Delaney Diamond's Blog, page 9

Delaney Diamond Presents: An interview with DL White

In this episode, I interview DL White about The Never List, a contemporary romance about single and successful Esme Whitaker who has a list of things she’s never done but wants to accomplish before her 40th birthday. Find out what type of fan fiction DL was writing before she became a published author (hint: they were a popular boy band), how many books she reads in a year, and which of her heroes she would date.

Other books by DL mentioned in this episode: Brunch at Ruby’s and A Thin Line.

Use the icons to share this interview with a friend.If you haven’t already, pick up a copy of The Never List!Listen to more interviews at podcast.delaneydiamond.com.

Quiz: How well do you know the Brooks family?

Time for another brain teaser to kick off the week!

I’ve completed three family series: the Hawthorne family, the Johnson family, and the Brooks family. The Brooks Family are cousins to the Johnsons. You’ve taken the Johnson Family quiz, and now it’s time to take the Brooks Family quiz. This one is 20 questions instead of ten. How well do you know them?

Score 70 and above: You’re a Brooks family expert!

Score below 70: Time for a re-read!

When you’re finished, tell me how you did in the comments. Good luck!

Loading…

Use the share icons below to share the quiz with a friend.

Delaney Diamond Presents: An interview with Sharon C. Cooper

In this episode, I interview Sharon C. Cooper about Tempted (book 7, Atlanta’s Finest), a contemporary romantic suspense where temptation has a way of complicating things for Detective Ashton Chambers and sassy bar owner Dani Eubanks. Find out why she thinks Dani and Ashton work as a couple and which characters in the Atlanta Finest series she enjoyed writing the most.

Other books by Sharon mentioned in this episode: Committed, In It to Win It, and Casino Heat.

Use the icons to share this interview with a friend.If you haven’t already, pick up a copy of Tempted!Listen to more interviews at podcast.delaneydiamond.com.

Book Blitz & $25 Giveaway for Almost Perfect!

I’m so happy with the reception to Hunter and Sable’s story! Readers are loving their chemistry and the story embodied in Almost Perfect, book 4 of The Cordoba Agency series. Here are a few sample reviews.

Who knew high stakes safecracking, running for one’s life dodging both the bad guys and the police in a foreign country could eventually lead these two to the love both craved? Great job… Loved Sable and Hunter’s story!

Amazon review

If you like a story mixed with mystery and romance, then this is the perfect read for you. Hunter and Sable giving me a thrill of my lifetime, trying to stay alive and doing what they did. Never a dull moment from the beginning until the end.

Amazon review

This was a very good read. The book was hot. The love scenes were on fire….I loved Hunter and Sable. Hunter is a fine specimen that caught Sable’s eye on contact. Their chemistry was hot when they first met. Hunter came to Sable’s rescue without any questions. 

Amazon review

Xpresso Book Tours has organized a blitz for Almost Perfect. One lucky winner will receive a $25 gift card. Thank you to all the participating bloggers and authors who’ll be posting about my book all week. I appreciate you!

Readers, enter the giveaway through the widget below. Best of luck to you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

4 reasons to love Almost Perfect

Over the weekend, I had a video call with some author friends, and when it was my turn to give a writing update, I proudly proclaimed that Almost Perfect is one of my best books yet. After the meeting, I contemplated why I felt that way about this story, which prompted me to write this blog post. I love this novel, and these are the reasons I think you will too. 

Hunter Miller

First of all, the hero’s name is sexy—Hunter—and Sable is attracted to him right away. She tries her best to resist him, but it’s all in vain. This man is too fine, and being stuck in an apartment with him is too much of a temptation! 

But that’s not all. He’s also a sharpshooter, and a sharpshooter is someone who is very skilled using firearms. In fact, he has the highest shooting accuracy of any member of the Cordoba team, and that ability comes in handy when they’re on the run.  

