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Loving Or Nothing
Loving Or Nothing
Loving Or Nothing
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Loving Or Nothing

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Third Place Winner, Gulf States Silken Sands Star Contest, 2012
Semi-Finalist, Kindle Book Reviews Best Indie Book of 2012

A secret crush. Two wounded hearts. A tale of love, hope and redemption.

No stranger to loss, Tami Morrelle is holding on with one satiny thread to the only thing she has left that ties her to her loved ones – the family bridal shop.

Local bad boy Daniel Ramsey is back in town and on a mission – to turn Tami’s world upside down – any way he can.

Daniel needs Tami’s beachfront home and business to complete his crowning achievement as a successful developer. His latest proposal hinges on buying former high school classmate Tami’s land to make it happen. More importantly, it will show those in Loving who were convinced he’d amount to less than nothing they were dead wrong about him.

For Daniel, it’s Loving or nothing. For Tami, selling out to Daniel will leave her with nothing. But when the ruthless developer and sentimental bridal shop owner clash, sparks fly.

A secret crush. Two wounded hearts. Will Daniel and Tami be willing to give up what they think they need and open their hearts to what really matters in Loving?

(Includes bonus short story, "Accidental Love.")

LanguageEnglish
PublisherCara Marsi
Release dateMar 8, 2012
ISBN9781452466361
Loving Or Nothing
Author

Cara Marsi

An award-winning and eclectic author, Cara Marsi is published in romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance. She loves a good love story, and believes that everyone deserves a second chance at love. Sexy, sweet, thrilling, or magical, Cara’s stories are first and foremost about the love. Treat yourself today, with a taste of romance. When not traveling or dreaming of traveling, Cara and her husband live on the East Coast in a house ruled by two spoiled cats who compete for attention. Read excerpts of all Cara's books and sign up for her newsletter at www.caramarsi.com

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    Book preview

    Loving Or Nothing - Cara Marsi

    Loving or Nothing

    Cara Marsi

    Smashwords Edition

    Copyright © 2011 Carolyn Matkowsky

    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

    This book is a work of fiction and all characters exist solely in the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any references to places, events or locales are used in a fictitious manner.

    Acknowledgments

    I couldn’t have done this without the help of the talented and creative writers of my critique groups—my online group who offers unwavering support, and the wonderful ladies I meet with weekly who sharpen my writing skills and refuse to let me get lazy. Thanks. You’re the best.

    A special thanks to friend and critique partner Gwen, a former bridal shop owner, for sharing her expertise and for her help with plotting.

    Loving or Nothing novella edited by Laura Kelly.

    Contents

    Cover

    Copyright

    Acknowledgements

    Table of Contents

    Chapter One

    Chapter Two

    Chapter Three

    Chapter Four

    Chapter Five

    Chapter Six

    Chapter Seven

    Chapter Eight

    Chapter Nine

    Chapter Ten

    Chapter Eleven

    Chapter Twelve

    Chapter Thirteen

    Epilogue

    Accidental Love (complete story)

    Excerpt from Logan's Redemption

    Books by Cara Marsi

    CHAPTER ONE

    I need a miracle. Tami Morrelle dropped the phone receiver back on its cradle with a loud clunk and rubbed her aching temples. I will not cry. I will not cry.

    Trouble? Jennifer, her assistant at Wedding Dreams Bridal, looked up from a small table tucked in a corner of their crowded office. An expert in calligraphy, Jennifer sat addressing wedding invitations for one of their clients.

    That was Nancy Rizzo, Tami said. She cancelled her wedding plans. Money issues. She says she’ll have a very small wedding and wear a dress off the rack from one of the department stores. Tami glanced at the large calendar posted on the wall. This was April. Although they had weddings scheduled almost every week for the next year, their bookings were down ten percent from last year.

    Not another cancellation. Jennifer dropped her pen and pushed back from the table. What’ll we do with all those dresses?

    Hope for a fairy godmother to wave her magic wand and fill this place with brides all wanting the gowns we’ve already paid for, Tami muttered. "I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be selfish, but that’s the second cancellation in two months. Why do the brides always wait until after we’ve ordered the gowns to cancel?" When a wedding was cancelled, the bridal shop was obligated to pay the manufacturer for the gowns already ordered.

    Jennifer swallowed. Are you going to close?

    Not if I can help it. Things will get better. They have to. Tami grimaced. We’re still fighting our way back to the surface after the hurricane last year.

    Jennifer shot her a wry smile. "We sure didn’t need that kind of gift from Mother Nature."

    Although insurance had covered most of the flood damage to the basement and to the inventory, Tami had taken out a loan and maxed out her credit cards to pay for expenses not covered by insurance. She had four weeks to come up with the next loan payment.

    She looked at her aunt’s picture on the desk. Sorry, Aunt Pauline, I’ve tried, I really have.

    The bell over the shop door tinkled. Tami closed her eyes and sent out a silent prayer. Please let that be a new client. She stood up and put on her best professional face. Then, smoothing her slacks over her hips, she went into the shop—and lost her smile.

    Standing there, a look of boredom on her face, was Olivia Shea, real estate agent and local barracuda. The blonde was dressed as usual in the latest style and wearing a spectacular mohair coat. Tami resisted the urge to growl at the woman who since high school had rubbed her the wrong way. Homecoming queen turned real estate predator, Olivia hadn’t changed a bit since school.

