Second Chances: Pleasant Grove Series Book 2

by Lee, Tara

  Amazon- My Book

  SECOND CHANCES PLAYLIST

  1. My Baby- Britney Spears

  2. All of the Stars- Ed Sheeran

  3. When I Look at You- Miley Cyrus

  4. The Book of Love- Gavin James

  5. All of Me- John Legend

  6. Purpose- Justin Bieber

  7. Whenever You Will Go- Charlene Soraia

  9. The Only One- Hot Chelle Ray

  10. Gone Too Soon- Daughtry

  11. Broken Ones- Jacquie

  12. Rock Bottom- Hailee Steinfeld

  13. Say Something- A Great Big World

  14. Dancing in The Sky- Dani and Lizzy

  15. Better in Time- Leona Lewis

  16. I Won’t Give Up- Jason Mraz

  17. F**kin’ Perfect- Pink

  18. Fight Song- Rachel Platten

  19. Incredible- Celine Dion, Neyo

  20. Healing Hands- Conrad Sewell

  21. Halo- Beyonce

  22. Amaze Me- Union J

  23. Best in Me- Blue

  24. Rise- Katy Perry

  25. Moments- One Direction

  26. This I swear- Nick Lachey

  27. My All- Anthony Callea

  28. Perfect- Ed Sheeran

  29. Love Me Like You Do- Ellie Goulding

  30. We Are Kings- Lawson

  31. Ashes- Celine Dion

  32. From This Moment/ You’re Still the one- Caleb and Kelsey

  33. Unconditionally- Katy Perry

  34. Human- Christina Perri

  35. Mercy- Shawn Mendes

  36. This Moment- Katy Perry

  CHECK OUT THESE BOOKS

  Next Up in the Pleasant Grove Series

  #3 New Beginnings- Jensen and Elle ( coming 2019)

  #4 All for You- Carter and Aria

  #5 Heating up- Tyler and Emerson

  #6 Crossing Paths- Max and Hailee

  #7 Fate Has It- Lucas and Willow

  #8 Bared To You- Christian and Avery

  #9 You Are Mine- Mikayla and Gunner

  #10 Unexpected Love- Isla and Emmett

  #11 Forgive My Sins- Jacob and Savannah

  Also Coming from Tara Lee

  # Lessons in Seduction ( possibly coming 2019)

  # Defiance( coming 2019)

  # Beautifully Broken

  # Only Mine

  # Always Mine

  # Forever Mine (Mine Trilogy)

  # Risk It All

  # Wherever It leads Us

  # Twisted Fate (The Hillside Series)

  # You Make Me Weak

  # Breaking the Rules (Taboo forbidden romance)

  # Broken hearts (YA) (Best friends to lovers romance)

  # Home Coming (Best friends to enemies to lovers romance)

  # The Sweet Desire series (four brothers)

  # Austin- (single dad romance)

  Acknowledgments

  Firstly, I want to thank you, the reader—for reading my words and supporting me. I hope you enjoyed the end of Eli and Charli’s story.

  Writing this couple will always be a huge accomplishment for me, especially being that they’re my first. I never expected people to fall in love with my words or characters. It still blows my mind.

  Being a mum, I thought maybe this wasn't possible. But with encouragement from so many authors, who juggle writing and kids, I know I can do this.

  I have so many more stories to tell, and I can't wait for you all to read them.

  Thank you to my amazing ladies in Tara’s Chancers. You ladies are incredible, and without you I wouldn't keep doing what I love. Your endless support, encouragement and love makes this all worth it. I truly love you ladies.

  Kellie Dennis at Book Cover by Design for creating me another gorgeous cover that captures Eli and Charli in every way possible. It’s always a pleasure doing business with you. Your designs are breathtaking.

  My editor, Charlotte Blowe Stanley for helping guide me in the right direction . Without your support I couldn’t do this. Thank you for putting up with my badgering.

  My beta girls, Philomena, Megan, Rhiannon, Kayla and Megan—you girls are truly amazing. You always know when to tell me to stop worrying over the small stuff, making sure I don't stress out and just drop this whole author thing because I'm worried everyone will hate what I've wrote. Thank you, girls, for the consent support and love. You are the best. I love you girls.

  My proofreader Tiffany, girl you’ve been amazing from the very start of my journey. Your constant support makes me beyond grateful. Having people like you in my corner is why I create the stories I do. I love you girl.

  Karen, again a special thank you because your messages and love have helped guide me in the right direction. You've had my back from the very start and I know I can come to you with any problems and you'll get me back on the right track. I am truly grateful to have you in my corner, I’m so glad I can call you a friend. I couldn't truly do this without you. I love you.

  My review team, you girls rock. Having your encouragement is amazing. I couldn't do this without your help and love, so thank you for everything you do to help me along with this journey.

  To my beautiful babies, I love you more than any words will ever explain. I want you to always reach for your dreams. You are the greatest gifts I could ever be given.

  To my husband, for always supporting me even though being an author comes with a lot of stress and is very time consuming. You are my rock and continue to support me no matter what, I couldn't do this without. Thank you for allowing me to follow this dream. I love you.

