Just Like You

By Chevoque

NOTE: This is a standalone book placed in the Like You Holiday Collection by Chevoque to compile holiday themed romances by the author.

After losing one of the most important people in her life, Aryanna continued to hide her true self from everyone who cared about her, but it was a choice she had always thought she had made herself.

When Reuben comes into the picture, during a holiday with her family, it is clear she hides herself for reasons far more complex than she had thought.

While both seem reluctant to get together, the connection is inevitable, as relatability draws them ever closer, but Aryanna must face her past in order to move on.

And letting go has never meant as much as it does now...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chevoque
• Release date: Oct 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310104206

Chevoque

Chevoque was born as Rochelle de Beer on 15 May 1992 in Klerksdorp, South Africa, and as an only child, the world seemed like a lonely place, until she set her mind free and got lost in the worlds she created for herself. Her writing began at a young age and with numerous stories still waiting to be released from her mind, only time now seems to hold her back. She also has a degree in BSc. Environmental and Biological Sciences, because she's a tree hugging animal lover, who hopes to never use her degree to cause cruelty.

Book preview

Just Like You

(Like You Holiday Collection)

by Chevoque

*****

PUBLISHED BY:

Chevoque

Just Like You (Like You Holiday Collection)

Copyright 2015 by Chevoque

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into, a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, organisations and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Licence Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

Dedicated to those who are still learning that, sometimes, saying goodbye doesn't mean you have to forget the ones you love...

From the Author

Dear Reader,

As ever, here is the YouTube Playlist and, do take note that sadly, not all the songs could be listed, as they were nowhere to be found! If you are utterly curious though, iTunes does have the samples available.

With that, I am proud to release the first of my holiday themed novellas and I wish you happy readings.

See you on the other side!

Chevoque

Table of Content

From the Author

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Epilogue

Chevoque

Acknowledgements

Prologue

Aryanna woke up with a start; her head was hammering like an auto-tuned African drum, while her Spidey-senses were warning about trouble ahead. The room wasn't familiar and the way she had jerked upright had her bed buddy murmuring beside her. She looked at the lanky man; his light brown hair was just balding, his facial hair was a few days' growth and she knew that the beard explained the slight burn she felt on her inner thighs.

She remembered he was nice to talk to, seemed oddly familiar, was great in bed, and his name was Graham. No, Garth? She contemplated, as she looked him over. Or was it Grant? Dear heavens who cares? I need to get out of here, she thought, as she stumbled out of the bed. Her movement caused him to flip onto his other side and a not-so-bad ass was on display. She took a moment to admire the well-toned muscles, cording into huge muscular thighs and felt her innards grow warm. The more she gawked, the more her head cocked to the side. For that I'd take beard burns at least three times a week.

She recalled the previous evening; she had tried breaking the bar's record of thirty-two tequila shots, done by one person in under an hour, without getting sick. She had only reached about thirteen before passing out. She had woken in the owner's - Mr. Sexy-Ass-Man on the bed's - office, and he had given her strong black coffee. A Jamaican blend that had been so damn nice, she remembered groaning in delight, which had made him smile at her, before he had given her a slice of toast with Marmite. They had chatted and by four o'clock she had sobered up enough to somehow find her way to his flat, screw around and fall asleep around six o'clock.

Her cell phone rang, full swing, with Go Go Go by Sleeping With Sirens, very loudly playing the chorus. Shit, that was what I shouted last night...oh well. She scrambled to grab it, but Mr. Sexy-Ass-Man had awoken and rested on his elbows, just as she found her phone. She was smiling at him, as she shamelessly stared at his abs.

You should get that, he said and she stared at him a moment, and then at her phone.

It nearly jumped from her hands, as she panicked when seeing the caller ID. That explains the sense of fear when I woke up... What's up? She blurted out, overeagerly, looking anywhere but at the fine laid out man.

Anna, where are you? Loretta, her mother, sounded mad, maybe completely pissed off, because usually, she was Annie. Anna was reserved for serious discipline lessons, as in you may not date that boy or what on earth have you done...in other words, she was in trouble.

What time is it? Aryanna tried buying time, as she searched the room for her clothes; she found her bra on the floor and awkwardly slipped it on. She swore she saw Mr. Sexy-Ass-Man smirking at her, as he enjoyed her show, so she kept on smiling back at him, because he looked a little cocky and that, she liked very much.

