I stop walking and turn around, seeing blonde hair and blue eyes jogging to catch up to me.
"Forgot your wallet!"
"Oh my gosh, thank you so much!"
I juggle everything in one hand as I reach for my wallet but then bring it back to catch the falling lights.
"I got it, let me just slip it in your pocket, okay?"
I nod as I look down, watching him slip my wallet in my coat pocket and lift my head, colliding with something hard.
"Shit!" he groans, holding his forehead..
"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"
"Fine, fine," he laughs.
I instinctively lift my hand to his forehead, the red and swollen bump already forming. Our eyes lock, my breathing slows, almost like I'm not even breathing at all.
"S-sorry, I'm a nurse, it's just a habit."
I pull my hand back quickly and shake my head, adjusting all my things in my hands.
"How about coffee? I gave you the last stand, returned your wallet, got a shot to the head. I mean it's the least you can do, right?"
His smile is so handsome, one of those smiles that take up his whole face as his eyes squint, smiling wider.
"I...can't. I...don't do coffee."
"Tea then?"
"I don't...I'm kind of busy at the moment. I work a lot and—“
A horn beeps from the parking lot and I jump, looking to my side. Eden is standing on the step of her truck, waving to me and I look back to Mr. Handsome.
"I gotta go. Thank you for the stand, and my wallet and I'm sorry about your head."
"Don't mention it. Merry Christmas."
He smiles at me and waves as I turn and walk towards Eden's truck, tossing my stuff in the bed of it and hop in the back seat.
"Who the hell was that cutie?" Everleigh asks from the front seat.
“N—no one. He...he found my wallet, I left it at the counter, that's all."
"Well how are you repaying him? Did you get his number?" Addison asks.
"No! I don't even know his name. Don't start, none of y'all better start. This has been enough emotional craziness for one day, let me just put up this tree, pour a glass of wine and go to sleep!" My voice is harsher than I intended and I sigh, shaking my head. "I'm sorry. I'm stressed, I shouldn't have—“
"You know I hate when you do that shit, Lia. Don't apologize for your feelings, don't apologize for reactin' and especially not to us. They fucked you up bad, babe, but it's been seven years. You need to start growin' a backbone and give less fucks,” Eden demands.
"Noted. Then I'm not sorry. I just want to be in my own apartment, put up my tree and be alone. Can I do that? No, I am gonna do that. Better?"
"Better. We'll get there," Addison says with a smile. She pushes her shoulder into mine from the back seat next to me and I wrap my arm around her back, hugging her.
One day at a time, Magnolia, one day at a time.
I whip the jump rope around faster, my feet skipping left then right as the music in my ear pushes me harder. Sweat drops down into my eye but I ignore it, panting as I twist the rope as fast as I possibly can, shuffling my feet.
Suddenly, the jump rope smacks against my face, knocking my glasses off my nose and my headphone out of my ear as I stumble back.
"Dammit," I mumble, dropping down to my feet, picking up my glasses before I step on them.
I put them back on my face as I hear a groan from behind me and turn around.
"What the…"
"Tree stand girl? Damn, you were whipping that thing fast," the man from the tree farm the other day says, cradling his shoulder.
My mouth goes dry as air comes in and out of my lungs quickly, my head dizzy, trying to catch my breath.
I take in his attire; a light blue tank top, turning dark blue against his chest from sweat, grey shorts, not leaving anything to the imagination and Jesus his arms. His arms are cut and muscular, one long, thick vein protruding out from his shoulder all the way down to his wrist.
"I...hi. Crap your arm," I gasp, glancing down at the top of his shoulder. "Did I do that?"
"It's fine. I got too close to you wondering if you were the same girl from the tree farm. It was my fault."
I see the raised skin, the pink area around the slash mark and I wince, knowing full well how painful that can be.
"This is the second time I hurt you. Please let me take a look. This is a leather jump rope. It's gonna leave a mark."
"I'm fine, really. It was my fault."
I sigh, reaching for my towel as I wipe my face and drop it into my bag.
"At least let me buy you a protein shake then. It's not coffee but...I'm getting one anyway."
His smile is victorious and he nods, opening his arm for me to lead the way. I saunter in front of him in my sports bra and yoga pants and wave to some of the employees. Ramon, the owner of the gym, is a regular at Rise, the elite gentlemen's club I own and work at with my best friends, Everleigh, Eden and Addison. We get to workout here whenever we want, take whatever classes we want and for free in exchange for Ramon's club membership. He even put a few poles in the back room specifically for our use.
All of our girls that dance at Rise are required to take kickboxing classes here for their protection. In our line of work, it's imperative that we know how to defend ourselves if any of us are put in a position we don't want to be put in. Eden and I both know how that feels. I shutter at the memory—all of the memories—but the handsome stranger's presence behind me breaks me out of it.
