Copyright
Chased
Love like Yours Series – Book #4
Published by Nicole S. Goodin
Digital edition
ISBN: 978-0-473-40444-4
Copyright 2017 by Nicole S. Goodin
All rights reserved. ©
This ebook is for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Chased
First published July 2017
All rights reserved. ©
Cover design by Nicole Goodin
Images purchased from Shutterstock and Canva
Disclaimer
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to events, places, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
The author acknowledges all song titles, song lyrics, film titles, film characters, trademarked statuses and brands mentioned in this book are the property of, and belong to, their respective owners.
Nicole Goodin is in no way affiliated with any of the brands, songs, musicians or artists mentioned in this book.
Dedication
For Iain.
Author’s note
‘Chased’ is book #4 in the Love like Yours Series
A lot of people had a real soft spot for poor Colt, and they weren’t too happy when he got his heart broken in Hunted, I hope this helps!
Table of Contents
Prologue
1. Lexie
2. Colt
3. Lexie
4. Colt
5. Lexie
6. Colt
7. Lexie
8. Colt
9. Lexie
10. Colt
11. Lexie
12. Colt
13. Lexie
14. Colt
15. Lexie
16. Colt
17. Lexie
18. Colt
19. Lexie
20. Colt
21. Lexie
22. Colt
23. Lexie
24. Colt
25. Lexie
26. Colt
27. Lexie
28. Colt
29. Lexie
30. Colt
31. Lexie
32. Colt
33. Lexie
Other books by N.S. Goodin
Acknowledgements
Book #5
Playlist
About the Author
Upcoming Titles
“Settle your heart, child, your time will come. One of these days you will meet eyes with someone who makes you feel so at home in the world you will think to yourself, ah, there you are.”
- Beau Taplin
Prologue
Colt
I reached blindly for my ringing phone.
Jesus… make it stop.
The shrill ringtone was making my brain feel like it was going to explode out of my skull.
I reached around again and knocked over a glass of water; it fell from the table and smashed onto the ground.
Fuck.
I was way too hung-over for this shit… but whoever the bastard on the other end of the line was, they weren’t giving up.
Where the fuck is that phone?
I lifted my head from the pillow and groaned, regretting the movement instantly.
That extra round of tequila shots was not my finest decision.
I rolled over and spotted the source of all the noise in the middle of the floor, next to my gigantic pile of dirty laundry.
I groaned again. This room needed cleaning something chronic.
When did I become such a slob?
I sat up slowly and tried to settle my pounding head. I swung my legs out of the bed and reached for the phone, only then realizing I was butt naked.
I am NEVER drinking again.
“Hello?” I answered with a grumble, not even bothering to check the screen to see who was calling.
“What’s up your ass?” Harrison, my oldest brother chuckled. “You still drunk or something?”
Bastard.
Harrison never called me this early; so my guess was someone at the club had told him I’d been hitting the bottle again.
“You know me…” I deadpanned, feeling to close to death to even bother giving him a real response.
He wasn’t exactly wrong anyway, this was becoming somewhat of a habit for me lately. When the club closed for the night, I sat around with the staff getting shit faced.
“You sober enough for a business chat?”
I glanced at my clock; it was eight in the morning on a Sunday.
What the hell?
“It’s Sunday morning, man, what do you want that couldn’t wait until tomorrow?” I crawled back into bed, feeling sicker than I could ever remember feeling.
“Yeah… sorry.” He replied, not sounding in the least bit sorry at all. “But I’m on limited time. Safe and Sound needs a venue for a black tie fundraiser. We’d booked a ballroom down town, but they’ve cancelled because of water damage… had a flood or some shit.”
Jesus.
“And you want the club.” I stated.
“You got it in one.” He replied.
“When?” I asked.
“Friday.” He answered.
Friday? Is he joking?
“As in Friday, in 5 days time, Friday?” I asked, certain that I must have been mistaken.
Surely he’s not that unreasonable…
“Yeah... it’s short notice I know...”
I rubbed my temples – this extra stress was not helping the situation going on inside my head at all.
“Can’t you postpone?” I all but begged.
“No can do, little bro, tickets are sold, the entertainment is flying in the day before… it’s definitely happening Friday.”
“You’re not actually asking me are you?” I attempted to roll my eyes and regretted it instantly.
“Not really.” He stated. “Let’s say I’m informing you.”
I knew I couldn’t say no to him. He owned as much of the club as I did.
“Fine.” I sighed. “But the club stays open. You can have the V.I.P. floor and your guests can use the west entrance. You bring caterers. I’ll get extra security.”
Now just leave me the hell alone.
