Courtney smiled to herself. Oh yes, after Rainy Day Lover was released, her job would keep her in story lines for years to come. And she definitely had the time to write, since her company worked ten hour days four days a week. While not the norm, it did allow the firm to be open seven days a week, including holidays. That’s what the clients wanted, so that was what they got.

Now, on the first of her three days off this weekend and committed to her goal, here she sat in her local coffee shop, quadruple non-fat latte in hand, ready to download that first set of edits.

As she waited for her laptop to boot up she glanced around the quaint shop. Even though it was part of one of the big chains, the local shop catered to the old-fashioned atmosphere of their city in its design. Booths with high-backed, plushly cushioned seats afforded a semblance of privacy. The tables were sturdy dark wood, their grain left on the rough side but no risk of splinters. Faux candles lit each table in rustic-looking hurricane holders.

Not wanting any one to know about her attempt to write a book, she’d written it in the quiet privacy of her apartment. Now that she was a real author—after all she did have a contract from a fairly well known publisher—it was time to be out there like the big names and writing in public.

A stirring movement near the register caught her attention. From over the top of her computer she spotted a gaggle of women, young, middle aged and even a grandmother, whispering about someone or something. When the crowd parted she got quite the eyeful.

And what an eyeful he was.