Acknowledgements
I would first off like to thank my editing team. Ellie with Love N. Books. Her investment in the story helped me take it to the next level. Karen Hrdlicka of Barren Acres Editing, thank you for basically putting your life on hold to take on this project. You have no idea how much I appreciate your dedication and super amazing proofreading skills. I would also like to thank my cover artist Sarah Hansen of Okay Creations for making another cover that is simply put, Wow!
While writing this story my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer and passed away. She was more than a grandmother to me because she spent a large portion of her time raising my sister and I. She was at my house having coffee and cookies this past March and by April 1st she was gone. It was incredibly difficult to watch. She instilled in me a love for books and she was very proud of my accomplishments. She had a copy of Bitter Sweet Love sitting on her coffee table at all times and didn’t hesitate to share it with friends despite the hot and steamy nature of the story. She herself was an avid romance reader and I remember her collection of romance novels on a bookshelf in her room. She was always very supportive of me and my endeavors and she will be missed.
I would also like to thank my husband and kids for putting up with the endless hours I spend on a computer concocting my next story or deeply embroiled in what I am writing. I know my kids appreciate the pizza dinners they sometimes get when things get too busy in the book world and I am thankful that they are so understanding.
To all the readers and bloggers who have taken the time to read and share my stories, I am internally grateful for your selfless generosity. I have to say that the world isn’t always a fair and happy place but the people I have met in the book world have been so kind, caring, generous, helpful, selfless - that I can go on with a longer list of adjectives but I don’t want to bore you. I will just say that your support is really heartwarming!
I would love to hear back from my readers. You can connect with me on my website: http://www.rcstephens.com
Facebook @ Irene Cohen (R.C. Stephens)
Twitter: R.C. Stephens Author
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1508701.R_C_Stephens
Sign up for my monthly Newsletter and be the first to find out about releases and giveaways. There is a $10 Amazon gift card winner every month!
http://eepurl.com/bnM9Bj
IF YOU HAVEN’T READ BITTER SWEET LOVE FLIP THE PAGE FOR A PREVIEW…
Present
January 2013
Have you ever been at such a low point in your life when you saw the light to the other side? I thought it was something that people experienced when they were old and gray and had lived a life full of hopes, dreams, accomplishments, and family. I never thought that the angel would come for me at twenty-five. It’s my birthday.
It’s also the day I die.
She’s here. I can see the light around her and feel the warmth of her presence, amber liquid pouring too quickly over my head. The heat flows between my legs. What’s happening? So much blood leaves my body. I can’t feel pain. I see only light and crimson. This is my end, but I’m not ready. I have so many things left unfinished, so many mistakes to correct. This is all my fault. The baby will die and I did this.
He will never forgive me. I need to see him one more time. I need to tell him the truth. He needs to understand what happened. I thought life would be different. I thought I had more time. If only I had more time.
My life can’t end like this.
Chapter 1
The Backroom
Five Months Earlier
“Yes, yes! Oh, that feels good. You’re so fucking hot.”
Having sex in the backroom of Mickey’s bar is always fun and exciting. My body comes alive as my blood roars and my heart pounds, making me feel wanted and cherished, for a moment. The backroom is really Mickey’s office. From up against the wall, I see the black shelves that hold restaurant supplies. One wall has a desk and chair. If Mickey only knew how many times I’ve gotten laid on that desk, he’d be sick. The third wall is completely empty. Lucky for me the guy I brought back here tonight is tall and strong.
He picks me up, and I instantly wrap my long, thin legs around his waist. He pushes my blond curls to the side and feathers kisses along my neck, sending delightful shivers to my core. He pins me up to the wall. Fucking my brains out, he’s scuffing my back, but who the hell cares?
I’m in pure ecstasy when I hear my best friend, Anna, holler from the front of the bar. “Lexi, Mickey just called! He’ll be here in ten minutes. Get your ass out of the backroom and start working. You’re going to get your butt fired and mine, too, for defending you!”
Darn it, I don’t want this feeling to end.
Anna’s a Spanish beauty with glowing skin, straight dark brown hair that hits just above her behind, and her eyes are the most perfect shade of emerald. She’s petite and has the best body ever. We met in undergrad in a first year political science class and hit it off right away. She’s a waitress, and I tend bar. She’s been a little annoyed with the amount of time I’ve been spending in the backroom. It means she has to work harder waitressing and making the drinks. I feel bad about it, but I’ve been down on life lately and sex is the only thing that makes me feel good. When a guy has himself buried in me, I feel cherished, a feeling that I used to have and now crave. The meaningless sex works because I am happy in the moment, but I don’t fear my heart getting shredded to pieces.
“Give me a minute, Anna. I need one minute.”
“Fine, Bandita, I won’t say I told you so.”
That’s all I need. One more minute to climax, which I do.
“That was amazing.”
And this time, I’m not lying. The guy was really good.
“You’re amazing. I’ll call you later,” he says with a huge, sated smile splayed across his face. He’s pulling up his jeans over his muscular legs, looking proud of himself. And he damn well should be. He zips up his pants and runs his hands through his slick brown hair.
As he turns the knob to open the door, I mutter, “Uh, yeah. Sure.”
I really don’t want him calling me later. I don’t even plan on giving him my phone number. He reaches over to give me a kiss, and I accidentally turn my head so he kisses my cheek. He probably doesn’t understand how I can turn so cold after what we just did.
“See ya,” he says, his earlier proud smile falling, replaced with a look of confusion. He should be thankful I’m only after a good fuck and be on his way.
After the guy walks out the door, I straighten out the jean skirt and slutty tank top that Mickey makes us wear and leave the backroom for the bar. I feel bad because the place is now packed, and Anna is behind the bar mixing a martini and pouring three shots of rum like a mad woman.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to leave you for that long. There was barely anyone here when I went back there.”
Anna’s got this knowing look on her face. “No worries. So who was that guy? He’s pretty hot.”
I give her a happy nod. “Yeah, I know, right? He’s in engineering, really smart and handsome.”
Anna’s brow scrunches up. “So why are you fucking him in the backroom at Mickey’s?”
She knows the answer, so I don’t even know why she’s bringing it up. “Why not? The relationship isn’t going anywhere. We’ve been out a couple of times and he’s good in bed. He’s a keeper, for now.”