Michelle Lindo-Rice's Blog, page 2

Review: Truth, Lies, and Mr. Grey

Truth, Lies, and Mr. Grey by Shelly Ellis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I truly enjoyed the final book in the series. Truth, Lies, and Mr. Grey was savage! All the character arcs were completed and I think Shelly Ellis did an amazing job. I fell in love with Noelle and Tariq's storyline as well as Diamond's. This is a great ending to a really entertaining series.
And, the cover is dynamite!
Thank you #Netgalley for the chance to read and review.

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Review: The Younger Wife

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This upper class family appears to have their act all together but there is a lot going on with each member of this family. Dr. Stephen Aston is engaged to woman as young as his daughters but he needs to divorce his current wife with dementia. Rachel and Tully both have some serious secrets in their personal life and now they have to welcome their father's new bride. And, his new bride, Heather, also have a secret past that might threaten her current relationship.
The Younger Wife began with a good suspense feel to it. Someone has been murdered but the question is, who did it? Then the author takes us back to the pasts of all the family members in order for us to understand how they ended up with someone dead. I have to admit, there were many parts that kept me interested. I loved the build. I really did. Each character was seriously flawed and the storyline with the mother's dementia had me glued. But when I got to the ending, there were still unresolved issues that left me somewhat unfulfilled. I get that in life there are many things that are not answered and things we might never know, but when it comes to a story, I do think it could have been wrapped up tightly. However, most of the main storylines with the daughters were wrapped up. I found it great but I think if there weren't some loose strings at the end, it would have made it more satisfying.
I would still read more from this author. I think her premise and ideas are creative and I have read another book from her before.
Thank you #Netgalley for this read.

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Review: Snowed in for Christmas

Snowed in for Christmas by Gabrielle Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

loved it

This is my first book my Gabrielle Meyer and I look forward to reading more. Liv was a teenaged mother forced to give up her daughter for adoption. Imagine her surprise when she runs into Zane, her old boyfriend and father of her child. But then imagine when Liv is given a chance to meet the daughter she thought was lost to her forever.
I absolutely loved this read. I loved the themes of forgiveness, second chance and restoration. I got a little teary eyed when reading about Liv reunion with her daughter.
MEMORABLE QUOTESNow I understand why God gives you a lifetime to get to know your children. It takes a lifetime to uncover all the little things that make them unique and wonderful.”
our mistakes don’t have to define who we are.
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CINDERELLA'S LAST STAND - Sample Chapters

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Book #2

If she wants a happy ending, she’ll have to write her own story

Working as Hollywood heartthrob Axel Harrington’s personal assistant isn’t exactly a fairy tale come true for Maddie Henry. Despite crushing on his Prince Charming looks, Maddie has had enough of Axel not recognizing her value. Well, this Cinderella is shattering the glass slipper to pursue her dream career! The "Sexiest Man Alive" has two weeks to find a new assistant. And to realize that Maddie is the key to his happily-ever-after.  

