Paige's Story: Paige's Pages, #3

By Jo Carey

When Paige's astronomy immersive goes off without any problems, she lets her friends talk her into another book adventure. This time the choice is hers.

 

Wyatt Masterson, Navy SEAL and survival specialist, believes what he wrote. The most important survival tool is your mind. Paige's survival adventure proves his theory, but now his heart is involved.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jo Carey
• Release date: May 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393586623

Jo Carey

Jo Carey grew up in the Midwest but her curiosity and gypsy-spirit has kept her on the move. She's lived in eight US states and spent three years living in Ireland. She has always loved creature movies, so creatures and bugs often show up in her books. Jo, a former information security compliance guru, writes fast-paced, character-driven stories in a variety of genres from medical thrillers to space operas and cozy mysteries. Her novels are filled with humor, romance, and sometimes creatures or aliens, or maybe even all of the above. She often builds her stories around a strong female lead character surrounded by plenty of hunky male heroes. Jo's been under fire on a golf course and climbed out the roof of an elevator in the Netherlands. Life hasn't been boring. Now residing in Texas, setting often plays a huge role in her stories. Jo was intrigued by the League of Planetary Systems, a world her husband, Frank, created for his science fiction books, and she now writes mysteries and other types of tales sets in that world. Jo was bitten by a cat, a fire ant, and a snake, before succumbing to the bite of the writing bug.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

How was your trip to Peru? Paige asked as the three of them claimed spaces in Lizzy's living room.

Amazing. We got to go to some great mines, Charlotte said. I picked up so many rocks to use in my jewelry that Perry had them shipped back for me. Charlotte was the assistant manager of Paige's Pages bookstore.

How long will Perry be down there? Lizzy asked.

He said probably another month, Charlotte said.

Is it hard developing your relationship with him gone so much? Lizzy asked.

Actually our relationship kind of started with emails and texts, so it works for us, Charlotte said. I'll be glad when he's home, but I need some time to work on my jewelry. I need to put some of those amazing stones I found into my collection.

Charlotte had worked for Paige a couple of years at the bookstore, but she'd only recently become friendly with Lizzy, who was a chef at The Chef's Table and owner of the local coffee shop—The Sip and Dip.

You look a little down tonight, Paige, Charlotte said. Is everything OK?

Sure. It still feels like getting together without Mark is a little traitorous I guess, Paige said.

While they ate takeout Chinese food, they talked about Lizzy's upcoming wedding. Charlotte, what's that grin for? Paige asked.

I was just thinking that there might be a wedding in my future. It just seems strange. I mean I guess I always thought I'd get married someday, but never to someone as normal as Perry Fielding.

That comment made Paige giggle. You might be the only person in the world who would call Perry normal.

The ladies were having coffee before heading home, and their discussions were winding down. Paige, are you thinking about hosting another book-based adventure? Lizzy asked.

I haven't really decided. The first two didn't go quite as planned, Paige said. I'm not sure I want to try that again. We've had injuries, accidents, criminals, explosions, people lost... I think maybe it's just too dangerous.

Maybe you should ask your lawyer about the liability, Charlotte said. I'm sure Mark would be happy to tell you what to do.

On this particular issue, I might let him, Paige said. The events have been exciting, but I'm not sure they're worth the worry.

It worked out well for us, Lizzy said as she and Charlotte high fived. Each of them credited one of Paige's book adventures for bringing them together with the love of their lives. Paige was happy for them, but a little pissed that she couldn't seem to work the same magic for herself. She and Mark were dating, but she was seriously doubting their relationship should be romantic. They'd been friends for years, and Paige was beginning to think that was all they would ever be.

How are things going with you and Mark? Charlotte asked.

Mark's great, as always.

You didn't really answer the question, Lizzy said. How's the romance going?

Slowly. Very, very slowly, Paige said. Both women said they were sure Mark had romantic feelings for her, but they agreed he was probably being very cautious not to push her or the relationship further until she was ready. The trouble was, she vacillated between wondering if she'd ever be ready to be romantic with Mark and wishing he'd be more assertive in that department. She knew she couldn't have it both ways, but the trouble was, she wasn't sure which she wanted.

XXX

On Saturday night, Paige and Mark had a standing date. They went out for dinner then came back to her place to watch a movie and snuggle on the couch. They'd been spending Saturday nights the same way for more than a year, but now that they were dating there seemed to be expectations involved.

Mark was sitting beside her on the sofa. He pulled her into a kiss. Paige had convinced herself that it was time to either move their relationship forward or go back to just being friends. If she were a betting woman, she would have given the odds as 50/50. She wasn't even sure which way she wanted things to go, but she knew she needed things to change from the weird limbo they'd been in for weeks.

Instead of pulling back from his kiss, she upped the heat level and moved her hands to his chest. The thought that she was kissing Mark in a very not-just-friends appropriate way flashed across her mind like a missile that exploded on the horizon. He seemed happy to match her intensity level until she pulled away.

I'm sorry. I can't do this, she said as she scooted to the edge of the sofa and slid down until her butt was on the floor.

Oooookaaaay, Mark said. What's going on?

What's going on is I let Lizzy and Charlotte get in my head. I can’t do this, Mark.

Do what exactly?

They'd been sitting on the couch as they'd done a thousand times, and Mark kissed her. It was nice, as it always was, but she decided to push things to another level. She tried, but she just couldn't. It was Mark. She loved him, but she wasn't in love with him, and she knew she probably never would be. She didn't want to hurt his feelings. She had a pretty good idea that he thought he was in love with her.

CHAPTER TWO

Can I talk to you for a minute, Charlotte asked when she walked up to the checkout counter where Paige was straightening things up.

Sure. What's up?

I feel like we've become friends, but you're still my boss. I need to tell you something.

Sure. Is everything OK? Is Perry OK?