The Thin Line Between Love and Hate

By April Marie Libs

Book II of the Meet Me in Heaven Series.

Savanah’s fury over her handsome, alluring New Yorker neighbor, who happened to break her heart, peeks at an all-time high when she realizes he’s the developer behind the ostentatious apartment complex dropping in right next door to her father’s serene, private lake, wrecking his lifelong dream.

Savanah battles with her mind, internally begging herself to stay away from Jaxon and his backstabbing ways, but her body defies her as she’s drawn toward his cocky, side sweep of a smile, sexy glint in his green-flecked eyes, and the way his sheer existence makes her heart pulse on high alert.

In walks Max, her lifelong friend, who steps over the threshold to something so much more. He is her savior, her lifeline to draw her away from Jaxon....or is he?

• Language: English
• Publisher: April Marie Libs
• Release date: Sep 29, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370045914

April Marie Libs

Specializing in woman’s fiction, April Marie’s novels are a mix of romance, with a twist of drama, that will keep the reader on the edge of her seat until the last page is turned. As a writer, April thrives on leading her reader down the traditional path, and then loves to throw an unexpected curve into the road, making her reader’s jaw drop open in surprise. Her readers love her quick dialogue, unpredictable plots, and special connection she forms between her characters. April Marie’s first novel, Bridge to Destiny, debuted in 2014. She has release six new novels since. April Marie Libs received her Journalism degree from Ball State University and currently resides in southern Indiana with her husband, and three teenagers; she enjoys traveling, writing, and reading. You can contact April at her email: [e-mail]; web address: www.aprilmarielibs.com, or Twitter: @aprilmarielibs.

Book preview

The Thin Line

Between

Love and Hate

APRIL MARIE LIBS

DEDICATION

For my brother-

whose faith and courage

never ceases to amaze me.

THE THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE

All right reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information retrieval and storage system without permission by the publisher.

Names, characters, and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination, or are used in a fictitious situations. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, organizations, incidents, or persons- living or dead- are coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I want to personally thank my readers, especially all the fantastic, enthusiastic people that have been with me from the beginning, the ones that give my books as gifts, use my work in book clubs, and the sweethearts that posted my first wonderful reviews on social media and Amazon at the very beginning of my career.

My Beta readers, Lisa Johnson, Lisa Kaelin, Rita Schueler, Shelly Pearson, Shelly Haworth, Dawn Durbin and Annette Kaiser, are also a huge blessing, and I can’t thank them enough for spending their spare time combing through my work. My books wouldn’t be the same without your input.

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

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

Other books

Prologue

SAVANAH WRESTLED BETWEEN being halfway alert and dosing off to sleep as she flipped onto her side and stuffed a pillow between her knees, her mind drifting over her interactions with Jaxon. Lifting her chestnut hair from the creases of her neck, she fanned her tresses out over the pillow, wondering how she and Jaxon’s friendship had veered off the platonic path and onto a curvy, sultrier, more convoluted, twisted road of something more. But her imagination came to a blinding stop when her memory was hacked to a halt, recalling how their relationship had been severed prematurely when his kids unexpectedly popped into town to be close to their ailing uncle.

Savanah hated to admit it, but she missed the feel of him desperately during those first few weeks after their breakup. She wanted to continue what they’d started, even with the kids underfoot, but unfortunately, the decision wasn’t hers to make.

But soon after, Savanah caught her first glimpse into the real Jaxon, when after his uncle’s passing, he inherited the house and refused to honor the agreement that Savanah’s father and Frank had developed, even though her father had spent thousands of his hard earned dollars to ensure the deal would be honored. And now, Jaxon developing the apartment complex, bellied right up next to her father’s lake, was the final stab in the back, making Savanah’s revulsion toward him peek at its all-time high.

Her feelings had run the gamut concerning Jaxon, starting with a genuine affection, which developed into feelings that whispered at the promise of love, but then, due to unforeseen circumstances, her emotions inched toward a gradual disliking, bordering on disdain, and finally, shifted to all-out hatred.

It amazed Savanah that her heart could swing from one end of the spectrum, all the way to other, in such a short amount of time. How was it possible for her feelings to be so amped that she gave her virginity to this man, and now loathed him beyond repair?

