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    Suddenly Blue
    Suddenly Blue
    Suddenly Blue
    Ebook177 pages3 hours

    Suddenly Blue

    By Tressie Lockwood

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Ryenne Hill just turned thirty-eight and feels like the chance for a happily ever after is fast leaving her behind. She's getting older, and she can feel her eggs turning to powder. Six months ago, she broke up with her ex when she caught him cheating, she kissed their talks of getting married good-bye and nursed a broken heart.

    Ryenne runs into Shane Allen whom she's had a light flirtation going on with. Shane is sexy as hell, but he's also only twenty-eight. Ryenne would never think of getting involved with him. She's not going through a midlife crisis, and she's got nothing to prove.

    Shane has wanted Ryenne for a long while, and now is the perfect time to take the flirting to something more tangible. He will stop at nothing to have Ryenne, even with the threat of losing his job working for her dad.

    What neither of them expected was for Ryenne to get pregnant. Ryenne is thrilled she's going to be a mother, but embarrassed for everyone to find out about her sexual activities. Relationships with family and friends are threatened, and work is on the line. Can Ryenne overcome the issues and her doubts to find her own brand of happiness?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTressie Lockwood
    Release dateOct 23, 2014
    ISBN9781502275998
    Suddenly Blue

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    Book preview

    Suddenly Blue - Tressie Lockwood

    Chapter One

    Ryenne leaned toward the mirror and pulled on her eyelid, from the corner, below, and above. She groaned. No matter how she looked at them, her eyes were showing her age. Disgusted, she looked away to focus anywhere else and then cried out at a new problem. The edge of the sink pressed into her belly, but she endured the pain to peer closer. That could not be a wrinkle above her nose, could it? Wasn’t she still too young?

    Her cell phone rang, and she glanced at it. Another groan surfaced seeing Alicia’s name flash on the screen. Here it comes. She had prepared herself the moment she rolled out of the bed that morning. After stabbing the connect button and putting her friend on speaker, she crouched to scour beneath the sink for that overpriced beauty cream she had bought and never used several months ago.

    Morning, she mumbled as she ducked deeper amid the sea of products which would never see daylight but she refused to toss out. Don’t do it, Alicia.

    Happy birthday to youuuu, her best friend sang. How old are you now?

    I hate you. Let me tell you that right now. I can’t stand your guts.

    Alicia laughed. Aw, don’t ruin my fun. Let me sing to you.

    It’s my birthday. Why do you get the fun?

    That’s how life works, girl. You should know by now.

    I do know, she shot back, because I’m freakin’ old!

    Wow, we’re back on ‘freakin’?

    Ryenne laughed. Yes, that’s my word for the week. Freakin’.

    Next you’ll be cursing.

    You sound like my mother. I suffered your singing this morning. Don’t make me think of that woman.

    You love your mommy.

    Ryenne found the cream and brought it to the top of the sink. She screwed off the top and then remembered why she never used it. The scent. Desperate, she dipped her finger in and smeared some of the cream on her forehead. Anyway, I’m not celebrating my birthday this year or any other from now on. I’ll be thankful I’m alive and leave it at that.

    You do this every year, crazy woman. You start feeling your mortality, and I have to take you out and help you have a good time.

    This time is different. I’m thirty-eight. Can you believe that? Thirty-eight! I can feel my ovaries shriveling.

    She imagined Alicia rolling her eyes. You’re not dramatic at all, are you?

    I’ve resorted to taking vitamins, and I even added some St. John’s Wort.

    Oh, girl, it won’t last. I hate taking pills.

    I’ve been doing it about two months already. I’m serious, Alicia. I’m not getting any younger, so I’m going to fight it with everything I’ve got. As Ryenne explained her regime, she popped the supplements and grabbed her pack of birth control pills to take one of those. Placing everything beside her toothbrush kept her on track. Listen, let me get off here. Another call is coming in. I’ll have to endure them and talk to you later.

    Okay, and then find something to wear tonight.

    It’s Wednesday.

    It’s your birthday, Alicia countered. We’re getting smashed. Period.

