A Sudden Spark (The Spark Brothers Book 2) Read online

  A Sudden Spark

  The Spark Brothers Series Book 2

  Liwen Y. Ho

  Contents

  1. Brandon

  2. Bria

  3. Brandon

  4. Bria

  5. Brandon

  6. Bria

  7. Brandon

  8. Bria

  9. Brandon

  10. Bria

  11. Brandon

  12. Bria

  13. Brandon

  14. Bria

  15. Brandon

  16. Bria

  17. Brandon

  18. Bria

  19. Brandon

  20. Bria

  21. Brandon

  22. Bria

  23. Brandon

  24. Bria

  Epilogue

  Afterword

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by Liwen Y. Ho

  A Sudden Spark

  Copyright © 2018 by Liwen Y. Ho. All rights reserved.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Design: Victorine Originals

  Interior Design: 2 Square 2 Be Hip (www.2square2behip.com)

  Publisher: 2 Square 2 Be Hip (www.2square2behip.com)

  First Edition

  Created with Vellum

  For all the sensitive guys, especially my dear munchkin who has requested not to be named. I’m so thankful God made you just the way you are—sweet, sentimental, and strong.

  Chapter One

  Brandon

  Brandon Spark ran his arm across his forehead, catching the beads of moisture gathered there. He groaned. The bookstore had turned up the air conditioning to compensate for the mid-June heat wave, yet he was still sweating. He closed his eyes and tried visualizing his happy place, the quiet sanctuary of his study where he worked. Outside the window, birds sang a cheerful tune; inside, a candle burned with his favorite citrus scent. He placed himself in the picture and felt the tension in his shoulders melt away … until some high-pitched screams penetrated his bubble.

  Yikes. His eyes popped open. This could mean only one thing. His fans were already arriving for today’s meet and greet. It was a good thing he’d set multiple alarms to make sure he’d gotten here early. The author event wasn’t set to start for another twenty minutes, but there they were, fast approaching the corner of the store where he sat behind a small table. His heart began racing again at the thought of socializing for the next hour.

  How he longed for solitude. His fingers itched to get back to his laptop. Just hours earlier, he had been downing his third cup of coffee while he worked on his latest novel. He was right on schedule to finish the story, if he could only find a way to end it. He needed something better than And they lived happily ever after. His readers wouldn’t be happy with a generic ending like that.

  After successfully publishing ten romance books within the last two years, one would think he’d have this genre down. Actually, he did. He could plot out character profiles, story arcs, and conflict resolution in his sleep. His imagination had always been his strong suit ever since he was a kid. Whereas his four brothers excelled in talent, humor, strength, and charm, he majored in dreams—daydreams to be exact.

  He’d been the kid who lived at the library while his brothers played outside. As they grew up, he became the teenager who made up his own stories and scribbled them down in his journals instead of going out on dates. Now, at age thirty-one, he created stories in the comfort of his two-bedroom condo in a suburb outside of San Francisco. Not much had changed, except that he now made money selling books to eager women looking for happily-ever-afters.

  Which was why he needed this book to end the way his readers liked—in a swoon-worthy yet believable way.

  Brandon leaned back in his chair and released a heavy breath. He hated reading stories that didn’t have a happy ending. But he also hated romance that made love seem easy and cheap. He’d grown up in a Christian home and knew all the Bible verses about love by heart. The passage from First Corinthians chapter thirteen that listed the attributes of love was one of his favorites. He’d witnessed his parents’ marriage—thirty-five years next month—and how earnest and committed they were to each other. That’s the kind of love he hoped to portray in his books.

  His one problem though? He’d never experienced a relationship like that. Or any serious one for that matter.

  A young blonde woman appeared at Brandon’s side. “Don’t worry, Bran. You’re going to do great. I’m praying for you.”

  “Thanks, Danica.” He squeezed out a grateful smile in response to the store owner’s sympathetic one. He took several deep breaths, hoping to tame the anxiety gnawing at his chest. “I really appreciate you having me here again. As hard as these in-person events are, I know they’re good for me and my sales.”

  “They’re good for the store, too. I ordered an extra box of your books for today since we sold out last time.” She gave his arm a friendly squeeze. “I brought some extra make-up wipes, too, in case the ladies get a little overzealous with the kissing.”

  He winced, remembering the lipstick stains Danica had insisted on wiping off for him at his last book signing. He’d appreciated her effort, but the gesture had been too close for comfort. He didn’t want her getting the wrong idea about their friendship. That’s why he had come prepared this time. He took out a small pack of wipes from his pocket. “Thanks, but I can clean myself up today. You’ll likely have your hands full with all the purchases.”

  A hurt look crossed Danica’s face, but she quickly composed herself and nodded. “Yeah, that’s a good idea.” She backed up and gestured to the small crowd gathering before them. “I’ll tell everyone to have a seat. We’ll start when you’re ready.”

