TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT: LEAF. SANDY & RAFE - SECOND PLACE HEART

Welcome! This week the word prompt is "leaf." I am moving on to a new story that I can only do for this week and next. It's called Sandy & Rafe, and it's part of my second-chance romance series, Echoes of the Heart. This story has not been published yet. Here's this week episode.

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Eleven months ago. Behind the scenes at the reality TV show, Marriage Minded.

“Lyle, Rafe, Lyle, Rafe? Bill, help!” Sandy moaned into the phone.

“Okay, give me the shit on these guys,” her brother Bill said.

“Lyle is in real estate. He’s funny, nice, and keeps talking about our future. He wants to renovate old buildings in Detroit and start a renaissance there. He said we make a good team.”

“Sounds good. And the other guy?”

She sighed. “He’s so sweet. He’s French Canadian. He’s an architect. I think he really loves me.”

“Architects don’t make crap. Real estate is where the money is.”

“But Rafe…”

“You asked my opinion. So, you like this Rafe guy better?”

“I did, until Lyle told me Rafe only went on the show to get his green card.”

“What? Fuck that. Easy choice, Sandy. Dump the Rafe guy. That’s all you need, a guy who sleeps with you for six months, gets his green card, and takes off. And don't count on him turning over a new leaf.”

“He doesn’t seem the type.”

Bill snorted. “Yeah. Right. Like an asshole like that is gonna show his hand?”

“But he’s been so nice.”

“Who do you love?”

“Both, I think.”

“One more than the other? Come on, Sandy. No one loves two guys exactly the same.”

“Guess I’m leaning toward Rafe.”

“Mr. Green Card? Forget it. If you think you could do marriage with this Lyle guy, then pick him. The other one looks like a phony.”

“Thanks, Bill.”

“Hey, what are brothers for?”

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TUESDAY TALES - PROMPT "MIRROR" - NO REGRETS CONTINUES

Welcome! This week's word prompt is "mirror." You'll find it at the end of this piece from No Regrets. Don't forget to scroll down and return to Tuesday Tales. Thanks for stopping by. 

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When he hit the NFL, Nick had convinced himself he’d put Lizzie Wenner behind him, left her in the dust, gotten over her, whatever you want to call it. He dated top models and actresses, too. He’d made headlines with gorgeous women on his arm. Sure, they weren’t as smart as Liz Wenner, but they were arm candy.

His father appeared envious of his son’s lifestyle, while his mother kept asking why he didn’t marry one of those sought-after women? He didn’t have an answer. There was something about a smart woman that still appealed to him. And he’d yet to meet one who was as smart as Lizzie.

He’d finally convinced himself he’d gotten her out of his blood. Until today. He couldn’t believe his eyes. There she sat, as prim as ever, sipping coffee and reading, just like old times, except more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. The skinny girl he remembered from high school had put a little meat on her bones, and in all the right places.

His heart jumped to life, beating faster, pumping blood to various parts of his body as his gaze stole over her. Hadn’t he forgotten her? He thought he had, but he’d simply cemented over his feelings. In one second, the hardened covering had fallen away, crumbling into a million bits.

She was a professor with a Ph. D, teaching at Yale. This was a hundred times worse than her simply attending that esteemed university. He groped for a phrase that surpassed ‘out of my league’ but couldn’t find one. He grinned. In seconds, Lizzie would probably have four that described their disparity. 

Helpless to control his emotions, Nick wanted her all over again and laughed, as if he even stood a sliver of a chance. If, by some miracle, he had a shot, losing her this time wouldn't mirror the last, it would be a whole lot more painful. 

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TUESDAY TALES - PICTURE PROMPT - "NO REGRETS"

Welcome! It's picture prompt week. Drool over this as you read about Nick and Sandy in another episode of "No Regrets." 

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As he drove to the Yale Bowl, his thoughts dialed back to his old girlfriend. What a punch in the gut to run into Lizzie. He’d wondered what had happened to her. He’d thought about her often, but never had the balls to find her. When he’d found out that her family had moved, he’d been heart broken.

