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Lauren knows that she’s found the one, and she vows to never be separated from him. Then a dark secret is revealed that could tear her new world apart. Will love conquer all? Or does the family secret create a forbidden love?
This year’s 2022 winner, Indie Global Book Awards. Silver Medal – Romance category!
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Lauren Hammond – Last Wednesday in May – Midland Texas
This morning I’m in a sullen mood. It’s almost summertime, and I don’t have a boyfriend. There’s not even a possibility glimmering on the horizon. The thought of showing up at pool parties and other summer social activities by myself is downright depressing. For a twenty-year old, summer is supposed to be a time to have fun. This may be my worst summer ever.
Even the office coffeepot is conspiring against me. Those damn guys! They always take the last cup and leave the coffee pot empty. They just assume one of us girls will make a new batch. If I could, I would just make a single cup and let them figure out what to do next! Instead, I smother my annoyance and put on a fresh brew.
Hanging around while the coffee’s making, I ponder my current dilemma. Between working part time and going to school at the local college, I don’t have a lot of spare time for socializing and meeting people. And quite frankly, I haven’t really met anyone interesting in quite a while. I’ve already gone through all the eligible prospects at my college, but I never really connected with any of them. Maybe I’m too picky, but I know what I want. My grandmother says that I just haven’t found anyone that “tickles my fancy.” I’m not exactly sure what she means by that phrase, but I feel like “my fancy’ could definitely use a good tickling about now!
I hear the coffee machine making its last gurgle, and the sound snaps me out of my reverie. As I move the pot off the burner in order to remove the drip basket, a drop of water hits the hot plate below making a sizzling sound. That’s what I need… a little sizzle in my life. My libido may not be percolating, but there’s something about fresh brewed coffee that ‘perks’ me up. It’s kind of like a signal that a new day has started.
Another more pressing problem I need to address this week is my Ford Falcon’s overheating. It’s been an issue for a couple of weeks now. I’ve decided to call and make an appointment to get it repaired before something major is damaged. The car’s probably okay to drive for the short trips between home and work, but summer’s here, and I might get an opportunity to go on a longer journey during my college break. Now that I’ve got my coffee, it’s time to start the day.