Bound Together brought us
the love triangle of Jared, Layla and Ollie. In Burning Up, they are all back. Come along with us on this
journey and see what trouble these 3 get into...
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release
Date: November 1, 2013
Scorching heat...
Erotic pleasure...
Intense passion...
Layla Jennings thought she had it all figured out. The right time, the right place and the right guy.
After leaving behind her life and friends in Long Beach, Layla must now walk the path she has chosen,
hand in hand with the man who holds her heart.
As the flame of love continues to burn brightly, she discovers more about herself and the man she loves
every day. But what happens if the fire goes out? What happens when half of your heart is across an
ocean?
With the other man in her life unwilling to give up his fight for her, and a danger she is too blind to see,
Layla must battle between the safe and steady journey she has embarked on and the one that leads to
destinations unknown.
Walking through the crowds, I
gazed out of the vast window at the sparkling lights of New York. “Does he know I’m here?” Daniel shook his head. “You asked me
not to say, so I didn’t.
I’m really glad you’re here
though. He’s been fucking miserable since we left Long Beach. Besides, with you here, I have someone to talk to and keep me
from going crazy. Things are about to get real hectic at the company. You sure you know what I gave him a puzzled look and he smiled
at me. “Guess not."
Daniel wasn’t just Jared’s driver;
he was his friend, even if Jared didn’t realize it or choose to admit it. I felt that the two of us had also become friends. After all,
he’d had my back so many times I’d lost count. When I’d been arrested, it was Daniel who’d called Jared and, as it turned out,
broken several traffic laws to get to him. That awful night at Felix’s apartment would have ended a lot differently had Daniel
not called Jared and warned him of our activity. I had a lot to thank him for and keeping him company during our time together,
was the least I could do. I figured that it must be lonely work driving Jared around, sitting there, in the front seat, a screen between them. It
all seemed awfully
secluded, isolated and impersonal.
I was not going to be one of those
high society girlfriends that I saw in magazines and
newspapers. The ones that look as though they have caramel stuck to the end of their noses and pout a lot when people speak to them.
I was definitely not buying into the hype of that lifestyle. Daniel was stuck with me now, and I was determined to have some
fun.
“Do we have to go straight to the
apartment? Will he get suspicious if you’re
gone?”
He eyed me skeptically. “I guess
not. I told him I had to run errands and he’s been so distant,
he just kinda nodded and dismissed me. I could have been
naked and dancing, and he wouldn’t have noticed. He’s really
not himself right now.”
My heart sank. My intense, hot
mess, businessman was in
pain, and I was the cause.
Bitch. I was
desperate to see him and put him out of his agonizing misery, but I was also determined to get to know Daniel better.
I was going to be
spending a lot of time with him during the next few months and aside from Jared, he was the only person I knew </
span>in New York and I hardly
knew him at all.
Reaching the exit, Daniel gestured
to the shiny, sleek Mercedes parked curbside. I
smiled at the familiarity of it. He opened my door and ushered
me inside before running around to pack my case into the trunk. He got into the driver’s seat and glanced back, smiling at me. I leaned
forward and rested my hand on his shoulder. “I’m starving. Dinner?”
He gave me a look that told me he
was unsure if it was such a good idea. “I don’t know. I mean, aren’t you anxious to see him?”
I shook my head. I wasn’t anxious
to see him; I was freaking out from nerves and the more
I worried, the harder my stomach churned. “Nope. I’m Hank Marvin and I need something to eat before I throw up from nerves.” He
chuckled.
I nodded. “Yeah, you know,
starving? I heard it on TV once.”
He threw his head back and
laughed. “Since you put it that way, I’d be happy to have dinner
with you. There’s a burger joint just around the corner, or do you want something a little fancier?”
I shrugged. “I think, a nice juicy
burger sounds awesome.”
* * * *
Sitting in the booth, I scanned my
surroundings. New York was a far cry from Pasadena or
even Long Beach. It was almost eight in the evening, and the streets were still bustling with The burger bar was quiet though. It
was one of those nineteen fifties diner types and had a jukebox playing in the corner. The waitress rolled over on her skates
and placed the most enormous cheeseburger that I had ever seen in front of me. The smell of greasy food and the delicious
vanilla from my creamy, ice-cold milkshake was a welcome scent. Every single bite of my meal was like a taste of heaven. I really was hungry.
I hadn’t eaten
properly in days and I finally had my appetite back. I was definitely looking forward to my first New York bagel, too.
Bagels.
My heart plummeted into my
stomach again and I suddenly lost my appetite. My chest felt
tight, and I could feel unshed tears I could only imagine how broken he was right now. I’d done a horrible thing and I’d done it over a text!
It was selfish, cowardly, and I deserved whatever hate or anger he was feeling toward me. He hadn’t replied or called since, and I knew
that we were not
only done as lovers, but also as friends. He’d never forgive me now, and I didn’t deserve him to.
Daniel frowned at me. “You okay?
You seem a little distracted. You’re not having second thoughts are you?”
Snapping out of my mood and
forcing thoughts of Ollie out of my mind, I shook my head.
“No. I’m just a little tired from the flight.”
He smiled and took another big
bite of his burger.
Pushing my plate away, I leaned
back and cocked my head to the side. “So, I guess you’ll be keeping me company while Jared works, huh? I hope you don’t mind. I
promise not to be high maintenance and to make it as much fun as I can.” He grinned and pushed his plate away, cleaning his hands on a
napkin.
“It’s my job to take you wherever
you want to go. Jared doesn’t usually use the Mercedes
unless he’s going to a formal dinner or social. He’ll take the Jag so that leaves me at your disposal. Shopping shows and
sightseeing … I’m the man to take you there, with Jared’s permission, of course.”
