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
The Harper boys
Tori
"Get off my head!" Deacon said.
I sat on his head and smacked it. "You shouldn't have squirted me with a hose." I whacked his head again.
You're wondering why I'm sitting on Deacon's head. Let me backtrack and explain what happened.
I was in my bedroom, searching for a book, when Deacon yelled. I ignored him because he always yells.
"Tori! If you don't answer me, I'll take your bras and use them as a slingshot!"
I moaned and poked my head out of my bedroom window as water sprayed me in the face. I drew my head inside, sprinting out of my room and out of the house. I tackled Deacon to the ground, sat on his head, and smacked the shit out of him. It brings us to our current situation.
"Get off my head!"
I whacked him in the head a few good times before getting off him.
Deacon stood and rubbed the back of his head. "Damn, Tori. Why must you hit so hard?"
"Hopefully, it'll knock some smarts into you."
"You love me, and you know it." Deacon gave me a cheesy grin.
"More like I love to hate you."
"Deacon! Mom needs help!" Nate said.
"With what?"
"She wants to rearrange the furniture again!"
Deacon rolled his eyes.
"How many times does your mom rearrange the furniture?"
I didn't understand why Nora rearranged her furniture.
"Beats the hell out of me. I learned not to question it." Deacon shrugged. He pivoted and walked home.
I shook my head as Mom opened the door and handed me a bag. "What's this?" I peeked into the bag.
"Romance novels."
"Ugh, why?"
"Because Nora and I like to read them. Take them over to her house."
"You need a hobby."
"I have a hobby." Mom smiled.
I shook my head, then strolled over to Harper's house and knocked on the front door. Nora answered as I handed her the bag. She gave one back to me as I opened it and laughed.
"Shh. Don't tell your dad."
"Why don't you and my mom come clean about your Girl Scout addiction?"
"We can't help it. Greg and Matt don't understand why we hide our guilty pleasures." Nora grinned.
My mom and Nora are crazy. They use romance novels to hide an addiction to Girl Scout cookies. I find it disturbing. When I turned to return to my house, something clanged on the cement. I leaned under a car to see a wrench on the ground. A hand grabbed it. I didn't think Matt was home.
When I stood up, Elias stood on the opposite side of the car, staring at me. I moved towards the car as he stood with the wrench in his hand.
"I didn't know you were home."
"I returned home a few days ago. I had to take care of a few things after graduation."
I placed my palms on the car and leaned on it. "How does it feel to be a big, bad college guy?"
Elias leaned on his forearms. "It had its moments. You learn a lot about people."
"Do you now?"
Elias smirked. A car beeped its horn as Bradley's car was out front.
"Yo! Babe! Let's go!" Bradley said.
I rolled my eyes because I hated when Bradley called me babe. The Wilson brothers have this habit of walking around like they owned the world.
"You better run along before Bradley thinks you're doing something you shouldn't," Elias said.
"Bradley doesn't own me."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah." I walked over to my house, took the bag inside, dropped it off, then left. I walked out to Bradley's car and got in. I didn't understand Elias. While growing up, he would watch out for me. Now it seems like he couldn't care less. I guess college changes people.
* * * * *
Elias
I grabbed a rag and cleaned the tools as Tori walked away. She has changed a lot since the last time I saw her. I didn't know what she saw in Bradley Wilson, since he's an asshole and treats her like arm candy.
Dad pulled into the driveway, then got out of the car. He walked towards me. "Car problems?" He glimpsed the vehicle.
"I was changing spark plugs."
I put the tools away and moved the prop, dropping the hood.
"Why do you seem irritated?"
"Tori came by with romance novels for Mom. Then Bradley Wilson showed up."
"Yeah, Nate and Deacon bitched about Tori dating Bradley."
"When did they start dating?"
"After Tori turned sixteen. Bradley put on a good show, but Greg didn't buy it."
"Then why let Tori date a tool?"
"Because Greg told Tori she could date at sixteen. Sometimes, it's not worth the argument."
"Sometimes, it is."
My dad tilted his head. I carried the toolbox into the garage, put it back, then went in and washed up. I'll work in construction next week since I enjoy working with my hands and building things.
I kissed Mom's cheek, then washed up, scrubbing my hands and changing my shirt. Mom would kill me since I got grease on my shirt. Dad told her it comes with the territory.
I still couldn't understand why Tori dated Bradley Wilson. The guy is a weasel. So are his brothers. They treat women like shit and deserve their asses kicked.
* * * * *
Tori
I sat in Bradley's car, staring out of the window while he beat off.
"I'm almost there." Bradley groaned.
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. Why?
"Much better." Bradley fixed his pants. "You know you could help me. I'm tired of doing this myself."
"I'm not giving you a hand job."
"You suck as a girlfriend."
"You suck, period."
A hand connected against my mouth, shocking me.
"Listen, you stupid bitch. You'll respect me."
I hauled off and decked Bradley, then got out of the car. I slammed the car door and leaned into the window as Bradley held his nose.
"Fuck off! We're done!"
I turned and walked home. Bradley peeled away as I pulled out my phone. I was so angry that tears fell down my cheeks. I called Deacon. If I called Gabe, he would give me a lecture about making a stupid decision.
I stood there as a car pulled up. I opened the door, got in, and buckled my seatbelt. "Thanks for picking me up. I didn't want to call Gabe and get a lecture."
"It's no problem."
That wasn't Deacon's voice. I turned and came face to face with Elias. My brown eyes met his blue eyes. My heart sped as he drove me home.
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
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
Nash and Maggie’s offspring are off to college, along with Kaiden and Kain. As they navigate life away from home, they must deal with what happened after graduation too. Will the quints help Lyric deal with the tragedy while they deal with college life? Sometimes, you need a little help and guidance from The Gray Brothers themselves. Get ready because The Gray Sisters are taking college by storm. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
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June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”