You guys! I am so excited to be a part of this project. Finding a way to help out a friend is always a good feeling. When I heard a member of the book community had found out she had cancer and would need to undergo treatment, many of us had the same thought: we wanted to help. Since Teri's favorite trope is 'second chance', we thought an anthology filled with second chances was the way to go.
Late to Love is a charity anthology with all proceeds going directly to #Teampink4Teri.
24 authors have banded together over the love of a friend beginning her battle with cancer to bring you this limited edition anthology.
From cowboys to werewolves to veterans, there is a story for everyone. Just remember, after every perceived failure, there’s a second chance waiting.
Fans of happily ever afters will devour this anthology of more than 24 standalone romances.
Each unique story in the Late to Love: A Second Chance Romance Charity Anthology guarantees a swoon-worthy book boyfriend and a happily ever after that fans of Melanie Harlow, Corinne Michaels, and Nicole Ellis are sure to enjoy!
#secondchance #latetolove #Teampink4Teri
★★https://books2read.com/b/
Here's a look at the first three chapters of my story! Yours Always, Mason is the first book in my new Yours Always series that is in the works.
PROLOGUE
Ronnie
“Ronnie! Are you ready?” My mom’s voice echoed up the stairs.
“Not yet! Just ten more minutes!”
I glanced in the mirror for the millionth time. The pale blue dress was floor length, the sandles were strappy and black... I’d gotten my hair curled into perfect dark brown ringlets that reached the middle of my back. Simple was best. I applied some dark brown waterproof mascara around my light hazel eyes and an extra coat of clear lip-gloss. Perfect.
“Ronnie! Mason is here!”
Perfect. I wanted to see his face when I came down the stairs. It didn’t matter that we’d been dating since the seventh grade. Mason’s smile when I came into view was a constant in my life. It never failed.
So many people had told us it wouldn’t last. I was captain of the volleyball team; he was captain of the chess team. Why didn’t I date a jock? Why didn’t he go out with one of the other nerds? One of my friends had compared us to Jughead and Veronica. But it didn’t matter, because we were best friends; had been since we were four and my family moved next to his. And besides, this was real life. This wasn’t a movie where the jock chick was drop dead gorgeous and the nerd boy was all awkward with bucked teeth and glasses. I was actually the ones who wore glasses. Thick ones too. Contacts were the best invention ever. And Mason? Mason could have modelled underwear and made a killing. Those natural dark brown curls, those light green eyes... and that ass.
I grinned. That ass belonged to me and I couldn't wait to see it in a tux.
“I’m coming!” I called out.
Tonight would be a night to party it up with our friends and say goodbye to grade twelve. Summer was going to be the usual with summer jobs and campfires. In the fall, we were heading to university. I was going to be a teacher and he was going to be a computer analyst.
I admit, I did the whole cliché walk down the stairs for a big reveal. But it wasn’t Mason who was shocked. It was me when my eyes found him at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes glued to the ground.
I stopped midway down the stairway and frowned.
“Mason? Why aren’t you dressed?” I wasn’t mad. I was worried. Changing plans without letting me know was not something Mason Trenton did. Ever.
He looked up at me, his eyes red, and my heart dropped.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” I looked from him to my mom who shrugged and shook her head, her eyes showing she was just as confused and worried as me.
“Can I...” He ran his hands through those amazing curls and cleared his throat. “Can I talk to you?”
The excited butterflies in my stomach turned to nervous ones.
I nodded.
He held his hand out to me and I took it, letting him lead me across the street to the park.
Sitting on the play structure, he kept his eyes on his knees. Tear drops fell on his jeans leaving dark blue spots in their wake. I put my hand on his knee, scared.
His hand covered mine, his other arm brushing across his face. “I have to go,” he whispered.
“I don’t understand.” I swallowed hard.
“My family. We’re moving.”
My chest started to hurt. “What? Why?”
He shook his head. “They weren’t going to let me say goodbye.” He glanced back at our houses. “But I couldn’t just leave and not tell you.”
“Mason. What’s going on?” My tears were flowing just as freely as his and he reached up to wipe them away.
“I’m not allowed to say.”
