Book Excerpt Concrete Stilettos ~ Bookish Madness

Book Excerpt

Taz was now out of the hospital. When she saw the man she’d called Daddy for the past five years, she almost broke down. With the exception of her once a month visits, she hadn’t been home to see her family in a year. She was too embarrassed. She called often and even kept in touch on Facetime with Kelly. But she knew they’d be disappointed in her. Kelly had suspected that she’d dropped out of college, so she admitted it to him a month after she did. She knew he wouldn’t tell. Kelly had her back. But she knew she’d eventually have to say something.

“My baby,” Drew said, holding Taz so tightly she could feel his heart beating. She held him just as tight.

“Dad.”

They sat down. He ordered her favorite drink and sandwich. Smiling, she appreciated how much he’d remembered the little things.

“So, Kelly tells me you might be moving back home?”

Taz almost choked, thinking he had dimed her out.

“Uh, actually, I have something to tell you.”

He poured sugar in the coffee the waitress placed in front of him. “Go ahead.”

Before Taz knew it, the truth was out. Everything from Daylen, to Curran to the church blow up. She even told him that she’d danced for some of his colleagues. Somehow, she always thought she’d run into him, but he wasn’t that kind of guy. He was a family man. She continued telling him everything, from her last day at UCLA, to how she’d been dancing and the call she’d received from Mel.

“Taz, baby, I’ve watched you grow into a beautiful young woman. For the last five years, you’ve been a Grady. Do you really think I didn’t know something was up?”

Wiping the tears from her face, Taz looked into his eyes with curiosity.

“I knew something was up when you last came home. It was like your third month in L.A. Momma Kristin asked me what I thought it was.”

“What did you say?”

“That we’d have to let go and let God. Yes, we’re your legal guardians, but you have to figure this life out on your own. We don’t know what it’s like to be in your shoes.”

“Does Momma know?”

He laughed. “Are you kidding? She’d have me on the first plane to L.A. to get you. I think she was just thinking it was a guy. Which now I know, that was part of it.”

“Ricky’s a jerk.”

She wanted to say ‘asshole’ but she always had respect for her parents and elders.

“Don’t let me see him. In the meantime, if you love Curran, you gotta fight for him. But give him time. As for the dancing, I’m hurt. I thought we did our best.”

At the distant look in his eyes, Taz grabbed his hands. “Dad, you did. I promise you did. But I felt like I didn’t know who I was.”

“And this gave you an identity?”

“It gave me one in society.”

Nodding, he grabbed her face. “I love you no matter what. I won’t tell Kris, but you have to promise me there’s an expiration date coming soon to this lifestyle.”

“Give me two months.”

“I’ll give you one.”

“Dad…”

“I’ll shoot that damn club up, Taz. Don’t test me.”

There was fire in his eyes. She knew he meant it. There was a side to Drew that nobody wanted to see when it came to his family. Nodding, she agreed.

“One month. I promise.”

“Now, tell me about Mel and this stalker.”

About the Book

Title: Concrete Stilettos

Author: Mya Kay

Genre: Urban Romance / YA

Mya Kay’s Concrete Stilettos: A Love Story, is a fierce, urban romance that will leave the people in the pews and the parlor screaming for more.

She’s as real as they come and as hard as they make them. And her heart still belongs to God…

Seventeen-year-old Taz Elizabeth Green is every man’s fantasy, every girl’s women crush and the envy of many of the women she strips with in Philadelphia. But she’s not your average stripper. A virgin whose parents were murdered when she was 12, Taz only dances because she truly loves it – not because she’s broke and hungry. Not one to make an excuse or take part in self-pity, she wiggles her way into private parties for politicians and police officers, adding to the stash her parents left her. Even the Grady’s, the family that adopted her when her parents were murdered, have no idea the double life Taz is living. They sent her off at sixteen to UCLA, a genius that had been skipped twice in school, to get a degree in Business and Design. Only, Taz returned to Philadelphia a year later with more than just college credits to her name. The only thing Taz fears is her father, Officer Drew Grady, painting the town red when he finds out.

Her best friend Daylen believes in her and so does her cousin Shamiyah. With encouragement, she learns to manage Shamiyah’s lingerie store and takes baby steps to a purpose filled life. She even increases her church attendance and prays more, seeking answers to unknown questions. Enter Curran Kilman, the UPS driver who delivers to the store and suddenly, Taz’s desire for fun in the nightlife changes to nighttime picnics and strolls in the park on the weekend. She can tell Curran might be “the one” and she feels he may be getting closer to making a commitment. But not before she’s exposed at the church she’s been attending – on the Sunday her and Curran go together. And to make matters worse, Daylen’s leukemia diagnosis brings out a family secret that could add layers to Taz’s demons – and for once, she’s not sure how to fight. Not to mention every time Taz leaves the hospital or her condo, there’s a black SUV parked outside and she is sure she’s being followed which is confirmed when Taz almost meets death on more than one occasion. Pleasure and purpose collide in Concrete Stilettos: A Love Story, the story of a teen girl who’s lost in a world full of judgment and sin, but knows God is calling her name.

Author Bio

Mya Kay is the author of three previous self-published titles, Speechless: Short Stories, Butterfly Faith and A Song for Jordan. Concrete Stilettos: A Love Story is her first urban romance novel under Royalty Publishing House, an independent publishing company based in Atlanta. For more information, visit Mya on the following social media channels.