Widower's Aura

By AJ Renee

A guilt-stricken single father and the spellbinding woman who shows him the power of second chances...

Sofia Brazier lives in a world full of colors, even if at times it’s hard to see beyond the darkness.

Her ability to see auras was useful in her old life in New Orleans, but after tragedy strikes, she escapes to the small town of St. Fleur.

There, her path crosses with single dad and widower Noah Tyler. The ex-security-forces-turned-handyman hunk is re-building a life for his troubled teen.

He doesn’t want to be captivated by the beautiful and eccentric woman, but his rebellious daughter makes it impossible to steer clear of Sofia—and the threat she poses to his already shattered heart.

Can he protect her when he failed to protect the only other woman he’s ever loved?

*Widower's Aura is intended for adults 18+.

St. Fleur Series:
Widower's Aura
Always Mine
Duplicity
No Going Back
Taxed by Love
Complications

• Language: English
• Publisher: AJ Renee
• Release date: Aug 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310675584

AJ Renee

AJ Renee is a military wife and mother to three young girls. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with her Masters of Science in Criminal Justice and a Bachelors of Science in Psychology while working at the library.She loves to write steamy romance with suspense and a happily ever after. When she isn't writing or interacting with her readers, you can find her spending time with her family or reading. AJ enjoys traveling, researching family history, and all things New Orleans.

Book preview

WIDOWER’S AURA

A St. Fleur Novel, Book #1

By: AJ Renee

Widower’s Aura

A St. Fleur Novel, Book 1

By: AJ Renee

AJ Renee on Facebook

AJ Renee on Twitter

AJ Renee on Instagram

AJ Renee on Goodreads

www.AJRenee.com

[e-mail]

Copyright 2016 AJ Renee

Edited by Cassie Robertson

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

e-ISBN: 9781310675584

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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 of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional and/or are used fictitiously and are solely the product of the author’s imagination. Any similarity to persons living or dead, places, businesses, events, or locales is purely coincidental.

ALSO BY AJ RENEE

ST. FLEUR SERIES:

Widower’s Aura

Always Mine

Duplicity

No Going Back

Taxed by Love

Complications

LOVE IN SCRUBS SERIES:

Joshua

Jason

Wes

BRODERICK COVEN SERIES:

Cursed Love

Cursed Sight

Cursed Whispers

Cursed Touch

Cursed Luck

ALUMBRA PACK SERIES:

Rebel

Bold ~ Coming 2022

Fierce ~ Coming 2022

OTHER TITLES:

Finding Love at the Falls… (Short Story)

Beauty Unmasked

Winter’s Surprise

Unlucky in Love

Not Playing Fair

Seduced by Magic: A Steamy PNR Anthology

A Deadly World: Vampires in Paris

Billionaires Club

Fractured Fairytales Book One

Take Two: A Collection of Second Chance Stories

Table of Contents

Also by AJ Renee

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Also by AJ Renee

Dedication

In memory of Lindsey.

The footprints you left in my life are deep and the sound of your laughter will never fade from my memory.

Prologue

The latest pop song on the radio broadcasted a man begging his lover not to give up on them. As the sun beamed through the windshield, Sofia wondered about what it would be like to love someone that much and hold on with both hands. Of course she’d dated in New Orleans and cared about the few boyfriends she’d had, but had she loved them? Okay, she loved a couple, but she had never been in love. She refused to settle, and no matter how much she had tried to be in love with those sweet husband-material guys, it had never been enough. Her heart was never in it with any of them.

Ahead of her, the heat came off the asphalt in waves, creating a mirage. The road, of course, was in desperate need of repair. One of the downsides of living in a poor state was that no matter where you drove, the road was pot-hole-ridden. At least she was almost home. Home. She’s always had a place to lay her head down, but now she wouldn’t have to worry about people at work knowing where she lived. In St. Fleur, she wouldn’t have to watch her rearview mirror to make sure she didn’t bring work home and, in turn, endanger her life.

