Meg Allison
Indulge your senses...
Now available!
A romantic comedy from By Grace Publishing ... A Harris Grove story ...
Sandra Larsen and David Jenkins have nothing in common—except that their best friends just got married.
Despite their petty bickering and sarcastic barbs, David has fallen head-over-heels for the feisty restaurant critic. He has one week to convince her they should share a permanent table for two.
Excerpt
CHAPTER ONE
“Strangers in the Night”
The punch tasted like carbonated syrup and the veggie trays had
wilted. Other than that, Sandra supposed the wedding reception
could be called a hit. Unless you counted the fact that she just
lost her best friend.
She took a long sip of her drink and winced as the fizzy
liquid made her teeth ache from sugar overload. Maybe she could
get some water somewhere.
“Nice party.”
She glanced to her left over the rim of the clear plastic cup
and tried not to grimace. David Jenkins had to be the most
irritating man she’d ever met. Too bad she’d be seeing a lot of
him now that their best friends had tied the knot.
“I said, nice party, don’t you agree?” He looked down at her
from such height that she had to lift her chin to meet his gaze. At
five eight, Sandra was in no way petite. The man should be on a
basketball court.
“Yes, it is.” She looked away, hoping he’d get the hint and
leave. Instead, she heard him chuckle.
“Man, you aren’t going to make this easy, are you, Ms.
Larsen?”
That got her attention. “Make what easy, Mr. Jenkins?”
He waved a hand in the direction of the dance floor where
the newlyweds, Jenny and Mark Thompson, danced to When I
Fall in Love. “This being best-friends-in-law, stuff. We’re going
to have to get along now, no matter what.”
She raised a brow. “And just what gives you that
impression? Why do we have to get along? We’re not the ones
that just got married.”
“No, but I have a feeling that if we want to be part of Mark
and Jenny’s new lives in any way, we’re going to have to at least
pretend to like each other. You know they won’t stand for us
fighting.”
No, she and David weren’t exactly bosom buddies. They
were as different as night and day, summer and winter…head lice
and caviar. She smirked.
A Blue Plate Special: Pops’ Girls novel
Katie Marie Morrison hides behind a flirtatious mask as she serves burgers and peach cobbler at Pops’ Diner. Her bright smile and sarcastic wit hide the devastating knowledge she was just a one-night-stand for the one man she ever loved.
Jeff McAlester, her only lover, returns home for good. But timing is everything and it’s Katie who’s now ready to leave. Despite their rekindled love, she doesn’t want to stay. Can Jeff help Katie learn to live a little and take a second chance on love?
EXCERPT:
Norma's words echoed in her head the entire morning as Katie took orders and cleared tables. It couldn't be true. Norma Jane didn't have a psychic braincell in her head. Sure, sometimes strange things happend that normal Norma, a.k.a. Elvira, seemed to predict. But it had always been coincidence and nothing more.
The day wore on and the breakfast bunch finished up their various forms of veggies and eggs—thanks to the Sissies’ bullying. At eleven the shift changed, and Katie was left to fill napkin holders and sugar dispensers while Mildred, a sixty-something grandmother with gray hair and about twenty operation stories, shuffled in to join her for the lunch rush. Of course, in Glen Meadow more than ten patrons constituted a rush.
“What can I get you, Marty?” Doctor Martin Winston had been a regular, flirtatious customer ever since he took over his granddad’s medical practice. He and Katie had gone to high school together but rarely spoke since they both had their noses buried deep in books and Katie’s gaze never strayed far from Jeff. She had to admit now it was a shame. Marty was as cute as he was smart.
“I’ll take a double cheddar bacon burger with the works, fries and a side salad,” he added, glancing nervously at the Sissies in their permanent booth in the next row. Sissy Peters smiled and nodded her approval. “Then bring me a big hunk of cobbler for dessert with a scoop of vanilla.”
“You want a Coke with that or coffee?”
“Coke, but make it a diet.” He smiled, his eyes twinkling with mischief as Katie shook her head in disbelief. Where on earth did the man put all that food?
“Sorry you had to get out of bed so early, Katie Marie,” he added. His gaze moved over her in a very thorough perusal. “Too bad it wasn’t solely on my account. You do look mighty gorgeous for being up before your time.”
