Page 1 of Quinn
1
QUINN
I thought when I graduated high school over ten years ago, I’d be done dealing with the bossy queen bees of the world. But when I joined The Romantics Book Club at the local bookstore in my town and met Victoria, the club president, she reminded me that high school is never really over. The bossy girls we all had to deal with become bossy women.
“The Romantics Book Club members,” Victoria calls out. “We will be meeting in the reserved lounge area in the back in five minutes. This is your final warning to wrap up your purchases for the next meeting. If you didn’t get the email notification about next week’s book, we will be readingThe Sweetest Splendor.”
I glance over at the rack near the register where next week’s book club books are always on display. There is a picture of a young woman running through a lush meadow of wildflowers on the cover. This cover lets me know exactly what type of book we will be reading without reading the back for the blurb— it’s another sweet romance.
I groan inwardly.
Don’t get me wrong! Iloveromance in all its shapes, colors, and sizes. From former high school sweethearts who are given a second chance when she returns to her quirky small town—I’m there. To a century-old vampire and a human falling in love after he saves her life—sign me up. And let’s not forget the prince that meets the commoner by chance and is willing to give up the crown for her—my finger is one-clicking that preorder. But sometimes, I just want a romance that isn’t all about tormented by past mistakes or forbidden love or fairy tales. Sometimes I want a romance where the storyline is equal to the amount of hot and steamy sex the main characters have on every other page.
The bell over the door chimes, and my best friend, Jess, walks in with her phone to her ear. She looks around and finds me standing next to the new releases table. I give her a wave, and she heads over to me.
“Has she given her final warning speech yet?” Jess asks as she ends her call and slips her phone into her purse.
“Yep,” I say, picking up a book with an extreme close-up of a couple on the cover. The woman has bright red lipstick on her full lips, and she’s whispering seductively into the man’s ear.
“Sordid Whispers?” Jess asks, picking up the same book. She flips it over in her hand and starts to read aloud the book blurb on the back. “Gabriella Sanchez never knows the right thing to say, so she keeps to herself. But when she catches the attention of her billionaire boss, Sebastion, he teaches her that her words have more power than she could have ever imagined.” She stops and reads the rest quietly to herself. “Sounds hot. Maybe I should suggest this book to Victoria for the book club to read next.”
“Yeah,” I scoff, knowing full well that Jess isn’t serious. We both know that Miss Pearls and Matching Cardigan would never sully her virginal eyes reading erotic fiction like this. “She’ll kick you out for even suggesting it.”
“Yeah, well, maybe that's what I need. You are the only reason I keep showing up here every week."
I look over at her in surprise. “I thought you liked book club.”
“I do. I love the idea of getting to talk and share ideas about romance books I’ve read with other romance readers, but she—” Jess nods in Victoria’s direction. “Is sucking all the fun out of it. I want to read more books with heat and hot men.”
“Maybe we should start our own book club,” I joke. “We can call itThe Nice Girls’ Naughty Book Club.”
Jess grabs my arm, her eyes widening with excitement. “Yes!”
“I was just kidding.”
“I’m not.”
“It would just be the two of us.”
Jess points to the other members making their way to the back of the book store. “You honestly think that we couldn’t find a couple of other women who wouldn’t be interested in joining?”
“I don’t know,” I say.
“Ladies,” Victoria hisses and points to the lounge area in the back of the store.
“Be right there.” I smile and point to the register to let her know that I’m picking up next week’s book.
“Let’s talk about this later,” I say to Jess.
We both quickly check out, purchasing bothThe Sweetest SplendorandSordidWhispers. The clerk behind the counter holds upSordid Whispers.
“This book is amazing. I’m currently reading this out loud to my boyfriend—” she bites her lip but doesn’t say anything else.
The meeting has already begun by the time Jess and I take our seats near the back wall. I put next week’s book club read in my bag but keepSordid Whispers in my lap. I haven’t even read a word, but I’m already feeling a connection with the main character, Gabriella. There is so much that I want to say in my life, but I don’t have the nerve to say it—professionally, personally, andespeciallyin the bedroom. If Gabriella can give me any insight into stepping out of my comfort zone, I'm all for it. I open the book to the first page and start reading.
I’m nearly done with chapter two when Jess elbows me in the side.
“Ouch,” I grumble and look over at her.
