About the Book
Jake Jiles was always handy with tools. Despite his love for all things do-it-yourself, he went to college and majored in business to fulfill his parents’ dream. He finally got the courage to leave his corporate job and start his “Honey-Do-4-Hire” business. Less than a year in, he’s already exhausted his savings and still living at home with his mother, but he’s determined to birth his franchise. Consumed with his business and fresh off a breakup, he wasn’t in the market for Mrs. Right. But after completing a job on Valentine’s Day, his potential dream girl, Sky showed up. After a brief chat over her car dilemma, he ignored the chemistry and left without her number. But cupid and God had other plans. After a divine connection, the only thing that stood between Jake and Sky, were funds. Will Jake pursue “Love on a Budget” or miss out because the price is too high?
Sample Chapter
Chapter 13 – Distressed Damsels
Jake
said a mental thank you for the truck’s navigation system and pulled over on
the side of the road. So much for relaxation, duty calls. He walked up to the door and heard a few
women laughing loud. He had on his work
pants, Honey-Do-4-Hire logo shirt, cap and boots and carried a small tool box. The door opened before he could knock.
“Um,
you must be Mr. Honey-Do.” Yasmine was
standing there with a drink, in heels, a mini skirt, crop top and a feather boa
around her neck.
“Yes,
I guess that would be me. May I come
in?”
“Girl,
get out the way and let the man in.”
Jake heard a voice from the back.
Yasmine
turned around, “Meeka, hush. I was the one who called. I’m the damsel in
distress.” She extended her hand. “Yasmine Nash.”
He reached out his
free hand and shook hers. “Jake… Jiles.”
She smiled then
sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes at Meeka.
“Please come in. The kitchen’s this
way.” She walked slow and put her heels
to work as her black mini swung from side to side. Jake kept his eyes forward and did a mental
eye roll.
“Um,
um. That thang right there.” Meeka said
aloud, not caring that Jake heard.
“Dang, let me go break something.” She crunched on a carrot stick then
licked her pink lips.
By
this time Bree, Yasmine’s other friend had arrived and was sitting in the
living room with her legs crossed, unfazed.
“It’s
the garbage disposal.” Yasmine said as she pushed Meeka out the way.
“You
mind?” Jake made sure the switch was
off, then knelt down with his flashlight.
“Just a minute…I need to slide under here.” He pushed the reset button
and nothing happened. “Seems like
something fell in and jammed it.” He slid back out and stood up. “Let me see…” He put on some rubber gloves
and grabbed a few tools from his box. He
slid back under the sink. He unscrewed a few parts and knocked around. Finally he was able to dislodge the culprit—a
chewed up dish cloth as he emerged from beneath the sink.
“Ugh,
that’s disgusting.” Meeka frowned.
“Uh,
I know you ain’t talking with your non-housekeeping self. This is the thanks I get for planning this
fabulous soiree for your lonely-no-man-having—”
“Ladies,
ladies, um don’t mean to interrupt, but I have another job after this.”
He walked over and placed the
dishrag in the trash. “Do you mind if I
go wash my hands? We can wrap it up when I come back.”
“No,
not at all.” Yasmine said.
When
he left to go to the restroom he heard loud whispers.
“Gurl,
I’mma ask him. What woman would let a
man that fine work on Valentine’s Day? If that were my Boo, huh, I’d serve him
breakfast and spend all day with him.” Meeka dipped the ladle in the punch bowl
and poured some in her cup.
When
he opened the door to come out he started to write up the bill.
“Yoo-hoo,
Mr. Honey-Do? I know you gots to have a woman. A man Boris-Kodjoe, Idris-Elba fine?” Meeka’s ponytail whipped in animation as her
neck moved with her words.
He
smiled. “I’m flattered. Don’t mean to be rude, but I really do have to
go.” Jake flashed his smile again,
hoping they’d be satisfied with that.
“Yeah,
we know the real reason you rushing off.
You got a woman.” Yasmine said, batting her extra long lashes. She
signed off on the bill and paid him.
“Appreciate
it,” he said, ignoring their inquiries. “Okay, ladies, enjoy the rest of your
evening. If you need anything else, you
have my information.”
