Chicki Brown's Blog, page 40
January 12, 2013
Contest winners!
Believe it or not, this week's contest for AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG ended in a tie! As a result, I chose the two readers that outdid themselves in posting around the Internet about the book - Arlena Gordon Dean and LaTanya Lawson . Congratulations, ladies! I'll be in touch.
This ends the contests until my Valentine's Day release of YOU MAKE ME FEEL BRAND NEW. Thanks to everyone that participated.
January 11, 2013
Fun Friday!
My faithful friends have started sending me laugh-inducing e-mails again... The 1st AffairA married man was having an affair with his secretary.
One day they went to her place and made love all afternoon.
Exhausted, they fell asleep and woke up at 8 PM.
The man hurriedly dressed and told his lover to take his shoes outside and rub them in the grass and dirt.
He put on his shoes and drove home.
'Where have you been?' his wife demanded.
'I can't lie to you,' he replied,
'I'm having an affair with my secretary. We had sex all afternoon.'
She looked down at his shoes and said: 'You’re lying! You've been playing golf!'
The 2nd Affair
A middle-aged couple had two beautiful daughters
but always talked about having a son.
They decided to try one last time
for the son they always wanted.
The wife got pregnant
and delivered a healthy baby boy.
The joyful father rushed to the nursery
to see his new son.
He was horrified at the ugliest child
he had ever seen.
He told his wife: 'There's no way I can
be the father of this baby.
Look at the two beautiful daughters I fathered!
Have you been fooling around behind my back?'
The wife smiled sweetly and replied: 'No, not this time!'
The 3rd Affair
A mortician was working late one night.
He examined the body of Mr. Schwartz, about to be cremated, and made a startling discovery. Schwartz had the largest private part he had ever seen!
'I'm sorry Mr. Schwartz,' the mortician commented, 'I can't allow you to be cremated
with such an impressive private part. It must be saved for posterity.'
So, he removed it, stuffed it into his briefcase, and took it home.
'I have something to show you won't believe,' he said to his wife, opening his briefcase.
'My God!' the wife exclaimed, 'Schwartz is dead!'
The 4th Affair
A woman was in bed with her lover when she heard her husband opening the front door.
'Hurry,' she said, 'stand in the corner.'
She rubbed baby oil all over him then dusted him with talcum powder.
'Don't move until I tell you,' she said. 'Pretend you're a statue.'
'What's this?' the husband inquired as he entered the room.
'Oh it's a statue,' she replied. 'The Smiths bought one and I liked it so I got one for us, too.'
No more was said, not even when they went to bed.
Around 2 AM the husband got up, went to the kitchen and returned with a sandwich and a beer.
'Here,' he said to the statue, 'have this. I stood like that for two days at the Smiths
and nobody offered me a damned thing.'
The 5th Affair
A man walked into a cafe, went to the bar and ordered a beer.
'Certainly, Sir, that'll be one cent.'
'One Cent?' the man exclaimed.
He glanced at the menu and asked: 'How much for a nice juicy steak and a bottle of wine?'
'A nickel,' the barman replied.
'A nickel?' exclaimed the man. 'Where's the guy who owns this place?'
The bartender replied: 'Upstairs, with my wife.'
The man asked: 'What's he doing upstairs with your wife?'
The bartender replied: 'The same thing I'm doingto his business down here.'
The 6th & Best Affair
Jake was dying. His wife sat at the bedside.
He looked up and said weakly: 'I have something I must confess.'
'There's no need to, 'his wife replied.
'No,' he insisted, 'I want to die in peace. I slept with your sister, your best friend, her best friend, and your mother!'
'I know,' she replied. 'Now just rest and let the poison work.'
Stop back tomorrow and find out the winner of this week's contest and the rules for the new contest.
One day they went to her place and made love all afternoon.
Exhausted, they fell asleep and woke up at 8 PM.
The man hurriedly dressed and told his lover to take his shoes outside and rub them in the grass and dirt.
He put on his shoes and drove home.
'Where have you been?' his wife demanded.
'I can't lie to you,' he replied,
'I'm having an affair with my secretary. We had sex all afternoon.'
She looked down at his shoes and said: 'You’re lying! You've been playing golf!'
The 2nd Affair
A middle-aged couple had two beautiful daughters
but always talked about having a son.
They decided to try one last time
for the son they always wanted.
The wife got pregnant
and delivered a healthy baby boy.
The joyful father rushed to the nursery
to see his new son.
He was horrified at the ugliest child
he had ever seen.
He told his wife: 'There's no way I can
be the father of this baby.
Look at the two beautiful daughters I fathered!
Have you been fooling around behind my back?'
The wife smiled sweetly and replied: 'No, not this time!'
The 3rd Affair
A mortician was working late one night.
He examined the body of Mr. Schwartz, about to be cremated, and made a startling discovery. Schwartz had the largest private part he had ever seen!
'I'm sorry Mr. Schwartz,' the mortician commented, 'I can't allow you to be cremated
with such an impressive private part. It must be saved for posterity.'
So, he removed it, stuffed it into his briefcase, and took it home.
'I have something to show you won't believe,' he said to his wife, opening his briefcase.
'My God!' the wife exclaimed, 'Schwartz is dead!'
The 4th Affair
A woman was in bed with her lover when she heard her husband opening the front door.
'Hurry,' she said, 'stand in the corner.'
She rubbed baby oil all over him then dusted him with talcum powder.
'Don't move until I tell you,' she said. 'Pretend you're a statue.'
'What's this?' the husband inquired as he entered the room.
'Oh it's a statue,' she replied. 'The Smiths bought one and I liked it so I got one for us, too.'
No more was said, not even when they went to bed.
Around 2 AM the husband got up, went to the kitchen and returned with a sandwich and a beer.
'Here,' he said to the statue, 'have this. I stood like that for two days at the Smiths
and nobody offered me a damned thing.'
The 5th Affair
A man walked into a cafe, went to the bar and ordered a beer.
'Certainly, Sir, that'll be one cent.'
'One Cent?' the man exclaimed.
He glanced at the menu and asked: 'How much for a nice juicy steak and a bottle of wine?'
'A nickel,' the barman replied.
