Ship of Dreams (Dreams Come True Series Book 2) (31 page)

Hawk Media had hired Giddings-Rose to handle some of the media buying and to oversee the development of her idea for the Concierge Tours App.

“If we’re being honest, I’d have to say the same thing. I thought there might be some resentment between the two agencies, but we’ve really melded over the last few months.”

“This could the beginning of a beautiful relationship,” Hawk said. “Not unlike yours and Nathan’s.”

Laura drew back. “Well, aren’t you the romantic.”

The music ended. Taking her hand and placing it in the crook of his arm, he escorted her to where Nathan stood watching them.

“I was just telling your wife how impressed I’ve been with her work and professionalism,” Hawk said, as he returned her to Nathan’s care.

“If you’re so impressed with her, why doesn’t she work for you?” Nathan asked Hawk.

“That’s a good question.” Hawk turned to Laura, “Why don’t you work for me?”

“Because I’d want your job,” Laura returned, without missing a beat.

Hawk’s eyes widened, then he chuckled. “Enough said.”

Gloria tottered around the wedding g
uests, proud of her latest accomplishment. And she thought getting Darcy hitched had been difficult. Queen of the Booty Calls proved to be nearly impossible.

She snorted as she passed Milton. At least his nose wasn’t stuck in his phone, but only because there was no signal.

Her gaze roamed the room’s shadows where she knew Millie would be hiding. Spotting her not far from where Darcy stood with her brother, she shook her head. At least Darcy had managed to get her in a dress that wasn’t brown.

No rest for the weary. Throwing back her gin and tonic, she approached Darcy.

“I’ve been thinking.”

Darcy absentmindedly rubbed her protruding belly. “About what?”

“Well, you’ll be needing a nursery for my great-godchild, and I’d like to make that my gift.”

Darcy’s eyes widened as she gazed at Gloria. “Your gift?”

“Yeah. You know, remodel that guest room down the hall from the master bedroom. Paint, window-coverings, maybe some built-in bookcases or something.”

“But—”

“No buts. Just accept my gift.”

“O-Okay.”

“I have just the guy to do the work.”

“Sure. Give him my number, and have him give me a call when we get back. What’s his name?”

“Ian. Ian Brand.”

Her work done for the night, Gloria headed off to the bar for another drink. Matchmaking was thirsty work. “Hey, sweetcakes,” she called to Sergio, “how about another Bombay Sapphire gin and tonic?”

Turning back to the room, her eyes lit on Millie. “Hang on, girlie, your time is coming.”

Turn the page to read the first chapter of DREAMS OF HER OWN, the next book in Rebecca Heflin’s
Dreams Come True Series

If the
Guinness Book of World Records
had a category for the world’s most boring life, Millie Stephens knew she would hold the record.

Bundled up in her brown wool coat against the chill of a New York Fall, she hurried down the Brooklyn sidewalk to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription for her boss.

As personal assistant for best-selling romance author, Darcy Butler-Ryan, Millie kept her calendar, edited her manuscripts, handled her social media, and through her agent, Gloria Madison, scheduled her public appearances, among other duties.

Since Darcy had become pregnant, Millie had also taken it upon herself to run errands and generally oversee Darcy’s health and well-being.

Thus, the trip to the pharmacy for Darcy’s anti-nausea medication.

She consulted the day’s to-do list to see what other errands were on it. Lists were her life. They provided organization, structure, and a sense of accomplishment. She loved ticking things off her list so much that if she accomplished something that wasn’t on it, she’d write it down just so she could have the pleasure of marking it off.

She had lists for everything. Errands. Tasks. Books to be read. Special dates to remember. If something needed doing, she had a list for it, all appropriately categorized, of course.

Shoving the slip of paper back into her coat pocket, she stopped at the corner and waited for the walk signal. As soon as the light changed, she stepped out into the pedestrian crosswalk, anxious to get to the pharmacy and out of the cold. She glanced to her left and froze. A delivery truck barreled down the street as if the red light meant nothing. And as if she truly were invisible.

Fear stole her ability to move and she scrunched her eyes closed hoping death would at least be quick. She strived for invisibility, but now she’d give anything to stand out.

Suddenly, she was yanked from behind and hauled up against a hard object, bands of steel around her waist, her feet dangling in the air.

“Are you okay?” a gruff male voice asked, his breath warm in her ear.

She nodded, unsure if she could do any more than that.

“I’m going to set you back on your feet. Do you think you can stand?”

Nodding again, she realized the hard object at her back was a man’s chest, and the steel bands were his arms. She slid down his body and felt the sidewalk beneath her feet. A wave of dizziness washed over her.