Order Your CopyChapter OneBoundaries. Boundaries. Boundaries. Life was all about boundaries.Madison “Maddie” Henry told herself this even as she lay in a king-size bed next to Axel Harrington, voted the world’s sexiest man for 2022. She turned on her side to see his cognac eyes on hers, her dark skin a stark contrast against his caramel tones. His pearly whites widened into that smile that had made him a heartthrob and hot bae for millions of women.Except Maddie. She was way beyond the enamored phase. Axel was too self-absorbed for her tastes. Though he was a generous employer. As the action hero’s personal assistant, she had received many exquisite gifts—including a personal car and jewelry. Earrings were his trinkets of choice. Maddie had about five pairs—remnants of returned gifts from previous girlfriends over the past three years. She had given a couple to her best friend, Keri Pittman, and regifted the pearls to her mother. Thankfully, her collection had stagnated since he’d been dating Natasha LaRue the past eleven months. They had met on the set of The Mantis and had been almost inseparable since. Of his many arm candies, Maddie had to admit, Natasha appeared to be the sweetest—and the most determined to snag Axel and put an end to his bachelor status.Maddie had tried to warn the other woman not to invest her hopes in Axel. He was too into himself to appreciate any woman, but Natasha, though kind, wouldn’t take Maddie’s advice. Natasha didn’t believe in getting too close with the help. Maddie knew if she did get Axel to commit to a deeper relationship, Natasha would get rid of her. For some reason, the other woman was rattled by her presence, butting in whenever Axel asked for Maddie’s opinion or input.Axel touched her cheek. “I told you the best way to experience this bed was to get in it. Let me know if you want one.” He flipped onto his back and folded his arms behind his head.Maddie did the same, fighting her slight unease at being so close to Axel, breathing in the scent of his Perry Ellis cologne. “I don’t need one. It’s not like I have my own place here. And, it wouldn’t fit in my room at your penthouse.”Due to the nature of her job, she often stayed with Axel at his New York or Los Angeles residences since she was expected to be on twenty-four-hour call. But the last five months, he had gotten…needy. It was like he needed her advice on everything.Take this bed, for example. Axel had insisted she help him pick out a new mattress. That wasn’t in her job description. Maddie had been hired to set his schedules and other things of that nature, not determine the softness of his bed. Yet, here she was in a department store in New York City, stretched out next to him, her curls splayed across the mattress, doing just that while trying to ignore the curious fans.“It would if you took one of the bigger rooms,” Axel pressed. “Or I could buy you a loft or something here in the Big A.”“No, I’m good. I told you, I don’t need you to buy me anything—or rather, give me your credit card to purchase my gifts. My condo back home in Love Creek is all I can handle. My auntie Dawn left that property for me, and that’s the only reason I hold onto it. I’m barely there as it is, as much traveling as I do. Thankfully, my bestie Keri agreed to live with me since she’s a flight attendant and my condo is less than twenty miles from the airport.”To use her mother’s words, Maddie should have already moved on from being Axel’s assistant to bigger and better. And Maddie would already be there if she had allowed Faran—her mother went by the single moniker—to use her connections to get her a director’s assistant position. But she hadn’t wanted to achieve anything because of her supermodel mom. Maddie wanted to get there based on her own merit, which was why she kept her parentage to herself. No one knew.Not Axel, not Keri—no one. And Maddie preferred it that way. For the first time, Maddie hadn’t had to endure comments about her plain features or be compared to her mother’s smooth perfection. The ruse was easy to keep up, since Faran spent most of her time in France. Maddie also didn’t have to see Faran’s exquisite face twist at her unruly curls, her fuller figure, her plump lips, before her mother emitted a sad sigh. It was like the incomparable Faran couldn’t imagine how she had managed to produce an offspring who was so…ordinary.Those had been her mother’s words to a friend on the phone when she thought Maddie was out of earshot. The only two things Maddie had inherited from her mother, which Faran approved of, were her dark, flawless skin, and her eyes. But there was no denying she was the offspring of her Jamaican father, Paul Henry, much to Faran’s chagrin. Faran had dressed Maddie in the most expensive designer garb, as if that would compensate for Maddie’s underwhelming presence.Once she had graduated from Yale, Maddie had begged her mother to cease with the one-of-a-kind shoes and wardrobe, but every other month, a new box arrived. After a while, Maddie found herself looking forward to seeing what was inside. Particularly the shoes, which gave her a Cinderella-like vibe.Maddie tugged on her plaid skirt and pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “Can I get up now?” she asked. “I only agreed to do this because you said you’d look at my script.”“Of course,” Axel said, waving a hand before also sitting up. “So do you think I should purchase this one?”“Yes. This is the one.”“Great.” Axel scooted to the edge of the mattress and gestured to the sales clerk. The older woman scurried over to take his credit card.“We’ll have it delivered this afternoon, sir,” she said, preening.Maddie rolled her eyes. The clerk had to be twice his age, but it appeared no one was immune to Axel Harrington. Maddie reached for her tote and pulled out the script she had printed before coming to meet up with Axel. She smoothed the pages and gathered her courage. Then she click-clacked her way over to where Axel stood.Yes, click-clacked. She wore a retro red shoe with a chunky wooden heel that resembled a mouth with wooden teeth. The glitter drew attention to her feet, but better her feet than her face.Maddie straightened. “I brought my script for you to look at.” She spoke under her breath, wishing her heart would pump at regular speed.Axel nodded. “Okay. I’ll get to it. What’s it called again?”Maddie swallowed and declined to answer. She had told him the name of her story several times. What was so hard to remember about A Summer’s Dream? Disappointment whirled within her, and she pursed her lips before shoving the papers back into her bag.Axel must have seen her expression, because the minute they left the store, he asked, “What’s wrong?”She wiped her foggy glasses and cut her eyes, her fury and resentment building. “You didn’t hire me to help with bedding. I just completed my fine arts degree in filmmaking, and I should be vetting scripts and helping you with decisions around your career.”“I know. I was at your graduation.” Axel’s tone told her he didn’t view this conversation as serious. He held open the door for her, and she sailed past him to jump into the dark SUV before putting her glasses back on. Maddie wasn’t sure why she hadn’t quit. Well, she knew why. Her script. The one she had written for Axel. The role she believed only he could play.But he wouldn’t give her a chance.Axel slid in beside her and gave her a light jab. “Don’t get all huffy on me. We have a two-hour drive to the airport ahead of us because of traffic, and if you’re upset with me, it will make this an even longer ride. How about I stop by that doughnut place and get you a box of doughnut holes?”The ones with the jelly filling were her weakness, but Maddie wasn’t about to be distracted. She lifted her chin. “I’m good.”“Uh-oh. I know that means you’re not good.” Axel cocked his head. “What can I do to make things right between us? I can’t take it when you pout.”It was only because she detected sincerity in his voice that Maddie decided to take a chance and be truthful. “You can stop texting me at all hours of the day, telling me you have an emergency when you don’t.”He wiped his palms on his jeans and nodded. “I can do that. In my defense, choosing my new bedding is sort of an emergency. If I don’t get ample rest, then I’ll be cranky and I might lose an important role.” He raised his brows. “That is related to my career, which is where you, as my assistant, come in.” He gave a satisfied chuckle.Maddie groaned. She didn’t know why she even bothered to express her dissatisfaction. The man used his brains to reason away his selfishness. She had done her research—Axel Harrington was brilliant with a photographic memory. However, he had shunned a career in nuclear biology in favor of capitalizing on his ridiculous good looks and body. Why? Because it was easy. That was her deduction.It was her fault for refusing the internship with a young, upcoming female director and staying in this job. But she had been thinking of her script. A script into which she had poured her dreams, her passion, her hopes. A script that could change her life, her station—her mother’s opinion.The driver swung into the farthest lane, honking at the drivers glaring at him, and made his way toward the Lincoln Tunnel. There was a light drizzle, and the drops hitting the glass looked like little splatters of tears. It had rained every day that week. Maddie’s lips curved. She loved the rain. It hid many of her tears and, when it passed, left her feeling renewed.She released a deep breath and continued the conversation.“I need you to respect my time and my space,” Maddie said. “I go on vacation in a few weeks, and I need your word that you will allow me to enjoy my time away from you. I need to recuperate.”“I will. I promise. No interruptions.” He gave her a calculating glance. “Where are you going?”“I’m not telling you,” Maddie said. “I don’t need you showing up with your hive of fans.” She reached into her tote and pushed the script into his hands. “What I do need you to do is keep your word. And read my script.”A couple of women had their bodies hanging out the window of an adjacent car, screaming Axel’s name. They both wore tanks that barely held up their heaving chests. Lots to see. Axel gave a little wave and his signature grin before turning away from them. Then he reached into the pocket of the seat and pulled out his cap and signature shades.“I told you to get a darker tint,” she said through her teeth when the women continued to holler, asking if he wanted their number.“I should have listened to you,” Axel said. He quirked his lips. “See what happens when I don’t listen to you or make a decision without you?”A yellow light loomed ahead, and the car next to them accelerated, taking the zealous women with it. Their driver stopped at the light. More fans had spotted Axel, screaming for him to look their way.Maddie rested her head against the window and drummed her fingers on the door handle, fighting the urge to open the door and race for the subway. “Three weeks, Axel. I need it.”Axel patted her hand before curling his long brown fingers around hers. “You’ve got it. I won’t bug you. I promise.”She faced him. “I mean it. Unless you’re in an emergency room hooked up to a ventilator, no 9-1-1 texts.”He saluted. “Even if my leg is broken and it’s being eaten by a vicious mama bear, I promise I will not call you.”Chapter TwoAxel Harrington gazed into the earnest eyes of the woman dubbed “America’s rose” and willed himself to utter the one word she yearned to hear. She knelt on one knee on the plush checkered rug, a soft smile etched on her face, expectant—having just proposed. On their one-year anniversary. On national television.Axel and Natasha, his partner on and off the screen, had appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show to promote their upcoming film when she slipped to the floor, not caring that her sheer white linen pantsuit would be crushed, to ask for his hand in marriage. Axel knew she fully believed he would go along with her scheme. Her manipulation. And, normally, he would have. He would have allowed Natasha to have her way. He opened his mouth, but it was like the Incredible Hulk had a hand around Axel’s throat. The words refused to squeak past his windpipe.His mind raced, urging him to say yes. To save face. After all, as an actor, he was used to pretending. He was used to tossing out the words I love you with just the right amount of emotion to make the ladies swoon. But this wasn’t acting. This was real life.His life. His choice. And Natasha was trying to take that away from him.Several tense seconds passed.He could feel the heat of the lights and the sweat beads on his forehead. Drew’s grin was frozen in place. The audience, which had been cheering, had hushed.The cameraman had moved closer into Axel’s personal space to capture the moment. Axel thought about their fans, enthralled with their relationship, begging for them to be together, imagining the beautiful babies they would make. The pressure.Natasha tugged his hand, turning her head to meet Drew’s gaze. He hated seeing the pity in Drew’s eyes. Then Natasha pinned her light brown eyes on him. Her brows furrowed, and she shook her head. “Don’t do this,” she whispered, her voice cracking.He didn’t want to.But he had to.He had to be true. Even if it hurt. The fact was, marriage wasn’t for him. His biological father had walked out on his mother, leaving her alone to take care of a young son, without a reason or explanation. Running was in his DNA. He wasn’t about to enter into that sort of commitment with anyone.“I’m sorry,” Axel said, touching his chest. “I can’t.” He bent over to help her stand, but she shied away from him. Axel braced himself for her fury, her flashing eyes and cutting words. But they never came.Natasha lowered her chin to her chest and closed her eyes. Tears spilled through her lids and streamed down her face, and she released soft sobs. The crowd seemed to release a harsh breath, and the boos came at him like a tidal wave. His shoulders bent, and he turned his back to the stage. A couple minutes ago, all was right—he’d been surfing through life, surrounded by blue skies and sunshine. But Natasha’s proposal had caused him to wipe out, and now he had to fight to keep his head above water. To breathe. Remain focused. On his movie. The one he was here to promote. Not get a fiancée. But it was impossible to think past the ensuing crescendo.The hate from the audience was real. Even the cameraman had backed off, giving him the evil eye.Axel had said no to the hottest, sweetest actress in Hollywood. In front of the whole world. He knew this would go viral and become a PR nightmare. Axel needed his film to do well if his career was going to go the way he wanted it to go, where he could take on more heartfelt roles. He was ready to leave the action-hero world and challenge himself—become more than a face and a bicep.Drew slipped from her armchair to embrace Natasha before facing the camera. She didn’t even look Axel’s way. “We’ll be back after the break. I can’t wait for you to meet a bunch of sisters with some serious singing chops, The Petals.” As soon as the camera stopped rolling, madness ensued. From the corner of his eye, he saw Drew usher Natasha off the stage. The atmosphere was one of chaos, with assistants running in every direction in a panic. All he had done was turn down a proposal, not start a war. Four women dressed in skintight jumpsuits passed him with heat in their eyes and wrath emanating from their bodies.“That was grimy,” one uttered, shoving past him.Axel rubbed his temples. Things were getting uglier by the minute. His publicist rushed toward him. “What did you do?” Joni asked, blinking rapidly. “Why didn’t you just go along with it? Your movie could flop because of this.”He held up a hand. “You expect me to lie?”She gave a terse nod. “Yes. Lie. This isn’t about you. Hundreds of people worked hard to bring The Mantis to life. They need the bonuses you promised once the film becomes a blockbuster.”He tugged on his chin. “I’ll talk with Natasha. We’ll go out in public, share a few laughs. Maybe she’ll agree to say this was a stunt.”Joni pointed in the direction Drew and Natasha had gone. “No one with eyes and a heart will believe that was a stunt. Natasha fell apart on the floor crying.” She pulled up her phone and gasped. “It’s all over social media. People are coming for you.” She swiped the screen with rapid strokes, hyperventilating.Axel dug into his jeans for his phone and dared to look at his social media account. His eyes went wide. The threats. The venom. Wow. He had to get out of there. Axel called his driver and asked him to pull up to the rear of the building.Joni stopped him. “Where are you going?”“Love Creek. Home to my mama. Where else can I go?” He was sure his home in Los Angeles and his penthouse here in the city were surrounded by reporters or hovering helicopters.