Harper Bliss's Blog, page 23

Captive Hearts: Three Lesbian Romance Novels (for the price of two!)

First things first, here’s a picture of Rachel Shelley and me at the Diva Literary Awards:

[image error] As my wife put it: Rachel looks surprisingly smiley after yet another drunk lesbian coming up to her begging for a selfie. ;-0

I didn’t win in the Lesbian Romance category, but they gave all runners-up a trophy and I was/am very happy with mine. Thank you so much to everyone who voted!

I don’t have any more new releases this year, but I do have a few very well-priced box sets for you. Today, I’d like to introduce the first: Captive Hearts.

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My wife (aka my secret weapon) came up with that title because all the characters in these books are nursing deep mental wounds and are waiting for the right person to help release their captive hearts. These 3 books contain A LOT of emotions and if you’re new to my books (or want to give one of your friends a very emotional Christmas present) this is a really great deal.

Here are the details for Captive Hearts:

Three much-loved lesbian romance novels from best-selling author Harper Bliss. All the characters in these books are nursing deep mental wounds and are waiting for the right person to help release their captive hearts.

This digital box set includes At the Water’s Edge (including the follow-up novella It Takes Two), Far from the World We Know and Seasons of Love. All books have been Lesbian Romance best sellers and have garnered more than 350 5-star reviews between them.

At the Water’s Edge – Sometimes you need to go back to where you came from…

After a traumatic event that has left her in deep need of healing, Ella Goodman returns to her hometown in Oregon. While staying at her family’s cabin at the West Waters lake resort, she finds an unexpected friend in level-headed owner Kay Brody.

Far from the World We Know – How far must you run to escape the past?

Laura Baker has just moved to small-town Texas hoping for a life of solitude and recovery after a traumatic event that has scarred her irreversibly. But her chosen isolation is difficult to maintain after she meets Tess Douglas, the charming editor of the town paper.

Seasons of Love – Is age really just a number?

Alice McAllister is a successful solicitor who likes a quiet, disciplined life. But when her business partner Miranda forces her to take a vacation at her holiday home in Portugal, the presence of Miranda’s daughter Joy turns Alice’s world up-side down.

What reviewers are saying:

“At the Water’s Edge was a privilege to read, joining my all time best top ten titles.” – Lesbian Reading Room

“Far From the World We Know is an excellent book. I think it just may be Harper’s best.” – The Lesbian Review

Buy this great-value box set and get ready for a page-turning rollercoaster ride of emotions!

Word count: 200.000 words (3 novels + 1 novella)

Price: $9.99!

You can get Captive Hearts from these retailers:

Direct from author

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

Amazon AUS

Amazon DE

Apple

Kobo

Enjoy!

P.S. French Kissing: Season 4 is currently with my editor. If all goes well, it should be ready for a simultaneous ebook & audiobook release in February next year. I’ve started writing Pink Bean 7 (aka Caitlin James’ story) and hope to have the first draft done before Christmas.

P.P.S. Since 2 weeks we have an extra inhabitant at Casa Bliss:

[image error] Meet Dolly Purrton, who loves a shoebox just as much as any other feline.

No Strings Attached is FREE throughout the weekend!

[image error]For the first time since I started the series, you can try a Pink Bean book for FREE. No Strings Attached (Pink Bean 1) will be free throughout the weekend! And… you can get the second book in the series, Beneath the Surface, for $0.99 as well, while you’re at it.

Why not brew yourself a couple of wet cappuccinos (you’ll get it once you’ve read No Strings Attached, I promise) and have yourself a Pink Bean binge weekend?

GUEST BLOG: Party Wall by Cheyenne Blue

My friend Cheyenne Blue has a new book out and has stopped by to tell you all about it. (Note from Harper: I have read the book and LOVED it!)

[image error]What is the Universe trying to tell me?

By Cheyenne Blue



I have a new book out. My fourth novel Party Wall is out now from Ylva Publishing and available everywhere. I’m really excited. And this release day, I was doubly excited. Like many writers, I have a day job. Nothing too exciting—I’m a litigation paralegal—but I enjoy it. The last two of my book releases though, my day job threw a massive spanner in the works both times. When Not-So-Straight Sue was released back in September 2016, I was flat out with trial preparation on a massive case. Twelve hour days. Overtime. Weekends. Then the trial happened. And guess which day Fenced-In Felix was released? Yup, the first day of trial.

Originally, Ylva Publishing scheduled Party Wall for release on 18 October. So far so good. But that same trial that scuppered my enjoyment of the release days for Sue and Felix? Well we lost at trial so we had to appeal. And the appeal date? Yup, you guessed it. 18 October.

Luckily, Ylva brought forward the release for Party Wall to 20 September. It was suddenly a lot easier to be cheerful. Finally, I’d have a release date that I could wholeheartedly enjoy. Talk about my book to friends, scream it on social media. Crack a bottle of bubbles with my partner. But then, on 19 September a whole bunch of people at my day job, including me, got served with redundancy notices and told we had to reapply for the few positions left. So instead of enjoying Party Wall’s release, I was dusting off my resume and getting caught up in the spiral of negativity and woe that was work.

