Learning to Fall Read online

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  This novel has taken more out of me than anything else I’ve ever written and I know that without the support of my family and friends I never would have been able to do it. So without further adieu, I want to express all of my love and gratitude to my parents for not freaking out when I said I was going to quit my job and become a writer, to Thea for her amazing motivational skills, to Michele for her support (and for being the first person to buy one of my paperbacks!), to Aga for making me laugh, to all my furchildren for making me smile and keeping me company during the day, to Valentina for always being an honest (and amazing) critic, and finally to Craig. Thank you for changing my plan…and my life.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Writer, reader, and animal lover, Jillian Eaton grew up in Maine and now resides in Pennsylvania. When she isn’t writing Jillian is doing her best to keep up with her three very mischievous dogs. She also has two horses, an off the track thoroughbred named Darwin and a belgian x halflinger named Poppy. Some of Jillian’s favorite authors include Judith McNaught, Lisa Kleypas, Kresley Cole, JK Rowling, Nora Roberts, and Jane Austen. She loves staying up late finishing a really great book, eating the really-bad-for-you popcorn at the movies, coffee, anything sci-fi related, and watching old episodes of Charmed. She isn’t too fond of alarm clocks, any type of spicy food, or heights. Jillian can always be reached via email or Facebook and loves to hear from her readers.

  [email protected]

  NOVEL OUTTAKES

  For one reason or another, these excerpts didn’t make the cut into the final novel, at least not in their entirety. This happens quite often in the editing process, but that doesn’t mean they can’t still be enjoyed!

  Excerpt #1

  Daniel turned. For some inexplicable reason his expression was guarded, his shoulders tensed, and his jaw clenched, as though he was bracing for something. “Yes?”

  The sudden change in him - hardness where they had been gentleness, ice where there had been warmth - threw me off guard. “Why…why did you come here this morning? You could have just called or texted me.”

  At my question, his entire countenance visibly softened. “Isn’t it obvious?”

  “No.” I slowly shook my head. “Not to me.”

  “You were the first person I thought of when I woke up this morning and you were the first person I wanted to see, even if it was only for a little while.” His eyes narrowed. “We may not know each other as much as you would like, but that means something, Imogen. What I felt this morning - what I feel right now - means something and what you feel for me, whether you admit it or not, means something too. Our feelings may not be logical or sensible, but that doesn’t make them any less valid.”

  My lips parted, but no words came out. I had no words to give, not when deep down in my heart, in my soul, I knew Daniel was right.

  Excerpt #2

  “Hi!” I said, slanting a hand across my brow to block out the gleam from the early morning sun. Dressed in a light green windbreaker and khaki shorts, Daniel looked handsome as ever. He hadn’t shaved since yesterday, and a thick shadow of dark brown bristle clung to his chin and jawline. When I spoke his head lifted, and the slow, steady smile that claimed his mouth did gooey things to my insides.

  “Hi yourself.” He reached me in three long strides and kissed me without hesitation, lips settling warmly on mine as he drew me against his chest, arms slipping around my body. “You look ready to go.”

  “I-I hope I’m dressed appropriately. I’ve never gone hiking before, so I wasn’t really sure…” I trailed off as his hands dipped lower, unable to maintain a coherent train of thought as he gave my bottom a playful squeeze and nuzzled my neck, beard scraping against my sensitive skin.

  “You look perfect,” he murmured.

  “Really?” I worried my bottom lip between my teeth. After trying on countless outfits, I’d finally settled on a black fleece pullover, long sleeved shirt, navy blue shorts, and running sneakers. I couldn’t remember the last time I had put so much thought into my attire. “Because I was doing some research online, and the temperature variables this time of year are hard to predict at certain altitudes. How high is the summit of Mt. Battie?”

  “No idea,” Daniel said easily.

  “You don’t know? But how-”

  “It will be fine, Imogen. We’re not climbing Everest. You’re going to have fun. I promise.” He skimmed his fingers through my sensible ponytail and tugged gently on the end. “Is there anything you need to grab before we go? I have water, sunscreen, and trail mix in the car. I’m bringing a backpack, so I’ll just carry it all with me.”