Hunter is also a master of disguise, and you’ll see his work and how he uses that skill to disguise himself and the heroine to accomplish their goals in the story. In previous stories, you learned that he’s a mixed race man, but he didn’t know anything about his family. He’s closed off and private at first, but Sable forces him to open up and share what he’s learned with her, and because of that you’ll find out more about his past. 

Sable Devereaux

Sable might be my toughest heroine yet. Terri Slade in The Rules was a tough heroine because of having to deal with a violent ex, but you never got to see much of her toughness displayed on the page, except at the very end when she has to defend herself. 

With Sable, from Chapter 1 you’ll see her skills as a cat burglar. A cat burglar is a particularly stealthy thief, especially one who gains undetected entry through the use of agility. Typically a thief who enters a building by climbing to an upper story. So you’ll see how agile and athletic Sable is right from the start. 

She’s not as skilled as the Cordoba team members, of course, because these are elite fighters. But she’s no slacker and is able to keep up with Hunter, which impresses him. She’s also multilingual and goal-oriented, and just an all-around great heroine. I adore her.

The History

Any author will tell you that our writing can sometimes get derailed when we go down the rabbit hole of research. I only use a fraction of the information I gather for the stories that I write. In Almost Perfect, I learned quite a bit about specific historical events (when you read the novel, you’ll see what I mean) and weaved information into the story because Sable is an antique dealer and also a history buff. Her love of history and knowledge play a role in helping solve the story’s mystery and take down the criminals. 

The Action

You already know I read a lot of thrillers and action movies are among my favorites to watch. Those influences are evident because the action in the story is once again hair-raising. I have to admit that putting the characters in tough positions is fun. I might be a little bit sadistic, LOL. 

There’s one particular scene where Sable and Hunter are trapped in a basement with three gunmen closing in. They survive (of course), but you get to see how yet another member of the Cordoba team shows out with his skills and handles business.

If you haven’t ordered your copy of Almost Perfect yet, make sure you do. This is a great addition to the The Cordoba Agency series that I think you’ll enjoy. 

For more background information about Almost Perfect, join me and a couple hundred readers in my Readers Lounge for the pre-Release Launch party on Thursday evening, May 19th. There will be games, excerpts, and giveaways. You don’t want to miss it.  

6 Ways to overcome the dreaded reader’s slump

Every now and again I see readers complain on social media that they can’t find a good book to read, though their tablet might be filled with books they haven’t read yet. Nothing grabs them.

For avid readers, a book slump is one of the worst things that can happen. We have plenty of books to read but not enough time, so having no desire to read any of the books on your to be read (TBR) list can be frustrating. But reading slumps are normal. Routines change (i.e. caused by a pandemic for over two years!), work gets tough, everyday life gets busier, and some things we typically make time for can require more energy than we have.

If you’re currently in a reading slump and want to leave it behind, try these 6 tips:

Reread an old favorite

Familiarity can breed comfort, and that rings true for reading as well. Sometimes you don’t have the mental bandwidth to invest in new characters. Is there an old book or series that you love? You know the one, the book(s) you recommended to at least 3 of your friends. The same one you made sure you reviewed publicly and even praised on your social media pages. It may even be the book that you made you fall in love with reading or a specific genre, the one where you have the most important scenes memorized. The book that came to mind as you read this—go get that, whether it’s on your bookshelf or in your e-library. Fall in love with your favorite fictional families again. Cuddle up and brace yourself for the parts where you may cry your eyes out due to the angst or smile widely because of the HEA you know is coming.

Try a different genre

This is one of my personal favorite ways to get out of a slump. I read a lot of contemporary romance, but if I’m not in the mood for that, there are plenty of other options on my Kindle. Historical romance can be a nice change, and outside the romance genre, mysteries and thrillers are my go-to. Sometimes getting away from your comfort reads could be just what you need to jumpstart your excitement for reading again, so don’t hesitate to give a different genre a try.

Change the method

Sometimes we may need to change the medium by which we consume information to make it a little more exciting. Used to a paperback? Try an e-reader or the reading app on your phone. Audiobooks may be a great alternative as well. Being able to consume a book on your commute to work or maybe while you’re out running errands could be just what you need. You can read while on the go yet with minimal distractions. You may find narrators whose voices you love that’ll introduce you to new authors and books, as well. 

