The Ladybug Jinx (30 page)

The New Year’s Eve benefit, Night at the Casino, was sponsored by the local Mother’s Against Drinking Drunk chapter, and there were no alcoholic beverages served at the function. They rented games and people had volunteered their night to be table dealers, servers and show everyone that you can have a good time without the alcohol.

The Trembling Cup erupted in a wave of laughter. Liz looked up, but Jenna continued sorting through papers and talking about a document she couldn’t find.

The crowd parted from the back table. Why was everyone smiling and laughing. And who were they patting on the back?

Ever since Sam Barber put Grandberry Falls on the map, you never knew who’d show up.

Liz couldn’t help but notice the handsome gentleman that emerged from the crowd. He was definitely good looking, but she wondered what made him so popular. She sat up a little taller as he headed for their table.

She was sure she’d never seen him around town, which would be hard to do since the town only consisted of one Main Street with several side streets. The country side was vast, but names were known.

He stared back, but not at her—Jenna.

She tilted her head toward Jenna and whispered, “I think someone is checking you out.” Her eyebrows lifted in curiosity.

Was Jenna hiding something, or someone from her?

Jenna looked up and quickly darted back to Liz. “We have to get out of here.”

She frantically gathered the files scattered all over the table. With the flip of a piece of paper, Liz’s cup tumbled over and the coffee went everywhere.

“Oh no!” Jenna screamed and scrambled to save what she could.

“Here.” A masculine hand dropped napkins on the table.

Jenna grabbed them and soaked up the mess.

“Good morning, Jenna.” His husky voice fit his tall and slender yet muscular frame.

Liz was unable to move, lost in his milky, big brown eyes, until he turned and went out the door.

“Are you going to tell me who that man was?” Liz put her hand out to stop Jenna from getting up so fast.

It’d been a long time since Liz had felt that kind of energy from a man, and she wasn’t about to dismiss it so quickly.

“Someone I haven’t seen in a long time,” Jenna whispered while dabbing the papers with napkins. “He’s just someone from my past who needs to stay there.”

After some jumbled words, Jenna shoved the papers in her bag and walked out the door. All Liz understood was that Jenna would call her later, which would give Liz time to get her emotions in check.

About The Author

Tonya Kappes is the author of Carpe Bead ‘Em and The Ladybug Jinx, her debut women’s fiction novels. She’s also the author of two short stories which can be found in the Something Spooky This Way Comes and Believe Anthologies. Her, co-authored, non-fiction book The Tricked-Out Toolbox, helps writers explore the best promotional and marketing strategies for their career will be available January 2012.

Besides being the co-founder of the beyond quirky writer’s grog The Naked Hero (www.
thenakedhero.com
), she also is co-founder of The Writer’s Guide to E Publishing (www.thewritersguidetoepublishing.com).

When she’s
not
writing about quirky characters and even quirkier situations, she’s busy being the princess, queen and jester of her domain which includes her BFF husband, her four teenage boys and two dogs.

For more information, check out Tonya’s website, Tonyakappes.com.