The evening is everything I could have asked for, even if I haven’t managed to find the time to get up on stage and sing yet. It seems Dec has managed to drag my inner performer out from wherever she was hiding in fear, because every time I walk past this stage now, I want to get up and belt out a song or two. I haven’t taken a weekend slot to entertain our evening customers yet, but it’s going to be happening soon.
I’m busy chatting to Liv, who travelled down to celebrate with us, when she suddenly stops talking. Looking at what’s caught her attention, I see Liam up on stage with the microphone in his hand.
Liv stayed in touch after she went back home, and every time I talk to her, I can’t help feeling like she sounds just that little bit more broken. She looked like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders when I watched her walk up the decking towards the shack just over an hour ago.
The room is in silence as Liv and Liam stare at each other.
“Hurry up, bro,” BJ shouts after a few minutes, clearly not realising that something’s going on between them.
After a few more seconds, Liam hits the button to start the music and the sounds of Shawn Mendes’ Treat You Better fills the room.
I see Liv take a step back the moment he starts singing, and she crashes into the chair behind me. Reaching out, I go to grab her arm as she starts to back away, shaking her head, her eyes wide in panic.
Epilogue
Nicole
“Are you sure you want to do this alone?” Lilly asks as she faffs about with my hair.
Blowing out a breath in an attempt to steady my racing heart, I nod at her.
“My dad’s just outside. This is your last chance to change your mind.”
“No, I’ve got this,” I say. Thankfully, my voice comes out sounding stronger than I feel.
“Okay.” She comes to stand in front of me and grabs my hands in hers as she looks over me. Her eyes fill with tears. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. Now stop that, or you’ll get me started.”
“Sorry,” she mutters as she smooths down the front of her bridesmaid’s dress and stands back. “You ready to do this then?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“You know, it’s not too late to change your mind and dump my brother’s smelly arse.”
I can’t help but smile at her slightly disgusted face. “It doesn’t smell that bad.”
“Hmm, whatever you say. I’ll see you in a few,” she says, before slipping out of the room.
Turning, I stare at myself in the full length mirror we placed up against the wall in our office when we turned it into my dressing room first thing this morning.
I run my hands over the lace of my tea length dress before wrapping my fingers around the locket hanging from my neck.
I’m not doing this alone. She’s right here with me.
Taking one final look in the mirror, I blow out a slow breath and turn to the door.
I can hear the soft sounds of the music coming from the decking as I make my way through the shack. Lilly spots me and gives me a wink before instructing the music to be changed.
I wait a few minutes for everyone to be in place before I take the final few steps to the door, across the decking, and to the aisle of sand towards the man waiting for me.
Everyone turns to look at me but the face I want to see. Slowly, I make my way past our few guests down the aisle with my head held high, ignoring the couple of sad looks I receive when they notice no one is escorting me. I don’t need anyone to escort me to where I need to go. The only man I need is the one I’m walking towards.
Susan’s watery eyes lock onto mine, and I smile brightly at her. She’s finished treatment and is waiting for her surgery. The last few months have been really hard on her, but being able to help plan this day with us has helped keep her spirits up. She mouths you look beautiful to me. Blinking back the tears stinging my eyes, I once again look towards my future.
At the very last minute, he turns, and the look in his eyes as he sees me is one I’ll remember for the rest of my life. In that moment, any concern I may have had that he ever hated me vanishes, because it’s clear as day that the only thing this man has ever felt for me is love, and thankfully I feel exactly the same.
Falling For Liam, the last book in the series, is now available.
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Acknowledgments
Nicole and Declan’s journey has been a long time coming, and I’ve been so excited to write it. They’ve been floating around in my head for over three years now, and it feels incredible to finally be able to share it with you. I really hope you’ve enjoyed their emotional story as much as I have. There is so much of this story that isn’t just theirs, though. Many parts of it are very close to my heart, and I know a lot of you will also be touched by Nicole’s fight. If it wasn’t for the journey I went through with my mum and her own fight, my life might have taken a very different path and I might not be sat here writing the acknowledgements on my seventeenth book.
I don’t usually get emotional when writing, but there were so many parts of this book that had me fighting a lump in my throat, many because they’re true. I hope I haven’t broken you too badly!
Aside from the sad stuff, I loved writing Nicole and Declan’s banter; they were hilarious when they were arguing.
The main person I need to thank for making this story what it was is my mum. She has no idea how much she inspires me every day, even though she hasn’t been here for over three years now. Things that she taught me, and many that I learnt myself during her epic twelve year fight, are laced through this book, and as hard as those times were, I’ve smiled at every memory.
As always, I need to thank Michelle for alpha reading Falling for Nicole when it wasn’t much more than a load of jumbled letters on a page. I may not have quite achieved the challenge you gave me to make you cry, but I got very close, and I’m happy with that!
