Big-city girl Ali Post returns to her sleepy hometown to run mom’s café for a week, bringing her Vegas-girl touch with her; leaving her broken engagement behind. It isn’t long, and she’s shaking things up. She instantly clashes with Alex Cirillo, her mom’s upstairs renter and Ali’s temporary restaurant assistant. He’s unavoidable as she ducks and dodges, only to find him at every corner. Somewhere in the middle of their ongoing battle, Ali is legitimately shook, but she’s only in town for a week. Is seven days long enough to find true love? Ali's resistance is a challenge, but Alex knows he’s got what it takes to sweep her off her signature 4-inch stilettos. Ali’s not so sure.

Meanwhile, Maggie Post flies off to the big city, leaving her smalltown life behind. She’s reeling from the loss of her best friend and confidant, Natalie, younger sister to Joshua Porter. Joshua was Maggie’s secret crush from her high school days, but that was years ago. Maggie has one goal in mind, pack up Natalie’s things, get closure on her feelings for Joshua, and return to work at her dream job, running the café. When Maggie and Joshua meet, sparks fly. They only have a few days, but Joshua is determined to make them memorable.

Ali and Maggie are reluctant to trust in something so new; but one thing is certain, love is in the air.

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Release Date: January 31, 2023
Genre: Contemporary | Valentine's Romance

A White Satin Romance

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Excerpt

Chapter One

Maggie Post FaceTime’s her daughter, Ali, nervously. There was a time when these calls would bring joy and longing to Ali’s face, but these days she barely covers her annoyance. Ali’s not answering, and Maggie almost hangs up, but then she sees one of her beautiful green eyes hiding behind layers of heavy eye-shadow and magnetic eyelashes. “Ali?”

“Oh, hey, Mom.”

Maggie frowns at the darkest shade of lipstick she’s ever seen on her daughter as her lips appear on the screen. She laughs nervously. “Am I interrupting something?”

Ali seems distracted. “What? No.”

Maggie can’t help but notice the low-cut blingy top, or her fly-away hair looking all shiny and crimped. “I think I am. Is this a bad time?” Ali blinks back a tear, and Maggie’s heart drops. Ali’s never been an easy crier. “Honey, is everything alright?”

She nods, swallowing hard. “It’s going to be Mom, it’s going to be.”

Maggie studies her daughter, searching for the right words. “I called because I need a favor.”

Her eyes light up. “You need me?” Is there hope in her voice? Maggie’s heart lifts a little.

“I really do. I, ah, I lost a friend unexpectedly, and she wanted me to come and see her, but I never got there, and now she’s gone.” Maggie fights back her own tears.

Her daughter’s eyes focus on the screen. “Oh, no, Mom. I’m really sorry. Was this your vlogger friend from college you loved to follow?”

Maggie smiles through her sadness, happy that her daughter was paying attention. “Yes. Her brother’s trying to go through all of her things, so I’m going back there to help him.”

Ali giggles. “Isn’t her brother the one you had such a thing for?”

She hopes she’s not blushing as she rolls her eyes. “That was years ago. We’re adults. I’m sure he’s married by now.”

Ali winks at her mom. “You never know.” She swallows hard. “One of us needs a happy ending.” She mutters under her breath and wipes away another stray tear.

Maggie’s ears perk up. “Honey, what is going on? Where is Jason? Don’t you two have big plans for Valentine’s Day, what with your wedding coming up so soon after?”

Her daughter looks off to the side, taking a deep breath. “There’s no wedding, Mom. Jason called it off.”

Maggie gasps. “What? How long have you known?”

Ali sighs into the phone, looking caught. “Oh, since two days ago. He called from Europe and said he wasn’t ready and that he was sorry. And then he hung up.” Maggie bites her tongue, trying to find the right words. Ali stares at her, speaking softly. “I was going to call, but I’ve just been processing it. It’s going to be okay, Mom. I know he wasn’t your favorite. I could tell.”

Maggie frowns in silence, deciding now isn’t the best time to argue with Ali’s opinion, which is spot on. She chooses instead to focus on the positive. “Are you sure you’re up for coming home? It looks like you’re going on a trip.”

“I was, Mom, o-kayyy. But it was just a girl’s weekend to Vegas.”

Her eyebrows raise. “With whom? I mean, most of your friends are scattered. Are they all flying in? You don’t want to let them down.”

Her daughter looks embarrassed. “No. Most of these girls are Jason’s friends, but they were all so inviting, especially since we broke up.”

Maggie’s eyebrows shoot up again. “So you’re going to Vegas with your ex-fiancée’s girlfriends?” Ali makes a face at her mom. “I’m not judging, I’m just trying to understand.” There’s more silence. “Okay, maybe I’m a little judgy, but do you really want to spend a whole weekend in Vegas with his friends? I mean, that’s not really your thing.”

She shrugs. “I don’t know, Mom. I just wanted to get away from it all, you know? And I’m tired of people saying I never try anything new.”

Maggie giggles. “Well. I’ve definitely got something new for you. Here’s the rest of the favor.”

Ali plops down on an airport chair beside her solitary suitcase. “Okay, Mom. Lay it on me.”

“Well, you know I run a café.” She clears her throat nervously. “I can’t afford to lose business for a few weeks, so I need you to run it when I’m gone.”

Her daughter blinks a few times. “What? I thought you just needed me to house-sit or something.”

She laughs. “Nonsense. If that’s all I needed, Alex could do that.”

Ali’s immediately suspicious of the warmth she hears in her mom’s voice at the mention of Alex’s name. “Alex? Who’s that?” She looks all alarmed.

Maggie sighs. “He is my renter and my friend. He’s also a writer. How cool is that?”

Ali listens with impatience. “How does Alex fit into the café equation?”

“He can help you with whatever you need. I left all my lists with him. I even made you a spreadsheet. He has everybody’s numbers if you need them, and a daily schedule, and the café menus.”

“If he’s so wonderful, why can’t he run the café?” Ali answers in a pouting voice. “Why did you need me?” Her voice is much quieter, and it worries Maggie. Ali has never seemed so insecure.

Maggie wants to ask more, but she doesn’t want to push Ali away. “Don’t be silly, Ali. I’ll always need you.” She exhales slowly. “Could you please do this for me? Otherwise, I don’t know if I can get away.”

Her daughter wipes a tear away, takes a deep breath, and waves her hand. “Chillax, Mom. I’m sure I can figure it all out. Now, go get ready to see your old crush, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Maggie giggles a little at Ali’s teasing. “Nice to see Jason didn’t squash your sense of humor.” They exchange a mutual look of I-can’t-believe-you-just-said-what-you-just-said through the phone.

Ali rolls her eyes, reliving her teenage years.  I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too, honey. Thanks so much for doing this for me.”

Ali winks at her mother and her mother’s furrowed brow of love. “As Grandma Irene always said, ‘Where you’re needed most is where you’re meant to be.’” Ali ends her facetime call, muttering, “I swear. My mom’s forty-five, and she gets more man-action than me.”

An elderly woman sitting two seats down turns and makes a face at her. Ali throws up her hands. “I didn’t mean that kind of action, just attention, oh just never mind.” She pops up out of her seat, tugging at the hems of her short red tank dress, pulling her matching sparkling red suitcase behind her.

 

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