When Worlds Collide: Miss Fortune World: SS Beauty, #9

By Kamaryn Kelsey

When Sandy-Sue Morrow meets Morrow's newest agent, Daria, their worlds collide. Morrow thinks it's a good idea. Unpolished Daria has a job that requires social skills, and Sady needs lessons in self-defense. What could be better than having them train each other?

With nothing in common and little patience, they soon realize the need to join forces. Who says they have to get along to get the job done? And when Amanda joins the team, they become an unstoppable force. Those foolish enough to get in their way soon find out that even though these women come from different worlds, they still rule.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J&R Fan Fiction
• Release date: Sep 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386741640

Book preview

Author's note:

This is Book 9 in the SS Beauty series and is not intended to standalone.

This is a work of fiction. Other than Jana DeLeon's original story elements, the characters and names are creations of the author's imagination.

The series is not about Fortune Redding, Sinful, and the Swamp Team. SS Beauty is Sandy-Sue Morrow and the series is about her and the life she makes for herself. She tires of her European vacation and comes home early, to Morrow's dismay. Wondering about her inheritance in Sinful, she takes a bus trip to check it out.

Morrow sends Matt Meadows, who has done security work for him in the past, to keep an eye on her and to keep her from crossing paths with Fortune, and blowing Fortune's cover.

At this point in her life, Sandy-Sue decides she's leaving the past behind, along with her name. She shortens it to Sady (sometimes she uses Sassafras or Sassy, the name she first gave Matt in book one of the series.) I took the liberty of giving Morrow a first name, John, since he makes appearances throughout the series and it didn't make sense for Sady to refer to him as Uncle Morrow.

After the adventure in Louisiana, Morrow sends Sady to work for two former operatives, now retired and operating their own business, Knight Investigations in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Harry and CJ Knight are a husband and wife team.

Amanda Keller, saucy and smart mouthed neighbor, soon becomes Sady's best friend. She likes to give Matt a hard time about anything and everything. After losing her job at the university, she joins the investigation company.

Matt Meadows, Sady's love interest in the series, has stayed in Michigan. After Morrow repeatedly sends him back to Michigan to keep on eye on his niece, he realizes it will continue, so he makes the move as well.

Character descriptions:

Sady Morrow- Tall, slender, with long brown hair and big brown eyes. She often uses beauty pageant skills on the job. She is sweet, and sometimes goofy. However, she's intelligent and can be tough, when necessary.

Matt Meadows- Tall, dark, and handsome. He has blue eyes and unshaven stubble. Hence, Amanda's nicknames for him, Stubbles or Blue Eyes. Frequently grumpy because of Amanda's constant picking. Matt sometimes uses Sady's pet name, Sassafras.

Amanda Keller- Short, full-figured, black, and beautiful. She grew up in an exclusive suburb of Detroit. She has a smart mouth, a high tolerance for alcohol, and a full social dating calendar. She likes handsome men and isn't shy about saying so.

CJ Knight- Short in stature, with clipped gray hair, green eyes, and an even shorter fuse. CJ is impatient and lethal with her hands. Even though she's small, she keeps them all in line.

Harry Knight- Hot dang handsome with Siberian Husky light blue eyes, a stunning white smile, and good build. Amanda calls him Handsome, and he is- even though he is bald. Harry looks out for his team and plays the big brother/ father to Sady.

The stories behind the supporting characters are developed throughout the series.

Chapter 1

Whah, as I live and breath, Sandy-Sue Morrow is that you? A voice drifted across the airport. Sady thought she'd died and gone beauty pageant hell. That over-the-top, fake southern accent could belong to only one person.

Instinctively, Sady's got big, and she hissed at Matt, How far behind is the chaperon? Quick, hide that beer, and I'll get rid of the cigars!

Are you okay? Matt asked. Sady flushed, realizing what she said.

