A Pebble in the Water

By Lisa Gray

Stephen’s lover Emmett accuses him of being boring and way too predictable. To prove him wrong, Stephen plans a surprise romantic getaway to a cabin on the river. But Emmett has plans of his own for romance -- ones that don’t include Stephen anymore.

Depressed at yet another break-up, Stephen wonders if it isn’t time to give up hope. But finding that elusive man he longs for -- the one willing to risk everything to be with him -- would take a miracle.

So Stephen travels alone to the cabin in search of a new perspective. Resolving to be more adventurous, he tries kayaking for the first time in his life. It’s great until he dozes off and wakes in the middle of a raging flood.

Terrified, he fights for his life, nearly losing his battle with the river. On the edge of surrender, he’s rescued by an unusual stranger who might not really exist.

Nothing makes any sense after that. Mystical explanations seem no less likely than rational ones. But does it matter? Because if Stephen wants an adventure, taking one last chance on love might turn out to be the best one of all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Jun 28, 2015
• ISBN: 9781611527988

Lisa Gray

Lisa Gray is an Amazon #1, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She previously worked as the chief Scottish soccer writer at the Press Association and the books editor at the Daily Record Saturday Magazine. She is also the author of Thin Air, Bad Memory, Dark Highway, and Lonely Hearts. She now writes full-time. Learn more at www.lisagraywriter.com and connect with Lisa on social media @lisagraywriter.

Book preview

A Pebble in the Water

By Lisa Gray

Published by JMS Books LLC at Smashwords

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2015 Lisa Gray

ISBN 9781611527988

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Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It may contain sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which might be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

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A Pebble in the Water

By Lisa Gray

Chapter 1

Shivering, Stephen pulled his overcoat closed against the nip in the spring air and refocused his thoughts on his immediate goal: cheesecake.

Sinful cheesecake.

Specifically, Le Moulin Rose’s three-inch-thick miracle of cream cheese and swirled caramel all topped with a Kahlua coffee glaze. Not something he needed to add to his already questionable waistline. But a few extra sessions at the gym would be well worth it.

After all, this was a two-fold celebration: one, the last day of tax season. For the first time in ten years, he’d declined to work beyond April 15th, abandoning all the panicky late filers to the other staff members. And two, Stephen Schuyler, rigidly (or was that boringly?) dedicated accountant, was at long last taking a vacation.

Tonight he would announce the news to his live-in lover, Emmett. No, he corrected himself, it was Emerson now. He snickered at the pretentious name Emmett had chosen. Stephen could hear Emmett’s condescending drawl in his head: But seriously, Stevie, an actor needs a unique name to elevate him above the common herd and get him remembered. At least that was the latest theory as to why Emmett’s acting career was floundering. But if Emmett believed the right name was so important, why couldn’t the man remember just how much Stephen hated being called Stevie?

But whatever names they went by, the next day would see the two of them driving up to a friend’s cabin on the river for a romantic getaway. And Stephen would prove that yes, an accountant could be spontaneous. Yes, he could take off in search of adventure. And no, he was not buried in his work, wearing blinders, and just no fun anymore.

For an entire week