Monday, June 24, 2013

Tuesday Tales – Hand


                                           
Welcome to this week's Tuesday Tales to the word prompt hand.  This is the continuing story of Lorenzo and Pia.  Please keep in mind that this is unedited.  Hope you enjoy this weeks tale.  


Throughout dinner Pia sat on edge.  The conversation between the two of them had been very general.   A conversation with a stranger had more depth to it.  Her heart ached.  Another thing she noticed was he didn’t look her in the eyes. 

There was also very little contact between the two of them.  Just once, he touch her hand during dinner and that was when he reached over to take the dish of olive oil to dip his bread into.

Pia played with the food on her plate, hardly eating.  She managed to eat half her dinner, not wanting to totally waste the food.  Pushing her dish to the side, she looked up at Lorenzo, whose eyes were on her.

“You are beautiful.  I didn’t realize until now just how beautiful you are on the inside.  Sadness doesn’t do well on your face.”  Lorenzo reached out, touching her face.  “Would you like some desert?”

Pia thought for a second before a smile broke loose on her lips.  “How can I pass on something sweet?”

Lorenzo signaled the waiter.  “Pia will have a cappuccino, no whipped cream.  I’ll have espresso.  For dessert, chocolate covered strawberries along with the sampler of sweets.”

“Lorenzo!  So much sweets,” she said when the waiter walked away.

“Sweets for my sweetheart.”

Pia smiled.  Lorenzo must have forgotten that she was a diabetic.  A few pieces of sweet wouldn’t hurt her.  She’d just excuse herself, go into the bathroom, and take her medicine.

Lorenzo waited for the waiter to place their coffee in front of them before leaning forward.  “I think we need to take about what’s going on.  I need to know the whole store from the beginning.  You’re story is so obscure that it’s very hard to believe.”

“I know you find the story hard to believe, but it’s true.  My best friend and my business partner set this all up years ago.”
           
“I still don’t understand.  How do you not know this?”

“They must have drugged me that night.  The marriage was a hoax.  They somehow confiscated a seal and forged a marriage certificate.  I never slept with that creep.”

“Honestly, what you did before you met me has no bearing on our relationship.  We both have pasts.  What pissed me off is that you kept this from me.”

“I swear to you, I was going to tell you about it over dinner that night.  I had no idea Lisa was involved in any of this until she finally admitted it to me.”

“When did you find out about this?”

“Right after you left for your two week road trip.  The whole thing devastated me.  Lisa was checking into things so I could have answers before you returned.  I was shocked to find out my best friend betrayed me.”

The waiter brought over a platter of cakes, placing the dish of chocolate covered strawberries in front of her.  Lorenzo picked up the small navy blue plate.  He placed three small pieces on his dish before filling his dish with the same thing.

Pia dug her fork into the first piece, which turned out to be Italian cheesecake.  “Delicious.  Taste like the one my grandmother used to make for the holidays.”

Lorenzo took a bite.  “Yummy.” 

Pia continued to try the different cakes and pastries. “Did you try this one?” she asked, sticking her fork into the cake and holding it out to his mouth.

Lorenzo opened his mouth and Pia continued to feed him cake.  Things seemed like they used to, but yet she still felt some tension lurking over them.

“Can I ask you something?” she asked Lorenzo finishing her cappuccino.

“You want another one?”  he asked pointing to her empty cup.

“Yes I would.”

Lorenzo lifted up her cup to the waiter.  “Another round for both of us. Now,” he said sitting back in his chair.  “What is it that you wanted to ask me?”

“Is everything okay between the two of us?” Pia asked keeping her eyes on him.

Lorenzo kept his eyes in her gaze.  “I want it to be.  I couldn’t wait to come home to you.”

“What are you trying to tell me?”

“I love you, but I’m having a hard time understanding why your friend and business partner would screw you over.”

“I love you too.  I just wish I had answers for you.”







Friday, June 14, 2013

Secret Cravings Paranormal Blog Hop


Welcome to Secret Cravings Paranormal Blog Hop.

I write Women's Fiction/Contemporary Romances.  In my Mystical Wonders Series, one of my characters, Shari is a psychic. She reads minds and tarot cards.


Madison, Shari, Cassie and Fay are best friends whose lives are intertwined together.  Angelo is the con artist who keeps the girls tied together.  Each woman is searching for love, but the unexpected keeps them all on their ties.

