Story Soundtrack – II Same Script, Different Cast

Back in the day, I used to make up stories based on some of my favorite songs. I think I’ll start it up again.

Here’s an oldie to get things started. “Same Script, Different Cast” by Whitney Houston featuring Deborah Cox.

Unfortunately, there isn’t an official video but I found one that was put together on YouTube.

My story:

Monica Taylor sat in the dimly lit bar of the Atlanta restaurant and waited for her guest.  Outwardly, she was the picture of a calm and confident woman.  Every hair on her short sassy haircut was in place.  Her makeup was flawless and highlighted her mocha complexion.  She had spent hours picking out the perfect dress; a simple black wrap that hugged her ample curves which she accessorized with silver jewelry and strappy black high heel sandals.  Inwardly, her stomach churned and she wondered if she would have the nerve to carry out her mission for the night.

She checked the time on her watch and glanced around the room.  If she had any doubts about her appearance, the  appreciative looks from the male patrons caused her to sit up straighter and smile.  When the offer of a drink came, she politely
declined.  She had already purchased a glass of wine and could not afford to get distracted entertaining some man who thought the price of a drink earned him something in return.  She no longer had the patience to deal with men.  Especially when the one man that she loved took her for granted.

Monica shifted on the stool and took a sip of her drink.  She had chosen the perfect perch so she saw the moment her guest entered the foyer.  She looked exactly like her picture.  Long flowing locks, skin the color of coffee with cream and the height of a model.  Well, she didn’t look exactly like the picture Monica saw.  The woman had on clothes tonight.

“LaKeisha Johnson.”  Monica was by her side in an instance.

“Yes?  And you are?”

Monica said her name and waited for the light of recognition to cross the woman’s face.  When it came, LaKeisha clutched her purse and took a step back.  “Where is Michael?”

“Michael isn’t coming.  I thought we needed to talk.  Our table is ready.”  Monica turned to the maître‘d and indicated that they were ready to be seated.

LaKeisha hesitated.  “What is this about?”

“Please,” Monica said.  “I will explain everything.”

They followed the hostess to the reserved table.  It was a secluded place setting for two located in an alcove that would afford them some privacy from the other diners.  The irony of this place wasn’t lost on Monica.  Michael had brought her here the night he asked her to move in with him.  She thought it would lead to marriage.

It seemed right that it should end here as well.

The waitress appeared as soon as they were seated.   Monica requested another drink to replace the one she had abandoned at the bar.  LaKeisha declined.

“Are you sure you don’t want a drink?” Monica asked.

“All I want is to know is what is going on here?”  LaKeisha sat on the edge of her seat.

Monica shrugged.  “Suit yourself then.”

She dismissed the waitress and turned to focus on the woman across the table from her.  She studied LaKeisha’s features looking for some flaw but found none.  The woman was pretty in that girl next door kind of way.  From the research that Monica did on her, she knew that LaKeisha was an accountant with one of the biggest firms in town.  She was in her early thirties and didn’t have any children.   Michael had a type and she definitely fit the mold.  Just like Monica.

The waitress returned with Monica’s drink and she was grateful for something to do with her hands.  Now that her replacement was sitting across from her, Monica didn’t know what to say.  Her carefully planned speech had abandoned her.  Then she realized that LaKeisha was studying her in the same way.  She wondered how much the woman knew about her.

LaKeisha broke the silence.  “Are you sure that Michael isn’t coming?”

“He isn’t coming.”

“But I got a text from him a couple of hours ago.”  LaKeisha dug out her phone.  “He said to meet him at 8 ‘o clock.”

Monica knew what the text said.  She had composed it herself.

Catching an earlier flight.  Boarding plane now.  Can’t wait to see you.  Meet me at Houston’s at 8.  Wear that thing I like.  M

Of course her ruse depended on three things.  One, that LaKeisha would believe the text was from Michael.  Monica knew the last line would sell it.  Michael mainly  communicated via text messages and that last line was one of his signature sayings.  Two, LaKeisha had to believe that Michael couldn’t respond to a reply because he was on the plane.  And lastly, Monica had to hope that even if LaKeisha sent a response that it would be generic enough that Michael wouldn’t actually respond for real and unknowingly spoil her plans.

