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This is a blog of my thoughts, trials, and rants while I experience the roller coaster of emotions that come with getting a novel published.
Statistics for I write YA therefore I must be insane
Number of Readers that added this blog to their MyJacketFlap: 1
SNEAK PEEK:
(Note: this is an unedited excerpt)
“I just got off work,” I replied trying hard to keep my eyes on his and not his chest.
“So you got a job?”
“Yes. Yesterday.”
“Where at?”
I wasn’t sure how I felt about telling him too much. He wasn’t a friend. And it was obvious I’d never consider him family. Our parents may be married but he didn’t seem to want to have anything to do with my father or me.
“Kerrington Country Club,” I replied.
Rush’s eyebrows shot up and he took a step closer to me then slipped a hand under my chin and tilted my face up. “You’re wearing mascara,” he said studying me.
“Yes I am,” I pulled my chin out of his grasp. He may be letting me sleep at his house but I didn’t like him touching me. Or maybe I did like him touching me and that was the problem. I didn’t want to like him touching me.
“It makes you look more your age,” he stepped back and did a slow appraisal of my clothing.
“You’re the cart girl at the golf course,” he said simply looking back up at me.
“How did you know?” I asked.
He waved a hand at me, “The outfit. Tight little white shorts and polo shirts. It’s the uniform.”
I was glad for the darkness. I was positive I was blushing.
“You’re making a fucking killing aren’t you?” he asked in an amused tone.
I’d made over five hundred dollars in tips in two days. That wasn’t a killing to him but to me it was.
So I shrugged. “You will be relieved to know that I’ll be out of here in less than a month.”
He didn’t respond right away. I should probably leave and go get my shower. I started to say something when he took a step closer to me. “I probably should be. Relieved that is. Real fucking relieved. But, I’m not. I’m not relieved, Blaire,” he paused and leaned down to whisper in my ear, “why is that?”
I wanted to reach out and grab his arms to keep from crumpling to the ground in a heap of mush. But I refrained.
“Keep your distance from me, Blaire. You don’t want too close. Last night,” he swallowed loudly. “Last night, is haunting me. Knowing you were watching. It drives me crazy. So, stay away. I’m doing my best to stay way from you.” He turned and jogged back up to the house as I stood there trying to keep from melting in a puddle onto the sand.
FALLEN TOO FAR by Abbi Glines
coming December 25 (possibly sooner)
To want what you’re not supposed to have…
She is only nineteen.
She is his new stepfather’s daughter.
She is still naïve and innocent due to spending the last three years taking care of her sick mother.
But for twenty-four year old Rush Finlay, she is the only thing that has ever been off limits. His famous father’s guilt money, his mother’s desperation to win his love, and his charm are the three reasons he has never been told no.
Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. She isn’t prepared for the lifestyle change and she knows she’ll never fit into this world. Then there is her sexy stepbrother who her father leaves her with for the summer while he runs off to Paris with his wife. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. She knows he is anything but good for her and that he’ll never be faithful to anyone. He is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that…
Blaire just may have fallen too far.
This past week has been insanely AWESOME.
I'm not even sure where to start... okay... um... let's start with my favorite BOYS. They have been getting a lot of attention in the UK and the US. Starting with the one page ad in People Magazine!! YES! OMG! I swear I may never get over seeing The Vincent Boys right next to Aerosmith. I had to be picked up off the floor at the grocery store. Okay maybe that is a little dramatic but still. It was surreal to say the least.
THEN Simon Pulse goes and puts The Vincent Boys and Brothers ON SALE!! YAY! For a short time the ebooks will be only $4.99
THEN Hot Key (my UK publisher for the BOYS) launches a fan site with video from readers talking about why you should read The Vincent Boys
ALSO there are several blogs that Simon Pulse has supplied fantastic giveaways to for The Vincent Boys. Be sure to go and enter them.
Stuck in YA Books
A November to Remember
The Bookish Babes
A November to Remember
Teen Spot
Giveaway
Daisy Chain Book Reviews
A November to Remember
Bookish Brunette
A November to Remember
Good Choice Reading
A November to Remember
Stuck in Books
A November to Remember
University Chic
Giveaway
The winner of the Fallen Too Far ARC is Sarah Hayden Davey!
The winner of a signed hardcover copy of The Vincent Boys is Sue Miller
Thanks to everyone who entered. I wish I could give a prize to you all but then I'd be living in a box and have no electricity. How would I write? HA!
Good Morning and Roll Tide... *ahem* oops that slips out sometimes. I have college football issues.
I have a new book coming out (don't I always have a new book coming out?) December 25.
AND I'm going to give away an ARC of this book to the Grand Prize winner five days before the books release. The runner up will get a signed and personalized copy of
How do you enter?
I always like to thank readers that take the time to leave a review on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Be it good or bad. Taking the time to review a book is a big deal. So, anyone who does this their name is automatically entered.
BUT
You can get extra entries as well. One extra entry a day to be exact by sharing the following n Facebook or Twitter
JUST FOR NOW prologue & peek into chapter one *warning it's HOT* by http://www.abbiglines.com/p/just-for-now-prologue.html
NOW.... drumroll.....
THE WINNER OF THE NOOK HD
IS
Katie Pruitt Miller.
Her favorite reading place is in the bathtub and I have a picture to prove it. You can see her foot sticking up out of the bubbles and The Vincent Boys in her hand.
She has been contacted.
Congrats Katie.
An insatiable attraction heats to the boiling point in this brand-new book set in the shore town of Sea Breeze, from bestselling author Abbi Glines.
Preston is one bad boy. And Amanda has harbored a crush on him for forever. When she finally makes her move on him, it does not end well. But still, she can’t resist him. Especially now that he seems to be pursuing her, too.
No one wants wants them to be be together. Not Amanda’s brother Marcus, who is on the verge of his marriage to Low, and definitely not any of Preston's buddies. They know way too much about Preston’s dark side. Yet the dangerous attraction is there...and neither Preston nor Amanda are going to deny it.
For Preston, his part in Breathe is as Marcus Hardy's best friend. He shows up and is comic relief mostly. In Because of Low, he is on Cage York's baseball team as well as a fixture in Marcus's life. In While It Lasts, he only makes a few brief appearances. One of those is with Amanda and the hint as to what is coming next is very strong.
I've know Preston wasn't exactly what he appeared to be since his first appearance inBreathe. I knew he had secrets but I wasn't sure if I'd ever delve into his life. AfterBecause of Low I knew just who was going to make him want to change and exactly how severe his issues were. I had no doubt that after I told bad boy Cage York's story that I'd have to tell readers about Preston next. He is quite possibly the deepest character to date for me. Weird, I know, considering he has always been portrayed as the playboy. Looks can be deceiving and for Preston Drake that is exactly the case.
You can read a small portion of the prologue hereYou can read an excerpt hereYou can watch the book trailer hereYou can add it to your Goodreads shelf here AND YOU CAN BUY IT HERE:
It's almost here!
The print edition release day for The Vincent Boys and in celebration of this event I am giving away a Nook HD
I will be giving this bad boy away on November 5.
How To Enter:
On October 30 The Vincent Boys will hit shelves. Go find the print copy of The Vincent Boys on a bookstore shelf near you and have your picture taken with it in your favorite reading spot. Feel free to get creative with this. Then, tweet the picture (be sure to tag me @abbiglines) or put it on Instagram, or Pinterest and comment below with the link to the picture.
Ready, set... go!
Put it on your Goodreads Shelf here
You can also preorder it for your Kindle HERE
Only 11 more days until the release of JUST FOR NOW.
