The Missing Piece

By Joanna A. Haze

Nyla James was at her wits end. It had been three long years full of empty promises and being told the timing was not right. William not only refused to commit but Nyla had a hunch he was being less than the faithful man he portrayed.

Dean Parker has grown weary of his wife’s selfishness. Susan’s beautiful smile and stunning body was no longer enough to contain him. Once that wore off he began see her for the heartless person she had always been.

Once Dean lays eyes on Nyla his thoughts are instantly consumed with visions of her. Nyla is intrigued by this man of a different nationality but hesitant because Dean is someone who pulls at her inner being. Something no other man could do. Will Dean turn into another William? Or will his love be the missing piece?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AboutFace Media
• Release date: Dec 11, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301766451

Book preview

The Missing Piece

by

Joanna A. Haze

Smash Words Ebook Edition

* * * * *

PUBLISHED BY:

Passionate Writer Publishing

www.passionatewriterpublishing.com

The Missing Piece

Copyright © 2012 by Joanna A. Haze.

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

License Notes

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Chapter One

And this is the master bedroom, William said, smiling.

Nyla glanced around the empty room. To her, it was just like all of the others—worn carpet, dingy walls, and the closet was entirely too small. But purchasing fixer-up homes and renting them out was William’s side hobby, so she smiled and said, I am sure your next tenants will love the place.

I know we need to hurry, but the house was along the way and I wanted you to see it. Let’s go before they cancel our reservations. William turned and headed out the doorway.

Nyla, careful not to snag her heals on the holes in the carpet, sighed and followed him out the door and back outside. By the time she made it to the car, William was already in the driver’s seat. As usual, he hadn’t bothered to hold the door open for her.

She took her place on the passenger side, her thoughts on the publishing offer she received for her nonfiction book, which was what the dinner was supposed to be about. William had managed to make it about him earlier in the day by purchasing another dilapidated house in a less than stellar neighborhood. To William. their accomplishments were one and the same. Nyla fared to differ. She poured her heart out into her writing, while William only wrote checks.

Nyla leaned back in the seat as William turned up the music and sped off to their destination. She didn’t care for the artist but would rather listen to them reciting lyrics of being drug dealers and pimps than William going on and on about how he’d fix up the house and how much it would rent out for—the same conversation she had heard about the last seven houses he purchased.

The car turned into the parking garage two blocks away from Ruth Chris Steakhouse. Nyla said a silent prayer for her feet as she stepped out the car. The four-inch heals she wore specifically for William were about to commence their torture. How William could always brag about how much money he made on his day job and off his rentals and then turn around and be so cheap when it came to paying for valet parking was beyond her.

As they made their way out of the garage and onto the downtown streets, Nyla became less concerned with her aching feet and focused on the dark clouds off to the east. With her luck, it would be pouring down rain when they were finished eating. Her long locks would turn into a frizzled mess if that were to happen.

Do you have a reservation? the hostess asked.

No, William answered.

Nyla looked at him with her mouth wide open. He had outright lied to her face.

It will be a forty minute wait. Your name?

William Moss.

Thank you. We will call you when we have a table available. In the meantime, feel free to have a drink from the bar as you wait.

Nyla brushed past William and the hostess, making her way to the bar. It would take more than one drink to calm her down. William was working on her last nerves. His boldfaced lying got her blood boiling.

Blue Martini, she said, catching the bartender’s attention.

And a Heiniken, William said behind her.

The bartender set both drinks on the counter. Nyla carefully picked up hers and took a sip. Strong. Just what the doctor ordered. She took a few more and slowly began to feel the tension release from her body.

Forty-five minutes later, the hostess called their name and they were able to be seated. It was too close to the kitchen for Nyla’s comfort, but at least she was finally able to order some food. She was starving. William jumped back into talking about his new property once they had their salads but changed the topic when the food actually came.

So how much are you getting for the book?

Eighty-five hundred to start.

That’s it? I thought you would at least get six figures.

The publishing industry isn’t what it used to be, and besides, I’m an unknown author and far from a celebrity. Nyla shoved salad in her mouth and braced herself. William knew nothing about the industry but thought he was the authority.

Unknown? You have three books already. What about all the book touring you’ve been doing?

That’s just me trying to make a name for myself. Yes, I sell well at events, but a far cry from what a big name would bring in. Can’t you just be happy I even got a deal at all? I’m lucky they want to give me anything.

William took a long swallow of his beer. Hell, they aren’t. I just spent twenty thousand on a house. What they gave you is nothing.

And you’re doing what you want to do. Now let me do what I want to do.

I am. Speaking of the new house…you know this means I will be spending a lot of time fixing it up? I know we talked about moving in together. I am just not ready for it. I need for things to be right. I will be really busy, you know how it is.

Nyla remained silent. No, she didn’t know how it was. She only knew the bull crap stories he gave her. They had been together for almost three years, and it seemed like they spent less time together now than when she first met him. In the beginning, they spent almost every night together. A year ago, he began working night shift, and the only weekends he took off were when his son was in town so that meant no quality time then either. Now there was another house in the way. Their relationships seemed to have stalled and slowly begun going in reverse.

Nyla wanted more but knew there was no point in talking about it. William wouldn’t change a thing. After dinner, he’d drive them to her place, have a quickie, and then he would be off to work. Once there, he would call her all throughout the night, neglecting the fact she still had to get up for her nine to five.

Chapter Two

Dean rolled his eyes at the sleeping lump lying with one leg strewn over the couch. Her hair was disheveled, her mouth open, and she was snoring. Normally when she was like this, he would help her up to the bedroom. Not tonight. He didn’t want her next to him. Not after the hateful things she had said. Out of all the nights, tonight was the night his wife, Susan, decided to show the world her evil twin, the drunken idiot.

With the great news of