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Mack Bennett is the guy that doesn't have illusions about life. He sees life for what it is. When he meets Paige Moore, their meeting isn't romantic or ideal but has more comedic errors. After dealing with their relationship, Mack and Paige welcome Bella into their life. Their recent addition to their family thrills them until Mack learns that parenting isn't easy. When Bella becomes a teen, Mack gets dragged into her and her friends' teen angst. How? Bella tries to get her crush to notice her with the help of her friends and Ty's older brother. Bella and her friends will learn why everyone needs a Mack in their life. Expect hilarious results from the Bennett family, their crazy friends, and the infamous tee-shirt. Before you and me, it's meant to be because it's just between us. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Before you and me
Mack
People say life is glorious. You have all these moments to consider, but they're full of shit. Life isn't superb. It's rough. Too many people lie to themselves, which is hysterical if you consider it.
They had all these aspirations and dreams. Then someone else destroys them. Do you get where I'm leading with this?
I try to steer clear. Who in the hell wants someone who sets out to destroy you? Of course, I've never been that schmuck who's been in love. There's too much drama.
I had that one acquaintance who assumes they know better than I do. That would be Bob Harrison, who pushes me to find someone like he's doing today.
"Come on, Mack. Don't you realize it's time to settle down?"
"Aren't you too old to whine? What? Are you? Four? What does it matter if I meet someone?" I lifted a container of dirty dishes onto the counter.
Yes, I work as a busboy trying to pay for school. Don't judge. Most people must do the inferior man's jobs. It was honest employment. So, why the hell do I care what people think?
"I'm saying it would help tame your wild ways."
"What wild ways? I work and go to school. Woohoo," I responded.
He twisted his eyes at me.
"Shouldn't you cook something?" That meant returning to work and stopping harassing me about my personal choices.
"Bob, I need a number one and three." Miguel placed an order on the ledge.
"Good luck. Bob worries too much about my nonexistent love life," I quipped.
Bob folded his eyes, and Miguel chuckled.
"Mark my words. One day, you will find the one!" Bob flipped a burger.
I walked over to Miguel.
"He sure has big aspirations for you," Miguel told me.
"I assume he's high."
Miguel snickered.
"Is there a reason you ladies are standing around talking?" Ian asked us.
"We were discussing your poor lifestyle choices such as that hairstyle." I pointed at the mess on top of his head.
"There is nothing wrong with my hairstyle. Gertie finds it sexy." Ian ran his hand against the side of his haircut.
"Is that before or after you use a gallon of oil on it?"
Ian rolled his eyes at me, causing Miguel to howl even more. "Laugh all you want, but at least I'm getting lucky."
"That is debatable."
"Are you still coming to the party?"
"Why?"
"Mack, you need to get out."
"Ian, I don't drink, and people act stupid when they do. What the hell would I do? Stand there and look like a dipshit? I don't think so."
"Then you won't see Paige," Bob said from the grill.
"You're not helping!" I spoke.
"Oh, someone has a crush on Paige Moore," Ian said.
I'm going to kill Bob.
"I do not have a crush on Paige Moore. Plus, she's dating that weasel, Aaron Slade," I said.
"Only because you haven't made a move," Miguel told me.
"And I'm not going to make a move."
Aaron was a dipwad, and I had no intention of being the other guy. FML.
The bell chimed. We noticed Paige walk in with Maria, Gertie, and Ruth. Fuck me. Of all the diners in this town, she had to come here. God must hate me.
My dipwad friends looked at me.
"Don't give me that look," I said.
Then Ian and Miguel came into the kitchen. They threw an apron on me, shoved a notepad and pencil in my hand, and pushed me through the double doors. Assholes.
I stood there as everyone stared at me. "Take a picture. It'll last longer."
Everyone returned to eating.
I walked over and scribbled the girls' orders down, then looked at Paige. "And what do you want?"
"Couldn't you be a little nicer?" Paige asked me.
