“You don’t have to get on my good side if you want time off, you only have to ask.”
“I would normally, but you’ve not been yourself lately so I’m treading carefully. Do you want coffee?” Selena went to make it. “I brought some cakes in.”
Jamie smiled. “I’m sorry I’ve been grumpy, it’ll pass. I need some time, that’s all.”
“Ah, a glimpse of the old, JJ, all is not lost. Of course I’ll give you time, you’re my best friend and I love you.” Selena returned with two mugs of coffee and got the cakes from the bag she’d left on the counter.
“Where’s the picture from the window display?” Jamie asked, between bites.
“A customer asked for it to be put aside until today. They couldn’t take it yesterday as they already had their hands full.”
“You know we don’t put pictures aside, Selena.”
“Yes but you did once, didn’t you?”
“That was different and my decision. You should have called me before you did it.”
“Don’t get tetchy, do you want me to unpack it and put it on display again?”
“No leave it now, it’s okay. I’m sorry.”
“Apology accepted. Now finish your coffee and cake.”
Jamie sat behind the counter reading an art magazine while Selena busied herself dusting the paintings and generally tidying up.
“Why do you keep looking at your watch,” Jamie asked. “Am I keeping you from something?”
“No, you’re not and I wasn’t.”
“Yes you were. Twice you looked at it.”
“I thought it was losing time so I wanted to check it. Maybe I need to get a new battery fitted.”
LUCY MADE IT back down the Abbey steps with the widest smile on her face. The cold made her breath float away like a cloud on a breeze. She felt as if she was on that fluffy whiteness floating far above the ground looking down at everyone. She couldn’t wait to get to the gallery. She had a good feeling about seeing Jamie again. Lucy walked down the cobbled street smiling at everyone, who probably thought she was barking mad. She couldn’t have cared less as she was so very happy.
And she was. No matter what happened today, she was absolutely ecstatic.
As she neared the gallery her steps slowed. Suddenly she was hit with last minute doubts.
Lucy backed up, away from the gallery to gather her thoughts. She asked herself what her problem was as she already knew Jamie had been missing her. She had to give herself a metaphorical kick up the bum to get a move on, before Jamie closed up and went home.
Realising she was being completely foolish, she mentally gathered enough courage to walk toward what could be a second chance at love. Jamie was a beautiful woman, and even though Lucy was scared, she told herself—what will be, will be.
Lucy had asked herself so many questions, she’d almost been turned inside out with all the introspection. What was so clear to her was that now she had this opportunity, she was not going to risk losing it. Lucy's mind filled with spending long winter nights, curled up in front of a blazing log fire with the woman she loved,
She looked back at the Abbey steps and thought how big a part they’d played in all of this.
Lucy's heart was so full of love it finally propelled her forward. Once again she was looking into the gallery window from across the road. Jamie was still at the counter with her back to the door.
Lucy finally crossed the road to make her surprise entrance.
She opened the door and stepped inside. Selena let out a sigh of relief as Lucy stood there waiting. On hearing the door, Jamie turned to see Lucy and couldn’t believe her eyes. Her face was a picture of confusion, her mouth hung open and a questioning look came over her face.
“What the—how—” Nothing coherent was coming from Jamie’s mouth.
Lucy walked over to her, ignoring the questions. She grasped Jamie’s face in her hands and kissed her.
Breaking away she said, “I did it, I did the steps in one go. Can I have my painting now?”
“The painting’s for you?” Jamie looked over at Selena who shrugged.
Jamie turned back to Lucy. “This was a set-up?”
“Well—” Selena had the good grace to look sheepish.
“It was my idea,” Lucy said. “I wanted everything to be the same as when I bought the first painting. It’s my good luck charm and I hope it’s still working.”
“But what are you doing here? I mean why are you here? Oh I don’t know what I mean.” Once again Jamie was unable to utter anything intelligible.
“God, JJ, you can be so obtuse at times,” Selena said, throwing her arms in the air.
