WELCOME TO THE FIRST, ANNUAL TUESDAY TALES NAUGHTY OR NICE BLOG HOP! Our lovely writers are giving away goodies on their blogs this weekend. Please hop to everyone to be entered for their prizes. Here are our participants. Forget "nice", let's go "naughty"

 To celebrate my new romantic releases, I am giving way two copies of Perfect Stranger (a sexy novella) and two copies of The Soul Mate Search ( a mainstream romance novel.) You get to decide, which one you want. Soul Mate Search releases on the 30th, you could be the first one to get a copy. Click on Perfect Stranger cover to discover more about this fun and sexy holiday tale.
All you have to do is leave a comment on what traits you’d like in a mate/date.






What Do People Really Want in a Date and Potential Mate? 

Online dating sites predict a banner year for enrollment for people looking for their soul mate. Often people mistakenly believe commercials, movies, even their girlfriends regarding what men want.

Here’s what one male dating coach had to say.

Men are looking for women who:

1.    Are interested in him.

2.    Laugh at his joke, even if it is only followed by a groan.

3.    Accepts his friends, as opposed to trying to change or limit friends.

4.    Trusts. This woman isn’t scouring his social media or phone for information.

5.    Can be spontaneous. She’s willing to try new things

6.    Is happy. Moody, depressed, angry women are toxic. That doesn’t mean a woman is happy 24/7, but definitely more happy than angry.




What do women want from men? 

This is a million dollar question, but not as difficult as some men suspect. It isn’t a hard body, despite all the book covers, magazines and movies would have you believe. Most women discover what they value over time and by dating the wrong type of man. According to a survey of thousands of women would like these qualities, but not always in the same order.

1.    Honesty-life would be easier if she knew a man’s true intentions

2.    Humor-this allows a man to laugh at himself instead, of being angry.

3.    Protectiveness- this involves standing up for the woman and offering to walk her to her car. Even holding her hand represents this ability.

4.    Intelligence

5.    Loyalty

6.    Manners & hygiene (These two go together)

7.    Respecting her space (This is knowing when to leave a woman alone.)

Romance is about taking chances. Dating and casual meetings help reveal who the person is. Often people we think are grand, aren’t. On the other hand, people we may not like at first turn out to be special after getting to know them.

Levi and Melody, from The Inheritance have reasons to think the worst of each other. Here’s a snippet from their second uncomfortable meeting.





Excerpt

Charmer’s only movements at the shelter included standing to greet her with a vigorous tail wag and shuffling to the food bowl. Melody snapped on the lead expecting a leisurely walk around the lake. The dog’s sudden lunge for the open door surprised her. Scampering to grab the vanishing leash before it disappeared out the door, the sound of car doors slamming checked her speed. It must be the neighbors.

A long canine bay alerted her she might have unexpected guests. Great. She wasn’t dressed for company. A sudden tug sent her stumbling out into the yard where two men stood beside a luxury sedan. The elderly dog barked so hard that his front legs came off the ground. Melody tightened the lead to prevent Charmer from escaping. 

She looked up in time to see Roy’s lawyer approaching her with a wide smile and an outstretched hand. “Afternoon Melody, I probably should have called.”

Mustering up a smile to hide her surprise, she barely noticed the other man say. “It’s her.”

The half-whispered words shifted her attention to the other man still standing by the car.  The tall broad shouldered man half leaned against the car as his eyes roamed over her. Levi McDaniel. She bit her bottom lip. No, it couldn’t be. Time is what she needed, to prepare, to know how to act, to devise the right thing to say. Charmer took the opportunity to rest after his unexpected show of energy.

A slight breeze rustled tree leaves while the late afternoon sun warmed her back. Apparently, nature didn’t get the memo to stop everything. Her body did, however, as she struggled to draw a breath, wondering if she’d somehow forgotten how. In and out, that’s it, just breathe. Her mental instructions helped some.

His eyes reached her face. The grey eyes were, unfortunately, still as attractive as she remembered. Not to be trusted, she reminded herself, especially when her pulse jumped. Just a man, that’s all he is. She’d almost convinced herself when her bad angel whispered into her ear about his rugged allure.

He was an attractive man and a young one too. When was the last time she had met a man under sixty-five? If she didn’t count her former roommate’s fiancé and jerky friend, it had been months. It could be the reason behind her over reaction to a man who was her nemesis. He’s the enemy. Overlook the nice packaging, the strong jaw, the ripped arms, and the attitude. He’s trouble with a capital T. Don’t even let him get near the front door.