"I could if I wanted to, but today is not your day, and tomorrow isn't looking better. Now, what do you want, Peggy?"
She glared at me. Yep, I pissed her off. She gave me her order, and I walked back into the kitchen. I handed it to Bob. Miguel and Ian had cheeky grins plastered on their faces.
"I'll hurt both of you."
"Yeah, but not after she hurts you." Ian smirked.
My right eye twitched. That wasn't how I wanted my life to go.
Carrington Carrington Jones grew up with seven brothers and sisters. He has a happy-go-lucky nature with a tender heart, which sets him apart from his siblings with their personalities. He meets a woman who captures his heart. The only problem is she has a husband. Carrington’s brothers advised him against pursuing it, especially Mason and Charles, understanding it’s a terrible idea. Carrington can’t stay away from the woman. What happens with romance blossoms? Will Carrington discover his happiness, or will his heart get broken? A forbidden romance is enticing but arises in tragedy. Carrington will discover that it’s not romance where his heart lies but what occurs from it. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Matthew Harper always does the right thing. He doesn’t drink or smoke and protects his family, but he lets his past rule him. After dealing with the loss of his girlfriend Sadie, he thought he could move on, but ghosts of the past resurface. It made him close off his heart to someone who could love him more profoundly than the ocean. What happens when a past love resurfaces, making him rethink his earlier decisions? Will he get a second chance at happiness he deserves or breaks another’s heart again? It takes help from some cousins and an unexpected situation to show Matthew that we can’t let the past rule our future. The heart wants what the heart wants. *The Gray Series spin-off series. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Oliver Harper is a unique person. He doesn’t care about frivolous ideas or someone in his life to complete him. He prefers a conversation that stimulates his mind. When Oliver starts college, his friends and cousins join him. The problem with this bunch is they’re crazy. Have you met the Gray/Harper family? They define bat shit crazy. Olivier will navigate his way through college with the help of his family and cousins. He’ll meet and fall in love with the most unexpected person who’ll stimulate his mind. College life is about to explode. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Growing up next to the Harper boys, Tori Williams learned to hold her own with them. Her brother Gabe is best friends with the boys, and Tori deals with the youngest Harper boy, Deacon. There’s a slight issue when Tori dates Bradley Wilson, whom the Harper boys can’t stand. Wanting to keep Tori from her idiot ex-boyfriend, Nate and Deacon develop a plan of their own. Elias Harper graduated college and returned home to work in construction. While Nate and Deacon scheme to keep Bradley from Tori, another issue arises when Elias takes an interest in a particular neighbor girl. What happens when four years change people? Will a love connection happen, or will someone get burned? With the Gray gene cemented in your DNA, all bets are off. Follow Elias as he discovers who held his heart while growing up. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Lex and Piper are ready to settle down and have a family of their own. After celebrating the wedding of Michael and Lyric, something significant happens to Lex and Piper, which turns the Gray family upside down. Will they be able to get through this, or will they falter? With the help of The Gray Brothers and The Gray Sisters, Lex and Piper will learn the meaning of what it is to be a Gray. Love and humor go a long way for this family. Follow Lex and Piper on their journey as we find out if they can find their way back to each other. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
As the quints head into their third and final year of college, they are going to discover the thing that truly matters most - family. Follow them on their journey as the sisters deal with situations beyond their control. That is when the family becomes essential, especially the Gray Family. Now all they must do is get through the next two years with minor issues. Considering these are The Gray Sisters, expect the unexpected. With a little bit of help from the Brothers and a whole lot of humor, anything is possible. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
After spending a night with a strange man on the day before her wedding, Arianna left the country to start her life afresh. The 22-year-old Arianna Jason lived her life pleasing those she loved the most, without knowing that she was simply a prey being nurtured for the day of her ruin. Her life has tasted the butter pill of betrayal. She wants to give back to the world what she's got but how can she change her good, innocent personality to fit into a cruel society and world? Can her sweet nature be contaminated, or will she make it through, paddling on the right path?
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.