Jared’s permission? I rolled my
eyes and shook my head at the statement. The whole time
we’d been together he seemed to think he could dictate where I could go, how, and with whom. Things were going to change and for the
better, I hoped.
“You leave Jared to me. I
want to see everything, all the sights this city has to offer, and
Jared is not going to stop me from having fun. I’m an adult and
it’s time he started treating me
Daniel nodded, but I could see he
was conflicted. “Well, if anyone can handle him, I’d
say you can. Speaking of Jared, we should probably get going. You ready for this?” I bit my lip and smiled. I was so ready
I was practically giddy with anticipation. Rolling his eyes, Daniel paid for our meal, even though I’d begged him to let me and
we made our way back to the car. I sat in the back because I needed a distraction as my nerves began to swarm in my stomach. “So
where’s home for you Daniel?”
He looked at me in the rearview
mirror.
“Illinois. I moved to California when my dad
got transferred to another division of his company. I was about thirteen. My mom moved back to Illinois after the divorce, though. How
about you?”
He nodded and smiled. “Small
town boy, small town girl, and here we are in the Big Apple.
Have you ever been to New York I shook my head. “Other than San Francisco, I’ve never really traveled beyond Long Beach. You like
it here? I mean, you must be here a lot with Jared and his business.”
He glanced in the mirror at me
again, and I saw his eyebrows furrow. “Can’t say I hate it or love
it. It’s where I am. I have an apartment here that Jared pays for and I look at it as just another place I work. It’s not like I vacation here
or anything. I’m on duty all week and some Saturdays, so I never really thought about whether I like it. I hardly know it. I’ve never seen the
sights or anything
else New York has to offer outside of the functions I drive Jared to.”
I felt bad for him and decided
then, that I would do everything I could to make his time and mine in New York more fun.
“I guess we’re both gonna have to make New York home for now. Stick with me, Dan. I intend to have lots of fun while I’m here.”
He smiled and chuckled a little.
“Dan?”
“Do you hate it?” He shook his
head.
“I like it. Dan. Yep. You can call me
Dan, Miss Jennings.”
I grinned and leaned forward to
his seat. “And you must call me Layla. Deal?” His smile
widened. “Deal. Well, we’re here. I’ll get your bags and give you a minute to breathe. You look a bit flushed.”
I looked at myself in the rear
view. I was beet red. Nerves were no longer swarming; they
were twirling like a tornado in my stomach.
We’d pulled up in front of an
impressive building. With its white brick and elegant golden
window frames, it was certainly extravagant and definitely expensive. One look at the name above the golden-framed glass door told
me I was right. ‘Garrett Towers.’ It was one of Jared’s for sure.
My eyes immediately darted to
the top floor where he would no doubt have the penthouse. My
heart did a little skip and my insides twisted.
Opening my door, Daniel smiled
and held my bags in his hands.
“Ready?” Now there was a
question I couldn’t answer.
Ready to go up there?
Absolutely.
Ready to see Jared? Oh good God,
yes.
Ready to leave my old life behind
and start my new one with him? Well, that would come
eventually. Wouldn’t it?
The doorman saw me exit the car
and nodded at Daniel.
“Layton, this is Miss Jennings.
She’s here to see Mr. Garrett.
Would you please grant her entry
while I park the car?” The large and burly gentleman scanned me from head to toe as I stood awkwardly on the sidewalk. I bit my lip
anxiously.
Opening the door, he smiled
politely. “Of course. Right this
way. Let me take your bags for
you, ma’am.”
Daniel grinned at me and nudged
my arm, immediately pulling me from my dazed state. “You gotta go in there some time. He’s going to be thrilled to see you. Go on.
Get in there, girl.”
I beamed back at him and threw
my arms around his neck.
“Thank you so much, Dan. Wish
me luck.” He snorted.
“You don’t need it. He’s crazy
about you. I’ll catch you later.
Have a good night.” Giving me a
wink, he got in the car and
drove away toward a large pair
of iron gates, which I assumed, led to the parking lot beneath the building
Layton cleared his throat loudly.
Giving him an apologetic look, I followed him inside.The foyer was a gleaming
white and the front desk was a beautiful ivory stone with gold trim. It matched the marble floor perfectly. I stood at the elevator
and fidgeted mindlessly. When it finally chimed and the doors opened, I was so caught up in my thoughts; it startled me a little.
I could hardly breathe as we entered, and as Layton reached for the keypad, I caught his hand in my own. “I just need a minute.”
Taking a deep, calming breath, I held my nerve and nodded at him. He pressed the ‘P’ on the panel, and I hitched a breath as the doors
closed and we headed, rapidly, to the
penthouse.
Well, here we go.
Born and bred in Essex, England, Marie Coulson discovered her love of writing
in her early teens. Beginning with poetry and song lyrics, she tried her hand at creative writing while
studying for her English GCSE.
It was love at first line.
Unfortunately,
Marie's career as a childcare and education practitioner soon took up most of her time and writing
became something she only dreamed about.
In the summer of 2012 she quit
her job and enrolled at university, ready to start a new career as a therapist. This left her with a lot
of time on her hands and on August the 20th she sat down and wrote the first chapter of Bound Together.
Bound Together was a story that had been waiting three years to be written and when
fingers hit the keyboard...Layla, Jared and Ollie's story was born.
Marie has since written and released two novels in
the Bound Together series and a novella. Her romantic comedy novel Diary Of A Dieter has also received
excellent reviews and is the debut novel in the Confessions series.
Follow Marie and chat with her
about her crazy characters! She loves all her fans.
Now our only
question is... Which team will you choose?
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