Jamie Wesley's Blog, page 2

Day 4, Spanish Spree: The Day I Ran with the Bulls (OK, No, I Didn't)

Need to catch up? Day 1 – Day 2 – Day 3

Today, we started the day in San Sebastian.

That’s a picture of a Jesus statue. Notice how far away Jesus is. See all that lush greenery below Jesus? Yeah, a path cuts through all that greenery. A path you have to take on foot to get to the top. Now, our guide TOLD us it takes 20-30 minutes to get to the top. Unlike yesterday with the tower, I could see the path before me. But I went anyway because again who knows if I’ll ever be here again. Knowledge is power and all, but it didn’t stop me from gasping for air all the way to the top. At least the path was outside unlike the tower staircase, so I could keep track of my progress and know all that walking was leading somewhere.

Here’s proof that I made it to the top! I’m way closer to Jesus now!

And the views were amazing! I know I keep saying that, but Spain really is beautiful.

After making my way down to the town again, we wandered through the town and then found a place to eat. I knew about tapas, but another word I learned on the trip was pintxos! Pintxos are basically tapas on bread. I ate a lot of pintxos and tapas on this trip.

These are the pintxos I had for lunch. We went to a restaurant that had a bunch out on the counter to choose from. I chose the bacon ones, because, hello bacon! The one with orange sauce was DELICIOUS. I didn’t realize until I bit into it that it had shrimp inside. Heaven in my mouth!

After lunch, we went to the beach. I went through my photos to see if I took a photo while there and the answer is nope! I guess I was in the mood to relax. LOL. Oh well. Here’s a shot of the beach from when I was visiting the Jesus statue.

I had a mini-adventure before I made it to the beach. I went into a bathroom to change into shorts before going to the beach. I went into the first bathroom I saw. I got yelled at by a guy in pantomime when I came out. Another guy yelled at me too. I told the second guy “No hablo espanol” and he left me alone. What I think happened was that the bathroom was for the use of a private gym right next to the beach. There was a separate changing area/bathroom farther down the beach that I didn’t see until later. Oh well. It was an innocent mistake.

So after all that excitement, I chilled on the beach with some of my tour mates for an hour or so. While we were hanging out, this old guy walked by and STARED at me. I thought I might be paranoid, but my tour mates mentioned it before I could say anything. As one of them said, I must have been the first black person he’d ever seen. He was old, so I find this hard to believe, but dude was staring. Whatever.

Onward to Pamplona, home of the annual Running of the Bulls!

This is the building where the run starts every year.

We walked the route of the run, which wasn’t very long to be honest, which is good when bulls and bull horns are concerned.

It’s frowned upon for women to run with the bulls because it’s a “male” thing. OK, I guess. It’s not my place to judge another culture I know very little about even if the feminist in me longs to roll her eyes.

The door where the bulls come out of

An actual part of the fence they use to keep the bulls on the path.

After that, it was time for dinner which means MORE PINTXOS!

Potato and sausage

 

The first place we went to was small and crowded (there were 50 people in my tour group) and hot, so naturally I had a glass of sangria!

I downed that bad boy like it was going out of style. I’m so not a drinker, so I started to feel a little “loose.” Can’t have that, so I ate another pintxo at the next stop.

We ended up at another bar, where we chilled and talked for an hour, maybe more. It was good times. I remember that it was a Michelin-starred restaurant, which is a big deal in the hospitality industry, but I forgot to get the name or take any pictures while there. Oh well.

Like I said, because I’d been feeling loose, I ordered a Coke. Speaking of, my Spanish skills were starting to come in handy. I’m not fluent by any stretch, but I did take 6 years of Spanish throughout middle school, high school, and college. I SHOULD retain something, right?! I know how to say “Tiene Coke?” a very difficult question that means “Do you have Coke?”

Anyway, one of my tour mates wanted to buy me a shot because clearly a Coke was kinda sad, so I let him. If I ain’t paying for it, it’s all good! I got a shot of tequila and lived to tell the tale, so obviously my ability to hold my liquor was getting better. Obviously.

After hanging out, it was time to meet up with everyone in the tour group to go back to the hotel. On the way, we got interrupted by a “parade.” There were wearing red scarves tied around their necks and white shirts, so I think it was a bunch of tourists following the bull run route, but I could be talking out of my you-know-what.

I returned to the hotel to call it an early night. I was plum tuckered out.

Photo of the Day: It should probably be one of the panoramic views of San Sebastian, but this sign outside a monument in Pamplona makes me giggle. Not one or two, but three signs telling people who come to the Running of the Bulls not to climb to the top of the statue, jump off, and try to crowd surf because they won’t make it all the way down without hitting their heads and/or killing themselves. I cheated because I don't have one photo in which you can see both the sign and the monument.

 

Tomorrow- Day 5: Oh, the Mass of Humanity

 

 

Day 3, Spanish Spree: The Day I Almost Died

Day 1 – Day 2

Today, we left Madrid and headed to Bilbao with a stop in Segovia.

So here’s what I can say about Segovia. It was beautiful. Gorgeous views everywhere. At the time, I didn’t realize this would be a refrain as we traveled throughout Spain.