The steering wheel vibrated in her hand, and her head shot up from the navigation system. Seriously! What now?

At least smoke wasn’t rising from the hood. With the turn signal on, she eased the full car onto the unpaved shoulder. Taking a deep breath, she looked up. There stood the Welcome to St. Fleur sign, mocking her. Although could she really blame the sign? The last three years had been one sad, depressing joke. Honestly, she was surprised she’d lasted those three years. She had watched enough people come and go to know she was the anomaly.

Taking a breath, she reminded herself that the past was just that—the past. Right now is only the present.

Too bad this present seemed to include a flat tire mere miles from her new home. From the car, she grabbed a bottle of water and the jack. She set her mind to fix the flat so she could arrive at her building and unpack. As she unscrewed the last lug nut, she heard the unmistakable sound of a pickup truck. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with some country boy thinking she was a damsel in distress. It was too damn hot and humid, not to mention her stomach was about to eat itself alive. She really should have had a real breakfast and not just a banana on the run.

Focusing on the task at hand, she dragged the tire off, bit by bit. Maybe putting twenties on her car hadn’t been the smartest idea. The crunching of boots on gravel got louder. Oh yay.

Hi, do you need any help?

Sofia looked up through the shades of yellow illuminating the aura and was surprised to find not some country boy, but a woman. Uh, no, I think I’m good. I almost have it off now.

The brunette was dressed in cowboy boots, cut-off jeans, and a black tank top. Her light brown eyes indicated that she didn’t quite believe Sofia. Well, I don’t mind helping. If anything, it will get you out of this heat. I’m Lindsey, by the way.

Sofia. Not looking at the woman, she continued with the stubborn tire.

You new to town? Or visiting someone?

Lindsey inserted herself without invitation on one side, and Sofia shifted as they lifted the tire up and off. Yup, definitely faster with her help.

New to town actually. They carried the tire to the back of the car and set it on the ground. I bought a building on Main Street. Sofia opened the trunk and moved things aside to get to the spare. She nodded toward the flat tire on the ground. Thanks.

Lindsey slipped her hands in her back pockets. Oh, the one next to Whiskey’s?

Yeah, the pub with the amazing muffulettas. She rolled the spare over and began putting it and the lug nuts back on.

Lindsey sat on the soft grass next to her and crossed her legs. Yeah, that’s Jaime Lynn’s specialty. You’d never believe it since it’s never on the specials board. Oh, and you can take the flat to Rocco’s on Decatur. He’ll fix it right up for you.

Thanks, I’ll do that after I unpack. At that moment, Sofia’s stomach let out the loudest growl. She felt her cheeks flush and placed a hand on her stomach.

Sounds like you’ll need some food first, Lindsey said with a smirk and giggle that made her look younger. So where are you moving from? What are you going to do with the building?

Sofia stopped and studied Lindsey’s face. Sofia had lived in the South long enough to know the difference between a nosy person and a person who was innately curious.

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—

No, it’s okay. I lived in New Orleans, and I plan on living in the apartment upstairs and running my business downstairs. Sofia stood and wiped her hands on her jean shorts. She reached into the car for her purse and removed a business card. She handed it to Lindsey then went to verify that all the lug nuts were snug before she lowered the car.

‘Orchid Photography, Sofia Brazier, Weddings, Birthdays, Events, Children.’ Wait, Brazier? Lindsey giggled.

Sofia sighed. Yeah, I know. I’ve gotten teased all my life. She took a drink of water and put the cap back on. My family came from France and settled in the New Orleans area after the Civil War. Or so I’ve been told. With an inward groan, she pushed those thoughts back.

Lindsey stood and brushed the dirt from her bottom. Well, it was nice meeting you, Sofia! You can find me at the library in town or my house. It’s the small two-bedroom cottage on James Street by the large white house with a wraparound porch.