Join a book club

Are book clubs still a thing? Yep, they sure are. Whether you create one with a group of friends or join an already established group—a book club may be just what you need. Knowing there are set dates where you’ll need to meet and discuss a book will serve as a catalyst to at least start reading the first 10 pages of a new book. You can find bookclubs in your neighborhood, the library, and at bookstores.

If you can’t meet in person, an online book club could satisfy the need for human interaction and help you discover new authors and books to enjoy. My Readers Lounge has a bookclub format. In addition to discussing my books, every month readers vote for the book they’d like to read, based on the month’s theme. For example, this month we’re reading a romantic suspense. We read the books and then use the Spoiler Thread to discuss themes, favorite passages, and villains. Then we invite the author for a conversation to gain more in depth knowledge about the novel.

Read something short

Sometimes when we’re in a reading slump, one of the most daunting things about getting out of it can be the sheer number of pages in a new book. This is where novella and short stories can come to the rescue. A tale in under 100 pages might be just what the book doctor ordered.

Change your environment

Many avid readers have a specific spot where they prefer to read. Maybe you prefer to read in bed or on your living room couch. Try switching it up a little. Read in your recliner or at the kitchen table. Need a little sun? Try by the pool in the afternoon or at a park nearby.

_______________

Have you experienced a book slump before? How did you overcome it?

Delaney Diamond Presents: An interview with Danesha Little

In this episode, I interview Danesha Little about Rookie Mistakes, a contemporary sports romance about the relationship between an arrogant rookie basketball player and his TV personality girlfriend. Find out more about what motivates Danesha to write, her frustrating experience after another author stole her work, and her favorite scene in the novel.

Books by Danesha mentioned in this episode: Unapologetically Me.

Use the icons to share this interview with a friend.If you haven’t already, pick up a copy of Rookie Mistakes!Listen to more interviews at podcast.delaneydiamond.com.

The Flower Shop: Episode 9

This is the last episode of Rhonda and Peter’s story! There are two parts to this episode. Make sure you click the #2 at the end to read the second half.

Synopsis: When Peter Ross returns to upstate New York, his plan is to sell his grandfather’s hardware store and return to life in the city. But a chance meeting with his old girlfriend Rhonda Jefferson makes him second guess his decision, and wonder about what could have been. 

Genre: Contemporary Interracial

Trope: Second chance

Heat level: Sensual

Peter downed the last of his orange juice and rinsed the glass before placing it in the dishwasher with the rest of the dishes. 

This would be his last breakfast cooked by Rhonda for a while. She had already left for the flower shop, and after he stopped by there to say goodbye, he planned to hit the road to New York.

He glanced at his watch. If he left town within thirty minutes, he should arrive at the office around one o’clock, giving him plenty of time to prep for his afternoon meeting with Eleanor, the bank’s VP and the first person he had called the day before. 

He entered Rhonda’s bedroom and picked up his bags. He had moved out of the bed and breakfast yesterday so he could spend his last night and morning in town with Rhonda. Toting the bags outside, he locked the door and then loaded them in the truck before driving the short distance to Dee’s Flower Shop.

Noting the police vehicle in the parking lot, he frowned as he exited his car. Immediately, his pulse raced, wondering if something had happened to Rhonda or her shop had been broken into. He hurried to the front, and upon entering, the bell on the door chimed. Rhonda and a police officer were talking in the middle of the store, and both turned their heads in his direction when he entered. 

She looked fine, but he remained worried. 

Peter rushed to her side. “Is everything okay?” he asked.

He completely ignored the officer, a young man with a baby face who looked no older than twenty-five years old. 

Rhonda spoke up. “Hi, Peter, this is Officer Kent. It’s crazy, but this morning Shane Weathers called and filed a complaint against you, because of what happened yesterday.” 

