The Education of Sebastian & the Education of Caroline (105 page)
Read The Education of Sebastian & the Education of Caroline Online
Authors: Jane Harvey-Berrick
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Romance, #Contemporary
“Come and sit with me, Caro.”
But she stayed standing, her arms folded across her chest.
Beautiful.
“Why are you here, Sebastian? You had your chance to talk to me earlier today, but you preferred to ignore me.”
Did I?
“You still have a great ass, Caro.”
“Okay, I think you’d better go now. Whatever you have to say to me can wait until you’re sober.”
She had a great everything.
She walked towards me and my heart started pounding in my chest again.
Christ, it hurt so fucking much. How could it hurt so much and I wasn’t dying?
Or maybe I was. I didn’t know anymore. Because when she came towards me, it was just her and me again. Just us. No one else. She wove her magic and the world went away.
I buried my head in her body, kissing her, relishing the feel of her flesh against my lips. It had been so long.
So long
.
I tried to tell her that I loved her, that I’d always loved her. I don’t know if she could understand what I was saying. I just knew that her arms were around me and we were together again.
I don’t remember much about what happened then, but I fell asleep with her at my side.
The next morning I woke up to the sound of an alarm ringing in my ear—it was fucking annoying. Then I realized I wasn’t in my room—and I wasn’t alone.
What the fuck?
I opened my eyes and looked up.
“Caro?”
I wasn’t sure if I was awake or still dreaming.
“You’re awake then,” she said, sharply.
Oh. Awake. Right.
And yet again:
what the fuck?
I vaguely remembered coming to her hotel and wanting to fuck her. Did we do it? I had no memory. What a fucking irony: I’d planned to get rid of that ghost once and for all—and I couldn’t even remember doing it.
“Did we…?”
“No, we most definitely did not. You woke me up in the middle of the night by banging on my door, and then passed out on my bed.”
Shit.
She sounded pissed.
“Oh, right.”
I leaned up on one arm and looked down at the clothes I was still wearing. Huh, maybe we hadn’t then. I really fucking wanted to.
“Sorry about that. We can make up for it now if you like?”
Yeah, that could have come out better. Fucking word vomit.
“Astonishing as this may seem, Sebastian,” she said in a voice that could have frozen helium, “your charming offer doesn’t thrill me.”
Shit.
Fucking bitch was always on my case. Hell,
she’d
invited
me
into her room. I think.
“Whatever.”
I started to get up and realized I was lacking footwear.
“Where are my boots?”
“Under the chair,” she said, pointing. “Along with your jacket.”
Ah hell, morning wood
, just to add to the overall sense of joy
.
I don’t suppose she’d let me … nah, no point thinking about it.
Then she said, “Why did you come here last night, Sebastian?”
The look on her face was so sad, my heart started to crash in my chest. Her eyes were hurt and confused, and all the words I wanted to say to her just dried on my tongue.
Christ, just let me get the fuck out of here. If she says one more word, just one, I’ll be down on my fucking knees begging her to take me back.
I shrugged. “I don’t remember.”
I had to see her just once more, to memorize her face before I left.
“See you around, Caro.”
When I closed her door behind me, shutting out the image of her, I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. I wanted her badly. I still needed her.
And she hated my fucking guts.
Les hommes ne peuvent
pas repasser = men can’t iron
Tu est un garçon
effronté = you’re a cheeky boy
Note
Sebastian’s battle with PTSD was a difficult part of the story to write, and I tried to make this as accurate as possible to do justice those who live with it on a daily basis.
While I was researching the subject, and talking to friends who have been in the military, I was inspired by a number of websites whose organizations seek to help those men and women who are or were serving military personnel.
If you’re interested in finding out more, please go to:
Thank you.
JHB
Coming Soon!
At Your Beck & Call
(published May 30 2014)
Hallen Jansen has it all. At 28, he has a flashy car, a great apartment, and a job he’s good at and that he loves – as an escort – working at your beck and call.
His life is easy, with no emotions or attachments slowing him down – choosing to keep moving, always running from the past.
But when a new client awakens unfamiliar feelings, all bets are off. Can he convince a recently divorced woman twenty years older to trust men again – to trust him? Can Hallen trust himself not to screw things up?
Surrounded by people who choose to judge them, will they make their relationship a reality, or is it heartbreak for both?
Not all services are professional.
