Unconventional Series Collection (35 page)

I have certainly enjoyed the seven months it
took to write the
Unconventional Series,
and I made sure to introduce
enough characters to keep the series going if I should return to it in the
future.

For the time being, I'll continue working on my
ongoing endeavor; a sci-fi fantasy entitled
The Ordinaries.
I have no
release date because, unlike other stories that flow, this one comes in
spurts—haven't the faintest idea why.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this series and I
always love hearing from readers. You can email me at [email protected]
or visit my website at www.VernaClay.com.

On the next page, I have included an excerpt
from the first book in my contemporary western romance series,
Romance on
the Ranch,
with the order of the books being:
Dream Kisses, Honey
Kisses,
and
Baby Kisses.

Dream
Kisses (Romance on the Ranch Series)

Chapter
One:  Male Model

Mims Murphy followed Sissy Johansen, chief
editor and co-owner of Imaginings Publishing, through an ornate door and into a
large photo studio on the fiftieth floor of a high-rise in New York. Sissy had
insisted that Mims meet the cover models for her upcoming book,
Dream
Kisses.
After writing five novels with Imaginings with moderate returns, she
had finally scored big on her sixth, a chick-lit romance. Because of that
success, Sissy had contracted with her for three books in a "Kisses Series":
 
Dream Kisses, Honey Kisses,
and
Baby Kisses.
Based on readers'
exuberance, the books were expected to be hits.

The shoot had already begun when they slipped
into the studio. Sissy motioned her to a spot near a side wall. Mims leaned
against the wall, her eyes riveted on the models. Lights flashed and the
photographer, a short skinny man with a balding pate, called instructions.
"Move in, Sage. Yeah, give her that sexy, hot
hot
HOT look. Make
her sizzle. Chastity, let him know who's in charge."

Sissy smothered a giggle and whispered,
"Can you believe her name is Chastity?"

Mims bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing
out loud.

"Okay, models, let's try a kiss. The title
of the book is
Dream Kisses,
so how about some dream kisses. Make my
toes curl."

With a rather bored expression, the male model
glanced in Mims direction. Her heart tripped when their eyes met, something
that only happened to characters in her books.

Sissy whispered, "He's absolutely the most
gorgeous man I've ever seen, and I've seen my share. If I were twenty years
younger, I'd throw myself at him unabashedly." She sighed.

"Sissy, you're kidding, right? You're
married," Mims shot back.

"I think I'm kidding; not really
sure."

Mims shook her head and looked back at the
models now sharing a passionate embrace and kiss. The female had hit the
genetics jackpot: curvaceous body, flowing blonde hair, sexy sky blue eyes, and
full pouty mouth. Of course, maybe it wasn't genetics; maybe it was implants,
hair salon, contacts, and Botox.
Whatever, she's still gorgeous.

A fan billowed the female's lavender silk drape
gently around her luscious body and lifted her golden hair off her shoulders.
The male model bent her slightly backwards, all evidence of his boredom gone
when he laid a whopper on her. His hair, the color of rich mahogany laced with
sunlight, also moved in the breeze of the fan. His linen shirt, falling off his
shoulder and open to the waist, revealed tanned skin and washboard abs.

Sissy said, "My God, I think I can scrub
clothes on his abs."

Mims choked and shook her head at Sissy's
forthrightness.

For the next hour they watched the photographer
command the models, and the models perform magic. The experience transported
Mims into the pages of her book. It was as if the characters had found life—a
special world of romance, adventure, and a happily ever after that she wanted
to step into.

"Okay, boys and girls, I think we can call
it a wrap," said the height-challenged photographer.

The male model stretched and the female model
ran her hands through her hair. For obvious reasons, Mims had expected the
models to gravitate toward each other, but with the shoot finished, they appeared
oblivious to one another. Then, to Mims astonishment, the female rushed to the
photographer and bent to kiss him on the lips. He responded and whispered in
her ear. She blushed and giggled, pushing at his chest. "Hon, gotta run
and pick up the kids. I'm making lasagna for dinner."