At this point, I was seriously wondering what the universe was trying to tell me.

It ended well, for me at least. I got my job back and the next day I got a promotion and a pay rise. Party Wall is out in the world and even though I still have yet to enjoy a release day for one of my books, Party Wall is out there, and that means a lot. The very cheerful Lily and the rather introspective Freya and their love story is available everywhere. I would love it if you would read their story.

Blurb

From the moment Freya looks in the window of the brash, new sex shop in Grasstree Flat she knows it will be nothing but trouble. For a start, it will clash with her own New Age store right next door. And she’s right. Outgoing newcomer, Lily, begins to intrude on Freya’s well-ordered life. Freya’s friends, lifestyle, and even her cat are all affected by Lily’s magic touch. Even Freya’s yoga classes rub shoulders with Lily’s sexual-expression workshops. Lily stands for everything Freya has lost in life: playfulness, spontaneity, and delight in the physical. And sex. But does Lily have more in common with Freya than the wall that divides them?

A lesbian romance about crossing the lines that hold us back.

Available from these places:

– Ylva Publishing

– Amazon US

– Amazon UK

– Amazon CA

– Amazon DE

– Amazon AUS

– Smashwords

– Apple

– Barnes and Noble

– Kobo

Cheyenne Blue has been hanging around the lesbian erotica world since 1999 writing short lesbian erotica which has appeared in over 90 anthologies. Her stories got longer and longer and more and more romantic, so she went with the flow and switched to writing romance novels. You’ll find her books published by Ylva Publishing and Ladylit —the latest being Party Wall. She loves writing big hearted romance, often set in rural Australia because that’s where she lives. She has a small house on a hill with a big deck and bigger view—perfect for morning coffee, evening wine, and anytime writing. Check her out at cheyenneblue.com on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

NEW RELEASE: No Other Love (Pink Bean 6)

[image error]Despite it only being September, it’s already time for my last release of 2017. I explain why in a note at the end of No Other Love, not only for your information, but mainly because, in hindsight (always the biggest teacher, is it not?) I put a lot of those reasons into this book. I set myself up for it, of course, by making one of the main characters a lesbian romance author. (Duh!)

Preview: No Other Love (Pink Bean 6)

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My new novel No Other Love (Pink Bean – Book Six) will be out next week (on Tuesday 19 September 2017). Here’s a preview. Enjoy!

No Other Love

© Harper Bliss



CHAPTER ONE

“Best make things look spic and span,” Mia said as she handed Annie a cup of coffee. “The boss is stopping by today.” She shot Annie one of those smiles Annie had seen her use on the customers to great effect. Inspired by being on the receiving end of one of Mia’s smiles, Annie had tried smiling at people like that, but she instinctively knew her own attempts didn’t have the same effect. She practiced sometimes in front of the mirror while washing her hands and she simply didn’t have a Mia-smile.

“Sheryl or Kristin?” Annie asked, still amazed that she was able to get a real cup of coffee in her own book shop. Not the instant stuff she used to brew. It was part of the deal she had made with the Pink Bean owners. They leased part of her shop and Annie got all the free coffee she wanted, on top of a bunch more visitors through the door.

Annie needed the clarification on which one of the two was stopping by because last time Mia had said the boss was dropping in, Annie had mentally prepared for Kristin only to have Sheryl show up. There was a distinct difference.

“Kristin,” Mia said. “We have some numbers to crunch. Sheryl is not much of a number cruncher.” That smile again.

Annie nodded, while she wondered if she had time to run upstairs and drag a comb through her hair. It sometimes felt as though Kristin was her boss as well as Mia’s, even though that was probably not the right way to describe it. Annie checked her watch. It was before eleven. Not that she was banned from her own house, but she knew Jane preferred she didn’t come upstairs too early in the morning, or until her wife had ventured down for her first Pink Bean coffee—and social interaction—of the day.

Besides, Annie had a perfectly able comb in the downstairs bathroom, which they’d had remodeled to include a stall for customers and Pink Bean employees.

Annie didn’t want to admit to herself that she was nervous because Kristin was due to arrive. The success of the Pink Bean in her shop was of crucial importance. If Kristin and Mia didn’t sell enough coffee, they would pack up their coffee machine and move elsewhere. Annie shook off the thought. Mia had told her time and time again that the decision to join forces with Annie’s shop was influenced by much more than purely business. Still, Annie felt like she had to impress.

The door of the shop opened and both Mia and Annie looked up. It was always a guessing game whether the person walking in was after coffee, a book, both, or none.

Annie didn’t need to look at Mia to know a smile was spreading on her lips. Annie smiled too at the sight of Lou.

