Something More Read online

  Something More

  a novel by

  Jenna Tyler

  To my mom, who loves unconditionally and unwavering;

  To my girls, who I love bigger than the sky;

  To my sweet Roxy Girl, who stayed by my side every step of the way.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  Twenty-Five

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Contact Jenna

  Prologue

  Everyone keeps telling me, “It's all make-believe”, “Why are you wasting your time reading that crap”, and “It's just a bunch of trash”. But I ignore them. I can't help that I have a passion for romance and paranormal books. Or books, in general, for that matter. I've always loved the sexiness and mystery of them. Books have a way of taking you out of your everyday life. They make you a world traveler. They make you believe that anything is possible.

  Enter me, Rebecca Michaels, and my boring world I call reality. Mundane doesn’t begin to describe my boring, predictable life. Something about turning forty-years-old this year changed everything inside of me. I was still too young to be living this way and I decided it was time to make a change. So I did it! I packed my bags, left my friends and family behind, and moved all the way across the country to a place where the sun didn't shine. Well, not often, anyway.

  I made the drastic change from most-of-the-time sunny Florida to most-of-the-time cloudy Oregon. This should make for an interesting change, to say the least, but I'll be kind of close to the beach so I can go and listen to the waves crash on the weekends like I did back home.

  My new Portland apartment isn't much. It's a modest two bedroom with a decent sized kitchen, but that doesn't matter since I'm not much for cooking. As I unpack the dishes, I start thinking about the things I'd like to do before I start my job as an office manager for a local doctor — Dr. Thompson. Luckily, I found a job out here right away. I don't start for a couple more weeks so I have a little time to check things out and get settled in. I know that I definitely want to check out the beach as soon as possible. I'll have to look up all the goodies to do in the area, I think to myself.

  Setting up the place is taking most of the day, but it's starting to look nice and homey. I've set up my computer in the second bedroom, along with a double bed just in case my daughter ever comes to visit. Have I forgotten to mention that I have a daughter, Charlotte…or Charlie, as everyone calls her…who is away at college? If you ask her, I’m sure she'd tell you that I'm nuts, just like everyone else does. It's not my fault that I believe I deserve to be loved like a great romance story. Every woman deserves to be worshipped and ravished, and I'd love nothing more than to prove them all wrong.

  While hanging the towels on the holder, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I’m not terrible to look at… long brown hair, brown eyes, fair skin, and not horribly out of shape… but I’m not ready to grace the cover of a certain lingerie catalog. I'm just your average woman, trying to keep it all looking decent. For the most part.

  After working and cleaning all day, I'm exhausted. I settle in on the couch and start looking up sites to see and things to do around here. I decide to hit this fabulous looking bookstore in the morning. With tomorrow laid out, I decide to play a little game of Mahjong online and finish my cocktail. Then off to bed I go. A new day, a new life, awaits.

  One

  I wake up and stretch, greeting myself, “Good morning, Bec. Let's have a great day today.” I pull myself out of bed and peek out of the blinds to see a beautiful, cloudy day. Who would've ever thought that I'd use beautiful and cloudy in the same sentence?

  Dragging myself to the kitchen, I brew a cup of coffee and head to the bathroom to hop into the shower. There is nothing like steaming hot water awakening your body to start your day. I towel off and get dressed, keeping my coffee nearby wherever I go.

  Going back to the kitchen, I make another cup and take it to the bathroom with me so I can finish getting ready. It never takes me very long, but I'd like to make a good impression on the city today so I decide to really take the time to look presentable. You never know who you will run into.

  After about an hour, I manage to have most of myself ready to greet Portland. The only thing left is to choose the shoe for the day. I've discovered the weather here to be iffy so I don't know what to pick. Sneakers are probably my best bet, but they are definitely not very cute, nor do they go with my outfit. I seem to be all kinds of risky lately. Feeling a little gutsy, I opt to go with a tall wedge. So, shoes are on and looking semi-cute, I grab my mini-umbrella on the way out the door and shove it in my purse.

  Once I'm outside, people are rushing past me to their destinations. I love seeing this, for some reason. Everyone in Florida drives everywhere because of the heat, unless they are downtown where things are more convenient to get to. Here in Portland, they appear to like being outside whenever they can. Just in case it happens to downpour while I'm out and about, I decide to drive to the bookstore. My little umbrella wouldn't be able to hold up for too long in that.

  After I find a parking space, I make sure to put ample money into the meter. The last thing I need is to have my car towed in a place where I don't know anyone. I locate the bookstore and see that there is a coffee shop inside. Perfect. I need to grab a muffin or slice of bread or something before I risk getting any more coffee in my system. I always get a little jittery if I don't eat while drinking large amounts of coffee. To have even more caffeine on an empty stomach would just be, well...not good.

  I stand in line and order a blueberry muffin, a slice of banana nut bread, and a small coffee. You can't be too careful. I stash the slice of bread in my purse for later, just in case, and take off to wander around. Man, they weren't kidding about this place being ginormous.