Lucy laughed at Jamie and decided to put her out of her misery.
“I’m here to see you and—” Lucy held her hand up forestalling Jamie’s interruption. “And to tell you, I love you.”
Jamie’s face lit up. Both Lucy and Selena saw Jamie’s epiphany at the same time.
“She’s got it at last.” Selena went into the back room to give them some privacy.
“Sorry, you really took me by surprise. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. It was quite a shock to see you standing there.” Jamie pulled Lucy into her arms and kissed her passionately.
When she came up for air, Lucy looked into Jamie’s eyes.
“And I didn’t think I’d be standing here in your arms. I lost my heart in Yorkshire, to a certain gallery owner to be precise, and I want to see if we can make this work. A lot’s happened in the last few months and I have a tale or two to tell. Jamie, please tell me there’s a chance for us.”
“Yes, Lucy, there’s definitely a chance for us. I love you too.”
THE END
About the Author
Pauline George has come from Aircraft Mechanic to Motor Mechanic to Signal Operator to Writer, plenty of grist for the writing mill. Pauline was born in the beautiful county of Kent and is the eldest of four children. She now lives halfway between the buzzing metropolis of London and the quiet countryside of the Surrey Hills. Pauline realised at an early age she had the ability to write creatively, so much so that her English teacher Joyce Fowle gave her an extra exercise book for her poetry and essays. To this day she still has that exercise book. Although Pauline has always enjoyed writing she has never really had the nerve to 'put it out there' with many a story finishing up in the waste bin. However she has co-written a musical and a one act play which were performed at her local amateur dramatic society. Pauline also performed a one woman show at that same dramatic society after completing a year at a drama school in London as a mature student. Pauline indulges her hobbies of walking and photography when she isn't writing, but even then her mind is busy creating the stories she hopes you will enjoy reading.
Another Title by Pauline George
Jess
Jess is a modern day lesbian Lothario who was so hurt from an emotionally damaging relationship that now she doesn’t let anyone get close. She protects herself by keeping her relationships short and sweet. When Jess's sister Josie challenges her to get to know a woman before she jumps into bed with her, Jess is intrigued. How hard can that be?
Although she’s a serial monogamist, Jess has deep-seated morals that will be tested to the limit by her carefree acceptance of Josie's challenge. When she falls for her sister's best friend Katie, she suddenly finds her life upended, and she’s left wondering if she actually has what it takes to have a lasting and fulfilling relationship. Is she destined to spend her life bed-hopping? Will her ever-growing attraction to Katie be the catalyst for romance, or will Katie’s indecision about her life prove to be Jess’s downfall?
ISBN: 978-1-61929-138-6
eISBN: 978-1-61929-139-3
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Other Yellow Rose Books You Might Enjoy
Christmas Crush
by Kate McLachlan
&nb
sp; Jazzy’s Fresh Christmas Trees is Jasmine Oliver’s last ditch attempt to rescue the family finances and send her little sister to college. She did some research, selected a prime location, and bought the very best Christmas trees available. What she didn’t do, though, was check out the competition.
SleepSafe Youth is Darcy Gabriel’s baby, her way of paying back the help she received as a homeless teen. The charity she established gives homeless kids a safe place to sleep, and SleepSafe’s annual Christmas tree sale is the organization’s biggest fund-raising event of the year.
When Jasmine learns that SleepSafe’s Christmas tree lot is only a block away from her own, she turns her dismay and anger into determination and vows to give SleepSafe a run for its money. Sparks fly between Jasmine and Darcy as they compete for the Christmas tree business. Before long, sparks of a different sort fly, and they find themselves experiencing a Christmas they’ll never forget.
ISBN 978-1-61929-196-6
eISBN 978-1-61929-195-9
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April's Fool
by Vicki Stevenson
In 1886 Arizona, April Reynolds, sophisticated and city bred, unexpectedly falls in love with rugged frontier woman Mandy Wells. Together they face the difficult challenges of a brutal physical environment, as well as harsh treatment with potentially devastating consequences from an intolerant society.
