The Logan Brothers - Books 1-4 (EXPOSURE, CRASH, TWIN PASSIONS, and ADDICTED TO YOU!)
L. A. Shorter
©2014 L. A. Shorter
Table of Contents
Copyright Notice
EXPOSURE (Book 1)
CRASH (Book 2)
TWIN PASSIONS (Book 3)
ADDICTED TO YOU (Book 4)
New Books and Discounts!
Copyright Notice
This book is a work of fiction. Any names, places, events, and incidents that occur are entirely a result of the author's imagination and any resemblance to real people, events, and places is entirely coincidental.
Copyright 2014 L.A.Shorter
All right reserved.
First edition: February 2014
No part of this book may be scanned, reproduced, or distributed in any printed or electronic form.
You can buy each book separately below if you wish:
Exposure (Kyle and Alice)
Crash (Crash and Elle)
Twin Passions (Gemma, Zack, and Cade)
Addicted to You (Jude and Amy)
Other Works by the Author:
Only For You (Book 1) (Free)
Fight For You (Book 2)
Kill For You (Book 3)
Always For You (Books 1-3)
EXPOSURE (Book 1)
Chapter 1
“I'm sorry Alice but I have a responsibility to my customers.”
The words were still ringing in my ears. “I cannot keep you on any longer. You're fired.”
I stood outside, the cold air nipping at the tips of my fingers as I poked at the lock on my car, my shaking hands making it harder than it should have been to stick the key in. Great, another job lost.
I climbed in behind the wheel and gunned the engine, which spluttered to life after a couple of turns of the key. I turned on the heating and a burst of foul smelling air hit my nose. I guess that's what you get with a third-hand, ten year old, banger.
The night was stretching on as I shot down the road, the usually busy intersection now beginning to wane. Despite the warming heat in the car my hands continued to shake, more through nerves than anything else.
I couldn't afford to lose another job, but I knew it was inevitable the way I was going. How exactly could I choose between my studies and my job, especially when they were so inextricably linked. Without working, I'd have no way of living, no way of paying my rent, of buying food, of getting around. But if I didn't study enough, I'd be kicked out anyway.
It was getting harder at college, my assignments taking up more of my time, my grades beginning to slip. Eventually I'd begun to start turning up to work late, even missing shifts on a couple of occasions. No wonder Mr Asim fired me, I'd have done the same thing.
I turned into the parking lot on campus and stepped out of the car. The cold once more pinched at my cheeks as I slipped on the icy ground, my heels far from appropriate in this weather. I was like Bambi on ice out there as I gingerly crept closer to the door of my halls, a couple of guys laughing at me as they passed by.
“Looking good there Alice,” one shouted. It was Tom, a typical jock, a walking cliche wearing his college football jersey and light blue jeans.
“Screw you Tom,” I said. I was in no mood for his shit right now.
“Whoa whoa, easy there girl. Just trying to be friendly.”
“Yeah well try elsewhere.”
I finally managed to steady my footing as I inched into the hallway of my dorms, the cosy warmth hitting me immediately. I was totally spent as I made my way up the mahogany stairs, past plaques of notable alumni and various noticeboards as I went.
I got to my dorm on the second floor and held my breath as I put my hand to the door handle. Please be out. I turned the handle and felt it immediately jam - locked. Yes, she was out.
I stuck the key in the lock and opened the door to darkness, hitting the lights and spilling a bright yellow glow over the room. It was an unpleasant light, bringing the discomfort of the room into clear focus. It may have been a carbon copy of every other dorm room in the building, but I hadn't made much of an effort to make my spot too cosy. I guess it was because I was never in, never really found the time.
My room-mate - Jen - she was fine. In fact, I liked her, but I didn't really want a room-mate in the first place. I wouldn't call myself solitary, but I certainly wanted my own space. If I could have afforded to live alone that's exactly what I'd be doing.
Jen's side of the room though, that was nice. She had all this cosy bedding and bright colored throws and blankets that she put everywhere. Thankfully that extended to the more communal central areas of the room, so my side didn't look quite so bare.
Did I care? Hell yes I cared! My life wasn't meant to be quite this shit, but it had been a downward spiral from the get go. It wasn't like I had a mom to call up when I was feeling low or a nice family home to return to when things got tough. No, I just had a semi abusive father who didn't care two hoots about me. His only contribution to my life was helping me out with my college fees, something he only did because it had always been my mom's dream for her little girl to go to college.
I sat on my bed and stared over at the ever growing pile of college books stacked on my desk. Every one of those damn books sucked my coffers dry. Quite why they were so fucking expensive I didn't know.
Not tonight, I can't bare it, I thought as I looked at the the half finished paper burning into my mind. I needed it done by Monday but I just couldn't stand to think about that right now. Sleep, Alice, sleep and think about everything tomorrow.
