Hello everyone!
I’ve been very busy recently and have therefore been unable to reconstitute several of the pages in this blog that were wiped by the recent unwelcome visitor. But I shall finish the job soon.
Now, I’m pleased to announce the publication on Amazon and Smashwords of my latest title: When One Love Is Not Enough. It’s a kind of menage, with a law firm setting. I hope you like it.
The story is based on an episode in the lives of two co-workers when I worked in Central London. Something similar to this actually happened. But I moved a few things around so that their identities would be protected – and it all happened over twenty years ago, so I daresay most people who worked with the heroine and other protagonists on which this tale is based will have long forgotten about this. But if you were there at the time – and you remember this happening – please get in touch with me pronto! I haven’t done a proper job of shielding hero and heroine, and I’ll have to scrap the book and re-write it!
Here’s the blurb:
Kim Beech is a secretary at the London office of an international law firm. She has to rush to hospital when her father falls ill, and has a chance meeting with Andy, her old boyfriend. They fall for each other again, and agree to go out together every weekend when Kim comes to visit her father.
Meanwhile, when she returns to work, she meets Steve – a handsome American lawyer who has just transferred from the New York office – and her loyalty to Andy is put to the test. Steve is prepared to share her with Andy; he’ll see her during the weekdays and, over the weekend, Andy can see her. Kim enjoys the sexual attention she receives from both men, but eventually realises she is deceiving them and deceiving herself. She can only have one love. Once she has made up her mind which man she wants, how can she tell the disappointed party…?
And here’s a special treat: an extract taken from mid-way in the story.
“Do you dance?” Without waiting for my answer, he walked over to his CD player and put on some slow, smoochy music. “May I have this dance?”
I had no option but to accept, and he held my waist with both hands, swaying in time with the slow tempo. We said nothing; we maintained a silent eye contact. He wanted me. But I wasn’t available.
I shut my eyes, shunning the temptation that his body offered as he pressed himself closer against me while we danced. And, when I opened them, I saw his lips were close to mine, ready to plunge forward and announce his desire to have me, if I were willing.
It was enough. I withdrew. I had had Andy in my bed that morning. I couldn’t betray him that quickly.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I guess I misread the signals.”
“Forget it,” I tried to smile, and walked away. “Do you need a hand in the kitchen? The washing up?”
“You’re a secretary, not my housemaid,” he said as I went into the kitchen and ran some hot water into the sink. “There’s no need for this,” he continued.
I only arrived here fifteen minutes ago, and I can’t really leave so soon, I reasoned. Doing the washing up somehow prevented me from making a hasty, undignified exit so soon after everyone else had left. “I’ll wash, and you can wipe,” I said.
We began, and there was plenty to talk about while we worked. “How long will it take you to drive home?” he asked.
“Around twenty minutes. Not long.”
“And then you have to unpack everything before bedtime.”
“No. I’ve only brought my toothbrush and a few other things. Everything else stays up there until next weekend.”
We spoke about Andy, and our lengthy on-off-and-on relationship, and of my father. “But this time, you think you and this Andy will stick it out?”
“Yes. He’s keeping an eye on my father for me, and Nick has kindly allowed me time off to visit him at weekends. Provided I make myself available for the firm anytime on weekdays.”
“Yeah, I know about that. O.K., Ms. Beech, can you make yourself available on Wednesday evening? By way of thanks for helping me with the washing up, and as a consolation for not being able to make tonight’s party?”
“What’s the occasion? A supplementary housewarming party?”
“No. I want to entertain you. Just you. Dinner, followed by the theatre.”
I was interested. What harm would it be, after all? He knew that my relationship with Andy was pretty serious now. “O.K. What are we going to see?”
“Your choice, provided I can get the tickets.”
“Can we discuss this tomorrow at the office? It’s getting late now.”
“Sure. Are you parked far away?”
“No. I’ll be O.K. And thanks for a lovely evening, what was left of it.”
“Thank you for coming. And for washing-up.”
“I’ll invoice you for that.”
“Oh, and I’m sorry about the misunderstanding earlier… you know…”
We were relaxed, tired, and happy. Impulsively, I kissed his cheek.
As I turned to the door, he pulled my shoulder back round and kissed my lips.
I felt my tongue enter his mouth. And then I recoiled. Without a word, I rushed out of his apartment and downstairs to my car. What was I doing? What had possessed me?
When One Love Is Not Enough is currently available through Amazon.com, Amazon UK, and Smashwords. It will be on sale soon through Barnes & Noble (Nook), Apple, Sony and Kobo – they all need to read the work first to check out the dirty bits.
I’ll be back soon, with some more reconstituted pages!
Best,
Rachel
