He looks shrewdly at me. “Of course. I, ah”—he scratches the back of his head—“if you need to talk to anyone about your parents, I can arrange that for you. I can’t even begin to imagine how you must feel.”
I grind my teeth down to the molars. “Thank you for the offer, but I’m grand.”
“If you change your mind, come talk to me.”
I know he’s only showing concern, but any mention of psychologists reminds me of a part of my past that I’ve buried. I also hate to be pitied, and I refuse to be treated like the walking wounded. My parents died tragically. It was—is—awful, and I will miss them every single day, but I have to stay strong. I know that’s what they would want.
And I’m more than capable of coping on my own. My parents equipped me well. Independence was something they admired greatly, and I was encouraged to make my own choices. If it were up to me, I’d have stayed at home, finished school, and applied to Trinity College as I intended to. None of this is my choice, but I’m trying to make the best of it.
Can’t he see that?
I try to keep my voice respectful but firm. “I don’t need a shrink. Not now. Not ever.”
He holds up his hands in a conciliatory gesture. “No problem.”
Gradually, we move out of the city, zipping along a vast highway with numerous lanes. Everything is bigger and bolder here. Dublin seems so minuscule and mundane in comparison. The farther we travel, the darker it gets. A smattering of twinkling stars emerges in the nighttime sky. We move off the highway onto less crowded roads bordered by statuesque trees wearing varying shades of green, yellow, and amber hues.
The car glides by a sign stating “Entering Wellesley. Norfolk County. Inc 1881.” At this hour, the streets are unnaturally quiet. We bypass the main town and head along roads thick with foliage. Houses are ginormous around here, fronted by well-maintained lawns. The farther we travel, the grander they get. There’s an eclectic mix of styles and types, but it works. It couldn’t be further removed from the typical residential estates back home.
I stiffen in my seat as the vehicle detours into a wide well-lit road. Elaborate mansions extend on either side, barely visible behind huge red-bricked walls. Some peek out behind imposing iron gates.
My heart starts pounding erratically, slamming against my ribcage, and my palms are sweaty. I know we’re close, and a layer of anxiety is hovering in the wings, waiting for its cue. The car slows in front of an imposing wrought iron gate bearing the signature K logo.
I rub my hands up and down my jeans as the gates sweep open. The car eases smoothly forward and up a broad tree-lined driveway. A massive flowerbed rests majestically on either side of the lawn, lit up by a multitude of night-lights. The flowerbed is a circular shape, with a precise K-shaped arrangement in the center. White buds rim the border, while vibrant red flowers fill the K, replicating the logo that I feel will be indelibly imprinted on my brain. Honestly, it’s getting a little ridiculous at this point.
The driver pulls the car around the bend, and my jaw slackens as I take in my new home. It’s not at all what I was expecting.
Oh, it’s massive—as in White-House-sized proportions—but it’s a sleek, modern, one-story structure made of glass and wood, with differing angled roofs. It screams sophistication and glamour, and the only time I’ve seen anything like it is while watching MTV Cribs or in glossy magazines that showcase celebrity homes. I’m gobsmacked, but I compose my features and hide the whole “deer in the headlights” look I am no doubt sporting.
The house faces onto an expansive well-manicured lawn. Huge trees border the property at the rear. “We have our own private woods, along with a basketball court, putting green, and an indoor and outdoor swimming pool,” James says. I perk up at the mention of the pools and he notices. “You like to swim?”
I tuck my hair behind my ears. “Yeah. I was on the county swim team back home.”
“There’s a swim team at the school. You should try out.”
The car pulls into an empty spot in the massive garage, beside a souped-up flashy red sports car. James notices my interest. “That’s my baby. Isn’t she a beauty?”
It looks like something a teenage joyrider would steal back home, but I keep that opinion to myself. “Absolutely.”
I’m such a lick arse.
Several black SUVs line up in a row, and I’m guessing those belong to his sons.
The driver stops the car, and I wrap my arms around my waist to stave off the violent trembling that’s taken hold of me.
Their obscene wealth intimidates me.
Not the people.
The money.
The driver opens my uncle’s door first before attending to mine. James doesn’t make any move to exit. He looks contemplative. “I hope you’ll be happy here, Faye. Truly, I do.”
“Thank you. Me, too.” I hop out of the car as the driver retrieves my suitcase from the boot.
A splash of color in the corner of the garage captures my attention. Three racing motorbikes rest on an elevated platform. One is orange and blue and there is a multitude of brand logos on the side. The other two bikes are no less impressive. One is painted in a dark shade of green, the other bright yellow. A myriad of similar stickers decorates the side panels. I’m inexplicably drawn to them, and my feet move of their own accord.