The first thing our tour guide showed us was the Aqueduct of Segovia (granted, it was kind of hard to miss). Still, it’s amazing that it’s still standing. Wikipedia tells me that it was likely built around AD 81-96. It’s been reconstructed several times, but still how freaking amazing is that? It was fully functional as a water supplier until the mid- 1800s.

 

After studying the aqueduct, we went to the Alcazar of Segovia. Super cool bonus (in my opinion), the castle was one of the inspirations for Cinderella castle in Walt Disney World. You see it, right?

 

You could pay to go into the museum and tower (which would give you an amazing view of the city at the top) or just the museum. I believe the tower was only 2 euro more, so why not, right?

O.M.G.

I am such an idiot. I did not think. Remember, this is a castle. It’s old. Places weren’t built for comfort back in the day. So I entered the tower and started climbing the spiral staircase. And climbing. And climbing. These steps were steep. There wasn't much space, so it was a good thing I don’t get claustrophobic. I’d complete a spiral and think “I have to be almost there.” Nope, there was another spiral to complete.

Oh, did I mention that I don’t exercise? I’m okay with this fact until I find myself in situations like these. I seriously thought I was going to die. My lungs were BURN.ING.

Eventually, after taking a couple of rest stops and completing Lord only knows how many spirals, I made it to the top. Beautiful views as far as the eye could see.

 

After taking photos and catching my breath, I headed down the stairs, thanking God that gravity was on my side this time. It wasn’t a total picnic, however. Remember how I said the stairs were steep? Yeah, they were.

When I got to the end, I noticed a sign by the entrance to the tower that clearly says there are 152 steps to the top. How I missed that going in, I don’t know. I am such an idiot.

Onward to the museum in the castle. My notes tell me that I thought the castle was “really cool.” LOL. It was. Like people used to live there. There was a lot of artwork inside. See pictures.

That was it for Segovia. I wish we could have spent more time there. It’s a lovely city.

Next, we headed to Bilbao. I spent most of my time in the Guggenheim Museum. I went because I’ve never gone to a Guggenheim Museum before and who knows if I’ll ever make it back to Bilbao again?

 

The main exhibit at the museum was by Niki de Saint Phille, who came to prominence in the 1960s. When I stepped into the first room, I admit I kinda thought she was a crazy artist lady. She would fill balloons with paint and attach the balloons to a canvas. She would then shoot the balloons, the paint would run out of the balloons, and tada, she’d have a painting. But as I continued on, reading more about her work, and watching interview clips, her message resonated more and more with me. She was a staunch feminist, who challenged the perceived value of women in society. According to her, the world would be a better place if women ran it because men think taking emotion out of decisions is good, and it’s not. You have to care for people.

At the end of the tour, I went into the gift shop thinking I could buy something to commemorate my trip to see her art. However, none of the souvenirs appealed to me, and it occurred to me that while I appreciated her message, I didn’t actually like the art itself. But that’s often my reaction to modern art. Oh well.

That was it for today. It was a pretty low-key day (other than me almost dying). Bilbao isn’t known for its nightlife, so there was no clubbing/staying out late. I can say that Bilbao (like everywhere else in Spain) is beautiful.

Photo of the Day

It's a giant puppy bush staring at Giselle outside the Guggenheim. Makes total sense.

 

Tomorrow - Day 4: The Day I Ran with the Bulls

 

 

 

Day 2, Spanish Spree: Things Couldn't Possibly Get Any Worse, Could They?

Well after the trauma of Day 1, today is a new day! I’m FINALLY going to Spain. I’m up early. Ready to go. I’d rescheduled my shuttle to the airport.

The shuttle driver called and asked if he could pick me up early. Uh, sure? He arrived and said there was a scheduling snafu and he had to take a passenger to Love Field before he could go to DFW Airport. The two other ladies in the van were not pleased with him. I have no clue what happened before he picked me up, but the driver was a talkative mess. At a red light, he claimed he was just resting his eyes even as the light turned green and another passenger had to call his attention to it. The other ladies thought he fell asleep. I don’t know, but I do know he WOULD. NOT. STOP. TALKING.

Anywho, after taking the completely out of the way detour to Love Field, we arrived at DFW. I checked into my flight and made my way to my gate. On the way, I ran into one of the women from the shuttle because our gates were right next to each other. She said, “Oh, good. We can chat.”

Yay?

I’m not good at small talk in general and definitely not with strangers. Mostly, I listened to her bitch about the shuttle driver until my flight was ready to board.

An aside: I’ve never understood why people crowd around the gate until their boarding group is called. It’s not like they won’t let you on the plane if you’re not one of the first people in line.

Anyway, we board. And then we sit for two hours because of nonstop rain in Dallas. A 10-hour flight became a 12-hour flight. Yay.

Good news: My seatmate, Ryan, was a sweetheart. He was from Arkansas, but lives in Spain teaching English to 7th and 8th graders. How cool is that? Apparently, 12-13 year olds are the same all across the world. They think they know everything. I told him I planned to take a taxi to my hotel because the tour company said the subway would require a transfer and I wasn’t feeling that since it was my first time in Spain and I was dragging a heavy suitcase behind me. Ryan thought the route they suggested was dumb because there was a commuter train with a stop right by my hotel, and the stop was only two stops from the airport. The best part was the fare was less than 3 euros as opposed to the 30 euro taxi fare.   