With a smile and a wave, Lindsey walked back to her pickup. Her skin wasn’t quite porcelain white, but she wasn’t exactly tanned either. Shorter than Sofia’s five seven, Lindsey was curvy and had a figure most women envied. Not that Sofia had any issues with her own athletic build. She enjoyed food and in turn found running soothing, not just to stay in shape but to ease her mind. The truck pulled away, and with a honk and wave, Lindsey drove off.

After Sofia hoisted the flat tire into her car, she put her things back in the trunk. She got in her Cadillac CTS, turned her music on, and drove the last few miles home.

Chapter 1

Two years later…

Sofia unlocked the door and stepped inside as she juggled her mug of hot tea and laptop. After placing everything on her desk, she ran back upstairs to her apartment to retrieve her external hard drive. She took one last look around for anything she may have missed and headed back down. She didn’t have any time to spare before her nine o’clock consultation for an engagement shoot.

She opened the blinds and changed the water in the pink roses’ vase on the desk she used for consultations. The shrill sound of her cell phone stopped her mid-step to the drink table. The name flashing on the screen made her smile.

Hi. Make it quick because I’m running behind and I have an appointment coming in—after a quick look at her watch, she cursed under her breath—ten minutes.

Well, hello to you too! I just wanted to confirm that we’re meeting up for lunch at Whiskey’s today? Lindsey asked.

Damn, I forgot today was Wednesday. This week has been crazy. Can we make it dinner and I’ll buy the drinks? Sofia fumbled through the tea bags on the drink table and plugged in the electric kettle.

Hmm… Lindsey laughed and ended on a sigh. I suppose… but you’re buying dessert as well. Just don’t let me forget to tell you about the hunky man I just saw outside the house next door this morning. Yum!

Sofia laughed and set the coffee to brew. "Okay seriously, I gotta go. See you at six." After hanging up the phone, she grabbed her portfolio and flipped it to the engagement section.

She really should have gone to bed on time last night instead of watching that movie on Lifetime. Now she was running around with her head cut off and would be anxious with this new client. Well, possible new client. She would have thought after starting her business two years ago and making it a success, she’d be less neurotic about it all. Nope. If anything, the idea of it failing after she’d poured every cent into the building and equipment made her palms sweat, heart pound, and bile rise.

Looking around, she made sure the office was presentable. After sitting down at her desk, she brought her tea to her lips, willing herself not to look at the clock. Breathe in. Breath out.

Pride bubbled up as she looked around at her work framed on the walls. The walls were painted a beautiful deep red, and black frames showed off her favorite pieces. Near the entrance, a couple stood in a green field scattered with wild flowers, looking into each other’s eyes. Over the refreshment table, a toothless grinning baby girl dressed in a pink tutu sat in the studio Sofia had set up in the back room. A black-and-white picture featured a woman on her seventy-fifth birthday. Beautiful laugh wrinkles around her eyes and mouth showcased the beauty of life and aging: marriage, kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Sofia hoped one day to look like the sweet great-grandmother. That hung to the right of the little girl.

Behind the consultation desk was Sofia’s favorite picture—a bride with her head tilted back as she laughed, her veil blowing in the wind. Had Sofia tried to capture that exact moment, she would have failed. She often found herself daydreaming of being that happy blushing bride. It was from her first shoot, and she remembered feeling honored to capture the couple’s special day. She had been elated with the pictures she captured on that late day in May, and that was when she quit questioning her decision to move away from New Orleans and start her own photography business. The couple had been so pleased with her work that they referred family and friends to her.

The bell chimed on the door, and she looked at the clock. Right on time. She turned as blues, purples, and reds clouded her vision momentarily. The couple stepped just inside the door and took a moment to look around before they spotted her.

She walked to the couple and extended her hand in greeting. Hello, you must be Clinton and Daphne.