Lou gave Annie a wave and headed straight for the coffee counter to kiss Mia on the lips. All this young love on display. Annie wasn’t entirely sure how that made her feel. She was happy for Lou, who had suffered a bad breakup in Brisbane, and she and Mia made a great couple. That wasn’t the issue. It was witnessing what the beginning of romance looked like that put her out sometimes. The energy between them was palpable. It had been a long time since Annie had felt that kind of energy buzz through her.

Annie had known Lou for a long time and she wasn’t the type to engage in too much public canoodling. Yet Annie saw her melt under Mia’s smiling gaze. She was still looking at them from her place by the cash register when the door opened again. This time it was Kristin. Annie nearly jumped to her feet, even though that door opened countless times a day and it was hardly the first time Kristin had come in to see how everything was going. Annie was happy Mia and Lou were preoccupied with each other so they hadn’t noticed her reaction.

Having spotted Lou, Kristin headed straight for Annie, and stood at the counter. Just as Mia kissed Annie on the cheek every morning when she arrived, so did Kristin when she bestowed a visit on the second Pink Bean branch. When Mia kissed her hello, Annie didn’t even think about it. It was as automatic an action as actually saying hello. But with Kristin it was different.

At first, Annie had believed it was because Kristin’s demeanor was, in general, a little more uptight, and it was always more uncomfortable kissing someone like that, but then she’d had a good hard look in the mirror—probably while she brushed her hair in anticipation of Kristin’s arrival—and she had realized it was all down to herself. She was the one having an issue. It had been a disconcerting feeling. One that manifested itself again now, as she stood in front of Kristin thinking of suave ways to peck her on the cheek.

Annie stepped from behind the counter—her safe space from where she observed all the goings-on in the shop—and put a hand gently on Kristin’s shoulder before letting her lips touch down on Kristin’s smooth, cool cheek.

“How’s business?” Kristin asked. She really wasn’t one for small talk.

“Mine or yours?” Annie scampered back behind the counter.

“Mia will tell me about mine once she’s done schmoozing with her girlfriend.” She rolled her eyes and Annie couldn’t help but grin. “Yours.”

“Sales are up!” Annie exclaimed. “It can’t be denied. Who said print was dead?” Oh Christ. Was she no longer capable of having a normal conversation with Kristin either?

“I believe it was your wife who came up with those words of wisdom.” Kristin glanced at the display of Jane Quinn books they had set up right next to the counter—a massive feather in Mia’s cap. “How are those doing?”

“Not too bad, although Jane cringes every time she comes down and sees all of her books presented like that. And word must have spread, because the other day she was having a coffee just as someone was browsing her books. The person put two and two together, bought one, and promptly walked up to Jane to have it autographed.”

“She must have loved that.” Kristin sniggered. Apparently she was beginning to know Jane and her solitary ways.

“I had to bring her coffee upstairs for the rest of the week.” Annie grinned. “But it’s good to push her out of her comfort zone once in a while. She needs that. That’s why this was such a good idea.” She pointed at the coffee machine, then at the book display. “And this as well. She’s Jane Quinn, for crying out loud. She should take some pride in that.”

“We’re all different,” Kristin said matter-of-factly.

“Aren’t we just.” Talking about her wife, who was toiling away upstairs on her next book, made Annie feel guilty about overthinking kissing Kristin hello. “And that’s why I love her so dearly.”

“Hello and goodbye.” Lou joined them. “I need to rush to Darlinghurst for my next class. Someone’s been having a bad influence on my punctuality.”

Kristin shook her head. “I’ll give her a stern talking-to.”

“Please do.” Lou shot them both a wink and left the shop.

“Talk to you later, Annie,” Kristin said, and sat down in the exact same chair she always did, waiting for Mia to join her.

When nothing much was going on in the shop, Annie usually read. She used to easily go through a book a day, but since the Pink Bean had set up shop, she was lucky to make it through a book a week. Today, Annie willed her attention to remain on the book she was reading, but having Kristin in the shop, made it that much harder to focus.

 

CHAPTER TWO

Jane had gone through her usual routine, which consisted of nothing more than brewing her own cup of coffee and sitting down in front of her computer. Unwashed and dressed in the same comfortable clothes she had worn the day before and the day before that. Usually, it was all she needed to get going, re-immerse herself in her work in progress, and add a good chunk of words before the clock chimed eleven.

But for the second week in a row, it wasn’t happening. She didn’t want to tell Annie, because she suspected that the reason why she couldn’t find the peace of mind required to do deep, focused work was because of what was going on downstairs. Annie would just say—for the umpteenth time—that she was too sensitive and this was a good thing for them and if the occasional chatter drifting up bothered her she should just put on a pair of noise-canceling headphones.

But Annie had never written a book. She didn’t have a clue about the delicate tension required to tune into the subconscious and get in touch with what was going on in there. She didn’t realize that the smallest change in routine was enough to set Jane back a couple of thousand words a week and while not a huge amount in the grand scheme of things, it screwed up Jane’s carefully crafted schedule in a way that made her feel very uncomfortable and insecure. Because, yes, having Kristin rent the space from them was a good thing for their finances, but hadn’t Jane already taken care of that?

