Excerpt Wednesday – Broken Promises: A New Beginning

Farrel noticed the chilly silence and stole a glance at her husband. He was impeccably dressed in black slacks, and a gray jacket. His jaw was firmly set, and his facial expression caused an icy coldness to creep up her spine. Her hand trembled slightly as she flipped the pancakes. She slowly turned to face him. "Good morning, honey," she said, trying to keep her voice bright. "Are you going to be late tonight?"

"I don't know," he said as his eyes swept over her face.

Farrel could see the disgust in his eyes. This morning she had tried to mask her bruises, but the ugly purple welt on her cheek showed through and her eye was a sickening shade of black and blue.

"What did you run into this time?" he asked sharply.

She fought the urge to retort, "Your fist," but instead said, "I don't know. Maybe the cupboard."

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Excerpt Wednesday – The Stalker

Jeremy placed his hands over his ears, but the voices only grew louder. "Shut up!" he demanded. "Just shut the fuck up!" He squeezed his eyes shut as his mind became saturated with thoughts and images of Rebecca. The demons felt threatened, but they confused him repeatedly—one minute telling him to stand up for himself, and then taunting him when he did. He couldn't trust them most of the time, but he knew they'd never leave and it was useless to plead with them for release. They embedded themselves in his thought processes, sometimes doing things and then blaming him for it. They were as much a part of him as his legs and arms were. The few weeks of peace he'd had from them had given him false hope, and he felt a peacefulness he wasn't accustomed to. Now they were back and in full swing, stronger than before. He had to keep his guard up and watch them while trying in desperation to hide his real thoughts about Rebecca. She'll hurt you worse than Julie Howard ever did, they warned.

"Leave me alone! She's nothing like Julie." He pulled on a pair of jeans, his fingers trembling on the zipper. He felt the familiar bulge beginning to grow, but there was no time. He pulled on a pale blue T-shirt with the college logo emblazoned across the front of it, then grabbed his sneakers and slid his feet into them, tying them tightly. He studied his reflection in his bureau mirror and ran a comb through his tangled hair.

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Excerpt Wednesday – Over The Edge

"Did you or did you not insinuate that my wife and I were responsible for Christopher Jacoby leaving you for another woman?"

She placed her hands on her hips as she stood mockingly in front of him. The fear she'd felt just moments before quickly left her. "I didn't insinuate it, Brant, I said it. Since when does that warrant an investigation?" She glanced at Tom who was observing the standoff with one eyebrow cocked.

Brant's eyes narrowed into two black slits. "Did you tell her that she'd be sorry for what she'd done?"

"What? You're nuts!"

"I can take you in right now for threatening my wife's life, and don't think I haven't thought about it. The only reason I didn't have you arrested last night was because Janna begged me not to. You should be on your hands and knees thanking her for that." He
pointed a finger in her face. "But let me tell you something, if you so much as even look at my wife the wrong way, I'll haul your ass in so fast it'll make your head swim!"

"Now hold on a minute, Brant," Tom broke in. "You have no right to talk to Maggie like this. She has rights."

"Stay out of it, Tom." He glared at the older man. "You don't need to become involved in this. Maggie needs to learn that life goes on and she's not the first woman to have ever been dumped."

"You bastard!" Maggie spat out without thinking of the consequences.

"I should take you in right now," he said squaring his jaw.

She looked fiercely into his cold, heartless eyes. "Go ahead. I've done nothing wrong. And what happened between Chris and me is none of your business…oh, I should take that back," she said with a touch of sarcasm in her voice. "You, as usual, couldn't stand to see me happy, so you had to make sure you ruined my life."

"Now, Maggie, what reason would I possibly have?" He chuckled. "You need help. Have you considered seeing a shrink? I can recommend someone, or better yet, you can sign yourself into the state hospital. It appears to me that you're on the verge of a breakdown. A long rest may do you some good."

Her eyes flashed. "Janna came here yesterday just bursting at the seams to tell me about Chris, but you know what? I don't care. He's not worth it."

Brant smirked. "I really couldn't stand to see Chris dating someone so beneath himself…white trash," he sneered. "And if you don't care, then why did you lash out at my wife?"

Maggie's body trembled and she opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Tom hastily grabbed her arm. "Let it go. He's not worth it. He's only trying to provoke you," he whispered close to her ear.

"What's that?" Brant asked moving toward them. "What'd you say, Tom?"

"Nothing, I was just calming Maggie."

"Well, you'd better continue." He put his notepad back into his pocket. "By the way, Maggie, I'll let you know whether my wife decides to press charges against you for making threats against her life. In the meantime, you'd better watch that temper of yours." He tipped his hat as he slowly made his way out of the kitchen through the diner and out the front door. 

After Tom was certain that Brant was gone, he slammed his fist on the butcher-block table. "That son of a bitch! Someone has got to do something. He can't keep harassing people like this."

"But he will keep on, Tom. No one can stop him." She was thoughtful for a minute. "At least not yet." 

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Excerpt Wednesday – Silent Dreams

"I want you to meet him right now—tonight, that’s all." She fidgeted with her bracelet. "Just for a few minutes. Please?"

"Okay, but then you’re on your own." She walked to a comfortable-looking upholstered antique chair and seated herself.

"He’s here," Kami whispered when she heard the familiar knock on the door. She rushed to answer it. Seconds later she led the tall, slim, good-looking man into the living room.

Blaine noticed that he was several years older than Kami and her. She definitely wasn’t into older men.

"Blaine, I’d like you to meet Josh Barnes," Kami said with a warm smile aimed at Blaine.

Before Blaine could acknowledge him, his eyes locked with hers making her uncomfortable. There was something about his eyes that caused her to instantly distrust him. She definitely wouldn’t be going out with him.

