Sample Sunday - DNA

If you haven't read DNA, here's a chance to sample what the story is about. 

Amoy chewed a bit of banana, feeling like a condemned prisoner consuming the last meal before execution. Try as she might, she couldn’t find a positive spin to put on this situation.

“You're taking the boys to your father?” Russ asked, without looking at her.

“Yeah, he's expecting them.”

“I'll take them,” he said.

His offer surprised her, but she said okay. She'd been looking forward to being out of the house and supposed Russ probably had the same motive. He was likely trying to get away from her.

“Will you be coming straight back?” she asked.

“Yes, I have some work to do.”

She stared at him, wondering if she'd heard right. How could he think of work when they had so much to discuss? Did he think the situation would change if he ignored it? His hurt would fester even worse if they didn't talk.

Amoy opened her mouth but realized she didn't know what to say to him. If last night was anything to go by, nothing she said would make an impression. Still, she had to try. She pitched her voice low and said, “We have to talk. Can we do that when you come back, since the boys will be out of the way for a while?”

“Whatever you want,” he said, getting to his feet.

She tipped her head back to look at him. “It’s not what I want, Russ, it's what needs to happen.”

“The only thing that needs to happen is you giving me room to breathe.”

She glanced toward the doorway as she responded. “There's no reason for you to treat me this way—”

He cocked one brow. “Really? You think you deserve anything from me after this?”

His words were like a blow to the chest and it took her a moment to catch her breath and regroup. “I understand—”

“You don't understand a damn thing, Amoy.” He pointed at her. “If I were you, I'd just let things be. Right now, I can't even stand the sight of you.”

Her throat closed and her eyes stung. The involuntary tears had been her default response since yesterday, but she was out of ideas. If Russ wouldn't allow her to explain anything, how would they resolve a problem with the power to destroy their marriage?

She could have continued pleading with him, but she chose not to aggravate him further.

Russ wasn't an unreasonable man. He would realize how much he was hurting her and adjust his attitude. Until then, she'd ride out the anger and distress that had him in their grip.

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Sample Sunday - Dominic's Pride

The next book in the Virtues & Vices series is Dominic's Pride. Look out for it on March 21. You may pre-order at  https://bit.ly/DominicsPride

Nearby chatter interrupted Nick’s trip into the past. While sipping coffee, his eyes met those of the woman who told him a week ago that he got around. 

Seemed like she did too. 

She spoke into the phone, lifted her chin, then smiled. Something about her made him not only want to return the gesture but get closer. Frowning, Nick realized then that he hadn’t thought about being with anybody since he landed. As far as he knew, all his body parts still worked but he’d forgotten how much he enjoyed the chase.

Before he thought about what he was doing, Nick was halfway across the bistro to where the woman sat. He didn’t know her name, but that small detail wouldn’t stop him from reconnecting with her.

“May I?” he asked, pointing to the ladder-back chair.

“Sure.” 

He pulled it out and sat in the opposite seat. She was even more attractive up close. Her eyes were bright and shone with interest, a look he’d seen many times.

“I wasn’t wrong,” she said after sipping from a cup of orange juice.

“About what?” he asked.

She pushed away a saucer with a half-eaten rock cake. “The fact that you’d turn up again.”

He tipped his head to one side as he said, “You were thinking about me, huh?”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

“Or what?” he said. “You’ll take me down a peg or two?”

“I don’t think anything I say will affect you.”

He studied her smooth skin, intense eyes and the braids pulled into a bun on top of her head.

She was right, but he wouldn’t tell her. People’s opinion didn’t bother him. His parents had instilled confidence and self-reliance in him. He just hadn’t bothered to stand on his own. Perhaps because he’d never needed to do so.

He didn’t want to come off as arrogant, so he shrugged. “Your opinion can’t affect me one way or the other since we don’t know each other.” He watched her over the next sip of coffee then said, “What’s your name?”

“What’s yours, pretty boy?”

“I beg your pardon?”

She hid a smile, then said, “You heard me just fine.”

Despite his habit of not letting things bother him, something about her words touched a nerve. His nostril’s flared, but he said, “My name is Dominic.”

“I’m Ashley.” Her smile turned into a grin as she added, “I see there are things that can and do hit a nerve.”

“You don’t know me, so some respect is very much in order.”

She raised one brow. “You’re the one who slid over here, trying to pick me up.”

“That’s not what I was doing.”

Now both her eyebrows levitated. “No?”

“Definitely not.”

