My name is Matilda Pearl. My life is a non-stop riddle I hope to one day solve.
I’ve learned to protect my heart; fate has dealt me more than a few shit cards in my twenty-two years. Invisibility tops my list, not to mention tragedy.
I was yanked out of a Paris-France life by my ass of a father, and thrown into a one year journey on a farm in Wisconsin. I’ve been assigned the impossible: Wife Catcher. Simply put, until I replace myself I’m Mary Poppins, the beast tamer, ringmaster of the unruly, complete with twin toddlers and a beast of a man. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to my three-ring circus.
The Beast – Balthazar Cox – is repulsive…as in that sexy, I-just-died-and-went-toheaven sort of repulsive. He walks the earth like he owns it, with his tatted trunk of a body and chiseled-rough, blazing good looks. The beastly Brit – did I mention that he’s English? – also happens to be my widowed brother-in-law, a man haunted by betrayal and abandonment, and for whom I’m on task to find a wife. If I succeed I’ll be rewarded with my juicy trust fund. And, yes, it will happen. You can keep your diamonds and designer clothes…. With my bag of loot, I plan on becoming the Patron Saint of Lost and Found Animals.
When the past resurfaces more than once for both of us, all hell breaks loose. Can you be lost and found at once? In other words, sometimes lies can be cathartic. Some people heal us; some of us heal others.
This is mostly a love story, an unlikely sexy romance with whiplash twists, boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed, and multiple risks of losing everything. It may have more heartache, and drama than some but in the end it’s about truth, discovery and forgiveness. Maybe it was wrong to fall for him. Or maybe the hole in his heart was always waiting for me to fill it. Now there’s a riddle for you.
EXCERPT:
Matilda
though both joined in one.
The more still I stand,
the quicker I run.
What am I?
An hourglass
“What in the Sam Hill?” Dad shouts. His gaze bounces between me and Balthazar as though he’s happened upon a crime scene.
“Everit?” Balthazar says, staggering backward until he collides with me then takes Aesop off my lap. I laugh nervously as he helps me up.
“Well, I sure as shit ain’t Santa Claus!” Dad snarls. His nostrils flare as his face turns purple. A look I’m familiar with. It’s the you’ll-never-stop-embarrassing-me look. It’s the you’ve-always-been-nothing, you’ll-always-be-nothing look.
“Dad? What are you doing?” Here, at our holiday, with my family. Why? Fuck, he saw us!
“I ought to be asking you that question, Matilda Pearl. Tell me I didn’t just witness you kissing your sister’s husband.” He growls. “He is your goddamned brother-in-law. Didn’t you do enough sluttin’ around back in high school?” He wipes one hand down his face as he shakes his head and snickers. “I swear I thought, once I shipped you off to Paris, you’d get some class. Hmmphff. But no. Here you are, same old Matilda, looking for attention in all the wrong places. Going after her husband. Unbelievable!” He drops his bags to the floor.
I clamp my mouth closed as heat licks my skin. Tears burn my eyes. I will them not to flow over my rims as Balthazar stalks over to my father.
Why does he have bags anyway? I’m sure he thinks Balthazar will gather them up for him. I’m certain they’ve met, but I’m also confident they don’t know each other. They breathe air from different universes.
“How fucking dare you talk to Matilda that way in my house!” he yells. “Who the hell do you think you are, marching in here unannounced, calling her those foul things? The only ass in this room is clearly you, Everit. Apologize this instant or get the hell out.” He charges into my father’s space, backing him against the wall.
Dad’s face becomes livid with anger. “Last time I checked this farm was still mine!”
And the door opens again.
“Happy holidays!” Aunt Molly sings. Her giant Carmen-Miranda-looking red hat falls to the floor, landing in pie. I look down as Aesop saunters over and begins to nibble on it. Carrots? Yes, of course she has produce on her hat.
“Aunt Molly.” I open my arms to hug her velvet-wrapped body. Her overflowing bosom molests me, as does her syrupy sweet scent.
“The hell is going on here?” She scratches her head as her eyes explore the kitchen. “Looks like a bakery and a liquor store’ve been fucking up a storm. Speaking of which, what are you pouring? Smells like scotch! I’ll take a glass!”
My father is red-faced and fuming, glaring at me then Balthazar as Molly flits around the room, making herself at home. Her wild, crimson mop of curls end up in Aesop’s mouth as she bends down to grab her hat.
“He’s eatin’ me!” she screams while slapping Balthazar’s thigh. “You big, burly thing! For fuck’s sake, help me!”
“Sorry, Aunt Molly,” Balthazar says so politely that it shreds me. He pulls her hair from Aesop’s mouth and promptly introduces himself. “Balthazar Cox. It’s nice to finally meet you. Thank you for joining us for the holiday.”
“Any man whose name ends in cock and looks like you is a pleasure to meet,” Aunt Molly says, getting all Mae West on Balthazar.
I’m a mother of four sons, a country dweller, a foodie, an animal and nature lover and an entrepreneur. I started my first company when I was twenty-three with my husband and partner, the lovely man I am still married to and work with twenty-four years later. Together we’ve always created. I’ve written several books in other genres under a different name. My first novel is A Mess of Reason. My second book, How To Tame Beasts And Other Wild Things, is out now!
Links:
Website: http://www.awildingwells.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/awildingwells
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/awildingwells
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/awildingwells
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/awildingwells
No comments:
Post a Comment