Simmer

<p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)><em>Simmer (verb): to stew gently below or just at the boiling point; to be in a state of incipient development</em></strong></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>My life was always at a simmer... only stewing never going anywhere. I was left to fend for myself when it came to affection or love so I learned to go without.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>I refused to let them see how broken and lonely I was; it was much easier to hide behind a false reality. I didn't want anyone's pity. I didn't need it. Pity wouldn't put food on the table or keep a roof over our heads. That was all me.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Now I have a second chance at a dream long forgotten. It demands hard work and sacrifice-with absolutely no distractions. A recipe I already know all too well raising a daughter on my own.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Drew Kostas is everything I've ever wanted but couldn't let myself have. He's younger gorgeous charming-and relentless. He sees beyond the hardened shell I've built to protect myself coaxing out a softer me I don't recognize.</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>It doesn't matter how I melt in his presence when the heat between us threatens to boil over.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>That's the thing about heat. When it rises everyone gets burned.</span></p><p></p><p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)><em>Especially when they're foolish enough to fall in love.</em></strong></p><p></p><p></p>