Fighting
Control
Tiffany Hachey
Copyright © 2016 Tiffany Hachey
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 1514648865
ISBN 13 9781514648865
Edited by: Tiffany Leary
All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from this author.
Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. All characters and story lines are the property of the author and your support and respect is appreciated.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarities to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
DEDICATION
To my home team. Without you, I don't think it would be possible to love football as much as I do.
To my favorite player JE #11. There was never a doubt in my mind that once I decided to write this book that he would be my inspiration.
To all of the innocent lost.
Forever Boston Strong!!
Introduction
Waking up in a stranger’s bed, Tanya Mitchell flees with the help of her best friend, remembering nothing of the night before, other than attending a party and obviously going home with someone who she doesn't know. Taking one last look at the sexy, nameless man, lying tangled in his sheets, she can't help but think he does look a little familiar. If only she could remember where she's seen him before.
Feeling disoriented, Julian Martin looks around his bedroom, listening for the sounds of his shower running or the blonde bombshell he took home last night. Normally he couldn't care less if he woke up with his bed partner gone, he was usually relieved, but there was something about her that made him think differently. Maybe it was the way she lit his nerves on fire with the simplest touch. Either way he was determined to find her. Someone at the party last night has to know who she is.
Locking eyes with her mystery man one night at the club, realization dawns on her. Of course she should have known who he is. Shit, even if she wanted to get reacquainted with him, it just isn't possible. She's an intern for a sports journalism company and he's a wide receiver for the New England Patriots. Visions of their night together start to flood her mind and she's really going to have to fight for some control so she doesn't lose what could possibly be her dream job.
Books by tiffany
Fighting Temptation
Book 1 in the Bay State Series
Fighting Desire
Book 2 in the Bay State Series
Fighting Control
Book 3 in the Bay State Series
Coming Soon
Fighting Fate
Book 4 in the Bay State Series
Drawing blanks
Tanya
Shit....
I reach up and cradle my pounding head. Why did I have to drink so much last night? My new colleagues at work are a blast to hang out with, if not a little dangerous to my health.
Shaking my head, I try and recall the name of the person whose house I went to last night.
Maybe I'm trying just a little too hard to fit in with everyone. I grimace and replace it with a smile seconds later. Na, I know I had a good time, if only I could remember more of it.
I start to stretch my sleepy limbs and come in contact with warm flesh. Flinching at the sensation, I jerk my hand away and look over at the intruder only to realize that person is me.
Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I look around the room that's clearly not mine and my eyes wander to the body lying next to me.
Not bad, I decide and chase the thought from my head. I was obviously involved in what's going to end up being a one night stand. Still, my eyes roam over his body that's exposed from the waist up. Hard six pack abs glisten up at me almost invitingly. And those arms, delicious. I wish I could remember the feeling of them holding me.
I force my eyes to travel the rest of the way up to his face. Full lips, slightly pouty in sleep, small rounded nose, slim cheek bones and quite frankly the longest lashes I have ever seen fanning out from closed lids. His dark brown hair is on the longer side and messy from slumber. Or the sex? It looks so soft, making me want to run my hands through it.
Dammit girl. Get a grip!
Slowly getting up so I don't wake this nameless sexy stranger, I gather my clothes and quietly slip out, not looking back.
What are the chances of running into him again?
As I creep through the unfamiliar house, I take in my surroundings. He obviously has money. Unless he lives with his parents? I bristle at the thought. That's just what I need. Running into them on my walk of shame would be rather embarrassing.
Head held high, I walk outside into the early dawn, noticing with chagrin that I don't have my car. Come to think of it, there's not a single vehicle in sight, must be a garage somewhere that I can't see. At least I made it outside without detection.
Giving the rather nice house, or should I say mansion one final look, I turn on my heel and start walking in the direction that will hopefully reveal a street sign.
Does this road ever end? I feel like I've been walking forever.
My head starts to clear and I get an idea. Taking my phone from my pocket, I hold the button down for Siri, and rather pleased with myself, ask for directions home.
The map site shows me that I'm twelve and a half miles away and also exactly where I am. I close the app and call Ashley, my best friend from high school. We lost touch while I was away in college, all my doing, I have to admit. I decided to call her when I came home, thankful that she had the same number and we instantly picked up where we left off. She'll come to my rescue, provided she's awake. I check my phone to see what time it is. Six thirty eight. Hmmm? I can only hope.
“Hello?” She answers finally, still half asleep.
“Thank God you woke up. I've been trying for about ten minutes.”
“Is everything alright? I tried staying up for you last night but I passed out. I tried calling, I was getting worried but you never answered.” Concern laces her voice and I feel like shit for causing it. She's been like a sister to me for as long as I can remember. Having only two brothers I needed a sisterly figure and she fits me perfectly.
“Ummm? I guess I'm okay. I need you to come get me.”
