Strangers
Page 21
if you had not decided to check out the cafe, and buy me a coffee. One minute we were strangers, and now we're married. I am so grateful you sat down in my booth, Mr. Holden."
"So am I, Mrs. Holden." He grabbed her hand and headed back down the aisle. "Are you ready to go home?"
"Yes, I am," she answered. "I have a surprise for you." And she winked at him.
About the Author
I am just starting in this crazy world of writing and publishing. Lately, however, there are just too many characters in my head begging me to tell their stories...so here I am. Writing, publishing, sharing and, hopefully, entertaining. I love a great love story, but really want to tell a story with an edge; characters who are imperfect, trying to find the perfect love.
Strangers is my debut novel, and will be released on September 6, 2013. I will have another novel, The Return, with an anticipated release date of November 1, 2013. I have been focusing mainly on short stories, but have felt a need to get to know the characters more in-depth, and tell more of their stories. I have some fairly interesting people living in my head!
I have my own blog, where I review books, and also contribute to SheReadsNewAdult(www.shereadsnewadult.com), dedicated to the emerging new adult romance genre. We have great fun over there...be sure to check us out!
I currently live outside Washington D.C. with my family. We spend many hours exploring the area and the deep history of this beautiful land, while experiencing as much of life's wonders as possible. I have traveled abroad and lived in almost every corner of the U.S., and hope my writing reflects various cultures, people, and places.
A.L. Parks
https://www.parkingitrighthere.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/ALParksAuthor
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18335489-strangers
Acknowledgements
Wow, so many people have helped me on this journey. I cannot believe a year ago, I picked up a pen and started writing. Now, I am publishing my first book. To say it has been a wild ride, would be an understatement of epic proportions.
I could not have done any of this without the support of my family. My husband, well I have been considering having his name legally changed to “Amazing.” He has supported me, helped me stay calm when I wanted to scream, cry, and tear my hair out, kept me on track, and basically been my biggest cheerleader. I love you more than life, Baby. You are the inspiration for all my leading men.
My kids…who have taken all this craziness in stride. They have endured the constant, “Not now, I’m writing,” and have never hassled me. They have dealt with no food in the house, no clean clothes, and constant forgetfulness because I have been busy writing. You guys are champs!
My sister, best friend, my rock. Leigh Ann, there are not words to express how much you mean to me. You have read everything I have put in front of you almost as many times as I have, and have never complained, but kept asking for more. You have given me valuable feedback. You give me pep talks constantly. You are my sister. It matters not that we do not share the same blood. I love you dearly.
My mentor, Lori Clark. This book would not be in existence if not for you. The prompt came from your challenge. You have endured constant, countless emails filled with questions, whining, and total confusion; and you have answered them all, given me excellent advice, and basically held my hand through this crazy self-publishing world. You are my advisor, my sanity, and my dear friend. I count you among one of my greatest blessings.
Kari at www.covertocoverdesigns.com, you took my somewhat incoherent vision, and turned it into the cover of my dreams. You went above and beyond just creating a cover for my book. You are a visionary, an artist, and I am cannot wait to tell people, “I knew her when…” Because you are going to be HUGE! I count you among one of my friends, and cannot wait to see what you come up with for my next cover.
Amanda V. At Good Choice Reading (http://www.goodchoicereading.com/); thank you so much for putting together this blog tour, and for being patient while my “newbie” showed through, and I asked basic (Silly) questions. It has been so wonderful to work with you.
Arianna Katherine, my editor, thanks for pointing out the huge gaps in the story. The additions have allowed me to share what I love about Bryce and Abby with the readers, and were absolutely fundamental. Thanks also to Tabitha Snow, who betaread Strangers, and gave me excellent feedback.
To Stephanie Shivers, who stepped in last minute and proofread Strangers; you’re the bomb. We will work together again.
To all the Bloggers and ARC readers who have given their time to read Strangers and provide feedback and reviews…you are an amazing resource and I truly appreciate you taking the time to assist me in this self-publication journey I am on. We are nothing without you.
So, if I were at the Oscar’s, the music would be playing, and they would be dimming the lights. If I have overlooked anyone, please know that you are never forgotten. Just lost somewhere in the scrambled eggs of my mind. But you are appreciated and loved more than you can know!
The Return
My next novel is The Return. It is going through some heavy duty self-editing at the moment, and will be headed to my editor in September, so she can hack at it. Until then, here is a quick synopsis, and a teaser for you to enjoy….
Eve Carlisle had a singular purpose - sell the rustic house nestled in the Colorado ski resort town. Spending Christmas alone, in the vacation home where she had spent so many years with her family, chilled her more than the brisk wind that swept off the Rocky Mountains. Happy memories had been tainted with the discovery of her husband’s affair during their annual Christmas visit.
Her daughters were now busy with their lives, and her husband – ex-husband – was celebrating the birth of yet another child with his Secretary-turned-Mistress-turned-Wife.
Tortured by her husband’s betrayal, the beautiful divorcee refused to give her heart to another man. But Jake had been a happy surprise, with his mesmerizing blue eyes, warm smile, strong but gentle nature – as well as being incredibly sexy.
