn’t know about
each of them, but it was clear that this group of guys had bonded through their
broken backgrounds and had redefined home in their own terms.

I tried to ignore the
longing settling over me. Although I currently had a roof over my head, I was
still without a home. And as comfortable as I felt in that moment, I knew my
time here—with the six of them—was fleeting.

Despite our emerging
friendships, I knew I was an obligation, the byproduct of a botched assignment.
My heart ached at the thought that a day would come when I would part ways with
the guys, but I had to put my dad, and myself, first.

I held out hope that my
dad was just biding his time until it was safe to reappear. In the meantime, I
was determined to do everything I could to find him. I would continue to enjoy
my time in Santa Cruz, but I wouldn’t be able to relax until I knew he was
okay.

Thinking back to my
birthday, I laughed to myself. So much had changed in a few short weeks, I
barely recognized my life. I went from living in almost complete solitude to
constantly being surrounded. It was as unfamiliar as it was comforting. I had
no idea what the next few months would bring, but for the first time, I was
demanding a say in my life and my future.

Zenith: San
Jose, California

Jackson answered the
incoming call: “Good morning, Uncle. How are you?”

Uncle: “I’m good, Jax.
Sorry to call so early, but I’m in D.C., and I have a meeting in half an hour.
I just wanted to check in before the week started.”

Jackson: “Thanks again
for letting us stay at your house this weekend. I think there was only a few
thousand dollars’ worth of damage this time.”

Uncle: Laughing, “Of
course. You know you’re welcome any time; it will always be your home.” He paused.
“Status?”

Jackson: “The Hamlet
project wrapped up successfully. Theo and Liam are making progress on Gandalf,
and Finch is close to completion. We are still searching for Phoenix’s dad,
Brian Taylor. We connected our client, Gerald Douglas, to his disappearance,
but we are still trying to discern Douglas’s motives.”

Uncle: “Good. Any
questions or concerns?”

Jackson: “No questions,
but I am concerned with how attached several members of the team are getting to
Phoenix.”

Uncle: “Well, that’s
not that surprising, but you need to make sure she’s not a distraction for your
team.”

Jackson: “Trust me, I
know. Since one of us has to be with her at all times, I had a talk with the
team Friday night. Everyone agreed that none of us will pursue her
romantically.”

Uncle: “Do you think
that will work?”

Jackson: “I hope so,
but I honestly don’t know; several of them seem very invested. I’m just hoping
to get her out of the picture before it becomes an issue.”

Uncle: “What’s your
game plan?”

Jackson: “Phoenix is
starting work today. And fortunately, we received a message that Mr. Douglas
wants to hire Zenith as private security for his fundraiser at the end of the
month. Hopefully this will be what we need to find Brian Taylor.”

Uncle: “Perfect. Keep
me updated.”

Draco
(Book Two of The Stardust Series)

Available
this winter!

It’s been two weeks since Haley Jones turned
eighteen and her life was turned upside down. While searching for her dad,
Haley is adjusting to life in Santa Cruz with a new job and friends. Surrounded
by six dangerously appealing guys, she’s still trying to figure out just who
Liam, Knox, Ethan, Chase, Theo, and Jackson are and what they do. From a
twenty-first birthday party to a swanky costume gala, Haley discovers just how
difficult it can be to fit in and that maybe it’s okay to stand out.

About the Authors

Autumn and Julia met at work and bonded over
their mutual love of historic homes, photography, and good books. While they
didn’t plan on co-authoring a novel, what started as daydreaming transformed
into brainstorming and then actual writing.

Together, Autumn and Julia make the
perfect pair, balancing impulsive with indecisive and attention to detail with
an eye for the big picture. Despite their different personalities, Autumn and
Julia share a common vision in their writing and love bouncing ideas off each
other. They see the creative process as a challenge, a game, and delight in
living in a world of their own creation.

Read more at
www.autumnandjulia.squarespace.com
.