Deserving Love: A Contemporary Romance Series (Nick & Lexi Book 1)
NICK & LEXI:
BOOK 1
Deserving Love
By Kay Brody
This is entirely a work of fiction. All people, places and events contained have been completely fabricated by the author. Any similarities to real people, places, or events are completely coincidental.
Deserving Love Copyright © 2015 Kay Brody
All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any manner or used in any way without advanced written permission by the author.
A Special Offer!
Once you’ve finished the story, be sure to continue on for a special offer from me, Kay Brody!
I promise it will be worth your while (
if you like what I write, of course
)!!
And it will only be the beginning of what I’d like to offer you!
Dedication
This is for those guys who make you so mad you just want to kiss them…
Chapter 1
I heard the small chirp of my phone and smiled as I began to unlock the door to the shop. I knew what that sound meant. He had replied to my message. I tried not to notice how badly I wanted to stop what I was doing and rush over to read what he’d said.
“Responsibility first, Lexi,” I told myself as I turned the key and switched on the light.
It wasn’t lost on me that I should really be slapped for feeling a little giddy at the conversation. I didn’t even fully know who
he
was. It only reminded me of the conversation I’d had with my best friend Kendall the day before and how ridiculous I’d sounded.
“So you’ve befriended a guy on Facebook?”
she’d asked, but I knew that wasn’t the end of her questioning. “He doesn’t have a photo and you aren’t even totally sure of his real name. Yet you anxiously await hearing from him?”
“Well, to be fair he doesn’t have my real name either,”
I argued. “And I don’t have a photo of me on my page.”
“True,”
she had stood up and walked behind the counter to grab a slice of my fudge from the display case for her. “But, ‘Lexi’ is your nickname. It’s not that far removed from Alexis.”
“Only if I told him,”
I joined her, deciding that a slice of fudge actually sounded good. “Besides, it’s not serious.”
“How did you meet Mr……uh, what was it again?”
I saw her face scrunch up and she bobbed her head to the side in question. “Santa Claus?”
“No,”
my eye roll hopefully showcasing how silly her question had been. “His name on the site is Saint Nicholas.”
“Right, that’s much better,”
Kendall teased. “So is Nicholas his name?”
“I don’t know,”
I admitted, sitting back down at one of the two-seater tables I kept in the shop for guests.
“What do you call him when you talk?”
she asked.
“Nick,”
I answered.
“And he responds to it?”
“Yes,”
I took a bite of the Butterfinger-flavored slice I had chosen.
“So how did you meet Nick?”
she questioned.
“I got a friend request from him,”
I admitted. “I didn’t recognize him, so I checked it out. We have three friends in common. All of them are upstanding people that only use the site for basic social networking. So I assumed that he was safe to add.”
“I had to wait three damn weeks for you to add me,”
Kendall pouted and took a bite of her own fudge. “Mmmm, delicious.”
“I don’t use it very often,”
I countered, but
she knew that already. She was trying to make me feel guilty. “What kind did you get?”
“S’mores,”
she answered. “So you accepted his request and the two of you started talking? Just like that?”
“No,”
I told her. “I commented on a photo he had taken of city hall. It was a gorgeous photo. He’d messaged me to thank me, and we began to chat. It kind of went from there.”
“I see,”
she commented. “Thanks for liking my photo and by the way what is your favorite show?”
she mocked.
Remembering the conversation reminded me of how silly I was. Nick and I had never laid eyes on each other. I wasn’t even sure his name was Nick. We had simply started chatting. Over time we’d discovered a lot of common interests, one of which being our most favorite show, a dramatic love story that kept viewers completely hooked
from week to week.
Soon the chatting had turned to flirting and now we were kind of stuck in that routine. Maybe it wasn’t typical, but I didn’t really mind. Dating wasn’t something I was fond of and this allowed me to have some sort of companionship in my life. I knew that throughout the day Nick and I would chat and flirt and keep each other company.
Shrugging off the weird vibe I was getting from thinking about the situation, I walked over and picked up the phone to see what he’d said.
You know you are going to cry. Just admit it. You can trust me with your feelings.
I couldn’t help but smile. He was referring to the female lead in our favorite show and the rumors that she was not going to return next season. Nick had learned over our conversations that I was as attached to the couple as I was to the show. Naturally, if the female left it’d kill the entire show for me. I turned the phone sideways, preparing my reply.
I won’t deny the possibility. I’m not sure I’ll be able to watch again. It’ll be like I lost the love of my life.
