Beneath the Surface (Pink Bean Book 2)

by Harper Bliss

  Micky’s transformation was the first one she’d witnessed, right from the viewpoint she had now. The Pink Bean was where it had all begun. Only a few short months after Micky had first met Robin, Sheryl’s father had walked in. A moment Kristin was sorry she had missed. Perhaps she could have gauged, from the look on Sheryl’s face as Trevor made his way to her, what sheer devastation it would cause her, and she would have been more ready for the nightmare it had thrown them into. She wouldn’t have let it come this far, but then again, where they were now, headed home after an AA meeting, was probably the only possible outcome for them.

  “Caitlin, what can I get you?” Kristin asked.

  “I’ll have a flat white, please,” Caitlin replied.

  “The usual for the rest of you, I assume?”

  Kristin went about preparing their drinks. A double espresso for Sheryl. A latte—though she would call it a wet cappuccino, for sure—for Robin. Cappuccino for Micky, and a flat white for Martha.

  “Josephine, what’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Kristin tried to get Josephine’s attention. Her stare was glued to Caitlin, and she looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

  “Is—is that C—Caitlin James?” she stuttered.

  “Yes, it is,” Kristin answered. “She’s an old friend of Sheryl’s. Do you know her?”

  “I wish,” Josephine sighed. “I’ve read everything she’s ever written, I think. She’s the reason I went into Gender Studies.”

  “Come on over then, I’ll introduce you. I’m sure she’ll be delighted to meet you.”

  “I’ll just clean up the machine first,” Josephine replied, looking quite flustered. “I’ll be over in a bit.”

  Kristin carried the drinks over to the table and then flipped the sign on the door to Closed so they had the place to themselves. She glanced over at her group of friends and a warm, fuzzy feeling shot through her at the sight of them in her coffee shop. Because, sure, coffee had a ridiculous profit margin, but this place had never been all about the money. It had always, much more, been about the possibilities it offered. A new beginning for her and Sheryl. A sense of community in their new neighborhood. Times like these with friends.

  No matter the time they had wasted, this was where they had ended up. This was how the ebb and flow of life went and The Pink Bean was where they had washed ashore.

  “What a day.” Sheryl sank onto the couch and dragged Kristin with her.

  “I’m so proud of you.” Kristin maneuvered herself on top of Sheryl’s lap, straddling her.

  Sheryl looked into Kristin’s serene face. Even though she was three years younger than her, she felt twenty years older—at least. Kristin looked so unblemished, her skin so smooth, her eyes so bright.

  “And I’m damn lucky to have you,” she said, staring up at Kristin.

  “If we’re going to get all mushy.” Kristin leaned in and kissed her softly on the nose, then hard on the lips, stating her intentions.

  Sheryl pulled her close. The day had left her exhausted, and the two double espressos she’d had downstairs earlier hadn’t helped. Some states of pure emotional fatigue are so deep, even caffeine can’t help.

  Kristin was already pushing her sideways down onto the couch, not wasting any time.

  Just to catch her breath, Sheryl said, “Was there something going on with Josephine? She barely said hello and good-bye before running off home.”

  Undaunted, Kristin slipped a knee between Sheryl’s legs. “She was a bit starstruck by Caitlin, I think. But I would rather not talk about Josephine right now. My lips have better things to do.”

  Sheryl had no recourse for that. While Kristin trailed kisses down her neck, she let their own history flash through her mind. That very first phone call of which, if Sheryl was honest, she didn’t remember much. It was too long ago. She would never forget Kristin daintily jumping out of the cabin of the delivery van, however, in her tight skirt suit and high heels. If she had known then that the woman walking toward her, hand outstretched, would be kissing her like this right now, after all they had been through, she would have taken a second to savor the moment. But that was the thing with life. You never knew who would come and go. Who you would fall in love with and stay with forever—or not.

  Here they were, nearly twenty years later—they would need to have a big party next year to celebrate their two decades together—with an entire new history they’d created together between them. From looking at a person the very first time and not knowing a thing about them, to becoming the equivalent of spouses. Perhaps the Australian government would stop being utterly ridiculous by the time they celebrated their twenty years together, and they could actually, legally, get married soon.

  Sheryl didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. All she knew in that moment, as Kristin’s lips reached the hollow of her neck, was that love had seen them through the worst of it. And what could possibly ever stop them after all of that? Sheryl sank deeper onto the couch cushions, Kristin pressing her down with her body weight and her kisses. Sheryl might have lost a lot of love when she was twelve, but Kristin had given her more than she could ever have hoped for since she was twenty-eight. Despite having to join AA, Sheryl knew her dark years had been over a long time ago. And even more lightness had shone upon her on that day she met Kristin.

  With one practiced move, she pushed Kristin up a little—she was so slight, it was easy—and slipped out from under her. She toppled Kristin onto her back and stared into her dark eyes.

  “This is how we do this,” she said.

  Kristin smiled up at her. “I know.”

  THE END

  Pink Bean - Book 3 will be available in the spring of 2017.

  A Note from Harper

  Dear Reader,

  If you’ve enjoyed this book, you can make a big difference. Reviews are the most powerful tools in my arsenal when it comes to getting attention for my books. Being an author who writes for a niche market (lesbian fiction), I don’t have the financial muscle of a big New York publisher behind me when it comes to marketing. I can’t take out full page newspaper ads and put posters in the subway.

  But I do have something much more powerful and effective than that, and it’s something those publishers would kill to get heir hands on: a committed and loyal group of readers. (You!)

  Honest reviews of my books bring them to the attention of other readers (and encourage the Amazon algorithm to promote my books in 'Also Boughts' and search results on the website.)

