Faith & Betrayal Sneak Peek

Coming Fall 2015...

 

Faith & Betrayal

 

Prologue

“Tess? Do you hear me?” My beautiful blonde friend, Paige Daniels, questioned me from across her horses stall. She had just won the world championships and was on cloud nine, but she knew something was wrong with me. We have always had such a strong friendship, sometimes I think she knows me better than I know myself.

“Everything is great,” I smiled back at her trying to mask what was really going on inside of me.

“You know I don’t buy that shit,” she glared at me as she pulled off her horse’s saddle and headed down the barn aisle away from me.

I knew she wasn’t buying my brave-face act that I was putting on, but I didn’t feel like I had a choice. I didn’t want to spoil her big win tonight with the drama that is currently my life. It didn’t matter anyway. I was in a shit situation and I had put myself there. Nothing I did or didn’t do now could change that fact. There was no way out of this one, no this time I had really fucked up.

“You might as well just tell her, Tess. She is going to find out sooner or later,” Paige’s handsome husband, Cutter said tipping an eyebrow up at me.

“How do you know?” I asked shocked that somehow my dirty little secret was already out.

“I do know what TMZ is, Tess.”

“Shit, it’s on TMZ already?” I screeched.

Cutter simply nodded and left me alone to think about how I was exactly going to handle this monumental disaster.

The fact that the gossip sites had already gotten wind of what was going on was something I hadn’t expected. I thought I would have at least a few more days before the rest of the world discovered my own personal horror I had been living with for the past year.

The truth is I fell in love with the devil. I saw the warning signs early on and I did nothing to slow it down, I jumped in head first knowing it would end badly. I’m not exactly sure what that says about me, but I know it’s not good.

“So are you going to tell me yet or what?” Paige asked glaring at me as she reentered her horses stall.

“Paige…” I start but didn’t know what to say. I can’t find the words to tell her what’s happening.

“Look Tess, whatever it is we will get through it, together. Don’t you remember what a mess I was a few years ago? You helped me through that. Please just tell me what’s going on. I know it’s really bothering you,” she pleaded.

“Ash is on drugs,” I blurted out. “Coke mainly but I suspect he has used other things as well. I helped Chase and Liam check him into rehab and then I left,” I breathed a sigh of relief finally telling my best friend at least part of the hell I had been living recently. Paige looked stunned as she digested what I just told her.

It was true, my rock star boyfriend, Ashton Parker, the lead singer of the current hit band, Southtown was eyes deep in addiction. I knew it’s a fairly regular thing in the industry but for some reason I just couldn’t believe Ash would fall victim to the partying lifestyle. He was such a strong person. Sure he was wild and a rocker, but he had never been into drugs. Not until this past year when everything changed and the band became somewhat of an overnight success.

Ashton and his two best friends, Liam and Chase started the band in high school. They started off small doing local gigs at the bar scene in their hometown of Irvine California. It didn’t take long before they were invited to play in bars in Los Angeles and the boys made the move North to LA. I met Ash there. I was attending the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.

“Tess...Tess, do you hear me? Are you ready to go?” Paige waved her hand in front of my face.

“Yeah sorry. I’m ready.”

“Babe, Tess and I are going to take one of the trucks we will meet you at the restaurant.” I watched as Paige kissed her husband goodbye and he whispered something sweet to her that had her giggling. I envied them. They had an unbreakable love. It had been tested to the absolute limit but in the end it couldn’t be broken.

“Let’s go Tess.”

I followed my best friend toward the dim lit parking lot of the Oklahoma City fairgrounds.

“Alright spill it. I know you aren’t telling me everything, I know you better than that Tess. I know you are upset Ash is on drugs but I also know there is a lot more to it,” Paige demanded.

We had only made it half way into the parking lot. I thought she would at least let me get in the truck before she confronted me. I knew she could tell I wasn’t telling her everything. I also knew she wouldn’t pry it out of me until we were alone.

“Is it really as bad as what your face says it is?” She was studying me, trying to guess what horrible thing I would tell her next, as if what I already admitted wasn’t bad enough. “Was he cheating on you? Because I swear I will chop off—”

“I’m sure he was doing that too but no, that isn’t what is wrong.” I hung my head in defeat. Not a single other person knew what I was about to say. I wasn’t worried Paige would tell someone but I was worried once I spoke the words out loud it would break me. I had been doing a hell of a job living in denial these past weeks but it had gone too far, it was time to face the truth.

“I’m pregnant.”

Paige gasped and rushed to hug me. “Oh God, Tess.”

I held onto her clinging to her warmth and goodness. I hoped that my body could soak it up like a sponge. I had literally traveled through hell and felt the full weight of all of Ash’s demons stuck to me. That’s the funny thing about dealing with an addict, even if you aren’t doing the drugs with them they can still make you feel you are.

“What are you going to do?” Paige pulled back from our hug and prepared to analyze my reactions.

“I’ve decided to keep it. I just… I just couldn’t bare the thought..” My voice cracked just thinking of the other possibilities.

“Does he know?”

“Yes,” I sighed in frustration. I winced just thinking of the ugly scene that transpired between us.

“What did he say?” Paige prompted me to continue.

“He just started screaming at me that I was trying to trap him and that I was just like all the other groupie sluts.” I knew the tears would come now. I could talk about everything else without cracking but not this, not his outright betrayal to me and our unborn child.

“Oh Tess!” Paige engulfed me in another huge hug as she saw the tears slip down my face.

I just shook my head in response fighting back the storm that was brewing inside of me. I would tell Paige the entire story but not yet. Everything was just too raw and I was trying my best to keep it together. Paige understood and let me quietly try to regain my composure.  It took a few minutes but the tears finally stopped.

“What do you want to do?” Paige asked.

Most people would probably assume she was talking about going to dinner but I knew she was asking much more than that.

“I’ve decided to come home. I’m leaving school. It’s for the best.” I felt a pang of despair thinking of how close I was to finishing my degree but in reality it no longer matter. My life had changed in an instant and what I thought was going to happen would never come to pass. I just had to accept it.

“Well, I always said we should be pregnant at the same time,” Paige said smiling brightly at me.

