THE COMPLETE ROCK STARS, SURF & SECOND CHANCES SERIES
Books 1 - 5
Michelle Mankin
Copyright © Michelle Mankin
All rights reserved
All rights reserved except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a data base or retrieval system without prior written permission from the owner/publisher of this book.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
Formatting by Elaine York at Allusion Graphics
Table of Contents
* * *
OUTSIDE
Part One
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Part Two
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
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Part Three
Chapter Fifty-Five
Chapter Fifty-Six
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Chapter Sixty
Chapter Sixty-One
Chapter Sixty-Two
Chapter Sixty-Three
Chapter Sixty-Four
Chapter Sixty-Five
Chapter Sixty-Six
Epilogue
RIPTIDE
2015 — Present Day
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
15 Years Ago
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
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
2015 - Present Day
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Chapter Fifty-Five
Chapter Fifty-Six
Epilogue
OCEANSIDE
Prologue
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
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Epilogue
HIGH TIDE
Prologue
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
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Chapter Fifty-Five
Chapter Fifty-Six
ISLAND SIDE
Prologue
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
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Chapter Fifty-Five
Chapter Fifty-Six
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Chapter Sixty
Chapter Sixty-One
Chapter Sixty-Two
Chapter Sixty-Three
Chapter Sixty-Four
Epilogue
About the Author
OUTSIDE
Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances - Book 1
Michelle Mankin
The steady churn of the ocean was our music.
—Lincoln Savage
Part One
Prologue
* * *
Simone
I stumbled almost falling as I took the stage, tottering precariously on my three inch platform heels. For a moment I thought I had seen…but that was crazy. I gave myself an internal shake. It had been years. He was never coming back to Ocean Beach. Never coming back to me. He would never come through on any of his promises to me.
I smoothed my fingers over my curves. Though an indulgence much too expensive given my budget, the Lilly Pulitzer original I wore was gorgeous with pearl buttons on the neckline, an elegant scalloped hem and an artfully arranged whisper blue Lilly pad pattern that made it appear sheer under the lights. I didn’t return my gaze to the corner where a flash of flame had seemed to reveal the harsh lines and stubborn planes of the ruggedly handsome face that I had sworn years ago to forget.
Just my overactive imagination conjuring up old desires and not a few regrets.
I moved to the center microphone, years of practice on the small stage making my sashaying stride seem confident and self-assured when I was neither tonight. Still unsettled, I stalled taking a sip from a bottled water and making sure the musicians were set while scanning the crowd at the popular San Diego club. Packed as usual, dozens of regulars with their leathery tans but also a handful of sunburned newbies sprinkled in. They sipped their specialty cocktails, few seeming to acknowledge me as they chatted beneath the flashing neon lights waiting for the music to begin.
After years of singing every Thursday through Saturday nights at the Tiki Bar I had developed a significant and loyal following. They had their expectations. I wasn’t about to let them down. But expectations were tricky things. They could turn on you fast enough to snap your neck.
Nerves worse than usual my palms were sweaty as I grabbed the mic and turned to nod at Stan, my drummer. He laid down the beat. I closed my eyes and went to a different place. Way back in time to another place and another stage when I had been even more nervous, back when he had still been there to comfort me…
• • •
“I can’t do it.” I gulped down oxygen in slow shallow sips trying not to hurl at just the thought of going out there and singing in front of all those people. Important people, media and industry types.
“You’ve got this, Mona. It’s nothing you haven’t done before.”
“At school. In musicals. That one time at the Deck Bar. But never when it counted so much.”
“Relax, babe.” He pulled me into his strong capable arms, his warm hands settling on the curve of my hips, his talented fingers rubbing tempting soothing circles into my skin. I drew in his familiar scent, the ocean and sunshine embedded in his skin from all of the hours he spent on his surfboard. Totally and uniquely him. “Listen to me. No one has a voice like you do. I get chills every time I hear it. There’s no way they aren’t going to fall in love with you the way I have.” He eased back his clear blue eyes traveling the length of me, his lip curling in appreciation at what he saw. There wasn’t much he couldn’t see with my borrowed slinky dress revealing too much thigh and cleavage.
“I’m gonna be sick.” I tried to shrug out of his grasp but he held me tightly. “Please, Linc. Let me go.” I dropped my chin, staring at the silver heart pendent that contained our initials. “I just can’t do it. I’m sorry.”
“You can.” He gently lifted my chin with his curled forefinger. The inexpensive silver skull ring I had bought for him from the vendor on the beach felt cold against my clammy skin. “I’ll walk with you right to the stage.”
I stilled taking a couple of deep breaths, wanting to make him proud. Always wanting to please him. Loving him so desperately with every fiber of my being. Never coming close to imagining how badly he would break me at the end.
• • •
“Simone?” Ron my guitarist hissed bringing me and my thoughts back to the present.
“Yeah, thanks.” Unable to help myself after that flashback my gaze traveled again to that corner, illuminated by the flickering hurricane candle in the center of the pub table. Long legs sprawled out in front of whoever sat there but the brim of a ball cap completely shadowed his features. It couldn’t really be him. My mind had to be playing tricks on me.
Linc wasn’t the type of guy to slink around in some back corner. If he went to clubs at all anymore he would be there in the front row surrounded by security, crooking his finger at whatever babe he had chosen to spend the night.
I ripped my gaze away from the phantom, shu
tting my mind to the delusion that my time with Linc represented and channeled all of my jumbled emotions into a song I had written way back when I used to believe in love.
Believe in the promise of us
Hearts as one love’s guarantee
A bond so strong we both can trust
To draw us close whatever may be
I just want you to
Take me
And shape me
Remake me
Baby, come on and
Save me.
Lies between us in the dark
Hearts divided you and me
Ties all broken we’re apart
Drifting on an empty sea
Why can’t you just
Take me
And shape me
Remake me
Baby, reach out and
Save me.
I don’t need some perfect hero
All I really want is you
By my side today tomorrow
Tell me that you want me, too
Please come back and
Take me
And shape me
Remake me
I’m begging you to
Save me.
Chapter One
* * *
Linc
The bar fell silent as she finished. A round serving tray clutched tight to her chest, the bleach blonde who had been waiting on me stood as motionless as the Hula girl statue that adorned my table. My eyes glistened from the same poignant ache she was trying to hug away. The patrons were mesmerized. Even the jaded bartenders paused to shake off the melancholy mood her lyrics invoked before returning to complete their drink orders. I found myself leaning forward as if to close the physical distance between us, my grip so hard on the table top that my knuckles had turned white.
The song washed up a summer’s worth of heart crushing memories. Simone was still just as breathtakingly gorgeous and talented as ever. She epitomized perfection. Pitch. Range. Interpretation. Moves. Beauty.
Unforgettable.
Her caramel colored hair didn’t have quite as many sun streaked highlights as it had back when she’d been mine, nor was her tan as deep. I wanted to believe she wasn’t spending as much time sitting on the beach in a bikini mooning over some other guy out in the surf. But her olive toned skin was still sun kissed and her locks were still long, wavy and loose around her delicate shoulders. Her eyes were squeezed shut as if she weren’t prepared to let go of the past, our past, and her hands, the ones that used to caress me bringing both my body and my soul to life, remained tightly woven together around the mic.