Birthdays and Boyfriends

By Rachel Andersen

A childhood romance, an unexpected guest, and a whole lot of trouble are coming her way...

When an unexpected face walks past Julie Patterson's desk, her world turns on its axis. Distracted at work and staring down a difficult birthday, Julie has a decision to make: take him back or let him go?

Brandon Carmichael has tried, and failed, to get Julie Patterson out of his mind. So when fate brings them back together, he wastes no time in reaching out. The only question is: how much is he willing to tell her about why they fell out of touch all those years ago?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rachel Andersen
• Release date: Oct 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386159575

Rachel Andersen

One of Rachel Andersen's favorite memories in college was when a music theory professor turned one of her exams back to her. With a twinkle in his eye, he said, “I can always tell that it’s your paper because you have a story written on the back.” She was just killing time after the ear training and aural skills portions of the test (where he played notes, and the students were to write down the interval or melody), but it hinted at a larger love. She loves stories. She loves reading them, she loves hearing them, she loves telling them, and she loves living them! Growing up as the oldest of nine children, she used stories to make mundane (and sometimes disgusting) tasks fly by like when she quoted Disney movies for her youngest siblings while she changed diapers or got them dressed. Though the youngest sibling is a senior in high school, the quotes she pulled out of thin air are used as family jokes that rock the house with laughter. Stories propelled her through difficult days in college. They sustained her through the stress of student teaching. They were her favorite time of day in elementary and early childhood classrooms. Her only hope is that these stories bring you as much joy and pleasure as they bring her!

Book preview

ALSO BY RACHEL A. ANDERSEN

The Lady of the Manor (Currently Out of Print)

Backward Blessings (Blessings of Love Book Six)

A Little Christmas Pretense (Need a Little Christmas Book One)

A Little Christmas Conflict (Need a Little Christmas Book Two)

Sweethearts Old (Lucky Sweethearts Book One)

Sweethearts New (Lucky Sweethearts Book Two)

Sweethearts Borrowed (Lucky Sweethearts Book Three)

Sweethearts Blue (Lucky Sweethearts Book Four)

To my newsletter subscribers, my early fans,

and all those who have encouraged me on this journey, 

I love you all!

CHAPTER ONE

Y ou’re back already ?

Julie Patterson pulled the filing cabinet open, her eyes focused on putting the folder in her hands back where it belonged. Still, the words caused her lips to quirk upward into a smirk. I don’t think the defendant thought we’d actually go to court. Once my expert witness testified, the other attorney asked for a recess. Ten minutes later, we had a settlement hammered out.

Wanda shook her head, wonder playing out on her features. Someday, you’ve got to teach me how to be that scary in the courtroom.

Julie giggled. Me? Scary?

Yes. In the right circumstances, you’re very intimidating.

Julie rolled her eyes as she closed the filing cabinet. At just a couple inches more than five feet tall, it seemed strange to think that just looking at her would frighten anyone. No matter how impossible it seemed, however, she heard the statement almost every day. With that much consistency, there had to be a grain of truth in it somewhere.

Julie shrugged the conversation off and opened the door for her fellow associate. How’d your deposition go this morning?

Wanda groaned. Give me a jury over a deposition any day.

Julie snorted as they arrived at their desks. You hate that you can’t act yourself out of trouble in a deposition.

Wanda sank into her office chair. Well, they’re boring! At least in a courtroom there can be a little drama.

Julie sat across from her, allowing her gaze to dart over to the computer screen to check on the number of new emails she’d received. Let me guess, you became a lawyer because you love those lawyer procedure shows on television?

They make it look so exciting.

Twenty new emails in a half an hour. Not bad. Normally, there were double that.

Julie turned her attention back to her friend. What do you expect them to do? Spend thirty minutes filming an actress in line to file a motion with the court?

Wanda shook her head. I know they need to keep things moving, but it felt like false advertising, you know?

Julie nodded. "There’s a lot about