Charmer’s ears went up as if hearing something and dashed in the direction of Levi. The leash slipped out of Melody’s hands as she watched her canine lope across the yard. Would he welcome the man with a lopsided doggy grin or roll over on his back for a belly rub? With her luck, Charmer would deliver the house key. Then again, maybe the lawyer already had.

Her eyes drifted over to the lawyer, hoping that Mr. Douglas would enlighten her about the nature of the visit, although she had her suspicions.

Levi’s voice had her head whipping back to the man. “Hey, what’s that stupid dog doing?”

Her dog balanced on three legs while he hiked the fourth, thoroughly drenching Levi’s leg. Worried, he might hurt her dog, she rushed forward, kneeling beside the dog and wrapping her arms protectively around his body. “Please don’t hurt him. He’s old and already has enough trouble walking with his arthritis.”

Her eyes searched Levi’s face wondering if he might take out his anger on her instead. A rueful look crossed his face. Raising one eyebrow, he asked, “What do you think I am, a monster?”

Don’t answer. She even sucked in her lips to prevent a spontaneous reply. 

Levi put both hands against the car and slowly moved to a kneeling position. He placed his hand on Charmer’s head and stroked it. “I know what it’s like old fellow, not being able to move around as well as you’d like.”

Part of her resolve to hate him melted a little when he began to talk to her dog.  The lawyer stepped to where the three of them were huddled and squatted. His gaze went to Melody, then to Levi. “Well, now, seeing how well the two of you are getting along. I think it’s time to talk about setting up housekeeping together.”

Discover more about Levi and Melody by following Tuesday Tales on Tuesday.
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Today's prompt is bells. As an early present, I included a longer selection to get Levi and Melody together.



Meet today? Surely he hadn’t heard the old lawyer right. “What do you mean? It’s Sunday.”

The fact the Roy’s attorney, Oliver Douglas, even suggested a meeting on a weekend surprised him, but now he wanted to jaunt right over to the house. Maybe he might serve as a mediator between the two of them.

The old man raised his bushy brows allowing a twinkle to show in his clear blue eyes.  “I’m well aware it’s Sunday.  I had to force myself to get dressed in something more professional than sweatpants. Besides, Melody Gibbons works long hours as a hospice nurse. This Sunday is one of the few days she has off.”

Works long hours. Well, that part didn’t sound much like Angelique. As soon as they married, she’d quit her job. Still, his uncle’s inheritance of a rowboat, a modest home, and all the dated furniture inside wouldn’t support a person. Half of everything belonged to him so she couldn’t sell it.

A jabbing pain shot through his leg, causing him to stumble toward a chair. Damn, he hated feeling like an invalid. Collapsing into the swivel desk chair, he turned it toward the wall to avoid scrutiny. His fingers massaged the area above where his leg ended. The phantom pain felt lower. The physical therapist explained that discomfort in a missing limb was normal since the nerves still sent messages to the brain.  Somehow, they missed the memo.

The ache lessened under his ministration. The thought of visiting Melody didn’t seem as horrendous as it first did. After all, he survived the loss of both parents, Angelique’s betrayal, his uncle’s death, and coming out of the war a damaged man. What could this Melody Gibbons do to him that hadn’t already been done?

Not exactly a cheery thought, but it bucked him up some. He inhaled deeply as he leaned into the chair’s curving wooden back. “Okay, I’m ready.”

       The lawyer’s voice boomed closer to his ear than expected. “Good, I’ll drive.”

      Apparently, the man took advantage of his absorption to step closer and peer over his shoulder to see if the cripple would need a 911 call. Ever since he returned, it felt like everyone looked at him that way. Well, except for the woman at the dock, who saw him as an attractive man by the flare in her eyes.

Of course, the flicker went away as she made some lame excuse about a dog in order to escape.

“Let’s go son. “  The smiling man jingled his keys. “It’s time you children met and cleared up some of your misconceptions.”

He wanted to object to the child label, but instead pushed up out of the chair. Did the man think he was incapable of driving? “I drove here myself.”

“I know. “ The man nodded his gray head as he swung the door open. “If I drive, it gives us time to talk. It also eliminates your escape if you want to drive off in a huff. By the way, you can call me Oliver. Most people do.”

Oliver. He tried the name out in his head. Yes, he did remember his uncle talking about him, something about fishing.  “You and my uncle were fishing buddies?”

“Guilty.”  Oliver moved enough to allow Levi room to maneuver out to the sidewalk before turning to lock the door. He looked up with a grin. “It might be better to call us beer drinking buddies because we never caught that many fish.”

Levi forced out a chuckle, trying to quell his apprehension at the same time. Finally, he was going to do the deed and meet the woman who caused so much festering resentment. It could be with the presence of Oliver they could work things out. “Melody agreed to this Sunday meeting?”