Shari lights candles at their monthly girls get together.  Each time they were together, they always lit a white candle and whatever color needed to fit the reason for their ritual.

Four friends, four stories, four relationships.  Love, heartbreak, disaster and surprises surround all four ladies.  As the mysteries unfold, Shari's powers get stronger.

Visit the women in Staten Island, New York where the impossible comes to life and nothing is ever normal.






Mystical Wonders - Circle of Friends (Book 1)


Madison Morina, college professor, meets Sal at the college’s pep rally.  They hit it off, but Madison still has her doubts regarding their relationship.
Shari Stafford, a clairvoyant, hairdresser, finds love when she hires a carpenter to do renovations on her house. She has a special gift of reading minds.
Private Investigator Cassie Scott has an on and off relationship with Dennis.  When family secrets are revealed, her life is changed forever.
Bad boy Angelo Esposito sweeps Fay Odina off her feet.  He has a dead wife and an ex-wife, along with a secret past and an agenda. Angelo finds his perfect mark in Fay, who owns the family Vintage Clothing Shop.
Despite her friends’ warnings that she is in imminent danger, she runs off and marries Angelo. It’s up to the girls to juggle their own relationships and dig deeper into Angelo’s past. 

Four friends, four lives intertwined together. 

 Mystical Wonders - Second Chances (Book 2)


Madison, Shari and Cassie play a major role in protecting Fay, while digging into Angelo’s past.  Shari still can’t channel into Angelo’s mind, leading the women to believe he has something to hide.
 A reunion with an old love puts Madison’s relationship with Sal to the test, causing her to reevaluate her life.  While family secrets continue to be exposed, Cassie’s life spirals out of control. Both women will be forced to make life changing decisions.
Having gained Fay’s trust, Angelo is ready to move forward with his plan no matter what the consequences.
Cassie seeks Shari’s help on a case.  While they uncover pieces of the puzzle, they get closer to the truth about Angelo’s past. Madison, Shari and Cassie come together, racing against time, to save Fay from a disastrous fate.
  
 Four friends, four lives intertwined together, setting the stage for second chances. 

For a chance to win a copy of Mystical Wonders, either tell me your favorite tarot card and why? Or tell me if you have gone to a psychic and if you believe in it.

Coming in September Mystical Wonders - The Right Call (Book 3)

Thanks for stopping by.  

AVAILABLE AT:  AMAZON 
                             SECRET CRAVINGS PUBLISHING

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Monday, June 10, 2013

Tuesday Tales – Shoe


         


Welcome to this weeks Tuesday Tales to the word prompt Shoe.  This is the continuing story of Lorenzo and Pia.  
                                

At the end of the game, Pia sat in her seat, not sure what to do.  Lorenzo never told her where she should meet him.

When the stadium was almost cleared, her cell phone went off.  Reaching into her bag, she pushed her flat shoes to the side and took out her phone.  She pressed the arrow.  The screen lit up with a message from Lorenzo asking her to meet him by the bullpen area.

Pia thought about changing back into her flats, but nixed the idea.  She didn’t need to go far with her shoes on.   Quickly, she made her way down the ramp, walked around the souvenir stand, before disappearing down the long concrete corridor leading to the back of the stadium. 

Lorenzo sat on the padded bench, dressed in jeans, white designer shirt and black shoes.  When he looked up, a slight smile etched on his lips.  Pia knew his emotions had to be spiraling in all different directions. The sadness in his eyes proved that.

“Hi.”  Lorenzo stood, giving her a quick peck on her lips. “What do you think about going into Manhattan, to little Italy?”
           
“I’d really like that.”

Lorenzo held his hand out.  She dropped her hand into his wile he led the way into the players’ parking lot. 

The traffic was light.  They arrived in front of Da Nico’s on Mulberry Street.  Lorenzo got out of the car, walked around opened her door, before handing the keys to the valet.

“They make the best pizza in the Manhattan.  Their appetizers are to die for and the pasta is handmade.”  They walked through the open door and were seated at a table in the outside garden.

“This is beautiful.”

“Like you.”  Lorenzo got the waiters attention.  “A bottle of champagne, along with an assortment of appetizers.  Does that work for you?” he asked Pia.

“Yes.  Thank you.”

The sound of cars and the chatter of people lingered over the silence between them until the waiter returned with their champagne.  The waiter popped open the bottle and poured the bubbly liquid into their glasses.

