Excerpt 1
“Okay, so if booty calls are off the table. What about a friendship? Seeing he’s such a decent guy? You’re a lonely woman in a strange country. He’s an available strapping man. Maybe it would be nice to have someone just to hang out with. I mean… not someone like you and me someone. Let’s face it, I’m irreplaceable.” 

“No,” I cut in. “Like I said, he’s nice. For someone else. Whether it’s sex or friendship, I’m not interested. And for the record, I’m not lonely.” 

“Yes, yes, how could I forget, your social circle now includes preteens and senior citizens.” 

“I happen to like my new friends, both young and old.”

“Ella, honey.” Charlie gave me that look that was equal parts exasperated and concerned. “All I’m saying is, maybe this is your moment to let your hair down a little. You’re always so tightly wound, and this breakup didn’t exactly loosen the screws. Maybe it’s time to expand your horizons. Try something different. Someone different. Maybe this guy is the kind of non-Kent energy you need.” 

“Okay, when did you get a PHD in Psychology?” I snapped. 

“Reading radar maps and reading the human psyche are kind of the same thing. Both are temperamental and can change in a heartbeat,” he teased. 

“Charlie, I love and appreciate you, but stick to doing the weather. You’re much better at that!” 

“One last question, and then I promise I’ll ixnay the subject.” “What?” I didn’t even try to hide my annoyance.

“Do you call him Mr. Moreau or Grace’s daddy?”

“Goodbye, Charlie!” I blew him a kiss and disconnected our call. 

Excerpt 2
“Can I help you?” I asked, leaning my head against the partially open door.

“No, I think the question should be, can I help you?” 

How in the world could he help me? I verbalized that thought with a simple, “What?” 

“Marion said the sink is leaking.”

Oh, no. He couldn’t possibly be Marion’s plumber.

“I can stand here all night, but that’s not gonna get the sink fixed,” he barked.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and reluctantly opened the door farther, allowing him in. “The homeowner said she would get someone out to look at it.” 

He completely ignored me, making his way to the kitchen sink with a toolbox in hand as if he were on a mission. 

“Sorry, I guess I should’ve taken that stuff out.” It killed me to apologize to him, but a little guilt niggled at me when I saw him removing the few wet items stored under the sink onto the kitchen floor. I probably should have removed them to allow the cabinet to dry out, but in my defense…I had been starving. My delicious dinner calling to me like an oasis in the desert came back to my mind, but I resigned myself that it would have to wait until the problem at hand was solved. That problem being the leaky sink and the man whose legs were dangling out from under it.