So I took his advice, which turned out to be great. The hotel was directly across the street from the stop. I said goodbye to Ryan (his stop was farther down from mine) and went inside the hotel to check in.

After checking in, I thought about trying to find my group, but they’d gone into the mountains about 40 minutes away, so I crashed instead. I couldn’t figure out how to turn on the lights in my room, but I knew the electricity worked because the TV came on, and I figured my roommate would have complained if it didn’t work. It was the middle of the day, so I didn’t need the lights.

I turned on the TV and flipped through the channel. Oh, look, that’s Castle dubbed in Spanish. And there’s Wheel of Fortune. Or something close to it. I don’t know if this how the show always is, but in this particular episode, when the contestant solved the puzzle, she sang the answer because the puzzle was song lyrics. AND THEN the band started playing the song. How awesome is that?! Get it together, Pat and Vanna!

My tour guide, Nihar, called me after the hotel informed him that I’d checked in. I went and met him. We talked for a bit, and then I went back to my room.

 Eventually, my roommate, Denise, returned and showed me how to turn on the lights. Basically, there was a slot on the wall you stuck your room key into and, like magic, the lights came on. It’s actually genius because it means people aren’t wasting electricity when they’re not in the room.

Denise and I talked for a bit, and then it was time to meet the group and actually SEE Madrid.

FINALLY, yes, I know!

I tried to pretend I wasn’t an introvert and introduced myself to my tour mates and explain that yes, I was a new person and they hadn’t met me. We went into the Madrid center and Mercado de San Miguel, which I think is a total tourist thing, but still supercool. Basically, it’s a market where they sell all kinds of food and alcohol.  

And here is where I apologize because I am not a professional photographer and looking at my photos in preparation for this blog post made that abundantly clear.

That's my roommate eating some squid thing. She said it was good. I don't believe her.

At the Mercado, I had ham and cheese croquets, barbecue chicken on a stick, paella and a mojito. Denise and I got yelled at for trying to sit a table outside a restaurant next to the market. Oh well. We relocated and chowed down.

The night concluded with the tour group going to a few clubs. Unfortunately, the party in Spain doesn’t really start until 2 a.m., but we had fun anyway. I mean, hello, how can you not have fun dancing to Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love” and “Single Ladies” in Madrid?

Photo of the Day

Don't I deserve It after the last two days?! OMG. It was soooo good. A strawberry mojito

Tomorrow: Day 3 aka The Day I Almost Died

Day One of My Spanish Adventure: Could There Be A Worse Start to The Trip?

Backstory

When I was in middle school, two of my teachers took a bunch of soon-to-be ninth graders to Europe every year. I was beyond fortunate to go in 1994. However, I was so bummed out to learn that we were going everywhere BUT Spain. I had taken two years of Spanish and wanted to use my skills, man. While I had a great time, I vowed to go to Spain at some point.

Fast forward many years (like 20, but who’s counting, right?). I’m finally in a financial position to go to Spain. I start thinking about planning a trip to Barcelona and Madrid.

Because I do want to travel more, I follow a few travel accounts on Twitter. One day, during a chat, someone asked about a good tour company for solo travelers. One of the companies mentioned was Contiki. I went to the website, did a search for Spain, and discovered the Spanish Spree, a two-week trip that went all around Spain, not just Madrid and Barcelona. And I wouldn’t be looked at as a weirdo or be overcharged for going by myself? SOLD!

I booked the trip and decided to keep a journal of the trip because while I had a great time during my first sojourn to Europe, I only have vague memories of the trip (going to the top of Eiffel Tower, having a pigeon poop on me in Amsterdam, etc.). This was my dream trip, and I didn’t want the same thing to happen again., so a journal it was!

Day One

I ALWAYS underestimate how long it will take me to pack. ALWAYS. Today was no different. I’d booked a SuperShuttle and I had less than an hour before it shows up. In the middle of throwing stuff in my suitcase and sneaking peeks at the clock, it dawned on me that I hadn’t gathered my passport. Keep in mind I hadn’t been out of the country in 21 years. I’d never needed a passport when traveling. So I went to where I’d been keeping the passport. It wasn’t there. Seriously.

Time’s a-ticking. I proceeded to tear up my condo to no avail while fighting back tears. The shuttle driver arrived, and I asked him to wait a few minutes while I continued searching. He was kind enough to wait for an extra ten minutes, but he had other people to pick up, so he left.

Next, I drove myself to the airport. I don’t want to relive this horrible story any more than I have to, so I’ll just say I talked to the most unhelpful, unsympathetic customer service agent ever (actually, she was a supervisor which makes her attitude worse). Anyway, I returned home and tore my condo up AGAIN. I finally found the passport (hiding under a pile of clothes on my bed, seriously the ONLY place I hadn’t looked). Great, but by this time, I’d missed my flight.

