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Hello, Dear Readers! Please welcome my special guest, author Babette James. Take it away, Babette… 🙂

Summertime Dream: The First Meet
by Babette James

I’m delighted to visit here today and share a quick peek at my heroine and hero meeting for the first time in my new contemporary romance from The Wild Rose Press, Summertime Dream, the second novel in my River series.

An unexpected inheritance brings business consultant Christopher Gordon from Los Angeles to quaint Falk’s Bend. He’s carved a week from his demanding schedule to list his great-grandparents’ house for sale and explore his roots. However, disturbing family secrets and the sweet temptation of writer Margie Olsson derail his plans, challenging him to seize the elusive dream missing from his hectic life— love.

A recent brush with death shook Margie’s life, but not her dreams and she’s ready to move forward. Only, standing up to her loving, over-protective family isn’t easy. Helping Christopher explore the derelict mansion and unravel his grandmother’s mysterious past should be a harmless fun taste of independence. But when her experimental summer fling ignites into unexpected love, how can her small town dreams work with his big city life?

I loved writing this story of how Christopher and Margie met and fell headlong into love the summer before Nate and Kay’s story in Clear As Day. I hope you enjoy falling in love along with them!

Babette

Excerpt:

Joe planted his hands on his hips, another lecture looming. “Margie, I know, but—”

She crossed her arms against the chill surge of shame at losing her temper in public and her throat tightened. “No! Enough! You’ve got work to do. I’ll see you after the game.”

Grumbling under his breath, Joe stomped off.

Baxter dropped his bag on the table and stooped to kiss Debi quick and hard. “Hon, I’ll go on help Joe unload. See you at the bleachers.” He winked at Margie and loped after Joe.

Mirth sparkling in her blue eyes, Debi hugged Margie. “Well, well, there’s hope for you after all! I’ve never seen you back Joe down before.”

“He’s just…being Joe. I shouldn’t have snapped at him.” Margie groaned. The giddy spark at having stood up for herself fizzled. Thank goodness, her parents had missed her tantrum. Joe hadn’t been himself since breaking up with Stephanie and jumping down his throat was a dumb way to get his agreement.

“I’ve known you since the first day of kindergarten, and yeah, Joe means well, but let me tell you, that was one long overdue snap. I’m proud of you.”

“I just wish he’d stop hovering.” Margie peeked over her shoulder at the minivan. Baxter had Joe’s softball gear, and Joe hauled out the first large, food-laden hotbox.

“Maybe you ought to think about a place of your own. You need a change.”

“I’ve had enough change over the last year.”

Debi waved her hand in a stop-it motion. “A positive change. And, yes, I know all the reasons why you stay with them. Heck, I’d leave Baxter for your mom’s peach pancakes alone. But it’s something you should consider seriously.”

“I will. Someday.” Even moving out wouldn’t stop their loving, smothering concern.

“Why don’t we skip the game? I’ll crack open the pinot grigio and we can compare brotherly pet peeves.”

Margie laughed. “I think we’ve covered them all over the years. Go on. Catch up with Baxter. Let me jot some quick scene notes, then I’ll meet up with you all.” That was a complete fib, but her skin crawled with the need for some space.

Debi accepted her fib with a commiserating hug and headed for the ball field.

Margie escaped for her favorite place in the park, the huge old oak topping the low rise of land between the picnic area and the ball field, with a perfect view of the game and the lazy river. Oh, thank goodness, she had the shady homemade swing to herself. She settled against the swing’s thick rope, kicked off her sandals, and let out a heavy breath. Two sparrows squabbled and chased overhead through the shifting patterns of leafy shadow and sunlight. Drawing her bare feet up onto the heavy board polished smooth by years of bottoms and feet, she fluffed the skirt of her sundress over her knees. Determined to change her fib and mood around, she opened the story on her tablet and set to her note-making, resisting the urge to aimlessly edit.

Wild cheers jolted her attention to the game. Whoa. Seven innings already and tied at nine runs each. She sighed. Her missing the game would just give Joe one more thing to fuss over.

They all meant well, but when would Joe and everyone accept she was perfectly fine, better than ever, actually, and stop trying to keep her packed in cotton balls?

Patience, patience. All you can do is wait.

“Wait for what?” a quiet male voice answered.

Jolted, she sat straight, straddling the board to keep from falling, her heart zipping. She’d spoken out loud?

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” The man from the gate stood at the edge of the shade. “Just came over to check out this great old oak. I’ll leave you be.”

His soft, low voice, rich and warm as caramel, set every dormant feminine nerve on alert.

But who was he? Between growing up in Falk’s Bend and working at the restaurant, she knew everyone and their kin, or, at least about them. If he was a Mills, he must take after his mother’s family. He had the greenest eyes she’d ever seen set in a craggy, captivating face, and smile crinkles by his eyes and mouth. He was lanky and fit, but not so tall as Joe, and maybe older, late thirties. His sleek brown hair was neatly trimmed, his white polo shirt set off his outdoor tan, and more men should look as good in jeans as he did. Her gaze returned to those remarkable eyes of his, and something hot and bright leapt inside her.

He cleared his throat, as if he’d been waiting for a reply.

Holy moly. Heat flooded her. She’d been staring like an idiot. So that’s what all that being lost in a man’s eyes in romance novels felt like. Holy moly indeed.

Come fall in love at the river:

Summertime Dream is available on Amazon

“Summertime Dream is a perfect glass of Lemonade on a hot day. Simple, elegant and beautifully written. I enjoyed each scene. Loved the chemistry between the characters and the house. Great story!” ~ Deborah Diez

Clear As Day, (★★★★½ RT Book Reviews, ★★★★★ Top Pick The Romance Reviews) is available at Amazon and The Wild Rose Press and at all other eBook retailers.

About the Author:

Babette James writes sweetly scorching contemporary romance and loves reading nail-biting tales with a satisfying happily ever after. When not dreaming up stories, she enjoys playing with new bread recipes and dabbling with paints. As a teacher, she loves encouraging new readers and writers as they discover their growing abilities. Her class cheers when it’s time for their spelling test! Born in New Jersey and raised in Southern California, she’s had a life-long love of the desert and going down the shore. Babette now lives in New Jersey with her wonderfully patient husband and extremely spoiled cats.

You can find Babette at:

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