'A nickel?' exclaimed the man. 'Where's the guy who owns this place?'
The bartender replied: 'Upstairs, with my wife.'
The man asked: 'What's he doing upstairs with your wife?'
The bartender replied: 'The same thing I'm doingto his business down here.'
The 6th & Best Affair
Jake was dying. His wife sat at the bedside.
He looked up and said weakly: 'I have something I must confess.'
'There's no need to, 'his wife replied.
'No,' he insisted, 'I want to die in peace. I slept with your sister, your best friend, her best friend, and your mother!'
'I know,' she replied. 'Now just rest and let the poison work.'
Stop back tomorrow and find out the winner of this week's contest and the rules for the new contest.
January 6, 2013
Sample Sunday
Ain't Too Proud To Beg
- Vaughn Breland has never been one to let a woman tell him what to do. When he finds himself at the mercy of beautiful physical therapist, Trenyce Clark, he has to decide what’s most important–recovering from his near-fatal car accident or maintaining his macho image.
*****
Vaughn, it’s Reese.”
“Reese, how are you?” I couldn’t wait to hear her explanation of why it took this long to call.”
“How am I? Why didn’t you call me and let me know you were all right?”
I almost checked out, and she has the nerve to have an attitude? “My phone died.” And I almost did too. “I’m recovering pretty well. Thanks for asking.”
Her tone softened. “I’m sorry, but I just thought all this time I hadn’t heard from you because you were mad at me.”
Insecure women were such a pain in the ass. “Now aren’t you glad you didn’t come along?”
“That’s not funny, Vaughn. I’m so happy you’re okay.”
“Has the media given any details?”
“What kind of details?” she asked, sounding suspicious.
“About my injuries.”
“No, the report I saw just said you were in a serious car crash. Why? Is it worse than they made it sound?”
“You could say that. My face is jacked up. I broke both my legs and dislocated my hip.”
“Oh, my God!” she whispered. “So, how long will you be in the hospital?”
“I’m not in the hospital anymore. Craig Weinstein is letting me stay with him until I can get around on my own.”
“Did they tell you how long it would be?”
“They don’t really know. Physical therapy might take a year.”
“What!” Vaughn held the phone away from his ear at the shrill volume in her voice. “So, what’s going to happen to us with the film?”
Ah, that’s all she wanted to know. She’s worried about her job. Apparently the studio hadn’t yet informed the cast of their decision to replace me, and I wasn’t going to be the one to tell her.
“Us? Or you?” Silence. “That’s what I thought. I have to go, Reese.” I clicked off my cell and closed my eyes, meditating on what she had just said, but I had no reason to be disappointed in her. From the first day’s read-throughs in the studio conference room, I’d known a hook-up with Reese was inevitable. She’d seemed thrilled to meet me. That’s why I liked young actresses. So many of them were easily impressed and more than willing to do whatever it took to get to the top. Fortunately for me, they were clueless that I couldn’t do jack to get them there. From the beginning I’d known she was only sleeping with me because she assumed it could advance her career. Yet, the fact that she hadn’t shown the slightest bit of personal concern for my situation irked me more than it should have.
What had I expected? Over the years, Devon had repeatedly told me, “Those hit and runs might serve your immediate needs, but one of these days, you’re going to need a woman by your side. One that cares about you more than anything or anyone else in the world.”
He was right. Constant female companionship wasn’t a problem, but I never had an interest in turning any of those hook-ups into something more. Tenuous relationships had always been just fine with me. I didn’t need the hassle that came with commitment. In my mind, marriage was the ultimate prison. Like having cable with just one channel. Sometimes you might just want to watch another damn movie for a change. Devon was a prime example. Since he married Shontae, his independence had all but disappeared. He and I used to do the club circuit and even vacation together. Now he had to consult with Shontae to take a leak. Well, it wasn’t that extreme, but my boy no longer had the freedom to do as he pleased. And he no longer did the club scene at all unless he and Shontae received an invitation to an affair at one L.A.’s nightspots. I didn’t comprehend how Devon could stand it. On the other hand, I’d never seen a woman love a man as much as Shontae loved him. In the two years they had been married, they had faced in-law issues and a stalker situation and seemed to be more in love than they were on their wedding day. I believed Shontae would actually give her life for Devon if it every proved necessary. And Devon would do the same. Sometimes I secretly wondered what that must feel like.
Kindle - http://amzn.to/TNCAuW & Kobo - http://bit.ly/UrtUqi & Nook - http://bit.ly/RYhlIB
*****
Vaughn, it’s Reese.”
“Reese, how are you?” I couldn’t wait to hear her explanation of why it took this long to call.”
“How am I? Why didn’t you call me and let me know you were all right?”
I almost checked out, and she has the nerve to have an attitude? “My phone died.” And I almost did too. “I’m recovering pretty well. Thanks for asking.”
Her tone softened. “I’m sorry, but I just thought all this time I hadn’t heard from you because you were mad at me.”
Insecure women were such a pain in the ass. “Now aren’t you glad you didn’t come along?”
“That’s not funny, Vaughn. I’m so happy you’re okay.”
“Has the media given any details?”
“What kind of details?” she asked, sounding suspicious.
“About my injuries.”
“No, the report I saw just said you were in a serious car crash. Why? Is it worse than they made it sound?”
“You could say that. My face is jacked up. I broke both my legs and dislocated my hip.”
“Oh, my God!” she whispered. “So, how long will you be in the hospital?”
“I’m not in the hospital anymore. Craig Weinstein is letting me stay with him until I can get around on my own.”
“Did they tell you how long it would be?”
“They don’t really know. Physical therapy might take a year.”
“What!” Vaughn held the phone away from his ear at the shrill volume in her voice. “So, what’s going to happen to us with the film?”
Ah, that’s all she wanted to know. She’s worried about her job. Apparently the studio hadn’t yet informed the cast of their decision to replace me, and I wasn’t going to be the one to tell her.