    Fine. Now let me go. Mom will be upset if I don’t call her back.

    ’K. Later.

    Ryenne gritted her teeth through countless other calls from family and close acquaintances before she even left the bathroom. When she sat on the side of the bed and began wrestling with her pantyhose, the phone rang again, and she considered not answering. Then she leaned across to the nightstand to at least see who it was. Her heart skipped a beat. The display read Gary.

    Hello? The attempt at a casual tone failed.

    Hey, baby doll, happy birthday.

    Don’t call me that, Gary. You don’t have the right to call me that anymore.

    Someone’s grumpy. His smooth, deep voice washed over her as it always did, raising the hair on her arms. He chuckled low in his throat and made it worse. Your birthday always did put you in a bad mood.

    She hated him knowing that. I appreciate the sentiment, but we’re not friends. I think it’s better if you don’t call me, and I’ve told you so a million times.

    I can’t get over you, Ryenne. We had something special.

    So special you cheated.

    I made a mistake. Forgive me.

    Good-bye, Gary. She disconnected before temptation took over. Her ex knew she had a weakness for him. That was why he kept coming after her. She refused to believe it was because he still loved her. If she fell for that line, she was done. No matter what Alicia believed, she couldn’t overlook the fact that Gary had been unfaithful. Even though they weren’t engaged, they had been talking about it, and he’d gone and tossed it all away. Worse, she had caught him. No, she wouldn’t go back.

    After she finished dressing, she gathered her briefcase and purse and headed out for the office. Her father’s company sat on Front Street. Hill Investments, Inc. was one of the largest commercial real estate corporations in San Diego, California, and she held the position of Vice President of Industrial Real Estate Sales and Leasing—not her dream position, but it kept her comfortable financially.

    On impulse since she had some extra time, she skipped the office after parking and walked over to Union. The desserts at the shop over there were unreal, and she did have a sweet tooth. Since she had forbidden anyone in the office, including her dad, from celebrating her birthday, she didn’t expect any treats today. Something to take home and enjoy in the privacy of her condo would be great.

    She strode into the shop and paused upon spotting a familiar set of broad shoulders and a head of blond hair. Mocking green eyes popped into her head along with the memory of a rumbling deep voice. She was a sucker for a man’s voice—well, among other things—and he was the total package, even beyond Gary.

    The woman at the counter brought out a hazelnut almond cake with raspberries and white chocolate. Another delicious memory popped into her head, the killer flavor of that particular cake, which she loved so much. Ryenne marched up to the counter as the man nodded and smiled at the woman. Yes, that’s perfect. Thanks.

    Ryenne stopped beside him and stuck a hand on her hip. Shane Allen, what do you think you’re doing?

    He started and then turned his gaze on her. Unlike with Gary, her heart didn’t skip a beat, but it most certainly sped up. In Shane’s presence with his teasing and her returning the playful banter she always ended up horny and hot. This was the game they played, never crossing the line—fun but torturous at the same time.

    She pointed to the cake the woman boxed and laid with gentle care inside a bag. Where do you think you’re going with that cake?

    He shrugged his broad shoulders, reminding her of both his massive build and his impossible height of six foot four or five. Her own claim to height came from five-inch heels, but she still had to tilt her head to look into his handsome face.

    This thing? He chuckled. I had a sudden craving for something sweet.

    I don’t believe you. You better not be planning to sing to me and break that out at the office.

    I would never.

    She began to doubt and then considered maybe she was being self-centered to think the day was all about her. The bum let her stand there feeling awkward for a few seconds, and then the bright smile resurfaced. I was going to surprise you when no one was looking. This one is your favorite.

    He shouldn’t know that. I like a few of the desserts they have here.

    I’m sure you’ll like this one more because I bought it.

    She fell into step beside him. Oh, you’re special?

    Very.

    Ryenne listened as he chatted with her on the way to the office. Shane smelled good, he looked good, and his intelligence had impressed her dad even before he graduated college. That was the problem. Shane was twenty-eight, ten years her junior. She liked looking at him, but that was as far as it went. He worked for the company as an industrial broker. As such, the man remained off limits.

