I've made a mistake. Can we find our way back?
They say that distance makes the heart grow fonder, or that time heals all wounds. What they don't tell you is that it doesn't lessen the pain. I don't think those people have experienced a loss like this.
I left my heart in London, and I'm not sure I'll ever get it back.
But fate has a plan of her own. She keeps me guessing and hoping that not everything is as it seems.
Hearts can be shattered but can also be put back together. Especially when love doesn't give up on you, even if you think it has.
They say that distance makes the heart grow fonder, or that time heals all wounds. What they don't tell you is that it doesn't lessen the pain. I don't think those people have experienced a loss like this.
I left my heart in London, and I'm not sure I'll ever get it back.
But fate has a plan of her own. She keeps me guessing and hoping that not everything is as it seems.
Hearts can be shattered but can also be put back together. Especially when love doesn't give up on you, even if you think it has.
We busy ourselves getting the kitchen back in order. I show him where the knives and cutting boards are as he rolls up his sleeves. My movements slow slightly as I stare at his newly exposed forearms. There’s something about a man wearing a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up that is insanely sexy. It’s such a simple thing really, not meant to be sexual at all, but the look of it is hotter than just about anything else on the planet. Okay, that may be a stretch but let’s face it, it’s hot.
I pour two glasses of chardonnay from a bottle of wine that Kara left at my place the other night and slide one across the counter to Andrew, who pauses in his task. He raises his glass to mine, tapping them together as I relax against the countertop next to him. Thankfully he turned down my offer to help him cook. He probably remembers that cooking is not my strong suit and if we wanted to eat something that isn’t delivered or comes from a box, it’d be best if I just observed.
“To surprises,” Andrew says with a twinkle in his eye. He’s apparently thinking of our little romp on my desk, and honestly, so am I. I flush slightly as I take a sip of my wine and continue to watch him work his culinary magic.
“Are you sure you don’t need my help with anything? I feel bad just sitting here while you’re doing all the work in my kitchen. I mean, after all, you’re my guest this time.”
Andrew pauses between chops, looking up at me through his lashes with a sensual smile. “No. I just want you to stand there being cute and adorable.” His smile begins to smolder and there’s a new gleam in his eye. “Or you can get naked. Either one work for me.”
He wiggles his eyebrows and I laugh. “That’s not going to happen. If I get naked, I could possibly distract you, making you accidentally chop off a finger or something like that.” He just laughs, bending over to steal a quick kiss before resuming his task.
Fated to be Yours (Fated #1) - Released Sept 1, 2015
Hearts are fragile, and mine's been shattered before...
I have always thought of love in the abstract, never something to come true. My past has shown me time after time that those who are supposed to love you will only lead you to disappointment. Destiny, fate, chance...those are things that I have never believed in.
Until him.
A chance encounter with a distinct pair of blue eyes and a heart-melting smile challenges my knowledge of life and love.
Because there's something about this stranger that has me believing in the possibility of more...
I have always thought of love in the abstract, never something to come true. My past has shown me time after time that those who are supposed to love you will only lead you to disappointment. Destiny, fate, chance...those are things that I have never believed in.
Until him.
A chance encounter with a distinct pair of blue eyes and a heart-melting smile challenges my knowledge of life and love.
Because there's something about this stranger that has me believing in the possibility of more...
What comes first…your plot or your characters?
I’d have to say my plot comes first. I need to get the idea in my head before I can get a character. As soon as I figure out where my story is headed and the major points I want to hit along the way, that’s when I start thinking about who I want in there.
Why did you choose the genre you write in?
I’m a hopeless romantic. Always have been. So writing a contemporary romance story was a no-brainer for me. I love happily ever afters and believe in love at first sight. I think two people can meet with just a glance and develop a whole love story with that one look. And like life not everything is easy and things get in the way, but it’s the obstacles that help build the relationship and make it stronger. I may not always stick to this genre. I’ve got several in mind that will have me break out into something else, but this will probably be where I stay more often than not.
Do you incorporate any of your own experiences into your books?
Some of my personality quirks get incorporated into different characters. A lot of my supporting best friend characters take after my friend personality because you know you always have that one friend who is a huge goof and can make you laugh. I’ve been told that’s me. Some scenes are true or based on real-life experience and some are just completely fictional and fantasies that I’ve had.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Read. It’s probably what I do the most when I’m not running my children all over the state for their various sports. In the off-chance that I’m not reading, you’ll probably find me wandering around stores doing some window shopping or watching my favorite movies on the couch. The really good ones, like FSOG or Black Swan, can’t be viewed until after the kids go to sleep.
Favorite movie and why?
Another tough question. Again, I can’t follow directions so I need to pick multiple ones. The hopeless romantic in me will watch The Holiday, 27 Dresses, The Mirror Has Two Faces and While You Were Sleeping over and over and over again. For comedies, almost anything Adam Sandler or Vince Vaughn, but The Waterboy and Anchorman are two that stick out as my favorites. Anchorman for sure because that cast is fantastic!!
What’s your favorite scene from your books?
From FTBY, it was the scene where she answered the door in her towel. I laughed a little when I wrote that. Another one I loved was when Andrew cooked for her at his apartment. In my mind, it gave Tessa a glimpse of his home life, how he’s just a regular guy who loves to do the same things she does.
From FTBM, I loved the scene where he surprised her at Sharon’s party and how he made it clear that he came there for her. The other scene I loved was when Tessa surprised him at his hotel room. And, of course, all their sexy time after that.
Do you prefer the beach or the mountains?
Why isn’t my bed an option? I love both, but I’d have to say beach. My pale skin doesn’t like the beach as much as I do, but every once in a while I need to crawl out of the cave and get my vitamin D intake. Plus beach implies warm and living in the land of perpetual winter makes me miss the warm weather.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Telekinesis. There are so many times I’d think to myself, why can’t this object just move because I’m looking at it? Or, why can’t my mouse just click on the thing I’m looking at? I don’t want mind reading powers because my own thoughts are scary enough that I have no ambition to listen to others. But to pick or find something just by thinking about it, I’ll sign up for that!
Jodie Larson is a wife and mother to four beautiful girls, making their home in northern Minnesota along the shore of Lake Superior. When she isn’t running around to various activities or working her regular job, you can find her sitting in her favorite spot reading her new favorite book or camped out somewhere quiet trying to write her next manuscript. She’s addicted to reading (just ask her kids or husband) and loves talking books even more with her friends. She’s also a lover of all things romance and happily ever afters, whether in movies or in books, as shown in her extensive collection of both.