“Michael is still in New York.”  Monica stated with certainty.  The GPS tracker she had installed on his phone confirmed his location in the 212 area code.

“What are you talking about?  This text came from his number.  Why would he send me a text saying he was coming back early from the conference.”

“That’s because Michael didn’t send that text.  I did.”   Monica took a cell phone out of her purse and laid it on the table between them.

“Did you steal his cell phone?”

“I didn’t have too.  I cloned it.”

LaKeisha sat back in the chair and her eyebrows furrowed.  “Cloned it?   How? “

The how wasn’t important.  Working as a computer programmer, Monica had picked up some tricks over the years.  But Monica was ashamed to admit that she let a man drive her to a crazy place.  She had been living in Crazyville for the past few months.  She couldn’t pinpoint the exact date that she knew she was losing Michael.  It was a gradual sense of knowing that someone you love is shifting away.

Michael became distance and moody.   The man she fell in love with was replaced by a stranger that began to treat her like an afterthought.  He began to have a lot of reasons to leave the house.   The man who loved to have sex most nights was suddenly content to get into bed and turn his back.

Of course Michael wouldn’t talk about what was going on so Monica became a spy.  She snooped and electronically stalked the man until she had the answers to the questions that Michael wouldn’t answer.   But she didn’t like what it turned her into.

When Michael mentioned that he would be attending the medical conference in New York (the conference she joined him at last year) she knew it was time for a hange.
She moved her things out of their condo and closed their joint account.  She was all set to begin her life without him but there was one more thing she had to do.

“I know he’s leaving me for you.”

LaKeisha’s mouth fell open in surprise.  Monica coolly sipped her drink and waited for the woman to deny it.

“How do you know that?  I mean, who told you?”

“So, it’s true.”  It was more of a statement than a question.

“Yes.”  LaKeisha tossed her hair over her shoulder.  “He plans to tell you soon.”

“I was wondering what he’s telling you.  Could it be the same things that he told me?”

LaKeisha did the hair toss again and sat up straighter.  If the woman sitting across from her thought she would be intimated then she was mistaken.  “He told me that he loved me.”

“I’ve heard that.”

“He told me I was ………”

Monica held up a hand.   “Let me guess.  He told you that you were beautiful.  That he never met a woman like you.  That he feels trapped in his current relationship and is waiting for the right time to break the news.  He told you that he wanted to be
totally honest with you.   He said he wanted you to share his life.”

“How could you know all that?  Did you tap his phone too?”

Monica ignored the slight.  “I’ve been there.  He told me those things too.  I was once where you are now.  I was the new woman in Michael’s life.”

“Well, if you couldn’t keep him then that’s your fault.”

Monica shook her head.   Denial is always the first step toward healing.  The truth was that Dr. Michael Anderson was the type of man that women considered a good catch.   He was a pediatric surgeon with a charming manner that put children and adults at ease.

And the man looked good.  When he smiled at you with those hazel eyes you were hypnotized.  Michael was six feet tall with an athletic frame that wore clothes well.  He was meticulously groomed from his low cut Caesar haircut and light beard to the manicured nails on his hands.

Those hands.

Monica would miss those “healing hands” along with his sculpted abs.  She took another sip of her drink at the thought of those passion filled nights.

“Do you really believe that I couldn’t keep him?  You and I aren’t so different.  I’m not hating on you, girlfriend but I wish the one before me would have warned me too.”

LaKeisha’s brows furrowed. “The one before you?   What are you talking about?”

“Do you know I’ve been with Michael for two years and he has already changed cars four times?   The man has a restless spirit and commitment issues.  Surely you’ve picked up on that.”

LaKeisha had but she wouldn’t admit that to this woman.  “What you’re saying may be true?  But how can I take advice from you?”

Monica nodded.  She understood the position that LaKeisha was in.  Being loved by Michael could blind you to the truth.