I called the airline and asked how much it would cost to reschedule my flight. I’d already looked online and kinda knew what to expect, but was hoping they had some secret airfares not on the website. Newsflash: They don’t. I can’t bring myself to tell you how much it costs to reschedule a flight to Spain. Just know that it’s A LOT. Like A LOT.

So my choices were:

1.       Say “Forget it. I just won’t go.” But that meant that I’d be out the cost of the trip, and I STILL wouldn’t have made my dream trip to Spain.

2.       Suck it up and give the woman on the phone my credit card number.

Obviously, I chose option 2. To make matters worse (yes, that’s possible), I had to wait until the next day to fly out. Yay.

At this point there was only one thing left to do – watch Step Up AND Step Up Revolution on MTV. I’d never seen Revolution before. It was all right. I had to make sure not to ask myself too many questions like, how did the (supercool) dance number at the end of the movie convince the villain to change his mind? I would’ve been like, “That’s great, guys, but I’m still going to do what I want to do.”

And thus concludes Day One of my trip to Spain. Just know that typing this up has made me want to throw up.

Photo of the Day

This is how I was feeling. Yeah. 

Where's the Book?

Hey guys,

I posted this on Facebook today, but I know everyone might not see it, so I'm posting it here,  too.

Just a quick update. If you've been following along, you might have noticed that today was supposed to be the release date for THIS IS TRUE LOVE. But last night as I was preparing to publish the book, something was telling me something wasn't right.

Therefore, I decided to take a step back. I'm a perfectionist and my perfectionist tendencies haven't been satisfied quite yet with this book. I know your time is limited and I want to make sure I'm delivering the best book I possibly can for you.

If you have read the ARC already, THANK YOU and don't worry. The final version won't be much different from what you read.

It won't be long, I promise. When I know I can hit "publish" without heart palpitations, I'll let you know.

Thank you so much for your patience and understanding.

xoxo,
Jamie

Teaser Tuesday: This Is True Love: Chapter One Ends

Hello, my friends. THIS IS TRUE LOVE releases next Monday! But before then, I'd like to finish the sneak peek I've been giving you the last two weeks!

We've come to the end of Chapter One. If this is the first time you're seeing this, catch up on Chapter One: Part One and Part Two.

Without further ado, the conclusion to Chapter One of THIS IS TRUE LOVE! Well, after you scroll past the cover. :)

 

 

Fliss inhaled and exhaled slowly. Where to begin? “I enjoyed the small involvement I had in the company.”

“Which is why Keith gave you five percent of his share as a one-year anniversary gift.”

“Right. Little did I know it was a way to ease his guilty conscience for screwing everything in a skirt.” She winced at the anger creeping into her tone and held up a hand. “Sorry. That’s not business and ultimately not the point.”

***

Alex bit back a curse. He’d never forget the day Keith had come to him practically giddy because he’d met the woman destined to be his wife. Alex had been skeptical because of Keith’s well-earned reputation as a womanizer, but his best friend had insisted she was different. He’d found the female version of himself—gorgeous and successful—waiting in line at the bar at the Academy Awards. They’d both heard of Felicity Chambers (who hadn’t?), but she was even more perfect in person than on the big screen, Keith had said. He’d assured Alex he’d be faithful to his wife. He’d probably meant it, too. Until the thrill of the chase was gone and he’d stepped onto another movie set and met Hollywood’s newest starlet, who was willing to do anything to make a name for herself—including sleeping with one of the world’s biggest stars, regardless of the fact that he was married. Or maybe because of it. Who knew how many others there’d been?

“Anyway,” Fliss continued, interrupting his trip down bad memory lane, “because California is a community property state, splitting our assets shouldn’t have been that hard, except Keith wanted to argue about every single dollar even with a prenup, the greedy bastard. So things got more contentious.”

“I know that,” he said, crossing his arms. “Get to the point.”

“Finally, I got fed up with the drama and really thought about what Keith valued. It wasn’t hard to figure out. After all, I was married to the man for three years. He likes the perks of fame—the cars, the bling, the money, the attention. The hard work? Not so much.”

“Once again, I know, which is why he’d agreed to sell me his share of Crescendo after the divorce was final.” More or less. Fed up with how his friend was treating his wife, who didn’t deserve to be publicly humiliated no matter how much she confounded Alex, he’d let Keith know in no uncertain terms he was tired of his shady ways.

“Yes, but you have to understand I don’t care about the bling and cars, so I gave him what he wanted in exchange for something that held much more meaning to me. Crescendo.” Fliss dropped her gaze to the bottle in her hands. “And, umm, I might have told him that giving me his shares instead of selling them to you would make it easier to save face in Hollywood—you know, so people wouldn’t spread rumors that his best friend had kicked him out of the company.”

Unbelievable. The anger he’d done his damnedest to control flared once again. “In other words, you stole Crescendo from right underneath my nose.”

Her head shot up. “Okay, now who’s being dramatic? You still own as much of the company as you ever did. Half. You just have a new business partner.” She beamed, clearly pleased with herself. Her beautiful eyes shone with joy.

He refused to be dazzled. Not this time. “I don’t want a new business partner.”