He would understand. We’d had many conversations about the bond between the leads in their television relationship. He knew that I wanted nothing more than to find that connection with another person.
You mean I’m not the love of your life? I’m hurt. This may be more than I can take.
The message made me smile. He had a way with words that always came across humorous, flirty, and somehow complimentary. I liked it.
You’ve made some giant strides. But it will take a lot to compete with Zack and Misty. I’ve been involved with them for about six years now.
I spoke of the stars by their character names, as if they were real people. Nick was about the only person that I could do that with.
I’m willing to work harder. Besides, when Misty leaves my chances will go up.
Something about the little messages made me smile. I looked forward to this part of my day.
If I knew where you were, I might risk meeting you just to slap you for that statement.
I was teasing and I had no doubt that he knew it. Not only was I not a violent-natured person, we’d both discussed the fact that we preferred the anonymity of what we shared.
You’d have to catch me. I’m taking a walk at the moment.
I imagined him strolling through the city streets and photographing buildings he found intriguing. One thing I knew about Nick was that he had a love of architecture and often shared photos he’d taken from around the city, and around the world, on Facebook.
Taking some good photos?
I was looking forward to seeing what he’d found on his walk today.
Not really. Just a walk today. But I need to go, Lexi. I have some business to take care of. Chat tonight during the show?
As bummed as I was that he wasn’t going to be talking, I knew that I’d hear from him later. Both of us stayed pretty busy. He never really told me his business, but I knew that he really enjoyed what he did. The only thing he told me was that sometimes he ended up having to deal with difficult people who made his job harder. He feared he was on a project that would bring a similar situation. That much I could understand completely.
Of course. Talk to you soon Nick.
After that he sent me a kissing smiley that brought a smile to my face, and I sat my phone on the counter behind me. Owning a candy shop in Biltmore Village was a unique experience. Sometimes it would be packed with tourists that had just visited the Biltmore Estate. Other times, I would have a random straggling local come in and buy something. With the exception of those brief minutes as school let out, I never really knew how much business I’d have.
But, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I loved what I did every day and somehow it managed to keep the bills paid. Working in the small tourist area of the city was a choice. I’d been in the mountains of North Carolina my entire life—I was born and raised in Asheville. When I’d decided to open my candy shop after college, I’d chosen Biltmore Village. I liked the quaint and historic feel of the place and I loved interacting with a blend of tourists and locals.
So many people grew up and left Asheville. Kendall was about the only friend I had left from school. I never could understand it. To me the area was amazing and beautiful and I wouldn’t dream of being anywhere else.
That was one of the reasons I’d joined the Preservation Society. I wanted to make sure that no one came in and took away the beauty of the place I called home. Being on the Society meant that I could help fight against developers and others that wanted to change things and alter the way it should be.
Hearing the bell on the shop door I looked up and was reminded of many of my reasons for joining them.
“Good morning, Miss Haraway,” he spoke as if we were on friendly terms.
His name was Evan Monroe and I hated him. That was saying a lot because I didn’t like to hate anyone. But from the moment he’d made an appearance in my life, he’d been nothing but a problem.
Evan wasn’t from Asheville, or the South for that matter. He was one of those from up north that thought he could waltz into our pretty little area and make it look like his home. I was on a mission to make sure that didn’t happen.
“It was,” I rolled my eyes and tried to ignore the anger I felt at just seeing him.
Evan was a nice looking man. If he weren’t fighting to ruin what I loved most, I would probably have been attracted to him. But he seemed to think that his dark hair, darker complexion and piercing blue eyes were enough to get him anything he wanted. That included the permission to build a retail center in my precious Biltmore Village. I was trying like hell to stop him.
“Life would be much simpler if you would quit viewing me as the bad guy,” he smiled as if he were trying to impress me.
“Aren’t you the one in charge of the development?” I asked, looking up and letting him know that his looks did not impress me.
“Yes,” he answered. “But this could be beneficial for everyone.”
“Tearing up my little village with big name box stores and chains is not beneficial for anyone,” I started to raise my voice. “Look around. This place is filled with history. The shops are small, quaint mom and pop affairs. There is no reason to bring that nonsense in here. It.ll ruin the landscape and it ll ruin the village!e
“I admire your passion,” he admitted. “But you fail to see that it would be a good thing. It’d bring more business into the area. Shops like yours would have more customers. There would be jobs. And the income it could bring to the village would be helpful in maintaining it.”