Safer Together (The Safer Duet Book 2)

by Amy Rose

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  ~ Dedication ~

  ~ Prologue ~

  ~ 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 ~

  ~ Chapter Twenty-Four ~

  ~ Chapter Twenty-Five ~

  ~ Chapter Twenty-Six ~

  ~ Chapter Twenty-Seven ~

  ~ Chapter Twenty-Eight ~

  ~ Chapter Twenty-Nine~

  ~ Chapter Thirty ~

  ~ Epilogue ~

  ~ Acknowledgements ~

  ~ About the Author ~

  ~ Connect with Amy Rose ~

  ~ Books by Amy Rose ~

  Safer Together

  Amy Rose

  Safer Together

  Copyright © 2020 Amy Rose

  All rights reserved.

  No parts of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or publisher.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Formatting by Rik – Wild Seas formatting

  Editor Anne Hamilton

  Cover Design by Liz Ponting at LP Designs & Art

  ~ Dedication ~

  This is for my dad, Greg. You have just commenced the greatest battle of your life, and I am so proud of the way you have attacked this and fought with everything within you. I have total faith in you that you will be kicking cancer’s ass. You are my hero. I love you, always.

  ~ Prologue ~

  I am at a crossroads in my life.

  I have fallen for a man. A man who makes me question everything I know. Who makes me believe in possibilities. Possibilities that I have never even given a second thought to before now.

  I have options laid out in front of me. I can’t keep putting it off. I need to make a choice and make it soon.

  My head is telling me to run for the hills. To protect myself while I still can, before the inevitable damage is done.

  My heart is telling me to give love a chance. To give Elliot a chance, to show that this time will be different. That love can be all consuming, passionate, and most importantly, a safe place to land.

  Can Elliot make me forget what I believe to be true, that I am safer alone?

  Can true love truly make me believe that with him by my side, it will be different? That I no longer need to be by myself? That we will in fact be safer together?

  ~ Chapter One ~

  Angela

  It’s such a beautiful day out on the lake. The sun is shining. The water is shimmering with the sunlight bouncing off it. I occasionally spot a fish skimming the surface, creating ripples and then ducking back down, once again hidden when they sense one of the many ducks coming their way.

  Elliot has rented a rowboat for us today. He looks incredibly handsome in a yellow Polo shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans, the hems sitting nicely over the white sneakers he is wearing on his feet. Aviator sunglasses shade those devastatingly beautiful blue eyes, the ones I find myself getting lost in every single time I get the chance to peer directly into them.

  Sitting directly across from me, looking as though he is right at home on the water, he lifts his eyebrow in my direction. No doubt he has caught me staring at him.

  “Don’t worry, baby. I’m staring at you, too”

  I smile, I can’t help myself. How on earth did I get so lucky?

  We continue out into the center of the lake. Once there, Elliot leaves his position, slowly moving toward me, making sure that no sudden movements will cause the boat to rock too much. Due to his graceful and careful steps, he comes to a halt just in front of my body. He is close enough now for me to reach out and touch him.

  Reaching up he takes a hold of his sunglasses with one hand and removes them from his face, tucking them into his back pocket. When his hand comes back around to the front I see that he is holding a small black box. My heart starts to pound. Could this possibly be what I think it is? Is what I’m thinking really going to happen?

  I place my hands on my lap, holding them so I don’t reach out for him. I don’t want to be the reason that our boat capsizes. My heart is beating so quickly, hammering against my chest, my heavens, Elliot Sands, always so romantic.

  “Angie, the past two years have been the most amazing of my life. Make me the happiest man alive. Will you…”

  Beep, beep, beep. I sit upright. Goddam it, you pesky alarm clock. Sometimes you really are the bane of my existence, whether you’re informing me it’s time to get out of bed, or dragging me out of an amazing dream. I slam my hand down on the snooze button. Wanting it to know how angry I am with it and then fall back down, lifting my arm, I rest it so it’s covering my eyes with my forearm. What impeccable timing my alarm has, just before he said those two words that every woman on this earth wants to hear: Marry Me.

  Oh well, back to reality. I, Angela White, am not ready for marriage. Is there even the slightest chance that he could be? Slow down brain, that’s totally absurd. The facts of our relationship are as follows:

  I have only been officially dating Elliot Sands for one week even though we have known each other for longer than that. Yet my subconscious is conjuring up dreams of marriage proposals. Way to go. Mind you, I much prefer a dream like that over one of my recurring nightmares any day of the week. And in the moment, I might even say yes. Am I crazy?

  I flail my free arm around toward my nightstand until it lands on my cell phone, gripping it, I pick it up and bring it over till it’s resting on my chest. I drop my other arm and check the time 9:00, Sunday morning. I better be getting out of this bed and getting ready. I have a big day of helping Liam and Jess. As I try to sit up my lower back cracks. It’s not used to physical labor, and although I didn’t do any heavy lifting yesterday, those boxes of linen were still heavy.

