Priced Out of Love: Part I

Priced Out of Love #1

by Yuwanda Black

What's Love Got to Do With It?“Love schmove – it all starts out great, but I wouldn’t bet my future on it, not with more than half of all marriages ending in divorce. It’s a gamble for any woman, especially when you bring kids into it. I get a headache just thinking about it,” Lisa's best friend, Cynthia, said.The doorbell rang. Lisa was glad for the interruption. She didn’t think she could take much more of Cynthia’s badgering and her obvious distaste for marriage, even though she knew she was right about one thing, she did have to figure out what she was going to do to earn some money – and fast. Steven, her soon-to-be ex-husband, had moved out and unbeknownst to her, immediately stopped paying the rent on the condo they’d shared. It was now 90 days late and she was on the cusp of eviction.Every day she came home from job hunting, she was afraid she’d find a yellow piece of paper stuck to the door telling her that she had x number of days to vacate.Lisa looked through the peephole in the front door. She recognized the friendly young office manager’s face. She opened it, her heart hammering in her chest. “Hello Marjorie,” she said through a forced smile.“Hello Mrs. Campbell,” the young woman responded. She lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry to have to give you this,” she said, holding up the dreaded yellow envelope.“I understand,” Lisa said. “How long do I have?""The standard ten days,” the young woman explained.“Is your boss around?” Lisa asked, swallowing her pride, hoping she could speak with management and get more time.“I’m afraid not,” Marjorie responded. “He left on vacation yesterday. These were prepared for me to hand out today.” Lisa noticed she had two more of the hated yellow envelopes in her hand. “Is there someone else in the office I can talk to?” Lisa asked, her desperation pushing her past her shame. She was prepared to beg if she had to. “I’m afraid I’m it, Mrs. Campbell,” Marjorie said, her eyes full of empathy.“Thank you,” Lisa said, closing her front door. Tears stung the backs of her eyes. “Oh God Cynthia, what am I going to do? Where are me and Molly going to go?”###The Proposal“Is that why you asked me to marry you? Because you feel sorry for me? Because you don’t think I can handle Steven?”"No. I asked you to marry me because I want you as I’ve never wanted another woman. Dealing with the likes of your soon-to-be ex-husband just happens to be something I’m more than equipped to handle.”“Well don’t pull any punches,” she said, dumbstruck by his blatant honesty. There was no romance – none.“Were you expecting anything less than honesty?” Tristan asked.“I … I don’t know.”“Look Lisa, if I wanted a relationship where you have to woo and tell half-truths to get the girl, I would have been married a long time ago. I’m 38. I know what I want. And what I want is you. My desire for you is genuine. My wish to protect you and Molly is also. The kind of marriage I want is the one I’ve explained to you. I hope you’d appreciate my clarity.

162 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 18, 2015

About the author

Transitioning to writing romance. Learn more at http://InkwellEditorial.com/about.

Reviews

[ethel taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

This is my first book by this author. I was surprised because I thought Lisa was going to become an escort. What I don’t like is that I have to read the next book which will turn into four to get the complete story. But I still have to give it five stars because the book is good.

[Christene Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kinda love it.....

I kinda love this story. I love the honesty of Tristan and Lisa. She kept her fiesty attitude. Cynthia gave out good advice, but she was so cynical. I know it was warranted, but it was very sad. I can wait to read number two. I love the fact that they didn't make love until they got married. Although it wasn't lovemaking. On to the next one.

[Nancy L Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

About To Quit!!!

I was about to make this my first and last book from this author. If they had drug their feelings into another book, I was done. The heroine is a little to "dumb acting" for someone her age. But ill give the next book a chance

[Frances Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Priced Out of Love

Lisa found herself jobless, behind in rent, no money, about to be divorced, and a single mother. Her friend talks her into escorting. The man she meets changes her life.