Some books go through more revisions than others. Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe ended up with a lot of rearranging and editing, but most of the original scenes stayed in the final book. Except for this one.

In this version of the story, the “day trip date” was actually to Santa Fe, New Mexico! Enjoy this short clip of a scene where they’re finally on the ground and headed to their destination: a renowned tapas restaurant in Old Town Santa Fe.

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Justin couldn’t lie to himself and pretend he wasn’t trying to impress Melody. The thing he couldn’t figure out was why, after countless women that had barely made it a month before they went their separate ways, Melody was the one he couldn’t stop thinking about.

She sat quietly in the car beside him, just taking in the surroundings out the window. The route from the airport was brown and barren, even the buildings and the signage made from red-brown adobe that blended into the landscape. In his opinion, the scenery beside him was far more worthy than what was outside the car.

He had to know. “So tell me… good surprise or bad surprise?”

She turned to him as if shocked that he even had to ask. “Good surprise, of course. I have to tell you, I would never use you for those non-existent trips to Paris you were talking about, but I would totally use you for those last minute trips to Santa Fe for lunch.”

He grinned. “That’s what I like about you. The fact you say whatever’s on your mind.”

“I’m not sure that’s really a strength,” she said ruefully. “More like my biggest weakness.”

“No, it’s refreshing. I like knowing where I stand.”

“And do you? Know where you stand, I mean?” There was a teasing glint in her eye, like she was baiting him. Flirting with him definitely.

He braked at a stoplight, surprisingly busy for the afternoon in what was not a huge city. “I’m thinking that after this surprise, you’re probably not going to hit me if I kiss you.”

“I guess you’ll just have to find out.”

He knew a dare when he heard one. He leaned across the console in the small car and took her chin in his fingertips before brushing his lips across hers. Her sharp intake of breath, the tightening of her hand on his sleeve, made him wish there wasn’t so much separating them, preventing him from kissing her more fully. And then the blare of a horn snapped him back to the present and he hit the gas with a laugh.

“You’re bad for me. You make me break all sorts of traffic laws.”

“Yes, I’ve turned you into a traffic delinquent with one kiss.”

He laughed, once again paying attention to the road in front of him and not the woman beside him, though it was difficult. She was so easy to be around. He never felt like he had to be on his best behavior. She took every twist with equanimity and a little bit of humor, an underlying sense of adventure. She’d clearly been apprehensive about the plane, but she’d gone along and hadn’t been shy about showing her delight.

There was no artifice about this woman.

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While I liked the scenes in the finished product better, this quick little kiss in the car was just too cute to land on the cutting room floor.

If you haven’t yet gotten your copy of Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe, what are you waiting for? It’s still available as a $4.99 e-book through the end of the month! Click here for links to retailers.

Tags: deleted scene, excerpt