The big city was a scary place. When I first got off the bus, and gazed at the wild world around me, I thought I was going to pass out. The giant crowds of people sweeping past me on the sidewalk, the mean faces, the noise. Everything was breathtaking for a girl like me raised in Red River, Tennessee.

Gawking at a skyscraper, I accidentally grazed somebody with an elbow. “Watch where you’re going, lady!” the woman screeched at me, her face red with rage.

“I’m so sorry, honey.” I said, giving her a gentle pat on the arm.

But she pulled away from my friendly gesture. “Hey, hands off before I call the cops!”

I didn’t understand why my kindness made her uncomfortable, or why she was so angry for bumping against her. I had a lot to learn about the big city.

Starving after the long bus ride, I made a hot dog stand my first destination. It seemed like the kind of thing to do in New York City. I could smell the mustard and relish as I politely stood there, waiting for him to offer his services.

Somebody elbowed past me and grunted to the man, “Give me a dog with extra ketchup!”

“Um… I’m sorry, sir. I believe I was here first,” I said.

The guy chuckled at me. “Where you from, lady?”

I smiled, happy to finally meet somebody who wanted to chat with me. “Well, I’m from Tennessee, but I was actually born in this pretty little place right across the Kentucky border called – “

He laughed and took off, hot dog in hand. The man at the...

WARNING: STEAMY CONTENT. READING DEVICE MAY MELT. HAPPY EVER AFTER ENDING. NO CLIFFHANGER. ALL CHARACTERS ARE OVER THE AGE OF 18.