Book excerpt: Naima Hawkins has spent the past twenty-five years building a good life for herself. With the help of family and friends, she started a gourmet coffee shop that is more successful than she could have ever dreamed. Then one day her past walks in and she’s shaken to the core. Tucker Hewitt had been her first everything. When he’d decided he wanted to explore the world, a huge fight between the two of them had resulted in him leaving town. When he tells her he’s back for good and wants to pick things up where they left off, she does her best to steel her resolve. Because no matter how hot he is, she and Tucker Hewitt aren’t meant to be. Tucker Hewitt regrets leaving Naima Hawkins the way that he did. But at the age of twenty, he’d been young and dumb. Something he could no longer claim at the age of forty-three. He’s matured and knows what he wants in life. When he runs into Naima Hawkins, all his feelings come rushing back. He wants a second chance to get things right between them. What he doesn’t expect is for Naima to turn him down flat. Fortunately, another thing that maturity taught him is patience. As far as he’s concerned, he has all the time in the world to show her that a connection like theirs shouldn’t be wasted. He’s also willing to spend the rest of his life proving it. **This book was a part of the A Season for Love anthology. No significant changes have been made**