Mason

She strolled into my studio like she owned the place.

Well, she owned the building. My home. My sanctuary.

All bluff, and blunder, with no substance to her argument, "It's time for a renovation."

Hell, the place is almost new.

I see the broken woman behind her mask.

Lost. Alone. Searching.

I know her history and the world she inhabits, better than most.

Kat

You're only as old as the person you're, well you know what I mean.

I feel like a cougar, and I know, to never mix business with pleasure.

But I'm out of that market, and Mason's too young to be taken seriously.

I'll not shackle my baggage to him, nor hold him back. The mess I'm in-it's not one I'd drag anyone else into.

***
The Reprieve novellas may be read as a standalone or in conjunction with a Reader's Tale Series, for a complete reading experience.
* For readers 18+. If you enjoy a quick read, a sweet naive heroine, and a cinnamon roll hero, Dale and Belle's story may be for you.
** The author does not consent to any part of this work being used in AI training. The content may not be used for A.I. source reference in writing software, or any other A.I. mechanism.