Peggy Jaeger, Author

So unless you’ve been living under a rock – or don’t follow this blog ( LOL) you know today is release day for SABLE, my addition to the ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID sweet romance series.

This book was a joy to write because I got to use my medical/nursing knowledge and since it’s a sweet romance, I didn’t have to write any sex scenes, hahaha!

SABLE MILLER is Chance Miller’s sister. Last year, Chance was featured in the LAST MAN STANDING series and he got quite the following, so I’m hopeful readers enjoy Sable just as much.

Here’s the cover jacket for SABLE:

ALWAYS BEING A BRIDESMAID IS GETTING OLD…

Pediatrician Sable Miller is sick and tired of being the go-to, dependable bridesmaid in all her family and friends’ weddings. But her demanding job, the ridiculous hours, and endless family commitments keep her from finding the perfect man. A matchmaking service? Sounds like too much work. Swipe right dating? Not her thing. The bar scene? When was the last time she even had an evening free to go to a bar?

And forget about dating the myriad of on-the-make doctors and residents in her hospital. Besides, workplace romances never work out.

Sable’s options to meet the man of her dreams and start a family are dwindling and time is running out, because she promised herself the next wedding she would attend would be her own.

Kristopher Lee, the Physician’s Assistant assigned to Sable has a crush on his new mentor. But she’s got a hands-off rule when it comes to dating someone she works with. Kris is nothing if not persistent, though. After all, he didn’t survive two tours in the Army without focusing on a goal. And making Sable Miller fall in love with him is his best goal yet.

and a little excerpt:

They each declined a cocktail, Sable preferring a diet soda, Kris, water. A few minutes spent perusing the menu, then once their selections were ordered, Sable took a sip of the table water and said, “So. How was your day off? Do anything aside from sleep?”

“Few things. You?”

She shook her head. “I usually take the Saturday after my last night tour and sleep until early afternoon, then lounge around a bit and go to bed early so I can acclimate myself back to my normal routine. I don’t like to be foggy headed and tired when I start back up on days on Monday morning.”

“I’m on nights for the first six months. Not sure what happens after my probationary period ends. I guess I go where and when they need me the most.”

“You don’t mind the shift work? The crazy sleeping hours?”

“I got used to erratic hours in the army. There’s no real nine-to-five time frame overseas. You work when you’re awake, sleep when you can. Luckily, I do well on a few hours rest.”

Sable sighed. “I envy you that. I’m ridiculously stuck in my ways when it comes to sleeping.”

“How’d you fare in med school and as an intern? Those hours are crazy.”

“Poorly, to be truthful.” She smiled. “Back then I survived on Red Bull and determination.”

He laughed.

“When I finally graduated I slept for three days straight. Chance was so worried about me when I didn’t answer my phone he barged into my apartment, worried he’d find me sick. Or worse.”

“Chance?

“My older brother.”

“I don’t remember you having a brother in school with us.”

 “I didn’t. He graduated years before we even got into high school. Chance is ten years older. He’s turning forty in a few weeks.” She shook her head.

Their salads arrived and conversation halted for a moment. Once they were alone again, Kris said, “You got a wistful look on your face when you mentioned your brother. Everything…okay, with him?”

“Wistful?” She considered the word. “Maybe. No, everything’s great with Chance. He finally got married a few months ago to a widow with a six-year-old, so, instant family.” She wiggled her hands in the air as she smiled.

“First marriage at forty? Wow, slow starter.” Kris grinned and Sable laughed at the description.

“Not so much slow as determined to remain the last man standing. Chance never saw marriage as one of his life choices.”

“How come? Too busy having fun playing the field?”

 “No. Although, in truth, he did date a lot. A lot”. She laughed. “It was really because of all the stuff he deals with every day at work that made him relationship averse.”

“What does he do to have such a strong reaction?”

“He’s a divorce lawyer. One of the best, to be truthful.  His clients love him because he’s excellent at what he does. Other divorce lawyers hate going up against him.”

Kris winced. 

“Oh, gosh, sorry,” Sable said, heat flying up from her neck. “I forgot. I’m…sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He shrugged and shook his head. “It’s been three years since my divorce was finalized. I’m over it. Really.”

Who was he trying to convince, she wondered.

“We don’t have to talk about it,” she said, understanding there was still some pain there, “if you don’t want to. I know this was billed as a catch-up meal, but we can skip over a few things.”

He was silent for a moment as he regarded her. He’d always had such an intense way of looking at people, she remembered. As if trying to memorize every aspect of a face, or get inside the person’s head when they were talking. Most of the teenage boys she’d known hardly ever established eye contact, only doing so when they wanted something from her, and even then not lighting on her face for more than a second or two. Even as a teenager herself Sable had considered that behavior beyond rude, thinking at the time boys didn’t like her because they never looked at her.

Now, as a pediatrician, she knew the ins and outs of a child’s personality traits and recognized the non-establishment of eye contact as a universal trait among the age group, boys and girls alike.

Kris, though, had been the exception to the rule and still possessed that probing characteristic. As a sixteen-year-old with a serious crush she’d thought his eyes and the way he looked at her were the stuff of dreams. At thirty? Well, she could admit when his gaze drifted across her face and wound up back at her eyes, she still got a little fluttery.

He glanced down at his salad, then forked in a mouthful. After swallowing he asked, “So what finally changed your brother’s mind about marriage?”

“Freddie,” she said with a huge grin. “His wife. Her real name is Fredrika,” she added when his eyebrows flirted with his hairline at the name. “She owns her own coffee bar in the building Chance used to work in. That’s how they met.” She grinned. “Funny story about their first meeting, too. The ex-wife of Chance’s client happened to be in front of him on line, getting a cup to go after a hotly contentious settlement meeting. She spotted Chance, called him a few choice names, then tossed her iced coffee on him.”

“Thank goodness it was a cold brew.”

She nodded. “Freddie was horrified, came to his rescue and…” she shrugged.

“Love at first sight.”

“More like severe interest on his part. Freddie, as I said, was a widow and she’d vowed never to get involved with a man again and remarry because, in her words, she’d already found the love of her life.”

“Since your brother was marriage-shy, that fact must have been encouraging?”

“More than you realize,” she muttered and took a sip from her soda.

“There’s a story there. Spill it, Sable.”

I hope that whet your romance reading appetite!!

You can read the entire series here: ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID

and the men of LAST MAN STANDING here: LMS

And one last thing: I’m over on the ROMANCE SWEET READS Facebook group all day today talking about romance, books, having contests and doing a giveaway. If you’r free, stop by and play a game or learn more about the books featured in the series. There’s a big giveaway at the end of the perpetual party, so enter as many times as you can – each comment gets you an entry. I have posts at 9 am est, 12 noon, 3pm ESt, 6 pm EST and then at 8 pm. I’llbe checking the comments until Friday, when I pick my winners. Come join me for some fun!!!

Happy reading ~ Peg