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. š
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 hadnāt returned to the bar since then. She told herself she didnāt care. Heād only been a distractionāat work and in her head. A distraction she didnāt need. She should be glad heād finally gotten the point. Now things could go back to the way they were before heād 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. Sheād 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. Sheād graduated from the school of hard knocks. They wouldāve been an absolute disaster together.
āJamie, get in here!ā Lisa called to her. āIām in your studio.ā
What was her nosy ass doing in there? Sheād shown her studio to Lisa before, but this time she purposely closed the door because she didnāt want Lisa to knowā¦
āI thought you said you didnāt care that Miles had stopped coming to Tahliaās.ā Lisa stood in front of the incriminating painting of Miles sheād completed from her original sketch in the weeks since Miles had stopped coming to the bar. āThen what is this about?ā
Jamie contemplated denial. She could say Miles was simply the inspiration, that it wasnāt actually him. But that sounded lameāeven in her head, where she was the only person who needed convincing. āLike you said, heās eye candy. I figured Iād be able to sell this to some rich, lonely widow. Itās no big deal.ā
Lisa raised an eyebrow and jabbed a finger in Jamieās direction. āYouāre usually a much better liar. Youāve got it for this guy even worse than I suspected.ā
āIām not lyingāā
āYouāre not telling the truth either. What really happened between you? Whyād he stop coming into the bar?ā
Jamie sighed. She hadnāt told Lisa. She hadnāt told anyone. āHeā¦kissed me.ā
āDid you kiss him back?ā A smile spread across Lisaās face that narrowed her almond-shaped eyes.
āAt firstā¦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 thenā¦ā
āBut then he stopped coming into the bar. What a jerk. Typical guy, though. If he canāt hit that, why bother, right? Then again, Iād have done the same thing if I were in his shoes.ā She sighed.
āItās fine. I donāt care. He wasnāt my type anyway.ā
āWhat, tall, dark, handsome and loaded? Thatās not your type? Well, Iāll tell you what, sister, anytime you hook a fish like that again you just toss him my way because thatās exactly my type.ā Lisa shoved her arm.
Jamie laughed. āAnd I thought breathing was your type. Itās good to know you have standards.ā
āHa! This from the woman who specializes in men you canāt take home to momma.ā Lisa shifted her weight, one hand planted on her generous hips, the other pointed at her friend. āYou should talk.ā
āOkay, so we both have awful taste in men. Neither of us should be allowed to reproduce.ā Jamie grinned.
āAmen to that!ā Lisa was laughing so hard she could barely catch her breath.
They returned to the couch and Jamie was about to hit play. Archie, whoād finished his contraband, was snuggled against the couch under Lisaās feet.
āAll joking aside,ā Lisa said, āitās obvious you were really into the guy. I donāt blame you. Sure, he was gorgeous, but he also seemed really sweet. Iām sorry things didnāt work out. It wouldāve been nice to finally see you with someone who has long-term potential.ā
āItās okay.ā Jamie drew her legs onto the couch and wrapped her arms around them. āBelieve me, weāre both better off this way.ā
<===END OF EXCERPT===>
Hmm…I think she almost believes that.Ā 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.
Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku says
Of course, Jamie sounds miserable without Miles showing up at the bar. Who is she kidding? Not Me. Lol! I love the phrase: She graduated from the school of hard knocks. I’m glad Jamie has time to sift through her feelings for Miles. Lovely Tease!
Reese Ryan says
Thanks, Stella! That’s the thing about Jamie, because of being hurt so badly as a kid, she tries desperately not to let other people in where they can hurt her. She doesn’t realize the negative impact that strategy is having on her. But she’ll learn. š
S.J. Maylee says
I don’t believe it at all. They are so not better off. I’d like to give Jamie a hug and then shake her a little, lol. Fab show of character here, Reese. š
ReeseRyan says
Thanks, S.J. I think that pretty much sums Jamie up. You want to either hug her or shake her most of the time. But eventually she’ll get it together. š
Nope, don’t believe her one little bit, and I dare say he’ll change her mind, when he sees her again!
He will indeed. š Though he’ll definitely still have his work cut out for him as some of her secrets of her past haunt both of them.
Keep telling yourself that, sister. Great tease, Reese. š
LOL. Well said, Siobhan. I think Lisa would agree.
Great excerpt. I love this ~> āAnd I thought breathing was your type. Itās good to know you have standards.ā
So he stops going to the bar so he can’t be considered a customer anymore? This is going on my TBR list!
Thanks, Sandra! He does, and it’s a major sacrifice because the food there is pretty darned good. š
I’ll take the hot billionaire any day! I want to read this one. š
LOL. Thanks so much for stopping by, Lacey!
Jamie, Jamie, Jamie. Well, at least she’s getting another chance — hopefully she holds on this time!
LOL. Jamie, Jamie, Jamie, indeed!
Great characterization in this tease, enjoyed reading it.
Thanks so much, Elodie.
Money and good looks, what’s not to love.
Welcome, Tmonique! Agreed. When you add his patient and loving disposition, I’d have to say that Miles is the complete package. š
Fantastic tease, well done! š
Thanks, Lucy, and congrats on the release of Timeless Desire this week!
Hi Reese! (waving to you from sunny San Diego) I loved everything about your tease. Even your intro and exit were tantalizing with the talk of chocolate! These girls made me smile. Great tease!
Hey there, Carlene! (Waving back from our new location in smaller (but not quite small) town North Carolina.) Thanks so much for your lovely comment.