“When will you be back?”
He shook his head.
“Never?”
His silence was answer enough.
“Well, where are you going? You need to phone me when you get there!” Sobs shook my whole frame.
“I can’t.” His arms wrapped around me held me close. I returned the embrace, needing to feel him while I tried to process what was happening.
“I don’t understand,” I whispered.
“Mason!” We both looked back at the sound of his dad’s voice.
“I have to go.” He dug into his pocket. “I... I was going to give you this tonight. You know. Just a promise that I’ll always love you.”
He pressed something into my hand and closed my fist around it. His lips found mine. The kiss was urgent, rough, desperate.
He pulled away, leaving me breathless and reeling.
“I’ll always love you.” His voice broke. “I’m so sorry, Ronnie.”
And with that, he jumped off the play set and sprinted to his family’s SUV which was waiting on the street. I watched him punch the door before opening it, his fist leaving a dent.
I didn’t notice the rain start to fall as the vehicle swallowed him whole. I didn’t notice my mom running toward me as the SUV drove away.
I watched the taillights disappeared around the corner before looking down at the perfect silver band with the green gemstone in my hand. Yours Always, Mason; he’d gotten it engraved. My stomach heaved and I doubled over, my stomach emptying in the sand.
CHAPTER ONE
Ronnie
“Now, class! Who can tell me what six plus two equals?” I grinned as eager hands shot into the
air. “Jacob!”
“Is it eight, Miss Regnier?”
“It IS eight, Jacob! Good job!” I clapped and the rest of the class followed suit.
The bell rang and all the kids put their books away before getting ready to head home. I stood at the door and waved goodbye as everyone left.
With a sigh, I went back to my desk and got my things ready for Monday.
My phone vibrated one quick vibration and I dug it out of my purse.
Nel: Are you out of there, yet?
I laughed at my phone. No. Jesus, the bell just rang. School still lets out at 3:20 just like it did ten years ago.
Nel: Well, hurry your ass up and get to my place. I already opened a bottle of wine!
I grinned. Okay. I’m running home to change then I'll be right there.
A knock on my door had me looking up into Tim Aston’s dark brown eyes. I managed to hold in my groan. Now, don’t get me wrong, the sixth-grade teacher was hot. He’d also slept with most of the other female staff, even some of the married ones. I was pretty sure I was the last one to hold out since he’d been getting persistent about going on a date the past few weeks.
“Hey, Tim.”
He gave me a half smile which had been kind of sexy at first. Now it was just getting to be creepy. “So, any big plans tonight?”
“Actually, yeah. Girl’s night.”
“Feel like some company?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Not unless you magically turned into a woman.”
The muscles in his jaw ticked.
“I have to go. See you on Monday.” I slung my purse over my shoulder the closed the door as I walked past him.
“Well, if you change your mind...”
“I won’t!” I called back over my shoulder. “Ever,” I grumbled under my breath.
My thumb automatically found the ring on my right ring finger like it did every other time I got stressed. Considering that ring was a representation of the most devastating day of my life it was sort of strange how the movement calmed me.
Getting in my jeep, I tossed my purse on the passenger side before starting it up and heading home. Once there, I put on a red flowing top with spaghetti straps and a pair of dark blue jeans. Looking through my shoes, I settled on some dark grey wedged sandals.
Flipping my head upside down, I added a bit of hairspray to keep the bounce and finished off the look with a second coat of mascara and sheer lip-gloss.
I picked up my phone. Are you home or did you walk over already?
Picking up the mail I’d brought in, I leafed through it while I waited for her answer. Bill, bill, junk... an envelope with my address handwritten on it caught my attention. Taking a deep breath, I opened it. My heart dropped and yet I sighed in relief as a thank you note fell out for a donation I’d given to a local charity.
Not a letter from a ghost.
Nel: I’m at the bar. Britt text to say she was already here.
Ok. I’m leaving the house. I’ll be there in five.
Grabbing my ID and bank card, I put them in my pocket then left my apartment, walking toward the bar.
“RONNIE!”
I glanced around, trying to pinpoint where Nel and Britt were screaming my name from.
