Twisted

by Cari Quinn

  “‘Love child’? Only Lila.” He shook his head. “Are you still sick in the mornings?”

  “It’s more morning and afternoon sickness. Sometimes evening. Harp and I keep joking about needing matching sinks wherever we go. Oh, guess what? Deak and Harp finally bought a house. It’s the cutest place—”

  “Save that for later. One life changing event at a time, please.” His lips twitched. “What other symptoms did you have?”

  That was her Gray, always needing to know the details. He’d never be the kind of man who didn’t get involved. “Well, I couldn’t even put on a bra without wincing—” He jerked back from her like she was on fire and she had to laugh, though it made her nose hurt more. She touched it gingerly. “I’m okay today.”

  “Oh. Good.” He frowned, studying her chest so intently that she couldn’t help squirming. “They’re bigger.”

  “Yeah. So’s my belly, though you can’t probably won’t be able to tell yet. But I can.”

  “Let me see.”

  She undid her robe and revealed the skimpy lace teddy beneath. He laid his hand on her stomach and her pulse skipped from the heat of his palm and the intimacy of the gesture. She felt more naked with him touching her there than she ever had in her life.

  “I can tell,” he breathed, and the wonder in his voice brought back her tears. He gave her a sidelong glance and let out a shuddering exhale. “So…guess slow’s out, huh?”

  She shut her eyes, thinking back to one of the hardest days she’d ever gone through. It hadn’t been an ending for them, though it had seemed like it at the time. But somehow they’d found their way back to each other as friends even while they’d dated others. Then they’d broken up with those other people and grown closer all over again.

  And then they’d joined Oblivion.

  “I couldn’t hit the pause button on my life,” she said, blinking her eyes open as a tremor went through his body.

  He remembered.

  “I’m so fucking glad,” he said hoarsely, lacing their fingers together over her belly. “I’m not waiting for any damn thing anymore. We’ve waited plenty.”

  “I know you just got out of Visions, and you’re dealing with big life changes.”

  “Yeah, but I’ve been clean more than sixty days. I’m taking it one day at a time. Believe me, staying away from coke and everything else is my number one priority.”

  “I know, and I’m so proud of you for deciding to go to rehab. It wasn’t easy.” She bit her lip. “There are other concerns too. Financially, we’re still finding our footing, but more of the money will start rolling in soon.”

  “Actually, we’re not doing too badly there.”

  “Huh?”

  “While I was in rehab, I started pursuing another avenue to make some extra on the side. I want to pay you and my parents back as soon as possible, and now I can.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I started selling some of my songs.” He smiled. “Lila hooked me up with some producers and artists who liked what I have. I worked on more in between therapy sessions and courtyard walks. You’d be surprised how much you can come up with when you’re alone so many hours of the day.”

  “That’s amazing.” She stroked his cheek, smiling as he turned his head to kiss her thumb. “I can’t wait to see all the new material.”

  “I’m stockpiling it. Once I got back into the groove, it felt natural. It reminded me of when you and I used to write together. I’m hoping maybe we can get back to that. Get a few Edwards-Duffy collaborations out there.”

  She glanced at her belly. “One’s already cooking.”

  He pressed their joined hands to her stomach. “The best one yet,” he murmured.

  “You’re really okay with this? Even though the timing sucks?”

  “The timing must be right, because it happened. This is exactly what we both wanted.”

  She couldn’t deny it. Even with the alternating bouts of worry and panic over his reaction that she’d suffered through since learning she was pregnant, she’d savored every single moment of their baby’s life. “Yes,” she said, throat thick. “This is exactly what I want.”

  “I know the extended family thing didn’t work out for us the way we would’ve hoped. The situation with my parents…” He trailed off and shook his head. “I’ve talked to them a couple of times recently, and we’ve even tried to discuss Brent. It’s just not happening.”

  “This baby is going to need grandparents. Look, they’re not perfect, all right? But they’re the only parents you’ve got. And I think—hope—that maybe this child can start to build a bridge. Brent’s gone, Gray,” she said gently. “It’s over.”

  “They sided with him. They never even considered that he tried to hurt you. You had to leave, and it wasn’t fair.”

  “They didn’t make me leave. It was my choice.” Not that she’d had many of them, since after what had happened with Brent, the Duffys had never looked at her the same way again.

  “You didn’t feel safe staying in the house with him. What option did they give you?”

  “You paid a much bigger price than I did. God, you turned your back on them to show your solidarity with me, even after I left.” She rubbed his hand. “Sweet, stubborn man.”

  “I won’t stand for anyone hurting you. Not while I have anything to say about it.”