Preston Drake and Amanda Hardy have been around since the beginning of the Sea Breeze Series. They make appearances in every book.
In Breathe, Amanda becomes Sadie White's friend.
In Because of Low, Amanda is dealing with her family issues along with her brother Marcus.
In While It Lasts her appearance is very brief but it clued most readers in to just who the next book was going to be about.
For Preston, his part in Breathe is as Marcus Hardy's best friend. He shows up and is comic relief mostly. In Because of Low, he is on Cage York's baseball team as well as a fixture in Marcus's life. In While It Lasts, he only makes a few brief appearances. One of those is with Amanda and the hint as to what is coming next is very strong.
I've know Preston wasn't exactly what he appeared to be since his first appearance in Breathe. I knew he had secrets but I wasn't sure if I'd ever delve into his life. After Because of Low I knew just who was going to make him want to change and exactly how severe his issues were. I had no doubt that after I told bad boy Cage York's story that I'd have to tell readers about Preston next. He is quite possibly the deepest character to date for me. Weird, I know, considering he has always been portrayed as the playboy. Looks can be deceiving and for Preston Drake that is exactly the case.
Until it's release you can read a small portion of the prologue hereYou can read an excerpt hereYou can watch the book trailer hereYou can add it to your Goodreads shelf hereand you can read below the last sneak peek before its release. (It's a steamy one that I've shared this week on my Facebook page. If you don't follow that page then this will be new to you.)
JUST FOR NOW excerptWarning: It is very hot and is not suitable for young readers. “Manda, please baby, tell me to stop,” he begged in a deep husky voice while he trailed kisses from my mouth to my neck, where he began licking and nipping the tender skin there.
“I don’t want to,” I gasped out as his finger entered me easily.
“So sweet. So wet. I shouldn’t be able to touch you. I’m not good enough.” His tortured voice only turned me on more. I opened my legs and he sank down between them as his fingers eased in and out of me.
“You’re so warm,” he murmured as he kissed down my chest and finally let go of my hands so that he could use his free hand to slid up the inside of my shirt. He chose that moment to start rubbing his thumb over my clit. I cried out and clung to both his arms. I was so close.
“No,” he bit out and then he was gone.
My breathing was labored and my body parts started screaming in protest. I wanted him back. Touching me.
“No! I can’t do this. I shouldn’t have started it.” Preston was standing up when I opened my eyes. His face looked fierce and he wasn’t looking at me. Instead, he was focused on the dark sky.
“This is wrong,” he said again in a determined voice.
It is hard to believe that the boys have been out for a year now. When I wrote Beau Vincent I didn't expect readers to love him as much as I did. I was so wrong and I'm so thankful for that. Autumn from The Autumn Review has put together a week of The Boys in honor of their pub anniversary. Simon Pulse joined in on the celebration by giving away several copies of The Vincent Boys and also one grand prize including
IF I LIE - Corinne Jackson
STAY – Deb Caletti
HAVEN – Kristi Cook
WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND – Tracy Bilen
LUCY IN THE SKY – Anonymous
SWEAR – Nina Malkin
VIRTUOSITY – Jessica Martinez
My UK publisher Hot Key also joined in by giving away five copies of their Australian paperback for The Vincent Boys.
Want to enter???
Check out the weeks posts and enter to win here:
The release date isn't set just yet but I am aiming for a February release. A new series. Adult romance genre...
To want what you’re not supposed to have…
She is only nineteen.
She is his new stepfather’s daughter.
She is still naïve and innocent due to spending the last three years taking care of her sick mother.
But for twenty-four year old Rush Finlay, she is the only thing that has ever been off limits. His famous father’s guilt money, his mother’s desperation to win his love, and his charm are the three reasons he has never been told no.
Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. She isn’t prepared for the lifestyle change and she knows she’ll never fit into this world. Then there is her sexy stepbrother who her father leaves her with for the summer while he runs off to Paris with his wife. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. She knows he is anything but good for her and that he’ll never be faithful to anyone. He is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that…
Blaire just may have fallen too far.
Coming October 23, 2012
(Warning it is rated R)
Here is a new sneak peek
I started to respond when Dewayne’s eyes widened and he let out a low whistle. I followed his gaze and almost swallowed my damn tongue.
Amanda was here. Wearing a short white clingy dress. Her long tanned legs looked even longer with the bronze high-heeled sandals she was wearing. Her silky blond hair was pulled up on her head but several curls had fallen loose and brushed her bare neck and shoulders. Ah, hell.
“Is she with Jason Stone? Fuck, I hope not. Marcus is gonna be pissed.” Dewayne’s words slapped me in the face. I tore my eyes off her and looked to see whose arm it was she was holding onto. Jax Stone’s brother was smiling down at her saying something. He was making her laugh. She was gazing up at him like he was fascinating. Fuck. A red haze settled over my vision and I started to move. A hand clamped down on my arm and jerked me back.
“What the hell are you doing?” Dewayne’s hard tone surprised me. What was I doing?
“I, he, she… I don’t know.”
I didn’t look back at Dewayne. I couldn’t explain that asinine answer. Instead, I turned to the bar tender. “Make that a double and keep ‘em coming.”
To celebrate the month of OCTOBER because that is when The Vincent Boys hits bookshelves and makes me a very happy girl, I will be giving away a Kindle Fire. *A new one. Not mine as seen below. And no I don't actually read my own books but I buy them to make my Kindle pretty ;) *
AND
It's hot isn't it?
Yeah....
Well this can't be purchased in paperback until October 30
BUT
it can be won...
The first name I draw will win a Kindle Fire. The second name I draw will be one of the first to own a paperback copy of The Vincent Boys (Simon Pulse). Not only am I giving away an unavailable copy but I am signing it as well.
How to enter:
Tweet and/or Facebook the following: (be sure to tag me on my Facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/abbiglinesauthor )
Torn between two hot Vincent Boys and any good girl will go bad http://www.amazon.com/The-Vincent-Boys-ebook/dp/B00907AVIU/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1 @abbiglines
and/or
Sawyer and Lana may have different motives, but their scintillating hookups are the same kind of steamy http://www.amazon.com/The-Vincent-Brothers-ebook/dp/B00907BQKM/ref=pd_sim_kstore_3 @abbiglines
You can comment below to let me know you entered, just to make sure I don't miss your FB status or tweet. AND YES every time you tweet or Facebook one of the above and tag me your name will be entered to win. However, you do not have to comment every time you enter. If I am tagged I will see it. Winner will be announced Oct 20, 2012.
This is where you can find me along with several of my favorite authors this weekend. It's going to be crazy fun. It's definitely road trip worthy. Just saying.
*Although it says "Indie" that has changed somewhat. Several of the authors going are no longer indie authors.
Here is a secret: I'll have copies of Simon Pulse's edition of The Vincent Boys with me. You won't be able to get them anywhere else until October 30. This is a one time opportunity. There are now officially three different covers for The Vincent Boys: the US, the UK, and Australia's. I will have each cover displayed on a poster at my table. Once the signing is over I'll be signing them and giving them away. There will be no other posters available with these covers for awhile.
So... COME SEE ME!
Book #4 in the Sea Breeze series - JUST FOR NOW- will release on October 23.
This Monday September 24 is the cover reveal and book trailer reveal for Just for Now. So many awesome bloggers signed up for it and thanks to Julie at A Tale of Many Reviews for pulling it all together. She's awesome. If you're an author, I'd seriously check Julie out for cover reveals and blog tours.
