Eric Jerome Dickey | A Taste of ONE NIGHT

New York Times bestselling author Eric Jerome Dickey checks in to the hotel of readers’ dreams for an ardent romantic adventure that lasts just ONE NIGHT. Have a taste in this exclusive excerpt.

Excerpt from ONE NIGHT

I looked at my phone. No call, no text, no Facebook, no Tweet, no Instagram, nothing from my boyfriend. Anxiety, irritation, and disappointment combined and changed into anger, changed into mumbles, sighs, curses, and head shakes. I was about to text him again. Was tired of chasing him, like cat chasing dog. Had texted him so much it felt like I was a stalker. Was going to ask him to meet me at Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles, tell him the Obama Special and Arnold Palmer would be my treat tonight.

He’d complain about the rain. He wouldn’t want to meet me in the rain. But I was antsy. Couldn’t stand this weather, couldn’t bear the combination of dreariness and Yuletide solitude, so as the world shopped to buy Jesus nothing for his birthday, I texted my boyfriend, and told him that chicken and waffles would be my treat. I told him that I wouldn’t talk his ear off tonight about Natalie Rose, told him I was in a good mood and really needed to see him this evening, then put in a few Xs and Os.

I waited two minutes. No response. That was my third message since eight this morning.

Yesterday was no more. Today was what it was. Tomorrow could only be better.

I pulled the money out, looked at twenty hundred-dollar bills, counted them twice. I had money. I could pay my friggin’ rent. I could by a tank of gas for my goddamn car. Could get my hair done by Sheba. Could buy two-ply. Could splurge at Whole Foods before I settled up my big bills. I wanted to live and eat like I used to live and eat for a week. Need to let food be my medicine and let my medic be healthy food. No. I wanted Whole Foods, wanted that status, but Whole Foods took up whole paychecks and was too expensive for a chick like me. I’d use my Whole Foods bags and go to the Food Barn, and buy survival food at reasonable prices, let my malicious neighbors see me coming back home with three of my Whole Foods bags filled to the top. If I played it smart, I’d survive another month.

The rain. The wintery chill. The desire to not be alone until the sun came up. But sometimes it was better to be alone. Nobody could hurt you.

My boyfriend. I broke down and called him. No answer. Didn’t leave a message. I took out the card from the guy at the gas station, ignored his name, but looked at his number.

I called him. No idea why. But I looked at the digits, at that area code from a faraway land, and I dialed his area code, exchange, and number, and listened to it ring once before he answered.

“Good evening. How may I help?”

I said, “It’s me.”

“Who is me? This call came up blocked.”

“Guess I’m lucky you answered.”

“Who is this?”

“The girl you just met at the gas station.”

“The grifter who tried to con me, threatened me, and cursed me out.”

“The only and only woman who went off on a well-dressed insult in a suit.”

“What can I do for you?”

“Wanted to say thanks.”

“Still think I’m disgusting?”

“Men are worthless, so that hasn’t changed.”

“We may be, but you can’t live without us.”

“You love your wife?”

“Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your heart or burn down your house, you can never tell. Joan Crawford said that. And that is where I am now, in a house that is burning down.”

“I don’t care for that quote.”

“It’s true. For me, it’s true.”

“How did you mess up?”

“What do you mean?”

“There are two hundred and ninety two ways to make change for a dollar using pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and half dollars. There are twice as many ways to piss a woman off.”

“Then there must be three times as many ways to make a man walk away from a woman.”

“You have an answer for everything.”

“Actually, no. I have more questions than answers. I’m good in my office. I’m great at work. My problem has always been in the social arena. I really don’t know much about the heart of a woman.”

About ONE NIGHT

For one night, a couple checks in to an upscale hotel. The pair seem unlikely companions, from opposing strata of society, but their attraction is palpable to all who observe them—or overhear their cries of passion. In the course of twelve hours, con games, erotic interludes, jealousy, violence, and murder swirl around them. Will they part ways in bliss, in sorrow, or in death?

Filled with all the hallmarks of an Eric Jerome Dickey bestseller—erotic situations, edge-of-your-seat twists and turns, and fun, believable relationships—ONE NIGHT will delight Dickey’s existing fans and lure countless new ones.