Somewhere Between the Bird & the Tree

By T.M. Johnson

Mel Carter is a romance writer with a broken heart and million memories of her past love. She’s over people and holidays. She spends her day missing the love of her life while penning romance novels. Casen just wanted to visit his sister and new niece for Thanksgiving and that all went wrong when he has car trouble in the late-night hours and winds up out front of Mel’s house. The two click only to find out that they have a few people in common. Mel begins to realize that you can’t grieve someone forever and Casen realizes he just isn’t as happy as he once was. Their journey towards love unravels between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Some people know when they find love and some people run like hell in the other direction. Laugh with them as they all figure it out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: T.M. Johnson
• Release date: Jan 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463083710

T.M. Johnson

T.M. Johnson calls a small town in North Carolina home. When not writing and reading everything she can get her hands on, she is at home wrangling two boys and a husband. Jury is still out on which one requires more wrangling. She is an avid crafter and lover of all things glitter. She is still trying to master the art of social media and is on a mission to figure out what a snap, tweet, and an insta is. For what it is worth you can follow her on twitter and Facebook for now.

Book preview

Somewhere Between the Bird and the Tree

Published by T.M. Johnson

At Smashwords

Copyright 2019 T.M. Johnson

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 Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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

Chapter One:

Mel had written the scene fifteen times …

"He was tall, with eyes the color of deep warm chocolate. Eyes that would make any woman…"

Shit. Yeah shit was just what it was. She was never moving pass that dark hair and eyes stereotype. She maybe just needed to step away from the story and start on Thanksgiving dinner anyway. The really would hold her interest either. At this point she’d never finish it before the New Year at all. Damn holidays. Even bigger damned writer’s block. Fuck romance all to hell. She was going to need loads of coffee and wine to survive this day and all the others in the holiday season. Her heart just wasn’t in the season yet again this year. Probably never would.

Thanksgiving dinner was finally over. Mel sat down on her couch, starring into her roaring fireplace, glass of wine in one hand, and a book in the other. All she wanted was some quiet after such a busy day. Every year since she moved into her new house she received the honor, or more so the nightmare, of cooking the majority of Thanksgiving dinner. Her feet were sore, her head ached, and she could barely keep her eyes opened. The fireplace was putting off all the heat she needed to escape the cold frosty night; snow was defiantly on the way.

A loud noise awoke her from her couch slumber around 3am. Snow had obviously fallen overnight and the chill in the air was horrible. Mel tossed another log on the fire and poked at the still red embers. She began flipping on lights as she made her way to the front door looking for the cause of the noise. Right out by the street, directly in front of her mail box, a car was in the road with flashing hazard lights. A tall figure was checking out the car.

Mel still wore her jeans and sweater from Thanksgiving dinner; so, she stepped into her snow boots from the closet. She grabbed her thick coat from the same closet, her cell, and headed towards the stranger. The man startled when he saw her.

Hey are you okay? The man just nodded not even making eye contact. Have you called the police? What happened? He looked up as he finally took in the beautiful half-asleep stranger.

Ummm no, my cell isn’t working. Someone hit me and drove off. My car won’t even start! He looked defeated and tired.

Hey, come to my house and use the phone, get warm, and we will wait for the police!

He smiled, But I’m a stranger hun!

She waved him off, "Well I’m too tired to care; if you want to kill me now, that’s fine. Either way I don’t expect you to kill me after you call the police, too many loose ends to tie up that way!"

The stranger couldn’t suppress his first genuine smile under the street light, from what she could tell he was handsome; but it was dark, and as we all know darkness and alcohol have a way of misrepresenting a person. Maybe it was the wine that made her as tired as she was or maybe it was just life in general. Mel let the stranger in and guided him towards the living room. She stoked the fire to help thaw them both out.

Hey thanks a lot. Your house is extremely beautiful; I hope I didn’t wake up your family. My name is Casen Walker. Mel, for the first time got a real good look at him. Casen Walker was six foot, if not extremely close, had shaggy light brown hair, and gorgeous green eyes. He was obviously athletic and maybe late twenties or early thirties; quite damn good looking. If she was being honest and all that.

Well I live alone; but that is rule number one to never tell a stranger. He smiled; he really liked her attitude. But anyways! I’m Melanie Carter, but please call me Mel. I have tons of leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner if you’re hungry and the phone is in the kitchen. Cell service is kinda spotty around here. Hey, give me your coat and I’ll hang it up to dry. Do you need a towel to dry your hair?

He smiled that sexy bad ass, rogue smile again and for some reason that excited some old part of her. Bless his heart. Mel I am starving, that’s probably why I am so pissed about my car not starting. I came to town to see my sister, she just had a baby, and she was planning this huge dinner. My plane was delayed so I called her and rented a car. I haven’t eaten since lunch yesterday.

Mel smiled, I’ll heat up your dinner while you call your sister then the police. I’m sure she is worried sick about you! Casen smiled, she was sure he knew she found him attractive. He probably expected that every time he walked into a room. He probably had a whole flock back home wherever he was from.

Do you have any siblings, husband, or children? Personal questions, but not out of place; she already told him she lived alone; maybe he didn’t believe her. Or maybe he became chatty when he was nervous or aggravated.

Well, I have a sister and a brother; also, no husband or children. I’m kicking it solo hommie!

Casen’s eyes lit up and he laughed loudly, Are you always this awesome when strangers wake you up at an ungodly hour of the morning?

She made a thinking gesture, Well to be perfectly honest with you Casen, she faked an innocent expression, It has been many years since a stranger has awoken me at such an hour. And it usually involves ‘have you seen my keys’ not ‘more turkey please’! Casen was sure he had never met any woman that quick on her feet. Hell, he hadn’t met a woman worth having a whole conversation with in years.

He laughed till his eyes watered, I must say that was completely one hundred percent friggin’ awesome! Seriously!

Mel did a mock bow, Thank you sir! He rolled his eyes. Hey what can I say I amuse myself sometimes! He nodded and dialed his sister’s house. Two rings later and Julie’s voice came across the line.

Hey sis I got into an accident! Well not really, I’m fixing to call the police. No don’t get out with the baby right now. I’ll find a way! This awesome woman dressed mostly in white came to save me from the cold. She offered me fattening food and warmth! He was chuckling, and Mel smiled and rolled her eyes. She was sitting across from him at the table drinking some much-needed caffeine laced fuel. Yeah! Her name is Mel Carter! Yeah that fits her description mostly. Okay yeah! She wants to speak to you! Mel gave him a look, she shrugged and took the phone.

Hello! Ohhh shit, hey girl! How have you been! Seriously I had no idea you even moved back. You know I don’t get out as much as I should. A baby now that’s wonderful. My brother is still my brother what can I say. Yeah, he can stay here till tomorrow that’s totally no prob at all and then you can bring that baby to see her Aunt Mel! Okay so go back to sleep. Love you too! Bye!

Casen watched Mel with a strange expression as she chatted with his sister. "What was all that