Reaching out, I run the tip of my finger along the bodywork and up and down the wheels, my fingers dipping into the grooves in the tires. I can almost feel the enhanced adrenaline in the air. Motorbikes have always excited me, and the pure rush I’m getting is sending tingles of anticipation ricocheting all over my body.
I’m so entranced that I barely register the sound of approaching footsteps.
“Get your hands off my bike.” The deep male cadence verges on a predatory growl. The possessive quality to his voice isn’t lost on me either.
Giant goose bumps sprout on my arms, but I smother my fear and lift my head up in a confident manner. A red flush creeps up my chest and over my neck as a devastatingly good-looking boy reaches my side.
I’m tall—for a girl—and I’m usually pretty much on the level with most guys, but the top of my head barely reaches this dude’s chin, so he’s got to be at least six-two to my five-nine.
His body exudes warmth like a weapon. It crashes into me, almost knocking me off my feet. Slowly, my eyes travel up his body, taking in every ripped, lean, taut inch of him. He’s wearing dark navy jeans and a plain white shirt that’s molded to his perfectly chiseled abs like it’s painted on. I gulp.
They sure don’t grow them like this in Ireland.
My eyes continue their journey, up beyond the inviting, exposed strip of skin at the top of his shirt, and note voluptuous lips that are pinched tight, the light layer of dark stubble on his sculpted chin and cheeks, and the tan, smooth lines of his handsome face. I brace myself, rocking back on my heels, as I stare into stunning pale blue eyes. Framed by a thick layer of inky-black lashes most girls would kill for, his eyes are vast pools that I could easily drown in.
This guy is seriously good-looking, and he knows it, too. Crossing his arms over his chest, he pins me with a venomous look, and I shrink back from the dangerous vibes he’s emitting.
“Are you done drooling yet?”
End of Sample
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis writes emotionally intense young adult and new adult fiction with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime! She is the author of the international bestselling True Calling, Saven, and Kennedy Boys series.
Siobhan’s family will tell you she’s a little bit obsessive when it comes to reading and writing, and they aren’t wrong. She can rarely be f
ound without her trusty Kindle, a paperback book, or her laptop somewhere close at hand.
Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management.
She resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.
You can connect with Siobhan in the following ways:
Author Website: www.siobhandavis.com
Author Blog: My YA NA Book Obsession
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Twitter: @siobhandavis
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Email: [email protected]
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BOOKS BY SIOBHAN DAVIS
TRUE CALLING SERIES
Young Adult Science Fiction/Dystopian Romance
True Calling
Lovestruck
Beyond Reach
Light of a Thousand Stars
Destiny Rising
Short Story Collection
True Calling Series Collection
SAVEN SERIES
Young Adult Science Fiction/Paranormal Romance
Saven Deception
The Logan Collection
Saven Disclosure
Saven Denial
Saven Defiance
The Heir and the Human
Saven DeliveranceSaven: The Complete Series
KENNEDY BOYS SERIES
Upper Young Adult/New Adult Contemporary Romance
Finding Kyler
Losing Kyler
Keeping Kyler
The Irish Getaway
Loving Kalvin
Saving Brad
Seducing Kaden^
Forgiving Keven^
Adoring Keaton^
Releasing Keanu^^
Reforming Kent^^
STANDALONES
New Adult Contemporary Romance
Inseparable
Incognito^
ALINTHIA SERIES
Upper YA/NA Paranormal Romance/Reverse Harem
The Lost Savior – coming Jan 2018
The Secret Heir – coming Feb/Mar 2018
MORTAL KINGDOM SERIES
Young Adult Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Curse of Gods and Angels^
Infernal Prophecy^^
Mortal Ascendance^^
SKYEE SIBLINGS SERIES
(TRUE CALLING SPIN-OFF)
New Adult Contemporary Romance
Lily’s Redemption^
Deacon’s Salvation^^
^ Coming 2018
^^ Release date to be confirmed.
Visit www.siobhandavis.com for all future release dates.
COPYRIGHT
Copyright © Siobhan Davis 2017. Siobhan Davis asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, incidents and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or events is entirely coincidental.
Conditions of Sale
By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, shared, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the Author.
E-Book edition © January 2018
Editor: Kelly Hartigan (XterraWeb) editing.xterraweb.com
Cover design by Robin Harper www.wickedbydesigncovers.com
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Formatting by The Deliberate Page www.deliberatepage.com
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