by Laura Ann
Piper swallowed back tears. How the woman knew every insecurity she had ever had, she didn’t know. But it didn’t matter. She could tell Miranda was grasping at straws and, for the first time ever, Piper felt sorry for her. This woman based everything on physical beauty. Her worth in this world depended on how she looked. What a dreary existence.
“I feel sorry for you,” Piper began.
“Sorry for me?” Miranda sputtered. “How dare—”
“Looks fade, Miranda. Yes, you are beautiful. Yes, I know I’m not as pretty as you. But I have something you don’t. I have a heart. Someday, your beauty will fade. It’s inevitable. There is absolutely nothing you can do that will prevent your body from aging. Wrinkles, sunspots, gray hairs. Try as you might, you can’t avoid it. But you know what does last? Love. So one day, when you’re a dried, wrinkled-up prune, you’ll have nothing left. Because you don’t have anything on the inside. I may age just the same as you, but I’ll still have love. I’ll still have happiness. And I’ll still have Nash.”
Clapping, hooting and hollering, and general noise burst into the air in the parking lot. Both women whipped their heads around toward the sound. Unbeknownst to the two of them, a crowd of teachers had gathered.
Miranda’s face burned red with humiliation. Turning back to Piper, she hissed, “This isn’t over.” Turning to stalk away, she stalled as she watched Nash swagger toward them.
Piper’s heart plummeted. How much did he hear? Oh Heavenly Harry, what if he heard me claim he would always be mine? And that I love him? Her heart raced and the tears she had swallowed earlier made a reappearance. Worries that she went too far raced through her being.
Ignoring Miranda, who screeched in annoyance, Nash walked straight to Piper. Stopping just a couple inches away, he looked down on her, his face set with fierce determination.
“Nash, I’m sorry, I—”
Her words were lost when he leaned down, wrapping her in his arms and lifting her to his mouth. For a moment, the audience got even louder, before Piper’s mind was lost. Lost in the heady sensations of the man she loved. Colors swirled in bright explosive fireworks in her mind’s eye as she accepted his kisses and returned them with equal fervor. After what seemed like forever, and yet still not long enough, Nash slowed the kiss and pulled away just far enough to look her in the eye.
He took a deep breath. “Piper. I love you, too.”
She couldn’t help it. The outpouring of emotions was more than she could handle. Throwing her arms around his neck, her legs still dangling mid-air, she cried into his neck. She felt Nash sit down on the front of a car and pulled her legs to the side, so she was cuddled in his lap. After a few moments, she took a shuddering breath and tried to slow the tears. Lifting her head, she noticed most of the crowd had disappeared. Only Lucy and a few others remained, chatting among themselves.
Sniffling, she looked up into Nash’s eyes. “Sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to lose it all over your shirt.”
He reached up with his free hand and, using his thumb, wiped a stray tear, then shifted to his pointer finger and ran it down her cheek.
She closed her eyes at the contact, savoring the tingle it sent down her spine.
“Mine,” he whispered.
She opened her eyes. “Mine,” she repeated.
Just as he leaned down for another kiss, she heard Lucy yell, “Okey dokey folks! We are in the parking lot at a school. Think it’s time to break up the love fest. Keep it PG, you two.” It was followed by chuckles and guffaws.
Smiling, Nash leaned back, even as regret and frustration flashed through his eyes.
“I know,” Piper soothed. “Me too.”
Setting her on the ground, he took her hand and they walked over to the group waiting for them. Looking around, Piper realized Miranda was nowhere to be found.
“When you two started smooching like there was no tomorrow, she screamed and took off.” Lucy laughed. “The look on her face was priceless.”
Nash squeezed Piper’s hand reassuringly and with a small tug, led her to his car. Opening the passenger door, he helped her in. She waved at Lucy, who grinned, gave her a double thumbs up, and walked back to the school. Once Nash had settled himself, he looked over at her.
Studying his eyes intently, she nodded. “My apartment sounds great.”
He grunted, nodded his head, and started the truck.
The End
Author Note
I just want to say thank you for reading my book! I am an avid romance reader and was excited to finally create my own. Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairy tales and I knew I wanted to start out with that story. Keep an eye out for new releases as the other teachers at Middleton Prep get their Happy Ever Afters!
Book #2 in the Middleton Prep series, “Ms. Cinder’s Prince” will be released May 21st, 2018.
Word of mouth is the lifeblood of indie authors. If you have a few moments, please leave me a review and share this book with your friends.
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“A Home for the Ugly Duckling”
BEFORE EDNA MERRYWEATHER was the slightly odd, but lovable matchmaker of Middleton Prep, she was simply Edna Ducking, or, as her school classmates dubbed her, ‘The Ugly Duckling’; everyone’s favorite subject of ridicule and rejection.
So how does someone go from being the school outcast to being the school love expert? It all starts with quirky twin sisters and a handsome, green eyed boy who are willing to see Edna for herself, rather than the label she has carried for so many years.
About The Author
Ever since I was in elementary school I have wanted to be an author. Career day was a bit rough, since there is no official uniform for this job. Pajamas and a laptop maybe? Although my clothes change from day to day, my job as a wife and mother doesn’t. My days are filled with my 5 children and enjoying time with my husband, while my evenings are filled with creative time. I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
