"I don't have a boyfriend," I say with a sigh. It's the truth, I don't. And if I can help it, I'm going to escape that hell hole of a school without one, too. All the guys are entitled, pretentious pricks who think every girl should bow at their feet, and the girls? Pfft, they're just a bunch of stuck-up bitches who follow them around like lost fucking puppies. Pathetic.
I knew before I stepped foot on Knight's Ridge soil that I wouldn't fit in there. But sadly, it seems I underestimated just how much of an outcast I'd be. I have no idea why, but it seems I walked into that place with a target on my back that very first morning and the shots have been coming my way ever since.
Most I can handle. Most I can ignore.
Their teasing and name-calling rolls off me like water off a duck's back.
All but one of them.
Because there's something about him. Something that makes me think it's personal, despite the fact that I have no fucking clue what it is. And I have a feeling that if he carries on the way he is then I'm not going to make it through my time at that godforsaken school alive.
But I won't make it easy for him.
I'm a fucking Ramsey, and we don't break easily.
Even for rich, privileged arseholes like Theo Cirillo.
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Acknowledgments
I can’t believe we’re at the end of the Rebel Ink series. I spent so long with Zach begging me for his own story, and now, not only did he get exactly what he wanted but the entire series is done.
I have loved these boys and their girls so much. Their stories have taken me to places I never expected to go, and they’ve kept me on my toes throughout the entire journey.
I hope you’ve enjoyed spending time with my bad boys as much as I have. It really feels like the end of an era with this final release, but I have so many ideas for what’s to come and with a little bit of luck, this won’t be the end of my boys! I’m sure I’ll have plenty of future characters who’ll need some ink along the way!
Should I mention Emmie? That girl has utterly stolen my heart. From the first second I wrote her in Defy You I knew she was going to be something special. So is she getting a story? Hell yeah! She won’t stop screaming at me. I don’t know when yet, but all the ideas are there, I just need a few more hours in the day to get it out, but just like Zach, I can’t imagine she’ll pipe down anytime soon.
As always, I have a huge amount of people to thank for supporting me and helping bring not only this book but the entire series to life. I couldn’t do all of this alone and each one of them along with all the bloggers, bookstagrammers and you, my readers, make this happen. So thank you for being on this crazy journey with me. This might be my last release of 2020 but I promise you there are so many more to come.
Until next time,
Tracy xo
Also by Tracy Lorraine
Falling Series
Falling for Ryan: Part One #1
Falling for Ryan: Part Two #2
Falling for Jax #3
Falling for Daniel (An Falling Series Novella)
Falling for Ruben #4
Falling for Fin #5
Falling for Lucas #6
Falling for Caleb #7
Falling for Declan #8
Falling For Liam #9
Forbidden Series
Falling for the Forbidden #1
Losing the Forbidden #2
Fighting for the Forbidden #3
Craving Redemption #4
Demanding Redemption #5
Avoiding Temptation #6
Chasing Temptation #7
Rebel Ink Series
Hate You #1
Trick You #2
Defy You #3
Play You #4
Inked (A Rebel in and Driven World crossover)
Rosewood High Series
Thorn #1
Paine #2
Savage #3
Fierce #4
Hunter #5
Faze (A prequel to #6)
Fury #6
TBA #7
Ruined Series
Ruined Plans #1
Ruined by Lies #2
Ruined Promises #3
Never Forget Series
Never Forget Him #1
Never Forget Us #2
Everywhere & Nowhere #3
Chasing Series
Chasing Logan
The Cocktail Girls
His Manhattan
Her Kensington
Co-written with Angel Devlin
Hot Daddy Series
Hot Daddy Sauce #1
Baby Daddy Rescue #2
The Daddy Dilemma #3
Single Daddy Seduction #4
Hot Daddy Package #5
B.A.D. Inc. Series
Torment #1
Ride #2
Bait #3
About the Author
Tracy Lorraine is a M/F and M/M contemporary romance author. Tracy has just turned thirty and lives in a cute Cotswold village in England with her husband, baby girl and lovable but slightly crazy dog. Having always been a bookaholic with her head stuck in her Kindle, Tracy decided to try her hand at a story idea she dreamt up and hasn’t looked back since.
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Keep up to date with Tracy’s books at
www.tracylorraine.com
INKED Sneak Peek
A Driven World / Rebel Ink Crossover Novel
INKED
Chapter One
Harlow
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Bailey, my best friend and roommate, asks the second she finds me sitting on the couch with a blanket over my lap, a tub of ice cream in hand and a rum and Coke on the coffee table.
“Err… Friday night in?” I say, my brows drawing together, trying to figure out if I’ve forgotten something. The look on her face and the way she’s standing impatiently with her hands on her hips sure points to that.
She’s just finished a twenty-four-hour shift at The House, caring for her boys, so I was expecting her to take up residence on the other couch with her wine while we caught up with The Bachelor.
