Love Without Ceasing: Love Through the Ages, #2

By R.J. Will

Love Without Ceasing; A Contemporary Romance Novella

Vol. 2 of Love Through the Ages

Samantha Tate could smell him before she saw him.

She scrunched up her nose, and when she heard a man's voice call her name, she turned around, and there they stood, facing each other almost within touching distance, she in black pants topped by a black vest over a unisex white shirt with half-inch pleats, her shirt with a black satin band around the collar and black stud buttons, her makeup, her nails, her long dark hair and her perfume perfect, everything about her immaculate, as if she had been chosen to work a state dinner at the White House, he with long dark hair, a bushy beard and dirty fingernails, his clothes and his bulky brown backpack covered with the road dust of a thousand miles, he with a body odor powerful enough to gag a gorilla.

Thus did Samantha – "Sam" – a single mother and a waitress in a posh, upscale restaurant in Neehawk, Nebraska, meet Austin, a mysterious character from who knows where, who found her missing wallet in a dumpster and returned it to her with all of its contents intact.

Sam was so grateful she ignored his B.O. and offered to make him a latte. Before she could do that, however, the restaurant manager kicked "the bum" out.

Undeterred, Sam went out on the street and pleaded with Austin to wait. Minutes later she brought a latte out to him, and their relationship began to build from that point on.

Enter Veronica Voss, owner of the restaurant. Veronica was tall, beautiful, willowy and, according to the Neehawk grapevine, willing. So willing, in fact, the word was her rich cattle rancher husband Vern bought the restaurant for her for the sole purpose of keeping her busy and out of other men's bedrooms. If that was his purpose, it was a strategy that had scant success.

When Veronica saw what a hunk Austin was after Veronica cleaned him up – the beard was gone, the hair was cut and the clothes were clean – she made designs to have Austin for her own.

Meanwhile, Sam was trying to figure out who Austin was. She knew little about him, only that she had fallen in love with him.

Then, in a long evening heart-to-heart, Austin told Sam of an episode in his life that left her stricken, scarcely able to breathe.

Austin and Sam were an unlikely couple who had an inauspicious beginning; Sam fell in love with him in spite of it; Austin wanted to fall in love with her. Before they could live happily ever after, however, they had to answer a question:

Is there love after death?

Love Without Ceasing is Vol. 1 of Love Through the Ages, a five-book bundle of contemporary romance fiction love novellas. Love Through the Ages is not an ordinary series. Each book is a stand-alone. The setting for each book is the same, the fictitious city of Neehawk, Nebraska. But the characters in each book are different, and they are older in each succeeding book – thus "love through the ages." The characters in The Virgin Conquest, Vol. 1 of Love Through the Ages, are 18-20 years old. The characters in Love Without Ceasing are 26 to 29 years old. The characters in Vol. 5 of the bundle are in their 70s.

But love is the same throughout.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.J. Will
• Release date: Dec 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502257826

Book preview

Love Without Ceasing

Love Through the Ages, Vol. 2

The Neehawk Chronicles

Ages 26 to 29

Love has no age, no limit, and no death.

– John Galsworthy

R.J. WILL

Copyright © 2014 by R.J. Will

About Love Through the Ages

Love Through the Ages is not an ordinary series. Each book in the five-book bundle is a stand-alone. The setting for each book is the same, the fictitious city of Neehawk, Nebraska. But the characters in each book are different, and they are older in each succeeding book – thus love through the ages. The main characters in Vol. 1, The Virgin Conquest, are 18-20 years old. The main characters in Love Without Ceasing, Vol. 2, are 26 to 29. The main characters in Vol. 5 of the bundle are in their 70s.

But love is the same throughout.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – The Bum

Chapter 2 – Kissed by a Stranger

Chapter 3 – The Hapkido Kick

Chapter 4 – Velma, Melvin and Sylvia

Chapter 5 – The 10-Foot Pole

Chapter 6 – 48-Hour Love

Chapter 7 – Rachel

Chapter 8 – Comforting the Enemy

Chapter 9 – Down on Her Knees

Chapter 10 – The Quandary

Chapter 11 – The Third Way

Epilog

About R.J. WILL

Love Through the Ages

R.J. WILL Recommends

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Chapter 1

THE BUM

Samantha Tate wrinkled her nose, an inappropriate if not forbidden facial display for a waitress in a restaurant as upscale and posh as Le Faisan. She couldn't help herself, however. A sudden god-awful smell from an unknown source had assaulted her a moment ago. She shook her head, as if to drive the odor away. She hoped no customers had witnessed her distress. Worse, she hoped the same fate did not befall them.

The 26-year-old waitress stood with her back to the restaurant entrance as she bused her last table of the day. She scanned the table for anything that might produce such an eye-watering aroma, but found no possible culprits. She couldn't imagine where the sewer-like scent came from. Thank God her shift was almost over and she would be going home in a few minutes. Home, where she would give her son, Ted, a big hug.

Samantha?

She turned around, and there they stood, facing each other almost within touching distance, she in black pants topped by a black vest over a unisex white shirt with half-inch pleats, her shirt with a black satin band around the collar and black stud buttons, her makeup, her nails, her long dark hair and her perfume perfect, everything about her immaculate, as if she had been chosen to work a state dinner at the White House, he with long dark hair, a bushy beard and dirty fingernails, his clothes and his bulky brown backpack covered with the road dust of a thousand miles, he with a body odor powerful enough to gag a gorilla.

