Jean C. Joachim's Blog: Stories of Love and Passion, page 14

Tuesday Tales - Toes - #british #English #Love

Welcome! This week, I'm continuing with Maggie & John's story. The word prompt is "toes". Scroll down for the link back to Tuesday Tales. Thank you for coming.
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When Maggie tucked a small, stuffed hedgehog under Penn’s arm, the little boy stopped sniffling. He turned the little beast over and over. “What is he?”“ A hedgehog.”“Hedgehog,” Penn repeated. “Can I have him?”“Yes. He’s a present. Take him on your trip. Be good to him.”The little tyke nodded. Maggie leaned down and wiped his tears away with her thumb. She kissed his cheek. He hugged her neck, dropping the new toy, then promptly let go to pick up the creature. With the toy, Maggie’d diverted him from the pain of leaving. Anne Roberts shot her a grateful smile as she headed for the door, Penn in hand. The Roberts’ were jetting off for ten days to the Virgin Islands. Maggie breathed a sigh of relief. After having cooked for huge crowds for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve parties, she was exhausted.  
 She and John, the butler and chauffeur, had the luxurious apartment to themselves. Anne told them to charge their groceries to the Roberts account and have fun. Maggie noticed a twinkle in John’s eye when he got the news. She had twisted a tissue in her hand. Ten days alone in the house with handsome John scared the crap out of her.

After the family left, Maggie faced him. “Are you going home for the holiday?”“No. Thought I’d rather enjoy New Year’s in New York instead of London. You?”Maggie shook her head. “No money. Besides, doubt they miss me.”“I can’t believe that!”She fidgeted for a moment before heading to the kitchen. “Tea time,” she muttered.“Let me help,” John said, tagging along. She stopped dead. “Look. Don’t be thinkin’ I’m gonna be your cook and slave, waitin’ on ya hand and foot while the Mister and Missus are away. You go your way and I’ll go mine.”“Of course. I’d never ask you to do that.”“Good.” She made her way to the stove. “But you’ve got to eat. And I’ve got to eat.”Swinging around with hands on hips, she glared at him. “John Eldridge! After what I just said…” “But I’ll help. I can cook, too. Not like you, but I make a mean scrambled egg or French toast.” His hazel eyes danced.Maggie cooled down. Cooking for one bored her. Besides, she hated to eat alone.“I’m a great dishwasher, too. I promise to clean up, if you cook. You’re a way better cook than I.”“That I am.”The kettle whistled. She turned off the flame and took down one of the Roberts’ elegant porcelain teapots.“Which do you fancy?” She asked over her shoulder. “Whatever you wish, milady.”“Early Grey, then, and I’m not your lady.”

Maggie measured the loose tea into the pot, then poured the hot water. When she turned around, her eyes widened and her mouth fell open. The tiny nook where she and John ate was set with the best plates, cups, and silver. In the middle was a small platter filled with scones, petit Madeleines and cookies. John pulled out a chair and stood waiting. “Where in the blazes did this come from?” She placed the teapot on a hotplate.“I bought it.”“On their account?”“Nope. With me own cash.”“Why?”His tone softened. “For you.”
She eased onto the chair and he pushed it close to the table before he joined her. She took his cup and poured. John held the plate while she took one of each of the delectable treats.She fixed her tea the way she liked it with some sugar and milk. “Spending ten days alone here with you, Maggie, is a dream come true.” She looked up, her brown eyes meeting his. John took her hand and placed it to his lips, sending a tingle all the way to her toes.   
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TUESDAY TALES - CANDY

The word prompt, "candy", has taken me back to a story I deserted last September. It's Maggie's Story. She's the housekeeper for a very wealthy couple who have a young son, a boy who was the same age her child would have been had her parents not forced her to have an abortion. 

They'd shipped her off from England to the United States, where a cousin helped her get this job. The scene takes place on Christmas Eve. John is the butler and chauffeur, also from England. 

Thank you for coming. Scroll down for the link back to Tuesday Tales and the fine stories awaiting you there. 

