Ticket To Love
Genre: Sensual Contemporary
Length: Novella
Heat Level: 3
Price: 3.99 or free with Kindle Unlimited
When Evelyn Parker turns thirty-five, she isn’t happy, life seems to be ticking past her…
By now, she wanted to be married, and have kids, the same life all of her friends have. Then she receives a birthday gift that changes her whole life—a winning lottery ticket.
Brad Turner has lived next door to Evelyn for years…
His life’s been boring since his divorce—just the way he likes it.
He’s a personal trainer who likes to keep to himself, and not one for mingling with his neighbors, until one evening when Eve bangs on his door.
Suddenly the quiet girl next door grabs his attention. Who is this mysterious woman with no job that spends money without a second thought?
Before long, Eve and Brad find themselves tangled up in each other’s life and Eve’s pesky neighbor seems to think he gets to have a say on how she’s living hers. One moment they are fighting and the next they’re kissing.
With Brad’s obsession about money and Evelyn’s hiding her millions from him, soon they will find out money really can’t buy happiness…
Length: Novella
Heat Level: 3
Price: 3.99 or free with Kindle Unlimited
When Evelyn Parker turns thirty-five, she isn’t happy, life seems to be ticking past her…
By now, she wanted to be married, and have kids, the same life all of her friends have. Then she receives a birthday gift that changes her whole life—a winning lottery ticket.
Brad Turner has lived next door to Evelyn for years…
His life’s been boring since his divorce—just the way he likes it.
He’s a personal trainer who likes to keep to himself, and not one for mingling with his neighbors, until one evening when Eve bangs on his door.
Suddenly the quiet girl next door grabs his attention. Who is this mysterious woman with no job that spends money without a second thought?
Before long, Eve and Brad find themselves tangled up in each other’s life and Eve’s pesky neighbor seems to think he gets to have a say on how she’s living hers. One moment they are fighting and the next they’re kissing.
With Brad’s obsession about money and Evelyn’s hiding her millions from him, soon they will find out money really can’t buy happiness…
Buy Links
Chapter One
“Happy birthday!” her two best friends cheered from around the table.
Evelyn smiled as her cheeks burned. Patrons of the restaurant stared in her direction while a small piece of cake sat in front of her with a single candle lit, waiting on her wish.
“Make a wish,” Carrie said before sipping from her drink.
Eve took a deep breath. What to wish for? Love? Ha, she’d been wishing every year for Mr. Right and was nowhere close to finding him. The happiness her friends had with their husbands left her green with envy. And the fact they all either had one kid now or were expecting. She kind of needed that man first to get the kids, but she still wanted what her friends had. This year, she’d wish for something different.
She stared at the small chocolate cake. I wish for more money than I can count. Eve blew out the candle.
Her friends clapped.
“What did you wish for?” Sara asked as she stabbed her fork into Eve’s cake, stealing a bite.
“If I tell, it won’t come true.” Not that it would anyway.
Eve stared at the dessert. It looked good, but she was stuffed from dinner. She’d box it up after her friend picked at it then eat the cake later as she sat alone in her house. Hell, I have a freaking mortgage payment, but no husband and kid.
“Time to open presents!” Carrie was out of her chair and walking toward Eve with a gold glittery bag.
“You guys didn’t have to get me anything.” Eve couldn’t believe they’d gone to so much length to make her thirty-fifth birthday so special. She pulled the tissue back and peered into the bag. The shirt she’d been eyeing the other day was tucked inside. She glanced up at Carrie. “Thank you so much.”
Sara handed her a package across the table. “Sorry, I’ve got to pee and don’t want to waddle over just yet.”
Carrie chuckled. Sara was seven months pregnant and was at that point where she was uncomfortable. Eve pulled the wrapping away to reveal a book from one of her favorite authors.
“Open it.” Sara urged with giddiness.
Eve did. The book was autographed to her. “Oh my gosh. How did you get this?”
Sara smiled. “She was at Barnes & Noble last month, near Randy’s mom’s house.”
If there was one thing Eve had, it was the best of friends. They were always there for her, no matter what. “You two, thank you so much.”
“We love you and wanted to make today special.” Carrie, her OCD kicking in, cleaned up the area she’d been eating at. “What else have you gotten?”
Birthdays had never been a big thing for Eve. She tried to pretend it was just another day, but that was hard, because in truth, they weren’t just another day. But with no family, it was usually a day she found herself depressed. “I’ve got one at home from my Grandma she gave me today when I visited her at the nursing home.”
“I bet it’s a cool scarf,” Sara said.
“Just because she’s old, doesn’t mean she knits.” Though, her grandma did knit, but the size of the small package didn’t exactly say blanket or scarf.
“I’m gonna use the restroom and get home.” Sara stood, rubbing her big belly.
