I’m back from the RT Booklovers Convention, and it was a lot of fun!  I got the privilege to meet some awesome authors and ladies who love reading romances.  Over the next week or two, I’ll post pictures and talk about the great people I got to meet.  It was very exciting.  🙂

Since today is Sunday, I wanted to post a sample of one of my stories, and I’m choosing to do another scene from Kent Ashton’s Backstory.

“What is going on here?”

Kent bolted up, unaware of where he was or how he got there.  All he could see was light as his father yelled in outrage.  His head throbbed with piercing pain, and he thought he might vomit so he settled back onto the bed.  A bed?  Gulping back the bile in his throat, he opened his eyes and blinked back the blurry objects around him.

Strong hands clasped his shoulders and pulled him back into a sitting position.  “Do you realize what you’ve done?  Do you think Mister and Missus Johnson will be happy when they hear about this?”

The room swam around Kent, making him grab his head and groan.

“I…  I…” Rebecca stammered.

Kent forced his eyes open and stared dumbly at Rebecca who was next to him, holding a blanket up to her chin, tears in her eyes, her lower lip trembling.  His gaze went to himself.  The blanket was draped over his waist, but he didn’t need to look under the blanket to know he was naked.  And they were both in his bed.  His startled gaze returned to his father whose face was bright red, his nostrils flaring with anger.

“This is inexcusable,” his father finally said, rage simmering just beneath the surface.  “Thank goodness your mother stopped by at a friend’s so she didn’t have to see this.  It’s scandalous.  Unbelievably scandalous!”

“I-I’m sorry.” Kent swallowed.  His throat felt dry.  He could barely form the words to speak, but even so, any apology would have been hollow.  The last thing he remembered was helping Rebecca to her feet in the parlor.  He’d meant to see her to the door but then…  Everything was blank.  Was this was happened when a gentleman got drunk?  He acted abhorrently then forgot all about it?  Glancing at Rebecca who was crying, he whispered, “I’m sorry.”

“You’re going to make things right,” his father barked, bringing his attention back to him.  “You’re going to marry her.”

Without thinking, he nodded.  “Of course.  Yes,” he glanced at her again and hoped to reassure her that he’d treat her honorably from this point forward, “I’ll marry you.  And I’m so sorry I did this to you.”

He quickly looked away from her.  She had to hate him for what he did.  She’d been no match for him.  He didn’t even want to think about it.  His stomach churned and he thought he’d vomit for sure, but somehow he managed to keep it down.

His father walked to the other side of the bed and wrapped another blanket around Rebecca’s shoulders.  “We are terribly sorry, my dear.  You may dress behind the dressing screen.  I’ll make sure my son doesn’t do anything else inappropriate.”

Kent shut his eyes, unable to bear the weight of his shame.  Of all the things he might have done, he never thought he’d do anything like this.  Never again.  He’d never drink alcohol ever again.  It caused nothing but grief and while he would willingly do the right thing, it had cost him what he loved most: Ann.