“Not there. They’re sure to hunt you down at your mother’s house.”He had six brothers, each with their own place. He could bunk with one of them.His publicist kept scrolling. Her mouth dropped. “You’d better get going. Some of Natasha’s crazy fans are talking about coming here to the studio. I’ll get you a private jet. Have your assistant pack a couple bags and meet you at the airport.” Her high-pitched voice went nasal.His legs felt wooden, and he resisted the urge to panic. In the age of free choice, you’d think he had the option to say no. But no one said no to Natasha. Not if they expected to survive. Her fans were notorious about protecting their precious rose. A petal had fallen after his rejection.Yes. They were coming for him. Still. He couldn’t find it within him to regret his response.“Maddie’s on vacation. I’ll do it myself,” Axel said.“Vacation?” Joni’s brows raised, and she asked the question like she didn’t know the meaning of the word. “There’s no vacation for the underlings in this business. Fine. I’ll go get your bags. In the meantime, try to stay under the radar.” She hurried past him, her legs pumping as fast as she could move, considering she had just begin her third trimester of pregnancy.Axel had begun walking toward the exit when he heard his name bellowed. Drew Barrymore came up to him and tapped his arm. “Why don’t you stay and share your side on the show?”He shook his head and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Not a good idea.”“Maybe we could spin this. Natasha might come back on air.”He raised a brow. “Really?”Drew chewed her bottom lip and shook her head. “I figured you could talk to her.”“Trust me, I’m the last face Natasha wants to see right now. Thanks, Drew. I know you mean well, but you’ve got to get back on air.”The Petals were almost done singing. Drew glanced at her watch before skittering back to the set. He pushed open the rear door and jumped into the SUV, relieved that his driver had been waiting. The flash of the cameras alerted him of the media’s presence. Axel fired out directions to the airport and held on to the door when the driver tore off at high speed.Thirty minutes later, Axel thought of his family and unlocked his phone to check for messages. His mother had already sent a text to their family chat asking if he was okay and offering her home as a refuge. He studied her most recent picture, of a blunt cut with a mixture of browns and blonds that blended well with her skin tone, the color of honey. He couldn’t ignore Tanya Harrington or she would come looking for him. His mother stayed fit, so he didn’t second-guess her ability to take him down if needed. Axel quickly replied.Look outside. Is the press there?Yes. Sorry, His mother texted back.His response was a shrugging emoji and Call soon.He wasn’t surprised. Love Creek was a small town in Florida. It didn’t take long for the press to swoop in like vultures, sensing the probable imminent death of his box office hit. He shuddered. He was becoming as dramatic as his publicist. Axel watched the three dots, signaling someone in the group was responding.Several pings from his brothers hit his phone, inviting him to hunker down with them. The first was from Lynx, the soon-to-be newlywed. Next, Hawk reached out, but as a professional football player, Hawk was just as famous as he was. The rest of his brothers offered as well, but each one followed up with texts stating that the press was outside their homes. Capturing a photo of him would mean a big payout because of this scandal, so Axel understood why the paparazzi were circling each of his siblings’ properties. Axel thought about going to Thailand or somewhere remote but dismissed that idea. He wanted to be near his family, even if he couldn’t be with them.Maddie.He could call Maddie. No one would think he would venture to her condo. It would be the perfect hiding place until this died down. But she was starting her vacation this week. And he had given his word not to call unless he had a life-or-death emergency.This potential hit to his livelihood was an emergency. It could be the death of the film—and his career.His agent called. Ralph Patterson spewed harsh words, bellowing into Axel’s ear. “Turning down Natasha was a huge mistake. She is an heiress, practically American royalty. What were you thinking?”“That I wanted to make my own choice about who I marry,” Axel said with steel in his tone. He wasn’t about to remain on the defensive about a decision that could impact the rest of his life. “Marriage is important to me. If I got married, I would it to be for a lifetime.”“Then you’d be the only one in Hollywood. It would have been nothing to drop a couple million on an engagement ring. At least she’d have a bauble to ease her pain.”“Wow. Are you listening to yourself?” Axel shook his head. His agent was ruthless, and when it came to movies, that served Axel’s purpose well. But his personal life, not so much. He yelled into the phone. “You handle my business affairs, nothing else. You got that?”“You might not have a business to handle soon,” Ralph said and cut the call.Axel looked at his phone, tempted to call and fire his agent. But he wouldn’t make such a move when he was angry. Instead, he made the call to the one person in the world he didn’t think would hate him. The one person he knew would come up with a solution. He just prayed she would answer his call.Chapter Three“It must be important,” Maddie said, looking at his name on her vibrating phone, playing to the tune of “The Addams Family.” She stood in the doorway of her three-bedroom condo, her carry-on between her legs. She had popped home to pack for her vacation. “It has to be for Axel to call, knowing I’m supposed to be on vacation this week. He gave his word.”The sun beamed on her back, making her appreciate the cool air in front of her. Her AC was ticking and humming while keeping her place cool. A sound Maddie appreciated.  It was already close to eighty degrees, and the temps were expected to climb to ninety by 4:00 p.m. that day. Maddie had dressed in a yellow romper with a matching pair of sandals, which featured a sculptured heel and suede buckles, but she had slipped a black cardigan in her tote in case the mosquitoes came out.Keri strutted down the narrow hallway, her carry-on clanking behind her on the wooden floor, coming to join Maddie by the open door.“His word is as firm as water. You can’t be seriously thinking about answering his call,” Keri scoffed, putting a hand on a slender hip, irritation evident in her tone. She was close to six feet tall, dressed in a pair of shorts, a billowy blouse and bedazzled flip-flops. “You know he’s not calling for anything important. He probably wants something dumb, insignificant, like shoe polish or tweezers.” She flailed her hands. “Who knows! Let it ring.”Keri’s fascination with the movie star had dimmed once she had witnessed his thoughtless behavior. She urged Maddie to quit almost once a week.Sweat beads formed across Maddie’s forehead and upper lip. She rocked back on her heels while she debated if she should accept the call. The phone stopped its jerky movements, going to voice mail. She released a plume of air.It rang again.Maddie tapped her foot and stared at her phone.“I know that pensive look.” Keri shook her head. “Please don’t allow Axel Harrington to intrude on the first break you’ve taken in two years. Two years, Maddie. You promised we were going to Spain.” She tucked a long auburn strand behind her ear. “We’ve been planning this vacation for months. You made it outside the door. All you have to do is ignore that selfish man and we can be on our way.”Her friend was right on so many levels, but Maddie couldn’t disregard the ringing phone. “Let me just check,” she said, accepting the call and placing the phone on speaker.Axel emitted a loud sigh of relief that echoed in the entryway. “I’m so glad you answered. I’ve been trying to reach you for the last three hours.”“I knew it.” Keri clenched her fists, visibly trying to control her outrage. Her green eyes held fire.Maddie stepped over the threshold, taking her luggage with her. She tucked it into the corner and asked, “A cell tower got hit, so my phone was off while they worked to repair it. What’s wrong?” She ignored Keri’s mumblings to hang up the phone and took it off speaker.“Ugh,” Keri roared, looking upward. “I knew it was too good to be true. Tell Mr. The World Revolves Around Me we have a flight to catch.”Maddie placed a finger over her lips, but Keri wouldn’t be quieted. She covered her free ear and tried to focus as Axel rambled on about his interview with Natasha that had taken a bad turn. She listened with half an ear, mouthing to Keri she would be three seconds, max.In a huff, Keri stomped through the door. “I’m going downstairs to look out for Rochelle,” she said, giving Maddie the evil eye. Rochelle was Keri’s coworker and Maddie’s friend by association. She gave Keri a nod and attempted to concentrate on Axel’s words.“I can’t go to my home or my family’s homes. I wanted to ask if—”She cut him off, heading into the kitchen to grab an orange. She hadn’t eaten that morning. Just then the AC let out a squeal. She frowned. It sounded like she had pigs running around in her unit. Maddie spoke louder so she could be heard over the noise.“A bad interview is not an emergency, Axel.” Shutting the front door to keep out the flies, Maddie walked a few feet into the large living room area and sat on the microfiber couch she had purchased from Ashley HomeStore.“Have you been on my social pages?” he shot back, his tone sounding incredulous. And frazzled.“Yes, Axel, because my vacation time is all about you,” she said, affronted at his narcissism. “Emphasis on the word vacation. I’ve been planning this trip for ages. You know this.” She jabbed her thumb into the fruit to peel it with her hands. The juice flowed all over her fingers.He released a heavy breath. “I know it’s your time off, and I’m sorry to interrupt—”“Are you? `Cause, I mean, if you were sorry, you wouldn’t interrupt.” She bit into the orange, not even trying to hide her exasperation. It occurred to her that Axel, no matter how self-absorbed, was her employer, so she needed to change her tone. But then she dismissed the thought. If he didn’t like her attitude, he could fire her.She saw a notification that Keri was calling and sent a text that she would be down in a few.Rochelle and the Uber are here. If you aren’t here in three seconds, we’re leaving was Keri’s response.Maddie sent a thumbs-up emoji, then groaned. That made it sound like she was okay being left behind, and now she had juice on her phone. Reaching for a paper towel, she wiped her screen. Meanwhile, Axel was still talking. She had to end this call.“This is different,” Axel said. This time there was no denying the mild hysteria in his tone.She tossed the paper towel in the trash and paused for a beat. Axel always maintained his cool. Her brows furrowed. Maybe… No. She shook her head, and her annoyance surfaced. He was trying to suck her into some frivolous task or errand. “What is it this time?” she found herself asking, hating that she did. That was a sure sign that Axel was beginning to suck her in.“Natasha proposed to me on air and I…I said no.”Maddie’s eyes went wide. She gripped the phone to keep it from falling out of her hands. “What?”“Yeah, I thought it was a stunt at first, but she meant it.” He exhaled. “When I turned her down, she broke. On live TV. But how can I marry someone I don’t see myself with forever? At least, I don’t think so.” His confusion tore at Maddie’s soft heart. “Everybody’s coming for me. It’s a mess right now, and I can’t go home because the press is camped out at my place—and my family’s.”That was no surprise. Axel might be the world’s darling, but there was no winning against Natasha and her hive. Her fans were serious. But Maddie needed to keep her stance. She was on vacation. From Axel, his world, all this. Spain was calling. And so was Keri.“I’m sorry this is happening to you, but I suggest you call your publicist. Let Joni help you. That’s why she earns the big bucks. I have a plane to catch.” Maddie looked at her watch and shot to her feet. She had to get going. She snatched her luggage and scurried to the door, anxious to get off the phone. Just as she put her hand on the doorknob, Axel spoke.“Maddie, wait…” She heard him take a deep breath before he whispered, “I need you.”His desperation stilled her. Frozen. Her heart raced. The urgency in his voice sent off an alarm in her senses. Axel had never uttered those words that way before. In fact, she couldn’t recall him ever saying he needed her.Slowly, her hand fell. In a tone laced with sympathy, she said, “What do you need?”“I need a place to stay. For a few days. Just until all the frenzy dies down.”She shook her head. “Go to the Ritz, or that spot in Thailand you like.”“Can I stay with you?” he asked. “I need to be somewhere no one would think to look for me.”For some reason, his words pierced her gut. “Why? `Cause I’m not one of the beauties you date?” She knew she was plain, but goodness, she wasn’t a walking horror show. “Go ask one of your groupies.” She cut the call and sent Keri a text.I’ll meet you at the airport.I know what that means, Keri returned with crying emojis.I am coming!!!Right after she sent that response, the AC emitted what she could only describe as a sigh. Then all went quiet. Thank goodness. Axel called her on FaceTime. She grunted and answered, but only because she knew the man was relentless.He continued the conversation by answering her question. “This has nothing to do with your looks, or lack of, or whatever you mean.” He was so much into himself that didn’t even notice that she was looking like a hot mess. “What I meant was your being my assistant works in my favor. No one would think I would be with you.”Axel’s explanation was insulting, belittling on many levels, but she didn’t have the breath or the patience to explain further. Besides, he wasn’t done pleading. “Please, Maddie, I won’t be but a couple days, and then I will personally fly you first-class—no, make that via private jet—to your undisclosed vacation.”Maddie swallowed the inexplicable hurt and studied him. His eyes were wide, and he looked frayed.Maddie felt herself caving.She was sorry. She was pitiful. And Keri was right. “I’m a pushover,” she said, curving her shoulders. “Fine. You can stay. But only for a few days. How long before you get here?”He threw her a grateful kiss. “Thank you, Maddie. I’m so glad you agreed, because I don’t know what I would do.” She walked to the windows and parted the teal curtains. A white SUV with dark, tinted windows pulled into the lot. That had better not be him, she thought, even as he said, “I’ll be there later tonight.”Maddie’s chest heaved. “So, you just knew I would say yes.” This man had a lot of cheek, as her Jamaican father would say.“No, I hoped. I hoped,” he said, sounding relieved.“I’m only sticking around long enough to hand you the keys, and then I’m out of here. You’re on your own.”“But I can’t be seen,” he said. “What if I need something?”“Not my problem.”“What if I take you to Spain for a month once this all dies down?”Predictable response. She sighed. “It won’t be the same. I want to go with my friends, not my boss. I’ve been planning this for a while, and I need this time off.”“I can be fun.” She curled her fists. “I’m wasting my breath. You’re not hearing a thing I’m saying. I’ll see you when you get here.”Maddie pressed End and ate the last bit of the orange. Axel just didn’t get it, so she didn’t know why she had even attempted to explain. Needing to wash her sticky fingers, she grabbed hold of the old spout with such force that it broke, causing water to spray her in the face and hair.“Noooo,” she yelled out, reaching under the sink to turn off the main pipe before wiping her face. The front of her shirt was also soaked.She called the maintenance office who informed her that the plumber was swamped and might not get to her repair until Monday. With a groan, Maddie went to restore her hair to some level of decency. Something else registered. She stilled. The AC was uncharacteristically silent. Had it died? She walked under one of the vents and held up a hand, praying for cool. But all she felt was warm air. Oh no. First the spout. Then the AC. Maybe she wasn’t meant to leave.She texted Keri to let her friend know about the spout and the AC and that she couldn’t make the trip. Then she called a few HVAC technicians until she found one who promised to arrive within thirty minutes.Hours later, Maddie had a new unit and an exorbitant bill, but she was grateful because she couldn’t survive a night without central air.Maddie looked outside into the parking lot. Axel had texted that he was a few minutes away.She saw his long, powerful legs step out of a black vehicle. Axel had the phone crooked between his ear and shoulder, carrying what looked like an oversized duffel bag.“You won’t regret this,” he said once she let him inside.“Impossible, because I already do,” she said, stepping out of view. “I already do.”
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Excerpt From Cinderella's Last Stand by Michelle Lindo-Rice This material is protected by copyright.