“I’d like to make a toast.”  Lorenzo lifted up his glass.  “To hoping things turn out positive.”

They clicked glasses.

Lorenzo moved his chair closed to Pia’s.  “I have so many questions to ask you.  I thought about this all night sitting out in the bullpen.  Now that you’re here, I’m not sure where to begin.”

“I’m so sorry, Lorenzo.  But I was telling you the truth.” Pia reached her hand across the table, placing it over his.  “And like the message I left you, it all turned out to be a hoax involving Lisa.  My best friend and business partner betrayed me.  They have been scamming me for years.  They made up they whole thing.  If I didn’t catch on, Larry would have taken me for my half of the business and my parent’s estate.”

“I don’t understand why?”

“Neither do I. But one thing I can assure you, I never have or had any romantic interest in Larry ever. I never meant to lie to you.  I was going to tell you the night Larry approached you.”

The waiter returned with a platter of assorted appetizers, and spooned on of everything into their plates.  “Would you like to order the main course?”

“Sweetheart, would you like steak, pasta, pizza?”

“Pizza.  I love brick oven pizza.”

“House special pizza, thank you,” Lorenzo said. Lifting his champagne glass he took a sip.  “After dinner, we will continue our conversation about what is going on.”

“I promise to answer all your questions.”





Monday, June 03, 2013

Tuesday Tales – Train

 
                                       
     
Welcome to this week's edition of Tuesday Tales to the word prompt train.  Pia is trying her best to speak to Lorenzo, tell him the truth about her best friends betrayal, and tell him how much she loves him.  

Pia held her cell phone in her hand waiting for it to ring.  She had called Lorenzo two hours ago, and then twenty minutes later.  The last call she knew he rejected.  That was the call she left a detailed message explaining what had happened.  When he didn’t call her right back, tears gushed down her cheeks.  She had to go to him.  Glancing at her watch, if she left right now, she would make it to the ballpark before the game began.

Turning the key in the ignition led to nothing.  How could this be?   She needed to talk to Lorenzo, tell him that the whole thing was bogus. Then explain how her best friend, who she trusted with her life had deceived her, throwing their friendship out the window in order to have a free ride through law school.

Ten minutes had past by before she tried starting the car again.  Nothing.  Pia knew time was limited.  She had to get to leave now.  Getting out of the car, she walked quickly to the store around the corner, getting herself a metro card.  This would be a long trip, but it would be worth it just to talk to Lorenzo one last time, to try to explain what happened.  

But instead, everything went wrong.  She was a half a block away from the bus stop when the bus past her by.   A half an hour later, she got on the bus to the ferry.  As she walked down the ramp and through the turnstile, the doors to the ferry closed.  She ran to the door.  Slammed her hands against the doors, but it was too late, the ferry had started pulling away from the dock.

Twenty-five minutes later, the doors opened and she began her journey towards Manhattan.  The twenty minute ferry ride felt like two hours.   The moment the ferry stopped, she made a dash toward the train station.  This time, she lucked out.  After waiting for a couple of minutes, the train came.  She got off and transferred for the number seven train to Flushing.

Keeping a watch on the time, she was surprised to see she still had time.  Not even realizing it, she had gotten onto an express train to Queens, meaning the half hour trip to her destination was cut down to ten minutes. 

The minute the doors opened, Pia flew out, ran down the ramp and down the steep stairs to street level.   Quickly, she purchases a ticket.  She walked towards the bullpen area, past the police barrier and walked down the tunnel, which led next to the bullpen.

Pia stood in the doorway, looking in.  Jon Summers and Kirby Green were warming up.  On the field, the other team had just finished batting practice.  As long as she remained silent, no one would know she was standing there.  Eventually, Lorenzo would have to come into the bullpen, that being his routine.

From behind, a baseball cap was placed on her head.  Slowly, Pia turned until her eyes met his ocean blue eyes.  “Lorenzo.”

“I thought you might like to wear my hat.”

“I would, thank you.”

“You can’t stay back here to watch the game.”

“It’s okay.  I bought a ticket.”

Lorenzo chuckled.  “Let me see your ticket stub.”

Pia handed him the ticket.  His baby blues dropped down to look at the ticket and he laughed.

“I’ll call down to the home plate section.  Go enjoy the game.  Afterwards, we will go get something to eat and talk.  Okay?”

 Pia nodded her head.  “Yes.”

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