I could almost feel his elation at having got his way. “I knew I could count on you. Quinn will get hold of you to get the place decorated later in the week.”
Shit.
Quinn…
The state I was in right now, I couldn’t even imagine having to deal with my ex-girlfriend – my brothers current. Her choosing him still stung like a bitch, and that was from the comfort of my own home, not up close and personal.
“Yeah, yeah. I gotta go.” I mumbled.
“Thanks, I do appreciate it Col–”
I hung up before he could finish his sentence.
Fuck.
Quinn.
I’ll have to talk to her… I’ll have to be around her and Harrison together…
I bolted for the bathroom and threw up loudly into the toilet.
“Eye contact and a heartbeat. That’s how it began.”
- Author unknown
1. Lexie
“This place is beautiful, Q.” I sighed as I looked out the window of Ha
rrison’s truck. “I can see why you love it here.”
Harrison and Quinn had picked me up from the airport and I had been beyond excited to see her. I couldn’t wait to see Ellerslie too; she was at some toddler music class with Stella and was going to bring her around to Harrison’s place after.
I smiled at the thought.
She’s all about being a mom now.
“You should see it covered in snow.” Quinn replied, her voice all dreamy sounding.
I grinned at her and Harrison, holding hands over the center consol. They looked incredibly happy together. I knew they’d had some problems over the past few months, but whatever those problems were, they seemed to be nothing but ancient history now.
“So tell me about tomorrow night.” I instructed, excitement coursing through my body.
I was going to be singing at their fundraiser event tomorrow night. Quinn and Harrison, along with Ellerslie, Lawson, Logan, Reeve and his girlfriend Lisa, had started a foundation called ‘Safe and Sound’. They used it to help victims who hadn’t been given justice inside the court room. They were hosting a black tie event and I was the entertainment.
I loved singing, dancing too. Even though I got to perform nearly every day I still got a total thrill out of it every single time I got up on a stage in front of a crowd.
My friends all thought I was mad for working as much as I did, but they didn’t get it. Singing didn’t feel like work to me. It was my passion and I was grateful each and every time people took the time to listen to me performing. That, and the fact that I got to cruise around on a luxury ship… there were zero complaints from me about how I spent my time.
“We had a last minute venue change.” Quinn replied, before peaking at Harrison out of the corner of her eye, a sheepish look on her face. “And Colt has agreed to let us have it at the club that he, Harrison and their other brother Mitch own.”
She added the bit about Colt in a rush, like she didn’t really want to be talking about him, but she’d decided not mentioning him would be just as awkward.
I saw the corner of Harrison’s mouth twitch in amusement – he’d obviously noticed her reaction too.
I tried to hold back a giggle but it slipped out anyway.
Harrison chuckled loudly and squeezed Quinn’s hand. “You can say his name, Skippy.” He laughed again. “I’m not that unreasonable am I?”
Quinn laughed. “Yeah that was weird. I don’t know why I did that, sorry.”
“So what’s this club like?” I asked.
“It’s the best club Boston’s got.” Harrison bragged as he peaked at me in the rearview mirror. “It’s where all the kids are hanging out.” He chuckled.
I saw Quinn roll her eyes at him.
“We’ve got the whole V.I.P. floor; we’ll have a stage set up for you and that band you recommended.” Quinn told me.
She had it all figured out.
“Sounds perfect. I’ve got a song list here if you want to check it.”
She shook her head. “That’s all good. I trust ya, Lex.” She turned around and winked at me. “So tell me all about what’s been happening on the ship.”
***
I squeezed El tight when we reached the front door. I’d loved every minute of catching up with her and Lawson, and I’d been instantly smitten with Stella.
“I can’t wait for tomorrow night. After my set we’ll have a few drinks… and a few dances.” I nudged her elbow with mine.
“I bet we will.” El giggled.
“It’ll be just like old times.” Lawson’s eyes sparkled as he looked down at his wife.
“Had a few good nights at ‘The L’, huh?” I asked him with a grin.
“You wouldn’t believe.” He murmured back to me, still not taking his eyes off Ellerslie.
That’s a whole lot of heat…
“And you Stella girl…” I crouched down to her level. “You have the best time with uncle Rome.”
Stella grinned at me.
“You keep him busy, alright?”
She nodded her head.
“Slap me some skin, baby girl.” I held up my hand for a high five and she tapped her tiny hand against it daintily.
“Bye, Wexie.” She wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed me tight.
“See you soon, beautiful.” I whispered into her blonde hair.
Lawson hoisted Stella up onto his shoulders and she shrieked with glee.
The three of them stepped outside and started down the front steps towards Lawson’s truck.