  I lift both of my arms over my head and stretch out my arms as far as they will go, following it with bending over to touch my toes. A couple more cracks sound out, but I feel a release; once lifting my torso back up again I stand up and feel much better.

  I walk straight into my bathroom and turn on the faucet in the shower. While the water warms up, I strip out of my old black sweatpants and long-sleeved purple top. I’m all about comfortable sleepwear for me. Well except when I sleep next to Elliot, that calls for the only nightgown I own. A satin one, to be precise.

  With the room now full of steam, I step under the running wa
ter and let it fall over my body. I shrug my shoulders under the hot water, encouraging them to relax, knowing that we have another big day ahead of us.

  Once satisfied that I am ready to hop out, I dry off and start to dress. Jeans and an orange lightweight sweatshirt. Warm enough to combat the cold and yet light enough that when I start to get hot it won’t be uncomfortable.

  Socks, sneakers, and I’m ready. I palm my phone and walk out to the kitchen. Since it’s only 9:45 am, I have time for a bowl of cornflakes and then I grab my handbag and lock the door behind me.

  It has rained overnight, evident by the water marks all over my car. I will have to wash it in the next couple of days. I’m one of those people who doesn’t exactly look after her car, however I hate it looking dirty. I will have to write a letter to the Home Owner’s Association, asking if we have enough money with the fees collected to erect an overhead awning over the parking spaces of my apartment building. Looking around at several of the other cars that are more expensive than my own, I can only imagine that they would want the same thing.

  As soon as the car engine comes to life, I turn on the heater. It’s not freezing today, but the air sure is nippy. The newscaster is finishing off her latest news items when a song comes on. As soon as I hear the first line I know who it is: “I like The Sound of That” by American country music band, Rascal Flatts, one of my all-time favorites.

  I sing along until the song comes to the end. A couple more songs I recognize play during my drive to Liam and Jessica’s new home. A couple of weeks ago I showed them the perfect townhouse and they made an offer on it that very same day. Three days ago, they collected the keys and over this weekend we have been moving them in.

  Liam and Jessica aren’t just my clients. Trust me, I wouldn’t help just anyone move to a new house. It’s a hell of a task. Liam is my best friend. We have been best friends since high school. When everything went down with my abusive ex-boyfriend four years back, Liam convinced me to move to Nashville for a fresh start, so I did. I moved into his apartment, got a job as a real estate agent, the same one I have to this day, and he helped me heal. When he met Jessica, it got a little awkward. He would bring her back to his place and I would feel like I was in the way.

  Once I saved enough money, I purchased my own apartment, the one I call home now, and Jessica moved in with Liam. They got engaged around six months ago and now they have purchased their first home together.

  While everything has been good for Liam, my life hasn’t always been so good. My ex-fiancé, Dylan, really did a number on me. Broken bones, and worse, a broken heart. When I came to Nashville, I was an absolute shell of myself. Liam helped me become the woman I am today. Now I know what you’re thinking, did Liam and I ever get it on? Never. It’s never been like that for us. He is just like a brother to me and I’m like his sister. I trust him implicitly with everything.

  Liam is the only person who knows everything about my past relationship with Dylan. All the harrowing details of what happened. He knows about my new relationship with Elliot Sands, CEO of Sands PTY Limited, a multimillion-dollar business in New York City. He knows about the millions of dollars sitting in one of my bank accounts and the three properties I have in New York City. Indeed, I may not be as rich as Elliot, but I am very comfortable. My boyfriend just doesn’t know it. And best of all, Liam knows my fears and reservations about the future. I would be lost without him.

  Pulling into the driveway I see Liam standing on the front porch. I wave at him when I catch his attention. I exit the car and tuck my phone into the back pocket of my jeans and after locking the car, my keys slide into the opposite pocket.

  I walk quickly over to Liam and throw my arms around him. Feeling slightly emotional from my thoughts on the way over, he wraps his arms around me, knowing something is up. “Hey. You okay Angie?”

  I nod into his chest. Liam is a little taller than me, with a gorgeous strawberry blond mane of hair, which he tends to keep short. Hazel eyes are the main feature of his handsome face, oh and who could forget about the freckles. Cute as a button he is. “Sure am. Just wanted to give my best friend a hug”.

  I hear him chuckle above me.

  “I love you, Liam, you know that, right?”

  He grasps my shoulder and pushes me away slightly. Keeping a firm hold of me, “I love you too, Angie. Speaking of love, as you know, I’m getting married and I need a best man. Since my best friend isn’t a male, I thought I would change the title from Best Man. What do you say, will you be my Best Woman?”

