by Mj Williamz
Table of Contents
Synopsis
What Reviewers Say About MJ Williamz’s Work
By the Author
Acknowledgments
Dedication
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
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
About the Author
Other MJ Williamz Titles Available via Amazon
Books Available from Bold Strokes Books
Complications
In this sequel to Escapades, Mel O’Brien has a string of bad luck with women but is determined to take another chance with Susan Maloney who’s new to the women’s community in which Mel lives. Susan Maloney moved to Maybon Tir looking for a new start after a bad breakup. She is determined to stay single and happy.
Things seem to be going Mel’s way until Susan’s ex, Dorinda, shows up in town, determined to take Susan back. Will Mel be able to win Susan’s heart? Or will she crash and burn once again?
What Reviewers Say About MJ Williamz’s Work
Shots Fired
“MJ Williamz, in her first romantic thriller has done an impressive job of building up the tension and suspense. Williamz has a firm grasp of keeping the reader guessing and quickly turning the pages to get to the bottom of the mystery. Shots Fired clearly shows the author’s ability to spin an engaging tale and is sure to be just the beginning of great things to follow as the author matures.”—Lambda Literary
“Williamz tells her story in the voices of Kyla, Echo, and Detective Pat Silverton. She does a great job with the twists and turns of the story, along with the secondary plot. The police procedure is first rate, as are the scenes between Kyla and Echo, as they try to keep their relationship alive through the stress and mistrust.”—Just About Write
Forbidden Passions
“Forbidden Passions is 192 pages of bodice ripping antebellum erotica not so gently wrapped in the moistest, muskiest pantalets of lesbian horn dog high jinks ever written. While the book is joyfully and unabashedly smut, the love story is well written and the characters are multi-dimensional. …Forbidden Passions is the very model of modern major erotica, but hidden within the sweet swells and trembling clefts of that erotica is a beautiful May–September romance between two wonderful and memorable characters.”—The Rainbow Reader
Complications
Brought to you by
eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com
eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.
Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.
Complications
© 2017 By MJ Williamz. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13: 978-1-62639-770-5
This Electronic Book is published by
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, New York 12185
First Edition: June 2017
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editor: Cindy Cresap
Production Design: Susan Ramundo
Cover Design By Sheri ([email protected])
By the Author
Shots Fired
Forbidden Passions
Initiation by Desire
Speakeasy
Escapades
Sheltered Love
Summer Passion
Heartscapes
Love on Liberty
Love Down Under
Complications
Acknowledgments
First of all, I’d like to thank Laydin for always being there for me. I couldn’t do this without her. I’d also like to thank Rad, Sandy, and Cindy from Bold Strokes for all their support and help to make me a better author.
I’d also like to thank Sarah and Inger for their input as the tale unfolded.
And last, but certainly not least, a huge thank you to you, the readers who make my job as enjoyable as it is.
Dedication
For Laydin—For Life
CHAPTER ONE
Mel O’Brien rolled over in bed to find Mandy, the luscious redhead from the previous night, still sleeping soundly. She watched her pert breasts heave slightly with each breath she took. Mel had known Mandy for a few months but had only gotten up the nerve to ask her out a week ago. She really liked her and had high hopes she might be the one.
Mel couldn’t look at Mandy’s naked body without touching it. She skimmed her hand over the length of it, stopping where her legs met. She slipped her hand between her legs and found her still moist from the night before. She rubbed her clit, and Mandy got wetter. Mel slipped her fingers inside.
Mandy stirred, but barely. Mel kept her fingers moving in and out until Mandy woke completely.
“Oh, my,” she said. “What a way to wake up.”
“Mm,” Mel said.
“Holy shit, Mel. Oh, my God. I’m going to come.”
“That’s the idea,” Mel said.
“Oh, God. Oh, dear God,” Mandy cried as she rode the orgasm.
Mel waited until the shudders ceased, then pulled Mandy into her arms.
“You’re so much fun,” she said.
“So are you.”
“So, can I see you again?”
“Oh, Mel, I don’t know…”
Mel propped herself up on an elbow and looked down at Mandy.
“Why not? We had a good time, right?”
“Yeah, we did. But I’m not looking for anything serious right now.”
“So, another date would mean we’re serious?” Mel asked.
“It could lead to it, and I mean it. I really don’t want a relationship.”
Mandy got out of bed and quickly dressed.
“Hey, what’s the hurry?” Mel said. “You can hang out for a little while. I’ll make breakfast.”
“No, I need to go. But thanks.” She kissed Mel on the cheek and left.