“You’re pregnant?” I asked surprised at her confession.

“Yes, Cutter doesn’t know yet. I am waiting to tell him until tonight. If he knew before the show he would’ve hovered over me the entire time. You know that would have pissed me off,” She explained, smiling at me. I was happy for my friends, they were getting everything they wanted in life.

“Alright, we better get going before every one wonders where we are. Everything is going to be okay Tess. I promise you it will be,” She said pulling me alongside her toward her large Dodge truck.

* * *

Two more days on the road and we would be home. I watched as the desert of Arizona whizzed by the passenger window of Paige’s truck. She convinced me to ride home with her claiming a road trip would be good for me. She and Cutter had an extra truck to drive home anyways since Cutter had bought a new one while in Oklahoma. I let Paige tell Cutter what was going on and he agreed a girl’s road trip would do me some good. We would be in California in another few hours. I tried to mentally prepare for the last leg of our journey but I knew it would be hard.

Paige and I were going to stop and pack up my apartment in LA and haul it back to Washington. I didn’t really have a game plan yet but Cutter and Paige insisted I stay with them until I figured it out. I was thankful I had them.

I also had the unfortunate task of telling my father the news when I returned home. I knew he was going to come unglued. My father and I have a strained relationship, at best. My Mother always blamed it on his own strict Chinese upbringing for his coldness. Nothing I did ever pleased him. He was less than thrilled when I announced I was going to study fashion and design in California. He thought I should become a doctor or lawyer. My Mother was the only one who could bridge that gap between us. I found myself missing her more and more lately. It had been hard to deal with my father since she passed away from breast cancer a year ago. I knew I could’ve confided in her about what was happening and she would have offered support without judgment.

My father on the other hand, could always be counted on to pass judgment. He had warned me about Ash and his lifestyle. He told me dating a rock star would end badly and he was right. It not just ended badly, it literally ruined me. But how could I have known? It had started out so differently. I closed my eyes hoping to drown out my anxiety of what was to come and find comfort in the memories of the Ash I once knew, the one that made me fall in love with him.

We met my first year at FIDM. I was living in an apartment outside of Los Angeles. I was on my own for the first time in my life and loving it. Well, that is until my apartment was almost broken into in the middle of the night, scaring the hell out of me. I had been asleep and I heard something crash in my living room. I jumped out of bed in a rush and flipped on every light I could, hoping to scare whoever or whatever made the noise. I was lucky because my tactic worked and I was only left with a broken window. The responding officer that night suggested maybe it was time for me to get a dog or alarm system if I was going to live on my own. I thought about it for a few days and ended up getting a dog. I’m not sure if I really rescued him or rescued his original owner. I found him on local website claiming they needed to rehome him. Moxie, a part schnauzer part who-the-heck knows puppy came home with me that day. The girl I adopted him from was a young college student who said she didn’t have time for a puppy. At the time I thought she was just immature and couldn’t handle the responsibility of dog. I thought she was giving him because she wanted to stay out and party but couldn’t do that with a puppy. But like I said that is was what I thought at the time. I quickly began to realize I may have been mistakenly adopted a very small furry terrorist.

The first four months I cried myself to sleep in frustration almost every night. He may have been the cutest puppy ever but he was an absolute monster. He wouldn’t let me sleep, he crapped in the house, chewed on my furniture and worse he loved to eat my clothes! I was strongly considering giving him up when the girl next door invited me to the dog park. Her name was Karson and she had the cutest wiener dog named Wilma. Mox seemed to like her and two could play for hours. I quickly learned the trick to dog ownership was taking at least one trip to the dog park a day and lots of puppy play dates.

I had tried out many of the different dog parks around LA but Mox and I seemed to like the one closest to our house the best. It was there I met Ash and Indie. Indie was a beautiful blue nosed bully pit and she had an equally beautiful owner. He was tall dark and mysterious. Most of his arms were covered in tats. He even had a few on his neck. I had never really been attracted to that type of guy but there was something about him that intrigued me. His eyes were a deep chocolate brown and they looked like they held thousands of untold stories. I was captivated by him.

It took me a few weeks of before I finally worked up the nerve to talk to him while our dogs played. I started off by asking him about his dog. He quickly corrected me and told me it was his girlfriend’s dog that he was just taking care of because she worked during the day. As soon as he said the world girlfriend my gut twisted with jealousy. I didn’t even know his girlfriend but I was instantly jealous of her ability to be close to him. There was something haunting about him and it unnerved me. I wasn’t usually the type to be affected so easily. Sure I had my share of boyfriends but none that I ever held my interest for very long. But I could tell this guy was different, he could challenge everything I thought I knew about myself and the world. 

 

Chapter One

Five years later…

“Mom do you have to go?” Bianca, my beautiful and demanding five year old daughter pleaded from the backseat of my Volvo. I had to go to New York City for a few days. I had a meeting with a major retailor to sell my line of childrens clothes in their stores. About a year after Bianca was born I began developing a line of kids clothes and within two years I had my very own store. I named it Bows and Ties. The store has been doing great and my clothing line has been selling out.

“Yes I have to go B. I thought you were excited to stay with Auntie Page and Uncle Cutter. You love staying the night there. Don’t you want to play with Cadence and Weston?”

“I do but I’m going to miss you Mommy,” she said smiling sweetly as I glanced back at her in the mirror.
“Alright, let’s hear it. What do want?” Although I hated to admit it, she had the charisma and charm of her father. It was undeniable. She also had his dark features. At first her dark brown eyes were like a constant reminder of the pain he had caused me, but now I only remember the good times. Regardless of the way Ashton Parker had trashed my heart he ended up giving me the best gift I could ever ask for, my beautiful baby girl.

“Well… I was hoping that I could ride with Cadence while I was at Auntie Paige’s house.” Bianca unfortunately had become horse crazy thanks to her aunt. Horses scared the hell out of me. They are huge animals that have minds of their own. I didn’t like the idea of my baby girl strapped to the back of one of them, but I knew she loved to ride.

“Only if you promise to only ride The Biz and you have to have Aunt Paige lead him around,” I negotiated my terms. I knew Paige would look after her and wouldn’t let her get hurt but I still had my mommy anxiety.

