Jane (I'm Still Single) Jones

By Joan Reeves

A billionaire, a movie star, a secret crush. A Gilligan's Island re-run? No, just your typical high school reunion!

 

What could be worse for a former high school beauty queen, who never landed the only man she ever loved, than attending her 10-year high school reunion alone? Not much, according to textile designer Jane Louise Jones as she prepares to endure the weekend in her hometown, just south of nowhere in the rolling hills of Louisiana. But little does she know, this reunion will be anything but typical.

 

Enter Morgan Sherwood, the town boy-wonder turned billionaire, who arrives with his entourage in a stretch limo, ready to sweep Jane off her feet. But with a former classmate intent on claiming the billionaire as husband number four, a Hollywood starlet vying for Morgan's attention, and an old flame trying to win back Jane's heart, Morgan has more obstacles than he ever anticipated. And let's not forget about the meddling Vernon Ladies Bridge Club, who are determined to play matchmaker for Jane.

 

As tensions rise and competition intensifies, Morgan must use all of his high-powered brain and seductive charm to win over the lovely Miss Jones. But will it be enough to overcome a ten-year old betrayal and the obstacles standing in their way? With plenty of southern charm, humor, and steamy romance, Jane (I'm Still Single) Jones is a heartwarming and heart throbbing tale that will leave you with a smile.

 

Don't just take our word for it! When it was first published, IndieReader declared Jane (I'm Still Single) Jones as "one of the top five Indie Romance Novels," and readers have compared it to the beloved film, Sweet Home Alabama. So what are you waiting for? Grab a copy and get ready to fall in love with this funny, sexy contemporary romance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joan Reeves
• Release date: Sep 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9780984682324

Joan Reeves

Joan Reeves—Keeping Romance Alive…One Sexy Book at a Time—is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary Romance. From Romantic Comedy to Romantic Thriller, all of her stories have the same premise: “It’s never too late to live happily ever after.” Joan lives her happily-ever-after with her hero, her husband, in the Lone Star State. They divide their time between a book-cluttered home in Houston and a quiet house at the foot of the Texas Hill Country where they sit on the porch at night, look up at the star-studded sky, and listen to the coyotes howl. Sign up for Joan’s Mailing List and be the first to know about giveaways and new books: http://www.subscribepage.com/z8x3r9.

Book preview

PREVIEW

of

JANE (I’M STILL SINGLE) JONES

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Remember what we did in my grandmother’s old Chrysler? he whispered.

The words seemed to float through the air, calling forth the memories, dancing across her nerve endings. She felt his hip touch hers and realized he’d closed the distance between them. She her anger flamed out, leaving smoldering desire in its embers.

Jane tried a last ditch effort to save herself. I think I hear someone calling me.

I don’t think so.

What if he touched her? What if he didn’t? She hadn’t really thought to seduce him, but here he was, looking and sounding so incredibly seduceable. But who was bewitching whom?

Don’t you ever wonder what it would have felt like? he whispered.

What would what have felt like? She cursed the fact that her voice shook. She saw his teeth gleam in a broad smile in the darkness.

You know. It. If we’d gone all the way.

No. I...I never wondered, she lied, hoping he didn’t remember how frantic she’d been to know exactly how it would feel with him. How she’d pulled at his clothes. How he’d been the one to practice restraint. How he’d steadied her until she could control herself. She prayed that he never found out how much she thought about it still. I really need to go. I promised Amber I’d start cleaning up.

Yet she made no effort to rise. It took more energy than she possessed to overcome the strange lethargy that had hold of her. Being with him, inhaling his scent, feeling his touch. Hearing his soft alluring voice in the dark. All of it combined to sap her will. She shuddered in sexual awareness.

The only thing that existed in this moment was the sweet siren call of desire. Would it be smart to answer the invitation in his voice or incredibly stupid?

PRAISE

for

JANE (I’M STILL SINGLE) JONES

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Who hasn’t attended their high school reunion and not felt what Jane feels? Even successful, the high school beauty queen, no less, you still feel somehow inadequate—and there’s always that guy, the one relationship that didn’t end right. Jane’s story captures every nuance of reunion doubt and trepidation. In fact every character in the story is so well defined, I felt warmed in their presence. Joan Reeves...knows her genre inside and out and just how to serve it up with equal measures of snappy dialogue, humor and romantic delight. I loved this book and recommend it! —Barbara Sissel Review

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I just finished reading the story and loved it! The main characters, Jane and Morgan, were vulnerable and trying to protect themselves from further hurt, but couldn’t stay away from each other. The entire cast was great...came to life with just a few well chosen descriptions. Story was funny and sad and sexy and had a great ending. Beautifully written! —AnneMarie Review

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Sexy and adorable—Morgan and Jane rock! These are two of the most delightful characters on the printed page. Jane thinks she’s worldly NYC but is very much the Louisiana belle—and Morgan...well what can you say, the perfect all grown up, hunky former nerd. Joan Reeves is at her very best with these two and the entire small town of delightful characters. It’s delightful, delicious, sexy and adorable. —EbookLuver Review

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I really like this author. All of her books are quite fun to read. Lately I have been getting in to romance novels but unless they have humor to them, I usually don’t like them. This book was really funny and really cute. I loved the characters and the dialog. —Lexie Review

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

for

JANE (I’M STILL SINGLE) JONES

Copyright © 2011 Joan Reeves

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be used or reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission of Joan Reeves, the copyright owner and publisher of this book, with the exception of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products that may be referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication and/or use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person with whom you wish to share it. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should purchase your own copy. Thank you for honoring the copyright laws and for respecting the author’s work and her livelihood.

