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been?”

His lips quirked as he scrutinized her. “A long time. Years and years.”

“Not since you moved to—where was it? New Jersey?”

“Connecticut.”

“
Right!
This is so nuts.
”
She slapped his arm, and then hugged him again.

“How are you?” he asked, his eyes delving into her.

She sighed into her smile, recalling the profound feeling of a friendship so deep it could be called family. Emotion moved within her as she processed this face out of her past.

“Wow! I just—it’s just so good to see you. We should have kept in touch.”

“We were fourteen—well,
I
was fourteen. You were, what, twelve when I left?”

“Eleven,” she said. “Still, I don’t know. You were like my brother. I missed you. I can’t
believe
you’re here! What a crazy coincidence.”

“Sara, we should go…” Christie was staring after two larger women moving off toward the

house.

Mikey followed her gaze and nodded. “Christie’s right. Ethel and Florence won’t treat you well if

you’re late.” His eyes once again settled on her face. “I’ll catch up with you at the fire pit. We’re staying in the area tonight, so I’ll be around.”

He took a step back to let her go.

“Wait!” She lurched forward, clutching his arm. The memory of him, of their youth, tugged at her.

Made her want to attach herself to him like she used to.

“I mean, obviously, yes. I need to go. But…” Sara shook her head, embarrassment creeping up at

her actions. “I mean…”

He gave her a small smile. “I’ll see you tonight, okay?” He smoothed her hair from her face. “I’m

not leaving forever—never was, remember? I told you I’d see you again. And look, here I am.

Magical.”

Check out this stand-alone romance
here
.

Try Jessica Brodie Diaries

Check out the first book for FREE!

Back in the Saddle, grab it free
here
: Synopsis:

On the tail end of another heartache, Jessica decides she’s had enough. Enough parties, enough

mistakes, and enough of this rut she’s thrown herself into. She leaves L.A. for a job in Texas to wipe the slate clean.

If only it were that easy.

Not one night in Texas and she meets the most ruggedly handsome cowboy she’s ever seen.

William Davies has it all: wealth, prestige, and any woman he wants. He’s way out of her league.

But he’s never met a sassy girl like her before.

Sparks fly as opposites attract in this laugh out loud romance.

Excerpt:

I pulled into the parking lot of something called the Piggly Wiggly. As my car rolled toward the large, boxy store, I got a moment of indecision. I could literally park anywhere. Up close, further away,

down the block–
anywhere!
I hadn’t seen this much parking since I showed up to school on a holiday without knowing it.

Spoiled, I chose one near the door. Why not, right? I didn’t need to walk if I didn’t want to. Or

fight for any spaces. What a luxury!

Halfway to the entrance I realized I forgot my list. I stopped dead and tilted my head up, trying to remember when I’d last had it … Wait, I should have it …
Some
where…

Lifting my bag away from my shoulder with one strap, I dove to the bottom, fishing out a small,

crinkled list. As I rummaged, feeling like the bag was swallowing my arm, I heard a deep male

baritone say, “Ma’am.”

One, not being familiar with that phrase, and two, wondering if someone was talking to me, which

was very un-L.A., and hence, very strange for me, I gave a quick questioning glance in the speaker’s direction. I met a plaid chest. Obviously a little closer than I thought.

I still had my hand stuck at the bottom of my over-sized, over-filled handbag, walking lop-sided

with no real perspective on where I was in relation to the door, when I looked up and met two deep

blue eyes in the most breathtakingly, ruggedly handsome face I had ever seen. Watch out Marlboro

man, you ain’t got nothin’ on this cowboy!

His blue eyes caught my focus and drew me, holding me prisoner in a place where time did not

exist. As I fell in, lost, I felt many things happen at once. My skin erupted in goose pimples as a shiver crawled down my back. My head went light, giving me the distinct feeling I was floating. Thank

goodness, because my legs wobbled, not sure if I had control over my knees anymore. Topping it off,

a suddenly warm, wet sensation pooled in my groin that craved sudden and fervid contact.

I think I muttered something. I really think I heard my voice, but I was too consumed with his eyes, and the burning taking over my body, to be sure. I think I kept walking, but when you lose the feeling in your legs, it’s anybody’s guess.

The slide of the electronic door right in front of me fed an alarm through my brain, but too late.

My foot caught the end and jerked my whole body. My purse went flying, the items in it splashing the cement. Limbs flapping, I tried to maintain balance only to wildly stumble and bodily greet the

display of large children’s balls. The flimsy white cage couldn’t compete with my a-bit-more-than-

average (ahem) weight. It bent madly, the hole for extracting balls gaping. Florescent spheres gushed out everywhere, the balls sensing freedom and going for it.