by Skye Turner
Dr. Bird says, “Clove. Liam. I’m sorry that we disturbed you. Is everything alright?”
She’s switched over from enraged woman to doctor. I appreciate that, but right now I want to know what has these two at each other’s throats.
Clove interrupts my inner musings. “Dr. Bird, thank you. I’m fine. I was just tired and Liam brought me into the sitting room to get off of my feet for a bit.” She gestures to Dade. “Excuse me, but how do you know my brother?”
Her face loses all color. She gasps, “Your brother?!” She looks from me to Dade. “You’re… He’s… Oh my God… he’s your brother?!”
I don’t know what’s going on, but I remember something else. “Yes, Dade is Clove’s brother. He’s also my bandmate and friend. And I’m sorry, Clove and I are very lost right now. We weren’t trying to pry but we heard the angry voices and then we realized one was Dade.” I point at Dr. Bird. “How do you know Dade and why is he calling you Rayne? I thought your name was Melonie?”
Dade has been staring at Dr. Bird in silent rage, but after my questions, he explodes. “Of course your name isn’t Rayne!” He laughs harshly and mutters, “You told me you worked in an office?!” Glaring at her, he spits out, “You’re my sister’s fucking baby doctor?” He laughs and there is no humor in it. “Oh and for the record, I left in a hurry because I got a frantic call that my baby sister was in the hospital. I was going to call you once I got to the airport, but you never gave me your number.” He harshly laughs again and slaps the wall. I see Dr. Bird jump. “But then again you also told me your name was Rayne. What the fuck else did you lie about? I’ve wasted enough time here, Dr. Melonie Bird.” He stalks down the hall calling over his shoulder, “Have a nice fucking life.”
Her shoulders slump and all of the color leaves her face as she watches him walk away. As he turns the corner, she turns shakily to us. Her hands come up and drop back down. She looks at Clove, who is frowning as she stares down the hall that Dade just disappeared into. Dr. Bird says dejectedly, “I’m so sorry you saw all that. I’m sorry. I met Dade on my vacation. We- we spent some time together and then he just… left. I didn’t know his last name and I never knew who he was.” She looks down the hall again and tucks her hands into her pants. I see them shaking. “I’m sorry. I have to go. Thank you for the invitation. It was a lovely party. I- I have patients in the morning. I’m so sorry, Clove. I fully understand if you’d like a new doctor. I- I have to go. Goodnight.” She turns on her heel and hurries down the hall. In the opposite direction Dade went in.
Clove just stares at her retreating figure. She slumps against me. Looking up at me, she says flatly, “I’m drained. Can we go home?”
Tucking my fiancée against my side, I get her into the truck. As she stares out the window, I text Blue to let her know that Clove is beat and we’re heading home. Once we get home, I undress her, and slip her beneath the covers of my bed, which is now our bed. She never wakes up.
The next morning, I wake early. Glancing over at the alarm on my nightstand, I see it’s only 6AM. I can’t sleep and I don’t want to wake Clove, so I slide out of bed and decide to go work out.
Once I get to the garage, I hear the music pumping. It’s loud and angry. I’m not the only one who can’t sleep.
I walk in and see Dade wailing on a punching bag. He’s covered in sweat and it’s running into his eyes, but he never stops. He’s so focused on the bag, I don’t even know if he sees me.
Leaning back, I just watch him go. I’ve never seen him like this. Makes me glad he likes me and reminds me…
Stepping over to the music, I turn it down. He stops and glares at me.
I hold my hands out in surrender. “Hey, don’t come at me. I didn’t do anything. Well, except propose to your sister, without your permission.”
This gets a chuckle. “You had my permission, asshole.”
I’m taken aback. “I did? I never asked you and I probably should have. I’m sorry.”
He crosses his arms. He’s breathing heavily. He might be in his mid-thirties, but Dade takes care of his body. I’m a little intimidated. He nods at me. “Yes. I asked you if you loved my sister. You said you did and that you wanted the baby. I didn’t punch you in the face.” He smirks. “Therefore, I gave you my permission.”
Nodding at that fucked up logic, I say. “I’m glad you didn’t punch me in the face.”
He laughs. “Yeah, me too. Clove would be pissed.”
I picture her flying off the handle at Dade. It makes me laugh. He joins in. I sober up as I ask, “Are you sure you’re ok with me marrying her? And being the baby’s father? I, well, I don’t know a thing about that.”
He stops laughing and looks at me seriously. “The fact that you’re in here telling me that when you know good and well I could beat your ass, tells me you are exactly the man for her.” He walks over and claps my shoulder. “I’d be honored to have you as a brother-in-law, man. And even more honored to have you as the father to my nephew and maybe a few more of them later down the line.”
I get a little choked up. “Thank you, Dade. You’re alright for an old man.”
He grabs me in a headlock and musses up my hair. Throwing my hands up, I laugh and call out, “Ok. Ok. Dude, watch the face. Don’t mess up my face. Clove likes it pretty.”
He laughs and pops me with his shirt. He asks me if I want to go for a run with him and I agree, so that’s what we do.