They really are the perfect little family.
“See you tomorrow.” I called after them.
“See ya, Lex.” El waved.
“See ya, Wex.” Stella mimicked.
I giggled as I shut the door. That little girl was the cutest thing I’d ever seen.
***
“Do you want me to help with anything today?” I asked Quinn as I loaded the dishwasher.
The fundraiser event was tonight, and I had no idea how much work Quinn still had to get done before then.
Harrison had left for the office already. He had to meet a client this morning and I’d heard him tell Q that he’d probably be able to be at the club at about three this afternoon.
“I have to go into work and get Macie set up for the rest of the day, and then I’ll head down to start on the decorations. The company is waving the hire fee, but I have to set everything up myself.” She replied with a nervous expression.
“I’ll help.” I offered. “What time do you need me?”
She smiled gratefully. “They’re not arriving until midday. Could you meet me there about half twelve?”
I nodded. “Can you leave me the number for a cab?”
“It’s on the board by the phone.” She pointed as she sat her empty coffee cup in the sink.
“Perfect. I need to get a dress for tonight, so I can sort that out this morning, then I’m all yours.”
“Thank you! You are a lifesaver, Lexie Chase.” Quinn grabbed her bag and headed for the door. “Call me if you need me!” She yelled out before shutting the door behind her.
***
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I heard Quinn screech.
Oh shit.
At least that explains why she didn’t answer the phone.
I’d spent my morning shopping before taking a cab over to the club. I’d arrived just after half past, but I had no idea where to go once I was there. I’d tried to call Quinn three times, but it was engaged. One of the waitresses had eventually arrived and shown me where I needed to go.
“You realize its tonight, right?” She yelled.
Crap…
This didn’t sound good.
I reached the top of the landing and Quinn came into view, she had her phone to her ear as she paced the room and she looked like she wanted to rip someone’s head off.
She caught sight of me as she spun around and shot me a grateful smile.
I waved and stayed where I was. An angry Quinn wasn’t something I wanted to get involved with.
“I’ve fucking had it with you.” She announced. “You can take your half hearted apology and shove it up your ass” She pulled the phone away from her ear and hung up.
I grimaced. This was definitely not good.
“Jesus Quinn, what the hell are you yelling about?” A male voice spoke before I could.
Quinn spun around with a murderous look in her eye, and I didn’t envy whoever it was that had just poked the beast.
Surprisingly though, she didn’t tear strips off whoever had spoken. Instead, she took a deep, calming breath and muttered something to herself. I saw a guy walking towards her, he was young, older than me, but still young. He had blonde hair, with a slim build and was slightly taller than Quinn.
This guy has to be Colt.
I shook my head in amusement. Quinn had managed to get herself into quite the predicament here in Boston.
“The goddamn band cancelled.” She told him by way of an ex
cuse for her outburst.
Crap.
She looked back over to me. “I’m so sorry, Lex.”
The guy, who I was going to assume was Colt until I was told otherwise, noticed me for the first time. His eyes gave me a lazy head to toe; appraising my tight black jeans, fitted white top and black Nike’s. My long, dark hair was loose down my back and I had thrown a small amount of makeup on.
I made my way over to the two of them and reached my hand out to him. “Hey, I’m Lexie.”
He took my hand and regarded me curiously. “Colt.” He replied simply.
I was right.
I stared hard at him, trying to figure out the gorgeous man in front of me – because there was no denying he was gorgeous, his eyes were a mix of hazel and gold, and were framed with thick lashes. His body looked tight and toned underneath his fitted t-shirt.
I can see the family resemblance.
But there was something in his eyes. He looked… lost… like he didn’t really belong here… or maybe it was that he simply didn’t want to be here.
Maybe he’s not over Quinn.
He still hadn’t released my hand.
I tugged on it slightly and he looked down and frowned. “Sorry.” He muttered, letting go of me.
I felt unnerved for some reason; I couldn’t put my finger on what exactly it was that was causing the sensation.
The obvious awkwardness between Colt and Q maybe?
Whatever it was, it had me feeling incredibly off balance.
I looked back at Quinn “Don’t worry about the band. It’s no biggie. I can sing acapella, or we can use backing tracks.” I suggested.
“Wait, you’re the singer?” Colt asked in disbelief before Quinn could reply.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why do you sound so surprised?” I demanded, my voice showing just how unappreciated his tone was.
His shocked expression softened at my obvious annoyance. “No… it’s just because I heard you had a huge voice. And you’re so tiny. I just…” He trailed off. “Never mind.” He shook his head, presumably at his own stupidity.
Chased (Love like Yours Series Book 4) Page 1