Uh, oh.
I turn.
The Red Knight – or a random psycho claiming to be him – is dressed in my yoga pants, which reach his mid-shins, and a pink sweatshirt that barely touches the top of the pants. I want to say he looks terrible but he’s got the kind of body where he can wear anything and look great.
“This is … uh …” God, how do I explain this?
“I’m Jar-”
“Jared,” I interrupted with a glance at my ex’s woman, who has read everything I’ve ever written.
“Jared,” he echoes.
“You want to help me with the tea?” I ask and rise quickly.
He walks ahead of me to the kitchen.
“You’re flustered,” he observes when I enter.
“No shit,” I respond. I wring my hands and then press them to my face.
“I understand.” He takes my wrists and gently pulls my hands from my face. His hands are warm and strong, and concern is on his features. His muscular form radiates warmth I want to melt into. We’ve never met, and yet I belong right here with him. “The man who betrayed is you sitting in your home. You’re angry. You never did tell him what you felt and you never felt closure. You’re tormenting yourself for no reason. He’s your past. I can promise you only goodness awaits you from now on.”
I stare at him.
Cleaned up, he’s even more stunning. I’d kill for eyelashes like his.
“You deserve better than him. Than me,” the knight admits. “But I swear upon every stone, rock and tree of White Tree Sound, I am ready to become the man you deserve.”
His intensity leaves me breathless. Clearly, there’s a lot I don’t know about what this guy has been through. My heart is racing. I’m no longer fizzling with anger at the sight of my ex.
I feel … hopeful? Excited?
“Let’s just focus on the tea,” I say. “That lady knows all my books. I’m going to create a story for you. You can memorize it and join us when you’re ready. Hold on.” I ease away from him, abruptly aware of how small my kitchen is. I fumble around in the junk drawer until I find a pen and post-it note. I pick up the pen to write. “Ever been to Long Island? I know my ex has never been there. We can make up stuff without him knowing better.”
The Red Knight raises an eyebrow.
My hand is trembling. I thrust the objects at him instead.
He takes them. “I gave her my heart, and she gave me a pen.”
Did he just quote …
Heart?
“What?” I ask.
“What your ex thinks and says does not matter. I won’t stand by and allow him to insult you.”
My cheeks are hot. He’s right. Why have I allowed myself to live in fear of judgment by someone who threw me away, when I know better?
“I know how strong you are,” the Red Knight states. “You don’t need anyone to rescue you. You need someone to choose you first, always, and to catch you on the off chance you stumble.”
Holy hell. How can he see straight through me?
“That said, I pity the fool who dares upset you, now that I’ve found you again,” he adds firmly. “I’m not going to let anyone treat you the way he has.”
“Have we met before?” I ask. “Do we know each other?”
His smile is faint. “We have much to discuss when your guests have gone.” The Red Knight places the paper and pen on the counter and picks up the tray of tea with one hand. “I know facing him is difficult for you. We’ll do it together.”
His conviction is as breathtaking as his looks – and as baffling as his 80’s vernacular. How can he know what I thought and felt about my divorce? That I never spoke my feelings to my ex, and that I’ve been torturing myself every day by reliving the worst moments of my life?
Why do my insides melt, and my eyes prick with tears, at the idea I’m no longer facing the world alone?
This guy makes more sense than every other person in my life combined. I’ll take crazy and devoted over sane and treasonous any day of the week.
“Okay.” I wipe my eyes. “Let’s do this.”
We stand in the doorway. “You’ll love White Tree Sound. Ocean and trees and a castle,” he whispers.
“I like the sound of that,” I murmur, surprised to realize I do. I created White Tree Sound, and the Black Moon Draw world at large, based on the forest where I lived when I was little. Tranquil, beautiful and relatively isolated from the rest of the world, it’s always been my favorite place on earth.
“It rocks. You’ll see,” he says.
I study him. I really hope he’s not a psycho, because I can see myself spending my life with him and Wookie in White Tree Sound. “Do you know how to get there from here?”
“You do,” he said. “You’ve done it before.”
He offers me his free hand. I take it uncertainly.
“Trust me,” says the Red Knight of White Tree Sound. “This is how it was always supposed to be.”
I believe him.
“Let’s get rid of these hosers so we can book,” he adds.
I smile and then laugh. Something tells me my life is about to take a turn for the best.