"So that's twice now. Once I'd say is a coincidence, but twice makes me wary. Did you jump in my way on purpose?"
I glance at him over my shoulder and his smile fades.
"No! No way. I swear I didn't. I didn't realize how close I was getting. You're...the way you jump roped, it didn't even look real."
"I've been doin' it for a very long time. Sometimes I don't even feel the effort, it just feels like I'm floatin'."
We get to the counter as I order my peanut butter banana protein shake and Mr. Blue Eyes orders the same.
"So I should probably know your name by now. I'm Landry."
He puts his hand out to me and if the blonde hair and blue eyes didn't clue me in, his name did.
He's definitely not Italian. Good.
"Magnolia."
I give him a smile, shaking his hand and a bolt of electricity shoots up my arm. All of the sudden my body—a body that's been numb and cold except when I dance—comes to life. My heart beats rapidly in my chest, sweat trickles down my back and I realize I'm panting.
I glance over at Landry and he has a look of confusion on his face. I pull my hand away quickly and look towards the counter. The girl starts to ring up both of our shakes and as I hand over my card, Landry steps up, putting his in front of mine.
"Please, take mine," he tells the girl behind the counter.
"Landry! I said I would get you a protein shake."
"And you did, thank you, but I'm paying for it."
The girl nods, taking Landry's card and I shake my head, pulling it back.
"You knew what I meant," I mumble.
"I did, yes, but doesn't mean I agreed with it," he laughs.
I smile, taking my shake off the counter.
"Thank you."
"You're very welcome. Want to sit? Chat a little?"
The familiar feeling of panic takes over, my eyes darting from side to side, trying to find an out.
"I…"
"Don't chat, right? Alright, alright, I get the hint. If you're not interested just tell me."
"I'm not interested," I say quickly.
He opens his mouth then closes it, taken back by my outburst.
"Well damn, that actually hurt more than I thought it would," he laughs, rubbing the back of his neck.
I squeeze my eyes shut, shaking my head.
"That's...that's not what I meant. I mean, you're sweet and funny and very good lookin'. Really, really, ridiculously good lookin' but I�
��"
My cheeks heat, realizing what I just said and I stumble over my words trying to back track. I've never had to do this. Talk to the opposite sex like this...without my mask. At the club I'm protected. I can be Siren, not Magnolia Giordano; twenty-five year old divorcee with enough baggage to fill Atlanta's insanely huge airport. Giacomo was picked out for me before I was even interested in guys that way. I was married off almost before I even got my period for the first time. This is different and I have no idea what to say, or how to act.
"It's okay, really. You have a boyfriend? Married?"
"No, I just...don't really date. I'm really sorry, I'm gonna just go before I make an even bigger fool of myself. Thank you for the shake. I'm really sorry about your shoulder, and your head, and for...not chattin' or not drinkin' tea or—“
He steps up to me, brushing my blonde, stray strand behind my ear and I suck in a breath at his touch. My eyes widen but then his soft touch against my ear slowly moves down to my cheek and before I know what I'm doing, my eyes are closed and my face turns into his palm.
"You don't have to apologize, Magnolia. You're allowed to feel the way you feel. I am not going to make you do something you don't want to do."
His voice is low and soothing, and I want so badly to shake my head, tell him to keep talking, convince me to take him up on that coffee date. I want to, I want to so badly but my fear overrides any desire I have.
I slowly open my eyes as he backs up, my cheek cold from his hand pulling away.
"Take care."
He walks backwards, keeping his eyes locked on mine and then he turns and leaves without a look back. I lean my head back against the wall and sigh, letting out a frustrated breath.
"Dammit, Magnolia. Dammit, dammit, dammit."
* * *
Delivered in Sin by Nicole Rodrigues: Book One in the Sin and Secrets Collection premieres in December 13, 2020
* * *
Preorder it HERE
About Nicole Rodrigues
Nicole Rodrigues is a former High School English teacher turned romance author. She lives in NY with her own bearded, tattooed Portuguese bookhusband, three little minions and fur baby.
* * *
She loves to read, attempt Pinterest projects and lives on coffee or Red Bull. She has published eleven books from baseball players to "undercover bosses".