    So what are you doing for your birthday? he asked as he opened the door to the office for her.

    Dancing and drinking I assume. Alicia is coordinating it.

    Don’t have too much fun to come in tomorrow.

    I might.

    Shane followed her into her private office and brought out the cake. He began unboxing it.

    Didn’t you say this was for you?

    He winked. I lied.

    Shane. She groaned. Birthdays only remind me I’m getting old.

    You’re beautiful and sexy. Let it remind you of that. With the words, his gaze scorched her flesh as it flicked over her form down to her feet and back up to linger at her lips. A flash of desire lit the emerald irises and was gone in an instant. I shouldn’t say that, or I’ll be brought up on sexual harassment.

    She grinned at him. Only if I feel harassed.

    His eyebrow rose, but he turned away and stuck a candle in the top of the cake. He blocked her view for a minute, and when he leaned back, the candle flickered. Quick, blow it out.

    She tried and discovered the flame was fake. Oh, real mature, Shane. You’re so young, I shouldn’t have expected anything else.

    He removed the candle from the cake with icing coating it and held it toward her lips. No way was she opening her mouth to take it. She shivered and stepped back. The desk kept her from getting far.

    Is that how you see me? he asked.

    She blinked up at him, unable to do a thing other than stand there like an idiot. To her intense relief, Shane let the matter drop and set the candle on a napkin. Happy birthday, Ryenne. I hope you enjoy every minute of it.

    He left her office, and she collapsed in her chair. She needed to find a lover and soon.

    Chapter Two

    Ryenne leaned against the bar and sipped her vodka and Red Bull. Alicia shimmied next to her and signaled to two men dancing not far away. One of them headed straight for Ryenne, his gaze locked onto her cleavage. "Damn, baby, you are wearing that dress! It hurts."

    Thanks. She had a sudden urge to cover up and yank the hemline down a little, which almost reached mid-thigh. Not that she didn’t like men looking. She did, and it didn’t bother her, but this guy looked too hungry, an instant put-off when he couldn’t introduce himself first.

    Let’s get out there, and show ‘em how it’s done. He offered his hand, and she relented. After all, she had come to enjoy herself. The music boomed through her chest, and she rocked to the beat. The man’s hands landed on her hips. He stepped in to grind on her ass. She whipped around to face him, a hand up.

    Easy, let’s slow it down, she shouted above the din.

    He frowned. She lamented the volume of noise because it meant he had to lean in close to be heard. Slow it down? That’s not what you’re here for, girl. Let’s speed it up. Don’t be shy. Come here, and let’s do this. A woman as hot as you should be with a man like me. Trust what I tell you.

    She ducked away once again, but he brought her back, a firm but not painful hold on her wrist. He raised her arms above her head and spun her around. Ryenne rolled her eyes and went along with it. At least when he moved in again he didn’t try to ride her butt. When she faced him, she glanced over his shoulder at Alicia. Her friend commanded the attention of two men, and she jumped with the music, having a blast.

    Ryenne focused on her partner. No matter how she motivated herself to just let go, it didn’t do any good. She wasn’t feeling him. Her attention wandered again, and this time, it landed on a familiar head of blond hair. No way. The height looked right and the easy grace of movement. She bit her lip in anticipation as he turned, and her heart beat a tattoo in her chest. What was Shane doing here?

    An instant later, Shane stood before her, so sexy and smelling amazing. With him, she didn’t mind the need to lean in to be heard. His breath warmed her earlobe. Looks like you’re having a good time.

    Does it? She grinned, tilting her head a little. I don’t remember seeing you here before.

    I was passing by.

    Oh?

    Hey, man! her previous partner shouted and thumped Shane on the arm. We were dancing. Go find your own girl.

    Ryenne opened her mouth to make him back off, but Shane cut across her. "She is my girl."

    The man looked at Ryenne to confirm, but she couldn’t say a word, shocked beyond belief Shane would say something like that. When she said nothing, the man swore and spun on his heel to walk away. She ended up with her back against Shane’s chest and his hands on her hips while

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