“Us? Or you?” Silence. “That’s what I thought. I have to go, Reese.” I clicked off my cell and closed my eyes, meditating on what she had just said, but I had no reason to be disappointed in her. From the first day’s read-throughs in the studio conference room, I’d known a hook-up with Reese was inevitable. She’d seemed thrilled to meet me. That’s why I liked young actresses. So many of them were easily impressed and more than willing to do whatever it took to get to the top. Fortunately for me, they were clueless that I couldn’t do jack to get them there. From the beginning I’d known she was only sleeping with me because she assumed it could advance her career. Yet, the fact that she hadn’t shown the slightest bit of personal concern for my situation irked me more than it should have.
What had I expected? Over the years, Devon had repeatedly told me, “Those hit and runs might serve your immediate needs, but one of these days, you’re going to need a woman by your side. One that cares about you more than anything or anyone else in the world.”
He was right. Constant female companionship wasn’t a problem, but I never had an interest in turning any of those hook-ups into something more. Tenuous relationships had always been just fine with me. I didn’t need the hassle that came with commitment. In my mind, marriage was the ultimate prison. Like having cable with just one channel. Sometimes you might just want to watch another damn movie for a change. Devon was a prime example. Since he married Shontae, his independence had all but disappeared. He and I used to do the club circuit and even vacation together. Now he had to consult with Shontae to take a leak. Well, it wasn’t that extreme, but my boy no longer had the freedom to do as he pleased. And he no longer did the club scene at all unless he and Shontae received an invitation to an affair at one L.A.’s nightspots. I didn’t comprehend how Devon could stand it. On the other hand, I’d never seen a woman love a man as much as Shontae loved him. In the two years they had been married, they had faced in-law issues and a stalker situation and seemed to be more in love than they were on their wedding day. I believed Shontae would actually give her life for Devon if it every proved necessary. And Devon would do the same. Sometimes I secretly wondered what that must feel like.
Kindle - http://amzn.to/TNCAuW & Kobo - http://bit.ly/UrtUqi & Nook - http://bit.ly/RYhlIB
January 5, 2013
Winner and New Contest!
Congratulations to Adrenna Shipman! You won the first contest for Ain't Too Proud to Beg. I will be contacting you for your mailing address, so I can send the swag bag.
Contest #2 starts now for a chance to win:
Chicki Brown fluorescent tote bag Purse-size calculator & pen or notepad & pen Tube of scented body cream $10.00 Amazon gift card Lamborghini key chain (if they arrive in time…) CD with various versions of the title songs of my books And, of course, some luscious chocolate!
Here are the rules:
1. Copy and post this on Facebook:
“If you love romance, you have to read Chicki Brown’s new novel, Ain’t Too Proud to Beg! Available on Kindle - http://amzn.to/TNCAuW & Kobo - http://bit.ly/UrtUqi& Nook - http://bit.ly/RYhlIB” (You MUST tag me, because it’s the only way I will know if you posted.)
2. and/or you can tweet this:
“If you love romance, you have to read @Chicki663’s new novel, AIN’T 2 PROUD 2 BEG! On Kindle - http://amzn.to/TNCAuW Nook and Kobo.”
Everyone who posts will be entered to win this week’s swag bag. The more you post these, the better your chances of winning! Contest ends on Friday, Jan 11th at midnight.
Again, U.S. residents only, please. Thank you and good luck!
Contest #2 starts now for a chance to win:
Chicki Brown fluorescent tote bag Purse-size calculator & pen or notepad & pen Tube of scented body cream $10.00 Amazon gift card Lamborghini key chain (if they arrive in time…) CD with various versions of the title songs of my books And, of course, some luscious chocolate!
Here are the rules:
1. Copy and post this on Facebook:
“If you love romance, you have to read Chicki Brown’s new novel, Ain’t Too Proud to Beg! Available on Kindle - http://amzn.to/TNCAuW & Kobo - http://bit.ly/UrtUqi& Nook - http://bit.ly/RYhlIB” (You MUST tag me, because it’s the only way I will know if you posted.)
2. and/or you can tweet this:
“If you love romance, you have to read @Chicki663’s new novel, AIN’T 2 PROUD 2 BEG! On Kindle - http://amzn.to/TNCAuW Nook and Kobo.”
Everyone who posts will be entered to win this week’s swag bag. The more you post these, the better your chances of winning! Contest ends on Friday, Jan 11th at midnight.
Again, U.S. residents only, please. Thank you and good luck!
January 4, 2013
No resolutions!
In the past few days, just about everyone has written something about making New Year's resolutions, so I thought I'd repost last January 5th's entry from my old Webs.com blog. http://chicki663.webs.com/apps/blog/
*****
Each morning I read devotionals from a Christian web site called Lightsource. A few minutes ago I read the entry for today from the Proverbs 31 women's devotional, and I felt as if I could've written it myself.
All over the Internet people are sharing their goals, resolutions, and vows. I didn't last January, and I don't plan to do it for 2011 either. After eight years of frustration, aggravation, temporary depression, and self-doubts writing wise, 2010 was my most successful year thus far. I believe it's because I finally put my writing career into God's hands and trusted Him to show me what I should do.
The sister who wrote this explains my feelings perfectly:
Keeping My New Year's Resolutions to Myself
Glynnis Whitwer
"The king of Israel answered, ‘Tell him the one who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off."'
1 Kings 20:11 (NIV)
Devotion:
I'm done with announcing my New Year's Resolutions. I know some people thrive on accountability from announcing goals. I'm not one of them. Once, I announced on my blog I was losing weight, and I gained five pounds. There was something seriously wrong with that situation.
Recently, I heard successful entrepreneur Derek Sivers explain why some people shouldn't announce their goals. According to several scientific studies, it seems some of us get mental gratification just by talking about our goals without actually doing the work. While this opposes common understanding of accountability, I can see the truth in it.
There have been times when I've taken pride in myself for identifying a worthwhile goal. It's like there's this striving little part of me that puffs up ever so slightly when declaring what I'm going to accomplish. It's definitely a cousin of boasting, only so much more refined. Do I imagine your admiration just in the speaking of my goals? Does it make me seem smarter or bolder than I am?
You'd never know from the surface these thoughts dance around my subconscious. It doesn't even happen to me all the time. But for some reason, New Year's Resolutions are the worst. It's so much easier to declare a grand resolution than do the steadfast daily marching needed to cross the finish line.
