Beyond Chance

  Copyright © 2014 Karice Bolton

  ISBN-10:0990972666

  ISBN-13:978-0-9909726-6-2

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, and events either are the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Contact the Author

  To contact the author, please visit her online at http://www.karicebolton.com or via

  Twitter/Facebook @KariceBolton.

  If you’d like to be included on her mailing list to find out about

  new releases, click here or go to Karice Bolton’s website

  Or you can text KariceBooks to 313131 to receive a message from Karice on Release Days

  A huge thank you to the readers of the Beyond Love Series. You’ve made this series come alive, and I can’t thank you enough for spreading the word about Brandy, Gabby, and Lily. Thank you also to my amazing husband and mother. Your support means everything.

  BOOKS BY KARICE BOLTON

  BEYOND LOVE SERIES

  BEYOND CONTROL

  BEYOND DOUBT

  BEYOND REASON

  BEYOND INTENT

  BEYOND CHANCE

  BEYOND PROMISE – Coming Soon

  BEYOND the MISTLETOE – Coming Soon

  ISLAND COUNTY SERIES

  Coming Soon

  LUKE FLETCHER SERIES

  HIDDEN SINS

  BURIED SINS– Coming Soon

  THE WITCH AVENUE SERIES

  LONELY SOULS

  ALTERED SOULS

  RELEASED SOULS

  SHATTERED SOULS

  THE WATCHERS TRILOGY

  AWAKENING

  LEGIONS

  CATACLYSM

  TAKEN NOVELLA (A Watchers Prequel)

  THE CAMP

  AFTERWORLD SERIES

  RecruitZ

  AlibiZ

  UprisingZ – Coming Soon

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Recipes

  Hidden Sins (Excerpt)

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  I dipped a freshly picked strawberry into a bowl of whipped cream and took a bite. The sweet juice and cream exploded in my mouth, and I let out a little moan of delight. I knew they had strawberries in Paris, but they wouldn’t be as delicious as the ones in Washington. June strawberries in Washington were the best. Glancing around the kitchen, I leaned against the granite counter and dipped another strawberry. The sound of boxes being taped up down the hallway pushed an odd mix of emotions through me. I was excited to be going to Paris in a few weeks, but I was already missing the friends and life I’d be leaving behind.

  Aaron was leaving in the morning to get things settled before I flew over, and that made my plight even worse. It had sounded like a great idea when he first mentioned it, but being without Aaron for three weeks was going to be awful. It’s not like we hadn’t spent time apart since we’d become a couple, but truth be told it wasn’t this much time. And it wasn’t like I wouldn’t survive without him, but I knew I’d miss him like crazy, and I wasn’t a fan of self-imposed torture. Everything about him always left me wanting more—whether it was his dashing smile or the brooding look he’d get when his imagination wandered to us—and the thought of being without either was excruciating. I let out a sigh at the thought and convinced myself it was time for a shower. It was starting to get chilly in only my camisole and boy shorts, and I hadn’t planned on getting sidetracked by berries.

  A strawberry stem fell to the floor, and I bent over to grab it. A sharp pain shot down my leg that took my breath away. I snatched the stem from the tile and shut my eyes as I tried to shake off the pain. Recovery had been a long process, and at times, it felt like I’d never completely be rid of the pain.

  I slowly rose, tossing the stem in the sink, and let the pain work its way out. When it felt like the kinks had mostly left my leg, I opened my eyes to see Aaron watching me from the hall. There was something so intoxicating about his presence. His dark eyes held an intelligent spark that cut most off at their knees, but for me that spark enticed me to unwrap him and find out who he was. And so far it had been a fun adventure. Aaron arched a brow, accentuating his chiseled cheekbones and soft, pouty lips, which provided the perfect balance between hard and soft. Dressed in a pair of loose-fitting pajama bottoms that hung below his waist, the man was without a shirt, which rocked my stability a little too much.

  “You okay? I heard a grimace.”

  I drew in a breath and nodded. Aaron seemed to be more in tune with my body than I was. It always amazed me how he knew when I was hurting, when I needed him. I felt a slight twinge at the thought of being without him even for a few weeks. To most it might sound a little ridiculous, but this was how our relationship worked. We were best friends, and we enjoyed one another’s company. So shoot us.

  “I didn’t realize I’d made a noise. It was just a muscle twinge or something. No biggie.” I smiled and took a bite of the strawberry I was still holding in my hand.

  “Doubt it was nothing,” he said, taking a few steps toward me. “Anymore strawberries in that bowl?”

  He let me off the hook and for that I was grateful. I hated focusing on my injuries and prolonged recovery. I didn’t want that to define me.

  “A few.” I picked an extra large berry out of the bowl and dipped it into the cream. “If you want it, you better come and get it.”

  His mouth inched up in a wickedly, deliciously grin, and his expression intensified as his eyes filled with want.

  “Is that so?” he asked.

