fuonlyknew

For precisely $102 dollars, Mitch Benson and Lauren Templeton marry in a 15-minute ceremony inside a little Las Vegas chapel. Soulmates since elementary school, nothing makes more sense than eloping to Sin City for a secret wedding.

But seven years later, the brilliant glare from the city of lights has faded.

Scratch that. The bulbs are burnt out.

In fact, the wiring may have been faulty all along.

Bitterly accepting that their marriage is coming to an end, Mitch and Lauren stray further and further from the love that once blossomed on the playground of their youth.

Lauren sells her soul to Pier Ninety-Two, her once-fabulous restaurant in downtown Los Angeles now a sad shadow in the Saturday night party scene. And Mitch falls into the arms—er, legs—of none other than childhood enemy, Tess Browning.

Devastated by the direction their love has spiraled, Mitch and Lauren make one last trip to the city of second chances, hoping to turn their pennies into the million-dollar love they once shared.

Will their last roll be a miracle—or a mirage—in the desert?

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Her eyes glimmered under the streetlights, their dark brown hue lit up by the dazzling glow of the city. She smiled, stepping closer to his body to allow a couple to pass behind her. The evening breeze caught in her hair, each of her dark strands dancing across her shoulders.

His body warmed as she moved nearer, the smile on her lips squeezing his heartstrings with the ghosts of the past. Their spontaneous wedding day flashed before his eyes… the red eye flight to Vegas… the little white wedding chapel… and the celebratory…

“Hot dogs,” he answered, gripping her hand and leading the way down the Strip.

She snorted. “Well, tradition, I guess.”

Wrapping his arm around her waist, he pointed to their right. “Come on, I think the food trucks are this way. At least they used to be.”

Nodding, she fell in step with his long strides as they dodged and weaved in and out of the mob of tourists ready to experience the nightlife of the adult playground. On their right, the fountains of the Bellagio burst to life—swaying in synchronization—lit up by the golden lights reflected in the pool.

“I think that’s where Austin wants to propose tomorrow.” Lauren pointed to the grand hotel and dancing fountains.

Swarms of people lined the railing, ogling the show.

“Why did he need us here then? He’ll have hundreds of people surrounding him.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on. I think it’s kind of sweet that he wants to make it a big deal!”

“And you think that’s what Casey wants? A spectacle?”

Frowning, Lauren gripped his upper arm and squeezed as they crossed the street, leaving the magnificent fountains behind.

His stomach dipped at the pinch of her fingers on his bare skin.

“I think what Casey wants most… is just Austin. It doesn’t matter how.”

The greasy scent of street food pummeled into his nostrils as a line of white trucks and picnic tables appeared down a side street. Mitch pointed at the second truck, the words ‘Hotdogs in a Hurry’ painted in big bold yellow letters. “And what is it that you want most?”

What do you want? A divorce? Or…

She scrunched her nose and shrugged. “Chicago style, I guess?”

I didn’t really mean hotdogs… 

Grinning, he gripped her hand and led her over to the truck to place their order. The desert wind picked up, ruffling through his hair as a chill tingled his skin.

“Will you hold my purse for a second?” Pushing the bag toward his chest, she pulled her dark hair back into a ponytail, wrapping the long strands together with a pink tie from her wrist. Her high cheekbones stood out, complemented by the rosy hue growing on her skin. She grinned, dropping her gaze as her natural beauty punctured his heart, reminiscent of the first day they met. “What?”

The words spilled from his lips, unfiltered. “You look really pretty tonight.”

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I Love You Today

The Trading Heartbeats Trilogy Book 2

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Because when you least expect it… and when you’re least ready for it… love happens.

Casey McDaniels lacked direction, spending the better part of her youth boyfriend hopping, partying, and bartending – her dreams, career ambitions, and education put on the backburner in favor of a social life and steady paycheck… that is, until a new lawyer moves into town.

When sexy, smart, and brokenhearted Austin Templeton relocates from Los Angeles to Chicago, Casey can’t help but put her former lifestyle aside in favor of the sweet romance that erupts between them. Finding more than just her heart set ablaze, Austin’s own professional ambition ignites a fire beneath her – pushing her forward into uncharted territory.

But one thing’s for sure… his career will always come first. When an unexpected promotion threatens to take him back to California, Casey reels, forced to choose between the man who captured her heart and the newfound path to success he led her down.

With her heart torn down the middle, Casey leaves the choice in Austin’s hands. After all, what’s more important? A job… or love?