“But Mom… I can steer on my own now,” She whined.

“Those are the rules. Take them or leave them,” I said sternly.

“Fine,” She huffed and folded her tiny little arms over her chest in defiance.

I tried not to laugh at her attitude. Ever since she turned five she had become exceedingly more dramatic. I turned up the radio in an attempt to distract both of us from the horse riding topic.

It only took a few seconds before I recognized the song and quickly changed the station. It was Southtown’s newest hit, Always. Of course it was a stupid fucking love song. I’m sure Ash had written it for his super model girlfriend, Adrian Blackstone. She was the current “it” girl in Hollywood. She was tall, rail skinny and jaw-dropingly gorgeous. She and Ash’s pictures were splashed on every tabloid, the media couldn’t get enough of their romance. It personally made me sick to my stomach every time I saw a picture of them together. The worst was standing in line at the grocery store. It seemed every tabloid had some story of them on the front. The hardest ones to see were the ones claiming she was pregnant. The first time I saw one claiming Adrian was going to have Ash’s baby, I ran to my car and cried in the parking lot for a half hour. I’m better now, I try to pretend I have no idea who Ash Parker is or was.

“Mom turn it back I love that song,” Bianca requested from the backseat in total ignorance.

Of course my daughter loves the one song that literally cuts daggers to my heart, but I remind myself this is the only connection to her father she will get. So I flip the station back and pray for the strength not to cry in front of her.

Available for Pre-Sale Now!

Lovely Distraction is now on pre-sale. It will be available to download March 17, 2015.
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3/17/2015

Sneak Peek of Lovely Distraction

Prologue 

“Are you totally excited or what Bestie?” Olivia beamed at me from the window seat of our first class seats.

“Yes! I can’t believe we are going to Vegas for my Bachelorette party!” I was beyond excited for a weekend getaway with my two best friends, Audrey and Olivia. It was crazy to think in two short months I was going to be getting married to my boyfriend, Cain Stratford. We had met in law school during our third year and we had become study partners. It took Cain all of three study sessions before he asked me out with such confidence it stunned me at first. But I knew on that first date we were perfectly matched. We had similar passions and goals in life. We made complete sense.   

“I for one can’t wait to get my party on.” Audrey announced from beside me, shifting my attention back to our ensuing trip. I was way overdue for a vacation. I was exhausted between planning this wedding and working endlessly as a new associate attorney at large firm. I was hoping this three day vacation would be the perfect thing to reenergize me.

“Oh shit.” I heard Olivia shriek as I rummaged through my bag on the floor in front of me.

“What did you forget?” I look over at her but her eyes are wide and her face is locked on the front of the plane.

I follow the direction in which Livy is looking and I gasped. I couldn’t help it. The mere sight of him sent my body and my mind into overdrive. It took just a half a second before his eyes locked onto mine and a hint of a grin spread wide across his lips. Fuck my life!

“Oh no, here we go.” I heard Audrey say from the seat next to mine but I couldn’t respond to her. I felt like I was having an out of body experience. What are the chances that the one that got away, or in my case the one that ran away, ends up crashing my Bachelorette party?

*  *  *

Five Years Earlier… 

It was spring break and I was home in Huntsville celebrating almost being done with my senior year at the University of Tennessee. I was with Audrey and Olivia of course. We were on our second round of mojitos when a particularly gangly looking guy approached us.

“Hey ladies, what’s up?” He was obviously drunk.

“Not much.” I jumped in before Livy got ahold of him. I love her but she isn’t the most patient person when it comes to drunken morons.

“Well my friends and I were just wondering if you ladies wanted to share a drink with us.” He said swaying as he talked.

“Oh, that’s nice but I think we are okay.” I told him politely.

“Alright. Well if ya’ll change your mind we will be over there.” He pointed to a table full of guys that we had been ogling all night. The bar was pretty empty for a Thursday and the group of good looking guys had immediately grabbed our attention. We had chosen to go to our local hang out Havens. It was a hole in the wall kind of joint, but it always provided endless entertainment.

“Wait. Those are your friends?” Livy asked him, her mouth totally hanging open in astonishment that this kid would even know the hot guys across the bar.

“Yup. Well, have a nice night.”  The drunken guy said and headed back toward his friends.

“Wait, we are coming with you.” Audrey piped up. She stood up and gave Livy and me a look indicating we were to stand up as well.

I followed behind Audrey and Livy as they proceeded to make their entrance. I was the shortest of the three of us. Being 5’8” isn’t really considered short but compared to my 5’10 friends; I’m the shorty spice in the group. I watched as Audrey sashayed her way toward the table. Audrey of course is gorgeous. She has a supermodel frame that is all leg. She has soft brown hair that is medium in length. She has loosely curled it tonight giving her a very southern belle look.

Livy also struts her way over to the table with her signature flare. Livy is also all leg but she has subtle curves that drive men crazy. Being part Hawaiian, she had that exotic thing going for her. She has jet black hair and the most amazing golden skin that I swear actually glows. She should be a freaking swimsuit model. It’s so not fair.

Unfortunately, I’m not like my two best friends, I am not all leg. I am mostly long torso with some dramatic curves. Livy and Audrey are always telling me my curves are amazing and I suppose they are right. I know big butts are in thanks to Kim Kardashian, so I guess I have that going for me. I grabbed my stick straight long blonde hair and tossed it over one of my shoulders. I don’t know why I was so nervous to talk to these guys but something in the back of my mind told me to be on edge.

I caught up to the girls so we all reached the table at the same time. That’s when it happened. As I approach the table I came face to face with the most hypnotic piercing blue eyes I had ever seen. I felt the air in the bar being sucked out and my mind raced like I was having a dizzy spell. I don’t hear or see anything but him, it was like everyone around us disappeared and it was just us. He has the most delicious tan skin, it was flawless. I could see just a bit of his blonde hair sticking out from underneath his baseball hat and it intrigued me. I wanted immediately to pull it from his head and run my hands through it. The rest of him was just as delicious. His perfectly sculpted frame was tucked away behind a white button up shirt and khaki shorts, but I could still see the outline of hard muscle underneath his clothes.