  I nodded and held the strawberry in front of me. “You better hurry or the whipped cream will melt and fall off.”

  His gaze held mine as he slowly walked through the kitchen and shook his head. “It’s going to be damn near impossible to stay put in Paris while you’re over here.”

  “We can always Skype and Face Time,” I offered, feigning innocence.

  He took a bite of the strawberry, and I finished it off before tossing the stem in the sink.

  “That’s not gonna cut it, babe.” He stood in front of me, his eyes piercing as his stare captured mine. His fingers traced along my bare shoulder and up my neck, sending prickles along my exposed skin. I was at a loss for words as I stared into this gorgeous man’s eyes. It was hard to believe how close I’d come to losing him and how much he’d given up for me.

  “So what do you propose we do about it?” I asked, sliding my arms around his waist.

  He tilted my chin with his hand and grinned, bringing his lips only inches from mine.

  “I have so many things planned,” he growled, as his mouth touched mine.

  His lips tasted like strawberries as his kisses deepened and my body surrendered to his. Desire moved lithely through my blood as if he was a drug, and I needed my next fix. Feeling the heat of his mouth as his tongue dipped and teased with every passing moment cre
ated a fierce amount of longing and desperation. I didn’t want to be away from him for more than a second, let alone three weeks.

  Aaron’s hands slid down to my waist, and he raised me up and gently placed me on the counter. Wrapping my legs around his waist, my body shuddered as he lifted my camisole over my head, tossing it on the floor. His lips left mine and slowly worked down my neck, shoulders, and breasts. I let out a moan as he cupped my breasts with his hands, slowly taking me into his mouth.

  My hands ran through his hair as I threw my head back in ecstasy with every slight pull and tug his mouth delighted me with. The feelings inside of me exploded in an endless need for Aaron as I tightened my legs around his waist. Slowly releasing his mouth from my flesh made me insane with yearning as he brought his searing gaze back to mine. I slid my fingers around his waistband and pushed it down slowly. His eyes became more heated and wicked as my fingers scraped along his bare flesh.

  “You drive me insane,” he murmured, brushing his lips along the crook of my neck.

  I cherished those words as both our bodies begged for more. He kicked his pajamas off the rest of the way and slid me off the counter, carrying me to the large couch in the family room. Placing me down gently, he sealed his mouth to mine with a soft and unexpected hum of delight as he hovered over me. I ran my hands down his stomach and felt his arousal as our kisses deepened. Cupping my face in his hands as if claiming me made my longing soar to a new level. The heat of his kisses turned demanding as the realization of his departure lingered between us. Propping himself with one arm, he slid his other hand down my belly and over my boy shorts. His fingers slid down to my thigh, along the edge of the fabric, causing my body to shudder with anticipation.

  Unable to tear my gaze away from him, my eyes pleaded with him for more, but he only shook his head as he continued to tease and watch my body respond to him. Seeing his gaze canvas my body as if I were one of his sculptures destroyed my self-control, but I knew I was at his mercy.

  His gaze tore away from mine as he brushed his mouth along my belly and moved lower. Using one hand, he slowly pushed my boy shorts down, and I shifted to move them the rest of the way. Aaron’s gaze was heated as he brought his eyes back to mine. My breath faltered with anticipation as he bit his lip and slid his finger inside me. I ached for more as he watched my body answer to him as he scattered kisses along my belly. His hands followed right behind his mouth as I twisted my fingers in his hair, pulling him up to me. Feeling the warmth of his skin press up against mine created an aching hunger to feel all of him.

  “I love you, Aaron Sullivan,” I whispered, as my hands reached down to guide him. Without hesitation, he moved in between my legs and my world began to spin.

  “You are my everything, Brandy,” he murmured, his mouth next to my earlobe. “I love you.”

  A low rumble of untamed desire erupted between us as our worlds collided into one many times over before his departure. It had to be the best farewell in history.

  “I’m going to miss you like crazy,” Lily said, nearly running into a waitress as she bolted toward our table with her arms flung out. Gabby snickered and shook her head as Lily nearly strangled me with me a hug.

  “It’s not like I’m going to Paris for the rest of my life,” I said, gently unwrapping Lily’s arms from around my neck so I could swallow. “It’s only for the summer.”

  “You’re not gonna want to come home. I know it. Who would? I mean it’s Paris,” Lily said, as she slid into the booth next to Gabby.

  “She’s right,” Gabby said, before taking a sip of her vanilla milkshake. “It’s a dream of a city and the food…”

  “Friends and family are what makes a home and happiness, not location. Besides, I’m already getting homesick, and I haven’t even left yet.” I shifted the paper napkin out from under my silverware and glanced at Lily who was eyeing Gabby’s milkshake. That girl could eat.