  My family your constant support is endless, and I couldn’t do this without your love and encouragement. I love you.

  SNEAK PEEK!

  New Beginnings Pleasant Grove book three

  TARA LEE

  Unedited and subjected to change.

  Prologue

  Elle

  2 Years ago

  "I've told you, and I've told you again to not disrespect me in front of my friends."

  Curtis grabs me by my shoulder, twisting it has he does.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." I say my panic rising.

  His hand slaps me across my face hard causing me to fall to the ground.

  "Your always sorry Elle" he says emphasising my name

  He grabs me by my hair and drags me to the couch. I plead with him to let me go.

  "When will you learn huh? Why do you make me do this?"

  I try not to cry he hates it when I cry. It makes him hurt me worse.

  "You force me to hurt you, to teach you a lesson." He undoes his belt yanking at it to get it lose from the last loop.

  "Turn around, ass in the air." He demands

  I slowly turn but its not fast enough for him he rips me around shoving my face into the couch his hand is around the back of my throat his fingers squeezing.

  He leans down his breath drifts over my skin.

  "I won't put up with you disrespecting me or flirting with my friends do you understand me?"

  "But I- I-"

  "Shut up."

  He yells causing me to flinch, he shoves my dress over my waist and yanks down my panties. The beating I'm about to cop is something he's done before, whenever he thinks I've done wrong I get punished.

  He slaps the belt onto my bare skin and I cry out at the pain. He does this nine more times and I known I’m bleeding. He makes sure he cuts me every time, My face is soaked with tears when he's done. But I lay still because I know he isn't finished with me yet.

  I hear his zipper and then he's slamming into me I bite my teeth to keep from making any noise I know he won't like it. He never does.

  When he's finished he leaves me in a heap on the floor. My ass is red raw and bleeding I know the carpet will be stained with my blood. Something I will have to clean up or I suffer getting another beating.

  After cleaning and dressing my wounds I scrub the carpet down thankful the blood comes out.

  Curtis wasn't always like this. We were high sc
hool sweethearts we got married when I turned eighteen, he was three years older then me and he was the hottest guy in school, the it guy the one every girl wanted to date and he chose me.

  We lived in a small town in Minnesota population five hundred, so when Curtis the sheriff's son chose Elle Thompson the sad girl who's parents deserted her and left her to be raised by her grandparents. The talk round town was buzzing with speculation as to why he chose me.

  Curtis would be home later and I needed to start on dinner, he didn't like it when dinner wasn't on the table waiting for him when he got home.

  He started to become violent about a year after we got married, no matter how many trips to the hospital I have had or how many bruises I've been seen with, no-one ever says anything, my papa did once and then his barn was in flames the next day.

  No one messes with Curtis Anderson.

  I know I should leave him but there isn't much of a pick in this small town and Curtis is the most attractive guy here. He takes care of me I've never worked because Curtis supplies me with everything I need, he chooses my clothes and I don't wear makeup, he won’t allow it, I don't need anything really simple things.

  My Mimi has tried to get me to leave him numerous times over the years but I just tell her I'm fine he takes care of me, I just make him angry sometimes, he's always sweet after and treats me right.

  He's right its my fault I make him mad, I just need to behave better if I behave he doesn't get angry.

  I love him and there is no man I'll ever love more then I love Curtis.

  * * *

  Chapter one

  Elle

  The day I finally had the courage to leave Curtis is one I will never forget, that day is forever edged into my brain.

  That day was the day I lost everything.

  He had beat me so bad I was laid up in the hospital for weeks. Broken ribs, fractured jaw and multiple bruises across my skin. I couldn't even recognise myself in the mirror, that was also the day my world was torn into pieces. I was pregnant I was going to suppose him that day with the news but he was in one of his moods accusing me of things I hadn't even done. I lost our bay that day but I lost something much deeper, the doctors had told me my body had so much abuse it was a miracle I had gotten pregnant in the first place. I had a 000000.1 chance of ever getting pregnant again.

  That was the day I told Curtis that I was done I never wanted to see him again, but since we lived in the same small town that was going to be impossible. I finally had the courage to tell him enough I had enough. I knew I didn’t deserve to be treated the way he treated me. I wasn't afraid of him anymore, well that was a lie but I wasn't going to show him that. This was my now and I was taking the moment and never letting it go. I was going to put my fears behind me and cast the shadows aside I knew there was something better out there for me. I had moved back in with my Gramma as far away from Curtis as I could get. I knew my gramma would help me escape this town but I didn’t want to leave her, not yet.

  My tears for what I had lost and would never get the chance to ever know slipped down my cheeks for the hundredth time since being released from the hospital.

  I wiped at my cheeks trying to be strong but I wasn’t as strong as I had portrayed myself to Curtis and deep down I think he knew that. He still seemed to think he'd win me back and I'd forgive him.

  But I couldn’t not this time. I had to stay strong.

  My life depending on it I knew if I stayed with Curtis that one day my Gramma would be burying me. I knew she never wanted that.

  I turned to my side while I hugged myself, I had to believe that someday some guy would come and take me away from all this. Someone who actually was a good guy, he would love me unconditionally I deserved that. My time was now I had to keep telling myself that.