“Breathe,” her rescuer encouraged. He turned her to face him, his hands on her shoulders, and she looked up and into eyes the color of a winter-gray sky, earnest with concern. His already tousled brown hair ruffled in the wind whipping around the corner, and his chin bore the stubble so many women were fond of.

She inhaled deeply, drawing in the scent of something spicy and leathery. “Better?”

She nodded, still speechless.

“You should always wait after the signal changes before you cross a street.” He glanced at his watch. “I’m late for an appointment. You’re sure you’re okay?”

She nodded.

“Be more careful next time,” the stranger in the leather jacket said before he turned to walk away.

Millie managed to put one foot in front of the other for another block before coming to a bus stop and collapsing onto the bench. Her legs shook, her hands quivered, and she struggled to take in a deep breath. All she could think about was how your life was supposed to flash before your eyes when confronted with a near-death experience, and hers . . . didn’t. Instead it was as if the projector had run out of film–just a blank screen.

What did that mean?

It meant, Millicent Grace Stephens, that your life has been so boring that the highlight reel was nonexistent. Her thirtieth birthday was right around the corner, and what had she accomplished with her life?

Not much, that’s what.

Sure, she had a bachelor’s in literature, summa cum laude, with a focus on the Middle Ages from Sarah Lawrence College. She had a job she loved. And she could support herself. Other than that, she might as well have become a nun for all the excitement her life held.

She recalled the hard strength of her rescuer’s chest against her back. The rough and tumble look of him. She’d bet her first edition autographed copy of Edith Wharton’s
Age of Innocence
, that
his
life wasn’t boring. That if he had a near-death experience he’d have a highlight reel worthy of an action movie.

Rising on still-wobbly legs, she drew in a long, slow breath, and resumed her errand in an I-almost-died daze.

“God’s bones!” Pausing at the next intersection, she realized she never thanked her leather-clad hero.

Also by
Rebecca Heflin
and
Soul Mate Publishing
:

RESCUING LACY

When tough battle-scarred photojournalist-turned-wildlife-photographer Lacey Sommers travels to Costa Rica in a last-ditch effort to save her job, she meets beach-bum-gorgeous Luke Hancock, an outdoor guide, environmentalist and expert on economics and sustainability, who’s been hired by her magazine to serve as her pilot and wilderness guide for the duration of her stay.

It’s clear from the outset there is a powerful physical attraction between the two, but strong personalities, pre-conceived notions, an unexpected and contentious family connection, and the scars from a tragic death and a terrifying event threaten to keep them apart.

Will Lacey shed the mantle of Kevlar she’s worn for so long and allow Luke inside her heart? Or will her ostensible strength be her downfall?

Now available at Amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/plfdqqu

THE PROMISE OF CHANGE

Sarah Edwards loves stability, but now finds life has other plans for her. Divorced, bored, and twitchy, she’s convinced her impulsive, sometimes irrational decisions are the sign of a mid-life crisis, and the contradictory actions and emotions are giving her family and friends mental whiplash. Her abrupt resignation from her job is the final straw. But a two-week trip to England seems the perfect pick-me-up for this Anglophile and Austenite.

Enter Alex Fraser, a.k.a. the Earl of Rutherford, who although a member of the lucky sperm club, prefers to be known for what he’s accomplished, rather than a fate of birth. Despite his family’s disapproval, he is determined to work in his chosen profession of acting. He’s always preferred casual flings with beautiful women who have no illusions of marriage. That is, until he literally bumps into Sarah in an Oxford pub.

Despite an idyllic week together, Sarah gets cold feet and returns to the States determined to come back down to reality. A year later, the realization of Sarah’s life-long dream unexpectedly brings Alex back into her life, in what she believes is an ironic twist of fate. Will Sarah’s decisions leave her life in shambles, or will they lead to the promise of change?

Now available at Amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/pztw9qh

DREAMS OF PERFECTION

Best-selling romance writer Darcy Butler is holding out for perfection in the form of her own carefully-crafted heroes. Once blissfully engaged to be married, Darcy’s post-traumatic commitment phobia is depriving her of the very thing she wants most: her very own happily-ever-after. Now, here she is just six months shy of her thirtieth birthday, and not a Prince Charming in sight. 

Successful lawyer Josh Ryan is the boy-next-door with a soft spot for the less fortunate, and Darcy’s best friend without benefits. Darcy often comes to him lamenting her love-life, or the lack thereof, whereupon Josh patiently doles out his sage advice. Problem is Josh is in love with Darcy. 

But when Darcy finds herself looking into the handsome face of the man who graces the cover of her soon-to-be-released novel, she’s convinced her dreams of perfection have come true. Or have they?

Available now at Amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/maqs2bj