TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "NAKED" - ANOTHER EPISODE OF RENOVATING THE BILLIONAIRE

Welcome! This week the word prompt is "naked" - tee hee. I've got another installment in the as-yet-unwritten story, "Renovating the Billionaire." 

***********************************

   After dark on a hot night, there was nothing Jess liked better than to get naked and jump into Cedar Lake. If she was still awake after midnight, she’s ride her bike down to the dock. After checking to see if any lights were on in the houses hugging the lake, she’d slip off her clothes, and lower herself down the ladder.

   One time she’d cannonballed in, not expecting to make such a big splash. The noise woke one of the neighbors. He burst forth from his house, brandishing a gun and hollering. She’d hidden underneath the dock until he left.

   He must have been poking around for twenty minutes. She shivered, but kept still, praying he wouldn’t discover her. He didn’t. When he left, she climbed out quietly, threw her clothes on and hightailed it out of there as fast as she could.

   It was two years later before she tried it again. This time, she eased into the water with nary a splash. Jess did the breast stroke, cutting silently through the water. She stopped at a boat moored near the west side. 
   Hanging on to the anchor rope, she stared at that huge monstrosity, shadowed in the moonlight. At night the old, broken-down house looked eerie, scary almost. The dark windows with their trim painted white resembled huge eyes.

   The house had history and a faded charm that still spoke to Jess. Never mind the hole in the roof, or the bats making their homes in the eaves. Forget the peeling paint, the broken front steps. This house had potential. It haunted Jess’s dreams regularly.

   She pictured it returned to its former glory, pure white paint, immaculate front porch sporting three antique wooden rocking chairs. One for her, one for her brother, Will, and one for the love of her life, a man like no other.

   In her imagination, the third chair sat empty for an eternity. Prince Charming went out of fashion decades ago. Why should a poor, no-account like her expect to find one?

Back to Tuesday Tales

My website

TUESDAY TALES - RENOVATING THE BILLIONAIRE - PICTURE PROMPT

Time to take a pass at a new story. This will be part of "Renovating the Billionaire", a new Pine Grove book that will be coming out in two months. 
Jess is taking a break from work and goes for a stroll through her old neighborhood. 

********************************************

Jess sucked on a piece of onion grass as she headed for Huddle Road. She’d lived there for the first fifteen years of her life. Then her mom shot her dad and went to jail. She and her little brother were shipped off to foster care until she was eighteen, when she got a job and custody of Will.

They had to leave the charming little farmhouse with a Dutch door in the back and a small barn. As she rounded the bend, the old general store came into view. It had closed not long after she left. The Mountain View section of Pine Grove, despite it’s elegant name, was run down, decrepit. Her old house, now bank property, had a few broken windows and a hole in the front steps. The porch sagged. The house seemed sad.

Jess smiled as she sat, cross-legged, in front of it and remembered some happy times there. Even the old general store brought good memories. Mr. Franklin, who owned it, would give her a licorice stick free from time to time. She’d been his favorite because she had good manners.

He died in the store of a heart attack. No one wanted the place and now it was dying, too, just like the man who had built and run it for fifty years.

“Why does everything have to change? Why can’t good things stay the same?” she asked a butterfly fluttering in her face.

She and Will lived in a small apartment in a rundown house. Jess baked pies and cakes for the local restaurants and Will did carpentry. Together they eked out a living. The aroma of baked goods distracted her from her shabby living quarters and early wake-up time. As grandma always said, “there’s good everywhere, if you look for it.”    

That's all for this time. Now back to Tuesday Tales and the incredible stories there. Click HERE

My website

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "SILLY"

Welcome! This week's word prompt is "silly." Again, we have an excerpt from Sandy & Rafe: Second Place Heart. Scroll down to return to Tuesday Tales and the great stories there. Thanks for coming! 

************************************

Once the second apartment was almost finished, her fiancé cooled. His late nights became the norm. They stopped eating dinner together. Sex slowed down to once a week, if that. When she took his white shirts to the laundry, she detected a faint, but distinct, sweet scent that was not Lyle’s aftershave.

Sandy dredged up every justification imaginable. Eventually, she stopped believing her own mantra. Desperate, she called her brother. After rattling off a list of Lyle’s offenses, she waited.

“What do you think?” She chewed her lip.

“The guy’s definitely fooling around.”

“Really?” Her voice dropped.

“I can’t hide the truth from you, sis.”

“Really?” she asked again, hanging on to one last shred of hope.

“You don’t want me to lie, do you?”

“No, no, of course not.”

“Do you care?” her brother asked.

“What?”

“Do you love this guy?”

She hesitated. Had she ever loved him or had she simply fallen in love with the picture he’d painted of the future?

“I don’t know.”

“At least you’re being honest. If you don’t love him and he’s being a douche, leave. Don't be silly. You’re not married.”

“Don’t you think we should try to work it out?”

“Why,” Bill asked.

“To save our relationship?”

“What relationship? He used you to fix up his house and get him tons of free publicity. If there’s a relationship there, I’m a kangaroo.”

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.

*******************************

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?”

RETURN TO TUESDAY TALES

MY WEBSITE

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. 

***********************************************

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. 

BACK TO TUESDAY TALES

MY WEBSITE

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." 

**********************************

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.

 Thanks for stopping by. 
Back to Tuesday Tales

My website

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. 

************************************

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.

Back to Tuesday Tales

My Website