  “Then I guess we’ll have to figure out this whole grandparents thing somehow, because I know all too well how it is to grow up without a family. I don’t want our baby to go through that. If they don’t like me, that’s fine. As long as they treat our son or daughter well.” When he turned his face away, she tenderly turned it back. “I honestly think they will. Your mom made mistakes, yes. Big ones. Mainly because she loved her son too much to see who he really was. I want my baby to be loved too much too.”

  He let out a long breath. “Give it some time, okay?”

  “I will.” She smiled. “We have plenty of it.”

  “That we do, and I want to make the most of it.” He stroked her engagement ring. “Still want to get married now?”

  Yep, there went the waterworks. “Yes.”

  “Me too.” He shimmied down the bed to speak to her abdomen. “Baby, this is your daddy. We’ve gotta shoot a dirty video and then I’ll be back to talk to you some more. But in the meantime, remember that the guitar’s a better instrument than the drums, though your mom can kick my ass on both. Oh, and I love you.” He met her gaze. “I love you both so much.”

  She half laughed, half sobbed and gripped her nose. “Ouch.”

  He frowned. “Sorry about the head bump. I was a little surprised. Are you okay?”

  “I am now.” She smiled as he shifted back on top of her and fisted his hands in her hair. “I don’t think I could be better.”

  “Challenge accepted. Later. But first…” Grinning, he called out, “We’re ready.”

  “Video for Oblivion’s ‘Sugar Kiss’ crashes YouTube” - headline in the entertainment section of the Los Angeles Wire, April 9th, 2014

  There’s more to come! Jazz and Gray’s story continues in UNTWISTED, on FEBRUARY 12, 2015. PREORDER NOW!

  UNTWISTED

  Falling in love was easy…figuring out the rhythm of being a couple, not so much.

  Now that they’ve pressed play, life is going way too fast for Gray Duffy and Jazz Edwards. A super hot video has boosted their band Oblivion’s popularity even higher, and suddenly Gray and Jazz are the reigning prince and princess of rock. But as their private wedding ceremony in their most special place approaches, they realize they can’t go forward without facing their roots.

  With new family members coming into the mix and old unresolved dramas coming to a head, one thing is for sure—the harder they rock, the bigger the drop.

  LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

  HIT OR QUIT: After you finish TWISTED please consider leaving an honest review here or on Goodreads.

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  LOST IN OBLIVION

  the Series

  SEDUCED (intro)

  ROCKED (book #1)

  ROCK, RATTLE & ROLL (book #1.5)

  * * ♦ * *

  Coming soon

  UNTWISTED

  DESTROYED

  If you’d like more information about the series & extras please visit www.lostinoblivion.com.

  ANYTHING BUT MINE

  WHEN YOU’RE GONE TRILOGY

  BOOK ONE

  By Taryn Elliott

  Rock star Logan King has come home to Winchester Falls for the annual Summer Festival. Only this time he's hauling a helluva lot more baggage than a few suitcases and vintage guitars. His closet contains more than the usual skeletons…and if he doesn't keep the door firmly locked, someone might get harmed. The specter of what haunts him forces him to turn away from anything more than one-night-stands.

  Until Izzy and her topaz eyes finally give him a reason to try again.

  Since moving to town Isabella Grace has found friends and a place to belong for the first time in her life. Running the Summer Festival is the perfect way to show how important her new community is. She just never planned on a whirlwind fling with a man too used to saying goodbye. Or to fall for a guy who has as many secrets as he does hit songs.

  Logan is used to protecting himself, but protecting Izzy is all new territory. With everything that matters to him at risk, he refuses to let her get hurt—even if that means he has to walk away. For her own good.

  Buy it or Try it.

  SHADOWBOXER

  Book 1 in the Tapped Out series

  by Cari Quinn

  She’s in for the fight of her life…with the man who only wants to be her lover.

  Fighter Mia Anderson has faced the dark side of life and survived. But just getting by is no longer enough. To fund her new life with her baby sister, she’s determined to beat the reigning king of the male fighters in New York’s underground MMA circuit, Tray “Fox” Knox.

  Tray refuses to fight a woman, until he learns Mia’s tougher than anyone he has ever known. He soon realizes he wants more from her than blows and blood, and he’s willing to hit below the belt to get it. He’ll fight her, but if he wins, she spends the night in his bed. All night long, his rules. No tapping out.

  Mia agrees, certain that he’ll lose. What she doesn’t realize is that Tray loves to fight dirty…and that this match may end up being the most important one of their lives.

  Buy or Try