  If you enjoyed this book I would be very grateful if you could spend a few minutes leaving a review (it can be as short as you like) on the book’s Amazon page. You can find the links HERE >>

  Thank you,

  Harper xo

  Get Two Books FOR FREE

  Building a relationship with my readers is the very best thing about writing. I occasionally send newsletters with details on new releases, special offers and giveaways.

  And if you sign up to my mailing list I’ll send you all this free stuff:

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  You’ll have to wait and see, but I may have a nice surprise up my sleeve… ;-)

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  Acknowledgments

  Writing the second book in a series is always difficult for me. This one was no different. After binning a first draft that was 3/4 finished, I decided to write Sheryl and Kristin's story instead of the one I’d previous
ly been slaving over to no avail. It was a relief to plunge into the lives of the Pink Bean owners, but I would be lying if I said writing this book was a breeze. By my standards, it took forever to finish and I had some serious writerly soul searching to do. As always, what kept me going was the unwavering enthusiasm of my wife, who always believes in me no matter how burned out I feel (or how crappy I think my writing is.) I’ve come to think of this kind of support as normal, but at times it does strike me how rare it is to have found a person who I can always count on, no matter what drama—made-up or real—I’ve conjured up.

  After writing In the Distance There Is Light, for a brief period of time, I believed I was done with lesfic. I can now jokingly refer to it as 'The Great Lesbian Romance Burn Out of 2016', but at the time I was less cheerful. In hindsight, I had failed to realise that I’d written myself empty and I needed some time to replenish my writing tank (perhaps the biggest lesson I learned this year.) It, then, came as a huge relief when Carrie, my trusted beta reader, told me she enjoyed this book, despite it being quite a touch darker than Pink Bean Book One. Thank you, Carrie, for the kind words you always have to offer and the endless optimism you show.

  Huge thanks to my editor Jason Bradley for dealing with my comma fetish in an appropriate manner and making this book so much better.

  As stated in the dedication, my Launch Team is made up of a lovely bunch of people who always have my back. Be it for some last-minute typo-hunting, leaving me the fastest reviews possible, or just cheering me on when I’m suffering from a writerly malaise. (And for patiently waiting for me to emerge form a social media hiatus.) You are all amazing and I can’t thank you enough for what you do for me and my books.

  This being the last book I’m releasing this year, I feel I should quickly reflect on the craziness of 2016. Some of you may know that I set myself the insane challenge of publishing one book every month in the past year. Obviously, that didn’t happen. Nevertheless, 2016 has been my best and most prolific year yet. It has been nothing short of amazing. Despite burn-outs and un-met challenges, I’ve come to realise my deep love for lesbian romance. I may need to take a break from time to time, but I will never stop writing tales of ladies falling in love (and getting it on.) I just can’t help myself. Once again, I must thank you, Dear Reader, for making this extremely rewarding life possible for me, and for going on a journey with me every time I release a new book. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  About the Author

  Harper Bliss is the author of the novels In the Distance There Is Light, No Strings Attached, The Road to You and At the Water’s Edge, the High Rise series, the French Kissing serial and several other lesbian erotica and romance titles. She is the co-founder of Ladylit Publishing, an independent press focusing on lesbian fiction. Harper lives on an outlying island in Hong Kong but is soon to leave on a digital nomad adventure around the world with her wife Caroline.

  Harper loves hearing from readers and you can reach her at any of the channels below:

  @HarperBliss

  HarperBliss

  www.harperbliss.com

  harperbliss@gmail.com

  Also by Harper Bliss

  For a complete list of all Harper Bliss titles, please visit harperbliss.com/books

  No Strings Attached (Pink Bean Series - Book 1)

  #1 Bestseller in Lesbian Romance on Amazon

  It’s never too late to find the right person… and yourself along the way.

  Micky Ferro has lived her entire life according to other people’s expectations. She married a man, had two children, and became a dutiful stay-at-home mom in suburban Sydney. Until she realized, with a little help from her best friend, that her picture-perfect life wasn’t making her happy.

  On the first anniversary of her divorce, Micky decides it’s time for the next step in her journey and gets a job at her neighborhood coffeeshop, The Pink Bean. Becoming a barista sparks a big change in Micky’s daily routine, but could loud-spoken American customer Robin do the same for her love life?

  Don’t miss the first book in this heart-warming new series from the bestselling author of the French Kissing and High Rise series.

  Amazon US / Amazon UK

  In the Distance There Is Light

  #1 Bestseller in Lesbian Romance on Amazon

  Two women lose the man they love. All they have left is each other.

  Sophie’s life is turned upside down when her partner, Ian, dies in a tragic accident. The only one who can understand her devastation is Ian’s stepmother, Dolores. Together, they try to make sense of their loss and rebuild their shattered lives. While their shared grief brings them closer, it also takes their relationship in an unexpected direction. Where does sorrow end and romance begin? Or has Ian’s death blurred the lines too much?

  If you love deeply emotional lesbian romance with a twinge of controversy, don’t miss this intense but hopeful novel by chart-topper Harper Bliss.

  Amazon US / Amazon UK

  The Road to You

  #1 Bestseller in Lesbian Romance on Amazon

  Opposites attract… or do they?

  Workaholic Katherine and free-spirited singer Ali have disliked each other since college. Fate, however, keeps bringing them together and the paths of their lives keep crossing. Are some differences in personality simply too vast to overcome? Or are some things just meant to be? Find out in this light-hearted but epic new book from best-selling author Harper Bliss.

  If you love a deliciously slow-burning lesbian romance, The Road to You is sure to satisfy!

  Amazon US / Amazon UK

  Copyright © 2016 by Harper Bliss

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.

  Cover picture © Depositphotos / belchonock

  Cover design by Caroline Manchoulas

  Published by Ladylit Publishing - Hong Kong

  ISBN: 978-988-14910-3-9