Chapter 4 For two days, I lay in bed, wondering why I had not responded to Kelly. I couldn't blame him for moving on; I had not given him a reason to continue his efforts. I pushed him back into the arms of his treacherous ex-girlfriend. We had spoken numerous times about her. How she had cheated on him twice and he had forgiven her and finally, after the third time he cut her off for good. She stated that she was jealous...

It was close to sunset when Kitsune arrived. I sat outside waiting for her, listening to the birds singing, enjoying my new surroundings. I saw movement near a clump of trees, and I wasn't sure what it was until I saw her head look around one large oak. She caught me looking and then popped back behind it. She did that several times, then sensing no danger, she cautiously walked out in full view. Kitsune walked towards me...

Another day in paradise. I work the late shift as a hostess at a fine restaurant in San Diego. Sometimes, late at night, we get the drunks who have been partying in Mexico. They think because I am a Hispanic woman, I am cheap and easy and want to party with them. It felt so good to be home after a day like that. My apartment may be small, but it suits me perfectly. As I drifted off, I wondered, Will I ever find a decent g...

They were the first to enter the small breakfast room, which had probably once been the parlour of the cottage. Two other tables were set, so they hadn't been the only guests that night. The landlady was busy arranging various breakfast items on what appeared to be a self-service buffet. Bronwyn wished her a good morning and led Ciara over to the table marked with their room number. She noticed the woman's eyes following...

I know it’s a cliché, but I fell in love with Claire the first moment I saw her. It was in the college book store where I was in my senior year and she was a sophomore. As an engineer type, I’m not usually impulsive, but I walked over to her and said, “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Will you please go out with me?” She calmly crossed her arms under her perfect little breasts and looked me over from hea...

Another day in paradise. I work the late shift as a hostess at a fine restaurant in San Diego. Sometimes, late at night, we get the drunks who have been partying in Mexico. They think because I am a Hispanic woman, I am cheap and easy and want to party with them. It felt so good to be home after a day like that. My apartment may be small, but it suits me perfectly. As I drifted off, I wondered, Will I ever find a decent g...

"Thank you so much for doing this, Maya," my friend Lena said, pulling me into a tight hug on the doorstep of her dad's house. "Mom and Dad aren't exactly on speaking terms since the divorce, so calling her wasn't an option." "Of course," I said with a shrug. "It's the holidays." And since my rotation kept me from going home to visit my family for Christmas, it wasn't like I had anything better to do. "I get that it's imp...