Hold On To Me (Welcome To Redemption)
Page 17
Available wherever ebooks are sold.
Now I’d like to share with you my friend, and award-winning author, Casey Clifford. Her Soul String series is a planned collection of novellas, highlighting the major turning-points spanning twenty years in the life of Brenna (B.J.) Kelly. B.J. breaks her parents’ traditional views of women while she struggles to achieve her career goals, establish herself as an independent woman, and finds friendship, love, and hate in equal measure.
SOUL STRING
Book One
B.J. Kelly grew up with a small town background and a family rooted in tradition, but her goals to become successful and wealthy will never happen living the life her family wants for her. Against the turmoil on her 1970’s college campus, she achieves a major step in earning a graduate degree at a major university. Her determination and drive earn her recognition, a job, and a life-long enemy.
Known for his difficult exams, Professor Caleb Forrester is dumbfounded when one B.J. Kelly not only aces his test—she one-ups him in her answers. Their meeting after class leaves him even more intrigued and sparks a relationship that will connect them for years to come.
Through danger, in love and in hate, for the rest of their lives, they are connected by a Soul String…
~ EXCERPT ~
Madison, WI, 1970
B. J. paused. “When should I pick up the materials?”
“After class tomorrow?”
She nodded, then lost a momentary battle with her eyelids.
Professor Forrester’s softened his tone. “Will you survive till then?”
“Survive? Harmon’s theories?” She inched her chair a bit back from him. His nearness clouded her capacity to think clearly. Was she babbling?
“Forget Harmon. You look ready to collapse. While that may cheer Levenson, another grad student biting the figurative dust and all, I’m against that practice.”
“Are you finished with these?” He glanced at the note cards spread out on the table.
She nodded. In a daze she watched him. Quickly he scooped up her scattered note cards, rubber-banding them efficiently. Was he really gathering her things? Despite her bewilderment, exhaustion swept over her.
“When did you eat last, or sleep?” he demanded as he stuffed her handwritten paper into her backpack.
“Can’t r’member,” she slurred her words. She forced herself to hug the chair back and take charge of this encounter. Instead she yawned.
“Thought so. Because I suspect you haven’t in far too long.” The authoritative figure next to her reached for her jacket and stuffed her arms into its sleeves. “Your trademarks, Ms. Kelly. Overburdened backpack and this despicable quilted jacket.”
Getting her back up at his tone, B.J. forced open her mouth, coerced herself to form words. “Professor…Forrester, I’m…not…in class…now.”
“A good thing, Ms. Kelly, because I’d raise a few people’s eyebrows with what I’m doing.” He finished adjusting her jacket. “And what I’m about to do.” He jerked the backpack off the table and with gentle determination pulled her from her chair. With minimal conversation, the professor piloted her from the library.
She never whimpered a protest until they hit the night air. Then she reached for her backpack.
“Not a chance. I’m taking you home. My car’s in the car park down the block. Wait here.” To make sure she did, he walked away with her backpack.
After settling into his car, she gave him directions to her boarding house. “Remind me later. You need to eat first. So do I. My treat. And no objections.” Forrester turned the key in the ignition.
“I’m too tired to argue, professor. And I’m starving since you’re paying.” She ignored her rational self. The comfortable leather bucket seat of his sports car oozed like soothing magic around her aching body. Powerful magic. Tomorrow I’ll be logical again.
Not responding to her sarcasm, Forrester adroitly maneuvered the low slung car from the curb. He drove like he lectured—confident and skilled. That didn’t surprise her. Lulled by the sensuous motion of the car, her eyelids drooped again.
A half hour later, B.J. sat opposite Professor Forrester in a homey café, well beyond the campus perimeter, near the outskirts of town. Refreshed from her catnap, she felt comfortable despite the circumstances and her companion. She stared at her black coffee, unwilling to look at the far too interesting man opposite her. Meeting his intense gaze would shatter her carefully constructed comfort zone.
“I’m as amazed as you are.” Forrester broke the ice and watched her look up at him. “By this…” He motioned toward her, then himself. “May I call you Brenna–for now?”
His voice held smoky nuances producing playful flutters slipping into her nether regions. His deep indigo eyes hinted his nerves. She nodded but still didn't speak.
Looking embarrassed, he continued, “I avoid mingling with students except in the classroom…or during office hours. Too many potential problems with that, for everyone.”
She glanced at him and nodded again. He might have a reputation for being the sexiest looking prof on campus, but no one could document with any accuracy how, when, or if he earned that reputation. Except for his looks.
“Brenna...your eyes are all bloodshot.” He set down his coffee cup and reached a hand toward her. With a callused finger, he gently touched her index finger as it lay across the rim of her cup. His touch electrified her, warmed her more than the coffee. “Such a lovely name,” he murmured.
The waitress interrupted. He ordered for both of them. “I skipped eating tonight. I was working on an article. Time slipped away for me.”
She knew how that happened. When she set her coffee cup down, her action dislodged his finger from hers. “Professor…”
“Let’s dispense with that. For tonight. Call me Caleb.” His compelling eyes traveled the contours of her face. “Are you comfortable with that?”
She considered his words. They solved one of her problems, but only one. “For now, like this.” She motioned with her hands to encompass them, the table with its coffee cups, the booth. “Professor does seem ludicrous. But why not Cal?”
“Only people who think they’re my friends call me that.”
“I see. I’m to be a friend, then.” She could handle friendship, even with a professor. In the background, Simon and Garfunkel vocalized about troubled waters and bridges. A bridge. That what this moment in time was, but a moment was only temporary.
“Only time will determine that.” He paused for a moment, sipped his coffee.
She squashed the tingling rampaging through her at his comment. This territory was dangerous, a slippery slope to troubled waters that could only lead to disaster. No way did she need that.
~~~~
Should you pick up Soul String, or one of Casey’s other books, I hope you enjoy her work as much as I do.
About Casey Clifford
Casey Clifford lives on the western shore of Lake Michigan. Her office looks out at the lake, which inspires her with its moods. She writes romantic suspense/mysteries and commercial women's fiction.
When she's not writing, she's a wife, mother, sister, friend. She enjoys photography, baking, reading, and music. Recently, she had been enjoying watching the pair of bald eagles that have built a nest not far away.
She loves creating stories about women who deal with real life issues—whether that story is a suspense/mystery, a story about a woman dealing with a family problem, or a challenge in life.
Her first book Black Ribbon Affair was awarded Best Romantic Suspense and Best First Book. This book is her first in the Affair Series. She currently has 2 other series, The Dessert Dames and Soul String Saga. Both of those carry strong themes of family relationships, strong friendship bonds, and overcoming major obstacles in life.
Connect With Casey Clifford
Writers love to hear from the readers. Our worlds are rather solitary.
Website: Casey Comments Posting every Sunday; stop by to find ou
t what’s she’s thinking and writing about.
Facebook: Casey Clifford author
Books by Casey Clifford
Contemporary Fiction:
Better Than Dessert, Book One. Dessert Dames Series
More Than a Trifle, Book Two, Dessert Dames Series
Seasons of Wine and Love, a second chance love story
Soul String, Book One
Soul String, Book Two
Romantic Suspense:
An Island No More
Black Ribbon Affair, Book One, Affair Series
Fireweed, Book Two, Affair Series
Titles are available at reputable booksellers in digital and print formats.
~~~
Happy Reading!
Stacey Joy Netzel
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Epilogue
Copyright
About the Author
Other Titles by Stacey Joy Netzel
Excerpt—Beneath Still Waters by Stacey Joy Netzel
Excerpt—Soul String by Casey Clifford