Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Sam's Story: Book Two (Skylar Trilogy) by Amy D. Crusan-Kramer Excerpt

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In this captivating saga, Samantha Skylar experiences undying passion and endures one horrific act of brutality that sweeps her into the arms of the second most powerful man in the country. Samantha’s journey takes her from the poverty and close-minded attitudes of a tiny, coal-mining town in West Virginia, to the estate of one of Atlanta’s oldest and wealthiest families. This epic trilogy follows Samantha from the age of 14 to 40.

Book Two opens in 1987, eight years after the events of Book One. Sam is living the life she had only dreamed of as a young girl in poverty-stricken West Virginia. She has a best friend, her own apartment and a good job. Sam fancies herself the epitome of the modern independent woman. Due to the debilitating losses Sam suffered as a young girl, she is understandably hesitant to make herself vulnerable to another person, and struggles with emotional intimacy. When she finally allows herself to love again, she suffers a heartbreak that takes years to heal.

1992 is a pivotal year for Sam. She spends two months on the campaign trail as the personal assistant to the Democratic candidate for the Vice Presidency of the United States. During her time away from Georgia, Sam realizes what, and who, is important in her life and she is confident of the direction the rest of her life will take. But the fates can be cruel … and a visitor from her past changes everything.

Excerpt:

Samantha
I was at my desk at 7:15 Monday morning and couldn’t sit still. I’d straightened up the outer office … several times. Finally at 8:05, Bastian came in. I looked up at him … and did a double take. It looked like he may have done some shopping too. He looked so handsome. He was wearing a dark charcoal grey suit that I’d never seen before. I smiled and blushed … his tie was pink, matching the color of my camisole perfectly. His eyes were taking in my new outfit. He chuckled, “Well, I see you got the memo about grey and pink today.”
“You look handsome, Sebastian.”
“And you, pretty girl, are beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, blushing like a twelve-year-old.
I heard Chelsea before I saw her. “Hey, how come we didn’t see you this weekend… oh my, look at the two of you! Get up, missy, let’s see the new duds!” I stood and walked out from behind my desk. “Turn around…” Bastian rolled his eyes at Jake and went into his office. “I approve.”
“Well, that’s a relief,” I laughed and returned to my seat.
“Don’t even think of telling me you got that at a thrift store! Which means that you did the unthinkable: you went shopping, at a regular store by the way, without me! What’s wrong with you?”
Jake walked by and whispered, “Thank you.” I giggled. Chelsea did love to shop!
“I don’t know … it was a spur of the moment thing. I just ran up to the mall after I left the animals on Saturday.” I walked over to her desk and looked to make sure both Jake and Bastian were in their offices and whispered, “Does the cami make me look slutty? I’m going for professional.”
Chelsea laughed out loud. “You know what Sam? I would like to see you, just once, looking slutty! No, you look very senatorial!” I walked back to my desk, satisfied. “So, really, what’d you do this weekend? Didn’t you get the message I left on your phone? We wanted you to go to a movie with us yesterday.”
“I got your message. I’m so keyed up about this lunch … look at me, my palms are all sweaty. I’ll bet that’ll impress the heck out of him. I’m going to have to shake his hand, right?”
“Good Christ! He’s a Senator. Yes, that’s impressive, but you’re just going to have lunch, talk about his event and then he walks out of your life. It’s not like you’re going on a blind date or something.”
I laughed, “You’re right and I keep telling myself all that, but I just keep thinking about me and where I came from. What’ll we talk about? We won’t have anything in common and he’ll think I’m a moron.”
“That dumbass Joe! That’s where all this is coming from isn’t it? You are funny … you’re well read … you love animals … you love baseball and you stay up-to-date on politics and current issues. You’ll be fine! Besides, Bastian will be there … stop being silly!”
“All right. Leave me alone. I’ve got work to do!”
“What time is he coming?”
“We’re meeting here at 11:15 and then going to lunch.” I stood up and walked over to her desk, whispering again. “Does this skirt make my ass look huge? I feel like it does.”
“Stop it, crazy! Get back to work!” I turned my back to her and returned to my desk. “No, it doesn’t! It makes it look good though.”
“Chels,” I whined, “that’s not what I’m going for…” She stuck her tongue out at me and we settled in to work.

