I run my hand through his tangled hair. “A little. But I’d rather stay here with you.”
He pushes up to give me a kiss. Then he winks, and I melt a little. “That’s a problem, because you’re going to need your strength. It’s still early.”
“It’s a predicament,” I agree. “Maybe later…”
I reach for him when a wet black nose pushes between us depositing a leash.
“Okay, boy,” he says as if this settles matters. “Someone needs a walk, huh? And my girl needs food.” He grabs the leash and climbs out of bed. He’s got his pants half-on when Zeus jumps into bed beside me. Sterling pauses, “You aren’t allowed on the bed.”
Zeus pushes his nose under my shoulder, flattening himself as he tries to hide.
“I can see you,” Sterling says, buttoning his jeans.
Undeterred the dog begins to lick my cheek. I giggle, scratching his head. “I take back what I said about him listening to you.”
“You’re going to spoil him.” Sterling clips the leash on him and tugs him away gently. “Sorry, boy, she’s spoken for.”
Zeus doesn’t seem to mind the rejection now that a walk is imminent. He tugs on his leash.
“Why don’t you order something?”
“I don’t have my phone,” I say. “I guess I could get dressed and go find it.”
“That would be a tragedy. I’d prefer you remain naked until I return.” He pulls his out of his pocket and tosses it to me. “Pass code is 0822. Order anything you want. I won’t be long.”
“Anything?” I ask. “I’m pretty hungry.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he calls as Zeus drags him away.
I pull the sheet against me and sit up in bed. It takes me a second to find the food delivery app. As I scroll through the options, a text alert from Sutton flashes at the top of the screen.
I don’t mean to look. I don’t mean to read it. It’s just there for me to see—and now I can’t unsee it.
Five words change everything. Five words erase everything. Five words shatter this pretty illusion that I let myself believe.
I can’t stop my finger from pressing it—from reading the rest of the conversation. I don’t know who Sutton is, but it doesn’t matter.
The phone falls to the bed as my world falls apart. Getting out of his bed, I open the nightstand drawer. It’s in there, on top, just like I knew it would be: The Great Gatsby. I don’t bother looking at the other books stored there. I turn to the last page and tear it out, ripping up all but the final line. I leave it on the pillow like a note and sprinkle the remaining pieces on the sheets.
He’ll know what it means.
The rest comes automatically. I gather my dress from the floor and tie it the best I can with its ripped belt. Shoes. Purse. Out the door. Press the elevator button. I make it to the car before it hits me. I left something behind and I can’t go back for it. Closing my eyes, I decide to leave it for him to clean up. It’s useless to me now: my broken heart.
BACKLASH
Book Two in the Rivals Saga
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About BACKLASH:
Adair
I thought my life was hell until the devil walked through my door. Sterling isn’t the boy who stole my heart anymore. He’s cunning, manipulative, and dangerous—so why does my body ache for his touch?
I trusted him. I should have known better. He’s broken my heart twice. Now there’s nothing left to break. Because I’m not the girl he fell for or the woman he used. He thought he could play me. He thought he could hurt me. But I’m a survivor, and while I might respond to every stolen kiss, every forbidden moment, there’s one piece of me he’ll never touch. I sold my soul to protect it, and no one can ever learn the truth—not even Sterling Ford.
Sterling
I never thought I’d find myself begging for Adair’s forgiveness. But she belongs to me. She always has and she always will. No matter how hard she tries to rewrite history.
It’s too late to change who we’ve become. Maybe nothing can save us now. Maybe nothing ever could. I built my fortune with blood, fueled by lies, and soon my past will catch up with both of us. I can’t protect her from the man I’ve become, and no one can save me from the storm that’s coming—not even Adair MacLaine.
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Acknowledgments
Last year life handed me a huge surprise and everything changed. As it turns out, that doesn’t just happen in books. Everything got put on hold when I welcomed my little girl, Sophie, to the world. She wrote this book with me, so I have to thank her first. Sophie, I didn’t know I needed you, but I’m so thankful to be your mommy.
A huge thanks to Louise, my rockstar agent, and the team at The Bent Agency. I don’t know what I would do without you! A special shout-out to Victoria, who tries to keep me on track—a feat about as possible as herding cats.
Thank you to my foreign teams for all the hard work you
