In the Beginning....

 The Allegheny Chronicles: Veil Falls has been out for over a month! If you've read it but not the story that spawned that book, you surely need to do that. The story is called, "One Hell of a Best Seller" and it can be found in my short story collection Could've Been Something. Mason is our primary character in TAC: Veil Falls but the short story is told from Gia's point of view and does tell something about Gia's frame of mind when it comes to her two best friends. Here's a sample of the story, when we get to meet Mason...

Gia frowned, brushing her chestnut brown hair from her face. “I’d be too embarrassed to write one.” 

“Maybe that’s why you can’t get a date,” Lexi smiled.  

“I can’t get a date because I’m not dating,” Gia retorted as she saved the new target words and then switched back to the book retailer’s website. “But, seriously Lexi, look at that.” She motioned to the screen of her tablet. Cover upon cover had scantily clad men and women on them, either embraced in a passion act or baring their perfect bodies to the world. “I mean listen to this, the number one best seller – ‘Devon Cantrell always gets what she wants until her consulting job brings her into his world. Craven Matterhorn is a ruthless businessman who has set his sights on conquering his rivals and hires Devon to bring his deepest rival to their knees.’” Gia rolled her eyes. “It’s only 172 pages and it has over twenty thousand reviews, giving it 5 stars. I mean…. How?” 

“Those names…Craven Matterhorn,” Lexi grinned as she looked at the cover, brushing back her sandy colored hair. “Well, Gia, it’s easy to see that it’s #1 probably because that man’s shirtless body is on the cover with that set of abs.” She admired the cover for a moment, her blue eyes sparking. “Oh yeah, I’d read that.” 

“The Business of Love,” Gia mocked the title. “It’s not even that creative of a plot. I mean, how many times do you think they use the words ‘throbbing’ and ‘pulsating’ in that book? Unbridled or untamed?” 

Lexi grinned. “You can only hope it contains those words along with more words that are even more stimulating.” 

“Are you saying my books aren’t stimulating?” 

“They are…Just to a different area of the brain,” Lexi told her as the door to the shop opened with the ringing of a bell and both Gia and Lexi looked up. “Speaking of stimulating…” Lexi allowed her thought to fade. 

Two sheriff deputies entered the shop. They had on their uniform of boot cut dark jeans, boots, and their coyote tan long sleeve button uniform tops with a dark green bullet-proof vest that displayed the badge, their name tag, body cams, and everything else they needed to carry. They also had their duty belts with their side arms and handcuffs. The two both wore white cowboy hats, which were part of their uniform. Gia put her tablet down to give them her attention. 

The older of the two was in his late 30’s. He had an obvious bodybuilder build with wide shoulders, a thick chest, obviously muscular arms, and very square features. He had short sandy hair, blue eyes, and walked with a swagger.  However, Gia let her eyes focus on the younger deputy, the dark haired one who looked very average compared to his co-worker. The younger one was her age and gave her a smile when he saw her see him. 

“Good morning you two,” Gia greeted both with a friendly smile.  

“Uh-oh, Kallie called in sick again,” the older of the two, Sergeant Bob Newhall, commented.  

“Yup.  So, you get me today, Sergeant,” Gia grinned. “You still doing the same Americano?” 

“Is there any other kind of coffee to drink?” he asked. “Do you happen to have any blueberry muffins today?” 

“We do, Sergeant Newhall,” Gia smiled. “I believe Lexi’s getting them out of the oven here in,” she looked at her watch. “Three minutes.” 

“Perfect. I’ll take two,” Newhall smiled. “I’ll drop one off with Kendra at her work. She was craving blueberry muffins.” 

“How much longer before she bursts?” Lexi asked as she poured the espresso into a to-go cup. 

“Eight weeks,” Newhall gave a smile. “She says she’s done after this one. Four healthy kids are enough.” 

