Page 12

BONUS SAMPLE CHAPTER

––––––––

TO LOVE A COUGAR

Laura M. Baird

Copyright ? 2018

Sample Chapter

W hat the hell was I thinking?

Jacqui stood outside the doors of the gym with her stomach in knots.

Labored breathes and shaky exhales had her on the verge of hyperventilating and passing out.

The misty spring morning did little to cool her as sweat coated her body—and she hadn’t even begun a workout.

Agreeing to meet her best friend suddenly didn’t seem like such a bright idea, and she contemplated turning right around, getting in her car, and returning to her condo on the other side of Seattle.

Forcing herself to calm down, she struggled to draw air into her lungs, determined not to disappoint her friend.

Julie—aka, Julz—had urged Jacqui years prior, more adamantly in the recent months, to join her at the facility, but she’d been reluctant to say the least. Did she need to get back into a routine and continue building her strength after what she’d been through?

Absolutely. Was she ready for it to take place in a public setting?

Not so much. But Jacqui had finally given in, hoping to appease her friend.

She knew it was the least she could do for all the times Julz had been by her side, supporting her through the darkest period of her life.

Jacqui and Julie, Jax and Julz—inseparable—often referred to as JJ by other acquaintances, as if they were one entity. Julz’s friendship meant the world to Jacqui, so if it’d make her friend happy to see her at the gym, it would be a small price to pay.

After talking up the place like an eager salesman, explaining about the variety of equipment, classes, and spa services the gym offered, Julz couldn’t contain her excitement once Jacqui had agreed.

Her friend then went on to talk about all the fit hunks Jacqui would have the opportunity to scope out.

Uh, no thank you. Julz may have her eye on a certain someone she raved about, but getting involved in any type of relationship was nowhere on Jacqui’s radar.

Both women were divorced at the age of forty-nine, and while Julz was eager to find her next Mr. Right, Jacqui couldn’t care less at this point if she ever found love again.

Not that she had it in the first place, thinking back on her marriage, and given how easily her husband had so callously left her once she had received her cancer diagnosis.

Truth be told, their relationship had become strained and they were already on their way toward separation shortly before she got sick. He used her illness as his escape.

“Prick!” Julz had often spat. Her contempt for Jacqui’s ex had never been kept hidden, telling her she could do so much better. And Jacqui had learned the hard way that some clichés—you can’t see the forest for the trees—were true.

More than two years after her divorce, Jacqui was six months beyond the completion of her treatment, and only now was she reluctantly ready to become social again.

Well, as social as one could get in a room of strangers whose only intent was to get fit, as opposed to mingling and flirting in the hopes of picking up a date.

Unless you were Julie “Julz” Stephenson, a gregarious, curvaceous beauty who didn’t need to put forth much effort at staying in shape, and instead used it in her pursuit of Evan—the dentist—Harper.

She would always strut around in fashionable leggings and tank tops like she was walking the red carpet, showcasing her tight ass and voluptuous bosom.

She rarely secured her hair in a practical ponytail in order to keep it out of her way, preferring to flaunt the loose raven curls that graced her head.

Jacqui only knew this because Julz would make a habit of dropping by Jacqui’s condo after her workouts to not only give details about her excursions, but further entice Jacqui to accompanying her one day.

Jacqui had always managed to put her off with one excuse or another—until now.

She knew she’d never lose Julz as her friend, but their time together had always revolved around Jacqui’s illness.

It was time to change that. Cabin fever hit hard over the winter months and she told herself she needed this to keep from spiraling toward the depression that threatened.

She looked down at her attire of unflattering yoga pants and baggy sweatshirt, knowing Julz would scoff.

Well, too bad. Her subtle curves were far from voluptuous and not worth showcasing, in her opinion.

Functional clothes warmed her constantly cold body as well as covered her swollen limbs, all thanks to a diminished lymph system.

Instead of her once-coveted chocolate mane, Jacqui had shockingly white wavy hair that resembled a dandelion when she removed her ever-present beanies.

Yeah, she had no illusions about her appearance, having no intention of attracting the attention of a man. What man could possibly find a pale waif attractive? A woman with a closed, cold heart and little enthusiasm in the bedroom?