Sure, there were chicks to console him in college. Plenty of chicks. But at Thanksgiving, he’d counted the hours until he could get home and see her again. Coming home to find her gone with no forwarding address, he’d called, but her number had been changed.

His mom tried to soothe him by convincing him it wasn’t meant to be. He knew better. Late one night during the break, he couldn’t sleep. He went to the kitchen for a glass of milk and a piece of chocolate cake. He overheard his parents in the living room, talking.

“Lizzie Wenner? Crap, Martha. She’s too smart for our boy. Don’t get me wrong. He’s no dummy. But the girl’s going to Yale. Yale! She’s way out of his league. She’s probably got a dozen boys with the highest I.Q.’s in the country after her. Sooner or later, she’s gonna figure out that Nick can’t compete.”

“Nick is better than those boys. Stuck up know-it-alls,” his mom muttered.

“Maybe so. Still. I doubt she’d marry someone beneath her.”

“She’d be damn lucky to marry Nick. He’ll make a fine husband. And father, too.”

“Dream on, Martha. Nothing against Nick. What you say is true, but Lizzie’s gone. Probably a good thing. He’ll get over her and move on to find a girl more his speed.”

“I still say she’d be lucky to end up with Nick.”

Nick had downed his drink and tiptoed upstairs. Back in bed, he stared at the ceiling. It shocked him to hear his father echo his own thoughts and feelings. Lizzie Wenner was simply too damn smart for him. She’d never choose him over some brainiac Yale asshole. No way. Why would she, when she could have any genius she wanted?

That night, he’d made up his mind not to pursue her. Why set himself up to get shot down? By now, she probably had at least three guys after her. How could he compete? A dumb jock? What could he offer her? He had no money, no certain future, and no brains. Well, not outstanding brains, anyway.

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TUESDAY TALES - "HEAVY" - "NO REGRETS"

Greetings!

Welcome. The word prompt this week is "heavy."  I have another installment from "No Regrets", a second chance romance. Scroll down to return to Tuesday Tales. Thanks for coming. 

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Ten years later, Java the Hut Coffee Shop, New Haven, CT. 

“Lizzie? Lizzie Wenner?”

The deep, masculine voice repeating her name cut through her concentration. She raised her gaze to meet pale blue eyes in a familiar face.

“Nick Jameson?” Her brows knitted.

“Lizzie!” The handsome face broke into a huge grin.

It couldn’t be him. He was a successful pro football player. What was he doing here? It must be a mistake. He strode over to her table.

“May I join you?” he asked, not waiting for an answer and sliding into the seat opposite.

“Nick?”

“Lizzie.” He took her left hand and raised it to his lips.

Tears burned her eyes. There he was, more gorgeous than ever in an expensive suit, perfect haircut and just the right amount of scruff. He turned her hand to kiss her palm and she felt it to her toes. 

“Not married or engaged?” he asked.

For the moment words failed her, she shook her head.

“Me, neither.”

“Really? With all those models you date, you couldn’t find one to marry?”

“None of them were you,” he said, quietly.

She drew in a breath. “What are you doing here?” she asked, changing the subject.

“We’re playing a charity game against the Bulldogs.”

“They’re just college boys, you’ll crush them.”

“Nah, we’ll be gentle. It’s a fundraiser.”

“I heard about it. But I never. Oh my God. Nick.”

She gripped his hand and the aloof, professorial demeaner she’d worked years to cultivate cracked and fell away. For a moment, she was little misfit, Lizzie Wenner, clinging to her popular boyfriend. Tears leaked down her cheeks, a heaviness settled in her chest.

He whipped a handkerchief from his back pocket and dabbed her cheeks.

“Professor? Is this man bothering you?” The barrista had come from behind the counter to stand next to their table, arms folded across his chest.

“Me?” Nick asked.

“Yes you. She’s crying.”

“No, Tony. It’s okay. Really, I’m fine. Nick is. Nick is an old friend. I’m just surprised to see him.”

“As long as you’re okay, Dr. Wenner. Because if he bothers you, just raise your hand and I’ll throw him out,” Tony said, darting a hostile glare in Nick’s direction.

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