Five Fun Facts - Brenda Whiteside

1. I have a huge crush on Nathan Fillion (Rick Castle) and I don’t even try to hide it from my husband.

2. I like to write in first person about a heroine on a journey of self-discovery. I was warned away from first person when I first began writing Sleeping with the Lights On. I’m glad I didn’t listen.

3. Although I prefer to fish with lures, I can bait a hook with a slimy, squiggly creature if I have to.

4. I belly danced during halftime of a Phoenix Sun’s basketball game.

5. If I could have only 3 things to wear in my closet, they would be a long denim skirt, a pair of jeans, and a white tee shirt from Eddie Bauer. If I could have only two pair of shoes (I can hear my husband laughing at that number), they would be a pair of brown leather knee high boots and flat leather sandals.

Blurb:

After two failed marriages and countless relationships, Sandra Holiday thinks she’s met the man to end her years of less than perfect choices; choices that not only derailed her travel-related career plans but also left her single and broke. 

Carson Holiday, a Las Vegas country crooner with swoon-inducing good looks, spent his adult life pursuing a recording contract and love, never holding on to either. After eighteen years, he drops back into Sandra’s life, reigniting an attraction he can’t deny.

When Carson reappears, Sandra must choose again.  Only this time, nothing’s as it seems.  A secret admirer, a redheaded stalker, and an eccentric millionaire throw her on a dangerous path, with Carson her only truth.

As life confronts her with yet another turning point, will her decisions find her eternally sleeping with the lights on – or will she finally discover a way to turn them off?

 

Excerpt:

“Man, this weather is good chili weather.” He stretched his arms in appreciation of a Minnesota spring night. The phrase rang pure Texan. I guess you can’t take Texas out of the Texan no matter how long he’s been a Las Vegas entertainer. “Let’s do this again tomorrow night.”

“I have plans,” I said relieved. Sort of. This evening, supposedly a one-time meeting should be a brief hello. I had a life.

“Your caller?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

He actually said good. Why did he find every aspect of my life so pleasing?

“Then lunch?” He found my hand in the darkness, our fingers spontaneously interlaced. “We haven’t had nearly enough time to talk. Unless, we extend this night.”

“I don’t think that would be such a good idea.” Actually, extending the night would be a great idea for all the wrong reasons. “I have to get up early for work.” I needed to call Wesley and put Carson out of my mind. Carson Holiday needed to slip back into my past.

“Then I’ll take you to lunch tomorrow.” He affectionately nudged me with his shoulder.

“When do you go back to Vegas?”

He hesitated. “In a day or two.”

“You sound rather vague.” And still allusive. What could be the big secret about this charity gig he couldn’t divulge?

“I have a few more things to find out. I’ll be out of here as soon as I get all my questions answered. It’s complicated.”

We’d reached the edge of my apartment complex.

“Carson, honestly, how complicated can a gig—”

Pulling me around, we stopped, facing each other. My head said run like hell, but my legs wouldn’t respond. Mushy from wine or Carson and moonlight. I couldn’t be sure which.

“Have lunch with me tomorrow, darlin’.” His fingers slipped from mine to gingerly brush along my forearm. The moonlight caught in his eyes. “Another hour of your time with a long lost friend?”

“Yes.” My voice went all husky and come-hither. I wanted to kick myself for being so easy.

“Good.” Grasping my hand again, he led me toward the door. “What’s the address of your office?”

I struggled to shake off the moon shadows and to remember where I worked. Once inside the building, I took a scrap of paper from my purse and wrote the address.

“I’ll walk you to your door and say goodnight,” he said, tucking the scrap of paper in his pocket. “Unless you want to have me in for a goodnight drink.”

I didn’t answer. If he’d only known the extent of my uncertainty at that moment, a little persistence might have made me cave. “Okay, then—” His mouth gaped.

I followed his bewildered look to my apartment door.

       TRAMP