The Dating Intervention: Book 1 in the Intervention Series (43 page)

“So, tell me about your grand opening,” she said. “What’s the plan?”
 

For a moment, Jake looked nervous. He shrugged.

“Mingle, show people how we painted the walls. Most importantly, I need a beautiful woman. Arm candy. To take the attention off me. Tell me you’ll be there.”
 

“Me? Of course I’ll be there. I couldn’t stay away.”

Jake had requested a pre-Grand Opening Happy Hour date at Rowdy’s to relax his nerves. Delaney walked down the sidewalk, admiring the blossoms on the trees and the singing of the birds. In her lovesick daze, she didn’t even notice someone was standing on the sidewalk outside Rowdy’s until she ran right into her.

“Delaney!”
 

“Beth!”
 

They hugged and Beth started to ask, “Have you cooked anything—”
 

But when she got a good look at Delaney’s face, she narrowed her eyes and said: “It’s that Jake guy, isn’t it? You’re totally smitten.”
 

Smiling, Delaney said, “What? I’m just going to meet someone for Happy Hour. What are you doing here?”
 

“I’m meeting Josh. We’re having dinner next door.” She blushed.

“Ah, I see,” Delaney said. “How’s that going?”
 

“Great,” Beth said. “I mean,
really
great.”
 

Now Delaney could see the goofy smile everyone had been accusing her of wearing. Beth’s face shone with pleasure.
 

“Have you cooked for him?” Delaney asked.

“Yes! But I totally burnt the roasted chicken.”
 

They burst into giggles.
 

“Have you cooked for the steamy stalker who was staring at you through the window that night? That guy you’re obviously smitten with?” Beth said.
 

“I did. And I made roasted chicken, too. But I was so nervous I had to call in reinforcements.”
 

Just then, Beth waved to someone behind Delaney. A handsome man with dark, curly hair, dazzling light brown eyes and smooth skin the color of coffee with cream put his arms around her waist and kissed her on the mouth.
 

When they finally broke apart, Beth said, “Josh, meet Delaney, my cooking partner. Delaney, Josh.”
 

“Ah, so you’re the woman who taught Beth how to cook a roasted chicken,” he said.
 

Beth elbowed him. “And you’re the man who distracted me, causing me to forget to take it out of the oven before it burnt,” she said.
 

Josh winked. Beth laughed and he grabbed her hand.
 

“We’d better go,” Josh said. “Our reservations are in just a few minutes. It was so nice to meet you, Delaney.”
 

“Yes, and maybe next time we’ll meet Mister Steamy Stalker,” Beth said.
 

Beth and Delaney hugged again.
 

“If you guys are done with dinner by seven, I’d love for you to be at Jake’s grand opening,” Delaney said. “It’s in that space off of Main Street, where the glass blowing studio was.”
 

“We’ll stop by,” Beth said. “Josh can’t distract me at a restaurant.”
 

“But I can try,” he said, giving Delaney a lascivious wink.
 

Delaney shook her head as Beth and Josh walked away.
 

“Smitten, huh?” Jake’s voice came from behind her. She jumped.
 

“Eavesdropping, were you?”
 

Delaney’s heart was beating so fast and hard she thought she might pass out from extreme embarrassment, even as Jake put his hands on her hips and pulled her closer, then kissed her on the nose.

“Couldn’t help it. I came to have a beer, and here you were. Please tell me I’m the guy she’s referring to as Mister Steamy Stalker.”
 

He kissed her again, on the lips this time. She wondered if he could feel her blushing. Surely the heat radiated off her skin.
 

“Came to see me, huh?”
 

“Well, I actually came to see if I could find a beautiful woman to stand next to at my opening tonight, and I lucked out. I think you’ll do.”
 

“Perfect. Let’s grab that drink.”
 

***

Jazz music played, wine glasses clinked and conversation flowed. Delaney kept one hand tucked into the crook of Jake’s elbow and the other clamped down on a glass of wine.
 

“Pretty good party, eh?” Jenny whispered in Delaney’s ear an hour in. “Jake always knows how to throw ’em.”

“Yeah,” Delaney said. We even got a few strangers off the street.”
 

“Oh, good. Maybe this will be his big start. I can’t believe you thought I was his girlfriend.”
 

Jake overheard her and gave her a playful punch on the arm. “Leave her alone, Caboose.”
 

“It’s okay, really,” Delaney said. “I plead temporary insanity. I was blinded by jealousy.”
 

Jenny shook her head. “That’s so cute. All right. I’ll leave you alone. I see a prospect over there.”
 

She sauntered off, tossing her hair back over her shoulder, her gaze locked on a curly-haired man in a fleece jacket, jeans and hiking boots. Jake watched her sidle up to him and rolled his eyes.
 

Beth and Josh, who’d walked in a few minutes before, were now standing off to one side admiring a glass vase. Beth looked over and gave Delaney a little wave. Summer and Josie stood with another pair of women, admiring one of Jake’s tables.

