Free Once Upon A Diamond (Prince Uncharming Book 1) by Payton Lane Page B

of romance novels. So it only made sense to pen a few herself when she got to the bottom of her TBR pile one day. Years later it's still the best job she's ever had. Lane writes sweet-ish contemporary romances. She lives in California with her children, and painfully adorable dog.
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    http://paytonlane.com
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EXCERPT FROM PRINCE UNCHARMING
    Chapter One
    “We’re getting too old for this.” Emmaline Sharp passed over her left high heel from the back of the SUV.
    Sasha sniffled from the passenger seat, causing Emma to pause mid-speech. Guilt, like a fresh wound, ached in her chest. Even in the dim streetlight she could see her friend’s reflection in the car’s rearview mirror. The hint of make-up didn’t hide the puffiness of her friend's eyes.
    “You complain every time.” Abigail twisted in the driver’s seat. Her pencil-straight, ebony hair glistened in the dark. “Right shoe.” She put out her small but deceptively strong hand.
    Emma gave it up. “I’m just saying, at some point, we may have to figure out a healthier way to get over break ups.”
    Sasha's hiccup sounded, ironically, like a lover’s gasp. “Brandon broke up with me over a text message. We’ve been dating for nine months and all I get is 'I’m bored with you. Have a nice life.' Then his signature is 'Conan FTW.'”
    Abigail and Emma met each others’ gaze over the low-backed seat. Sasha had the tendency to date losers. For some reason this relationship lasted longer than six months, which was the minimum for a break-up dare.
    Ten years ago they came up with the idea. What better way to get over some guy than to watch your friend, or yourself, make a fool of themselves to cheer you up? When the tradition started, freshman year in college, six months seemed like a lifetime to be with one boy. They chose who would do the dare like a true democracy and pulled straws. Emma pulled the short one tonight. Not an issue in the scheme of the things, except one always had to outdo traditions.
    “Why can’t we be like normal people?” Emma handed over her stockings, because Abigail wasn’t having this event stalled a moment longer.
    “What do normal people do after a break up?” Sasha frowned at Emma.
    “Get drunk and whine about men,” Abigail said. “It’s a well-honored pastime.”
    “She wouldn’t get drunk with us anyway,” Sasha pointed out. “She has to get up at like four in the morning. That guy is coming to the bakery to iron out their deal.”
    “Oh, yeah that guy,” Abigail said.
    Emma rolled her eyes. “He owns a coffee shop. He wants my treats—” She blanched at how that sounded. “He wants my desserts to display in his store in Heron and here too when he opens. Never met him. Never talked to him directly. Don’t know why he’s that guy.” She sighed. “Though the married couple who runs the day to day business are the most adorable people I’ve ever met.”
    “Online,” Abigail corrected.
    “Same difference. I’m excited and hopeful. Maybe we could celebrate possibilities instead.”
    Heron was a town more than fifty miles away from Sweet Tooth, which made the possibilities endless and the opportunity too good to pass up. She hadn’t realized how much she wanted to branch out until Tina and George, the face of the company, had contacted her. They were co-owners with another mysterious man—Tobias Merchant. Emma wanted the expansion like nothing else. It was a rare thing for her to want something that much. She'd created a wonderful life despite past heartaches and had thought if all her life would be was her bakery and her friends...then she'd be happy.
    Apparently not.
    “I’ll meet the silent partner tomorrow. I still need to tweak some of the recipes,” Emma said. “A late night bender is out.”
    “Your sweets are fine,” Sasha said.
    “They’re delicious as is and you know it.