  The bookstore has an open staircase, leading all the way up three floors. I just stand there looking up at it as if I'm in Times Square, amazed at all the buildings. “Amazing,” I say aloud to no one…or so I thought.

  A nice looking young lady that was passing by me smiles. “First time here?”

  “Uhh, yeah. It's quite breathtaking,”

  She extends her hand. “My name is Alyssa.”

  “Becca,” I say, as I extend my hand to shake hers. “I just moved here from Florida. This my first adventure here.”

  “Very adventurous,” she replies with a slight sarcastic tone. “You'd think, being new in town, you'd head to the cliffs for hiking or something like that. Not to a bookstore.”

  Nodding in agreement, I smile. “Well, I am a book junkie. It's my passion, other than my daughter. I do plan to do the sight-seeing and touristy stuff before I start work, though.”

  “Ah,” she says. “You already have a job here?”

  “Yes, at a doctor's office. I have two weeks until I begin.”

  “I work here,” she replies. “I am also a 'book junkie', as you say.”

  Feeling a little more outgoing than usual, I attempt to make a friend. “We'll get along nicely, I think,” I continue. “And seeing as how you are the first person I've met, besides the people I will be working with, maybe we can do lunch or drink
s some time?”

  Alyssa is a cute girl with long, dark blonde hair, almost a brunette, which goes down to about bra-strap length, fair skin, brown eyes, and a very slim figure. She has little curves in the right places with a modest behind. Not as luscious as mine, that's for sure.

  “That sounds wonderful. I don't hang out that much, with work and school and all. Let me give you my number. Just text me and then I'll have your number,” she answers. After I text her and she saves my number in her phone, we say our goodbyes so she can get back to work and I can get back to exploring.

  * * * * *

  After a couple hours, my stomach starts rumbling, even after snacking on my muffin. Yep, definitely time for a lunch break. So far, I've explored the first and second levels of the bookstore. Good progress. Heading downstairs, I spot Alyssa working away. She doesn't notice me as I'm heading out.

  There's a deli a few doors down and a sub sounds mighty good right about now. I go in and order a 12-inch Italian hoagie (my favorite), get my fountain drink (no coffee), and grab a little table near the back of the deli. I sit facing the front so I can people watch. It's fun to wonder what other people's lives are like, or guess where they're going.

  As I'm finishing up the first half of my hoagie, I start to wrap up the other half to save for dinner. I always do this so I don't have to cook. I smile, then I remember that I'm in public and I probably look like a doofus. The bell on the door rings to signal another customer entering or exiting.

  I look up to see a man entering. O. M. G. He is breathtaking. I let out a little huff as my mouth turns from a goofy smile to having to pick my jaw up off the floor. Blinking a few times brings me back to reality. My eyes scan the little restaurant and notice a lot of the women are gawking at him, too.

  Quickly grabbing a napkin, I wipe my mouth for any crumbs or condiments. And…alright, mainly just to make sure there is no drool. “Holy shit, that is a mighty fine tall drink of…”Wait! Did I just say that out loud? Damn it! God, please tell me I didn't say anything out loud. I blush, and know for a fact that it was actually said in my head and not out loud…this time.

  This beautiful man is about 6'4”; lean build, yet seems muscular; dark hair, with a little gray sprinkled in; and beautiful fuck me eyes. I mean, exquisite blue eyes. He's dressed in a black suit and expensive-looking shoes. There's nothing better than a man with nice shoes. Well, almost nothing.

  I'm feeling a little parched. Taking a sip of my soda, trying not to be noticed, I start cleaning up my unfinished half of the sandwich. I can't bring myself to eat the rest of it in his presence.

  I peek up and catch him looking at me. Shit. Man, he really is something to look at. Not quite rugged, but not quite freshly shaven. He even has a chin dimple. “Mmmm,” I moan while imagining dipping my tongue into that little crevice on that perfect face. My body is buzzing from the brief eye contact.

  I look down at what I'm doing. “Water…a tall drink of water,” I mumble, finishing my thought, or what I may have said out loud, from moments ago. I stand up and grab my sandwich, my trash, and my drink. I turn to walk towards the door, and as I pass by where he is standing, I glance up and see him still looking at me. I give a friendly smile and continue walking out the door. Crap, I think, looking down. I completely forgot to throw my trash away. Way to go, Bec. You're so smooth, you idiot.

  Shaking my head to clear the haze, I head back to the bookstore to finish up my mini-adventure for the day, disposing of my trash in the garbage can just outside the store. When I open the door to the, I glance back towards the deli and “Mr. Tall Drink of Water” is stepping out onto the sidewalk. I blush and step inside.

  Going back up the stairs, to the third floor this time, I have a little pep in my step. A silly grin spreads across my face. How do really hot men make women feel twelve again? Now a giggle slips out. Oh, snap out of it, you fucking dork. Jeez, what is wrong with you?

  I make it up to the third floor and start browsing once again. Nothing overly exciting up here, but I will browse anything to see if something catches my eye. My thoughts go to him again. Damn, he was scrumptious. Oh, well. I probably won't ever see him again. What would he want with someone like me anyway? I'm just an average woman with abnormal fantasies and a daughter in college on the other side of the country. There's nothing special or extraordinary about me.

