DC Affairs (17 page)
Authors: Selene Chardou
He smirked at me before the expression on his face turned into an award-winning smile, and my heart did a flip flop in my chest. I was so freaking done for and I didn’t even know it.
“Hey, I’m Laine.”
“Chantal,” I murmured.
“It’s a beautiful name.”
“You have a beautiful voice,” I replied without thinking.
He wasn’t from around here. I knew that much. His accent was different, it had an east coast twinge to it with a gentle southern flavor. I would guess somewhere along the southeast, probably Virginia since he obviously came from money.
Laine chuckled before he shook his head. “You’re a real charmer, aren’t you?”
The fog cleared from my brain and all I could think of was how immature I probably sounded. I’d just graduated from high school and still spouting off lines I’d heard from
Gossip Girl
. Way to go, me!
“Sorry, that probably sounded really stupid, didn’t it?”
“No, I actually like hearing I’ve got a beautiful voice. I never thought of it in that way but if it makes you happy to hear it then who am I to deny you?”
I smiled shyly. “Thanks for making my comment sound that much more retarded. I swear I can hold a conversation.”
Laine’s steel blue eyes looked me up and down. “I have no doubt.”
“Listen, I brought beer—do you want one?”
“Why would I have a beer when you’re not drinking one?”
My eyes found his as I licked my lips playfully. “I’ll have one with you. I know our crowd isn’t the most conventional but seriously, you must have rolled your eyes pretty hard when you were invited to this high school graduation get together. I mean, you’re over twenty-one…why the hell would you want to hang around a bunch of eighteen and nineteen year olds?”
Laine shrugged his shoulders as he broke eye contact and looked at the lake. “For the young wild girls of course.”
It was my turn to laugh and I wondered if I should let him get away with the subtle Bruno Mars dig. “Young? Yes. Wild? Depends on your definition.”
I didn’t realize we’d begun to walk until we fell into step with one another, side by side. “Well, you have a boyfriend, don’t you?”
“Yep. His name’s Jason, and he’s one of your cousin’s best friends. Unfortunately, I don’t hold out much hope we’re going to survive past the summer. I’m not being coy, just being realistic about my present situation.”
“Then why the hell are you talking to me?” He paused and so did I as he picked up a couple of pebbles and began to throw them into the clear blue water. “I mean, even if you think you’re gonna end it with him, you
do
realize you’re still cheating? It’s more than just an impropriety—it’s having any sort of feelings, emotions, and thoughts about someone other than the person you’re with at that moment.”
I smiled again as I shook my head. “You’re too good, you know that? What were you? A psychology major?”
“Double major in psychology and political science,” Laine stated matter of fact.
“Whoa. So, my guess was right? Are you from a Virginia suburb in the metro DC area? I had you pegged for someone who came from money and there’s no place like Washington DC where there’s plenty of money to be found.”
He laughed, low and throaty but said nothing to my comment.
“Oh, is your upbringing and where you come from so top secret you can’t give me a hint?”
Laine turned toward me. “We’ll talk again. Enjoy your time with your boyfriend. Good bye, Chantal.”
I opened and closed my mouth, unable to formulate any words.
Had a man just left me by myself on a beautiful clearing of Lake Tahoe? Was I stuck with my high school boyfriend for the duration of the evening?
“Whoa…who the hell was that?” Lacey wondered lasciviously as she handed me a Bud Ice.
“Brad’s cousin. You should know more about him than me.” I glared at my best friend as I twisted the cap off and swigged from the bottle.
“Never met the guy in my life.” She shrugged in an offhanded manner. “Maybe Brad had a few photos of him and his family lying about but I can’t really tell you. I wasn’t exactly looking at family memorabilia when I used to hang out with him. We were more interested in doing the horizontal shuffle.”
I laughed out loud and glared at my best friend with a rueful gaze. “Just great. I would have to meet a great guy who happens to be educated and better than our crowd on our last day of school.”
“Yeah, our last day of high school but the first day in the rest of our lives.” Lacey shrugged again. “Will you lighten up, for God’s sake? Just because you met him today doesn’t mean his impact on your life will be any less proficient.”
“Ha-ha. I bet I’ll never see the guy again.” I mused before I took another swig from my beer and buried our little flirtatious banter deep into my subconscious.
Life was always easier when I didn’t think about the great guys that’d gotten away from me.
Coming to online retailers in e-book and paperback on April 21, 2014
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Selene Chardou is a world traveler and a professional liar.
Ms. Chardou’s writing is all about hot romance and exciting times with the wild, damaged, out of control, rich and famous set in the world of Contemporary Romance.
She is currently working on a vast array of books about politicians, good girls gone bad, bikers, gangsters, fighters, lovers, and anyone else she finds remotely interesting. When not writing, she enjoys daydreaming about her next trip to France, jet-setting across the country to author signings and playing taxi driver to her school-age daughters.