Peter clenched his jaw. That son of a—

“I explained that the problem was Shane. I told him that he came to my home uninvited, and when I asked him to leave, he refused. You tried to physically remove him, and in the tussle he fell down the stairs.”

Rhonda shot him a meaningful glance, signaling he should go along with the white lie she had told the officer.

“It is that what happened, Mr. Ross?” Officer Kent asked.

Peter was irritated and didn’t want to lie, but if he told the truth he could be arrested for assault, which was clearly what his old friend had hoped. 

“Yes, that’s what happened,” Peter said.

Rhonda smiled. “So you see, Officer Kent, Shane had you waste your time coming here for no reason. In all honesty, I should be the one making a report for trespassing and refusing to leave my property. To be honest, he made me very uncomfortable.”

The officer nodded, his expression grave. “Would you like to make a report to that effect, Rhonda?” 

By the familiar way he said her name, Peter suspected this wasn’t the first time they’d met. 

“That’s not necessary, but if you could talk to him and let him know my concerns, that will be helpful.”

“I sure can do that. I’m sorry I had to bother you with a false allegation.” The officer shook his head in disgust and tucked his notepad in his pocket.

“I understand, don’t worry. You’re just doing your job. How is Emily doing, by the way?”

Kent’s rigid stance relaxed and a smile broke out on his face. “Doing well. She’s due any day now, so obviously I keep my phone close at all times.”

“Of course. You’re first baby! How exciting.”

“Yes, it really is.” The younger man blushed. 

“Last time I saw her she mentioned how uncomfortable she was, and that was weeks ago. Must be worst now. You know what might put a smile on her face? Flowers. Why don’t I give you a bouquet to take to her, on me?”

The officer held up a hand. “No, I can’t allow you to do that.”

“Please, I insist, and it would be my pleasure. Knowing my flowers could make these days before the baby comes a little more pleasant, would be an honor.”

Wow, she’s good, Peter thought. 

“Well, if you insist.”

“I do! One minute.”

Rhonda put together a vibrant collection of flowers that included yellow and orange blooms, lilies, sunflowers, and verdant greenery. She carefully wrapped the bouquet in cellophane and handed it to the young policeman. 

He gratefully took them. “Thank you so much. I know Emily is going to love these.”

“I hope they brighten her day. Please let me know when she has the baby.”

“Will do.” He lifted the bouquet. “Thanks again.” He nodded at Peter on the way out.

Peter narrowed his eyes at her. “Did you just bribe a police officer?” 

Rhonda laughed. “Hey, I did what I had to do to keep my man out of trouble.”

“Your man, huh?”

She nodded and smiled, almost shyly. 

“Your man appreciates what you did.” The smile fell off his face. “Did Shane really call the police on me?”

Rhonda nodded. “He did. Officer Kent went to the bed-and-breakfast to find you first, and when he didn’t, he came here. As you can see I handled it. I know Kent and his wife—mostly Emily since for the past three years I’ve donated flowers to a church event she chairs. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Kent will talk to Shane and this whole thing will blow over.”

“I should have hit him harder—or twice,” Peter mumbled.

Rhonda slipped her arms around his waist and gazed up at him. “Don’t let him bother you.”

Her soft words and the comforting sensation of her body against his calmed his fury. Damn, he was going to miss this woman. His heart already ached as he anticipated their time apart. 

He enveloped her in his embrace and placed a tender kiss on her lips. “I wish I didn’t have to go.”

“Me too,” she moaned with a pout. “I’m going to miss you.”

“I’m going to miss you too. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Maybe this weekend?” Rhonda suggested hopefully.

Peter chuckled softly. “I’ll do my best.” He didn’t want to make a promise he couldn’t keep.

She looked crestfallen but didn’t push.

Peter dug her house keys out of his pocket and handed them over. “I better get going so I can arrive in the city at a reasonable time.”

Neither of them moved. They kept holding on and looking into each other’s eyes. 

I can’t believe you’re going into work today.”