Her books were paying most of the bills now, and while having the Pink Bean downstairs lifted some of the pressure off her shoulders, it seemed to be adding quite a bit as well—as in disturbing Jane’s fragile equilibrium.

She looked at her screen, at the sentence that wasn’t advancing and hadn’t budged for the last ten minutes, and heaved a sigh. She took longer than most to get used to changes, but that didn’t mean she didn’t adapt eventually. The words would be flying from her fingers again soon. She’d jump out of bed raring to go, because the alternative would be not to deliver a book on the deadline she had set herself and communicated to her readers. Jane had always felt confident announcing such a deadline because there was no doubt in her mind she could meet it. Not one single doubt—as long as she could adhere to her routines and everything was right in her little world.

A few more weeks of this, however, and things would be even more wrong. She gave up on the sentence, got up, and paced around in her office. She looked at the picture of her and Annie in New Zealand where they’d married, both of them dressed in white. That picture always made her smile. Because it was much more than a wedding picture to her. It was the culmination of a great relationship that, at the time, had already lasted fifteen years, even though there had been times Jane had believed they wouldn’t make it. That picture was the proof they had. What it said to her was that relationships, just as lives, go through ups and downs, and when you get through those lows, and celebrate the highs, you will end up coming out stronger on the other side.

They would celebrate twenty years together—and their fifth wedding anniversary—in a few months.

Jane touched a finger to the spot in the picture where Annie smiled widely. Oh screw it. Annie was just downstairs. Perhaps seeing her in the flesh would make Jane feel better. Take away some of this anguish about her lagging word count.

But then she would have to change into something respectable. The past few years, the book shop had had so little clientele, Jane often nipped down in her shabby writing gear, but she couldn’t do that now. Annie was never alone in the shop anymore, even when there were no customers. Mia was always there, and Kristin often came in and so did Sheryl during her lunch break, often bringing along colleagues.

It was out of the question for Jane to wear the same old tracksuit pants she’d been holding on to for years—it was hard to get rid of a pair of pants you’d written a couple of successful books in—when she went downstairs these days. She even had to put on a bra. Before the Pink Bean, days used to go by when Jane didn’t wear a bra. Days when she didn’t feel any need to venture out but was perfectly content with the company of her words and her wife. A quick—bra-less—stop in the shop was enough to remind her of the outside world.

Jane sighed and went into the bathroom. Should she shower? It was part of her ritual to not shower before she had gotten in her word count of the day, and if she did, she was pretty sure no more words would be added to that wretched book today. So she just slipped into a pair of jeans, put on a bra, and drew over a blouse. She pulled her fingers through her hair and gave herself a reluctant thumbs-up in the mirror. Because, granted, those coffees Mia prepared were not half bad. She could do with one of those right about now. Maybe it would jolt her brain into the kind of alertness needed to finally finish that bloody sentence. Because it was that very sentence holding her back. If only she could get past it, this squandering of precious minutes, staring at her screen and not producing, could end. It was worth a go. One of Mia’s coffees. A quick chat and kiss from her wife, and Jane would get back to it.

She dashed downstairs with a spring in her step, convinced she’d be running back up in about ten minutes, filled to the brim with inspiration.

When she arrived in the shop, Annie was handing a customer a book. Jane couldn’t see which one it was because it was wrapped in a paper bag. She dearly hoped it wasn’t one of hers, which was a completely counterintuitive thought to have, because of course she wanted to sell books, she just preferred not to witness the sale.

Mia was sitting at a table with Kristin, who always looked like she’d just stepped out of the pages of a glossy magazine. How was that even possible? Jane watched Annie as her gaze followed the customer leaving the shop. Annie’s gaze then landed on Kristin and Mia. Was she thinking the same thing about Kristin? Jane suddenly felt too shabbily dressed to walk into the very book shop she co-owned. Oh, sod it, Kristin had been in here plenty of times when Jane had been dressed like this—she had even put on a blouse—and it wasn’t as if Annie’s Book Shop had suddenly developed a strict dress code.

Jane stepped into sight and Annie jumped as though she was surprised to have her wife turn up.

“Only me,” Jane said.

“You’re early.” Annie reached for Jane’s hand.

“I know. This book is not agreeing with me. At all.”

“It’ll come, babe.” Annie pulled her close. “It always does.”

But what if it doesn’t? Jane thought. What if she had finally used it all up? And what was it anyway? Divine inspiration? Jane believed even less in that than in the apparition of the so-called muse. She sat down and did the work. That had always been her muse and inspiration and everything she needed. So why was that suddenly not enough anymore?

“I was hoping for one of Mia’s glorious cappuccinos,” Jane said. Mia had shown her how to use the machine, and it wasn’t all that complicated, yet it felt kind of strange to go behind the coffee counter, because that was the part of the shop that they rented out, and Jane felt she had no right to go in there.

As if Mia had read her mind, she stood up, looked at Jane, and said, “On it.”

