Onyx and Opal: Always and Forever: Onyx and Opal, #1

By C.L. Hart

When Elias Król competed in the El Paso Decathlon on an August day in 1978, he was proud to take first place. Little did he know the best prize wasn't his hard-won trophy; it was the bond he would form with the sweet young woman taking his order at the fried chicken booth.

Madison Sanders wasn't looking for love while working at her family's concession stand, but love was about to find her in the form of a lanky red-haired athlete.

This short and sweet interracial romance with a guaranteed Happy Ever After is part of a developing series but it can also stand on its own. With a very low heat rating and no profanity, it is appropriate for both teen and adult readers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Naughty Netherworld Press
• Release date: Feb 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201210359

C.L. Hart

C.L. Hart is the pen name of a mad author and poet who was corrupted by the stories of Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and Stephen King at a young age. Cie, as she is known to her friends and enemies alike, lives in a small town on the Northeastern plains of Colorado with her adult son and three cats. When not conjuring mythos horrors, Ms. Hart enjoys baking (results may vary) and drawing (badly.)

Book preview

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Laughter and Licorice

When asked on his fortieth wedding anniversary what had initially attracted him to his wife, Elias Król did not hesitate to say that it was her smile. The Yoakam native had just taken first place in the decathlon at the big all-state track and field competition. Now it was time for him to relax and celebrate.

The smell wafting from the food vendor carts drew Elias in. He didn’t want to eat too much too quickly after his 1500-meter sprint, but he thought it would be nice to have a cool drink to sip and a little something to nibble on. The lanky ginger’s body was full of adrenaline and a welcome breeze made him feel like he was riding high on a cool wave above the clouds.

As he crested the hill approaching the food vendors, Elias heard melodic laughter, and that was when he saw her. He knew that the fare from Shack’s Famous Chicken was killer, but it wasn’t the tantalizing scent of savory meat moving his feet towards the booth. It was the glorious ebony queen’s enticing smile and welcoming aura.

She was a big girl, and as such Elias knew that she’d experienced more than her fair share of bullying, but it didn’t stop her from dishing up happiness with every order she served. Her co-workers were a melancholy young man who the kind-hearted angel was making it her mission to cheer up and an eager chap who had Down syndrome. Everyone who stopped at the booth left with a smile.

I probably shouldn’t be eating fried chicken, but what the heck? Elias reasoned. She’s all lovely laughter and licorice, and I want to be close to her, even if only for a moment.

Jazzy and Jubilant