The Sound of Consequence (Puget Sound ~ Alive With Love Book 1) by Susan Ann Wall Read Free Book Online Page A

for reinventing herself, but it was all beyond her control. Maybe there was such a thing as chemistry.
    “What would you think if I had a hot fling? Sleep with him a few more times, you know, get it out of my system. Does that make me sound slutty?”
    Jenny laughed. “Definitely not. It’s not like you’re screwing everyone at the naval yard.”
    “It just feels weird, to be so free and easy.” Caught up in the mania of the dance club, it seemed natural to seduce a sexy stranger on the dance floor and seek out a one-night stand. In the daylight, however, it was easier to fall into old habits.
    “You’re twenty-eight, Stace. It’s OK to take control of your sex life. If you want my humble opinion…”
    Stacie rolled her eyes, as if she could stop Jenny from sharing her opinion. Jenny pegged her on the shoulder and continued. “You came here to start a new life, right?”
    “Yeah, but I didn’t plan to have a man in it. Not even just for sex.”
    “Well, it’s the new you. Who cares that it wasn’t in your plan. Just have fun with it. It may lead somewhere. It may not. Maybe you’re just meant to have a few more orgasms. Don’t deny yourself that! When the time is right, you’ll find your inspiration.”
    Stacie hoped that would be the case. Sex with Greg was routine at best and now all she could think about was getting naked with Owen. She’d always thought sex was overrated. It was amazing how one incredible night could change someone’s perspective.
    “So, you’re going to be riding the 7:55 ferry back to Bremerton?”
    Stacie nodded. “Absolutely. If you feel the building shaking later, it’s not an earthquake.”
    Jenny slapped her a high five. “Should I expect you home tonight?” she asked with a coy smile.
    “Absolutely,” Stacie said again. It was going to take all of her willpower to pull herself away from Owen’s delicious body, but if this was a sexy fling, she was not going to fall asleep in his bed. They’d meet on the ferry, have mind blowing sex at his place, she’d thank him and come home. Sleeping in her own bed was the smartest thing she could do.
    “Why don’t you come to work with me this morning? I can introduce you to the gang. CC is dying to meet you.”
    Stacie’s stomach flipped then flopped, tossing a good dose of bile up her throat. She’d never had nerves of steel. It was one reason why she’d become an English teacher. Kids didn’t intimidate her at all. In fact, she could relate to the insecurities of teenagers who had yet to find their place in the world. Dealing with adults, especially editors who could crush her dreams as part of their daily routine, well, that wasn’t a skill she’d acquired. No amount of reinventing herself had conjured up skin that thick.
    “No. No, no, no. I’m not going to your office.”
    “You’re just meeting people, girlfriend. It’s not Armageddon.”
    It was her childhood all over again, the fear of rejection and the devastating nervousness that had paralyzed Stacie during all those singing auditions. The first one had been at age five, shortly after the choir director at their church had suggested to Stacie’s mother that she audition for a local children’s program on PBS. Stacie didn’t want to. It had been difficult enough to sing in the church Christmas pageant with all the parishioners gawking at her.
    “I’m not ready for that, Jen. I need to have illustrations first.” Lame excuse, but mostly true. How could she pitch her stories without the illustrations to go with them? She’d be setting herself up for failure.
    “You’ve been ready for years.”
    Stacie wished that had been the case. Unhappy for years, yes. Ready to do something about it, no. It embarrassed her that it took losing Audrey to make her wake up. Stacie wanted to meet CC, or Caren Campbell, but she was an acquiring editor at Bay City Publishers, the company where Jenny had worked since college. It was unlikely someone in her position wanted