by K. K. Allen
With a quick sigh of relief, I look back toward the van. Its front grill is bent in the center and steam rises from around the hood. Crap. My eyes widen, and I release the handlebars of my bike, letting it fall to the ground beneath me.
The driver’s door to the van bursts open, and cold-faced Johnny Pierce steps out. He slams the door behind him, his startling blue eyes narrowed on mine. “Are you kidding me with this? What the hell is your problem, Kat?”
An unexpected thrill races though me when Johnny says my name. I wasn’t sure if we’d ever speak again after our run-in over a week ago. He was so cold. So angry. And now, he’s a stark reminder of the very reason I should look for another job. It shouldn’t be hard to find something else. But something about Island Grille calls to me. Or maybe I want to show Johnny he can’t push me around.
“Earth to Kat. I asked you why you pulled out in front of me like a fucking lunatic.”
I suck in a deep breath and instinctively reach for the energy stone I wear around my neck. It’s supposed to calm me, but when it comes to Johnny, I’m not sure anything can calm me. “You were going too fast. Didn’t you see the squirrel? You would have ran right over it.”
Johnny’s jaw tenses. “No, I didn’t, because I was too focused on not hitting you. Didn’t your granny tell you to pay attention and not to swerve in and out of traffic? This is practically a one-lane road. You should be more careful.”
I let out a laugh and shrug. “I think I’ll be just fine, but thanks for the advice. And you don’t have to call her my ‘granny,’ like some condescending asshole. Her name is Rose.”
“Just be careful next time,” he growls. “I don’t want to be responsible for killing some kid who can’t pay attention to simple things like road signs.”
“I’m eighteen.”
“Yeah, well that’s young enough.”
I squint at him, trying to remember what he told me his age was. I swear he said it was twenty-two. “You’re not much older than me.” If it weren’t for the stubble covering his mouth and cheeks, I would think we were the same age.
With an amused shake of my head, I lean over to pick up my bike and freeze when his hand brushes mine. Energy surges through my veins—I feel its buzz reverberate through me like it’s lifting me high above the clouds—a strange sensation to have for someone I want to despise. Johnny grips the center bar of the bike and picks it up like it weighs nothing before popping it right-side-up on the drive.
“Are you okay to ride?”
His question throws me a little. It almost sounds like he cares, even though his reaction was delayed. “I’m fine. But why are you suddenly pretending to care?”
He shakes his head. “Trust me, I don’t. Just trying to avoid a lawsuit.” Still looking at me, he points to his van. “I already need to break it to the boss that I’m out of a catering van until we can get this one fixed.”
I tilt my head and point to the van. “What for? It looks fine.”
Johnny scrunches his face in confusion. “Huh? No, it’s—” He’s midturn when he spots the front of his van, which is now undamaged. He looks back at me. “I thought—”
I look at him with wide, innocent eyes. I might have repaired it when he wasn’t looking. “You thought what?”
He shakes his head and takes a step back. “Nothing. It’s all good.” He makes it all the way to his van then swivels around. “You sure you don’t need a ride somewhere? I’m not asking to be nice. I just have some time before my next event.”
My heart kicks in my chest at the second semi-kind reaction he’s had during our encounter. “No, I’m—” I start to tell him I’m going to Island Grille to beg Roy for a second chance, but I think better of it. If I tell Johnny that, his knee-jerk asshole tendencies might find a way to stop me. “Just heading to the library.”
He makes a face to tell me I’m weirder than he initially thought, then he swings open his door, jumps inside, and starts the engine. I’m already riding off when I hear the van start up then drive away.
Using my strength, I pedal as fast as my legs will carry me in a desperate need to release the pent-up energy that my encounters with Johnny Pierce seem to create. He’s impossible, but I’m not going to let him get to me the way I did before.
As I clear the winding drive and enter the main road that circles the island, I take in the small businesses, school, and government buildings that spread over the land. Everything one might want to experience exists here. It’s no wonder the residents of the entire town of Apollo Beach can be found here on summer days like today.
A recreational spread sits at the center of the island, with basketball courts, a football field, a track, tennis courts, and four baseball diamonds. An oversized waterfall cascades into a narrow lazy river that winds around a hidden alcove then empties into a large beachfront pool.
I do a double take when I see the lifeguard at the main pool. He’s perched high above the water, wearing long orange swim trunks, a whistle dangling from his neck.
Alec. There’s a flip-flop sensation in my chest when I recognize him. As he rolls his neck, his messy auburn hair glistens in the sun. His chest muscles move slightly, catching a partial ray of light. Even though his eyes are hidden behind sunglasses, I would recognize him from a mile away.