“Thanks for coming and the gifts.” Eve went over and hugged her friend. “Take a nap when you get home.”
“Oh, I will.” Sara headed in the direction of the bathrooms.
“I rode with her.” Carrie embraced Eve. “Call me later.”
“All right. I’m gonna track down the server to get a box for this cake. See ya soon.” Eve turned and saw the waitress who’d helped them. When she raised her hand, the girl came over. “I need a to-go box.”
“Sure thing. And happy birthday! I hope the rest of your day is special and with loved ones.”
Eve grinned. If only that were true.
~ * ~
“What the…” Eve parked the car in her driveway, flung the door open, and stared at the mess in her driveway. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Her garbage can lay on its side and the two trash bags that had been inside were torn open and trash was everywhere. Movement caught her attention.
“Bo.” She glared at the Labrador lying beside her house, licking his paws after obviously having a delicious dinner from her garbage.
She’d had enough. This wasn’t the first time Bo had been in her trash. In fact, this was happening more and more. Her lazy-ass neighbor Brad simply let the dog out to roam. She was sick and tired of cleaning up Bo’s messes. In fact, she wasn’t going to be doing it this time. Eve marched over to Brad’s, loudly climbed the steps, and then banged on the front door.
The door swung open and Brad appeared, groggy-eyed, his dark hair a mess, and his clothes wrinkled. “Damn. What?”
He obviously didn’t like being woken up from his nap, but she didn’t care. “Your dog was in my trash again.”
“How do you know it was my dog?” he argued.
Eve clenched her fists. “He’s in my yard now, licking his paws next to the leftovers.”
Brad brushed past her and whistled. “Come on, Bo.”
The yellow lab ran up the steps, tail wagging, and into the house. Brad followed the dog.
“Um, excuse me.” She placed her hands on her hips. “You need to clean that up.”
“Now?” He raked a hand through his dark hair. “I just woke up.”
“I don’t care. It’s irresponsible to let your dog out and take a nap. There are leash laws. If I didn’t like the dog, I’d report you.”
Brad groaned. “What’s the matter with you? You’re usually the sweet, quiet neighbor.”
She was sick of being taken advantage of. “Today’s my birthday.”
“Ah, that explains it.” A smart-ass smirk crossed his face.
“Explains what?”
“You’re obviously one of those people who think the world must stop for you today. We all must cater to your needs.” He bowed slightly, ticking her off even more.
“No, I’m not one of those people.” Or at least I don’t think I am. “I don’t think it’s so much for me to ask you to clean up after your dog. You know what? The next time Bo gets into my trash, I’m calling animal control. I’m done.” She turned to go down the steps.
Brad laughed, and she wasn’t sure what was so funny, but she’d show him something funny. She stopped by his trash can and glanced over her shoulder. Then she pushed it over.
“Evelyn!” he yelled.
Lifting her hand in the air, she flipped him off and walked home.
Inside, she plopped down on her couch before remembering she’d left her cake in the car. Damn it! She could really eat that now. The sound of cussing came from her front yard, and she assumed that was Brad cleaning up his dog’s mess. The cake could definitely wait. She didn’t want to have another run in with him right now.
So instead, she grabbed the package her grandmother gave her. About the size of a necklace box, Eve couldn’t imagine what her grandmother would’ve given her that was so small. She’d already passed on all the family jewelry.
Eve peeled off the shiny green paper to reveal a white box. Opening it, she noticed two sheets of paper inside. One was a lottery ticket. She laughed, not believing it. She then thought back to her wish at lunch. As if. There was no way she held the winning lottery ticket. The drawing was currently at three hundred and fifty million dollars. Whoever won tonight was set for life.
Evelyn unfolded the note and read it.
My dear Eve,
Today I decided to play the lottery, and well, at my age, I don’t need a fortune. But you my dear, my only grandchild, you still have a whole life ahead of you. I feel good about these numbers. They represent numbers special to your grandfather and me. I just know they are the winning numbers. Happy birthday and spend this money wisely.
Love,
Grams
Eve stared at the note. Oh God, Grams is going insane. There was no other way to explain it. Instead of getting a lovely scarf, or even a gift card, Grams thought she’d just given her three hundred and fifty million dollars.
Eve set the note down. What were the chances she was the winner? Point eight-eight-eight, or something like that. And what was she supposed to do when she didn’t win? Lie to her grandmother?
“I need that cake.”
When she went out the front door, Bo greeted her. Brad was putting the lid on her garbage can. She’d forgotten about the mess.
She smirked. “All done?”
“Yeah. Happy?” He was irritated, but she didn’t care. “Happy birthday. Come on, Bo.”
Brad walked toward his home without a glance back. It wasn’t as though they disliked one another as neighbors, but they weren’t the best of pals either. They usually only spoke to one another a few times a year.
