Feisty Heroine

Happy Hump Day! You’ve made it halfway through the work week. For that, my friend, you deserve a treat. In fact, we’ve got a full selection of them for you. It’s time for the Mid Week Tease, hosted by the lovely Sandra Bunino. It’s the perfect way to sample the literary fare offered by a diverse collection of authors who write in a variety of genres. This week, like most weeks of Mid Week Tease, is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get. 😉

Last week, Miles finally had the opportunity to kiss Jamie and she kissed him back. Things quickly went off the rails from there. Immediately after their kiss, Miles learns two things: Jamie is indeed interested in him and her job has a strict rule against employees dating customers. Since then, Jamie has tried to forget Miles and that kiss. But today, while hanging out with Lisa, a friend who also works at the bar, and her adorable little mutt, Archie, she’s forced to admit that forgetting Miles isn’t quite that easy.

<===LOVE ME NOT EXCERPT===>

Settling back on the couch, she waited for Lisa to return, trying to resist the vivid memories of the kiss she and Miles shared that night. He hadn’t returned to the bar since then. She told herself she didn’t care. He’d only been a distraction—at work and in her head. A distraction she didn’t need. She should be glad he’d finally gotten the point. Now things could go back to the way they were before he’d waltzed into the bar with his brilliant blue eyes that crinkled at the corners. And that damn smirk that crumbled her resolve, tugged at her heart and instantly made her laugh, no matter how hard she tried to resist.

They were all wrong for each other. He was raised in a fucking mansion. She’d subsisted in a trailer. He was born to a New York City socialite and a high-powered lobbyist. She was born to a couple of alcoholics who had abandoned her first chance they got. He was highly educated. She’d graduated from the school of hard knocks. They would’ve been an absolute disaster together.

“Jamie, get in here!” Lisa called to her. “I’m in your studio.”

What was her nosy ass doing in there? She’d shown her studio to Lisa before, but this time she purposely closed the door because she didn’t want Lisa to know…

“I thought you said you didn’t care that Miles had stopped coming to Tahlia’s.” Lisa stood in front of the incriminating painting of Miles she’d completed from her original sketch in the weeks since Miles had stopped coming to the bar. “Then what is this about?”

Jamie contemplated denial. She could say Miles was simply the inspiration, that it wasn’t actually him. But that sounded lame—even in her head, where she was the only person who needed convincing. “Like you said, he’s eye candy. I figured I’d be able to sell this to some rich, lonely widow. It’s no big deal.”

Lisa raised an eyebrow and jabbed a finger in Jamie’s direction. “You’re usually a much better liar. You’ve got it for this guy even worse than I suspected.”

“I’m not lying—”

“You’re not telling the truth either. What really happened between you? Why’d he stop coming into the bar?”

Jamie sighed. She hadn’t told Lisa. She hadn’t told anyone. “He…kissed me.”

“Did you kiss him back?” A smile spread across Lisa’s face that narrowed her almond-shaped eyes.

“At first…but then I realized it was a mistake and I stopped him. I finally told him about the no-dating rule. He apologized and said he understood. But then…”

“But then he stopped coming into the bar. What a jerk. Typical guy, though. If he can’t hit that, why bother, right? Then again, I’d have done the same thing if I were in his shoes.” She sighed.

“It’s fine. I don’t care. He wasn’t my type anyway.”

“What, tall, dark, handsome and loaded? That’s not your type? Well, I’ll tell you what, sister, anytime you hook a fish like that again you just toss him my way because that’s exactly my type.” Lisa shoved her arm.

Jamie laughed. “And I thought breathing was your type. It’s good to know you have standards.”

“Ha! This from the woman who specializes in men you can’t take home to momma.” Lisa shifted her weight, one hand planted on her generous hips, the other pointed at her friend. “You should talk.”

“Okay, so we both have awful taste in men. Neither of us should be allowed to reproduce.” Jamie grinned.

“Amen to that!” Lisa was laughing so hard she could barely catch her breath.

They returned to the couch and Jamie was about to hit play. Archie, who’d finished his contraband, was snuggled against the couch under Lisa’s feet.

“All joking aside,” Lisa said, “it’s obvious you were really into the guy. I don’t blame you. Sure, he was gorgeous, but he also seemed really sweet. I’m sorry things didn’t work out. It would’ve been nice to finally see you with someone who has long-term potential.”