  His face, although it has a smile, is full of emotion. I can read him like a book; he is nervous. Not wanting him to feel that way for any longer than necessary, I smile “I would love to, Liam. As long as I don’t have to wear a suit. I wear them enough at work.” He pulls me close again into a bear hug, laughing into my hair.

  “I’m guessing she said yes, then?” I hear Jessica’s voice coming from behind.

  Liam, giving me one last squeeze, lets go and turns to face his bride-to-be. “That she did, babe. Angie is going to stand beside me while I say my vows to you.”

  Her smile is warm and friendly. Even though we aren’t exactly close, we are friendly, and she knows how much Liam and I mean to each other. “That’s great news. You can go shopping with me and the girls for your dress when I search for theirs. I’m hoping you don’t mind a dark navy dress to match in with the boy’s suits?”

  It makes me so happy that Liam has Jessica. They are so perfect for each other. There is absolutely not a shred of jealousy from her. “Sounds perfect to me. Just let me know when.”

  I reach out and give Jess a quick hug, her blonde curly hair tied up into a ponytail today, her gorgeous blue eyes bright. “Since you’re going to be a part of the wedding, unfortunately you won’t be able to sit with this new man of yours. Jess and I thought we could sit him with some of our friends from high school. Do you think he would be okay with that, Ange?”

  I turn back around to face Liam, confusion written on my face. “We just presumed you would be bringing him?” Trust Liam to pick up on it.

  “I haven’t asked him to the wedding as yet, our relationship is still so new. I didn’t want him to have to agree to something six months away. I’ll ask him though, I promise.”

  Liam and Jessica exchange a look, one that obviously involves a previous conversation. Jess turns around and heads back into the house, Liam turns to face me, taking my hand in his, he pulls me out towards my car. “I know you’re scared Angie, I don’t blame you after what that bastard, Dylan, did to you. Elliot doesn’t sound anything like him, though.” He pauses, conflicted. He obviously wants to tell me something.

  “What is it Liam?”

  He nods, “Elliot and I have a mutual friend, Drake Edwards. I spoke to him last night, he told me that Elliot has told him about you. Drake said that’s a really big thing for him to do. He cares about you, Angie. If you want my advice, I’d jump in, just do it, trust me. If you don’t, you will end up regretting it.”

  I’m shocked at what Liam has just told me. He knows someone who knows Elliot. He spoke to him about me. I don’t know whether to feel betrayed or thankful. He was looking out for me after all, and he is telling me to jump right in, feet first.

  I trust him, I know he has my best interests at heart. I force a smile on my face. “Thanks for the advice, Liam. I promise that I’ll think about it. Now let’s get inside and unpack some boxes, hey?”

  He nods. We walk together back to the house and start the mammoth task of unpacking their new home.

  ~ Chapter Two ~

  Angela

  I am relieved to arrive home after the day I’ve just had. Lugging boxes from room to room, lifting them onto counters, unpacking items, then moving furniture around. But I’m happy to say that Liam and Jess’s new home looks in good shape for only just being occupied.

  The next few days will no doubt be spent hanging pictures onto walls, deciding what crockery goes where in their plentiful k
itchen and of course making it homey. Unpacking photographs and placing them around, pulling out the cushions and throw rugs to help decorate the furnishings, these small things bring a certain warmth to a home. A real lived-in feeling.

  Speaking of which, my home could do with a couple of new cushions, a new rug, too, for the living area. I’ve been making do with a cheap one which is far too small for the area. If I’m going to tell Elliot I have money, why not spend a little of it?

  My cell starts to ring, pulling it out of my pocket I see Elliot’s beautiful face light up my screen, as though by magic, he knew I was thinking of him. I feel the smile spread across my face as I accept the call

  “Hello, hello. I was just thinking about you.”

  His voice makes me melt when it comes through the phone. “Hey, baby. What a coincidence, I was thinking about you, too.”

  I laugh, like a schoolgirl, too high pitch. I cut it off almost immediately, not wanting to embarrass myself.

  “Were you now? Possibly about the fact that we get to see each other in five more days?” I wrap my forefinger around a loose strand of hair, twisting it around.

  “I know baby, not much longer now. I’ve got an afternoon flight. I’ll get to your place around 4:30 pm, allowing us plenty of time to get to your Christmas party”

  Just hearing him say he is coming is amazing. Knowing that in only a few more days I can wrap my arms around him makes my day. “I can’t wait, Elliot”

  “Me too, baby, me too. So tell me about your day.” I answer his question, leaving out the conversation I had with Liam, I don’t need him to know that I’m aware he has been talking about me to his friends. He then tells me about his day, spent with his sister Beth and her family. The kids couldn’t stop talking about Santa and the presents they hope to receive.

  “Anyway, I want to ask you something. Please don’t take it the wrong way.”

  I find that my heart is beginning to race, “okay, shoot”. I’m met with silence for about twenty seconds.