He liked working alone. Having his success or failure rest on his shoulders alone. Yes, Keith’s name had offered instant credibility for the company, but Keith had liked the prestige of owning a production company and the profits that came with it more than the actual work. Just the way Alex liked it. Still, legally he’d needed Keith to sign off on projects and had felt an obligation to keep his former partner in the loop.

As part owner, Fliss occasionally gave input, but for the most part she’d been busy shooting movies and then finalizing the divorce. Now she wanted to get actively involved when he was on the cusp of assuming total control and taking Crescendo to the next level with no need to check in with anyone about anything? When he was on the cusp of finally becoming the success he’d dreamed of for so long? No. Thank. You.

Fliss set her bottle down and hopped off the stool, bringing her nearly naked, gorgeous body much too close for comfort. Once again, he commanded himself to concentrate on her words and not his barely checked desire to stroke her tempting flesh.

“I know you don’t want a new, full-time partner,” she said. “You’re a control freak. Someone who likes to work alone.”

“Exactly.” He saw no reason to deny it. As far as he was concerned, it wasn’t a drawback. But that wasn’t the only reason he didn’t want Fliss as a co-owner. How were they supposed to work together after…

“Let’s be real, Alex.”

He refocused on the woman standing in front of him, mutinous expression on her beautiful face. “Yes, let’s.”

“You’re a little gruff, a little stuffy. That hurts you sometimes when it comes to business.”

“Are you trying to convince me with insults? Interesting strategy,” he said dryly. “Crescendo is doing fine. I’m doing fine.”

“Yes, but imagine the possibilities if we joined forces,” she said, patting his chest. It felt like he’d been branded, he felt the touch so keenly, even through his T-shirt. His heartbeat pounded in his ears. Why her? Why now when they’d never gotten along? Except for that one night he couldn’t stop obsessing over.

“I don’t want to join forces,” he said. “I’ll buy your shares from you. Problem solved.”

“I bring a different energy, a different perspective,” she added like he hadn’t spoken. She continued to pat his chest. “I have connections of my own that we can leverage to make Crescendo even more successful than it already is. Together, we’d be unstoppable.”

Alex caught her hand in mid-pat and ensnared her gaze. “Not going to happen,” he said flatly.

Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Click the icon to add THIS IS TRUE LOVE to your To-Be-Read Shelf on Goodreads and/or head to my Facebook page to enter to win a chance to read THIS IS TRUE LOVE before it's published!

Teaser Tuesday: THIS IS TRUE LOVE: Part Deux

Hey all,

The release of THIS IS TRUE LOVE is one week closer! That makes me nervous, but very excited. As promised, here is the second part of chapter one. The last part will be posted next week. If you missed part one, click here to read it first!

 

Fliss squeezed the excess water out of her hair and patted the strands dry with the towel while she waited for Alex’s response.

He was so hot, literally and figuratively—his dark chocolate eyes glittering down at her, his hard jaw set, thick lips pressed into a thin line, his muscled arms crossed. A red T-shirt complemented the smooth mocha color of his skin. Better yet, the shirt, dampened by sweat, clung to his impressive chest. How had she missed his hotness for years? Dumb question. When a man made it clear he could barely stand to be in your presence, his looks became a touch less important.

But she was noticing now.

Not that it mattered. Getting involved with someone, especially when that someone was Alex, ranked right above getting bitten by a shark on her to-do list. From the moment she and Alex had met, they’d had an uneasy relationship. He didn’t approve of her or her quick courtship with her ex-husband, Keith. Oh, he’d never voiced the opinions out loud, but the cool reserve in his eyes and in his attitude toward her spoke volumes. She’d done her best to ignore it, ignore him, but in her less charitable moments, she’d had some not-so complimentary thoughts about him. Like thinking he should try taking the stick out of his emotionally stunted, unromantic butt. So, no, it didn’t matter that she’d taken note of his admirable physical attributes.

He didn’t speak, although his glare never faltered. She ordered herself to maintain eye contact and not let her smile drop.

Yes, she knew why he was here. Because she had something he wanted.

Now that he’d shown up, she had to get him from angry to amenable. If she could. Setting forth the reasons for her actions, no matter how valid, might not be enough. Not when he was in this mood. Alex didn’t like surprises. He clearly wasn’t happy about the one she’d sprung on him, but he’d get used to it. She hoped.

She clutched the towel to her chest. “Let’s go inside and get out of this heat. You must be tired and hot from the drive up here. There’ll be plenty of time later for you to yell at me about my supposed transgression.”

His lips tightened even more, but he didn’t argue, instead following her inside. On the way in, she detoured to the audio system, turning off Adele in mid-lament. Although he didn’t speak, she was tuned into his every move—his long, purposeful strides behind her, the angry breaths he was trying to control. At five seven, she was taller than the average woman, but he still towered over her.

Fliss dropped the towel on a dining room chair on their way to the kitchen, but her step faltered when the air conditioning pebbled her skin. Oh yeah. She was almost naked. Should she go back for her towel? She didn’t want Alex to think she was trying to entice him or anything crazy like that. God no.

No, she’d only be drawing more attention to her clothes-less state if she acted embarrassed. At least her butt was greatness, or so Us Weekly claimed anyway. Continuing toward the kitchen, she looked over her shoulder. “What do you want to drink?”