Her ex-husband’s words invaded her thoughts, causing her to cringe as a familiar ache in her heart returned. With every aspect of her life she had excelled—except pleasing Clifford.

Stop it, Jacqui! Time to move on.

Jacqui shook her head at her glum attitude, trying instead to harness the effervescent personality of the friend she was here to meet.

The one relationship that never failed her.

With Julz’s help, Jacqui was getting her life on track.

The anxiety that had worked its way into her world made her feel as if she were losing control, and she hated the feeling.

Never before had she ever lost control or let anything deter a goal.

And therein lay the problem—she had no goals.

Her life had been in limbo while simply trying to survive.

Sure, survival had been the goal, but to what end?

Where would life take her now? She thought she’d been set in her professional life, having the luxury of working from home as a software designer, but would that be enough anymore?

And what about her personal life? While her friendship with Julz was solid, the woman was on a quest for a man in her life and adamant that Jacqui follow her lead. But did Jacqui even want that? The risk of opening herself up, only to feel hurt and humiliation? Was it worth it? At her age?

“What, you think you’re some dried-up old maid? Maybe you just need someone to quench your thirst for physical release, no strings.”

Her friend’s words made Jacqui scoff, knowing damn well she wasn’t wired that way. Jacqui wanted an intellectual connection, first and foremost. While she certainly wasn’t a prude who didn’t enjoy intimacy, it just hadn’t been a driving force in the few relationships in her life.

“Maybe that’s the problem,” Julz had said. “Maybe you just need to focus on sex.”

Yeah, right.

Pushing aside that train of thought, Jacqui took a fortifying breath, grabbed the handle of the door, and stepped inside.

Her vision instantly blurred as the warmth from the room fogged her chilled glasses.

After wiping them clear, she slid them back on and took stock of her surroundings.

An assortment of cardio machines were lined up in perfect rows, many filled with members concentrating either on TV screens in front of them or their devices they were plugged into with earbuds.

As she continued to scan, she caught sight of Julz on an elliptical, right next to Evan, an admittedly handsome blond man.

Until now, Jacqui had only seen pictures from his Facebook page when Julz friended him.

The two were engaged in conversation with one another, laughing and smiling and clearly flirting if the blush on her friend’s face was any indication.

Because they’d had a conversation only moments ago while Jacqui was in route, she knew Julz hadn’t been here long enough to exert herself in order to cause the flushed face.

She stood a moment longer, observing, feeling her mouth curve into a smile as Julz unabashedly threw her head back and hooted with laughter, uncaring that she drew a few curious stares.

“She’s quite a sight, isn’t she?”

Jacqui startled at the deep voice next to her and turned to stare at the expanse of an impressive chest. Her gaze traveled upward and met with the most intense hazel eyes she’d ever seen.

The man who managed to move to her side without her knowing was simply gorgeous, as if he belonged in a magazine spread.

Jacqui was dumbfounded and speechless—a situation she’d never been in before.

Unable to look away or form a reply, she watched as his full lips smiled on his perfectly sculpted face.

“Hi Jacqui, I’m Grant Miller, owner and trainer. Julie asked me to keep an eye out for you.”

With concentrated effort, Jacqui swallowed the pooled saliva in her mouth that thankfully hadn’t dribbled down her face.

“How do you know I’m Jacqui?” she said, her voice not as steady as she would’ve liked.

Jeez, Jacqui, get a grip! He’s just a man.

A man whose face became impossibly more attractive with the full-on smile he gave her. She glanced over his square, clean-shaven jaw, to his defined cheekbones, and up to his lush, light-brown hair she somehow knew would feel both thick and soft beneath her fingers.

“Julie described you to me.” He scanned her body, down to the floor and back again before returning her gaze. “She told me you’d wear your neon-orange shoes.”

Jacqui couldn’t help the snort that escaped, causing Grant to chuckle.

Instant warmth spread throughout her body at the sound, unnerving her at her response.

She mentally chastised herself she wasn’t here for a man, which reminded her of why she was here—her friend.

Tearing her gaze away from the delectable specimen next to her, she snagged Julz’s attention who only threw a wink her way.

Sassy wench.