Tangled Love on Pelican Point (Island County Series Book 3)
Read Tangled Love on Pelican Point (Island County Series Book 3) Online
Authors: Karice Bolton
Copyright © 2016 Karice Bolton
ISBN-10:0-9965402-8-8
ISBN-13:978-0-9965402-8-5
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any printed or electronic form, or stored in an unauthorized retrieval system, or transmitted in any form without permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, incidents, and events either are the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Image Copyright DepositPhotos
Interior © Maljuk
Cover Design: © muha04 id 49588357
© kiuikson id: 78830216
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Dedication
To the amazing readers of Beyond Love and Island County. Thank you.
You have made these stories come to life. I’m forever grateful to you all.
And always to my wonderful husband and beautiful mom. Love you!
BOOKS BY KARICE BOLTON
ISLAND COUNTY SERIES
FINDING LOVE IN FORGOTTEN COVE
LOVE REDONE IN HIDDEN HARBOR
TANGLED LOVE ON PELICAN POINT
FOREVER LOVE ON FIREWEED ISLAND – MAY 2016
BEYOND LOVE SERIES
BEYOND CONTROL
BEYOND DOUBT
BEYOND REASON
BEYOND INTENT
BEYOND CHANCE
BEYOND PROMISE
BEYOND the MISTLETOE
LUKE FLETCHER SERIES
HIDDEN SINS
BURIED SINS
REDEMPTION
MIA – JUNE 2016
THE WITCH AVENUE SERIES
LONELY SOULS
ALTERED SOULS
RELEASED SOULS
SHATTERED SOULS
THE WATCHERS TRILOGY
AWAKENING
LEGIONS
CATACLYSM
TAKEN NOVELLA (A Watchers Prequel)
WHISPER SERIES
WHISPERS IN THE WOODS: THE CAMP
WHISPERS ON CAMPUS: THE DORM
AFTERWORLD SERIES
RecruitZ
AlibiZ
UprisingZ–Coming Soon
My finger ripped through the envelope, and I slid the credit card statement out only to immediately wish I hadn’t. This was going to be a rough month, but nothing I couldn’t handle.
Somehow.
Someway.
It would work out.
“Okay, tell me about this punch.” Nick hauled the grocery bags to the counter and waited for my instructions. “Are we talking a little kick or a lot of kick?”
“We won’t put it together until we get to Natalie’s house, and no kick. Absolutely zero. It’s going to be for the people like me who have to work tomorrow.”
I placed the credit card statement back into the envelope and let out a silent sigh.
If only I could win the lotto. It wouldn’t need to be a big jackpot—even ten thousand dollars would do.
Five thousand dollars? Who was I kidding? One thousand smackers would be marvelous.
Anything, really.
“What’s wrong?” Nick asked, taking the ice cream out of the bag and placing it in the freezer.
“Nothing.” I pushed the rest of the mail to the far end of the counter.
This wasn’t the time to let my worries get in the way of an unforgettable night. Soon, we’d be on our way to Natalie’s house—our other best friend—for a surprise engagement party, and I could put this mini-crisis out of my mind for the night. Natalie had no idea what was about to go down, and I loved getting to be a part of it. Natalie’s boyfriend, Cole, had arranged everything, but keeping the details from Natty over the last couple of weeks had been torture.
“I can see it in your eyes. You opened your mail and your mood immediately took a nosedive. Let me have it.” Nick smiled as he motioned with his fingers. “Come on. Tell Papa.”
I rolled my eyes and grabbed a can of ginger ale. How I managed to collect the one astute male on the island, I didn’t know.
“My mood is just fine,
Papa
.” I took a sip of the warm soft drink as Nick shook his head, walking over to me in about two steps. “But it’s becoming excruciatingly clear why you’re still single, Nicky boy.”
I lived in a small one-bedroom apartment with an even smaller kitchen and living room, but it was my home, and I loved it. The landlord even let me paint the dingy cabinets white and replace the worn knobs with glass ones I’d found at the thrift store.
Now, I just needed to find a way to keep this place.
Nick wrapped his arms around my shoulders and playfully shook me.
“Sophie Bristol, one of your best friends is about to get engaged, and you look like you saw someone skin her cat, Pickles. What’s going on?”
I didn’t want to tell a soul. The truth of the matter was that I was embarrassed. I was mortified that my credit card balances had climbed through the roof ever since my dad’s stroke, and it was getting more and more difficult to pay the minimum payments on them, let alone my rent and utilities.
Life was tense.
I brought my gaze back to Nick’s and tried to bring the same smile to my eyes that I’d plastered on my lips.
“All is good. I think I’m just coming down with something.” I unwrapped his arms from around me and took another sip of soda.
“Is it your dad?” Nick asked, not buying my excuse.
“Sort of.” I didn’t lie very well. It was a curse.
“I thought he was getting better.” Nick’s voice softened.
“He is, but their finances aren’t.”
Nick let out a sigh and ran his fingers through his dark hair.
“And that is your concern because?” Nick’s brow rose.
“Because I can’t let my dad and stepmom wind up on the streets.”
“So you’re willing to put yourself out on the street?”
I narrowed my eyes at Nick. “It’s not like that. I’ve got money coming in and they don’t.”
“Sophie, there’s only one of you, and none of us want anything to happen to you. You work three jobs and barely have time to breathe, let alone do anything you want to do. It’s not healthy.”
“I want to take care of my dad and stepmom. It’s my responsibility. They’d do the same for me.”
“Would they?” Nick crossed his arms, his smile fading.
“It doesn’t matter one way or the other. I wouldn’t feel good about life if I didn’t try to help.”
“You know you can come to me if you need anything.” Nick’s gaze sharpened, and I flicked my eyes to the ground. “Right?”
“Yeah, I know, but I’m fine. Promise.” I walked over to the couch and sunk into the cushions with Nick following right behind me.
“Can you believe Natalie is going to get married?” Nick said, taking a seat next to me. He was in jeans, a t-shirt, and a black hoodie. If he were anyone but Nick, he’d be hard to resist. But he was Nick, and just as confused about love as I was.
He propped his foot on the coffee table I’d made from pallets, used paperbacks, and plenty of glue. It was one of my cuter creations—as long as you didn’t light a candle anywhere in the vicinity.
