#MFRWhooks Blog Hop - An Excerpt from A LONG WAY FROM EDEN - The Jerk and the Lemon Meringue Pie

In today's excerpt from A LONG WAY FROM EDEN, Zane comes to Meg's rescue when a drunken customer at the restaurant where she works gets a little too familiar:

Excerpt:

She found the last piece of lemon meringue in the refrigerator case and set it on a plate for Zane. She closed the fridge door with her hip and started back to his table.

"Hey sweetheart. How about a little sugar over here?"

Meg suppressed the urge to club the customer over the head with her coffee pot. Fending off over-eager customers was all part of the job. "Can I help you, sir?"

His gaze ran slowly up and down her body. "You sure can, honey. How about bringing me some of that pie? Maybe later we can test whether that motto on the license plates is really true. How friendly is 'Friendly Manitoba'?"

From the corner of her eye she saw Joe watching with a grim expression. She gave him a slight shake of her head. He'd had to intervene on occasion for both her and Jane when a male customer got a little too familiar. Fortunately, those occasions were rare.

"We're friendly, to a point," she said, trying to keep her smile in place. "If you'll excuse me, I'll bring your pie as soon as I serve my other customer."

"Now, don't go running away, honey." He put his hand around her waist, stopping her retreat and forcing her closer to him. Meg smelled the alcohol on his breath and fought back the panic that the stale odor always raised. His hand lowered to touch her butt and she stiffened.

"Let me go." She tried to free herself without losing the pie or spilling the coffee on him. She saw Joe step out from behind the counter and relaxed a little. She could always depend on him.

"The lady said to let her go."

Meg turned her head to see Zane standing beside her, a murderous expression on his face and his hands fisted at his sides. The jerk tightened his hold on her. Apparently, he couldn't read body language.

"This is none of your business. The lady and I were getting acquainted."

"The lady doesn't want to get acquainted with you. I said let her go."

The jerk pulled Meg closer. "And I said it’s none of your business."

Zane's next move was so quick Meg didn't see it coming. He shoved the pie into the jerk's face, surprising him enough that he let go of his hold on Meg's waist. Zane pushed her out of the way, grabbed the jerk by the collar, and tossed him out the front door.

The restaurant erupted in applause.

Blurb:

Zane Martin's teenage daughter is pregnant. Meg Evan's son is the baby's father. Because Zane grew up not knowing who his father was, he'll be damned if he'll let his grandchild live with that shame. Meg was forced into an abusive marriage because of an unplanned pregnancy, so she knows that love is the only good reason to marry. Neither Meg nor Zane expects or welcomes the attraction that sparks between them. As they await the impending birth of their grandchild, old wounds open and long hidden family secrets come to light. The young couple builds a newer, stronger relationship, while Meg and Zane reach for a love passionate enough to overcome the past—if they're strong enough to trust it...and each other.

Buy Link: https://books2read.com/A-Long-Way-From-Eden-by-Jana-Richards

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