Yesterday I got back from a trip to Jacksonville Beach for Memorial Day and decided to check my calendar. Then holy cow it hit me: Making it Real releases in less than a week! I owe you all an excerpt, don’t I?
I tell you, I don’t know where the time went. The last few months have been crazy busy but in a good way. Not only did I release my first self published title in April, but Crimson released my first three novels in a bundle on May 11 (which is now on sale for $.99 so snatch it up). Then came the cover reveal for my debut Harlequin Kimani book, A New York Kind of Love (ANYKOL). In the middle of all that, I’m writing the last story in the Henderson Family saga (From One Night to Forever) and the revisions for ANYKOL hit my inbox earlier this week. Along with those revisions came an offer to write a few more books for Kimani and me–being optimistic in my abilities–verbally agreed to two more romances. Luckily, I already have beat sheets for two more novels that I can easily *snort* convert into a synopsis.
FYI; the snort is because writing a synopsis is NEVER easy.
Are you tired yet, because I’m tired of listing everything that’s happened. This is all a crazy, fun, overwhelmingly exciting time. June will fly by with birthday parties for my kids and then here comes July and my trip to DC during the Fourth weekend and later NY for the Romance Writers of America conference.
Having said all of that, I hope y’all forgive me for forgetting to post the excerpt of Kareem’s story. Especially since so many have asked me specifically for this story. I promise I’ll post another one later this week.
Enjoy!!
Blurb:
After five years in prison, Kareem Henderson is starting his life over. Though business is good at his barbershop, his goal is to open a high-end gentlemen’s salon. But the road back is rough, and he needs connections in the society he once snubbed to make his dream a reality. He just never expected his second chance to come from the sexy female barber he hired last year.
Patrice “Neecie” Baldwin escaped the pressure of being the perfect daughter in one of North Carolina’s most prestigious families to live life on her own. When family responsibilities call her home, she fears going back will expose her to the pressures that nearly ruined her. Neecie needs a shield, and tall, handsome, bad boy Kareem seems impenetrable. So she offers him a deal: If he’ll pretend to be her fiance, she’ll introduce him to all of her well-connected relatives.
But the more time they spend together, the more the irresistible attraction between them builds. They’re from such different worlds, but can this fake relationship make the cut and become something very real?
Excerpt:
The door to the bank opened. Once glance at Sandra Brevard striding in and Kareem’s feet stuck to the floor. He’d never looked up the word classy in the dictionary but was pretty damn sure all he’d find was a reference to Sandra. Just the type of woman he wanted but wouldn’t know what to do with if he were lucky enough to land her. Sandra belonged to his brother, David, something he’d had a hard time coming to terms with a few months back. His feelings had dimmed, but he couldn’t shake his admiration for the way she’d helped with his business plan or pretend she wasn’t attractive.
Sandra spotted him, and a smile spread across her features. Some of the tension in Kareem’s neck eased.
Sandra crossed the room to him looking like perfection in a fitted cream suit.
“Kareem, what are you doing here?” Her husky voice filled with hope.
“I came to talk to Mr. Small about a business loan.”
Sandra’s eyes glanced toward Mr. Small’s office. “How did it go?”
Kareem shrugged. “It didn’t go at all. He denied me.”
Sandra’s arched brows drew together. “I don’t understand. Your business plan is perfect, and you have most of your capital already saved.”
“Apparently I’m too risky.”
Sandra scoffed. “That’s crazy. Just because your idea is different doesn’t make you too risky.”
The corner of Kareem’s mouth lifted. Sandra hadn’t laughed at his idea to open a high-end gentlemen’s salon when he brought it to her. Instead, she used the resources of her organization, which helped small businesses make connections and grow, to solidify his plan. Not many people supported him the way she had. That was something he could only blame himself for, but still, having someone on his side was nice.
“Don’t worry,” Kareem said. “I’ll try someplace else.”
“I’m sorry, Kareem. I wouldn’t have sent you over here if I didn’t think they’d approve your loan.”
“It isn’t your fault. You’ve helped me enough already.”
Footsteps preceded Mr. Small’s appearance. “Ms. Brevard, how nice it is to see you this morning.” The guy was all smiles and sweat-free when he took Sandra’s hand.
“Hello, Mr. Small,” she said then pulled her hand away. “I was just talking to Kareem, and he mentioned things didn’t go so well today.”
Mr. Small’s beady eyes darted Kareem’s way. “Why yes, unfortunately, he’s too much of a risk.”
“Kareem or Kareem’s idea?” Sandra asked in a no-nonsense voice.
Mr. Small cleared his throat. “His idea, of course.”
Sandra turned back to Kareem. “Talk with David; maybe he can give you an idea of where to go next.”
Kareem’s shoulders tightened at the mention of his brother. “I’ll think about it.”
Her frown slowly softened into a look of concern. “He’s your brother, Kareem. I know he wants to help make your idea a reality.” Her voice filled with adoration when she talked about David. Jealousy struck his chest. Jealousy was a bitch that way, a slit your tires and key your car kind of bitch when Kareem compared his life to the perfect model of David’s. Never would he have expected that one day he’d envy his baby brother.
Mr. Small perked up. “David Henderson?” He looked at Kareem. “David Henderson is your brother?”
“Yes,” Kareem said.
“And Roger Henderson, of Henderson Automotive…”
“My father,” Kareem said, his voice going ice cold.
“Well.” A grin spread across Mr. Small’s pudgy face. “Knowing that, we might be able to work something out.”
Kareem’s grip on his business plan tightened. “No thank you, Mr. Small. I wouldn’t want you to take a risk just because I’m a Henderson. I’ll find another way.”
Sandra placed a hand on his arm. “Call David, okay?”
Kareem pulled away from her touch. “I’ll handle this myself. Rehearsal dinner tonight, right?” He knew damn well his baby sister’s rehearsal dinner was that night. Just needed to change the subject.
Sandra sighed and nodded. “I’ll see you at seven.”
“Seven it is.” He stalked away and burst out the door to the bright sunshine of a fall afternoon.
He sucked in cool, crisp air, but his stomach heaved. He didn’t deserve his family’s help, after his screwed up past, the pain he caused, and the way he once lusted for Sandra. Yeah, he’d be in the running for asshole of the century if he went to David for help.
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Making it Real is up for pre-sale on Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.