Two hours later, we’re back and both of us are sweaty messes. As we walk into the house, the smell of coffee and cinnamon rolls greets us.
Walking into the kitchen, I find my fiancée leaning over the oven and stirring something on the stove. Grabbing her and whirling her around once the oven is closed, I pull her close and kiss her, sweat and all.
She moans into my mouth and pulls back wrinkling her nose. “Good morning, my love. Fancy a shower? You smell like an old goat and well this is my sacred space.” She shoves me with a laugh. “Go shower and then come eat.”
Pulling her in for another kiss, I squeeze her hips as her baby bump presses against me. Then whistling, I head to our room since I was ordered to shower.
Once we’re all settled into the kitchen and eating breakfast, we hear the front door open and then Cruz floods into the kitchen closely followed by Erik and Alec.
Shit, I forgot. Oh well, now is as good a time as any.
Dade looks at them in question. “Any reason why you three are in my house first thing in the morning?”
Cruz laughs and reminds Dade that they are going over the tour dates. We’ve left the final decisions to the two of them and Alec says to me, “Still going see the house this morning, right?”
Clove looks at me in expectation as Dade’s head whips around. They say at the same time, “What house?”
I shrug and feel my face heat up, but I answer as I look at Clove and avoid Dade’s gaze. “You know I was looking to move out of here after you moved in and we had our stuff… but, then we got together and well, Alec has been looking for a house… for us. He found one I think is perfect. I looked at it last week and I wanted you to see it. I want to see what you think. If you love it, I’m going to buy it. For you… For us.”
Clove is just staring at me in rapt fascination. Dade is glowering. “You’re going to marry her and now you’re moving out?”
I look at Dade, incredulously. “Dude seriously, you want us to get married and live here with a new baby, too? The house is literally around the corner. It’s like three minutes from here!”
Clove gets up and kisses Dade’s cheek before sitting on my lap and wrapping her arms around my neck. She says to him, “Big brother, I’m not a child. I’m a woman who’s getting married and about to be a mother myself. You’ll always be my big brother, but I have to leave the nest. You brought me home when I needed to come back and you gave me the love and support I needed.” She looks around the kitchen. “You all did. You are all wonderful men and I love you. You are all my family.” She le
ans down to kiss me. “But Liam and this baby are my family now, too, and we need to do this.”
Dade is looking at her with a reverent expression on his face. “Welcome home, baby girl. I’m glad you came back and I think this is exactly where you were meant to be.” He points at me. “I think that fool is exactly who you are meant to be with. Go ahead. Leave the nest. But just remember, I’m your big brother and you can always count on me.” He winks at me. “If he ever messes up, you just let me know. I’ll be there to fuck up his pretty face before you can hang up the phone.”
Everyone laughs. Even me.
I love these crazy ass people. My imperfect family is just perfect. I couldn’t ask for anything more.
Stay Tuned for Book 4 Bayou Stix
Dade and Melonie’s story.
Fall 2014
Letter from the Author
For all of my readers who have been with me from the beginning, I thank you for taking a chance and sticking with me. For my new readers, I hope that you find pleasure in my words and that my characters are relatable.
Writing is hard and lately there seems to be lot of underhanded dealings going on in the Indie World. I do not and will not ever participate in the tactics being used by a select few authors.
I enjoy writing. From the majority of my feedback, I believe people enjoy reading my work. I will continue to write you stories from my heart and I hope that you will continue to read them. I want to make it to the top, we all do, but I want to earn it. I will never lie to my readers and my peers, underprice my work just to rank only to raise the price once I do, or attack another author directly or via my Street Team. If and when I make it there, I will make it there because I earned it and people love my work enough to read it. This is my promise to you.
I love writing my stories and sharing my characters with you. I love incorporating pieces of myself into every character. My good qualities, my bad qualities, my joys, my fears, and everything in between are all clearly displayed everyday on my Facebook and Twitter feeds and you get bits of me in every single character. What you see is what you get with me.
So, thank you for reading! I’ll keep on writing!
If you read the book and love it, please remember to leave reviews. We Indie authors count on them.
Thank you and happy reading,
Skye Turner
Playlist
Chic Lights – Do What U Want (With My Body)
Jason Aldean – Why
Katy Perry – Hot N Cold
Linkin Park – Numb
Hunter Hayes – Somebody’s Heartbreak
Kenny Loggins – Playing with the Boys
Lady Gaga – Applause
P!nk – Try
Cassadee Pope – I Wish I Could Break Your Heart
Sick Puppies – Maybe
Luke Bryan – Drink A Beer
Fall Out Boy – Where Did The Party Go
The Band Perry – Don’t Let Me Be Lonely
Carly Simon – You’re So Vain
Nelly – Hot In Herre
Divinyls – I Touch Myself
Avenged Sevenfold – This Means War
Olly Murs – Dance With Me Tonight
Nashville Cast – Don’t Put Dirt On My Grave Just Yet
Kenny Loggins – Danger Zone
Wayne Toups – Take My Hand
Luke Bryan – In Love With The Girl
Imagine Dragons – Demons
Pat Benatar – Love Is A Battlefield
Thomas Rhett – It Goes Like This
Fall Out Boy – The Mighty Fall
One Direction – Story of My Life
Sara Bareilles – Brave
P!nk – So What
Muse – Madness
Jonas Brothers – Your Biggest Fan
Atlantic Starr – Secret Lovers
Eddie Money – Take Me Home Tonight
Queen – Another One Bites The Dust – 2011 Remaster
Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Katy Perry – Dark Horse
Kings Of Leon – Use Somebody
Tom Jones – It’s Not Unusual
Candlebox – Far Behind
Kenny Loggins – Footloose
Playlist can be found on Spotify by clicking HERE.
