Table of Contents
Synopsis
Acknowledgments
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
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-four
Chapter Thirty-five
Chapter Thirty-six
Chapter Thirty-seven
Chapter Thirty-eight
Chapter Thirty-nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-one
Chapter Forty-two
Chapter Forty-three
Chapter Forty-four
Chapter Forty-five
Chapter Forty-six
Chapter Forty-seven
Chapter Forty-eight
Chapter Forty-nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-one
Chapter Fifty-Two
About the Author
Books Available From Bold Strokes Books
Synopsis
Jordan Roberts has been content with the one-night stands she’s been having for the past seven years since discovering her partner cheating on her. Jordan has vowed never to give her heart to anyone ever again, and has been successful until Kirsten comes into her life.
Kirsten Murphy’s marriage is falling apart, but her budding friendship with Jordan is easing her heartache. Kirsten is also discovering her tamped-down attraction to women is resurfacing, and it has everything to do with Jordan.
Can Jordan release her self-imposed exile on relationships? Does Kirsten have what it takes for Jordan to finally give her heart to another?
New Beginnings
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New Beginnings
© 2015 By KC Richardson. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13: 978-1-62639-451-3
This Electronic Book is published by
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, New York 12185
First Edition: September 2015
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editor: Kelly Morrison
Production Design: Stacia Seaman
Cover Design By Jeanine Henning
Acknowledgments
I want to give a big thank you to Radclyffe, Sandy, and the rest of the BSB staff for the wonderful opportunity to publish my first novel. You all are first class!
To Kelly Morrison, my editor. Thank you for holding my hand, answering my stupid questions, and making this process as painless as possible for this newbie. I really appreciate all the work you put in to make this story something I’m very proud of.
To my beta readers—Andrea, Penelope, Dawn, and Inger. Thank you for telling me to get in touch with the characters’ feelings.
To my family and friends—Thank you for encouraging me, supporting me, loving me, and believing in me.
To my mom and dad, the perfect example of soul mates. Thank you for showing me how a true partnership should be. I love to see how you not only love each other, but how much you LIKE each other.
To my wife—Mo Anam Cara
Chapter One
The walls were vibrating from the bass thumping out of the speakers surrounding the dance floor. The dimly lit bar and dance club were in full swing, which wasn’t surprising for a Saturday night. In addition to the large dance floor, the club was equipped with two full-service bars and—even more astonishingly—three women’s restrooms to reduce the wait time.
Jordan Roberts had been coming to the club for the past seven years, and while the dance tunes had changed, the game had remained the same. She had met lots of women there, too—more than she could even count—who had invited her back to their apartment, or their hotel room, or just to the darkened back corner where they could have a little privacy.
Jordan sidled up to the bar and ordered a beer from the attractive redhead pouring drinks. She handed the woman a ten-dollar bill, accompanied with a wink and a smile. Sure, she’d tipped the same amount as the cost of the beer, but that usually ensured her excellent service for the rest of the evening.
Jordan grabbed her drink and made her way to the perimeter of the dance floor, taking her time to check out the faces in the crowd. She found an empty pillar near the dancers to lean against and watch the women move. She held her beer bottle in her right hand against her thigh and hooked her left thumb in the front pocket of her jeans. The disc jockey was playing a good mix of dance tunes, and the floor was nearly full as colorful lights swirled around the dancers to the beat of the music.
As Jordan’s eyes adjusted to the lights, she was better able to see the faces and movements of the different women. Nothing excited her more than seeing a sexy woman who knew how to move her hips. If she looked this good dancing, Jordan could easily imagine what she would be like in bed. She grinned at the thought.
As she took a swig of her beer, she spotted an attractive woman dancing by herself ten feet away. The woman swayed her hips to the beat of the music just the way Jordan appreciated, and she could feel the adrenaline course through her veins. She could also appreciate that the woman had the confidence to dance alone, appearing not to need a partner.
Jordan appraised the woman. She had very feminine, shoulder-length, light brown hair and light makeup. So far, so good. The woman glanced at her and gave her a seductive smile. Jordan smiled, just enough to let the woman know she could be interested—with a little persuasion.
The song morphed into a new one, and the woman assuredly came closer, checking Jordan out from head to toe. Jordan returned the favor but remained against the pillar. The woman would come to her. She watched as the woman sashayed her way in her black, four-inch heels. She wore a black skirt that ended halfway down her shapely thighs and hugged her perfectly round ass. A sheer, cream-colored blouse revealed a lacy bra that complemented the sexy outfit.