In the back of Ceaseless (Existence #3 that released this past Tuesday) the first half of the Just For Now Prologue is tucked away. Many readers have found it but those who haven't read Ceaseless have been asking for it. BE WARNED this is for older readers. Just For Now is not YA. It is New Adult/Adult contemporary romance. Language, drinking and sexual situations are all in this short piece. Proceed with caution. Preston Drake is just as naughty as Cage York is soooo without further ado:
Just For Now
by Abbi Glines
Prologue
“Well if it ain’t lil’ Manda all dressed up and coming out to play.”
The water I’d been sipping chose this moment to strangle me. Covering my mouth to muffle my hacking cough, I turned away from the warm breath against my ear. I had shown up here tonight for one reason: to see Preston Drake. Wasn’t it just my luck that when he finally decided to notice I’m alive, I started coughing up a freaking lung.
Preston’s amused chuckle as he patted my back didn’t help my humiliation any. “Sorry Manda, I didn’t know my presence would get you all choked up.”
Once I was able to speak again, I turned around to face the guy that had been making a grand appearance in my late night fantasies for a couple years now. All the primping I’d suffered through so that I looked irresistible was pointless. Preston was grinning at me like he always did. I amused him. He didn’t see me as anything more than the innocent little sister of his best friend, Marcus Hardy. It was cliché. How many bad romance novels had I read about the girl falling helplessly in love with her brother’s best friend? Countless.
“You startled me,” I wanted to explain my sudden burst of coughing.
Preston tipped a bottle of beer against his lips and took a drink while keeping his eyes cut toward me. “Are you sure it wasn’t my sexy-as-hell voice whispering in your ear that caused your momentary lack of oxygen?”
Yes that was probably it. But the guy knew he was beautiful I wasn’t going to add to his ego. Crossing my arms over my stomach, I took a defensive pose. I never knew how to talk to Preston or what to say to him. I was so afraid he’d look me in the eyes and know that I closed my eyes at night and imagined doing very bad things to his body.
“Damn, Manda,” he said in a low husky voice as his eyes lowered to my breasts. I’d worn a low cut white blouse tonight and a really good push-up bra in hopes of at least getting Preston to see that my body was all grown up. Besides, I knew he had a thing for boobs. It was obvious by the girls he dated… well he didn’t really date. He just screwed them. My boobs were not big but a good push up bra and the right position and they weren’t too bad.
“That’s a real nice shirt you got on.”
He was really looking at me. Or at them but they were a part of me so it was the same thing. “Thank you,” I replied in a normal voice that betrayed the fact I was breathing a little faster now.
Preston took another step toward me closing in the small area that had separated us. His eyes were still directed at the cleavage I had pushing up in full view. “Maybe wearing a shirt like that ain’t real smart, Manda.” His deep voice caused me to shiver. “Aw, hell girl don’t do that. No shivering.”
One large hand touched my waist. His thumb brushed against my stomach and gently pushed the hem of my shirt up. “I’ve been drinkin’ since four, sweetheart. You need to push me away and send me packing ‘cause I don’t think I can stop this on my own.”
Small whimper. Oh, yes. Should I start begging now?
Preston lifted his eyes to meet mine. His long pale blond hair that girls everywhere wanted to get their hands in, fell forward over one of his eyes. I couldn’t help it. I reached up and tucked the loose strands behind his ear. He closed his eyes and made a small, pleased sound in his throat.
“Manda, you’re real sweet. Real fucking sweet and I’m not the kind of guy you’re supposed to let get this close.” His voice was almost a whisper now as his eyes bore into mine. I could see the slight glassy look that confirmed he’d had too much to drink.
“I’m a big girl. I can decided who I let get close,” I replied shifting my hips so that he had a better view directly down my shirt if he wanted it.
“Mmmm, see this is where I think you might be wrong ‘cause untouched little bodies like yours all fresh and sweet shouldn’t tempt guys who are only looking for another hot fuck.”
Something about hearing Preston Drake say “fuck” out of those full pink lips of his was a major turn on. He was too pretty. He always had been. His lashes too long, his face too sculpted and you add that in with his lips and hair, you get one lethal package.
“Maybe I’m not as untouched as you think,” I said hoping he didn’t detect the lie. I wanted to be one of those bad girls he didn’t mind taking in a back room up against a wall.
Preston lowered his mouth to barely graze the skin on my shoulder that was revealed by the shirt I’d chosen. “You telling me that this sweetness has been played with?”
No. “Yes,” I replied.
“Come take a ride with me,” he asked close to my ear as his teeth pulled gently on my earlobe.
“Okay.”
Preston moved back and nodded his head toward the door. “Let’s go.”
That probably wasn’t such a good idea. If Rock, Dewayne, or any other of my brother’s friends saw us leaving together they’d stop anything from happening. And I wanted something to happen. Alone time under the covers thinking about Preston Drake was getting old. I wanted the actual man. I wonder why Preston hadn’t thought of that. Did he want them to stop us? I glanced over at their usual table and Rock wasn’t paying us any attention. Dewayne winked at me then went back to talking to some girl.
I looked back at the bartender, “I have to pay my tab first.”
Preston nudged me toward the door, “I got your tab. You go get in my Jeep.”
Okay. Yes. I wanted to go get in his Jeep. This would also have us leaving separately. Nodding, I hurried for the door thinking I may have just won the lottery.
Glancing around the parking lot I searched for Preston’s Jeep. When I didn’t see it out front I headed for the back of the building to see if he’d parked back there. Most people didn’t because there were no lights around.
Stepping into the darkness, I wondered if this was smart. A girl really shouldn’t be out here by herself at night. Maybe I should just go back to the part of the parking lot where it was well lit.
“Don’t you back out on me now. I’m already going half mad thinking about this,” Preston’s hands came around my waist and pulled me tightly up against his chest. Both of his hands slid up and covered my boobs squeezing them then tugging on my top until it was low enough that he could feel the exposed skin of my cleavage.
“Sweet God almighty, real ones feel so damn good,” he murmured.
I couldn’t take a deep breath. Preston’s hands were touching me. I wanted him to touch all of them. Reaching up, I undid the buttons on my shirt and let it fall open. I found the front clasp of my bra and quickly unfastened it before I could back out. We were in the middle of a very dark parking lot and I was being a complete slut.
“Damn baby. Get your ass in my Jeep.” Preston growled as he pushed me forward a few more steps then turned me left by directing my hips. His Jeep appeared in front of us. I was pretty sure we couldn’t do this in a Jeep.
“Can we, uh, do this in here?” I asked as he turned me around to face him. Even in the dark his light hair stood out. His eyelids were lowered and those long lashes of his almost brushed his cheeks.
“Do what baby? What is it you wanna do? ‘Cause showing me these pretty titties has me going a little crazy.” He pressed me back up against his jeep as he lowered his head and pulled one of my nipples into his mouth and sucked hard before flicking it with his tongue.
No one had ever kissed my boobs. The immediate explosion that went off in my panties as I cried his name hadn’t been on purpose. My head was pressed back on the Jeep window and my knees had completely given out. Preston’s hands holding firmly to my waist had kept me from ending up a heap on the gravel.
“Mother fucker,” Preston growled and I started to apologize when his hands cupped my butt and he picked me up. I grabbed his shoulders and wrapped my legs around his waist afraid he would drop me.
“Where are we going?” I asked as he stalked deeper into the parking lot. Had I made him mad?
Yeah... that's the highlight of my week. During the Amazon conference WHILE IT LASTS was popped up on screen behind Jeff Bezos. One of those things I may just blow up and hang on my wall.
