Enticing Emma

Excerpt From: Enticing Emma

Fake silver snowflakes dangled over her head as Emma Flintock weaved her way through Club Botticelli’s dancing patrons. Low, sultry music pumped through the high tech speakers while soft lighting added an overall erotic effect to warehouse-sized room. Her black silk top and matching tights looked so out of place among the wildly dressed dancers.

At least here at Club B she wouldn’t be mocked for not-so-slim hip size. After all, her good friend, Olivia Paisley, had started the club to cater to men and women outside the size-two categories. In spite of all the naysayers, the club turned into the city’s hottest night spot. But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t have a talk with Livia about all the damn silver and purple decorations.

She hated this time of year. Hated being reminded of the fact she was alone and probably would be for the rest of her life. Winter Solstice, like every other major holiday her friends celebrated, only stabbed home her empty bed and brought back memories of the only man to ever break her heart. Before thoughts of Brock could drag her down, Emma shook her head and focused on something besides the wildly dancing club goers and the holiday decorations mocking her everywhere she looked.

Across the room, a swirl of sunshine blonde hair caught her attention. Oh yeah, she mentally reminded herself, that’s what she had to be grateful for. Loyal friends beyond her wildest dreams. The blonde hair belonged to Briley Evans, owner of Real People Travel, a travel agency that catered to people above size-two persuasion. Her outspoken friend gestured to the group surrounding her, waving her arms with abandon to emphasis whatever point she wanted to make.

The circle of people laughed, and Emma felt her heart expand with love. So what if she didn’t have a man in her life? Good friends were worth more than ten men combined. And they stuck around longer. And, if you were really lucky…wore the same shoe size.

“Emma!” Recee, the first to spot her, cried out in pleasure. “About time you drug yourself out of your book. I had the National Guard on speed dial in case we needed heavy lifting to dig you out.”

Everyone laughed, including Emma who, as a best-selling romance author, was known to lose track of time and reality two weeks before deadline. Feeling a flush of embarrassment creep of her cheeks, she tucked a wayward strand of curly hair behind her ear. “The book is safely in the hands of my editor. I’m all yours now.”

“Or until the next plot hits you.” Briley smirked before taking a large sip of the amber liqueur swirling in her glass.

“The life of a writer.”