Whether it's neglected resolutions, sales pitches that don't pan out, or political promises, we live in a society of sometimes lofty declarations. Yet I've learned the hard way that words are empty without the steadfast commitment to live them out. Time and truth go hand-in-hand.
The Bible is quite clear that actions speak louder than words. There's an interesting statement made in 1 Kings 20:11 that rings true. It's spoken by Ahab, king of Israel, when he faced attack by Ben-Hadad, king of Aram. Ben-Hadad sent threatening messages, trying to intimidate Ahab. Kind of like an athlete boasting assuredly that he will win tonight's game.
In the face of the final threat, Ahab said to Beh-Hadad's messenger, "Tell him: ‘One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.'" In other words, save the talking for after you've accomplished the goal.
Now those are words worth memorizing. And they speak vividly to me today in the face of yet another year of potential and promise. The biblical principal behind them is: Do not boast - and if you boast, boast in Christ. In our age of status updates and tweets, it can be tempting to make ourselves seem more interesting, important, ambitious or productive than we really are, yet.
I'm not saying it's wrong. It's just not right for me. So instead of making a public declaration of any New Year's Resolutions, I'm choosing to invest in my standing orders from God, while listening for His future assignments.
And I'm not telling anyone about it. Except you.
Source: www.lightsource.com/devotionals/encouragement/default.aspx
December 31, 2012
Reader Contest!
Announcing my first blog contest for Ain’t Too Proud to Beg .You can win a swag bag containing:
Chicki Brown fluorescent tote bag Lamborghini key chain (if they arrive in time…) Purse-size calculator & pen or notepad & pen Tube of scented body cream $5.00 Amazon gift card and, of course, some luscious chocolate!
All you have to do is download the free sample of Ain’t Too Proud to Beg to your Kindle, Nook or Kobo, read the first chapter then click “View my complete profile” at the right of this page and click “Contact Me” to send your answers to the three questions below.
1.2. What was his major injury?
3. What was Vaughn thinking about when he crashed his Lamborghini Aventador J?
Everyone who submits all three correct answers by midnight Friday, January 4th will be entered in the giveaway for this week. I will announce the winner on Saturday morning, January 5th. Next week I will run another contest to give everyone another chance to win.
ONE ENTRY PER PERSON, please. Sorry, U.S. residents only.
Kindle - http://amzn.to/TNCAuW & Kobo - http://bit.ly/UrtUqi & Nook - http://bit.ly/RYhlIB
December 30, 2012
Sample Sunday #3
In today's excerpt from Ain't Too Proud to Beg, Vaughn is still in the hospital when he makes a special request of his best buddy, Devon Burke.
******
I couldn’t have taken more than three bites of the apple and a couple of swigs of water before fatigue overtook me. Sometime later, the ringing of my cell phone woke me.
“Hey, V. Were you sleeping?”
“No. It’s the middle of the day. Why would I be sleeping?”
“Stop lying. You’re not punching a clock. It’s allowed.”
“Thanks for the reminder, man.”
“I didn’t mean it that way, V. Anyway, I’m calling with some good news. The real estate agent thinks she has a couple interested in subletting your condo. They’re offering cash upfront for the six months.”
Hearing this news brightened my day almost as much as when TC massaged my legs. “Yeah? That is good news, especially since my HOA fees run twelve hundred a month. Did she tell you anything about these people?”
“They’re young newlyweds considering relocating to the US. The husband is the son of an Iranian businessman, and he’s here to investigate some business opportunities for his father. He didn’t want to bring his new wife to this country and put her up in a hotel. He wanted somewhere that would feel like home while they’re here. The agent said they loved the furniture and décor.”
I laughed. “They should. I paid that decorator a fortune to get it right. What do you think about them?”
“Haven’t met ‘em yet. I wanted to check with you first. She said we could set up a meeting for tomorrow. If they sign the lease, she can overnight it to you for your signature and get the ball rolling.”
“She does understand the bed, the flat screens, and the sound system aren’t included. And they don’t have any kids, right?”
“I made those points clear in my first meeting with her, V.”
“Okay, I don’t want them getting their freak on in my bed, and I can’t have any rug rats tearing up my place, Dev.”
“It’ll all be laid out in the lease. No worries, man,” he reassured me. “Once the deal is done, she’ll have a professional organizer come to pack your personal stuff to go into storage.”
“One more favor then, man. I need you to get the real personal stuff out of there before this organizer comes. I don’t want to read a list of my toys in the National Enquirer.”
“Relax. They’ll pack and inventory everything.”
“You’re not hearing me. I need you to get some specific things out of my bedroom before the organizer comes in. They’re in the drawers underneath the bed and in the guest room.”
“Aww, you gotta be kidding!” he said, finally realizing what I meant. “I’m not touching that stuff.”
I laughed. “You’ll need to take some tools with you.”
“Tools? What kind of tools?”
“You know. A set of screwdrivers and maybe a pair of pliers.”
“Man, what are you getting me into?”
“Don’t stress, Dev. It’s only some minor disassembly. Take a couple of empty boxes with you.” He groaned and I chuckled again. “You’re the only one I can trust. Just box it all up really good, and mark it, uh…workout equipment.” I barked out a laugh.
A long groan rumbled through the phone, and I pictured him sucking in his already hollow cheeks. “I’ve done some stuff for you in the past, but this is crazy. When I write my memoir, I’m telling everything. You know you owe me, right?”
We both laughed at the absurdity of the situation. “You’re my boy. Thanks, Dev." ***** Kindle - http://amzn.to/TNCAuW & Kobo - http://bit.ly/UrtUqi & Nook - http://bit.ly/RYhlIB
December 23, 2012
Merry Christmas!
Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas! Thank you all for your support, encouragement and friendship during this year. Love, Chicki
Sample Sunday #2
I'm signing off for a few days to celebrate Christmas with family, but I wanted to leave you with another excerpt from
Ain't Too Proud to Beg
. Kindle - http://amzn.to/TNCAuW& Kobo - http://bit.ly/UrtUqi& Nook - http://bit.ly/RYhlIB
By the way, if you want to read about Vaughn before the new release, you can get Hollywood Swinging FREE until midnight Sunday here: http://amzn.to/lpgC8m.
