Empty

By Stacy-Deanne

Empty is an endearing love story about soul mates who didn’t realize how lost they were until they found each other.

Forty-five year-old Sacramento Social Psychology Professor Bella Terry has developed a feverish attraction for her twenty-four year-old student, Cameron Moore. Despite their differences, Cameron finds the elusive Bella irresistible and stops at nothing to get closer to her.

Their interest for each other turns into a fascinating bond neither expected. They share their deepest secrets, and Cameron realizes there is more to Bella than he ever imagined. Bella has not had an easy life, and because of this, she’s built a wall around her heart. Bella pushes Cameron away, but Cameron refuses to give up on love.

After a traumatic experience, Bella realizes she loves Cameron and can’t afford to walk away.

About the Author:

Stacy-Deanne (Dee-Anne) is an award-winning, bestselling author of sensual romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and women's fiction books. Her work has been praised and reviewed in USA Today numerously. She loves writing stories that focus on main characters who rarely get the spotlight such as characters with physical disabilities, mental illness, and terminal diseases.

Stacy is known for bringing versatile stories to her readers. With her you never know what you're gonna get, which separates Stacy's work from the pack. Stacy's books are full of passion, thrills, intriguing characters and so much emotion you can't get enough! If you want something different and unpredictable then definitely check out her work.

With Stacy every book is an adventure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stacy-Deanne
• Release date: Dec 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781540174314

Stacy-Deanne

Stacy-Deanne (Dee-Anne) is an award-winning author of sensual romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and women's fiction books. She's written Amazon Top 100 bestsellers, and her work has been praised and reviewed in USA Today numerously. She loves writing stories that focus on main characters who rarely get the spotlight such as characters with physical disabilities, mental illness, and terminal diseases. Stacy is known for bringing versatile stories to her readers. With her you never know what you're gonna get, which separates Stacy's work from the pack. Stacy's books are full of passion, thrills, intriguing characters and so much emotion you can't get enough! If you want something different and unpredictable then definitely check out her work. With Stacy every book is an adventure. Want to receive book updates and exclusive information and notices about free promotions and book discounts? Sign up for Stacy's mailing list: https://goo.gl/forms/vmXN2PASIAScrYxm1

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Forty-five year-old college professor Bella Terry ordered a lime smoothie at the counter of the Sacramento, California gym and headed to one of the tables in the corner. She made sure to pick the table close to the men’s room in hopes of seeing Cameron Moore with his shirt off or anything close to it.

She cut her eyes to the door of the men’s room every time a man exited or entered.

I should be ashamed of myself. My old black ass has no business even thinking about this boy, let alone trying to catch a look at that sweaty chest again.

She slowly turned her head toward the men’s room as another guy walked out.

Is he showering? Is he dabbing that perfect ass and six-pack stomach?

Stop it, Bella whispered and set her drink down. What is wrong with me?

What was wrong with her? It had been years since any man lit a fire in her. It was true that you couldn’t help whom you were attracted to, but this was ridiculous. She and Cameron couldn’t have been more different. She was twenty years older, black, and other than an interest in psychology and Ping-Pong, she couldn’t find one thing they had in common.

Oh.

She glanced around.

Well, they had the gym in common starting today, and they had school in common. Too bad she was his professor.

She dropped her head.

When was the last time just looking at a man made her feel so good? Why in the hell did it have to be someone she had no business being attracted to in the first place?

****

Cameron dabbed sweat from underneath his arms and slipped back into his white muscle shirt. He glanced at the door of the men’s bathroom every time someone left or walked in. Professor Terry still sat at that table nursing her drink.

He grinned.

He’d been coming to this gym for three years and never saw her there before. Was she stalking him?

I wish.

He wiped his sweaty hair and shook the perverted thoughts from his head. Here he stood, young, fit, intelligent, and the women at Elrod University fawned over him every time he looked around. He could write a book on how many women wanted to date him from school. He’d turned down women most men would dream of just talking with.

The door swung open and another man walked in.

Cameron cut his eyes to Bella again. She sucked from the straw even though he doubted anything was in the cup.

He shook his head.

What is wrong with me? I could have beautiful women my own age, yet I lust after my teacher.

Something pulled his eyes back to the door.

She wasn’t just a teacher of course. Bella Terry had been the object of his affections since he first saw her. Despite her age, she proved hotter than many of the younger women at the school.

He grabbed his gym bag, inched toward the door, and then stopped.

She had something that the other girls didn’t have. Something he longed for. Bella understood him. She really understood. They’d spoken after class many times, and it wasn’t just to give him a graded paper or explain something he’d missed on a test. They’d shared and the conversations had ventured into territory that they probably should’ve avoided.

Walk away. Just walk out of the door and pretend you don’t even see her.

If it were that easy, she wouldn’t be driving him crazy in the first place. She ruled every part of him. He no longer cared about crossing that line. He wanted to know the woman outside of the classroom. He’d peeked into her soul but longed for her heart.

He grabbed the door handle and sighed. Shit.

He left the bathroom.

CHAPTER TWO

Professor Terry? Cameron stood at her table with a sly smile. I thought that was you on the treadmill but I wasn’t sure until now.

Yeah okay.

She sipped from her straw and grinned.

He straightened the strap of his gym bag on his shoulder. What are you doing here?

She raised the smoothie. Why do most people come to gyms?

Those magical dimples appeared when he grinned. I just meant I’ve never seen you here before. I’ve been coming here three years.

I usually go to the gym by my house, but I don’t like the people it’s been attracting lately.

He pulled out a chair and sat down. What do you mean?

Seems like someone’s robbed or a car is broken into every time I’m there. She sipped.

I see. He nodded. Well crime is everywhere. A woman was mugged here last week.

She sat back. "Looks like I’ll be looking for yet