Rivals at Love Creek - Sample Chapters

RIVALS AT LOVE CREEK Order Your Copy


Her biggest rival

Is also her greatest temptation…

Shanna Jacobs has ambitions to be the next superintendent. But when a cheating scandal rocks her school, she’s put under the supervision of her sexy ex, Lynx Harrington. Also a school principal, Lynx has his eye on the same job. Working to clear an accused cheater’s name—albeit a beautiful one—only complicates the plan. But their attraction is undeniable. And Shanna’s kisses are a perfect ten. Maybe their fledgling partnership will make the grade after all?Chapter OneAll it took was one social media post for Shanna Jacobs’s life to become entangled like a ball of twine.From a young age, she had learned to smile even when she was feeling broken inside. She had carried that lesson with her for her entire thirty-three years and became good at playing the part.Seated across from Patrick Harrington in one of the black leather chairs in his office, she couldn’t pretend the situation that had brought her here was nothing. She couldn’t pretend it would pass like a Florida thunderstorm.Not after the superintendent of the Love Creek school district’s words: “I’m sorry, Shanna. This scandal might affect your consideration for the superintendent’s position.”That meant Lynx Harrington—the principal of Love Creek High and her enemy, of sorts—would become the top candidate. Okay, since she had once fancied herself in love with Lynx when she was a teen, she couldn’t call him her enemy.Now he was her competition.Serious competition.Before Shanna could open her mouth to answer, Patrick continued with, “In fact, your job might be on the line.”Shanna gripped the chair, glad she was sitting, because her legs felt weak. Patrick’s office boasted two conference rooms, a private bathroom and a large oak desk that had been handcrafted by one of his seven sons. Every time she entered this room, Shanna pictured herself occupying this space, her certificates and diploma on the wall, each of her plants tucked in the corners of the large room.The past five days had ripped through her life with the savagery of a tornado after Austin Green, a twelfth grader who had graduated with honors, posted on social media that he’d had help on the SATs. From a teacher. Help that had led to his Columbia University acceptance.“You would fire me?” she sputtered. “Patrick, you know me. You know I’m not involved in this mess.”“The board already terminated Todd and Mark,” Patrick said, his tone somewhat accusatory.“You made me hire them,” she said. “They were your choices. Not mine.” Patrick had wanted them because of their coaching background. He’d had plans for their football and basketball teams.“I’m aware of that. But they were under your leadership. Your guidance. At least, that’s how the board—the nation—sees it.”She leaned forward and jabbed a finger on the desk. “I can’t be held responsible for the actions of two grown men who were all about winning. That’s how we got into this predicament.” Austin had bragged in his series of tweets that Todd Smith and Mark Houghton, her assistant principals, had been behind the plan. Then he’d stated he wasn’t the only one who had been provided with answers. His post had gone viral in hours, and the ensuing frenzy was one she would remember for a lifetime. Austin had already been interviewed, along with four other students from the graduating class.Cheating.On the SATs.Three teachers had also been fired two days before Shanna had been summoned to Patrick’s office. She was next. Just thinking about it made her stomach queasy, but Shanna was a fighter.She pinned her boss with a glare. “Where do you stand? How do you see it?”“It doesn’t matter what I think.”“It does to me.”“I know you’re not involved, but with everything going on, I think it might be best if you resign.”Resign. Give up. Her chin wobbled, and her eyes welled up. The fact that everything had happened under her watch was unacceptable. Like black ink splattered across a white page, this scandal was a huge slash through her impeccable record and stellar career. All she had done to overcome her broken past would be blotted out, tarnished because of other people's misdeeds.“I’m not going anywhere,” Shanna said, jumping to her feet. “Unless you plan to fire me, I’m going back to my office.”“I’m not firing you,” he said after clearing his throat. “I was hoping you would—”“Slink away like I’m guilty?” Eyeing a photo of Patrick with his son, Lynx, she lifted her chin. “Not a chance. Finish your investigation. I’m sure at the end of all this, I’ll be vindicated.” Then she would prepare for the most important interview of her career.He got to his feet, ignoring that the suit jacket on the back of his chair had fallen to the ground. “I’m on your side, Shanna. I’m confident you’ll be cleared, but your reputation is another matter.”“I’ll be fine,” she said, her heart pounding in her chest. “And when this is all over, I will put in for the superintendent position.” After all these years of hard work, she wasn’t about to let her prize go. The finish line was too close. And if she ran away, Lynx would win.She wasn’t having that.Patrick shook his head and stuffed his hands into his pants pocket. “I think you’re making a big mistake. I could give you a glowing recommendation, and you can move to another state and salvage your career.”“Love Creek is my home,” she said, pointing her index finger downward. “I’m not going anywhere. No scandal is going to run me out of this town.”Patrick clamped his lips. “This isn’t going to get better, Shanna. This scandal is like a sore that’s growing and gathering pus.”She cocked her head and placed a hand on her hip. “I thought you, more than anyone, would be urging me to fight. Unless…you’re using this to get me out of the way so your son can get the superintendent position. Because we both know I would’ve won.” Shanna couldn’t believe her sass, but she couldn’t say she regretted her bitter words.His eyes darkened, and his voice held steel. “Since you’re under a lot of stress, I’m going to excuse what you just said. I have supported and mentored both you and Lynx—and quite frankly, I’m appalled that you would hint at any nepotism on my part. The school board conducts the interviews and determines my successor. You know that.”Properly chastised, Shanna squeaked out an apology before adding, “Within a week, this will be all over. You’ll see.” Her words lacked confidence, and her voice sounded shaky, which she hated.“I’ll be speaking with the board, and then I’ll be in touch,” Patrick said in a cool, dismissive tone.All she could do was nod and hurry out of the room. She should not have mentioned Lynx, but it was hard to be around his father and not think of him. Especially since his photo was on display, boasting his lopsided grin, oozing with confidence, heating her blood to dangerous degrees.Lynx had been the first man to take her heart, then smash it like crystal on concrete. A heart she had placed in his hands. A heart he had crushed because of a lie. If she could help it, Lynx wouldn’t get the chance to get anything that should be hers.And no scandal was going to keep that from happening.She would be the next superintendent of Love Creek.Chapter TwoA week after her meeting with Patrick, Shanna sat alone in her office at River’s Edge High School and acknowledged the emotion coursing through her body.Fear. Gut-shaking fear. Fear she could lose her job, her home, her career—and not because of anything of her own doing. Undeserved fear. Normally, her office centered, calmed her. She had chosen a shade of brown called Mexican Moonlight for her walls and had decorated the space with light oak furnishings, deep orange leather chairs, a loveseat and a large plush turquoise rug in the center of the room. She had a couple of plants, smooth jazz and a plug-in grapefruit-scented air freshener.She scrolled through Austin’s social media posts, her heart racing in her chest like a bobcat chasing a squirrel as she read the responses.A sob escaped, and the dam broke. Her shoulders shook under the weight of her tears.Her mother needed health care.Her sister, Yanique—“Yanni”—was in college, pursuing her master's degree in sociology.Shanna lived modestly so she could support them. The thought of disappointing her mother and Yanni—or worse, no longer being able to support them—pierced her heart. She rested her head in her hands and gritted her teeth to keep from screaming before wiping her face. The worst part of this ordeal would be defending her ignorance. Ignorance of the plot happening under this very roof. Yet she would bear the blame like a halo. As the head of the school, anything that occurred within these walls ultimately rested on her shoulders.Scooting her chair close to her desk, Shanna scanned more comments on social media before emitting a shocked gasp. The scandal had garnered national attention. People were coming for her from across the nation.Despite her innocence.This level of anxiety was overwhelming.Shanna raced into the bathroom and upchucked her Caesar salad. Furious with herself for this act of weakness, she swished water in her mouth to rinse before washing her hands. Her cell pinged from on her desk. Shanna’s cell and office phones had rung nonstop for days, but she had to make sure it wasn’t her sister reaching out. She had received text messages from fellow administrators and Yanni. She had given all of them the same answer, which was that she was okay.Shanna rushed to read the message on her phone and groaned. It was a text from Lynx, the last person she wanted to hear from. Never mind that her heart rate accelerated.How can I help?She read his words several times through narrowed eyes. Though her fingers shook, she wrote NONE NEEDED in all caps before hitting Send and dropping her phone onto the desk.As if she would dare ask him for assistance. Not for one second would she believe the sender of that text meant those words. He was probably seeking a way to gloat at her downfall. He must have heard that she had once again been requested to meet with Patrick.His response was a simple K. Like she wasn’t worth the bother of an O before the K. Not that she cared. She just found it…interesting. With a shrug, she dismissed Lynx and returned to her spot on the chair.Shanna decided to pull up her emails. Hundreds of well-wishers were reaching out. She rubbed her head and clicked out of her screen. No point in responding when she might be out of a job.Another text came through.Girl, I’m worried about you. Call me. Her heart lightened when she saw it was her best friend, Laurie Hightower. Since they both had iPhones, Shanna used FaceTime. She needed to see the face of someone who loved her. Laurie was about the same height as Shanna, except she had a deeper brown tone, to-die-for sharp cheekbones and a pair of sharp hazel eyes.As soon as Laurie answered, more tears threatened.“Girl, I know you told me not to call, but I can’t get on that plane without talking to you.” Her friend’s eyes held a mixture of worry and sympathy. Laurie was on her way to Turks and Caicos to celebrate her engagement with her fiancé, Craig.Shanna could see the bustle of the other passengers going by on the screen. “I don’t want you worrying. I need you to celebrate for the both of us,” she said, sniffling.“I can’t have a good time knowing my friend is in pain.” Laurie chewed her bottom lip. “Maybe I shouldn’t go.”“No. No. You must go. I can’t be the reason why you have another broken engagement.”Laurie had been engaged four times, and each time, about a month before the wedding, she had ended things. She had earned the moniker the Runaway Beauty of Love Creek, a title Laurie hated with a passion.“You know that’s not even right,” her friend said, tossing her hair. “You know I’m picky because of Cooper,” she added, referencing her son and Shanna’s godson.“We’re now boarding first-class passengers,” Shanna heard the flight attendant call out.“That’s you.” She blew a kiss. “Tell Craig I said hello, and please don’t worry. Be safe.”Laurie looked ready to argue, but Craig ushered her off the phone after giving Shanna a quick wave. Shanna picked up her office phone and called the custodian to ask him if he could drive her car to the rear of the school. The news media was camped outside the building, waiting for her to emerge, and she hoped to thwart their plans.Shanna powered off her cell and tossed it in her purse, shutting out all further communication. If only she could shut the scandal out of her life that easily.Looking at the love seat tucked in the corner, where she had taken many naps before after-school games, and the walls lined with pictures of her with students and staff, Shanna tried to imagine vacating to make room for her replacement. She couldn’t. Rubbing her eyes, she traipsed into her private bathroom and ran her fingers through her shoulder-length curls. She had dyed it a deep shade of brown with copper highlights, with a part down the middle. Next, she brushed her teeth and applied a plum lip color that enhanced her full lips and blended well with her chestnut skin tone.Satisfied, Shanna gathered her belongings.Lifting her chin, she forced herself to smile and stepped out of her office, closing the door behind her. She made sure to keep her eyes planted straight ahead as she trekked down the hallway, ignoring the curious looks of pity thrown her way. Thankfully, teachers and students were out on summer break, so she only encountered a handful of other twelve-month staff. Most of them had already departed to enjoy the Fourth of July holiday weekend.The ten-foot blue-and-yellow cougar—the school mascot—at the end of the hallway that usually felt so welcoming now appeared sinister, its dark eyes jeering at her as she drew close. Shanna pulled her bag strap higher on her shoulder and nodded at the custodian, Carl Jenkins. He had served at River’s Edge for over twenty years and knew all the comings and goings at the school better than Shanna did. It was close to four o’clock, an hour earlier than he usually came in, and she knew it was because of the scandal.“I drove your Lincoln to the back lot like you asked, Miss Jacobs,” Carl said, slipping the key into her palm.“Thank you, Carl. I appreciate that so much.”She had purchased the Lincoln MKZ a month ago as an early birthday gift, but with her job on the line, she wasn’t sure she would be able to make the payments. She had a nest egg, but it was reserved for emergencies.“Anytime.” He dabbed at his eyes. “I can’t believe after all the positive things you’ve done, our school ended up making national news over this standardized-testing mess. This will all blow over. You’ll see. I know you’re a good person, and I know you wouldn’t be a part of anything like this. I can reach out to the super and vouch for you, if you want.”She patted his wrinkled brown hand and said, “Thank you for your faith in me, but I don’t want you reaching out or putting your name in the middle of this scandal.”He cleared his throat. “For what it’s worth, I’m glad this school finally had a black female principal. It made me proud to see you up there at graduation time. You were the first, remember that, and no one can claim that but you.”Shanna gave a jerky nod. Whether Carl realized it or not, he was sort of telling her goodbye in his own way. His words deflated her optimism like a pin in a balloon. Her shoulders curved. She willed her feet to move and continued down the hallway toward the reception area, drawing deep breaths. This doesn’t have to be my final walk as principal in these halls, she told herself.Nancy Hughes, her secretary, sniffled and said, “I deactivated our Facebook and Twitter pages.”“I’m sorry this is happening,” was all Shanna could say, swallowing. The guilt and burden of responsibility settled like bile in her stomach.“I’ll take care of your plants,” Nancy choked out, covering her mouth with her hand.Another goodbye.“I watered them this morning,” she managed to whisper.Her first day on the job, she had carried in several potted and hanging plants: a ribbon plant, a philodendron, a corn plant and a Madagascar dragon tree. Then she’d placed one in each of the four corners of the outer office. She’d taken meticulous care of the plants, pruning them, ensuring they had the right amount of water, and they had flourished under her care. The lush greenery spilled out of their pots, healthy and vibrant, a physical reflection of her thriving career.Despite her fragile situation, Shanna smiled.Her mother would have been proud. When Bernice Jacobs had been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, it snatched away everything except for her love of plants. Shanna had bonded with her mother by learning all she could about the different kinds of plants. Luckily, she had inherited her mother’s green thumb.“You’ll get it all sorted out. I hope I’ll see you tomorrow.” Nancy made the sign of the cross. Even as she spoke the words, Shanna could hear the uncertainty mixed with hope in Nancy’s voice.Shanna averted her gaze from the older woman’s face. If she made eye contact, she knew she would break down, and she was determined to remain composed. She curled her fingers around the strap on her purse and squeezed. No eloquent parting words could be uttered, her throat tight under the strain of keeping it together.She gave a small wave and pushed open the glass door to exit the administration office. The sunshine state’s muggy, dry heat stifled her, stealing her breath as soon as she entered the main lobby of the school near the front entrance. The AC had been turned off in the rest of the two-story building to conserve energy, making it feel three times hotter than a steam room.Keeping her back toward the front of the building, Shanna scurried toward another exit leading to the football field. The entire ten minutes it took to get to the rear of the massive building, all she could hear was the sound of her heels clicking to the tune of Scan-dal, scan-dal, echoing down the darkened hallway. This was when her tears flowed.Once she was at the exit, Shanna placed a hand on the glass door and froze. Tears ran down her cheeks and down her chin. After all her wonderful days, she had to slink away and hide from the press. “This is not goodbye,” she vowed and squared her shoulders. It couldn’t be.Drawing a deep breath, Shanna wiped her face with the back of her hand, clamped her jaw and pushed open the door. She peered outside and looked around with the stealth of a child stealing an ice-cream bar late at night before heaving a sigh of relief. An empty, open land of freshly mowed green grass awaited her.Smoothing her dress, Shanna slapped on her sunglasses and treaded carefully across the field to ensure her three-inch pumps didn’t sink deep into the grass. At five-nine, if she fell, she would land hard, and it wouldn’t be pretty. It had stormed that morning before the sun came out, and the earth hadn’t fully dried. Her heels dug into the wet ground, causing tiny drops of mud to hit her ankles.Sweat beads rolled down her back. The sun’s rays were merciless.She wiped her brow, wishing she had thought to carry a bottle of water from the mini refrigerator in her office. Thank goodness she kept napkins and deodorant in her glove box, because she was surely going to need them.Entering her vehicle, Shanna’s shoulders slumped from relief. She hadn’t been discovered. She pressed the start button, before applying deodorant and rubbing hand sanitizer on her hands. The vehicle gave a quiet hum, and the AC kicked on.The clock read 4:12 p.m. She had about forty minutes before her appointment to pull herself together. She lifted the visor and looked into the mirror. Her face looked flushed, and she could see the worry in her eyes. “Don’t fall apart,” she told herself, even as her stomach constricted. The gravity of the situation barreled through her mind at full force.For a quick second, Shanna debated skipping the meeting and jumping on the highway. But this was her life. There was no escaping it, and her mother hadn’t taught her to skulk from the truth. She straightened and patted her curls. She wouldn’t slink away in shame when she had done nothing wrong. Even if the nation believed otherwise, she knew the truth. She would stand on that. If today was to be her last day, she would leave with the glory of a comet trailing across the sky.After her pep talk, Shanna retrieved the napkins to wipe her face and reapplied face powder; then she placed the car in gear.Chapter ThreeLynx Harrington pulled the golf cart into the spot designated for the principal of Love Creek High School. He had spent most of the day helping his coach unload the new equipment for the second gymnasium that had finally finished being built. The Florida sun in the summer was brutal, and some of the members of the Navy ROTC and football team had passed out during practices a few days ago due to dehydration. Lynx had attended this very high school, and because of his size and bulk, he had been quarterback for the Love Creek Gators, so he knew about the danger of the sun.He couldn’t risk anyone suffering a heat stroke, so on days when the temperature was above ninety-five degrees, the gym would be a smarter, safer option. Lynx had taken three years to fundraise, irritating businessmen in the area until he had the funds to break ground on the gym. Next up would be a new state-of-the-art theater. That’s what he wanted to spend his summer working on—not talking about a scandal that had nothing to do with him. News media from across the country had been calling and emailing to get a statement. Of course, he hadn’t complied. He heard they had set up a tent in the River’s Edge parking lot. That’s why he had reached out to Shanna, though he knew she would rebuff his help.Still, he had tried.And he had received a swift no.It was close to 4:30 p.m., and all the other staff had left for the day. Dressed in the school colors—a burgundy polo imprinted with the words Love Creek High, along with a small replica of a gator, and a pair of tan slacks—Lynx had been overdressed for the Florida sun. He wished he could go home, stand under the shower and allow the heat to beat his sore muscles. Then he would work on his watches.When he wasn’t working for the school, Lynx focused on fixing his antique watches. When Patrick and Tanya Harrington adopted him, he had inherited a grandfather, Sterling "Pop" Harrington, who Pop loved to repair old watches. Lynx had been drawn to the large, silent man, who looked like a brown version of Santa Claus, and he’d begged Pop to teach him. Together, they spent hours fixing all kinds of watches. When Pop died, Lynx had carried on his legacy. To date, he had fixed twenty watches and had sold some to other collectors.Tinkering with his collection would have been an ideal end to the day. Instead, his father had called, requesting Lynx’s presence at the district office. He called the custodian using his walkie-talkie and asked him to cover the golf cart and park it in the shed. He wasn’t worried about the cart being stolen. With the school’s name emblazoned on the side, it would be easy to find. Besides, Love Creek had been voted one of the best places to live because of its low crime rate. But he was concerned about the rain and bugs and snakes. When he navigated the school campus, Lynx didn’t want unexpected traveling companions.Lynx went into the building to use the restroom and wash his face and hands. He welcomed the cool air after being in the stifling heat for most of the day. He kept spares of the school shirts in his office. When he entered the office, he realized he had left on the television mounted opposite his desk. The volume was off, but the closed-captioning was on. After changing into a fresh polo, Lynx drank two bottles of water, reading the captions on the news channel.Just as he took the last gulp, his cell phone rang.Excitement rose when he saw the name on his screen. “Please tell me you have good news for me,” Lynx said by way of greeting the older man on the phone. Pietro would only be calling for one reason.“I have more than good news,” Pietro said, Russian accent thick. “I think I have found the watch you’ve been looking for. It fits the description to a tee.”Lynx’s heart raced. “You’re about to get my hopes up.”“It looks just like the one in the picture. I’m pretty sure that you finally made bingo. It’s going to be in North Carolina this weekend.”Instinctively, Lynx felt his pocket for his wallet. “I was coming up that way, so I'll hit the auction house before I come back home. Text me the location. You best believe I'll be there. Thank you for looking out.” Pop had given Lynx a picture of a special watch he’d had as a youth, and Lynx kept it in his wallet. The watch was considered an heirloom, dating back to the early nineteenth century. Pop had sold it to save his home and to support his family. Lynx had scoured garage sales and traveled across states to find it, but to no avail. He had to see if Pop’s watch had been recovered.“It's my pleasure," Pietro said.Lynx pressed the button to start his Audi from inside his office. He couldn’t wait to drive to North Carolina to investigate. If he hadn’t made other plans, he would have already been on the highway. “Let me know how much I owe you for all this digging.”“Don’t sweat it. You repaired my grandmother’s watch when no one else would touch that smashed glass. So I’m glad to return the favor. I only wish I could be there to see your face when you get that timepiece in your hand.”“Man, it’s going to take a lot to keep me from acting the fool.”The men wrapped up their conversation. A picture of the Love Creek district office flashed across the television screen. The brick building had once been the location of the town’s first high school, with a total student population of 125 students. Then, once the town grew, the high school was relocated and the building repurposed. Five years ago, the building had been destroyed by a hurricane, and the school board had approved the two-story structure built out of brick and cement.Lynx rushed to turn up the sound on the television. A reporter was rehashing the scandal, but his eyes were drawn to the woman threading her way through the mob to get inside.Shanna.She walked with poise and confidence, lifting a hand to ward off the questions. She looked close to six feet tall in those heels. The press followed her like she was the Pied Piper.He quirked his lips, admitting that admiration swirled within. If he was the one facing the heat of speculation, he didn’t know if he could keep his cool. Maybe Shanna was okay, he told himself as he exited the building and drove the half-mile distance to the Love Creek district office.When Lynx swerved into the parking lot, his brows rose at the large number of reporters. It hadn’t looked like so many on the television screen. Judging from the tents that lined the parking lot, it looked as if they had been there for hours.Lynx understood why they were here, but he didn’t like it. He searched for his sunglasses—a poor disguise, but they would cover his eyes. He slung his backpack on his shoulder before getting out of the car.He would rather face twenty linebackers than the crowd of reporters. Glancing at his G-Shock, he saw he had ten minutes till he was scheduled to meet with his father. He sped up. His father and superintendent, Patrick Harrington, didn’t tolerate tardiness.Within seconds, Lynx found himself surrounded by microphones pushed close to his face. He lifted a hand to shield his eyes from the bright light of the cameras and stormed through the throng. He jutted his jaw, refusing to answer any questions tossed at him.“Are you worried about your school coming under investigation?”“What will happen to Ms. Jacobs?”“Have you read the accusation on social media?”Lynx kept moving, relieved when the crowd parted, though they followed him to the entrance. There was a sign on the door banning the press from entering the building. Since it was after-hours, he had to use his fob to access the building. Plodding past the reception desk and waiting area, Lynx arrived at another set of closed doors. These had been installed after a robbery at the local bank. He swiped the fob and took take the stairs to the second floor. He strode pass the Curriculum and Special Education departments before arriving at the superintendent suite, which boasted two conference rooms, a secretary’s office and his father’s office.Lynx glanced into the smaller conference room, noting Shanna was in there with her back turned, then proceeded toward his father’s office. He could hear the muffled sounds of his father’s deep bass voice joined by another. His brother Caleb was present, which was no surprise, as Caleb was the school district’s attorney. He rapped on the half-open door before entering.His father and brother were huddled together, reading a document. As they stood side by side, with their jackets tossed onto the backs of their chairs and their shirtsleeves rolled up, the resemblance between them was strong. Both were the same height, with a lean build and pecan-toned skin, though Patrick sported a low fade and Caleb had a clean-shaven head. It was at these odd moments that Lynx remembered he was adopted. Patrick and Tanya Harrington had opened their hearts and home to foster two white brothers, and their lives had changed drastically.For the better.He would never stop thanking God.Abandoned by their mother at five and seven, Lynx and his older brother, Hawk, had been welcomed into the Harrington household, which already had three boys—Tanya’s son, Axel; and Patrick’s sons, Drake and Ethan. Though Lynx and Hawk had jet-black hair and blue eyes, they blended in, their personalities meshing with the other boys. Soon after that, Patrick and Tanya welcomed fraternal twins, Brigg and Caleb. As the eldest of the now seven brothers, Hawk had claimed Brigg as his baby, and Lynx had claimed Caleb. All of them had grown to become “successful, contributing citizens to their country,” to quote his father’s words.Lynx eyed the small platter of turkey sandwiches, potato chips and water bottles. He hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and his stomach was quick to remind him.Patrick waved a hand. “Susan’s preparing a press statement to handle this mess. I have a few months left before I retire, and I don’t want to go out with this mark on my record. I’d like you to look over it once I’m done.”Susan Phillips was the district press secretary and publicist.Lynx dumped his backpack in the chair and pointed behind him. “I think I saw Shanna in the conference room?”Shanna Jacobs.Back then—his first crush.Right now—his rival.Since they’d met in third grade, Lynx and Shanna had been in competition, each desiring to do better than the other, a race that culminated with Shanna becoming valedictorian and Lynx salutatorian of Love Creek High. Some would say he was salty and a sore loser. But it was more than that.He knew it.She knew it.“Yes, I set up a meeting with her. Caleb and I plan to talk with her, and we were hoping you’d join us.”“I’m not an HR person, so why would you want me here? Besides, given the choice, I don’t think Shanna would want me involved,” Lynx said. His entire family knew how he felt about Shanna Jacobs.“It’s not up to her,” Patrick replied with steel in his tone. “My HR manager is on vacation, so this ordeal rests on my shoulders.”“Our social media page is filled with people clamoring for her to be replaced. With actresses like Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin making headlines for SAT bribery, this is something we can’t sweep under the rug or ignore,” Caleb said, rubbing his eyes. His brother spent too much time in the books and behind a computer screen. He was the only one of the seven brothers to need prescription lenses. Caleb had been in glasses since the fifth grade, before changing to contacts his freshman year at college.Lynx made a mental note to invite his brother to go fishing or hiking—something, anything, to give Caleb a break from the books.He snatched one of the turkey sandwiches off the tray and took a bite before continuing. “But Shanna isn’t a celebrity. She’s one of ours—Love Creek born and raised. Is that what we do to one of our own?”Neither man answered.Lynx stuffed another sandwich in his mouth and focused on the photos of his father’s numerous awards and pictures that lined the rear wall. He strutted over to look at the one in the middle of Lynx accepting his principalship. He had graduated from the University of South Florida, top of his class, after earning both his bachelor’s in education and master’s degree in education administration. Patrick Harrington was the reason Lynx had chosen a career in education. He wanted to help other young men and women find their path, and he had done that.Next to his picture was a photo of a young woman with full ruby-colored lips—lips he knew from experience were luscious and soft—smooth flawless skin and cinnamon-colored curls. Shanna had been beautiful as a teen, and she had aged like fine wine. She wore a bright smile, clutching her principalship certificate. Lynx knew Shanna had her eye on the superintendent position. She wanted it almost as much as he did.His father came up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder.Lynx shook himself to the present to focus on his father's words. “I’d like to propose that you assume leadership at both schools. Then Shanna can remain in her position as your assistant. She will continue with her duties overseeing the hiring, training, discipline for all staff but will report to you.”Lynx’s eyes went wide, and he swung around to look at his father. “You can’t be serious? I won’t agree to this.” He splayed his hands. “There’s no way she would go for that. I know I wouldn’t.”Patrick folded his arms. “This is her only choice. The board wanted me to offer a termination package.”Termination.For some reason, he couldn’t bear the thought of that happening to her. He knew there was only one thing to do.


