Next up at the Inn: Samantha Gentry's Rekindling an Old Flame
Thank you, Jean, for allowing me to share my latest release on your blog.
Hello, everyone. I'm Samantha Gentry. Rekindling An Old Flame is my contribution to The Wild Rose Press' Deerbourne Inn series. My book is an adult romance, a story of lost love and reunion—two people who haven't seen each other for fourteen years. Can the mistakes of the past be repaired or is it too late?
The Deerbourne Inn is a charming bed and breakfast in Willow Springs, Vermont—a small town of approximately three thousand population. Rekindling An Old Flame is set during the first weekend in October, at the time of the annual Fall Foliage Celebration which is an arts and crafts festival in honor of the trees changing to the brilliant reds, oranges, and golds of autumn.
Time for an excerpt…
The female voice reached Cameron Amory's ears. He quickly shifted his gaze from the book in his hand to the woman engaged in conversation with the shop owner. A tiny ripple of excitement rapidly grew until it totally engulfed his senses. Could it possibly be?
It had been a long time since he last heard her voice, one he had never forgotten, a woman very special to him, someone he had dated for over a year when they were in college—several years ago. Someone who had consistently entered his thoughts over the ensuing years. The woman had her back to him. He listened to her conversation as he moved to a spot where he could see her face.
Crandall Barrett grabbed a pen and began filling out an order form. "Shipping will be no problem at all."
Skylar offered a grateful smile. "That's terrific. The two pieces I'm considering are that Hoosier cabinet—" She gestured toward the items in the corner. "—and the oak bonnet dresser with attached mirror. Is the mirror original or has it been resilvered?"
"It's original, in perfect condition."
As soon as Cameron came around the end of the aisle in the book section of the store, his gaze landed on her face. Skylar McGuire. His breath caught in his throat at the mere sight of her. Thousands of memories bombarded his consciousness, quickly resurrecting all the passion they once shared. The joy from years gone by suffused him with renewed desire.
It had been several years since he last saw her, fourteen years ago to be exact. He was two years ahead of her in college and had just graduated. He had planned to spend a year traveling around the country while working on his first novel, a decision he had shared with Skylar a few weeks before graduation.
Even though she hadn't said anything and had wished him good luck and a safe trip when he left, he had never forgotten the look of disappointment and hurt on her face. A look that had returned to haunt him many times. And every time he questioned whether he had made that decision because of his burning desire to be a writer or if it was his cowardly response to the idea of making a permanent commitment to her.
He closed his eyes as visions from their college days played across the screen of his mind. Seeing her now…she was even more beautiful than the image he had carried in his mind all these years. He had often thought about her, wondered where she was, what her life was like. What course had her life taken? Was she happy? What incredible quirk of fate had brought her to Willow Springs—and possibly back into his life? He returned his attention to her conversation with Crandall Barrett.
"I can put the two items on hold for a couple of days. If you decide to add them to your order, I can ship everything next week." Crandall poised his pen above the order form. "Your name?"
"Skylar Rogers." She handed him one of her business cards. "Here's the shipping information. I can always be reached at this phone number. It's my cell phone."
Cameron's momentary exhilaration crashed around him. Rogers? Not McGuire? She's married? Why is she here? Is she with her husband?
He shoved aside his instant regret over what might have been and headed toward her. "Sky? Skylar McGuire? Is that really you?"
Skylar turned at the sound of her name and found herself staring into the familiar turquoise blue eyes of Cameron Amory, the love of her life from her college days. Stunned silence filled the distance between them. For a moment, she felt as if all the oxygen had been sucked from the room. She finally managed to force out one whispered word. "Cam?"