    Tami shifted her attention to the tall man with Olivia. She knew him from somewhere. But where? The sunlight coming through the bay windows brought out reddish highlights in his dark brown hair. But it was his eyes, deep green and shuttered, that captured Tami and held her. There was something familiar about—.

    Daniel? Daniel Ramsey?

    Danny insisted on coming here, Olivia said, with a sniff of disdain.

    I hope we haven’t come at a bad time, he offered quietly. His voice, deep and rich and dripping with masculine sensuality, slid over Tami like chocolate warmed by the sun as his eyes lit with an appreciative gleam.

    Tamsen, you’re even more beautiful than I remember, he said.

    A disconcerting wave of heat rumbled through her lower abdomen. Oh. My. God. She blinked, taking a startled moment to absorb both the sudden heat and his completely unexpected praise. Not to mention the smile that was about ten times sexier than she remembered. Daniel Ramsey. In her shop. With Olivia. The cheerleader and the bad boy.

    It’s…it’s Tami now. No one calls me Tamsen anymore. She mentally pulled herself together. The last I heard of you, you’d joined the Army right after graduating from Loving High.

    His mouth tightened. That was seventeen years ago. A lifetime.

    Tami couldn’t help but stare. His shoulders had broadened and he’d gotten taller and filled out. Filled out very nicely. His beautifully tailored charcoal gray suit and snowy white shirt were out of place here at the Jersey shore. Too formal. But on him it looked perfect. He looked perfect. His thick hair was slicked back in a cut right out of GQ. So different from the shoulder-length hair he’d sported in high school. A light stubble of dark beard covered his firm jaw, giving him a roguish look that made her pulse speed up.

    She looked from the too-appealing Daniel to the supremely bored Olivia. What…what can I do for you…two? God truly had a sense of humor if He’d sent this pair to her as miracle clients.

    Danny is my client. He has a business proposition for you, Olivia said.

    So they weren’t a couple. Tami exhaled, tamping down the strange and unwelcome relief that washed over her.

    A business proposition? She looked up at Daniel. He towered over her by a foot. The intensity in his green eyes made her shift uncomfortably.

    He glanced around. This house has a lot of character. How old is it?

    The fine hairs on Tami’s arms rose in warning. It’s over 100 years old. It’s been in my family for three generations. My aunt converted the bottom floors for her business.

    His gaze touched on the missing pieces of crown molding, the chipped paint and the fading, worn woodwork. So you live upstairs?

    On the third floor. Why are you asking?

    He moved closer. I’ve bought the properties on either side. I want to discuss buying yours.

    Tami clutched the back of the nearest chair. "That’s you? We heard rumors a developer wants to put up a small hotel and spa. I didn’t believe them."

    It’s true. I’m planning an upscale boutique hotel, spa, and catering facilities for romantic getaways. He smiled. With a location on the beach and a name like Loving, this town is perfect.

    And the township approved this?

    They will, Olivia interjected. It’ll bring in more tax revenues and jobs to the area.

    Despite the rumors, the township supervisors had been quiet—too quiet. Now Daniel Ramsey wanted her house, the house that had been Tami’s anchor ever since her parents had been killed. She was five years old again, all alone in the world. Except for Aunt Pauline. Except for this house.

    She lifted her chin. My home is not for sale.

    His confident smile told her he was a man who knew how to get what he wanted. I know we’ve barged in on you today without warning and I apologize. Take some time to think about it and we’ll talk later. I’ll pay you fair market value just as I did your neighbors. The location of all three properties, at the end of the beach here, is perfect for what I’ve planned.

    Tami bristled. "But it doesn’t suit my plans. Wedding Dreams Bridal has been at this location for thirty years."

    Your neighbors had no problem selling.

    My neighbors only live here part of the year.

    Olivia stepped forward and put her crimson-tipped claws on Daniel’s arm. Somehow that irritated Tami even further.

    We need to go, Danny. We have that meeting.

    He nodded at Tami. I’m willing to negotiate the price.

    Money has nothing to do with it, she snapped.

    His lips tilted into the sardonic grin she remembered from school, only now it had a much harder edge to it. We’ll see about that.

    He turned and followed Olivia from the shop. After they left, the bell over the door tinkled for several long seconds, as if warning Tami of an oncoming storm.

    Who was that? Jennifer asked, coming up behind her. New clients?

    Tami thought of Daniel’s intense green eyes and shivered. No, she said. Trouble.

    CHAPTER TWO

    That went well, Olivia said. Her stiletto heels clicked on the sidewalk as they headed to Daniel’s Mercedes parked up the street.

    As well as I’d expected. Tamsen will come around. Daniel’s gut tightened oddly, even as he said it. He slipped his car keys from his pocket and pressed the unlock button harder than necessary, then felt gratified at the Mercedes’ immediate response. Unlike Tamsen Morrelle’s response to his more-than-generous offer. An offer she hadn’t even heard yet.

    He supposed it had been too arrogant of him to think he’d be able to walk into the woman’s shop and instantly charm her, the way he had so many others in the past. The Morrelle girl had always carried herself with pride when they were in school. But in the past seventeen years he’d learned how to get most people to do what he wanted.

    Tami Morrelle would just take a little extra effort. Now that he’d seen her again, he might even enjoy the challenge.

    He helped Olivia into the car, then went around to the driver’s side and, after securing his seatbelt, eased the car from the parking spot and headed out of town. This early in April, shore towns were quiet. He’d enjoy being here for the next few months and away from the bustle and crowds of Philadelphia. With his life a constant roller coaster of

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