Issue: May 2025
Hello my sweet bunbarians! I have a treat for you, but you have to scroll to the very end for it.
This month has been a little chaotic so far with the end of the college semester for my eldest and graduation for a niece and my friends' kids. Then there was my favorite day of the month, 'ocho de mayo'. What is this you ask? Story time! I don't mean to yell, but I love this story.
Once upon a time, a twenty-something moved to Colorado with her friends, with barely a cent in her pocket. (Thank you MT for lending me $ to ship my cats with me.) Any way, while job hunting, she took a temp job, filling in for the receptionist at a company that was having their 'Cinco de mayo' party on Friday instead of the fifth. A handsome older twenty-thing spent so much time at the reception desk that HR asked if she (it's me) needed assistance. He was the sweetest thing and knew so much about all kinds of things.
He didn't get his first date until a few months later when there were at least two cents to rub together, but we've been together ever since. We just celebrated our 27th anniversary from our very own 'meet-cute' and he inspires my cinnamon roll heros every day.
Mother's Day is coming, and honestly, it's a little bittersweet for me, like it may be for many of you. So if you celebrate, I hope you get pampered and get to read your TBR in peaceful quiet. For those who have lost your mom, lost a child, long to be a mom, or are estranged, hugs to you all. You are not forgotten and you are loved. I'm especially thankful for the amazing mother figures I've had in my life who stood in where my own could not.
Need a book to bunbury with? Check out these hot romances!
Books by Michelle Moncrieff
Author's Life
Did you get a copy of "Just Add Love"? It's only available for a few more days and then it's gone. Do you want a sneak peak? Here's the first chapter of my story, "Best Worst Date."
Chapter 1
Sebastian St. James strode confidently through the brass doors of the popular Washington, D.C. restaurant. A low murmur of voices and clattering of glasses blocked the sounds of the busy city street, while the pungent smells of wood polish and ammonia competed with the heady aromas of the award-winning kitchen. He paused to let his eyes adjust to the ambient lighting that added to the old-world feel of dark woods and carved glass.
Smoothing down his charcoal gray double-breasted suit, he reminded himself that he only needed to stay for an hour to fulfill his promise to his friend and get him off his back about dating. Complications weren’t allowed in his life, and a date with his best friend’s sister’s best friend was rife with potential issues. Better to focus on his close-knit group of friends and his business ventures.
A blur of a plaid struck his shoulder on its rush past him. He didn’t envy people like that, those who were always in a hurry. Careful planning had gotten him further ahead, especially in his work-life balance, so he could go adventuring whenever he wanted. Brushing at the sleeve of his blazer and tugging at his royal blue cuffs, he ignored the interruption to survey the room.
“Damn!” His gaze caught on a curvaceous dark-haired beauty, waving at him from a table for two.
“Sir, is there something I can help you with?” the host at the stand asked at his exclamation.
“No, I’m good. Real good.” Sebastian dismissed the employee, moving to get a better look at the woman who seemed like an apparition. Her up-do highlighted her fair porcelain skin from the arch of her brows to the heart-shaped neckline of her well-tailored dress. It was conservative by modern standards but showed enough skin and cleavage to make him salivate at the thought of tasting every inch of her. Had he ever experienced an attraction so instantaneous? It was like a primal need roaring to life at the sight of her.
“Hey! You’re early.” Finding himself in front of her before he realized he had crossed the room, he leaned in to kiss her cheek not wanting to be too formal with shaking hands or too friendly by hugging. At the turn of her head, their lips met. Soft and tender but tentative like neither wanted to part but knew they should. The hint of vibration where they connected, grew stronger. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, willing his mind to stop his unusual response to this woman, but was engulfed in the scents of a warm summer night after a thunderstorm, earthy and fresh with a wisp of jasmine. A vision of them wrapped up in each other, stargazing in a meadow, made him want that future with her.
Heat burned through his shirt where she rested a hand on his chest. At least one of them was being rational. He couldn’t decide if he was relieved or not that she was going to push him away, but his heart sped up at the touch anyway. Easing up his neck and cupping his cheek, she tilted his head for a deeper kiss. Her hum of satisfaction reverberated down to his toes. He wrapped his hands around her back, pulling her closer until there was no space between them. It felt like they had done this a thousand times and he wanted to do it a thousand more. There was an undeniable passion kindling, but it felt so familiar, like the comfort of home.
She pulled away, bumping into the banquette behind her, touching her full plum-colored lips, her large brown doe eyes searching his face. He wondered if she felt the tingling he did. Her expression seemed to ask so many questions at once.
“We should probably sit down before we get kicked out for impropriety,” he joked, forcing himself to put space between them.
“I’m sorry.” She slid into the booth braced behind her legs.
“Don’t ever apologize for kissing like that, especially if it’s with me.” He smiled as he eased into the seat across from her, noting how her hand automatically drifted to her phone face down on the table.
“I appreciate it, but that was a heck of a save.”
“What do you mean?” He’d never heard it called that, but maybe he was so caught up in his own thoughts that he misheard her.
“Just that it was a lot hotter than I would have expected to warn someone off.”
“Is that what we were doing?” He smirked. A little denial at such an intense moment was understandable, but he was missing something. Just like any other negotiation, he was willing to sit back and gather information before making his next move.
“It was such perfect timing when he came back for his sunglasses.”
“Always glad to help a friend’s sister’s friend.”
“That’s a funny way to phrase it.”
“Not really— “ A presence next to him interrupted his thoughts.
“Evening, I’m Kenny. What can I get y’all tonight?” The lanky server, clad in black with a white apron, placed cocktail napkins on the table.
“Carolyn, what would you like?”
“Hmm?” She responded as though she was distracted.
“To drink?”
“Tonic with lime, please.” Courteous, polite but cautious. Admirable qualities in an adversary but the obvious passionate connection threw him so far ahead of this stage, he would need to slow down and meet her step by step, for them to be able to move forward.
“Same for me, thanks,” he stated to the departing server.
“Um, who’s Carolyn?”
Stay sassy and keep losing yourself in books. Be sure to visit my page or my Facebook group, Bunburying with Moncrieff, and tell me about those great reads.
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