Text Me by Shelley K. Wall
SYNOPSIS
Carter Coben is having some serious communication problems lately. First he mouthed off to a project manager at work and got fired, now his girlfriend’s dumped him and trashed his cell phone. About the only place he hasn’t got his wires crossed these days is at the anonymous texting app, Justchat.com. Carter thinks he might have found a real connection with “She Hearts Dogs,” but little does he know he’s already quite acquainted with this cunning canine-lover . . .
When Abigail Jeffries gets a random text message from a stranger saying he’s been dumped, she can’t help but answer it—and recommend he send his ex some flowers from her new shop. When she delivers the bouquet though, she finds out his ex was cheating on him with his best friend—the same best friend she’s impersonating via text! Abby feels guilty, but she can’t help responding. But what will happen when Carter finds out that Abby is not only the face behind the texts, but the reason he got fired at work and his mysterious mutt-loving pal on Justchat.com?
Will they ever manage to sort out their mixed signals, mistaken identities, and misunderstandings to find real love? This madcap, modern-day You’ve Got Mail for the texting generation will delight romantic comedy fans.
EXCERPT
Badeep deep.
Abby’s phone signaled a text message from the depths of her purse, lodged under the
sales area. She reached behind the ornate filigreed wood of the counter and pulled the
phone up to view the message.
She broke up, idiot. Tickets shit idea.
“What is it?” Caroline asked.
Abby shook her head. “Someone apparently has the wrong number.” She held up the
screen for her to read.
“So, it’s a text message, not that Justchat app? Jesus, Abby, you need to cut back on
the social media.”
“I know, I know. Yes, it’s a text message.”
Caroline squinted at the display. “Oh! Poor guy. He should have bought her flowers.”
Abby grinned. “Yeah, flowers from us. Wait! He still could.”
Caroline flipped a light switch near the door. “Do you even know who that is?”
“No, but judging by the area code, he’s local.” She held the phone up and tapped in a
message.
Sorry. U should have bought flowers.
She hovered a finger over the send button, hesitant to deceive the poor guy.
Caroline pressed a finger over hers and the message was gone, sent over the airwaves
to a poor schmuck that needed to make good with his girl.
Badeep deep.
Right. What was I thinking? Listened to u, so obviously I wasn’t. Guess I’m still a little
chapped about the work thing.
Caroline peered over Abby’s shoulder then yanked the phone away and tapped in a
response before handing it back.
Har Har. Still could. New flower shop on main by PD
Abby punched Caroline on the arm and grabbed her purse. “You’re shameless.” She
dropped the phone into it and pushed Caroline toward the door. “Let’s get out of here.
We’ve got a big day ahead tomorrow, and I really need a shower.”
Caroline pinched her nose. “You are a little ripe. Have you told your family about the
store opening? Are they coming?”
“I sent them one of the flyers we mailed out. They know, but they don’t usually have
time for these shindigs.”
Abby had managed to hide the disappointment all day, but if they stayed much longer,
she was sure to break down. The pain in her leg from her encounter with Ruckus served
to muffle the more intense pain in her ego. None of her family had called with well
wishes. Not one out of the six. Her new business—her new world—meant nothing to
them. They were probably all still mad at her for quitting.
Her purse beeped several times on the drive home, but she ignored it. She should stop
pretending with this guy. It was cruel. Whoever he thought she was, she needed to set
him straight when she got out of the car.
But there were three more messages. Reading through them, her stomach clenched.
First message:
What’s a PD?
Second message:
U have to go to games with me. She probably hated Astros. Should have seen it
coming.
Third message:
The real pisser. I made reservs at 8 for Sotby’s. U know how hard to get? Screw her,
I’m going. Wanna go?
Uh-oh. Now what? Abby wiped her thumb across the screen, as if to clear the
message, or perhaps clarify it. Should she answer? He was going to expect someone to
show up. It would be unconscionable not to set the poor guy straight. He’d sit there alone at that nice, expensive restaurant, the restaurant she’d never been to and probably never would because she couldn’t afford it. She had no boyfriend to buy her tickets and take her there.
She’d regret her next step … but she took it anyway.
PD = Police Department. Sure. Meet you there.
She had lost her mind.
AUTHOR BIO
Shelley K. Wall was born near Kansas City, the middle daughter of three. She is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with additional post graduate work there and at the University of Wyoming extension in Casper. She worked for many years in Information Technologies, as a Network Engineer, a Project Manager, Operations Director, and I.T. Department Head. Above her writing efforts, she continues to maintain her technical certifications in various technologies and consults regularly on projects. After writing numerous Project Plans, I.T. Directives, Budgets, Personnel Evaluations, and Strategic Plans; She found fiction to be thoroughly refreshing and a wonderful creative outlet.
She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Sisters In Crime (SinC), the Houston Literary Guild, and various technical organizations. Above the courses taken in her academics, Shelley has taken local fiction writing courses through Houston’s Leisure Learning Program and InPrint of Houston plus attended numerous fiction workshops across the U.S.
Her first release, Numbers Never Lie, debuted in 2012 and was an Amazon Daily Deal in January. It soared to number three for romantic suspense, eight for contemporary romance, and seventeen in overall romance on the Amazon Bestsellers List.
Other titles by Shelley include Bring It On(2012), The Designated Drivers’ Club(2012), Flood Flash and Pheromones(2013), and Chloe’s Secret. Chloe’s Secret is the newest release which hits the ebook shelves on October 2nd, 2013. Her latest manuscript, Text Me, was recently selected for representation by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency.
Shelley enjoys writing characters that deal with drama in a humorous way, situations that are believable even if intense, heroes and heroines that aren’t perfect, and villians that may have an inkling of redemption hidden away.
Website: http://shelleykwall.com
Blog: http://shelleykwall.wordpress.com
Twitter: @skwallbooks
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