The Romcom Writer (The Romance Library #3)

Chapter 1

SARAH

‘It’s too big!’ I winced.

‘I’m sure you can make it fit!’

My best friend Jess laughed down the phone as I tried to squeeze my huge suitcase into the taxi whilst balancing my mobile between my neck and shoulder.

‘Get your mind out of the gutter, young lady!’ I said.

‘I don’t know what you mean,’ Jess replied in a mock-angelic voice. ‘You should definitely use that line when you write the spicy scenes in your book, though. Romance readers will love it!’

‘If only! I haven’t even managed to write a decent meet-cute yet, let alone a sex scene.’ I sighed.

‘I thought you wrote a few thousand words last week?’

‘Yep. And it was all crap, so I deleted it.’

‘Sarah!’ Jess scolded. ‘I’m no author, but you should’ve kept it, just in case. I bet what you wrote was much better than you think.’

‘Trust me, it was shit. I wrote a meet-cute in a café where the sexy hero spilt his coffee down the heroine’s blouse and it burned her so badly that he had to take her to hospital.’

‘That’s good, though, right? It shows the hero taking care of her.’

‘Yeah, but the burn ended up scarring her for life. Hardly romantic,’ I huffed, frustrated by my lack of writing progress and the fact that the taxi driver could see I was struggling to fit my suitcase in his cluttered boot but hadn’t offered to help.

‘Oh… well, you always said you wanted to write an enemies-to-lovers romance, so at least a coffee burn would be a valid reason for hating him!’

That was what I loved about Jess. Although it was obvious that my idea was rubbish, she still tried to encourage me and focus on the positives.

‘Or maybe edit it a bit so she doesn’t get scarred?’ Jess suggested.

‘I tried changing it to the hero offering her his shirt because she had an important meeting. So he invited her to his office to do a clothes swap, and I was about to write that they started shagging on his desk, but then I stopped.’

‘Oh… okay!’ Jess paused. ‘That’s very insta-love. Some readers like that. Why did you stop writing that scene?’

‘Because if they banged in the first two per cent of the book, what the hell would I write for the other ninety-eight per cent?’

‘Good point.’

‘I just don’t think I’m cut out for this writing stuff.’ I blew out a breath as I finally managed to close the boot before sliding onto the back seat.

‘Of course you are!’ Jess insisted. ‘You just need the right inspiration, that’s all. The change of scenery will do you good. You’ll see.’

‘I hope so,’ I said, tying up my smooth shoulder-length black bob and wiping my forehead with the back of my hand. I’d barely started my journey and I was already sweating like a pig. ‘I’m definitely not getting any inspiration from here.’

‘Forget about that. From today you’ll have a fresh start. New town, new job and maybe even a new man…’ Jess teased.

‘Maybe!’ I said, excitement fizzing in my stomach.

I was finally leaving the tiny town in the Midlands where I’d lived my whole life to go and work with Jess, who ran a romance library in a gorgeous seaside town called Sunshine Bay in South East England.

I’d been running the library’s social media since before it opened around eight months ago. Now they had the money to expand, Jess had hired me to work full-time.

Talk about a dream job. I couldn’t believe that I was going to get paid to sniff and read books all day.

Okay, technically that wasn’t in my job description. I’d be employed as a full-time social media and online marketing manager. But I’d also need to help out in the library and the bookstore, so I was sure there’d still be plenty of time for book sniffing and reading.

Plus, as if bagging a bookish job by the beach wasn’t enough, I was finally going to meet one of the Eaves hotties.

Yep.

Move over, Chris, Liam and Luke Hemsworth. There’s a new trio of buff brothers ready to steal your ‘sexiest siblings’ crown.

Jess had already nabbed the eldest, her fiancé, Theo Eaves, who with his dark hair and piercing blue eyes was the spitting image of Henry Cavill (I know, right?

Some girls have all the luck). But when I’d discovered that he also had not one but two single brothers, I’d done what any hot-blooded woman would: asked how soon I could meet them.

Although they were both travelling abroad, Ben had visited Sunshine Bay a few times, but we kept missing each other.

Not any more, though.

He was staying in Sunshine Bay to work on some property renovation projects at the library with Theo, which meant I’d finally get to meet him. I was hoping for fireworks—plus lots of real-life inspo for my book, if you catch my drift…

Then again, if he was as hot as he looked in the photo I’d seen, he wouldn’t be interested in me. He’d probably prefer someone younger and prettier.

