If Only...
If only I hadn’t had that last drink…It might be the toughest night of the year for Micah O’Shea, but one tequila too many and suddenly she’s seeing the world – and her best friend, firefighter Josh Taylor – in a new light! Surely a bit of Dutch courage is all she needs to see if he tastes as good as he looks…?Why did no one tell her that the morning after is way more awkward when you’re friends with the man you threw yourself at? And that it gets more awkward when you start having X-rated dreams about him? Perhaps Micah should stop saying ‘If only…’ and start asking ‘What if…?’!You won’t want to miss this fabulous story by So You Think You Can Write 2013 winner Tanya Wright!
Читать If Only... онлайн беплатно
âWhy didnât you ever kiss me, Josh?â
Her words came out like a whisper, caressing his skin as he hovered over her.
âI always wanted you to.â
Desire coursed through him at the sound of her admission.
âI havenât been kissed in years.â
Her voice held a sensual quality, washing over him, weakening his resolve.
âI need to be kissed.â
Her small hand reached up, cupped the side of his face. He found himself leaning into it even as her hand moved up and around his neck. He closed his eyes as her fingers combed through his hair, not realizing until it was too late that she was pulling him closer.
Her soft, tentative lips moved against his, leaving him powerless. He responded to her kiss, and the tiny thread on which his control was hanging snapped in an instant.
This story began fifteen years ago, long before I was aware of just how it could be used. I was a young teenager, experiencing first love, when my boyfriend was tragically killed in an accident. What followed was nothing short of heartbreak and pain, before I was eventually able to see that life went on regardless.
It was in 2013 that I finally realised my healing process had come to an end. In that moment, on what would have been his thirty-third birthday, I began to ask myself the question every writer asks: What if â¦? I wondered what life would have been like if only he hadnât died that day. And so this novel was born.
It is not a biography by any means, but the story of two characters on a journey of grief and healing similar to my own. It was cathartic, writing Micah and Joshâs story. You can watch them grow together as they struggle with the pain of their past and manoeuvre their way through unknown territory and burgeoning new emotions.
Even when I felt it shouldnât, life went onâthe world kept spinning. It wasnât the pain that defined me, but rather the way I handled it.
I have been writing for many years, but lacked the confidence to pursue my dreams. My first step after finishing my manuscript was to get it out there. Such was my motivation for entering So You Think You Can Write. You can imagine my surprise when I found out that the story so near and dear to my heart had won the publicâs vote, awarding me a publishing contract.
I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. And that you walk away inspired and encouraged by Micahâs story.
Tanya
TANYA WRIGHT knew from an early age that she wanted to write, but it wasnât until this year that she decided to take it more seriously. In January she completed her first manuscript, and in March IF ONLY â¦, her second, was born. This year marks the fifteenth anniversary of the death of her own real-life Drew. That experience is what inspired her and gave her the courage and drive to write this story.
She wants to write real stories for real people who experience real struggles, and to offer them an escape from the mundane and a little bit of hope and a happily-ever-after.
Tanya is originally from Florida, but after completing her college degree in Boston she decided to stay. Sheâs close to her family, and their antics are what inspire many traits in her characters. She is in a constant state of creativity: writing, cake-decorating, painting and sewing. She loves serving in her church, where she sings in the worship band.
This is Tanya Wrightâs first book for Modern Tempted⢠and is also available in eBook format from www.millsandboon.co.uk
To the women in my life â¦
Mom, my #1 fan. Your strength and perseverance saw me through the toughest moments.
To my sisters, Jess and Shay. Outside of the moments of uncontrollable laughter and borderline insanity that provide me with excellent material you are my best friends and I could not have done any of this without you.
To my grandma for instilling in me the importance of dreaming big and going after those dreams.
To the heroes in my lifeâthe men who set the bar high â¦
Dad, my anchor; my brothers, Aaron and Brandon, and Kade, my beautiful and amazing nephew.
And to my cousin Mark and my friend Chet for your help, regardless of time of day or the questionâs stupidity.
Contents
Wasnât fire supposed to be fierce, unpredictable or even dangerous? Micah twirled a strand of her flame-colored hair, wondering how she had lost the spark associated with its vibrant strands. Had the flame been extinguished years ago, or had it been a slow, gradual fade?
She wasnât even sure anymore. It was as if the last ten years had all been a lie. She had gone through the motions of healing, of moving on, only fooling herself into believing she was past it. But this semblance of a life was all a facade. It was obvious to her now. She had only buried the pain, denied its existence.