“Water.”

Short and not so sweet. Okay. Obviously she had her work cut out for her.

She retrieved two bottles from the refrigerator and passed him one. He leaned against the counter, opened it, and took a long swallow, glaring at her over the top of the bottle, almost making her miss his usual look of disapproval. Almost.

She hopped up on a barstool at the kitchen island and took a swig of water to give herself a moment to decide her next step. She gripped the bottle hard, glad she had something to occupy her hands, which had an annoying tendency to fidget when she was nervous. And she was definitely nervous. About what she’d done. About what he thought about what she’d done. Plus, they’d always had Keith to act as a buffer. Now that was no longer an option. But it would be okay. She hoped.

His bottle thudded on the counter, interrupting her thoughts. Her gaze shot up. His dark eyes bored into hers across the island. “Can I speak now?”

She produced her best carefree smile, taking full advantage of all those acting classes she’d attended over the years. “Sure.”

“Would you please explain to me why I had to find out on Twitter, of all places, that you, not Keith, ended up with his shares of Crescendo?”

Tension crept into her shoulders. “Well—”

“Need I remind you, either of you, that I own half the business?” he interrupted, his voice rising.

“Well—”

“This is not in any way, shape, or form what we discussed.”

“I know.”

“You know,” Alex said, his voice rife with the sarcasm that was so him.

The familiar tone settled her nerves. This she could handle. She’d been deflecting his barbs for years.

He pushed away from the counter and stalked around the island, his head down like he was trying to gather his thoughts. “Then, when I tried to call you, you didn’t answer. But lucky me, I did get a cryptic email from you. What did it say again?”

She knew. She’d agonized for hours over the message’s wording.

He stopped and pierced her with a laser gaze. “Oh, yeah. It said, ‘You want what I’ve got? Come and get it. You know where to find me.’”

Alex pressed his hands down on the island, bracketing her with his arms, and leaned in, invading her space, until their faces were inches apart. “What the hell is going on?” he asked through gritted teeth.

Be strong, Fliss. Yes, he was angry, but she’d made the best decision for herself. For Crescendo. Her lips curved, and she tapped him on the nose. “You know you can stop with all the He-Man stuff, right? You don’t scare me.”

She probably shouldn’t be needling him, try to be more conciliatory instead, but his Lord of the Manor, how dare you not do what I say? attitude grated on her nerves. Nothing new there.

The muscle in his rock-hard jaw ticked faster, drawing her attention to the five-o’clock shadow covering it. The hair looked soft. Would it tickle her palm? Her gaze jerked upward, only to be caught by his gorgeous eyes. He didn’t budge. Trapped between him and the counter, she caught a whiff of his scent. Soap and, underneath it, a subtle, masculine essence she could only call Alex. The same scent that had been haunting her since that night.

“You can stop avoiding the question,” he bit out.

Yep. Nerves grated. Better to concentrate on that rather than her dangerous, crazy thoughts. She shrugged. “Why? I haven’t had this much fun in a long time.”

Alex pushed away from the counter, taking his heat with him, and made another pass around the island. “Don’t try that on me. It’s not going to work.”

She warily followed his every move. “What’s not going to work?”

“You playing the sympathy card. I’m not going to feel sorry for you. This is business.”

More of that lofty Lord of the Manor tone.

Her chin lifted. “Yes, I know.”

“Then why are you playing games?”

“Who said I was?”

He slammed his hands down on the island, hemming her in again. “I do. You don’t return my calls and then I get an email?”

Just like that, her nerves made an unwanted return. But she’d be damned if she let him see. She forced her lips upward. “But you came, right? You knew where to find me.”

“I don’t appreciate being manipulated.”

Fliss sighed. “I know.” For better or for worse, he was always clear and upfront with people. No one had to guess where they stood with him, least of all her. He demanded the same respect in return. “I needed to talk to you.”

His dark eyes flashed. “Then why didn’t you pick up the phone?”

“In person. In private. You know there’s no privacy in L.A. I needed to get you alone.”

“So you could talk in circles?” he bit out.

The grumpy cat certainly knew how to scratch when provoked. Her eyebrows rose in irritation. “No. So we could have this business discussion without worrying about prying eyes and ears. After the news leaked, someone would’ve noticed if I showed up at Crescendo or if you came to my house. Paparazzi would have been crawling outside in no time flat.”

He gave a brisk nod. “Fine. I’m here. Let’s talk.”

“You might want to stop glaring at me and give me some space to breathe.” His scent still wrapped itself around her, making it hard to think. And she needed to think. And not about why his scent was affecting her in such an unsettling, unwelcome way.

He glowered at her for another second, then retreated a step, holding up his palms. “Fine. I did what you wanted. Now will you start talking? How did you end up with Keith’s share of the company, and why wasn’t I told or consulted?”

Fliss inhaled and exhaled slowly. Where to begin?

________________________________________________________

I hope you enjoyed it! To win an ADVANCED READER COPY, head over to my author page on Facebook!