“Ladies…these are my friends.” The drunken guy said pulling me back to reality.

Four guys all said hello in unison and I watched as they all postured to see who gets to talk to which girl.

Hot blue eyes stood up from the table and put his hand out to me. “I’m Jamieson Wellington.” He said in the deepest sexiest voice I think I had ever heard.

“Hi, I’m Jenna Middleton.” I extended my hand out to meet his. The second I touched his hand I felt a wave of heat run through my whole body and felt flushed. Holy heck, I have never felt something like that before.

“Well Jenna Middleton can I buy you a drink?” He flashed me a smile that had trouble written all over it.

“Sure.”

“What would you like?”

“Oh, whiskey sour please.” I told him.

Jamieson ordered my drink when the waitress had returned. He also found me a chair; conveniently it was right next to his. I looked around the table as I waited for my drink, trying to stamp out my nervousness. Audrey was talking to a very handsome looking guy with dramatic chiseled cheek bones. Livy was talking to guy whom I think said his name was Julian. He was obviously South American of some sort and completely hot. His accent alone was utterly intoxicating.

“So tell me Jenna. Why haven’t our paths crossed until now? Are you from Huntsville?” Jamieson asked me looking intrigued.

“Yes I was born and raised in Huntsville, but I have been going to school in Knoxville. I’m a senior this year.”

“How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?” Okay, kind of odd but I’ll answer him.

“Twenty-three. How old are you?” I asked him in return.

“A bit older. That probably explains why we have not met until now.” He drawled in his southern accent.

“Probably.”

“What is your major?” He asked and then took a sip of his drink.

“Computer science.” I told him.

“Wow, I’m impressed. Stunning and smart. That is a lethal combination.” Flashing me a wicked grin that sent my nerves back into overdrive.

I was blushing now and sure to be twelve shades of red any minute. “Thanks.”

Jamieson and I continued to chat back and forth for a long time. He asked me lots of questions but rarely gave me any hints into his life. I asked him questions like he was asking me but he artfully avoided really answering them. I realized quite quickly that I was in over my head here. Jamieson was completely skilled when it came to flittering, he was an expert. He was a lion and I was his prey. The sad part was I didn’t feel that bad about it. I was totally in awe of him. He was sexy as hell and funny too. He didn’t seem to have a problem making fun of himself or his friends for that matter. I thought that to be a bit odd considering I could tell this crowd was wealthy. Just from the way they conducted themselves, which was very intimidating. It wasn’t that my family was hard up or anything, we weren’t, but there was a difference between being comfortable and truly wealthy. I had a feeling Jamieson Wellington came from old southern money, the kind that I most definitely had no clue about.

“Oh shit! Mitch just got hit in the face!” One of the guys at the table shouted out. I snapped my head around to see a large husky guy punch their drunken friend in the face.

Chairs instantly flew backwards as the four boys jumped up to the aid of their friend. I looked over at the girls and we watched as the guys stormed out front of the bar.

“I got to see this.” Olivia said standing up and quickly making her way toward the exit. Audrey and I glanced at each other and then jogged to catch up with everyone.

When we get out to the front of the bar there was a full on brawl taking place, it was hard to even understand what was happening.  I could see fists flying and I think I made out the back of Jamieson’s head in the middle of the crowd. We pushed past the small crowd forming and I saw Julian had their friend Mitch up against the brick wall holding him back looking at his bloody nose. I felt bad for Mitch. He may have been kind of a drunken idiot but he seemed harmless. I could see why the guys were protective of him, he didn’t mean any harm he was just kind of clueless.

As I got closer to the center of what was happening I saw Jamieson and my heart stopped. He was fighting the husky guy from the bar. It’s was a fairly even match but the big guy was definitely getting some good hits in.

I have no idea what possessed me but I took a step forward like I was going to intervene when a large arm stopped me. “Ladies I think it’s safer if we stand over here.” The dark haired guy Audrey was talking to ushered us off the sidewalk next to the parked cars. “Watch your step there is a curb there.”

I could tell this guy was a pretty boy. It was obvious from the fact all of his friends were fighting but he remained completely scuff-free. I don’t know why that bothered me but it did. “Aren’t you going to stop them?” I asked him, my annoyance laced my voice.

“Nah, they need a good fight every once in a while.” He said to me like it was no big deal.

I saw something fly through the air and land in a clatter flying across the pavement. I crouched down to look at what it was and I could see it was a cell phone. I think its Jamieson’s. “Hey I think your friend’s cell phone just landed under that car.” I said to pretty boy.

“Yeah probably.” He clearly gave a shit less about the phone or any of the events transpiring before him.

“Uh, aren’t you going to get it?” I asked dumbfounded.  I looked at Livy and Audrey to see if they were paying attention but they were too concerned with the fight.

“Nah, I don’t want get dirt on my new shirt.” He said coolly.

That infuriated me. I stomped over next to the car and bent down to pick it up, not caring I was in a mini skirt.

“Jenna what the hell are you doing? Your butt is hanging out?” Olivia asked freaking out.

“Well I think this is that guy’s cell phone and it flew off under this car. He probably will want it later.” I said as I got down on all fours to reach under the car.

It took a minute but I grabbed the cell phone and climbed out from underneath the car. When I popped up there were three sets of eyes totally staring at me.

“What?” I asked. “It’s not like he was going to get it.” I said motioning to the useless pretty boy.

“You’re all dirty.” Audrey said as she helped me dust off my skirt.

“Ah, it’s alright. It’s just a little dirt.” I told her unconcerned.

I looked around to see what was happening with the fight now. Climbing under the car had only taken a few seconds but it felt like longer because the fight had moved down the sidewalk.

“Alright, alright break it up you knuckle heads.” A huge grizzly looking man said as he crashed in between Jamieson and the husky guy.

I recognized the big guy as a bouncer from Havens. He stood in between Jamieson and the other guy forcing them to walk away in separate directions. The husky guy hurled some insults at Jamieson and then slowly began to walk away with his friends. Jamieson started walking back up the sidewalk towards us. He walked up to Mitch and Julian squinting at Mitch’s nose. He looked at it closely, clearly checking out the damage.

