Every family has one. Is it you?
Jan 02, 2023 12:01 pm
Happy New Year!! My holidays were pretty low-key this year, but I'm exhausted. Are you exhausted from the holidays, too?
I've had several readers email me asking about what's coming next. I've been planning and plotting and think you'll love what's coming next, but I'm not quite ready to reveal everything. I can say with certainty you'll see more from the Home Wreckers Construction cast of characters. Stay tuned.
What you'll find in today's email:
- Wild in Love chapters 1 and 2
- Newest Releases
- Books by Kelly Jayne and Maggie Alabaster
- NEW January Bookfunnel Promos
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INSTALOVE SPOTLIGHT'S ON...
Wild in Love! Brother's best friend, opposites attract, close proximity, small town.
Why I wrote this story: Every family has at least one child who’s wild at heart and takes risks. Stormi is the wild child of the Sinclair clan. A life-altering event left her believing the only way to truly embrace life is to take chances and explore the world. Staying in one place for too long makes her edgy. It’s also alienated her from her siblings. She’s struggling to find her place in the world without being a burden or utter failure in the eyes of her family.
Wild child or not, I think everyone can relate to feeling like we’ve lost our place in the world. Are we enough? Do we live up to family and friends’ expectations? A person can be surrounded by the biggest, most caring family and still feel alone. I wrote Wild in Love, because how we see ourselves isn’t always the way others see us. Running from the past won’t change it. We can only learn and grow from it.
I hope you enjoy Wild in Love. Scroll for Chapter 1.
Scroll to read the first chapter of Wild in Love.
Wild in Love contains copyright material.
Chapter 1
Stormi
Calling home to ask for cash gets more difficult each time I do it. Not that my brother, Jayden, thinks so. He's had it up to his eyeballs with me, but it's necessary this time. The last of my cash went for bail money a few hours ago, Drew's getting married in two weeks. I won’t make it home in time without Jayden’s help. Again.
Drew and I were thick as thieves when we were younger. He's an only child who inherited four siblings the day my parents died. I'm not sure I would’ve made it through the early years if it weren't for him. Jayden's my protective, stable older brother, but Drew is my rock. He’ll never forgive me if I miss his wedding.
But then he’d need to get in line. Everyone’s had it with me for a long time. I know they love me, but they don’t get me. We shared the same upbringing, but the death of our parents affected each of us in different ways.
I barely remember my parents. Vague memories pop up sometimes, but I'm not sure if they're my memories. I've heard the same stories so often, my brain believes they’re mine. I remember my parents, but maybe the memories are just pieced together daydreams of photographs I’ve memorized.
Their untimely death cemented one fact of life in my soul. Life is too short and precious to stay grounded in one spot. My parents died too young, too soon. Jayden and my sisters were the only adventures they had, and that adventure was cut too short for them. For me. For all of us.
I type in the four-digit security code on my phone and scroll to family contacts. I stare at the phone long enough, the screen fades to black. I type in the four-digit code again, take a deep breath, and press Jayden’s number. He picks up on the third ring.
“Hi!” I muster more perk than I feel.
“What’s up? In jail again?” His voice flattens with a hint of suspicion.
“Geez. Have a little faith.” I match his suspicion with sarcasm. “Of course, I’m not in jail.”
I leave out the fact that my recent stint as a jailbird was a mere three hours ago. But it was for a good cause. Puppy mills are cruel. I had to rescue those innocent little furballs. No one else lifted a finger to help when I reported the kennel. The fact that I trespassed is a moot point. Sure, I could’ve waited until proper authorities arrived, but the puppies were pitiful. I had to do something. Jayden doesn't need to know everything.
I’m protecting him from the truth. Right?
“Don’t tell me you’re not coming to the wedding.” His drawn-out sigh filters through the line loud and clear. “Drew’s talked nonstop about you coming home. He’s dying for you to meet Bree.”
“About that–.”
“Ah, sis.” His voice is pained. I visualize him pacing, rubbing his palm over his neck. It’s his tell when he worries.
“No, no. I’m coming home. It’s just…” I don’t want to ask, but there’s no other choice. I talk fast to get it all out before I lose my nerve. “I need bus fare. It’s only two hundred forty dollars. I can be home in two days. I’ll make it up to you, Jayden.”
Please, please, please.
I bite my nails waiting for his reply. There’s a lecture coming whether his answer is yes or no.
“Fine. I’ll transfer it to your account right now.”
No lecture? Now I’m hyper-nervous. I have the whole bus ride ahead of me to think about the lecture coming when he picks me up at the station.
“This is the last time, Stormi. I mean it. No more. Just get home.”