It is past eleven, but your sister has gotten cold feet and wants to talk to you. Get your ass here. Now! With that Loretta cut the line and Aryanna found her In This Moment t-shirt with the Black Widow album cover on it, where it was hanging over cupboard door.

Good morning, care for some coffee or tea? Mr. Sexy-Ass-Man asked, as he climbed out of the bed, pretty well hung and stepping into boxers. Again, she stared, You want some? He was wearing a smug smile, as he looked at where her shirt ended and the nakedness began.

Uhm...I'm so sorry, but I need to go. My sister is getting married and apparently she has gotten cold feet, but I might have mentioned that last night before...passing out. I said a lot I probably shouldn't have, so this is fucking awkward. She swung around in search of her panties, Have you seen...

He got onto the bed and stopped the barely moving ceiling fan, before pulling her panties off one of the blades. Here you go, he said, as he threw it toward her with a far too sexy smile, which was filled with utter suggestion.

Thanks, listen, uhm... She frowned at forgetting his name.

Conrad, Fuck, was I off, she thought to herself, as she was inwardly wincing.

Conrad, thanks for everything, but I really need to go. If you want to keep this a one night thing, then I'm cool with it. She went down on her knees and found her jeans beneath the bed, luckily with both her socks in the legs. But if you would want to do what we did again we can exchange numbers. I'm fine with either way, she had her socks on and jumped into her jeans, which she knew was maybe a size too small, but made her small ass look pretty neat.

Well, I had fun, so since you look in a hurry, he took a card from his wallet on the nightstand and Aryanna pulled on her black cherry Vans, as she sat on the edge of the bed. Here's my number. Once you get a gap, SMS me yours...if you want to, he handed her the card and she stuck it into her jeans' pocket, gave him a peck on the cheek, grabbed her handbag and dashed through the first door she found. It is the door at the back of the kitchen, he said with a chuckle in his tone, when she nearly sprinted into the linen closet.

Thank you, bye! She yelled, when she finally reached the outside. The drive to the farm lodge wasn't too far out of the town, but the gravel road wasted precious time and she knew she wasn't going to have much time to get ready.

When she stopped in front of the large main building, numerous guests had already arrived. She ignored her father's questions, as she dashed past him and her sister's soon-to-be father-in-law. She passed on granny Missy's kisses and completely ignored her too excitable cousins' greetings.

As she finally reached the first floor, Loretta began preaching, Anna, how on a day like- You smell like alcohol! The wedding starts in an hour! You still haven't gotten dressed! How-

Woman! Shush and tell me where-

In here, her sister called from behind the big mahogany door with the elaborate engravings, a few paces away. Classic, she thought to herself.

Leave, Loretta, Aryanna said and saw her mother's exasperated trot down the stairs to the ground floor where granny Missy was still waving at Aryanna.

Is she gone? Her sister asked with a brittle tone.

"Yes, Neve. Now open the door, we are not gonna do the damn Do You Want to Build a Snowman? song," Aryanna said.

No, stay outside, I look ugly, Guinevere said and it sounded like she was sitting with her back against the door.

Aryanna did the same, Okay, so mind telling me what is going on?

I'm afraid, Guinevere's voice held a tremble.

Why? She sighed and continued, You love Gordon and he loves you. And apart from that, it isn't generic love either. You two are so perfect together it hurts to watch you. Like the cause for nausea type of love, Aryanna knew her sister struck gold with the guy they had met on their matric holiday. He was tall, dark and handsome, had big blue eyes the way Guinevere liked them and he was kind, gave her the world and apparently, he was only a gentlemen where it mattered - which didn't include in bed. What more could anyone want? Maybe a monthly threesome, but with their combined hotness, it would be easy to organise.

What if it is too early? What if-

"You've known him for four years. You've been screwing him for the same amount of time and it sounds like the sex is still amazing. He looks like the dream man you endlessly described to me when we were kids and you love him." Aryanna couldn't understand what her sister was so worried about, when the grass on her side of the world seemed like a far better grazing area.

I'm twenty-two. I've only been with him, what if-

Neve, you know I've always envied you for that, right?

But you've been with more people, I-

And none ever made me as happy as you are with Gordon, The amount I've actually been with would scare the shit out of you. I would kill to keep a person like him in my life. Neve, it isn't a mistake. You can divorce him later if you still feel the same, but Dad would fucking kill us both if you waste all this money already spent, Aryanna heard Guinevere softly giggle. She laid her head against the door and pulled her knees to her chest, as she looked at the