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Friday night, Maggie went up to her room. The party was still going strong, but the crew the Roberts had hired were serving and staying to do clean up. John hung around to supervise. Maggie stood at the window and parted the curtain.  She watched a group of carolers climb down from a hay wagon and sing for the party. She heard the soft melodies of carols and the applause. Mrs. Roberts passed around a basket of candy and each singer took some.Maggie missed her yule traditions. She wondered what they were doing at home, which of her six siblings had returned for the occasion. She wondered what they were eating and drinking. She could hear, in her head, the songs they always sang and hummed the tunes softly. She wrote a short message on the Christmas card, added the money order, addressed the envelope to her father and sealed it. One more month and she would be paid up. She sighed. That might be the last communication with her parents. I guess you don’t keep a daughter who brings disgrace to your home. The knock on her door meant John had retired. Maggie had retrieved her present for him. When he entered, she turned to face him. Her heart hurt, loneliness surrounded her like the fur coat the missus gave her. But it chilled her instead of warming.
“Here you go. Merry Christmas, John.” She handed him the rectangular box. He opened it carefully, his eyes glittery, darted from her face to the gift. “Holy Mary Mother of God, Maggie! What’d you go and do this for?” He fingered the expensive, Countess Mara silk tie. “Don’t you like it?” Pain stabbed her heart.“It’s beautiful. I love it. But it’s too expensive.” “Wanted you to have one like the Mister wears.”John’s pale cheeks flushed slightly. “Very thoughtful.  Very nice, Maggie. It’s beautiful. I’ll save it for special occasions.”She put her hand on his arm. “I want you to wear it all the time, John.”He nodded. “All right. Thank you.” He kissed her, then bid her goodnight
Maggie gazed up at the cold winter moon and sighed. She slid under the covers and spread her new cashmere sweater from John out on top. She fell asleep with her fingers stroking the soft material.
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TUESDAY TALES - Word Prompt: Pencil #nfl #sportsromance #football

Welcome! I'm sorry for leaving last week's Tuesday Tales as a cliffhanger. This is the second half to that post. It should answer your questions. It's a continue of Griff Montgomery's story in OVERTIME, book 8 in the First & Ten series to be published soon.
Scroll down for the link back to Tuesday Tales. Thank you for coming.
**************************************He rushed into the room to find the bed empty. Panic rose inside him. He ran around, checking every room –even the ones Kathy and her family would occupy. No sign of Lauren. The only thing he had was the bloody towel. Tears of frustration and fear clouded his eyes. He picked up his cell and dialed his wife, but no answer. He heard a ringing and followed the sound to find Lauren’s phone on the floor of the bathroom. There were smudges of blood on the door knob, the sink and the toilet, too. His heart beat so fast it reverberated in his ears.

He didn’t know what to do, but calling the police seemed the best option when his cell rang. The number was unfamiliar. He answered. “Mr. Montgomery?”“Yes? Who’s this?”“This is Mary Anne McDonnell. I’m a nurse at County Hospital.”“Oh my God. Is Lauren there? What’s happened to my wife?” Perspiration broke out on his forehead and under his arms. He picked up a pencil by the phone and broke it in two. “Yes, that’s why I’m calling. She’s here. She’s had a miscarriage, but she’s all right.”“A miscarriage?”“I take it she didn’t tell you yet that she was pregnant?”
“No, ma’am. She hadn’t.”"Goodness. Well, she wasn’t very far along, which is a good thing. I guess that’s why.”
“We have two children. No time alone to talk.”The nurse chuckled. “Been there, done that.”“Is she all right?” “Yes. She’s fine. We’re going to keep her here for a little while. She’ll call you when she’s ready to come home.”“Can I talk to her?”“She’s asleep right now, but I’ll have her call you as soon as she gets up. Didn’t want you to worry none. These things happen.”“Yes, they do. Thank you. I appreciate your calling. I was just about to call the police.”“Goodness! My timing was just right then.”“Sure was. Would you tell her something for me?”“Sure.”“Tell her,” he coughed and felt himself redden, “tell her I love her.”

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TUESDAY TALES - picture prompt - beach scene - #football #nfl #romance