“Thanks, Jayden. I love you,” I say quietly.
He clicks off the line without so much as a goodbye.
I do mean it. I love my family. But I’m not cut out to play by their rules. Safe and steady aren’t in my dictionary.
Chapter 2
Scout
I glance at the arrival board at the bus station. The bus shows on time, but it's already twenty-five minutes late. Chatter on the police radio distracts me.
“Sheriff Hayes. Over.”
“Go ahead, Sharon.” I lean my head to talk into the radio attached to my shoulder.
“The Atwood boys are at it again. Over.”
“Send Charlie. Tell him to at least pretend he has the authority to run them in this time. Their shenanigans could get someone hurt. I’ll talk to their parents later. Over.”
“Will do, Sheriff. Your dad called looking for you.”
The crease in my brow grows deeper.
She continues, “He said it’s not important. Read something online. Just calling to share. Over.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. My parents are getting up there in years. They aren’t as mobile as they used to be. Dad’s still sharp as a tack, but Mom has good days and bad. Her memory isn’t what it used to be. It’s taking a toll on Dad, though he doesn’t like to admit it. Everyone at the station is on alert for any calls from my parents.
“Thanks, Sharon. I’ll call him as soon as I’m done here. Out.”
I approach the front desk to ask the clerk if there’s an updated arrival time for the afternoon bus. I’m interrupted by a flow of people coming into the terminal through the arrivals’ door. Finally.
When Jayden called asking for a favor, he described Stormi as average height with longish dark hair. Most likely wearing bright flowery colors, hippy style. A handful. Wild child. Not much to go on.
My job requires a keen eye for detail. I watch the flow of people, scanning for something that might set Stormi apart from the others. One young woman catches my eye.
Her eyes dart toward me, and she quickly looks away, slipping behind another passenger. I catch her eye as she peeks back at me, this time with her hoodie pulled over her head. Again, she slips behind the man to hide in his shadow.
Finding Stormi will have to wait. My first job is town safety. The woman hiding in the crowd has suspicious written all over her.
I change positions. The third time she peeks, she whips her head around wildly. Her eyes dart back and forth and over her shoulder. She eases toward the door, clutching a backpack tightly to her chest. She pulls the hoodie low over her forehead with eyes to the floor. I step in front of her as soon as she's out the front door.
“Excuse me, ma’am.”
Her head jerks up. The hoodie sits low over her brow, revealing only a freckled nose and full pouty lips. The kind of lips made for more than kissing. She swallows and slips the hoodie back on her head. Her eyes are brilliant clear blue with dark blue edging the outer circle. Flecks of green and ochre stipple the iris.
“What?! I just got here. I haven’t done anything.” A defiant look crosses her face.
I hook my thumbs into my belt and size her up. The police radio crackles.
“Sheriff Hayes. Over.”
“Go ahead, Sharon.” I keep my eye on the young lady in front of me, holding her in place with a stern gaze.
“Jayden called. Wants to know if his sister was on the bus or not. She isn’t answering her phone.”
Before I have a chance to reply, the young lady pipes up. Her eyes widen with a look of surprise. She bounces on her toes.
“That’s me! Jayden’s my brother. I’m Stormi,” she rattles the words off quickly, pointing at the radio on my shoulder. "My phone's dead."
Jayden’s description of Stormi doesn’t do her justice. There’s not an ounce of average about her.
Related Reading: Single dad and Officer Charlie Foxx needs Sheriff Hayes's assistance when unexpected trouble shows up on his doorstep in Trading Favors with the Girl Dad.
When Stormi's friend Rebecca wins the lottery, Rebecca needs the help of Sheriff Hayes' friend, Archer Braddock, who's hiding from the media's prying eyes and in no mood to babysit a woman who's sure to bring trouble to his doorstep.
ARE YOU CAUGHT UP?
Cranberry Corner wrapped up last week with Everly. Catch up on all the holiday antics for this season. Cranberry Corner will be back for the 2023 holidays!
Meet Cady's brothers, Drake and Sebastian Jenkins, in Gingerbread & the Guy Next Door and Oh Fudge.
Meet Ella's brother, Jules, and get another glimpse of Mr. Jack in Playing House with the Nanny.
Meet Olive in Kindlewood, where she's serving up hanging coffee to Cranberry Corner's most beloved Mr. Jack.
AUTHOR CORNER
Dane and Heather were high school sweethearts who promised to love each other forever. But an unexpected injury de-rail their perfect plans for a perfect future. Leaving her was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
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Thank you for scrolling through everything! I'll be back in your inbox Thursday with more instalove goodies to share. Until then, do something good for yourself today!
XOX Piper