 “I don’t think its broke bud.” He said in an even tone.

“I’m sorry man. I swear I didn’t know she was married.” Mitch said looking a bit sheepish.

“It’s alright, could have happened to anyone.” Jamieson said and pats Mitch on the shoulder.

I watched this whole exchange like I was watching a movie. It didn’t seem real somehow.  I was in awe watching Jamieson go from raging maniac to calm concerned friend in seconds. I know it shouldn’t excite me but somewhere deep down, it did.

Jamieson turned around and looked over at the group of us as if he could tell we were watching him. He slowly began striding over to us. I could see his white shirt was totally trashed. It had blood all over it, some of it was his and some of it was the other guys. He had a fairly large cut above his eyebrow which made my stomach turn. I assumed he was coming to talk to his friends but instead he continued on until he was squarely in front of me.

“I’m sorry you had to see all that.” He said watching my face for a reaction.

“Oh, no worries.” I stammered. “Here, I think your cell phone fell out of your pocket.” I said and thrust my hand out holding the phone forward towards him.

“Thanks.” He said quietly and took the phone from my hand. When his hand brushed mine electricity melted its way straight up my arm.

“It was nothing.” I blushed a bit under his stare.

“Yeah right you totally climbed under the car to get it and ruined your skirt in the process.” Audrey exclaimed. Thanks Audrey!

“You did that for me?” His eyes went dark and intriguing.

“I knew you would probably want it.” I have no idea what I should have said to him. My mind had suddenly gone blank. We just stared at each other sharing some sort of weird silent connection.

“Hey you ladies want to meet us at Hals in a bit?” Julian piped up from across the sidewalk putting an end to the weird connection between Jamieson and me.

Hals was a famous local dinner. It was the original greasy spoon, but it hit the spot perfectly after a night of drinking.

“Sure.” Livy said a bit eagerly.

“Cool, meet us there in a half hour?” Julian said as the guys started to walk toward their vehicles.

Jamieson however, didn’t move. He was still staring at me.

“You’re going to come right?” He asked me.

“Yeah it sounds like it.” I tried to play it cool.

“Good, I’ll see you soon.” He said quietly. He hesitated as he turned to leave but finally found his momentum and jogged to catch up with his friends.

“Uh…earth to Jenna. Come in Jenna.” Audrey waved her hand in front of my face waking me from my daze.

“Oh, hey.” I said groggily from my trance.

“What the heck was all that about?” Livy asked with her hands on her hips. Audrey stood behind her with the same question on her face.

“I really have no idea.” I told them truthfully.

“Well whatever it is, it looked like trouble.” Livy said smiling. “And you know trouble can be a very good thing, right?” Her grin said it all; she thinks Jamieson and I were going to hook up or something. Olivia and Audrey always gave me a tough time about loosening up and living a little. It wasn’t that I was stuck-up or anything, it was just that I was focused and I didn’t want anything to distract me from my goals.

I shook my head at them and began walking toward our car.

*  *  *

It had been almost an hour and a half. Audrey, Olivia and I sat in a corner booth at Hals all looking a bit forlorn. We finally gave up and had ordered food. We were now finished eating and the guys were still a no show.

“Maybe they had to take their friend to get checked out at the hospital? He did take a nasty hit to the face.” Audrey said.

“Or maybe we just were stood up.” Livy bit back.

“Well whatever, I’m tired. Let’s just head home.” I said faking my tiredness. I knew Audrey and Livy were upset because they were enjoying our time with the hot guys but I also knew they would get over it by tomorrow night. I however, felt a weird sense of loss. I couldn’t really describe why I felt that way but I did. It bothered me that I felt like that; I had no right to feel that way. After all we had just met and it wasn’t like I even really knew the guy. I just needed to go home and try to forget about ever meeting Jamieson Wellington. Stay focused Jenna you are so close to graduating, just stay focused. 

 

Chapter One

“Let’s go Jenna! I’m ready to get my drink on so hurry up.” Livy hollered at me through the bathroom door of our luxury suite at the Venetian. I was finished getting ready, but all I could do was stand in front of the mirror looking at myself in shock. I knew Audrey and Olivia understood why seeing Jamieson was blowing my mind but I don’t think they totally got it, and how could they? Not even they knew the entire history between us. How on earth did I get myself in this situation and how in the hell am I going to get out of it unscathed?

“Let’s do this.” After taking a steadying deep breath I opened the door to join my friends.

“You look hot girl!” Audrey’s bright smile helped my nerves slightly. It had taken me over an hour to even pick an outfit. I finally settled on my tight black lace dress. It was short, tight and it was backless. It showed off every one of my killer curves to the best of their abilities.

“Yes you do girl. Now let’s go show Jamieson Wellington what he will be missing for the rest of his life.”

I flashed a smile back at them and we preceded to the find the elevator.

Livy chose a black and gold bandage dress that was one shouldered. It showcased her long Hawaiian legs perfectly. Audrey had chosen to wear an equally jaw-dropping dress. It was bright red, skin tight and strapless. It hugged her dainty frame expertly.

As we piled into the elevator to head to the club I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmingly nervous. I tried my best to choke down my nerves but a tiny voice kept telling me nothing will be the same after tonight.

*  *  *

As the girls and I approached the line for the club we could see it was stretched down the hallway and all the way to the bank of elevators we just emerged from. I felt a bit relieved hoping we couldn’t get in and that finally destiny would work in my favor.

“Ladies! Long time no see.” I knew that voice instantly. It was Derrick Bedlington, pretty boy extraordinaire. When I met Derrick I instantly disliked him. He had such obnoxious good looks and he knew it. He was beyond cocky and perhaps rightfully so. Derrick was from old money; his parents were real estate tycoons in Alabama owning everything from high-rises to farm land. Thus why his inner circle consisted of Jamieson Wellington heir to America’s largest whiskey distillery and Julian Vega sole heir to the Dominican Republic’s largest cocoa farm.

“Hey Derrick.” I heard Audrey coo from beside me. Those two had been playing a ridiculous cat-and-mouse game for the past five years and I for one couldn’t wait until they hooked up and got it over with.