Teaser Tuesday: THIS IS TRUE LOVE First Look

Hey all,

THIS IS TRUE LOVE releases in 3 weeks. I'm super excited about it and wanted to share some of it with you. After the sample, see how you can win an Advanced Reader Copy on Facebook!

Chapter One, Part One

For the third time in the last three minutes, Alex Graham pounded his fist against the solid oak door. He was going to kill Fliss as soon as she opened the door. If she ever did. Was she hiding from him? Too damn bad if she was. He would find her and tell her exactly what he thought of her stupid prank.

If he could control himself enough to speak before going after her neck.

After another knock went unanswered, he stepped back and turned, taking in the lush greenness of the lawn and the circular drive surrounding it. Where was she? He knew she was here. He stilled. Wait. She was here, right? But where else would she be?

She’d mentioned more than once that this place, located near Lake Arrowhead, was her sanctuary, a home her grandparents had built decades ago. They’d deeded the house to her on her twenty-fifth birthday a few years ago. Only her family and a few trusted friends knew she owned the isolated, log-style home. Not that he qualified as family or a trusted friend, but that was beside the point. Her red Mercedes was in the driveway, so she had to be here.

She’d better be.

He hadn’t driven up here, his air conditioning giving up the ghost halfway through the journey, for nothing.

Still, there was no sound or movement coming from the house. His anger momentarily replaced with equal doses of uncertainty and concern, he stepped off the porch, the soles of his shoes crunching on the walkway’s loose gravel, and headed toward his car to see if he could hear or see anything. He’d only gone about ten feet when he heard it. A tinkle of music. A piano, maybe? He stopped, perking his ears to determine its direction. The backyard. How could he have missed it? Well, that was easy enough to answer. His single-minded determination to get to Fliss and chew her ass out for putting him in this situation had blocked out his other senses.

He reversed field, wiping sweat off his forehead, and rounded the corner of the house. As he stepped into the backyard, the song, highlighted by a female vocalist wailing about a failed relationship, got louder. Fliss loved Adele.

But where the hell was Fliss?

Alex shaded his eyes with his right hand and peered around. A state-of-the-art pool to the left and a garden full of flowers to the right filled his vision. Behind the garden, the lawn ended at an expanse of woods with mountains in the distance. No woman hid behind a tree, even though that was the best place for her to be if she knew what was good for her.

Over the music, he heard a splash. Alex whirled just in time to see Fliss shoot to the pool’s surface. She gasped for breath and slicked her long black hair back. He swallowed hard and sent a quick thank you heavenward that one of the world’s most perfect bodies remained underwater.

Then she spotted him. A huge grin broke across her face. She swam a few short strokes to the pool’s edge and climbed the stairs inch by excruciating inch. Alex couldn’t have looked away even if someone had chosen that moment to offer him an unlimited budget to make the movie of his dreams. Not when perfection stared him in the face.  

Perfection named Felicity Chambers. Movie star. People’s reigning “Most Beautiful Person in the World.” His Kryptonite.

As more and more of her delectable body was revealed, Alex felt the pull of her Siren-like allure drawing him closer to certain doom. He hardened instantly. Not good. Horrible, actually. He prided himself on always maintaining his control in every situation, but as he was learning, he was just a man.

A red-blooded man. A red-blooded man who lusted after his best friend’s wife.

She wore a red bikini. If the scraps of material could be called that. The suit was simple, but that was the beauty of its magic, the source of its power. The wet triangles of the top molded to the slopes of her full, mouthwatering breasts, her nipples poking against the material. His eyes drifted to her bare torso with its flat stomach and the sexiest belly button he’d ever seen. It dipped in like it was begging a tongue, his tongue, to dart inside for a taste. Her trim waist curved down to shapely hips that gently swung side to side as she climbed the stairs. Hourglasses weren’t made any better.

The sensible thing to do would be to turn his back, if only to search for a towel to offer her so she could cover herself. But his feet refused to budge, and his eyes were rendered incapable of searching out another target. He breathed a small sigh of relief when she grabbed a towel from a pool chair and patted herself dry, temporarily covering parts of her body. At this point, he’d take what he could get.

His relief proved to be short-lived. She resumed walking toward him. For most women, being without makeup, their hair molded to their scalps, would be too harsh. Fliss wasn’t most women. If anything, the style enhanced her natural beauty. Smooth and creamy cinnamon-colored skin, elegant cheekbones, plump, pink lips, and a heart-shaped face. She didn’t need any enhancing. Damn her.

Fliss stopped directly in front of him, less than three feet away. It felt like three inches. Alex refused to move. Damn it, he would remain in control of his wayward desires even if it killed him. He kept his eyes trained squarely on her face. Droplets of water clung to luscious lips and long eyelashes. Her grin still stretched across her face.

He balled his hands at his sides to keep from reaching for her and caressing her flawless skin, which he now knew was soft thanks to that night. So soft. Would she mold to his touch if he pulled her into his body? Would she raise her lips to his and accept his kiss? Actively participate in it?

“Alex, what are you doing here?” She sounded honestly surprised to see him.

He gave himself permission to look into her whiskey-colored eyes. They were mesmerizing, large and almond-shaped, and he found himself drowning. By sheer force of will, he dragged himself back to the surface and dispassionately studied her eyes. As he suspected, they were dancing. She was laughing at him.