“It’s Austin’s birthday,” she says with a roll of her eyes.
“Right.”
“We’re going out. We’re meeting everyone at Rush in…” she pulls her cell from her back pocket and looks at the time, “in like… an hour, so we need to get our shit together.”
Before I have a chance to argue, she’s standing before me and pulling the ice cream from my hand.
“Come on, H. Move that sexy ass and go and find a hot little dress to wear.”
After depositing the tub on the coffee table, she rips the blanket from my lap and attempts to pull me from the couch.
“Really?” I sulk. “Austin won’t care if I’m there or not, I barely know the guy.” We might work for the same company, but it’s not like we spend any actual time together, other than the odd night out.
“I told him you’ll be there.”
“But you didn’t think to tell me,” I mutter, eventually going easy on her and standing.
“I could have sworn I’d mentioned it.”
“When could you? You’ve hardly been home this week.”
She shrugs. “Well, you know now. It’s going to be a great night.”
She ushers me out of the living room—thankfully after I grab my drink. I have a feeling I’m going to need it.
When we get to my room, she allows me to get ready alone, which is a relief. The last thing I need is a Bailey makeover for tonight.
Smoothing down my silk top, I add a layer of gloss to my lips and slip my feet into my shoes.
Bailey’s still sitting in front of her mirror when I join
her in her room thirty minutes later.
“How are you ready al—no, no, no. You can’t wear that,” she says looking at me over her shoulder in the mirror. I look down at my skinny jeans and black blouse.
“Why not? It’s perfectly fine.”
“Yeah, for an afternoon with your aunt.”
Minus the height of my heels, I can’t argue with her.
She spins on her chair, and I get a look at her dress—if it can even be described as such. It’s fire-engine red; I swear I’ve got underwear that covers more skin.
I run my eyes over her, suspicion beginning to stir in my stomach. “I feel like I’m missing something. This isn’t just a night out for Austin’s birthday, is it?”
“His cousin’s coming.”
And now, it all starts to make sense.
“The British one?”
“Yes! I can’t wait to hear him say my name,” she swoons, getting this far-off look in her eye.
I shouldn’t be surprised—she’s been telling me about him for quite a few weeks now and trying to convince Austin to introduce them.
“You mean moan your name,” I mutter.
“Harlow, I’m not some easy piece of ass, you know.”
“Really?” I ask, my brows lifting, my lips curling in amusement.
“Okay, so maybe I am, but only for the right guy.”
“Riiight.”
I watch as she gets up from her seat and walks toward her wardrobe, thankfully pulling her ridiculously short dress down in the process so I don’t have to see her easy ass.
“Now, let’s see what I’ve got.”
“Oh no, B. You’re not getting me in one of your dresses. They barely fit you, they’ll never cover my ass and tits.”
“Have faith, girl. Have faith.”
Sadly, I have very little. I love Bailey, but at times she has questionable taste. Our styles are opposite in every way, not just with how much skin we deem acceptable to expose.
“Yessss…” she squeals, and my stomach drops into my heels. “This will look killer on you.”
She pulls out a scrap of navy fabric and holds it up in front of me with a wide smile on her face.
“B, you won’t catch me dead wearing that.”
“Just try it on. It’s a little big for me.” I don’t see how that’s possible, seeing as it looks like it’s a size zero from this distance, but I keep my mouth shut. “It’ll be perfect. And,” she adds, an idea hitting her, “it might help with that little situation you’re in the middle of.”
“I’m not in the middle of anything,” I say, swiping the hanger from her because I already know that fighting with her on this is pointless. I may as well just try it on, prove it doesn’t fit, and then hope she’ll allow me to revisit my wardrobe for a dress that will cover what God gave me.
“It’s been what? A year since a guy so much as touched you.”
It’s been almost a year and a half since my last failed attempt at a date, but I refrain from correcting her.
I shimmy my jeans down my legs and carefully pull my blouse off before laying them out over Bailey’s bed. “What?” I ask when she shakes her head at me.
“You know it is okay to sometimes leave clothes in a pile on the floor, right?”
“I’m a neat freak. You could have to deal with a hell of a lot worse than me following you around and tidying up after your messy ass.”
She rolls her eyes and hands me the dress once I’m in only my underwear. Deciding that pulling it up might be the easiest option, I step into the fabric and attempt to drag it over my hips. The material has more stretch than I gave it credit for, because it skims happily over my curves. I pull the straps up my arms and put them into place over my shoulders before looking down.
“Okay, you are so wearing that. Have you seen your ass?”
“Weirdly, no,” I sass, looking over my shoulder at the mirror behind me. I nod, because I can’t deny that the fabric hugs it pretty nicely.
“You gotta lose the bra though.”
“Nope. Not happening.”
Bailey’s hip juts out and she rests her hand on it as she stares at me in a ‘go on, try and argue’ stance.
“There’s enough support in the dress.”