* * *
www.nicolerodriguesauthor.com
Also by Nicole Rodrigues
Saddler Series
Saddler’s Secret
Saddler's Start
Saddler's Sacrifice
Saddler’s Surprise
Saddler’s Scandal
* * *
The Double Play Series
Curveball
Going, Going, Goner
Ballers With Benefits
Changeup
Walk Off
Last Round
* * *
Layla & Hudson Duet:
Always in Your Corner
Pinky Promise
* * *
Cocky Hero Club
Bestselling Bastard
* * *
Aurora Rose Reynold’s HEA World
Until Thor
* * *
Sin and Secrets Collection
RISE
Delivered in Sin (Coming December 13, 2020)
* * *
www.nicolerodriguesauthor.com
* * *
Make sure to follow Nicole on social media for new release updates, giveaways, sales, etc!
* * *
Bookbub
Goodreads
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Amazon
About Kali Brixton
Kali Brixton is the alter ego of a mild-mannered English teacher who adores the written word and a good ol'-fashioned love story (or song). Cinderella will forever be her bread, butter, and jelly, and glitter runs in her veins.
* * *
She believes in the healing power of hugs, humor, and HEAs. All things sparkly, cheesy, and Wizard of Oz-zy are guaranteed attention-grabbers.
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Although rooted deep within the Appalachian Mountains, she has a heart full of wanderlust. Kali dreams of one day becoming a full-time author and traveling to faraway lands. Until then, she will continue to teach high school students the indisputable importance of Poe and puns.
* * *
Kali resides with her own Prince Charming/partner-in-crime/husband of more than a decade and the dreams that are now too big to stay within her wild imagination.
Want to stay in touch with Kali?
* * *
You can find her at the following social media haunts, boys and ghouls:
http://kalibrixton.com
http://facebook.com/groups/kalismagicalmenagerie
Also by Kali Brixton
Now Available
* * *
To Have (Vows Book 1)
Summer Sizzle: A Contemporary Romance Collection
* * *
Christmas Treats: A Rom-Com Anthology
Coming 2021
Sin and Secrets Collection
RISE
Star-Crossed Secrets (Coming in January 2021)
* * *
(Not So) Meet Cute Anthology
* * *
To Hold (Vows #2)
From This Day Forward (Vows #3)
'Til Death Do Us Part (Vows #4)
Coming 2022
* * *
For Richer or Poorer (Vows)
To Love and to Cherish (Vows)
In Sickness and in Health (Vows)
About Cara Wade
Cara Wade is a daydreamer, and a lifelong teenybopper...boy bands forever! She would love to spend the day in the kitchen baking up sweet treats, but hates doing the dishes after. When she is not writing (or suffering writer’s block) you can find her reading, hiking, or relaxing by the water. She lives in northern Massachusetts with her loving husband.
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Newsletter Sign up: http://bit.ly/cwadenews
Website: www.authorcarawade.com
Cara’s Fictional Boyfriend Hub: https://goo.gl/ZFLrn3
Also by Cara Wade
Sugar and Spice
The Publicist (Hollywood Lust #1)
The Playboy (Hollywood Lust #2)
The Starlet (Hollywood Lust #3)
Ever After
Infatuated (Black Stallion Ranch #1)
Enamored (Black Stallion Ranch #2)
RISE
High Rise Secrets (Coming February 2021)
About Shanna Swenson
Shanna Swenson is a cardiac sonographer by day and a weaver of various fictional tales by night.
She’s been an avid reader all her life and began writing at the age of fourteen. She finally published her first novel, Abundance, after it sat patiently on her laptop for well over fifteen years and she hasn’t stopped writing since.
Shanna fits her zodiac sign of Cancer with a capital C and enjoys life’s simplest things—sunsets, rain, and coffee—to name a few.
When Shanna’s not supporting her fellow indies with her face buried in a book or writing her next novel/novella, she enjoys action and horror movies, pro football, hiking, working out, and traveling with her own “knight in shining armor”.
You can find her on the following social media platforms.
Her website is www.shannaswenson.com
Also by Shanna Swenson
~THE ABUNDANCE SERIES~
* * *
Abundance
* * *
Return to Abundance
* * *
Escape from Abundance
* * *
Stars over Abundance
* * *
Abundance Legacy
* * *
Starlight Valley: The prequel to Abundance (FREE ebook)
* * *
~THE GODS OF THE GRIDIRON SERIES~
* * *
UNSPORTSMA
NLIKE CONDUCT
* * *
FALSE START
* * *
PASS INTERFERENCE
* * *
ILLEGAL FORMATION
* * *
PERSONAL FOUL: Prequel novella (FREE ebook)
~Aurora Rose Reynold’s HEA WORLD~
Until Kingston
(Coming 2021)
* * *
~Sin and Secrets Collection~
RISE
Marked by Sin
(Coming March 2021)
* * *
LEARN MORE AT WWW.SHANNASWENSON.COM
RISE: THE PREQUEL NOVELLA TO THE SIN AND SECRETS COLLECTION Page 11