“Thank you.” Jane remembered the time, only a few weeks ago, when Mia had started talking to her about the Jane Quinn books she had read and how much she had enjoyed them once she got past the fact that Jane had written them and how they had quite a few naughty bits in them.

Jane had smiled and tried to look as grateful as possible. She was grateful—having someone enjoy her books was the point of everything she wrote—but she simply didn’t have a clue how to react when someone said it to her face like that.

“You have to learn to take a compliment,” Annie had said to her years ago. It seemed that Jane still hadn’t picked up that particular skill yet.

“Hi, Jane.” Kristin walked up to them. “How’s that new best seller coming along?” She threw in a smile.

This was the kind of question Jane had formulated a standard answer to over the years—even though the word best seller was used so liberally today. Jane didn’t write best-selling books by any means. She wrote books that sold enough to keep her business afloat and absorb some losses incurred by the book shop. But it was nothing compared to an international or even national best seller in a genre that wasn’t as niche as lesbian romance.

Jane shrugged. Because the book wasn’t coming together at all, she couldn’t rely on her standard reply. “This one’s doing my head in.”

Annie brought her hand to Jane’s head and mussed her freshly-finger-combed hair about. “But what a pretty little head it is.”

“What’s it about?” Kristin sounded genuinely interested.

Annie held up her hand. “Wrong question, Kristin.”

What was with Annie today? Did she believe that because Jane wasn’t in full control of her power to write down words, she had also lost the ability to speak them? “Jane doesn’t like to discuss her work in progress.” Maybe Jane had made Annie speak for her one too many times over the years they’d been together.

“I’m hoping Mia’s coffee will help,” Jane said.

“And here I am to the rescue.” Mia sidled up to them, holding a deliciously-smelling, steaming mug in her hands.

“You’re a life-saver,” Jane said. “I didn’t mean to disturb your meeting.”

“You’ve come down early.” Mia said, echoing Annie’s words.

“I didn’t realize my schedule was under such scrutiny,” Jane joked.

“If I keep reading your books the way I’ve been doing lately, I will need a brand new Jane Quinn book soon,” Mia said. “So forgive me for cracking that whip and keeping an eye on you.” She shot Jane a smile that was so disarming, Jane could only reciprocate.

“Just keep on supplying me with excellent coffee,” Jane said.

“Of course. Imagine how that will look on my resume later: personal barista to Jane Quinn.”

“Depends where you’re applying for a job,” Jane said.

“Not anytime soon, I hope,” Kristin said.

“It was just a manner of speaking, boss. I’d be a fool to leave this gig.”

“Good.” Only Kristin could make a simple word sound so full of meaning—and perhaps a hint of threat.

“I’d best get back to it,” Jane said, hope swelling in her voice and in her heart. “Some people are waiting for my next book.”

<>

No Other Love will be available on 19 September 2017

Few Hearts Survive (A Pink Bean Series Novella)

[image error] Just the other day, because of Facebook’s sometimes-welcome-and-sometimes-pesky ‘Memories’ feature, I was reminded that I threw my first draft of Few Hearts Survive in the trash almost a year ago. What was supposed to be Pink Bean Book 2 AND Amber and Martha’s story never got written. Not in the way I wanted it to anyway.

But every time I released a new Pink Bean book (and there have been 5 up to now, with Book 6 coming soon) readers would ask me when, oh when I was going to publish Amber and Martha’s story. Today, it’s finally here… and it’s FREE for all my mailing list subscribers.

If you’re on my list, you should have received it straight into your inbox (if not, please check your spam folder.) If you’re not on my list, it’s not too late.

Subscribe here, and you’ll get it sent to your inbox immediately (and you’ll get 2 of my other books for free as well): harperbliss.com/freebook

Here’s the blurb:

When Amber meets Martha, she quickly comes up with a bunch of reasons not to date her. But while her mind goes into overdrive to protect her from the kind of pain she has suffered before, her heart slowly begins to open up to the possibility of them being together.

Find out how beloved Pink Bean Series characters Amber and Martha made it past the hurdles that kept them apart in this romantic and sexy Pink Bean novella.

FYI, this book is not available anywhere else. ONLY via my mailing list.

P.S. No Other Love (Pink Bean 6) is with my editor and will be out late September. And… tomorrow I’m starting on French Kissing Season 4!

NEW RELEASE: Water Under Bridges (Pink Bean 5)

[image error]Can you believe we’ve reached Book 5 in the Pink Bean series already? (Time flies when you’re writing about lesbians and coffee…)

Preview: Water Under Bridges (Pink Bean 5)

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My new novel Water Under Bridges (Pink Bean – Book Five) will be out next week Friday (on 30 June 2017). Here’s a preview. Enjoy!

Water Under Bridges

© Harper Bliss



CHAPTER ONE

As far as first days at new jobs went, this one had been easygoing for Mia. Kristin hadn’t hired her to brew coffee; Mia was here for far loftier goals. Expansion. A second coffee shop in another part of the city. Obtaining a liquor license. Turning the Pink Bean brand into much more than the friendly neighborhood coffee shop it stood for today.