“What? Where's your car?” she interrupts.
“Would you let me finish? It's wherever I parked it last night. I'm going to have to make a couple calls to figure out where that is exactly.” I admit, feeling so embarrassed right now it's not even funny. How the hell does someone lose their car?
“Keep talking, I'm getting up now and throwing on some sweats. I want all the juicy details. What's the address?” She asks and I look around to find a random house number for her to put in her phone.
As soon as the street name leaves my mouth she lets out a long, loud whistle. “Damn, you're most likely inside of a gate. Get ready for your walk of shame. I'm sure there's going to be a guard. I'm so happy to not be you right now.” The bitch is laughing her ass off at me and I feel like I'm going to throw up. I hope to hell she's wrong about the guard.
“Just shut up and get here. I'll tell you everything in the car. Well, whatever I remember.” She ends the call, laughter pouring out of the speaker until the phone disconnects.
Noticing the several missed calls on my phone, I choose to ignore them for now, my battery's almost dead and I need to find my lost Civic.
I try calling Autumn first since she's the one that I followed to the party. Great, her voice mail picks up. What the hell did
I expect at seven in the morning on a Sunday? Scrolling through my contacts, I find the only other person from work that was with us last night.
“What?” Greg groans into the phone.
“Sorry to call you so early. Do you know the address of the house where we were last night? Long story but my car's still there and I'm not.” He barely rattles off the street and house number before his snoring takes over and I shut my phone off. It's no use to me anyway with one percent battery left. I just want to get home, plug it in and sleep this hangover off.
I have no idea how much time's gone by when Ashley pulls up to the spot that I've been pacing. She takes in my messy blonde hair and smudged make up, shakes her head and breaks out into another fit of giggles. “No holding back.” She demands as soon as my ass hits the seat.
“I don't even know where to start,” I say, looking over at her as she turns the car around and heads in the direction she just came from.
“The beginning would be a pretty good place. Don't you think?” She's such a smart ass and I tell her as much. “Hey you asked a stupid question and I answered accordingly. Now spill it.” If I didn't love her so much, I'd hate her. She does have a point.
“I'm warning you, my memory of last night is minimal at best but I'll try. Alright here it goes. I followed Autumn, a girl I work with to a party. I only knew one other person there, Greg. He works with us at the station. We pretty much stuck together all night, obviously drinking way too much. Well at least I know I did. Last thing that I can remember before waking up next to the sexiest stranger I've ever seen is taking shots, playing some kind of game. The rest is a blur.” I sink down further into my seat with my pitiful story and hang my head in defeat. Believe me; I want details just as much as she does.
“Nothing! You have nothing!” She shouts at me from the driver's seat. I glare over at her and she offers an apology. “Sorry. I was just expecting some sex, foreplay, something, anything.” She throws her hands up exasperated.
I can't help but laugh at her pitiful expression. “Were you hoping to live vicariously through me? Please? Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? You look sexy in sweats. There's no way you're not getting some.” I see her flinch and a look of alarm pass over her features before she quickly replaces it with a big smile. Hmmm? Wonder what that's all about; probably had a bad experience or something. I'll have to ask her about it sometime.
Rounding the final corner to our destination, I spot my little black hatchback and let out a sigh of relief that it seems unharmed. “Thank you for the ride. I promise that if I remember anything, you'll be the first to know.” Reaching over the console, I give her a hug and climb out of her car.
Waving goodbye through her window, she slowly pulls away once I'm safely tucked inside my driver's seat.
The entire drive home, I can't help but think about the look on her face while I was teasing her about getting some. I know she's not one to keep things from me but I wonder if there's an exception to the rule and if so, what it is? Right now I have better or worse, depending on what exactly happened last night, things to worry about. Hopefully after a nice long nap I'll be able to remember more.
Pulling into the driveway, I notice thankfully that my parents have already left for church. I'm sure they're missing my presence but that just can't be helped. It's not like I haven't missed Sunday Mass before.
I sluggishly climb the stairs, barely glancing at my surroundings. I know it all by heart anyway. The numerous pictures that line the walls of me and my two brothers in our elementary school years, High school and prom line the fireplace in the formal living room.
Entering my bedroom, I thank my parents once again for not changing anything when I went away to college. At that point in my life I wasn't planning on coming back to live with them after graduating. We had our lives all planned out. How could I have been so naive? I should have known it was too good to be true.
With thoughts of my sordid past on my mind, I take a couple aspirin, plug my IPhone into its charger, snuggle under my covers and fall into a peaceful sleep.
I wake to the ringing of my phone. I reach over to my nightstand and pull the phone down onto the bed. Seeing Sarah's name flash across my screen, I decide to answer. “Hello?”
“It's Sarah. I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you up. Just wanted to check on you. Frank's freakin' out about you, says he texted last night and you never replied.”
