Friday, May 12, 2017

Captured by Love - Sneak Peek


Captured by Love

 

Take a peek at Book 3 in the A Second Chance series as we look at


Katrina Louise Bowers, chef and restaurant owner, meets Paul Summers, a corporate account executive, at black tie affair.  They experience love at first sight but soon discover that love must be tested and tried.  Will they survive and find their second chance at love? 
Settle in, grab a blanket and a glass of wine.  Find if they are captured by love.

 

 

Katrina
Chapter 1

 

Chlamydia!  Katrina stared at her gynecologist as if she had two heads.  She heard her, but could not comprehend that she was sitting in the doctor’s office being told that she had an STD. 

 A few days ago, she had developed a sharp cramp on the right side of her lower abdomen that had her call off from her classes. The pain quickly spread causing her to limp as she walked.  She took pain medication and drank a lot of water, which seemed to ease the pain.  She considered that she could be ovulating early even though that didn’t make sense to her since her menstrual had just gone off the week before.  Thinking it might be nothing major, she took a nap.  She woke suddenly with worsening pain, diarrhea and vomiting.  She finally had to admit that something was clearly wrong.  As she sat in the examination room of the women’s medical facility, it was worse that she thought.  I have a damn STD!

At twenty-four years old, Katrina Louise Bowers was on her way to the top in her profession.  She had huge dreams of becoming a master chef and restaurant owner and was on the fast track in accomplishing her goals.  Born into a family of chefs who worked in some of the finest restaurants, she received her skills honestly.  At the tender age of ten years old, her parents recognized early signs of her skills and cultivated them by instructing her themselves as well as sending her to the most prestigious schools.  Katrina had the opportunity to travel and experience cuisine from other cultures and meet some renowned chefs through college-sponsored trips.  Though she had enough training under her belt, she wanted more.  She learned French, Italian, Indian and Chinese cuisine.  She spent time kneading dough to bake delicious breads and mixing to create delectable desserts.  Ironically, her favorite pastime was soul food, and that was the type of restaurant she wanted to open.  Fried chicken, fried fish, macaroni and cheese, candied yams and greens were the type of dishes that brought the family together.  Family events were a huge part of her childhood and always filled her with wonderful memories.  She wanted to create the same feelings in the customers for whom she cooked.

With a huge cooking exam in front of her, she was very irritated with this interruption in her day and sighed.  “What did you just say?”  She heard the gynecologist loud and clear but still hoped that there was a mistake.  The doctor rubbed her shoulder and repeated what she said, then went on to tell her that she needed to let her partner or partners know that they needed to be tested and treated. 

Katrina hadn’t thought that far ahead and reeled from the realization that she had to tell her partner, who happened to be her husband, that he might have an STD. Embarrassment came first as she had to admit to the doctor that she did not sleep around and her only partner was her husband.  Anger replaced embarrassment as she processed that her “so called” loving husband was cheating on her and had the audacity to raw-dog and give her an STD.  How could he do this to me?  Tears threatened to spill, but she kept control of her emotions and asked her doctor about treatment.  She was informed of the prescription she would take and how often she needed to take it.  The doctor then instructed her to set up a follow up examination to make sure all was clear.  With script in hand, she quickly dressed, made a follow up appointment and left the women’s medical facility to make her first stop at the pharmacist she regularly used.  Her second stop would be to her home where she could crawl up in her bed and weep without anyone seeing.  Her husband would be home later from work so she didn’t have to face him yet.

Katrina met Devon Phillips in her first year of college, fell head over heels and married him a year later to her mother’s and father’s chagrin.   They did not approve of him.  When Katrina asked why, her mother exclaimed that there was something about him she didn’t like.  Her father just said he flat out didn’t care for him and offered no further comment.  After three years of marriage, her family only tolerated Devon and Katrina did her best to get them to like him but to no avail.  She wouldn’t admit it to them, but she felt her marriage was just a sham.  Devon said all the right things and seemed to care about her, but something did not ring true.  Now she knew why.  Ugggggg.