Dressed in khaki slacks and a white button-down dress shirt, Clinton looked like an average-looking thirty-something-year-old man with cropped dirty blonde hair. His shy brown eyes darted around the room. His fiancée, on the other hand, had a beauty Sofia wouldn’t have paired with him. Daphne had natural wavy red hair flowing over her shoulders, blue eyes, porcelain skin with a sprinkle of freckles, and a curvy body that could just barely shop in the plus-size section. Daphne looked into Clinton’s eyes for a brief moment, and Sofia saw it. Love like that could be easily captured, and in that moment, she ignored her initial impression that they didn’t pair well. These two people belonged together.

Hi. Yes, and you’re Sofia? said the beauty as she entwined her fingers with his.

Yes, I am. Nice to meet you. Please, come sit down. Would you like some tea? Coffee? Or water? Sofia stepped toward the table.

Two waters, thanks, Daphne answered for them.

After bringing them their water, Sofia sat with them at the consultation table. On the phone, you were interested in an engagement shoot. Here are some of the engagement pictures I’ve done. Please go ahead and take a look. She turned her portfolio in their direction and sat back as they flipped through the pictures. Is there something specific you guys would like done? Any specific poses?

Clinton looked at Daphne. As with most couples, their decisions concerning the photo shoot were made by the woman. The men were happy as long as the women were happy.

Well, I came across your website’s link on the Louis Bontemp Plantation website’s affiliation tab, she said.

Yes, I’ve done a few weddings there and even one christening. If I may? Sofia retrieved the portfolio and flipped through the pages. These are the pictures I took for one of the weddings there.

She placed her hands in her lap to hide the nerves coursing through her. Two years of consultations and she still got nervous, never knowing if they would like her work. Sofia forced herself to sit back and let them browse. She observed the couple while giving them time to look. When she focused on Clinton, he gave off a variety of blues that told her he was a mellow man. He was what some would describe as the strong, silent type. Each time he focused on Daphne, his blues melded with her reds and purples. Reds like those were typical of hot-blooded people, which was always entertaining to see with redheads. It fascinated Sofia to see the person’s aura match the stereotype. Seeing the trace of purple helped her understand that these two viewed themselves as soul mates and that they were loyal to each other. That made Sofia happy.

Sofia? The couple stared at her, apparently confused and almost ready to bolt.

Oh, I’m sorry. I guess I got wrapped up watching you two. I assume you’ve been together a while? Sofia inwardly cringed at being caught reading their auras. They didn’t know that she was doing that, but she knew that people tended to get nervous under her intense stares. At least she had become better at it and had improved at recovering after being caught reading.

It’s okay, Daphne said. Yes, we have, two years now. Can you tell us about the packages available and your rates?

Yes, here’s my list of packages and services. Sofia slid over the sheet. May I ask what you two do for a living?

I’m a veterinarian, and Clinton is a freelance writer for a few newspapers, Daphne said looking at Clinton with pride and love shining through her eyes.

Sofia jotted down the details in her notebook. Oh, that’s nice. Do you have a pet you’d like to include in the shoot? Or something from work or your hobbies?

Well, we did meet at a masked Mardi Gras party, and we’d love to include something from that if possible, Daphne answered. And we have a dog who we consider our baby.

Oh, that’s wonderful! What kind of dog? What’s his name?

His name is Cuddles, and he’s a pit bull terrier. He came into my clinic a year ago as a rescue, Daphne smiled.

Sofia held back a laugh and wrote down the details. I love the idea of masks, so I’ll look into finding some for your shoot. If you think of any other ideas, you can just let me know and I’ll see if we can incorporate it. This information will help me understand you both. Sofia’s mind turned with a variety of possibilities, her favorite being the beautiful, intricate masks she had seen in a shop last time she was in the market in New Orleans.

An hour later, Sofia walked them to the door with a photo shoot scheduled in two months’ time. Sofia fixed herself more tea and took it to her desk then powered up her laptop. As the warm tea coated her throat, she thought of the couple and smiled. It would be a fun engagement session. She mentally relaxed and forgot the couple for the time being.