Here's Sample Sunday excerpt #2 from my new release, Ain't Too Proud To Beg:
A fter Vaughn’s antagonistic mood on Monday, I had all intentions of using a tougher approach with him today. But that message from Brad had sapped every ounce of my energy. Normally, I tried to start sessions with patients on as positive a note as possible. Today, I just didn’t have it in me. I hated not being fully present, so I started by sharing some water therapy trivia. At the moment, nothing else came to mind, but when Vaughn took off his robe, the sight of his strong, fit body scrambled the remaining functioning neurons in my brain. I reached out to steady him as he made his way into the tub, and the feel of his hard bicep beneath my hand was such an unexpected pleasure, I quickly released it. Even though I’d tried my best not to have a reaction, his firm, hairless chest, arms, and abs were a sight to behold. Most of my patients weren’t in such admirable physical condition. Judging from the pleased expression on his chiseled face, I guess I failed miserably.
These initial sessions weren’t just about beginning treatment; they had everything to do with getting to know the patient. So far I’d learned that the illustrious Mr. Breland was quite proud of his body, and he definitely wasn’t a churchgoer. Meeting a black person who didn’t have some kind of religious affiliation was strange to me. Growing up in Atlanta, everybody went to church. Even if they showed up in club attire, because they’d just left their favorite nightspot. Basically, everyone down there was something – Christian, Muslim, Jehovah’s Witness. They either went to church on Sunday and Wednesday or handed out The Watchtower in front of local stores or attended the masjid and sold The Final Call in the middle of busy intersection traffic. By no means was I a holy roller, but I never questioned God’s existence or power. Vaughn’s reference to “the man upstairs” gave me a pretty good idea of where he stood spiritually.
I lowered myself into the water, raised his foot, and felt his calf muscles contract beneath my hand. “Today we’re just going to do two sets of fifteen repetitions of each exercise. I don’t want to overtax your muscles.”
“So, what’s on your mind?” he asked in a casual tone, gazing down into my face and waiting for an answer.
“What do you mean?” I brought his foot forward and then back, checking the range of motion on his right leg, the most severely damaged one.
“Why are you so preoccupied today?”
“Excuse me?” I asked. The fact that he seemed to think he knew me after only two visits irritated me, but I guess that’s just what I’d done with him.
I concentrated on his leg rather than his face and continued the motion. “Am I?”
“Well, you’ve lost your train of thought twice in the past five minutes. Something, other than me, must be occupying your mind.”
“It’s nothing worth mentioning.” There was absolutely no reason for this man to know my personal business. “Are you used to monopolizing a woman’s thoughts?”
His damaged yet still incredibly gorgeous face eased into that smile I had seen countless times on the big and small screens. “When it’s just the two of us, yes.”
Insufferable ego manic. “You forget Edna’s here too.” I nodded in her direction. “Let’s switch legs. I’m here to work, Vaughn, and that’s the only thing on my mind.”
His smile widened. “That’s too bad,” was all he said before he rested his head back on the edge of the tub and closed his eyes.
I suppose he was telling the truth. He had an aura that seemed to fill up every cubic inch of air space around us, and he wasn’t even at his best. Imagining how imposing he might be when he was on his game was a frightening thought.
“This next exercise will help to strengthen your hamstrings.” I straightened his leg as much as it would go without hurting him. “Okay. Keeping your leg as straight as possible, bring your toes back toward you. Try it ten times slowly. If you don’t experience any pain, do another ten.”
Most often, women would merely say, “That hurts,” or a simple, “Ouch,” but I’d learned from working with men, to watch for non-verbal clues. Swallowing, blinking, or tensing other parts of the body were all responses to pain. “You’re going to be stiff, but if it hurts, stop. We don’t want to do more harm than good.”
“I’m all right.” He finished ten reps with no complaints, but I noticed the beads of sweat on his forehead.
“You can rest in between, if you need to.”
“No, TC,” he snapped. “I don’t need to rest.”
“Fine. You know your body better than anyone else. Do another ten.”
Once he had finished, I bent down to reach for his other foot. When I looked up, he was studying me with a critical squint.
“What? Do you want to ask me something?”
“Yeah, what do you do for fun around here besides skiing?”
“Personally, I don’t do much besides go to the gym and maybe meet friends for a drink after work. There isn’t a whole lot to do in Telluride outside of fine dining and outdoor sports. We have a few nightclubs, but that’s not my thing. This isn’t Los Angeles, you know.”
He chuckled. “So what isyour thing?”
“I’m a mother. I spend my free time taking care of my daughter and my home. When I get a few minutes, I like to read. In fact, I’m in the middle of a book by your friend Devon’s wife.”
“Your daughter is beautiful,” he said, taking me off guard. I hadn’t expected anything nice to come out of his mouth.
“Thank you. Now let’s try some ankle circles starting with the opposite leg. Move your foot and ankle in a circle as large as possible and comfortable without pain.”
He followed my instruction and continued. “Did you ever consider getting her into modeling? There’s great money in it.”
“You’re not the first to suggest the idea, but I don’t want that kind of life for her. She needs to remain a child for as long as she possibly can. So many child stars started out as models and naturally wanted to branch out into acting. When I hear those stories about how most of them ended up, it breaks my heart. I could never allow those kinds of things to happen to Zahra.”
He studied my face, and his voice softened. “You must love her a lot.”
“She’s my world.” Brad’s call came galloping back into my mind. “And I’ll protect her with my life.”
Vaughn abruptly stopped his exercise. “You say that as if someone’s after her.”
I placed my palm against the sole of his foot and urged him to continue the movement. “Do you have any children?”
“Me? No, no, no. I’m too much of a kid myself. My life is all about having fun. Maybe when I’m finished having fun, I’ll settle down.”
Considering how the media constantly reported stories about Vaughn spreading himself around, it was hard for me to imagine him being childless, especially with so many money-hungry girls out here looking to get paid. He must be extremely careful. Or perhaps he’d had a vasectomy. No need to speculate on that kind of thing. “Okay, Vaughn. One more exercise, and we’ll call it quits for the day. I’m going to sit and rest your leg over my knees then I want you to contract your thigh muscles and hold for a count of ten and relax.”