Mims mouth fell open. Sissy saw the look and
chuckled. "Oh, yeah, you've never met Chastity and Chuckie Chambers.
They're the best in their fields and been married since their teens. Got two
kids, but always act like they're on their honeymoon. It's a shock when people
find out they're married. We never give it a second thought around here 'cause
we see them so much. Come on, I'll introduce you to everyone. Now, the male
model, Sage Tanner, he's new, so I don't know much about him; only that he's in
demand." Sissy elbowed Mims, "Wonder why?" She grabbed Mims' arm
and pulled her forward.

"Hey Chastity and Chuckie, I'd like you to
meet the author of the book for the cover you were just shooting." The
Chambers greeted her with warm handshakes.

"OMG, I just love your books
.
When
Chuckie told me I was going to be the model for your next one, I got so excited
I couldn't stop talking about it. It's such a pleasure meeting you!"

"Chastity, I should be thanking you for
creating such a beautiful cover," Mims said warmly.

Sissy turned to Sage who'd slipped off his linen
shirt to reveal the body of a god. He reached for an old T-shirt and when his
head popped through the neck, she said, "Sage, Imaginings is extremely
pleased you're doing this book cover. When our artistic designer saw your
portfolio, she refused to look further. The shoot was awesome."

"Thank you, ma'am," he politely
replied with a slight drawl. He glanced toward Mims and her heart thumped
again.
You write about this stuff, girl, you don't live it.

Sissy introduced them. "Sage Tanner, I'd
like you to meet Mims Murphy, our best selling author."

"I'm pleased to meet you, Ms. Murphy."

"Likewise, Mr. Tanner. But please, call me
Mims."

"Okay, only if you call me Sage."

Mims felt utterly tongue-tied. A woman could
drown in the man's Caribbean blue eyes and never want to be saved.

She found her voice. "Thank you for the
lovely photo shoot. The cover of a book is so important."
Lovely photo
shoot? What a lame thing to say. How about unbelievably incredible, undeniably
sensuous, mesmerizing, and sexy photo shoot?

"I'm glad you liked it."

For a second, there was an uncomfortable
silence. Sissy said, "Why don't we all walk across the street for a java
fix. I understand there's another shoot tomorrow for publicity photos that are
going on our website. We can all throw out ideas."

Chuckie said, "I could use a break, sounds
great, Sissy."

Chastity declined, "Sorry, I've got to pick
my kids up from school."

Sage agreed, "Sure, that sounds nice,"
but he didn't sound very enthused.

Sissy grabbed Mims arm. "I'll let the
powers-that-be, namely, my husband, know where we're going. Mims and I will
meet you in the lobby in five minutes. She pulled Mims from the room.

"Sissy, I really need to go."

"And do what? Hack away on your computer?
Give it a break, girl. I just got the most gorgeous man on the planet to join
us for coffee. If you say you're not interested, I'm calling the paramedics.
Better yet, I'll call the white-coats to have you committed."

"Sissy, what are you talking about? I'm not
even in that guy's league. Besides, I'm older than him."

"Not more than five or six years. Cougars
are out there dating men decades—yes, that's plural—younger than
themselves."

"Sissy, guys like that
do not
go for
gals like me. It only happens in books."

"Mims, I saw the guy give you
that
look."

"No way, Sissy."

"If you try to get out of this coffee
break, I'll…I'll…refuse to publish your next book."

Novels and Novellas by Verna Clay:

Western Romance

Contemporary:

Romance on the Ranch Series

Dream Kisses

Honey Kisses

Baby Kisses

Historic:

Unconventional Series

Abby: Mail Order Bride

Broken Angel

Ryder's Salvation

Fantasy Romance

Shapeling Trilogy

Roth:  Book One: Protector

Fawn:  Book Two: Master

Davide: Book Three: Prince

11:11: Countdown to 2012

The Theory of Everything

Far Into Yesterday (Novella)

Jazmine (Novella)

 
Sci-Fi Fantasy Romance

The Ordinaries (coming someday!)