Hey, book bae! Here’s an unedited sample of A Picture Perfect Love!
Synopsis:
Photographer Zuri Simpson has given up on love for herself, but she still believes it can be found for everyone else. The hopeless romantic uses her photo booth to set strangers up for blind dates, but she’s never considered using it for herself—until one of her clients gets stood up.
Mayan Smith has always wanted love and a family of his own. Unfortunately, his playboy reputation from his younger years has made it almost impossible for him to find a suitable wife in the small town of Hibiscus Hills. When his future sister-in-law mentions a photo booth blind date, the adventurous ex-basketball player is all in.
For Zuri, adding matchmaker to her resume was supposed to be a fun way to get new clients and increase her income… Falling in love was nowhere on her to-do list. Will Zuri’s health and past experiences cause her broken heart to reject all that Mayan has to give, or will she allow him to gift her with a picture-perfect love?
Unedited Sample:
Mayan
As my eyes scanned her frame, I prayed to God she was the woman I was about to go on a blind date with. Even with me just seeing her from the back and side, I could tell she was my type—tall, slim, milk chocolate hued skin, long hair. Clearing my throat, I licked my lips as she finally turned to face me.
Damn.
She was pretty as hell.
Her eyes were tight and slanted. Deep dimples rested in her cheeks as she smiled… and what a smile it was. It was bright and white. She had pretty, straight teeth. Those lips and that smile… a nigga was stuck off that alone.
As my eyes lowered down her frame, she casually closed the oversized button-down shirt she was wearing over a tight-fitting shirt. She had a little pudge, but I didn’t care about shit like that. Whoever she was, she was beautiful, and a little stomach wasn’t going to change that.
“Mayan?” she confirmed as I slowly walked over to her.
“Yeah. You are?”
Her smile widened as she pulled her hair behind her left ear. It was long, mid-back length, and it was a pretty blend of brown, gold, and black.
“I’m Zuri, owner of Snapped. Um… I’ve been trying to call you…”
Fuck.
She smelled good. Like cotton candy. Her lips were moving, but all I could do was inhale her scent as I stepped closer.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
Chuckling quietly, Zuri crossed her arms, lifting her breasts and lowering my attention to her hardened nipples. The black ribbed shirt was showing off every-damn-thing, and I was loving it too.
“I said your date canceled for the evening. I was trying to call and see if you wanted a refund before you arrived, but the call kept going straight to voicemail.”
With a nod, I briefly looked around the photography studio. In the front room, it looked like a basic receptionist area. Only difference was, every wall had several pictures that I assumed Zuri had taken. The lavender and blue walls and décor gave a calming and comfortable vibe along with the soft instrumental she had playing in the background.
“I have my phone set to automatically send numbers I don’t know to voicemail,” I explained.
She nodded. “Oh, okay. Well. I’m really sorry about that. I can do the refund now…” Zuri turned and went behind the glass desk.
“Nah, I can just go on the date with you.” Her phone slipped out of her hand at the sound of my words, but instead of her saying anything she just looked at me with her mouth partially open as her eyebrows bunched. “Unless you’re married?”
Blinking rapidly, she slowly shook her head. “Married?”
Unable to hold back my smile, I nodded. Softening my voice, I leaned against the desk. For some reason… I felt the need to be closer.
“Yeah. Are you married, Zuri?” Her head shook. “So can you go on the date with me?”
“Are you sure you don’t want the refund?”
“I’m positive,” I replied with no hesitation. It didn’t matter who had canceled—I wanted her as soon as I laid eyes on her. If God was winking with the other woman canceling so I could get to know Zuri’s pretty ass, I was not going to miss this chance.
Her shoulders relaxed and she smiled softly before tugging her bottom lip between her lips. I hate that she did that. They were juicy as hell. Now I’d be wanting to do the same damn thing just to see how she tasted.
“Okay,” she agreed. Her voice was light and airy. I liked that shit. “Can you give me just a minute to set the booth up? I was sure you’d want the refund so I hadn’t bothered to set it up.”
“Yeah, that’s cool. You need me to do anything?”
Zuri’s head shook as she rounded the desk then closed the front door and locked it. “No. Have a seat. It won’t take long.”
Nodding, I watched as she walked away. In heels, the top of her head came to my chin. She had on short shorts that exposed her long legs. I couldn’t help but envision them wrapped around my neck as I dug deep in her pussy.
Sitting down, I went to my call log to lock her number into my contacts. I planned to pull out every charm I had to make her want to see me again after this evening. As unsure of going on a blind date as I was, I’d started to look forward to it as the days went by. There was something about meeting someone that was supposed to be a good partner for me yet I knew nothing about them that was exciting.
Giselle and Tasia had already started blowing up the group chat I had with them and Dru. I made sure to put my phone on Do Not Disturb before getting on Facebook and looking for Zuri’s profile. She didn’t have a personal one, only a like page for her business. That was refreshing. I don’t know how much time had passed because I’d gotten lost in her photos. She was talented as hell, that I couldn’t deny. As she made her way back inside, I stood.
“Sorry about the wait, and about your date.”
“It’s cool. You’re pretty as hell, and you smell good.” I didn’t realize how childish that sounded until the words left my mouth. Zuri didn’t seem to mind, though. She blushed, lowering her head as she cupped her hands in the center of herself.
“Thank you, Mayan. You’re really handsome, and you smell good too.”
Our eyes remained locked for a few seconds before she inhaled a deep breath and used her hand to motion for me to follow her outside.
I grinned at the sight of what used to be a food truck parked outside. It was painted lavender and blue with the name of her studio and tagline written in cursive across the side. With the backdoors open, I could see into her setup. The shit was cool and creative as hell.
The center of the truck had a photo booth inside. With the curtain pulled back, I was able to look inside. She had a small table with candles, a charcuterie board, and wine on top. There was an iPad mounted along with a small camera.
“So, the camera snaps pictures throughout the entire date. Typically, dates last for one hour unless the couple requests more time on the intake form. You chose the one-hour date, which includes snacks, wine, and get to know you time.”
“Is it too late for us to add the dinner and movie option as well?” Zuri nibbled her cheek as I closed the space between us. “Or do you have someone coming in after me?”
“No, yours was my last date for the evening, so we can do whatever you want.” Her eyes widened and head shook as she lifted her hands. “Well not whatever you want because I don’t know you, but yeah. We can watch a movie on the iPad, but I’ll have to order dinner. I usually work with a personal chef who caters it.”
“That’s cool. You can leave dinner to me. I know this is probably a lot for you to process so suddenly.”
“Yeah.” She chuckled and released a soft sigh. “No one’s ever asked me to be their date if they were stood up.”
“They must have talked to you over the phone because I can’t see too many men with good sense not taking the chance to spend time with you.”
She was shy—they were usually the freakiest.
I couldn’t wait to find out.
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