Book: Uncovering Camila
Author: Vivian Winslow
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Synopsis
Camila Cohen is a highly ambitious and driven third-year NYU law student who works as a part-time bartender to help pay her way through school. She prefers no-strings attached relationships, afraid that anything serious could get in the way of her goals. But when chef Eliseo Perez ditches her for a job in Miami, she realizes even a casual arrangement can leave you feeling burned. Just as Camilaâs close to accepting a position at the high-powered law firm of Sullivan & Moore (more appropriately known by its initials, S & M), her uncle Arthur, the head of the Cohen Real Estate dynasty, makes a proposal that compels Camila to question the career path sheâd always assumed would be right for her. As she attempts to balance her busy final year of law school with her bartending job, what should have been a random Tinder date for a hot hook-up leads to something unexpected. Meeting the incredibly brilliant and handsome Marshall James forces Camila to face her greatest fears and realize that creating a life for herself means making decisions that could potentially hurt the ones she loves.
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Author Bio
Elizabeth Ann Hayes writes Romance under the pen name Vivian Winslow. Elizabeth was born in San Diego, California but has spent most of her adult life as the consummate wanderer. Her nomadic life took her abroad to Paris, Madrid, London, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, and São Paulo. After eleven moves across four continents over a span of seventeen years, her journey brought her back to New York City in 2011 where, despite the chaotic pace, sheâs managed to make it home for herself and her family.
Since 2014, Elizabeth has published nine novellas in her Gilded Flower Trilogies as well as two installments of Wildflowers, a New Adult series of standalone novels. These contemporary romance books are female-driven with strong, beautiful and intelligent women as well as diverse characters, reflecting her own multi-cultural heritage.
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Excerpt
âSoooo, the host,â he says. âObviously single, no kids . . . .â
Camila shrugs. âSomeone new to the school. Iâm not in any of his classes, so I donât know much about him.â
âYouâre being weird. Youâre always about extraneous details, and now you canât say the manâs name or look at me.â
âWhat? Iâm making you a cocktail.â Camila forces herself to look at Jared.
He regards her suspiciously. âYouâre a terrible liar, my friend. Iâll figure out what youâre hiding.â
It takes all of one second when he sees Marshall walk into the apartment.
âOh my God, itâs Mr. Gucci,â he whispers into Camilaâs ear.
âShut up. This isnât the time.â
âOh, it totally is,â he replies and heads into the adjacent kitchen to introduce himself to Marshall.
âGood evening. Iâm Jared. I work with Camila over at L,â he says, hinting he recognizes Marshall from the bar that night.
âItâs great of you to come.â Marshall casually extends a hand.
âRemind me of your drink of choice, and Iâll be sure to keep your glass full tonight.â
âYeah, thatâd be great. You know how to mix a Metropolitan?â
The bartender suppresses a smile. âFunny. Camila really enjoys those too. Iâll be right back.â
âYou fucked him didnât you?â Jared wags a finger at his friend.
âHow can you tell? You spoke to him all of two minutes.â
âWhile you hid in here like a scaredy cat. What happened? Buyerâs remorse? Hard to imagine though.â He turns in the direction of the kitchen and shakes his head. âNo way. With that mouth, the way he stands, and his posture. Heâs definitely good in the sack.â
Camila makes a face. âI didnât realize he was my Professor.â
âI thought you said you werenât in any of his classes.â
âI dropped it on the first day when I saw him. But whatâs worse. Heâs my faculty advisor for Law Review.â
âThatâs classic,â Jared laughs out loud. So loud it gets Marshallâs attention. He spots Camila standing by the bar. âOh, hey C.,â he begins to say then clears his throat. âCamila, I didnât realize you were here.â
âI came early to help Jared set up,â she says, finishing her drink in one gulp.
âThis is worse than my cousinâs bar mitzvah down in Palm Springs,â Jared groans to Camila when she approaches him for another drink.
âIt may kill you to hear this, but this is one of the better networking parties Iâve been to,â she replies.
âThat guy in the corner talking to your boyfriend looks like my Uncle Mordy.â
Camila slaps his arm. âShut up already. And that man happens to be the foremost expert in Trusts and Estates in the country. I think Oprah is his client.â
âSeriously, honey. You do not belong with this crowd. You are so downtown cool, and theyâre uptown uptight.â
âFor your information, I just spoke with a woman who runs a legal aid office in the Bronx. She said her work was ârewardingâ. How many people ever say that about their jobs?â
âMost teachers, except middle school ones, and saints.â Jared leans on his elbow. âSo fine, not all lawyers are like my Uncle Mordy. But most of them are.â He checks his watch. âCover for me a minute. Iâm going to the bathroom.â
âI thought I was paying Jared to work, not you.â Marshall says.
âHeâs taking his Union fifteen,â Camila answers wryly.
âI guess I canât interfere with that. I would hate to get a letter from a union lawyer.â He holds up his glass. âWould you mind? I think I prefer your Metropolitans to his anyway.â
âI told you itâs because I donât sweeten it. Besides, I could use something to do.â
âYouâre not giving up so quickly, I hope. There are plenty of attorneys I can introduce you to.â
âSo this was a plan to get me to consider a different line of work.â
âNot a plan as much as a hope. But I know better than to interfere in your life. You know what you want.â
Camila looks up when she hears that last word. âUp until recently I wouldâve agreed with you. But I realized that Iâve been confusing need with want. I need a job. I donât know if I want the one I thought I did.â
Marshall furrows his brow. âThatâs a tough one. You want to talk about it?â He looks around at the party. More people have arrived. Students are always game for free alcohol, as he knew they would be. However, if he could, heâd snap his fingers and make them all disappear so he could be alone with Camila.
âMaybe later,â she says vaguely, pouring his drink into a clean glass.
Marshall drops five dollars into a tip jar. âLater then.â
âIâm glad you came tonight,â Camila says as she stacks the shakers and places them into a small box. âIt was nice to have a friend around.â
âStudents are terrible tippers, but you know Iâd do anything for you,â Jared replies. He hooks a cord around the box of alcohol and stands. âAt least I got to check out your secret boyfriend.â
Camila slaps his thigh. âShh. He is not.â
âOh please. You and Felicity should start a club. You guys can make a SLAM book and write Felicity + Todd and Camila + Marshall on the cover. This is so junior high with your sad, longing faces.â He presses his cheeks down. âA crush on your professor, and a crush on your boss, I swear I am living in the middle of a young adult drama.â
âOh come on. You said theyâre probably sleeping together. Thatâs not happening here.â
Jared puts a hand on his hip. âYouâre lying to me, and youâre lying to yourself. I can see whatâs going on. My vision is 20/10.â
âEnough. Youâre being weird.â
âPot, kettle, honey. Iâve known you for seven years, and Iâve never seen you act this strange.â
âBut heâs my professor,â she whispers as the catering staff bustle around her, clearing out the dishes. Most of the party has emptied out with the exception of a few lawyers who seem to be friends of Marshallâs.
âNo he isnât. He teaches at the law school where you happen to be a student. Iâm not an idiot. Thatâs gray area at best, but still within acceptable boundaries. And I should know a thing or two about boundaries because Iâm always breaking them.â Jared hands her the container with the shakers. âWalk down with me and wait while I get a cab.â
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