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Review: How to Steal the Lawman's Heart

How to Steal the Lawman's Heart by Kathy Douglass
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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THE ADOPTION SURPRISE - Sample Chapters

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Separated at birth and determined to become a family.

“She looks like me!” When her orphaned niece utters those words, Kelsey Harris is shocked—not only that Morgan has a long-lost twin but that the grieving five-year-old spoke at all. Overjoyed by Morgan and Mia’s instant connection, Kelsey and Zach Johnson, Mia’s widowed adoptive father, agree to be friends—and only friends. But can they ignore their growing feelings when the matchmaking sisters put their plan into action?

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Chapter One

For the third time that Thursday morning, Kelsey Harris fought back tears. And for the hundredth time over the past six months, she questioned her ability to be a mother.

Her niece, Morgan, had been given the world’s most amazing parents for almost six years. Then in a moment, at the hands of a reckless drunk driver, both her parents had been snatched away in a nasty collision with Morgan in the back seat.

Now all she had was Kelsey.

An inadequate substitute.

She stood in the kitchen of her sister’s house—her house now—in the small community of Swallow’s Creek, Delaware, ignoring the empty Chinese food containers mixed in with the clutter on the kitchen counter and the stack of dishes in the sink. Instead, Kelsey watched Morgan swing her legs under the small round kitchen table, eating her Lucky Charms slower than the first pour of ketchup from a bottle. Kelsey didn’t dare rush her for fear that Morgan would stop eating.

The child already barely ate.

Or spoke.

Her vibrant, fun-loving five-year-old niece had been replaced with one enclosed in a silent cocoon. Kelsey didn’t know how to get Morgan back to herself.

Reason number 4,673 why Kelsey doubted her skills. Oh, why had God put her in this position?

Morgan took another spoonful—her fourth—her hand moving from bowl to mouth, lackluster. A chore.

Sitting down in a chair across from Morgan, Kelsey braced herself to ask a question that made her heart pound. “I heard you crying last night. But when I came in the room, you turned away from me. I know you were awake and pretending to be asleep. Do you want to talk about it?”

Her niece closed her eyes and shook her head.

“Sweetie, you can talk to me about anything regarding your mom and dad. And how you feel. I want to help you.”

Kelsey tensed while she prayed and begged God to loosen her niece’s tongue. All she got was another shake of the head. She didn’t push for fear Morgan would become upset and stop eating.

Patting Morgan’s hand, she said, “Okay, honey. Finish your breakfast.”

After a brief hesitation, Morgan squared her shoulders and resumed eating. Kelsey released a plume of air.

Maybe it was good she had finally heeded Pastor Reid’s advice. He had recommended a Christian therapist, Lily Hernandez, who was trained in childhood trauma. After months of lagging, Kelsey had made the appointment for the following Thursday, June 23. It was an hour away in Wilmington, but Morgan’s well-being was worth the drive. Kelsey had plugged the details into her calendar and set an alarm reminder to make sure she didn’t forget. If therapy didn’t work, Kelsey was seriously considering a move to San Diego or Florida. Both she and Morgan could use a little sunshine in their lives.

Kelsey looked at the clock and bit back a groan. She had thirty minutes until the meeting with her new client, but she had to drop Morgan off at the first day of summer camp. As one of the top real estate agents in Swallow’s Creek, Kelsey stayed busy and worked past midnight most days. But once she became Morgan’s primary caretaker, she’d had to reduce her hours. One of the perks of being in business for herself in a small town was that she could do the daily drop-off and pickup from school. Not bad for a twenty-nine-year-old cosmetology school dropout.

Which in itself was a plus. Morgan’s hair was always on point. Kelsey eyed her niece’s shoulder-length cornrows and beads with pride. Morgan’s hair shone, moving and swaying while Morgan chewed her food. Slowly.

Seconds later, Morgan plopped her spoon in the bowl and stood, causing the chair to scrape across the floor.

