"When Beverly's life intersects with her brother's charismatic high school friend, Dave Samuels, at university, she's drawn to his captivating presence. Despite her initial resistance, an undeniable attraction simmers between them, threatening to upend her perfectly ordered world. Dave, a master strategist, has always lived life on his own terms. But his feelings for Beverly blur his focus, and an arranged marriage forces him to reevaluate his priorities. Three years later, fate brings them together once more. Can they rekindle their lost love, or have too many secrets and lies driven them apart forever? 'Burning Embers' is a poignant tale of love's unpredictability and the unrelenting power of true connection."
Chapter 1 The beginning
I'll describe my life as truck driver trying to deliver bags of cement to a construction site because that's the best. I can decipher right now so... I am the driver, my life is the road, the bags of cement are problems, mistakes, love (basically everything that comes with life), and the construction sites is the destination I'm trying to reach in life, which is to be happy and successful.
I looked around my room one last time at my queen-sized bed and blue pillows, my half empty closet and my bookshelf has my fingers scrolled over rows of novels and textbooks. I turned around and my eyes fell on the family portrait that sad above the bed's headboard. It was portrait of our family- my Father, my Mother my Brothers (Jack and Paul) and me the youngest ā taken on my parents 10th wedding anniversary. The picture was taken almost a decade ago when I was just eight years old looking at it, my legs felt heavy, and my heart was filled with immense sadness.
With a sigh, I closed my room door for what would be the last time in a while and walked to my parent room. As I moved down the hallway. I was met with the scent of my father's oud perfume. I followed the scent in to the room and fifties with a lean stature sitting on their large bed facing the television that was on a new channel.
Hey dad, I said announcing, my presence as I entered the room.
Hey pumpkin, he responded dragging the words slowly the way he always did he removed his glasses and looked up at me with smile.
'Are you ready?'
'Yes dad" I sat on the Persian carpet next to him and listened to his words of encouragement and how he wants me to take my studies very seriously.
I nodded silently with tears coming down my eyes. Even with my determination not to cry, I couldn't help the tears as he spoke,as I imagined being so far from him for so long, as I imagined starting a new life in Canada.
"There is no reason to cry mother", said as she walked into the room. 'Pay attention to your studies and surround our self with the right people. 'Okay mom' I answered ' You're not forgetting anything, are you"? She asked me I shook my head to say no.
I hugged my parents and bid them farewell them entered the car that took me to the airport with my brother, Jack, who is also flying to Australia.
I felt contented and happy because I've never left my parents and being on my own all my life.
Looking back now, I'm happy I left because If hadn't left, I would never have met him. The one who turned my whole world upside down ā Dave Samuel.
Hour later, the pilot's announcement woke me up. I have forgotten to remove my headphones from my hand luggage and now that it was in overhead bin, I did not want to discomfort the people around me, so decide to play an in flight movie, and so I slept all the way from America to Vancouver.We arrived at Vancouver International Airport in the morning and as Jack and I made our way out of the plane, he turned to me "let's freshen up first then head to the business lounge to rest before our next flight".He was used to this route as he always transited in Vancouver on his way to and from his university in Australia
After eating we walked towards the lounge and I saw a bookstore and headed towards it."I'm going to go and check if they have second book of the Brandon sander-son series" I told my brother who looked around, pointed to the Starbucks coffee shop opposite and replied "Okay, I'll wait there"
I went into the bookstore and browsed their recent releases.I didn't find what I was looking for,so I picked up Fifty shades of grey, curious to see all what the fuss has been about. After I paid at the counter,I turned around and a guy bumped into me. His bottle of water spilling all over my sweater. He looked about six feet tall, with light brown skin a muscular frame.
"Watch where you are going miss", he said in a British accent as pulled his phone from his ear "Excuse you" I replied getting angry
"You bumped into me he said like he was expecting an apology.
"No", I said, gesturing to his phone "You weren't watching where you were going"
Just then, Jack came and immediately recognized the guy as his friend in high school. They exchanged handshake and pleasantries. I rolled my eyes and walk away while they exchanged contact and promised to keep in touch.