Excerpt: 'Need Me' by Shelley K. Wall

Shelley K. Wall joins HEA to share an excerpt from her new contemporary romance, Need Me, out today (March 9).

Shelley: I love stories about reunions, where a couple meets in their early years, but the timing is off. In fact, I loved the book Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin, which does a wonderful job of portraying a couple who met in college as friends then years later discover their feelings still have a spark. The old-friends-reunited-to-lovers theme is a definite winner and appeals to a lot of readers. What's your favorite book or movie with that theme?

In Need Me, Caroline departs after college graduation to pursue her journalism passion and leaves her friend Roger in the dust. He envies her enthusiasm as his future doesn't seem too bright and wants to be a part of her adventure.

EXCERPT

Roger narrowed his eyes, feeling the raging desire to scoop her into an enormous hug. "Caroline, you know you can't make him come back into your life simply by following his footsteps."

She slammed the glass to the counter. A splash of tea erupted and landed near her forearm. "That's not what I'm doing. Besides he's in my life—sort of. He sends things to my mother."

"Like what?"

"News clippings. Copies of research on the project he's working on. Little notes."

"That's enough for you?" He realized the words were combative and cold, but he wanted to know. Was she really okay with such a nonexistent parental relationship? Would he ever get to that point with his own father?

Caroline shut the lid to her laptop with a click and padded barefoot to the couch. She dropped beside him and stretched her legs across his. "No, but it's all I get."

Roger's heart squeezed. "So you chose the same profession and decided to trek around the world in search of him."

She jutted her chin out and lifted her head in defiance. "That's not what this is about. This is about doing what I'm meant to do. Fulfilling my purpose in life. My passion. Why are you trying to ruin it?"

God, he wished he knew what that meant. "Caro, gorgeous. I'm not trying to ruin anything; I'm just afraid for you. There's a lot of bad people in this world who would see a young, beautiful woman in a foreign country as an easy target. Easy prey."

Her eyes softened a smidge. "Journalists are protected under the Geneva Convention—we have safe passage."

She really believed in that crap? He stroked a finger over her kneecap. "According to the Geneva Convention, anyone who isn't part of a war is guaranteed safe passage. That means all civilians and travelers. But bad things still happen."

Caroline frowned. "What do you expect me to do then?"

He leveled his gaze and calculated the impact of his next words. Would she be open to the idea? He'd never considered it until recently, but his thoughts were consumed now. The thought of taking over his family financial burdens lingered like the taste of bitter lemons. It wasn't his responsibility, so why the hell had his dad given him this burden? His entire body ached with a longing to feel what Caroline felt as she anticipated her upcoming adventure. God, he wished for such enthusiasm. A chance to attack the world with vigor and leave the disappointment and ruined dreams behind to find new ones. "Take me with you."

He heard the faucet drip in the kitchen. Splat. Splat. Splat. Her eyes concentrated on his fingers as they circled the skin on her knee. Water pooled in her lower lids and spilled slowly down one cheek. He'd made her cry? Was that a happy cry? Her head shifted slightly to the right. A pit formed in his gut. Uh-oh. She began to shake, and her head rattled side-to-side as she clutched his hand and squeezed. The pit turned to cement.

"I ... can't."

Here's the blurb about Need Me (courtesy of Crimson Romance):

Aspiring journalist Caroline Sanders doesn't have time for frat parties and college keggers—not even when the gorgeous Roger Freeman climbs into her car unexpectedly one night on campus. The two are inexplicably drawn together but when Caroline's offered a prestigious internship that could lead to a job at The New York Times, she leaves Roger behind for more serious prospects.

Six years later, back home and starting a new career as a florist, she's shocked to run into Roger again. He's never forgotten the girl who left him to find herself, though he's certainly tried. As the two begin seeing each other and grow closer, he finds it impossible to resist falling for her once more.

What he doesn't know is that Caroline's life over the last few years has been filled with tragedy, and the adventurous and exciting woman he remembers is all but gone. Is Roger ready to risk his heart again, and is Caroline ready to trust him with her story?

Find out more about Shelley and her books at shelleykwall.com.