Hot. There isn't much more to say about this new cover. Beau and Ash are perfect. You can pre-order the paperback copy now online. (It is the same story. Just properly edited with a sexy new cover)
BUY THE BOOK:
Sawyer and Lana... Perfect.
This one can be pre-ordered too!
BUY THE BOOK:
WHAT IS COMING NEXT?
Ceaseless (Existence #3) is set to release September 18. Let's hope I make that deadline. This will be the last book in this series. You can read sneak peeks I've posted on my Facebook Author Page
Just For Now (Sea Breeze #4) is set to release November 30. This will be Preston Drake's story. You meet Preston in Breathe as Marcus Hardy's best friend. He is also in Because of Low and While It Lasts.
Options was set to release in February. Due to a series of events that date has been pushed back to December 2013. Cage and Eva became rather popular with WHILE IT LASTS so I am focusing on getting their story out. Then I intend to write Ethan from The Vincent Boys/Brothers a story as well as Krit from the Sea Breeze Series.
I'm thinking I may stop and breathe sometime around 2020... joking... maybe... a little...
AND
I've written a stand alone New Adult contemporary romance because it was in my head and wouldn't go away.
I don't know when I will release it, as of right now. I will release it sometime soon. It may even come as a surprise.
At booth 211 you can find ME along with
Colleen Hoover:
Nichole Chase:
Mortal Obligation
Mortal Defiance
COMING SEPTEMBER 18, 2012.
Eighteen months later…
Chapter One
Cage
“Thanks for giving me a ride,” I said, reaching for my duffle bag holding my entire summer wardrobe.
“I did it for Low,” Marcus Hardy reminded me for the second time. My best friend was a chick— a smoking hot chick. Marcus, her fiancé, was an elitist ass at times but I dealt with him; had to if I wanted to keep Low in my life. All that mattered was that he understood that Low walked on fucking water. As long as he kept that in mind and treated her as such, I could live with the prick.
“I never questioned that,” I replied with a smirk, pulling the straps of my bag up on my shoulder. Turning my attention from Marcus, I looked at the large white and tan farmhouse in front of me. It was surrounded by miles and miles of green grass and a helluva lot of cows— my purgatory for the entire summer. Glancing back at Marcus I nodded and started to close the door. I knew he was ready to get back to Sea Breeze where Low was waiting on him. No one wanted to be stuck in this fucking cow town.
“Cage. Wait,” Marcus called out before I could completely close the truck door. Slowly, I opened it back up and arched an eyebrow in question. What else could Marcus want with me? He’d barely spoken to me on the hour ride up here.
“Don’t screw this up, okay. Stay sober. Don’t drive a car until you get your license back and try not to piss off your coach’s brother. Your future is riding on this summer and you’re upsetting Low. I don’t want her worried about you. Think about someone other than yourself for a change.” Well hell, I’d just got a parental lecture from Marcus fucking Hardy. Wasn’t that sweet?
“I know what happens if I screw things up, Marcus. Thanks for the reminder though.” I let the sarcasm drip from my voice.
Marcus frowned and started to say something more before just shaking his head and putting his truck in reverse. Conversation over. Good. The guy should learn to mind his own damn business.
I slammed the door and turned my attention back to the house while Marcus’s tires spun out of the gravel drive. Guess I’d better go meet my warden for the rest of the summer and get this party started. All I had to do was make this guy happy. I’d take care of his cows and do manual labor for two and a half months then my coach wouldn’t kick my ass off the baseball team. The DUI, he’d had to bail me out of jail for, would be forgotten and my baseball scholarship would remain intact. I only had three problems with this plan:
1. No girls.
2. I hated manual labor
3. No girls.
Other than that this wasn’t all that bad. I’d get Sundays off. I’d just have to get my fill of sexy little sorority girls in tiny bikinis on Sundays. I reached the front door of the house. The wrap around porch was pretty damn nice. I wasn’t into the farm thing but this place wasn’t half-bad. I bet the bedrooms were a nice size.
“You must be the fella Wilson hired for the summer.” A guy in a pair of faded jeans and some worn-looking badass boots started up the steps of the porch. He was smiling like he was really glad to see me. Must be the guy’s son. I’d be shoveling hay and cow shit all summer instead of him. Bet he liked me a lot.
“Yeah,” I replied, “Cage York. Coach Mack sent me.”
The guy grinned and nodded, sticking both his hands in his front pockets. All he needed was a damn piece of straw hanging out of his mouth to look like every stereotypical country boy.
“Ah, that’s right. I heard about you. DUI. Man, that sucks. ‘Specially since Wilson is a damn slave driver. My brother and I worked many a summer for him through high school. I swear you’ll never drink and drive again.”
Guess he wasn’t the old man’s kid after all. Nodding, I turned to knock on the door.
“Wilson ain’t back from the stockyard yet. He’ll be here in ‘bout an hour.”
The guy held out his hand, “I’m Jeremy Beasley by the way. I reckon we’ll see enough of each other over the summer seeing as I’m the next-door neighbor. And well, then there is Eva,” he stopped and his eyes shifted from me to the door. I started to ask him who Eva was when I followed his gaze to find the light at the end of the tunnel standing in the doorway.
Long brown hair that curled loosely was draped over one bare shoulder. The clearest blue eyes I’d ever seen, framed by thick long black eyelashes and red full lips, completed the perfect masterpiece of her face. My gaze slowly traveled south to take in smooth tanned skin that was barely covered by a bikini top and a pair of tiny shorts that hung on her narrow hips. Then legs. Legs for miles and miles until two small bare feet with red toenails finished the fucking ridiculously perfect package in front of me. Damn. Maybe I should have come out to the country more often. I didn’t realize they grew girls like this out here.
“Eva, you aren’t ready yet? I thought we were going to make the six-thirty show,” Jeremy said from behind me. Ah, hell no. Surely not. This goddess was with that guy? I brought my eyes back up to her face to find her blue eyes staring directly at me. They really were the bluest damn eyes I’d ever seen.
“Who are you?” The icy tone to her voice confused me.
“Down, girl. Play nice, Eva. This is the guy your daddy has helping him this summer.” Her eye flashed something that looked like disgust. Really? I’d seen that look in a girl’s eyes before but never before I’d used her then tossed her. Interesting.
“You’re the drunk,” she stated.
It wasn’t a question. So, I didn’t reply. Instead, I flashed her a smile that I knew affected any female’s panties and took a step toward her. “I got a lot of names, baby,” I finally responded.
Her eyebrows arched, straightened her stance and shot me the coldest glare I’d ever witnessed. What was this chick’s deal? “I’m sure you do. Let me guess STD, Loser, Jackass, and Drunk just to name a few,” she clipped, stepping out of the door and slamming it behind her. She swung her gaze to Jeremy who I could have sworn just chuckled.
“I can’t make the movie, Jer. I need you to ride over to Mrs. Mabel’s with me and help me get her well working again. It needs to be primed.”
“Again?”
“Yes, again. She really needs a new one.”
Eva walked past me, grabbed Jeremy’s arm and pulled him toward the stairs. Apparently, I had been dismissed.
“Has your dad called her boys yet? They need to get their asses down here and help their momma,” Jeremy said as they started walking away without a backward glance.
What the hell? Who just walks off and leaves a guy standing on their porch without a word? She was one insanely gorgeous but crazy assed bitch.
“Hey, do I just go inside?” I called out.
