Rebecca and Michelle – you took this book and made it shine. I’m sorry I will never really understand how commas work.
To the Smartypants Romance authors, including Brooke and Fiona. Can you even believe we are here again? It goes without saying that I would not be here without you all. You make me laugh when I need it the most. [Piper] You offer words of wisdom and encouragement as only those deep in the trenches can.
Kelly, Layla, and Shannon – I hope you know what you mean to me. What is life?!
And, of course, to Penny. We are all here because of you. Your love and kindness knows no bounds. I intend to spend the rest of my life paying forward everything you’ve done for us all. You are a gift to the world.
About the Author
Piper Sheldon writes Contemporary Romance and Magical Realism books that hope to be NYT bestsellers when they grow up. For now, she works as a technical writer during the day and writes about love the rest of the time. Of course she also makes room for her husband, toddler, and two needy dogs at home in the Desert Southwest.
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Read on for:
1. A sneak peek of Upsy Daisy by Chelsie Edwards, Book #1 in the Higher Learning Series
2. Piper’s Booklist
3. Smartypants Romance’s Booklist
Sneak Peek: Upsy Daisy by Chelsie Edwards
Coming May 5th, 2020
Fisk University
Friday, August 15, 1975
Daisy
“Our father said the Washington Monument really does look like a hooded Klansmen up close. It even has beady red devil eyes.”
Dolly’s voice came into focus along with the edges of a stately building. I’d mostly spent the last three hours trying to tune her out with varying degrees of success. She was a history buff and had spent the better part of the ride peppering me with facts about Fisk University.
Did I know it was one of the first historically Black universities to be established? Did I know it was founded in 1866? Did I know Jubilee Hall was trying to get added to the National Registry of Historic Places? (I did … it’s almost as though I’d applied to go to school there or something.)
Sensing my lack of enthusiasm over knowledge I already possessed she’d moved on to my father’s Washington, DC trip, and was giving me—at least I thought she was giving me his assessment of the tour of the National Mall he’d taken yesterday.
My father was sore about missing move in day for my first year of college, but he was away at the National Association of Black Lawyers Conference in DC, and they were doing good work. Besides his being away was really a blessing. My sister Dolly was a nut, but my father would’ve been just a little weepy the whole ride.
I turned more fully toward the big building I’d seen, and heard Dolly put the car in park and cut the engine. From the corner of my eye I watched Dolly’s head turn my way. “Oh that’s Jubilee Hall,” she said staring past me out the windshield toward the three story red-brick castle staring back at me. It had a black turreted bell tower and white framed windows.
It was gothic, it was gorgeous.
Jubilee Hall, my dorm.
I get to stay in this fantastic old building. I get to be free!
I imagined the high vaulted ceilings of the place, the wide open airy rooms it must have. I imagine myself walking across the quad, books in hand, headed back to my comfy room at the end of the day. Of course I’d have an amazing roommate who’d be my best friend and—
THUMP-THUMP-THUMP
I jumped a mile.
Outside my passenger window a guy had appeared seemingly out of thin air. He was tall—so tall that I could only see his legs and mid torso until he stooped down. He was lean, with an athletic build. He wore charcoal gray slacks and a pale gold shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms. He wore a black and gold striped tie. Unlike most guys my age he wasn’t rocking an afro, he was clean-cut with a neatly trimmed facial hair and his close-cropped hair had a slight wave. Amber brown eyes were framed by thick, long coal lashes. The contrast between those eyes and the deeper chocolate of his skin striking. He was handsome. Really handsome. Really, really handsome.
He smirked a little, just as I noticed I was staring. Dolly looked at me annoyed. “Roll. Down. The. Window.” Over enunciating each word the way she did when she thought someone was a bona fide dolt.
He reached over to tap the window again as I reached for the hand crank to roll it down.
“Freshman?” he said his voice smooth and untinged with the southern accent I was accustomed to.
“I—uh—yes?” I said unsure of why my answer sounded like a question.
He smiled and the ambient wattage went up.
I mean honestly. He was a bit much.
“Okay, well that’s Jubilee Hall dead ahead, you’ll want to stop by there first,” he said leaning back so both Dolly and I could see him. “There’ll be a table set up out front for you to check in and get your dorm room assignment. Orientation’s at four thirty with your … parent? Or sister?” He winked and smiled.
I gaped. He was shamelessly flirting with Dolly.
I turned toward her expecting her to be indignant, and waiting for the dressing down— she ran a crew full of men and never took any mess from anyone—so I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw grinning, her fluttering fingers shooing him away playfully.
Since when did Dolly do anything playfully?
“Get out of here, you big flirt, and you best stay away from these poor freshmen girls.”
He laughed. “Well I can’t stay away today. I’m here to help them all get situated. But I promise to skip the orientation.”
“Trevor!” a disembodied voice called and Mr. Handsome turned around. He nodded his head and called back, “One sec,” to the voice before returning all his attention to me … I mean to us.
“Well duty calls, but if you need any help don’t be afraid to ask. I’m here to serve, ladies.” His voice dropping at the end as he chuckled and backed away. Dolly was already wagging her fingers at him but she was hiding a grin.
“Well he certainly was helpful,” I replied mildly.
Dolly shot me a look. “Yeah, helpful like a viper. You mind me and keep away from that boy. He’s handsome as the devil and knows it. Young men like that prey on freshman girls all the time.”