“Ladies, we have a table inside.” Derrick motioned for us to step aside of the line and past the bouncers and front door staff. “The table is courtesy of James… in honor of Jenna’s upcoming nuptials of course.”

The mere mention of his name made my head snap back and search Derricks face for any private knowledge he may be hiding. Derrick however revealed absolutely nothing. 

As we entered the long dark tunneled hallway I heard Habits by Tove Lo thumping through the speakers and I choked back the bile I felt rising in my throat. I knew he would be there waiting for me, I knew he would be looking gorgeous like always and I knew there was no way I will be able to resist him.

We turned a corner and followed Derrick past the private VIP tables. I should have known that Jamieson would have picked the most private table in the club. He wanted to talk and he wanted me secluded enough to accomplished that goal. He was sitting in the far corner of our private table looking smug. He stood as soon as he saw us approaching. I meet his gaze and silently cursed. I had hoped after all this time that the potency of our connection had lessened but unfortunately I was wrong. If anything it was worse, so much worse.

The music around us was drowned out, all the people surrounding us disappeared and it was just us.  His eyes scanned my body and I knew he was taking in my very tight lace dress. I could tell he appreciated it because the corners of his mouth tilted up slightly and I saw a flash of heat in his eyes. I continued to walk toward him slowly but deliberately as if he was pulling me toward him. It has been a long time since I saw him last. I could see a touch of age around his eyes but he still looked as handsome as ever. Jamieson Wellington has always been the most handsome man in my eyes and tonight was no different. He was dressed in dark jeans and dark blue and purple pinstriped button up shirt. I could see the shirt was a luxury brand from the way the material shimmered ever so slightly in the dim club lights. His dirty blonde hair was perfectly styled showcasing his wicked blue eyes that continued to bore holes into mine.

I knew Audrey and Olivia were behind me. I could hear them chatting with Derrick and greeting Julian. I was being rude ignoring everyone but I couldn’t break the connection with Jamieson, we were having our own silent discussion of sorts. I came to stand in front of him and I cast my eyes down toward the floor trying to shield myself from his intense scrutiny.

“Hello Jenna. It’s been far too long, don’t you think?”

His cold sexy voice gave me chills. I forced myself to look up at him again. “Yes it has Jamieson.”

He motioned for me to sit and I did.

“Drink?” He asked.

“Sure.”

He leaned forward to grab an already-made drink from the table and handed it to me. “I hope you still drink whiskey sours. I took the liberty of making sure you have an endless supply tonight.”

I took the drink and began sipping it. “Thank you.”

Jamieson leaned forward and grabbed what I assumed was his drink, a whiskey on the rocks no doubt. It is the only thing I had ever seen him drink.

“Well I guess congratulations are in order.” He said with a dark tone to his voice. “When is the wedding?”

 “Two months.” I replied between sips of my drink.

“Are you happy?” His words hit me and I almost spit my drink all over my lap. Well I can see he is not going to beat around the bush.

“Yes we are.” I replied quickly hoping to end this line of questioning.

Jamieson leaned forward and set his drink down on the edge of the table. He then turned toward me and I see his eyes are burning with anger. “Do not lie to me Jenna.” Excuse me!?!?

I allowed his anger to wash over me, soaking it up as fuel for my come back. I took a long sip of my drink for added courage. “Why are you here Jamieson? I know this isn’t a friendly coincidence, things with you never are.”

 “I think you know why I’m here.” He said and leaned back against the cushions of the VIP booth.  

“No I do not. So please enlighten me!”

“I told you a long time ago but it seems you may have forgotten.” He tells me with a hint of a smile playing across his lips.

“What are you talking about?” I was getting tired of his games.

“So you have forgotten…interesting.” He was clearly smiling at me now.

“You know that whatever you’re talking about doesn’t matter now, right? I’m engaged, as in I’m getting married.” I was beyond frustrated.

Anger flashed in his face. “You may be engaged Jenna but you most certainly aren’t married, not yet.” 

“Whatever.” I knew I could push harder and try to get him to confess why he was crashing my bachelorette party but I also knew I wasn’t prepared to find out, so I left it alone.

I continued to sip my whiskey sour and stewed about Jamieson’s arrogant and angry behavior. I tried my best to ignore him and concentrate on the conversations around the table. Olivia was busily chatting to Julian about her recent trip to Milan. After graduating from Alabama State with a degree in advertising she landed her dream job working for a fashion magazine. Olivia now has the horribly daunting job of traveling around the world to the biggest fashion shows selling advertising spots. She clearly hates it.

Derrick and Audrey were also easily bantering back and forth. Derrick was rousing Audrey about working for “the man.” Audrey had gone to law school with me at Vanderbilt. She was now working for the prosecuting attorney’s office in Huntsville. Audrey is brilliant at her job she has a passion for the law and it clearly showed as I listened to her talk to Derrick.

I couldn’t be prouder of my two best friends and all their accomplishments, but it made me sad thinking of my upcoming move. Cain had accepted a job at his family’s firm in Mobile so after the wedding we will be moving. Cain came from a long line of attorneys. Both of Cains parents were attorneys. In fact when his mother and father married their families’ firms merged creating a super firm of sorts. They had offices all over Alabama and his father was grooming him to take over the firm as he had accepted a judgeship in Montgomery.

I’m drawn out of my sad thoughts when I feel a familiar hand on my wrist. I knew while I was ignoring him he was analyzing me. I could feel him staring at me. I was trying my best to be immune to his gaze, but his touch I never have been immune to.

I looked up at his face through the darkness of the club but I could see he wasn’t looking at me but my hand, my left hand to be exact.

“Is this it?” He said in a dark bruiting tone.

“Yes.” I choked out. I knew he disapproved of my simple engagement ring, but I thought it was beautiful. Cain had picked it out and surprised me one night at dinner. I wasn’t shocked when he proposed. With Cain there were no surprises; things were just easy, predictable I guess.

“I thought his family had money.” Holy freaking rude much!

I scoffed at his comment and snatched my hand away from his. “I think it is beautiful.”

“It’s not right.” He continued.

I had had enough. I quickly stood to escape to the bathroom, it was all too much. I couldn’t handle being close to him, him touching me, analyzing me and now clearly judging me.

