Wait for Love

By Vera Roberts

Alyssa McHale is a natural lifestyle blogger maven—from hair to vegan recipes to beauty products, Alyssa is the go-to sista for all of your natural needs. When a one-night blast from the past reappears in Alyssa’s life, she is forced to deal with the one thing that has eluded her for years—love.

Ryan Jeffers never had a steady girlfriend for very long, and he’s completely fine with that. Building his coffeehouse empire from the ground up, Ryan only has time for women within timeframe comprised of a few hours. But, when he sees Alyssa again at his coffee shop, all bets are off—and she owes him big time.

Will Alyssa finally get what she wants? Will Ryan get his payback?

Wait for Love is a sensual/erotic book that is about love, commitment, and change.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vera Roberts
• Release date: Aug 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310841033

Vera Roberts

Vera is the bestselling author of the number one D'amato Brothers series, the Scott & Mariana serial, and the Breakaway series.She loves chocolate, has a Netflix addiction, and seeing the Maury show in person is currently on her bucket list. She's also a member of both the BeyHive and RihNavy.Vera currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Maks, son Bear, and cat Sushi.

Book preview

Wait for Love

By Vera Roberts

For YESM.

© 2014 Vera Roberts, All Rights Reserved

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book 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.

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

"You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."

― Dr. Seuss

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."

― Helen Keller

Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place.

Zora Neale Hurston

Alyssa McHale is a natural lifestyle blogger maven—from hair to vegan recipes to beauty products, Alyssa is the go-to sista for all of your natural needs. When a one-night blast from the past reappears in Alyssa’s life, she is forced to deal with the one thing that has eluded her for years—love.

Ryan Jeffers never had a steady girlfriend for very long, and he’s completely fine with that. Building his coffeehouse empire from the ground up, Ryan only has time for women within timeframe comprised of a few hours. But, when he sees Alyssa again at his coffee shop, all bets are off—and she owes him big time.

Will Alyssa finally get what she wants? Will Ryan get his payback?

Wait for Love is a sensual/erotic book that is about love, commitment, and change.

One

It was a smell Ryan Jeffers wasn’t used to. He’d smelled it before during his youth, and didn’t think he would smell it again. He would never forget this scent, though; no matter how hard he tried.

It reminded him of where he grew up, in the armpit of Duluth, where he spent his Friday nights after the high school football game getting drunk, going to the Saturday morning football viewing replays hung-over, and doing it again that Saturday evening, before going to church and being the perfect angel who loves Jesus, in Sunday school.

Oh, yes, that smell—desperation and thirst.

He’d be the first to admit that, despite having brown hair and blue eyes, he wasn’t the first guy girls would get dreamy-eyed and crazy over. He was the opposite—lanky, braces, and a voice that almost had a nasal sound to it whenever he spoke. It wasn’t until his senior year of high school, when he finally put some meat on his bones, the nasally voice morphed into a deep grumble, and he discovered a taste for vodka and Red Bull, which gave him a drunken confidence, that he finally became comfortable with the opposite sex.

Many, many moons ago.

He stood in a far corner of his coffee shop and watched all the singles give each other quizzes and polite smiles as they tried to explain their life stories within the allotted five minutes, before they moved on to the next person, hoping if the previous date was a bust, the next one would be much better. It was both sad and amusing to watch awkward pleasantries exchanged, while hiding their disgust and dissatisfaction of their minutes-long date.

Do people still do speed dating? Apparently.

I do not know why or even how in the hell you managed to talk to me into this. Ryan folded his arms and shook his head.

Aaron Jacobs stood next to his best friend and smiled. They had known each other since kindergarten and were more like brothers than best friends. Publicity, my friend. Look at all these people drinking our coffee. You don’t think they won’t spread the word about Caffeinated?

I didn’t sign up for a train wreck, Ryan countered as the buzzer signaled the end of one date and the beginning of the next one. No one goes to these things to find true love.

Since when are you waxing poetic on true love? Aaron chuckled. You’re the last person to talk about that.

It was true. Ryan loved the flexibility that being single afforded him. "Just because I don’t believe in it, doesn’t mean I don’t believe in it for others. Ryan defended his lothario reputation. I’m just not that type."

You haven’t met the right one yet. Aaron offered.

I’ve met the right one several times, Ryan replied, she was right for other people, not me. Besides, I’m way too busy...

...getting the shop together and expanding the chain and making sure your future is secured so you’re not still working when you’re 70 years old, Aaron recited Ryan’s oft-used excuse for not settling down and starting a family. Dude, you do realize you’re at the halfway point to 70, right? At what point do you plan on having your plan enacted?

The moment Caffeinated is situated and done, Ryan casually shrugged, until then, I'm content with my life.

So you say, Aaron sharply replied.

Ryan swiftly turned towards his best friend. Why are you so interested in my sex life, anyway? You don't see me offering color-commentary on who... A familiar face made him choke on his words.

Was it her? Could it be?

No, it couldn't be. Though she looked awfully similar to someone he knew. Well, sort of knew. Kind of knew. Possibly knew.

His blue eyes searched her face, studying and memorizing it. He thought he would never see her again. How he had searched for her—online and in-person—only to spectacularly fail.

Now there she was, on a speed date in his coffee shop.

You were saying? Aaron asked.

Never mind that. Ryan stepped forward and concentrated on the woman’s face. Yes, it was definitely her. Her hair was a little different. He remembered it being straight and jet black. Now it was the color of cinnamon and flowing in large curls. She was leaner than before, with definition forming in her arms.