“I need to take care of a few things I didn’t want to put off until tomorrow.”

Reluctantly, Peter withdrew and took one of her hands in his. Walking away was tougher than he had anticipated, and for the umpteenth time he wished he could stay. Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option at the moment.

“I love you, Rhonda.”

“I love you, too.”

“One more for the road.”

They kissed again, a meeting of the lips that started sweet and turned into more amorous kissing. He put enthusiasm into the kiss, rubbing his hands up and down her spine, crushing her to him because he didn’t know when he would see her again.

Finally, Peter withdrew with great reluctance.

“Okay, I’m getting out of here,” he whispered huskily.

Rhonda didn’t respond. She simply closed her eyes and nodded. 

They walked hand-in-hand out the door to the car. 

“Goodbye.” Another kiss to the cheek which turned into a hug. Rhonda clung to him, and he didn’t want to let her go either, but he had to leave. This was so hard. 

He stepped out of her embrace, but she kept her eyes averted to the ground. Peter lifted her chin with one finger. 

“I’ll be back as soon as I can. I promise.”

She nodded, but tears filled her eyes, and he almost changed his mind and stayed, just so he could dry those tears and wipe that forlorn expression from her face. 

He climbed into the car and backed out of the lot. Then he waved to her and she waved back as he pulled away. 

 Peter made good time and arrived at the bank a little before one o’clock. He pulled on the tie and jacket lying across the back seat before he strode into the building and rode the elevator to the top floor. 

As he walked to his office, he took time to greet staff, and before he entered his office, his administrative assistant welcomed him back with a broad grin. 

Peter closed the door and went to work, pulling together the information he needed for the meeting with Eleanor, the vice president. At three he made the trip to the other side of the floor. After being waved along by her assistant, he knocked.

“Come in.”

Peter entered to find Eleanor, a stylish older woman with completely gray hair, seated behind her desk.

She observed him from above the glasses lowered on her nose, her eyes dropping to the folder in his hands. “Hello, Peter.”

“Hi, Eleanor.”

She set down her pen and relaxed in the leather chair, observing him as he sat in front of her. 

“Well, you asked for this meeting. What can I do for you?”

Audiobook Blitz & $25 Giveaway for the Royal Brides series!

Xpresso Book Tours has organized a blitz for the audiobook versions of the Royal Brides series! One lucky winner will receive a $25 gift card. Thank you to all the participating bloggers and authors who’ll be posting about my book all week. I appreciate you! Readers, enter the giveaway through the widget below.

Links to Princess of Zamibia

Authors Direct: https://bit.ly/3JWBZUr

Audible US: https://adbl.co/3qLwQrv

Audible UK: https://adbl.co/3JR9jNw

Apple: https://apple.co/382zB14

Nook: https://bit.ly/3jVDyaN

Kobo: https://bit.ly/37XHyVr

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3jYBK0t

Scribd: https://bit.ly/3Mf0ePh

Links to Princess of Estoria

Authors Direct: https://bit.ly/37gnDk2

Audible US: https://adbl.co/3x94BqO

Audible UK: https://adbl.co/3uScoXn

Apple: https://apple.co/3Or4vRQ

Nook: https://bit.ly/3rBloz4

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3KZlRCS

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3rBkbbl

Scribd: https://bit.ly/3MjWHzp

Links to Queen of Barrakesch

Authors Direct: https://bit.ly/3KVHRyA  

Audible US: https://adbl.co/36sb8lF

Audible UK: https://adbl.co/3uVm18U

Apple: https://apple.co/3Mc5Gm4

Nook: https://bit.ly/3vu5iIT

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3jUHOak

Scribd: https://bit.ly/3KZELd4

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3xC79hk

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Flower Shop: Episode 8

Another episode is here! Last week you voted to have Shane interrupt the happy couple, so that’s the content I wrote. There are two parts to this episode. Make sure you click the #2 at the end to read the second half.