Eva stopped and spun around. The same disgusted expression was on her face as before. “The house? Uh, no,” she replied with a shake of her head like I was crazy. She lifted her hand and pointed toward the two story red barn that was located back behind the house. “Your room is in the back of the barn. It has a bed and a shower.”
Well, wasn’t that just fucking fantastic…?
Eva
I hated guys like Cage. Life was a joke to him. There was no doubt in my mind that females of all ages drooled at his feet. He was healthy, alive and throwing it all away like it was a game.
“Pull in the claws, sweetheart. You got your point across. He won’t come sniffing ‘round you again.” Jeremy reached over and squeezed my leg gently then turned on the radio.
“He’s a jerk,” I said through clenched teeth.
Jeremy let out a low laugh and shifted in his seat. I knew he was deciding on how to respond to me. The only other person who had known me as well or better than, Jeremy was Josh—his twin brother and my fiancé. We’d all grown up together. Jeremy had always been the odd one out but Josh and I had done our best to include him as much as possible.
When Josh had been killed by a bomb just north of Baghdad eighteen months ago, the only person I could stand to have near me had been Jeremy. Josh and Jeremy’s momma said it was because Jeremy was the only one I felt could understand my grief. In a way, we’d both lost our other half.
“And how’d you get that outta the brief conversation we just had with him? Seemed like a nice guy to me.” Jeremy was always optimistic. He always saw the best in people. It was up to me to keep people from taking advantage of his trusting spirit. Josh wasn’t here to do that anymore.
“He’s here because he was drinking and driving, Jer. That isn’t exactly a small offense. He could have hit a family. He could have killed someone’s kid. He’s a selfish loser.” Who really was too good-looking to be real. I’d have to get over that, though. His pretty face wouldn’t get to me.
“Eva, lots of people drink and drive a little. He probably was just going a short distance from the bar to his house. I doubt he was on a road trip. Probably just had a couple beers.”
Sweet Jeremy. Bless his heart, he had no idea how depraved some people were. It was one of the things I loved about him. I happened to know Cage York was lit up like the Fourth of July when he had been pulled over. I’d heard Uncle Mack talk about what a thug he was and how the only thing he ever took seriously was baseball.
“Trust me Jer, that guy is trouble.”
Jeremy didn’t respond. He leaned his elbow on the opened window and let the warm breeze cool him down. The inside of daddy’s farm truck was smoldering hot this time of year but it was the only vehicle I’d drive. My vehicle sat in the garage untouched. I couldn’t bring myself to drive it and I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. The pretty silver Jeep Daddy had bought me hadn’t been driven since I’d gotten the call from Josh’s momma telling me he’d been killed. Josh had proposed to me in that Jeep overlooking Hollows Grove. Then he’d turned the music up on the radio and we’d gotten out and danced under the stars. I hadn’t laid eyes on it in a year and a half. Instead, I drove the farm truck. It was just easier.
“Eva?” Jeremy asked, breaking into my memories. He always seemed to know when I needed someone to stop me from remembering.
“Yeah?”
“You know I love you, right?”
Tensing, I gripped the steering wheel tightly. When Jeremy started with something like that I never liked what he was going to say next. Last time he’d asked me that the next thing he said was I should really start driving my Jeep again because Josh would want me to.
“Don’t, Jer,” I replied.
“It’s time to take the ring off, Eva.”
My hands stung from the death grip I had on the worn steering wheel. The gold band on my finger dug into my skin reminding me it was there. I’d never taken it off. I never would.
“Jeremy, don’t.”
He let out a long heavy sigh and shook his head. I waited patiently for him to say more and was so thankful when we pulled into Mrs. Mabel’s. I all but jumped out of the truck before it came to a complete stop in my determination to get away from him before he could say more. The engagement ring Josh had put on my finger couldn’t be removed. It would be as if I was forgetting him. Like I was moving on and leaving him behind. I’d never leave him behind.
BUY THE BOOK:
This giveaway began with one signed While It Lasts copy and a signed poster. However, as While It Lasts climbed the charts on Amazon I got excited and added one more signed copy to that giveaway.
I added all the participants into a computer program and I let it spit out my winners. I am not a good winner picker ( I like the way that sounds "winner picker" *snickers*)
The first signed copy of While It Lasts and a signed poster goes to Lindsay Zoetewey
The second signed copy of While It Lasts and a signed poster goes to Jill Hollis Starnes
AND I have thrown in one more prize because I have one reader who not only Facebook and Tweeted one time but MANY times and also made photoshop pictures for the book and tweeted those as well. She was trying very hard to get a signed book and I can't ignore that.
A third signed copy of While It Lasts goes to Melissa Simons
Thank you all for participating! I wish I could give everyone something but then I'd be broke because so many of you entered :P
*winners please email me your mailing address to abbiglines@yahoo.com *
While It Lasts is now available a little early on Amazon BUY THE BOOK:
The Prologue to While It Lasts
Prologue
“Your Mom brought me the letter today.” The pain in my chest was so sharp I had to fight to keep from bending over and screaming. “I read every last word. Several times.”
The autumn wind caressed my face but wasn’t enough to dry my tears. The tears were endless. Never ceasing. Swallowing hard, I forced myself to continue. I needed him to hear me. “It isn’t fair you know… a letter isn’t the proper way to say goodbye. It sucks, Josh. It sucks so damn bad.” A sob tore from my chest. I pressed my fist against my heart. How much more pain could it take before it just exploded into a million pieces?
“You always told me we’d grow old together. We’d sit on our front porch swing, holding hands and watching our grandkids play in the yard. You promised me that,” I choked out as I pressed my thumb against the tiny diamond solitaire that he’d placed on my finger just six months ago.
“You broke your promise. You’ve never broken a promise before. This time you let me down and left me this letter. How do I move on from this, huh? Did you expect me to just read it and everything would be better? Did you expect me to cry a few tears then move on?” I would get no response. Nothing more than the letter weighing heavy in my back pocket. It was so tear-stained now that several of the words were hard to read. Didn’t matter though. I had it all memorized. Every. Last. Word.
“I started to write you a letter and bring it to you today. My chance at a few last words— but I couldn’t. I can’t scream and yell in a letter. Words on paper can’t hold the emotions churning inside me.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out the worn letter that would haunt me for the rest of my life.
“Instead of writing you a letter I decided I’d respond to yours in person. It’s only fair. No… it isn’t fair,” I spat angrily, “because none of this is fair but this is all I get. This is all you allowed me to have.”
