Kindle Edition
Amazon
Cheryl Wright Author
Category:
Western
Type: Fiction
Pages: 88
Copyright: March 16, 2019
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
She left to start a new career ten years ago, and his heart shattered. Now she's back, and the sparks have reignited.
But she’s set to leave again in a matter of weeks. How do two friends reconcile when nothing is promised?
After Sierra West suddenly left town, Braxton Chalmers tried to move on with his life. But thoughts of her always taunted him, to the point no other woman could ever live up to her standards.
Sierra West returned to the outback town of Oakdale after the death of her beloved grandmother. Seeing Braxton again has reignited past emotions. She can’t allow these feelings to surface again – she must return to the city once her business in Oakdale is done.
Can they just remain friends? Or will fate step in and show them they were meant to be together?
Excerpt
Chapter One
May 1st
“You did what?” Braxton Chalmers could feel the heat travel up his face.
If he thought his cousin Melanie was pushy before, he now saw her with a whole new perspective.
He sat opposite her, his hands on his knees as he leaned forward, waiting impatiently for her explanation.
All the while his foot tapped nervously.
“Honestly Brax,” she said. “It’s not that big a deal.”
Yeah right. She’d volunteered his time for the local Youth Center’s annual fundraiser. He wouldn’t have to do much, she said. He’d be standing around a lot, she’d added.
His eyes squinted suspiciously.
She was up to something, but Braxton had absolutely no idea that it was.
Melanie was always up to something and every single time she dragged him into it. He should just break ties with her. But how could he? They’d grown up together. He loved her as cousins loved each other.
She’d introduced him to his first girlfriend, although it didn’t last long, and she’d dated his best mate.
That too hadn’t lasted.
She was always concocting something, and he knew, was absolutely convinced, she was up to her neck in it right now.
“It’s one night, Brax,” she said impatiently. “What’s the issue? I know you volunteer there all the time.”
“The issue,” he said, trying to control his temper. “Is that you didn’t ask – you just went ahead and put my name down.”
She had the audacity to grin.
Without warning, she jumped out of her chair and headed to the refrigerator where she pulled out a beer and passed it to him.
As if that would pacify him. He was near boiling point and Mel wants to fix things with a beer?
He silently counted to ten, wondering if fifty would be better.
This was nothing new. His dear cousin pulled these types of stunts all the time.
There was the time he thought he was attending a family dinner, but it turned out to be a blind date organized by Mel.
Another time she organized the blind date then told him. The ‘date’ spent the entire night on her cell.
And then there was the time she….. Nuh, not going there.
He braced his shoulders and glared at her. “What exactly am I doing at this fundraiser?”
He didn’t trust her one little bit. She’d come up with so many crazy schemes over the years, and right now his scheme radar was off the charts.
She shifted in her seat uncomfortably.
He watched closely as the color drained from her face.
Mel shuffled about for nearly a minute, licked her lips, then spoke quietly. “You know, the usual stuff – take tickets at the door, help move tables, that sort of thing.”
He sat back in his seat and relaxed. He felt more comfortable now.
And suddenly everything changed.
He studied her as she tried to force back a grin. Her hand suddenly went up to her mouth and she pretended to cough.
Something was definitely up.
He frowned and stared at her. If he did it long enough, she might renege and tell him the whole story?
Without warning she stood. “Sorry cuz,” she said quickly, glancing at her watch.
Was she going to own up to her lies after all? He hoped so.
“I’ve got an appointment in ten. Gotta run.”
And that was that. She snatched the near empty beer bottle from his hand and shoved him toward the door, snatching up his cowboy hat as she did so.
“Mel…”
“Sorry, no time. Talk soon.” She slammed his hat into his hands, then gave him an almighty shove and banged the door behind him.
He swallowed hard. What the hell was she up to?
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