White Tree Sound

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White Tree Sound Page 26

by Lizzy Ford


  Uh, oh.

  I turn.

  The Red Knight – or a random psycho claiming to be him – is dressed in my yoga pants, which reach his mid-shins, and a pink sweatshirt that barely touches the top of the pants. I want to say he looks terrible but he’s got the kind of body where he can wear anything and look great.

  “This is … uh …” God, how do I explain this?

  “I’m Jar-”

  “Jared,” I interrupted with a glance at my ex’s woman, who has read everything I’ve ever written.

  “Jared,” he echoes.

  “You want to help me with the tea?” I ask and rise quickly.

  He walks ahead of me to the kitchen.

  “You’re flustered,” he observes when I enter.

  “No shit,” I respond. I wring my hands and then press them to my face.

  “I understand.” He takes my wrists and gently pulls my hands from my face. His hands are warm and strong, and concern is on his features. His muscular form radiates warmth I want to melt into. We’ve never met, and yet I belong right here with him. “The man who betrayed is you sitting in your home. You’re angry. You never did tell him what you felt and you never felt closure. You’re tormenting yourself for no reason. He’s your past. I can promise you only goodness awaits you from now on.”

  I stare at him.

  Cleaned up, he’s even more stunning. I’d kill for eyelashes like his.

  “You deserve better than him. Than me,” the knight admits. “But I swear upon every stone, rock and tree of White Tree Sound, I am ready to become the man you deserve.”

  His intensity leaves me breathless. Clearly, there’s a lot I don’t know about what this guy has been through. My heart is racing. I’m no longer fizzling with anger at the sight of my ex.

  I feel … hopeful? Excited?

  “Let’s just focus on the tea,” I say. “That lady knows all my books. I’m going to create a story for you. You can memorize it and join us when you’re ready. Hold on.” I ease away from him, abruptly aware of how small my kitchen is. I fumble around in the junk drawer until I find a pen and post-it note. I pick up the pen to write. “Ever been to Long Island? I know my ex has never been there. We can make up stuff without him knowing better.”

  The Red Knight raises an eyebrow.

  My hand is trembling. I thrust the objects at him instead.

  He takes them. “I gave her my heart, and she gave me a pen.”

  Did he just quote …

  Heart?

  “What?” I ask.

  “What your ex thinks and says does not matter. I won’t stand by and allow him to insult you.”

  My cheeks are hot. He’s right. Why have I allowed myself to live in fear of judgment by someone who threw me away, when I know better?

  “I know how strong you are,” the Red Knight states. “You don’t need anyone to rescue you. You need someone to choose you first, always, and to catch you on the off chance you stumble.”

  Holy hell. How can he see straight through me?

  “That said, I pity the fool who dares upset you, now that I’ve found you again,” he adds firmly. “I’m not going to let anyone treat you the way he has.”

  “Have we met before?” I ask. “Do we know each other?”

  His smile is faint. “We have much to discuss when your guests have gone.” The Red Knight places the paper and pen on the counter and picks up the tray of tea with one hand. “I know facing him is difficult for you. We’ll do it together.”

  His conviction is as breathtaking as his looks – and as baffling as his 80’s vernacular. How can he know what I thought and felt about my divorce? That I never spoke my feelings to my ex, and that I’ve been torturing myself every day by reliving the worst moments of my life?

  Why do my insides melt, and my eyes prick with tears, at the idea I’m no longer facing the world alone?

  This guy makes more sense than every other person in my life combined. I’ll take crazy and devoted over sane and treasonous any day of the week.

  “Okay.” I wipe my eyes. “Let’s do this.”

  We stand in the doorway. “You’ll love White Tree Sound. Ocean and trees and a castle,” he whispers.

  “I like the sound of that,” I murmur, surprised to realize I do. I created White Tree Sound, and the Black Moon Draw world at large, based on the forest where I lived when I was little. Tranquil, beautiful and relatively isolated from the rest of the world, it’s always been my favorite place on earth.

  “It rocks. You’ll see,” he says.

  I study him. I really hope he’s not a psycho, because I can see myself spending my life with him and Wookie in White Tree Sound. “Do you know how to get there from here?”

  “You do,” he said. “You’ve done it before.”

  He offers me his free hand. I take it uncertainly.

  “Trust me,” says the Red Knight of White Tree Sound. “This is how it was always supposed to be.”

  I believe him.

  “Let’s get rid of these hosers so we can book,” he adds.

  I smile and then laugh. Something tells me my life is about to take a turn for the best.