“I couldn’t imagine,” Lexi said then glanced at the other deputy, who had been standing quietly by. “What about you, Deputy Beaudrie?” She gave her long-time friend a teasing wink. “When are you and Laura having little ones?” 

“Not any time soon,” Deputy Mason Beaudrie replied with a frown. “She can’t even decide if she wants to stay or leave.” 

“You mean stay here or leave to go back the city,” Gia asked, concerned about that statement. “Obviously you don’t mean you.” 

“Nah,” he gave a shrug. “I’m getting the feeling it’s both – Me and this town.” 

“What?” Gia was shocked. “I mean, has she not seen you?” She motioned to him, her hand making a wave from his head to his boots. He was tall, fit, and muscular – Not as muscular as the sergeant was, but in a more natural way. He had short dark hair and brown eyes. He was good-looking and had a smile that would mesmerize anyone. He was truly an amazing soul and the fact that Laura would not consider giving up big city life for a lifetime with him was baffling. “I may be biased because you’re one of my best friends, but...City life versus you? I’d choose you. Definitely.” 

Lexi flashed a grin at Gia then at Mason, “Hey, I’d choose you over the city any day too, Mace.” 

“I don’t think it’s so much the town than it is him,” Newhall gave Mason a teasing grin. “A girl like Laura ain’t cut out for ranches and cows…Or being a companion to old folks. I keep telling him he needs to cut ties and get a nice local girl who can actually be a partner. Not some gorgeous fragile princess doll that he’s imported from some big city and sweet talked into coming home with him.” Newhall gave Mason a shake of the head as he teased, “I can’t, for the life of me, figure out how you managed that – First to lure her here, and then to keep her here for, what six or seven months?” 

“Just ask my best friends,” Mason motioned to Lexi and Gia. “I’m just that great of a catch, Sergeant.” 

“He is,” Lexi agreed with a grin. 

“She’d be a fool to not want him,” Gia nodded, too.  

“Maybe the two of you ought to date then, Gia,” Newhall grinned at his own suggestion, then elbowed Mason, causing Mason to flush in his cheeks.   

“Aw, I have great faith in his ability to find himself a good woman that Lex and I will approve of,” Gia gave a smile. “We’ve been best friends for over twenty years. We can both attest how great of a guy Mason is.” 

Mason’s eyes lingered just a second longer on Gia before he just gave a polite smile and shook his head. “So enough about my dysfunctional love life; has Detective Ash Cooper hit the top ten yet, Gia?” 

Gia handed them each their cups of coffee. Newhall immediately took a sip of coffee as Gia said, “Eh. They’re at a standstill. I’m losing out to contemporary romance and erotica.” 

Newhall choked on his coffee. They quickly handed him some napkins. 

“There’s not a single mystery in the top ten list this week,” Gia sighed disappointedly. “And Ash Cooper is only at #42.” 

“That sucks,” Mason frowned as he watched the sergeant pat the coffee off his green vest.  

“Maybe literally,” Lexi added with a smirk as she heard the alarm go off in the back for the muffins. “I told Gia she ought to try her hand at writing one of those. Get with the times. Put a bare-chested dude on her cover and call it The Brand of Desire or some such nonsense.” 

Gia’s face turned red. “I prefer mysteries.” 

The sergeant had recovered and offered, “Well, in our line of work, we see that a contemporary smut romance often leads to a contemporary murder/mystery.” He tossed the coffee covered napkins into the trash. “You can always give that a shot and write a rough draft. However, I don’t think Beaudrie can give you any material for those romance novels, Gia. I think mystery and murder is all he’s good for. If he had any idea of romance, he’d not be in the position he’s in with his own love life. He’d be romancing the hell out of the woman he loves.  Hell, he’d probably even be married by now.” 

Mason gave his sergeant a frown and shook his head. “Laura has made it clear to me that she will tell me when she’s ready for marriage. And I’m not going anywhere near a romance novel,” Mason admitted waving his hands. He acted as Gia’s ‘technical advisor’ and helped her with police procedurals for her detective in her mystery series. “Especially not with those love scenes.” 

