by Harper Bliss
“I know you’re a very busy woman.” Margot sighed. “You know I’m not a talker. But it means a lot that you’re here.”
“I wasn’t going to recommend you go see my shrink, you know.” Steph ran a hand through her hair. For some reason, it made Margot think of the very first time they’d met and Steph had hit on her in the elevator of Nadia and Juliette’s building. Margot had been quick to dismiss Steph at the time. She’d had no way of knowing Steph would become one of her dearest friends—and Margot was the kind of person who could count her good friends on the fingers of one hand.
“Are you still seeing the shrink?” Margot asked.
“Not often. Dominique and I have found a sort of balance. We’ve found our way more in our new roles.”
“Regardless of what everyone else wants, what would you prefer Dominique decide?” Margot gazed into Steph’s clear, blue eyes.
Steph pursed her lips. “It’s a tough one. I didn’t even know it was an option. Not for one single second have I ever thought that Dominique wouldn’t run again. Instead of blood, she has politics running through her veins, if you know what I mean. She’s a politician through and through and she can’t go any higher after the presidency. This is it. That she would even consider not running again has really thrown me.”
“Is she afraid of the competition?” Margot asked. Most of the people in her own life had much more left-wing inclinations than her—and were riveted that someone as capable and charismatic as Anne Rivière was stepping up for the moderate left.
“No way. That would never be the reason.”
“So, it’s personal.”
Steph nodded. “Every day, I witness first-hand what being president does to a person. The amount of sacrifice it requires. I just hope I’m not the reason she’s reconsidering. I couldn’t live with that. Not after everything we went through to get her to where she is.”
“The world changes all the time. Our brains have a hard time keeping up. This is true for someone even with the least demanding job. Imagine having to deal with all of that and run the country.”
“I think it’s mainly about the children. Sometimes, I can just see on her face how the guilt of not spending enough time with them is ripping her to pieces. She’s their mother, yet she has to prioritise different matters and people every single day.”
“I don’t have children, but I do understand.” This made Margot think of the sacrifice her birth mother had made. Was she still alive? Did she think about the children she’d given birth to and had given away? Had it happened under duress? There were so many questions Margot wanted answers to.
Margot’s cell phone started ringing.
“Sorry, I have to take this.”
“Of course,” Steph said.
On the phone, Margot was told her presence was urgently needed in the emergency room. As was usual for most days, she hadn’t even touched her lunch.
“Duty calls.” She rose. “Thanks so much for stopping by. If there’s anything I can do, let me know.” She walked from behind her desk and whereas prior to the death of her parents Margot would have said her goodbyes with a quick peck on the cheek, she now drew her friend in for a hug.
* * *
Find out what happens next in French Kissing: Season Five
A Note from Harper
Dear Reader,
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If you’ve enjoyed this book, you can make a big difference. Reviews are the most powerful tools in my arsenal when it comes to getting attention for my books. Being an author who writes for a niche market (lesbian fiction), I don’t have the financial muscle of a big New York publisher behind me when it comes to marketing. I can’t take out full page newspaper ads and put posters in the subway.
But I do have something much more powerful and effective than that, and it’s something those publishers would kill to get heir hands on: a committed and loyal group of readers. (You!)
Honest reviews of my books bring them to the attention of other readers (and encourage the Amazon algorithm to promote my books in 'Also Boughts' and search results on the website.)
If you enjoyed this book I would be very grateful if you could spend a few minutes leaving a review (it can be as short as you like) on the book’s page. You can find the links HERE >>
* * *
Thank you,
* * *
Harper xo
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About the Author
Harper Bliss is the author of the Pink Bean series, the High Rise series, the French Kissing serial and many other lesbian romance titles. She is the co-founder of Ladylit Publishing and My LesFic weekly newsletter.
Harper loves hearing from readers and you can reach her at the email address below.
www.harperbliss.com
[email protected]
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For a complete list of all Harper Bliss titles, please visit harperbliss.com/books
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Four women. One building. A million complications.
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It’s never too late to find the right person… and yourself along the way.
Micky Ferro has lived her entire life according to other people’s expectations. She married a man, had two children, and became a dutiful stay-at-home mom in suburban Sydney. Until she realized, with a little help from her best friend, that her picture-perfect life wasn’t making her happy.
On the first anniversary of her divorce, Micky decides it’s time for the next step in her journey and gets a job at her neighborhood coffeeshop, The Pink Bean. Becoming a barista sparks a big change in Micky’s daily routine, but could loud-spoken American customer Robin do the same for her love life?
Don’t miss the first book in this heart-warming new series from the bestselling author of the French Kissing and High Rise series.
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Leigh Sterling and Jodie Whitehouse share a deep love and extreme passion in the bedroom. But when Jodie’s desire for a child becomes inevitable, it clashes with Leigh’s career ambitions as well as with her lack of maternal instinct, and forces them apart.
They go through life separately and, as years go by, their attempts at other relationships fail to measure up to the power of the union they once shared. When they see each other again eleven years after their
painful breakup, an opportunity arises to explore if they really were each other’s one true love.
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Copyright © 2018 by Harper Bliss
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Cover picture © Depositphotos / valery / avgustino
Cover design by Caroline Manchoulas
Published by Ladylit Publishing - Hong Kong
ISBN: 978-988-78014-0-5