Their quest for a peaceful life free of violence and harassment leads to a treacherous journey from the infamous Lost Dutchman Mine to the fledgling tourist village of Palm Springs and then the new and growing community of Los Angeles. Along the way, they encounter a startling array of criminal activity, much of it placing them directly in harm’s way.
Driven by a deepening love for each other and a continuing wish for a life of tranquillity, April and Mandy reluctantly embrace a perilous series of challenges as they pursue their elusive goal.
ISBN 978-1-61929-192-8
eISBN 978-1-61929-191-1
Available From these e-tailers:
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A Majestic Affair
by Sharon G. Clark
A decade ago, Tiara Summers was forced to leave her home with her alcoholic mother, and contact was lost with her father and friends. Tiara built a profitable construction business in Colorado Springs and, if not exactly happy, is comfortable with her life. Then she receives a letter from her father asking for help with a horse, which means returning to Silver Waters, Colorado with all the old memories of kisses and running away...and Jayce.
Jayce Mansfield trains horses for a living. Her focus is specializing the equines for stunts in the movies. Then Tiara returns, though her father is AWOL, and Jayce sees promise in a second chance. Hopes for the happily-ever-after she’d envisioned for them are reanimated, until Jayce realizes the sweet, caring teenager that left ten years ago has turned into a bitter woman.
When a little gangster in a purple limousine comes demanding Tiara give over her father’s horse, situations and emotions only become more complicated, compelling Tiara to run again.
Can Jayce get Tiara to realize she belongs in Silver Waters, that they belong together?
ISBN 978-1-61929-178-2
eISBN 978-1-61929-177-5
Available From these e-tailers:
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Moving Target
by Melissa Good
Dar and Kerry both feel the cruise ship project seems off somehow, but they can’t quite grasp what is wrong with the whole scenario. Things continue to go wrong and their competitors still look to be the culprits behind the problems. Then new information leads them to discover a plot that everyone finds difficult to believe. Out of her comfort zone yet again, Dar refuses to lose and launches a new plan that will be a win-win, only to find another major twist thrown in her path. With everyone believing Dar can somehow win the day, can Dar and Kerry pull off another miracle finish? Do they want to?
ISBN: 978-1-61929-150-8
eBook ISBN 978-1-61929-151-5
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Beyond Always
by Carrie Carr
Set a year after the events in Trust Our Tomorrows, everything is going well for the Walters family. The ranch is prospering, the kids are growing-and Lex& Amanda have never been happier. When an unimaginable tragedy strikes close to home, everyone handles it in different ways. Will the family be able to survive?
ISBN: 978-1-61929-160-7
eISBN: 978-1-61929-161-4
Available From these e-tailers:
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Mountain Rescue: On the Edge
by Sky Croft
Dr. Sydney Greenwood and expert climber Kelly Saber are back in this sequel to Mountain Rescue: The Ascent.
Having settled into their relationship, life is sweet for the devoted couple, and a brief trip away allows Saber to meet Sydney's family.
Upon their return, rock slides, torrential rain, and surging rivers cause no end of problems for the Mountain Rescue team, while on the home front, Sydney needs her partner's support more than ever when faced with a family tragedy.
Together, the two women have to navigate between personal trials, and the trials of the mountain. This is...On the Edge.
ISBN 978-1-61929-206-2
eBook ISBN 978-1-61929-205-5
Available From these e-tailers:
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Table of Contents
199 Steps to Love
Copyright © 2014 by Pauline George
Acknowledgments
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
About the Author
Another Title by Pauline George
Other Yellow Rose Books You Might Enjoy
VISIT US ONLINE AT
Table of Contents
199 Steps to Love
Copyright © 2014 by Pauline George
Acknowledgments
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
About the Author
Another Title by Pauline George
Other Yellow Rose Books You Might Enjoy
VISIT US ONLINE AT
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Pauline George, 199 Steps to Love
199 Steps to Love Page 19