Series: Striving #2
Author: BL Mooney
Cover Design: Kari Ayasha at Cover to Cover
Designs
Release Date: September 18, 2014
SYNOPSIS
Perfection is a
gimmick.
It’s something they use
to sell you shit you don’t need. The perfect home. The perfect family. The
perfect marriage. Photos of that perfect life are all around us, but none of it
exists.
I know better because I
take those photos. It’s all a ruse to make us think that's what we want. Behind
closed doors, the house is a mess, the family is fighting, and that loving
couple hates each other. I prefer a different city every week, laughing
friends, and a variety of lovers.
Until Carl. I’m not sure
what I want when he’s around.
Perfection is an
illusion.
It’s something used to
make you forget all the bad shit that happens in this world. It’s an
unattainable dream not worth the effort.
I had the perfect home.
The perfect family. The perfect marriage. Or so I thought. That illusion died
with my wife and slammed me into reality. Aside from my daughter, business
deals and making money is where my heart is now.
Until Rachael. I’m not sure what I feel
when she’s around.
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EXCERPT
Cagney buzzed that the VIP had arrived. I
stood up and smoothed out my jacket and slacks. I also took a moment to make
sure the girls were still at optimum cleavage. Jimmy scoffed. “He’s married.”
I raised my eyebrows and looked at him. “So
are you, but you still look.”
He shrugged, not denying the truth, and
walked to the door. I was smoothing down the last of the wrinkles in my jacket
when I heard his deep voice. I froze.
“Jim, thank you for meeting with me again.”
I heard the door shut and heard him approach. I closed my eyes.
Carl Williamson was a man known to my
family. He and my brother had fought for the same woman. Carl lost. He never
stood a chance with his intimidating and aggressive tactics. He even used his
daughter as a pawn to get Drew to go out with him.
I didn’t know who he was when I first met
him. The only thing I needed to know was he was hot and I was in need of a hot
man. At that time, being hot and single were my only dating requirements and I
wanted to date Carl. It didn’t stop me from seeing him when I found out. A
choice I later regretted.
Jimmy kept bringing him closer. “No
problem. We’re just as excited to get started. This is the photographer you
requested.”
“No. Fucking. Way.” I spun around and met
Carl’s black eyes. It only took him a second to register what was happening and
his eyes widened in surprise. “I’m not working with this asshole.” I started
for the door.
“Rachael!” Jimmy grabbed my arm. He was
surprisingly stronger than I had anticipated. “What’s wrong with you?” He tried
to speak softly, but Carl heard him.
“I can’t do this.”
I couldn’t look at Carl. I already knew
what he looked like. I didn’t need to see the man standing off to the side to
know his shoulders were broad. I didn’t need to see the jet-black hair to
remind me I wanted to run my fingers through it. I already knew he was the
perfect height to offset my heels.
I could’ve bet money his designer suit fit
his body perfectly, and was pressed as though he had just stepped off the pages
of a magazine. And I didn’t need to see the look on his face to know his
strong, squared jaw was set—hard. No, I didn’t need to see him again to remind
me of all of that.
“You have to do this.” Jimmy started to
drag me away from the door.
I wrenched my arm free of his grasp and
from the corner of my eye, saw Carl take a step forward when Jimmy tried to
grab me again. I placed my hand up to stop him. “Don’t.”
Jimmy held his hands up and backed away.
“Just give us five minutes. I’m not sure what exactly went on between the two
of you, but I’m only asking for five minutes.” I hesitated and Jimmy whispered,
“Just think of the camera.”
I glanced at Carl and looked back to Jimmy.
“Do I have to work with him?”
Carl answered. “Yes, you do.”
I could tell by the look on Jimmy’s face it
was true. “Then forget it.” I turned and walked away. “I’m not working with an
asshole.”
“Rachael,” Carl said my name as a command.
It stopped me, but I didn’t turn around. “We can communicate through email.
I’ll send you the list of prospects and you send me the photos, but you will
answer directly to me.”
I turned at the sound of Jimmy whispering
to see Carl silence him with the wave of his hand. “What aren’t you telling
me?”
“Nothing that’s required for this job.”
Jimmy’s brows furrowed for a brief moment
before he walked to his desk, shaking his head. “I don’t know what’s going on
between you two, and I don’t want to know.”
“Nothing is going on.” I walked past Carl
to Jimmy’s desk. “What were you whispering?”
“I had set up a test.” I still wouldn’t
turn to look at Carl as he spoke. I watched Jimmy to see if Carl was being
honest. “I didn’t know you were their best photographer. The test is no longer
needed.”
“Of course it’s needed.” I finally turned
to address him. “You don’t trust anyone, so I’ll take your lousy test. What is
it? Stand on my head and get an impossible shot?”
It hit me then that both Cagney and Jimmy
had said he was married. His wife had died over a year ago. I looked at the
wedding ring on his finger. Carl noticed and put his hand in his pocket as I
lifted my eyes to his. I stood there silent, just staring. I didn’t deserve an
explanation, but one would’ve been nice.
Jimmy was either unaware of the tension or
chose to ignore it. “He wanted family photos taken.”
“Jim.” He finally stopped staring at me and
tried to stop Jimmy, but it was too late. He didn’t want me to take his family
photos.
I couldn’t believe it. He was still hiding
me as some mistress. I’m no one’s whore. I didn’t say a word. I just walked
out. Jimmy was calling after me, but I ignored him and kept walking. I wasn’t
going to stick around where I wasn’t wanted. Problem was I didn’t know where I
was wanted.
AUTHOR BIO
B.L. Mooney
started writing when the voices and storylines in her head ran out of room.
They were getting too cramped and neither B.L. nor the characters could take it
anymore, so she did the only thing she could do—she made room. She always knew
she wanted to write, but vowed to make time for it later. Now that she’s made
time for writing, most everything else falls to the wayside. That seems to suit
the characters that keep popping up in her head just fine.
B.L. lives
in the Midwest, and her other talents include in-demand cookies, a very dry
sense of humor, and stealth eavesdropping. Some mannerisms, attitudes, or
twists come from random sentences picked up while passing by strangers. So
speak up the next time you have something to gossip about. You never know, it
may just end up on the pages of the next book you read.
She loves to hear from
her readers via email AuthorBLMooney@gmail.com
AUTHOR
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