I tried to make my way past Olivia but my dreaded song came on. Olivia and Audrey have been my friends since middle school and for as long as I could remember, Sir Mix-A-Lots I like Big Butts had been our anthem. Shitballs there goes my exit plan.

Audrey and Olivia screamed in unison and stood up grabbing my arm dragging me to the dance floor.

We got to the middle of the dance floor and Olivia spins me around to face them. “Okay spill it. What in the hell is he doing here?”

“I don’t know. I asked him but he wouldn’t tell me he just said I knew why he was here, but I have no idea.”

“Well clearly he is here to see you.” Audrey chimed in.

“Okay well I guess there is only one way to find out.” Livy turns to storm back toward the table but I stop her.

“Liv just leave it. He won’t tell you and I’d rather just ignore it for now.” I pleaded.

“Fine, but if he pisses me off I’m going to ask him.”

“Let’s just pretend he isn’t here, drink his booze and do what we came here to do… party!” Audrey exclaims.

“Ladies follow me. I think we need shots.” Livy added.

Audrey and I followed behind her to the bar where she ordered our favorite shots, Washington red apples.

I slammed down three and made a silent pledge to myself to have fun no matter what. Just don’t black out in the process, you have never been great at holding your liquor!

 

Chapter Two

June 2009… 

Olivia, Audrey and I stood in line at Gossips a local gay bar in Huntsville, Alabama. It was a Friday and like most bars in Hunstsville they all had their prime nights. Fridays were definitely Gossips. Regardless of whether it was gay bar or not, everyone packed in to dance to the latest house mixes. Tonight was no different, it being the first night of summer break the line was down the block and then some.

“We better pray Barry is working the door tonight or that Jenna’s skirt is short enough to showcase that booty.” Livy chided me.

“Looks like your prayers have been answered.” Audrey said striding her way to the front of the line in her sky high stilettos.

As we got closer I could see what my ubber tall friends could already see, our friend Barry was working the door. We had become friends with the bouncer over the years since we had turned twenty-one. Barry worked at Gossips as well as our favorite bar Havens. He was a huge burly guy with a bald head and lots of tattoos. If I had met him on the street in the middle of the night I would have probably run in the other direction screaming, but over the years we had gotten to know him. He was a sweet guy and for whatever reason he loved us.

“Ladies!” Barry greeted us with a huge smile ushering us past the long line and into the club.

“Thanks Barry.” We each said as we passed him, giving him a hug and kiss on the cheek.

“Three Paid!” He yelled to the cashier inside the club letting him know there would be no cover charge for us.

As we entered the club a remix of Jamie Foxx & T-Pain’s Blame It pours out of the speakers.

“Drinks?” Audrey asked from beside me.

“Sure.”

“First rounds on me!” Livy shouted over the music.

We cut a path to the bar to order our drinks. I stood behind Livy as she flirted with the bartender and that is when I felt it.

The air got thick with electricity and the music turned to a low rumble in the back ground. There was only one other time in my life I had felt this way and that was the night I met Jamieson Wellington. As that realization dawns on me I began to search the crowd and to my total amazement I spotted him just entering the bar with his friends.

I sucked in a sharp breath seeing him for the first time in months. I had only met him once but the intense attraction I felt for him was undeniable. Many nights I had laid awake thinking of him and the connection between us. I had convinced myself it was all in my head but seeing him again made it all so real.

I continued to watch him from across the bar make his way toward me. He clearly hadn’t noticed us or maybe he didn’t remember me. Perhaps I was just another face in the crowd to him. I watched as he passed in front of me with his friends heading to the far end of the bar where a beautiful female bartender worked. As he got closer to me I scrutinized everything about him. I had hoped that maybe over the months I had just built him up in my head, that maybe I remembered him differently. Unfortunately for me that was not the case. Jamieson Wellington was still classically handsome with his dirty blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He still had the body of a Greek God and the obvious ability to draw all the female attention around him.

I continued to appreciate his stunning good looks when his eyes caught mine. Immediately I casted my eyes downward and a felt a deep blush covering my cheeks. I waited a few painful seconds and then stole a glance back at him hoping he was far enough away from me now that he couldn’t see me watching him. When I looked back at him he had stopped dead in his tracks and was staring at me wide eyed. I again freaked out and looked down turning to face my friends.

“Excuse me. It’s Jenna, right?” Shit, shit, shit. I’m busted!

I turned around to be met with the sharp and steely gaze of Jamieson Wellington, my stomach turned completely inside out.

“Yes.” I said trying to seem unaffected.

“Hi, do you remember me? We met a few months ago at Havens.” I could feel his eyes roam over my body and I couldn’t deny I liked it.

“Of course we remember you asshats. You guys stood us up.” Livy declared while handing me my drink.

I heard the guy behind Jamieson chuckle, I’m pretty sure his name was Julian.
“Yes about that, listen we are sorry. I went home so I could change my shirt and by the time we got to Hals you had left.” Jamieson was clearly explaining everything to the group but he only looked at me. We had yet to break our connection since he approached me.

“See I told you they didn’t stand us up.” Audrey said.

“Can we buy you drinks to make up for our unexplained absence?” Jamieson offered.

“Sure.” I said barely above a whisper.

“Whisky sour, right?” He asked.

“You remembered?” Crap that wasn’t supposed to come out.

“You’re hard to forget Jenna Middleton.” He said in very sexy deep tone with an equally sexy grin.

I knew it was crazy, but I couldn’t help but wonder if he too felt this strangeness between us and if so, what did it mean.

*  *  *

The bright lights of the bar came on signaling it was now time to leave, I instantly felt disappointed. We had been talking for hours. It was odd having such an intimate conversation in the middle of a packed bar but Jamieson had a way of making me feel like I was the only person in the room. Our friends were also busily getting to know each other and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.

“Your house JW?” I heard Derrick ask from behind me.

“Ladies would you like to continue this back at my house?” Jamieson offered.

I looked at Audrey and Olivia for any hesitation.

“Let’s do it.” Livy said boldly.

Jamieson let out a light laugh. “Well after you.”

