Starter Wife (The Jilted Wives Club Book 1) by Bethany Lopez (a court of thorns and roses ebook free TXT) 📕

and moved through the dining room to the back where my friends were waiting. “Hi!”

“Hey, girl,” Whit said as she got out of her chair to give me a hug. “Margo’s on with a client.”

I looked over at Margo, who winked at me but continued her conversation, and took one of the empty seats.

“I’m so happy it’s Thursday,” I said as I picked up the menu.

We met every Thursday for dinner, unless something important came up, but so far at least two of us had been able to make it every week. We took turns choosing the restaurant and so far hadn’t gone back to any place twice.

It was fun and exciting, kind of a dining adventure, and I looked forward to Thursday as soon as I woke up on Friday.

Today we were trying a new Peruvian place.

“How’s your week been?” I asked Whitney, lowering my voice so as not to disrupt Margo’s call.

“Good,” she said, taking a sip of wine. “Silas’s lacrosse team had a tournament last weekend, so we pretty much spent all of our time there, but it was fun. You should have heard Luca screaming his head off like a soccer mom. It was great.”

“Sorry,” Margo said as she disconnected her call. “What’d I miss?”

“Nothing yet,” I said, barely able to contain my excitement. “I almost couldn’t wait to show you guys … This guy popped up on my “for you” page of the app and I’ve been dying to talk to you about him.”

“Someone you’re interested in?” Whit asked.

“Yeah,” I said, pulling out my phone and bringing up the app. “I haven’t touched the app since he popped up. I didn’t want to click yes on his profile until I showed him to you and got your opinion. Plus, I guess I’m a little nervous too. I mean, what if I like his profile and then he doesn’t like mine back?”

“Let’s see,” Margo said, holding out her hand.

“Okay, but don’t press anything,” I warned as I handed her the phone with the profile opened.

“Noah,” Margo read aloud. “He’s cute, in a bookish, professorish kind of way.”

“He is,” I nearly squealed. “He’s a professor and it says he loves books.”

“It does … and he loves dogs, sitting in the rain, and playing Words with Friends.”

“This guy is your type?” Whitney asked, looking a little baffled.

I knew people looked at me, a petite blonde with big boobs and a small waist, and figured I’d be a gold digger who went after older men with sports cars and AmEx black cards, but Whitney wasn’t trying to put me in a box like that. She’s asked me a few months ago to tell her my type so she could set me up and Noah was the opposite of what I’d told her.

But that’s because guys like Noah never went for me and I’d been afraid to ask for something I couldn’t have. But now, he was right there on my phone and I wanted more than anything to press yes.

“Oh, yes, he is … just look at him. With that floppy brown hair and those adorable glasses. Don’t you just want to eat him up?”

“I wouldn’t kick him out of bed,” Margo said, passing me the phone back right as I reached for it.

And when I grabbed it, my thumb accidentally pressed the no button, and his picture was gone.

“Nooooo,” I cried, trying unsuccessfully to swipe him back into existence.

“What happened?” Whitney asked.

“He’s gone.”

“Can’t you get him back? Search up his name or something?” Margo asked.

“No, there are no last names, and you can’t search by name. I pressed no, so I don’t know if he’ll ever pop up in my algorithm again,” I explained, looking at my phone sadly. “He’s gone.”

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Acknowledgments

To my kids, first and foremost. We have had a very difficult year, but have come through the other side stronger. I love you with all of my heart. Thanks for your love and support!

To my mom, Ann, and to Raine, for Alpha reading this as I wrote it and helping me when my writing wasn’t necessarily objective. Thanks for going on this journey with me!

To Allie, for another gorgeous cover. I love what you’ve come up with for the Jilted Wives Trilogy.

To Kristina, my editor. Thanks for sticking with me over all of these years!

To Ali, Jennifer, Lyn, and Jeanne, for Beta reading Starter Wife. Thanks for your honest feedback. I appreciate you reading and letting me know your thoughts.

To Jessica and Inkslinger PR, thanks so much for helping me get the word out about The Jilted Wives Club and for all of your help with promotion.

To my ARC Team, thanks for loving my books and these characters. I so appreciate your early feedback and enthusiasm!

About the Author

Bethany Lopez is a USA Today Bestselling author of more than thirty books and has been published since 2011. She's a lover of all things romance, which she incorporates into the books she writes, no matter the genre.

When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with family and traveling whenever possible.

Bethany can usually be found with a cup of coffee or glass of wine at hand, and will never turn down a cupcake!

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www.bethanylopezauthor.com

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