The waitress returned to the table.  “Are you ladies ready to order?”

“Yes.”  Monica was suddenly famished.  “I’ll have the thai steak and noodle salad.”

“Nothing for me.”  LaKeisha said.  She waited for the waitress to leave before she continued.  “You know what?  Michael has changed now.  I’ll prove you wrong.  He loves me.”

“He’ll hurt you.”

“Just leave us alone.”

Monica waved her hand.  “He’s all yours.  Just remember you’ve been warned.  Enjoy it now but it won’t last.”

LaKeisha stood.  “I’m out of here.”

“Be sure to tell Michael that I’ve moved out.”  Monica watched LaKeisha walk away.  She was probably calling Michael right now.

Monica leaned back in her chair.  It was done.   She was finished with that part of her life and she felt free.  She picked up her glass and toasted the empty seat across from her.  “Same script, different cast.”

Enjoy,

Michelle

Book Chats – Chocolate Kisses

SAVE THE DATE!!!
JOIN US FOR CHOCOLATE KISSES
30 MINUTE DAILY CHATS at 7:30 P.M. CST (8:30 EST) in Naleighna Kai’s Literary Café, discussing short stories by NKTCS and NKPP Members:

February 1 – Spicing Things Up (Lisa Watson)

February 4 – Sugar Ain’t So Sweet (Naleighna Kai)
February 5 – His Biggest Fan (Martha Kennerson)
February 6 – Cayenne (Janice Pernell)
February 7 – Dirty Diana (J. D. Mason)
February 8 – Hidden Agenda (Kisha Green)
February 9 – Stop in the Name of Love (Naleighna Kai)

February 11 – Summer Breeze (Anita L. Roseboro)
February 12 – Southern Comfort (Naleighna Kai)
February 13 – The Spice of Life (J. L. Campbell)
February 14 – Just One Kiss – all participating authors
February 15 – Sugarcoated Deception (London St. Charles)
February 16 – S. L. Jennings chat

February 18 – Heaven Can Be Hell (Pat G’Orge-Walker)
February 19 – Sweet Whispers of the Devil (Sierra Kay)
February 20 – This Can’t Be Us (Terri Ann Johnson)
February 21 – Not That Nice (Michelle Rayford)
February 22 – The Confection Assignment (Karen D. Bradley)
February 23 – John and Ahara: The Lovers Journey: Ahara II (Angelia Vernon Menchan)

February 25 – Stop in the Name of Love (Naleighna Kai)
February 26 – Then Came You (Martha Kennerson)
February 27 – Love for Granted (Christine Pauls)
February 28 – Next Lifetime (MarZe Scott)

Please join the NK Literary Cafe on Facebook at

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My New Short – #NewReleaseAlert

https://amzn.to/2RADsJM

A tragic accident took the life of Kelsee’s mother whose dying words were, “Always save yourself first”. She kept that in mind until she met a real-life hero, Officer Alex Williams. Their marriage wasn’t a fairytale but Kelsee holds out hope that a child can save their union. But can the ultimate betrayal cause her to lose everything?

Alex regrets being unable to save his mother from an abusive relationship. He dives into a career that puts him in harm’s way on a daily basis. Then he lays eyes on Kelsee and falls hard. Despite his family’s disapproval, he sets out to make her his own. Can he live up to his “nice guy” persona or give in to the demons in his DNA?

The couple struggles to conceive, and when Kelsee really needs Alex, will he rescue her again or will she learn that he is not that nice?

Sugar Ain’t So Sweet – Naleighna Kai

About Sugar Ain’t So Sweet by Naleighna Kai

Shannan overhears a conversation that forces her to walk out on her husband, seven children, and a successful career to find a sense of peace that has eluded her for years. She thought fate had been kind in giving her a husband who adored her. But she soon discovered fate had pulled a fast one, as her husband’s nearly impossible demands and those from his unrelenting family has pushed her to an edge where there might be no return. 

