G'morning.

It's release day here at Moonlit Romance. Watch for the official announcement that The Pendant: Maeve by Laura Hamby is available. In the meantime, here's an excerpt to whet your appetite.

The Pendant: Maeve
by Laura Hamby

The Tastee Kone was open and doing a brisk business at the corner of Frederick Avenue and Mabel Boulevard, the two main streets through Penzance. The huge personified ice-cream cone sign sported an eye patch and wore a pirate hat atop the chocolate-colored scoop of ice cream. Cullen noted the new-to-him sword that someone had belted around the two ice-cream scoops with a groan. Lordy, this town took the pirate thing to an unreal extreme.

He found a parking spot at the back of the Tastee Kone’s lot, next to a car painted to look like a pirate ship. Cullen glared at the obnoxious vehicle. "Yeah, someone has gone over the edge all right." He put his purchase into the trunk of his convertible and headed for the ordering window.

A group of women stood in the line in front of him, all chatting together so fast and at the same time, Cullen had to wonder how they managed to carry on, but from what he could tell, they did seem to understand each other very well.

"Did you see the expression on Mrs. Naismith’s face when we cruised by her house? That beauty-queen wave was brilliant. I’m in awe."

"I tell ya, you’re going to be the envy of the entire town, owning that car."

"What do you want to bet she’ll beg you to be Mabel this year, Maeve? Beg. Absolutely get on her knees, hands clasped and telling you how wonderful you are, can’t imagine the show without you, and by the way, would you please drive that wonderful pirate-mobile in the Pirate Parade?"

The women paused long enough to laugh. Then they started chattering again. Cullen had the sinking suspicion he knew the owner of the awful car he’d parked beside, and even worse, knew he’d be seeing it on a daily basis. Damn. He was going to have to put in a row of trees to block his view of the Redmond Rubble.

"Hi, neighbor-of-mine." Maeve smiled up at him, more pleased to see him than he was to see her. Double dimples punctuated her grin, and Cullen’s insides tightened in response. Damn.

She patted his arm, just a simple matter of friendliness on her part, Cullen thought. The smile faltered, her face paled, and she took a step away from him.

"Fancy seeing you here," he replied. Concern grew when he noticed the sheen of sweat that appeared on her forehead. "You okay? Heat getting to you?"

Maeve drew in an audible, ragged breath. "Not until a moment ago." She waved him off when he stepped towards her, arms outstretched to catch her if she decided to faint.

A man joined the three women. He towered over them, his expression forbidding. "Cal and Mair can order for you, Maeve. Come sit in the shade with me."

"I’m fine," Maeve demurred to no avail. The man placed his hands on her shoulders and steered her away from the line and over to a large round table topped with a table umbrella. She didn’t appear too happy with being manhandled, but she didn’t fight the Neanderthal who moved her away.

Cullen couldn’t take his eyes off her. He didn’t like the other man, and he didn’t even know him. It was instinctive, and from the look Mr. Neanderthal shot him, the feeling was mutual. No reason existed for his unexpected proprietary feelings for his neighbor. It wasn’t like they’d known each other well before he’d left Penzance or had any kind of history together.