I opened the one page letter carefully. I didn’t want to tear it because the words written on it, were all I had left. I began to read aloud:
16 Comments on While It Lasts - the Prologue, last added: 8/4/2012
Here is Cage York from Marcus Hardy's POV in Because of Low
“Donʼt look now but Cage is headed this way,” Dewayne muttered, jerking me back to the present. Iʼd gotten lost in my thoughts. Since Dad had informed me of how incredibly wrong Iʼd been about Willow, Iʼd done nothing but replay every awful word Iʼd said to her. I searched the crowd until I found Cage walking our way. He was alone. “Sorry man, I didnʼt know he was going to be here tonight or Iʼd have given you a heads up,” Preston whispered from across the table. “Stop babying him. Heʼs gonna have to deal with it eventually,” Rock said with an unapologetic shrug. He was right of course. “Didnʼt expect you out tonight,” Preston said as Cage came to a stop at the table. “I needed a night out. Low insisted I go do something.” “She didnʼt come out with you?” I surprised everyone including myself by asking. Cage frowned at me then tilted his head as if he were studying me. I stared back at him. Waiting on an answer while he decided if I deserved one or not. “No. She had a bad experience the last time I talked her into getting out of the apartment and coming here with me,” he replied slowly and evenly. The night Iʼd grabbed the girl and danced with her. Damn the list of marks against me were endless. “Uh, well, itʼs good you got out tonight. You donʼt do that much anymore,” Preston piped up in an attempt to break through the tension. Cage continued to glare at me, “Iʼve had other priorities.” I wanted to hate him. Because heʼd been there for her. Because heʼd been what I hadnʼt. But I couldnʼt hate him. Instead, I was grateful someone had taken care of her. “Is she okay?” I needed to know. Anything. Just something. I needed something. Cage let out a hard laugh and shook his head like he couldnʼt believe what he was hearing. “No, Marcus she isnʼt. But one day she will be. It isnʼt like she hasnʼt been left before. Sheʼll survive.” If heʼd intended to slice me open, heʼd succeeded. I needed air. Standing up, I grabbed my water and turned around to leave. “If it were me youʼd fucked over, youʼd be dead to me. But it wasnʼt me. It was Low. And she isnʼt like most people. If youʼve managed to put away enough of that sheltered little rich boy righteous fury and figured out what an enormous mistake you made then it isnʼt too late. Yet.” Then Cage York turned and walked away. Through the crowd and out the front door. I stood there replaying his words in my head. Then I broke into a run.
Cage York from Low's POV in Because of Low
“UGH! Cage!” I pushed him off me and stood up. “TMI Cage. I so did not want to know that.”
Cage cackled with laughter. “What, baby? You don’t think about me when you slip your hands into your panties and get naughty?”
“Cage SHUT UP!” I screamed putting my fingers in my ears.
He stuck his pointed finger in his mouth and licked it. I swear he could be so gross. “Who do you think about Low? When you’re making it feel good down there?”
I was getting ready to slug the stupid smirk off his face. “First of all I don’t do that. And second of all you’re a pervert. Now go get laid and leave me alone.”
Cage sat up and rested his elbows on his knees. His baby blue eyes were round as saucers.
“You don’t stroke it Low?”
“Oh. My. God. Would you please stop it!”
Cage shook his head in disbelief. “You really don’t. You’ve never had an orgasm. I can see it all over your face. Well shit.”
“Cage I mean it. This conversation,” I stopped as the door opened and Marcus stepped inside. My face instantly turned bright red. I didn’t have to see it to know it. The idea that he could have heard even a tiny portion of this ridiculous conversation was humiliating.
“Marcus, man we were just talking about you,” Cage said with an evil smirk and stood up from the couch. I couldn’t bring myself to clarify Cage’s stupid greeting. Instead, I stood frozen in place as Cage walked by me and whispered, “Remember what I said.”
I didn’t need him reminding me that I wasn’t good enough for Marcus. I already knew this. But what he didn’t know was Marcus was completely clueless to this fact. And I wasn’t about to point it out to him.
I shoved Cage as he stumbled and laughed before going into his room and closing the door behind him.
Eva
Opening the last drawer in my dresser, I found the picture of my Senior Prom tucked away. I’d been unable to look at Josh’s smiling face after I’d lost him. I picked it up and sank down on the box full of my books beside me. I’d known coming in here and packing everything up was going to be difficult. I had a lifetime of memories in this room.
“He really does look like Jeremy,” Cage’s voice startled me. I hadn’t heard him come back into the room. I’d sent him out to the Jeep with another box of my things. Lifting my gaze from Josh’s face to Cage’s, my heart sped up in my chest. The sadness and fear in his eyes confused me then I realized how this must look. I didn’t want Cage to think he was competing with Josh for my heart.
“This was our prom. I put it away after he died. Seeing it hurt too much,” I explained reaching over to put it back in the drawer. I’d be leaving those memories here in this room. Daddy wasn’t happy but he also wasn’t disowning me. My room would remain here, untouched for me to come home if I ever needed to.
“I don’t mind if you want to take it with you,” Cage’s voice betrayed him. He thought he was hiding his worry from me. Standing up, I turned around and slipped my hands behind his neck.
“Josh is my past. I loved him from the time I was a little girl. Losing him almost destroyed me. But you,” I said tugging on the dark hair that curled against his neck. “Cage York, saved me. You taught me that life could go on. That my heart could love just as fiercely again.”
The tension in his body eased and I couldn’t help but smile. It amazed me that this wild sexy man wanted just me. “Josh will always have a special place in my heart. But you, own my heart. Never doubt that. Not for a minute.”
Cage let out a deep sigh and rested his forehead against mine. “God that sounds good,” he whispered then kissed my temple. His hands began moving from my hips to cup my butt. “So, how much longer do you think it’ll be before your dad comes back?” He asked before nibbling on my ear and sending a shiver through me.
“Hmmm… well he’s mad, so he’s blowing off steam. Do you really think it’s a good idea to take the chance he might come back at any minute?”
Cage chuckled against my neck then pushed the strap of my tank top down over my shoulder and began nibbling on the tender skin just above my cleavage. “I’ve been fantasizing about making love to you in this girly room since we walked in here today,” he said in a husky voice as he lifted his eyes up to meet mine then pressed a kiss on the top of one of my breasts.
“But Daddy,” I tried to remind him but my thoughts got all scatter as he reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it off. The sight of his chest always did me in and he knew it.
“I’ll listen for his truck. Promise,” he assured me as he pulled my shirt off and threw it to the side. His hands settled back on my hips and he pulled me against him before lowering his mouth to mine. The softness of his lips always surprised me and excited me at the same time. My hands went back around his neck and I held on as I let any worries about getting caught fade away.
“Mmmm you taste good,” Cage whispered
His deep husky voice made me tremble with excitement.
Cage lifted me up, “Wrap your legs around me,” he instructed.
After he had me firmly in his arms he walked us over to the bed while he continued to stroke the inside of my mouth with his tongue.
Slowly, Cage laid me on the bed and then moved over me. “I like the idea of making you do naughty things on this frilly bed. It’s driving me crazy just thinking about it,” he admitted with a low chuckle.
Before I could respond, the slamming of the screen door in the kitchen had Cage jumping back off of me and grabbing my shirt off the floor. He didn’t have to explain as he threw it to me. We both scrambled to get our shirts back on and Cage reached for another box as heavy footsteps came up the stairs.
I scrambled over to the dresser once I had my shirt on. Cage smirked at me and gave me a wink before Daddy filled the doorway of my bedroom.
Cage
“I want to talk to you, boy. Alone.” Wilson Brooks loud voice caused Eva to jump. I figured he’d want to talk to me before we left. When Eva had told him she was moving out he’d yelled and called me several names. Then he’d stormed off to his truck and spun out of the driveway. Now, he was back and he wanted to threaten me. I was prepared for this.
I also wanted to get him out of the bedroom before he realized Eva had her shirt on inside out. The grin tugging at my lips from the fact she’d put her clothes on wrong in the frenzy to get dressed wouldn’t go away. I knew Wilson thought I was smiling at him and that wasn’t going to go over well.
“Okay,” I replied and walked toward the door with the box I’d picked up and blocked his view of Eva.
“Daddy, don’t do this. I’m twenty years old. Please. Just be happy that I’ve moved on,” Eva begged.
Wilson shook his head and turned around to head back down the stairs. I followed behind him silently.
“Daddy! I mean it. Don’t say anything else mean to Cage like you did earlier. You were wrong. I love you but you were so very wrong.” Eva called out.
