Freebies, Deals and Chapter 24 😊

Hi ,

I'm sorry I've been AWOL for 8 weeks. I've had a lot going on.

As you may remember, my mum got ill about a year ago. She hasn't been doing great. And my health finally caught up to me. I was in the hospital this week, and have more tests planned next week. Yuck!

Luckily, I have another chapter of The Songs of You and Me to share with you. If you missed a previous chapter, go back to your inbox and search in the promotions tab or junk folder...

If you're new to my newsletter, here's a little recap. I've been sending out one chapter of my book The Songs of You and Me each newsletter. If you would like to read it from the beginning, it's available on Amazon and free in kindle unlimited.

Keep scrolling to the end of the Newsletter, where I have a link to some great September freebies + 99Cent Reads.

Happy Reading!

Twelve Years Earlier

JANE

The rain was coming down hard, and I was getting wet. Like, totally completely soaked to the bone. It didn’t help that the temperature was in the low fifties, and with the added wind blowing in the city, my teeth chattered as my hair got plastered to my face.

Noticing my favorite coffee shop up ahead, I took off in that direction, leaping over huge puddles on my way.

“Hey…watch…” My insult was cut short when I stared into icy blue eyes. Eyes I’d obsessed about for the last six weeks whenever I got the chance to ogle them in said coffee shop.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you there.” Coffee Shop Guy, as I dubbed him, yelled over the rumble of the city noise and the rain pelting down.

“It’s okay.” I blinked and finally found my voice. Up close, this guy looked even better than when I stared at him from afar. The rain pasted his dark blond hair to his face, but those eyes drew me in. And that smile, it made my heart skip a beat. I hadn’t reacted to a guy like this for as long as I could remember. Not since Jackson.

“I was heading to Cup o’ Joe’s. Let me buy you a drink? We can both get out of this rain and warm up.”

“Sure,” I agreed, eager to get out of the cold November rain.

“What can I get you?” The platinum blonde barista eyed my rescuer with a genuine smile before turning to me and offering up a fake one. It didn’t help I was squeezing my long hair, trying to dry it out some.

After that cold run in the rain, I needed something hot and comforting. I didn’t have time to scan the menu. I was too focused on warming up. “I’ll have a medium hot chocolate,” I replied as Coffee Shop Guy indicated for me to order first.

“I’ll have a large hot chocolate.” He smiled at the barista. She eyed me with a look of disdain as I shook out of my wet coat.

“You want cream and syrup with that?” She was getting impatient, eyeing the patrons behind us. Feeling uncertain, I hesitated.

“Go ahead,” Dreamy Guy encouraged me, and after the horrible day I’d had, I indulged in cream and a shot of my favorite caramel syrup.

After Coffee Shop Guy insisted on paying for our sweet indulgence—and me thanking him—we sat in a window seat, taking in the busy New York street life. The warm liquid slid down my throat, and my eyelids closed instinctively. I felt myself start to heat up from the inside out.

“Not a fan of this lovely New York weather, I’m guessing?”

My eyes snapped open.

His startling ice blue eyes and strong jaw kind of reminded me of Brad Pitt, a younger version of him, at least. Seeing him staring at me with a grin on his face, I realized he’d just asked me a question. Drat, I totally spaced out there for a minute.

“Uh…no. Not really.” I held on to my cup, offering a small smile, glad I remembered the question. My shoulders were still shaking off the cold.

“I’ve seen you here before, haven’t I?” Hot, Sexy Guy’s voice sounded so smooth ice would have melted, even in this frigid weather.

“Probably.” I tried for nonchalance. “I come here sometimes.” No need to admit I came back after noticing him here the first time, hoping to get a better look. It sure wasn’t for Miss Sunshine over there, making the drinks. She had a lot to learn about customer service.

“You warming up yet?” He indicated my half-empty mug, my hands wrapped around it.

My shaking lessened.

“I’m not frozen anymore.” I shivered again, remembering the cold I’d escaped.

“It’s coming down pretty bad out there.” He peered outside, giving me the perfect view of that strong jawline. Most certainly a younger version of Brad Pitt; such a great facial structure.

“Don’t I know it,” I muttered, still feeling the cold sting of the rain pelting on my skin.

“Why were you out in the rain, anyway?” His left brow rose as he turned his gaze to me, the rain crashing hard against the window once more.

“This.” I smiled, lifting my cup to show him my guilty pleasure, hoping the cold hid my blush.

“Wow.” He looked me up and down. “That’s real dedication.”

“Don’t underestimate a woman’s motivation to get her chocolate fix.” I felt my cheeks warm under his scrutiny. “Wars have been fought for smaller victories.”

“In that case.” His smile turned sexy, and my insides reacted. “Let me get you another.” He rose to refill my order.

The easy banter made my pulse quicken. The look he sent my way had me squirming in my seat and my palms warming without holding on to my hot drink.

“I’m David, by the way,” he called out, giving me another one of his swoon worthy smiles.

***

“Sarah, you remember that guy I was telling you about?” I yelled into the phone, feeling the excitement from earlier this afternoon return.

“Coffee Shop Guy?”

“That’s the one.” I squealed.

“What about him?” Sarah’s voice rose.

“He came up to me today.” I hooted. I didn’t think I was this pumped up about a guy since Jackson, but this time it actually ended with the outcome I hoped for.

“YAY!” Sarah shared my excitement. She sounded like she might even be jumping up and down with me.

“He’s taking me out tomorrow night.” Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough!