Back The Americana Playbook Save as PDF
Chapters (63)
  1. THE AMERICANA PLAYBOOK
  2. Dear Reader
  3. The Troubled Teen Industry
  4. Dedication
  5. Epigraph
  6. New England Rebels
  7. Day 44
  8. Chapter 1
  9. Chapter 2
  10. Chapter 3
  11. Chapter 4
  12. Day 55
  13. Chapter 5
  14. TWO MONTHS LATER
  15. Chapter 6
  16. Chapter 7
  17. Chapter 8
  18. Day 68
  19. Chapter 9
  20. Chapter 10
  21. Chapter 11
  22. Chapter 12
  23. Day 78
  24. Chapter 13
  25. Chapter 14
  26. Chapter 15
  27. Chapter 16
  28. Chapter 17
  29. Day 84
  30. Chapter 18
  31. Chapter 19
  32. Chapter 20
  33. Day 91
  34. Chapter 21
  35. Chapter 22
  36. Day 100
  37. Chapter 23
  38. Chapter 24
  39. Chapter 25
  40. Chapter 26
  41. Day 113
  42. Chapter 27
  43. Chapter 28
  44. Chapter 29
  45. Chapter 30
  46. Day 128
  47. Chapter 31
  48. Chapter 32
  49. Chapter 33
  50. Day 147
  51. Chapter 34
  52. Chapter 35
  53. Chapter 36
  54. Chapter 37
  55. Chapter 38
  56. Chapter 39
  57. Chapter 40
  58. Epilogue
  59. ONE MONTH LATER
  60. FIVE YEARS LATER
  61. Acknowledgments
  62. Also by Cathryn Carter
  63. About the Author

When I get up to the floor of my apartment, I eye Agent Samuels, reaching for the door’s knob myself.

“Finally. Took you long enough.”

Following her voice, I find her sitting on the kitchen island.

Looking absolutely fire.

“What’s the problem?”

“I told you,” she says. “I’m stuck.”

“If you have to be stuck in something for the rest of your life, this isn’t a bad way to go. Trust me.”

Parker huffs, hopping off the island with a hand to her chest.

God, it’s got a slit, too.

“I think a piece of the lining is caught between the teeth.”

I immediately release my lip from where I’ve shoved it between my teeth.

Parker has turned away from me, so, thankfully, she doesn’t see the way my tongue dips out to swipe at my lips.

On second thought, I decide I definitely want her out of it, but only after I’ve traced every inch of the exposed skin with my lips and tongue and need other areas to explore.

“Fitz?”

“Sorry, what?”

Parker points behind her back.

“You look”—fucking phenomenal—“great.”

“Thanks,” Parker says, “but I probably look better when it’s actually on.”

I’d argue the only way she’d look better is naked, but I keep that thought to myself. That’s made easier when Parker tucks all her dark hair to one side, displaying the length of her slender neck, and I lose my ability to speak. I wonder if it’s my mouth’s way of punishing me because I’m not letting it do what it wants to, which is to trail kisses down the velvety column.

“Be gentle, Fitz.”

I file this under Things I never want to hear from Parker again unless I’m balls deep inside her and reach for the zipper. I try—gently—to tug it free. But my focus is still on her neck.

“Did I ever tell you that you have the Big Dipper on your neck?”

“The Big Dipper?”

I take a step, but that doesn’t get me close enough, so I bring a hand to her waist, guiding her back so we meet in the middle.

“The one and only.” I lift a finger, beginning to trace the constellation of dark freckles on the back of her neck. “Still there below your hairline.”

My touch draws not just the shape, but also the smallest shiver from Parker. I do it again. “Still?” she asks, her voice soft.

I clear my throat. “Guess I never mentioned it.”

Of course I never mentioned it back in high school. For one, I was embarrassed and worried Parker would think it was weird. And I didn’t want her to suddenly keep her hair down all the time.

She lets out the sweetest surprised breath. “I didn’t know that.”

“I love that.”

Her tone changes. “Love what?”