  We had decided to meet at Carol’s Diner for dinner tonight to say our farewells. The plan was to eat, gossip, and then run off to watch Ayden’s fight so I could say my goodbyes to my brothers. Ever since I’d found out about Ayden’s hobby, I’d been uneasy about keeping it from my parents, but I respected my brothers’ wishes. We all knew what would happen if my dad found out, and it was best not to let that happen. Plus, the one fight I’d seen was pretty telling when Ayden laid his opponent out flat.

  “I forgot when Aaron actually left for Paris. How long has he been there?” Gabby asked, as Lily flagged down the waitress.

  I held in a sigh. “He’s been there for three weeks. The pictures of the place we’re staying look pretty sensational. It’s near a ton of galleries and bookstores. It’s completely furnished. He says he’s already gained five pounds and had to stop eating crepes every morning.”

  Gabby chuckled. “Sounds like Aaron to be worried about that.”

  “I’m sure he’s already added a few more crunches to his routine to compensate. I highly doubt he’s willing to give up the crepes.”

  “Yeah. Probably not.”

  “What district is it in?” Lily asked.

  “The sixth, I think he said. I have no idea what that means in terms of location. The maps online tell me nothing.”

  Our server came over, and Lily placed an order for a milkshake, along with several appetizers for us to split. She was a woman on a mission and apparently very hungry. Lily turned her attention back to Gabby and then to me and smiled. “That’s a really nice area to stay in. I love the first and sixth arrondissements. Great access to all the must-sees and the places are really posh.”

  “Posh?” I teased. “That sounds like me all the way.” I gestured toward my body, which was covered in a pair of leggings and a sheer ivory top with a camisole underneath. My hair was scooped into a clip and if I remembered to even dab mascara on my lashes, I’d be surprised. Come to think of it, did I even shower this morning? I’d been so busy packing, I can’t remember. I showered so late last night that had to count for something, right? Probably not. “Do I need to wear my wannabe-attorney clothes over there?”

  Lily rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean. You’ll love it. But I have to say…” her voice trailed off.

  “What?” I steadied my gaze on Lily.

  “The thing I’m going to love most about this whole thing is when we get to come for our visit. Can you imagine the three of us in Paris together? They’re not going to know what to make of us,” Lily laughed.

  “Just promise me one thing,” Gabby begged.

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  “Don’t do the cliché thing and start smoking. No matter what.”

  I smiled and nodded. It was impossible not to love Gabby. She was the perfect mother for us all. “I promise I would never dream of doing it. Promise.”

  “She’s got a point,” Lily chided in. “Everywhere you go, people are smoking. I think there are more people who do than don’t.”

  Gabby grimaced and caught my attention. “Anyway, what time do you want me to take you to the airport?” she asked.

  “I think I’d like to get there around nine in the morning, if that’s okay.”

  “Totally.”

  I’d spent weeks getting ready for this trip and had already shipped the bigger items over. I’d run all our last minute errands over the past week. I changed our mailing address to a post office box that my family could check for us; I left a spare set of keys with Jason and Gabby; I gave Jackie a list of things to take care of for us; and I sent all of my registration papers to school again. I hadn’t fully decided if I was going to attend in the fall, but I wanted to proceed as if I would be going.

  Lily’s milkshake was delivered, and she began sucking on the straw like she hadn’t eaten in a week.

  “So this will be it for awhile. All three of us out to dinner in Seattle…” Gabby mused. “Better soak it up.” She flashed an evil grin as she dealt another guilt trip.

  “I bet you won’t even know I’m missing. It’s only
a few months. Between Katie and the bakery, you’ll be so busy you won’t even know I’m gone.”

  “Nice try,” she retorted.

  “How’s Katie doing?” Lily asked, turning in the booth to face Gabby.

  “She’s amazing. Absolutely amazing. I keep thinking that we’ve got it too good. She’s adjusted so well and Jason is in love. I mean there are moments when I’ll walk into the kitchen, and he’s got her on the counter talking to her like she’s his best bud. Granted her vocabulary isn’t there yet, but that doesn’t seem to faze Jason as he plots their next big adventure.”

  “That’s so cute,” Lily gushed. “You’ve got a good guy.”

  “I don’t think you’re doing so bad yourself,” I teased. “My brother’s not so shabby.”

  “Very true.” Lily arched a brow and let out a sigh. “He’s the one.”

  “The one?” I asked, thrilled to hear Lily talk about love, let alone dream about it.

  “I know. I know. I never believed in all that soul mate stuff, but how else can I explain it?”

  “It’s true. There are so many different personalities in the world that when two people are not only attracted to each other, but are also compatible, it seems like it has to be divine intervention,” Gabby agreed.

  “And persistence,” I interjected. “For those of us who aren’t always that willing to see what’s directly in front of us… persistence by the man is always fortunate.”

  “To divine intervention and persistence,” Lily said, raising her almost-empty milkshake glass for a toast.

  We did our toast and placed the glasses back on the table as the server delivered our appetizers. By the looks of things, this would also be our dinner. I grabbed a nacho and took a bite, crunching into heaven.