Jake put his arm around Delaney’s shoulders.
 

“I’m so relieved,” he said. “I was afraid nobody was going to show up. You’re really taking the pressure off.”
 

“All you had to do was ask. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

As always on Thursday afternoons, Delaney sat at a high-top table at Rowdy’s with Summer and Josie.
 

“I can’t believe you thought your dating system was fail-proof,” Josie said.

“It
was
. Almost.”
 

“Almost isn’t the same as fail-proof,” Summer said. “And stop whining!”
 

“Hey, remember when this whole thing started and you guys told me I was going to be happier than ever?” Delaney said.
 

“Yes,” Summer said. “And that you’d thank us?”
 

“And worship us?” Josie said.
 

“Yes,” Delaney said.
 

“Well?” Josie said.
 

“You were right,” Delaney said. “I am happier than ever. Thank you.”
 

“You’re so welcome,” the girls said, and Josie added, “But do you worship us?”
 

“I do,” Delaney said. “And, it looks like we’re all in a really good spot. “Josie, you’ve got the new job, Summer, your band is totally rockin’ it, and I’ve got Doctor Kat and Jake. Life is pretty good.”
 

“Life is good,” Summer and Josie echoed.
 

“I want to make a toast,” Delaney said. “To friends. You guys are the best in the world.”
 

Summer and Josie leaned toward each other.
 

“We really are,” Josie whispered. Summer nodded.
 

“To friends,” they said. “Best friends.”

THE END

Thank you for reading!

If you enjoyed “The Dating Intervention” and want to find out what happens next—with Josie and Summer, check out my
Amazon author page
to pre-order the next two books in The Intervention Series: Josie’s story, “The Marriage Intervention,” and Summer’s story, “The Motherhood Intervention.”
 

“The Marriage Intervention”
 

If Josie Garcia’s marriage were on the rocks, at least she could drink it like a vodka cranberry. Things are much worse than that. Lately, she and her husband Paul clash like peanut butter and pickles. To help repair her marriage, Josie’s best friends Delaney and Summer stage The Marriage Intervention, creating a set of rules designed to reignite the flame between Josie and Paul. The trouble is, Josie’s ex-lover (and current boss), Scott, is making things really hot at work. Scott has always been a secret-keeper, and now it’s Josie’s turn. Being a secret-keeper may cost Josie her marriage.

“The Motherhood Intervention”
 

With her fifth child on the way and her son’s heart surgery just around the corner, Summer Gray is already approaching her breaking point. Then her estranged mother shows up on her doorstep after fifteen years, claiming to want to rebuild their relationship. While struggling to forgive her mother for years of alcohol induced neglect, Summer daydreams of contracting a semi-serious illness or suffering nearly-life-threatening injuries so she can get a hospital stay-cation. Her friends Delaney and Josie stage The Motherhood Intervention, hoping to help Summer rediscover the life she loves and forgive her in the process.
 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hilary Dartt is a freelance writer specializing in direct response copywriting and editorial projects. She grew up among redwoods and hippies in Santa Cruz, California and graduate from Cal State Long Beach with a degree in Creative Writing. She then moved to Arizona’s high desert where she worked as a journalist before launching her freelance career. She lives with her family and an assortment of pets, including her Weimaraner, Leia and a flock of chickens. THE DATING INTERVENTION is her first novel, and the first installment of THE INTERVENTION SERIES.

THE DATING INTERVENTION

Hilary Dartt

Copyright © 2015 Hilary Dartt

All rights reserved.

For my family.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The writing of any book is about so much more than the actual act of writing.It’s the culmination of years of dreaming, storytelling, plotting, planning, thinking, and, finally, doing.
 

For many writers, that process begins in childhood, and it did for me, too.
 

So to my parents, I owe tremendous gratitude for not only noticing my love of writing, but also for nurturing it for years. And an extra-big thank you to my mom for saying, over and over, “Just write a novel.” Haha, Mom. I finally did it.

To my husband who has shown interminable patience throughout this process, serving as my sounding board for plots, characters and ideas, thank you! You’ve supported my crazy writing schedule, and tolerated my extra-close relationship with my computer as I worked most evenings for months to reach my word count goals and finish my books. Also, thank you to my children, just for being you, and for being my inspiration.

To my Partner in Believing, Rachelle, I couldn’t (or wouldn’t) go on without your positive words of hope and encouragement.
 

Zoe, thank you for being the first set of eyes on this manuscript, giving me strong insight into how to make it better. Shari, editor extraordinaire, thank you for nixing lots of -ly verbs and helping me make Delaney a deeper character. To the talented Bree, my cover designer, beta reader and friend, I so appreciate your brilliance in designing covers that tell the stories I want to tell.

Finally, to the women whose words of support and encouragement have come at precisely the right time whether you realize it or not: Kristina, Laurel, Mary Beth, Kerry, Jen, Christy, Amanda, Megan and Jo …thank you!