  Brandon nodded gratefully then wiped at the sweat on his brow again.

  Buzz!

  His cell phone sitting on the table vibrated with an incoming call. Number One flashed across the screen. A sense of relief fell on him to see the familiar words. “Aiden, thanks for calling.”

  “Hey, bro, of course.” The smooth voice of one of America’s hottest boy band members came over the line. His older brother, Aiden, had held that title as a teenager, but recent events in his life—specifically a woman—had brought him back into the limelight. “Are you at the bookstore already?”

  “I’m here, trying my best not to faint, although that sounds like a good option right about now.”

  Aiden scoffed. “Don’t worry, you’re going to do great. Isn’t this your third signing? You’re a pro by now.”

  “It’s my fourth, and I’m nowhere near being a pro. I do everything my therapist told me to do—take omega 3s, deep breathing, visualizing—but my body still goes into fight-or-flight mode.” Brandon rubbed his chest to ease the tension building there. “I wish I could handle public speaking like you do. You thrive on stage; I barely make it out alive.”

  “Hey, you’re not helping yourself by thinking like that. Getting stuck in negative thoughts only pulls you down further. Have you prayed about this? Unloaded your worries to the Lord? That helps me with my nerves before a p
erformance.”

  One corner of Brandon’s mouth curved up. It was both surprising and comforting to hear Aiden talk like this. After a decade of trying to help his brother renew his faith in God, the tables had switched. Now Aiden was the one encouraging him. “I haven’t yet, but thanks for the reminder.”

  “Just returning the favor,” he quipped with a smile in his voice. “Is this signing at Danica’s bookstore again?”

  “Yeah, it is. She’s really good about supporting indie authors. I got quite a few new readers from the last one I did here.”

  “Are you sure she’s not just good at supporting one author in particular?”

  Brandon raised a brow. His brother had been making a lot of implications about Danica lately. He guessed Aiden’s girlfriend, Abby, was encouraging him in the background since she and Danica were best friends. He lowered his voice as he reiterated, “Like I told you before, there’s nothing going on between us.”

  “You’re not interested in her at all? She’s a great girl, a solid believer, and you both love to read.”

  “I know she’s great. I just don’t see her that way. She doesn’t make me feel the way Abby makes you feel, you know?” Brandon paused, trying to grasp the right words. “Like time stops when the two of you are together and nothing else matters.”

  Silence ensued, followed by a soft chuckle. “A year ago, I would’ve said you’re a hopeless romantic, but I actually understand what you mean now. You’re right, you can’t force yourself to feel something for a person, no matter how great they are or how much they may like you.”

  “You can’t. Believe me, I’ve thought about it. I was flattered she would even consider me. But I think she’d be happier with someone like Darren. She’s always talking about the alpha heroes I write, how strong and brave they are. That’s Darren in a nutshell, not me.” In fact, Brandon based many of his male characters off their younger firefighter brother. “I’m going to find a way to get them together.” Danica had been so kind to him, ever since the first time he’d called the store about stocking his books. If anyone deserved a happy ending, she did. His hardworking, sacrificial brother deserved a good woman in his life, too.

  “You’re playing matchmaker in real life now?” Aiden laughed. “Well, if you think Darren’s the guy for her, you have your work cut out for you. Have you forgotten his vow of celibacy?”

  “No. But I believe in miracles. The four of us prayed for you for years, brother, and look what God did. If He could turn your stubborn heart around,” he teased, “anything’s possible.”

  Aiden laughed, loud and long. “You know what? I’m going to start praying for you, Bran. There’s a perfect woman for you out there, someone who’s going to surpass all the fictional women you’ve created in your mind. And when you meet her, it’s going to blow all your romance stories out of the water.”

  “I appreciate it, but you’re gonna have to pray hard, real hard.”

  It wasn’t that Brandon doubted God’s power or faithfulness. But it would take something—or someone—extraordinary to surprise him. The truth was he had already met the perfect girl in college. A decade later, and he still couldn’t shake his memories of her. Nothing could compare to the romance he’d written for them in his mind.

  The one thing he hated about having an overactive imagination? Nothing in real life ever seemed as bright or warm and fuzzy. That’s why he’d likely only fall in love in his books … unless his path crossed again with the first and only woman he’d ever kissed.

  Chapter Two

  Bria

  Bria Montgomery checked the clock as she came to a stop at a signal light. Two fifty- five. She had about five minutes to reach her son’s elementary school, and a mile-long stretch of cars blocked her way. Great. Of all the days to be late, it had to be on the one day when she needed to rush across town for an appointment. She glanced over at her friend, Amy, in the passenger seat. How could she break the news to her that they were running late?

  “I’m guessing we’re stuck in traffic?” the middle-aged brunette sitting in the passenger seat asked as she adjusted her sunglasses. “I can hear you grinding your teeth, which means you’re frustrated. Am I right?”

