You don’t have to believe in magic to find it...
Callie James never expected a handsome prince or a fairy-tale ending. She already knows that life is full of unhappy-ever-afters—like finding her boyfriend with another woman, and being forced to return to her hometown and deal with her troubled past. Fortunately, she’s pretty much safe from romantic entanglements. That is, until she discovers the chief of police is also her teenage crush, Tyler Garrett. Now she must find a way to face her wicked stepfamily, win over Prince Charming...and save herself in the process.
“I wanted to thank you for tonight.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Callie said.
“Yes, you did.” Tyler swallowed. “I’ve been so wrapped up in family and work that I haven’t taken the time to go out and enjoy myself with other adults. So thank you for going along. I’m not sure I would have gone alone.”
“Really? You seemed anxious to go when Riva asked us.”
“That was for your sake. You needed a break.” He shrugged. “Turns out, so did I.”
The clouds uncovered the moon, illuminating her face. He leaned closer and touched his mouth to hers. He’d been wanting to do that all night. As soon as their mouths met, he knew it was a mistake.
This wasn’t the one chaste kiss they’d shared in high school.
This was the real thing.
When I originally conceived the plot of Prince Charming Wears a Badge, I had no idea it was a twist on Cinderella. But then I saw the live-action version of the movie Cinderella, where they go into much more detail about Cinderella’s life. When I saw how she was treated by her stepmother and stepsisters, I saw the similarity to my story.
The main difference, or the twist, is that my Cinderella, Callie James, doesn’t wait around for her prince to find her. She studied hard and got a full scholarship to college and never returned home. At least until she’s forced to. And that’s where she finds Tyler Garrett, a true prince of a man.
I hope you enjoy this twist on a favorite fairy tale. I’d love to hear from you at [email protected]. Check out my website, www.lisadyson.com, for upcoming releases.
Wishing you a happy ending,
Lisa Dyson
Prince Charming Wears a Badge
Lisa Dyson
LISA DYSON has been creating stories ever since getting an A on a fifth-grade writing assignment. She lives near Washington, DC, with her husband and their rescue dog with a blue tongue, aptly named Blue. She has three grown sons, a daughter-in-law and four adorable grandchildren. When not writing, reading or spending time with family, Lisa enjoys traveling, volunteering and rooting for her favorite sports teams.
To my prince of a husband, Michael
A special thank-you to my friend attorney Benjamin W. Glass, III for answering my many questions about the legal system. Any mistakes are entirely my own.
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