“Are you all done, honey?” Kelsey asked, swallowing the disappointment when she saw how much was left.

With a nod, Morgan picked up her bowl, holding it close to her chest. Kelsey knew Morgan was afraid it might fall and shatter to pieces like two others had before. Yet, if she offered to help, Morgan would refuse. Her niece placed the bowl in an empty spot on the counter, then tugged her Moana T-shirt over her brown leggings. She had outgrown the outfit but refused to allow Kelsey to change out her wardrobe. Their last trip to the mall had been a disaster, with Morgan crying and asking for her mom.

“Can you use your words for Auntie?” Kelsey pleaded, tucking Morgan under the chin.

Her niece looked up at her with sad, haunted eyes, her jaw churning behind zipped lips. A few seconds passed before she whispered, “Yes.”

“Great,” Kelsey said with a cheer she didn’t feel. She gave Morgan a quick hug. “Why don’t you get your Princess Tiana bag?” With a nod, Morgan went to get her backpack. It was one of the last things Kennedy had purchased for Morgan, and it was her niece’s prized possession. Morgan didn’t go anywhere without it, though it was almost as big as she was.

Once they were out the door, Kelsey swallowed the muggy heat, rushed to her BMW coupe and directed Morgan to get in her booster chair and put on her seat belt. She really needed to trade this car in and get a sensible mom car.

And she would. Probably never.

She couldn’t bear to part with her car.

Kelsey put on JoJo Siwa, then glanced in her mirror to see if Morgan danced along. But the former ballerina sat still, eyes wide as she clutched the leather seats. Kelsey wanted to tell her niece not to worry, but she, too, had been traumatized. The first week after Kennedy’s and Alex’s deaths, Kelsey had been too paranoid to drive. One of her best friends, Sienna King, had done the driving. Kelsey had had to recite 2 Timothy 1:7 several times before she got behind the wheel again.

She was halfway to the summer camp when she slapped her forehead. “I forgot to pack your lunch.” She rebuked her self-recriminating thoughts.

Morgan shrugged and peered out the window.

“I’ll get you a burger and fries for lunch. How’s that sound?”

Her niece nodded. Kelsey couldn’t imagine the horror Morgan relived every time they got inside a vehicle. Her heart squeezed tight, like a lollipop in a child’s fist. She wished she could snap her fingers and remove the pain that Morgan must be feeling. Or take that agony onto herself.

Sinking into her seat, Kelsey whispered an internal prayer. Please, God. Help me help her. `Cause I don’t have a clue.

By this time, Kelsey had twelve minutes to meet her client. She gripped the wheel and resisted the urge to press down on the accelerator. That might scare Morgan. She would prefer to be late and lose that deal rather than cause Morgan any additional harm. So she counted to ten and followed the speed limit.

Kelsey pulled into the church parking lot and drove to the rear, toward the camp entrance. There was a huge black SUV in the lane. Just as she moved to turn, the rear door of the truck opened and a pink ball bounced in front of her car. A small girl jumped out and went after the ball. All Kelsey saw was a head full of curls as she squealed with horror.

Panicked, Kelsey stomped on her brakes. The tires screeched like squawking seagulls as the car hurtled forward. Morgan emitted an earsplitting scream. And then another. Kelsey rammed the gear into Park, jabbed the release button on her seat belt and grabbed Morgan’s leg to comfort her. Morgan’s eyes were shut tight, her face red, her horror evident.

A tall, muscular man dressed in a pair of gray slacks and a blue-and-white-checkered shirt came after the child and scooped her into his arms.

Stealing a quick glance and seeing the other little girl had not been hurt, Kelsey yelled, “It’s all right, Morgan,” before opening her door with such force it rocked on the hinges. She catapulted out of the vehicle and scuttled to the passenger side to open Morgan’s door.

With sweaty hands, Kelsey fumbled before undoing Morgan’s seat belt. Morgan lunged toward Kelsey, her little body shaking and her chest heaving. Kelsey scooped the quivering child into her arms and rocked her, kissing the top of her head. “It’s okay. It’s okay. You’re fine, Morgan. You’re fine.” Morgan bellowed directly in her ear. She tilted her head, her ear cavity ringing. Her niece had quite the healthy pair of lungs.

Feeling a presence looming behind her, Kelsey turned. She was tall, at five-ten, but she had to look up at the man. And her eyes enjoyed the journey, taking in his full lips and square jaw and stopping in awe at a pair of unusual eyes—one hazel, the other a deep, rich honey brown. She swallowed, having never met anyone with heterochromia before, and tried to hide her instant fascination.

She lowered her eyes, resisting the urge to fan herself. Did he notice how flustered she was? The stranger hadn’t said a word. That was odd. She scrunched her nose and made her eyes meet his.

His gaze was trained on…Morgan? Kelsey frowned, snapping out of her musings and swallowing her awakened fury. You’d think he would be apologizing or thanking her, but instead he stood staring at Morgan, like he was judging her niece for screaming and crying. His daughter slid down his body to hide behind his leg.

Kelsey swung around to shield Morgan from the man’s intense gaze.

“I’m glad your daughter is okay,” she said, raising a brow. Her tone had enough acid to solicit a reaction.

The man sputtered like a choked engine. “I’m sorry. I’m glad you saw Mia jump out of my truck. If you hadn’t…”

“The main thing is that  I did see her and that she’s safe.” Kelsey tried to put Morgan down, but her niece clung to her tighter than a monkey on a swing. Morgan had stopped screaming and had wiped her face into Kelsey’s blouse. Her sniffles tore at Kelsey’s heart.

“Are you okay?” she asked, noting that the man was still, as if he was in shock.

He stepped back, rubbing his eyes. “Nope. My eyes aren’t deceiving me. I am seeing doubles.” He tried to tug the little girl from his leg, but she was holding on to him.

“Doubles? Really?” Kelsey asked, moving away from him. She didn’t have time for corny pickup lines or to engage with someone more concerned with hitting on a woman than tending to his child. She retrieved Morgan’s book bag, then swung her hips to close the car door. With long strides, she went to the driver’s side to shut that door as well. Kelsey tried not to think of her damp blouse and her bun coming undone.

“Wait,” the man said, but she lifted her chin and kept moving. She thought she heard the sound of an alarm behind her. This man definitely wasn’t from around here. Hardly anybody in Swallow’s Creek locked their vehicles.

*

Zachary Johnson watched the woman scurrying up the path, struggling to keep her rapid pace with a child in her arms. A child that, if his eyes were seeing right, was the mirror image of his daughter, Mia.

A doppelgänger.

His heart thumped in his chest, and goose bumps popped up on his arms. It couldn’t be. Zach needed to get another glimpse. Then he could laugh at his error and apologize for freaking out her mother. He hadn’t had much sleep the past few nights, having just relocated to Swallow’s Creek from Philadelphia.

“Why was that girl screaming, Daddy?” Mia asked, peering around his leg and looking up at him. “I’m scary.” Her chin wobbled, melting his heart. His little pumpkin, as he called her, had him wrapped about her finger. Fortunately, she didn’t know it.

“You mean scared.” Zach patted her curls and corrected her. “I don’t know, honey. Maybe she was afraid.”

The fact that Mia could have been hit by a vehicle registered. Not even five minutes ago, Zach could have lost his baby girl. An image of her lifeless body flashed before him and his legs weakened. He snatched Mia in his arms again and hugged her tight. She squirmed, her back arching like mozzarella cheese against him, but Zach couldn’t let her go. His baby was alive and well.

Unlike Sandy. His wife had passed after losing a battle with cancer two years ago. They had gotten married at twenty-one, and he treasured the eleven years they’d had together. Sandy had truly been his best friend.

“Put me down, Daddy,” Mia said, pulling on his goatee. “I’m not a baby. I’m a big girl. I can walk.”

“You’ll always be my baby,” Zach said, willing his legs to move.

Then he stopped. With all the commotion, he had forgotten Mia’s lunch box. He put Mia down and kept his eyes on her as he ran to retrieve her pink ball. Her ruffled pink skirt looked like it had snagged, and the T-shirt was no longer tucked in. Most of her hair had come undone from her lopsided ponytail. It had taken him fifteen minutes to undo her tangles and get it in a ponytail.

Zach hated to see her so disheveled, especially on her first day of summer camp. But he had to get back to the house. There was a truck coming to deliver Sandy’s car, and he had to be there to open the garage.

Thankfully, his chatty new neighbor, Jade Wilson, had shown up a couple days ago with a scrumptious walnut cake in her hand to welcome him to the neighborhood. When he mentioned Mia, who had been asleep upstairs, she had suggested Millennial House of Praise’s summer camp. Jade had left after that, promising to come by soon with her fifteen-year-old daughter, Izabelle, whom she had volunteered for babysitting if he needed it.

“Hurry up, Daddy,” Mia said, flapping her arms like a baby bird trying out its wings. “I’m ready to go.”

Zach returned to his truck, tossed the ball in the back and stretched across the seat for Mia’s lunch box. Taking her hand in his, he started back up the path to the entrance of the camp. Mia danced and twirled the entire way.

“I’m going to make twenty new friends,” Mia said.

He chuckled. “Twenty? That’s a lot of friends. You only need one or two.”

“I still want twenty.” She skipped.

As soon as he walked through the door, warmth akin to the first bite of fluffy pancakes seeped through him. The walls were painted with images of Noah’s ark, David and Goliath, and other biblical heroes. There were about thirty children ranging in age from four to twelve scattered throughout the huge room. The young children herded together, their bodies moving like marionettes to the Chicken Dance. Some of the older children were sprawled in chairs in front of a large television screen, the rumble of T. D. Jakes’s voice a low hum. Others busied themselves on their cell phones or on computers. His eyes scanned the play kitchen area, theater tent and a mini racetrack—an organized chaos.

Zach counted six counselors milling about the room, recognizable by their blue T-shirts with Millennial House of Praise Camp Counselor emblazoned across the chest in white. He approached one and asked for Sienna King. While the teen scurried to get her, he appreciated the aroma of cinnamon rolls. He could almost taste the icing, picturing it oozing on the sides. His stomach growled. He hadn’t had time for his protein shake that morning.

Mia loosened out of his grip to run over to where some girls stood playing with dolls. He searched for the little girl that looked like his daughter, but neither she nor her mother were in sight. If it weren’t for his legs, which still felt like caving, Zach would have thought he was in a weird dream.

Then their absence was explained when he saw them come out of an office with another lady, whom he assumed was Sienna King, since she approached him with a hand outstretched. She was plus-size with a wide smile and deep dimples.

“Hello, you must be Zachary Johnson.” Her voice was bubbly and light.

He nodded. “Yes, we spoke over the phone. Thanks for allowing me to drop my daughter off and register her the same day.”

“Oh, it’s not a problem. I’m glad you called when you did, because we’re almost at capacity. Here is the paperwork for you to sign, and you have to complete the emergency contact information.”

“Thank you so much,” he said, taking the documents she offered. He noticed the other woman still clutched the little girl in her arms and seemed to be trying to get her to stay. He strained to focus on Sienna’s words, but his attention was on the little girl. He couldn’t see her face, but he knew that body, that frame, that hair. He knew it well.

“Mr. Johnson?”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I…” He pointed to where the woman stood. “Who is that?”

Sienna whipped her head to follow his finger. “That’s my best friend, Kelsey.” She gave him a suggestive smile. “She’s single, if that’s what you’re asking.”

He took a step back and held up a hand. “No, I’m not talking about her. I mean, who’s the little girl with her? She looks just like—”

The woman lost her smile. “Like who?” she asked with a drawl in her tone that suggested she was ready to get on the defensive.

He knew he must look dumbstruck, but Zach’s mind couldn’t process what he was seeing.

Zach rushed to explain. “Let me introduce you to my daughter. I think when you see her, you’ll understand.” He called out to Mia, and when his daughter ran over, Sienna’s eyes widened.

She sputtered. “This is your daughter?”

“Her name is Mia.”

“That can’t be,” she said, shaking her head. “This is Morgan.”

He splayed his hands. “Exactly.”

Sienna’s mouth hung open. “Oh, my.” She swung around and shouted, “Kelsey. Come over here. You’ve got to see this.”

The woman approached, and Zach’s breath caught. His mind had been so occupied with the child in her arms that he hadn’t seen her mother. But he was seeing her now. For sure. From her bronze-colored skin to her pouty lips and the purposeful sway in her stride, this woman emitted confidence.

Kelsey. The name suited her.

Zach looked away to compose himself. He had no right noticing her radiant beauty. He swallowed. Now that he had seen her, there was no unseeing her.

When she spotted Mia and he heard her harsh intake of breath, he said, “Our daughters have an uncanny resemblance.”

“There’s nothing uncanny about it,” Sienna chimed in. “You can tell they are twins just by looking at them.”

