New Title 6

Holding Out Copyright

© 2013 by Lila Rose

All rights reserved. No
part of this eBook may be used or reproduced in any written, electronic,
recorded, or photocopied format without the permission from the author as
allowed under the terms and conditions with which it was purchased or as
strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution,
circulation or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author's
rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly. Thank you for
respecting the work of this author.

Holding Out
is a work of fiction. All
names, characters, events and places found in this book are either from the
author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to persons live or
dead, actual events, locations, or organizations is entirely coincidental and
not intended by the author.

Cover image from:
Dreamstime

Editing by: Hot Tree
Editing

Proofreading by: Kayla the
Bibliophile

Formatting by: Black
Firefly
www.blackfirefly.com

I
would like to thank my sister Rachel, for your help and how you’ve
always believed in me. I would never have gotten this finished if it wasn’t for
you.

 Nicole.
For being my inspiration for the character Deanna, and for telling me to get my
ass into gear to finish this. I love your guts, woman.

 My
family – Craig for giving me the time to complete this while you worked liked a
mad man. Shayla and Jake for putting up with me through this all.

 I
would love to thank my critiquing friends, Nicola, Maggie and Pat. Without your
help, I would have gone grammar crazy.

 To
my Beta readers, Justine, Sue and Debbie. Your kind words helped me think that
this wasn't in my imagination. I did have something to work with.

 To
Hot Tree Editing, Becky (you rock) and her crew, especially, Kayla the
Bibliophile and all my other wonderful editors. I want to thank you all for the
great work you've done to make
Holding Out
better. Also for putting up
with me and all my questions.

To
Jade at Black Firefly for the amazing formatting job!

 Lastly,
I would like to thank Mum, Andrew, Tracey and Vicki for your encouragement.

I
was enjoying the walk home in the afternoon sun. My boss had an
assignment and she kindly gave me the rest of the day off. Maya, my
six-year-old, was attending the school sleepover for her grade. I picked myself
up some chocolate, a DVD, a bottle of wine, and Chinese takeout for dinner.
Even better, my best friend, Deanna was coming over later to help me make the
most of my relaxing night in.

 I
rounded the corner to my street and froze. My annoying, but too-hot-to-touch
neighbor was standing out front of my other next door neighbor's house talking
to Miss Bootylicious—the Campbell's nineteen-year-old daughter, Karen. I hung
my head, ready to stride past, humming a tune along the way to cover their
voices. Still, her high cackle broke through, as irritating as always. I was
close to freedom and just past them, while deafening myself with my out of tune
hum; when someone grabbed my arm and spun me back around.

 “Kitten,”
Talon said.

 My
eyes closed on their own accord to cherish the sound. It happened every time I
heard his deep grumble of a voice.

 “Uh,
what? Oh, Talon?” I blushed and bit my bottom lip.

 He
laughed. “I asked where Maya was.”

 “Oh,
um, she's at school. Her class is having a sleepover,” I informed him. Though I
didn't know why.

 “Right.
So...” he began, but stopped to look into my shopping bags. “We're watching
27
Dresses
, eating Chinese, and drinking wine. Sounds like a plan. What time
do you want me to come over? I could bring dessert.” He grinned mischievously.

 I
looked around him to Karen. She huffed something and stomped off. I then turned
my gaze back to hunk'o'saurus and his messy, needs-a-cut black hair and dark
brown eyes.

 I'll
never forget the day I moved onto the street and into my three-bedroom
weatherboard home and learned that I was living across the road from the local
biker compound. With their head honcho right next door to me. I had just moved
with Maya out of Deanna's house after being there for four years. I was feeling
frightened and overwhelmed, as well as a little inebriated after having a few
welcome-to-the-new-house drinks with Deanna. Deanna left and I was in bed but
Maya kept waking up from the loud music being played next door. After she
drifted back to sleep once more, I went—armed with the confidence of the
alcohol—next door, dressed in my pink nightie with a kitten on the front and
combat boots. I banged on the door; a short, hairy guy opened it and raised his
eyebrows at me.

 “Who
is the freaking owner of this place?” I demanded.

 “Yo,
boss,” the man called over his shoulder.

 And
I swear my heart stopped when my eyes spotted Talon walk his broad, muscular,
wondrous form my way. Everything but him faded into the background.

 “Whad'up,
Cupcake?” He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his
sizzling chest.

 My
eyes closed. Until I remembered I was there for a reason, and that reason was
more important than Mr. Hotness.

 Upon
opening them, I went straight into a glare that could scare most young
children. His mouth twitched. “I just moved in next door. I thought 'wow, what
a nice place to start anew!' That was, until your stupid, bloody music started
blasting on a freakin' Monday night. I have a daughter who is starting her new
school tomorrow.” I stepped up closer. “Turn down the music.
Now
,” I
hissed.

 “Wow,
boss, you have a fuckin' wildcat living next door,” someone said from behind
him. Manly chuckles began. I ignored the others and kept my glare on Spunky.

 “More
like a wild kitten,” he smiled, looking down at my nightie. “Don't worry,
kitten. I'll turn down the music. But, it'll cost ya.”

 I
blanched and stepped back. “Wh...what?”

 The
men laughed louder.

 “Just
one kiss, babe.”

 “Talon!”
A woman growled from somewhere behind the laughing crowd.

 “You're
a... pig,” I said, and walked away. Not long after that, the music was turned
down.

“Z
ara?”

 I
blinked back into the now and answered, “I-ah. No, I don't think. I mean, I'm
not good company, and I have a friend coming over—”

 “That's
fine, just means we'll have to be quick,” he winked.

 Rolling
my eyes, I walked off, but not before he slapped me on the behind and then
strode past me laughing.

 I
grumbled under my breath all the way up the steps, ignoring the other bikers
across the road at the compound laughing, yet again, at me.

Two
hours later, I'd had a bath and gotten into my pink with black kittens flannel
PJs. The nights were colder now. Deanna texted an hour ago saying,
'
Hey, twat head. Not sure if
I can make it. I’ll let you know
'
.

 So
I sat down at my small, four-seated wooden table by the kitchen’s large bay
windows to eat my re-heated Chinese. I have always found that Chinese tasted
better when re-heated.

 Then
the doorbell sung.
Maybe Deanna can make it after all
. I walked through
my small lounge that was furnished with a three-seated floral couch and one
chair. A television sat on a long black unit against the wall, and a wooden
chest acted as a coffee table in the center. Nothing matched and that was the
way I liked it. I'd saved and bought all of it myself, so I loved every piece
in my house. I smiled before opening the front door.

 “Kitten,”
Talon said as he looked at me from top to bottom. With a grin he moved fast,
because the next thing I knew, he was kissing me. My eyes sprung wide when his
hot mouth touched mine.