By Chance (A Playing Games Spin-off Novella)

By Rene Folsom

While burying herself into her editing job, Samantha Cline struggles to come to terms with the fact that her love life is dormant… and has been for quite some time. Every sickly sweet love story she has to edit continuously reminds her of how impractical romance is. Aside from her loyal group of friends who have their own relationship drama, she settles for companionship of the canine variety with her best bud, Chance.

In truth, there’s only one man who has ever turned Sam’s head, though she’d never admit it aloud. She remembers watching him train horses on her dad’s farm as a teenager, and no other man has ever measured up. Now that he’s been living next door to her for a few years, she can’t help but wish he’d glance her way and show some sort of recognition.

Sam is finally pushed over the edge when her dog runs off, forcing her to reassess her lot in life and what it would take to heal her heart in his absence. Then, one stormy night, her very sexy neighbor shows up on her doorstep, stealing her breath away with his presence. After a rather awkward encounter, Sam can’t help but wonder if she’ll lose her chance for good.

Note: This contemporary romance companion novella is a spin off in the Playing Games series, contains adult situations meant for ages 18+, and stands alone for your reading enjoyment

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rene Folsom
• Release date: Jul 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536554656

Book preview

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Synopsis

While burying herself into her editing job, Samantha Cline struggles to come to terms with the fact that her love life is dormant... and has been for quite some time. Every sickly sweet love story she has to edit continuously reminds her of how impractical romance is. Aside from her loyal group of friends who have their own relationship drama, she settles for companionship of the canine variety with her best bud, Chance.

In truth, there’s only one man who has ever turned Sam’s head, though she’d never admit it aloud. She remembers watching him train horses on her dad’s farm as a teenager, and no other man has ever measured up. Now that he’s been living next door to her for a few years, she can’t help but wish he’d glance her way and show some sort of recognition.

Sam is finally pushed over the edge when her dog runs off, forcing her to reassess her lot in life and what it would take to heal her heart in his absence. Then, one stormy night, her very sexy neighbor shows up on her doorstep, stealing her breath away with his presence. After a rather awkward encounter, Sam can’t help but wonder if she’ll lose her chance for good.

Note: This contemporary romance companion novella is a spin off in the Playing Games series and contains adult situations meant for ages 18+.

Find out more on Rene’s website at

http://renefolsom.com/playing-games

Copyright © 2016 Rene Folsom

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission from the authors, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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Editing Services Provided by:

Cynthia Shepp - www.CynthiaShepp.com

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Cover Created by Phycel Designs

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A special thanks to K9s for Warriors—

Thanks for supporting our troops when they need it the most. Your charity touches so many soldiers who have spent their lives serving others. The freedom they must feel with their K9 companions can’t be compared to our freedom they fight for each and every day.  But I am more than thankful they have their K9 buddies when they need them the most.

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Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Thanks for Reading

Rene’s Books

About Rene

Chapter One

Chance’s fur felt good gliding through my fingers while I stared at my computer screen, the sun making it difficult to see the words. It had been an overcast day up until a few minutes ago, and I suddenly regretted the decision to edit in the park. Considering I was so far behind deadline, I made myself a compromise—I’d work the weekend as long as I made time to take Chance for some outside fun. Needless to say, it wasn’t working in my favor so far.

It really didn’t help that I was editing yet another sickly sweet, predictable romance. The popular literary tropes these days were making me feel like my eyeballs were going to break. I tried desperately not to judge the female behind the manuscript as I prodded on through each word, but my eyes sometimes had a mind of their own as they rolled back in their sockets in an obvious attempt to examine my forehead.

Most of the time, I kept these woes to myself, only confiding in close friends about how I really felt. I didn’t want people to get the wrong idea... I loved my job. Who wouldn’t? I was a literary addict, desperate to fill my brain with new stories each and every day. I was fortunate enough to read some of the most amazing stories long before they ever hit the shelves. I considered myself spoiled in that regard.

But on occasion, I’d get a story that would hit my snooze button. No matter how often I’d tell myself to just get it over with, plow through so the next masterpiece could be devoured, I still found myself wanting to push the words aside. Motivation was not my strong suit when I wasn’t quite feeling the fictional words displayed before me.

Chance popped his head up, his ears standing on end as another dog passed by. I continued scratching his head while looking down to make sure his leash was still wrapped around my arm. He knew better than to engage other dogs, but sometimes, his playful instincts got the best of him. Thankfully, he stayed put.

Good boy, I said in a low voice, praising him for remembering his training. Staring back at the screen, I squinted and wondered if I should simply give up for the day—or at least give up while here at the park. Right before I was going to shut the lid to my laptop, Maci plopped down beside me, causing Chance’s tail to begin wagging in excitement.

How long have you been here? she asked, her hands immediately gravitating to Chance’s face, her fingers digging into his neck with affection. Maci was not only my best friend, but also my favorite author of all time. I fell in love with her as soon as I read the first sentence of her first book. It was authors like her who sculpted me to be the editor I was today.

A little over two hours, I answered while brushing a leaf from my lap. But the sun is making it hard to see the screen now. Tampa, Florida was well known for its sunny atmosphere, so I honestly had no room to complain. At least it wasn’t raining or snowing. That would surely put me in a mood.

Well, I was going to join you... see if I can get a few words down before going out tonight. She didn’t give me time to respond before she started pulling her laptop out of her bag, her colorful strands of beautiful blonde hair like a curtain between us.

Are you going out with Liam? I asked. I had to wonder how long she’d last with her new boyfriend. They were like