Welcome! This week we have a picture prompt and a 300-word limit. My snippets from my WIP, "Overtime" will continue for another few weeks. It's the last book in the First & Ten series and will be published soon. This week we have Griff's story. His wife, Lauren, has sprung a surprise vacation on him. They headed to the beach in Florida. Seems there was a bigger surprise in their future than either had anticipated.
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He’d made plenty of mistakes in his life, but marrying Lauren wasn’t one of them. He blew  up an inflatable beach ball and bounced it to the kids. After a lively game of catch, they ran to the ocean, where Griff took their hands and waded into the surf, ankle-deep. They shrieked with joy and ran up on the warm sand, then back into the water over and over.He layed out a blanket. The kids sat long enough to eat the food Lauren had packed. They pelted the quarterback with questions, which he answered as best he could. Where did the ocean go? Where did pelicans come from? He didn’t know the answers. Their curiosity charmed him. As their beach time edged toward two hours, Chip and Gracie slowed down. His daughter crawled into her stroller and Chip lay down on the blanket. Griff knew it was time to head home. He brushed the sand off them as best he could then layed them in their beds and covered each with a light blanket. Lauren’s face had appeared drawn when they got in the car at the airport. Concern knitted his brows as he wondered if she was coming down with the flu. He had hoped not as this vacation was her idea and he wanted her to enjoy it, too.
Feeling pooped, he popped a beer and sat in the shade outside on the deck. Lauren often took naps, but never quite this long. On a hunch, Griff climbed the stairs to the master bedroom. Before he arrived, the sight of a bloody towel on the floor stopped him cold. He picked it up. The blood hadn’t completely dried yet, but it wasn’t fresh. Something had happened to Lauren and not in the last hour. 
Thank you for coming. 
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TOP 20 #NFL PLAYERS FOR 2015 - WHICH ONES ARE YOUR FAVORITES? #Football #nflteams

I love football! These are my men -- the major players on the Connecticut Kings, the team in my bestselling football romance series, FIRST & TEN. 


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I love real football, too. Here is the list of the top 25 players in the NFL for 2015. Which ones are your favorites? I love them all!



RANK PLAYER POSITION 2015 TEAM 1 J. J. WATT DEFFENSIVE END HOUSTON TEXANS 2 AARON RODGERS QUARTERBACK GREEN BAY PACKERS 3 TOM BRADY QUARTERBACK NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 4 DeMARCO MURRAY RUNNING BACK PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 5 PEYTON MANNING QUARTERBACK DENVER BRONCOS 6 CALVIN JOHNSON WIDE RECEIVER DETROIT LIONS 7 ANDREW LUCK QUARTERBACK INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 8 ANTONIO BROWN WIDE RECEIVER PITTSBURGH STEELERS 9 MARSHAWN LYNCH RUNNING BACK SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 10 ROB GRONKOWSKI TIGHT END NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 11 RICHARD SHERMAN CORNERBACK SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 12 JAMAAL CHARLES RUNNING BACK KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 13 JULIO JONES WIDE RECEIVER ATLANTA FALCONS 14 LUKE KUECHLY LINEBACKER CAROLINA PANTHERS 15 DEZ BRYANT WIDE RECEIVER DALLAS COWBOYS 16 LE'VEON BELL RUNNING BACK PITTSBURGH STEELERS 17 DARRELLE REVIS CORNERBACK NEW YORK JETS 18 JORDY NELSON WIDE RECEIVER GREEN BAY PACKERS 19 PATRICK PETERSON CORNERBACK ARIZONA CARDINALS 20 DEMARYIUS THOMAS WIDE RECEIVER DENVER BRONCOS 21 EARL THOMAS SAFETY SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 22 RUSSELL WILSON QUARTERBACK SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 23 JOE HADEN CORNERBACK CLEVELAND BROWNS 24 NDAMUKONG SUH DEFENSIVE TACKLE MIAMI DOLPHINS 25 JOE THOMAS OFFENSIVE TACKLE CLEVELAND BROWNS
************************Meet Griff Montgomery, Quarterback, who started it all for the First & Ten series -- from the locker room to the bedroom.


Two people, two tragedies, two deep, devastating secrets….  Griff Montgomery is the headline-making, heart-breaking star quarterback of the Kings – a  6’4”, 33 year old womanizer. Lauren Farraday is a beautiful young interior designer, bitterly scarred by divorce, whose life is falling apart. Though they violently oppose one another in court over her beloved pug (she thinks he’s arrogant and  conceited, and he thinks she’s a bitch on wheels), something happens....
These are the bare bones of this sizzling romance, riddled with passion -- the first in a brand new series that’ll tantalize football fans and have readers glued to every page and on the edge of their seats!
Griff looks like a super hero with his tousled, mahogany hair, dazzling smile, dark, sexy eyes, and a body  that does something indescribable to a tight pair of jeans. Though Lauren’s sworn off men forever, one look sends shivers down her spine, making her feel lonelier than ever before. Her lustrous, long hair, sparkling green eyes, and nonstop curves make his fingers tingle at the thought of touching her.  How do they deal with their cataclysmic attraction? Will they be able to drop their protective facades – his to camouflage his grief over his sister and her family, for whom he was a surrogate father, moving 3000 miles away…. And hers’ to shield her from the incalculable loss of her husband and hoped for child?

