Worth Waiting For by Delaney Diamond Page B

don’t hurt, either.” Her attempt at humor elicited a small smile from him. That tiny glimpse spurred her on. “Three years ago, I got out of a long term relationship. It was very painful. Any man I become involved with, whoever he is, has to be patient.”
    She stepped closer, gazing up at him, letting him see in her eyes how much she cared about him and needed him in her life. The fear of losing him forever and never knowing where they could take the relationship they’d started instilled a far greater fear in her than the fear of loving him and getting hurt.
    “I’m still scared, but if you’ll be a little patient with me, I promise you won’t regret it.”
    She waited, holding her breath, hearing her heart beat so loud she wouldn’t doubt he heard it, too. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he enclosed her hand in the warmth of both of his and graced her with a full smile. Everything would be fine. She could breathe again.
    “My name is Frederico Mendoza, but everybody calls me Freddie. Maybe I’m the man you’re looking for. I’ve been told I have a good sense of humor. I’m honest, and my goal is to expand my business from a six man crew to a twelve man crew in the next two years.” He spoke quietly, the warmth of his voice enveloped her. “And I think you’re worth waiting for.”
    Not caring that he was in his work clothes, Julia did what she’d wanted to do since the moment he stepped inside the house. She buried herself in the comfort of his arms and pressed her cheek against chest.

 
    About the Author
     
    Delaney Diamond ( delaneydiamond.com ) was born and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She has been an avid reader for as long as she can remember and wrote her first novel at the age of fourteen, which she only shared with her friends. Her writing won her several trophies in high school and a scholarship to help pay for college. In 2008 she started freelance writing, and in 2009 she gave fiction writing a try again, which resulted in her debut novel, The Arrangement.
    A diehard foodie, when her head’s not buried in a book, she’s in the kitchen trying out new recipes or dining at her favorite restaurants with friends. She speaks fluent conversational French and can get by in Spanish.

 
     
    Another great read from Astraea Press!
     

     
    Joan Smith worked hard not to fidget while she waited at the back of the line that wound its way around the bank’s glossy interior. No fewer than twenty people awaited attention from the bank’s lone teller in the space not designed for such a crowd. To make matters worse, the woman seemed to take the longest time possible to complete even the simplest of transactions for the frustrated customers.
    Since she’d opened her account with this bank a little over six years ago, Joan had noted their claim to fame seemed to be super bad service. All that was about to end, Joan thought, as the man being served snatched up his documents and stormed off. For her anyway. She’d opened another account with an online bank a couple years ago. They’d been fabulous. They’d even notified her when this bank had tried to initiate an automated loan transfer from her new accounts based on information she’d given them for one payment. Even though it was a huge pain in the rear end, that’s what had prompted her to finish paying off this loan with cash in person.
      “Next.” Her tone dripped with boredom as the teller shrugged and took in the line with a nonchalant air.
    When the customers inched forward, Joan fantasized at how wonderful it would feel once she was done with this institution. She had one last payment on the loan she’d had to take out to repay the bank’s hefty overdraft fees incurred after they’d held a deposit without her knowledge. Just thinking of the way they’d drained her checking and savings accounts in less than two days was enough to get her steaming mad. So it was best not to think about it. Especially since they’d