“It’s okay.” Jamie drew her legs onto the couch and wrapped her arms around them. “Believe me, we’re both better off this way.”

<===END OF EXCERPT===>

Hmm…I think she almost believes that. But will she be able to hold onto that belief when she comes face-to-face with Miles again? Will she even want to? Next week we’ll find out. In the meantime, it’s time to reach into that heart-shaped box of delicious chocolates and sample another. Pick any yummy selection from the list below and you’re on the way to another sweet treat.

Photo courtesy of Andrea Parrish-Geyer. Some rights reserved.

Hey Gang,

It’s time for a little Mid Week Tease. Last week Miles finally did what he’s wanted to do since the moment he laid eyes on Jamie: kiss her. While her interest was quite evident in the way she kissed him back, she quickly withdrew. Miles fears he’s done something wrong. However, Jamie finally confesses as to why they can’t be together and why she didn’t tell him sooner.

<===EXCERPT FROM LOVE ME NOT (BAD BOYS GONE GOOD BOOK #2)===>

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let you kiss me.” She stepped to the side, creating distance.

“Jamie, I like you a lot. And I get the impression that you feel the same way about me. So what’s the problem?” He stepped in front of her again, forcing his hands down to his sides and resisting the urge to touch her. “Are you seeing someone?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then what?” He stepped closer, leaving marginal space between them.

Jamie tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and sighed. “I can’t see you. You’re a customer at Tahlia’s and we’re not allowed to date customers. Period. It’s a fireable offense.”

“You—the woman who broke at least twenty laws on the ride over here—suddenly cares about the rules?” His laughter was derisive. He hadn’t meant for it to come out that way, but his feelings were hurt. Jamie’s eyes blazed and he knew he’d said the wrong thing. He took a step back.

“Look, I know it’s just a shitty little barmaid job to you, but it’s important to me.” The words tumbled from her lips as she stepped forward into the light. Her cheeks were red, her lips drawn into a tight, thin line. She crossed her arms. “So excuse me for giving a shit about jeopardizing my job.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.” He rested his fingertips gently on her arms, maintaining the distance between them. “You strike me as the kind of rebel who doesn’t care what other people think, so…does Tahlia’s really have a no-fraternizing rule, or is that just your way of telling me to kiss off?”

She seethed. “If I didn’t like you I’d just tell you to fuck off.”

“So why didn’t you tell me this a long time ago, when I first asked you out? If you’d told me then, I wouldn’t have bothered you again.” He released her arms and watched her face.

Her gaze raked the ground as she bit her lip and shrugged. “Maybe I was afraid that if I did, you’d stop coming around.”

Miles released a breath, the edge of his mouth curling slightly. It was the most hopeful he’d felt about his chances with Jamie Charles. She’d purposely withheld this information because she liked spending time with him. He hadn’t misinterpreted her feelings for him.

“I can respect that. And I’m sorry to have implied that you’d do anything to jeopardize your job. You’re an excellent bartender, and I’d never want to be the reason you lost your job. Forgive me?”

Jamie’s eyes met his. “I’m sorry, too. I should’ve said something earlier.”

He took another step back and gestured toward the door. “I know you’re tired. Sorry to have kept you.”

Jamie stuck her key in the door and turned the knob. “Thanks again for the ride.”

“You’re welcome. And I meant what I said about giving you a ride into work tomorrow or helping you get your car towed. I’d be happy to help. Just give me a call if you need me.” He dug a card out of his back pocket and handed it to her.

“I’m fine, but here…take one of my cards, in case you can’t find your way back. A couple of wrong turns, and you’ll end up in shit creek.”

Miles smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind. Oh, and Jamie…”

“Yes?” She was barely visible now, having mostly closed the door.

He shook his head and sighed. “Have a good night.”

She nodded and closed the door behind her.

<===END OF EXCERPT===>

If there’s one thing you’ve learned about Miles by now, it’s that he isn’t giving up that easily. Stay tuned to find out how he plans to get around this obstacle. The party isn’t over, though. Grab yourself a spot of tea, a mug of coffee or your favorite adult beverage and visit my fellow teasers on the list below.

Happy teasing!