She was beautiful in her cap and gown.
He could feel her excitement despite the distance. They’d been married a little over a year after he had proposed. A small private ceremony at the bar, of all places. She had insisted on getting married on a Thursday, and he hadn’t argued. He would have worn a pink tux if she had asked. With only their family around them, they’d exchanged vows, legally tying themselves to one another after Kip had walked her down the aisle.
They had also moved away from the desert when she transferred to UCLA, so she could work on a dual education degree. Her dream hadn’t changed when it came to wanting to teach, and as he stared on, she was one step closer to reaching it.
Kip had had tough time with their move, but by the way the man next to him had cheered Stefanie on as he wore Stef’s face on his shirt, Garrett knew the old man understood. Especially when she informed him she already had grad school plans lined up after taking a year to teach.
Garrett, on the other hand, had kept doing stunts in movies, finding he had a real knack for it and personally enjoyed it. Though now, he was about to start a stunt school with a buddy of his. Life was funny sometimes. The twists and turns it made you take to land when it intended to take you even if you kicked and screamed on your journey there.
Who would have thought getting shitfaced and his ass kicked would lead him to this very moment?
He still had tough days.
The crap he had lived through didn’t just go away, no matter how much you wished it did. But he had learned how to cope, and his sunshine had been with him every step of the way, holding his hand and shining her light on him, warming him up from the inside out to help him grow as she reminded him of how much she loved him.
He didn’t know what higher power had helped him cheat death that day overseas, but he no longer regretted it.
He couldn’t.
Not when he was living the life he was living. And he had a niggling suspicion it was only about to get better.
The End
DRINK
Sneak Peek
If you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.
The little firecracker was fucking pretty, and since she stood close to him, he knew she smelled like a dream. Sweet and slightly like citrus. He tried to shake any ideas of hooking up with her. She was young. Obviously too young. She wasn’t old enough to know better than not to approach a man like him.
She was too happy.
Too bubbly for someone like him.
She would get lost in the dark depths that lived inside of him.
Not that he kept women close. Hell no. He didn’t do relationships for a reason. He didn’t keep anyone close. Not when he was capable of irreprehensible damage.
Thankfully for the girl in front of him, he was old enough and smart enough to know better. Donnie was about to turn away when the girl with the captivating eyes took her mask off, the little naïve minx, and their eyes connected across the bar.
Gabriela Rivera.
Gabby.
It took all his strength to tear his eyes from her, but he did. He had to. He was disciplined enough to do it. To ignore the way his heart thundered in his chest and the way his mouth watered.
Gabby Rivera. His best friend’s sister-in-law. Youngest sister-in-law. Freshly out of grad school, all doe-eyed and dripping innocence, she was like a lamb in a wolf’s den.
What the hell is she doing here?
His eyes were on the glass of the clear liquid in front of him, but the rest of his senses were homed in on her. Didn’t she know not to take off her mask in a place like this? Anonymity was key. Obskwer was the best of sex clubs in Los Angeles, and a pretty little thing like her would only get chewed up and spit out into the big, bad world.
Thankfully for her, he was the one who would get her out of there before anyone was the wiser. Turning to look for her, he stilled. Dread filled his lungs as he watched the back of her walk away, deeper into the club, immersing herself with its members and their kinks. His kinks.
A wave of protective need washed through him, and he found himself following her. Watching her from a close enough distance, he didn’t think she could see him, but he could observe her reaction to everything around her.
Toys and nudity.
Sex and lust.
Drinking in every single expression on her face, savoring every blush that fell upon her face. Every single moment took his breath away.
He had no clue she knew what he was doing. He had no idea the predator became the prey.
DRINK – Coming 2019
Acknowledgments
My forever boyfriend: I love you more than you will ever know. Thank you for being my number-one cheerleader.
My babies: dream big and work after those dreams.
Julia Goda, CP Smith, Kelly Tucker, Winter Travers and Tracie Douglas: You guys, I don’t know what I would do without your love and support. Our friendship is more than that; you guys are my family. To the moon and back, thank you!
Stefanie Kral: This one is for you!
Dark Water Covers: You rock to work with!
Diamond in the Rough Editing: You make my words shine! Thank you!
To you, the reader: Thank you for taking a chance on CHEAT. Garrett and Stefanie were incredibly special and fun to write, as well as a challenge at times. Hope you enjoyed their journey as much as I did!
Books by Mayra Statham
Right Men Series
LIE
STEAL
CHEAT
DRINK- coming 2019
Six Degree Series
Crown’s Chance at Love
Etched in Stone
Carried Away
Davenport Harbor
Never Too Late Series
Longing For You
Wishing For You
Lucky For You
Beech Grove Series
Donut Tucker Out
Burning Bridges
Knoxed Up
More than a Knight
Quite Frankly- Coming November 2018
Kissing Gabe- Coming December 2018
Standalones
Already Home
Cookies & Kismet
Something Worth Saving
Zaiden- A Scrooged Christmas
About the Author
Mayra Statham resides in Southern California with her three kids and husband. When she isn’t writing or hanging with family, you can find her hidden behind a romance novel while enjoying a highly caffeinated iced drink.
She loves hearing from readers. Connect with her on social media platforms @mystathamwrites or email her at mayrastatham@gmail.com