February 19, 2025
THE FIRST OF FEBRUARY
Jamison Long wasn’t looking for a hook up, much less the man
of his dreams. He was looking for a new ride, nothing more. Then Harper Vance
walked up and shook his hand, and Jamison was smitten. When Harper’s place of
employment shuttered its doors and the owner skipped town without providing
severance pay, Jamison seized the opportunity and offered Harper a place to
live.
The move is not without consequences. Jamison has an ex
determined to undermine his fledging relationship with Harper. The seeds of
doubt are planted, leaving Harper unsure if being with Jamison is a good idea.
It seems Jamison’s job is the most important thing in his life, just like the
ex-boyfriend said.
Jamison fights to prove he’s the man for Harper, but issues
arise that Harper can’t overlook. It will take patience and love to prove that their
meeting on the first of February was the best thing to happen to both of them.
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Purchase links are below, after the excerpt.
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EXCERPT
My line of investigative work made it preferable to drive
something two, maybe three, years old. And to my sorrow, it couldn’t be
something that stood out from the herd, either. I was looking for a mid-size
SUV, white, or silver, which looked like a thousand others zipping around Point
Pleasant.
My boss had set me up with a rental and I was making the
rounds of the used car lots with an eye on the sky. It looked like it was about
to start to snow, and I didn’t like to drive in the white stuff. I eased the
car along the line of used SUVs and spotted a pewter-colored Chevy with
four-wheel drive. I parked and climbed out to look at the sticker.
“I can make you a good deal on that one.”
I turned to see who’d spoken and looked straight into the
most gorgeous brown eyes I’d ever seen. He held his right hand out to me. “I’m
Harper Vance, and I’m serious about making you a great deal on this one.”
I shook his hand. “Jamison Long. What’s wrong with it?”
There were good deals, and there was my deal. I’d play the game and see which
one he’d do.
“Nothing, really. It’s four years old and should have a set
of new tires put on it. The mileage is spot on to where it should be for the
age of the vehicle. The interior is very clean.”
“Non-smoker?”
“I’m pretty sure that’s a yes. I drove it home last night
and didn’t detect a whiff of stale smoke.” He flashed me a smile that showed
off his even white teeth and brought two laugh lines to the corners of his
eyes. He held up a key fob and unlocked the vehicles. “Take a look.”
I’d already seen what I wanted, and I needed more than a key
to unlock it. I asked to drive it knowing full well he’d ride along.
The vehicle met my needs, but I didn’t want to tell him
that. I drove a leisurely loop of several blocks while he outlined the
features. I wasn’t paying attention to the details. I detected a hint of
southern drawl in his voice, and his clear tenor drew me in and held me
captive. The first few snowflakes fell, and I decided to head back.
He patted the dash. “This should go well in the snow with
new tires. Do you like it?”
I did but I also didn’t want to overpay for it. I didn’t
care how sexy he was. I steered the SUV into its slot and switched off the
ignition. “Why don’t you buy me a coffee and we can talk about it?”
Harper’s smile was genuine. His interested gaze held no hint
of a man looking to make only a financial deal. “I’d love to buy you a cup of
coffee. I hope you don’t mind if we take it in my office.”
I didn’t care where we went if it kept him talking longer. I
handed the keys back to him. “I don’t mind at all.”
His office was little more than a partitioned cubby and I
was acutely aware of how our voices would carry to his co-workers. He had a
carafe of coffee, plus creamer and sugar in his office.
“I like to make a pot and bring it in with me. That way it
doesn’t get cooked to tar.” His explanation made perfect sense to me, and I
accepted a cup with thanks.
“I drink it black.” I set the cup on the corner of his desk
to allow it to cool a bit. He fixed his mug with creamer and sugar.
Harper sat and reached for a pen. “Is the car you drove in
the car you’re trading?”
I shook my head and told him what had happened. He listened
without asking questions until I finished the tale.
“So, what I have is a check from the insurance company.” I
didn’t tell him how much it was.
“We can work with that.” He did some quick figuring, wrote a
price on a slip of paper, and handed it to me.
It looked surprisingly good to me, but if I said that, we’d
do the paperwork, and I’d never see him again.
“Can I think about it and get back to you tomorrow?”
He looked out the window. I followed his gaze to observe the
snow getting heavier. “Sure, but I wouldn’t wait too long. The dealership is
liquidating, and time is short. Everything is being hauled off the lot at the
beginning of next week.”
It was none of my business, but I was nosey. “What are you
going to do?”
“I’m trying to get a photography business off the ground.
It’s slow going, but my client list is growing. I take good pet pictures.” He
laughed and I joined in.
