Barefoot Heroine: A Mayne Attraction Short Story

By Ann Mauren

Former CIA agent Ash Ryan has finally found a stress-free dream job. But his life turns bitterly painful when he falls desperately in love with Ellery Mayne, the entrancing but clueless subject of his company’s security contract. This excerpt from the Mayne Attraction Series reveals the secret life of Ellery as seen through the eyes of a man who adores her but believes he will never meet her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ann Mauren
• Release date: Sep 14, 2010
• ISBN: 9780984520121

Ann Mauren

Ann Mauren was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky and now resides in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and two young sons, within earshot of the King’s Island Railway, the author’s favorite attraction at the ride’s namesake amusement park.

Book preview

Barefoot Heroine

A Mayne Attraction Short Story

by

Ann Mauren

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2011 by Ann Mauren

Contents

Copyright Page

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

An Author’s Request

Feeling Attracted?

Now Available: In The Spotlight

Coming Soon: In The Smoke

Coming Soon: In The Shadow

Chapter 1 - Intervention

Ash Ryan

Louisville, Kentucky, USA

It was just after dawn on a dewy morning in early summer when a battered pickup truck—perhaps a defeated veteran of some demolition derby circuit—rolled noisily through the neighborhood. I noticed it while I was out for a perimeter check which doubled as my morning jog, unable to avoid breathing in the cloudy evidence of the vehicle’s faulty transmission.

There were two people in the truck: a hulking mass of a man behind the wheel periodically spitting tobacco out of his lowered window and a scrawny but heavily pregnant waif who was awkwardly exiting the vehicle at each mailbox to place a folded note behind the flag. Though it appeared that she may deliver her baby at any moment, she seemed unaware or at least unbothered by this fact and made quick work of the note distribution. They covered the entire development within fifteen minutes before rolling off with a thick cloud of choking exhaust and the deep rumblings of a damaged muffler receding in their wake.

The note left at my box could best be described as sad, especially as it appeared the style and content would negate the considerable effort that had been expended in its delivery in the first place. Childish, nearly illegible handwritten scrawl solicited the house cleaning services of Ester Mosley, who promised to be cheap and fast with a deal sealing closing assurance of very perfeshonal work. Perhaps she should have consulted a ‘perfeshonal’ for a little proofreading on her sales flyer. Apparently her chauffer didn’t have any other talents beyond procreation and driving.

Once I had returned inside my

Reviews for Barefoot Heroine

[loveydoveybooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Being able to see a softer and more vulnerable side of Ash Ryan is a wonderful ice cream topped treat. Through Ellery's perspective, in "In the Spotlight", Ash is calm and knowing, a very intimidating creature. In "Barefoot Heroine", readers get to know that Ash is just as nervous, insecure, and hopeful as Ellery is.First impressions of Ash are reaffirmed in this 'Mayne Attraction' short story. Even more, readers are able to see beneath the surface, learning that Ash wants more than a passing relationship with Ellery. When it comes to Ellery, Ash is taken by more than just physical attributes. He genuinely admires Ellery's character. Everything about Ash in this short screams that he's so in love.Barefoot Heroine focuses on a scene from "In the Spotlight" and it's not like reading the same scene with the exact same dialogue. Reading about the other side of Ellery and Ash's first interaction is just right for holding readers over until the next 'Mayne Attraction' installment, "In the Smoke".