Contemporary Romance (Clean)
Date Published: 10-12-2024
Erin has planned her life down to alphabetizing her spice cabinet, so when she is stood up on the wedding day she's dreamed of since she was a little girl, her ordered life spirals out of control. When her best friend, and maybe something more, Aaron, challenges her to step outside of her small-town life and explore the world, Erin makes a monumental decision that will take her from teaching middle schoolers in rural Ohio to her dream job as a governess in New York City. Determined to start fresh, to eat meat again, and to ditch her planner, Erin embraces her novel life, but teaching loveable Jessica isn't the only new facet. Her employer, millionaire Daniel Goldstein, is as closed off as the books lining the shelves in his penthouse library where Erin and he spend their evenings sharing their love of books, wine, and perhaps each other. But as Erin opens her heart to new possibilities and loving again, she can't ignore the growing mystery that Daniel is hiding something…or someone.
In this small-town, big-city contemporary romance, Erin learns that no matter where she goes, she takes herself with her. Does that mean finally finding love in the Big Apple, or was it waiting for her in her hometown all along?
Erin scowled at her reflection in the courthouse bathroom mirror. She ran her fingers through her dark brown hair, untangling an imaginary knot. The knots in her stomach remained.
She moved close enough to almost kiss the mirror, a gesture she should’ve been doing with Brian.
Does my eyeliner look even? She shifted her eyes for the third time in as many minutes, swearing the left side was thicker than the right. She sighed.
“Darn mascara,” she muttered, dabbing at the small black smudges under her eyes. “At least it’s not from crying. Stupid humidity.” She frowned at the premature crow’s feet competing for attention.
She stepped out of the bathroom, blamed her overactive bladder for the trip to the toilet, and glanced around the lobby.
Where is he? She pulled her phone out of her purse to check the time for the fifth time in ten minutes.
No sign of Brian. She moved to the front doors and looked outside, hoping his beat-up, muddy Wrangler would be flying into the parking lot.
She huffed and dropped onto the bench near the doors, then smoothed down the front of her off-white maxi dress and set the bouquet of daisies next to her. She wouldn’t be the girl who texted or called, demanding to know why her fiancé wasn’t there. Brian hated that. Nor would she act the part of the hopeless damsel in distress whose prince needed to rescue her.
Still, Erin’s mind drifted to her dreams. Dreams that weren’t coming true. The dress was white, but there would be no church bells, no father walking her down the aisle, no organ music, and apparently no groom on her wedding day.
Her phone beeped. Her heart sped up as she snatched it from her lap.
We need 2 talk.
Her stomach dropped.
Where are you? Her fingers moved quickly over the screen, so much so that she had to retype the question three times before getting it right.
Come 2 McD’s next door. Got us sum burgers n fries.
Erin’s mouth hung open.
How romantic, Brian.
Babe just come.
Tears prickled, but Erin blinked them away. She stood, grabbed her purse, and went to the window where the receptionist sat. The middle-aged woman was on the phone and gave Erin a “just a minute” sign by holding up her index finger.
“Tell Judge Valentino there won’t be a wedding today.” Erin’s voice broke by the end of the sentence. The judge might as well be sentencing me to a life of unhappiness.
About the Author
Bestselling author of the Lorna & Tristan series, Cynthia Hilston is a stay-at-home mom of three young kids, happily married, and lives in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. Writing has always been like another child to her. After twenty years of waltzing in the world of fan fiction, she stepped away to do her debut dance with original works of fiction, although she still dabbles in fan fiction.
In her spare time – what spare time? – she devours books, shamelessly watches Hallmark movies and When Calls the Heart, pets her orange and black kitties, looks at the stars, drinks wine or coffee with good friends, and dreams of what other stories she wishes to tell.
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