  I thought of the small cooler sitting on the kitchen counter. I’d packed it to the brim with water bottles, energy bars, gatorade, bananas, and apples. I had even managed to squeeze in a miniature first-aid kit. In light of what Daniel had brought, it now sounded like exactly what it was: ridiculous. He was right. We weren’t climbing Mt. Everest, and I needed to calm down. I knew my anxiety had little to do with the hike and everything to do with being alone with Daniel. We would be going up the mountain as one thing…and coming down as something else. What that something was - boyfriend? lover? friend? - I didn’t know, but I did know a first-aid kit wasn’t going to help.

  “No,” I said with a quick shake of my head. “I think I’m ready.”

  Daniel’s dimple flashed as he grinned. “Are you sure?”

  I drew a breath. “Positive.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  Excerpt #3

  “You’re more skittish than normal, little fox,” Daniel said huskily, his warm breath fanning across my cheek. It smelled like peppermints. “I promise I’m not taking you into the woods to eat you.”

  “I - I hope not.” Twisting, I gazed up at him. He really did have the most piercing eyes. In the dappled sunlight they were neither gray nor blue, but a distinct combination of the two that seemed to change color from one moment to the next. “It’s just…I have never done anything like this before.”

  His head canted to one side, a faint smile lifting one corner of his mouth. “Anything like what?”

  “Like this.” I gestured towards the trail with a vague sweep of my arm. “Whatever it is we’re doing here. I’ve only dated one other man.” Oh God. Why did I say that? Stop talking, Imogen. Stop talking this minute! “We were very suitable for one another and his motives were clear from the beginning. I knew - I always knew precisely what to expect. But with you…with you I don’t know what to expect or why you would ever be interested in me and - and it’s making me feel crazy.” Not to mention act crazy! Beyond embarrassed, I bit back a wince and crossed my arms, unconsciously drawing in on myself. Why couldn’t I act like a normal person? Why was it so hard for me to shut my brain off and ‘go with the flow’, as Whitney had instructed me to do?

  His face devoid of all expression, Daniel adjusted his backpack, hitching the straps higher on his shoulders. I waited for him to say something - to say anything - and when he didn’t my embarrassment increased tenfold, bringing a dull flush to my cheeks and pang of dismay to my chest. Courtesy of my insecurities and self-doubt, I was ruining everything before it even had a chance to begin.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered miserably.

  He stared at me, grey eyes serious and unblinking. “For what, Imogen?”

  “For saying what I did. We came here to learn more about one another, and I shouldn’t have started off by bringing up a past relationship.”

  Something flickered in the depths of his brooding gaze, there and gone again before I could decipher what it was. “Did you love him?”

  Had I loved Justin? “No,” I replied honestly. “We were very compatible and he was very kind, but I never loved him.” At least not in the way I think I could love you.

  The thought, unbidden and completely unprovoked, stunned me into temporary speechlessness.

  Did I love Daniel?

  No. Not yet. But could I?
/>   Yes. Yes I could.

  Excerpt #4

  I saw his pupils dilate with surprise before my eyes flickered closed, lashes sweeping across the top of my cheeks. He held perfectly still, allowing me to control the kiss, although I felt the betraying rigidity beneath his stillness that betrayed just how hard he was struggling to maintain control. It shouldn’t have pleased me that I had such a strong affect on him, but it did. And because it did, I took my time, moving my lips across his with a purposeful slowness that dragged a pained moan from the depths of his throat.

  When I brought my hands to his chest he groaned again. When my fingertips began to descend, gliding across his pectorals and down to the taut muscles of his abdomen he stopped breathing all together.

  He rasped my name and I stopped, hiding my own growing arousal behind an innocent smile. Who knew I, Imogen Finley, was capable of being a temptress? I certainly hadn’t. Yet Daniel’s hard erection pressing against my left hip was more than enough proof that I could.

  “Yes, Daniel?” I blinked up at him. With a low, husky laugh he rested his forehead against mine and wrapped his arms around my back, drawing me against his chest.

  “Are you trying to kill me?” he murmured against my hair.