“Anything?”
Meeka said, fanning herself. She watched him until he left out the door.
~~~~~
As Jake stepped
outside and rushed out to the driveway, he noticed a woman that was seated
inside her car fumbling with the door. She was visibly frustrated and talking
to herself. “I can’t believe I just did this. Ugh!” She opened the door wide and jiggled a latch.
Jake walked toward
her. “Excuse me, miss, you okay? Need
some help?”
She sucked her
teeth. “I did the most stupid thing. So like me,” she said, focused on her
lock.
“What
happened? Can I take a look at it?” he
asked, concerned.
She finally
stopped to focus on Jake. Her eyes moved
from his work boots, to his jeans, to his arms bulging from his work shirt,
then to his handsome face. Then she saw
the logo. “Honey-Do-4-Hire?” She chuckled.
“Look, I’m not the
one needing help.” He wasn’t laughing.
She raised her
finger. “I guess you’re right.” For a
few seconds their eyes connected. She
couldn’t help but notice his milk brown skin and iridescent eyes. She was
caught off guard by how handsome he was, but she didn’t let on.
“C’mon, let me check it out. What happened?” He knelt down to look at the side of the
door.
“Well, I was rushing trying to get over here.
Yasmine always nags about being on time. I wasn’t even gonna come. I was all set for my movie marathon. But
nooo, she started whining. Anyway, I
stopped at the grocery store and slammed my seat belt in the car door. I had to hold the door closed on the way
here. Thank God it was less than a mile.
This is gonna cost me some money.
The electronic door lock isn’t working.”
As she sat there
explaining, he took in her face. He loved the way her short layered cut
highlighted her high cheekbones. As she
spoke, her long eyelashes bounced every few seconds. Her
skin is so smooth. Jake quickly
focused, “Okay, stay calm. If you step
out I can get in to get a better look.”
She turned her
body so she could step out. Jake tried not focus too hard on her athletic
body. She was casually chic in jeans, a
white top and high heel boots with a scarf wrapped loosely around her neck.
He placed his tool
box next to the door. He eased in the driver’s seat and immediately went into
damage control. He reached down in the
box to grab a small metal tool and jiggled the area where the door closed. He jumped back out. “Okay, there’s good news and bad news.”
“I figured,” she
said, folding her arms. She bit the side of her baby pink glossed lip.
Jake watched her
eyes widen. “The good news? I fixed it
so you can at least close and lock your door manually. The bad news…you’re
gonna need some electrical work on the lock. Off to the dealer you go. ”
She took a deep
breath. “Ugh. Between maintenance and
super unleaded gas, this car has cost me some money.”
He
grinned and shrugged his shoulders. “Sorry I couldn’t do more.”
She
smiled warmly, her teeth sparkling like the diamond studs in her ears. “No
worries, at least you tried. So what’s
this gonna cost me?”
“You’re
joking, right? I barely did anything.”
“Well,
chivalry isn’t dead after all.” She raised her neatly arched eyebrows. “There’s still a few of us out
here.” Jake grabbed his box.
She
stuck out her hand, “Thanks, um…”
He
pulled the side of his shirt where his name was embroidered.
“Jake,”
“Jake,”
He
grabbed her hand, “You’re quite welcome…”
About the Author
Norma L. Jarrett is the author of Randomhouse novels Sunday Brunch, Sweet Magnolia (Essence magazine national book club selection) and The Sunday Brunch Diaries (Essence Bestseller) and other works: Brunchspiration, Lexi’s Law School Diaries,
Christmas Beau and Love on a Budget. Her work has gained
attention in Ebony, Essence, Gospel
Today, Jewel, Publisher’s Weekly, Rolling Out, Southern Living, Upscale, and
USA Today. Norma has been a featured
guest on ABC 13’s Crossroads, the Yolanda Adams Morning Show, and other media
outlets. Among other honors, Ms. Jarrett has received a Certificate of
Congressional Recognition for her literary work. She has served on various
panels, including but not limited to the: Baltimore Book Festival, Faith &
Fiction Retreat, Harlem Book Fair, Miami Book Fair, and other venues. Ms.
Jarrett is a graduate of North
Carolina A & T State University
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