Page 1 of Write on Time

CHAPTER 1

Drake

Lily L’Amour:

As soon as he wrapped his big arms around me, my heart skipped a beat and I smiled happily, my eyes misty with love.

“I love you, angel. So much that it feels like you’re part of my soul. You feed me and breathe life into me. You’re my everything. If I ever lose you, I swear I will not go on one more day. Nothing exists without you.”

I hear the mailman at the front door and my door camera goes off, showing me the older man as he slips that red envelope inside my mailbox.

My whole body feels like a rope pulled tight as I watch him walk away. I try to give myself a minute. Let him get to the next house and out of sight but I can’t.

I stand and rush to the front door which is right next to my office. It used to be in the back of the house, away from the noise at the front of the house, looking out on the lake, peaceful and serene. I hit the door and rip it open and reach out to my mailbox, pulling the mail out quickly, my hand trembling at that familiar red envelope.

I lift it to my nose and swear that I can smell the scent of flowers and something fruity and sweet.

Her scent. I close my eyes and breathe it in, pulling it in to my lungs like the food I was just writing about. Food for my soul.

I’ve never even met this woman. Don’t have a clue what she looks like or how old she is. All I know is that her words are so fun and engaging, intoxicating like champagne bubbles popping under your nose.

She’s something special and my imagination has been trying to picture her for the longest time.

“Hello, Mr. Masters. How are you today?” My eyes open and my head jerks up, the mailman’s grin raising my hackles.

“I’m fine,” I grumble and like a dragon protecting its treasure I step back inside and tuck my mail close to my body. I don’t want to share even one iota of her with anyone else. She’s mine.

I sit down at my desk and stare at the envelope, loathe to let the anticipation go. I look forward to each one of these letters. I lift the letter to my nose and breathe deep again, needing that little hit of her.

Then I drop the envelope to the desk and reach for my letter opener. One quick swipe and I pull out the beautiful floral stationary. I can smell that scent on the letter too and I can’t think beyond her. It’s always her. It will always be her.

Even if I don’t even know what she looks like. None of that matters. Somehow I just know that she’s the one for me.

My one.

I pull out the sheet of paper and smile when I realize that I’m about to get my hit of her.

My eyes scan the paper and the smile on my lips fades quickly.

Dear Lily:

I’m so sorry that I didn’t send you a quicker reply to your lovely letter. I would be so blasted excited if you came this way and we finally got to meet. I would love to hear your thoughts on my little store and our little town. Valentine is the cutest little place. There’s not a ton to do because we’re just a small place but I’m sure we can have a meal at the little diner down the block.

Are you sure that you’re okay with coming out this way? I know that you’ve never gone on a book tour. I have to figure that there’s a good reason. I don’t want to be a bother for you. I really shouldn’t have asked you to come out here. It’s too much of an imposition. Please just forget that I asked.

I saw that your latest book has been pushed back. I hope that our letter writing hasn’t interfered with your writing. I’d hate to be the reason that all your fans out there don’t get their newest hit of romance from you! I don’t want them all wanting to kill me!

Anyway, we’re getting ready for the Valentine’s festival! Most towns have their own special day. Ours is Valentine’s Day. The whole town turns into a mushy mess of people trying to match up their neighbors and then there’s a karaoke contest withfamous duets and so many other things. It’s just a lot of fun and the whole town loses its mind!

Some other guy must have done some of these things with her. And if those guys haven’t figured it out yet they soon will. She’s so much fun.

I open my computer and do something I promised myself I’d never do.

I look up the website for her little bookstore in Colorado. The website pops up and the first thing I see is the cute storefront with Book Nook on the window. The awning is a hot pink with red spots on it.

It looks fresh and pretty like I imagine her to be.

And that’s when I scroll down on the website and see a smiling photo of the store owner. My heart skips a beat and I feel like I’ve been hit right in the gut.

---