Jaden (St. Sebastians Quartet #1) Read Online Free PDF

again, he caught her completely off guard.
    "In ten seconds or less, tell me your favorite book."
    She wasted at least five seconds staring stupidly at him.
    "Times running out," he said.
    "It. By Stephen King."
    He stopped walking so abruptly that she was two steps ahead of him by the time she realized he was no longer beside her.
    "Really?" he asked.
    "It's brilliant. The Stand is also brilliant, but I'm slightly partial to It."
    When he continued to stare at her, the side of his lip drawing up into a smile, she shrugged.
    "What, you're not a Stephen King fan?"
    "No, I am. Just, usually when I ask people that question, they give me the name to some literary book no one's ever heard of before."
    "I love Stephen King too much to lie."
    She started forward, hoping he'd follow.
    He did.
    "What about you. What's your—"
    "The Shining. And I'm not just saying that because you named a Stephen King book."
    "Really. Because that's a weird coincidence."
    "How long will you be in town?"
    "Change of subject. Okay."
    "No, I'm heading somewhere with this."
    "All summer. I'm watching my aunt's house while she's in France."
    He stopped walking again.
    "You're Jaden Quinn, Edna's niece."
    She chanced a look at his face. He was still gorgeous. "How'd you know?"
    "Everyone knows your aunt. Half the town is in her bakery every morning for coffee and bagels, and in there again after work for pastries. I live a few houses down from her." He hooked an arm in hers, and she shivered pleasantly at the unexpected contact. He started forward again. "And since we're neighbors I feel comfortable telling you that you have to come to my house one day and see my library. I have every book Stephen King has ever written, even the Richard Bachman ones. I even have a few first additions and signed copies. I am a fan. Legit."
    Jaden turned to look at him. She had to crane her head back to see his face. "Stephen King collection, you say. I might have to take you up on that."
    "I don't have a signed copy of It, but I do have a signed copy of The Stand."
    "Really?"
    "Really." He stopped again, this time pointing at the store they were standing in front of. "Here you are. Farmer's Bounty. You'll be happy to know that the vegetables come from local farms."
    She couldn't help it. She laughed. "Good to know."
    "I'm at 19. I'm gone all day, but I'm always home in the evening. If you don't have anything to do tomorrow night, I'll be there."
    "Tomorrow is no good. I'm going to an art exhibit tomorrow night."
    "Are you?"
    This seemed to please him, so she nodded. "I am. I met the gallery owner today."
    "Hayley."
    "Yeah."
    "Well, my brother was trying to get me to go. We went to school with Hayley. So maybe I'll see you there."
    "Okay. It was nice to meet you," she said. She turned and went into the grocery store. Only after she'd crossed the threshold into the cool interior did she realize she'd never asked him his name.
    *****
     
    Kenda could hear the conversation happening around him, but it was like something far off in the distance. He didn't know what it was about the woman that had drawn him, but he couldn't stop thinking about her. Edna hadn't told him her niece was so alluring. Jaden. Yes, he'd go to the opening tomorrow and he'd get to know more about the woman who was his new neighbor.
    "Did you hear me, Kenda?"
    "Huh?"
    Kenda realized Tyler was talking to him. And he had no idea about what.
    "That blond outside on the deck. She's eying you. You should go over and talk to her."
    Beside Tyler, Nico was nodding vigorously.
    "Nope. Not interested." He leaned back on the bar stool and folded his arms over his chest.
    "I thought we'd come to an understanding. Tonight. You. Fun."
    "I don't need your help finding a woman, Tyler, Nico. I think I met someone." He grinned. "In fact, I know I met someone."
    They all started talking at once, so he held up a hand to stop them.
    "Her name is Jaden and she's Edna's niece. She's here for the summer, taking care of Edna's