  I knew I had to guide my heart this time, I couldn't just trust the first guy that showed me some attention.

  Gramma warned me that not all men were like Curtis that someday my price charming would ride into town, I'd just laugh at her but she’d shake her head and tell me she might be old but she was wise and she knew that was my future. That one day my price would come.

  My tears finally stopped, I had work soon and I had to be prepared for Curtis to show up ever since we split he'd been showing up at my work or Gramma’s house. He'd beg and plead with me to give him another chance the he was a changed man. I had nearly fallen for it the first few times but he quickly showed his true colours once again. Showing me that the violence would never stop that he would never change. I would tell him I couldn’t and he had to accept that, but he'd curse at me and call me every name under the sun. The day he grabbed my throat at the bar was the day I truly knew he would never change, not for me and not for anyone. My boss had to yank him off me, that was the thing in this small town up until I was in the hospital no one knew what Curtis had done to me I had hid it pretty well. I had found ways to cover the bruises he gave me and he would learn to only put them in places I could cover, expect my face he always hit me there, no matter how many black and blue bruises and swollen eyes he gave me. I would just hid out in the house until the swelling went down, I had become a master at disguising his marks.

  I slowly got ready for my shift working at both Harvey’s bar and Carson’s Diner I enjoyed it for the first time in my life I worked. Curtis never allowed me to work when we were together he would say he didn’t want men flirting with me or me flirting back. I enjoyed the freedom I had earning my own money and I was good at my jobs.

  just knowing it was my hard work that made me feel more grown up, I knew that was weird but since I'd been with Curtis since I was eighteen he never allowed me to have that freedom of a job something so simple.

  Heading out the door after saying goodbye to my Gramma I walked the few short blocks to the bar, I didn’t own a car not that you really needed one in Strathaven it was a small town and when I mean small it was really small that it only no traffic lights, everything was in walking distance.

  Curtis being the sheriffs son he always had a truck, it was his way of showing this town that he wasn't to be messed with, I wasn’t sure if it was a power thing to him or he just liked to intimidate people.

  Today I was going to smile and not let Curtis have the power over me, not today. Today I was in charge, I had the power to tell Curtis to leave.

  * * *

  Chapter two

  Jensen

  Nearly losing Charli had messed with me more than I realised. After seeing her lifeless body laying in that hospital bed, I couldn't get the image out of my head. Being a doctor I knew of all the worse possible outcomes every time I came in to her room with still no change and I saw the look on Eli’s face. My own fears came to light, the moment I walked in and saw her awake I think my heart stopped at seeing my little sister awake and talking. But I knew once Eli had told her about their son it would change everything. Charli had lost Harley she was nearly eight months pregnant it tore her in to pieces, Eli too.

  The guilt I felt for not being able to save my nephew even though I wasn't there when it happened ate at me daily. I was a doctor and I couldn’t save him.

  I had just been and seen my niece Harmony, I still couldn't believe how quickly Charli feel pregnant after Harley but that little girl was the most beautiful thing I had ever laid eyes on. She was a spitting image of Charli. She had become a huge part of me in such a short time, I would do anything for that little girl. I felt sad knowing our parents would never get to hold their granddaughter but I knew Charli believed they were looking down on us and watching over Harley.

  After Eli had forced me to open that damn letter, my world had crashed down around me knowing Charli wasn't really my sister hurt, it hurt more knowing that somewhere out there more so somewhere in Minnesota my birth parents had been the whole time. A drive away from me but not once did they make the effort to find me after that letter or come see me. I hated my parents for hiding me being adopted from me and even Charli but I hated my birth parents
even more for giving me up. That feeling of always feeling like something was missing made perfect sense after I read that letter. I had started drinking to numb the pain -to feel nothing.

  It only helped for so long before everything came back flooding back and made me feel like shit again.

  Charli had been over worrying about me as per usual but I'd tell her every time there was nothing to worry about I was fine. I’m pretty sure she could see that I was lying through my teeth but I kept the smile on for her. I didn’t need her worrying about me or my problems she had not long ago had a baby she didn’t need to worry about her big brother too.

  Keeping a smile on my face was fucking hard but working with patients everyday and seeing how hard some of them had it help to keep a positive spin on things for me. My life wasn't coming to an end I didn’t have to spend months in and out of a hospital but still when I was along with my thoughts it felt like the whole world was against me that no matter what I was doomed.

  I was sitting in the on call room my head in my hands feeling sorry for myself yet again. The door opened but I didn't bothering seeing who it was I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone.

  “Hey Jensen.” Polly said

  I lifted my head and gave her a small smile, Polly was cute she had definitely taken my eye.

  She sat down next to me and ran her hand over my thigh.

  “So I was thinking since its just the two of us in here, maybe we could have some fun.”

  There was a sparkle in her eyes that screamed ‘fuck me’ I'd thought about it once to twice that was for sure.

  “Someone might come in.” I sad with a sly smile.

  She lifted her shoulder shrugging

  “I’m game if you are?”

  I slightly chuckled and then she took that as a yes firmly placing herself in my lap she grind over me rubbing her chest against mine causing my dick to jump in my scrubs.