Synopsis: When Peter Ross returns to upstate New York, his plan is to sell his grandfather’s hardware store and return to life in the city. But a chance meeting with his old girlfriend Rhonda Jefferson makes him second guess his decision, and wonder about what could have been. 

Genre: Contemporary Interracial

Trope: Second chance

Heat level: Sensual

For the second day in a row, Peter woke up in Rhonda’s bed. Sunlight streamed in through the curtains, and the scent of breakfast cooking greeted him. 

He stretched and yawned and ran a hand down his face. Checking the time on his phone, he saw it was almost noon. Damn, he’d slept later than expected.

Yesterday he’d reluctantly left her bed early in the morning because she’d had two weddings to deliver and set up flowers for. While she worked the weddings, he went to the bed-and-breakfast and logged into the system to work. Later, he checked on the contractors at the hardware store, and last night, he took Rhonda to dinner. After dinner, they watched two movies at the theater before returning to her house and falling into bed again. 

He was exhausted but content and ready to see her this morning. In two more days, he’d be driving back to the city, so every minute together counted. 

After washing up in the bathroom, he pulled on a T-shirt and jeans and went into the kitchen where Rhonda was making breakfast. 

“Hey, sleepyhead,” she greeted him, smiling over her shoulder as she worked at the stove. 

She wore baggy shorts and a T-shirt and wore her hair back into a ponytail. 

Peter wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her neck. “Good morning. You should have woke me.”

“I figured you were tired if you were sleeping that late.”

“I think the long week caught up with me.” He yawned. 

“You’ve had a lot going on. Driving up here, getting the hardware store ready, and logging in to the bank every day to keep up with your duties finally took a toll. You desperately needed that rest, more than you realized.”

“Probably. True enough, I tend to work long hours sometimes and then crash on the weekends. This is the first time I’ve slept this late though. Must be all that good loving from last night.” 

Rhonda tossed him a flirtatious look. “Well, I don’t like to brag about my own power…”

Peter chuckled and picked up a strip of bacon and bit off a piece. He wouldn’t be surprised if the location was part of why he’d slept so late. He was much more relaxed in Fountain Springs. In the city, he always felt wired and distracted by a million different things going on.

Rhonda poured beaten eggs into a pan. “Honestly, if I hadn’t gotten hungry, I would still be in bed myself. What are we doing today? We could go to the park or just relax here, or… I’m open to ideas.”

The flower shop was closed on Sundays, so they had the whole day to spend together. 

“How about we relax today? Do absolutely nothing and find a series to binge watch.”

“I’m fine with that.”

“You’re sure? Because if you want to go out, we can do that.”

“No, I’m perfectly happy to stay in.”

“Excellent.” Peter kissed the other side of her neck. She smelled so good, he couldn’t help himself.

She giggled and then lifted her puckered lips up to him, and he gave her a kiss.   

After Rhonda finished cooking, she placed platters of fresh-baked biscuits, bacon, and scrambled eggs on the small table in the kitchen, alongside fruit and jam. With the addition of fresh coffee and juice, breakfast was served.

Peter broke apart a flaky biscuit and slathered on the jam. Biting into the bread, he let out a satisfied groan. “This is so good.” 

When he returned to his life of daily takeout, he’d miss all the home cooking he’d enjoyed from Rhonda and Miss Jean. 

Seated across from him, she gave him a satisfied smile. “Are you still leaving on Tuesday?” she asked, taking a sip of coffee. 

“Unfortunately, I have to. Though she gave me the days out of the office, my boss is clamoring to know when I’ll be back.” One of the messages in his inbox on Saturday had been from the VP, making sure he’d be back like promised. 

“When do you think you’ll return to Fountain Springs?” Rhonda asked hesitantly.

That was the tough part. He didn’t want to make promises he couldn’t keep. “My schedule can be crazy, but I intend to come back as soon and as often as I can.”

“You better.”

Peter smiled, grateful she was as anxious to spend time with him as he was with her. They hadn’t actually said they were getting back together, but it was understood. His future was with Rhonda, and he intended to do everything in his power to make sure a relationship worked between them. 