Sinking further into her pillow, Savanah decided there was no reason to hash out her feelings now. What she needed was sleep. She had a long day ahead of her tomorrow with her father. She needed to push these thoughts aside and get some rest.

After several rounds of deep intakes, holding the oxygen in her lungs as long as she could, before deliberately exhaling, she could feel the beginning floating sensation of sleep blanketing her, making her mind drift off into nothingness. But as her eyelids fluttered heavily in that final decent of sleep, she heard a light, almost inaudible, tap on her bedroom door.

Deciding it was just her imagination, she flipped onto her stomach and let her body immerse further into the suspension of her consciousness, until she felt something graze her shoulder along her pale-pink, spaghetti-strapped nightgown. Slightly lifting her head, she turned her chin and found a mass of dark hair at the top of her back, moving downward as his tongue caressed her tepid, bare skin. She could feel her stomach clench with desire, knowing whose face would be underneath that tousled hair. She also knew the contours of this man’s body, like her own personal road map. She, herself, had roamed every inch of that frame, studying the lines of his strong shoulders, the muscles rippling over his back, and the sensual sway of his narrow hips. She had let this man do things with his hands, and other, more intimate parts of his body, that she’d never allowed in her past, and relished every moment of it.

Don’t let him go any further. Push him away. He’s using you again.

As her mind nagged at her to stop, her body throbbed with need to be touched further. When she heard him sigh her name, she eased herself onto her back to allow that magical touch to wander in more intimate places as she wound her hands into his thick hair, caressing his scalp, encouraging him to move down even lower. When he answered her prodding with a low groan, she arched her back as she widened her legs, her head rearing back into her pillow, not attempting to stifle her moans of arousal.

Oh, God…. Please, Jax... she begged silently as he hovered at her stomach.

His feather-light touch and probing tongue were so skilled that Savanah actually felt like she was having an out of body experience. She felt her inner being seep from her core to float just above the bed, watching this delectable man have his way with her, until she heard a light sound panging in the distance, echoing in her ears. She thought it was her conscious signaling that she needed to slam on the brakes and stop the progression before she got hurt again. She fought against the low, annoying noise ricocheting throughout her head, wanting to continue with Jaxon’s soft, delicate hands and his seeking, warm mouth, but then she heard the racket again; this time, even louder.

BEEEP, BEEEP, BEEEP

Being ripped from her sleep, Savanah bolted upright in bed, her breathing in sporadic gusts as her eyes darted around the room. When she found that she was alone, she smashed her fist into the top of her alarm clock, then dropped back down onto her pillow, with her hand lying against her rapidly beating heart. Attempting to even out her intake of air, she squeezed her eyes shut as embarrassment flooded through her.

How could she possibly have a sexual dream about the one man who callously used her and was calculatedly ruining her father’s life?

She felt like a dirty trader, throwing her father to the sharks, just so she could enjoy one last orgasm with the scheming, manipulative pirate that had invaded her father’s ship.

Throwing off the covers, she swung her feet to the floor and padded into the bathroom to shower off the tingling feeling of Jaxon’s imaginary touch.

Chapter One

SAVANAH DREADED THE evening that lie ahead. Although she wanted nothing more than to crawl back to the cabin and pretend the last twenty-four hours never happened, she knew she had to get through the dinner engagement with her father. She just couldn’t wrap her mind around what she had to do. How could she tell her only living parent that his life-long dream of having his beautiful lake all to himself, that he’d spent every penny to his name on, was shattered?

And all because of that arrogant, pompous New York developer who happened to inherit his uncle’s house across the water. Savanah should have seen past his sexy, messy hair and that charming side sweep of a grin, through to his inner evil lurking just below the surface. How could she have fallen into his sticky web, posturing as a caring, devoted friend to her and her father?

And the fact that she’d actually slept with him was something she’d like to expunge from her memory altogether, especially when you considered the fact that he had snuck behind their backs and purchased the land adjacent to her father’s property to house a towering, ostentatious apartment complex that will overlook the lake.

Scooting up her chair at Christie’s On The Square in Salem Indiana, a neighboring town to her father’s lake property, Savanah cleared her throat while tucked underneath the white-slated gazebo in the corner of the restaurant. White linen cloths draped over each table, with dark-cherry, old-fashioned wooden chairs pushed up underneath, the overall ambiance being a quaint, but elegant, country feel.

