Lavida discovers that her mother has explosive secrets she has never discovered all these years. She also learns that what began as a fun thing between her and some guys may have given birth to a potential relationship with an amazing guy, Con. It remains to be seen.
In the meantime, Tina learns that somebody has become an enemy and is planning to rip her family apart. And he has the weapon to do it. A weapon she supplied him with. And will Clay forgive her even after he learns that she went sexually wild when he “paused” the relationship earlier on, especially if she goes out of her way to make him forget? Could she be falling for Ron, the white date she met when she and Clay were on a hiatus? Tina is confused, but one thing she is sure of is that she must get away from dear Dad...but then how can she desert the family in the middle of a looming crisis?
They may not know it, but the hands of fate may choose to reveal the secret that may change the two girls’ lives forever.
If you are thinking this is a hot, steamy romance, you are right, but there is much more...
Chapter 1
She was brought suddenly back to her senses as her Dad spoke sharply. “Hope you all had a good night,” he snapped. “Matt, your services will no longer be needed, and I will ask you to collect your check and leave. And take Jake with you. And if this story gets around, especially to any dirty tabloid, you two will be wishing you had never met this family.”
“Julia!” he called.
Julia had appeared from the door where she was hiding, listening.
“Yes, master?”
“Don’t turn this into a damn joke with your ‘master’ bullcrap...you think this is funny? You are a bad example to Tina, and I will not have it. I shut my eyes to your affair with Matt, that’s your business. But a group sex thing in my own house? The best I can do right now is kick your ass back to Mexico!”
“Honey, watch your language,” her Mom had began.
“Oh, please! This is one morning I’m free to curse! Julia, the only reason you are allowed to remain is your are a damn great cook, you are a chef for goodness’ sake, so don’t act like a porn star. Now you may all leave. Except Tina. Collect your checks from Malcolm, you two.”
“Malcolm?” Matt had raised his eyebrows.
“Malcolm is the new manager around here, and my advice is don’t mess with Malcolm.”
As it turned out, Malcolm was built like weight-lifter and never seemed to smile, not once. Neither did he ever seem angry. Just strangely aloof, distant, efficient and strict. Tina would soon find that she couldn’t even fantasize about those muscular arms and chest without being terrified of his foreboding demeanor.
“Now, you,” he had turned to Tina as soon as the others left, and lowered his voice as if suspecting that the other three were listening from outside the dining room. “I still don’t believe this happened.”
“Darling, I always felt confining her to this place would backfire sometime,” her Mom had said. “I think it’s time...”
“Sweetie, let me handle this,” her Dad had said firmly and with finality. “Tina, I can only do this in phases. First, you are grounded for three months. Malcolm and your mother must know your whereabouts all the time. I’m confiscating your phone and computer, and all entertainment except books. I will...”
“Dad please! Am I in prison? Isn’t this the beginning of all the trouble?” Tina wailed.
“Oh, so you were trying to hit back at me, were you? Do you know that everything I do was for your own good?”
“Oh, please!” Tina snorted and walked back to her room, ignoring his shout. How did he change from the dedicated singer in the studio and on stage to this tyrant at home who seemed to rule every inch of her life?
She had called Clay, her ex who had ran away from her Dad’s hostile reception.
“Clay, I’m grounded. For three months.”
“Really? Can you remind your Dad you are twenty-two now?”
“No, this time it’s worse. I did some terrible stuff and he won’t listen to me, ever again.”
“Just what did you do? What could you possibly do at home?”
“Believe me, plenty.”
*
“I want one million dollars. You are mean, inconsiderate, heartless, selfish and a total jerk,” Lavida heard her mother say from the living room as she reached the bottom of the stairs, and she froze. Her mother had been out when she came in and she [Lavida] had gone up to her room and must have fallen asleep because it was now twenty-two past five according to the clock on the wall.
Lavida could only hear her mother’s side of the conversation, but she could hardly believe the words she was hearing.