Oliver stood by a large late model sedan, making Levi question his previous belief about the man’s lack of professional expertise. A sharp chirp from the key fob unlocked the passenger door. Oliver walked around the front of the car to reach the driver’s side. His reply drifted over his shoulder. “Oh, I never really made an appointment for a visit, just inquired if she’d be home for a call. The doorbell will notify her we've arrived.”

Great. He slid across the smooth leather seat and slammed the door. The man was reminding him of his Uncle Roy more and more. From trapping him in the car to talk, to showing up for an unexpected visit, both were techniques his uncle used in the past. Several talks occurred as his uncle drove him somewhere.

Talk might be the wrong word. His uncle would have some type of story about a friend, who bore a remarkable resemblance to Levi. The friend usually came to a bad end. In some of the tales, the friend reformed his ways. After the stories, Levi refused to talk, but he did think about them, even moderating his actions some too.

Oliver started the car and switched off the radio before speaking. ‘Let’s look at things from Melody’s view.”

Let’s not, he wanted to say, but he remained silent. It was déjà vu all over again.

“Melody sees you as a greedy, uncaring jerk.”

“Hey!” His objection hung in the air. Apparently Oliver didn’t sugarcoat anything. “Why am I a jerk?”

Oliver eased the sedan into traffic, making two right turns before answering. No doubt, the silence was a legal trick allowing him time to squirm.

“Did you call your uncle? Even send him a quick email the whole time you were deployed?”

Oh great. Another lawyer trick, asking questions he knew the answers to. “No, but not once did he contact me and say, ‘I have cancer and am dying.’”

“True,” Oliver agreed. “We both know that wasn’t his way, to manipulate you to get some attention.”

His words mirrored his own thoughts. “No, it wasn’t. I wish it were because I definitely would have called. I wouldn’t have held onto the anger over something he was actually right about.”

“That’s life for you. Watch your words carefully because you never know when they will be your last ones. We’re here.”

The familiar house loomed in front of him. The door opened and a hound appeared, rending the air with a long bay.  Following close behind, holding the leash, was the woman he met at the dock. “It’s her.”

The words slipped out of his mouth without intention as his eyes devoured her. There really was a dog.

Oliver chuckled. “You’ve already met Melody, then.”

Today's word is check. See if you can find it in the excerpt. 

Recap: Levi is at his uncle's lawyer hoping to break the will.

Here's today's excerpt.








Pride kept him from returning his uncle’s anxious calls when he first left the house.  Angelique poured on the charm until the wedding. Well to be more exact, she kept hugging, kissing, and petting him like he was an overfed poodle until his first bonus check came.  The Army didn’t give you the money right off. Probably did once, but several potential soldiers vanished with the money. Now they dribbled out the money. The first bonus check came after basic. Another one appeared in the checking account about the time he’d served six months in Afghanistan.

That pretty much coincided with the anonymous letter he received and Angelique’s exit from town.  Once he tried to investigate what was going on with his wife and money, she must have realized her days were numbered. His large hand pinned the will to the scarred desk. The lawyer cleared his throat, indirectly reminding him he was still there.

He should say something. The man expected it. What was he ranting about before he saw his uncle’s signature looking so wavy and weak?  It was the handwriting of an old man. Someone on his last legs, not the strong vibrant uncle he remembered.

Roy was never shy about saying what he thought. As a teenager, Levi had been harder than most to raise. Still, his uncle never raised a hand to him or his voice until that last argument. Roy’s discipline, although it took several convoluted turns, was fair.

Levi picked up the will feeling the weight of the heavy stock paper in his hand. Typed in bold font were the details how he and someone named Melody Gibbons would share everything equally including the house and boat. Just maybe this was Uncle Roy’s final attempt to discipline him beyond the grave. It was hard to say what point he was trying to make.

Flourishing the paper, he asked. “Is this solid? I already had my lawyer send a letter contesting Melody Gibbon’s claim.”

The older man shook his head and sighed deeply. “I wish you hadn’t done that. It’s going to make things sticky when you meet today.” 

Today we return to hear Levi's side of the story.

Levi carried the popcorn tin under his arm as he climbed to the dock.  His legal errand caused him to grind his teeth. Soon, the law would do its job and he’d be back in the home he remembered. Heaven knows Angelique never made a home for him.  The two of them lived in her tiny apartment once they announced their engagement. Right after, he and Roy exchanged their final words, angry ones.