He did as I asked and continued his information expedition. “You said you’re a single mother. Where’s her daddy, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Edna looked up from her magazine and frowned.
“You certainly ask a lot of questions, but since it’s a matter of public knowledge, I’ll tell you. He’s not involved in her life. Never has been.” He finished the first set of repetitions. “Good. Do another ten on the same leg. Since we’re playing twenty questions, is everything I’ve read about you true?”
“Depends on what you’ve read.” A devilish look came into his eyes.
“That you party hard and don’t stay in relationships for more than five minutes.”
Vaughn grimaced and focused on tightening his leg muscles. “That’s true. I believe in working hard and playing even harder. As far as the relationships go, five minutes is long enough for me. I get bored easily. There’s nothing wrong with a little variety in life, is there?”
“Let me help you switch legs, and you can do the same.” I eased his leg from my lap and reached for the other one.
“How long were you married?” He looked down at his leg rather than at me.
“Never. Why are you asking me all of these personal questions?”
“As I told you at the hospital, I like to know the people I work with.”
“The last thing I heard, you and Reese Diaz were an item. Has she been out here to visit you since the accident?”
“We weren’t that much of an item. Her five minutes were up.”
“Oh. That’s too bad. You two made a cute couple.”
The snort he made told me just how serious he was about her. “Reese is all about getting ahead in Hollywood. Now that I’m off the project, I won’t be hearing from her anymore.”
Judging by his derisive tone, it was time to end this discussion. “I think we’ve done enough for today. We have to wait for the tub to drain before I can open the door.” I set the controls and returned to be bench. “If your muscles are sore tomorrow, you can use an ice pack and take some ibuprofen.”
“You’re joking,” he said with an exaggerated eye roll.
“No, I’m not. It’s been seven weeks since you’ve worked those muscles, and you’ve been through surgery. If you want to do something on our off days, work on your glutes. Simply contracting and squeezing the muscles for ten seconds helps a lot. Do fifteen or twenty reps, and it’s easier if you’re lying on your back or your stomach.”
“So you’ve been checking out my ass?” He asked with a sly grin.
Another grunt and fiercer frown from Edna.
I gritted my teeth and answered in my most serious tone. “No. Vaughn. Anyone who’s been lying in bed for as long as you have needs to work on all muscle groups, particularly those they couldn’t use. If you merely practice what we’ve done today on your own time, you’ll see much faster improvement.” The water had receded now and swirled around my ankles. “It’s time for me to go now. I have some business to take care of. Edna, will you help him get dried off and changed?”
“Of course.” The way she shook her head said she understood why I wanted to get out of there. She stood and approached the tub with two towels over her arm. “I’ll take it from here.” Edna opened the door, and I escaped as fast as possible without looking crazy. “See you on Friday, Vaughn. If you have any problems, call me.” I grabbed a towel from the stack on a shelf, snatched up my clothes and duffel bag, went into the bathroom, and shut the door. Inside the small Swedish spa-style bath, I leaned against the teak wall, took a deep breath, and inhaled the scent of at least ten lavender aromatherapy candles surrounding the tub. Wasn’t that supposed to be a calming fragrance? It did nothing to relieve my escalated pulse. I hated myself for allowing this mind-numbingly handsome yet narcissistic man to get to me.
By the way, if you want to read about Vaughn before the new release, you can get Hollywood Swinging FREE until midnight Sunday here: http://amzn.to/lpgC8m.
Here's Sample Sunday excerpt #2 from my new release, Ain't Too Proud To Beg:
A fter Vaughn’s antagonistic mood on Monday, I had all intentions of using a tougher approach with him today. But that message from Brad had sapped every ounce of my energy. Normally, I tried to start sessions with patients on as positive a note as possible. Today, I just didn’t have it in me. I hated not being fully present, so I started by sharing some water therapy trivia. At the moment, nothing else came to mind, but when Vaughn took off his robe, the sight of his strong, fit body scrambled the remaining functioning neurons in my brain. I reached out to steady him as he made his way into the tub, and the feel of his hard bicep beneath my hand was such an unexpected pleasure, I quickly released it. Even though I’d tried my best not to have a reaction, his firm, hairless chest, arms, and abs were a sight to behold. Most of my patients weren’t in such admirable physical condition. Judging from the pleased expression on his chiseled face, I guess I failed miserably.
These initial sessions weren’t just about beginning treatment; they had everything to do with getting to know the patient. So far I’d learned that the illustrious Mr. Breland was quite proud of his body, and he definitely wasn’t a churchgoer. Meeting a black person who didn’t have some kind of religious affiliation was strange to me. Growing up in Atlanta, everybody went to church. Even if they showed up in club attire, because they’d just left their favorite nightspot. Basically, everyone down there was something – Christian, Muslim, Jehovah’s Witness. They either went to church on Sunday and Wednesday or handed out The Watchtower in front of local stores or attended the masjid and sold The Final Call in the middle of busy intersection traffic. By no means was I a holy roller, but I never questioned God’s existence or power. Vaughn’s reference to “the man upstairs” gave me a pretty good idea of where he stood spiritually.
I lowered myself into the water, raised his foot, and felt his calf muscles contract beneath my hand. “Today we’re just going to do two sets of fifteen repetitions of each exercise. I don’t want to overtax your muscles.”
“So, what’s on your mind?” he asked in a casual tone, gazing down into my face and waiting for an answer.
“What do you mean?” I brought his foot forward and then back, checking the range of motion on his right leg, the most severely damaged one.
“Why are you so preoccupied today?”
“Excuse me?” I asked. The fact that he seemed to think he knew me after only two visits irritated me, but I guess that’s just what I’d done with him.
I concentrated on his leg rather than his face and continued the motion. “Am I?”
“Well, you’ve lost your train of thought twice in the past five minutes. Something, other than me, must be occupying your mind.”
“It’s nothing worth mentioning.” There was absolutely no reason for this man to know my personal business. “Are you used to monopolizing a woman’s thoughts?”
His damaged yet still incredibly gorgeous face eased into that smile I had seen countless times on the big and small screens. “When it’s just the two of us, yes.”
Insufferable ego manic. “You forget Edna’s here too.” I nodded in her direction. “Let’s switch legs. I’m here to work, Vaughn, and that’s the only thing on my mind.”