Her next appointment wasn’t until the afternoon, but she had plenty of work ahead of her. She had two shoots’ worth of pictures to sort through and edit. One was of a wedding and could have as many as two thousand pictures, so she settled in for a long day.

Sofia pulled out a container that held her SD memory cards and found the one she needed. She created three folders: one for the originals, a second for the mediocre pictures, and a third for the ones she knew the couple would want. After connecting her external hard drive, she backed up all the pictures and labeled the folders accordingly.

From previous experience, she knew looking at the total would only frustrate her, so she clicked on the first one and got started. The first picture she took was of the groom and his father in the changing room prior to getting dressed. From past clients, she’d learned that these photos would sometimes hold the most value as parents died. She made edits as they were needed and moved from picture to picture.

After a while, her phone chimed, reminding her of her next consultation. She sat back and lifted her arms for a stretch. She had an hour until her potential client would show, and she still needed to eat.

Sofia grabbed a water and walked to the small kitchen. From the fridge, she got the fixings for a sandwich. While she could run over or call in an order at the pub next door, she tried to limit how often she ate out. She didn’t like to waste money on a daily basis, and this way, she could splurge occasionally without any reason to feel guilty.

Leaning against the small counter, Sofia bit into her sandwich. Her phone, which she’d left on her desk, beeped with a text. She put the food down and walked over to get it. Taking a step back to the kitchen, she heard the distinct sound of the front door’s jingle. After entering the front room, she found one of the neighborhood kids with an armful of chocolate. The poor boy would have sore arms by the end of his little excursion.

Hi, Miss Brazier.

Hello, Jake! Whatcha got there? Sofia smiled.

He shifted his feet to accommodate the weight in his arms. I wanted to know if you would like to buy some chocolate to help the school raise money for new books and a new sign.

Sofia’s friendship with Lindsey kept her informed about the books, and she’d heard about the sign from Jaime Lynn. Apparently, some of the high school football players had gotten drunk and crashed into it after the bonfire following their weekly football game. Luckily no one was hurt. Well, if you didn’t count the sound beating they got from their old-fashioned mothers for getting caught not only being drunk but streaking down Main Street prior to the crash.

Had they not crashed into the sign, only a handful of people would have known about the streaking. She laughed at the memory of poor Bobby Benson, his pants around his ankles, after the football player’s girlfriend caught him kissing one of the cheerleaders. Well, in his defense, the cheerleader had attacked him with kisses. After that, Sofia had closed her curtains and gone to bed. She was thankful she’d missed seeing the minors streaking. Those memories wouldn’t have been fun to wash from her mind, and most of those boys worked in various areas of town.

Sure, how much are they? Sofia reached into the desk for the cash she kept on hand.

One dollar each, ma’am. He shifted back and forth as he tried to relieve the weight in his arms.

Here you go. I can pick which ones, right?

Miss Brazier, this is a twenty—

Yes, it is. Now may I please have ten with peanut butter and ten with peanuts? She and the girls were having a movie night soon, and her friends would be happy to help her consume the treats.

Yes, ma’am, he said with big round eyes. He gave her the twenty candy bars, said his thank yous, and walked out to find the next willing person.

Sofia saw the time and realized she needed to get ready for her next client. She refilled the electric kettle and turned it on. She put out more tea bags and put on fresh coffee to brew. Once she was satisfied with the drink table, she turned her portfolio to the birthday section. While she didn’t use her personal desk for consultations, she didn’t like leaving it cluttered, so she tidied it up. After saving things again, she grabbed the hard drive and SD cards and put them away. Satisfied that everything looked good, she made herself some more hot tea then sat down and mentally prepared for her next possible client.

When the door opened, a woman in her sixties, surrounded with various oranges in her aura, and another in her forties, with a dirty-gold-colored aura, walked in and looked around.

Sofia stood and walked the ten feet to greet the women. Hello, ladies. Welcome to Orchid Photography. I’m Sofia Brazier.

They were both the epitome of Southern ladies. The older woman was dressed