Twins. His insides twisted. No, it couldn’t be.

Kelsey lifted a hand to her mouth. “How? How? They are like carbon copies.”

A squeal and a scream quieted the entire room. The girls had discovered each other and had polar opposite reactions.

“She looks like me,” Mia said, clapping her hands. The other little girl wasn’t as delighted. In fact, to Zach, there was only one way to describe her face.

Terrified.

Chapter Two

Shivering, Morgan pulled on Kelsey’s blouse before pointing at the other little girl. There was genuine fear in her eyes.

Kelsey willed her own rapidly beating heart to slow down as she looked Morgan in the eyes and said, “It’s okay. Don’t be alarmed, honey. We’ll figure this out.”

“She looks like me,” Morgan whispered.

“I know” was all Kelsey could say. She was too busy trying not to show her excitement at those four spoken words.

Four amazing words that made Kelsey want to give a shout of praise. Her niece had spoken a sentence. But she knew Morgan was frightened. So was she. Questions raced through her mind, and she struggled to think. Now she understood the man’s reaction earlier.

By this time, all the children had crowded around the room and stood with awed expressions on their faces. Sienna ushered the four of them into her office for some privacy, and Kelsey set Morgan on the ground.

“My name’s Zach.” The man offered her his free hand, camp papers clutched in his other.

Kelsey blinked, trying not to appear fascinated by his heterochromia, and held out a hand. “I’m Kelsey.” When their hands connected, she drew in a breath.

He had a firm grip and a sturdy handshake. Plus, he was looking her in the eyes. Finally. Her father always said that was a sign a man had character. Well, if that was true, Zach had plenty of character and some to spare.

Sienna left them on their own to go see about getting the camp started, her long box braids swaying behind her. Kelsey tuned into the girls while Zach wandered the room, looking at the camp pictures Sienna had on display.

“I’m Mia,” Morgan’s look-alike said, reaching for Morgan’s arm.

Kelsey could feel Morgan tense beside her, but her niece didn’t pull her arm away. Which was a good sign. Morgan’s eyes were wide and fixed on Mia.

“What’s your name?” Mia said.

“Morgan,” her niece whispered.

Zach returned, standing a few feet away, observing their interaction. He kept looking at both girls, shaking his head like he couldn’t process what was transpiring right before him.

“Both our names start with M,” Mia said, giggling and clapping her hands. She pressed her lips together to make the M sound. Her eyes brightened with glee. “Ooh, look. Let’s go play together. We’re going to be best friends.”

She tugged Morgan to the corner of the room, where there was an assortment of toys and books. Mia began asking a lot of questions, and Kelsey strained her ear to hear Morgan’s replies. Morgan spoke too softly for Kelsey to understand what she was saying.

But her mouth was moving.

She was talking. Having a conversation.

Like normal.

In six minutes, Mia had accomplished what Kelsey hadn’t been able to do in six months. Kelsey sniffled and dabbed at her eyes with the back of her index finger. She remembered her prayer that morning and felt awe at how God appeared to be answering her. She just hadn’t seen His answer coming in the form of a look-alike.

It was all too much.

Glancing at the clock, she could see it was close to 9:00 a.m. It was a good thing she had already called her client to reschedule for later that afternoon. She plopped into one of the two armchairs to watch the girls.

“Mind if I sit here?” a deep baritone asked.

Kelsey jumped. She had been so enthralled with the girls, she had almost forgotten she wasn’t the only adult in the room. Almost. There was no missing the tall, imposing man who smelled of…baby powder? Kelsey, who had been told she had a silver tongue, sat there in awkward silence, her words stuck in her throat, before giving a slight nod.

Zach scooted the other armchair close to her and grinned, showing off a set of beautiful white teeth her dentist mother would have appreciated.

“So, I’m going to tackle the elephant in the room and ask if your daughter is adopted, and if so, does she know?”

Kelsey nodded, grateful he had broached the topic uppermost in both their minds. “Morgan’s actually my niece.” She wiped a hand on her pants, ignoring the curiosity in his eyes. “But yes, she’s adopted, and yes, she knows. Thankfully, my sister had the foresight to explain it to her, because this would have been too much for me to handle.”

He put a hand to his chin and narrowed his eyes.

“So, I’m assuming your daughter is adopted as well?” She posed her statement as a question in a gentle tone.

Zach nodded, shifting his focus to somewhere across the room. “Yes, she is. Sandy—” He waved a hand. “That’s my, uh, wife. She was a breast cancer survivor and had been advised to wait to have children. But she wanted to be a mother so badly that we looked into adoption. We did some inquiries and were ecstatic to learn there was a newborn baby girl available. We jumped at the chance to welcome Mia into our lives.”

He had a wife. Kelsey squelched her sudden disappointment and bit her lower lip to keep from asking about his wife’s whereabouts.

Zach’s openness gave Kelsey the courage to share. “My sister, Kennedy, and her husband, Alex, decided to adopt when they found out he wasn’t able to have children. When they…passed, six months ago, I became Morgan’s guardian.” She tried to sound matter-of-fact, though fresh pain sliced her heart and tears threatened. “So just like that, both our lives changed,” she added, snapping her fingers. “I went from being Kelsey Harris the Realtor to Kelsey Harris, Morgan’s…caretaker.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” he said, before he pointed at her. “Oh, snap. You’re that Kelsey? You’re the Realtor who sold me my house.”

Thanks to the internet, she was able to work with clients remotely. About six weeks back, she had sold a five-bedroom house, two doors down from where she lived, all without ever meeting the owner or his agent.

“Yes, I am. And you must be Zachary Johnson?” She leaned forward, feeling more comfortable in his presence. “It’s nice to put a face to the name.”

She had conducted most of the transactions with his agent and hadn’t seen Zachary Johnson. What mattered was that his check had cleared the bank. The commission from that sale was already spent. Two words: Disney World. She couldn’t wait to see Morgan’s face at that news.

“I just moved in a few days ago,” he said.

Kelsey chuckled. “I know. I saw your moving truck.” He raised a brow, so she explained. “I live two doors away from you.”

“Wow. I would say that’s a coincidence, but I know there’s no such thing with God. We were designed to meet. Of all the towns in the world, I end up here on the same block as you. That could only mean one thing.”

What? What did it mean? Kelsey didn’t want to assume she understood his thought pattern. She gestured for him to continue.

“God wanted the girls to meet. This was His divine ordinance. I would say He has a plan, and I can’t even venture to guess what it is.”

Her eyes filled. “I think you’re right.” She lowered her voice. “If I seem emotional, it’s because up until today, my niece hasn’t spoken much… I don’t know why I’m telling you this.” She stopped and touched a hand to her chest. Why was she divulging so much to a stranger?

Then his words settled in her mind, and her eyes widened. “You don’t talk like a regular person. You sound like a preacher. Like my daddy.” She cocked her head. “Are you a minister?” He gave a jerky nod and rubbed his head like her question made him uncomfortable. “I’m sorry. It’s just that you reminded me of my father just now. Your tone. Your words. I am—I was a preacher’s kid. He was the pastor here at Millennial before August Reid took over.”

“I used to be. I…I resigned.” He coughed. “I’m not a minister anymore.” He pulled on his slacks and fussed with his shirt before glancing around the room. Then he held up the papers in his hand as if they were a lifeline. “I’d better finish filling these out.” He stepped away to answer a call before returning to scoot his chair up to the edge of Sienna’s desk to complete the sign-up process.

Oh, yes, he was definitely on edge about his resignation. There was a story there. But he wasn’t her man to read. She would leave that up to his wife. Kelsey waited until he was done before she changed the subject. “Look at them,” she said, pointing to the girls, who were huddled side by side. Mia had an arm around Morgan. “You’d think they had known each other forever. No one would believe they just met this morning. It’s unbelievable.”

His face softened into a smile. “They must be twins, probably separated during the adoption.”

Kelsey’s voice box squeezed closed. Hearing the words twins and separated in the same sentence made her chest tighten.

Zach’s brows rose to his forehead. “They are exact replicas. We’ll need to take a—”

Just then, the door cracked open and Sienna walked in, fanning her face. Kelsey smiled, glad for the interruption. She was pretty sure Zach had been about to suggest DNA testing. It was the next logical step.

“It is too hot out there for words.” Sienna retrieved three small bottles of water from her minifridge and offered one to each of them.

Kelsey declined but Zach accepted, downing his water in two swallows.

“How are you two making out?” Sienna asked. “I imagine this must be a shock to both of you.” Then she addressed Kelsey. “You know who is going to have a field day with this?” Sienna rolled her eyes.

Despite the bizarre events of the morning and even though she was still in shock, Kelsey laughed at Sienna’s exasperation. Sienna spoke of their town’s reporter and one of their childhood friends, Joel Armstrong. He was tenacious when he was after a story and had been determined to feature Sienna in the paper when she made Teacher of the Year. Her friend was equally determined to avoid being in his presence.

Sienna came over to where they sat. “Joel’s going to have this on the front page. I guarantee it. I don’t know who he has for spies, but I’m certain he’s going to turn up here.”

Kelsey laughed at Zach’s quizzical expression. “Possible twins in Swallow’s Creek is big news. The only other set of identical twins are in their sixties, and they are in the Journal on the regular.”

“Welcome to small-town life. Are you ready to see your daughter in the paper? `Cause he’s going to be at your door, begging for an exclusive.” Sienna tapped Kelsey on the shoulder. “I don’t think Morgan’s going to go for that.”

Zach shrugged. “I was a minister of a large congregation back in Philly. The church has an active social media page, so I’m used to the spotlight, though I’m not personally on any social platforms. When my wife and I brought Mia home, Mia’s face was all over the page. The town paper will be a breeze for her. When she sees a camera, she goes into fierce mode.” He chuckled and then jutted his chin in Mia and Morgan’s direction. “They’re doing well,” he observed.

Kelsey appreciated how he had maneuvered into a new topic of conversation. She was still upset with Joel for putting her sister’s accident and her and Morgan’s grieving faces on the front page. Once was enough.

“Look at them. It’s like they have a special connection,” Sienna said. Her words brought Kelsey out of her musings.

“A connection that time and distance has done nothing to thwart,” Zach murmured, like he’d already accepted they were twins.

“Their relationship hasn’t been confirmed,” Kelsey felt the need to point out, touching her chest.

Sienna continued like Kelsey hadn’t spoken. “I think they will be fine here together. Since Mia is new and, for obvious reasons, already attached to Morgan, I can put them in the same group. I can always call if they become agitated,” she suggested.

When Morgan giggled at something Mia said, Kelsey faced them, and her heart constricted. Her ears welcomed the sweet sound of Morgan’s laughter. This time Kelsey couldn’t stop the tears from sliding down her face. She didn’t want Zach to become curious about her display of emotion, so she jumped to her feet.

She wiped her palms on her pants leg. “I should go. Call me if Morgan gets upset. I only have one client to meet with later this afternoon.”

Zach stood when she did. “I’d better get going, too.” He called out to Mia, who ran over to give him a hug.

Kelsey walked over to Morgan and wrapped her arms around her niece. “Are you going to be okay?” she whispered close to Morgan’s ear.

Morgan nodded and pointed. “Mia’s my friend.”

She was more than a friend, it seemed. Kelsey knew she was going to have to get some questions answered. But in this moment, she reveled in the blessing of Morgan talking. Holding back more tears, Kelsey said, “Yes, she is. She’ll be in your group, so you can show her around so she knows what to do.”

Morgan straightened and nodded with solemnity. Zach held open the door for Kelsey, and when she walked out the office, her heart was light and filled with hope. And, if she were honest, disbelief.

*

Zach scurried after Kelsey. She had raced out of the center with the speed of a cougar chasing a rabbit. But she was no match for his longer strides. His brain and heart were on overload, and she was the one person who could understand what he was going through. This morning’s curveball had whacked him in the chest and disrupted his peace. He felt like he had left one tumultuous situation at his past church in Philadelphia and moved right into another. The quicker he got things settled, the better.

He caught up to Kelsey just before she got into her car.

“Are you free to talk?” he asked. “This morning’s events have thrown me off-kilter. I could use a processing partner, and we can get some questions answered.” He had gotten a phone call that Sandy’s car wouldn’t arrive until sometime after noon, so he had more than enough time to eat.

She chewed on her lower lip before giving a hesitant nod. “That’s fine. I know we live down the block from each other, but I’m not comfortable having you into my home or going into yours.”

“I get it. I just need to talk. How about we meet at Mr. MacGrady’s on US 13? That is, if you’re available?” Zach had seen the mom-and-pop diner and had decided he would check it out. This was the perfect opportunity.

“That sounds like a plan. I didn’t eat this morning, and Mr. Mac’s is the best breakfast spot in town.” She smiled, and he was caught by how that transformed her already beautiful face.

“All right. You take the lead.”

