Title:
Whatever You Do (Try Again, #2)
Author:
Stephanie Smith
Release
Date: January 15, 2014
Genre:
Contemporary Romance
BLURB
How do you trust someone who is
everything you’re trying to avoid?
Harper Lindell is having a
bad day. You know, if a bad day consists of getting fired from your cushy job
and then catching your boyfriend red handed playing hide the salami. Sick
of meeting the same guys over and over, Harper decides to try her luck at
Internet dating. How bad could it be? Right? Tate Washington
wasn’t looking to meet anyone. Still
dealing with the consequences of his one serious relationship, all he’s
interested in is revamping his family’s behind-the-times café. He didn’t plan on seeing the beautiful receptionist from
Argo again, walking into his life to use his café as a dating hub, and using
him as a BFF. Can Harper really trust Tate,
who is everything she thinks she needs to steer clear of? Can Tate wait while Harper works through her insecurities
and fears?
EXCERPT
“Andrew?” I question as I reach the table. “Yes. Harper,
hello.” He shakes my hand and the first thing I notice are his warm eyes. They
are gentle and sincere and I feel instantly comfortable with him. “Take a seat,
please.” He gestures to my seat before pulling
it out for me to sit in. I smile up at him in thanks for the chivalrous action
as I slide into the chair. During our emails
back and forth this week, Andrew and I had figured out that we are from similar
small towns not far from each other. We laugh about all the misguided town folk
and the classic ‘types’ every town has. The town clown who has thought of every
invention under the sun, the do-gooder mayor, the old lady gossip group, and
the crazy minister and his family. Of course I didn’t laugh at that last one,
as true as it is, being the daughter of a minister and all. “So what do your parents do?” Andrew asks. “Umm.” I stall looking for a distraction, not wanting to
make to him feel bad. “What can I get you
guys?” Tate offers and I’m grateful for the interruption. “Oh gosh I haven’t even looked yet,” Andrew says as he
picks up the menu from the table. “Just the
usual for me please.” As my eyes reach Tate’s his are wide with horror. I sit
upright at the urgency in his expression wondering what the hell is going on.
He nods his head in Andrew’s direction and I glance
over. Andrew is studying the menu oblivious to mine and Tate’s silent
conversation. I look back at Tate giving him a
‘what’ look as he scratches his head then stiffly nods back in Andrew’s
direction. I sigh frustrated and look back at
Andrew. He looks up from his menu and smiles at me before turning to Tate and
placing his order. I still don’t see a problem
and look back to Tate with a ‘just fucking tell me’ look. He begins running his hand through his hair as he harshly
nods in Andrew’s direction again. I don’t even bother looking at Andrew again,
knowing I’m not going to see anything different than before. With wide eyes and a clenched jaw, I get out through
gritted teeth, “I think that’s all.” Tate
sighs heavily, clearly frustrated and storms away from the table. I shake my head and when I turn back to Andrew he is
staring at me in confusion. “Sorry,” I giggle embarrassed he witnessed that
final interaction between Tate and me. “No
worries.” He is sweet but his voice is wary. Tate and I probably looked like
two mute idiots. How humiliating. Andrew
seamlessly continues our conversation. I use this opportunity to study him and
search for the meaning of Tate’s irrational display. I didn’t really focus on Andrew’s features before. He’s not
ugly, but he’s definitely not in the same calibre as Tate or Glenn. Now that I’m looking closer at him, there is something off
about his looks. I can’t put my finger on it but something doesn’t fit. It has
to be something small like his eyes aren’t in line or his facial features are
too far apart, maybe bad teeth or ears that are too big or small, but I can’t
see any of that. All his features seem symmetrical and in proper proportion to
his face, but something is definitely not right. Out of the corner of my eye I see Tate flailing his arms about. I shoot
a glance his way trying not to be noticeable only to see he is frantically
running his hand through his hair before tugging on the ends. No, tugging is
too tame, he is pulling hard on his hair. I
glance around the café and no one has seemed to notice Tate’s complete and
mental breakdown. He’s lost it. Maybe it’s all the coffee fumes, they are
really strong in here. When I look back
towards Tate he is on his way over to the table carrying our hot drinks. I roll
my eyes at his determined stare and wonder what antics he has planned for us
this time. Tate doesn’t falter as he strides
towards the table and proceeds to drop a hot cup of coffee all over the table
and into Andrew’s lap. I gasp in shock at what is unfolding in front of me.
Andrew jumps from his seat, squealing like a small girl. I watch horrified as
his hair falls off his head and lands on the table in front of me. My mouth drops open as I just stare at Andrew’s toupee
lying in spilt coffee. Glancing up at Andrew I see the heat rising on his face
and shiny bald head. I smile awkwardly at him as I pick up his hairpiece and
hold it out to him as if it’s a pair of dirty underwear and I can’t stand to
touch it. He quickly swipes it from my hand
and places it on his head, but not before I notice his whole head, bright red
in mortification. It’s like a beacon calling in planes for landing. Andrew
stares at me, his hairpiece on backwards and coffee leaking from it, dripping
all down his face. “I’m so sorry Andrew,” I
whisper, as I place both my hands over my mouth. Shit, I can feel the laughter
rising. “No, I’m sorry Harper.” My gut churns
on his behalf at the humiliation he must be feeling. The silence of the café
surrounds us, lucky it’s not overly busy at this time of night. Andrew glares
at Tate who smiles and raises his hands innocently, before Andrew storms out of
the café not breathing another word, just leaving a trail of coffee in his wake.
“You’re welcome,” Tate says casually as he pulls a
clean chair up to the table, before relaxing back into it and crossing his
ankles in front of him.
Wherever You Will Go (Try Again, #1)
Brooke Willis had everything she ever
wanted: a happy marriage, volunteer placement at the art gallery, and the promise
of starting a family with the man of her dreams.
Saxon Reed had everything he ever
thought he needed: a successful career, nice cars, expensive apartment, and
more money than he knew what to do with. After losing her
husband Brooke insists on taking over his company to keep his dreams alive.
Struggling in an industry she knows nothing about, Brooke turns to Saxon, her
husband’s best friend and business partner, for guidance and support. Their
mutual grief, and Saxon’s need to look after his best friend’s wife, creates a
connection beyond just business. Can Brooke
take over the company and find a new life without saying goodbye to the past?
Can Saxon protect and care for Brooke without scaring her away? What happens when your heart doesn’t listen to your head?
When lines are crossed and boundaries are pushed?
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
I'm first & foremost a reader & fangirl, I
will always be first & foremost a reader & fangirl. I am on street
teams, I pimp and I brag. I LOVE my Authors!! I have recently started writing as a
way to relax and spend some time for me. My first novel Wherever You Will Go is
due to release later this year. I'm having so much fun writing my first story
and I'm looking forward to the journey it is taking me on.
GIVEAWAY!
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