Grit and Grind

by Kat Addams

  They sat on the hill in complete silence, their hands intertwined as they took in the scene around them. The same spot they had met, the same spot they had married.

  “Look around, darlin’. What do you see?” Chris said, turning toward Klara with a smile.

  “Hmm … well … I see the sun setting over the river, the lights on the bridge starting to flicker on, the waves crashing into the shore, the tourists milling about. I see … wait … is she …” Klara nodded toward a woman casually bending over to tie her shoe as she nervously looked up and around.

  The woman stood right in line of a man barreling toward her, not paying attention to where he was going. His eyes instead on the sunset.

  “Oh my gosh! It’s you! Let’s save her!” he said, hopping up.

  “Wait! We shouldn’t! Maybe that’s her soul mate running toward her. Can’t we just let fate happen?” she pleaded.

  “It’s not fate if we’re here, watching a story we already know unfold! Now, come on,” he replied, pulling her up.

  “But we aren’t exactly hot stuff for her to fall in love with! We’re not a cute single man! It’s different!”

  “Maybe she is into threesomes?” Chris teased.

  Klara elbowed him hard.

  “Let me take this one over. Show you how it’s done.” She cracked her knuckles and bent her neck left and right as if to ready herself.

  “All right, my little badass. You’d better hurry though. Someone’s about to get hurt!”

  She raced down the hill just in time to catch the runner, startling him as she touched his shoulder, making him stop. The woman stood feet before them, looking up, clearly frustrated with Klara.

  Klara put her hands on her hips as the runner took his headphones out of his ears.

  “You could have killed her! What are you doing out here, running full speed like that and not paying attention? You didn’t see this woman in front of you, innocently tying her shoe? If I wasn’t here, you would have stumbled right over and broken her gorgeous face! Look at her! I think you owe her an apology. She looks terrified,” Klara dramatically spouted off.

  The man looked terrified more than the woman, but that was what Klara wanted.

  “I’m so sorry! I guess I wasn’t—” the man started.

  “You’re damn right you weren’t! You need to tell this lady you’re sorry,” she continued, turning toward the lady. “What’s your name, miss?”

  “Jenny,” the woman answered, frightened. Is this one of those crazy Memphians people talk about? “I’m fine. Really, it’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not okay, Jenny! He could have killed you!” she said, turning back toward the runner. “I hope you can make it up to this poor, frightened woman in some way!” Klara muttered, turning around to leave and talking to herself like a maniac.

  She could hear the couple nervously laughing behind her as she left the scene and walked back up to Chris, who stood in disbelief.

  She gave him a high five, and they both sat back down in silence, watching the young couple now in conversation.

  “Wow, that was much better than what I had done to you! You deserve a standing ovation for that one!” Chris laughed, putting his arm around Klara.

  “Just setting them on the path toward limerence, is all. I’ve got a lot of experience in that area, ya see.” She shrugged.

  “Come here, you! I’ll show you some limerence.” Chris laughed as he pulled her toward him and into his arms.

  “All the limerence I can handle?” she said, making her eyebrows dance on her forehead. She never quite got the hang of flirting.

  “It’s all yours, Mrs. Kaiser. All yours,” he whispered in her ear, instantly making her melt. Again.

  Playlist

  Curious as to what Klara was listening to on her morning runs? Check out these songs from the Grit and Grind playlist. If you'd like to listen to the whole playlist on Spotify, please click here.

  “Crash Into Me” | Dave Matthews Band

  “Stuttering (Kiss Me Again)” | Ben’s Brother

  “Memphis Sun” | Rival Sons

  “Who’s Your Farmer” | Chris Janson

  “Stubborn Love” | The Lumineers

  “All Shook Up” | Avila

  “Big Jet Plane” | Angus & Julia Stone

  “Oceans Away” | ARIZONA

  “The Reason” | Hoobastank

  Acknowledgments

  Writing has been a lifelong dream of mine, and I couldn’t do it without the help of a good support system.