I tapped my touch activated bedside table lamp and shut off the main light at the door, casting the room into darkness but for a light orange glow next to my bed. It looked nicer like that.
I lay down on the lumpy mattress and pulled my light tog duvet over my body, the warm fabric of my pyjamas and dressing gown pretty much the only luxuries I had. It was cold in the room, so cold I could see my breath clouding in front of me in the warm light. I wasn't going to put my heater on though - that damn thing eats electricity.
Think about things tomorrow Alice. Chin up, tomorrow's another day.
Chapter 2
A knock on the door woke me from a typically fitful sleep. I'd laid there for what seemed like hours before finally passing out, my high heart rate a constant thorn in my side.
Oh god I felt like shit, my eyes heavy and mouth dry as I clambered out from under my duvet.
“Alice, Alice, it's getting late.”
It was Tess, by best friend. She was on the same course as me and had gotten accustomed to banging down my door when we had any early morning classes.
“Hey, hey, I'm coming,” I croaked through the door as I quickly assembled an appropriate outfit.
After a quick brush of my teeth I was opening the door, seeing the expression on Tess's face as she eyed me up. “Another late night?” she asked, her bright blue eyes in stark contrast to mine. Mine were brown, although right now I guess 'bloodshot' would be more accurate.
“You have no idea,” I said as I shook my head and bundled a couple of books under my arm.
“Err Alice, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think we study Jane Austen as part of our course.”
“Huh?” I said, totally bemused.
She nodded her head down at the books I was holding - Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.
“Oh, right,” I said, “what is it today?”
“Advertis
ing Alice. What's with you, you're even more scatty than normal.”
“I'll tell you on the way.” There was no time for chit chat right now.
A little while later we sat side by side at the back of a white-walled classroom, whispering in hushed tones as our lecturer droned on to the rest of the class.
“So what are you going to do?” Tess hissed.
I huffed louder than I should have done. “I don't know. We've got this damn paper due in a few days so I guess I need to get that done first. You know my grades have been slipping - I need to ace this one.”
“Yeah, sure, but you need to ace your rental payment as well babe.”
She was right, and the timing really couldn't have been worse. Rent was coming up and I was running on fumes now, my funds all but depleted by the latest set of textbooks we'd been urged to buy. I'd get my final bit of pay from Mr Asim, but after that I'd be lost. I needed a job, fast.
“Do you know of anything?” I asked in hope rather than expectation.
“Sorry babe,” she said, shaking her head. I didn't expect her to - she didn't need to work after all, so why would she know if there were any jobs going.
“That's all right, I'll ask around.”
AHEM.
We looked up to see the lecturer, and the entire class, looking at us. I guess our conversation had been a little louder than we thought.
“Miss Newton,” he said, his words entirely accusatory, “of all the people in this class I would expect YOU to be listening most intently.” His words carried a sting, and now everyone knew how badly I was doing. Thanks for that.
I didn't deign to respond.
“Now, so the rest of the class can maximize their college education, would you please keep it down. And, perhaps, listen in yourself - it might do you some good.”
What a dick.
As soon as class ended I was off. I had a couple of lectures lined up for later in the day but they were way down my priority list. I could catch up with what I missed later, but now I had to get that damn paper done. I headed straight for the library for the rest of the afternoon, busily diving into my books and clicking away on my laptop as the hours ticked on by. When it shut, I returned to my dorm in a bid to keep the train moving.
It was Friday night and, without my waitressing job dragging me away from my dorm, I'd be able to knuckle down for the entire weekend and get it done. Priority one - finish my paper. Priority two - find a job. The sooner I could get priority one finished, the sooner I'd be able to move onto priority two. Simple logic.
Fuck it. Jen was back. I'd hoped to have the place to myself tonight, see how much progress I could make.
“You in for the night Jen?” I asked, hoping for a response in the negative.
“Yeah, why?” She was unusually frosty.
“Oh, nothing, I just need to get some work done that's all. I find it easier to work alone.” I didn't want to push her out but there was a suggestive slant to my words that I couldn't hide.
She hardly seemed to be listening to me, her words so quiet. “Oh, sorry. It's OK, I'll just be sleeping anyway.”
It was kinda weird that she was even around. She was out most nights, I didn't know where. We weren't the closest of room-mates, even though we got along fine, so I never tended to ask. With all my college work and working so many shifts at the restaurant we hadn't really bonded much. I guess I also had this lingering bitterness that I had a room-mate in the first place.
“You all right Jen? You seem a bit - I dunno - upset.”
She nodded vacantly as she began to undress, pealing off layers of warm outerwear to reveal a silky and tight-fitting dress. Wow, she looked amazing, the fabric hugging her feminine curves, accentuating her breasts and bum. She unzipped the dress and stepped out of it, revealing some sexy, lacy underwear.
Ah I see, she's been on a date....and it didn't go well.
I unglued my eyes from her and turned my attention back to my books. I heard her slip into bed behind me and her lamp shut off, leaving her side of the room blanketed in darkness.
