Prologue of Must Love Coffee by Leigh Lennon
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Get ready for the 425 Madison Series with the prologue of Must Love Coffee by Leigh Lennon. This book kicks off three seasons and 21 books from multiple authors and a wide variety tropes. This single parent romance will have you falling in love!
Prologue of Must Love Coffee
Gwen
The dark oak table almost radiates my reflection—the new Gwen. Not the wife of a selfish man who, at every turn, tried to change my entire being. It was not the outside of me he wanted to entirely change. Sure, there was that, with all the clothes from Tom Ford and Vera Wang he’d bought me throughout the years. And high heels—don’t even get me started on those. But my desire to volunteer at the animal shelter, one of my passions, was never respected. “Being my wife is your number one job.” Yeah, at that statement, I should’ve been running for the hills but then Luna came along, and I couldn’t leave him then.
But as the bags under my eyes indicate in my reflection, the years have worn on me. My sister, sitting next to me with her menacing eyes, is all I can feel. Armageddon is raining down on me because of our argument from earlier. She doesn’t understand what I went through with Dwayne or why I was about to do this—for the sake of my daughter.
The judge whisks in the room so quickly I didn’t know we were back to sitting until he addresses my sister. “Counselor, what the hell am I looking at?” he accuses, his frown as cemented as concrete on his aged face.
My sister warned me this particular judge is a wildcard but I didn’t care—I need out of Dwayne’s control, come hell or high water.
Cara, my older sister by only two years, stands quickly to argue for something she doesn’t believe in. Considering this, I know the lawyer side of my sister will fight for me, even if she doesn’t agree with my choice. I know she doesn’t, because minutes ago she told me I was both irresponsibility and madness rolled up into one fucked-up decision.
“Um, your honor,” my sister, by trade, is not a divorce lawyer but a corporate bloodhound, “Ms. Cane has waived all alimony and child support as agreed to by Mr. Cane. And Mr. Cane will give her full custody.”
The judge’s eyes search all the papers currently covering his bench. With only the sound of them crinkling around, Cara continues to stand waiting for some sort of indication of what this wildcard is thinking. Shared custody would be a nightmare for many reasons. First, Luna would be exposed to the Barbie doll Dwayne is marrying the second the ink is dry on our divorce papers. But with me having to relocate to Jersey, since it’s too expensive to live in the city on my teaching salary, it would be exhausting to Luna to be shuffled from the city to the burbs a couple times a week.
‘Must Love Coffee’ by Leigh Lennon
“Ms. Ambrose,” he begins with my sister, “let’s see here. Your client’s husband has equity of millions upon millions and she’s waived her financial entitlement. Do I have this right, Mrs. Cane?” He now is addressing me, though soon I won’t be Mrs. Cane anymore.
I stand and answer, “Yes, your honor.”
He turns his attention to the man of the hour, sitting snug as a bug in a rug. He only gives up the rights to his child but has retained all his precious money. I’d love to smack that self-righteous smile off his face.
Now he addresses Dwayne. “Mr. Cane, you’re okay leaving your wife—who has sacrificed for you throughout the years—with nothing? You’re going to leave your daughter and wife scrounging to make ends meet?”
Dwayne stands, buttoning his stupid five-thousand-dollar suit when he answers the judge’s question. The bile of stomach acids is now all I can taste in my mouth.
“Your honor,” he begins. He knows this judge, has gone round for round with him in the courtroom. I’d thought this would work toward Dwayne’s advantage but with the resolve on the judge’s face, he might have the same opinion I do about my soon-to-be ex-husband. “If my daughter needs or wants for anything, I’ll provide it. It’s easier this way; she can come to me and eliminate the middle man.”
There’s a vein on the side of the judge’s neck visibly throbbing as he crooks his head. “So, you’re telling me, Mr. Cane, I mean—I want to get this straight. Your wife, the mother of your daughter, the one I personally have seen at every function you were a part of since you were a lowly man at the bottom of your law firm, is the middle man?”
A smile appears on my face but my heart falls—he’s going to make my deadbeat of an ex be a part of Luna’s life and in that, Dwayne will rule her as he’s tried to do with me.
“Um, your honor, that’s not quite what I meant. It’s just that …”
“Enough, Mr. Cane. I have your number.” He turns his attention back to me, saying, “Mrs. Cane, I can’t sign off on what you’re asking for. My responsibility is to you and your daughter. Giving your husband an out is what he apparently wants—but it’s not in your best interest or your daughter’s. I think I understand why you’re willing to go along with this, but I can’t allow it.”