"Well, well, she’s even better than I imagined, Kami." He smiled, showing off a perfect set of white teeth. "Good work." He moved closer to Blaine. "Stand up," he said softly, extending a hand to help her to her feet.

She cocked a suspicious eye at him. "Why?"

"Because I asked you to," he answered in the same soft voice.

Blaine smirked, shooting a sideways glance at Kami as she noted Josh’s expensive suit and the ease with which he wore it. She assumed that his classic movie star looks and obvious wealth made him think he could demand whatever he wanted whenever he wanted it. "Who do you think you are?" Her voice was icy. "No offense, Kami, but I am definitely not impressed. Someone should have taught your friend some proper manners."
Josh kept his eyes on her as his lips turned up into an amused, but at the same time, eerie smile.

"Just do as he asks," Kami said in a low voice.

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Excerpt Wednesday - Revenge

Donna grunted. "You were only thinking about what was between her legs. I told you the bloom would rub off. I and your brothers knew you'd come to your senses and want to move back to the country where you belong."

Jackson knew he'd let her down, and he'd tried to rectify his lapse in judgment. "After we moved back home and you made us move into the trailer with you, I showed her who was boss, didn't I? Just like you taught me, Ma."

"Yes, you did and your brothers and I were proud of you." She patted his knee. "Things will be different now that you're back home."

Jackson scratched his jaw. "Yeah, I told her we were moving back home to live with you until I got us our own trailer near yours." He snorted. "That's when she really started nagging me even more about moving even further away. I warned her she had to learn her place and I didn't allow her to talk to her mother anymore. It's her own fault that she wouldn't listen."

"And don't you let anybody tell you different," his mother said firmly. "She got what was coming to her."

"Yeah, I know." He settled back in his seat as his mind drifted back to that day. The day that changed his life forever.

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Excerpt Wednesday – The Stalker

He nodded, mumbling a quick good-bye, then watched her walk away, her curvy hips slightly swaying and her long, reddish-blonde hair falling gently over her shoulders. He couldn't believe what had just transpired. He pulled out a handkerchief and mopped his forehead. Rebecca Walker had actually paid attention to him. She'd noticed him, and she'd taken the time to soothe him after his humiliation in class. Why would she do that? She had even touched him. He could still feel her hand on his shoulder burning through to his flesh. What did this all mean? Could it be possible? Could a woman like Rebecca Walker actually be attracted to him? Was she making a play for him? Had he missed the signals most guys were aware of? He had no friends to discuss this with, so he wasn't sure. Could he talk to his father about this wonderful event? His father was at work more than he was at home, and even if he were at home, Jeremy knew that dear old Dad would offer him no hope, instead brushing it aside as wishful thinking on Jeremy's part. Nevertheless, hope was all he had to cling to.

He could barely wait to get home. He needed to look up Rebecca in the student directory. Maybe he would get the courage to call her tonight and ask her out. Yes, that was what he would do. He smiled at his newfound self-confidence, but as quickly as it had come, it disappeared as the demons of doubt entered his thoughts. Why would Rebecca Walker want to go out with a loser like you? the demons shouted through the corridors of his mind, laughing and taunting him. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to get them out of his thoughts. No, he'd prove them wrong. She did want him.

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Excerpt Wednesday – Over The Edge

"Please look at me, Chris. Tell me the truth...that's all I ask."

He shamefully turned his head trying to avoid her eyes. With a shaky hand, he removed his hard hat and ran his hand through his hair. "I...I never wanted to hurt you."

Her eyes penetrated his. "Why, Chris? What did I do?"

He shook his head. "Nothing. You didn't do anything. It was my fault. I should have told you." His voice was strained. "Everything was my own fault."

She peered into his tired eyes. His face was drawn and haggard. Stubble showed on his usually clean-shaven chin. His hair looked shaggy and in desperate need of a haircut. If this was what loving Chelsea was doing to him, then she didn't know how he'd ever survive.

She'd expected him to feel badly for what he'd done to her, but she hadn't expected to see him so unkempt and miserable-looking. Seeing him wounded like this, though, helped to ease her pain even if just a little. He clearly was as miserable as she was. It made even less sense to her.

"Janna Evans came by the diner." She surprised herself at how even she managed to keep her voice. Anger momentarily flashed in his eyes. "Is that why you still kept your apartment so you could carry on with Chelsea Howard?" Her tone was still even and controlled, but she knew that at any given moment she could lose total control. Her insides were quivering uncontrollably.

His eyes drifted again to the ground. "We're living together," he answered in a raspy, almost inaudible voice.

Maggie's chest constricted as a lump formed in her throat almost choking her. Her heart as fragile as a fine crystal vase now shattered into a million pieces. The earth felt like it was swaying beneath her feet. There was so much she wanted to say. She needed to scream at him for bringing this intense pain upon her. She wanted to throw herself at him and force him to see what he would be missing without her. In desperation, she needed to reach that part of his heart that would remember their passionate lovemaking and how they had almost seemed to blend into one. He needed to remember all the plans they had made. But looking at him now, she knew it was useless. The damage was done, and there was no turning back. Even if there was, she would never accept his betrayal. She doubted she could ever find it in her heart to forgive him.

He had made his choice and without any regard for her left her crushed and broken. She wanted to lash out at him and hurt him as much as he had hurt her. No, she wouldn't let him see how weak she was. She would gather her strength to leave, and she would never look back. It was over...finished. She had to pull herself together and recognize the fact that she couldn't give him what she thought he needed, what she thought he wanted. She turned on her heel.

His trembling hand touched her shoulder reaching out to stop her. "Please, Maggie. I need to explain. You deserve to know the truth."

"No," she whispered as tears formed behind her heavy eyelids. "I don't want to hear the details."

"It's not the way you think it is," he hoarsely whispered. "Please believe that."

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