“Great product,” she said to Kristin after taking a sip from her coffee. Strong and black. For someone who had just become manager of a coffee shop, Mia didn’t truly believe all the fancy coffee drinks were necessary. What was wrong with plain old regular coffee? That was how she liked it. But she wouldn’t have this new job if not for the fancier beverages which had a much higher margin than simple black coffee.

Tomorrow morning—bright and early—Mia was expected to handle the first barista shift of the day alongside Josephine, to whom she hadn’t even been properly introduced. She had suggested it herself, favoring a hands-on approach and learning the ins and outs of the coffee shop business from actually working in one. The only part she wasn’t very enthusiastic about was the starting time of her duties at 6:30 a.m.

“Hello, hello,” Sheryl said as she entered the Pink Bean from the back room.

Kristin and her partner had interviewed Mia together for the position, so Mia had already been formally introduced. After the interview, which had been relaxed and free of the usual corporate stiffness, Mia had wanted the job so badly, she’d had to stop herself from going back in and pleading her case all over again. It was the vibe of the place. Not only the extreme gay-friendliness—or perhaps she should call it straight-friendliness—but the way the two of them were together. It gave her hope for better times in her own personal life. And the number of lesbians that must frequent the place. Mia didn’t know the neighborhood very well, but even on the way over from the train her gaydar had pinged several times. The lesbian density wasn’t as high as in Newtown, but the women here were different. And Mia could do with a new stomping ground.

“I know we hired you to help Kristin, but that doesn’t mean she’s allowed to boss you around too much.” Sheryl kissed Kristin on the cheek. “She can be like that sometimes.”

Kristin gave Sheryl a look, then refocused her attention on Mia. “Don’t mind her. Sometimes she doesn’t know when not to say something.” Kristin shot Mia a warm smile, her eyes narrowing with glee and the skin around them crinkling up.

“I look forward to getting to know you better, Mia, but now I have to dash. Professorial duties are calling.” She tipped a finger to her forehead and stopped at the counter where Josephine handed her a takeaway coffee she hadn’t even had to order.

“Jo, can you join us for a minute?” Kristin asked.

“Sure. Refills?”

“No, that’s all right,” Kristin said.

Mia could have done with a refill but Kristin had the sort of insistent tone of voice she instinctively didn’t want to argue with.

Kristin introduced Mia to Jo as the new Pink Bean manager and Jo to Mia as the Pink Bean’s longest and hardest-working employee with the voice of an angel.

“I guess that makes you my new boss then,” Josephine said. “So we’d best try to get along.”

“You should really come to the next open mic night,” Kristin said. “Jo will be singing and blow you away in the process. We’re lucky to have her on our tiny stage once every two months these days, that’s how in demand she is.”

“Please, Kristin.” Josephine waved her off. “You know how easily I blush.”

A customer walked in and Kirstin got up. “You girls get acquainted. I’ll take care of this.”

Mia took the opportunity to study Josephine’s face. She couldn’t immediately place it, but something about her was beginning to look familiar. “Wait a minute. You’re not Josephine Greenwood, are you?”

“The one and only. Why do you ask?”

“Er, because of this.” Mia fished her phone out of her back pocket and scrolled to the WhatsApp message that contained the music file Pat had sent her a few weeks ago. She tapped play and a powerful, impressive voice boosted from her phone’s inadequate speakers. “Is this you?” She glanced at Josephine’s face.

“Sounds like me. Where did you get this?”

“A friend sent it to me. She went to one of your gigs and made this recording. Sent it to all of us, that’s how blown away she was by your voice. I could only agree.” Mia gave Josephine a wide smile. “It’s an honor to be working with you.”

“I’ll sing you a tune once in a while.” Everything about Josephine smiled.

“If you don’t mind me asking—why are you working here? There’s so much buzz about you in Sydney right now. You’re about to blow up.”

“Very simple. I need the money,” Josephine said matter-of-factly. “Singing in student pubs doesn’t pay that well.”

Mia couldn’t help herself. The question that worked its way from her brain to her mouth in record time was out before she could think about it. “Do you have someone looking out for your interests?”

“I have Jimmy.”

“Who’s Jimmy?”

“The guy playing guitar on that clip you just heard.”

“Your guitar player is your manager?”

“He’s not my guitar player and he’s not my manager either. He takes care of all the bookings and the admin stuff, for which I’m very grateful.”

Mia didn’t know how to go about this. Tact had never been one of her strong suits. “The fact that I have this clip on my phone says so much. I don’t usually know about new music, let alone about local bands or singers, but I do know about you, Josephine. You’re on the verge of something. Just playing that ten-second clip gave me goosebumps.”

“It’s still just a hobby,” Josephine said.

“My guess is it won’t be for much longer. Your voice is too heavenly to keep it from the masses.” Mia smiled at her new colleague.

Josephine tilted her head and painted a soft smile on her face. “Thank you for the kind words. I approve of the buttering up to your brand new co-worker strategy.”