“Hey!” I sat down, glad the girls had already ordered me a drink. I took a sip of my beer and sighed. “How was your day?” I asked over the music. I loved this bar. There was no DJ, no band, just a jukebox. The best thing about this jukebox was the music selection. There was everything on there. It made for fun and varied nights.
Britt rolled her eyes. “I swear, if I have to listen to one more asshole tell me how to change the oil on their car, I might just kill someone.” She shook her head wildly, her tight black curls bouncing around her. Her dark skin was flushed, either from the alcohol or anger. I was going to go with both. “Like seriously. You bring your car to a mechanic to get the oil changed and when you see it’s a woman going under the hood, you decide you know how to do my fucking job? I can’t wait until Roger’s is rebuilt from the fire so I can leave this drive through oil place. Then I can go back to working away from idiot eyes.”
She scoffed and took a long pull from the straw in her rum and seven. “Assholes.”
Nel and I repeated the word, agreeing.
“My day was fine,” started Nel. Her blond hair was short and spiked, her light blue eyes rimmed by layers of black eyeliner. “Work was good. We shut down early because it was slow. Then I got home and remembered my wife fucking cheated on me, so it was a little downhill from there.”
She smiled as we each put a hand on her arms. “Thanks. But now? Now, I am fucking fantastic! Because I am here with my girls, and we are going to dance the night away!”
“Woooooooo!”
We all lifted our drinks and gulped them down as the next round showed up.
Nel cocked her head at me. “And you?”
I smiled. “Good. The kids were all angels today.” My mind flashed to the mail.
Britt’s brow creased. “What?”
I shook my head. “It’s nothing. I just had a moment.”
Nel put a hand on mine, not needing an explanation.
“I was opening the mail. There was a handwritten letter. I thought... How is it that ten years later I’m still so fucked up about it. Like, I wanted it to be from him saying, ‘hey! I’m back!’. And then, on the other hand, I’m still so pissed I’m pretty sure I’d hit him if I ever did see him again.”
Britt took my other hand. “He was a part of you for fourteen years, Hun. He was your best friend. The love of your life. Of course, you still miss him.”
Nel nodded. “That doc you were seeing said it would take time.”
I sighed. “I know. And I try not to think about it, but very once in a while, I can just see him, living his best life, everything perfect... and I’m not a part of that.”
Nel grunted. “Repeat to me what else the doc said.”
“Not to try and visualize what his life is like because I have no idea.” My heart dropped. “For all I know, he’s not even alive anymore.” The thought nearly brought tears to my eyes. God, I was a mess, flying from one end of the emotional spectrum to the next when it came to Mason. Stupid thank you note. I’d barely thought about him for over a month and here I was again. The worst part was the not knowing.
Taking a deep breath, I took a drink and smiled. “Tonight, we’re going to bitch out misogynist men, get over cheating wives, and forget about long lost boyfriends.”
My friends grinned and agreed.
Britt frowned. “Ronnie, did you invite that gorgeous teacher friend of yours?”
“I... what? No!” I looked back at the entrance and groaned. “What the hell! He tried to invite himself along and I said no. I didn’t even tell him where we were going.”
The chair beside me scraped back and that creepy half grin was in my face.
“Ronnie! Fancy meeting you here!”
I raised an eyebrow, not bothering to hide any of my annoyance at his presence. “How did you find us?”
“What? No! I just happen to like this bar.” His good humor started to falter as my frown turned to a glare. “Fine. I asked Teri where you like to hang out. In my defense, I asked her two weeks ago.”
“I told you it was a girl’s night. I told you you weren’t invited.”
“Right. But now I’m here, so.... why don’t we have a drink? I’m sure your friends would love me!”
Nel scoffed. “I’m a lesbian.”
He turned his attention to Britt.
“I’m straight, but right now, I really fucking hate men. So, no.”
I shrugged. “Sorry. This is a no men’s allowed table.”
I almost felt bad for him as he stood, clearly displeased, and headed to sit at the bar.
Britt leaned forward. “Okay. I know you said he was getting pushy and creepy, but what the hell!”