 Zach has screwed up—royally. With his family following his lead in not appreciating Shannan, his wife shows him that since he can’t respect her presence, she’ll introduce him to her absence. Determined to win back the woman who is his anchor, first, he must find a way to deal with his overbearing family and disrespectful children that doesn’t cause him to lose more than he gains. While fighting to win back his wife, he’s forced to face some hard truths and family secrets that might mean he’ll lose Shannan forever.

Story Notes: Sugar A’int So Sweet
What if’s. That’s what drove this story. What if I was a wife who’d been surrounded by people who were taking, taking, and taking and not realizing that I’d been giving. What happens when that wife strikes out to find herself and figure out what she’s willing to lose in order to find that sense of peace.

Naleighna Kai is the national bestselling author of several controversial novels. She’s the founder of the NK Tribe Called Success, NK Literary Cafe Magazine, and the Cavalcade of Authors Literary Tour. She is an agent, developmental editor, literary consultant and marketing and promotion specialist.

Excerpt – His & Hers by S. L. Jennings

Hers

Lauren bit her pouty, full lip as she waited for Marcus to receive the invitation to join them. Would he think less of her? Would he misconstrue her compliance as eagerness? The thought of having sex with someone else other than her husband scared her yet excited her, kindling a fire deep within that she hadn’t felt in years.
She’d always had unconventional desires, but she never dared act on them. She couldn’t risk being judged by her friends, her family, her church, and most of all, her husband. But watching him, fully erect, ready, and as burning hot as she was, it only solidified what she had always felt in her heart. She could do this. It was okay. It didn’t make her dirty or depraved.
She was still a good person.
By the time Marcus claimed his place in their little triangle of delicious deviance, Lauren thought she might burst right then and there. Here she was, panting, moaning, damn near whimpering, as hands massaged her round backside, moving down between her thighs in search of the humid flesh that ached for contact. Another hand fondled her breasts, tugging at her nipples just the way she liked it. A tongue caressed her neck while Marcus sought her mouth, parting her quivering lips to taste her. Just as she thought she could die a blissful death from the overwhelming sensation, a finger delved deep inside her, causing her to cry out.
“Mmmm, she’s so wet,” an amused voice rasped. “Taste.” And with that, a glistening finger eased inside of Marcus’s mouth, coating his lips with her arousal. But it didn’t stop there. Marcus grasped the hand, sucking it, teasing it with his tongue as it moved in and out, in and out. So…naughty. So taboo. And so insanely hot.
“I want you two to kiss,” Lauren found herself saying, chest heaving with every one of her excited breaths.

His

Marcus looked down at the hand in his grasp before gazing into unfamiliar sultry, brown eyes. He furrowed his brow, contemplating what this could mean for them. Once he crossed into uncharted territory, giving into hedonism without shame or reservations, could he and Lauren move forward? Would he still be committed to her and only her? Could he be? Or would his vows be tarnished by irresistible cravings?
Marcus didn’t want to speculate anymore. He wanted – needed – to find out for himself.
Without thinking, he followed his carnal desires, blocking out the niggling doubt that told him to slow down and think about the repercussions of his choices. He was tired of thinking. As an accountant, thinking was all he did. He wanted action. He wanted to feel. And yes, he wanted to go all the way.
With fire racing in his veins, setting his skin ablaze, Marcus gave into temptation, his tongue tasting sweet, forbidden fruit as his hands explored a soft yet toned ass and smooth back. The kiss was foreign yet exhilarating, rekindling the first-time feelings he relished when he and Lauren started dating. He craved that newness, that excitement. Hell, he craved more than just his wife, and that revelation brought him up short, causing him to part with the softest, fullest lips he had tasted since … since ever.
This was wrong. This was all wrong.
But it felt right also. Maybe too right. And that scared the hell out of him.
Abruptly, Marcus pulled away, urgently seeking the comfort of Lauren’s hooded eyes although he fully expected to see the opposite. Sure, they had both agreed to this, and Lauren had engaged in some fun of her own, yet he wouldn’t be surprised if she was pissed at the way he was acting – hungry and undeniably horny.
When their eyes locked, Marcus was relieved to find a sexy smile on Lauren’s lips, her gaze as heavy with lust as his. And their guest for the evening? Hot with expectation.
“Why don’t we move this little party to the bed?”

