Teaser Tuesday Fate 9/2512 - Fate

© Charles Shapiro | Dreamstime.com

No set up needed. I only want to mention this is part of the teaser you've already read on my fan page. Only I added a little more of before the scene and gave you  until the end of the scene! Enjoy!! 

They never actually talked about it nor did the subject of what their relationship was now ever arise. Vince liked it that way. Talking about it would be admitting that what was happening was the very thing Grace was afraid of—things were getting serious. Yet Vince made it a point to look her deep in the eyes when he played with her fingers during any of their comfortable moments of silence. He wanted her to see he was feeling much more for her than just a friendship. The few times she’d brought up other guy “friends,” Vince tried not to but his remarks always came across a little pissy. Until the day he’d nearly snapped. 

Nervous every time he saw Grace eye them suspiciously he often asked Rose if his days here were numbered. Usually she’d laugh at his paranoia. This time she went a step further to what he now knew was an effort to convince him that everything was just fine. She turned to Grace who’d just walked back into Sal’s house as they sat in the shallow end of the pool, on the stairs. Grace had brought out some snacks but when she saw them giggling so closely in the pool, she’d seemed unnerved.  

“Grace knows we’re just friends. Just like some of my other guy friends, she’s got nothing to worry about.

Vince slipped his hand into hers underwater and stared at her. “What other guy friends?”

She turned to him and Vince saw the effort she made to hide her surprise to his question. “I… I have a few friends in school.”

“Friends like me?” He squeezed her hand, his eyes searching hers now. “Because I don’t have any friends like you, Rose. None. You’re the only one.”

“Well.” She licked her lips looking away. “They’re just guys I talk to. But no…not like with you.”

“Good.” He took a few steps off the stairs pulling her with him in the water. “Just so you know.” He said as he dipped his head back into the deeper water. When he popped back up she was still holding his hand and still staring at him looking a bit bewildered. “I don’t need any more friends around. I’m fine with it being just you and me all summer.” He tugged her hand, pulling her a little closer to him but not too close in case someone peeked out at them. “If any of these guys show up when I’m around, I won’t be very friendly.” He lifted the corner of his lip, as Rose began to get what he was saying. “Don’t get me kicked out of La Jolla Rosie. Because that’s probably what’ll happen.”

As the back door slid open he let go of her hand and dove in the water swimming into the deep end. When he popped up on the other end of the pool Rose popped up next to him. They both held on the side as Grace walked back into the house again. She’d brought out lemonade for them.

“Vincent?” Vince brought his attention back to Rose. He’d been busy making sure Grace closed the door all the way. “I don’t have any other friends like you either. You’re the only one.” 

Feeling the onset of one of biggest goofiest smiles to date, Vince cursed the fact that he was in Sal’s backyard or he would’ve attacked her with a million kisses. Instead he reached for her hand and squeezed. “Good. That’s exactly what I was waiting to hear.”

Is it just me or does anyone else hear the jaws music?  Oh the calm before the storm!   ;)

And in case anyone is wondering because I've had a few people ask (maybe they haven't read MYM) This story does goes beyond their teen years. There just weren't any juicy adult scenes I could tease you with that wouldn't give TOO much away.  

"When is this going to be available?" I will never have an exact date because as we've learned in the past once I upload to Amazon and B&N it is out of my hands. So technically I can't announce a "release date" because I could upload one day and they may take a day or two or even longer to make it live. Therefore all I can say for now is I really do believe this is the last teaser before I upload.  

I anticipate getting the MS back from my editor this week. That could be ANY day this week. With that said. I do have that Chicago meet & greet this weekend. Hopefully *fingers crossed* that won't throw a curve ball in my plans. If my editor hands over the fully edited manuscript while I'm on a plane or in the middle of the meet & greet there's nothing I can do. But I will have my laptop with me and ready to fire it up in my hotel room the moment I get a chance. As always I will keep you updated I promise!!!  

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Teaser Tuesday - Fate - 9-18-12

 Photo credit: © Shininghope | Dreamstime.com

Happy Teaser Tuesday Everyone!

So here's the set up to this one: 

It's been weeks since the baby shower where they met. Rose and Vince have been texting day and night ever since. Though they're still in the "friends" stage Vince steps things up a little with tonight's surprise text... 

They’d stopped texting earlier and she thought that was it for the night. Then her phone pinged.

 

Vince: I’m lying here thinking about you… I just wanted you to know.

Immediately the butterflies began to stir. As tempted as she was to tell him she’d been doing the very same thing—lying there thinking of him—she dare not; she couldn’t! Almost afraid to ask she did anyway.

Rose:  What are you thinking?  

Vince: How glad I am now that my parents dragged my ass to that shower. I’m almost glad I screwed up and was forced to go; otherwise I know I wouldn’t have. I would’ve never met you, Rose. Imagine what a damn shame that would’ve been?

Rose tried so hard not to read too much into the things he said, but how couldn’t she? Her insides were a mess with this weird excitement, and her heart was now palpitating wildly. Grace who was lying next to her was looking at her again, the concern all too apparent in her face. 

“Last text. I promise,” she said as she began to text back to him.

Rose: It would’ve been a shame to not have met you either, Vincent. I’m almost glad too that you did mess up but I’m even happier and so very proud of you that you say you’re staying out of trouble now. My sister is staring at me. I gotta go to bed now. But I look forward to tomorrow’s morning text. Goodnight. =)

Rose gave Grace a smug look. As promised she put her phone on the night stand and made herself comfortable. She didn’t have to worry about Vincent texting her back; he was usually very respectful about not texting her once she said goodnight. And earlier she hadn’t said goodnight, so even tonight’s out of the blue text hadn’t crossed the line. Thoughts of him would keep her up no doubt, and she couldn’t stop smiling. He’d been sweet to her since day one, but it seemed to be happening more often now. He seemed to enjoy doing things like this: making her feel like she was so incredibly special. She couldn’t decide if his being so far away was a good thing or a bad thing. 