She quirked a brow in his direction as she tapped the pencil on her pad and tried to look stern. “And just how are you privy to my personal habits, Doctor?”
“Everyone knows pretty Katie rises for no man before noon.”
“Is that so?”
He nodded. Katie could tell he was enjoying their light flirtation, as was she. It gave them both what they needed—a little sexual excitement, a bit of jolt to the old libido without any actual involvement or other messy stuff. The last thing the young doctor needed was a girlfriend who would get tired of waiting up for him until all hours. The last thing Katie needed was another man derailing her life.
“Well, maybe I would rise and shine early for the right man.”
His boyish face split into an infectious wide grin. “Well, well, why does that sound like a challenge?”
She leaned a little closer to set a clean bundle of silverware by his placemat and looked at him through her lashes.
“A challenge? I don’t think so. At least not one you’d be up to, Junior.” Someone to the left snickered at the nickname, but Katie ignored it. Their banter always played to a full house even though she acted like they were alone. Yet it didn’t bother Katie—or Marty, so it seemed.
“This lady needs a real man, not a boy.” She trailed the stubby pink pencil eraser down the side of his very square jaw and gave an exaggerated sigh. “I’m just not sure you’re up to the challenge.”
“We’re the same age, Katie darlin’,” he murmured, eyes sparkling with humor. “And you’d be surprised just what I’m up to when duty calls.”
“Promises, promises.”
Marty chuckled as she gave him a saucy wink and turned to run right into a very tall hunk of man. Her stomach dropped to her toes. Oh, no. It couldn’t be. She swallowed hard as she lifted her chin to look up … and up … into the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. Very familiar eyes that were now spitting daggers at the young doctor sitting behind her.
Oh. God. He was back.
(c)2006 Meg Allison
Pops' Diner -- An Anthology
Time After Time by Laura Hamby
Irene Albright is ready to spread her wings and fly. Sissy Rose ignored convention to become an Army nurse– why shouldn’t Irene pursue her dream of singing with an orchestra? Besides, it might just lead her a love that will last beyond time after time.
The Long Way Home by Shara Jones
Optimistic Tamryn Miller waits for the man she’s loved all her life to return while she battles to save her beloved town newspaper. When disillusioned journalist Kendall Reed returns as the newspaper’s new owner, can Tamryn convince Kendall that he has taken the long way home to her love?
Accidentally in Love by Meg Allison
Amelia Wojosowski moved to Glen Meadow to heal her broken heart and start a new life. She never dreamed she’d fall in love with the oh-so-serious and sexy town physician. Doctor Marty Winston has sworn off pretty waitresses ever since one broke his heart—but he can’t resist Amy Jo, despite her penchant for dumping food in his lap. She’s a beautiful accident waiting to happen…no wonder he’s falling in love.
CHAPTER ONE
“What’s the problem, baby?”
The jingle-jangle of bells announced another customer for Pops’ Diner. Amelia Wojosowski glanced toward the door as she set a plate of peach cobbler a’la mode on the counter in front of Big Earl.
“Thanks, Amy Jo,” the big man said as he picked up his fork and dug in with gusto. “I’ve been dreaming about this all day.”
Amy smiled as she pretended not to watch the newest customer saunter up the aisle to a booth by the window. Thank goodness he picked Mildred’s station this time.
“Don’t you have better things to day dream about, Big Earl?” Pops asked from the kitchen window that spanned the wall behind her.
“Nah,” Earl replied, a forkful of cobbler poised near his mouth. “I’m too old and me and the missus have been married too damn long. My only pleasure in life is this here dessert.”
Pops chuckled. “Don’t let Martha hear you say that or you’ll be sleeping on the porch tonight.”
“Hell, I’d be sleeping under it!”
Everyone in the diner laughed out loud at Earl’s joke. The whole town knew he doted on his wife of forty-plus years, but he did like to play the clown. Everyone, that is, except for a certain up-tight, pain-in-the-butt Doctor. The one Amy fought to ignore.
Fat chance of that happening. Those dark bedroom eyes and dark blonde hair that resembled burnished gold haunted her fantasies when she was alone. Saying he made her nervous whenever he came into the diner was an understatement. Even after working there for over six months, he made her hands shake and her cheeks flame red as a beet.