“I mean every word of it.” Mia was starting to love the Pink Bean and its employees more by the second.

“To tell you the truth, I’ve had several offers for management and I think I am a little aware of the buzz, but I have so much going on right now, I don’t even know where my head is most days. I probably shouldn’t say this, but my mornings here are by far the most relaxing hours of my day. I can do this on autopilot and have a chat with the regulars, but the second I walk out of that door at lunch time, it’s mayhem.” She sent Mia an apologetic smile. “I think what I need most of all is a life coach. Or an assistant. Neither of which I have the money to pay for.”

“Jo,” Kristin said with a raised voice from behind the counter. “Amber and co are arriving. I’m going to need a hand.”

“We’ll talk more later,” Mia said. “But if you ever need me to cover for you here, just ask.”

“Thanks, Mia.” Josephine got up and reached for their empty coffee cups.

Mia held up her hand. “I’ve got these.” She gathered the cups from the table and stacked them in the dishwasher.

She watched Kristin and Josephine work in perfect tandem. A group of three very attractive women had just placed an order of their usual and was making its way to a table by the window.

“Mia, come meet some people you will see in here every day,” Kristin said. “They’re part of the furniture, really.” She handed Mia a mug of green tea and carried two cups of coffee over to the table, gesturing for Mia to follow her.

“Ladies, please meet the brand new Pink Bean manager, Mia Miller. Mia, this is Amber, who will be having the tea.” Kristin nodded at the woman with the ginger curls tied into a high ponytail. Mia set the tea down in front of her and put on her widest smile. “She runs the yoga studio down the street along with her best friend Micky, whose favorite drink is a cappuccino.” Kristin set down the cappuccino in front of the dark-haired woman. “And a short black for Louise,” Kristin said and winked at the youngest woman of the bunch and, to Mia’s tastes, the most interesting looking. Dark, piercing eyes. Straight black hair that fell to her shoulders. And that skin. Not quite dark and not quite pale. Christ, maybe she should take up yoga lessons.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ladies.” Mia tried to imprint their names into her brain. She wouldn’t have any trouble remembering Louise’s.

“Micky used to work here, until she decided that yoga was more her thing than coffee,” Kristin said with a grin on her face. “And Amber stole her from me.”

“If I remember correctly, dear Kristin, I was the one who gave her to you in the first place,” Amber said.

“Excuse me,” Micky said. “Nobody gave me to or stole me from anyone. I’m quite capable of making my own choices, thank you very much.” She painted a stern expression on her face. “That’s not to say that I don’t miss my buddy Jo behind the counter and my wonderful ex-boss, of course.” Micky craned her neck and gave Josephine a wave.

“So you all work at Glow?” Mia asked. The flyers near the door of the Pink Bean were hard to miss. She was mainly interested in finding out what Louise’s position was, although the tights and tank top did give it away somewhat.

“Glow is the three of us,” Amber said. “Louise just started a few weeks ago as an instructor. Micky handles the admin side of things. I basically had to hire her because she, her partner Robin, and her ex-husband invested the bulk of the money in our tiny but wonderful studio.”

“And made all your dreams come true,” Micky added.

Louise sat stiffly saying nothing and, it seemed to Mia, avoiding her gaze altogether. Maybe she was still getting used to her new employers. Mia knew all about it. She would send her a look of encouragement if only the woman would glance in her direction.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Amber said. “Odds are you’ll be seeing lots of us.”

“I look forward to it.” Mia smiled widely and again, in vain, tried to find Louise’s gaze. A challenge. She was up for that.

 

CHAPTER TWO

Mia Miller. Louise couldn’t believe it. Just when things had started going her way again. She’d found a great job very close to her parents’ house. She lived and breathed yoga and Amber was the same, and therefore a dream to work for. Micky was a hoot and she and Amber often formed a double act that had Lou in stitches when they went out for after-work drinks. She’d been coming to the Pink Bean for a while now and she liked the vibe of the place, and often came here between classes to relax, have a coffee and read a book. And now Mia Miller had turned up out of nowhere to ruin her life once again.

Of course Mia hadn’t recognized her. Or if she had, she’d certainly hidden it well. No, if she had remembered who Lou was, there would have been at least a glimmer of recognition between them. And whereas Mia’s face hadn’t exactly remained blank, there was no sign of her having any idea who Lou was. Which was good, Lou guessed. She didn’t want to drag up the past—especially not that dreadful part of it—and have an awkward conversation in the Pink Bean, which now no longer could be her place of sanctuary. Of all the people in Sydney, why did Kristin have to hire Mia? Oh well, Lou would have to spend more time at the studio then, or go home between classes. Did Kristin say Mia was the new manager? If so, maybe she had an office somewhere in the back and wouldn’t show her face too much in the shop.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Lou,” Amber said. “What’s wrong?”

Kristin and Mia had walked off and sat talking at a table a few feet away. Lou could hear snatches of Mia’s voice when she talked and, after all these years, it still sent an icy chill down her spine.