His smile widened. “That’s too bad,” was all he said before he rested his head back on the edge of the tub and closed his eyes.
I suppose he was telling the truth. He had an aura that seemed to fill up every cubic inch of air space around us, and he wasn’t even at his best. Imagining how imposing he might be when he was on his game was a frightening thought.
“This next exercise will help to strengthen your hamstrings.” I straightened his leg as much as it would go without hurting him. “Okay. Keeping your leg as straight as possible, bring your toes back toward you. Try it ten times slowly. If you don’t experience any pain, do another ten.”
Most often, women would merely say, “That hurts,” or a simple, “Ouch,” but I’d learned from working with men, to watch for non-verbal clues. Swallowing, blinking, or tensing other parts of the body were all responses to pain. “You’re going to be stiff, but if it hurts, stop. We don’t want to do more harm than good.”
“I’m all right.” He finished ten reps with no complaints, but I noticed the beads of sweat on his forehead.
“You can rest in between, if you need to.”
“No, TC,” he snapped. “I don’t need to rest.”
“Fine. You know your body better than anyone else. Do another ten.”
Once he had finished, I bent down to reach for his other foot. When I looked up, he was studying me with a critical squint.
“What? Do you want to ask me something?”
“Yeah, what do you do for fun around here besides skiing?”
“Personally, I don’t do much besides go to the gym and maybe meet friends for a drink after work. There isn’t a whole lot to do in Telluride outside of fine dining and outdoor sports. We have a few nightclubs, but that’s not my thing. This isn’t Los Angeles, you know.”
He chuckled. “So what isyour thing?”
“I’m a mother. I spend my free time taking care of my daughter and my home. When I get a few minutes, I like to read. In fact, I’m in the middle of a book by your friend Devon’s wife.”
“Your daughter is beautiful,” he said, taking me off guard. I hadn’t expected anything nice to come out of his mouth.
“Thank you. Now let’s try some ankle circles starting with the opposite leg. Move your foot and ankle in a circle as large as possible and comfortable without pain.”
He followed my instruction and continued. “Did you ever consider getting her into modeling? There’s great money in it.”
“You’re not the first to suggest the idea, but I don’t want that kind of life for her. She needs to remain a child for as long as she possibly can. So many child stars started out as models and naturally wanted to branch out into acting. When I hear those stories about how most of them ended up, it breaks my heart. I could never allow those kinds of things to happen to Zahra.”
He studied my face, and his voice softened. “You must love her a lot.”
“She’s my world.” Brad’s call came galloping back into my mind. “And I’ll protect her with my life.”
Vaughn abruptly stopped his exercise. “You say that as if someone’s after her.”
I placed my palm against the sole of his foot and urged him to continue the movement. “Do you have any children?”
“Me? No, no, no. I’m too much of a kid myself. My life is all about having fun. Maybe when I’m finished having fun, I’ll settle down.”
Considering how the media constantly reported stories about Vaughn spreading himself around, it was hard for me to imagine him being childless, especially with so many money-hungry girls out here looking to get paid. He must be extremely careful. Or perhaps he’d had a vasectomy. No need to speculate on that kind of thing. “Okay, Vaughn. One more exercise, and we’ll call it quits for the day. I’m going to sit and rest your leg over my knees then I want you to contract your thigh muscles and hold for a count of ten and relax.”
He did as I asked and continued his information expedition. “You said you’re a single mother. Where’s her daddy, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Edna looked up from her magazine and frowned.
“You certainly ask a lot of questions, but since it’s a matter of public knowledge, I’ll tell you. He’s not involved in her life. Never has been.” He finished the first set of repetitions. “Good. Do another ten on the same leg. Since we’re playing twenty questions, is everything I’ve read about you true?”
“Depends on what you’ve read.” A devilish look came into his eyes.
“That you party hard and don’t stay in relationships for more than five minutes.”
Vaughn grimaced and focused on tightening his leg muscles. “That’s true. I believe in working hard and playing even harder. As far as the relationships go, five minutes is long enough for me. I get bored easily. There’s nothing wrong with a little variety in life, is there?”
“Let me help you switch legs, and you can do the same.” I eased his leg from my lap and reached for the other one.
“How long were you married?” He looked down at his leg rather than at me.
“Never. Why are you asking me all of these personal questions?”
“As I told you at the hospital, I like to know the people I work with.”
“The last thing I heard, you and Reese Diaz were an item. Has she been out here to visit you since the accident?”
“We weren’t that much of an item. Her five minutes were up.”
“Oh. That’s too bad. You two made a cute couple.”
The snort he made told me just how serious he was about her. “Reese is all about getting ahead in Hollywood. Now that I’m off the project, I won’t be hearing from her anymore.”
Judging by his derisive tone, it was time to end this discussion. “I think we’ve done enough for today. We have to wait for the tub to drain before I can open the door.” I set the controls and returned to be bench. “If your muscles are sore tomorrow, you can use an ice pack and take some ibuprofen.”
“You’re joking,” he said with an exaggerated eye roll.
“No, I’m not. It’s been seven weeks since you’ve worked those muscles, and you’ve been through surgery. If you want to do something on our off days, work on your glutes. Simply contracting and squeezing the muscles for ten seconds helps a lot. Do fifteen or twenty reps, and it’s easier if you’re lying on your back or your stomach.”
“So you’ve been checking out my ass?” He asked with a sly grin.
Another grunt and fiercer frown from Edna.
I gritted my teeth and answered in my most serious tone. “No. Vaughn. Anyone who’s been lying in bed for as long as you have needs to work on all muscle groups, particularly those they couldn’t use. If you merely practice what we’ve done today on your own time, you’ll see much faster improvement.” The water had receded now and swirled around my ankles. “It’s time for me to go now. I have some business to take care of. Edna, will you help him get dried off and changed?”
