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.
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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 café 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.