SUGAR is an anthology with the perfect blend of authors at the top of their game who have crafted stories that will leave you wanting more.#PreOrder SUGAR http://ow.ly/7ABT30l7J4h #Goodreads #Drama#Bookworm #GreatReads #Books #BookAddict #BookGeek

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His & Hers – S. L. Jennings

Two is a flame. Three is a wildfire that’s sure to burn.

In an attempt to rekindle the spark between them, Lauren and Marcus step out of the comfort and routine of their marriage and do the unthinkable: invite another party into their bedroom. As things quickly heat up, what they had hoped would ignite the flame that had been extinguished in their relationship, erupts into a scorching inferno of desire…and betrayal.

Lauren had always strived to be the ideal wife. Prim, proper, and undoubtedly loyal to her husband, she would never dream of fantasizing about another man. But what happens when another man isn’t the object of her longing? How does she compromise her heart for what her body craves?

Marcus had become a creature of habit, and it was killing his spirit. Between work and scheduled sex with his wife of ten years, he was bored with the life he had built with Lauren. Until an ordinary date night turned into something neither one of them would ever forget. And after the deed was done, he knew that his marriage would never be the same.

His and Hers is a story about tearing down the walls of inhibition, testing the limits of desire, and learning that playing with forbidden fire will always burn.

Story Notes

On a late night call with Naleighna Kai, she told me of all the exciting stories that were being written for two upcoming anthologies. “Oh, you all are writing “story stories” (deep stuff). I let her know that I had something to offer, but it would be H-O-T. This story was written in between penning two novels and preparing for a trip to the Cavalcade of authors at the Atlantis Resorts in the Bahamas.

S.L. Jennings is a military wife to her high school sweetheart, a mom of 3 rowdy boys, and a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance novels such as Taint and Born Sinner. When she’s not obsessing over book boyfriends, you can find her hanging out with a few epic fictional loves at independent bookstores, or sipping a Bloody Mary at her favorite brunch haunt in Spokane, Washington.
www.sljennings.com

SUGAR is an anthology with the perfect blend of authors at the top of their game who have crafted stories that will leave you wanting more.#PreOrderSUGAR http://ow.ly/7ABT30l7J4h #Goodreads #Drama#Bookworm #GreatReads #Books #BookAddict #BookGeek

Southern Comfort – Naleighna Kai

The moment Joy’s estranged mother shows up on her doorstep and drops off a mysterious child for her to raise, she’s forced to put her life on hold. Two years later, she abandons her dream of becoming a civil engineer, when her mother reappears with yet another child from her drug-addicted sister. Twice is enough, and the third time isn’t a charm as Joy’s outright refusal makes her an outcast to her small family. With so much responsibility at such a young age, having an intimate relationship is something she never allowed herself to dream. Until a chance meeting at the most unlikely of places.

Ali was the bridge that brought his father back into the family fold, by marrying the woman they chose for him. Now, the last child is off to college and his multi-million dollar businesses are thriving, he prepares his wife for a life without him and embarks on a journey to find the love he deserves. When he lays eyes on Joy, one word comes to mind—lost. He didn’t realize until that moment that he has a “savior complex”; but something about the elusive woman pulls at Ali’s heartstrings and makes him take a risk.

Story Notes: My first Cuddle Party was an exhilarating experience. I held onto an article in the Chicago Red Eye for a year before I got up the courage to attend. Safe, non-sexual touch. People who weren’t family. No other books that I’ve read covered this event and with the valuable input of fellow authors Lisa Watson and J. D. Mason, I thought I would share how two people could become deeply connected even when sex wasn’t on the table.