“Your honor,” I stutter, and this has been my worst nightmare, but he puts his hand out and stops me.
“You’re leaving your life in the city along with your daughter’s friends. Gwendolyn, you’re giving up a part of you.” I stop cold in my tracks when he calls me by my first name. What can this mean? “I preside over so many divorce cases, too many times starting a new life outside of the city is the only option many couples have but you, Mrs. Cane, are not one of them.” He turns to Dwayne and sternly begins a lecture. “So this is what I’m going to propose.”
“Your honor?” Dwayne’s lawyer stands in protest.
“Mr. Bailey, it’s not your turn to speak, it’s mine!” His voice can be heard throughout the courtroom and everyone’s attention is now on him, if it wasn’t before. “Mr. Cane’s net worth is upwards of thirty million dollars. I’d normally split it evenly but due to this agreement, I’m not going to do that. What I’m going to do is give Mrs. Cane an all-cash alimony payout with the stipulation that she stays in New York for another year. After the year, she can move back to Jersey if she still wants to. I’ll wager a guess that you were only moving there because that’s what you could afford?” I nod in agreement. “And a child needs both her parents.” My heart lurches with a perpetual pain throbbing through me. “Full custody is still awarded to you, Mrs. Cane, with alternating weekends. During the off weeks, Mr. Cane can have her one weekday night, as long as you are within twenty miles of his address. My judgment is for an all-cash payout for alimony in the amount of two million and five hundred thousand and a monthly child support payment in the amount of two thousand and one hundred dollars. This will not include her tuition to the private school, which Mr. Cane will continue to pay.”
I lean toward Cara and whisper in her ear. Her nod indicates she agrees. “Your honor, my client asks that her ex-husband allow Luna to attend Central Elite Day School. Its academic achievement is equivalent to the school she’s attending now. Mrs. Cane has been offered a job there. She didn’t think she could take it, with having to relocate to Jersey, but now she can.”
“Mr. Cane?” the judge questions, regarding Luna’s schooling.
I lean past Cara to watch Dwayne, whose face exudes wrath, resentment, and rage in one stunning combination. I almost laugh. I didn’t want his money but the judge is right. This is, after all, what’s best for Luna.
Dwayne stands to address the judge, but his lawyer pulls him back down into his chair. After a little back and forth between Dwayne and his lawyer, the man I only know as Mr. Bailey stands. “Mr. Cane agrees to this.”
Cara brings me in for a hug. “See, I told you he was a wildcard, but, hell, I couldn’t have ever seen this coming in a million years.” Yeah, me, too, I thought. Me, too.
About Must Love Coffee
Gwen
I was stripped of all my own desires and wants when I was married to my ex-husband. I now carry a list with me—a list that will help me choose a man that will put me first in life. Then the storm cloud of an entitled millionaire appears in my life and knocks me off my axis. This man sends so many mixed signals, my body either quakes with anger or passion when I’m around him.
I’m his son’s teacher and his tenant, but I find myself wanting more.
Leo
My life is run with precision with little regard for others until a woman in crazy clothes challenges me to be a better father. She’s one of the few people that puts me in my place and maybe for this very reason—I want her more than I can articulate. With her failed marriage and list of requests she needs from her next partner, I know she’s my future. My life is less than perfect, and with it—baggage that follows me everywhere. Does she want my kind of crazy in her life?
I’m her landlord and an a**hole, but I find myself wanting more.
Where to begin? For starters, you must love coffee…
After all, 425 Madison Avenue is the perfect place to fall in love.
Each story is a complete standalone.
About the 425 Madison Series
Welcome to 425 Madison Ave the perfect place to fall in love. Nine delicious romances set in fast-paced & sexy NYC just waiting for you to read.
This season will feature some new authors as well as some of season one’s favs. Back for season two is Allie York, Leigh Lennon, MK Moore, Aubree Valentine, Lauren Helms, and Katy Ames. Plus a warm welcome to KC Enders, and Marcie Shumway! Not only do we have a sexy mix of new and returning authors, prepare for pages packed with new romances, characters, and tropes all from the same well-loved high-rise apartment building in NYC.
Not only do we have a sexy mix of new and returning authors, prepare for pages packed with new romances, characters, and tropes all from the same well-loved high-rise apartment building in NYC.
Make sure to follow the 425 Madison Avenue Facebook page for more on release dates, cover reveals and author spotlights. For exclusive excerpts, giveaways, and news subscribe to our 425 Madison newsletter!