Right, let's get to work.
Chapter 3
It was Saturday morning when I woke with my head, literally, in a book. I'd never worked so hard or long in my life, and had eventually collapsed, I guess, with my forehead planted firmly into one of those $100 textbooks I was forced to buy.
The bright morning was dowsing a sharp light into the room as I lifted my head, neck aching furiously, and swivelled in my chair to see that Jen had gone.
A fairly prominent frown grew on my face as my vision cleared on the room. She wasn't just gone, she was gone. As in, all her stuff from gone too. What the hell?
I walked to her side of the room, as if to double check that her things were actually missing. There was suddenly no color in the room, her throws and rugs and bright bedding now absent. I checked her wardrobe: there were no clothes there, nothing.
Then I noticed something, a piece of paper perched on my bedside table. I darted over to it, hoping to quell my confusion with a reasonable explanation.
Hey Alice,
I know we never really got to know each that well but I still thought I'd better tell you what's going on. I've been kicked out of school, and I'm not coming back. I guess they're going to find you a new room-mate now. Good luck with all your studies and for everything in the future.
Love,
Jenny
I ran my eyes over the note once more. Um, an actual explanation would have been nice Jen. She didn't even say why she'd been chucked out.
I wasn't really a self involved person but this was just what I needed. With everything that was going on I'd have to bunk up with a new room-mate now as well. I mean, sure, Jen wasn't my best mate or anything, but at least she was comfortable, and barely around. It was almost like I was living on my own most of the time.
I shot off out into the hall and up a couple of floors to Tess's room. I realized as I banged on the door that I hadn't even checked the time.
“Jesus Alice, what is it? It's 7 am on a Saturday!” she said, opening her pristine room to me. She was a real girly girl, with pink and various shades of red and purple being her preferred colors. It was so much more welcoming than my dive down below, large cushions dotted around her bed and various posters and pictures littering the walls. She was lucky enough to have parents who could, and would, pay for just about anything she wanted, so didn't have to suffer a room-mate like I did.
I walked in and sat down, my tiredness now banished as my head tried to compute what exactly was going on with Jenny.
“So, get this,” I said with more energy than you could reasonably expect a college student to have at that time on a weekend morning, “Jen's moved out. Literally, she's just gone like a puff of smoke. I wake up, right, and she's not there. She must have moved all her stuff at the crack of dawn or something.”
I think I was speaking too quickly for Tess to keep up. That's what the look on her face told me: I could tell she had no idea what I was on about.
She could only manage a “huh?” and a bewildered expression before I slowed down and tried again.
“Ok, so I got in yesterday night after being in the library and Jen was there. She literally went straight to bed at about 7 pm and I carried on working. I woke up just now, about ten minutes ago, and she was gone. All her stuff, everything. Oh, and she left a note.”
I handed the note to Tess, who sent her sleep deprived eyes over the words, her confused expression not abating as she read.
“Sooo, she's gone? But she doesn't say why?”
“No,” I shook my head, “weird huh? Guess I'm gonna get a new room-mate now though.” My voice deflated slightly at the thought.
“Not necessarily,” said Tess, “there might be no one to fill it. It's the middle of the
year Alice, you might get lucky.”
I smile threatened to spread across my face. “Really?”
“Yeah, you might just get your wish of living alone after all.”
After a few more minutes of natter Tess shooed me away and I returned to my room. It was so weird walking in there without Jen's side all pimped out, the place looking like an empty shell: more like a prison cell than a college dorm room.
For the rest of the morning and into the afternoon I continued to beaver away, my mind working overtime to get the paper done. I had always been a 'last-minute' sort of girl, often leaving my work until the day before it was due, so the fact that I was pushing for the finish line more than a day in advance was pretty shocking to me.
It was mid-afternoon when I heard a knock at the door. I ignored it, not expecting anyone or wanting a visitor right now, and turned back to my books.
The door knocked again.
“Look Tess, if that's you asking me to go to Tom's party again tonight then you can leave it, OK!”
There was a silence on the other end, then a man's voice, deep and smooth.
“I'm looking for Jenny. This is her dorm isn't it?”
I wanted to tell the man that she wasn't in, but my curiosity got the better of me. Jenny had never had a gentleman caller to my knowledge. Maybe this guy knew something about her leaving?
I stepped towards the door. “It was,” I said, “but she's gone now.”
I peered through the peephole and saw him, his strong chin dimpled and dusted in stubble, his cheekbones perfect, his eyes a piercing blue. Even through the blurry glass I could tell he was gorgeous.
His voice went suddenly stern. “What do you mean, gone?”
I could see his jaw clenching on the other side of the door, the dimples in his cheeks growing deeper.
The Logan Brothers - Books 1-4: (EXPOSURE, CRASH, TWIN PASSIONS, and ADDICTED TO YOU) Page 1