Kristina Seek's debut novel, The
Hashtag Hunt, was published in 2018. She is a graduate of Queens College in
Charlotte and a member of Romance Writers of America. In March of 2019, she
quit her day job to focus on a career in writing.
Kristina lives in North Carolina with
her husband and son. She cherishes time with her friends and family, loves
traveling to new destinations, and plans to cross many other items off her
bucket list.
Visit www.KristinaSeek.com and sign
up for her mailing list to receive updates and exclusive offers!
The only reason Lauren entered the
Hashtag Hunt was for the $10,000 grand prize. She needed seed money for her
startup, and it sounded easy enough: twelve hours to text twelve photos to
someone called the Wizard.
For hashtag number five, Lauren needs a
#HottieInTheWild, and with the help of her best friend, Ivy, she finds the
perfect subject.
The only reason Brenner entered Barkley’s Pub was to have
beers with Scott, an Army brother back in town. The reunion is interrupted when
a woman is caught crouched in a dark corner, taking pictures of Brenner.
Lauren
explains, and though embarrassed, she accepts Scott and Brenner’s offer to help
with hashtag number six.While hunting for hashtags, Lauren finds adventure and
romance with her #Hottie, but she must stay focused to beat the clock and win
the cash.
Snippet:
Scott opened Ivy’s door and leaned into the
backseat of the cab. “Lauren, I know it’s not a shortcut if it takes twice as
long to get there, but I’m going to need one more minute.”
“Take your time.” In the rearview mirror, Brenner
saw Lauren smile as she turned her head to look out her window. “Make it
count.”
Brenner and Lauren pretended they didn’t hear their
friends’ first kiss or Scott’s words after it was over. “I don’t know where you
came from, but now you’re here… God, Ivy. It’s like when stars are born after
gravity and pressure squeeze atoms until they break apart, and suddenly there’s
enough light and heat to sustain life.”
“I don’t follow, but you had me after ‘when stars
are born.’”
“Look up at the stars for a second.”
Brenner knew Scott was talking to Ivy, but it
didn’t stop him from looking at the night sky. He didn’t check to see, but he
imagined Lauren was also gazing up out her window.
“Fast Astronomy 101 lesson: darkness can get so
dense and deep it changes everything. Atoms. People. Families. Countries. With
enough pressure, the only place energy can go is outward and upward.”
The truck was quiet for a moment before Ivy spoke.
“I understand darkness and pressure changing things. But then where does the
light come from?”
“Interstellar clouds. Watch this, guys.”
Brenner turned to watch Scott through Ivy’s door. A
quick peek in his rearview mirror revealed Lauren had also turned to look.
Scott pointed with his index finger and moved it in a full oval shape. “Let’s
say the cloud starts off this big. It swirls around because of gravity.” Scott
moved his finger, and the oval got smaller with each trip toward his shirt.
“Gravity makes the cloud close in on itself as it turns.” The oval he was
making became so small, only the tip of his finger twirled in a tight circle.
“When it’s compact and dense enough, a nuclear reaction occurs.” Scott curled
his finger into his palm and made a fist. “The reaction produces heat and light,
and a star is born.” He popped his fist open and spread his fingers wide.
“Basically like a furnace.”
Scott opened his door and sat in the passenger
seat. When he fastened his seat belt, he looked at Brenner. “Wyatt said to
follow this road until we reach the pond. There’ll be a fork in the road, and
we go left.”
Brenner gave Scott the side-eye as he started the
engine and put the truck in gear.
“What?” Scott shifted in his seat to face Brenner.
“I am wooing my special lady friend. And it’s a solid metaphor if I do say so
myself.” Scott twisted further to look at Ivy. “You liked it, right, Sweets?”
“Loved it. Nobody’s ever compared me to a nuclear
reaction before.”
“Shameful.” Scott winked at Ivy. “And there’s more
where that came from.”
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