We're just about a third of the way through chapter one (which is 18 pages), now, and with the final edits of the novel coming to a close, I will start posting more content from the book, and even put up my query letters to agents, to see what you guys think!
Here it is....page five!
Two hours into his nap, he heard a Jeep pull up and a dog bark softly. Nails tapped on the concrete, then sixty pounds of Labrador hit the deck with a thud. Panting followed and hot breath found his hand. Then came the drool.
“Hey buddy,” Rich muttered, scratching his dog Bailey’s ear with his eyes still closed.
“Hey you,” Lauren smiled.
Rich smiled back and meant it for the first time that day. She was the only thing that made him truly happy. It wasn't hard to love her; five foot five, blond hair and stunning gray eyes, with soft features and an honest smile. She had a temper on her like he had never seen, but he loved her more because of it. Most of the time. Three years after they started dating and they were more in love than ever. It was getting more serious, so much so in fact, that Rich had bought an engagement ring six months ago. It just never seemed like the right time to take it out. Today wasn't any different, something just wasn't quite there. The feelings were, but the comfort level wasn't. Even after that much time and all they had experienced together, he still couldn't let his guard completely down. It was most likely his own reservations that kept him from opening up, but Lauren didn't exactly promote open communication. She was too cute to get mad at and too stubborn to reason with when she got upset.
“You closed early? Season’s basically over I guess.”
“Rich. It’s two o’clock in the afternoon, and you smoke too much,” she said as she rubbed out his cigarette.
“That was only my fifth of the day,” he protested halfheartedly.
Lauren gave him her look over her shoulder, which he imagined every man got at some point. The “don’t mess with me today, I’m not in the mood for your shit” look.
Rich smiled at her over the rim of his coffee cup, gesturing vaguely with a hand, “Three years, Lauren. You should know me better. Old dogs and learning…or something about new tricks, I don’t know.” He twirled a cigarette around between his fingers, and then lit it when she was looking out across the water. He grinned at her when her gaze settled on him.
“Want a drink?” he asked.
“Sure, I’ll get ‘em,” came the reply as she headed down the staircase in the pilot house.
Time seemed to speed up the minute she got back with the drinks. Their conversations always wandered aimlessly and they soon found themselves discussing the quality of the local fish boil. A moment later, it was the president's falling approval rating. Rich smiled almost constantly, sometimes at the weird direction of their conversation, other times at his fascination with Lauren.
After the rum and sodas were drained, several cigarettes smoked, and all the Wheat Thins long gone, Lauren left for dinner with Karen, an old friend from college. Lighting a cigarette and fixing another rum and soda, Rich debated if he wanted to go out and deal with people, or watch TV and fall asleep early. He chose the latter.
“Come on Bailey, let’s go relax. Did you greet a lot of people at the coffee shop today, bud?” he asked the Labrador like he was speaking to an old friend.
Check back in a few days for another page, updates on the Writer's Digest Competition, and even more!
Cheers everybody
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