The warmth in my chest was something new. She was worried about me. She was defending me. Damn that felt good. Even if I was just fine with whatever Wilson wanted to call me. I understood. I was taking his little girl away. He’d probably hate me for the rest of his life.
Wilson walked out of the house onto the front porch before stopping and turning around to face me.
“Dammit boy. I warned you to stay away from her,” Wilson roared.
“Yes you did. But I couldn’t.”
Wilson took off his straw hat and ran a hand over his bald head. “Why her? Why Eva? You could’ve found you another girl to move in with you and ruin. Why my Eva? She’s been through so much already. She ain’t your kind boy. She don’t give herself easily.”
Anger flared inside me. Not because he was insinuating that I wasn’t good enough for her because he was right about that. But because he was belittling what she was to me. I may have the reputation from hell but Eva had changed all that.
“It wasn’t a choice. I. Adore. Eva. She isn’t just some girl I’m entertaining myself with. She owns me. I’ll move heaven and earth to make her happy. Hell, I’ve just spent every last dime of the money I was saving for a Harley to buy her a piano so she can play everyday. I understand that she’s your daughter and you’re worried about her. But do not think for one damn minute that she is just another girl for me. Eva is my world.”
Wilson hard glare eased some as he stood there studying me. I really hoped Eva had left her nosey little ass upstairs and hadn’t heard the part about the piano. I wanted to surprise her.
“You got her a piano?” He asked almost in a hushed whisper.
“Yeah, I did. She wants one.”
Wilson put his hat back on his head and turned away from me to stare out at the front yard. I knew the piano reminded him of his wife but he’s aversion to it had kept Eva from getting to do something she loved. It was a connection with her mother that she needed. I wanted her to have that.
“Her momma played the piano,” He said.
“Yes sir, I know.”
We both stood in silence until Wilson moved toward the steps and started down them. Where was he going now?
“You take care of my baby girl. I’ll hang you up by your balls if you hurt her,” he said in a cold even tone. I bit back a grin.
“I’ll do everything in my power to make her happy.” I assured him.
He didn’t respond or look back. Instead, he stalked toward to his truck.
The screen door opened and Eva stepped out. “Daddy!” She called out and ran down the stairs. He stopped and slowly turned around to look at her. The unshed tears in his eyes made my stomach drop. Would she change her mind?
“I love him Daddy. I love him so much. I’m not being reckless. I just can’t live without him.”
My heart soared. Had anyone ever defended me so fiercely? Had anyone picked me over someone else they loved? Damn if I didn’t want to go jerk that inside out tank top off her and press her up against the nearest tree.
“I’m beginning to understand that. Don’t make this right, though,” Wilson replied. Then he turned and headed to his truck where he climbed inside and drove away.
If she cried, I was going to go run him down and force him back here to fix this. But when she turned back around to face me, she was smiling.
I am giving away the first signed copy of While It Lasts along with a signed While It Lasts poster. To enter your name in the drawing copy this:
Read the Prologue to WHILE IT LASTS http://www.abbiglines.com/2012/08/while-it-lasts-prologue.html @abbiglines
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It is International.
Chapter One
Marcus
Moving back home sucked. Everything about this town reminded me of why the hell I’d wanted to get away. I had a life in Tuscaloosa and I needed that life to escape. Here, I was Marcus Hardy. No matter where I went people knew me. They knew my family. And now... they were talking about my family. Which is why I had come home. Leaving my sister and mother here alone to face this was impossible. The scandal hovering over our heads took away all my choices and my freedom. Right now, few people knew but it was only a matter of time. Soon the entire coastal town of Sea Breeze, Alabama would know what my dad was doing or should I say, who my dad was doing. King of the Mercedes car dealerships along the Gulf Coast had been a high enough title for some little gold digging whore only a few years older than me to jump in bed with my dear ‘ol dad. The one time I’d seen the home wrecker working behind the desk right outside Dad’s office I’d known something wasn’t right. She was young and smoking hot and apparently money hungry.
Dad couldn’t keep it in his pants and now my mom and sister would have to deal with the stigma it would cause. People would feel sorry for Mom. This was already devastating to her and she didn’t even know yet that the other woman was barely a woman. My younger sister Amanda had caught them going at it one evening late when Mom had sent her over to the office to take Dad some dinner. She’d called me that night crying hysterically. I’d withdrawn from school, packed my things and headed home. There was no other option. My family needed me.
A knock on the door snapped me out of my internal tirade and I went to see what chick was here looking for Cage this time. God knew the guy had an endless line of females parading through his life. My new roommate was a player. A major player. He put my best friend, Preston, to shame. I twisted the knob and swung the door open without peeking through the hole.
The surprise was on me. I’d been prepared to tell whatever tall willowy large but obviously fake chested female dressed in almost nothing waiting outside the door that Cage was busy with another one very similar to her. Except a very natural almost curvy red head stood before me. Red rimmed eyes and a tear streaked face gazed up at me. There was no mascara lines running down her face. Her hair wasn’t styled but pulled back in a pony tail. She wore jeans and what appeared to be an authentic Back in Black AC/DC concert t-shirt. No belly button flashing a flat tanned stomach and her clothes weren’t skin tight. Well maybe the jeans were a little snug but they hugged her hips nicely. My appreciation of her legs in the slim fit jeans stopped however when I noticed the small beat up suitcase clutched tightly in her hand.
“Is Cage here?” Her voice sounded broken and musical at the same time. I was having a hard time digesting that this girl was here for Cage. She wasn’t anything like he veered toward. Nothing was enhanced. Everything from her thick dark copper hair to the Chuck Taylors on her feet screamed, “not Cage’s type.” And the fact she was carrying a suitcase, well that couldn’t be good.
“Uh, um, no.”
Her shoulders slumped and another sob escaped her mouth. One small dainty hand flew up in an attempt to mute the sound of her obvious distress. Her nails were even classy. Not too long with a smooth rounded tip and soft pink nail polish.
“I left my cell phone,” she let out a sigh then continued, “at my sister’s. I need to call him. Can I come in?”
Cage was out with a swimsuit model that apparently had a thing for college baseball players. I knew from the way he talked he didn’t intend to come up for air much tonight. He’d never answer her call and I hated to see her get more upset than she already was. A horrible thought crossed my mind, surely he hadn’t gotten this girl pregnant. Couldn’t he see how freaking innocent she was.
“Uh, yeah but I don’t know if he’ll answer. He’s busy... tonight.”
She shot me a sour smile and nodded stepping around me.
“I know the kind of busy he is but he’ll talk to me.” She sounded rather confident. I wasn’t feeling her confidence myself.
“Do you have a cell I can use?”
I reached into the pocket of my jeans and handed it to her unable to argue with her further. She had stopped crying and I wanted to keep it that way.
“Thanks, I’ll try calling first.”
I watched as she walked over to the sofa and dropped her suitcase to the floor with a thunk before sinking dejectedly down onto the worn cushions as if she’d been here a hundred times. Being as I’d only been moved in for two days, I wouldn’t know if she had been here before or not. Cage was a friend of a friend who had been looking for a roommate. I needed somewhere to live fast and his place was nice. Preston was on the same baseball team as Cage at the local community college. Once Preston heard I needed a place to live he called Cage and hooked me up.
“It’s me. I left my phone when I ran. You’re not here but your new roommate let me in. Call me,” she sniffed then hung up. I watched fascinated as she proceeded to text him. She really believed the male whore I lived with was going to call her right up as soon as he got her message. I was intrigued and growing more concerned by the minute.
She finished and handed the phone back to me. A smile touched her red splotchy face and two dimples appeared in her cheeks. Damn that was cute.