Naleighna Kai is the national bestselling author of several controversial novels. She’s the founder of the NK Tribe Called Success, NK Literary Cafe Magazine, and the Cavalcade of Authors Literary Tour. She is an agent, developmental editor, literary consultant and marketing and promotion specialist.
www.naleighnaka.com

In the anthology, SPICE readers get a taste of the most anticipated fiction offerings of the year. Readers will enjoy this eclectic blend that will stay with you long after the pages have been turned.
http://ow.ly/UhDt30lLxSI
#Fiction #Thriller #Erotica #Goodreads #BookAddict

Excerpt – The Confection Assignment by Karen D Bradley

Mia’s head snapped up at a sound that wasn’t anything like the faint echoes of music from the other end of the lake. For some reason, her instinct was on high alert especially since the additional security team was missing in action.
“Having dinner out here was a great idea,” Mia said for the sake of their nosy neighbor Patty, who was walking in their direction as Calvin approached the table.
The older woman wasn’t any cause for concern.
“You like me cooking for you.” He brought out the spaghetti and salad, slid it on the table, then leaned in, kissing Mia. He wrapped his arm around her waist, nuzzling her neck. “Maybe we should have dessert first.”
“I’ll not be reheating dinner tonight.” Pushing him away, she turned him back toward the house, then swatted that gorgeous rear end of his to send him on his way. “You need to go grab those breadsticks. I’ll open the wine.”
Calvin, who had never been married, enjoyed playing the role of husband a little too much. He winked before stepping off the planks and into the dining room. He paused at the door and glanced over his shoulder. “We need to do this more often.”
Most often wouldn’t happen. Tonight was the last day of her assignment, then she’d be back to her regular life and that didn’t include being a high security detail protector to a top secret invention and its handsome creator.
Several minutes later, she poured him a glass of red wine before fixing their plates. She scanned the area again and a tingle of suspicion ignited in her mind.
What’s taking him so long?
“Calvin, today would be nice,” Mia yelled. She perched on the chair, waiting for his smart response.
None came.
Mia placed the glass on the table and swept into the house. Calvin wasn’t in the kitchen. If he had slipped into his office to work instead of joining her outside, there was going to be a problem.
Mia laid eyes on Calvin as she rounded the corner, but his voice halted her in her tracks.
“Run, Mia. Run,” Calvin yelled, lunging for the stocky Asian man near the office door.
A hefty Black guy slammed his weapon across the back of Calvin’s head.
Mia sprinted down the hallway past the study and powder room, aiming to get her weapon. She kicked herself for not bringing it inside. They wouldn’t kill Calvin, but they could hurt him if he didn’t cooperate. She slid a cast iron skillet from the cooktop.
“Go get her,” someone yelled from the office.
Several things crashed to the office floor. Calvin put up one hell of a fight. Mere seconds had passed when Mia’s pursuer rounded the corner. She slammed the skillet into his chest, causing him to fly into the wall. He recovered and reached for her arm. The skillet crashed down onto his head with a backward swipe. This time, his body hit the ground, right on top of his gun.
Damn.
Her feet pounded on the hardwood floor as she raced for the front entrance, aiming to find some type of reinforcements. An armed man came off the path to the porch. She slammed the front door, locking it. Keys jiggled in the tumbler.
Mia ran top speed toward the kitchen ahead of a spray of bullets that landed in the cabinets. She slid toward the island like a baseball player trying to reach the home plate. She scrambled around the counter, bolting to the deck and made it to the table.
“Nowhere to run,” a man with an ivory complexion said as a Latino guy calmly stepped over the threshold onto the deck as though nothing out of the ordinary had transpired.
“Don’t be so sure of that.” She snatched the Ruger, aimed, and pulled the trigger five times taking out the biggest threat. Mia didn’t wait for the Latino man’s advancing body to hit the ground. She hit the stairs. The ivory man took cover in the dining room and held up on a perfect vantage spot.
Three armed men raced toward her. Damn, how many did they send?
Mia’s heart sank, but adrenaline kicked in as she turned back.
She had to make it to the Lincoln.
“Mrs. Atwood, don’t do it,” he yelled as she climbed from the patio chair to the railing.
He aimed his Glock and fired.
Mia took a flying leap from the banister and dove into the water.