  First and foremost, I want to thank my daughter. Without her, I wouldn’t have the motivation to follow my dreams and show her that we can do anything if we believe in ourselves. My family has always backed me one hundred percent, and for that, I am incredibly grateful. A big thank-you to my dad for supporting me through my misadventures and loving me anyway. Even if he’ll never know my true pen name because I’m an angel, and I totally don’t write dirty stories!

  I’d also like to thank the amazing sisterhood of support I’ve come to know in this indie author world. My awesome editor, Jovana Shirley, who held my hand several times when I had minor—or not-so-minor—freak-outs. My amazing cover designer, Lori Jackson, who not only is one of the most talented designers out there, but she also helped me above and beyond in introducing me to even more wonderful women in writing. Kelley Jefferson at Wonder PR, who offered me a wealth of information and guidance in every step of the way. And, to all of the hardworking authors that I’ve met who are also navigating this crazy writing world we so love, I am so grateful for you. I appreciate you. You’re all rock stars. Let’s do this.

  To the Grind City—You stole my heart! I am beyond thrilled to be a part of such an amazing place and its amazing people. Memphis has some of the best and most relatable citizens. I see the work you all are doing to make Memphis better and better every day. Memphis, you rock! Grit and grind, baby! Grit and grind!

  Last, but not least, I want to thank my friends who have been in my corner, cheering me on. The ones who have given me gold stars and more support, kindness, and inspiration than I ever thought possible. On days when I felt like climbing into a bed-fort instead of finishing this novel, my friends were always there to sing in my ear and encourage me to keep going. So, thank you. Five hundred and seven times over, thank you.

  About the Author

  Kat Addams is a forever twenty-nine-year-old fashionista following her lifelong dream of writing contemporary romance inspired by the exotic men she meets in her worldly travels. At least, that’s what she would like for you to think. She’s certainly not a stay-at-home mom indulging in excessive daydreaming, frozen pizzas, an unhealthy addiction to purchasing pajamas, and one too many cocktails on the regular. That’s some other romance author. The poor thing probably has to sneak away upstairs to write her dirty stories! What would her family think? Thankfully, that’s not Kat!

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  Other Books by Kat Addams

  COMING SOON!

  Nashvegas Nights (Dirty South Series, Book 2)

  Nashvegas Nights launches November 8, 2019, but is available now for preorder here.


  You can also add it to your Goodreads list here or Bookbub here.

  AVAILABLE NOW:

  Hotty Toddy (A Dirty South Series Novella)

  Exclusive & free to kataddams.com newsletter subscribers.

  Jules Turner is all about peace, love, and light. She’s always marched to the beat of her own drum, even when that beat took her far from her hometown of Oxford, Mississippi, and straight to sunny California. For the past ten years, she has been perfectly content to trade in her Southern roots for a yoga mat and herbal tea.

  When her meddlesome mother suddenly interrupts Jules’s namaste life by asking her to return for a visit, Jules knows her mom is probably scheming to play matchmaker … again. She won’t fall for it this time though … except that she does—literally—landing right at the feet of her former flame.

  Todd Miller—aka Hotty Toddy—is just as ruggedly gorgeous as he was in high school. When he learns that his teenage crush is back in town—and just in time for their ten-year reunion—he convinces Jules to come up with some scheming of their own. If Todd is lucky, their scheming will take them straight to the bedroom, where he tried—and failed—to seduce Jules on prom night so many years ago.

  Pretending to be happily married, Todd and Jules strike out to fool their old high school bullies in the ultimate prank. But they quickly learn that they’re really just fooling themselves. They can’t just pretend. Not when they can’t keep their hands off of each other.

  How can two people who have been apart for so long connect again so quickly? What happens if their fake romance turns into something real? Will Todd be able to handle Jules’s free-spirited adventures in California, or can he convince her to stay back in Mississippi and embrace her small-town roots?

  With a little bit of scheming—okay, a lot of scheming—Jules just might find that her matchmaking mother knows best.