The day had been bad from the start. Samantha showed up for work at 8:45 a.m., 15 minutes early on this Monday, and parked in the alley behind Le Faisan. Veronica Voss, the owner of the restaurant, almost always showed up on Monday, though seldom on other days of the week, leaving the operation of the restaurant to manager John Masters. Veronica didn't need much of an excuse to fire someone, and being late for work gave her plenty reason to bring out her axe. So Samantha came early, happy to note Veronica's Cadillac had not yet arrived. She went inside and a minute later discovered the wallet she usually carried in her purse had gone missing. She ran back outside and searched her car but found nothing. She went back inside, got on her cell phone and called home. Clara, the woman who took care of 7-year-old Ted during summer vacation, said she would search for the wallet and call back if she found it, but the day passed without a peep from Samantha's cell phone. Her driver's license, her credit card, her checkbook, her money. All missing. Robert had always taken care of such things, but that was before the sonofabitch divorced her and ran off with some 19-year-old tart he had knocked up. Now she had no clue what to do about her missing wallet. Damn him.

And now this ... this ... this bum.

Yes? Samantha said, scrunching her nose again.

I think this is yours. He handed Samantha's wallet to her.

A wave of relief swept through her fast enough to have knocked her down. She stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed at her wallet, trying to get her head around the fact her terrible problem had disappeared – snap! – just like that. Oh my god yes. Oh, thank you so much.

You're welcome, he said. He turned and started to leave.

Oh, wait, please. She couldn't let him go without a word. Where, uh, where did you find this?

The bum gave her a half-smile. In the alley out back. Sorry, to find out the owner I had to, you know ...

Open it. Of course, I understand.

Anyway, I asked somebody if they recognized your name, and they said you worked in here. He spoke in a soft, low voice tinged with sorrow, as if he had problems of his own.

The wallet was on the ground?

He hesitated for a few seconds, long enough to make Samantha wonder why.

No, he said finally. No, in, uh, in the dumpster.

The dumpster? Then the thought occurred to her – too late, she told herself. He was looking for something to eat. She wondered how to unravel the knot she had gotten herself into.

You might want to check if anything's missing, he said.

Oh. Right. Thank you. Thank you for getting us out of an awkward moment. She opened her wallet. Her driver's license, her credit card, her checkbook, her money. Nothing missing. She smiled at him. Nothing missing. What a relief. She paused. But why, she asked, almost to herself, would someone toss it in the dumpster without taking anything? Not even the money. Not much money, but still ... .

He shook his head and shrugged. Who knows? Well, all the best to you. He started to leave again.

Wait, wait. What's your name? Why am I calling him back?

He hesitated again. Austin.

Austin. I'm Samantha. Well, as you know, but everybody calls me Sam. Why am I doing this? Just let him go. She couldn't, and she didn't understand why. Can I make a latte for you? It isn't much, but I'd like to thank you.

No, that's all –

I want to. Please. Come sit at the counter.

Sam sensed he was aware he looked and smelled like a landfill. It'll be OK, really, she said.

He shrugged. OK. He followed her to the counter, set his backpack on the floor and sat down.

What would you like?

Uh, a double tall, I guess. With one pump of hazelnut?

Sure, coming up. She smiled at him, ignoring the body odor.

Out of the corner of her eye Sam caught a glimpse of Veronica talking with John, the restaurant manager, at the far end of the dining area. A second later John walked toward them and approached Austin. Sam shook her head and swore under her breath.

I'm sorry, John said. You'll have to leave the restaurant. You aren't dressed appropriately, and quite frankly, sir, you are in bad need of a hot bath.

He's my guest, Samantha said. She felt the anger rising in her chest. He found my wallet, and I'm making a latte for him.

John raised his voice. "If you want to argue with Mrs. Voss about this, Sam, you're welcome to do so. Meanwhile, mister, we don't cater to bums in Le Faisan, and if you don't leave immediately I'll have the police escort you out."

Austin raised his hands. OK, OK, I'm leaving. Not a problem. He slid off his bar stool, picked up his backpack, gave Sam a little wave and headed for the door.

Austin, wait! Sam came out from behind the counter and walked over to him. I'm sorry. This is so embarrassing. Wait for me outside, will you, please? I'll bring your latte to you.

Oh no, don't. He seemed almost frightened. "Sam, don't worry. I understand these things. I am kind of scruffy. Been on the road a long time."

I don't care how scruffy you are, she said, almost shouting. She took a second to collect herself. This will just take me a minute, she said in a near whisper. My shift is over. Do this for me, please, and wait outside, OK?

Austin took a deep breath. All right. OK, he said. He walked out the door.

Sam went back to the latte machine, where Veronica stood waiting for her.

Sam, let me explain something to you. Veronica had on her angry glare, a face she wore much of the time, particularly when dealing with her female employees. She used the face on all her employees at one time or another, but Sam thought she had the honor of being Veronica's most frequent target. When I tell John to do something, I don't want him to have to argue with you. Do you understand? Sam nodded. Veronica started to walk away, then stopped and turned around. By the way, she barked, pointing a finger at Sam, "you are going