Cover Art Copyright © 2011 by Adina Mayo. Woman in Lingerie by Sean Nel, Copyright © 2010 by Sean Nel.

Ebook ISBN: 9780984682324

Vita Via Publishing Contact: Joan Reeves.

I LOVE READING

Discover New York Times and USA Today bestselling author JOAN REEVES and her brand of Romance. Joan writes stories about a man and a woman who are made for each other—they just don’t know it. Yet.

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ALSO BY JOAN REEVES

New York Times Bestselling Author

Writing Romance—One Sexy Book at a Time

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For other books available from this retailer, visit Joan’s Books2Read webpage.. For a complete list of all books along with a short review blurb, see Sassy, Sexy, Sizzling Romance at the end of this book.

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All Brides Are Beautiful

April Fool Bride

Second Chance Bride

A Moment in Time: Short Stories & Novels

LuvU4Ever, Story No. 1

Last Chance New Year, Story No. 2

Blame It On Chocolate, Story No. 3

Liam’s Irish Rose, Story No. 4

April Fool Proposition, Story No. 5

From Holiday to Holiday: A Moment in Time Quartet

Capitola Palace Dance Hall Romance

Stuck on the Naughty List

Outlaw Ridge, Texas

Heat Lightning

Dead Heat

San Antone Two-Step

Nobody’s Cinderella

Cinderella Blue

Single Title Novels

Every Little Lie

Jane (I’m Still Single) Jones

Just One Look

Scents and Sensuality

Still The One

The Key To Kristina

Small Town Texas Romance

Last Christmas

Brianna’s Season For Miracles

Surf, Sand, Secrets

Deceptively Yours

Foolishly Yours

Texas One Night Stands

The Trouble With Love

Romeo and Judy Anne

The Good, The Bad, and The Girly

Old Enough to Know Better

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREVIEW

PRAISE

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

I LOVE READING

ALSO BY JOAN REEVES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

INSPIRATION FOR JANE’S STORY

NOTE FROM JOAN REEVES

SASSY, SEXY, SIZZLING ROMANCE

SNEAK PEEK: JUST ONE LOOK

TINY PEEK AT SCENTS AND SENSUALITY

SEND A NOTE TO JOAN

DEDICATION

This book is for you, Vernon: my partner in crime, my first best friend, my big brother. I created a fictional town in the northern part of Louisiana and named it just for you!

Vernon, you and I together were probably responsible for every gray hair in our parents’ heads. From adopting orphaned opossums to burning down that old outhouse, we did it all! Somehow, they, and we, survived and have a heck of a lot of funny stories to tell now!

As always, this book is for Larry: my husband, my hero, my heart. Thank you, my love, for the memories!

NOTE TO READERS

Although there is a real town of Vernon, Louisiana, and a parish of the same name, they have no similarity to the fictional town I created in honor of my brother.

CHAPTER 1

When she found the person responsible for this, she would make them pay. And pay big!

Jane Jones stared at the plastic-encased name tag in her right hand. No way would she wear this! She wasn’t some boy-crazy teenager! Or a desperate woman on the make! She was a successful businesswoman. She’d even been called one of the new sophisticates in a New York Times column! But did that matter in Vernon, Louisiana? Heck no!

So what if she still wasn’t married? It shouldn’t matter to anyone - - with the possible exception of her mother- - that she was still flying solo through life. Jane’s eyes narrowed. Which of her former classmates was responsible for this embarrassment?

Jane Louise Jones! Quit staring at that name badge as if it were a water moccasin from Pine Slough and put it on.

Jane’s focus shifted from the detestable piece of plastic to the woman who’d handed her the reunion packet. Her eyes widened in dismay. Belatedly, she realized her high school nemesis presided at the reception table. Of all people, why did it have to be Earleen Mushmak?

The teacher’s thin lips stretched in a grimace that almost resembled a smile. Welcome to your ten-year high school reunion, Jane Louise. She cocked her head to the side as if in deep thought. Then she said, That’s very daring of you to wear red, dear. Most redheads would think better of it.

Some high school traumas never die, Jane thought. This one looked as if she hadn’t aged a day.

Thank you, Miss Mushmak, Jane murmured, trying hard to remember that she was a grown woman, not some high school kid unused to dealing with difficult people.