But he could recognize her face in a police lineup. Her fluttering almond brown eyes when she spoke of her passions. The slight rosy color in her cheeks when complimented. Her delicious and full lips that devoured his. The curvature of her body as she lay beneath him. Her throaty moans in bed, becoming progressively louder and deeper with each thrust and push.

She may not have remembered him, but he definitely remembered her.

Alyssa. That was her name. Ryan remembered it because he made a cheesy joke about how he had a crush on the actress by the same name at the time, so it would be easy to remember her name. Damn, that was lame, he slightly shook his head. It wasn’t the best pickup line but it didn’t matter; she still went home with him that night.

Even if it was brief.

His fantasy just came true—and she was on a date with another man. Do you believe in spirits?

Spirits? Aaron asked.

Ryan focused on the woman. She wasn’t getting away this time. Yeah, spirits.

I guess I do, Aaron nonchalantly shrugged. Why ask?

Ryan stepped forward while he kept his gaze on Alyssa. Because I’ve just seen a ghost.

Two

Rise above, Alyssa McHale recalled the pastor at her church giving a sermon once. It was about doing good in the face of evil. Rising above adversity and overcoming trials in order to triumph.

She was convinced he was talking about her personal life.

Her friends were hopeless romantics. They loved love. Chocolates. Jewelry. Romantic cards and kisses under the moonlight. A heart that soared upon receiving a sweet text or discovering a note tucked away in a purse. That sounded so special and sweet.

It was also a nice piece of fiction.

The dating scene in Atlanta was nothing to brag about. There were more single women than men, and as a result, Alyssa found herself competing (was it really a competition?) with women who were younger and thinner than she was. Adding salt to an open wound, the men who were available, played for a team for which Alyssa certainly didn’t bat.

Not that the straight contenders were worth a second glance. Phone calls and text messages that not returned. Birthdays and anniversaries forgotten, only to have the sad and sorry excuse of ‘why didn’t she remind him?’ Flirtations that eventually turned into cheating allegations, that proved to be true.

That was Alyssa’s reality. Too many false promises combined with a thick taste of ‘Hell, no’ to potential suitors made her glad she always had a full drawer of batteries at her disposal in case the need arose. Unfortunately, for her, it was more often than not.

Your standards are way too high, girlfriend. She could recall the unwarranted (and definitely unwanted) advice a lot of her friends and family members seemed to give her whenever she complained about her dating exploits. She wasn't sure if God had a sense of humor or the devil truly did exist.

Were her standards too high? She didn't think so. Long gone were the thoughts of him being tall, dark, and handsome, with a Mercedes in the driveway, and a bank account with a lot of zeroes. Now she would just be happy if he had a full set of teeth, an address, and at least knew what deodorant was and how to use it.

All Alyssa did know, she gave up the idea of Happily Ever After and settled with the thought of Good Enough for Now. Maybe marriage and babies weren’t in the cards for her. Maybe she was going to be home alone with a pesky cat and a basket full of yarn as she sat in a rocking chair watching the latest episode of Real Housewives.

Could you at least humor me? Jordin Forde asked her best friend when they broke away from the activities. With long, auburn hair, light eyes to match her light skin, and a delicious set of full lips, Jordin didn’t seem like the type who would have any dating problems, let alone be at a speed dating event. Alas, Jordin said she wanted to make new friends—her code for guys who would give her anything, and she didn’t have the need to put out—or, as Alyssa and Perry called them, simps.

Alyssa took a sip of her blended coffee. "Okay, let’s start with tonight’s winners, shall we? Let’s see, there’s homeboy who still lives at home with his mother and he’s 35. Then there’s the one who claimed he was a millionaire but when I asked him what Roth account he recommends, he thought I was asking about opening an account at Ross. Oh, and let’s not forget the blond dude who was excited because he’s ‘always wanted to date a sista’. Yeah, he got side-eyed like a mother. She shot a look at her girlfriend. I’m sorry. I’m all out of yuk-yuks."

I’m having fun! Jordin smiled. I already got a few numbers.

You got a few numbers because of your jugs. Alyssa glanced down at Jordin’s top that left very little to the imagination. If I was buck-ass naked, I would be swimming in digits as well.

You are such a grump! Jordin defended. You’re not even trying!

I am trying! I haven’t faked it so hard since Edward. Alyssa briefly mentioned her ex-boyfriend who had the biggest heart but the smallest dick. I should’ve won an Oscar for that performance in bed.

Anyway! Jordin laughed. Aren’t there a few guys who are interesting?

Interesting in what way? Alyssa shuddered. Jo, this just isn’t for me. I can’t bring myself to date any of these guys. Besides, if I wanted some sex, I would get sex.

So, what do you want? You don’t want a booty call, but you’re not trying to have a relationship. Jordin pointed out. What’s eating Gilbert Grape?

Alyssa took a sip of coffee and sighed. She was flirting with 30 more than embracing 20, and her partying days were long behind. Gone were the days of bar-hopping until three in the morning and getting up to go to work four hours later, hung-over but alert. They were replaced with early bedtimes at ten, followed by super early gym calls at five.

Her social life did allow for dating, though they were few and far between at the present moment. Too many men promising to be ‘The Next Big Thing’ in her life, only to prove they were the ‘World’s Greatest Douchebag’ the moment something went wrong soured Alyssa on dating or getting serious with anyone. Once she was out of school, and had a great career, then, and only then, would she consider dating.

"I do want a relationship. I do want that love that lasts a lifetime. I do want to worry about racing around town