A sharp pain shot through my chest as the painful memories of what had happened in my last relationship came flooding back.

Of all the people my ex could’ve dumped me for, I still couldn’t believe that he’d chosen her.

That was the ultimate betrayal.

‘So…’ I swallowed the lump in my throat, reminding myself to focus on my bright new future, not my shitty past. ‘I should arrive in London after lunchtime and then I’ll jump on the train straight to Sunshine Bay.’

‘Great! If you need help getting from the station to the B&B, let me know and I’ll ask Theo or Jackson.’

‘Thanks, but I’ll just get a taxi.’

‘Okay. Once you’re settled, come to the library. I wish I was around this evening so I could help you unpack and take you to dinner, but I can’t get out of this engagement party thing Theo’s friend has in London. Sorry.’

‘No worries! You mentioned you might be out tonight before I booked my ticket, so I always knew there was a chance you wouldn’t be around. I’ll be fine!’

I could’ve waited until tomorrow to come to Sunshine Bay, when Jess would have more time, but I was so excited to start my new life that another twenty-four hours would have felt like a lifetime.

What I’d said was true, though. I’d be totally fine on my own for one evening. I could go for a walk on the gorgeous beach, or have dinner at the lovely fish and chips restaurant. Plus, I had a lot to unpack. The time would fly by.

‘Can’t wait to see you!’ Jess said.

‘Same, hon! Bye!’

After shoving my phone in my bag, I dragged my suitcase out of the taxi and onto the train, then got comfortable in my seat.

Butterflies fluttered in my stomach.

This was it.

Today was the first day of the rest of my life.

Fuelled with enthusiasm, I pulled out my ancient laptop, ready to start writing again.

I could do this.

Let’s go!

I quickly typed out ‘Chapter 1’, then waited for the words to magically flow onto the page, but nothing came.

It was okay, though. Any minute now, I’d get a burst of inspiration. I just needed to focus.

For the next ten minutes, I stared at the blank screen, willing the ideas to come, but nada.

Fifteen minutes later, I added, ‘a romance novel written by Sarah Jeffries’.

Yep. I was killing it with the word count. Nine whole words (well, technically eight words and one numeral) written in less than half an hour. Go, me!

Twenty-five minutes later, the page was still empty. It was obvious that I wasn’t going to get any writing done, so I closed my laptop, then pulled out a book I’d started reading last night and my phone instead.

After taking a photo, I drafted an Instagram post.

What’s the best thing about long train journeys? Uninterrupted reading time! I’m LOVING This Could Be Us, by Kennedy Ryan.

I’m torn between wanting to finish it so that I can find out what happens and never wanting it to end because I love it so much.

What are you currently reading? Let me know in the comments!

#romancereader #romancebookstagram #currentlyreading

By the time the train pulled into London, I was almost halfway through the book. After heaving my suitcase onto the train to Sunshine Bay, I put it in the luggage rack.

The train was pretty empty. There were just a few pensioners at the other end of the carriage, so I opted for a table seat at the back, tucked away in the corner.

Just as I was about to bury my nose back in my book, a man shot through the doors, making it inside just before they closed.

Talk about cutting it fine.

Whoa.

Lord have mercy.

As I caught full sight of him, I realised that the word fine was an accurate description, because this man was fine as hell.

He was tall, muscular and very, very sexy.

This mysterious stranger was wearing jeans and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He had tanned skin and dark hair, but I couldn’t see much of it or the colour of his eyes because he was wearing a baseball cap and fancy black sunglasses.

If someone told me he was a model who’d just finished shooting a Ray-Ban or Levi’s advert for a fashion magazine, I’d totally believe them.

‘Yeah, sorry about that, mate,’ he said in a deep, polished voice. ‘A woman was struggling to get down the stairs with a baby in a pushchair and another kid. Bloody lifts were out of service, so I offered to help her out.’

OMG.

Wait. Not only did this guy look hot, but he also helped women with pushchairs down the stairs?

Who said book boyfriends didn’t exist in real life?

This was it.

This was my very own real-life meet-cute moment.

I could just feel it!

An excited smile erupted on my face as I fantasised about how this epic encounter would all play out.

Once he finished his phone call, Mr Hot Train Hero would take off his glasses (slow-motion style, of course), then turn to face me.

His gorgeous forest-green eyes would lock with mine (I had no idea what colour his eyes really were, but let’s just run with forest green for now because that was the colour of Rocco’s eyes in my favourite novel, Office Delight).