Second Chances

That happens to be a big part of the short contemporary romance I've been revising--the couple in the story were high school sweethearts once upon a time, until the hero did something dumb and they parted ways. Now he's back, begrudgingly, but to help his dying father with one of his last wishes, not for a second chance...but he's going to luck into one anyway. I am really enjoying getting to revisit this series. The hero is part of a huge extended family, and his was only the first story I wrote. They're a little different than my Medusa's Daughters Trilogy in a couple ways: no paranormal elements (though there is a story later in the series that does incorporate some of those) and a bit less steam. I'm hoping you'll like them as much as I do. Since I'm working on his story, I thought I'd drop a quick snippet from the first one this week.

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Ric Mancini wished he were anywhere but here.

While he waited for the door to open, he tucked his hands in his pockets and turned to study the street. She would live in a place like this, a neighborhood where bicycles littered the front yards and the sounds of children playing echoed along the street. It reminded him of all the things he'd stopped wanting a lifetime ago.

Finally, the door opened behind him.

"May I help you?"

Ric took a deep breath and turned to face his past. "Hello, Diana."

For a moment, the woman in front of him stared blankly, but when recognition dawned, her green eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. "Oh my God," she breathed, "Ric, what are you doing here?"

His mouth twisted into a bitter smile. "You don't sound happy to see me."

Delicate color tinted her cheeks, and he realized she hadn't changed much at all in eleven years. "I'm sorry." She leaned on the door. "How did you find me?"

His smile slipped. "I didn't, Dad did."

Now she looked completely baffled, brow wrinkled, green eyes narrowing a little, like when they used to work on geometry homework together.

Ric shook his head to clear the unwanted memories. "Can I come in? I have a lot to tell you." And he wanted to get the hell out as soon as possible.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Yes, come in." Her cheeks turned redder as she stepped away from the door and gestured to her left.

He stepped inside and went into the living room. A basket of toys sat behind an armchair, and a kid's cup perched on the coffee table. Unexpected envy reared its head, and he pushed it back to its corner, making his way to a plush green sofa.

"Can I get you a drink? Tea or soda?" She hesitated in the doorway.

"Nothing, thanks. I just wante to get this over with." He winced inwardly. Nice going, man.

Her brows lifted slightly, but she nodded and moved into the room to sit in the comfortable-looking armchair nearby, tucking her bare feet beneath her.

For a long moment, he studied her. He was wrong--she had changed since he'd seen her last, but only for the better. Her curves were curvier in her faded jeans and soft blue t-shirt, the smile he'd known so well back in high school had etched fine lines around her mouth and eyes, and she'd quit wearing her hair down past her shoulders--instead it was clipped up on the back of her head, with several strands loose around her face and ears. Slim fingers, one bearing a glittering wedding band, rested on the arm of the chair. She watching him expectantly.

"You look good," he said, surprising himself.

She hesitated for a few seconds. "Thank you. You look tired."

Ric laughed, the first real laugh that had escaped him in ages. "You always were direct. I am tired." He rubbed one hand over his forehead to scoop his hair back again. "Dad is dying, and he's made my life hell until I agreed to come and ask you to visit him." ================

Now I have to get back to my revisions and the rest of the weekend to-do list. I've been slacking on the latter this weekend, and I think I need an actual break. I don't have any planned, though. The next day that I request off from the day-job will be for an appointment, not to take a brain break, unfortunately. That must mean I need to take another day just for a brain break. I'll have to think about it. Between now and then, though, we have the Books Books Books Event coming up next month in Lancaster, PA, and I can't wait to see all of you there Saturday, Sept 27! So many authors, including a bunch of my writing buddies, means lots of books waiting for you. There are a lot of genres represented in the attending author list, so there is probably something there for almost every reader. The venue is terrific, I went last year as a reader so I could visit with long-distance writing friends and some reading buddies, as well as some writer friends from close by. I'm really looking forward to seeing things from the other side of the table this year, and I hope I'll see you there, too!

What are you all up to this week? Never-ending to-do lists like me, or are you managing to get in a brain-break? I'd love to hear about it!

Until next week, happy reading!