He didn’t have to be perfect. Heaven knew she had her own flaws. She could be a bit much—she’d been told that a time or two. She talked a lot, especially when she was nervous. She could be a little scattered. She wasn’t good with numbers and she procrastinated on anything having to do with them—including paying the bills and doing her taxes.
But she loved people, she loved socializing, and she was a fundate. At least she thought so. Oftentimes she was the one turning down that second date. But there was no point in pursuing a relationship she didn’t see as promising, and it was kinder to be honest about it up front.
Maybe that was the recipe for becoming a twenty-six-year-old who’d never been in love. But she just hadn’t met the right man yet. She would surely recognize him when he came into her life.
She glanced at her laptop and woke it up again, brightened the screen. And yet somehow she’d agreed to write a romance novel.What were you thinking?
The phone buzzed with another incoming call. She checked the screen, hoping it was Mary returning her call. But no, it was her agent, and Sadie had already ignored two phone calls.
She accepted the call and forced some positive energy into her greeting. “Well, hello there. How are you, Gillian?”
“I’m doing well, thank you. How’s the beach?”
“Oh, sunny and just perfect. The weather’s been divine. And this house is to die for. Big huge windows overlooking the seashore. Rio and I are having a blast.”
Hearing her name, the dog perked her ears and tilted her head.
“Lucky you. We’ve had nothing but rain in the city. Our lower level flooded a little and ruined some old mementos I had in boxes.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that. How’s your family doing otherwise? Are your kids stir-crazy now that school’s over?”
“The kids are busy with summer activities, and Kyle and I are taking turns shuttling them around. I can’t wait till Megan gets her driver’s license—did I really just say that?”
Sadie chuckled. “It’ll take the pressure off for sure. I know my mom was glad when I got mine. Not only did I drive myself to all those practices, I became her errand girl.”
“That does sound tempting. But listen, I wanted to let you know that I spoke with Erin this morning, and she’s eager to see that proposal from you. Thought I’d check in and see how it was coming along.”
“Oh, it’s going great. The juices are really flowing. These characters, they’re just—” The cursor blinked on the blank page, mocking her. Sadie closed out the document with a jab. “They have me by the heart, what can I say? I should have something for her soon.”
“Soon like later this week...? She was hoping to have it in time to read over and present it at pub board, which is next Tuesday. So it would be great if she could have it no later than end of day Friday.”
Friday?Sadie clutched her chest. That was only three days away! And she still had no idea what this story would be about.“Um, sure! Of course. It just needs a little tweaking is all. I’ll flesh it out a bit and get it to her sometime Friday.” She palmed her face.
“Perfect. She’ll be so glad to hear that. I can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with.”
Me too.“You’re going to love it so much. Just as much as I do.”
After they said their goodbyes, Sadie’s smile wilted as she face-planted into her keyboard. What was she going to do? She had nothing.
Nothing!
She’d been so focused on finding the owner of that ring, which was ever so much more fun and exciting than drafting a dry synopsis for a genre she’d never written before.
Fun and exciting.
The words gave her pause. The whole ring thingwasexciting and interesting and unique. Certainly nothing like this had happened to her before. Could she weave a plot around that?
She bolted upright.Write what you know.Why not? Real life inspired fiction all the time, didn’t it? There was even an engagement ring involved in this story—very romantic. She’d already decided on a hero and heroine who were staying on the beach next door to each other. They would go on a quest and end up falling in love!
It was perfect. The plot she’d been beating her head against a brick wall over had been right at her fingertips all along.
Fourteen
Just like in real life, characters reveal themselves through thought, action, and dialogue.
—Romance Writing 101
Sadie had a bucketful of nervous energy. So after dinner she took Rio for a walk on the beach. The poor thing had such short legs she couldn’t accompany Sadie on her morning jogs.
