Constructing Us by C.J. Lake
Publication date: July 18th 2014
Genres: New Adult, Romance
Publication date: July 18th 2014
Genres: New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:
*Contains explicit/steamy scenes that are intended for mature readers.
When Andy takes over the lease on her friend Ethan’s apartment, he warns her about his roommate, Tragan. According to Ethan, Tragan Barrett is self-centered and often inconsiderate, caring more about hanging out with his friends and hitting the local casino than straightening the living room or keeping up with his laundry. Andy isn’t too concerned, though, because she isn’t moving in to make a friend.
Intended as a short-term living arrangement, the apartment is close to the hospital where Andy is participating in a drug study for a rare disorder she was diagnosed with when she was twenty. Now, fresh out of college, she is trying to figure out her life–and also how to live with the uncertainty of her condition. Figuring she’ll go one way and he’ll go another, Andy is surprised to learn that Tragan is not exactly the way Ethan painted him. In fact, there’s a whole other side to the darkly sexy construction worker…especially when it comes to Andy.
Can an unlikely friendship turn into something much more?
When Andy takes over the lease on her friend Ethan’s apartment, he warns her about his roommate, Tragan. According to Ethan, Tragan Barrett is self-centered and often inconsiderate, caring more about hanging out with his friends and hitting the local casino than straightening the living room or keeping up with his laundry. Andy isn’t too concerned, though, because she isn’t moving in to make a friend.
Intended as a short-term living arrangement, the apartment is close to the hospital where Andy is participating in a drug study for a rare disorder she was diagnosed with when she was twenty. Now, fresh out of college, she is trying to figure out her life–and also how to live with the uncertainty of her condition. Figuring she’ll go one way and he’ll go another, Andy is surprised to learn that Tragan is not exactly the way Ethan painted him. In fact, there’s a whole other side to the darkly sexy construction worker…especially when it comes to Andy.
Can an unlikely friendship turn into something much more?
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22755891-constructing-us
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Excerpt:
Tragan was watching baseball the
following evening when he was surprised by a knock at the door. Andy had
been in her room with the door closed since he’d gotten home from work.
When she didn’t emerge, he muted the game and rose to answer it.
A blonde guy stood on the other side,
wearing a v-neck sweater with a stiff-collared shirt underneath. He’d
been in the middle of scrolling on his phone when Tragan swung the door
open.
“Yeah?” Tragan said.
Obviously finishing a text, the blonde
guy finally glanced up. “Hi,” he said, offering a brief smile. “I’m
here to see Andy.”
Tragan stepped back, opening the door
wider so he could enter. Was this her boyfriend? Maybe he was just
a friend, like Ethan. For some reason Tragan hoped that was the case, but
didn’t really believe it. This guy was tall, probably around 6’2”, and
looked kind of like a mannequin. His face was almost too smooth, his
expression blank. Was this what Andy went for? This pretty boy?
Just then Tragan heard Andy’s door
open. When he saw her step out, he felt an instant pull of attraction and
couldn’t help staring for a moment. She looked especially pretty
tonight. Her hair was almost shiny and looked like soft gold, hanging
loosely past her shoulders. She wore a light blue stretchy top that
curved around her breasts and lit up her eyes in the sexiest way. God,
what’s with me? Tragan thought, irritated, trying to ignore his reaction to
her.
Except…
Her black pants were form-fitting
enough that for an instant he flashed an erotic image of those lean, shapely
legs wrapping around him.
Now her face beamed into a smile--a
smile for Brad.
“Hi! I’m ready,” she told him
breezily.
“Hi, gorgeous,” Brad said, leaned over
and gave her a peck on the cheek. “I was just meeting your roommate
here.”
“Right, hi. Tragan,” Tragan said,
introducing himself.
The blonde guy shook his hand.
“Dr. Brad Trewell. Nice to meet you. So, Tragan, Andy says you’ve
been very easy to live with. I have to thank you for that.” He
spoke affably enough so Tragan didn’t want to dislike him. Still, he
found himself sort of bothered by the guy. Maybe it pissed him off that
he felt the need to introduce himself as “Dr. Brad.” That seemed
pretentious as hell. Or maybe--more likely--Tragan felt a stab of
envy. Everyone knew doctors were rich and beating off the ladies with
their stethoscopes. And this one got Andy.
For some reason, Brad felt the need to
add, “I’m a resident at St. Catherine’s Hospital--vascular surgery. What
do you do?”
Andy interrupted. “Brad, I told
you, Tragan works in construction. He builds things, right?” she said,
smiling warmly at Tragan.
“Oh, that’s right,” Brad said, touching
his forehead with reproach, then giving a smooth smile. “I must have
forgotten.”
Bullshit he forgot. Tragan
figured that Brad just wanted to call the cards on the table, right here, right
now. To lay it out in front of Andy how the two men measured up.
Asking about Tragan’s job was certainly a subtler way to go about it than
asking what kind of car he drove or how much he banked last year.
Brad’s phone chimed; he held up a
finger. “Just a second.” He read, scrolled and typed--then read,
scrolled and typed. Finally he slid the phone back into his pocket.
“Sorry about that. Well, Andy we should get going. I have eight
o’clock reservations at La Vie En Rose.” Amiably he asked Tragan,
“Ever been?”
“No.”
“Oh, it’s terrific. On Newbury
Street. The duck is phenomenal.”
“Great,” Tragan replied flatly.
“Okay, we should go,” Andy spoke
up.
Brad nodded, taking her hand.
“And the movie starts at ten.”
As Brad led her to the door, Andy
glanced back at Tragan, gave a short wave. “See you later. Have a
good night.”
“I’ll get the door.” He followed
close behind and caught a trace of her scent as she reached up for her
coat. Her perfume was so enticing and feminine, it almost made him
hard.
Just great, Tragan thought, shaking his head as he turned the lock and
went back around to the couch. Now he was getting horny over his female
roommate who already had a boyfriend. Just effing great. He shook
the feeling off, picked up the remote and un-muted the game. ~
AUTHOR BIO
C.J. Lake is a storyteller who is passionate about art, surfing, and skiing/snowboarding. Residing near the coast of Massachusetts, C.J. is working on a new book that will feature Tragan Barrett's friend, Matt Winter. Readers can get in touch via email (writercjlake@gmail.com), or follow C.J. on Twitter @brightbluesurf.
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