Just thinking about the last time I saw him makes my throat tighten. A week has passed since the fateful night that almost killed Iris and me. The flames of the bonfire still blaze through my mind daily, and my near drowning haunts my nights before I drift off to sleep. Luckily, my nightmares have ended. The green emerald necklace protects my mind from the unpleasant dreams I was prone to prior to my Enchanting.
Evading Alec over the week has been like trying to pull a rock from cement, but there was no way I could face him until I came to grips with all the new information I learned after that night. I needed to focus on my new responsibility as a Solstice. I would never hurt Alec intentionally, but after seeing firsthand what my powers can and cannot do, I’m more afraid of what I cannot control—Erebus and his Equinox Followers. I couldn’t afford to put anyone else in danger. So I made up excuse after excuse to distance myself for awhile—until Alec stopped calling.
Guilt pulses through my veins, but I shake it away and cycle off toward my destination. I park in front of Island Grille and take the steps two at a time. Trisha is at the podium at the entrance, with her head down, doodling on a dry-erase board. She must hear me coming, because her head snaps up.
Her eyes grow wide at the sight of me. “Kat, hi. Where have you been? Alec said he’s tried calling.”
I smile, happy to see her too. “I’ve just been laying low after everything went down, but I’m here now.” With my hands on my hips, I tilt at my waist in a playful pose.
“Well, perfect timing, because we’re all hanging out tomorrow for Alec’s birthday.”
A pang hits my chest. “It’s his birthday tomorrow?” I had no idea.
“Yup, but after what happened on the Fourth, he doesn’t want to make a big deal about it. We don’t have any concrete plans yet, but you’re invited, and I’m pretty sure you owe us all for disappearing.”
I let out an uncomfortable laugh. “I probably do owe you, but I don’t know, Trisha. Who else will be there?”
“Alec, Brett, me, and—” She cringes, and it makes my stomach churn. “Ava, but she’s different now that Iris is pretty much grounded for life. She’s less… Ava.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “Let me get back to you on that.”
Trisha sighs, but relents, then she tilts her head. “What are you doing here? Grabbing some breakfast?”
I let my eyes dart around in an attempt to spot the owner. “Yeah, I was hoping to speak with Roy and see if he’s willing to give me another shot. I just don’t think there’s another job on the island I want.”
“Oh,” Trisha says with a shrug. “Well, that’s easy. Roy put me in charge of hiring for the summer since he’ll be so busy and Johnny can be s
o unpleasant. Roy doesn’t want to deal with it. So—” She grins and reaches out her hand. “Welcome to the team. You start in two days.”
I take her hand, and we shake, a cheesy grin lifting my cheeks. “And here I was, terrified to come back by. If this didn’t work out, I was going to try the marina.”
Trisha gives a vigorous shake of her head. “Don’t you dare work at that creepy marina. It’s beautiful during the day, but I wouldn’t want to go anywhere near that place at night. You’ll fit in just fine here. And it’s not Roy you need to be terrified of.”
I pout, already knowing what she’s going to say, then we say the words together, “It’s Johnny.”
Read more on August 17th…
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Steam Level Warning: This series does get steamier with each book.
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Writing Cursed has been an absolute dream come true and I could not have done it without the folks I’m about to mention!
To my Beta Babes—Cyndi, Sammie, Renee, Patricia, Emily, and Suzanne. Thank you for bringing your brutal honesty, your excitement, and your dedication to these stories. I couldn’t have done this without you.
To Lindsey and Renee, the badass ladies who are with me behind the scenes daily, always making sure I’m not getting lost in my own thoughts, I can’t imagine a day when one of you isn’t telling me what to do. I live for it. Haha.
To Harloe and Heather, our friendship means everything to me. Thank you for always being there during the highs and lows and in between. And thank you for loving and believing in Cursed. Y’all are the best. I’m so ready for our epic reunion.
A huge shoutout to my cover designer for the Enchanted Gods series, Emily Wittig. You captured this world perfectly!
Thank you to Dani at Wildfire for being the absolute best from the very beginning. I love working with you!
To Tasha, my real life Trisha. Love you to pieces.
To my family who inspires me every day—Jagger, for being the best son I could ever ask for. Your imagination is your key to this life, babe. Never lose that Enchanter spirit. T, for telling me to publish my very first book, and for so much more. Mom, for being my first reader ever and showing up in various ways in my novels. Dad and Ed, for bringing my father figures to life in my stories. Corey and Brandon—for being brothers who I don’t see nearly enough, but I’m so proud of both of you. Love you all so much.