Being near him would surely have her falling hard. Via text she felt safe, but in person she still wasn’t sure she could handle a guy like Vincent. He seemed so complex. There was so much to him unlike the simple guys her age at her school. 

The next day his morning text had her stomach in knots, and she couldn’t decide once again if this was a good or bad.

Vince: Good morning, Rose. Guess what? 

Rose: Good morning, Vincent. And I’m no good at guessing so just tell me.

Vince: It’s not a for sure thing but my uncle said he’d get back to my dad about me coming out and staying with them for the summer. My dad says it sounds promising.  We may get to spend the summer together.  =)

Holy Moses! Rose reread the text again. It appeared this was good news to him. Here once again she was torn between being excited and being scared to death about spending time with him—in person. 

Okay since this is relatively a short teaser I'll give you the first few lines that start the next chapter!

Rose: I’m crying as I write this, but I don’t think we can be friends anymore.

Vince shot up to his feet walking away from the stairs where he’d been sitting with his friends and Lorenzo after reading the text from Rose. 

“Where you going?” Lorenzo asked. “You’re up next.

“Take my turn for me,” Vince said already texting Rose back.

Vince: Why? What did I do?

See! I gave you a little more! hmm what did he do? ;) Release date? None yet but we're awfully close! I PROMISE to announce as soon as I know!!! 

If you haven't already add it to your GoodReads "to read" shelf now! 

Updated 9/20/12: Need a little more? And a giveaway? JUST posted another TINY teaser on my FB fan page! Go check it out and enter to win a signed copy of one of my books!

Tardy Teaser Tuesday of Fate! 9/12/12

 Coming VERY soon! =)

Vincent was an odd one to understand. Having just met him he seemed nice enough yet his family was obviously making it clear that he needed to be watched closely. Sal had even warned him to be on his best behavior. Something Rose noticed had bothered Vincent.

Even before his explanation about his tattoo she didn’t think he looked bad but especially now after having spent some time talking to him she was even more convinced Sal was maybe being a little hard on him. He’d been perfectly respectful except for the few times he slipped and gave way to the foul language. But that didn’t bother Rose. Just about everyone at her school cussed.

They reached the front porch of Alex’s large home and Vincent smiled. “Yep it’s still here.” He walked up the stairs of the porch and sat down on the porch swing then patted the seat next to him. “Have a seat.”

He may be polite and sweet but one thing Rose had noticed is he was also smooth. She knew the type. Here she’d never even held a boys hand and yet she was already sure Vincent had done much more. Even at only sixteen and even though they’d just met, Rose could’ve sworn there’d been a few times he may’ve been flirting with her already. She even caught the way he’d checked out her legs and wasn’t at all phased when he realized she’d seen him do it. Instead he’d smirked in response to her own goofball embarrassed expression. He must think her so lame especially after her, “anti-drugs,” rant.

This after he’d just finished telling he’d tried them and even got a tattoo in the process. Sure he’d regretted it but she still could’ve spared him that and her, “my body is my temple” speech.

Determined to leave a better than lame impression, she cleared her throat ignoring her very inexperienced fifteen-year-old pounding heart and walked up the stairs.

He stood up just as she reached the porch swing. When he realized how close she actually was and their faces were now only inches apart she saw the corners of his lips lift slowly into one of the sexiest smiles Rose had ever witnessed. “That wasn’t very gentleman like of me.” Without taking his eyes off hers he waved his hand over the swing making her heart pound even harder. “Ladies first.”

She prayed he didn’t hear the enormous gulp she took as she sat down. Trying to understand why she was suddenly so nervous when she’d been just fine in the backyard with by the koi pond, she mentally chastised herself for being such a baby. Plenty of the girls on both the soccer and volleyball team at school had boyfriends. And she’d sat next to boys at school many times. She could do this without going into cardiac arrest for the love of Pete.

“What was that?” Vince smirked as he sat down next to her closer than she’d expected.

Her eyes grew wide as mortification set in. Had she said that aloud? She often thought out loud without even realizing, especially when she was nervous. Grace caught her all the time.

“Huh?” She raised her eyebrows feigning confusion and wondering how much of it she’d said aloud, trying desperately to appear cool about feeling his thigh against hers. 

“You love Pete?” He sat so close to her she could feel the heat of his body radiate off him, and that sexy crooked smile of his wasn’t helping. “Is that your boyfriend?”

“No uh,” she shook her head feeling like a complete idiot. “It was nothing. I was thinking about something else.”

“Of a guy named Pete?” He pressed, humor lacing his eyes as he waited on Rose’s response.

“Well, no it’s,” she stammered the frustration mounting as his smirk grew bigger watching her make a total fool of herself. She never got this tongue tied. Ever. “It’s just a saying. You know ‘for the love of Pete.” She shook her head. “Never mind. But no I wasn’t thinking of any guy and I don’t have a boyfriend.”

He smiled even bigger now. “Really? Why’s that?”

Mercifully, Sal and Grace came around the corner and Rose loved them at that moment for their

timing.

They do get older as the story progresses but in case you're wondering who I'm envisioning for "young" Vince and hadn't already seen this here he is. *sigh* 

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