Deanna, Helen, Lindsay and Tracy, I’m sorry for the tears I caused, but even now your messages of abuse as you ugly cried make me smile. I’m so glad my characters are as important to you are they are me. Thank you for all your feedback and suggestions. I couldn’t do it without you.
And of course, my incredible husband and gorgeous little girl. Thank you for supporting me and not rolling your eyes too much at my crazy dream.
I’m so sad to say that we’re nearly at the end of this series. When I first dreamt up Molly and Ryan’s story about four years ago, I never could have imagined it would have ended up as long as it has. These characters will always hold such a special place in my heart because it’s where this crazy journey into self-publishing began.
You’ve probably already guessed that Olivia and Liam’s story is going to be the tenth and final book in the Angel series, and I promise not to make you wait as long as you did for this one to get your hands on it!
Playlist
Music heavily influenced Nicole and Declan’s story. Here’s the list of songs that featured within the book along with a Spotify link. Enjoy!
Don’t Stop The Music - Rihanna
Hate That I Love You - Rihanna
Super Bass - Nicki Minaj
The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
Never Be The Same - Camila Cabello
Cannon Ball - Damien Rice
Rude Boy - Rihanna
7 Things - Miley Cyrus
I Hate You, I Love You - I’ll Cheat You Nash
I Knew You Were Trouble - Taylor Swift
Not Letting Go - Tinie Tempah and Jess Glynne
There’s Nothing Holding Me Back - Shawn Mendes
Yesterday Once More - Carpenters
The One - Kodaline
Treat You Better - Shawn Mendes
Listen Now
Read Falling For Daniel for FREE!
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About the Author
Tracy Lorraine is a M/F and
M/M contemporary romance author. Tracy has just turned thirty and lives in a cute Cotswold village in England with her husband, baby girl and lovable but slightly crazy dog. Having always been a bookaholic with her head stuck in her Kindle, Tracy decided to try her hand at a story idea she dreamt up and hasn’t looked back since.
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Keep up to date with Tracy’s books at
www.tracylorraine.com
Also by Tracy Lorraine
Falling Series
Falling for Ryan: Part One #1
Falling for Ryan: Part Two #2
Falling for Jax #3
Falling for Daniel (An Falling Series Novella)
Falling for Ruben #4
Falling for Fin #5
Falling for Lucas #6
Falling for Caleb #7
Falling for Declan #8
Falling For Liam #9
Chasing Series
Chasing Logan
Ruined Series
Ruined Plans #1
Ruined by Lies #2
Ruined Promises #3
Never Forget Series
Never Forget Him #1
Never Forget Us #2
Everywhere & Nowhere #3
The Cocktail Girls
His Manhattan
The Halloween Honeys
His Sorority Sweetheart
Second Helpings
Cheeky Trifle
Sneak Peek
Here’s a sneak peek at Falling For Liam for you…
Falling For Liam
Prologue
Olivia
The scent of his whiskey-laced breath fills my nose and my stomach turns over. The warm air burns into my skin. Unable to control my reaction, I fight to get to the edge of the bed and retch. His touch is too much. Pulling my arms free of his grasp, I drop my face into my hands. My cheeks are soaked with my tears, my hair stuck to the sweat that’s covering my body. As I manage to drag in a few deep breaths between my sobs, the image that was just so vivid in my mind slowly begins to fade away. It’s not until I hear a different voice to the one that was just filling my ears that I realise it was all a dream. He’s not here. He’s not the one leering down at me.
“Fuck, David,” I pant, and relief washes through me as I look up to the familiar blue eyes of my boyfriend. But my entire body continues to tremble and my heart pounds erratically in my chest. I’d hoped he would bring me comfort, make me feel safe, but I experience neither of those things. As we stare at each other, the only thing I feel is empty.
“You were having a nightmare,” he says, nonchalantly.
Another piece of my heart fractures at his attitude. He knows exactly what my nightmare was about, but if it’s possible, he’s even more broken than I am.
David rolls back over and almost immediately falls into an alcohol-induced coma. Resting back against the hard wall behind our bed, I try to get my head together. I told myself that I owed it to both of us to give our relationship one final push. We’d been together too long to just let what we had slip away. Who am I kidding; what we had vanished a long time ago. About the same time, David fell into a bottle of whiskey to deal with his problems instead of facing them head-on. That bottle took a little more away from me everyday. I practically stood there and watched what was a blossoming relationship go down the drain. Maybe I should have given up on him. It might have been the easiest option. But I didn’t want easy. I wanted my knight in shining armour. I wanted David. Well…the David that existed at the beginning of our relationship. The one who rescued me, protected me, and looked at me as if I was his everything. Yeah, that David is long gone, but I’m still here. Still clinging to memories of what once was.