No wonder she still managed to douse him with ketchup, dump potatoes and gravy in his lap or spill any handy beverage down his shirtfront on an almost daily basis. Made her wonder why he kept coming back—and why Pops and Momma hadn’t fired her, yet. The town even kept a regular pool going as to what portion of the meal the good doctor would wind up wearing any given week.
“Amy Jo?” Momma called from the register near the front door. “Would you please cover for Mildred? She was feeling poorly and went on break.”
Amy bit her tongue. But she couldn’t keep back the catty thoughts regarding Mildred and her ‘health issues’. All the woman really needed was a swift kick in the backside or a new job. Sure, waitressing was hard work. Amy learned that her first day after spending six hours straight on her feet. By the end of the day, she’d felt like a wrung-out mop.
“Amy Jo, Marty’s waiting.”
She cringed and wondered what bad thing she had done in her life to deserve this torture? Or maybe it was the doctor that had sinned, she thought as she noticed his shoulders stiffen at Momma’s suggestion.
Well, Amy didn’t like him any more than he liked her. He could just take his disdain and…
“Amy?”
“Sure, just a sec,” she replied with a smile. No need to let the whole diner know just how nervous and cranky the man made her. It was ridiculous, anyhow, and very illogical. After all, it wasn’t as if he’d actually done anything to her. But there had been something in the air the moment they met. Of course an instant later she had spilled a large glass of chocolate milk down his shirt front. Potentially cordial relations nosedived into chilly regard. The next day she dumped a bowl of hot sausage gravy in his lap. Chilly regard took a header right into obvious avoidance.
Their relationship went steadily downhill from that point.
(c)2006 Meg Allison
Jenny wants a little romance in her life, but her boyfriend, Mark Thompson is romantically challenged. Should she give him up or put up with it? Is romance more important than true love?
EXCERPT:
One
Jenny could smell the watermelon scent of freshly mowed lawns mixed with the light odor of small town traffic. Summer time smells – all of them bringing back fond memories of her life in small town America. She hoped to add this night to that list of events.
It was a perfect evening. She loved the feel of Mark’s long, strong fingers encasing her own – reveled in the heat of him by her side, the scent of his cologne. She could imagine him holding her hand like this when they were old and gray. Not that old and gray sounded appealing in the least … except when she thought of Mark being there with her.
As they neared his red convertible, he stopped and opened the passenger-side door. “Here you go,” he said with one of his gorgeous smiles. Jenny loved the way his eyes twinkled with the flashing lights of the cinema marquee.
“I had a great time, Mark. Thank you.” She stood on tiptoes and placed a kiss on his cheek, now slightly scratchy beneath her lips. When she pulled away, the look in his eyes made her tingle.
“Jen, I have a little something for you….” He reached into his windbreaker pocket and she caught her breath. Could it be? Was it too soon? After all they’d only been dating three months – but Jenny knew that if he asked….
“Here, honey.” He pulled out an envelope and her heart sank to her knees. “Happy Birthday.”
“Oh … thank you,” she said, taking the offering with what she hoped was a grateful expression. No, she hadn’t really expected a ring, but…. She opened the loose seal and pulled out a rectangular piece of plastic. “A gift card. From Smart Mart.”
“Yeah, that way you can get just what you want. I’m not great at picking out presents, and Dave thought….”
“Dave?” She looked up at him. “Your bowling-buddy, Dave?”
Mark shifted on his feet and glanced away. “Uh, yeah, that Dave. He thought it might be best if I got you a gift card so I didn’t mess things up.”
She stared at the card, trying to figure out what it all meant in the grand scheme of things. Maybe he didn’t care about her as much as she did him? The thought made her feel all queasy inside.
“You hate it,” he said.
“Oh, no!” Jenny lied. “I was just… surprised. I really didn’t expect any kind of gift after the nice evening we had.”
“Jen, a burger and a movie isn’t exactly a night on the town.”
“Don’t be silly.” She mustered up the brightest smile she possibly could. “I had a wonderful time. Thank you, Mark. It was great.”
The frown on his face told her he wasn’t buying it.
(c) 2005 Meg Allison