Avoiding Temptation: Forbidden Series #6

by Lorraine, Tracy

  My mouth opens, ready to scream, but it’s too late because his hand comes down on my mouth, successfully cutting off any chance I had of getting anyone’s attention.

  He pushes the door open and then forces me through before slamming it behind us and cutting me off from the rest of the world.

  “Oh, princess. We’re going to have so much fun.”

  A blinding pain to my head is the last thing I remember before I’m sucked into a blissfully silent darkness.

  Are you ready for more? The conclusion to Quinn and Joe’s story is coming soon.

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  Acknowledgments

  I’ve been looking forward to finding out a little more about Joe since I first introduced him in Losing the Forbidden. His story has been a long time coming, and for a while it was really up in the air as to who he was going to fall for, but the moment I realised that he craved something more from his life there was only one woman for the job. A woman who possibly has more secrets and a past she wants to keep hidden even more than Joe does.

  I hope you’ve enjoyed the first part of Joe and Quinn’s story. There is still so much more to discover about these two before they get the chance at a happily-ever-after.

  This series is very quickly coming to an end, but don’t worry, I’ve already got plans for what’s coming next. All will be revealed in the next book (I hope!).

  As always, I have so many people to thank. My long-suffering beta readers who have been waiting for Joe’s story for what must feel like forever, Deanna, Lindsay, Suzanne and Tracy, thank you so much for dropping everything to find out a few of Joe’s secrets.

  A huge thank you to Samantha for helping make my life so much easier and keeping me in check and organised. I’m seriously not sure how I ever coped without you.

  Eyelyn, as always, thank you for believing in my characters and helping me make them as good as they can be.

  Paige, for being the final set of eyes and polishing everything up at the last minute.

  And last but not least, all my readers for supporting me on this crazy journey and for loving my characters as much as I do.

  Until next time,

  Tracy xo

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  Sneak Peek

  THORN is my newly released high school bully romance. Check out a sneak peek!

  THORN - Chapter One

  Amalie

  “I think you’ll really enjoy your time here,” Principal Hartmann says. He tries to sound cheerful about it, but he’s got sympathy oozing from his wrinkled, tired eyes.

  This shouldn’t have been part of my life. I should be in London starting university, yet here I am at the beginning of what is apparently my junior year at an American high school I have no idea about aside from its name and the fact my mum attended many years ago. A lump climbs up my throat as thoughts of my parents hit me without warning.

  “I know things are going to be different and you might feel that you’re going backward, but I can assure you it’s the right thing to do. It will give you the time you need to... adjust and to put some serious thought into what you want to do once you graduate.”

  Time to adjust. I’m not sure any amount of time will be enough to learn to live without my parents and being shipped across the Pacific to start a new life in America.

  “I’m sure it’ll be great.” Plastering a fake smile on my face, I take the timetable from the principal’s hand and stare down at it. The butterflies that were already fluttering around in my stomach erupt to the point I might just throw up over his chipped Formica desk.

  Math, English lit, biology, gym, my hands tremble until I see something that instantly relaxes me, art and film studies. At least I got my own way with something.

  “I’ve arranged for someone to show you around. Chelsea is the captain of the cheer squad, what she doesn’t know about the school isn’t worth knowing. If you need anything, Amalie, my door is always open.”

  Nodding at him, I rise from my chair just as a soft knock sounds out and a cheery brunette bounces into the room. My knowledge of American high schools comes courtesy of the hours of films I used to spend my evenings watching, and she fits the stereotype of captain to a tee.

  “You wanted something, Mr. Hartmann?” she sings so sweetly it makes even my teeth shiver.

  “Chelsea, this is Amalie. It’s her first day starting junior year. I trust you’ll be able to show her around. Here’s a copy of her schedule.”

  “Consider it done, sir.”

  “I assured Amalie that she’s in safe hands.”

  I want to say it’s my imagination but when she turns her big chocolate eyes on me, the light in them diminishes a little.

  “Lead the way.” My voice is lacking any kind of enthusiasm and from the narrowing of her eyes, I don’t think she misses it.