Nel nodded. “That’s starting to hover near the stalker line.” She looked towards the bar and gave a slight shake of her head. “Did you guys notice there’s a couple of guys with earpieces in? Do you see anyone important?”
I glanced around. “What? Where? They’re probably just on Bluetooth or something. No one important comes here.”
“Yeah. You’re probably right. One more thing... your stalker is pounding drinks like they’re saving his life, so you’re coming to my house tonight. I don’t need him following you home.”
“Awww, I love you too,” I answered, grateful for the two women in front of me.
Some older song with a good beat came on and we got onto the dance floor. I was having a blast, the stress of the work week washing away in sweat and booze.
Until I felt a pair of hands wrap around my waist and pull me to the chest attached to them. I pushed away and turned.
“Tim! What the hell! I said I’m not interested!”
“Oh, come on. I’ve seen how you look at me!” He was starting to slur.
“I look at you like you’re my coworker. I do not want to date you!”
People on the dance floor had stopped dancing and were watching. My girls stood at my back, ready to give whatever kind of support I needed.
“Who says I want to date you. I just figured you’d be a good lay,” he mumbled as he reached for my arm.
Before I could react, he was screaming in pain, his arm twisted at an uncomfortable angle behind his back. I watched, stunned, as a pair of cuffs snapped around his wrists.
“The lady said no.”
The voice slapped into me, and I forgot to breathe. I knew that voice. It was deeper and a little gruffer, but I knew that voice. My eyes snapped to the man who had come to my rescue. Those light green eyes met mine and I swallowed hard.
“Mason?”
He licked his lips in the exact same way he used to do when he was nervous all those years ago.
All those years ago...
Anger flared. Where had he been all this time? What the hell was he doing here now? Why was he wearing an earpiece? And, oh my god! Did he know what he’d done to me when he’d left?
Ten years of pain, heartache, fear and worry came to a head in that instant.
“Ronnie, I...”
Whatever he’d been about to say stuck in his throat. I pushed him back with all my strength. Jesus, he’d gotten taller. And thicker. And...
“Ronnie, stop.” He tried to grab my wrists, but even I could tell he wasn’t trying very hard. He just let me hit him, over and over.
The body wrenching sobs were back. The ones that had kept me in bed for months after he’d disappeared.
“Dude? You good?”
I barely registered the other man now standing beside Mason.
Mason nodded, his eyes never leaving me. “Ronnie, you can keep beating on me all you want, but let’s do this outside before someone here decides you need a night in the drunk tank.”
I was so focused on hitting him, I didn’t notice we were making our way out of the bar until we were standing in the night air.
My hands hurt. My arms hurt. My heart hurt.
All my emotions collided with the adrenaline. My stomach heaved and I puked.
All over Mason.
CHAPTER TWO
Mason
I sat on Ronnie’s couch in my boxers and t-shirt, waiting for my pants to dry in her dryer. Her two friends sat across from me, glaring daggers. Bear and Pointer stood off to the side, clearly enjoying my misery. So much for brothers sticking together. Traitors.
“She’s been in there an hour,” whispered the blonde to the other girl.
There hadn’t been any introductions and any time I opened my mouth to try and make conversation, one of them cut me off and told me to zip it.
There was a knock on the door and Bear let in our fourth. Pen walked into the room and took in the scene. She grinned.
“Cute outfit,” she teased. She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Pervert is at the police station. There were enough witnesses that it was a non-issue. I didn’t even have to bat my eyelashes at the cop.”
Bear grunted which was his usual form of communication.
“What? I could bat my eyelashes if I felt like it!” Pen grinned and brushed the long red hair out of her face, her grey eyes sparkling.
She went to stand by Bear and Pointer. As always, she looked tiny beside them. Most things did. Topping out at 6 foot 5 inches, the identical twins were a wall of muscle with short black hair and dark brown eyes.
Much to the dismay of Ronnie’s friends, Pen helped herself to the fridge and pulled out enough beers for everyone.
“Since tonight was a bust, we might as well take a break,” she announced.
I shook my head as she offered me one. I needed to talk to Ronnie. Standing, I was quickly flanked by her friends.
