Crewel Work - The Tapestry Series 1
~*~*~Blurb~*~*~
The key to a successful horse farm is the trainer. At Bridgeton Pass, J. P. Ryan is that key. William Becker is determined to protect his farm and keep Ryan on the job.
That goal is threatened by two things – a sinister act by another employee and the fact that his only daughter has fallen head-over-heels in love with J. P.
Becker can’t allow either of those things to threaten his legacy.
Audra grew up around the handsome trainer and fell in love with him at a distance, enchanted by his kindness and honesty. When they began stealing private but innocent moments, she found that she didn’t want to live without him. Audra is heartbroken when she has to choose between honoring her father and pursuing love.
J.P. wants Audra by his side, but he finds himself with a hard decision.
He is forced to choose between his career and the love of his life. Between the problem caused by the troublemaking barn hand and the frustration caused by his desire for Audra, J.P.’s job has become a ‘crewel’ work.
The story of the Becker family is woven as an intricate Tapestry. It is beautiful as a whole, but like any tapestry, you have to turn it over and look at the back side to see how the threads of love and family relationships are woven together into one intricate whole.
Welcome to the Tapestry series.
~*~*~Excerpt~*~*~
Suddenly, the frog jumped from the rock into the water, causing J.P. to look around. Audra held her breath, wondering if he would see her. When he turned back around and began to step out of his jeans, Audra realized he had no idea she was there.
Audra’s heart started to pound. Should she leave? A curiosity beyond anything she’d ever known compelled her to stay. She ducked down. If she stayed low, J.P. wouldn’t be able to see her from where he was. And as long as he didn’t move westward along the bank, he would never know she was there. With her blood pounding through her veins in excitement, she shifted slightly to get a better view of him. Dang! Audra licked her lips. The man was gorgeous. J.P.'s stomach and shoulders were hard and muscular from the demanding work he did on the farm. The muscles of his chest were chiseled, defined. Days working outside in the sun had tanned his skin. He left his pile of clothes and started toward the pond. Audra felt like a creepy voyeur. She started to turn her gaze away, but was unable to do so. Turning back, she let her gaze settle on him again, enjoying the unexpected opportunity before her.
J.P. walked into the water and turned such that she could see his front. Audra covered her mouth, so afraid she would make an audible noise. She had never seen a naked man before. Warmth spread through Audra’s body and seemed to pool between her legs. The muscles of his tight back side rippled as he moved and the strong muscles of his thighs became more defined as he lowered himself into the pond. His body was wonderful, all of him. Now that she’d seen him, there was nothing more that she wanted than to touch him. Audra had seen his bare chest and shoulders before. J.P. sometimes removed his close fitting T-shirts for relief from the heat in the barn. But the rest, under his jeans, she’d always had to imagine. Well, no more.
Trouble Looming (The Tapestry Series Book 2)
~*~*~Blurb~*~*~
Cole Becker helped his father raise his younger siblings after their mother died.
He helped his father take care of his aging parents until they passed away.
Now it’s time for Cole to have the life he deserves.
When he meets Sara, all of his dreams seem to finally be within reach…until things begin to fall apart. Their perfect romance soon becomes complicated, scary, even life-threatening. Will happiness ever be theirs? Will Cole and Sara get their ‘someday’ together? Continue Tapestry, the Becker’s family saga in Trouble Looming, sequel to Crewel Work.
~*~*~Excerpt~*~*~
He lifted the pitcher of green beer and mugs off the bar, held them over his head and began the trek back to his buddies at their table. Avoiding the tables along the wall this time, he crossed the middle of the room. All was fine until a guy had stepped on a girl’s foot, and she jumped back and into Cole’s path. The entire pitcher of green beer emptied over the petite blonde standing at Cole’s left hip, soaking her.
She stood in shock partly because the beer was cold and partly because her wet blouse was now transparent. She felt like everyone in the bar was looking at her. All she could think at that moment was how glad she was that she had put on one of her good bras to go out that night.
From his vantage point, Cole looked down into the valley that was her cleavage. Rising gently from the pink lace bra that she wore he saw the swell of her generous breasts. Cole dropped the empty pitcher and mugs and immediately removed his T-shirt. He ignored the hoots and hollers from the crowd at the woman’s revealing top and his striptease-like move, and covered the petite blonde with his shirt. Her friends quickly ushered her into the restroom. He watched the trio go into the women’s room. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. It all happened too fast and like that she was gone, swept away. Jeff came over to where Cole still stood to check out what was going on with his friend.
“You okay?”
“Yes. No. Yes. I’m going to my car to get an extra shirt. Don’t let her leave.”
“Who?”
“The gorgeous blonde,” Cole yelled over his shoulder to Jeff as he ran out of the pub.
