Sylvia Day - Aftershock

This one is for all the Cosmo girls.

My gratitude to Kimberly Whalen, Ann Leslie Tuttle, and Dianne Moggythe fun, fearless women taking this journey with me.

And to my dear readers, who inspire me every day. Thank you!

Im so excited to be sharing Jackson and Giannas story with you. While Jax and Gia are discovering the possibilities of second chances, were exploring new opportunities with this collaboration between Mills & Boon, Cosmopolitan and me. Like every Cosmo girl out there, Im always thrilled to blaze new trails.

Ive been a Cosmo girl and romance reader for nearly as long as I can remember. Through every stage of my life, from high school through to marriage and parenthood, I have had the latest issue of Cosmopolitan and a romance novel (or few) on my coffee and bedside tables. Youre never beyond being fun, fearless and fabulous, and we all deserve to find our one-in-a-million guy.

I hope you enjoy Giannas story as she takes the New York business worldand Jackson!by storm. I look forward to talking with you about it after youve turned the last page. You can find me here: www.sylviaday.com/community.

Stay fierce!

Sylvia

THAT MAN IS seriously hot. He can take my order anytime.

I scowled at the television in my hotel room as I unpacked my toiletries. God knew why Id tuned in to a midday talk show, but I certainly hadnt expected to see the man I loved on the screen...or to listen to the glamorous hosts dish about how hot he was.

Maybe hes going to put voting booths in every Pembry-backed restaurant, the other one said.

Shaking my head, I headed into the bathroom. Jaxs investment in Pembry Ventures still stung. I wasnt sure Id ever forgive him for fucking me over like that. Maybe I shouldnt take it so personally, maybe it was just business, but there were some things you just didnt do to someone you love and screwing up their joban adored job at thatwas one of them.

I was determined to uncover the reason why. And I was going to make him pay. Being in love with him wouldnt change that. I wasnt sure it changed anything.

Id just hung my makeup bag on the towel rack when the room phone started ringing. Knowing I probably took a lot more time than Chad did to unpack, I expected he was ready to head down to see the construction site of his restaurant in the very same hotel we were staying in. The Atlanta Mondego was being turned into a destination with a capital D, and I would soon have the dust on the soles of my Jimmy Choos to prove it.

Grabbing the receiver off the bathroom wall, I tucked it into the crook of my neck and said, Hey. You settled in already?

Gia, damn it. Turn on your cell phone!

Jaxs deep, sexy voice slid across my senses, bringing with it a rush of heated and beloved memories. Something inside me tingled with pleasure that hed gone to the trouble of tracking me down. Jackson Rutledge was a busy guy with his pick of women. Following me around the country was entirely unnecessary. And really flattering.

I leaned against the bathroom counter. NewsflashIm avoiding you.

Good luck with that.

My jaw tightened. So what if he was an animal in bed? So what if I was happy to hear from him? I was still mad at him. Im hanging up now.

You cant run from me, he said tightly. And you cant pull that shit you pulled yesterday. We need to talk.

I agree, but that usually means you tell me Im only ever going to be a fuck buddy to you and you dont give me any reasons why. I dont have the patience to run around in circles. Unless youve got real answers for me, Im not giving you any more of my time.

Youre going to give me a hell of a lot more than time, Gia.

A shiver of awareness moved through me. I knew that tone of his. It was his Im-going-to-bang-the-hell-out-of-you tone. You wish.

Im about to land, Gia. Ill be at the hotel within the hour and youre going to see me.

What? My pulse gave a traitorous leap of excitement. My sex drive had been revved since Id left him the night before. It was all too eager to cross the finish line. I cant believe you followed me to Atlanta! How the hell did you know where I was?

Your sister-in-law.

Denise was going to be hearing from me. She knew better, which meant shed done it on purpose. Well, turn around and fly home again. Im working, Jax. I dont trust you to be around my work.

His sharply indrawn breath told me Id scored a hit.

Fine, he snapped. Ill send a car for you. Well meet at my hotel.

Ive got stuff to do today. Ill let you know when I have a moment, and Ill find a neutral place for us to meet. A bar, maybe, or even a shopping mall. Someplace where intimacy wouldnt be a problem. Sadly, I couldnt trust myself around him now that I knew how he felt about me.

My hotel, Gia, he reiterated. A public place wont save you. Were going to fuck, long and hard, wherever we end up. Better we dont end up in jail and splashed all over the tabloids while doing it, dont you think?

Youve really got to do something about that ego.

Baby, Ill crawl on my hands and knees if thats what it takes.

It was my turn to suck in a deep breath. He knew how to get to me, how to open me up and leave me defenseless. I tried to do the same thing to him. Tell me you love me, Jax.

There was a moment of silence. Loving each other isnt our problem.

He hung up, leaving me holding on to an empty connection. As usual.

Its finally starting to feel real, Chad said, looking around at the construction area.

I smiled. Good.

He reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze. Hed met me at the site, wearing an open-collar dress shirt tucked into loose-fitting jeans. His auburn hair was just barely overlong, with the bangs draping across his brow and framing his stunning green eyes. No doubt about it, Chad Williams was a hunk.

Hed drawn a lot of female attention on the way in, but he hadnt paid any mind to it. I hoped he would stay unaffected at least until the first restaurant opened. Id seen more than a few chefs get too cocky from attention overload, and their businesses quickly suffered as a result.

So what happens next? he asked, turning to face me.

The Mondego was just waiting for signed contracts to begin serious construction, I explained. The architect will revamp the initial design to accommodate three chefs. When we agree it works for you, well sign off on it and theyll get to work.

God. He blew out his breath and grinned. I cant wait to see them.

Well get to look at the existing plans tomorrow, which should give us a good idea of how its going to be laid out. When we get back to New York, well bring you, Inez, and David together to start hashing out the dueling menus. Itll be good to come up with some regional variations based on hotel locations.

Chad nodded. How much say will they have in the whole process?

In their menus, a lot, I said honestly. We picked them for their talent and we need to let them do what they do best. But outside of that, youve got the ultimate say. Youre the celebrity chef here. Theyre riding your coattails for now.

His mouth twisted ruefully. I hope that doesnt cause any problems.

I suspect itll be easier than working with your sister.

Ha! No doubt.

He joked, but I saw a hint of sadness in his expressive eyes. Things wouldve been better all around if Stacy had followed through and undertaken this endeavor with him. Jax had contributed to that breakdown between the siblings, which was ironic considering how much he did for his own family.