The Touch of a Villain
The Boys of Clermont Bay Series Book 1
Holly Renee
Copyright © 2021 by Holly Renee.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictional manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, or events is purely coincidental.
The Touch of a Villain
Cover Model: Sergio Carvajal
Cover Designer: Cassie Chapman with Opulent Designs
Editor: Becca Mysoor and Ellie McLove
Proofread: Rumi Khan
www.authorhollyrenee.com
Also by Holly Renee
THE BOYS OF CLERMONT BAY SERIES
The Touch of a Villain
The Fall of a God
THE GOOD GIRLS SERIES
Where Good Girls Go to Die
Where Bad Girls Go to Fall
Where Bad Boys are Ruined
THE ROCK BOTTOMS SERIES
Trouble with the Guy Next Door
Trouble with the Hotshot Boss
Trouble with the Fake Boyfriend
THE WRONG PRINCE CHARMING
The Wrong Prince Charming
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For Christina.
For always believing in me when I don’t believe in myself.
I’m so thankful for you.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
TO BE CONTINUED
THANK YOU
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Chapter One
Josie
I never wanted this. Life wasn’t supposed to go like this.
I picked up a shell out of the sand and almost crushed it in my hand before I threw it. It disappeared into the dark water, and I knew I would never see it again.
Just like I would never see my mom.
“What did the ocean ever do to you?”
I jolted at the sound of the voice from behind me and spun around. There was little light out on the beach except for what came from the house party and the steady beam of the moon, and I could barely make him out as he made his way toward me.
The ocean hadn’t done anything to me.
“Nothing.” I shook my head and looked back out toward the ocean as he sat down in the damp sand a couple of feet away from me.
The ocean hadn’t done a thing but be steady and constant and infuriating. It was a reminder of how vast the world was, and of how alone I was in it.
My mom was gone, and my dad didn’t care.
And my new stepbrother had lost me the moment we arrived at this stupid party.
I had barely known him a week, and already, he felt as unreliable as the rest.
I was alone and the ocean mocked me.
He leaned back on his elbows, and I couldn’t stop myself from peering over at him. He looked like he belonged out here on this beach. His skin was tan and his dark hair flopped forward into his face, making my hands itch to touch it even though I didn’t know him.
“I’m Beck.” He leaned on his elbow and held his hand out to me. I stared at his hand for a second before placing my own in his.
“Josie.”
He dropped my hand and a wicked grin lit up his face.
I knew that this boy was trouble. Even with only knowing his name, I knew that. That fact was easy to spot from a mile away.
“You new here?”
“I am.”
“And you’re already over the party?” He hiked his thumb over his shoulder toward the still pumping music.
“Guilty.”
He smiled again, but I had no idea what the hell he was smiling about.
“Why aren’t you in there?” I let my gaze run over his full lips to his sharp jaw. He was handsome in a way that made me feel like I shouldn’t be looking at him. Like he was a sin.
“I’m over it too.” He looked like he meant it. Whatever was going on at the party, he had as little interest in returning as I did. “You want to go somewhere?”
My body tensed at his words. I didn’t even know this guy, and he wanted me to go somewhere with him?
Silence lingered in the air between us. A smirk sliced through his lips and a mischievous look rolled through his eyes as they held my attention. Yeah, this guy was trouble, and for some crazy reason, he intrigued me. He held up his hands, his smirk deepening. “I didn’t mean it like that. There’s just this really cool spot a little way down the beach. You can either stay here and throw some more shells or you can trust a stranger. Choice is yours.”
I should have said no. I had seen enough true crime documentaries to have that instilled in my head, but part of me wanted to go with him. There was no way in hell I was going back into that party that was more orgy than truth or dare, and I had my cell phone in my back pocket.
I glanced at the extravagant house before looking back at him. I was sure there were worse ways to die.
“Are you going to murder me?”
A loud, boisterous laugh shot from his lips. “I don’t think so.”
“Have you ever murdered anyone else before?”
His eyes sparkled, and I couldn’t tell if they were brown or green or a mix of the two colors, but I knew they were mesmerizing.
“If I had, do you think I would be sitting here on the beach with you?”
“Probably.” He stood and dusted the sand off of his jeans.
“It’s a well-known fact that attractive serial killers get away with their crimes for a lot longer.”
He cocked his head to the side and ran his teeth over his bottom lip as he ran his gaze over every part of me. “You think I’m attractive?”
Shit. Did I say that out