Cole had an extra golf shirt with his clubs in the trunk of his car. So he went out to the parking lot, retrieved the golf shirt and put it on. Eventually he began laughing to himself over the situation, but he did feel bad for the woman he had soaked, imagining her embarrassment at suddenly having so much of her body revealed in the crowded bar. She took his breath away. The small woman was quite beautiful. Cole was recalling the sight of her deep blue eyes, creamy skin and soft pink lips when his thoughts were disturbed by noise a few cars away in the parking lot. It was her, putting her wet shirt in her car. Cole immediately thought Jeff hadn’t done as he’d asked him to. Luckily, Cole ran into her outside before she got away. The sight of this woman wearing his T-shirt sent Cole’s thoughts racing.
“I am so sorry,” Cole said as he walked over to her.
“It was accident. Don’t worry about it.” She held her hand out to Cole and introduced herself. “Sara Thompkins.” Looking him up and down, she couldn’t believe he was so incredibly drop dead gorgeous. She didn’t know men this good looking really did exist.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Cole said, and he meant it. He grasped the small hand that she offered. “Cole Becker.” He looked into her eyes and felt he could see right into her soul. What he saw appeared to be a glow within her. He’d never experienced anything like that before and, frankly, it scared him. Her smile bore evidence of the warmth that filled her heart. Cole decided that he, from here on out, would make certain that no one ever extinguished her inner light. Her heart would never have the opportunity to grow cold.
“You’re not leaving, are you, Sara?”
She hesitated before answering. “I was considering calling it a night.” Gold flecks in his brown eyes shimmered in the reflection of the parking lot lights, mesmerizing her. “Please don’t leave. Come back inside. Please, Sara. I’ll buy you a beer. I’ll even let you carry it.”
She giggled. “Seriously, thank you for the use of your shirt and your quick reaction. I had no idea how transparent that blouse became when it got wet!” Sara blushed and averted her gaze from Cole. She was a little embarrassed but also had found his eyes so mesmerizing it was hard for her to hold their gaze for any length of time.
Cole smiled. She was captivating. “I’m sorry that my technique in covering you with it was less than gentlemanly. I know that I grabbed a breast at one point. It was purely accidental, I assure you.” It might have been an accident that time, but he wouldn’t have minded being given the opportunity to go there again.
Sara bit her bottom lip to keep a laugh from escaping. She felt her cheeks warm and knew they were likely red. He probably was telling the truth, though she thought she wouldn’t mind getting to know this man well enough that he’d decide to stake claim of her whole chest. No, no, her whole body.
“Oops.” Cole tried to look as innocent as possible. “Let’s go back in.”
Cole’s puppy dog eyes and pleading helped her make up her mind to stay.
He was glad she didn’t object when he placed his hand on the small of her back and began to guide her back to the pub’s entrance. Not only that she hadn’t had a hissy fit, this woman was going back into the pub, not letting the incident ruin her evening. Cole really liked this woman already.
Sara and her entourage mingled with Cole and his friends on and off throughout the night.
“Man, Jeff gets one woman to dance with him and now he’s got all the confidence in the world. He’s danced with both of Sara’s friends several times now.” Bob’s jealousy was evident. “Maybe, but still Dan’s the Man, Bob.” Cole nodded in the direction of where Dan stood kissing Sara’s friend, Denise. Cole laughed at how defeated Bob looked. “Aw, come on. You haven’t exactly been sitting around alone all evening. I’m not buying your ‘oh, woe is me’ act.”
Bob left Sara and Cole sitting at the table and headed toward the bar. They could hear him spouting foolish pick- up lines along the way. Sara and Cole turned to each other and laughed.
“Oh, Bob’s a flirt. He’ll have a girl on his arm in mere moments,” Cole said.
“I’m going to check in with Denise, see if she thinks she’ll need a ride home. Then I think I’m going to call it evening.”
“I’ll wait by the door to walk you to your car.”
Sara returned without Denise, who’d decided she would get a ride home from Dan. After saying goodnight to the rest of her friends, Cole walked Sara to her car.
“Well, Cole, how may I return your shirt?” Sara looked down at Cole’s T-shirt that she was wearing. It was several sizes too big for her.
“I’ll be back in Greenville on Thursday. Care to meet me at the bistro downtown for dinner? You could return it to me then.”
“Sure. How about seven o’clock?” Sara suggested.
“Perfect.” He leaned in and kissed Sara ever so lightly on her lips. “Good night, Sara Thompkins,” Cole whispered.
~*~*~Bio~*~*~
I write stories about romance. They center on learning about the characters backgrounds, personalities and life circumstances that mold them into who they are and how they love.
I am a sassy 40-something year old. I live in a quiet farming town in New England with my husband of fifteen years and our three rescued cats.
After college I facilitated improvement in the physical abilities of children and the elderly then took the opportunity to enjoy my creative side. I love to sew, knit, write...sing and
drink martinis (not necessarily at the same time).
~*~*~Connect with Natalie~*~*~
Website: http://www.nataliealder.com/
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNatalieAlder
My Publisher: https://www.facebook.com/beaucoupllc
Email: nataliealder396@gmail.com
twitter: @NatalieRomance
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