Also by Lizzy Ford
Young Adult Fiction
Non-Series Title
The Door (teen sci-fi)
* * *
Esme (teen paranormal)
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
* * *
Lost Vegas Series – young adult post-apocalyptic
Aveline
Tiana
Arthur
Black Wolf
Lost Vegas Series Omnibus
* * *
Spell Realm Series – young adult romantic fantasy
Water Spell
Dragon Spell (2018)
Moon Spell (2018)
Sword Spell (2019)
* * *
Omega Series – teen dystopia with Greek Gods
Omega
Theta
Alpha (2018)
* * *
Omega Beginnings Miniseries – individual episodes
Alessandra
Mismatch
Phoibe
Lantos
Theodosia
Niko
Cleon
Herakles
Omega Beginnings Miniseries Omnibus
* * *
Theta Beginnings Miniseries
Silent Queen
Mercenary
Shadow Titan
People’s Champion
Theta Beginnings Miniseries Omnibus
* * *
Anshan Saga – new adult science fiction romance
Kiera’s Moon
Kiera’s Sun
* * *
Witchlings – young adult paranormal
Dark Summer
Autumn Storm
Winter Fire
Spring Rain
* * *
Broken Beauty Novellas – new adult dramatic fiction
Broken Beauty
Broken World
Broken Chains
* * *
Foretold Trilogy – young adult fantasy
Elle’s Journey
Shadow Rising (2018)
Journey West (2018)
* * *
Voodoo Nights - young adult paranormal
Cursed
Non-Series Titles
Star Kissed (erotic sci-fi)
A Night Worth Dying For (short story, contemporary erotic thriller)
* * *
Trial Series – erotic paranormal romance
Trial by Moon
Trial by Thrall
Trial by Blood
Trial by Heart
Trial Series Omnibus
* * *
Heart of Fire – sexy dragon shifter
Charred Heart
Charred Tears
Charred Hope
* * *
Incubatti Duet – Buffy meets 50 Shade
s
Zoey Rogue
Zoey Avenger
* * *
Writing as SE Reign, erotica writer
101 Nights Box Set (featuring all seven serials)
Adult Sweet Romance
(no graphic sex scenes)
* * *
Non-Series Titles – 2014 - 2018
White Tree Sound (fantasy romance)
Black Moon Draw (fantasy romance)
Highlander Enchanted (historical romance)
* * *
History Interrupted – Time Travel Romantic Adventures
West
East
North
South (2018)
* * *
Super Villainess Chronicles – twisted superhero romance
It’s Not Easy Being Evil
It’s Not Easy Being Good
* * *
Starwalkers Serials (with Julia Crane) – new adult science fiction serial
Severed
Trapped
Exiled
Revealed
Escaped
Ascended
Starwalkers – Omnibus
* * *
Sons of War – contemporary military romance
Semper Mine
Soldier Mine
SEAL Mine (2018)
* * *
Rhyn Trilogy – new adult paranormal with demons
Katie’s Hope
Rhyn’s Redemption
* * *
Rhyn Eternal – Death finds love
Gabriel’s Hope
Deidre’s Death
Darkyn’s Mate
The Underworld
Twisted Fate
Twisted Karma
* * *
War of Gods – paranormal with gods, guardians and exceptional humans
Damian’s Oracle
Damian’s Assassin
Damian’s Immortal
The Grey God
* * *
Damian Eternal
Xander’s Chance
The Black God
* * *
Hidden Evil – paranormal with angels and four horsemen
Hear No
See No
Speak No (2018)
* * *
Unnamed Series
Unnatural (TBD)
* * *
Short Stories
Santa’s Ninja Elves: Natasha
Santa’s Ninja Elves: Hunter
Snow Whisperers (retired)
* * *
Non-Series Titles – 2011 - 2013
A Demon’s Desire (paranormal romance)
The Warlord’s Secret (fantasy romance)
Maddy’s Oasis (contemporary romance)
Rebel Heart (sci-fi romance)
About the Author
I breathe stories. I dream them. If it were possible, I'd eat them, too. (I'm pretty sure they'd taste like cotton candy.) I can't escape them - they're everywhere! Which is why I write! I was born to bring the crazy worlds and people in my mind to life, and I love sharing them with as many people as I can.
I'm also the bestselling, award winning, internationally acclaimed author of over sixty titles and counting. I write speculative fiction in multiple subgenres of romance and fantasy, contemporary fiction, books for both teens and adults, and just about anything else I feel like writing. If I can imagine it, I can write it!
I live in the desert of southern Arizona with a pack of spoiled dogs and Tubbs, the Godfather cat who rules them all.
* * *
Connect with Lizzy
* * *
Website: LizzyFord.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LizzyFordBooks
Twitter @LizzyFord2010
Instagram: @LizzyFordAuthor