“Damn it,” Mel said to herself. She was sick and tired of one-night stands. Sure, they’d been fun when it was her and Joey on the prowl, but now that she was solo and a little older, she really wanted to settle down. But she couldn’t find a woman who was interested.
She was bummed and thought about the rest of her day. It was Saturday and she had no plans. She called Joey to see if she wanted to catch some waves.
“Hey, Joey, what are you doing?”
“Getting ready to take DJ to the park. What are you up to?”
“Nothin’.”
“How’d things go last night?” Joey said.
“The usual. It went great. We came back to my place, had a rockin’ night, and she left this morning.”
“Good for you, my friend.”
“Not good for me. She doesn’t want to see me again. I swear, Joey, I’m so tired of one-night stands.”
Joey laughed.
“There was a time we lived for them.”
“Those days are over.”
“Man, you sound miserable,” Joey said. “Come to the park with us. That should cheer you up.”
“Okay. What time?”
“Meet us at noon.”
“Will do.”
Mel hung up feeling a little better. The promise of some time on the beach with Joey and her son cheered her somewhat. She opened her refrigerator and found some two-day-old cold pizza. That would serve as breakfast. Mel loved to cook, but cooking for herself was too depressing. She wanted to make breakfast for a woman. Her woman. She sighed, ate the pizza, and wandered down the hall to take a shower.
She showed up at the park at five after twelve and, not surprisingly, there was no sign of Joey. She was notoriously late when she had to be somewhere with DJ and Samantha wasn’t involved. Samantha had no trouble getting DJ ready to go, but Joey was still figuring that out. Mel didn’t worry. She just sat on a swing and enjoyed the beautiful day.
The sun was shining, the sky was cloudless, and the temperature was in the mid seventies. It was a perfect summer day. She saw Joey’s pickup pull up and sauntered over to help her get DJ out.
“Meow!” DJ yelled, still unable to pronounce Mel’s name.
“Hey, buddy. How you doin’?”
“Good.”
“Hey, Joey,” Mel said.
“Hey, Mel. Sorry we’re late.”
“That’s okay. I expected it.”
“Fuck you.”
“Language,” Mel said.
“Oh, yeah.”
“You’re the parent.”
“I know. I just sometimes forget that he’s a sponge.”
“Yep. The last thing you want is for that language to come out of his mouth around his other mom or at daycare.”
Mel got DJ out of the car and took him over to the little kid play area. He toddled over to the play structure. Mel and Joey followed him. They lifted him up so he could go down the slide over and over.
“You know, I don’t get you,” Joey said. “I mean, heck yeah, I’m happy as hell with Samantha, but you’re free. You should be loving life. Just keep getting laid. Life is good.”
“Yeah, but I want what you and Samantha have. I’m tired of a different woman every week or so. I want one woman.”
“Well, quit trying so hard then. Just enjoy what you’ve got, and sooner or later the right woman will come along. Go with the flow. Relax.”
“I wish I could.”
“I wish I could help you out.”
“The only thing that’s going to help me is finding someone who wants me for more than one night.”
“Man, you’re bummed hard-core today. Who were you with last night?”
“Mandy Hawkins. You know. She’s the redheaded professor who works in Somerset and lives here.”
“Yeah. I know her. She’s a hot piece.”
“Meow?”
Mel looked down and saw DJ looking up at her.
“Pway wif me?”
“Sure thing, little bud.”
She spent the next half hour watching DJ on the play structure, playing with the pirate’s steering wheel, turning over tic-tac-toe pieces and crawling through tubes. She was having as much fun as he was. She wondered where Joey was. She looked over and saw her on the phone.
Joey wandered over to DJ and Mel.
“You having fun?” she asked.
DJ nodded and smiled brightly.
“What about you?” she said to Mel.
“Yeah. I love this little guy.”
“He loves you, too. So, I just got off the phone with Samantha. She wants you to come over for dinner. What do you say?”
Mel was used to eating with the Scarpetti family a couple of times a month. Samantha and Joey were both wonderful cooks. Sometimes they’d even let Mel cook.
“Sure. That’d be great.”
“Most excellent. She also said we can bring DJ home and hit the waves, if you’re up for it.”
“Yeah. I could use some surf time.”
Mel drove home to change her clothes while Joey took DJ home. She drove back to the beach and parked in the lot of The Shack, a burger joint where Joey and Mel had shared many meals and beers over the years. She waited until Joey showed up, then crossed the street with her and made her way to the shore.
The waves were breaking nicely, and it lifted her spirits to be there. They paddled out. The cool water on her legs refreshed her. She was ready to catch some waves. She caught one and rode it all the way in.