  I follow her out of the room with a little less bounce in my step. Once we’re in the hallway, she turns her eyes on me. She’s really quite pretty with thick brown hair, large eyes, and full lips. She’s shorter than me, but then at five foot eight, you’ll be hard pushed to find many other teenage girls who can look me in the eye.

  Tilting her head so she can look at me, I fight my smile. “Let’s make this quick. It’s my first day of senior year and I’ve got shit to be doing.”

  Spinning on her heels, she takes off and I rush to catch up with her. “Cafeteria, library.” She points then looks down at her copy of my timetable. “Looks like your locker is down there.” She waves her hand down a hallway full of students who are all staring our way, before gesturing in the general direction of my different subjects.

  “Okay, that should do it. Have a great day.” Her smile is faker than mine’s been all morning, which really is saying something. She goes to walk away, but at the last minute turns back to me. “Oh, I forgot. That over there.” I follow her finger as she points to a large group of people outside the open double doors sitting around a bunch of tables. “That’s my group. I should probably warn you now that you won’t fit in there.”

  I hear her warning loud and clear, but it didn’t really need saying. I’ve no intention of befriending the cheerleaders, that kind of thing’s not really my scene. I’m much happier hiding behind my camera and slinking into the background.

  Chelsea flounces off and I can’t help my eyes from following her out toward her group. I can see from here that it consists of her squad and the football team. I can also see the longing in other student’s eyes as they walk past them. They either want to be them or want to be part of their stupid little gang.

  Jesus, this place is even more stereotypical than I was expecting.

  Unfortunately, my first class of the day is in the direction Chelsea just went. I pull my bag up higher on my shoulder and hold the couple of books I have tighter to my chest as I walk out of the doors.

  I’ve not taken two steps out of the building when my skin tingles with awareness. I tell myself to keep my head down. I’ve no interest in being their entertainment but my eyes defy me, and I find myself looking up as Chelsea points at me and laughs. I knew my sudden arrival in the town wasn’t a secret. My mum’s legacy is still strong, so when they heard the news, I’m sure it was hot gossip.

  Heat spreads from my cheeks and down my neck. I go to look away when a pair of blue eyes catch my attention. While everyone else’s look intrigued, like they’ve got a new pet to play with, his are haunted and angry. Our stare holds, his eyes narrow as if he’s trying to warn me of something before he menacingly shakes his head.

  Confused by his actions, I manage to rip my eyes from his and turn toward where I think I should be going.

  I only manage three steps at the most before I crash into something—or somebody.

  “Shit, I’m sorry. Are you okay?” a deep voice asks. When I look into the kind green eyes of the guy in front of me, I almost sigh with relief.
I was starting to wonder if I’d find anyone who wasn’t just going to glare at me. I know I’m the new girl but shit. They must experience new kids on a weekly basis, I can’t be that unusual.

  “I’m fine, thank you.”

  “You’re the new British girl. Emily, right?”

  “It’s Amalie, and yeah... that’s me.”

  “I’m so sorry about your parents. Mom said she was friends with yours.” Tears burn my eyes. Today is hard enough without the constant reminder of everything I’ve lost. “Shit, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

  “It’s fine,” I lie.

  “What’s your first class?”

  Handing over my timetable, he quickly runs his eyes over it. “English lit, I’m heading that way. Can I walk you?”

  “Yes.” His smile grows at my eagerness and for the first time today my returning one is almost sincere.

  “I’m Shane, by the way.” I look over and smile at him, thankfully the hallway is too noisy for us to continue any kind of conversation.

  He seems like a sweet guy but my head’s spinning and just the thought of trying to hold a serious conversation right now is exhausting.

  Student’s stares follow my every move. My skin prickles as more and more notice me as I walk beside Shane. Some give me smiles but most just nod in my direction, pointing me out to their friends. Some are just downright rude and physically point at me like I’m some fucking zoo animal awoken from its slumber.

  In reality, I’m just an eighteen-year-old girl who’s starting somewhere new, and desperate to blend into the crowd. I know that with who I am—or more who my parents were—that it’s not going to be all that easy, but I’d at least like a chance to try to be normal. Although I fear I might have lost that the day I lost my parents.

  “This is you.” Shane’s voice breaks through my thoughts and when I drag my head up from avoiding everyone else around me, I see he’s holding the door open.

