Saved By A Soldier (Love Conquers Life Book 1) by Alison Mello

are talking.”
    “Mother, stop!” I snap. “I did not run out on Ben, he backhanded me and I broke up with him. Stop feeding him false hope that we will get back together because we will not . I don’t care if he is the president of the United States, I’m not going back to him. And for your information I left with Carter because he came to my rescue when Ben got drunk and nearly attacked me yet again outside the event. Please stop defending this man.”
    “Patricia, I’m your mother, you need to calm down.”
    “That’s right, you’re my mother, so how about you start sticking up for me because the fundraiser we attended that night took place because of men like Ben? When you’re ready to stop pushing him on me, call me. Until then I have nothing more to say, Mother!”
    I hang up the phone panting with anger. I want to scream. My phone starts ringing again and it’s her but I send her to voicemail, refusing to take her call. She calls again and this time I put her to voicemail and then send her a text.
     
    Patty: I’m working right now. I can’t have this conversation with you.
     
    Mother: I’m sorry.
     
    I ignore her text and move on to my email, and of course I have one from my agent. All it says is “Who’s the stud?” I send her a brief reply telling her I will let her know if he becomes someone significant, though right now he’s just a date. I answer a few other emails and then get to work on my writing.
    A short while later I realize I haven’t eaten anything yet. I take a break to eat and check my social media. I make myself a sandwich, chips, and some grapes then plop myself back in front of the laptop to see what’s going on. When I open my fan page there are a ton of posts asking who my mystery man is and if it’s serious. I sigh, realizing I need to give Carter a heads up about this. I send him a text so I don’t bother him if he’s super busy at work.
     
    Patty: Hey can you call me when you have a free moment?
     
    Carter: Only if you promise it’s not to back out on me.
     
    Patty: I promise
     
    A minute later my phone rings. “Hey, Carter, how’s your day going?”
    “Good so far, and I’m hoping it will stay that way,” he chuckles.
    “Well, that depends. I logged on to check my social media and chat with my readers and I discovered something. I’m not sure how you will feel about it.”
    “You mean our picture all over the place and everyone asking who your mystery man is?”
    “You know?” I question, slightly nervous.
    He laughs. “Yeah one of my buddies saw it and called me this morning. Listen, I know we don’t really know each other and we’re only going on our first date, but I could care less. Let them post what they want.”
    “I’m glad you’re not upset about being my ‘hot mystery man’ as one paper posted.”
    “Are you mad that I’m your hot mystery man?”
    I blush because I know he’s flirting with me. “No.”
    “You’re blushing, aren’t you?”
    I shake my head, though he cannot see it. “I should let you get back to work.”
    “I’ll take that as a yes and see you at six thirty.”
    “Talk to you later, Carter.”
    I cut the call and debate if I should post something about last night’s photo. I decide to tell my fans that for now I’m keeping his identity a secret, but may decide to introduce him in the future.
    With all that’s going on around me I can’t focus on the book so I take a break to simply read and relax for a while before I have to get ready for my date with Carter. As I sit on the couch with a book to read, my mind is wandering to ideas for my book. Now I can’t even focus on reading. I hate days like this. I can’t seem to focus on any one thing. I jot down my ideas in my notebook, toying with the scene on paper until I have it the way I want it. I make note of roughly where I want it to go in the book and once I’m satisfied I decide to start getting ready.
    A short while later I’m pacing my living room