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A Marriage Between Friends
July 2008
Harlequin Superromance
ISBN 9780373715015
Jill left Vegas years ago after a series of shaming mistakes that
culminated in her marriage to Vince Patrizio - a marriage that was never
consummated. Life in small Railroad Stop is just the way she likes it and
as mayor she's determined to keep it that way. Too bad Vince's future
depends on changing things in Railroad Stop and he won't let anyone - especially
not the wife who humiliated him years ago - get in his way.
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Excerpt |
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Reviews
"When Vince Patrizio travels to Railroad Stop, Calif.,
hoping to put together a casino deal that will put him back in his grandfather's
good graces, he's fully aware that Jill Patrizio, his wife in nothing more than
name, has been living there for years. Determined to win over both Jill and the
town, Vince quickly realizes that he may have to choose between the two.
A Marriage Between Friends (4), by Melinda Curtis, is a sweet
romance that entertains thanks to accessible characters and a love story about
second chances."
--RT Bookclub
Excerpt
Edda Mae appeared at
the corner of the garage. “I buzzed that casino man in the front gate.”
That’s what Jill got
for trying to cut corners. The main gate intercom rang to Edda Mae’s
caretaker’s cottage. It had been significantly cheaper to wire the gate
controls to the cottage since it was one hundred feet closer than the apartment
above the dining hall/kitchen where Jill and Teddy lived.
“Need I remind you
to mind your manners?” Edda Mae asked as she melted back into the shadows. Edda
Mae probably expected Jill to race down the road into Vince’s arms.
“I wouldn’t have to
mind my manners if the gate stayed locked,” Jill mumbled.
Gravel crunched
beneath tires on the driveway and headlights swung around onto them and then
away as Vince parked out of sight in front of the garage. A fiercely smooth
engine roared once before settling into silence.
He’d want a
divorce. Jill spun her wedding ring with her left thumb. It wasn’t as if she
was getting alimony or child support from Vince. A divorce shouldn’t be a big
deal, but odd as it seemed being married to Vince was a part of who she was.
But preserving the small town integrity of Railroad Stop was more important than
a ring on her finger.
“Jill?” Vince’s
voice was deep and oddly familiar when so much about her husband was a mystery
to her.
A breath of cool
mountain air made Jill shiver. “Over here.”
They’d gone to
private school together since kindergarten. Vince was the class loner in high
school, a situation he and his perpetual scowl seemed comfortable with
especially when it didn’t seem to deter a certain type of willing girl. Jill
was the brainy girl who didn’t quite fit in. Although they’d been friends of
sorts since they were five, the older they got the less frequently their paths
crossed.
Oddly, Vince had
asked Jill to come watch the sunset on his boat on Senior Ditch Day. But by
then Craig was coming over to her house and Craig was so perfect – captain of
every sports team, class president – no girl would be stupid enough to turn
Craig down. Whereas Vince…Vince was the kind of boy her parents warned her
about.
Jill struggled to
fill her lungs with air. Turns out Craig wasn’t so perfect after all and Vince
–
Teddy balanced his
paint brush on the edge of the can and leaned against Jill, bringing her back to
the present. “Is it Batman?” he whispered.
They both giggled.
Jill draped an arm over Teddy’s shoulders as Vince came around the corner,
looking every inch the heir to a grand casino in Las Vegas in his custom made
suit and tie, draining the laughter from in her throat. The rebellious boy who
wore a leather jacket and pierced his ear was nowhere to be seen in this man.
Jill, on the other hand, had gone from put-together, studious debutante to
harried, working single mom. Her stomach flip-flopped.
“It’s good to see
you, Jill. You look great.” As Vince approached his gaze drifted over her, no
doubt registering the extra pounds she’d put on over the years.
“You, too.” She
didn’t have to tell Vince he looked better than great. He probably knew it.
She could imagine the plastic babes roaming Vegas fell regularly at his feet.
If only Jill could just as easily imagine Vince turning them down. He must
think she was a pathetic pushover for hanging onto him for so long.
Vince held Jill
immobile with his dark gaze as he continued to narrow the gap between them.
Hugging had become de rigueur in the business world in the last ten years.
Surely he didn’t…
Part of her
rejoiced. That unexpected emotion was immediately quelled by a stronger, more
predictable desire for self preservation which usually gave Jill the strength to
step back, raise hand and smoothly utter an excuse for the man to keep his
distance.
Only this time self
preservation faltered. Jill could barely remember her own name, much less his.
She wanted to put up her guard, but she couldn’t lift a finger. And her
feet…her feet weren’t moving either.
He wasn’t stopping.
Jill’s heart thudded against her chest.
By shear force of
will Jill managed to take a jerky step back. Surely he’d see. He’d always been
good at picking up on her body language, but it had been so long he probably
didn’t realize. Long arms reached for her. Large hands settled on her
shoulders and drew her to him.
Don’t, don’t, don’t don’t… “Don’t!” she cried, her feet suddenly obeying
her command. Her butt hit the remaining sawhorse and she would have flipped
over, but Vince held her tight.
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