“So, you’ve read some of them before?” Gia looked at him with genuine surprise. 

“No,” Mason quickly admitted as his face flushed. “Laura does, though. There’s no way I’m doing any of that crap.” 

“No wonder Laura’s thinking of leaving,” Lexi had returned with two white paper bags. “Alright, Sergeant Newhall, give Kendra my regards and if she craves more of these, tell her to just call. Gia and I will deliver to her.” 

“I appreciate that, but if I tell her that she’ll turn into a muffin herself,” the sergeant grinned. “Thank you.” He handed her the money for the muffins. 

“Did you want anything besides coffee, Mason?” Gia looked at him.  

“I’ll call in an order for a sandwich later,” he told her. “I haven’t decided what kind of a sandwich day it’s going to be yet.” 

“I’ll be here then,” Gia smiled.  

“I predict it’ll be one of three,” Lexi grinned. “Just because you’re you, Mason.” 

They said their good-byes and Lexi looked after the two deputies with a grin as the door closed behind them. 

“Oh, I still say he has a thing for you,” Lexi cooed with a grin. 

Gia was wiping down the counter, lost in thought about writing a smut romance. She considered herself a proficient writer and could write anything if she put her mind to it. She was only aware that Lexi had said something. “What was that? Sorry, I was thinking of my sales.” 

Lexi sighed, frowned, and shrugged. “I agree. Sergeant Newhall is right about what leads to a good murder mystery. You should write that book.” 

“What book?” Gia stopped and looked at Lexi, who was beaming. Lexi raised her eyes suggestively. Gia instantly turned red. “No. No, Lexi, I’m a mystery writer. Not a romantic smut writer of erotica and you know… All that.” 

“C’mon. I could totally see your Detective Ash Cooper get into a tangled mess with a raven-haired vixen named…um….” Her eyes whipped around the room to come up with a name. “Victoria von Quiche and they just forget all about solving mysteries and spend all day making passionate love.” Lexi paused. “Oh, what if Victoria is really the villain that he’s supposed to pursue?” 

Gia narrowed her eyes at her. “I forgot. You love those kinds of books.” 

“I do,” Lexi nodded. “You should see how interested James gets when I read him a snippet at night before bedtime. Whew. If you had thoughts like that, you wouldn’t stay single.” 

“Lex, I’ve told you and Mason a hundred times – I really do enjoy not dating anyone right now. Dating is way too much drama for me,” Gia shook her head. “Daisy told me that dating is all about apps, texting, and hook ups.  I’m not into those.” 

“But your great detective could be.” 

“Yeah, not a chance. I see Ash as more of a strong and silent type who is totally loyal to the one woman he holds in his heart,” Gia corrected Lexi. “He is handsome, strong, and reserved. Brilliant, too. He’s got a great sense of humor, somewhat dry, and people enjoy him. But for the woman he loves,” she let out a dreamy deep sigh. “He’d do anything for her—go to the ends of the Earth even. He loves her unconditionally, just as she does of him.” She smiled adoringly, her character crossing her mind. “He’s nothing like the modern false male I’ve been hearing about from the others. Ash has substance, a backbone. He gives just as well as he receives… He’s everything.” 

Lexi took a deep breath, “Oh, Gia. You’ll never find a real live man when your heart is set on the one you created.” 

“You never know. I may write him into existence,” Gia told her friend then looked down at her watch. “Well, we’d better look busy. Alana is due in any moment.” 

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Find out more of this backstory in Could've Been Something which is available in eBook, paperback, hardcover at Amazon, Barnesandnoble.com, and on Apple Books. For those Amador County residents, it is also available for check out at the Amador County Public Library.

www.amazon.com/author/embrooks

www.barnesandnoble.com and Apple Books, search "Could've Been Something Em Brooks"

There is always an adventure in an Em Brooks book!