After taking the Market/Frankford El from Center City Philadelphia to where her car was parked on forty-six street, she jumped in her car and let the tears spill.  Large sobs filled with pain and anguish shook her body.  She cried until she had no tears left, but the despair did not leave.  She finally pulled out of the parking space and headed home.  She drove in total silence.  Normally, she would play one of her CD’s or listen to her favorite gospel station, but she needed the quietness to think.  Some hard decisions had to be made.  Should she leave her husband or try to work it out?  That question plagued her the entire drive.  She knew she definitely had to speak with him first before she made any decisions.  She dreaded the conversation.

Katrina parked in front of the twin home she shared with her husband in the Overbrook Park section of Philadelphia.  Before she got out, she surveyed the home.  The house was beautiful, but she didn’t like the house and it never felt like home to her.  For a moment she pondered why, then dismissed the thought she didn’t want to deal with the answers that flooded her mind. 

Katrina got out of the car and treaded to the front door.   She felt as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders and she slumped as she fumbled for her keys.  Maybe they could work it out, she thought.  There may be a possibility that she had this all wrong and admonished herself for coming to conclusions before she had facts.  With that resolve, she opened the door and walked in.  What she saw immobilized her and left her speechless.   

Two Black couples were engaged in sexual acts and occupied a huge couch that sat against one side of the living room.  Another couple of European decent utilized a loveseat on the other side.  A dark-skinned muscular man was standing in a corner while being expertly serviced, according to the expressions of ecstasy on his face, by a light-skinned red head woman and three other couples, a mixture of men and women darted the dining room area engaged in various sexual acts.  In the middle of all of that her husband laid stretched on the floor with two women engaged in a three-some.  None of them acknowledged her presence.

An orgy?  Is he frickin kidding me?  Katrina screamed, “What the hell is going on!”  She was stunned for the second time that day.
Paul

Chapter 2

 

Paul Summers cuddled with his wife, Francine, on the couch as they watched a chick flick movie she had picked out.  This was one of their rare moments when things were peaceful and calm.  Paul silently prayed for more nights like this, but he was not sure how long the peace would last.  As long as Francine took her medicine, all was well.  If she didn’t, all hell would break lose and life would become unbearable for Paul. 

For the past few days, signs of her not taking her medication started to show.  Paul noticed that the bottle of medicine was still somewhat full.  He didn’t mention this as it would set her off and he wanted and needed to keep the peace.

With the time getting late, Paul suggested they go to bed and finish the movie tomorrow night.  He had an early meeting and wanted to make sure he was alert and prepared.  Paul was a corporate accountant of a large financial company in Philadelphia, and it was his responsibility to have all of the financial data in order for a possible order.  No mistakes could be made.

When his wife said that she would finish the movie and come up later, Paul kissed her goodnight, “Ok, baby,” then headed up the stairs of their single home to a large master bedroom.  He quickly undressed, freshened up in the huge master bath, put on shorts and a tee shirt and slid under warm covers on a king-sized bed.  He turned on the television for background noise, but the television was watching him as exhaustion won over and he slipped into a deep sleep.

He snapped awake a couple of hours later feeling disoriented and uneasy.  When the fog in his brain cleared, he padded to the bathroom to relieve himself.  He returned to the room and let out a small gasp when he noticed his wife sitting on the floor in a corner with a knife in her hand.  Confused, he went to reach for her to take the knife away but jumped back when she calmly pointed it at him.  He raised his head to the ceiling and took a deep breath.  And so it begins.

“I thought you were going to bed,” she stated, “but you had the television on.  What were you looking at without me?  You couldn’t finish the movie with me, but you turned on something else up here.  I thought you were tired.”  She stared at him wide-eyed demanding an answer.