To all the bloggers who stepped up to try something new from a contemporary romance author! Thank you for trusting me. I hope you loved it. I can’t wait for you to read more.
To my Angsters, Forevers, and Booksters. Without you, I’d be lost!
Last but not least, to my readers. I’m so grateful you took a chance on me. I cannot wait for you to read Fated!
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Much love and HEAs,
K.K. Allen
Up in the Treehouse
Haunted by the past, Chloe and Gavin are forced to come to terms with all that has transpired to find the peace they deserve. Except they can't seem to get near each other without combatting an intense emotional connection that brings them right back to where it all started . . . their childhood treehouse.
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Under the Bleachers
Fun and flirty Monica Stevens lives for food, fashion, and boys ... in that order. The last thing she wants to take seriously is dating. When a night of flirty banter with Seattle's hottest NFL quarterback turns passionate, her care-free life could be at risk.
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Through the Lens
When Maggie moves to Seattle for a fresh start, she’s presented with an unavoidable obstacle—namely, the cocky chef with a talent for photography and getting under her skin. Can they learn to get along for the sake of the ones they love?
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Over the Moon
Silver Livingston has spent the past eight years hiding from her past when the NFL God, Kingston Scott, steps off the bus to mentor a football camp for kids. Kingston wants to be anywhere but at Camp Dakota…until he sees her. The intoxicating woman with the silver moon eyes, the reserved smile, and the past she’s determined to keep hidden.
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Dangerous Hearts (A Stolen Melody, #1)
Lyric Cassidy knows a thing or two about bad boy rock stars with raspy vocals. In fact, her heart was just played by one. So when she takes an assignment as road manager for the world famous rock star, Wolf, she's prepared to take him on, full suit of heart-armor intact.
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Destined Hearts (A Stolen Melody, #2)
But with stolen dreams, betrayals, and terrifying threats--no one's heart is safe. Not even the ones that may be destined to be together.
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British Bachelor
Runaway British Bachelor contestant, Liam Colborn, is on the run from the press. When he gets to Providence, RI to stay with his late brother’s best friend, all he wants is a little time to regroup from his time on a failed reality show. That is, until he meets the redheaded bombshell nanny who lives in the pool house.
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Waterfall Effect
Lost in the shadows of a tragedy that stripped Aurora of everything she once loved, she's back in the small town of Balsam Grove, ready to face all she's kept locked away for seven years. Or so she thinks.
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A Bridge Between Us
With a century-old feud between neighboring families with only a bridge to separate them, Camila and Ridge find themselves wanting to rewrite the future. It all starts with an innocent friendship and quickly builds to so much more in this second chance coming of age romance.
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Center of Gravity (Gravity, #1)
She was athleticism and grace, precision and passion, and she had a stage presence he couldn't tear my eyes from. He wanted her...on his team, in his bed. There was only one problem... He couldn't have both.
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Falling From Gravity (Gravity, #1.5)
If I hadn’t considered Amelia dangerous before, I certainly did now. She wasn’t anything like I had expected. Even after all these years—of living so close to her, of listening to her giggle with my sister in the bedroom next to mine—I hadn’t given much thought to my sister’s best friend.
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Defying Gravity (Gravity, #2)
The ball is her Amelia's court, but Tobias isn't below stealing--her power, her resolve, her heart... When he wants a second chance to reignite our connection, the answer is simple. They can't. Not unless they defy the rules their dreams were built on and risk everything.
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The Trouble With Gravity (Gravity #3)
When Sebastian makes Kai an offer she can't afford to refuse, she learns signing on will mean facing the tragedy she's worked so hard to shut out. He says she can trust him to keep her safe, but is her heart safe too?
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Find them all here
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K.K. Allen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author who writes heartfelt and inspirational contemporary romance stories. K.K. is a native Hawaiian who graduated from the University of Washington with an Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences degree and currently resides in central Florida with her ridiculously handsome little dude who owns her heart.
K.K.'s publishing journey began in June 2014 with a young adult contemporary fantasy trilogy. In 2016, she published her first contemporary romance, Up in the Treehouse, which went on to win the Romantic Times 2016
Reviewers' Choice Award for Best New Adult Book of the Year.
With K.K.'s love for inspirational and coming of age stories involving heartfelt narratives and honest emotions, you can be assured to always be surprised by what K.K. releases next.