Falling For Liam
Chapter One
Olivia
“Have you left yet?” Nicole squeals down the phone. Her obvious excitement helps to lighten my mood a little.
“I’m just about to lock up, then I’m on my way. I couldn’t get out of work.”
Tonight is her and Declan’s engagement party, and I promised I wouldn’t miss it. I want to be excited—Nicole deserves good things, and I want to celebrate with them, I really do, but…I’m going to be reminded of what everyone else’s lives are like. More importantly, I’m going to see him again. Liam Haynes. The radio DJ come surfer who I’ve fought like hell to get out of my head since the first time I met him.
He’s not my type at all with his dark hair and even darker eyes, but shit if he didn’t have some weird effect on me the first moment I first saw him all those weeks ago.
Spending a couple of weeks down in Devon with Nicole before my brother’s wedding was equally the best and worst time of my life. I was so desperate to get away from my shitty life, to be able to breathe for the first time in weeks…Then, I discovered what I should be experiencing.
Happiness.
Everyone in that little bay seemed so happy. They all had good things in their lives, and it made my misery seem even worse.
But I’m not going to bail on David. None of this is his fault. He’s just trying to cope the best way he can.
The further away I get from Cardiff, the more I relax. I blow out a long, slow breath as a feeling of safety washes through me. It’s something I haven’t felt in a long time.
The last time I made this journey, I was desperate for a break. I needed to get away from David and the depression that surrounded him over the previous months. It coincided with his brother’s reappearance, but I was totally in the dark about why it was affecting him so much. Now, the truth couldn’t be clearer. Being away from all of that, even if it is just for the night, has me sitting up a little straighter, the weight of it all no longer crushing me.
My relief only lasts so long; the closer I get to the coast the more my nerves start to flutter in my stomach. It’s been over a month since I was here. I’ve had no contact from him in that time, and why would I? I was no one to him. I’d be delusional to think I’ve featured in a single one of his thoughts, but I can’t help my apprehension at the prospect of seeing him again. Nicole didn’t tell me if he’d be here, and I was too scared to have it confirmed, but seeing as he’s Declan’s best friend, I think there’s a very slim chance of him missing tonight.
I crest a hill, beginning the final part of my journey, when a mass of red brake lights appear in the distance. Groaning in frustration, I slow down, along with all the other cars around me. I’m already late, thanks to my arsehole boss ‘forgetting’ that I needed to leave early—now, I’m going to be stuck here for god knows how long.
It’s only a few seconds before I bring the car to a complete stop. Resting my head back, I allow my eyes to close for a beat. It’s a mistake, because all I see is him. The temptation was there before, but after the last few weeks, I’m not sure how I’m going to react to him.
* * *
By the time I pull up behind the beachfront shack that Dec owns, where the party’s being held, the sun is just about to set. Stunning pinks and oranges are reflected back at me from the sea beyond. This place is a little sanctuary; life here seems so much easier. No one really knows me, so I don’t feel like I need to make excuses like I would if I were with my family. Nic knows a little about my life, but she has no clue about the severity of it.
No one, apart from the people involved, knows about that.
Looking around, I make sure no one can see as I peel off my creased work shirt and replace it with a black low cut top and a skirt. I do the best job I can of my make up in the visor mirror before opening the door and throwing my hair over my head in an attempt to get some volume into it. I fuss about with it a little before giving up. I don’t know why I’m bothering; it’s not going to make an ounce of difference.
A smile twitches my lips as I slide my feet
into my favourite shoes. They look like they should be uncomfortable, but in reality, it’s like they were made specifically for me. I could wear them like I do my slippers. They’re so powerful that, as I wrap the ties around my ankles, I feel like I’ve just placed amour around my entire body. Securing the ends in a blood knot that I’ve perfected over the last few years to ensure they don’t come undone, I grab my bag from the passenger seat and stand. I stretch out my tired muscles before slamming the door and taking my first step towards whatever this night is going to hold.
Along with the crashing sea beyond, the gravel under my feet is the only noise I can hear, but as I get closer to the shack, the sounds of the excitement inside start to filter through to me.
My pace slows as my apprehension of being in a crowded room begins to get the better of me. At the last minute, I turn away from the shack and head down towards the beach.
I perch myself on the wall a little down from the shack and allow the silence of the night to relax me a little. I want to be here with Nicole. I want to celebrate with her, but I’m going to need to banish the bullshit rolling around inside my head if I’m not going to have her questioning me the second I walk in that place. I know she’s concerned. Hell, she has a right to be. But I don’t need her digging anymore. Not tonight, anyway.
Falling For Declan (Falling Book 8) Page 26