It was the reality check he desperately needed. He was supposed to be mad. Scratch that. He was mad. He narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. “You know exactly why I’m here. Don’t play games with me.”

“It’s nice to see you, too.” She quirked an eyebrow, clearly not intimidated by his no-nonsense tone and demeanor.

“Fliss…” he warned.

“Why don’t you chill? It’s time to celebrate. Didn’t you hear? I’m officially a free woman now.”

Yes, he’d heard. Which was why he now realized coming here had been a very, very bad idea.

____________________________________________________________

I hope you enjoyed it! To win an advanced reader copy, head over to my page on Facebook!

 

 

New Book News (Yes, finally!)

Last August, I released my first book, TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD, and it was better than I'd ever imagined. Finally, after years of work, I was a published author. People read my work and the majority liked it at least a little - lol.

I was about to type "what no one tells you" except that's not true. People tell you all the time that getting another book out is just as hard or harder than the first book. I knew it, but hoped that wouldn't apply to me, but it did.

Good news though - our long, national nightmare is almost over! I'm releasing another book! Like soon! Cue the Hallelujah Chorus!

I present to you THIS IS TRUE LOVE, book one in my Exclusive! series.

 

Isn't that cover gorgeous?! The cover artist, with no directive from me, used my favorite color, purple, which elicited all the squees from me. So what is it about?

To know me is to know that I have a few loves: sports, pop culture, and romance. Sports were a big part of TMSG (and will continue to be in the books for that series), but I really, really wanted to write a series of books that explored my other love. I hear you. "Yeah, yeah, Jamie. That's great, but get to the point already." Oh, all right. You win.

Here's the blurb:

EXCLUSIVE! Which movie star is moving on with her ex’s BFF?

Hollywood A-lister Felicity Chambers has managed to walk away with her cheating husband’s share of their production company in their highly publicized divorce, sources say. Even more scandalous? Their business partner, Alex Graham, knew nothing about it until the papers were signed, sealed, and delivered. After coming oh-so-close to acquiring the shares he was promised, Alex is not happy about the change in plans.

Although she denies it to anyone who’ll listen, those in the know say that lately Fliss has been noticing more than Alex’s business acumen. Like his broad shoulders and sexy smile and…you get the picture. 

The truly shocking part? The feeling may be mutual. Very mutual.

Not that Alex intends to admit it. Ever. Even if it kills him. He’s set on convincing Fliss to sell her stake to him and then staying far, far away from the alluring star. A solid plan…except our sources tell us he needs her help in securing a business deal. So who’s going to come out on top in this battle of business smarts and hearts? We don’t know, but we can’t wait to find out!

Do you like it? Please say yes. :)

Next question: When will it be out? July 13, less than one month away! I can't wait for y'all to meet Fliss and Alex. If you want an emailed reminder when the book becomes available, sign up for my New Release Alert. I promise not to pester you unnecessarily.

 

Writer Wednesdays: May Edition

Hey all,

I'm back with this month's edition of Writer Wednesdays! This month we're celebrating the release of K.D. Fleming's Her Hometown Reporter (see below for more info) and showing the favorite thing on our desks.

Well, I'm me and you know that means I have to bend the rules just slightly, so I have THREE favorite things and two of them technically reside on my desk at my day job. But I'm horrible at picking, so here we go!

Yay, balls!

 

I went to Disney World in 2013 (duh!), saw the ball on the left and HAD to have it. I love baseball and Disney, and I love when two of my favorite things get combined, which explains why I'm a HUGE fan of sports romance. When I went back to the World last year, I kept my fingers crossed they would have a 2014 version and they did! Score!! (pun so not intended)!

And because I am a writer and should probably have something that relates to writing when discussing favorite things on my desk, I give to you my Erin Condren planner.

It doesn't always reside on my desk, but it's always there when I need it. I use it mainly to keep track of what I need to be doing and what I'm actually doing. It's a good reminder that I am making progress in this writing game and also when I need to get my butt in gear.

So there you have it!

What's your favorite thing on your desk?

Want to see what my writer friends wrote for this month's Writer Wednesday? Check them out here:

Tamra Baumann - Kat Cantrell - Priscilla Kissinger -  Lauren Christopher -Kay Hudson - Pamela Kopfler - Carol Post - Sharon Wray - Natalie Meg Evans - Jean Willett- Karen Fleming - Kristen Ethridge - Kathleen Bittner-Roth - Wendy LaCapra

As promised, here's the info on K.D.'s book!

 

TOBY HENDRICKS HAS THE INSIDE SCOOP ON GINA LAWSON 

The reporter is looking for a story that'll be his ticket out of his small Georgia town. With her political connections, legal assistant Gina Lawson could help Toby realize his aspirations. Their friendship is just an added bonus, but falling in love isn't part of his five-year plan. 

Gina's devoted to her family and community, and doesn't plan to ever leave. Though she finds her favorite reporter maddeningly irresistible, she must guard her heart. But when a betrayal of trust threatens to shatter both their dreams, will Gina and Toby learn that they share the same values after all?

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Harlequin