There were so many clues in the cramped apartment that things were not as they seemed. The takeout cartons littered across the counter and bare walls reflected her lack of domesticity or unwillingness to settle in on place. Of course, he didn’t see it at the time or refused to see it because of the sexual haze Angelique affected.

 All through his training, he believed that Angelique would be waiting although her response to his calls was less than enthusiastic. No doubt, he’d interrupted her partying by calling hoping for some sign of support and love.  Instead, he got the brush off. She’d mumbled a few words about it being a bad time and calling back later. Of course, she didn’t call back. Not that it would have mattered.  He had his suspicions.  Angelique showed enough smarts to show up at his graduation with an overly made-up girlfriend. For a little less than forty-eight hours, he paraded around the base with his gorgeous wife on his arm.

In retrospect, she was probably winking at other guys at the base when his back was turned. In her own way, she served him well teaching him that women merely used men.  It was time to get another of his ex-wife’s ilk out of his house.   

The remembered betrayal quickened his step as he strode to the car. It was time for Nurse Melody to hit the road with a little assistance from him. The car door swung shut with a little more vigor than he intended. No reason to take his frustration out on the car, besides, he needed the car to last a couple more years.

His foot rested heavy on the gas pedal, but he did get to the lawyer’s office on time. The solemn man met him at the door. His expression didn’t bode well.

“Well, Levi. I could have saved you a trip.” The man waved him into the office,

Levi struggled to recall his name.  It was a Mac-something. He shook the older man’s proffered hand, “I hope you’re wrong, Mr, uh Mac,” he stalled on his name.

“Montgomery.” The man prompted and added a hearty pump to the handshake. “Take a seat, Levi.”

The austere office held an oak desk and a few wooden chairs and gunmetal gray filing cabinets. It didn’t look like Mr. Montgomery was a prosperous lawyer. Could be the will wasn’t as solid as he thought. “Can I examine the will?”

Mr. Montgomery worked his way back to his desk with slow steps. “Of course, you can. Figured as much.” He flipped a manila folder open. “I’d do the same myself.”

Levi stood to take the document. The first thing he noticed was Uncle Roy’s wavy signature at the bottom of the will. When did his Uncle become so frail? Guilt settled heavily on him thinking of his Uncle Roy dying without anyone beside him.

Today's prompt is wavy. Last excerpt, Mary confesses that she told her true love to go away. Today, we find out the reason behind this momentous decision.
 
EXCERPT
Love appeared to be such a fleeting, rare commodity. “Why did you do that?”

“I often ask myself that, especially when I see elderly couple crossing the street holding hands. I think that could be us. We’d have grandchildren now to spoil. Instead, I fuss over these hounds.”

Melody covered Mary’s hand with her own. “The hounds need you.” It hurt to see her friend’s wavy gray hair falling into her tear-shrouded eyes. Curiosity wanted her to finish her story, but she wouldn’t ask.

Finishing off the water bottle, Mary slammed it against the table with vigor missing their clasped hands. “I was a fool, you see. My mother was a widow. My father died in the Korean conflict. All I ever heard was how hard it was to be a widow and how she never had a man to do for her. When I started to date Roy, she liked him until the time he enlisted. Then she had nothing good to say. All she did was predict doom and gloom.  Hounded me day and night until I broke up with him.”

The woman sobbed violently burying her face in her hands. Melody knelt beside her friend and wrapped her arm around her shoulders as she grieved. Her cries lasted a few more minutes fading into hiccupping sobs. Mary sat up and managed a watery smile. “You’d think I’d be cried out by now. I keep thinking about the look on Roy’s face.  I broke his heart. The only man I ever loved. Threw it on the ground and stomped on it. What good did it do me?”

It sounded like a rhetorical question and certainly one she couldn’t answer.  Her benefactor was a Roy too and close to Mary’s age. No, it couldn’t be. How weird it would be living in the same town just miles away from each other.

 Not getting an answer, she grasped Melody’s hands. “Promise me something.”

Her manner was so emphatic that Melody knew she dared not ignore the woman’s request. “Anything.” She meant the words. If she could possibly accomplish whatever Mary asked, then she’d do it.

Mary’s eyes glowed as she spoke. “Never give up on love. Too few people ever truly fall in love. Most think they do, but realized later, they were mistaken. Love is a grand adventure, not for the timid, but well worth taking. No matter what. My mother convinced me to give up on Roy because he could die and I’d end up a widow like her. It could have happened. If it did, I would have had the experience of being part of the grand adventure. Sure, I would have lost my soul mate, but for a brief part of my life, I would have truly loved wildly and generously. I gave it up to be safe.” Mary let go of Melody’s hands to gesture to the concrete brick walls.”