Even knowing that it wouldn’t work, Paul still tried to reason with her.  “Baby, I turned the television on for background noise.  Nothing more.  I wasn’t even looking at it.  I fell asleep almost immediately after I turned it on.

“Liar!  I know you were watching a movie,” she screeched.  “They told me.”

“Baby, who told you?”

“Stop it.  Don’t play dumb with me.  You know who.”  She dugged the knife into the carpet as she stood up and approached him.  “I’ve tried over and over again with you, but you don’t listen.  You use me and don’t even care and I’m tired of it.”  With each word she stepped closer and closer to him. 

Paul moved slowly back to not agitate her further.  “Baby, I love you and would never take advantage of you.  Put the knife down and let’s talk this out.”

“Talk what out?” she looked at him incredulously.  “I’ve tried to talk to you.  I’m tired of talking.”  She looked up at the ceiling, shook her head then laughed.  “I knew it.  They always let me know how much you lie.  You filthy, stinky liar.”  As she approached further lashing at him with the knife, Paul continued to shuffle back slowly and cautiously.  This was worse than he thought.  She had used weapons against him before, but never to really harm him.  There was something different in her eyes this time, and for the first time, Paul feared for his life.  He gauged how far his cell phone was from the room door and how long it would take to grab it and dodge out the door before she could catch him.  There was no other way he could get out of this, so he took his chances.

Paul ran to his phone then charged for the bedroom door.  Francine darted after him and slashed the knife down his back. 

Blood dripped as Paul made a dash for the front door.  He made it just in time before she try to stab him again.  Stumbling to a neighbor’s house, he called 911 and waited on his neighbor’s step.  From where he stood, he could see her clearly in the living room. 

She waved the knife at him and smiled.  Raising the knife, she taunted him.  Mouthing the words ‘good-bye’ and before he could stop her, she placed the knife across her throat and slid it across.  Blood splattered as she dropped to the floor. 

The gut-wrenching scream came from Paul and he ran to the house.  “No, no, no, baby no.”

 
 Capture by Love coming soon

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

After All Is Said and Done

This time he's different
He's new
Something clicked inside of him
Me too

I feel the change
And though some may not agree
He's my man
At this time, the only one for me

We came to the conclusion that there's no one else better
Despite all the pain, all the suffering
When it came down to it nothing else mattered
I  needed him and he needed me

I tried but failed to distance myself from him
He couldn't get away from me
What the heck is our problem
Why do we torture ourselves constantly

He cheated, lied and messed up our love
I did some things that I'm not proud of
At the end of the day, no judgment to pass
We both failed, but our love seemed to last

It was stupid torture to keep ourselves away
So, after all is said and done
When there was nothing else to say
We couldn't deny that we should be one

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Fork in the Road

I see him, but I don't
I feel him, but not so much
He's trying to be positive, but still negative in my mind
The back and forward pull is torture for me
Clouding my thoughts and sanity

How can I be so disconnected from the man I loved for so long
I'm at a crossroads and not sure of which way to go
I stand there at the fork and look in each direction
Scratching my head and frowning in concentration

Wondering "how did I get here?"
I thought I was good with a new path cut out just for me
I'm standing not moving an inch cause I just don't know
Which way is the right way to go

Where will my guidance come from
Above?
Naw, I tried that before
Within?
Not sure if I can trust my own judgement anymore

I question myself
Do I forget it all and let myself love him again
Or just say fuck it and move along
Cause for real for real he did do me wrong

It's not just trust that's an issue
It's the giving of myself again
And not being sure if my very essence will be trampled on
Not sure this is something I want to gamble on

One road says, squash it and love him
The other says, love him but leave him
Ugggggg, this shit is crazy
I shouldn't be crying but the tears flow freely

Can't identify the emotion that clouds my eyes
The pain is great, but yet it's not
My direction is clear if truth be told
But still, I'm here staring at the fork in the road




Friday, August 3, 2012

And the Verdict Is....