For Griff, the thought of falling in love is as foreign as toe shoes and a tutu. For Lauren, it’s like putting on cleats and a helmet and running 50 yards…. Can they, will they, risk it? 

Get started for only $2.99 for ebook, $9.99 for paperback. Available in audio, too! Find it here:

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THE STORY BEHIND THE BOOK - UNPREDICTABLE LOVE

I'm starting out with a bit of the beginning of the book before I talk about the inspiration for the story:


********************* Unpredictable Love


Anger bubbled up inside her. She made a beeline for the house, only to collide with her sister.“Amber! What the hell?” She waved the envelope in the young woman’s face.“I just sent him one letter.”“This is the fourth you’ve gotten from him. When are you going to write back?”“It was a mistake…”“You can say that again. Especially the part where you signed my name!”“Laura was so convincing. I thought she meant one time. Only one letter.”“She asked people to sign up to write to guys in the military. Not to write only oneletter and include a lewd photo.”“It wasn’t lewd, whatever that means. Just me in a bikini. I’m not good at writing. Much better at pictures.” Her beautiful, blonde sister, with a Miss America figure, grinned.“And the reason you signed my name?”“I always liked yours better. Besides, if he wanted another letter, I knew you’d write it for me. So, it might as well have your name on it.”“Don’t give me that bullshit smile. I’m on to you. And the answer is ‘no.’” Jory shoved the envelope from T. Stevens into Amber’s hand.“Please? Pleeeaassseee, Jory. You’re the writer. Not me.”“That’s right. You’re the pretty sister, and I’m the smart one.”Amber nodded. “I don’t mean it like that. You’re so much better than me.”“Than I.”
“See?”


*********************** The story behind the book
I've always been intrigued by stories of mistaken identity, and movies, like Hitchcock's North by Northwest and Vertigo. Mistaken identity creates conflict, tension, and suspense. I'm not sure where the idea of the penpal in the military came from. After some time had passed, the "what if" was born. If you know me, you know that most of my books are born out of that question, "what if..." I said, "what if the Marine is writing to one woman, only to  discover later that his correspondent is actually someone else?" That idea grew until it switched gears. It became the woman's story. What if Jory gets involved with this Marine and panics when she realizes he's in love with the woman in the picture, her sister!I loved that premise. It lived in the back of my consciousness and became fleshed out with conflict and suspense, while I wrote other books. Finally, the story, brewing inside me for at least one year, was "cooked" and ready to be written. Unpredictable Love pushed aside the book I was working on and demanded my attention. I threw myself into writing it, desperate to get it all on paper as fast as possible.
One note: the Aunt Nan and Uncle Ben are the real names of two of my favorite aunts and uncles. I was very close to them and took care of my aunt in the later years of her life. I never use real names, but wanted to this time. I will be dedicating the book to them as well. This is the first in my small town contemporary romance series, called "Pine Grove".  It's a novella and up for preorder now. It will be releasing on May first. I hope the story grips your guts the way it gripped mine. Thanks for stopping by. Here's where you can order the ebook and the paperback: AMAZON
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The Story Behinid the Book. #1 Harley Brennan, Running Back #amreading #romance #football

In answer to readers' questions, I'm starting a new series of articles, sharing the "stories behind the books".  Here's the first. I hope you'll stop by to take a peek, or sign up for my newsletter, where they will be published every month. (Scroll down for sign-up link). 

