This Time Forever (1): This Time Forever, #1

By Monica Mayrie

In this prequel to Book II of the series:

It's been thirty years since Angie saw Doug as a fresh faced eighteen-year-old.. Thirty years  since he walked out, saying he "just couldn't" be with her anymore. No explanation, just gone. And now here he was, three decades later. The old feelings come surging back -- tempered with the sharp pain of remembered abandonment. Had thirty years changed Doug -- changed her -- enough that they could try again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Monica Mayrie
• Release date: Dec 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9781524283841

Monica Mayrie

Monica Mayrie has a penchant for writing short, steamy novellas that whet readers' appetites -- and passion -- for more. Her first erotic romance novella, Just one Night, debuted in October 2013. While originally intended to be a standalone book, Monica decided to turn this "one night stand" into a series as of September 2015. What will happen when now-experienced young lovers Jason and Cassandra, fully reveling in their passion and delight for each other, welcome John and Cassandra back into their lives? Monica has also embarked on her second series, This Time Forever. Follow Angie and Doug, college sweethearts who rediscover each other -- and their steamy attraction -- after 30 years of separation, new love found -- and lost -- and heartache. A must read for anyone who has lost love... and hopes to rediscover it someday. Readers can also expect this series to continue into next year. First, we return to the beginning of Angie and Doug's story... and all the steamy, exquisite passion of those days!

Book preview

1

Angela?

Angela turned, squinted, brow furrowed in concentration as she gazed upward at the tall stranger that approached.

She studied him. Dark brows, silver hair, trimmed short in front and swept back into a neat ponytail, sideburns closely trimmed, blue eyes that twinkled in recognition at her...

Oh, if only I could remember....

Seconds ticked by, and he shifted his stance lazily, placing his hands on his hips, his smile widening.

Hands on hips. That shift from foot to foot, easy smile....

Doug!

Impulsively, she reached up, threw her arms around his neck, and he returned the embrace, muscular forearms embracing her still-slender waist.

Angie, Angie, Angie, he murmured, drawing back so he could study her face. You're just as pretty as ever. What's it been, 30 years?

Yes, yes, she laughed. 1985. Inwardly, she winced. Thirty years since he'd walked out, saying he was really single at heart, that he preferred to live life solo. There's no one else, he'd said. I just can't do this.... Domestic life. Give me a dog and my own bachelor pad. That's what I want to go back to. And so he had, or at least as far as she knew.

**

Doug watched a shadow cross her face, knew she was thinking of that awful day when he'd left, so long ago. She, small, dark, a dead ringer for young Ali McGraw, only shorter, more petite, more fragile ... standing in the doorway of their shared one-bedroom bungalow, watching him walk off. He, traveling man—yes, that's me, he thought wryly—affecting a jaunty, quick stride, swinging his duffel bag in one hand, not turning back so that she wouldn't see that he,