Once Upon a Love Story by Beth D. Carter
Excerpt:
So, Caleb Tasker was an onion. Layers and layers hid under that muscular forest ranger façade and she wasn’t sure if she liked that or not. She had just figured he’d be a great diversion for the evening, something to break up the relentless monotony, but now, she was afraid she might end up caring about what he said. And that was dangerous.
When she’d first arrived in Los Angeles, she’d been a sixteen year old dropout searching for fame and fortune. She’d run away from home with a huge chip on her shoulder thinking the world owed her something, and the streets were a mean place for a young girl alone. She’d done some pretty stupid things. But now she had a code, ethics that had helped save her years ago. And feeling sorry for a man was close to the top of that list. Emotions led to acting on stupid impulses and she refused to allow herself to be vulnerable ever again.
Still, this was just one harmless little date. Right?
She pulled into the Denny’s parking lot and cut the engine. He exited the car and hurried around to her side to help her out of the car. She stared at his hand as if it were going to bite her.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“A gentleman always helps a lady out of a car.”
“Says who?”
“My momma.”
That made Delilah smile. “My momma taught me to pick the wealthiest drug dealer on the street and get myself pregnant by him.”
That made him pause and blink in confusion. “What?”
She waved her comment away. Why did she go and tell him something like that? “Never mind. Come on.”
She locked the car up and headed toward the door, acutely aware of the big, muscular man behind her who towered over her. She almost felt small, which was saying something since she stood almost six foot tall in heels. Her legs were one of her best assets and she used them to her advantage when she danced at The Pink Pony.
They were shown to a booth in a back corner and the bright lights finally allowed her to see him in vivid detail. His eyes were a sky blue and his hair was a dirty blonde, curling around the edges of his collar. It looked soft to the touch and her fingers tingled with the desire to bury into the crisp strands. He reminded her a little of Daniel Craig. Very fine lines crinkled the area near his temples, alluding to a life where he laughed a lot, but the brackets that encircled his mouth hinted that some pain had mingled in there as well. He looked like a man of deep emotion, one who devoted himself wholly to whomever or whatever task he faced. She wondered if he would make love just as thoughtfully and she shivered a little bit at the wandering thought, her body thrumming to life with an awareness she’d never felt before.
Blurb:
Caleb Tasker lost his wife to cancer but it took him a long time to put her memory to rest. Deciding he needs a vacation, he accepts the gracious invitation of living in his friend’s Malibu home for an over due holiday.
Delilah Ward grew up in rural Mississippi and ran away when she was sixteen, moving to Los Angeles with thoughts of being anything but the person she was born to be. But reality settled in quickly and the bright lights of Hollywood soon faded into the dark abyss of dancing on a darkened platform.
Caleb is used to love being easy and Delilah is used to fighting against everything. They have nothing in common except a wildfire attraction that won’t let go of them. But when tough choices need to be made, will they both be able to be honest to what they really want?
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My Bio:
I like writing about the very ordinary girl thrust into extraordinary circumstances, so my heroines will probably never be lawyers, doctors or corporate highrollers. I try to write characters who aren’t cookie cutters and push myself to write complicated situations that I have no idea how to resolve, forcing me to think outside the box. Music inspires me and each story has their own signature song.
I am a full time writer and stay at home mom which means I watch a lot of animated movies. Over and over again. I hate washing dishes but I love cooking. I hate washing clothes but I love wearing them. Writing my bio is difficult because I never know what to say so I hope you like this one. My favorite color is red but I look best in black (it’s slimming). I hate people who don’t pick up their dog’s crap in public places, people who don’t use turn signals, and I really hate people who are rude and condescending. I especially hate discrimination in all and every form. And although I love holding a book in my hand, I absolutely adore my ereader, whom I’ve named Ruby. So many books at the touch of a button! I love to hear from readers so I’ve made it really easy to find me on Facebook or Twitter or email me at: beth@bethdcarter.com.
Alyssa Fox Author 