He ushered me out of the bar with the rest of our friends never leaving my side. When we got outside in the parking lot he hesitated just for a moment before crossing the street to catch up with his friends who were waiting next to a black Cadillac Escalade.

Livy had driven her charcoal Audi so we piled in to follow the guys to Jamieson’s house.

It only took us a few minutes to get to Huntsville Mountain. We pulled off the main road and onto a long gated driveway. It was no secret Jamieson was wealthy and I should have guessed he would live in this neighborhood but still I was taken back as we passed mansion after mansion. We finally pulled up to a sprawling southern estate. As I watched the large house grow in size as we approached I felt my stomach dip low in my belly. I was clearly playing outside of my league.

We pulled up next to the Escalade and we all proceeded to bail out of the car. Audrey and Livy excitedly chatted about the beautiful home we were entering. Jamieson stood on the front porch in front of a massive set of dark black wood doors.

“Ladies.” He said to my friends as he guided them inside. I was close behind but taking my time. When I reached Jamieson he flashed me his sexy grin. “Welcome to my home Jenna.” I didn’t know what to say so I just smiled shyly in return.

Jamieson followed close behind me as I made my way down the front hallway. I could hear Derrick and Julian entertaining the girls nearby.

“Would you like a tour?”

“Yes, very much so.” I said eagerly.

Jamieson smiled and lead me through the house to a beautiful sprawling living room. It was gorgeous with its slate gray couches and dark wood flooring. There was a huge TV mounted inside a beautiful white wood built-in that showcased a cozy fireplace. In front of the couches there was a very inviting plush cream rug. I pictured lying on the gorgeous rug snuggled in front of the roaring fireplace with Jamieson. I felt my cheeks flush from my fantasy.

“And through here?” I asked trying to distract myself from my overactive imagination.

I began walking toward the voices I heard earlier. I didn’t have to go far before I was in the middle of a massive ivory white kitchen filled with our friends. If there was a kitchen to end all kitchens this would have been it. All the appliances were commercial grade stainless steel. The cabinets were white with glass fronts. I was impressed at how organized all the dishes were aligned, especially since Jamieson was a bachelor. That was not something a boy would typically be concerned about, but then again Jamieson Wellington was surprising me at every turn.

“You have a beautiful home Jamieson.” Audrey told him as he fixed a drink from the bar that ran along the far wall of the kitchen.

“Thank you.”

“How many rooms is it?” She quizzed him. Audrey had always been interested in architecture and interior design so I can only imagine what she was thinking.

“Five, but one bedroom I made into a study so really six.” He said nonchalantly handing me a drink as well.

“Seems a bit big for a single guy.” Livy piped up from across the room.

“Oh I don’t live here alone. Derrick, Julian and Mitch all live here with me.” He clarified.
“So like a mini frat.” Livy said clearly trying to get a reaction.

Julian let out a low chuckle. “Something like that.”

“More like a mini playboy mansion.” Derrick chimed in.  

His statement sent a pang of jealousy shooting through me. I knew I had no right to feel that way considering this was only the second time I had spent time with Jamieson, but the idea of half-naked girls running through this house sent ice water coursing through my veins.

“I think its GTA time!” Julian shouted.

“Let’s do it!” Derrick agreed as he grabbed a couple beers from the fridge.

“What the fuck is GTA?” Livy asked the obvious question.

“Grand Theft Auto, baby.” Julian said excitedly.

“You mean the video game?” I asked totally perplexed at the thought these full grown men would be this excited over a video game.

“Not just a video game the best video game ever made!” Julian replied. The guys must have finally understood that Audrey, Livy and I had no idea what they were talking about. I’m sure our faces gave us away.

“Looks like we have three virgins here.” Derrick sneered and made his way to the living room with his beers.

“Well come on ladies we are about to show you what the hype is all about.” Julian clamored. Audrey and Olivia followed behind him totally laughing at his boyish excitement.

I stole a look at Jamieson to see if he shared Derrick and Julian’s obvious video game obsession. He gave nothing away. He was softly looking at me with a light smile playing on his lips. I shuddered lightly under his gaze.

“We haven’t finished our tour.” He said never breaking our connection.

“Sorry. I would love to see the rest of the house.”

Jamieson lead me through the entire downstairs. There were three bedrooms on the first floor. Mitch, Derrick and Julian all lived downstairs. Each of their large rooms had their own on-suite bathrooms, which put most master bedrooms to shame. There was also an additional full bathroom downstairs and a home gym.

“Wow, I can’t even imagine what you would need an upstairs for.” I said to him as we circled back toward the massive staircase in the front hallway.

“Let me show you.” A wicked grin spread wide across his lips as he ushered me upstairs.

At the top of the beautiful dark wood staircase I could see inside what I assumed to be Jamieson’s study. There was an enormous wood L-shaped dark wood desk that held multiple computer screens.

“Your office?” I asked.

“Yes.” He led me inside.

It was exactly how I pictured it to be, sophisticated and intimidating, much like Jamieson himself. I examined the many shelves and framed diplomas on the wall.

“You graduated from the University of Alabama?”

“Rolltide.” He said grinning at me.

“That’s too bad and here I thought you were damn near perfect.” I kidded.

“That makes too of us. I’m not usually attracted to Big Orange fans.” His confession left me slightly breathless. He was attracted to me. There it was, the truth I could feel deep down in my bones, but the real question was what did he plan on doing about it? 

Chapter Three 

I squinted my heavy eyelids half open. I didn’t recognize my surroundings. I willed myself to try to sit up but the minute I tried to move I felt like I was going to puke. Maybe I had already puked, I felt like absolute hell. My head pounded incessantly and all my limbs felt like they were bruised. I knew I was in a bed but the real question was whose?

“Good morning baby.” That voice broke me out of whatever stupor I was in. I snapped my eyes open to see a very naked Jamieson Wellington coming out of the bathroom. I quickly scanned my surroundings. I was not in my Vegas hotel room with Audrey and Olivia. No, I was in massive suite which I assumed belonged to none other than Jamieson Fucking Wellington and much to my absolute horror I was stark naked in his damn bed.

Hope you enjoyed this sneak peek of my latest project that is coming soon!