He was playing a game. One wrong move and she'd lose it all.
Of Bishops and Pawns, an all-new angst-filled new adult romance from Renee Harless, is available now!
Add it to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2ODVZ7Z
Excerpt
Grabbing my laptop, I pulled up a University job posting site to see if there were any positions on campus that I could fulfill. It didn’t take long to realize that there were no jobs available that could work with my busy class schedule. I needed something that would allow me to work early in the day and late in the evening. My classes filled my daytime schedule and that barely left any time for homework.
My fingers tapped away on the keyboard, bringing up various job sites, but nothing available in the area I needed to search. I didn’t have access to a car and public transport was an expense that I didn’t want to waste my money on. Finding a job within walking distance was going to be imperative, except it was also doubtful. Jobs around the university were already claimed or taken by locals. And with my lack of coordination, I knew that waiting tables or serving coffee wasn’t options that I had.
Slowly I scrolled through the listings, scoffing at the offerings available. It seemed like I was going to have to huff it on foot to see if any place close by was taking on new employees. At least I knew that I could learn a new task quickly.
Just as I was about to close the screen to my computer a small ad at the bottom of the listings caught my eye. It wasn’t an ideal situation, but considering the current circumstances, I knew that I couldn’t be overly picky.
Clicking on the ad, I read through the description, trying not to cringe at the details. I needed to remember that my choices were limited and I needed a lot of money and fast. Outside of prostitution, this seemed like my best option. My father would have a field day with the knowledge of what I was about to do. Writing down the address, I plugged it into my phone's GPS and noticed that the location was nowhere within walking distance. I would have to use public transportation, but if I made the promised funds, I wouldn’t have to worry about the expense. There was even a chance that I could buy a cheap car to get around.
Glancing down at my outfit, a loose-fitted T-shirt and frayed denim shorts, I rushed to my closet and grabbed the single sundress that I owned, hoping that I’d at least make a good impression visually. Or as good of one as I could. As long as I didn’t trip or stumble, I should be okay.
The bus ride into the next town didn’t take long, but it dropped me off in an area I was unfamiliar with. I was thankful that the sun was still hanging high in the sky and that I’d had the forethought to have the directions available on my phone.
Walking for two blocks, I found myself in front of a nondescript building. At first, I thought I was in the wrong place, but then a small woman pulled up in an expensive car and parked in front of where I stood.
“Hi, can I help you?”
“Yes, I saw an ad online. I was looking for Alice Sullivan.”
“Well, you’ve found her. Let’s go inside and chat.”
I dutifully followed the woman into the building and I gasped in shock when the doors closed behind me. The walls were covered in deep purple and black fabrics, giving the open space a luxurious feeling with the brass accents on the table and lights. A bar lined the far side of the room, facing a stage with multi-levels.
The glamorous woman spun around as she placed her designer handbag on a table in the middle of the room. “You’re pretty enough, with some work, of course. Now, there is one thing I need you to do so we can get it out of the way.”
My hands shook. I knew what was coming and my nerves were at an all-time high. Nervously I wiped my sweaty palms against the fabric at my thighs.
“Yes, ma’am. What is it you need me to do?”
With a gentle nod and smile, Alice angled her head toward the stage. “Dance.”
Renee Harless, her husband, and children live in Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She studied Communication, specifically Public Relations, at Radford University.
Growing up, Renee always found a way to pursue her creativity. It began by watching endless runs of White Christmas- yes even in the summer – and learning every word and dance from the movie. She could still sing "Sister Sister" if requested. In high school she joined the show choir and a community theatre group, The Troubadours. After marrying the man of her dreams and moving from her hometown she sought out a different artistic outlet – writing.
To say that Renee is a romance addict would be an understatement. When she isn’t chasing her toddler or preschooler around the house, working her day job, or writing, she jumps head first into a romance novel.
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