The Story Behind the Book#1Harley Brennan, Running Back
I’m often asked if my story ideas come from my life. While I’ve denied a direct connection, there is some truth to the statement that they come from some of my life experiences and those of people I know. Something I’m living or wondering about pops into my head. Then I can’t resist saying to myself, “what if…” and a story idea is born.             This new section will be a peek into the background that gave birth to my “what if” for each of my books. I’m starting with Harley Brennan, Running Back, since it’s my most recent and most controversial book. I’ll be adding these to my newsletters and posting them on my blog, too.            I’ve long been a fan of “The Bachelor” television program. In one episode, one of the female contestants, vying for the Bachelor, had spent the night with a member of the crew.  In his desire to escape detection, he’d jumped over a balcony and broken his leg. They shipped him and her home. I wondered what would have happened if the Bachelor, himself, had slept with a member of the crew? And the kernel for Harley Brennan’s story was born.
            Originally, this was supposed to by Shyla Hollings’ story and the seventh book in the Hollywood Hearts series, where Harley had made a brief appearance. But the more into the football series I got, the more convinced I became that it was Harley’s story and belonged in the First & Ten series.             Although the book idea started with them together on the show, “Marriage Minded”,  I had to develop more to support an entire book than simply one encounter. Their stories evolved on many walks in the park with my pug, Homer, bus rides, car rides, subway rides and strolls through the City. As their story took shape, my enthusiasm grew. They became real in my mind.             Two years later, the story had grown so compelling, I had to write it. It gripped me with its darker side, with the love, loss, sacrifice, and ultimate triumph of Shyla and Harley –separately and together. The phrase that keeps echoing in my head when I think about this story is “sometimes people have to lose everything to find each other.”
If you haven’t read Harley Brennan, Running Back, I hope you’ll take the time to give it a shot. Harley’s not your Prince Charming hero, but he’s real. Love him, hate him, want to throw his book across the room –I hope you’ll never be bored with his story.  
Questions? Please feel free to put them in the comments and I'll answer here. 
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LOVE AMONG THE IRISES

I love flowers. It's hard to pick the prettiest one. Irises keep coming to mind as the most graceful and beautiful of all. I love irises and football romance. So here's a blend of both.  



He's looking to settle down, have a family. A family's the one thing she can't give him. Can a pug named, Spike, bring them together? More about Griff HERE
 
She left him in the dust and became a
rock star. Now he's a star wide 
receiver. Can they put aside the their differences and recapture their passion from the past? More about Buddy 
HERE.







A smart, beautiful woman who knows football doesn't walk into Coach Bass's life every day. But can he support her as an equal? And what about that secret he's keeping? What will she do if she finds out? More about Pete HERE .




Fleeing abuse, Stormy runs smack dab into her past. Can she forgive the boy she once loved, now that he's a man?
Can he convince her he's changed? Who's her abuser? Will she spill the truth?  More about Devon HERE


Can a locker room Lothario convince his teammate's sister he's a changed man? Can he live down the escapades he'd bragged about to her brother? Can Samantha handle the dangers of running a shelter for abused women? 
More about Bullhorn HERE



Using football to escape a horrific childhood, Trunk thought he'd set up the perfect life. But not long after his marriage, cracks appear. As his world crumbles, a deep secret he carries may prevent him from rebuilding. He's convinced no woman will ever want him. Maybe he's right. More about Trunk HERE.



Sometimes two people have to lose everything to find their one true love. 
More about Harley HERE.





I hope you've enjoyed these gorgeous iris photos from Big Stock. And maybe I've intrigued you about my football romance books. Irises and football romances, two of my favorite things. 

Thank you for coming. If you want to know more about my books, you can find them all on my website . 

Please leave a comment. Which iris did you like best? Which book cover? 

HARLEY BRENNAN,, RUNNING BACK IS LIVE! The Bachelor Seeks a Wife, or does he?

If you love football and The Bachelor, this is the book for you. 

A bit about the book:
Harley Brennan and Shyla Hollings agreed to part company to follow their careers. It was a mutual decision. The star running back had no problem getting dates, but never the right dates. After one year spent trying to replace the only woman he’d ever loved, he declared defeat. Until the reality TV show, Marriage Minded, approached him. Harley flew to L.A. after the Super Bowl, ready to find his new soul mate. Bumping into Shyla at the airport didn’t give him a clue that she’d be behind the scenes, designing the sets for the program. And she didn’t tell him.  Was Fate playing a hand, bringing them together? If so, Harley had to admit, Fate had lousy timing.Convinced his life was heading for a touchdown, Harley’s confidence was high, until his luck ran out. Would the running back get knocked out of the game or sprint to victory?    
A unique combination of reality TV show surprises, football action, humor, and steamy love scenes, HARLEY BRENNAN, RUNNING BACK, will keep you guessing until the last scene. 
A taste  -  “So, why the TV gig?” she asked, taking a drink of hers and nodding her approval.He looked down at his hands. “I gave up.”“Gave up?” She raised her eyebrows.“Gave up hope you’d come back. Gave up hope another Shyla Hollings would walk through my door. I want to settle down.”“So, you contacted the show?”“They came to me. Convinced me I’d find my true love. My soulmate.” He narrowed his eyes. “Are you allowed more than one soulmate in a lifetime?”********** Shyla Hollings could deadpan like the best comics in the world. She was funny—hilarious, in fact—and had kept him laughing every minute that he hadn’t been kissing her. She had become his soulmate, the total package, the one woman he’d been seeking. His heart had sung. Then, it had happened. She had gotten called by a major Hollywood producer’s office to work with an Academy Award winning set designer, and her career had taken off, leaving their affair to exist on crumbs until it simply hadn’t been enough.
**********  