Not giving it another thought, she grabbed her cake from the passenger seat and went back inside to spend the rest of her birthday lounging out and stuffing her face. She had a whole carton of rocky road with her name on it too.
~ * ~
Eve woke the next morning with her stomach rumbling, and not because she was hungry. Putting a hand over her mouth, she ran toward the bathroom and made it just in time as the junk food she’d consumed during her movie fest fought its way back out.
Thirty-five was going to be no better than thirty-four.
In the kitchen, she filled a glass of water and then went into the living room. Picking up the remote, she turned the TV on and sipped her water. After flipping through the channels, she stopped on the news to see if any events might be happening locally.
“The winner of last night’s lottery ticket still has not come forward. Who wouldn’t want three hundred and fifty thousand dollars?” The news anchor said. “Let’s flash the numbers up once more.”
To humor herself, Eve picked up her ticket.
The screen showed: 4, 5, 12, 18, 22, 36
She looked at her ticket: 4, 5, 12, 18, 22, 36
“Oh. My. God.”
Evelyn smiled as her cheeks burned. Patrons of the restaurant stared in her direction while a small piece of cake sat in front of her with a single candle lit, waiting on her wish.
“Make a wish,” Carrie said before sipping from her drink.
Eve took a deep breath. What to wish for? Love? Ha, she’d been wishing every year for Mr. Right and was nowhere close to finding him. The happiness her friends had with their husbands left her green with envy. And the fact they all either had one kid now or were expecting. She kind of needed that man first to get the kids, but she still wanted what her friends had. This year, she’d wish for something different.
She stared at the small chocolate cake. I wish for more money than I can count. Eve blew out the candle.
Her friends clapped.
“What did you wish for?” Sara asked as she stabbed her fork into Eve’s cake, stealing a bite.
“If I tell, it won’t come true.” Not that it would anyway.
Eve stared at the dessert. It looked good, but she was stuffed from dinner. She’d box it up after her friend picked at it then eat the cake later as she sat alone in her house. Hell, I have a freaking mortgage payment, but no husband and kid.
“Time to open presents!” Carrie was out of her chair and walking toward Eve with a gold glittery bag.
“You guys didn’t have to get me anything.” Eve couldn’t believe they’d gone to so much length to make her thirty-fifth birthday so special. She pulled the tissue back and peered into the bag. The shirt she’d been eyeing the other day was tucked inside. She glanced up at Carrie. “Thank you so much.”
Sara handed her a package across the table. “Sorry, I’ve got to pee and don’t want to waddle over just yet.”
Carrie chuckled. Sara was seven months pregnant and was at that point where she was uncomfortable. Eve pulled the wrapping away to reveal a book from one of her favorite authors.
“Open it.” Sara urged with giddiness.
Eve did. The book was autographed to her. “Oh my gosh. How did you get this?”
Sara smiled. “She was at Barnes & Noble last month, near Randy’s mom’s house.”
If there was one thing Eve had, it was the best of friends. They were always there for her, no matter what. “You two, thank you so much.”
“We love you and wanted to make today special.” Carrie, her OCD kicking in, cleaned up the area she’d been eating at. “What else have you gotten?”
Birthdays had never been a big thing for Eve. She tried to pretend it was just another day, but that was hard, because in truth, they weren’t just another day. But with no family, it was usually a day she found herself depressed. “I’ve got one at home from my Grandma she gave me today when I visited her at the nursing home.”
“I bet it’s a cool scarf,” Sara said.
“Just because she’s old, doesn’t mean she knits.” Though, her grandma did knit, but the size of the small package didn’t exactly say blanket or scarf.
“I’m gonna use the restroom and get home.” Sara stood, rubbing her big belly.
“Thanks for coming and the gifts.” Eve went over and hugged her friend. “Take a nap when you get home.”
“Oh, I will.” Sara headed in the direction of the bathrooms.
“I rode with her.” Carrie embraced Eve. “Call me later.”
“All right. I’m gonna track down the server to get a box for this cake. See ya soon.” Eve turned and saw the waitress who’d helped them. When she raised her hand, the girl came over. “I need a to-go box.”
“Sure thing. And happy birthday! I hope the rest of your day is special and with loved ones.”
Eve grinned. If only that were true.
~ * ~
“What the…” Eve parked the car in her driveway, flung the door open, and stared at the mess in her driveway. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Her garbage can lay on its side and the two trash bags that had been inside were torn open and trash was everywhere. Movement caught her attention.
“Bo.” She glared at the Labrador lying beside her house, licking his paws after obviously having a delicious dinner from her garbage.