It’s ridiculous, of course; she was only in Colorado for two weeks, never to return. She had convinced herself the relationship with Jake was nothing more than a fling. After all, she had a life in Newport, with society friends and a lucrative career as a family court judge. Still, Jake had a definitive hold over her, and she was finding it hard to think clearly where he was concerned.
Breathtakingly handsome Jake had been through love and loss of his own, and had resigned himself to a life of loneliness running the fire department in the quaint mountain town. But he could not seem to get Eve’s face out of his head. It had been a long time since he had felt such a strong attraction to a woman, but Eve breezed into town and had a firm grip on him.
The demons of prior failed marriages haunt them both, and threaten to end things just as they are beginning. When Jake tells Eve he is falling in love with her, Eve refuses to believe it can last. Returning to Newport, the hollowness of her existence exposed,
she must confront her fears before she loses Jake forever.
THE RETURN - Tentative Release Date: November 1st 2013.
READ AN EXCERPT:
Jake stares at her for a moment without speaking. Slowly, a small smile crosses his face. “How do you do that?” a tone of wonderment in his voice. “How do you take something so horrific, and find a bright spot?” Now it is Eve who sits, speechless, unsure of what to say. Jake holds her gaze, and gently strokes the side of her face with his thumb. “You amaze me. I was pretty sure I was going to feel miserable all night long, but now, I feel…hopeful.”
He pulls her face to him, as his lips find hers and she accepts them. Eve can feel the need, and the desire, building within him. She pulls back slightly, breaking the connection they share. Jake places his forehead against hers, “I’m sorry,” he whispers.
“No, I am. I’m just confused; that’s all,” Eve admits.
Jake pulls his head back, and gazes into
her eyes questioningly. “What are you confused about?”
“I thought you just wanted to be friends, and that’s fine, but I’m not very good at the ‘friends with benefits’ thing; which sucks, by the way, because I would really like to be with you right now.” Her voice is hurried, as she nearly trips over her own words in embarrassment.
“Wait,” Jake looks at her confused. “Are you under the impression that I only want to have sex with you?”
“No, I know you just want to be friends. But then you keep kissing me, and I have no idea where that leaves us as friends. I’m just saying that I’m not good at blurring that line. It’s apparently a failing of mine, in this day and age.” Eve is completely uncomfortable with the conversation, and is kicking herself for not letting Jake kiss her, and seeing where it led them.
“Why would you think I only want to be friends with benefits?” Jake asks, his eyes wide, and his eyebrows bunched in the center of his forehead.
“Jake,” Eve exhales, “it’s totally okay. I get it. I’m only here for a few weeks. There are a lot of fish out there, many of them younger than me, and able to offer you more. And I’m okay with just being friends. I just can’t go back and forth between the friends-lovers role. It’s just not me.”
“So, basically you are under the impression that I only want to be friends with you because I am holding out for a younger woman. And you think that I want to have sex with you tonight, pretend we didn’t have sex tomorrow, and go back to just being friends? Does that about sum it up?” Jake’s voice elevates slightly, and his eyes begin to flame.
“Okay, I’m not upset; why are you?” Eve asks, not sure why this conversation has set him off.
Jake exhales, sighing loudly, “I’m not upset – I’m frustrated. I have no idea what I have done to make you think I want to be with a younger woman. Let me be perfectly clear – I am not interested in finding a younger woman. I would not ‘just be friends’ with you in hopes of finding a younger woman. I am not at all interested in having any type of relationship with a younger woman.”
He takes a hold of Eve’s hand, and tries to compose himself. “I have never met your ex, so I don’t know anything about him; however, I think he’s an idiot. How he could possibly let you go is mind boggling to me. The fact that he set his sights on a younger woman, when he had you, is insane. I would never – NEVER – keep you at arms-length hoping to find a younger woman. That’s not my style.”
Eve shifts slightly, trying to makes sense of what Jake is saying but still completely confused.
“Why would you possibly think that I am only interested in you as a friend? Especially after last night? I thought I made my feelings pretty clear.” Jake peers into Eve’s eyes, searching for anything that will explain where this all went wrong.
“You did make it clear last night, Jake,” Eve states, “As soon as things became intimate; you left. It was pretty clear that you were not interested in having that type of relationship with me.”
The room goes quiet. Neither of them speaks for a moment. Jake internalizes what Eve has said, and realizes just how she could have perceived something that was in direct contradiction to what he was feeling. Raising his head, placing his hand at the back of her neck, he sighs loudly.
“I am so sorry if I gave you that impression. It was the farthest thing from my mind, I can assure you. I can’t do the ‘friends with benefits’ thing either and that’s why I left. I didn’t want you to think I was just interested in getting you into bed. I mean, don’t get me wrong; I am very interested in getting you into bed,” he runs his hand through his hair, taking another deep breath. “But I didn’t want you to think I was just taking advantage of you. I like you. I really like you. And if I could figure out how to take all my vacation time right now, I would spend every minute of the next three weeks with you.”