Title: If Only
Author: Christie L. Kraemer
clkraemer1@gmail.com
ISBN: 978-1-62420-209-4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Excerpt Heat Level: 1
Book Heat Level:
TAGLINE
Widow Barbara Langley, sporting a refreshed look, and her
best friend, go to Tampa, Florida as she had promised. Along the way she
encounters an old flame and new temptation.
BLURB
Widow Barbara Langley, and best friend, Rachel, journey
to Tampa, Florida. Barbara left broken-hearted years earlier and returns with
her newly surgicized body to mend her grieving spirit. Can she juggle an old
love who reappears and the younger man who desires her or will she choose to
return to the Northwest still single?
EXCERPT
"You are the one
my cards have foretold to me." She nodded at Rachel who stood behind
Barbara, her mouth gaping.
"I beg your
pardon?" Barbara moved back stepping on Rachel's toe.
"Ouch!"
"Sorry."
The blonde women
stopped before Barbara, tossing a fearful look in Rachel's direction, before
reaching out and gently lifting Barbara's hand to her, palm up, and peered at
the opened extremity. She took a bejeweled, ruby-tipped finger and traced the
lifeline. Her dark brown eyes peered deeply into Barbara's.
"You have
recently suffered a great personal loss."
Rachel harrumphed
behind Barbara.
Ignoring Rachel, she
continued, "You have come home seeking a glimpse of the past to answer questions
of old. You will have to make a decision between two—brothers?—which will
change your living arrangements as well as your life..."
Before she could
continue, Rachel grabbed Barbara's elbow and propelled her toward the front
door, muttering under her breath, "Any fool can see the white circle where
your wedding ring used to be and, of course, you're seeking something. You came
into this bloody shop. What a fraud."
The blonde turned and
softly called to the retreating backs of the two friends, "By the way,
Dylan says you are headed in the right direction, and he wants to thank you.
Now he can rest."
Barbara's planted her
feet to the floor. She whirled and, grasping her throat, whispered,
"Dylan?"
The blonde approached
warily, glancing at the furious face of Rachel looking over the head of her
friend.
"Yes. He said
you"—she pointed at Rachel—"would not believe me, but he was finding
it difficult to get a message through to you. Barbara, he wanted very much for
you to know the quest you have taken is the first step to setting him free. He
knew he was your second choice."
Barbara gasped, tears
welling in her eyes, "He never said a thing."
"He has told me
to thank you for all the years of love you gave to him, and says he wants you
to find your first love who also searches for answers."
Rachel growled behind
Barbara, "Let's get the hell out of this place." She turned Barbara
around and shoved her out the door. Glancing back, she spotted the blonde
peeking from the door as they escaped to the car.
"Barbara, you're
not going to believe that garbage, are you?" Furrows creased Rachel's
brow.
"Well, normally,
I would've laughed in her face as we walked out, but she did mention Dylan by
name. I mean, how could she know the name of, of... well, you know."
Barbara had stopped on the sidewalk and was looking up at her friend.
Pulling Barbara close
to the building, she tenderly grasped her friend's hand in hers.
"Winkie..."
Barbara's eyes
widened.
"Yeah, I know
about your pet name. He told me once when I'd just read him the riot act about
his drinking and how it would end your marriage if he didn't get himself
together. I hate to dump ice water on your hope but... we were talking about
Dylan in there, remember?"
Rachel watched her
friend's shoulders droop and the hope flicker and die from her eyes.
"Yeah, I'd
forgotten about that. Well, I guess mysterious messages from those who have
passed over and voodoo are the tools of their trade. I'm just feeling a little
guilty, I guess. I've actually felt happier here than the last two years in
Oregon. Hearing his name like that brought back all the pain."
Rachel winced.
"Girlfriend, we came here so you could release some of that pain and take
a breather from being 'Dylan's poor widow,' remember?" She gathered her
friend under her arm, and they moved toward the parking lot.
Barbara slowed her
gait and turned to look up at her friend. "I know she has a very good act
going, but I never told Dylan he was my second choice. Did you?"
Rachel shook her head
and with her hand crossed her heart.
"Kind of makes
you wonder, doesn't it?"
Rachel picked up the
pace until they stood at the doors of the convertible.
"No. The woman
is good at what she does—selling the occult. Everyone who goes into her shop is
looking for something, or they wouldn't stop. The white spot and indentation on
your finger, where your ring used to be, indicates you were in a long
relationship, which has recently ended. I hate to be the bearer of bad news,
but, when you think no one is watching, you look incredibly sad. It wouldn't
take a rocket scientist to figure out you might be looking for a new love. That
part about two brothers, though; that was taking it just a little too far. You
gotta give her this—she's a great actress."
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