Ms. Chardou currently resides with her two children and their multitude of stuffed animals in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Contact & Resources
Website:
Novels That Rock
Blog:
The Realm of Selene Chardou
Goodreads Author Page:
Selene Chardou
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If you would like to email Selene Chardou, she can be reached at:
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Published & Upcoming Books by Selene Chardou
DC Affairs
(New Adult/Contemporary Romance/Politics)
Book 1
Book 2 (April 28, 2014)
Book 3 (May 26, 2014)
Book 4 (June 30, 2014)
Book 5 (July 28, 2014)
Book 6 (August 25, 2014)
The Covet Duet
(New Adult/Contemporary Romance/Women’s Literature)
Covet (April 21, 2014)
Capture (Summer, 2014)
Take Him Now: A Novella (Fall, 2014)
The Rough RidersSeries
(Romantic Suspense/Contemporary Romance)
Deadly Seduction (Gisela Jackson & Cillian “The Killer” Cox’s story)
Naked Dirty Love (Trey Lennon & Kyra Hughes’ story) [June 9, 2014]
Dangerous Attraction (Ronan “Puck” Cox’s story) [To Be Announced]
Dangerous Temptations (Maeve “Misty” Cox’s srory) [To Be Announced]
Unbreakable Hearts (Quinn “Tech” Cox’s story) [To Be Announced]
Love Unexpected Series
(Romantic Suspense/Contemporary Romance)
Love TKO (Torin Duffy’s story)
Love TKO: Out For The Count (Kieran Duffy’s story) [Fall, 2014]
Good Girl Gone Bad (Fiona Duffy’s story) [TBA]
One More Kiss (Shane Duffy’s story) [TBA]
Stripped To The Bone (Devin Duffy’s story) [TBA]
Love Stoned (Seamus Duffy’s story) [TBA]
Scarlet Fever Series
(New Adult/Contemporary Romance/Women’s Literature)
Rock My Heart
The Will to Love
Jaded Faith (Fall, 2014)
Grant’s Muse (Winter, 2015)
One More Night Trilogy
(New Adult/Contemporary Romance/Women’s Literature)
Falling Into Lust
Falling Into Us
Falling Into Love
The Lovers Duet
(New Adult/Romantic Mystery & Suspense/Contemporary Romance)
Out From Under
In Too Deep
Above The Fray (September, 2014)
Young, Rich & Talented Trilogy
(New Adult/Contemporary Romance/Women’s Literature)
Rock Me Out (Chyna Bleu’s story, To Be Announced)
Rock Me Sideways (Damian Phillip’s story, To Be Announced)
Rock Me In (Ava Martin’s story, To Be Announced)
Novels & Novellas by Elle Chardou
The Ties That Bind Trilogy (Contemporary Romance / Romantic Suspense with erotic and BDSM elements)
Killing Time
Killing Heartache: A Novelette (Book 1.5)
Killing Time (The Bonus Collection)
Killing Desire
Killing Me Softly
The Ties That Bind Omnibus Collection
Seasons of Love & Lust (Contemporary Romance / Contemporary Women/ New Adult)
A Summer to Remember
Falling for Autumn (TBA)
Winter’s Regret (TBA)
Spring Fling (TBA)
Exploitation of Love Series (Contemporary Romance / Contemporary Women)
Reckless Behavior: A Prequel Novella (TBA)
Indecent Behavior, A Novel (TBA)
Undertow Trilogy
(
Contemporary Romance / Contemporary Women / New Adult)
Undertow
Falling Under (Coming TBA)
Drowning in You (Monika & Dylan’s story, TBA)
The Atonement Series (Contemporary Romance / Contemporary Women)
Atonement, A Novel
Only Love
Only Time (Caitlyn & Liam’s Story, To Be Announced)
Only You (Drew & Aubrey’s Story, To Be Announced)
Crazy in Love (To Be Announced)
The Vamp Saga (Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy)
Mortal Death: Book I
Immortal Lair: A Novella (A Prequel to Death Wish)
Better Off Immortal: Book II
Queen of the Immortals: Book III
Immortal Dawn (Autumn/Winter, 2013)
The Vamp Saga Omnibus Collection (Re-issue To Be Announced)
The Hart Family Saga (Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy)
Hart Attack
Troubled Hart: A Novella (Book 1.5) [To Be Announced]
Change of Hart (To Be Announced)
Superstar Marriages Novella Series (Contemporary Romance)
Lara & the City of Angels
Jenna & the City of Light (To Be Announced)
The Supernaturals Novella Series (Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy)
Darkness Rising
The Dawn of Darkness
The Supernaturals Collection No. 1
Darkness Awakened
The Cloak of Darkness
The Theft of Darkness
Cling to Darkness (To Be Announced)
The Plague (Dystopian Romance / Horror)
The Beginning: Book I
Apocalypse 2013: Book II (To Be Announced)
Table of Contents