She grabbed his arm and whispered, Where's the nearest emergency exit? Even if it sets off an alarm, just go, because this is an emergency. Run, before she catches us! That was the worst thing she could have said. Matt stopped and looked around with a grin. He took her arm and held tight.

This is sure to be epic. I'm not going anywhere... and neither are you. Did I just hear a voice from your past call out to you?

No! It's a case of mistaken identity. Now hurry up before Barbara-Jean tells the chaperon we just saw an 'R' rated movie. Sady tugged Matt's arm, but it was too late.

We're at the Detroit airport, not the movie theater. You're hallucinating, Sandy-Sue, he teased.

Worse- I'm dying. Please, just pull the trigger now, she begged Matt, as a blonde woman approached. Of all the women from her past life in the beauty pageant business, Barbara-Jean Maxwell was near the bottom of her 'desired reunions' list.

Barbara-Jean, who told on Sady and her adventurous cohorts more times than Sady could count. Barbara-Jean, who spied on her fellow contestants and reported any infraction of the rules. Barbara-Jean, the bane of her beauty pageant days. And now, Barbara-Jean spotted her at the airport. She still has the eagle eyes, Sady thought with a grimace.

Sandy-Sue! Barbara-Jean pinched Sady's arms. They did the fake hug-kiss greeting, and Barbara-Jean continued. Why, you don't look good at all. Have you been sick?

It's Sady, now, she replied, ignoring the not-so-subtle insult. It's... been a while. It wasn't nice to see her, so Sady improvised.

Barbare-Jean flapped her hand. I, know! I was just thinkin' to myself, I wonder how all the girls are these days. Oh, and you can call me Babs. Is this your husband? She eyed Matt like a piece of meat.

You can lose the accent, Babs. I know you're from Connecticut.

Babs smiled and shrugged, with no shame. I forget myself when I see someone from the past. It's natural instinct, she said in a normal voice, smiling at Matt.

So are guppies eating their own young, Sady thought. She pasted on a smile and introduced Matt. He wasn't immune to the charm, flattery, and obvious good looks Babs worked hard to maintain. Sady thought Babs appeared ready for a spotlight appearance.

"Are you still working the circuit?" Sady asked. The catty remarks now came naturally to both women, a past survival skill that kicked in automatically.

I stayed on through a few Mrs. competitions, but after my latest divorce I had to give that up, Babs admitted to Sady's surprise. Then she showed her claws again. You obviously haven't competed for quite some time. Well, they say that the girls who burn out often let themselves go. But there's no disgrace in that, Sandy-Sue. I'm sure you have a useful little life with a husband and children running around at home.

Matt grinned, and Sady knew the look. He was waiting for this to descend into a catfight. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Ignoring Babs' snotty remarks, she said, What brings you to Michigan? Matt's brows rose.

I'm here to run a beauty school, Babs announced proudly. For over-privileged girls.

Sady frowned, Did you say over-privileged? How is that possible?

You obviously don't know the prejudice people harbor against those with money. Why, it's shocking. A parent can't just buy their little girl a spot in a beauty contest anymore. They have to qualify. Can you imagine?

No, I can't, Sady replied dryly. And you've come to help these over-privileged rich girls qualify to get into contests?

Absolutely! You wouldn't believe the demand for my services. I have openings in my staff if you are looking for a job, she offered. As I recall, you always had original talent acts.

She still does, Matt interrupted.

Sady frowned at him and hissed, Don't encourage her!

Turning to Babs, she politely declined. Babs pressed a business card into her hand. Just in case you change your mind. They did the fake hug-kiss routine again, and Babs disappeared in the crowd.

That was close! Sady said, letting out a breath of relief. With a laugh she said, Of all the places I can imagine Babs not visiting- ever- Detroit is one.

Don't knock it, Matt said. There's a lot of money in some metro suburbs. I'm sure she knows that too.

Well, if there's one sure thing, it's that this state does not need Barbara-Jean Maxwell's presence. The economy is depressed enough without her sucking out the money like a vacuum.