“Feeling better than she had in months, like a twelve-year old about to ride her new bike, Logan practically skipped down the stairs, grabbed her tennis shoes, and, balancing on one foot, was tying the second one when someone knocked on the door.
Just before 8:00 AM. She wasn’t expecting anyone.
She tied a quick double knot and opened the door.
“Good Morning!”
A Viking stood in her doorway. A tousle-headed, blonde Viking with muddy tennis shoes; open, blue eyes; and two cups of steaming coffee, one in each hand. He was losing the battle to maintain control of the two cups plus a greasy paper bag. A couple of napkins drifted to the floor. The smell of cinnamon was captivating.
Amused and salivating, Logan invited him in.
“I’m your neighbor, Ben. Saw your upstairs bathroom window was steamed up, so figured you were up… Oh!” The Viking stumbled momentarily.
“Don’t worry, I can’t see you…your…you’re up higher than I am…”
She wished she could think of something to save him, but he just powered on.
“Thought you might not have everything set up yet and could use some coffee.”
He stuck out his hand and offered her one of the hot paper cups. “Of course, you might not even drink coffee. I could have gotten you tea… I…”
Excerpt from SHATTERED: Logan Book 1
Logan invites her handsome next-door neighbor in and accepts the wonderful cinnamon roll and hot coffee he offers, and enjoys their conversation. But even though she’s attracted to Ben, and they start spending time together, she decides to keep things strictly in the friends column. The last thing she needs right now is a romantic involvement–particularly with a neighbor. Not only that, but it wasn’t until after her husband’s death two years ago, she learned that he had been having an affair. So, she’s not exactly ready to jump into anything.
Ben, too, has reasons for caution, although we don’t discover his full romantic history until FOREST PARK: Logan Book 2. Theirs is not destined to be a smooth road.
As a writer, I wanted to make Logan’s love interest real – not some fairy-tale story where he rushes in and sweeps her off her feet, with perfect, double climaxes as they fall into bed on page 5. They have lives. They have had loves. And now, maybe…they’ll find each other. How that relationship unfolds and where it winds up, is something I don’t even know yet!
A self-admitted book addict, Valerie was the kid with the flashlight under her pillow. A life of travel with exposure to many different cultures led to a pervasive interest in people, with degrees & teaching credentials in Cultural Anthropology & English.