Jordan licked her lips as she brought the bottle up to her mouth. The stranger intercepted and took a couple of swallows while she continued to gaze at her. She licked away an errant drop of beer from her lower lip, and Jordan couldn’t help thinking what a lucky drop that was. She reached for the woman’s hand, and as they headed to the dance floor, the woman blindly deposited the bottle on one of the many pub-style tables just off the
dance area.
Jordan twirled the woman once and pulled her in close. She wrapped her right arm around the woman’s waist and held her tight against her body as they moved in rhythm to the song. After a few up-tempo dances, the music slowed considerably, as did their movements. Jordan dipped her head and started to kiss the woman’s neck, occasionally replacing the kisses with nips and nibbles.
The woman began to move her hips slowly into Jordan’s pelvis. Jordan felt her body heat skyrocket and a flood of moisture pool in her center. When the woman gazed up with half-lidded eyes, Jordan could easily see her own arousal mirrored there. She resumed the kissing assault on the woman’s neck and heard a groan.
The woman brought her mouth close to Jordan’s ear, and the hot breath against her sensitive skin made her shiver. “We need to get out of here. Now.”
Jordan grinned and nodded. “How about your place?”
“I don’t care where we go, but we need to get there soon.”
“Hang on a minute, baby. I need you to understand that this won’t go further than tonight—well, into the morning, too—but that’s all I can give. Are you okay with that?”
“I’m in town on business, and I fly out tomorrow night. So, yes, that is perfectly okay.”
“Let’s go.”
Chapter Two
Sunday afternoon, Jordan pulled into the parking lot of the coffeehouse where she was meeting her best friend, Alex. She jogged into the retro-styled café and spotted Alex sitting in an overstuffed chair, sipping her overpriced beverage. Jordan waved as she stepped up to the barista and placed her order. After she paid, she walked over to Alex and kissed her chastely on the lips.
“Sorry I’m late, Al.” She dropped into the other chair and brushed her hair back out of her eyes.
Alex raised one eyebrow, a move that Jordan knew from experience accompanied suspicion. “You look like hell, J. What’s wrong?”
Jordan knew she looked like shit. She flushed as she recalled the seduction and sex from the night before. After waking from a short snooze following their last sexual escapade that morning, she’d kissed the woman she’d picked up at the club good-bye and hurried home, so she could take a quick shower to wash the smell of sex off of herself. As she’d pulled her wet hair back into a ponytail, she’d noticed the dark circles under her eyes, evidence of her lack of sleep. On the drive over to meet Alex, she’d had the windows down, and the wind had blown several strands of hair free, which kept falling in her face. For the sake of her sanity, she pulled the rubber band out of her hair and re-tied it.
Jordan sighed and smiled. “Nothing’s wrong. I just had a long night—and an even longer morning.” She thanked the kid who brought her ice-blended mocha.
Alex remained silent, and a few moments went by with them staring at each other, neither saying a thing. Alex looked irritated and was scowling and pursing her lips, clearly waiting for an explanation. Jordan finally laughed. She loved to provoke Alex by making her pry information from her.
“Okay, Alex, relax. I met a girl last night at the club, and she took me back to her hotel. I got a late start today and didn’t have time to get dolled up for you.” She batted her eyes and made Alex laugh.
“You so cannot pull off the eye batting.”
Jordan joined Alex in laughter. “No, I can’t, but I love making you laugh.”
“So, tell me about her.”
Jordan took a sip of her drink and placed the cup on the small glass table that sat between them. “Not much to tell. I met her at the club, we danced a bit, and then we went back to her room and had mind-blowing sex. She was fucking hot.”
“Are you going to see her again?”
“Come on, Alex.” She rolled her eyes. “You know I don’t do repeats.”
Alex sighed. “I know you don’t. But I wish you would at least think about it.”
Jordan loved Alex for her concern. They had become friends their first year in college while being study partners in their U.S. History class. Jordan had crushed on her, but Alex hadn’t felt the same, and they’d eventually become best friends. It had taken some time before she’d realized it, but it had been the right decision for them not to get involved romantically, and Jordan now considered Alex to be more like a sister, someone who would always have her back. Alex was the one person besides her family that Jordan could trust and count on. She knew they would be friends forever.
“Why would I do that?” Jordan asked. This wasn’t the first time they’d had this conversation, and she wished Alex would just let it go already.
“Honey, when are you going to open yourself to the possibility of finding love again? It’s been seven years since you left Kelly.”
Jordan clenched her fists and fought to remain calm. She took a deep breath and tried to rein in her temper. “Kelly left me. The second she decided to fuck that guy, she left me.”
Bile rose in her throat as she thought back to the day she’d walked in on her girlfriend in bed with a man. The heated words they’d exchanged rang in her ears as if they’d been spoken just yesterday. She fought back her tears and tried to regain her composure.
