Indie shot across the room and hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she said, her eyes shining with sincerity. “I’m here if you ever want to talk. Woman to woman.”
“Thank you,” Laurella said, a little taken aback by the exuberant response, although it was lovely all the same.
Jax squeezed her shoulder, and then she found herself wrapped in Cole’s warm embrace. “You did so well today, Laurella. I know it wasn’t easy.”
“I’m just glad they believed me.”
“Of course they believed you,” Calum said. “That fucker broke into your apartment, and you defended yourself.”
“Well, it’s behind us now. I just want to forget it.”
“And on that note, let’s eat,” Indie said.
Laurella flashed her a grateful smile. She and Indie didn’t know each other very well, but the other woman had correctly guessed that Laurella wanted the conversation to move on. Maybe Indie would become a friend, someone she could go shopping or to the movies with or who’d be a sounding board when she wanted to moan about Calum. She missed her sisters and her girlfriends back in Italy, and as wonderful as Calum was, a girl needed her friends.
After dinner, Indie and Jax disappeared upstairs to take over the bar, and Cole muttered something about meeting his buddies for a drink. Laurella found herself alone with Calum. His eyes smoldered with an intensity that had her toes curling.
He placed his hands on her hips and moved her closer to him. “I knew, from the moment I first saw you sitting in my chair in the boardroom, that you’d be trouble.”
Laurella smiled. “Il mio amore, you wouldn’t have me any other way.”
Epilogue
Cole strolled with Draven across Times Square, the bright lights of the city he loved making night feel like day. Their shift was almost over, and Draven was trying to persuade him to head out on the town. It was Saturday night, after all. But after a week of pulling twelve-hour shifts, he craved sleep.
“How’s Laurella doing?” Draven asked.
“She’s one tough girl,” Cole said. “She’s bounced straight back, and even though Calum wanted her to take some time off work, she insists that she’s going back Monday.”
Draven laughed. “I bet he loved that.”
Cole grinned. “He doesn’t have a choice. She’s got him under the thumb.”
Draven laughed again. “I never thought I’d hear those words in relation to Calum.”
“Neither did he.”
A scuffle broke out at a bar across the street, and they broke into a jog. When the troublemakers got a look at Draven, they sobered up fast. He had that effect on most people, although the odd dick took it as a sign that Draven was up for a fight. Those idiots soon learned the hard way.
They headed back to the station, but as they passed by a coffee shop, something made Cole glance inside. He stopped dead in his tracks.
What. The. Hell. Millie Frayser.
Shock rolled through him. What was she doing back in New York? He stared harder, making sure he wasn’t mistaken. Ten years had passed since she’d fucked off with Tanner, the captain of their high school football team. Yet it might as well have happened yesterday, because the passage of time hadn’t dimmed the devastating blow of rejection clawing at his gut. Nor had it taken away the nasty taste of being passed over not once, but twice. Although, could it be called rejection when he’d kept his true feelings buried deep inside?
“What the fuck are you gawking at?” Draven asked from several feet ahead as he realized Cole hadn’t kept up.
Cole turned his head in Draven’s direction, then back toward the coffee shop.
“Cole!” Draven said.
“It’s her,” Cole said obtusely.
Draven frowned. “Who?”
He came to his senses as a rush of excitement was followed by resurgent feelings of anger and resentment bubbling to the surface.
“The woman who should have been mine.”
THE END
FROM MY HEART
Thank you so much for reading Against All Odds.
Writing Calum and Laurella’s story was one of the most joyous times I’ve had as an author. I completed a first draft during NaNoWriMo in November 2017 where this book just poured out of me. Sometimes when an author is writing a character, for some strange reason, they resonate more deeply than others. Calum Brook is that character for me. Yes he’s blunt and uncompromising, and at times, downright irritating, but as I was writing his story, he stole a little piece of my heart that will always belong to him.
I’d love to hear what you thought of Calum and Laurella’s journey to their HEA. Please feel free to get in touch via email, Facebook, Twitter or by signing up to my reader group
Next up is Cole and Millie. I can’t wait to introduce you to the quiet Brook Brother—or is he? Looks can be deceiving, and Cole Brook has hidden depths.
His To Protect will be released on January 3rd 2019.
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Books by Tracie Delaney
The Winning Ace Series
Winning Ace
Losing Game
Grand Slam
Mismatch (can be read as a stand-alone)
Break Point - A Winning Ace Novella
(Releasing December 2018)
Stand-alone
My Gift To You
The Brook Brothers Series
The Blame Game
Against All Odds
His To Protect (Releasing January 2019)
Web of Lies (Releasing March 2019)
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Acknowledgments
Yet again, I have so many people to thank. If I miss anyone out… I’m so so sorry. Please know that I appreciate every single one of my team.
To my wonderful hubs for not complaining when I disappear for hours at a time, locked in my study while I bash away at my keyboard, and for the endless supply of coffee. You still make the best coffee I’ve ever tasted.
To my editors, Sarah and Emmy. Really, ladies, you’ve made my words sing. I can’t thank you enough for your insight.
To my critique partner, Incy—thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I remember sending you a first draft of Against All Odds with a tinge of fear because I adored Calum so much, and I wanted you to adore him too. Thankfully you did, although you still shared a few amazing nuggets that strengthened the story no end.
To Louise. My Rock. You’ve been there since the very beginning and I appreciate you more than you’ll ever know. Thank you for everything you do, and the constant giggles on Messenger. Don’t ever change. You’re perfect.
To my alpha reader, Allison. You are THE BOMB, lady. I am so, so thrilled to know you and to work with you. I’m so glad you loved Calum as much as I did—even if you did think he was a gigantic ass at times (LOL).
To Lexi for believing in me and this book. Not long until Nate… who is yours (swapping for B seem
s like a good deal to me!)
To Del. Thank you for being so selfless with your time. Your feedback really is appreciated. Calum would like me to point out that he is so much more than sheer entertainment value!
To my ARC readers. You guys are amazing! You’re my final eyes and ears before my baby is released into the world and I appreciate each and every one of you for giving up your time to read—and point out the odd errors that slip through the net!
And last but most certainly not least, to you, the readers. Thank you for being on this journey with me. It still humbles me to think that my words are being read all over the world.
If you have a couple of minutes, would you consider leaving a short review on Amazon? Reviews really help readers discover new books, and they’re particularly important for up and coming authors. You’d be helping more than you know
About the Author
Tracie Delaney writes contemporary romance novels that centre around strong characters and real life problem with, of course, a perfect Happy Ever After ending (even if she does sometimes make her characters wait a little while!)
When she isn’t writing or sitting around with her head stuck in a book, she can often be found watching The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones or any tennis match involving Roger Federer.
You can chat with Tracie on Facebook (www.facebook.com/traciedelaneyauthor) or Twitter (twitter.com/tracie_delaney), or, for the latest news, exclusive excerpts and competitions, why not join her reader group (smarturl.it/lvtnjm) and those things will be automatically delivered right to your inbox, along with a special gift just for signing up.
Tracie lives in the North West of England with her amazingly supportive husband and her two crazy Westie puppies, Cooper and Murphy who make her laugh every day.
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Against All Odds (A Brook Brothers Novel Book 2) Page 23