  Bria cracked a smile. Amy might be blind, but she could pick up on all the little details that didn’t require sight. Even after knowing her for two years, Bria was still surprised at how sharp her friend’s Spidey senses were. “I can’t hide anything from you, woman. And yes, we are so stuck. At this rate, we’ll be late for the book signing.” She rubbed her temples and frowned. If only she had gotten off work earlier and arrived at Amy’s at their agreed-upon time. Then they wouldn’t be late picking Seth up. “I’m so sorry. I know how important this is to you. I shouldn’t have agreed to color Mrs. Jones’s hair when I knew I didn’t have enough time.”

  “Hey, don’t worry about it. As long as I get my book autographed, I’ll be happy.”

  Bria released a long breath. “Thanks for understanding.”

  After what seemed like the world’s longest light finally changed, she stepped on the gas. She eased her way down the road and into the school parking lot. Tailing the minivan in front of her, she entered the carline and scanned the sidewalk for signs of her mini-me. She immediately spotted the blond locks of her nine-year-old son. His head was buried in a book as usual. She pulled up to the curb and opened the back window of her old sedan. “Sweetie, come on! Get in the car!”

  Seth’s head jerked up. His blue eyes shone as he hopped into the car with his backpack and closed the door. “Hey, Mom! Are we still going to the bookstore?”

  “That’s the plan.” She quickly maneuvered the car back onto the main street, accelerating as they drove away from the school. Eyes focused on the road, she called out to Seth over her shoulder. “Remember your manners, Seth. Please say hello to Ms. Amy.”

  “Hi,” he mumbled. He slumped in his seat and returned to reading his book.

  Bria couldn’t help sighing. Seth seemed unable to speak more than one syllable at a time to anyone outside of their immediate family. The way his face flushed in embarrassment reminded her of the bright pink dye she’d used on a client that morning. She knew there wasn’t anything wrong with his communication skills, other than the fact that he took a long time to warm up to people. She just didn’t understand it. How had she given birth to someone so unlike herself?

  As a hairstylist, she talked to all kinds of people—male, female, young, old—on a daily basis. She wasn’t a total social butterfly, but she also wasn’t as timid and shy as Seth. Neither was his father, she mused with a wry expression. She pushed that thought aside. He was the last person she cared to think about.

  Bria eyed her friend instead. At the rate they were moving, they’d likely miss the reading portion of the meet and greet. She tried to spot any traces of disappointment on Amy’s face. There were none, but guilt still weighed heavily on her chest. She hated disappointing people. She also knew she couldn’t please everyone. As a single mom, she’d learned the hard way she wasn’t as strong, brave, or fast as the superheroes her son adored. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t try her darndest to be close to one. “I’ll make sure the author doesn’t leave the store until you get your book signed, even if I have to tackle him.”

  Amy threw her head back, her body shaking with laughter. “I have no idea what he looks like, but I’m willing to bet he’s as hunky as the men he writes. I’d like to hear the sound of his chiseled body hitting the floor when you throw him down.”

  “Ha! I bet he works out by bench pressing stacks of books.” Bria smirked. She cocked her head to one side as she thought out loud. “You know, I’ve never met an author before, but I’ve wondered about them. How do they get ideas for their stories? Do they base their characters off themselves? I bet reading a story they wrote is like getting a glimpse inside their soul. When you think about it, that could be either pretty interesting or really scary.”

  Amy grinned. “The ones I’ve met seem
pretty normal. I am curious about this one though since he’s a guy. They’re a rare breed in the romance world. But I think, male or female, they just need to have a good imagination. And understand people well, especially the opposite sex.”

  “Romance authors are experts on love?”

  “Of course. How else would they be able to write such swoon-worthy stories?”

  Amusement lifted the corners of Bria’s mouth. She’d never have imagined the serious woman she befriended at a Bible study would be an avid reader and blogger of romance. Not that she had anything against the genre, but she figured anyone who read or wrote it had to live behind rose-colored glasses. Real people were hardly as beautiful or as muscular as the books made leading women and men out to be. And real relationships were never as fluffy or smooth, complete with happy endings. She should know.

  Her own experiences with romance were anything but romantic. Having grown up as a pastor’s kid in an ultra-conservative Christian family, she hadn’t been allowed to hang out with the opposite sex, much less date. So when she went away to college and finally got her first taste of freedom, she—in her mother’s words—went wild.

  She had reined in her curiosity the first three years. But during her final year of school, she’d made up her mind to have fun. She’d sought out the wrong crowd, partied too much, and ended up flunking out of school. That wasn’t the worst part though. When she returned home, she found out she was two months pregnant. Anger was only the tip of the iceberg of her parents’ reaction. Underneath it, fear and shame forced her father to step away from the pulpit. Soon after, sorrow weakened his body and he became ill. Since then, her family treated her and Seth as pariahs.