------EXCERPT ---------
The rich, velvety voice from the next table pulled her from her
pity party, and she peered around the menu once more. The handsome
man spoke on his cell phone and laughed. The sound hypnotized her.
Their gazes locked, and the air in her lungs vaporized. He glanced
back at his iPad and continued his conversation as though nothing had
happened. A little stunned by him blowing her off, she sort of liked
the change.
Holly forced her gaze to Karen and whispered, “Don’t look now,
but do y’all know who that man is? The one in the dark-navy suit,
talking on the phone.”
At the same exact moment, all three women turned completely
around in their chairs.
Holly wanted to duck under the table. “Real subtle, ladies,” she
whispered, wishing she could vanish from the restaurant like a ghost.
Dammit. The hottie nodded once in their direction. His gaze turned on
her for a brief second and then moved his attention back to his iPad.
Her cheeks burned.
“Hot dog. He’s gorgeous,” Moe said. “Now I understand why
you’re distracted. It wasn’t work you had on your mind, now was it?”
She bounced her eyebrows.
Heat crawled up Holly’s neck and landed on her face. “Of course
it was.”
“Sure,” Staci said. She and Moe grinned like fools.
Karen smiled. “You’re blushing. Wow. It’s been a long time since
a man caught your attention.”
“He hasn’t, and I’m not. It’s hot in here. He looks familiar is all.”
Moe licked her lips. “Why don’t you go over there and introduce
yourself before he gets wind of the Ms. Frost rumor. You know how
fast this town spreads lies.”
“I don’t care what people think of me, Moe. If I’m labeled Ms.
Frost because of a few men in Destiny, then so be it.” Holly took a
deep breath. She hated the cold nickname a few bachelors in the area
had coined her because she wouldn’t keep dating them. She knew
what they wanted, and it wasn’t fair that she ended up the bad guy and
not them.
“You know I was kidding, right?” Moe asked.
Holly nodded. Yep. She knew. Maybe she needed to be a little
friendlier in public. She would give a try.
The waiter, Robert, approached their table, carrying a tray of
bottled water.
“Ms. Charleston, your usual today?” The tall, thin waiter tilted his
head.
“Yes, but I’ll have the shrimp instead of grilled chicken.” She
raised her chin a notch. “I feel like a change today.”
Her friends regarded each other, and then Karen leaned over and
touched Holly’s forehead. “First, you size up that handsome man, and
now you want shrimp instead of chicken. You feeling okay? You
getting enough sleep? You do look a little pale.”
Enough sleep? She wished. That damn dream screwed with her
sleep again. She could never remember exactly what it was about, but
she had a clue. She always woke up naked. She squeezed her napkin.
--------End of Excerpt---------- (CHECK OUT THE LIST TO THE LEFT)