“I’m sure it’ll hold them up just fine, I’m more worried about flashing someone.”
“Making your mission a sure success.”
“I’m not on a mission. I’m perfectly happy as—”
“Nope. You need a man-induced orgasm. End of.”
I know I’ve been a little uptight recently, but it’s not my lack of male attention that’s causing it, and I doubt a night with one will solve the issue.
Bailey must see my shoulders drop, because she walks over and takes my hands in hers. “I know you’re worried about her. I am too. But sitting around the house feeling guilty about not being able to do more isn’t going to help in any way. No matter the results, you still have a life. You may as well at least attempt to enjoy yourself.”
“I guess.” I don’t feel all that enthused, but I know she’s right.
“Now, drink this,” she says, handing my glass back to me. “Then let the girls free, and we’re out of here.”
I tip my glass to my lips and swallow what’s left before doing as I’m told. I’m soon following Bailey out of the house toward the awaiting car. Despite my earlier disinterest, tingles of excitement start to ignite in my belly. I can’t deny that the dress looked good once I turned and got a proper look at myself in the mirror. I also can’t deny that I’m currently showing more boob than I have to anyone outside the bedroom in a lot of years.
Shaking thoughts of my past from my head, I climb in the car as Bailey begins flirting with the driver. Just because I’m dressed up and showing a little skin, it doesn’t mean I’m going back to a time in my life I’d rather forget. I’m just going out for a night of drinking and dancing with my best friend. It’s exactly what I should be doing. I’m young with no ties, a Friday night out for a colleague’s birthday should be a normal thing to do.
Pushing aside my worries, I look at Bailey, who flashes me a wide smile, and I try to relax.
“Tonight’s going to be great. Did I tell you that Rylee managed to secure the VIP section for us thanks to her… connections,” she says, wiggling her eyebrows. I groan as I think of her boss, Rylee and her famous boyfriend.
My heart starts to race. “A-are they going to be there?” I try to ask as casually as I can.
“Please don’t tell me you’re still scared of being in the same building as him?”
“I’m not scared, B,” I argue, although I’m not entirely sure that’s true. “I just always make myself look like an idiot every time I’m anywhere near him. I turn into a fumbling teenager with one glance in his direction.” My cheeks heat at my admission. I don’t need to tell Bailey this—she’s witnessed my mortifying behavior, time and time again when it comes to him. Colton Donavan. My teenage heartthrob, incredible Indy driver, and all-around nice guy. It should be illegal to be that good looking, kind and generous. I was obsessed with him in my former years, thanks to discovering a trashy magazine on the coffee table after school one day with him on the cover. No matter how many years have passed, it seems the second I’m in his vicinity, I return to that time in my life where I had no idea how to control my raging hormones or to keep a leash on my mouth.
“Oh, I know. Why do you think I demanded you come? You’re tonight’s entertainment,” she says with a laugh.
“B,” I squeal, swatting her shoulder playfully as she teases me. “I’ve no idea what’s wrong with me.”
“I get it. He’s… captivating.” Her eyes darken as she relives the one moment of her past that she’ll never let me forget. “And his kiss,” she says on a sigh.
“Oh, get over yourself,” I chuckle. “You know full well that you got passed up that night for Rylee and haven’t stood a chance since.”
“I know, and I still stand by the fact that I roc
ked his world so much that night that he lost his mind a little after. I mean, why wouldn’t he want more of this?” She gestures to herself with a pout.
“No idea, B. No idea.”
“Well, I’m over it.” I laugh; with the number of times she brings it up, I beg to differ, but I’m not going to point it out again. “I’ve got my sights set on a British banger tonight.”
I bark out a laugh. “Do you even know what this guy looks like?”
“Only in my imagination.”
“So he could be an old cockney with a beer belly and a bald head?”
“Yes and no. He’s still in his twenties, so I’d like to think he’s not bald.”
“Still leaves a lot to go wrong, don’t you think?”
“Nah, it’s all good. I can feel it in my blood.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s the wine.”
“Meh, tonight is my night, H. Just you wait and see. I’m gonna snag me a Brit, and I’m not letting this one out of my sight.”
“If you say so,” I whisper, looking out the window and seeing the neon lights of the club coming into view.
After saying the right words in the bouncer’s ear, he stands aside and allows both Bailey and I to enter the club, although not before he gets his fill of her scantily-clad body.
“You offering up sexual favors again, B?”
“Not necessary this time. Come on, stop dawdling, the bar and the Brit are calling.”
She grabs my hand and together we make our way through the crowd and toward the roped-off stairs that lead to the VIP section.
As we move, the loud bass from the music vibrates through me, and even though being here tonight was the last thing I wanted to do after a long week at work, I can’t help a little excitement and the desire to get up on the dancefloor creeping in. It’s been a long time since I’ve let go with my best friend and forgotten about the world for a few hours.
Play You: A Second Chance/Single Dad Romance (Rebel Ink Book 4) Page 28