Blurb:
Theo Thomas chose his aviation career over love. A confirmed bachelor, he’s the last unmarried man among his closest peers. When a Southern California heat wave coincides with a power outage, he’s forced to his friends’ house. He’s surprised to discover their house sitter is the woman who’d forged his opinion on marriage seventeen years ago.
Chief Information Officer Emma Wilson never gave up on love, but try as she might, she hasn’t found anything close to what she felt for Theo—despite hard feelings on both sides. When a new job takes her back to California, she dreads the possibility of seeing him again. So of course, fate lands him right on her doorstep.
As grudges fade and resentment slowly turns to forgiveness, Theo sees life offering him a second chance, but Emma isn’t a starry-eyed girl anymore. She’s a woman who knows her worth, and this time, Theo will have to fight for what he wants.
Excerpt:
A familiar, unexpected voice asked, “Is everything okay?”
Theo’s heart punched in his chest. “Emma?”
“Theo?” Her sharp tone clearly told him she held him responsible for what was happening.
Officer Perez narrowed his eyes at Theo. “Do you two know each other?”
He couldn’t believe she’d called the cops on him. Or, maybe he could. “Her name’s Emma Wilson. She knows the people who live here too.”
“How many people have keys to this house?”
Theo shrugged. At least one more than he knew about.
A few seconds passed before Emma came outside ahead of the other police officer. She wore an emerald green bikini, a silver naval piercing, and pale pink polish on her toes. Her hair was shorter and straighter than he remembered. It was pulled back into a ponytail the same chestnut brown as the eyes that still occasionally featured in his dreams. As she got a little closer, he looked away, but not before glimpsing more of her than he had seen in a very long time. She stopped short a few feet away, clicking her fingernails, avoiding eye contact with him too. He didn’t blame her. Not after what he’d said the last time they were together. They hadn’t spoken since. Last he knew, she was an IT director in Detroit. Oliver usually told him when she was coming to California, but not this time. When their eyes finally met, she folded her arms over her stomach, trying to cover herself. All the movement did was show off her cleavage. His eyebrows lifted at her futile effort.
She glared at him.
Perez frowned. “Is everything okay?”
Theo answered yes the same time as Emma.
“Okay, then.” Perez held out his hand. “Let’s see your driver’s licenses.”
Author Bio:
I love reading romance novels. It all started with Judy Bloom’s Forever. Books have always been a huge part of my life. My sister and I had to be told “no reading at the table” because we always tried to sneak a book on our laps to read during dinner. Years later, my kids attempted the same trick and we’d tell them no, but secretly, I was proud of them.
After raising four children and a career in higher education, I get to write the kind of stories I love to read—contemporary romance with relatable characters, unsung heroes and heroines, and true-to-life stories. Nurses, teachers, firefighters, and Marines top my list of champions, with more to come. Give me a book about strong, brave characters with hidden vulnerabilities and a secret passion, and I’ll stay up all night to finish it. I binge read with the best of them!
When I’m not reading or writing, I’m typically planning a road trip, or if it’s summertime, hanging out at the lake. At home, I help my husband with his vegetable and herb gardens—mostly by sipping coffee or wine while I weed the beds. Anything chocolate is my favorite dessert and rescuing dogs and cats has become a thirty year passion I’ve proudly passed on to my adult children. Riding a horse and inside a firetruck are bucket list activities. I have an inexplicable love for goats and barns, contradictory to my lifelong goal of moving to New York City. This, despite my husband’s vigilant search for twenty acres to live on in the middle of nowhere. Stay tuned!
No matter if you love your rural country store or NYC Metro Card, I invite you to join me on all of my fictional romantic adventures filled with love, courage, and happily-ever-after’s.
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