Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Tomorrows Promise

Today I wrote a bit on the Romance novel I've been working on and I realized that  I have yet to share a sneak peek here. So please enjoy this snippet from Chapter two. Any infringement, unauthorized sharing, or stealing of the below work will be legally pursued.

On the way to their table Savannah leaned in to whisper in Kaarina’s ear; “Twelve years of friendship and that grin of his still makes my belly flutter”, which of course was a lie as aside from the first time they met, Nicholai’s grin had never made her belly flutter except for today which was an aberration due solely to lack of sex.
As expected there was a slight hitch in Kaarina’s stride before she smiled at Savannah and said “Really?” in a strained voice.
“No, not really. This is where you’re supposed to tell me to back off and explain the smoldering love-struck puppy looks you were throwing at him back there.” A look of panic crossed Kaarina’s face.
“Oh no, you caught that? If you caught that then he must have caught that, I can never show my face in here again.”
“What are you talking about? Of course you can show your face. Rinna, I thought the two of you had started something without telling me. The looks he was giving you back weren’t exactly little sister type looks if you get my meaning. So if he did notice he sure as heck didn’t mind.” Savannah bumped Kaarina’s ribs with her elbow, “Go for it.”
“Are you insane?! This is Nicholai we’re talking about. That man has broken the hearts of more women with just a look than I will ever meet in the course of my life. We’re talking gorgeous women that I could never compete with. Not to mention we’ve been friends for 9 years, why would I want to be stupid and ruin that?”
“First, why would it have to ruin anything? Second, if you ever down play the gorgeous pixie-looks of my best friend again I’m taking you in the back alley and teaching you a lesson,” She smiled and winked but Kaarinna’s return smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Rinna, why are you stressing? You guys have been friends forever have you ever thought how much more awesome that could make your relationship?”

“Until things end, which they’re bound to do, I mean this is Nicholai. Then the friendship is over and that would change so many things and none of them in a good way. Is that really worth the risk for a quick roll in the hay?”
“Honey, nothing about that boy would be quick in bed.” Savannah gave her trademark bedroom smirk, the one capable of turning men into puddles of lustful jelly in the mere blink of an eye but when it didn’t penetrate Kaarina’s gloom she sighed, “Rinna look at me. Stop being a rabbit. You’re both adults capable of setting ground rules to keep from ruining the friendship. If you continue to moon over him but do nothing about it you’re going to end up changing the dynamics of the relationship anyway. It’s better for those dynamics to change on your own terms and in a way that could prove to be purely positive, don’t you think?”
“You have a point”, Kaarina’s smile was brilliantly happy, “When did you get so smart?”
“Chad.” It had been a mistake to mention him but the name rolled off of her tongue before she could hold it back. An instant tension settled over the table like a net. Savannah sighed, “And there goes the happy mood. Sorry.”
“You need to find him.” At Kaarina’s matter of fact statement Savannahs jaw dropped open in shock.
“I need to what? Are you insane?!? You do remember that this is the man that crushed my heart into dust then picked up that dust and threw it into a blender for good measure before pouring it onto the floor and walking through it, right? You want me to invite that selfish, self-serving, lying, heart-crushing, dream-stealing jerk back into my life? Have you been taking drugs?” With each sentence Savannahs voice had gotten louder and louder until the eye of every cafĂ© patron was on her table, listening to every word.
Kaarina cleared her throat and nodded her head meaningfully at the crowd of people behind Savannah. “I think we should finish talking about this elsewhere, after we finish our food.”
Nicholai conveniently picked that moment to drop by the table with lattes, pastries and cheesecakes. “Ladies, I trust you’ll find the fare delectable as always.” He leaned in and whispered, “He’s not worth holding on to hun, Rinna has a point,” before walking back behind the counter.
“You’re both nuts. I’ve surrounded myself with lunatics.” Savannah shook her head and then turned to address the crowd that was watching the drama unfold with glee in their eyes.  Rinna could do nothing but bury her head in her hands, knowing all too well what was about to happen. “I have a scenario for everyone and I desperately need your input when I’m done. I want all of you to put yourself into the place of the girl in the story and then give me your honest opinion afterwards.  An 18 year old girl falls in love with a 20 year old boy. The boy is wild and broody, sweet and romantic, lonely and tough, everything an 18 year old girl can’t help but tumble head over heels for.  They date for 16 months before the boy gets down on one knee and asks the girl to marry him. This day is the best day of this girls life who at that moment gives her whole heart willingly into the boys hands as she enthusiastically agrees to be his wife. Two months later her world tumbles drastically when a mutual friend tells her that she heard the boy was moving and she was sorry to hear of their breakup. The girl calls the boy to confirm that the friend was mistaken only to learn that the friend was correct, the boy was moving and in fact would leave at six am the following morning. To top it all off he admits that he had no intention of ever telling her. Does anyone in this room think that 11 years later that girl should willingly and deliberately seek that boy out to find him and let him back into her life?”
“Only if she plans to give him a swift kick in the balls.” The shouted reply came from an elderly woman with blue-white hair and bright pink lipstick. She had shaken her fists for emphasis while talking which pulled a reluctant laugh from Savannah as well as the other patrons.
“I say find him, take him back, rock his world and then crush his heart just as thoroughly as he crushed yours. You can only enact this plan if you aren’t still in love with him though.” The sexy redhead smiled saucily as she explained her plan.
“Can I just hire you to do that for me?” Savannah wondered honestly as the redhead let out a bawdy laugh.
 “I understand why revenge might be enjoyable but has anyone ever considered he might have a reason for what he did?” The question came from a long, lanky stranger with a voice like coffee; both rich and bitter. For a moment Savannah’s heart stopped as she thought it might be Chad himself.
“I agree with my nana,” A girl of about 16 replied, “what has he done in the 11 years since to deserve a second chance?”
The Stranger turned his head to look at the girl and recognition flashed in Savannahs eyes. “Yes, Noah please explain, just what has your brother done to earn redemption?”
Noah hung his head guiltily as he shrugged his shoulders and held his hands, palms up, in an ‘I surrender’ gesture. “Caught me. How have you been Savannah, it’s been a long time.”
“Seriously?! You come in to my favorite eatery, what‘re you doing in here anyway - last I heard you’d moved to Texas - defend your brothers deplorable actions and then ask me how I’ve been in that easy going drawl of yours? I’ve been great Noah, just peachy keen. I do have something for your brother that I’ve been meaning to give to him for 11 years now though, maybe you could pass it on for me?” Before Noah could so much as utter a reply Savannah reared back and slugged him in the solar plexus with every ounce of strength and temper she possessed. As Noah doubled over, gasping for breath, Savannah spun on her heels and strode angrily out the door Kaarina hurrying after her.