She bobbed her head. “I’ll show you a shortcut. I didn’t use it this morning because there was a fender-bender, but it should be all cleared up by now.”

Twenty minutes later, they entered Mr. MacGrady’s. Zach loved the hanging metal sign on a distressed wooden post. He held the door so Kelsey could enter first. The restaurant was small and cozy, and a huge chalkboard covered one wall. The rest of the walls were lined with license plates. Light gospel music sounded in the background. He liked the relaxed vibe and easygoing atmosphere.

“Welcome to Mr. MacGrady’s,” a small, wiry man called out as he bustled by carrying a stack of oversize pancakes.

Zach’s mouth watered at the smell of fresh-brewed coffee and pancakes. Kelsey waved a hand before putting her fingers between her lips and letting out a shrill whistle.

“Heyyyy,” the staff called out.

A couple diners punched their tables.

“That’s how we do it here,” she said. “Before we leave, you’ve got to sign the chalkboard. All newbies got to make it known that they wuz here.”

Zach grinned. “All right, bet. I’ll do that.”

“You going to your usual spot?” one of the ladies on staff asked.

“Yup. You know what I want,” Kelsey said, waltzing through the place like her name was on the deed. She made her way around some of the smaller wooden tables to a spot in the back. The tables were all dressed with checkered tablecloths and small vases holding plastic flowers. Once they were seated and had ordered, the waitress brought them two mugs of fresh-squeezed orange juice.

Zach excused himself to wash his hands. When he returned, he noticed her fingers traced a place in the wood that had her name etched on the edge.

“I see you marked your territory,” he said in a tone meant to put her at ease. He didn’t want to tackle the heavy conversation on an empty stomach. She followed his lead.

“I sure did,” she said. “My sister and I claimed this table. Every Wednesday evening, we would come here with our parents and order burgers and huge milkshakes. Mr. Mac would get on the mic, and the entire diner would play bingo. I’m telling you, I have the best memories in this place at this very table.”

“I can only imagine. I would have loved to have your childhood. I’ve got to remember Wednesday is bingo night.”

“Sadly, they haven’t done that in a while. Mr. Mac died about five years back. His son, Matt, took over.” She drummed her fingers on the table. “There has been so much death these last few years…”

Her face took on a faraway look, and she lost her smile. Zach found himself wanting to revive it. “Are your parents still here in town?” he asked.

She shook her head. “My father and stepmother—well, my mom. She’s the only mother I have ever known. My father married her when I was eight months old. Anyways, they sold their house and bought an RV to travel across the country. But that adventure got old really fast. They made it all the way to Florida, then sold the RV and moved to an assisted living facility. Swallow’s Creek had too many memories of Kennedy and they were suffocating under them. I stayed. I like the memories,” she said, her eyes glistening.

Her voice held pain. Old pain. Fresh pain.

Zach curled his fingers to keep from putting his hand on hers to offer comfort. He had only met her a couple hours ago, if that. Making physical contact might offend her. Instead, he made his face reflect his sympathy. Then he surprised himself by bringing up Sandy. “I’m sorry for your loss. When my wife died a couple years ago, I thought I would drown under my grief. But I had a daughter who needed me. So, I kept going. One second, one minute, one hour at a time.”

She put a hand to her mouth. “Your wife is… Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

Zach felt the usual discomfort at talking about Sandy in the past tense. “Turns out you can get cancer more than once” was all he could say.

Fortunately, their food order arrived, sparing him the need to continue. He had selected a waffle with coffee, and Kelsey had ordered scrambled eggs and wheat toast with peppermint tea.

Kelsey excused herself to wash her hands, then they blessed their food and dug in.

After a few minutes, Kelsey said, “So, what are the odds both girls would have names that start with M?”

“We didn’t name her,” Zach rushed to explain, glad she hadn’t pried for more details about Sandy. “The adoption agency told us that Mia’s birth mother requested we keep her name, so we honored her wishes.” He smiled. He could see Sandy’s face like it was yesterday, holding the squirmy little bundle in her arms. Mia had been swaddled in a Winnie the Pooh receiving blanket. Zach had taken one look at the tiny little fingers and toes and had fallen in love.

Kelsey took a sip of her tea and wiped her brow. “Kennedy said the same thing when she adopted Morgan.”

“I think I know the answer, but I’ll ask anyway. When’s Morgan’s birthday? Mia’s is September 26. She’ll be six.”

“Same.” 

Kelsey lifted her shoulders before shaking her head. “I’d pinch myself, but I know I’d bruise my arm. This day has been unreal so far.”

“How do you think the girls are doing?” Zach asked, eating his waffle.

She tapped her smart watch to look at the time. “They are probably on the playground having a ball.” She gasped before yelling out to the waitress for a kid’s burger and fries to go.

A rosy hue spread across her cheeks. “I hope you don’t mind cutting this short. I promised Morgan I’d drop off her lunch.” Pulling out a business card from her satchel, she asked, “I don’t know your schedule, but can we meet tomorrow morning at my office sometime to continue this discussion? The address is on my business card.”

Zach agreed. “I can head there after I take Mia to camp.”

They exchanged contact information, and he settled the tab, insisting on paying for both their meals. Kelsey only relented when he said she could pay next time, then she rushed out the door.

Zach pondered his morning as he drove home. As he strolled up the driveway, the trucker arrived with Sandy’s car. Seeing the royal blue Outback glisten in the sun made him miss her more. Once it was off the lift, Zach signed the papers, then opened the garage door and parked her car inside. He touched the steering wheel. Sandy had loved this car, which was why he hadn’t wanted to part with it.

Zach exited the vehicle and headed into the house, sauntering through the laundry room and making his way down the hallway to the staircase. The movers had unpacked everything according to his specifications. Then the cleaners he had hired made sure the house smelled fresh. A lemon scent teased the air, and he sniffed. Good. That meant the freshener on the air filter was working.

He slipped out of his oxfords, leaving them on the large mat. So much had changed since he had stepped outside that morning.

Zach moved into the kitchen and looked around. Everything gleamed. He loved the calming grays on the walls and floors with splashes of blue on the backsplash to accent the room. Heading over to the stainless steel refrigerator, Zach eyed the printed schedule for the week.

He had a thin magnetic cup on the fridge where he kept his colored pens. Choosing a red one, Zach wrote, “Twin?” under today’s date in cursive.

Rocking back on his heels, he mulled over the implications that came from that one word in red. He rubbed the area between his eyes as thoughts whirled through his mind. If Morgan was Mia’s twin, that would require life adjustments. A reconfiguring of the order he had painstakingly established in his life. Lifting a hand, he touched the small photo of Sandy on the refrigerator. If she were here, she would have rattled off a brilliant game plan.

He would have pulled her into a joint prayer session, asking God’s guidance. He banged a fist on the metal and shook the scene out of his mind.

That wasn’t his life. Not anymore. God had taken his wife, and no amount of praying, faith and fasting had changed that. Zach still loved God; he just didn’t trust Him the same. But he did trust science. And if the DNA testing confirmed what his eyes and heart were telling him, he would find a way to handle it. To cope. His way.

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Excerpt From The Adoption Surprise by Zoey Marie Jackson This material is protected by copyright.

Review: The Christie Affair

The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thank you #Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. It didn't grab me and I wanted to give up but I am almost finished reading. Full review posted soon.

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Review: In Search of a Prince

In Search of a Prince by Toni Shiloh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bri Bayo is a teacher on summer break when she receives some jaw-dropping news from her mother: She is a princess of Ọlọrọ Ilé, Africa, and the only heir to a throne. Bri is shocked to learn she has a grandfather, who is sick and who she has never met! Brielle is heartbroken that her mother never told her about her father's true identity but she goes to Ọlọrọ Ilé, Africa to learn about her legacy,

Once there, Bri is told she has to marry if she is going to assume the Queenship. It is because of God's leading that she stays and considers the council'l list of bachelors. But there is an unlikely choice who wins her heart and who she hopes will be next to her when she dons the crown.

First, what. a beautiful cover! That cover is everything. I enjoyed visiting the make-believe country of Ọlọrọ Ilé, I loved how Bri had a personal relationship with God and how the author used her faith to help guide her. I enjoyed reading of her relationship with her grandfather--that was so heartfelt. I loved that she had solid relationships with her mother and best friend and how she was a career woman.

But, this is of course, a romance. And her love interest is not only handsome but his faith also helps him to bond with Bri. I loved how their relationship developed and I think so many will enjoy this sweet romance. On a side note, the fashion described in this novel had me ready for the best friend, Iris to get her own love interest!
Thank you, #Netgalley for this read.

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Blog Tour: The Night She Went Missing - Kristen Bird

The Night She Went Missing 

Author: Kristen Bird

ISBN: 9780778332107

Publication Date: February 8, 2022

Publisher: MIRA

Buy Links: 

BookShop.org

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Murder by the Book (Houston, TX)

Social Links:

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Twitter: @kbirdwrites 

Facebook: @kristen.bird.writes 

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Author Bio: 

Kristen Bird lives outside of Houston, Texas with her husband and three daughters. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music and mass media before completing a master’s in literature. She teaches high school English and writes with a cup of coffee in hand. In her free time, she likes to visit parks with her three daughters, watch quirky films with her husband and attempt to keep pace with her rescue lab-mixes. THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING is her debut novel.

Book Summary:

Months after she disappeared, a high school senior is found floating in the town’s harbor, alive but unconscious. Where has Emily been, and how did she get into the water? In Kristen Bird’s “gripping” (Publishers Weekly) debut The Night She Went Missing, three friends-to-frenemies mothers in a close-knit, wealthy Texas community decide to investigate after the police hit a dead end. While each woman has secrets to protect, they’ll all be forced to look at their own children – or each other’s – to uncover the truth.

With the relentless pacing and complex female characters of Big Little Lies and an expertly crafted small town setting, The Night She Went Missing introduces Kristen Bird as a new force in the world of domestic suspense. Her novel goes well beyond that, exploring complex questions about mothers and daughters, loss, and the line between taking chances and living dangerously. 

EMILY

They find me faceup in the murky water of the harbor on the day of my funeral. Or memorial service. Whatever. It’s not like there’s much difference. Dead is dead. Except I’m not. I. Am. Not. Dead. I would pinch myself if I could move. “Can you hear me? Hey, what’s your name? Can you open your eyes?” My eyes are as dense and heavy as basalt. Basalt: rich in iron and magnesium, Mr. Schwartz penned on the board during our volcanic rock unit in eighth grade. I fight to come out of the emptiness that has held me for the past…the past what? Hours? Days? Weeks? I attempt to whisper my name even though my eyelids remain anchored. Emily. That’s right. Emily. I can’t remember the last time I voiced those three syllables. “Pull her up.” Hands yank at me, jerking me from the arms of the water. Two hands wander up my body—over my feet, my legs, the arch of my hips, my arms, onto my neck, stopping at my forehead. This touch is not like the familiar plying of the boy I love, so fiery that it almost stings. This touch is necessary, cold, perfunctory. Perfunctory, Mrs. Abbot, my sophomore English teacher had pronounced for us students as we learned the word for the first time. P-E-R-F-U— The voice cuts in. “Tell them we have a girl, a teenager. No broken bones as far as I can tell but looks like she’s been out here for hours. Unconscious, but breathing on her own.” His voice muff les as he turns his head. “I think she might be Emily.” Suddenly, a brilliant choir of tenors and baritones and basses burst forth. “The Emily?” Emily. Yes, that’s me. What a comforting thing to hear one’s name spoken by those who can point the way home. I breathe in gratitude and descend into the lightness of sleep before a hand touches my cheek again. “You awake, Emily?” The swooshing of the waves calls to me, a reminder that the song of the deep is steady despite all the new sounds: The bustle of work boots, the hum of the boat waiting to churn to life and set out across the open sea. “Your mama’s been looking for you, Ms. Emily. You gave us all a fright. You hear me?” The man seems to sense that I can hear his words while my body remains frozen despite the warmth of the water and the sun overhead. “You’re gonna be okay, sweetheart. Yes, ma’am, you’re gonna make it just fine. Got a daughter about your age, and I woulda been worried sick if my girl had gone missing for weeks on end. Your mama sure is gonna be happy.” A nasally voice now. “Where you think she’s been all this time? Turned into a mermaid?” The boy chuckles. “Hush, Beau.” The man’s hand touches my forehead, his fingers sandpapery with callouses. “Now, sweetheart, if you can open your eyes for a sec, I can introduce you properly to the crew. We’re getting you help as fast as we can, but you can go ahead and open them eyes before all the medics arrive. They’d be good and relieved to see you looking around.” I try. Oh, how I want to f licker them open, but my head aches and oblivion pulls harder. The siren call of the void is too tempting to resist. Excerpted from The Night She Went Missing by Kristen Bird, Copyright © 2022 by Kristen Bird. Published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.