While smoothing her hands over the starched tablecloth, Savanah informed her dad who was behind the buzzing chain saws that were a constant nuisance for the past forty-eight hours.

Dad, I hate to be the one to tell you this, she paused, her mind slipping to the fact that her father really enjoyed Jaxon’s company, who happened to be the nephew of a close friend that had recently passed away.

She cleared her throat and trudged on. But Jaxon is the developer that bought the land beside the lake. He’s building a ten-story apartment complex. Their logging the land as we speak.

Her father seemed stunned-silent by the overwhelming news. After losing his wife to Alzheimer’s, his creased face and bagged eyes looked laden with heaviness, but now, after the unexpected news, he appeared even more forlorn and archaic. He didn’t reply to Savanah’s statement, just reached for the condensation smeared water glass to the right of his plate. After taking an extended drink, he gingerly replaced the glass then reached for his red linen napkin and arranged it over his lap.

Dad, did you hear what I just said? Savanah asked.

His eyes trickled back up to hers. Yes; I’m just taking in the information.

He then adjusted his knife and fork so that they were in line with his dish, then piddled with his napkin at his knees. When he peered back up, he spoke, his speech pattern slow, as if he was self-editing the words before they slipped from his lips.

I think….although unfortunate for the sake of our privacy….that Jaxon has the right to be another long pause, industrious…for the sake of providing for he and his family.

Savanah’s mouth dropped open before she clamped it back shut again. "He can be industrious, she filled the word with scorn, someplace other than in our backyard, Dad. When she searched his eyes for a different reaction, other than the one that oozed from his mouth, she added, Come on now. I get the--you must forgive, love thy neighbor routine--but even a religious man like you has to be ticked-off right now."

What would it help to be angry? It’s not going to halt the building process. He nodded slightly. We all have to do right by our family, Savanah, and Jaxon needs to put supper on the table, just like anyone else. You can’t fault him for being savvy in his business decisions. Quite honestly, an apartment complex so close to the high school will be sold out before the construction is even completed, would be my guess. And if it wasn’t him, then it would be some other developer in the next few years.

Her father always gave everyone the benefit of the doubt, which normally would be an advantageous quality, but right this second, his virtue infuriated Savanah.

Dad--

As if on cue, Jaxon stepped through the front door to the restaurant, followed by his children, five-year-old Nicholas, and his teenage sister, Kiersten. When Nick caught sight of Savanah and her father, he made a bee-line for their table, tugged out a seat beside Savanah and climbed into it. This child always elicited a smile from Savanah. She reached over and tweaked the end of his freckled nose as Kiersten advanced and stole the chair opposite her brother. When she peeked her charcoal-smudged eyes through her veil of coal-black hair at Gil, he laid his vein-clad hand to her forearm and squeezed gently in greeting.

Her father had been helping Kiersten overcoming some issues in her life, causing her to self-mutilate her wrists as an outlet for her stress, and, obviously, their relationship had grown because of it. What the actual stressor was that Kiersten was facing was still a mystery.

The waitress rounded the table as Jaxon started ambling in their direction. Ah, you’ve got company, she observed as she tucked her order-pad into the front pocket of her apron. Let me just pull up another chair.

And just like that, Savanah was stuck--because she didn’t have the heart to abolish the children from their table.

The waitress reemerged, pulling a chair along behind her. Where would you like this?

Savanah quickly pointed to the utmost end, furthest away from her. There will be fine.

Come on, kids. Let’s get our own table, Jaxon requested as he neared.

No, Dad. Here’s your seat. With his foot, Nicholas attempted to shove the chair out for his father, but instead, made it tip over on two legs precariously.

Jaxon caught the wooden chair before it crashed to the floor. As he set it back on four solid pegs, he asked, Are you okay with this? as his eyes darted from Gil’s to Savanah’s.

Her father answered, Yes, yes, totally fine, making Jaxon pull out the chair he was holding and take a seat.

He angled his body toward her father. I’ve been meaning to talk with you, anyway, Gil. As I’m sure you’re aware, my company has purchased--

Savanah’s phone ringing interrupted the conversation. As she rifled through her purse, all eyes swiveled in her direction. Glancing at the incoming call, a smile crept across her face. This call couldn’t have come at a better time. She slid her finger across the screen.