“Of course.” The way she shook her head said she understood why I wanted to get out of there. She stood and approached the tub with two towels over her arm. “I’ll take it from here.” Edna opened the door, and I escaped as fast as possible without looking crazy. “See you on Friday, Vaughn. If you have any problems, call me.” I grabbed a towel from the stack on a shelf, snatched up my clothes and duffel bag, went into the bathroom, and shut the door. Inside the small Swedish spa-style bath, I leaned against the teak wall, took a deep breath, and inhaled the scent of at least ten lavender aromatherapy candles surrounding the tub. Wasn’t that supposed to be a calming fragrance? It did nothing to relieve my escalated pulse. I hated myself for allowing this mind-numbingly handsome yet narcissistic man to get to me.
December 16, 2012
Sample Sunday!
Today I'm venturing back into the Sample Sunday soup with my brand new release, Ain't Too Proud to Beg. Here's a brief blurb about the book:
Vaughn Breland has never been one to let a woman tell him what to do. When he finds himself at the mercy of beautiful physical therapist, Trenyce Clark, he has to decide what’s most important–recovering from his near-fatal car accident or maintaining his macho image.
In this sample, physical therpist Trenyce Clark finds out about her new patient.
***
“Good morning, Doctor. Your assistant isn’t at her desk.”
“Good morning,” he said, looking up from the computer screen. “She’s not here yet. Come in and have a seat.”
I did as he asked, folded my hands in my lap, and waited for him to speak.
“We have a patient that’s going to need extensive rehabilitation.” He went on to explain the patient’s injuries.
“Sounds as though he’s fortunate to have survived.”
“That’s exactly what I told him, but he’s not feeling very thankful at the moment.”
“Why not?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about before you meet him. He’s despondent because he’s fearful his injuries might’ve ruined his career.”
“What is he, a ballet dancer?” I snickered.
“No, he’s an actor. In fact, you might know of him. His name is Vaughn Breland, and from what the nursing staff tells me, he’s a Hollywood hottie.”
My jaw dropped, and I blinked at the thoughts rushing through my mind. Ever since I’d started reading that new romance novel, I had pictured the hero as looking exactly like Vaughn Breland. “Are you sure? I’m sorry, Doctor, that sounded disrespectful. I didn’t mean it that way. Yes, I do know of him. In fact, my best friend and I just watched his last movie the other night. What in the world is he doing in Telluride? The film festival’s been over for months.”
“He said he was on his way to visit a friend who lives in town.” Dr. Liu slid the file across his desk. “Here’s a hard copy of his chart.”
For the next several minutes, I thumbed through the papers, shaking my head. “He sustained these injuries and isn’t grateful? What is he, crazy?”
Dr. Liu chuckled. “No, just a bit vain, I’m afraid and probably somewhat depressed. In addition to the fractured hip and legs, his face was also damaged, which could very well sound the death knell for his acting career.”
“Oh... That’s terrible. He’s such a gorgeous man.” My gaze jerked up to meet Dr. Liu’s. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
He laughed again then quickly sobered. “Since the hospital considers Mr. Breland a VIP, your complete confidentiality is expected.
“Of course. I understand.”
“So, are you ready to meet our illustrious visitor this afternoon?”
“Sure,” I said, thankful I didn’t have to go immediately. At least I’d be able to fix my hat-flattened hair, reapply my lipstick, and add a little blush. After all, with the exception of spotting Tom Cruise in the lobby of Aemono a couple of years ago, this was my first time meeting a Hollywood star.
Don’t be ridiculous, Trenyce. Your looks are the last thing on this guy’s mind. He’s worried about his own.
Kindle - http://amzn.to/TNCAuW & Kobo - http://bit.ly/UrtUqi & Nook - http://bit.ly/RYhlIB
Vaughn Breland has never been one to let a woman tell him what to do. When he finds himself at the mercy of beautiful physical therapist, Trenyce Clark, he has to decide what’s most important–recovering from his near-fatal car accident or maintaining his macho image.
In this sample, physical therpist Trenyce Clark finds out about her new patient.
***
“Good morning, Doctor. Your assistant isn’t at her desk.”
“Good morning,” he said, looking up from the computer screen. “She’s not here yet. Come in and have a seat.”
I did as he asked, folded my hands in my lap, and waited for him to speak.
“We have a patient that’s going to need extensive rehabilitation.” He went on to explain the patient’s injuries.
“Sounds as though he’s fortunate to have survived.”
“That’s exactly what I told him, but he’s not feeling very thankful at the moment.”
“Why not?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about before you meet him. He’s despondent because he’s fearful his injuries might’ve ruined his career.”
“What is he, a ballet dancer?” I snickered.
“No, he’s an actor. In fact, you might know of him. His name is Vaughn Breland, and from what the nursing staff tells me, he’s a Hollywood hottie.”
My jaw dropped, and I blinked at the thoughts rushing through my mind. Ever since I’d started reading that new romance novel, I had pictured the hero as looking exactly like Vaughn Breland. “Are you sure? I’m sorry, Doctor, that sounded disrespectful. I didn’t mean it that way. Yes, I do know of him. In fact, my best friend and I just watched his last movie the other night. What in the world is he doing in Telluride? The film festival’s been over for months.”
“He said he was on his way to visit a friend who lives in town.” Dr. Liu slid the file across his desk. “Here’s a hard copy of his chart.”
For the next several minutes, I thumbed through the papers, shaking my head. “He sustained these injuries and isn’t grateful? What is he, crazy?”
Dr. Liu chuckled. “No, just a bit vain, I’m afraid and probably somewhat depressed. In addition to the fractured hip and legs, his face was also damaged, which could very well sound the death knell for his acting career.”
“Oh... That’s terrible. He’s such a gorgeous man.” My gaze jerked up to meet Dr. Liu’s. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
He laughed again then quickly sobered. “Since the hospital considers Mr. Breland a VIP, your complete confidentiality is expected.
“Of course. I understand.”
“So, are you ready to meet our illustrious visitor this afternoon?”
“Sure,” I said, thankful I didn’t have to go immediately. At least I’d be able to fix my hat-flattened hair, reapply my lipstick, and add a little blush. After all, with the exception of spotting Tom Cruise in the lobby of Aemono a couple of years ago, this was my first time meeting a Hollywood star.
Don’t be ridiculous, Trenyce. Your looks are the last thing on this guy’s mind. He’s worried about his own.
Kindle - http://amzn.to/TNCAuW & Kobo - http://bit.ly/UrtUqi & Nook - http://bit.ly/RYhlIB