ISBN 9780957496170
Lifers
After eight years in prison, twenty-four year old Jordan Kane is the man everyone loves to hate.
Forced to return to his hometown while on parole, Jordan soon learns that this small town hasn’t changed since he was sent away. He is the local pariah, shunned by everyone, including his own parents. But their hatred of him doesn’t even come close to the loathing he feels every time he looks in the mirror.
Working odd jobs for the preacher lady, Jordan bides his time before he can leave this backwards town. But can time or distance erase the pain of living?
Torrey Delaney is new in town, and certainly doesn’t behave in a way the locals believe a preacher’s daughter should. Her reputation for casual hook-ups and meaningless sex quickly spreads. And that’s on top of her budding friendship with the hardened ex-con handyman—the good Reverend is less than thrilled with her estranged daughter’s path.
As friendship forms, can two damaged people who are afraid to love take their relationship to the next level? Can Torrey live with Jordan’s demons, and can Jordan break through Torrey’s walls? With the disapproval of a small town weighing heavily on them, they struggle to find their place in the world. Can they battle the odds, or will their world be viciously shattered?
Is love a life sentence?
ISBN
9780957496187
Dangerous to Know & Love
Nineteen year old Daniel Colton is the man on campus all the guys want to be, and the bad boy all the girls want to be with. His insanely hot, tatted up body screams sex, while his eyebrow piercing only enhances his beautiful face. There are rumors he has piercings in other places as well. This walking one night stand is sullen, mysterious and moody, with an explosive temper. Is he really mad, bad and dangerous to know?
Daniel lives with his older brother, Zeb, a well-known drug dealer with ties to a local gang. Their home has become party central in the months following their parents’ tragic death. You want to party non-stop, drugs, alcohol, no questions asked? The Colton house is the place to go.
Lisanne Maclaine is a good girl. She comes from a stable family, and has done what is expected of her. She’s lived a sheltered life, and is looking forward to the independence starting college will bring her. She’s a music major and dreams of making a living doing what she loves, playing the violin and singing the blues.
When Daniel and Lisanne have to work together on a business assignment, Lisanne is less than thrilled. She never wanted to be in this class in the first place. She is only minoring in business to pacify her parents, and now she is stuck working with him: Mr. Cocky-and-arrogant. Daniel’s bad boy reputation precedes him, and he is the epitome of what Lisanne despises. He’s rude, obnoxious and has a chip on his shoulder; she just wants to get this assignment over with. She knows he’s nothing but trouble and she should stay away, but there is something about Daniel that draws her in.
Slowly, she builds a friendship with Daniel and discovers there is a lot more to this college bad boy than his reputation. He’s intelligent and funny and good company – okay and sexy as all hell. But he’s got a secret. Once she discovers it, she finally sees Daniel for who he really is. It explains why he’s so closed off to everyone, and determined to keep people at arms’ length. But being his secret-keeper is harder than she ever dreamed.
Can Lisanne keep Daniel’s secret? What will it cost her? Can she help falling for the notorious ladies’ man? Who else will be vying for his attention and affections? Can Lisanne follow her dreams and have it all? Or will she decide that Daniel is just too Dangerous to Know?
ISBN 9780957496163
Dazzled
Miles Stevens is a jobbing actor in London when he stumbles into the role of a lifetime. Hollywood claims him as one of their own and so begins his journey through the parties, premieres, agents and leading ladies—and everyone wants something from him. His best friend Clare is determined that they’ll have to go through her to get it.
Fabulous and funny, this book will appeal to readers of ‘Wallbanger’ and ‘Love Unscripted’.
ISBN 9780955315091
The New Samurai
Teaching in an inner city school in London is hard enough, but when Sam loses his job and his domineering girlfriend dumps him on Valentine’s Day, he decides to start again somewhere new … in Japan. It’s not long before his ‘no women’ rule is under attack.
Sexy and funny, this book will appeal to fans of ‘One Day’.
ISBN 9780955315060
Expo$ure
What would you do if you found out a really, really important secret? What would you do if people were prepared to kill to stop you revealing this secret? And what would you do if the secret was held by the US government?
A thriller that will appeal to readers of ‘The Ghost’.
ISBN 9780955315053
YOUNG ADULT
The Dark Detective: Venator
At 20 years old, Max Darke finds himself in sole charge of the Metropolitan Police Demon Division in London. It’s not a job for the faint hearted and some days,
work is Hell
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