Ages are as Stay opens in present day, Chapter 6
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Vanessa Whittaker, 27. Despite success, fame, and two infamous, gorgeous, and exquisite lovers, Vanessa still can’t shake the memory of the teenage bad boy who made her little-girl heart flutter. But it's mutual. [… ] “As usual when it involves you, I get my hackles up or I get a hard-on—or both—and lose three-quarters of my IQ.”
Vanessa Whittaker, 27. Model for Ford painting Wild, Wild West, cover girl chef of Maxim and Esquire, celebrity TV chef of Vittles: Gourmet Weeds and Roadkill.
Vanessa Whittaker, 27. “I had, well, the teensiest weensiest tiniest little bitty crush on the big badass of Chouteau High School. I was twelve, so I think I can be forgiven for being foolish that way. I had never spoken to Eric, nor he me, until a year and a half ago.” […] “You save my ass every time I turn around the wrong way.”
Eric Cipriani, 32. A reformed bad boy headed into politics via an impeccable education from a religious university and a talent for management. He has a made-for-politics fiancée, a healthy side business, and the most powerful people in the Midwest behind him. “I woke up one day and knew exactly what I wanted to do, where I wanted to go, and how I wanted to get there.” Then he runs into all-grown-up Vanessa, the woman who made it all possible.
Eric Cipriani, 32. Body by American Kenpo and golf, all wrapped up in a delicate spider-web tattoo.
Eric Cipriani, 32. “That man, that incredible man has convictions and ideals. He wants to make things better for the country. He wants to serve the greater good and he thinks his philosophies are the way to do that. I share most of his philosophies. He has a goal and a plan. He has never not accomplished anything he set out to do and I know he’ll get exactly where he wants to go.”
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