“I’m perfectly happy with how my life is going. I have a great job, a great family, the best friend anyone could ask for, and lots of sex with gorgeous women. What more could I want?”
Alex reached over and placed a hand atop hers. Jordan turned her palm up and entwined their fingers. “J, you have so much to offer, so much love to give. I want you to find love, find a woman who will adore you and give you what you deserve.”
“I love you, Alex, and I love that you care about me, but you don’t have to worry about this.” Jordan released Alex’s hand and leaned back in her chair. “I’m enjoying life. I can do what I want when I want, and I don’t have to answer to anyone but myself. So, please don’t bug me about this anymore. If I change my mind, I’ll let you know. But for now, I’m happy. Besides, it’s not like you’re in some long-term relationship. You get just as many women as I do.”
Alex looked her squarely in the eye. “The difference between you and me is that I’m not averse to having a relationship—I just haven’t met the right woman yet. You, however, have vowed to never allow yourself to become vulnerable again. Not all women are like that bitch, but you won’t even try to spend more than one night with a woman.” Alex brought her hands up in a gesture of surrender. “Whatever. I’ll try not to pester you anymore, but I’m not making any promises.”
Jordan’s heart swelled with affection for her best friend. “Thank you. So, Ms. Taylor, how about you? It’s been a couple of weeks since we had a chance to talk. Broken any hearts recently?”
Alex took a sip of her coffee and grinned mischievously as she set her cup down. “I’ve had a date or two.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, that’s so. Sexually, we’re very good together, but there’s not much there outside the bedroom. We don’t have a whole lot in common, so I don’t see this going anywhere.”
Jordan feigned shock. “Why, Alex, you compromised this poor woman’s virtue? You’re such a beast.” She started laughing, and Alex joined her.
“Fuck off.”
That made Jordan laugh harder, and soon she had tears rolling down her cheeks. As she wiped the tears away and caught her breath, the most strikingly beautiful woman she had ever seen walked through the door and up to the counter. A new song started playing through the speakers at that very moment, and Jordan found the words to be apropos. She wanted to kiss this stunning woman so hard that it would take her breath away.
From her seat, she had the woman’s profile in view. She appeared to be a few inches shorter than her own six-foot frame, with thick, wavy, dark brown hair that fell to her mid-back. Designer sunglasses were perched on top of her head. She wore a light blue, form-fitting T-shirt and dark blue jeans that sat on her hips.
While the woman waited for her order, she turned to scan the room. Her gaze landed on Jordan, and she gave a small smile. For the firs
t time in a very long while, Jordan’s brain turned to mush, and she couldn’t muster up a thing to say. Ordinarily, she would have walked up to the woman, engaged in a little conversation, and quite possibly left with her. But now, she felt paralyzed—she couldn’t get her body to move or her brain to function. The woman took her drink, walked past them, gave a little nod, and headed back out the door. Jordan watched her go, unable to look away.
“Jordan.”
“What? Why are you yelling?”
“I called your name three times.”
Her face was suddenly very hot. “Oh. Sorry.”
Alex chuckled. “Do you know her?”
“What?” Jordan asked absently.
“Do. You. Know. Her?” Alex asked emphatically.
“No, but I sure wouldn’t mind.”
“She’s gorgeous.”
“Uh-huh.”
Alex slapped her on the arm, making her jump. “Why didn’t you go introduce yourself?”
“Honestly? I couldn’t move. That girl made me stupid. I can’t remember ever having that happen before,” she said, shaking her head.
“Always a first time for everything, huh, J?”
Chapter Three
Kirsten Murphy grabbed her coffee and headed toward the door, amused that a woman was checking her out. She would never say this out loud to anyone, not wanting to chance sounding full of herself, but she’d turned quite a few heads in her time. She hadn’t noticed it that much after she’d married John a little over three years ago, but over the past couple of months, she’d started to notice it again. Maybe it was because she and John hadn’t been spending much time together. John had a big court case coming up, and he’d been working long hours prepping.
Kirsten continued to muse on her relationship with her husband as she drove down the tree-lined street that led to their home, trying not to let the feelings it evoked overwhelm her. The little time John was at home, he was parked in front of the television, watching the must-see game of the night, not paying any attention to her at all. Naturally, this had been making her feel somewhat lonely, and most nights found her passing those solitary hours by reading various romance novels, which she knew only made things worse. The books only fueled her imagination, and she often found herself daydreaming of having a romance like the ones she read about, which, in turn, led her to reflect on her disappointment that her marriage lacked that type of fire and passion. In all honesty, she positively yearned for it.
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