The Breakfast Meeting
The next morning came far too quickly. Javier felt the weight of vulnerability lingering over him as he prepared for breakfast. He dressed carefully, choosing something casual yet sharp, lingering in the mirror as though the reflection might tell him what to do next.
When he arrived at the dining area, the delightful scent of fresh pastries enveloped him in warmth. He scanned the room, spotting Sharla seated at a table far from his—her blonde hair cascading down her...
The Point of No Return
When they parted, he was met with the haunting realization that they would soon have to return to their separate lives, back to the families waiting with expectations—expectations they were both willing to shatter with their next moves.
“We need to find our rhythm,” Sharla murmured, laughing awkwardly as she tried to shake off the tension, leading them back toward the resort while hand in hand. “Let’s make it a game. We’ll strategize our moves like we do in Evony.”
“A...
Morning After: Rising Tensions
Dawn broke, casting the world in soft pastels as rays of sunlight filtered through the palm leaves. The two lovers stirred from a night heavy with whispered secrets and dreams. Yet, in the light of day, reality pressed in with renewed vigor.
Javier woke to find Sharla staring out at the ocean, a contemplative look on her face, the brilliance of the morning sun illuminating the uncertainty etched in her features. As he took in their surroundings, the memory of...
An Unexpected Encounter
The moment he reached the beach, the sound of waves lapping against the shore became a symphony heralding his desire. He spotted Sharla—a vision under the moonlight, silhouetted at the edge of the sand, looking both stunning and ethereal.
“You came,” she breathed, stepping toward him, the moon casting silver light on her face.
“It was too tempting to resist,” he replied, drinking in the sight of her. “Being with you feels like… freedom.”
They settled onto the sand,...
When he finally escaped to their hotel room that night, he stared at the ceiling, uncertainty swirling in his thoughts. Glances were exchanged throughout dinner, teasing but aware, and he felt trapped in a delicious purgatory. Every minute apart from Sharla felt like surrendering to a fate he had long accepted but now questioned.
Unable to sleep, he tiptoed onto the balcony, allowing the cool ocean breeze to wash over him. The moonlight shimmered on the water’s surface, a sparkling reminder...
The Vacation
The day arrived. Javier and Sharla arrived at the resort—tanned faces, beach umbrellas, and the sun kissing their flushed cheeks. They both kept their distance from one another, their secret lives swirling around them like invisible dread naught. Their spouses roamed nearby, blissfully unaware of the undercurrents that swept through the air.
With every moment of glances shared across the pool, every innocent brush past the bar—Javier’s heart raced. Then finally, as the sun dipped...
The soft glow of Javier’s computer screen illuminated the dimly lit room, casting flickering shadows across walls filled with the years of family photos. In the back office of his suburban home, he could hear the faint sounds of his children giggling in the living room, the growing chaos that reminded him of the life he had built with his wife. But in those moments, as the world flickered beyond his screen, it all felt painfully boring and pointless.
He logged into his game, Evonshire—his...
Bekka Scott
Published by Bekka Scott, 2024.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places,
or events are entirely coincidental.
BENEATH THE ASHES
First edition. December 18, 2024.
Copyright 2024 Bekka Scott.
ISBN: 979-8227739568
Written by Bekka Scott.
For my feral one. I love you.
The difference between a garden and a graveyard is
only what you choose to put in the ground. —Rudy Francisco
Chapter 1
Emma Dawson’s hands moved with a practiced grace, her
fingers deftly...
By Bekka Scott
Copyright 2024 Bekka Scott
All rights reserved.
DEDICATION
For all the parts of me and you that no one else understands. You are seen, you are valued, and you are loved.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My husband and children, thank you for believing in my wild dreams, even when I didn’t believe in myself.
Chapter 1
Arthur Hall slouched at his desk, the usual office noise fading into a low buzz in the background. His computer screen flickered, each flash making his heart...
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the tiny bookshop, mingling with the earthy scent of aged paper. Each step on the polished wooden floorboards let out a gentle creak, a sound that seemed to echo in harmony with the quiet hum of the old ceiling fan above. Olivia, the shop’s owner, ran her fingers across the leather spines of books stacked neatly on the oak shelves. Her routine was a ritual—one she had perfected over the ten years since inheriting the store from her...
So I tried several ways to get book covers, I tried the AI versions, ew. I have tried Fiverr, eh... not terrible but very pricey for a new author. I have a go-to lady who is amazing but she is so terribly busy with her wedding that I hate to ask her for anything. So, the search continues. I have a pretty specific set of actors for the "look" and I have an idea of what I want it to include, so do you have any suggestions on where to get the best, cheapest book cover?