About the Author
Skye Turner
Skye Turner is an avid reader and an editor turned Amazon Bestselling Author of Sexy Adult Romance.
She attended Southeastern Louisiana University and Louisiana State University where she majored in Mass Communications, centering her studies in Journalism. Unfortunately, life intervened and she never finished her studies.
She lives in small town Louisiana with her husband, two children, and five fur babies.
When she’s not chained to her laptop pounding out sexy stories she can usually be found playing ‘Supermom’, reading, gardening (playing in the dirt), listening to music and dancing like a fool, cooking, baking, crafting, or catching up on her family oriented blog.
She loves to incorporate pieces of Louisiana into her writing.
You can find her here:
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/SkyeTurnerAuthor
Twitter:
@SkyeTurner_Auth
Blog:
www.skyeturnerauthor.com
Goodreads:
www.goodreads.com/author/show/7164331.Skye_Turner
E-mail:
[email protected]
Wicked Games
A.D. JUSTICE
Copyright © 2013 by A. D. Justice
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents, either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Chapter 1
The sweat glistened in the early morning sun, running down her forehead and along her hairline to her neck. Her eyes scanned the landscape around her, ever cognizant of her surroundings. Her rhythmic breathing matched the thumping of her feet as she ran along the familiar trail. She wore her earphones and an iPod on her upper arm, but she rarely listened to the music. She discovered when others thought she was listening to music, they rarely tried to start up a conversation with her.
She ran every day, regardless of weather, but not for the reasons most others did. It wasn’t for the recognition and satisfaction of completing marathons, fundraisers or any health awareness campaign. She was health conscious, but knew more than anything she needed to push herself harder every day. Running had become her addiction, and her only way of dealing with the pain inside. She pushed and punished her body with exercise to try to keep the depressing thoughts at bay. The punishment could only last for so long, though. She couldn’t run 24/7, after all.
Boulder, Colorado, normally had mild high temperatures with lots of sunshine in early May, but today the dark clouds rolling in felt very ominous. She thought, “Damn, I miss Florida.” Thunderstorms were nothing new to her after growing up in the South and moving to Miami. She actually loved storms – the rolling thunder, striking lightning, the sound of a hard rain, and the power of it all combined.
The colder Colorado spring weather had taken some getting used to, and she still wasn’t crazy about it. Living in this landlocked state may just make her crazy, though. Winter was absolutely depressing to her. Miami winters were mild to say the least, and it never snowed. Here, there was always winter snow. She decided she should learn to snow ski to try to develop a new appreciation for winter weather. She knew most of her dislike stemmed from a severe case of homesickness, and she’d never really given the place a fair chance.
She had an uneasy feeling for the last few days, and couldn’t put her finger on any one thing that would account for it. She
just knew to trust her instincts. They’d served her well in the past. As she continued along the trail, the hair on the back of her neck suddenly stood at full alert, and she felt someone watching her. She looked around nonchalantly. She only saw other runners and families enjoying the spring weather in the grassy areas, but no obvious bad guys lurking about. They don’t usually wear a big sign to announce themselves, though.
But she’d been through too much in her twenty-seven years to dismiss the feeling as nothing. Something was wrong, even if she didn’t know what, just yet. She kept running, intent on finishing her run before the rain started. She ticked off in her head each errand she needed to complete and which bills she needed to pay, but her eyes kept scanning the scenery as she ran.
She rounded the corner of the trail and backtracked toward her townhouse. When the thoughts tried to crowd in her head, as they did now, she pushed her body harder and faster. Digging deeper, she increased her pace and her breathing. She continued until the jogging trail ended, crossed the street, then continued up the sidewalk, not slowing until she reached home.
Home, this isn’t home. I can never really go home.
She walked the short distance from the sidewalk, up her driveway, and to her front door. Her neighbor, Mrs. Elizabeth Stanton, called her name to get her attention, just as she did every morning after her runs. She knew the older lady was probably lonely and had few visitors to keep her company. Mrs. Stanton’s husband had died of a heart attack several years ago. She had kids and grandkids, but they were all busy with their lives, and they didn’t take much time out of their lives to visit her. In her mid-sixties, Mrs. Stanton still looked and acted like she was in her forties. She had such spunk and a zest for life. Kris hoped she held up as well when she reached her neighbor’s age.