Title: Whatever You Do (Try Again,
#2)
Author: Stephanie Smith
Release Date: January 15,
2014
Genre: Contemporary
Romance
Blurb
How do you trust someone who is
everything you’re trying to avoid?
Harper
Lindell is having a bad day. You know, if a bad
day consists of getting fired from your cushy job and then catching your
boyfriend red handed playing hide the salami.
Sick of
meeting the same guys over and over, Harper decides to try her luck at Internet
dating. How bad could it be? Right?
Tate
Washington wasn’t looking to meet anyone. Still
dealing with the consequences of his one serious relationship, all he’s
interested in is revamping his family’s behind-the-times café.
He didn’t plan
on seeing the beautiful receptionist from Argo again, walking into his life to
use his café as a dating hub, and using him as a BFF.
Can Harper
really trust Tate, who is everything she thinks she needs to steer clear
of?
Can Tate wait
while Harper works through her insecurities and fears?
Excerpt
“Andrew?” I
question as I reach the table.
“Yes. Harper,
hello.” He shakes my hand and the first thing I notice are his warm eyes. They
are gentle and sincere and I feel instantly comfortable with him. “Take a seat,
please.”
He gestures to
my seat before pulling it out for me to sit in. I smile up at him in thanks for
the chivalrous action as I slide into the chair.
During our
emails back and forth this week, Andrew and I had figured out that we are from
similar small towns not far from each other. We laugh about all the misguided
town folk and the classic ‘types’ every town has. The town clown who has
thought of every invention under the sun, the do-gooder mayor, the old lady
gossip group, and the crazy minister and his family. Of course I didn’t laugh
at that last one, as true as it is, being the daughter of a minister and
all.
“So what do
your parents do?” Andrew asks.
“Umm.” I stall
looking for a distraction, not wanting to make to him feel bad.
“What can I
get you guys?” Tate offers and I’m grateful for the interruption.
“Oh gosh I
haven’t even looked yet,” Andrew says as he picks up the menu from the
table.
“Just the
usual for me please.” As my eyes reach Tate’s his are wide with horror. I sit
upright at the urgency in his expression wondering what the hell is going
on.
He nods his
head in Andrew’s direction and I glance over. Andrew is studying the menu
oblivious to mine and Tate’s silent conversation.
I look back at
Tate giving him a ‘what’ look as he scratches his head then stiffly nods back
in Andrew’s direction.
I sigh
frustrated and look back at Andrew. He looks up from his menu and smiles at me
before turning to Tate and placing his order.
I still don’t
see a problem and look back to Tate with a ‘just fucking tell me’
look.
He begins
running his hand through his hair as he harshly nods in Andrew’s direction
again. I don’t even bother looking at Andrew again, knowing I’m not going to
see anything different than before.
With wide eyes
and a clenched jaw, I get out through gritted teeth, “I think that’s
all.”
Tate sighs
heavily, clearly frustrated and storms away from the table.
I shake my
head and when I turn back to Andrew he is staring at me in confusion. “Sorry,”
I giggle embarrassed he witnessed that final interaction between Tate and
me.
“No worries.”
He is sweet but his voice is wary. Tate and I probably looked like two mute
idiots. How humiliating.
Andrew
seamlessly continues our conversation. I use this opportunity to study him and
search for the meaning of Tate’s irrational display.
I didn’t
really focus on Andrew’s features before. He’s not ugly, but he’s definitely
not in the same calibre as Tate or Glenn.
Now that I’m
looking closer at him, there is something off about his looks. I can’t put my
finger on it but something doesn’t fit. It has to be something small like his
eyes aren’t in line or his facial features are too far apart, maybe bad teeth
or ears that are too big or small, but I can’t see any of that. All his
features seem symmetrical and in proper proportion to his face, but something
is definitely not right.
Out of the
corner of my eye I see Tate flailing his arms about. I shoot a glance his way
trying not to be noticeable only to see he is frantically running his hand
through his hair before tugging on the ends. No, tugging is too tame, he is
pulling hard on his hair.
I glance
around the café and no one has seemed to notice Tate’s complete and mental
breakdown. He’s lost it. Maybe it’s all the coffee fumes, they are really
strong in here.
When I look
back towards Tate he is on his way over to the table carrying our hot drinks. I
roll my eyes at his determined stare and wonder what antics he has planned for
us this time.
Tate doesn’t
falter as he strides towards the table and proceeds to drop a hot cup of coffee
all over the table and into Andrew’s lap. I gasp in shock at what is unfolding
in front of me. Andrew jumps from his seat, squealing like a small girl. I
watch horrified as his hair falls off his head and lands on the table in front
of me.
My mouth drops
open as I just stare at Andrew’s toupee lying in spilt coffee. Glancing up at
Andrew I see the heat rising on his face and shiny bald head. I smile awkwardly
at him as I pick up his hairpiece and hold it out to him as if it’s a pair of
dirty underwear and I can’t stand to touch it.
He quickly
swipes it from my hand and places it on his head, but not before I notice his
whole head, bright red in mortification. It’s like a beacon calling in planes
for landing. Andrew stares at me, his hairpiece on backwards and coffee leaking
from it, dripping all down his face.
“I’m so sorry
Andrew,” I whisper, as I place both my hands over my mouth. Shit, I can feel
the laughter rising.
“No, I’m sorry
Harper.” My gut churns on his behalf at the humiliation he must be feeling. The
silence of the café surrounds us, lucky it’s not overly busy at this time of
night. Andrew glares at Tate who smiles and raises his hands innocently, before
Andrew storms out of the café not breathing another word, just leaving a trail
of coffee in his wake.
“You’re
welcome,” Tate says casually as he pulls a clean chair up to the table, before
relaxing back into it and crossing his ankles in front of him.
Wherever You Will Go (Try Again,
#1)
Brooke Willis had everything she ever
wanted: a happy marriage, volunteer placement at the art gallery, and the
promise of starting a family with the man of her dreams.
Saxon Reed had
everything he ever thought he needed: a successful career, nice cars, expensive
apartment, and more money than he knew what to do with.
After losing
her husband Brooke insists on taking over his company to keep his dreams alive.
Struggling in an industry she knows nothing about, Brooke turns to Saxon, her
husband’s best friend and business partner, for guidance and support. Their
mutual grief, and Saxon’s need to look after his best friend’s wife, creates a
connection beyond just business.
Can Brooke
take over the company and find a new life without saying goodbye to the past?
Can Saxon protect and care for Brooke without scaring her away?
What happens
when your heart doesn’t listen to your head? When lines are crossed and
boundaries are pushed?
About the
Author
I'm first
& foremost a reader & fangirl, I will always be first &
foremost a reader & fangirl. I am on street teams, I pimp and I brag. I
LOVE my Authors!!
I have
recently started writing as a way to relax and spend some time for me. My first
novel Wherever You Will Go is due to release later this year. I'm having so
much fun writing my first story and I'm looking forward to the journey it is
taking me on.
Giveaway!
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