  Thankfully the classroom’s only half full, but still, every single set of eyes turn to me.

  Ignoring their attention, I keep my head down and find an empty desk toward the back of the room.

  Once I’m settled, I risk looking up. My breath catches when I find Shane still standing in the doorway, forcing the students entering to squeeze past him. He nods his head. I know it’s his way of asking if I’m okay. Forcing a smile onto my lips, I nod in return and after a few seconds, he turns to leave.

  THORN - Chapter Two

  Jake

  “I don’t see what the big deal is,” Chelsea whines to her friends. “She’s not even really that pretty. Look.” I can’t help but follow her finger as she points across the quad. My eyes find the tall blonde girl immediately. My lips press into a thin line and my blood boils. Feelings that I’ve fought for years to keep locked down threaten to bubble up.

  Ripping my eyes away, I stare down at the bench below me. My heart races and my vision blurs. Suddenly, I’m a six-year-old boy again watching my world fall apart.

  The girls continue bitching but I zone them out, too lost in my own turmoil to care about their pathetic opinions on the looks of the new girl. She won’t fit in here. I’m going to make damn sure of it.

  “I have no idea what they’re chatting about. She is fine with a capital F,” Mason, my best friend says, his stare still focused on the blonde everyone seems so fascinated with.

  “She ain’t all that.”

  “What the fuck is wrong with you? It’s the first day of senior year, it doesn’t get any better than this.”

  “If you say so. I’m outta here.”

  “Jake, hold up.”

  I ignore him and jump from the bench. I must only make it two steps when a gasp makes me look up. When I do, I watch as New Girl collides with Shane, one of our players. His hands grip onto her upper arms to steady her. The sight of him touching her, protecting her has fire erupting inside of me. Just looking at her makes me feel vulnerable, and that’s not something I ever want to experience again.

  “What’s going on?” Mason and Ethan flank my sides and stare at the same car crash that I am.

  “You calling her?” Ethan asks, following my stare.

  Not having a fucking care in the world has resulted in one thing at least. My reputation. I do what the fuck I like, when I like and everyone around here knows it’s best to just let me do my thing. That means not turning up to class, getting off my ass drunk, and most importantly, I get first pick of the girls. The others can have her once I’m done if they like, I don’t care about passing them down once I’m done. But I never get sloppy seconds. Ever.

  “She’s off limits.”

  “I fucking knew you wanted her,” Ethan mocks before I turn and fist his shirt. The blood drains from his face as he prepares for the hit he’s expecting.

  “I don’t fucking want her. I’m saying she’s off fucking limits. You got that?”

  “Yeah-yeah. Off limits, got it.”

  “And make sure everyone fucking knows it. That bitch don’t belong here and we’re about to show her.”

  “Are we done here?” Mason asks. He’s always been the slightly cooler headed one out of the three of us. He pulls my arm away from Ethan and steps between us, but not before a confused look passes between the two of them.

  Staking claim on a girl isn’t unusual, but what I just did. That shit isn’t normal and without intending to, I just showed both of them a side of me that I don’t want anyone to ever witness. Weakness.

  “Are you sure everything’s all right?” Mason asks once again when we fall into step in the direction of our first class.

  “Yeah. Just feeling the pressure, I guess.”

  “This year’s gonna be great.”

  Raising an eyebrow at him, I wait for him to explain how that’s going to happen. Rosewood High’s football team has never been all that. We have all the passion and dedication we need, but historically, it doesn’t help all that much. Every year Coach gives the speech that this year is going to be the year but as of yet, we’ve never progressed more than a few games into the state playoffs. I can admit that our team is performing better than ever, but I don’t want to set my hopes on anything epic.

  For me, football’s a release. A way to work out the tension and to forget about my bullshit life. I might give it my all, but I’m under no illusion that it’s my life. Some of the guys have high hopes of getting scouted for college and I’m sure for a few of them it’ll happen but I doubt we’ll ever see their names on the NFL team sheets.

  “Don’t give me that look, Thorn. You know as well as I do that this is our year. With you in charge, there’s no way we won’t make it to the end.”

  I can’t criticize his enthusiasm, that’s for sure. It’s just a shame I don’t feel it. And her arrival sure isn’t going to help matters.

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