Soulmate Tango

By Angela Breen

Lana and Jason have been in love since the moment they met. Unfortunately, no one told them that.

 

Jason is on his way to yet another promotion. His life is perfect. There's only one thing missing. His best friend, Lana. The same best friend he abandoned four years ago after she kissed him.

 

When she shows back up in Philadelphia with a new job, and in need of a place to stay, Jason offers his pad. Only to realize he's signed up for a front-row seat to Lana's one woman dating show.

 

Determined to find her soulmate, Jason needs to decide if he should standby or man up and give them a second chance.

 

This is a short, pretty, friends to lovers romance with Sex and the City vibes... minus the rabbit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raven's Quill Publishing
• Release date: Jul 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781955331098

Book preview

Prologue

Five years ago

---

Lana swayed with the music, a warm beer in one hand, with her best friend of all time right next to her. Jason shifted his weight awkwardly. He hated when she made him dance. She laughed at the look of indignation on his face as he struggled to move to the beat.

You owe me for this, he said, grabbing her hand and spinning her around. Her long, black hair fanned out around her, landing mostly over her shoulder as he pulled her in close to dance together. He tucked it behind her ear and her heart raced. They’d been fast friends since they were freshmen, and now they were celebrating graduation and looking forward to real, post-college life.

Oh, yeah? she asked. What did you have in mind?

"Lethal Weapon marathon."

Again? she laughed. She’d been fishing for something a little more intimate.

We haven’t had an action movie marathon in a year.

That can’t be true, her eyebrows knitted together as she thought back.

"We watched the Expendables movies last June, Jason replied matter-of-factly. We’ve had two horror movie marathons, one 80s movie marathon, a rom-com marathon, and a Regency drama movie marathon."

"But Braveheart was part of that, she grinned, and it’s a war movie."

That is a love story through and through.

You’re impossible. She laid her head on his chest, and the steady thump of his heart increased just enough to make her feel comfortable with what she was about to do. She pulled back and looked up at him, his smile just shy of a goofy grin and eyes lidded from alcohol. Standing on her tip-toes, she placed a kiss on his lips. He froze, his muscles stiff, before he relaxed and opened his mouth, welcoming her. She smiled against his lips. Her tongue danced with his as she deepened the kiss, burying her hands in his soft, black hair. He pulled her against him, his hands freely roaming her body.

He pulled back to look at her, head cocked slightly to the side.

Don’t tell me you’ve never thought about it, she said with a smile.

I have, but I just never thought you did.

Well, I did. She bit her lip. A lot.

I’m gonna go get a drink, he smiled at her, but there was something strange in his eyes.

Get me another beer, she said, finishing off the one in her hand.

He disappeared into the crowd, and she looked for a place to sit. She found a table in the corner and pulled out her phone to text Jason.

---

Found a table in the corner.

Bring chips with the beer

---

As soon as she closed her phone and put it in her pocket, it vibrated.

---

Family emergency.

Had to go, headed to the airport

Call when I can

Chapter 1

Present- Thursday Night

---

Jason Bailey sat across from Jacqueline P. in a dimly-lit room. A soft piano lulled the bar’s occupants into a warm tranquility. His heart fluttered as the woman across from him uncrossed and re-crossed her legs. He’d perfected this game. The one where he picked out the woman in the bar who just needed one night of his attention, and then convinced her to let him be the one to keep her company.

Jasmin was her name, and she came in here looking for a man every other week or so. She never gave him a second glance, but tonight was different. He was in line for a promotion, and she’d overheard him buying an expensive bottle of scotch.

So, she began, her lips pursed. What are we celebrating?

He opened his mouth to speak when a jingle sounded from his jacket pocket. He frowned. Only one person had that ringtone, and he hadn’t spoken to her in years. Now his heart was really racing. He pulled the phone out, and sure enough, a picture of Lana smiled up at him.

I have to take this, he said before answering the phone. Lana?

Hey, stranger! You were supposed to keep in touch! She sounded good. Better than good. She sounded amazing.

He let out a relieved laugh, excitement coursing through him. And you what? Have a phone that only receives calls?

I left you a couple messages.

And I you, little lady.

So four years of friendship was defeated by one bout of phone tag?

We’re pretty pathetic.

Luckily for us, I’m moving back to Philly.

What? he stood up as excitement refused to let him remain seated.

I’m here now, actually. April was supposed to pick me up at the airport, but—

Which gate? I can be there in ten minutes, fifteen if there’s traffic.

Thanks, Jason. I knew I could count on you.

Jasmin cleared her throat as Jason hung up the phone. He glanced at her. Yeah, this isn’t happening.

Lana smiled as she hung up her phone. This was the right move. New Hampshire was where she grew up, but Philly was home. She’d been gone for five years. Shortly after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, her mother got sick, so she returned to New Hampshire once again. It had been a year since her mom passed, and she’d been floating ever since. This was the first time since losing her mother that she felt like herself again. She went hand-in-hand with this city.

A sliver Volvo slid up to the curb next to her, and she frowned. Being half Korean in The States got her more unwanted attention than she cared to think about. Her bitchiest response caught in her throat as a familiar pair of blue eyes met hers.

Looking for a good time? Jason wagged a brow at her before throwing it into park and jumping out. He ran around the car before she could comprehend what she was seeing. She stood slowly as he swept her off her feet and twirled her in a tight hug.

When did you get a Volvo?

They have an excellent safety rating, so I grabbed it last year when I was promoted.

What happened to your Subaru?

It finally shit the bed, he joked, looking adoringly at his car. I still can’t believe it made it as long as it did.

I’m surprised you didn’t just go buy the same car, but the newer model.

I looked at them, but a guy at work had just bought a Volvo and swears by them. So I test drove this, and that was it. I couldn’t leave it at the dealership.

He opened the trunk and put her suitcases in as she watched him. Even five years later, he made her heart flutter.

So, any special ladies in your life? she