  Also by Lizzy Ford

  Young Adult Fiction

  Non-Series Title

  The Door (teen sci-fi)

  * * *

  Esme (teen paranormal)

  Part One

  Part Two

  Part Three

  * * *

  Lost Vegas Series – young adult post-apocalyptic

  Aveline

  Tiana

  Arthur

  Black Wolf

  Lost Vegas Series Omnibus

  * * *

  Spell Realm Series – young adult romantic fantasy

  Water Spell

  Dragon Spell (2018)

  Moon Spell (2018)

  Sword Spell (2019)

  * * *

  Omega Series – teen dystopia with Greek Gods

  Omega

  Theta

  Alpha (2018)

  * * *

  Omega Beginnings Miniseries – individual episodes

  Alessandra

  Mismatch

  Phoibe

  Lantos

  Theodosia

  Niko

  Cleon

  Herakles

  Omega Beginnings Miniseries Omnibus

  * * *

  Theta Beginnings Miniseries

  Silent Queen

  Mercenary

  Shadow Titan

  People’s Champion

  Theta Beginnings Miniseries Omnibus

  * * *

  Anshan Saga – new adult science fiction romance

  Kiera’s Moon

  Kiera’s Sun

  * * *

  Witchlings – young adult paranormal

  Dark Summer

  Autumn Storm

  Winter Fire

  Spring Rain

  * * *

  Broken Beauty Novellas – new adult dramatic fiction

  Broken Beauty

  Broken World

  Broken Chains

  * * *

  Foretold Trilogy – young adult fantasy

  Elle’s Journey

  Shadow Rising (2018)

  Journey West (2018)

  * * *

  Voodoo Nights - young adult paranormal

  Cursed

  Erotic Romance

  Non-Series Titles

  Star Kissed (erotic sci-fi)

  A Night Worth Dying For (short story, contemporary erotic thriller)

  * * *

  Trial Series – erotic paranormal romance

  Trial by Moon

  Trial by Thrall

  Trial by Blood

  Trial by Heart

  Trial Series Omnibus

  * * *

  Heart of Fire – sexy dragon shifter

  Charred Heart

  Charred Tears

  Charred Hope

  * * *

  Incubatti Duet – Buffy meets 50 Shade
s

  Zoey Rogue

  Zoey Avenger

  * * *

  Writing as SE Reign, erotica writer

  101 Nights Box Set (featuring all seven serials)

  Adult Sweet Romance

  (no graphic sex scenes)

  * * *

  Non-Series Titles – 2014 - 2018

  White Tree Sound (fantasy romance)

  Black Moon Draw (fantasy romance)

  Highlander Enchanted (historical romance)

  * * *

  History Interrupted – Time Travel Romantic Adventures

  West

  East

  North

  South (2018)

  * * *

  Super Villainess Chronicles – twisted superhero romance

  It’s Not Easy Being Evil

  It’s Not Easy Being Good

  * * *

  Starwalkers Serials (with Julia Crane) – new adult science fiction serial

  Severed

  Trapped

  Exiled

  Revealed

  Escaped

  Ascended

  Starwalkers – Omnibus

  * * *

  Sons of War – contemporary military romance

  Semper Mine

  Soldier Mine

  SEAL Mine (2018)

  * * *

  Rhyn Trilogy – new adult paranormal with demons

  Katie’s Hellion

  Katie’s Hope

  Rhyn’s Redemption

  * * *

  Rhyn Eternal – Death finds love

  Gabriel’s Hope

  Deidre’s Death

  Darkyn’s Mate

  The Underworld

  Twisted Fate

  Twisted Karma

  * * *

  War of Gods – paranormal with gods, guardians and exceptional humans

  Damian’s Oracle

  Damian’s Assassin

  Damian’s Immortal

  The Grey God

  * * *

  Damian Eternal

  Xander’s Chance

  The Black God

  * * *

  Hidden Evil – paranormal with angels and four horsemen

  Hear No

  See No

  Speak No (2018)

  * * *

  Unnamed Series

  Unnatural (TBD)

  * * *

  Short Stories

  Santa’s Ninja Elves: Natasha

  Santa’s Ninja Elves: Hunter

  Snow Whisperers (retired)

  * * *

  Non-Series Titles – 2011 - 2013

  A Demon’s Desire (paranormal romance)

  The Warlord’s Secret (fantasy romance)

  Maddy’s Oasis (contemporary romance)

  Rebel Heart (sci-fi romance)

  About the Author

  I breathe stories. I dream them. If it were possible, I'd eat them, too. (I'm pretty sure they'd taste like cotton candy.) I can't escape them - they're everywhere! Which is why I write! I was born to bring the crazy worlds and people in my mind to life, and I love sharing them with as many people as I can.

  I'm also the bestselling, award winning, internationally acclaimed author of over sixty titles and counting. I write speculative fiction in multiple subgenres of romance and fantasy, contemporary fiction, books for both teens and adults, and just about anything else I feel like writing. If I can imagine it, I can write it!

  I live in the desert of southern Arizona with a pack of spoiled dogs and Tubbs, the Godfather cat who rules them all.

  * * *

  Connect with Lizzy

  * * *

  Website: LizzyFord.com

  Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LizzyFordBooks

  Twitter @LizzyFord2010

  Instagram: @LizzyFordAuthor

 

 

 


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