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Out of Eden
Beth Ciotta
Sometimes paradise isn't all it's cracked up to beThat's what I, Kylie McGraw, have discovered since sacrificing my dreams of traveling the world to run the family shoe store. But if I have my way, peaceful Eden, Indiana, is in for a major shake-up….It all began on my birthday, when I got drunk and disorderly all over Eden's hunky new police chief (and my former high school crush), Jack Reynolds. Then I may have, in my Cosmo haze, witnessed a murder in progress. Now I'm almost certain I'm being stalked by the mob, while he-of-the-distracting-abs Jack continues to think I'm nuts. However, there comes a time when a girl has to kick off her sensible shoes (size 7, cushion insoles) and go after what she wants. So if I can just survive long enough to put on my sexy new red heels, that's exactly what I intend to do….
Dear Reader,
Even though I’ve lived the life of an east-coast city girl for almost half of my life, I was born and raised in a small Midwestern town. You know the saying: you can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl. Or something like that. Personally, I wouldn’t want it any other way. I cherish my small-town roots.
Some of my fondest memories are connected to a town much like Eden—the fictional setting of this book. Although as a teenager I recall I couldn’t wait to get out. I had big dreams! It’s been a wild ride to be sure, but sometimes I wonder what my life would have been like if circumstances had kept me tied to that small, old-fashioned town. What of my adventurous spirit? What of my romantic nature?
Join me as I step into Kylie McGraw’s funky shoes and shake things up in a bid to have it all!
Cheers!
Beth
Praise for
Beth Ciotta’s
Chameleon Chronicles series
EVIE EVER AFTER
“Ciotta pulls out all the stops as she follows All About Evie and Everybody Loves Evie with another winner.”
—Booklist
“Ciotta deserves major kudos for creating such an array of memorable characters and such a fun-filled series.”
—RT Book Reviews (4 ½ stars)
EVERYBODY LOVES EVIE
“Ciotta’s wry humor; sexy, multifaceted characters; and layered plotlines make this a fun spy romp.”
—Booklist
“Everybody loves a skillfully characterized, humorously narrated and undeniably well-plotted novel.”
—RT Book Reviews (4 ½ stars, Top Pick)
ALL ABOUT EVIE
“All About Evie is an amazing charmer…I look forward to more works, sure to dazzle and entertain, by this wonderfully talented author.”
—New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham
“Everything about Ciotta’s latest novel is fabulous: the lovable heroine, the sexy hero, the consistently humorous internal monologue, the smooth narration and the delightfully original plot.”
—RT Book Reviews (4 ½ stars, Top Pick)
Out of Eden
Beth Ciotta
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
This book is dedicated to my brother, Bob Miller—a courageous and inspiring spirit. Ride that bull!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This is where I get to thank the awesome people who helped give this story life.
Two very special ladies brainstormed and critiqued this tale from beginning to end. Barb Hisle and Cynthia Valero—if I baked, I’d whip you up a lifetime of mouthwatering brownies!
Two other very special ladies provided me with never-ending cyber hugs and support. Mary Stella and Julia Templeton—clinking my cyber champagne glass to yours!
One very special husband put up with my cranky moods and crappy housekeeping when in the throes of deadline hell. Steve Ciotta—are you feeling the love?
One special agent who “gets me” and “champions me.” Amy Moore-Benson—I’m saving a dance, any dance, for you.
One special editor who handled this story and the creator with tender loving care. Keyren Gerlach—you’re one of a kind.
One special soul who bid on a mention in this tale via a donation to an extremely worthy cause. Kerri Waldo—your generous spirit gave a character life. Enjoy!
Countless special individuals at HQN who worked together to create a fantastic package (love my cover!) and to market this story far and wide—my heartfelt gratitude.
Last, but most importantly, a mega-huge, very enthusiastic nod to booksellers, librarians and YOU, the reader. Without you, I wouldn’t be able to share the stories of my heart.
Thank you all!
Out of Eden
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
EPILOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
“YOU ARE A HEEL. A chunky heel. A chunky, boring heel. Please don’t take this personally, but I’m over you.”
“I knew it was a mistake to let you drink cosmopolitans.”
“I’m not drunk.”
“You’re talking to your shoe.”
“I was talking to my shoe. Now I’m talking to you.” Sensible slip-on in one hand, toxic cocktail in the other, Kylie McGraw leaned back against the red vinyl seat of one of the four booths in Boone’s Bar and Grill and frowned across the table at Faye Tyler, two of her—strike that—one of her splendiferous best friends. They’d grown up together in Eden, Indiana—Paradise in the Heartland according to the slogan emblazoned on the green water tower planted on the outskirts of town. Someone had even painted red apples on the elevated tank so that the tower resembled a, you got it, apple tree. This was, after all, Eden, a place where most residents lived out their years because who would want to leave paradise? Except for the occasional thrill-seeker and random oddball. Although sometimes fate intervened and even they stuck around. Kylie and Faye were prime examples.
Kylie sipped her drink and studied her friend, reflecting on how they’d come to this moment.
Faye, who’d wanted to be a rock star, was married with two kids and owned the local bed-and-breakfast.
Kylie, who’d wanted a husband and kids, was single and running a business she should have inherited. Nothing was going according to plan. Even her dream of touring Asia, a dream she’d nurtured since the age of thirteen, seemed doomed. It’s not that her life was horrible—just horribly boring.
This morning she’d woken up another year older, thinking about another year of the same. Three-hundred-and-sixty-five days of ordinary. She’d barely made it through the long, uneventful, dull-as-the-mayor’s-speeches day. Then Faye had picked her up for her birthday celebration and it was official. Kylie had reached the end of her extraordinarily vast and famous patience.