“Shit!” I looked up; Chelsea was looking under her desk, holding her ear. “Get over here, Sam, I need your help!”
I got up and walked over to her desk. “What is wrong with you? What’d you lose now?”
“Shh, come here closer. The back of my earring … I think it’s back there, under the desk.”
I laughed at her. “Well, crawl under and get it.”
“Would you?”
“No! Have Jake get it … he has pants on. I can’t crawl under there in this skirt!” I started to walk back to my desk and she grabbed my wrist, pulling me back. “Chelsea!” I giggled. “Stop it!”
“Listen, I can’t have Jake do it. These are the earrings he got me for Christmas … that I practically begged on bended knee for. He told me it was a waste to buy me nice things, because I’m always losing them! C’mon, Sam, crawl under and look.”
I rolled my eyes, and leaned on her shoulder while I stepped out of my heels. “Why am I doing this for you? Why can’t you crawl under and get it?”
She grinned wickedly, “Because, my little munchkin, you can practically walk under the desk. Just duck your head a little…” her thought trailed off into laughter.
I got down on my hands and knees, not amused. “Okay, where do you think it went?”
“It’s way toward the back, I think.”
“Of course it is,” I muttered and crawled under her desk … seeing nothing. “I don’t see anything. Get down here and show me where you mean.”
She got down under the desk with me. “Good Christ, Sam!” We looked around and she suddenly collapsed in laughter, lying down on her side. “Um, you’d better hope Jake stays in his office. That skirt? A little short and even shorter when you’re on your hands and knees!”
I reached back and pulled the skirt down as far as it would go and continued looking, ignoring her nonsense. “Is this it?” I held up the small gold back.
She took it and crawled out from under the desk. “That is it! You’re the best friend ever. Thanks, Sam. Come on out.”
“Oh, can I come out now? Chels, how do I stand up ladylike in this? I’m going to need some help.”
“I’ll help you … back up! God, if you didn’t have to get all gussied up for your Senator…”
“Stop! If I run these nylons because of you…”
“Senator Carrington. I’m sorry, I don’t know where our assistants are.” I groaned as I heard Bastian’s voice.
“Dammit, Chelsea,” I hissed quietly at her. Her eyes were big as saucers and full of mischief. We both slowly backed out and looked up.
“Oh, god, you two,” Bastian groaned. “How long have you been standing out here, Daniel?”
I looked over at the Senator and breathed a sigh of relief when he looked at me and winked. His eyes were almost as full of mischief as Chelsea’s. “Just walked in, Sebastian,” he said as he shook Bastian’s hand. He then turned back to us. “You two find what you were looking for?”
Chelsea popped right up and shook his hand, “We did. I’m so sorry about this. I’m Chelsea Murphy.” I sat there staring at her with my mouth wide open. I couldn’t believe she left me down on the floor.
“Sam, you okay?” Bastian asked.
“Um, yes, just…”
“It’s so good to see you, Sebastian,” the Senator interrupted. “Why don’t you show me your office?” Bastian shot me another look before turning to lead the Senator to his office. Senator Carrington looked at me and smiled warmly. “Glad you found the back of her earring, I’ll keep the boss busy while you get up,” he laughed. It was a nice laugh. “Nice to meet you, Chelsea. Now, since Samantha was so kind to find the back of your earring, you should help her up.” He disappeared into Bastian’s office.
Chelsea just stood there watching the Senator leave. I reached over and tapped her on the foot. “Um, excuse me, can I get a little help down here?”
She looked down at me and burst out laughing. “Well, Sam, at least the ice is broken! Get up, silly.” I grabbed her hands and got up … probably baring everything in the process. She laughed and pulled my skirt back down to its desired length. “Besides, he went all Prince Charming on you, giving you privacy. Instead of Bastian who just looked at us like we’d lost our minds!”
“Well?” I shoved my feet back into my shoes and stalked over to my desk.
“Okay, be in a snit. You can’t stay angry with me for long. You’ll see the humor in this eventually.”
I stopped mid-way across the office and returned to Chelsea’s desk and whispered, “Would you do a nylon check for me?”
“Wow, you got over that quicker than I thought you would. Turn around.” I turned slowly while she checked the state of my nylons. “You look good … fantastic even.” With that, she gave my behind a smack.
I started to laugh until I heard Bastian groan again. “God, you two. Can you pretend to be adults when we have visitors in the office?”
“I-I’m sorry, Senator, we’re usually much better behaved.” I walked over and extended my hand. He took it with a smirk. “I’m Samantha Skylar. I may not have inspired a lot of confidence in you…”
“Oh, no, you’re the one that found the earring, right? Let’s go to lunch, I’m starved.”

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