Max, darling, she cooed dramatically to her life-long friend as she excused herself from the table with a twirling finger, silently commanding, carry on, as she pushed back her chair and headed for the front door of the restaurant. She withheld any other comment until she was all the way out the door, with it securely sealed shut behind her.

You have impeccable timing, Max, Savanah stated as she walked out of view of the large windows encasing the front of the building.

Why’s that?

Because Jaxon was just getting ready to unload a huge pile of bull shit, and I didn’t want to be around to smell the aftermath.

Why are you always around this guy--who you supposedly hate--Savanah?

Believe me, this is not my doing. Dad and I were eating dinner out in Salem and, low and behold, he shows up and ends up at our table.

Is that so? Max asked, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Yes, that is so, Savanah bantered back, her cynicism matching his.

I’m not buying it, he stated.

That’s good, ‘cause I’m not selling anything.

Yes, you are, Sav. Why don’t you just go ahead and admit that you’re into this Jaxon character.

Savanah couldn’t help the sneer that overtook her facial muscles. Jaxon just bought the property next to my father’s lake and is putting up a gaudy apartment complex. Now do you get my angst with the guy?

He paused. Man, that’s pretty cold.

Tell me about it. So, what’s going on with you?

Nothing, really. Just calling to catch up.

Oh, yeah? So how’d your date go?

Date?

Yeah, the one you conveniently forgot to mention at the baseball field.

Oh, yeah, that one, he said dismissively. It went horrible, beyond horrible, actually.

Savanah rolled her eyes heavenward. Max always found a reason not to ask a girl out on a second date, either she was too tall, too short, her hands were too large, her eyes were set too far apart…. the list could go on and on forever. She wondered what microscopic problem he found this time.

Her voice, I just couldn’t handle it, he answered her unasked question.

Max…

No, I’m serious, Sav. It was so high pitched and squeaky, I was sure it was going to bust the wine glass I held in my hand.

Come on, now--

I’m not even exaggerating.

Something in Savanah’s periphery caught her attention. She glanced to the side, and found Nick’s freckled face plastered up against the window of the restaurant making googly eyes at her, which made Savanah giggle.

It’s not a laughing matter. Seriously, the woman will have to have vocal cord surgery if she ever wants to go out with me again.

We’ll have to discuss your commitment issues another time, Max. I have to get back in there to save my father before he drowns in Jaxon’s load of crap.

Are you coming back into town for the fourth?

No, I promised the kids that I would take them into Pekin for the parade.

The kids? Really, Sav? You don’t even call them by name anymore. His tone hardened while spouting, You’re in deep… real deep.

Savanah hated to admit it, but he was right. Kiersten and Nicholas had wormed their way right into her heart. If this was a good thing, or a bad one, Savanah wasn’t quite sure, but there was absolutely nothing that she could do about it now. It was a forgone conclusion, she would miss the kids terribly when they moved back to New York.

After ending the call with Max, Savanah brushed the wrinkles out of her cream linen shorts and headed back into the restaurant, just as the waitress was ready to take their orders.

How many checks?

Jaxon raised his finger. One, please, and I’ll take it.

Savanah picked back up her menu and surveyed the contents on the double-sided list of options.

After writing down the order of each person at the table, the waitress’s eyes rested on Savanah, making her glance up as an impish smile spread across her face before looking back down to study her menu.

If Jaxon was picking up the tab, she may as well make the most of the situation.

Savanah took in the menu, her eyes jumping from one item to the next. Wow, so many delicious options, and I’m so famished.

She peeked up at the waitress demurely. I just can’t make up my mind. Let me see… she said, her eyes sliding to the laminated menu again as her finger zig zagged across the options. I’d like to first start with shrimp cocktail, followed by a side Caesar salad, and for dinner I would like the eight ounce sirloin, cooked medium well…. No, let me change that. I’d like the twelve ounce ribeye, instead.

Savanah peeked back up and batted her lashes. "Actually, I think I’ll take them both. As I said, I’m really hungry."