She popped up from underwater to see Joey near her.
“That was awesome!” Joey called to her.
“Yeah, it was!”
They climbed back on their boards and paddled out again. They surfed for two hours and had many great rides. Mel was revitalized and had almost forgotten her troubles when they finally paddled back to shore and called it a day.
They crossed the street, stored their boards, and went into The Shack to grab a couple of beers before heading back to Joey’s house.
“You remember the time we came here and it was Tiffany’s eighteenth birthday?” Joey said.
“Of course. She was a lot of fun. I wonder how she’s doing in college.”
“She must be loving it. I haven’t seen her around town since she left for school.”
“Neither have I.”
“She’d be good for you,” Joey said.
“She’s too young.”
“Yeah, but you could just fuck her and not worry about a future. You know she’d be up for that, too.”
“That’s true. I suppose it wouldn’t be bad to have a playmate until I found the one. Still, that playmate can’t be Tiffany because she’s not around.”
“Well, we’ll find you someone. Now finish your beer. Samantha will be waiting for us.”
Mel knew she’d be okay making a comment about Joey being whipped, but she wasn’t in the mood. She wanted to be whipped, too. She wanted to have someone to be accountable to, so she didn’t make fun of Joey.
She followed Joey to her house.
“Oh, man. I didn’t bring anything with me,” she said when she and Joey got to the front door.
“Dude, you’re family. You don’t need to bring anything.”
“Samantha’s gonna think I have no social skills.”
“She already knows that.” Joey patted her back. “Come on in. And would you relax? You’ve been in a funk all day. Get over it and relax, okay?”
“I’m trying. And surfing helped.”
“Good.”
“Mel!” Samantha called from the kitchen. She rushed into the front room and gave Mel a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“Sorry. I came empty-handed.”
“Don’t be silly. That’s no big deal. Now have a seat at the bar while Joey opens the wine.”
Mel did as she was told. She watched Joey and Samantha, her favorite couple, work around each other in the kitchen. Joey gave her a glass of wine. Mel brushed her bangs out of her eyes, only to have them fall back down.
“You’ve got the most adorable habit of doing that,” Samantha said. “I can’t believe any woman who’s single and has seen you do that didn’t fall for you.”
“No such luck,” Mel said.
“So Joey tells me you’re getting tired of the chase?”
“I am. I’m ready to settle down, but no one seems interested.”
“I have a hard time buying that,” Samantha said. “Just give it time. You’ll find someone. And it’ll be right. In the meantime, enjoy being single.”
“Being single has its perks,” Mel said. “And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m tired of a new woman every week or so. I was telling Joey that this afternoon. I want someone to come home to, like she has.”
“What you need to remember is that neither of us was looking when it happened for us. You need to not try so hard. Trust me.”
*
Susan Maloney unpacked most of her boxes and sat down to rest. Moving was hard work. But she was very excited to be in her new home. The community of Maybon Tir seemed like just the place to start over. Living as a waitress in Los Angeles was difficult at best, and she was hoping it would be easier in the small women’s community. She was looking for a new start. She was happy to be away from Dorinda, her girlfriend of seven years who was verbally, emotionally, and mentally abusive to her. Susan had finally had enough. She’d packed up and left. Fortunately, the cute little bungalow on Seventh Street had been available and she’d snatched it right up. She hoped to rent for only a short period and to be able to buy her own place soon. She’d checked the local listings. House prices were very reasonable. She was sure she was going to like it there.
Susan stood and looked around the room at the mess. She didn’t feel like dealing with it any more at that moment. Instead, she put on a swimsuit under her shorts and T-shirt and headed down to the beach. There weren’t a lot of people since it was late afternoon. The two surfers out in the ocean caught her attention, and she watched them for a while before spreading out her towel and catching some rays.
She fell asleep and woke to an empty beach. Even the surfers had gone in. She put her clothes on over her suit again, grabbed her towel, and made her way back home. She took a shower and dressed, then looked into her empty refrigerator. Her cupboards, too, were bare. She was hungry and tired and not really in the mood to cook.
Susan Googled nearby restaurants and found a place called Suzette’s, a crepe house. That sounded good. She thought it was probably a bit pricey for her, but she was willing to splurge on her first night in town. She deserved to celebrate her new life.
She drove to the center of town and found Suzette’s. There was a wait, but she didn’t mind. She sat in the foyer and watched all the couples enjoying their dinner. At first, it was like a punch in the gut, seeing everyone so happy with their partners and spouses, but then she reminded herself that she was single by choice and single she would stay. She was happy without a significant other. She didn’t need another person to complete her.