Often, Jane joked with her family about traveling through a time warp to get from New York to her sleepy hometown tucked away in the rolling hills of north Louisiana. But, looking at the woman who had taught at the local high school since before Jane was born, she half-believed it was true.

Her former teacher hadn’t changed a bit. Unfortunately. The years appeared to have had no softening effect on the woman who struck fear into the heart of every freshman entering Vernon High School. Same straggly bun. Same steel-rimmed granny glasses. Same piercing gray eyes that made you believe she had x-ray vision.

The bossy old maid had never liked her, Jane thought resentfully, nor any of her other students except one. And thinking about him only increased Jane’s ire. She fingered the name tag and took a deep breath. She’d laugh and toss it back on the table. They could darn well give her a blank one. Then she’d write her own inscription next to her name.

Did you hear me, Jane Louise? Miss Mushmak demanded, pushing her glasses down on her nose and peering over them.

The double moniker rubbed Jane the wrong way. In New York, she was J. L. Jones, owner of JLJ Design. Here, she was meek little Jane Louise.

Jane Louise? Miss Mushmak repeated, with more snap to her tone this time. The woman, who’d tried her best to hammer math into Jane’s decidedly un-mathematical brain, from her freshman to her senior years, stared at her just as she’d done back in high school.

Jane reacted like the new sophisticate she was. She squirmed and replied meekly, Yes, Miss Mushmak.

Good. Don’t dawdle. Step aside to pin on your name tag.

Yes, Miss Mushmak. She’d step aside, but she darn well wasn’t going to wear the name tag.

Coward, she scolded herself, even as she moved away from the reception table. Ten years after graduation, and she was still terrified of the woman. It made no sense. What could Miss Mushmak do now? Flunk her again?

Her gesture of defiance in not pinning the nametag on might be small, but it lifted her spirits. Looking around she saw refreshments set up on gold crepe paper-covered tables in the center of the large room that served as cafeteria and auditorium for the old school.

Maybe some caffeine would short circuit the tension headache that threatened at the base of her neck. Jane had taken only a few steps when someone grabbed her arm and spun her around.

Amber! Jane’s scowl changed to a grin. She grabbed her best friend from high school and hugged her. Amber squealed and giggled.

Even at twenty-eight, Amber Hicks. No, Amber Hicks Chalmers, Jane mentally corrected. Amber still couldn’t control her excitement. Same old Amber, Jane thought fondly, stepping back to look at her friend.

Oh, Janie, I can’t believe you really came. Amber jumped up and down like a child of six rather than like a mother of a six-year-old. She’d been doing that crazy little jig since she and Jane had played together in kindergarten.

What do you mean? You twisted my arm, begged, pleaded, and then sicced the town on me. It’s bad enough to have my parents badger me, but the Ladies Bridge Club too? With all that, how could I possibly miss this momentous occasion?

Hey, don’t give me that New York attitude. No boredom allowed. This is our ten year reunion! Aren’t you excited?

Obviously, not as much as you.

It’ll be fun. You won’t be sorry you came, Amber vowed.

Jane sighed. I’m already sorry. To think I gave up the first weekend in June to come here and be humiliated.

What do you mean humiliated? Amber frowned.

Jane held up the name tag. Look at this.

What’s wrong with it? Amber looked affronted. I spent a lot of time designing those.

Oh, Amber. Don’t tell me you’re responsible for this. How could you do this to me? Jane shook her head in dismay. Brought low by my best friend!

Well, you said you lacked a love life. I thought this would help.

I said I had a lackluster love life, Jane corrected. There’s a difference. She rolled her shoulders to loosen the tension. Now I really need some caffeine and sugar. You just changed the status of my headache from passive to active.

What are you complaining about? Amber grabbed the pin from Jane’s hand and, ignoring her protests, fastened it to the right lapel of Jane’s red linen blazer. There.

Amber

Reviews for Jane (I'm Still Single) Jones

[radella_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I found this book entirely predictable, and there's not a whole lot to make it stand out. Jane was the high school beauty that moved to New York City to go to art school. She's a textile designer, but her job is pretty meaningless in the context of the story- it's never really mentioned at all. Morgan was the scrawny high school geek, who went to California after graduation and made millions. They were secretly in love with each other in high school, but they went their separate ways with each feeling betrayed. At the ten year high school reunion, both Morgan and Jane are willing to believe the absolute worst about each other, even though they secretly in love. At some level, I just was so frustrated with all the miscommunication that was going on. Morgan overhears something Jane is saying, and he takes it out of context... so he sets things up to bring in his movie star arm-candy, and the cycle continues. They are both so busy doing things just to irk the other, I just wanted to scream that this could have all been cleared up ten years ago if you'd just TALKED to each other! I also found it bothersome that the reunion was a whole weekend of things to do. I was more interested in figuring out the logic of having such a big spectacle for just a ten year reunion... theoretically, this would be a yearly occurrence in the small town. I found my mind wandering to this sort of speculation, because the story was rather bland and predictable.