  I finish up on the third floor and head downstairs. I say goodbye to my new could-be friend, Alyssa. We agree to get together soon.

  Once I get home, it's not quite time for dinner so I start cleaning up and doing a little laundry. This reminds me that I need to go buy some scrubs for work. I write a reminder on the note pad that's hanging on the fridge, then plop down on the couch and turn on the TV. Something on one of the home improvement channels catches my eye and I just vegetate.

  Apparently I drifted off and now I've woken up past dinner time. I go put the clothes in the dryer before grabbing my other half of the sandwich and a drink. I sit back down and watch some more shows. When I'm done eating, I take the clothes out of the dryer, fold them, and put them away. Remembering I still have the banana bread in my purse from the bookstore, I get it and put it in a baggie for another time.

  Tomorrow, another new adventure begins.

  Two

  Waking up with a jolt, I look around to make sure I am where I should be. Yep, I'm in my little apartment, all alone. This could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you look at it. I'm okay with it. My dream starred “Mr. Tall Water”, and since I know that he's way out of my league, I'm perfectly fine with him just starring in my dreams.

  “Time to get up and start the day, Bec,” I mumble quietly to myself. Same routine as always. Coffee, shower, get dressed. Blah blah blah. Today, though, I fix myself a bowl of oatmeal so I don't have to buy food while I'm out.

  I don't have anything major in the works for today, just shopping for scrubs and a few groceries. I look myself over in the mirror and think, Gorgeous! I snicker. I have on my sexiest pair of sweats, hair in a ponytail, and my tennies on. I'm ready for shopping. I'm showing Portland all of my sides…the good, the bad, and the hideous. This is definitely not the former.

  * * * * *

  As I'm getting into my car after the last store of the day, I think I see “Mr. Tall Water” out of the corner of my eye. I glance in that direction, trying to be inconspicuous. Yep, that's him. He's walking briskly towards a tall office building, then he disappears inside. Even taking a short peek at him from a distance, I'm flushed. How does that happen? Sheesh. I guess he'll be starring in my dreams again tonight. I shake my head to rid myself of dirty thoughts so I can concentrate enough to drive home.

  Once home, I put my groceries away and dump all my scrubs in the washer so I don't have to worry about it later. I decide to shoot Alyssa a text and see if she wants to go to dinner or grab drinks tonight. She texts back rather quickly.

  Alyssa: Sure. Let's do both. I know this great little place near my apartment.

  Me: Sounds great! Where should we meet?

  Alyssa: My place is good. I live in the Brookwood Apartments. #104.

  Oh, sweet. She lives in the same complex as me. A new friend and neighbor...a 'two-fer', as I call them. I text her back and tell her that we live in the same complex and I will see her at five o'clock. This is fantastic. I love being within walking distance of so many things, at least in the summer. It might be another story in the snow. I'll probably end up being a hermit holed up in my apartment all winter.

  I knock on Alyssa's door and she opens it right away. She looks like she's ready for a good time tonight. “Hi,” I say, smiling.

  “Hey. Come on in.” I step into an apartment very similar to my own.

  “I'm excited to see that we live in the same building,” I say. “I'm just in four thirteen.”

  “Oh,” she says, “that's in the two bedrooms section of the complex. Nice.”

  We chitchat while she puts the finishing touches on and then we are out
the door.

  The bar we walk over to is a cute little sports bar. Drinks and food are all I need right now, nothing fancy. The place only has pub tables and we pick one over on the side wall near the window so we can see outside. Because I’m not into sports, I don’t care if we have a view of one of the several television monitors.

  We grab menus off the table and look it over. “You want to split a sampler appetizer and then I will just get a salad?” I ask.

  She says, “That sounds like a great idea. I will do the same. Cheap and quick. My kind of girl.” We both giggle.

  “Who are you calling cheap? You barely even know me. This is a cheap date, until I start with my drink order.”

  Alyssa gives me an evil look. “Are you a big drinker, Bec?”

  As I am about to answer, the waitress pops over. “What can I get you ladies to drink?”

  I answer for both of us. “I think we will order everything now since we are ready. We're going to split the sampler platter, and then two house salads. One with honey mustard and the other...?”

  Smiling, Alyssa chimes in, “Same.” Well, aren't we two peas in a pod.

  “And to drink?”

  I say, “I’ll take a lemon drop martini and a glass of water.”

  “I’ll take a rum and coke.” The waitress heads off to put in our order and, soon after, shows up again with our drinks.

  Getting back to our conversation, I say, “No, I'm not a big drinker anymore. I think I drank plenty when I was younger but, as I got older, it just kind of fizzled away. I'm more of a social drinker these days. I have a drink on occasion at home. But I think I can drink you under the table, if you ever want to challenge me.”

  She laughs loudly. “You are on! I don't know if I am ready to do that tonight, though.” She snickers. “I have to work in the morning.”