J . ARLENE CULINER ( Cont .) ALL ABOUT CHARMING ALICE
J . ARLENE CULINER ( Cont .) ALL ABOUT CHARMING ALICE
BLURB :
Trust in love and solutions will appear
Alice Treemont has no intention of falling in love . Living in Blake ’ s Folly , a semi-ghost town , she cooks vegetarian meals , rescues unwanted dogs , and protects the most unloved creatures on earth : snakes . What man would share those interests ?
Jace Constant is in Nevada , doing research for his new book , but he won ’ t be staying . He ’ s disgusted by desert dust on his fine Italian shoes and dog hair on his cashmere sweaters . As for snakes , he doesn ’ t just despise them : they terrify him .
So why does the air sizzle each time Alice and Jace meet ? A romance would entail far too many compromises .
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EXCERPT :
Jace was laughing , at her . “ Room and board ?”
She scrabbled around for a few more excuses . She couldn ’ t let him into her domain just like that . “ Staying here won ’ t interest you — certainly the meals won ’ t . I ’ m a vegetarian .” She hoped that would conjure up a picture of over-boiled carrots , tasteless , mushy peas , and gluey cauliflower . “ No three-inch steaks at my house .” “ Sounds fine .” “ You look like a carnivore to me , not a vegetarian .” A cannibal , a woman-eater .
“ I don ’ t know much about vegetarian cuisine ,” he said with more enthusiasm than he was probably feeling . “ But I ’ m willing to try anything .”
Now she really was defeated . She knew it . She knew he knew it . “ Do I get to come in now ?” “ There are millions of dogs and tons of dog hair .” “ And ?” “ Other things that might be a shock to your system .
As a frustrated guinea pig owner , I mean .”
Their eyes locked , and she saw no mockery . Instead , there was a probing intensity , a certain tension that bespoke returned interest , appreciation , and warmth . Much warmth . Much appreciation .
“ What other things ?” he teased . “ Ghosts ? Ghouls ?”
“ Nothing so comfortable .
Snakes . Particularly rattlers .” “ Snakes ? Fine .” Fine , he ’ d said ? We ’ ll see . He didn ’ t believe her . But he ’ d discover the truth soon enough .
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