“I need to talk to her.”
The blond grunted. “You had ten years to talk to her, Mason.”
My name rolled over her tongue and I realized I knew her. In high school she’d been the funny girl everyone got along with. She’d moved to town in grade five. Ronnie had immediately dubbed her her best friend. She’d lost a lot of weight, the hair was different, the makeup...
“Nel.”
“Oh. You do remember me.”
“Of course, I remember you.”
She raised an eyebrow at me.
“Fine. It took me a minute but come on. You look nothing like you did ten years ago.”
“Yeah, well, it’s amazing how accepting yourself can improve your mental and physical health.”
I waited to see if she was going to elaborate. Instead, she glanced at the bedroom door.
“You fucking destroyed her when you left.”
I swallowed hard. “I know.” I cleared my throat. “I need to tell her what happened.”
“Why now? What’s it going to change?”
“She’ll know I didn’t want to leave her. She’ll know it had nothing to do with her. I was a kid, Nel. I didn’t have choice.”
“You could have told her why.”
“No. I couldn’t. But I can now.” I closed my eyes and blew an exasperated breath out of my nose. “Nel, please.”
I glanced at the other woman in front of me. This one I was positive I didn’t know. “I’ll go in. If she kicks me out, I’m out.”
“Nel...”
“Britt! What the hell? United front, man!”
Britt glanced from me to Nel. “Look, I wasn’t there for the immediate carnage, but I still helped pick up the pieces when we all met a year later.”
Her statement nearly killed me. A year later? She’d still been a mess after all that time?
“I say let him go,” Pen piped up. “She’s not the only one who’s a mess over what happened. You might be friends with her, but we’re friends with him. And what happened fucked him up pretty good.”
Nel’s hesitancy slipped a notch.
“Please.” My chest tightened and I took a few deep breaths to keep a mess of emotions from bubbling up. Losing my shit right now was not going to help my case.
“Nel.”
Everyone looked at Ronnie who was standing in the doorway. If I’d had trouble breathing before, the ability to suck in a breath completely disappeared that instant. She'd changed into a plain black t-shirt and red checkered pajama pants. Her hair was still down, the long dark waves falling around her shoulders. She’d taken out her contacts and was wearing her glasses. Those amazing hazel eyes met mine and it took everything in me not to rush over to her and crush her to me.
“It’s okay, Nel. He can come in.” The statement was so quiet, I wasn’t sure I’d heard it before she turned and disappeared back into the bedroom.
I froze. I’d thought about this moment almost every waking moment in the past ten years. Hell, I even dreamed about it. But now, the moment was here. There were no more hypotheticals, no more being able to reword things if they came out wrong...
“It’s now or never, Sneak.” Pen was watching me, all joking aside. “You’ve survived being shot and blown up. What’s the worst that could happen?”
Ronnie’s friends gawked at me.
The worst that could happen... that would be Ronnie not understanding. It would be her pushing me away... It would be her doing to me what I’d done to her all those years ago and disappearing. Because one look at her in that bar had been enough to destroy me all over again. Her telling me she couldn’t forgive me? I didn’t think I’d survive that.
***
His fingers ran through the hair just behind my ear and I shivered.
How did he remember exactly where to touch me after all this time? Because he was Mason. Because this was the kid who had done research on how to make a woman come before our first time because he hadn’t wanted me to be disappointed.
“I’m not asking you for more than you’re ready for. I’m back, okay? I’m here. Whatever you want, however you want...”
My brain was telling me I was being an idiot for believing he wouldn’t break my heart again. My heart was trying to remind me it hadn’t been his fault he’d left. And my body? My body was starting to melt into his touch, wondering if after all this time he’d still do that thing with his tongue...
Ronnie
Ten years ago, he left me sitting in a park with no explanation. You can imagine my surprise when, out of the blue, he comes to my rescue in a small-town bar. Why is he back? Where has he been? And why do I still care?
Mason
Ten years ago, I broke her heart and I couldn’t tell her why. When the dangers from my past come back to haunt her, it’s my worst nightmares come true. Ten years ago, I left to keep her safe. This time, I’m staying even if it might kill me.
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