“I’ll tell my sister. She’s bonkers over her mutt. Got a
card I can give her?”
He handed me one as an older man stuck his head around the
corner. “Hey, Harper. They just announced the buses are canceled due to the
snow. You’d better hurry if you don’t want to walk.”
Harper nodded and thanked him for the weather update.
I knew an opening when one was handed to me, and I jumped on
it. “If you need a ride home, I can take you. In fact, I’d like to take you to
dinner tonight.”
He cleared his throat. “Thank you for the lift home, but
going out might not be a good idea. How about I cook for you instead?”
I batted my eyelashes at him. “You just want to sell me a
car.”
He met my gaze with a ruttish stare and slowly shook his
head. “I want to get to know you better.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me. When can you leave?”
Harper motioned at the showroom. “It looks like everyone is
clearing out. With us closing, and the weather, there’s not a lot of incentive
to hang out for another half hour.”
We stood and I held his coat for him. He shoved his gloves
in his pocket, picked up his carafe, and we walked out together like we did it
every day. It felt that right. He didn’t say a word when I opened the car door
for him.
I was a bit shocked at how fast and heavy the snow was
coming down. It looked like there was about an inch on the ground. I slid
behind the wheel and started the engine.
“Was this in the forecast, Harper? I don’t remember.”
“The weather guessers said it was a sixty percent chance of
snow, but it is the first of February. It’s our snowy time.”
“True. Do you need to stop for anything?”
“No, but thanks for asking. I live at Bayfront Commons.”
He didn’t need to tell me where that was. Anyone who’d lived
in Point Pleasant any length of time knew. It was a mid-century apartment
complex that was in its day very upscale but was now developing a reputation as
a drug hub. Once we got there, I parked but left the engine running.
“Harper, I’m sorry, but I think I’d better get home. There’s
already two inches of snow on the ground and it looks like there is a lot more
to come.”
He sighed and nodded. “I think you’re right. I’m sorry, too,
because I would have enjoyed cooking for you. Another time?”
I grinned and held my hand out to him. “Absolutely. I’ll
hold you to it. How would you feel about giving me your private phone number?”
He squeezed my hand and then let go to get his phone out of
his pocket. We exchanged our private numbers, and he shifted in his seat.
“You’d better get going, Jamison. The streets are going to
be icy.”
I held my hand out again, and when he wrapped his fingers
around mine, I lifted our joined hands and kissed his knuckles under his amused
gaze.
“I’ll see you tomorrow about the SUV, okay?”
Harper nodded and made a fast exit from the rental. I
watched him hustle down the walkway and disappear inside. Feeling like a
schoolboy, I sat in the car and watched for a light to suddenly shine through a
window, but it didn’t happen. Driving carefully, I made my way home and settled
on a potluck for dinner. It wasn’t a home-cooked meal, but it was frugal. I
finished the Kung Po Chicken, the slice of pizza, and the last slice of ham
lunchmeat wrapped around a slice of cheese.
Well, hell. I was getting slow. I grabbed my phone and
called Harper. He answered immediately.
“I hoped you’d call me, Jamison.”
“I’m happy you answered. Hey, man. How are you getting to
work tomorrow? Should I come by and give you a lift?”
I swear I heard him smile.
“I would like that. They’ll have the buses running, but who
knows if they’ll be on time.”
“I know. What time should I be there?” I hoped it wasn’t
some ungodly hour like six o’clock but if it was, I’d man up and be there on
time. He’d offered me dinner. Would he ask me to breakfast instead?
“I don’t have to be there until nine, but if you need to
make it earlier, that’s fine. I have the code to get into the building. I’ll be
warm and dry.”
I breathed a quiet sigh of relief. “I have a staff meeting
at nine, so I’ll get you at eight-thirty. How’s that sound?”
“You know, Jamison. You could stop for donuts and come a
little earlier. You know I fix a mean cup of coffee.”
Yes!
“Good idea! I love donuts. Be there at eight?”
“I like the ones with chocolate icing. Don’t disappoint me.”
I laughed. “I never disappoint, Harper. I can bring you references. I’ll try to surprise you, but there will be chocolate
iced.”
"Okay, then. Sleep well. Bye.”
“Good night, Harper.”
The connection broke. I clutched the phone to my chest like
a teenager, grinning like a fool. Harper liked to flirt. I could work with that, I really could.
The First of February is available at:
Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DX3WN767
Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DX3WN767
Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DX3WN767
Amazon AU https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0DX3WN767
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Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-first-of-february
iTunes https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-first-of-february/id6742053355
Universal link to additional vendors https://books2read.com/u/310dJr