SUGAR is an anthology with the perfect blend of authors at the top of their game who have crafted stories that will leave you wanting more.#PreOrder SUGAR http://ow.ly/7ABT30l7J4h #Goodreads #Drama#Bookworm #GreatReads #Books #BookAddict

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Excerpt – Dirty Diana by J.D. Mason

Diana Rigby was shaken out of a deep sleep with words she never thought she’d ever hear again.
“I’m callin’ ‘bout yo’ momma,” Aunt Lorraine said in that slow Southern drawl, laced with a kind of artificial sweetness that compelled an eye roll from Diana.
“What about her?”
Through the years as she climbed the ranks to become a Mixed Martial Arts Champion, she’d almost forgotten that she’d had a mother. That was her goal after she left Rhino, Texas not long after graduating high school. She left that same day, as a matter of fact, not bothering to tell anyone; determined to put as much space between her and the hell she’d grown up in as soon as possible.
“She ain’t doin’ too good, Diana,” Lorraine offered, then she waited, no doubt hoping that Diana would ask the most logical question. What’s wrong?
Silence hung heavy between the two for several beats before Lorraine continued. “Doctors say she ain’t got much time left. Cancer got her. She stayin’ here with me, until… well.”
“That’s too bad,” was the best Diana could muster.
Lorraine seemed disappointed in Diana’s lack of emotion or any expression of sincerity in her regret. Diana offered words. That’s all. She had nothing else to give her mother except empty and hollow words that meant absolutely nothing.
“She asks ‘bout you. Asks Tray to look you up on the Internet to see how you doin’.”
Again, Diana had no response. She left the edge of the deck and settled onto a cream- colored chaise.
“I’m sure she’d like to see you, Diana. It’s been so long.”
Returning to Rhino had never been on her radar. She never expected to see her mother again. But apparently, the umbilical cord between a mother and child is never fully severed, and it tugged on Diana until a few days later when she drove into town in a rented car on the same road she’d ridden on in that Greyhound bus when she left.
Welcome to Rhino, Texas, the sign on the side of the road read. Population 24,353.
* * *
The woman speeding down Flint Road in the flashy red convertible was definitely not from around here. So, of course, Jake postponed going back to the station to turn around and follow her. The speed limit was thirty, and she had to have been doing at least thirty-five. Being a small-town sheriff, little things like that mattered.
He flashed his siren and lights only for a moment before she pulled over to the side of the paved road. He’d probably let her get away with a warning, but if nothing else, at least he’d get to meet somebody new.
“Afternoon, Miss,” he said in his best Texas Sheriff drawl.
Damn! She was lovely, even behind those big sunglasses and that headscarf.
She turned her face up to look at him. “Was I speeding?”
Those, big, pretty lips of hers caused him to subconsciously lick his own. At first glance, he took her for a white woman, but up close he could see that she was either real light-skinned, Latina, or biracial. Stylish was the word that came to mind, right after beautiful. Everything about her screamed money, and she shone in the light like a new penny.
Jake had heard things, especially since she was back. Dirty Diana. Not white enough. Not black enough. She had a reputation for being loose, for lack of a better term. Looking for love in all the wrong places because she obviously wasn’t getting it from the one place she needed it most.
“You could always count on Dirty Diana for a good time.”
Good for who, though? Certainly not for a young girl who had probably been taught from birth that she wasn’t good enough or wanted. Guilt stuck in the back of his throat. If only he’d done something that first time he and the sheriff had answered the call to her house that day, maybe her life would’ve been different.

* * *

Jake wasn’t the type to get caught up like this. Women flirted. He flirted back, but he’d always known where to draw the line when one needed to be drawn for his sake, or for the sake of someone else. Level-headed. That phrase might as well have been his middle name, because it’s who he was, what he’d always been, to the point of being downright boring. She’d captivated him, somehow.
Diana Rigby had put a spell on him that he couldn’t shake, and that was fine with him.

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