She’d had enough. This wasn’t the first time Bo had been in her trash. In fact, this was happening more and more. Her lazy-ass neighbor Brad simply let the dog out to roam. She was sick and tired of cleaning up Bo’s messes. In fact, she wasn’t going to be doing it this time. Eve marched over to Brad’s, loudly climbed the steps, and then banged on the front door.
The door swung open and Brad appeared, groggy-eyed, his dark hair a mess, and his clothes wrinkled. “Damn. What?”
He obviously didn’t like being woken up from his nap, but she didn’t care. “Your dog was in my trash again.”
“How do you know it was my dog?” he argued.
Eve clenched her fists. “He’s in my yard now, licking his paws next to the leftovers.”
Brad brushed past her and whistled. “Come on, Bo.”
The yellow lab ran up the steps, tail wagging, and into the house. Brad followed the dog.
“Um, excuse me.” She placed her hands on her hips. “You need to clean that up.”
“Now?” He raked a hand through his dark hair. “I just woke up.”
“I don’t care. It’s irresponsible to let your dog out and take a nap. There are leash laws. If I didn’t like the dog, I’d report you.”
Brad groaned. “What’s the matter with you? You’re usually the sweet, quiet neighbor.”
She was sick of being taken advantage of. “Today’s my birthday.”
“Ah, that explains it.” A smart-ass smirk crossed his face.
“Explains what?”
“You’re obviously one of those people who think the world must stop for you today. We all must cater to your needs.” He bowed slightly, ticking her off even more.
“No, I’m not one of those people.” Or at least I don’t think I am. “I don’t think it’s so much for me to ask you to clean up after your dog. You know what? The next time Bo gets into my trash, I’m calling animal control. I’m done.” She turned to go down the steps.
Brad laughed, and she wasn’t sure what was so funny, but she’d show him something funny. She stopped by his trash can and glanced over her shoulder. Then she pushed it over.
“Evelyn!” he yelled.
Lifting her hand in the air, she flipped him off and walked home.
Inside, she plopped down on her couch before remembering she’d left her cake in the car. Damn it! She could really eat that now. The sound of cussing came from her front yard, and she assumed that was Brad cleaning up his dog’s mess. The cake could definitely wait. She didn’t want to have another run in with him right now.
So instead, she grabbed the package her grandmother gave her. About the size of a necklace box, Eve couldn’t imagine what her grandmother would’ve given her that was so small. She’d already passed on all the family jewelry.
Eve peeled off the shiny green paper to reveal a white box. Opening it, she noticed two sheets of paper inside. One was a lottery ticket. She laughed, not believing it. She then thought back to her wish at lunch. As if. There was no way she held the winning lottery ticket. The drawing was currently at three hundred and fifty million dollars. Whoever won tonight was set for life.
Evelyn unfolded the note and read it.
My dear Eve,
Today I decided to play the lottery, and well, at my age, I don’t need a fortune. But you my dear, my only grandchild, you still have a whole life ahead of you. I feel good about these numbers. They represent numbers special to your grandfather and me. I just know they are the winning numbers. Happy birthday and spend this money wisely.
Love,
Grams
Eve stared at the note. Oh God, Grams is going insane. There was no other way to explain it. Instead of getting a lovely scarf, or even a gift card, Grams thought she’d just given her three hundred and fifty million dollars.
Eve set the note down. What were the chances she was the winner? Point eight-eight-eight, or something like that. And what was she supposed to do when she didn’t win? Lie to her grandmother?
“I need that cake.”
When she went out the front door, Bo greeted her. Brad was putting the lid on her garbage can. She’d forgotten about the mess.
She smirked. “All done?”
“Yeah. Happy?” He was irritated, but she didn’t care. “Happy birthday. Come on, Bo.”
Brad walked toward his home without a glance back. It wasn’t as though they disliked one another as neighbors, but they weren’t the best of pals either. They usually only spoke to one another a few times a year.
Not giving it another thought, she grabbed her cake from the passenger seat and went back inside to spend the rest of her birthday lounging out and stuffing her face. She had a whole carton of rocky road with her name on it too.
~ * ~
Eve woke the next morning with her stomach rumbling, and not because she was hungry. Putting a hand over her mouth, she ran toward the bathroom and made it just in time as the junk food she’d consumed during her movie fest fought its way back out.
Thirty-five was going to be no better than thirty-four.
In the kitchen, she filled a glass of water and then went into the living room. Picking up the remote, she turned the TV on and sipped her water. After flipping through the channels, she stopped on the news to see if any events might be happening locally.
“The winner of last night’s lottery ticket still has not come forward. Who wouldn’t want three hundred and fifty thousand dollars?” The news anchor said. “Let’s flash the numbers up once more.”
To humor herself, Eve picked up her ticket.
The screen showed: 4, 5, 12, 18, 22, 36
She looked at her ticket: 4, 5, 12, 18, 22, 36
“Oh. My. God.”