“Nothing. Not feeling too well today. You know.”

Lou had only been working for Amber for a month, but she already knew her well enough to know Amber would never leave it at that. Her only hope was that Micky would return swiftly to their table after her chat with Jo, so they could change the topic of conversation. But Micky seemed deeply engaged in whatever she and Jo were chattering and giggling away about, so it was just her and Amber at the table, and the silence spreading between them, needing to be filled.

“Mia and I went to the same school. It’s a bit of a shock seeing her here.”

“Oh. Yeah, you did look like you were genuinely surprised there for a moment.” Amber examined Lou’s face for a second longer, then averted her gaze—surely because she remembered Lou had told her a few weeks ago how uncomfortable it could make her feel when people stared at her for too long. Even well-intentioned, kind people like Amber.

Amber’s inherent, blatant kindness was what had drawn Lou to Glow in the first place. She was hooked after her first class with Amber, because they obviously subscribed to the same principles of yoga—the non-trendy, open-minded school of thought on which all yoga principles were founded. Sadly, especially in a city like Sydney, many instructors liked to ignore these and preferred to focus on which latest fad could get them a higher member count and which brand of yoga pants they could sell those new members after class.

As soon as Amber had announced at the end of a particularly invigorating vinyasa class that she was looking for an instructor to join her, Lou had grabbed the opportunity. And now here she sat.

“Don’t worry about it.” She flashed Amber her most convincing smile, hoping it was enough to trick Amber into believing what she said was true. Amber with the sixth sense for when someone was feeling a little off kilter. Some mornings, when Lou arrived at Glow after a bad night’s sleep, caused by the circumstances which had led her to end up in her old room at her parents’ house, Amber would cast one glance at her and ask, “Bad night?” Before Lou had even said a single word. “It was a long time ago and she obviously didn’t recognize me. It’s not as if we were close or anything.” An understatement if there ever was one.

Micky returned to the table and said, “Jo tells me Mia has an MBA. Meaning she possesses valuable business knowledge neither you nor I do. Should I ask her about that online advertising problem? Maybe it’s just something silly we’ve been missing.”

Amber pondered this for a moment. “I guess it doesn’t hurt to ask, but make sure to offer her enough free classes in return for her counsel.”

“In return she will get a few invaluable pointers about working at the Pink Bean. She will sort of be taking my place, after all. A position I held for quite some time.”

Oh great, Lou thought. Just like that the conversation had drifted back to Mia. Whatever business conversation Amber and Micky were planning to conduct with her, she hoped it wouldn’t bring Mia into Glow—and she hoped even more that Mia wasn’t the yoga type. Lou was unsure of her reaction if Mia showed up to one of her classes.

“Yes, Micky, you are a true wunderkind. It took you a long time to get there, but here you are at last, at the tender age of forty-six. Part of the work force. Making the economy grow. Making Glow run like clockwork.”

“Speaking of clockwork. I should really get back. And so should you, Amber. Your next class is an hour away, Lou, so if you would be so kind as to invite Mia to a free yoga class at a time of her choosing, and slip her my number while you’re at it.”

“What?” How did Lou get involved in asking Mia for anything at all? She hadn’t even opened her mouth.

“Besides, you might get lucky. She was making eyes at you the entire time she and Kristin stood here earlier. You didn’t notice?”

“They went to school together,” Amber said, making Lou doubt the existence of her sixth sense. “Maybe she did recognize you, Lou.”

“I’m pretty sure she didn’t,” Lou said with a small voice. “And I would appreciate it if I didn’t have to run your errands, Micky.”

Micky knitted her brows together. “What’s gotten into you?”

“She’s right, Micky.” Amber came to her rescue. “We should ask Mia ourselves.” She rose. “But now we really have to go. See you later, Lou.”

Lou breathed in and out deeply, feeling as if she’d dodged a bullet, even if it had meant being rude to Micky and in front of Amber no less. She was still trying to make an excellent impression on her new bosses and talking back like that was probably not the best way to do that. But Lou would be damned if she’d do Micky’s bidding on this. If it had been anyone else, of course, she would have gladly offered them a free lesson and given them information on the benefits of yoga, but not Mia Miller. Anyone but her.

Lou sneaked a glance at her. She allowed her gaze to drift to the table a few feet away from her for just a fraction of a second but, of course, just then, Mia looked up from her conversation with Kristin, and sent her the most excruciating smile. It was a well-meant smile, Lou was sure about that. But it was a little late for good intentions. Besides, Mia still had no clue of who Lou was. She couldn’t help but wonder what she would say if she did.

Lou didn’t smile back but instead gathered her belongings and headed out.

“Leaving already?” Jo asked. “I was getting ready to prepare your second caffeine shot of the morning.”

“I have some errands to run before my next class.” Lou rushed past the counter without asking Jo when she would find the time for class again. It had been a while since she’d last seen her on a mat.

<>

Water Under Bridges will be available on 30 June 2017

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