Once Upon a Love Story by Beth D. Carter
Excerpt:
So, Caleb
Tasker was an onion. Layers and layers hid under that muscular forest ranger
façade and she wasn’t sure if she liked that or not. She had just figured he’d
be a great diversion for the evening, something to break up the relentless
monotony, but now, she was afraid she might end up caring about what he said. And
that was dangerous.
When she’d
first arrived in Los Angeles, she’d been a sixteen year old dropout searching
for fame and fortune. She’d run away from home with a huge chip on her shoulder
thinking the world owed her something, and the streets were a mean place for a
young girl alone. She’d done some pretty stupid things. But now she had a code,
ethics that had helped save her years ago. And feeling sorry for a man was
close to the top of that list. Emotions led to acting on stupid impulses and
she refused to allow herself to be vulnerable ever again.
Still, this
was just one harmless little date. Right?
She pulled
into the Denny’s parking lot and cut the engine. He exited the car and hurried
around to her side to help her out of the car. She stared at his hand as if it
were going to bite her.
“What are you
doing?” she asked.
“A gentleman
always helps a lady out of a car.”
“Says who?”
“My momma.”
That made
Delilah smile. “My momma taught me to pick the wealthiest drug dealer on the
street and get myself pregnant by him.”
That made him
pause and blink in confusion. “What?”
She waved her
comment away. Why did she go and tell him something like that? “Never
mind. Come on.”
She locked the
car up and headed toward the door, acutely aware of the big, muscular man
behind her who towered over her. She almost felt small, which was saying
something since she stood almost six foot tall in heels. Her legs were one of
her best assets and she used them to her advantage when she danced at The Pink
Pony.
They were
shown to a booth in a back corner and the bright lights finally allowed her to
see him in vivid detail. His eyes were a sky blue and his hair was a dirty
blonde, curling around the edges of his collar. It looked soft to the touch and
her fingers tingled with the desire to bury into the crisp strands. He reminded
her a little of Daniel Craig. Very fine lines crinkled the area near his
temples, alluding to a life where he laughed a lot, but the brackets that
encircled his mouth hinted that some pain had mingled in there as well. He
looked like a man of deep emotion, one who devoted himself wholly to whomever
or whatever task he faced. She wondered if he would make love just as
thoughtfully and she shivered a little bit at the wandering thought, her body
thrumming to life with an awareness she’d never felt before.
Blurb:
Caleb Tasker lost his wife to cancer but it took him a long
time to put her memory to rest. Deciding
he needs a vacation, he accepts the gracious invitation of living in his
friend’s Malibu home for an over due holiday.
Delilah Ward grew up in rural Mississippi and ran away when
she was sixteen, moving to Los Angeles with thoughts of being anything but the
person she was born to be. But reality
settled in quickly and the bright lights of Hollywood soon faded into the dark
abyss of dancing on a darkened platform.
Caleb is used to love being easy and Delilah is used to
fighting against everything. They have
nothing in common except a wildfire attraction that won’t let go of them. But when tough choices need to be made, will
they both be able to be honest to what they really want?
Links where to buy:
My Bio:
I like writing about the very ordinary girl thrust into extraordinary
circumstances, so my heroines will probably never be lawyers, doctors or
corporate highrollers. I try to write
characters who aren't cookie cutters and push myself to write complicated
situations that I have no idea how to resolve, forcing me to think outside the
box. Music inspires me and each story has their own signature song.
I am a full time writer and stay
at home mom which means I watch a lot of animated movies. Over and over again. I hate washing dishes but I love cooking. I
hate washing clothes but I love wearing them. Writing my bio is difficult
because I never know what to say so I hope you like this one. My favorite color is red but I look best in
black (it’s slimming). I hate people who
don't pick up their dog's crap in public places, people who don’t use turn
signals, and I really hate people who are rude and condescending. I especially
hate discrimination in all and every form.
And although I love holding a book in my hand, I absolutely adore my
ereader, whom I’ve named Ruby. So many
books at the touch of a button! I love
to hear from readers so I’ve made it really easy to find me on Facebook or
Twitter or email me at: beth@bethdcarter.com.
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