The doorbell rang as he sipped his coffee, and he frowned. Rhonda did too. 

“Who in the world could that be? Be right back.” She scraped back her chair and left the room. 

Peter couldn’t hear the conversation with the other person, but it sounded like Rhonda was talking to a man. Their voices were low but suddenly became louder, and he slowly put down his fork, cocking his head to listen. 

They were arguing. 

Then the door closed, completely shutting him out of the conversation. 

Who was she arguing with and why?

Peter went to the front door. Through the sidelite, he saw Rhonda having an animated conversation with a man he recognized right away. Shane Weathers. 

The tall brunette had been a friend back in high school, but their friendship ended soon after he started dating Rhonda. 

What the hell was Shane doing here?

Peter should mind his own business, but Rhonda’s body language—alternating between angry hand gestures and crossed arms—prompted him to open the door and step onto the porch. 

They both swung their heads in his direction.

Shane’s eyes narrowed. “So it’s true. Peter fucking Ross, is in town,” he said with disgust.

“What are you doing here?” Peter asked.

“You haven’t stepped foot in this town for years, so shouldn’t I be asking you that question? Or better yet, I should ask Rhonda.” His gaze shifted to her. “What’s he doing here? This is the reason you won’t take my calls?”

Whoa. Peter stiffened in shock. Rhonda and Shane?

“Who I’m seeing is none of your business,” Rhonda said in a hard voice. “You should leave.”

“Why are you questioning who she’s seeing?” Peter asked.

“Oh, she didn’t tell you? Rhonda and I are dating.”

“We are not,” she countered. 

Shane ignored her denial. “Friend of mine told me he saw the two of you at the movies last night. I didn’t believe it, so I called Rhonda this morning, but she didn’t return my call.”

“So you decided to show up here, uninvited?” Rhonda demanded, incredulous.

“Because I deserve an answer!” Shane snapped.

Peter stepped forward, his body tensing. “Hey, watch your tone. Don’t raise your voice at her.” 

Shane jerked his chin higher. “Or what? What are you even doing here, Peter? You left and broke her heart. I was here. I was a friend to her for years. I had to listen to her talk about you like you were some kind of demigod, when we both know you’re not.” 

“Shut up,” Peter said in an even tone. 

“Why? You don’t want her to know about the bet?”

Rhonda’s gaze bounced between them. “What bet?”

Shane smirked. “Tell her. Tell her how you bet me that you could get the perfect A student to fall for you. What a challenge she was for you.”

“You’re a goddamn liar!” Peter turned to Rhonda. “He’s making it sound worse than it is. It wasn’t that kind of bet.” 

“So there was a bet, it just wasn’t that kind of bet?” she asked sarcastically.

“While we’re sharing,” Shane continued, “has she made you breakfast yet? She makes the most delicious, flaky biscuits. Oh, and good bacon too. Her bacon has just the right amount of crispiness.”

The taunting words punched Peter in the chest and knocked the wind out of him. Having Rhonda make him breakfast had made him feel as if they shared something intimate and special. Knowing she’d done the exact same with Shane Weathers—probably after a night of passion like they’d shared—left a bitter aftertaste in his mouth. 

Rhonda’s eyes widened. “You’re a jerk.”

“No, you’re the jerk. I’ve been buying floral arrangements from you the past couple months, and you repay me by hooking up with the man who left you behind?”

“I never asked you to buy those arrangements.”

“You didn’t mind leading me on so I could continue, though, did you?”

“You need to leave,” Peter interjected. He and Rhonda needed to talk, and his patience was wearing thin.

His former friend ignored him and continued speaking to her. “Tell me what I did wrong. I was nice to you, I was respectful, but I can’t get you to return a simple phone call when he comes to town.” 

“Get out of here, Shane,” Peter said. 

“Answer me, Rhonda! There’s nothing special about him. If it’s sex you want, I—”

Peter’s fist connected to Shane’s jaw, and Rhonda let out a cry as he tumbled down the steps.