“Oh shit! I had a long night. One I can't remember much of other than waking up not knowing where I was. I called my best friend, Ashley for a ride and then my phone died. I've been asleep since I plugged it in.” I really don't like when my brothers worry about me. I know they mean well but honestly they're just a little bit over protective.
“No worries, but I do want a story later. We're all at the hospital. Ilyanna had her baby girl early yesterday morning.”
“Holy shit, really? How long will she be there? I don't think I'm up for going while my brothers are there. They can read me like a book and I really don't feel like twenty questions.”
“Haha, can't say I blame you. They'll be here until Tuesday, seeing she had the baby over six weeks early. I'll double check and text you. What should I tell your brothers?”
“Tell them that I'm fine, one hell of a hangover and I'll call them later. Oh and tell them I'm sorry for worrying them.”
“Will do. I'll text you later and let you know for sure when they're going home.”
“K, bye.”
“Bye.”
Laying my phone down on the bed next to me, I decide that a little more sleep could do me some good. This time when I doze off it's not so peaceful. Flashes of my sexy stranger dance behind my eyelids as we move together, all sweaty bodies and groping hands.
*****
“Congratulations. She's beautiful,” I tell Braydon and Ilyanna when I see their little bundle of joy, laying all snuggled up in her mother's arms. Ilyanna looks exhausted. Shit, I'd be drained too if I had just pushed out a kid.
Minutes after coming into the room I can hear commotion out in the hall right before John and Rachel walk through the door, arms loaded down with gift bags. “What the hell?” Ilyanna asks when she notices them. “You guys gave me presents yesterday and for my shower. I really don't need anything else.”
“Well too bad. You're crazy if you think I'm not going to spoil her. That's what Aunties are for. You better get used to it,” Rachel says with laughter in her eyes.
“So what happened to you Last night? I heard you had quite the hangover this morning,” Rachel asks me after unloading her gifts to Braydon.
John chooses to place his on the counter for the time being and Ilyanna hands Haylee to Rachel so she can open the abundance of bags Braydon's holding.
I stay quiet, hoping Rachel will forget her question and stay focused on Ilyanna. As she's opening the first of many, Rachel turns to me giving me a death glare and I roll my eyes at her. Seriously? Can it not wait? Right now is about little Haylee and her parents. Not my drunken escapades.
Finally getting to the last bag Ilyanna starts to tear at the colorful tissue paper, searching for what's inside. “Ummm, did you forget to put something in here?” she asks Rachel, giving her a confused look.
“Nope. Keep digging,” Rachel tells her with a small giggle.
“Christ woman! Is the bag big enough? How many trees were harmed in the making of this monstrosity?” She pulls a couple more handfuls from the bag and slowly pulls her her hand out, revealing what looks like a small picture. The tears streaming down her cheeks have me worried for a minute until Ilyanna looks at her best friend and asks, “Really?” She starts crying in earnest at Rachel's tearful nod. “Really?” She asks again and Rachel rushes to her side.
Standing with her back towards me, Rachel takes Ilyanna's hands in hers and whispers a quiet, “Yes.” Making Ilyanna sit up and take her in a fierce hug.
Pulling away, Ilyanna reaches for a tissue on her bedside table and dries the wet
marks covering her face. “Really?” She sniffs the question for a third time with a goofy smile on her face.
“Yes really,” Rachel laughs.
“Oh my God. I'm so happy for you guys. When did you find out? How far along are you?” Ilyanna rapidly fires off questions.
“We found out on our honeymoon.”
“You what? How could you keep this from me for two months?” She folds her arms over her chest and a frown takes over where her smile was just a few seconds ago.
“Calm down would you? I wanted to wait until you had the baby so I could pull off this surprise. Did you want me to send it in a text? That's no fun, party pooper.”
“Fine,” she huffs out, “you're forgiven. Continue.”
John and Braydon are quietly snickering at the girl's banter and I have to agree, it's quite comical.
“Thanks for your approval to finish answering you're questions, princess.” Ilyanna sticks her tongue out at her and laughs before Rachel clears her throat. “As I was saying, we found out on our honeymoon and we're due November 29. We don't know what we're having but plan on a gender reveal party later this summer.” She flinches when the stuffed animal flying out of Ilyanna's arms meets its target and hits her in the face.
Laughing, I say my goodbyes. Being Sunday and my day to cook, I'd better get back to the house. Maybe I'll invite Ashley over so I can fill her in on the few details that have made their way back to me.
A lot of good they're doing. So we groped and kissed. Is that it? Or is there more I'm not remembering. Gah! So damn frustrating!
I'm never drinking again.
Invasion
Julian
“Son of a bitch,” I curse at my empty room.
Where the hell did she go? We fell asleep in each other's arms and I would have loved to do more than the kissing and groping that transpired last night but she was just way too far gone to enjoy it.
Fighting Control (Bay State Series Book 3) Page 1