“Thanks, do you mind if I wait a little bit until he calls back?”
I shook my head, “No, not at all. You want a drink?” She nodded and stood up.
“Yes, but I’ll get it. My drinks are in the bottom drawer of the fridge behind the Bud Lights.”
I frowned and followed her into the kitchen. She opened the fridge and bent down to get her hidden drink. With her bent over digging for her so called drink the snug fit of the faded jeans over her ass was hard to miss. It was a perfect heart shape and although she wasn’t very tall her legs seemed to go on for miles.
“Ah, here it is. Cage needs to run to the store and restock. He must be letting his one nighters drink my Jarritos.”
I couldn’t keep guessing. I needed to know who she was exactly. Surely she wasn’t one of his girlfriends. Could she be the sister Preston had mentioned dating? I sure as hell hoped not. I was interested and I hadn’t been interested in anyone in awhile. Not since the last girl broke my heart. I opened my mouth to ask her how she knew Cage when the phone in my pocket started ringing. She walked over to me and held out her hand. The girl really believed it was Cage. I glanced down and sure enough, my roommate had called back.
She took the phone from my hand. “Hey”
“She’s such a selfish jerk.”
“I can’t stay there Cage.”
“I didn’t mean to leave my phone. I was just upset.”
“Yes, your new roommate’s a nice guy. He’s been very helpful.”
“No, don’t end your date. Get her out of your system. I’ll wait.”
“I promise not to go back.”
“She is who she is Cage.”
“I just hate her,” I could hear the tears in her voice again.
“No, no, really I’m fine. I just needed to see you.”
“Don’t. I’ll leave.”
“Cage --”
“No”
“Cage”
“Okay fine.”
She held the phone out to me, “He wants to talk to you.”
This conversation was like nothing I’d expected. The girl had to be his sister. “Hey.”
“Listen, I need you to make sure Low stays there until I can get home. She’s upset and I don’t want her leaving. Get her one of her damn Mexican soda thingys out of the fridge. They’re behind the Bud Lights in the bottom drawer. I have to hide them from other chicks I have over. All females tend to like those nasty drinks. Turn on the television, distract her, whatever. I’m only ten minutes away but I’m putting my jeans on as we speak and headed home. Just help get her mind off things but DON’T touch her.”
“Ah, okay sure. Is she your sister?”
Cage chuckled into the phone. “Hell no she ain’t my sister. I’d never buy my damn sister drinks and call her back when I’m in the middle of a fucking threesome. Low’s the girl I’m gonna marry.”
I had no response for that. My eyes found her standing over by the window with her back to me. The long thick copper locks curled on the ends and brushed against the middle of her back. She was absolutely nothing like the girls Cage regularly hooked up with. What did he mean she was the girl he was going to marry? That made no sense.
“Keep her there man. I’m on my way.” Then he hung up the phone.
I dropped the phone on the table and stood there staring at her back. She turned around slowly and studied me a moment then a smiled broke across her face.
“He told you he was going to marry me didn’t he,” she said laughing softly before taking a drink of the orange soda with what appeared to have spanish writing on it. “Crazy boy. I shouldn’t have bothered him but he’s all I’ve got.”
She walked over and sank back down onto the old faded green sofa pulling her legs up underneath her.
“Don’t worry. I’m not leaving. He’d rip apart my sister’s house searching for me and scare the bejesus out of her if I left. I’ve got enough issues where she’s concerned. I don’t intend to unleash Cage on her.”
I slowly made my way over to the only chair in the room and sat down. “So, you’re engaged?” I asked staring down at her bare ring finger.
With a sad smile she shook her head. “Not in a million years. Cage has crazy ideas. Just because he says them doesn’t make them true.” She raised her eyebrows and took another drink of her soda.
“So, you aren’t going to marry Cage,” I really would love for her to clarify this because I was incredibly confused and more than a little interested in her. She bit down on her bottom lip and I noticed for the first time how full it was.
"Cage was my ‘boy next door’ growing up. He’s my best friend. I love him dearly and he really is all I have. The only person I can count on. We’ve never actually been in a relationship before because he knows I won’t have sex with him and he needs sex. He’s also real wrapped up in the whole idea that a relationship between the two of us before we get married will end badly and he’ll lose me. He has this irrational fear of losing me.”
Did she know the guy had bagged over three different girls this week and apparently was having a threesome when she’d called? She was so much better than Cage.
“Wipe that look off your face. I don’t need your pity. I know what Cage is like. I know you have probably seen the kind of girls he’s attracted to and I look absolutely nothing like them. I don’t live in a fantasy world. I’m very aware,” she tilted her head and smiled at me sweetly, “I don’t even know your name.”
“Marcus Hardy”
“Well Marcus Hardy, I’m Willow Montgomery but everyone calls me Low. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise”
“So, you’re a friend of Preston’s.”
I nodded, “Yes but don’t hold it against me.”
She laughed for the first time and the sudden pleasure from such a simple sound startled me. I liked hearing her laugh. “I won’t. Preston isn’t all that bad. He likes to use those pretty boy looks of his to get his way but I’m safe from his attention. Cage would kill him if he decided to bat his baby blues at me.”
Was it because of Preston’s womanizing or the fact he was a guy that made Cage protective of Willow. Did he really expect her to wait around until he was ready to settle down and marry her?
“LOW,” Cage’s voice rang out as the door to the apartment swung open. His head snapped around and his eyes went straight to Willow. “God baby I was so afraid you’d leave, come here.” This was a side of Cage I’d never seen. Apparently the sweet little red head got to him in a way no one else could.
He pulled her up into his arms, reached down and grabbed the forgotten suitcase then led her back to his bedroom whispering to her the entire way. If she hadn’t informed me that she refused to have sex with him earlier I’d have been eat up with righteous fury at the idea of him touching someone so sweet after having just left the bed of not one but two girls. But instead, I was eaten up with envy because I knew he was going to get to hold her and listen to her musical voice as she spilled out all her problems. He’d be the one to fix them, not me. I’d just met her. Why the hell did that bother me?
BUY THE BOOK:
Existence fans know that I am currently getting Ceaseless ready for its September 18 release.
But what's next?
Preston (Marcus Hardy's best friend and side character in Breathe, Because of Low and While It Lasts) will be getting his own story. There is a lot to this guy no one knows. He comes off as a care free party boy but is he?
First time I'm announcing this: I am adding 10,000 words to both The Vincent Boys and The Vincent Brothers. There will be new scenes in both books and some other scenes will be more detailed...
Not sure on a rerelease date yet but sometime later this year hopefully.
Options will be an urban fantasy mature YA/New Adult book that will be book one in a trilogy. It releases February 5, 2013
THEN... Cage and Eva get one more story. Hopefully by April of 2013.
That's my line up for right now. Covers and book summary reveals will be late September for Preston's story and late October for Cage & Eva's #2.
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Sounds delicious Abbi. I can't wait! I hope it's out before Christmas.
Definitely delicious!!! Can't wait.
Valerie
StuckInBooks.com
I want I want. Can't wait :D :D :D
I am so excited for this book :)
*dies* I CAN'T WAIT, ABBI!!
Holy Mother of God! I can't wait for this book!!
*squealsss* I'm so excited to get my hands on this book !!! =D
How do you expect us to wait nearly a month after teasing us like this? :D !!!
Ho-Ly Moly! I can not wait to read this. Sounds amazing...... And I know it will be. :)
Oh my! It sounds amazing!! I can't wait to read it! :)