Her vision dropped back to the menu. And….I’ll have the chicken salad croissant as my side dish, along with fruited pecan salad, as well. I just love nuts in my salad. Oh, and let me add the whitefish sandwich and the shrimp basket, as well. I’m feeling a bit like seafood at the moment. Lastly, I’ll take the spinach dip to go, for a late night snack when we get home.

As the waitress’s eyes grew large at her order, Savanah added, Oh, and one more thing. For dessert, please bring a round of hot lava cake for everyone at the table with a dollop of ice cream on the side.

This made Nicholas cheer as he bounced in his seat.

The waitress’s eyebrows peeked. Anything else?

Savanah tilted her head to the side. No, I think that will be all. Thank you.

Shaking her head, the woman disappeared behind the swinging doors of the kitchen.

Jaxon, leaning back in his seat, planted his elbows on the armrests, and tented his fingertips at his chest. Hungry, aren’t we? he threw in Savanah’s direction. Gone was his look of apology from the other day, masked by this irritated, perturbed smirk he wore now.

His condescending tone irritated Savanah to no end. Yes, hearing the buzz of chain saws all day really gives a girl quite the appetite, she tossed back with a glib, insolent smile.

As they stared each other down from across the crisp ironed tablecloth, her father tossed the white flag into the arena, veering the conversation over to the children. So, I hear Savanah is taking you two to the parade this week.

And we get to play games, and eat cotton candy, and watch a pie eating contest, Nicholas threw in zestfully.

I just can’t hold in my excitement any longer, Kier replied back, her droll voice monotone, dripping with mockery.

Actually, Kier, I heard they have some local artists that set up booths with some pretty cool artwork and jewelry, too. Although she didn’t show any interest, Savanah knew Kiersten well enough to know this is something she would be interested in.

As they filled the space between ordering and delivery with talk about the Fourth of July celebration, Jaxon stayed silent, his eyes impassive as they roamed from the person speaking, then back toward Savanah. Purposely, Savanah kept her eyes trained on the speaker, but could feel Jaxon’s heated gaze falling on her throughout the conversation.

When three servers, balancing oversized trays on their elevated palms, stepped up to the table, all conversation died out as they lowered the dishes in front of the appropriate person. By the time the last plate was placed, Savanah was engulfed by food, steak, salad, sandwiches, seafood, an endless array of delectable morsels. Her mouth watered with need as the delicious smells drifted upward. Scooping up a fork and knife, she debated on what to dig into first. Deciding on the sirloin, she jabbed her utensil into the center of the tender brown meat, then sliced off a piece on one end. Although the cut melted in her mouth, she was going to stick to the initial plan--dig the stake into Jaxon’s back, then twist until he begged for mercy.

Dusting off her hands, she pushed back in her seat, causing everyone to eye her curiously.

I guess I wasn’t as hungry as I thought, Savanah said flippantly, then let her eyes land on Jaxon’s for the second time that evening, the corner of her mouth tilting upward in an audacious smirk. She turned to her father and said, I’m taking the car. I assume our lovely neighbor will gladly bring you home, before swiveling on her heels and strolling to the exit.

Chapter Two

TODAY WAS THE Fourth of July--Independence Day all over the country, but in Pekin, the holiday was celebrated with a touch more heart and a little more pride. Since the city held the longest running Fourth of July parade in the entire country, the residents felt they owed it to the veterans of the community, as well as to the rest of the country, to go the extra mile to show their patriotism for the unsung heroes of the military’s armed forces. This being their 185th consecutive year, Pekin’s community organization had scheduled a variety of entertainment, including a queen contest, horse shoe pitching tournament, precious baby competition, a flea market, carnival booths, numerous food vendors, and a massive fireworks display to end the evening with a spectacular show of glittering light.

Savanah had planned on taking Nicholas and Kiersten to the activities on the Mule, being that most members of the community forwent their usual transportation on the holiday, choosing to have the wind whip through their hair on a four wheeler or other all-terrain vehicle, instead. The kids were already waiting on the front stoop, when Savanah yanked the steering wheel to the left and swung the vehicle into the driveway.

Since the thermometer peaked over ninety degrees, Savanah had talked Kiersten into wearing a short sleeved, black V-neck, with white sweat bands around her wrists to cover her healing wounds. Over the past week, she and Kiersten had come to an