Coming soon to Amazon.
Hello All,
It’s time for a sneak peek of my upcoming project, All of Me. This book will be the second book in the Townsends of Texas Series. The first book was For You, featuring big brother, Micah Townsend. If you haven’t checked that one out, click here to get your copy and catch up before book 2 drops.
All of Me centers around youngest Texas Townsend brother, Gabriel. Here is a sneak peek of what’s to come. Enjoy!
Lena Clarkson couldn’t truly be walking into the middle of my brother’s wedding reception.
“They’re on the list,” Jodi said as she and Micah moved toward the women. “Lena,” she said, confirming that this was indeed reality.
Lena Clarkson was there.
“Who’s this?” Ace asked.
I all but shoved my brother aside and sidled up to Lena. “My future wife.” The words tumbled from my mouth without permission. Strangely, the urge to recant them never materialized.
I didn’t miss the way her eyes ballooned and her sharp inhale. “Gabriel.”
She said my name in that way that reminded me of honey and milk; sweet, comforting, and warming.
“Do you two know each other?” Jodi asked, glancing between Lena and me. She dropped her gaze, and that was when I realized I still held onto Lena’s hand.
Lena must’ve realized the same thing because she pulled it free. Reluctantly, I let it go.
“We’ve met,” Lena answered. “You remember Rayven, right?” She said to Jodi, gesturing to the woman staring daggers at me.
“Of course.”
“I’m so sorry to barge in on your reception like this,” Lena said. “Our flight was delayed, and we got lost on the way here.”
“No worries at all. Please, come in. Enjoy yourself,” Jodi insisted. She introduced Lena and Rayven, who I quickly found out was Lena’s cousin and part-time security, to Micah and the rest of the family.
“I’ll take it from here,” I told my new sister-in-law as I took Lena’s hand. “Let’s have a dance,” I said to Lena.
Her lips parted, and not for the first time I wondered if they felt as soft as they looked. The light pink coloring on them paired with the gold shimmer on her high cheekbones made her captivating. In reality, I was sure she could be bare-faced and would be as appealing.
“She’s safe with me,” I assured her security, who was still giving me a skeptical look.
Lena cleared her throat. “It’s okay, Ray.” She turned back to me. “One dance couldn’t hurt.”
My lips spread into a grin, and for a heartbeat, Lena appeared flustered, as if she regretted her previous statement.
She looked at the crowd around us. “There’re a lot of people here.”
“Mostly family,” I said. “It’s cool, though. No one here’s going to sneak any pictures of you.”
When her shoulders relaxed and the slightly rigid way she’d held her body eased, I knew that was the right thing to say.
We moved to the center of the dance floor before I brought her body close to mine.
“Alicia Keys,” Lena said.
“What was that?” I asked as I started swaying our bodies to the time of the music.
“The song. It’s Alicia Keys,” she answered. “How it Feels To Fly.”
“Cool song title.”
“I guess it’s appropriate for the occasion.”
I nodded in agreement and pulled her body into mine. She fit perfectly.
Lena no longer wore the engagement ring that I’d seen her wear in Los Angeles. That, and the fact that she’d shown up to a wedding with her cousin instead of the douchebag, I assumed she was now single.
“How’ve you been?” I asked.
She twisted her head, and her eyes narrowed.
“You and your cousin look alike when you make that face.” I glanced over at her eagle-eyed cousin, who now stood off to one side of the room, surveying it.
“We used to be referred to as The Twins when we were young,” she said. “She’s a little older than me, but we look a lot alike. Even with our difference in shades, we were often mistaken for sisters.”
I could see it. Lena’s light brown complexion was slightly lighter than her cousin’s, but they both had the same plump lips, high cheekbones, and pert noses. Lena was barely five-foot-three, while her cousin stood much taller.
“By middle school, Ray shot up in height and left me in the dust.” She let out a laugh. It was melodic, just like her voice.
“Do you like this song?” I asked after listening to the lyrics for a little while.
She nodded.
“You ever wonder how it feels to fly?”
Her mouth parted, and I almost groaned. She seemed dumbfounded by my question, so I decided to keep going.
“Obviously, you never experienced it with that douchebag back in Los Angeles.”
“You mean Nate?”
I frowned at hearing his name.
She pulled back, staring up at me.
“Your ring is gone, and you showed up here with only your security,” I said. “So you finally recognized he was dragging you down?”
“Very funny,” she commented. “You’re trying to get the story on what led up to that video?”
My eyebrows dipped. “What video?”
Her frown deepened. “Yeah, like you don’t know.”
I brought her body into mine again. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. But you confirmed that you’re single. Which is everything I need to know.”
It was as if everything I’d thought about relationships, in particular, my getting involved in a relationship, fell by the wayside. When looking Lena in the face, the warnings of my past were no use.
After that, the song ended, and the DJ began playing a fast song. More guests began moving onto the dance floor.
“I’m not interested in how it feels to fly,” Lena said before stepping out of my hold.
“Why not?” I asked with a smirk.
“I’m afraid of heights,” was her answer before she walked away.
I turned, following her with my gaze, watching the sway of her hips in the knee-length green dress she wore.
“Afraid of heights, my ass,” I mumbled, watching her walk away.
Like what you read? Click here to PRE-ORDER your copy of All of Me now!
Will be available September 30th.
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