They drank and nibbled on gourmet snacks. Shyla filled his senses, her beauty, her unique scent, wrapped in an expensive perfume, wafting across the seat to him, the softness of her skin as his fingertips touched the back of her hand. Simply sitting next to her had him wired. Harley had no idea what he was putting in his mouth, but he wished it were a certain part of Shy, instead of a cheese puff.
For Harley, the magic had started during that week in Costa Rica, at Penny and Mark’s wedding, and it had never faded. The electricity, the spark, the chemistry they had had in that tropical paradise still beat inside him. His blood pumped faster, his tongue got tied, and every nerve cell jumped to high alert whenever he had the good fortune to see her.Did she feel the same? His question had been answered by her broad smile, warm greeting, and enthusiasm in bed. He had believed her feelings matched his, at least at the time. Her early design success hadn’t dimmed her interest in him, as they had met whenever they had been within a short plane ride of each other. Eventually, their jobs had stretched their bond, like taffy, to the breaking point. Getting together had simply become too difficult, so they hadn’t.
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#thebachelor #thebachelorette

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "HIP"

Welcome! Thanks for stopping by. As the release date for Harley's book draws near, last week's was the last posting from Harley's story. 
This week, for the prompt "hip" we start a new story, tentatively called, "Too Late for Goodbye". I hope you enjoy it. Don't forget to read everyone's Tuesday Tales, scroll down for the link. 
***************

Jory’s face colored. “It’s just that there’s going to be a wedding…”“The waiter just said the same thing. I love weddings. What’s going on?”Jory sat in silence as Jerry arrived with two mimosas. When he left, Jory raised her glass.
“Down the hatch,” she said, taking a long drink.Jackie sipped at hers. “Come on. Fess up.”Before Jory could open her mouth, a black stretch limo pulled up in front of the church. People poured out of the building and stood outside, ready to greet the bride and groom. Jackie pushed back her chair and headed for the door with Jory in hot pursuit.“I don’t think you want to do that. Jackie!”Not listening to her friend, the spunky brunette pushed through the doors and stood next to  a telephone pole to watch. Suddenly the bride and groom came through the double doors and down the steps. The groom raised his gaze, which connected with Jackie’s. He stopped. If someone had hit her on the head with a hammer, the shock and pain wouldn’t have been as great. Instantly she recognized him. “Trevor,” she murmured. Trevor Fulton stopped and stared, his eyes filled at once with hurt and longing. Beside him stood Jill Connolly, hand on hip, face filled with attitude. “Come on, Trevor,” she said, moving toward the door. But he was cemented to the ground. Jackie couldn’t move either. She simply stared at the man she had adored for three years. Memories of their days and nights together, her brain had refused to recognize for months, flooded through her memory. Where there had been a vast void before, now it was overflowing with pictures, feelings, sensations, smells, touches, everything that had made up her life with him for three years. All that had disappeared in an instant, returned with a vengeance.
“Trevor!” Jill said, tugging on his sleeve. Jackie wandered nearer. “Trevor,” she muttered, her eyes wide. His name rolled off her tongue as if she had spoken to him yesterday, not a year ago.  “He’s mine now. So you –stay away!” Jill shouted at Jackie, jolting her out of her reverie. Jackie shook her head once to clear the fog. “Who are you?”“Don’t play games with me, Jackie Tremont! You know who I am.”“No, I don’t really. Honestly. Should I?”“All you need to know is that I’m Mrs. Trevor Fulton,” Jill said, sticking out her hand and flaunting her wedding ring.
Her words cause Jackie to take in a breath. Pain rocketed through her. Trevor had been hers. What had happened?

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