Zenith Rising (46 page)

His gaze bored into her. “Who is paying?”

She blinked. “What?”

“Who is paying your bills?”

She swallowed and raised a hand to her
throat. “Nick is. Okay? My brother is. He read my first book and
thought it was good. He thought I was worth investing in. He said
if I ever needed money for future research, or whatever, all I had
to do was ask.”

Rob shook his head. Nick Lassiter was a
billionaire. He ran some kind of computer company, that, from what
Rob could tell, specialized in very confidential and elite hacking
for the government and private parties, alike. It was all very
hush-hush and endlessly profitable.

“Your brother, huh? Does your brother know
that the money he gives you will be paid to me?”

Her sausage curls flopped on her head as she
shook it vigorously. “No. I don’t have to ask him. This isn’t his
project. It’s mine.”

He laughed and shook his head. “Sweetheart,
as soon as you tell Nicky you’re planning to spend his money to pay
me for my story, which involves his precious, little wife, you’ll
see how quickly you’re right back to being a stupid, unknown,
hobbyist author that no one believes in.”

She shook her head. “Nick wouldn’t do that to
me. He already believes in me.”

“You so sure of that? Or, maybe your rich
brother is just trying to encourage you. Applauding any of your
writing efforts. What’s a few thousand to a billionaire like
him?”

She scowled at Rob. “I understand how I must
have taken you by surprise here, with this. And I should have
articulated my intentions better. But Nick really has nothing to do
with this. I have a project in mind, one that I know I can do. And
I know I can write your story.”

“What story? There’s nothing to say about it.
And no reason or purpose to tell it.”

“I think you’re wrong. I think it’s an
inspirational story of hope, of moving from darkness to light.
Of…”

“God, sweetheart, what in the world do you
think I did? Slayed a dragon and rescued a damsel in distress? No!
I abused my wife, and shoved her into your brother’s arms, before
destroying my health, my best friend’s life, and my band. That’s
the story you see.”

Her curls bounced up and down again. “No, I
see a story of a talented man, who spiraled out of control, and
temporarily lost sight of his dreams, but instead of descending
further, you chose to get help. You chose to stop and get sober.
And that is a feat, which I believe is well worth writing
about.”

Rob laughed and stood up, moving closer to
her, and blowing smoke over her face. His voice was low and cold as
he said, “I don’t know you, and I don’t want to know you. So before
I say something very rude and nasty, which Joelle can readily
confirm that I’m perfectly capable of doing, get the fuck out of
here.”

Her jaw dropped open as her eyes rounded in
shock. “But!”

He nearly growled at her as he stepped
closer, invading her personal space and said, “Leave me alone,
Nick’s sister.”

She nodded as she scrambled backwards.
Without another word, she dug into the large, black bag she carried
over her shoulder and pulled out a sheaf of papers.

“Please. This is the first book I ever wrote.
Just take it, and read it. And just see what I have in mind. It’s
not as terrible, or gossipy or nasty as you’re describing. Please,
just read it. Consider allowing me to chronicle your success.”

She handed the sheaf of papers to him, but he
refused to accept it. She finally set it beside him on the picnic
table. Her shoulders slumped in defeat as she glanced up at him and
said softly, “You once had dreams of being a singer. I have dreams
of being a writer. Please don’t say no without giving me a chance.
Someone has to take a chance on us before we can get what we want.
Maybe we could help each other find a chance towards something
better.” Then she turned on her heel and nearly ran away from him,
and back to the light gaiety of the wedding reception.

Check my
website
for
Zenith
Fulfilled
.

The Other Sister (Sister Series, #1)—For
purchasing options
click
here.

General Travis Bains has two daughters, one
who is good, and one who is bad. Everyone knows Lindsey is the good
one, and Jessie is the bad one.

Jessie Bains is the other sister, the bad
sister, which she has proven more often than not, until the day she
gets kidnapped and brutally raped. Will Hendricks, one of her
father’s soldiers, rescues her, and brings her home, but fears she
may be nearly destroyed by what was done to her. The most important
thing, however, no one can know, per the general’s orders.

Jessie’s life was always far from normal as
the daughter of one of the most revered generals in the world. No
one would ever think or believe the general could abuse either of
his daughters, except Will. When Will discovers the danger Jessie
is living in at her father’s hand, he once again rescues her, but
this time, only he can protect her. Will has survived the horrors
of war, but is now engaged in a battle that has become far more
personal and far more deadly. Will alone realizes what the general
has done and will do to destroy his “other” daughter.

The Good Sister (Sister Series, #2)—For
Purchasing options
click
here.

Lindsey Bains Johanson has spent her entire
life performing the art of denial. She was always the obedient,
perfect daughter of General Travis Bains, until she learned of the
atrocities he committed against her own sister. Now, free of her
father, she has become the perfect wife. A lifetime of training has
made her able to keep quiet about anything and everything,
including the monster her husband is behind closed doors.

Circumstances allow her an unprecedented
vacation she uses to visit her sister in Washington State clear
across the country from her home in Arlington, Virginia. Free of
her husband’s aggression, she starts to step free of the broken
shell she has become. With the help of veterinarian Noah Clark, she
soon begins to see she doesn’t have to be so good, or so obedient.
But she knows that this woman she is becoming is someone her
husband will never allow her to be.

When her husband comes for her, she goes
home, without telling anyone the secret she has kept at the expense
of her mind and body. But this time… things go too far, and only
then does Noah figure out what she has hidden all these years. But
Lindsey knows that nothing will stop her husband; he will
eventually destroy her, no matter how long it takes, just as he
always promised her.

The Seaclusion Series published through The
Wild Rose Press

Poison Book One – For purchasing options
click here.

On the run from her violent ex-husband,
Cassie Reeves will do anything to keep her son safe, even if it
means turning to a man she betrayed a decade ago. John Tyler now
hates her as much as he once loved her—but Cassie has no
choice.

John's quiet life as a small town doctor in
Seaclusion, Washington has no place in it for the woman he turned
his back on ten years ago. But when Cassie and her son land on his
doorstep, he can’t turn them away. The longer she stays, though,
the harder it is to remember why he stopped loving her.

With her ex-husband closing in, Cassie soon
realizes that only she can end what he has started. And as John and
Cassie's mutual attraction reignites, she vows to do anything to
protect her son and grab the happiness that has escaped her for so
long.

Notorious Book Two --For purchasing options
click here.

Luke Tyler wants peace from the grief that
has ruled his life in the three years since his wife's death.
Instead he is forced to share a house with Kelly Reeves as they
care for their shared nephew. He dislikes everything about Kelly
until he begins to glimpse the true woman hiding beneath the
notorious reputation that Kelly has carefully created.

Kelly thought her trip to the small town of
Seaclusion, Washington, would be nothing but a forgettable two-week
vacation. Then she accidentally witnesses Luke's staggering grief
and suddenly reevaluates what is truly important. Soon, Luke
becomes the only person she trusts past the facade she has
cultivated.

Kelly believes their love can conquer all,
but Luke isn't convinced. Kelly is forced back to her life of fame
and fortune, making Luke question which is riskier...letting her
walk away or running after her?

Secrets Book Three- Release to be determined
for 2014

When Sarah Langston catches teenager, Angie
Peters, shoplifting a maternity shirt from her store the last thing
she intends is to become involved with Angie or her family. But
something tugs at her heart and she finds herself struggling to
help Angie deal with the pregnancy she has hidden for months.