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Austin stepped forward, his shoes crunching the grains of sand as he left the safety of the parking lot and headed for the woman sitting alone on the picnic table, her wild dark curls whipping in the gusts of ocean wind like snakes striking their prey.

“Turn around, Austin,” he whispered to himself, pleading with the sole remaining ounce of sanity left in his brain. “Just go home.” His feet faltered, his brain battling with his heart. He eyed her, watching as she reined in her hair and fastened it into a low ponytail with a white ribbon. Austin shook his head and sided with his heart. Just see what she wants. You owe her that. He moved forward, each footfall bringing him closer to his personal Garden of Eden’s forbidden fruit. Heaving out a heavy breath, he reached the table, his heart sinking as his lips parted. “Princess?” he whispered.

She turned, the deep green of her eyes penetrating his soul, her heart calling out to him from the ghosts of a war zone.

His chest pounded, the blood speeding through his veins with ferocity. Austin gulped and swallowed the fear erupting in his gut at the sight of her, a surge of repressed longing rippling through his body as his eyes met hers.

“Hey, you.” She patted the wooden seat beside her. “Thank you for coming,” she whispered.

Austin shook his head and exhaled the heartache he loathed. The remaining pieces of his soul still belonging to her roused from the rubble surrounding his damaged heart. “Why am I here, Mavs?”

Her hand stilled on the tabletop. “Because I knew you’d come.”

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I Loved You Yesterday

The Trading Heartbeats Trilogy Book 1

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Secrets always have a way of coming out.

Mavis Benson made a huge mistake. Scratch that—colossal mistake. Twice. Sleeping with her high school sweetheart’s twin brother definitely wasn’t part of the plan… nor was falling in love with him.

But that wasn’t the only complication Mavis faced. When an unplanned pregnancy upends her life at seventeen, Mavis skips town to spare her boyfriend, Josh Templeton, from the fallout. With only a letter of apology, she disappears, but not before confiding her secret to Josh’s brother, Austin.

When Austin resurfaces in her life years later, he brings the past to Mavis’s doorstep. Josh wants her back, Austin isn’t willing to surrender, and the path to happiness isn’t clear. Caught between both men, Mavis must choose between the brother for whom she broke her own heart, and the brother who picked up the pieces.

I LOVED YOU YESTERDAY is a heart-pounding reveal of best kept secrets. The truth is never easy, and neither is putting down this page turner. Fans of Nora Roberts and K.G. Fletcher will want to get a copy of I LOVED YOU YESTERDAY.

~Winner of the ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN IN COMMUNICATIONS CLARION AWARD.~

 

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His hands toyed with the envelope. Dipping a finger beneath the lip, he flirted with the idea of revisiting the seventh circle of hell once more.

“Damn you, Mavs,” he whispered and tore the letter from the envelope. It fluttered to the floor and the words of the past rippled over his body with the intensity of a rusted razor gliding across his skin.

My dearest Joshua,

By the time you read this, I’ll be gone. I’m not asking you to understand, but I am asking that you let me go. Please don’t try to find me. I left because I had no other choice. If I stayed and you learned the truth, you would put your dreams aside in favor of me. I can’t let you do that. I can’t let my mistake be the reason you’re kept from your future and the man you’re meant to be. 

I didn’t know what else to do, Josh. I’m scared. I’m terrified. I’m stupid… And I just hope one day you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me, to forgive us. Until then, my love… 

I loved you yesterday, I love you today, and I’ll love you tomorrow, Joshua Templeton. 

 

Mavis 

It still stung. Vomit threatened Josh’s throat as he swallowed the memories erupting from the remains of his shattered soul. Damn it, Duchess! Why did you leave me? 

“I fucking loved you,” he whispered to the silent room, all traces of thunder having subsided. Josh crinkled her letter in his fist and dropped his head to his knees. The stillness of the room beat across his brain, only the pitter-patter of soft rain meeting the window, breaking the lifeless moment.

You never forget your first love, do you?

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Julie Navickas is an award-winning, nationally recognized contemporary romance novelist, known for her keen ability to tell heart-wrenching, second-chance love stories through relatable characters with humility, humor, and heroism. She is also an award-winning university instructor and serves as the executive director of The Writing Champions Project. Julie earned master’s degrees in both organizational communication and English studies with an emphasis in book history, as well as a bachelor’s degree in public relations, graduating cum laude from Illinois State University.

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