It was quiet and peaceful around me, but my mind was noisy trying to figure out how I got myself in this mess.  I sat still starring at the television, occasionally paying attention to it and laughing at a funny segment then slipping back into a quiet, contemplation of my situation.

I thought about the things I heard, the things I saw and the issues from the past and I argued with myself.  What do I do now?  Is there an easy outcome?  Who will hurt the most?  and finally, What about me?

And when I summed it up and argued each question...

What do I do now?  be honest with myself that change is not going to come, and I must deal with that and stop being a punk

Is there an easy outcome?  No, but a decision has to be made no matter how hard it is

Who will hurt the most?  everyone will hurt equally, but they will hurt more if things continue as they are

What about me?  I tried it, it didn't work, and I finally realized that

the Verdict is....

Let him go!

Friday, July 27, 2012

Um, Um, Um - Yummy

I  tried to fight it, but my arms were too weak, my mind to slow, my body just wouldn't respond.  So, I gave  up and let it be and when I did, it was sooooo good. 

We're opposite, but I'm attracted to him on so many levels.  Where do I find forgiveness when he hurt so badly?  My emotions were crushed and my heart scarred.  Then I sat alone in the living room listening to the rain and I remembered those days when we loved each other, held each other, kissed until we were drunk and I couldn't get that off my mind.  So, against all judgement, I sent a text. 

One simple sentence. 

Things changed at the moment.

He was there again - on me, in me, around me - everywhere.  I hated myself, but that was torture in itself.  What is this chemistry I have with him?

It is beyond description and defies all reason.  I don't want to feel this way about him, but I can't help myself.  I actually like him, so I want to be with him.

Am I crazy?  No.  Am I delusional?  Maybe.  Do I love him?  Not the same.  Do I still want him?  Hell yes. 

I know the questions you're asking, but I don't have an answer except being with him is so....

Um, um, um, yummy.

It's a Game of Opposites

I want to let him go but keep him.

I need him but I don’t.

Some days I feel good with him there, other times I wish he weren’t.

Having him around I'm secure and safe yet vulnerable and in harm’s way.

I’m close yet so far away.

Upside down and in and out he turns me. (now I understand that song)

It is but it isn’t.

I’m in a conundrum, but I’m clear of what I know.

The writing is on the wall, but the words are foreign.

When will this roller coaster ever end?

I don’t know, yet I do.

It’s a game of Opposites.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Let it Ride

I began a journal a few months ago at the behest of one of my co-workers.  She had gone through a divorce and suggested I write my feelings down each day.  I did, and it was so therapeutic, but then I decided to read back over what I wrote.

So, I journeyed through my thoughts and what I found astonished me.  I was the most inconsistent person ever and scattered brain as if I had ADHD.  I went from thing to another, from one man to another from one thought to another in a matter of days.  I thought I had a handle on my situation, but surmised by my words that I was sadly mistaken.

It was mind blowing to read what I wrote in my journal - I knew then that I had to get a grip and take a reality check.

After 7 1/2 months of living a somewhat "single" life, I can honestly say that I'm not fighting anything any longer.  I don't care what people think or feel.  I have to deal with my feelings and my thoughts only at this juncture in my life.  So, I had to be honest with myself and answer the questions of how I really felt then and feel now.  I shocked myself but I learned so much about me - how I handle emotional issues and how I handle people.  I've found that you can't take things too seriously and that life has a way of teaching you those important lessons to get you to the next phase.

So, instead of being in a uproar over everything that has happened to me and constantly replaying those negative images in my head, I've decided to chill and let life be.  Everything will work out and as always, what's done in the dark will come to light.

He can tell me all day long he loves me, wants to be with me, I'm his world and its not right without me.  Those are great words, but time will always tell.  I'm good, not mad, not fussing, getting along with him even laughing with him, but I'm also cautious, mindful, and above all finally paying attention. 

Life is too short to harbor pain, hate, anger - so instead I'll just chill and....

Let It Ride!!!