She assumed a serious expression, but the light in her eyes betrayed her. “Okay, so why are you here?”

Nick ignored her amused tone. “It would have been rude of me to ignore you once we recognized each other.”

“Right.”

Despite his intention to keep a straight face, he chuckled. “So, how are things going between you and Antonio in terms of repairing your vehicle?”

“The car isn’t mine.” She stared over his shoulder and sat straight. “It belongs to my … ”

He waited, but she didn’t say anything more and her stubborn expression told him he’d be waiting a long time.

“Your friend almost got me in a world of trouble. For a couple days, he wouldn’t answer his phone.” She huffed. “Nearly made me have to set the police on his tail.”

Nick stifled laugher because Ashley didn’t crack a smile. He could imagine the hell she’d given Antonio when she caught up with him.

“I hear a little bit of something foreign in your accent,” he said. “D’you live here or abroad?

“Why d’you want to know?”

He swallowed more coffee and made her wait. “I’m just making conversation.”

“Liar.”

He stared hard at her. “What?”

A slow smile greeted him. “You’re asking because you’re interested in me. Not because you don’t have anything to say.”

He considered that, then said, “Busted.”

They laughed together before she answered his question. “Actually, I’ve been living in Orlando since I was a teenager.”

“So, what are you doing here, if you don’t mind me asking?”

She hesitated, then said, “I’m visiting family. Sort of.”

Her response hinted at a complicated situation, so he changed the subject. “How long will you be on the island?”

“Maybe another week or two. You?”

“Same as you,” he said. But the truth was, he didn’t have much to return to, other than debt and stress. Yet, he didn’t see himself staying in Jamaica under Marlon’s thumb. 

“How about going out with me on Friday evening?”

Ashley’s wide eyes reflected his surprise.

Nick’s mouth was moving faster than his mind, but he was grateful when she said, “I don’t see why not.”

Sunday Sample - DNA

Here's today's snippet of DNA, which will be live on June 26.

Russ studied Amoy, admitting that with one incident, he no longer trusted her. His reaction was weird, given that what happened was far in the past. But there it was, and until he got past the hurt, he'd second guess everything, including her reluctance to move abroad. That was a whole other matter. When his gaze met hers, he shoved the thought aside but knew he'd revisit it.

“Russ, would you pray for us, please?” Amoy asked.

He said grace, thanking God for His provision and for their family.

They dug in, with the boys ignoring Amoy's instructions for them to stop talking with their mouths full. Their chatter rose and fell in waves. Junior was curious about everything and normally, his observations would have tickled Russ. Now his questions about Amoy's face—which was now free of makeup—served as an irritant.

“Can you give it a rest, Junior?” His tone was harsher than he intended it to be, and he was sorry the moment he spoke.

Junior dipped his head, and Russ winced.

The boys were not used to hearing him speak that way.

Silence descended around them and Amoy's concerned gaze went to Junior. Then her focus turned back to Russ. Though she wouldn't say anything about his tone in front of the boys, her disappointment was clear.

Was he picking on Junior because of what he knew, or was it the boy’s concern for Amoy?  Whatever it was, Russ didn't want to dig too deeply.

They finished their meal in silence, while Russ grew more uncomfortable. His snooping changed things in a way he never anticipated. With every hour that crawled by, Russ wished he'd left the past where it belonged.

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Sample Sunday - DNA

Amoy sat on the mattress facing him. When she didn't do anything but stare, Russ met her gaze. “What do you want from me, Amoy?”

The hurt in her eyes wrung his gut, but what did she expect? The hair covering her forehead fell into her eyes. They were red and watery as if she'd been crying.

Right now, he didn't give a damn. She deserved a taste of what he'd gone through since he found out how she'd duped him.

She sniffed and pressed the corners of her eyes, then cleared her throat. “We need to talk.”

“You keep saying that, but nothing you tell me is going to make a difference.”

Amoy folded her arms and lifted her chin. “So you're condemning me without even trying to find out what happened.”

“We both know what happened.” His dull response turned nasty along with his thoughts. “You tricked me.”

“For heaven's sake, Russ, can you stop playing the victim long enough to listen to me?”

His voice was louder than intended when he answered, “You don't get to talk to me like that.”

Amoy glared at him. “And you don't get to write me off without giving me a chance to—”

“A chance to do what, Amoy? Justify cheating me? Making yourself feel better about what you've done?”

Her skin was pale and her full lips drooped as if it was the end of the world. In a sense it was. Nothing would be the same for him.

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