BooksBarbecue
Back Hearts on Hold
Chapters (50)
  1. Cover
  2. Back Cover Text
  3. Also by Charish Reid
  4. Dedication
  5. Chapter One
  6. Chapter Two
  7. Chapter Three
  8. Chapter Four
  9. Chapter Five
  10. Chapter Six
  11. Chapter Seven
  12. Chapter Eight
  13. Chapter Nine
  14. Chapter Ten
  15. Chapter Eleven
  16. Chapter Twelve
  17. Chapter Thirteen
  18. Chapter Fourteen
  19. Chapter Fifteen
  20. Chapter Sixteen
  21. Chapter Seventeen
  22. Chapter Eighteen
  23. Chapter Nineteen
  24. Chapter Twenty
  25. Chapter Twenty-One
  26. Chapter Twenty-Two
  27. Chapter Twenty-Three
  28. Chapter Twenty-Four
  29. Chapter Twenty-Five
  30. Chapter Twenty-Six
  31. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  32. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  33. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  34. Chapter Thirty
  35. Chapter Thirty-One
  36. Chapter Thirty-Two
  37. Chapter Thirty-Three
  38. Chapter Thirty-Four
  39. Chapter Thirty-Five
  40. Chapter Thirty-Six
  41. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  42. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  43. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  44. Chapter Forty
  45. Epilogue
  46. Acknowledgements
  47. About the Author
  48. Carina Press Romance Promise
  49. Writing for Carina
  50. Carina eNewsletter

When he hung up, he plopped onto his back and took a deep breath. Without realizing it, he had marked at least one thing off his list: Talk to Jessi. He was still unsure how to deal with the Allen/Becca problem, but he’d do his best to stay the current course. Staying mum until his sister could deal with it. For now, John would take her advice and read the message from his director.

He pulled it up on his phone and reviewed it. Pembroke English department, internship, Dr. Victoria Reese, forming valuable community ties, etc. Director Wegman had already expressed his interest, which meant John had to investigate. He wasn’t the head of the Children’s Department for nothing. He would just add this task to his already full plate.

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Subject: Collaboration with Pembroke University’s English Department

Victoria,

I look forward to meeting w/ you re: internship. Might be a bit late. Btw, looks like you got an overdue book w/ massive fines...

For the Duke’s Convenience?

We might need to discuss ;)

Cheers,

John

Even as her face burned with embarrassment, Victoria managed to read the email twice before staring out the window of her office. Three p.m. on Pembroke’s campus was cloudy with a stiff wind blowing the scarves and jackets of students who hurried to their next class. The beginning of October was colder than folks had anticipated, since Illinois had experienced a scorching summer. But Farmingdale was dealing with a cold snap that forced Pembroke University students to change out their flip-flops for UGG boots. The chill that burrowed its way into Victoria’s meager office was replaced with a furnace in her chest. She glanced back at the email and read it once more. Her eyes settled on the book title and narrowed.

For the Duke’s Convenience.

“I returned that,” she whispered to her computer screen. As she calculated the length of time it had been since her last visit to the Farmingdale library, she clicked on their website. Her account was flagged with a fine. Victoria’s eyes went round. $27.10. “Jesus, effin’ Christ.”

Perspiration prickled her scalp and under her arms while she searched for answers. The account information didn’t tell her much, but the amount was alarming enough. She clicked back to John Donovan’s email and tried to read his tone. Joking, laid-back, and late. He would be tardy to their first meeting, which was just as annoying as the overdue book comment. Her time was precious and getting more scarce by the day. After their meeting, she had to gather the graduate students for an emergency meeting regarding the writing center. Later that evening, she’d have to start on the first wave of grading. She’d made the mistake of assigning papers to two classes only two days apart. On top of all that, she’d stolen a library book.

Victoria needed some air.