LITMIR.BIZ

      Something more than friendship

      Being a single dad was never on Michael Young’s agenda. Yet with the sudden loss of his wife, that’s exactly the role he has. On his best days, he thinks he can handle it. On his worst… Luckily, family friend Angie Bartlett has his back, easily stepping in to help out.

      Lately, though, something has changed.

      Michael is noticing exactly how gorgeous Angie is, and how single she is. She’s constantly in his thoughts and he feels an attraction he never expected. Does he dare disrupt the very good thing they have going? If they have a fling that goes nowhere, he stands to lose everything—including her. But if they make it work, he stands to gain everything!

      Before Michael could think about it, he reached out to stop her from leaving

      “Angie...”

      She stilled, turning to glance over her shoulder at him with an uncertain look in her eyes.

      He tightened his grip, anchoring her. “Stay.”

      His gaze dropped to her collarbone, finding the give-away flutter beneath her skin where her pulse was beating wildly.

      Racing. Out of control.

      His own pulse was racing, too, because he was holding her arm, touching her, and they were alone.

      He looked at her face again. All the want and lust and desire that he’d pushed down, down, down came rushing back up at him.

      What self-control he had blew away like dust on the wind. He wasn’t sure who moved first, her or him. There was the thunk of her bag sliding down her arm to hit the floor, followed by the muted clank of her keys following a split-second later, then he was pulling her into his arms and she was lifting her face to kiss him and he was lowering his head to kiss her.

      Dear Reader,

      I think the seed for Within Reach came from some of the stories I read about post 9/11 romances in New York. I can remember hearing about rescue workers who took it upon themselves to “adopt” the widow and family of a fallen comrade and do all they could to help her and her children through a tough time. Not surprisingly, such intensity and intimacy bred another kind of intimacy and intensity—which, in a few cases, meant some marriages broke up. Difficult, sad stuff, on many levels.

      But it got me thinking about feelings that develop between people under difficult circumstances. Feelings that neither party is looking for, but that are nevertheless powerful and undeniable.

      Then Angie, Billie and Michael popped into my head. Angie and Billie might as well be sisters. The very best of friends, they have the sort of close female friendship that is incredibly precious. When Billie dies unexpectedly, Angie resolves to help Michael, Billie’s husband, face a world without his beloved wife and raise their two children.

      I’m sure you can imagine some of what happens next. It’s not an easy journey for either Angie or Michael, but I’d like to think it’s worth it.

      I love to hear from readers via my website at www.sarahmayberry.com.

      Happy reading!

      Sarah Mayberry

      Within Reach

      Sarah Mayberry