Title: The Morning After
Author: Brenda Whiteside
Genre: Contemporary Western Romance
Book Blurb:
Can there really be love at first sight?
Abigail Martin doesn’t think so. Unless the sexy redheaded stranger she wakes up with the morning after her best friend’s wedding is telling the truth.
Bobby Stockwood fell cowboy-hat-over-boot-heels for the brown-haired beauty, and married her in an impromptu wedding ceremony. Now he just has to convince his new bride that the morning after can be the first day of the rest of their lives.
But just when Abigail starts believing the fairy-tale is real, she finds out exactly who Bobby is, and the walls of make-believe start crumbling down.
Excerpt:
What had she done?
Had she made a fool of herself at her best friend’s wedding? Three times a bridesmaid. To have just one marriage would be nice. Damn that biological clock.
Aching calves evoked images of the bar and dancing, dancing for hours. She could’ve danced all night. She should’ve. Maybe her head wouldn’t hurt so much. Stupid tropical blitz things. They called them boat drinks and they went down like fruit punch. Such cute pink and purple glasses, and they let you keep them. Abigail rubbed her temples. She must’ve tried to drink herself to a full set.
As delicately as possible, she rose, careful to keep from disturbing her sleeping companion. Her head pounded with each carefully placed shuffling footstep to the bathroom. The last time she vomited, she was ten years old and sick on pumpkin pie. Vomiting was not an option.
Cold water in her face, a deep breath, three aspirin.
Her bottom rested against the bathroom sink. Dancing and drinking and what? Think. The wedding was clear. Her oldest friend, Sue Ellen, had tied the knot for the third time. A Tahiti honeymoon prompted a sarong wearing wedding party and champagne served in plastic coconut shells. The affair, held at The Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk, had been pretty tacky considering the wealth of the new husband, JT Cushing, owner of the largest ranch this side of the Rio Grande. She hadn’t gone to the wedding with anyone, but she’d certainly come home with someone.
She tiptoed back to the bedroom, leaned against the doorframe and considered her surprise bedmate. The sun slanted rays from the window over the bed, held him in a spotlight—as if announcing the presence of a featured guest.
A moan.
The man rolled to his back, kicking off covers.
Abigail gasped. Her gentleman visitor wore only a bow tie and black socks.
She crept to the edge of the bed. His face was turned away, further hidden by red curls hanging down the nape of his neck and onto his cheek. A visual sweep of the attractive body brought a smile to her face when she paused on his more than ample endowments. A true redhead. An encounter of this magnitude should be easy to remember.
Abigail smiled in spite of her throbbing temples. Inching closer, she nudged his boots aside with her foot and leaned over to see his face. Mmm. He smelled good, like rich leather and fresh cut wood. As she bent to get a closer look, Kirby, her sixteen-pound Siamese cat, entered her room and announced his hunger.
The visitor stirred, grasped her arm, drawing her down across his hips.
He rose up on his elbows and looked at her. “So, Abby, you’re a morning person, are you?”
Abigail launched off the bed, trying not to come into contact with anymore of the warm body than she already had. Tripping over the boots, she ended up sprawled on the floor. “Who…” She gulped. “Who the hell are you?”
“Who am I? “Darlin’ I know I told you, you’ve got to believe it’s true.” He paused his singing. When she sat speechless, he sang out again, slightly off key. “Real love comes along once, and that real love is you.”
“You sure as hell aren’t Lance Dugan.”
He sat upright, feet to the floor, and Abigail found herself eye level with embarrassment. With hands to her face, she pleaded in a quiet voice, mindful of her head still adjusting to sobriety.
“Please, cover yourself. You look ridiculous.”
“Why, there’s a blow to a man’s ego. I hope you mean the bow tie, darlin’ and not my prodigious maleness.” The sheets rustled. “You can open your eyes now and greet your husband with a little more enthusiasm.”
Large green eyes looked at her, eyes she thought were missing glasses.
Speechless, she studied the thin lips forming a crooked smile, topped with an auburn mustache. She flashed on burying her fingers in his tousled red curls while burying her tongue in his most kissable mouth.
Without taking a breath, he continued his dialogue. “I’ve heard of shy newlyweds, but I would never have guessed you for shy. Abby, honey, don’t tell me you were that drunk. I knew you were more than tipsy, but not mind-numbing drunk. The night was all too perfect. Damn near a double wedding with Sue Ellen and JT.”
“Shut up.” She raised her voice as loud as her throbbing head would allow. “What…what are you talking about?” Her fingers clutched at the carpeted floor.
“Abby…”
“Stop calling me Abby. My name is Abigail.”
“But last night you asked me to call you Abby.” He ran a hand through his jumble of curls. “You said only your mother and your husband could call you Abby. And since I’m not your mother…”
“And you’re not my husband. I don’t have a hus–”
“Ah, but you do now, Mrs. Bobby Stockwood. Although, I’m guessing you’d prefer Ms. Abigail Stockwood. Abby, you act like you’ve forgotten the most important night of our life.”
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What makes your featured book a must-read?
Every woman wants to have fond memories of her wedding day. But what if you wake up next to a man who claims to be your husband, and you have no memory of the wedding? Add to that, he’s a handsome, redheaded cowboy who’s charming and convinced he loves you. The Morning After has love, sensual moments, and laugh out loud fun to entertain you.
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $15 Amazon gift card:
Open Internationally.
Runs June 7 – June 19, 2024.
Winner will be drawn on June 20, 2024.
Author Biography:
Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of romantic suspense, romance, and cozy mystery. She writes children’s books under the pen name, Brenda Sue. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have settled in Central Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart and won't discount the possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.
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