Entangled Book Three: Entangled Series, #3

By Katherine King

FROM #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR KATHERINE KING 
The last chapter in The Entangled Series 

The explosive conclusion to the love triangle of Emma, Lucas and Eric. 

Raw emotions, sizzling sex scenes, all while being kept on the edge of your seat.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Katherine King
• Release date: Sep 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386574286

Katherine King

With her first two books in a two-part series, "Captivated," reaching #1 on Amazon and #2 on iTunes, Katherine King has established herself as an International Bestselling Romance Author. A mother, wife, dog lover, restauranteur and innkeeper, Katherine wears many hats...but by far her favourite job is being a writer. Sign up for her free starter library at www.katherineking2001.com

Book preview

Get Katherine King’s FREE Starter Library which includes 3 of her stories by signing up at www.katherineking2001.com!

Sign up for her no spam newsletter to get free books, short stories plus much more exclusive content!

Plus, more details can be found at the end of

Entangled

Book Three

Dedication

For every girl out there struggling to follow their own dreams, just get out there and GO FOR IT!

And to my beauty pug Quinella, our gentle walks together is what grounds me daily.

Entangled

Book Three

By Katherine King

Chapter 1

Lucas

Finding a replacement for Emma wasn't easy. After several months, Sarah came along, and I was quick to snap her up. She doesn't fully replace Emma, but she is better than what I had...

Which was nothing.

In the months after Emma left, I had first-hand experience on how hard she’d worked. There was no one within my company, and after an exhausting search, there was no one outside the company, that could do Emma’s job the way she did it seemingly so effortlessly. It had turned out to be a good thing at first because it left me little time for myself. It kept me from having a lot of time to think about her as I tried impossibly to keep up. But after three months of searching, trying to find someone to fill her shoes, I realized I couldn't. Working all day, doing my job and Emma’s job, which would flow over into me working weekends as well, plus sticking around to ensure everything was running fine in the evenings, had exhausted me.

I knew I was floundering.

I knew the businesses would suffer soon because I knew I couldn’t keep up this pace.

So, I then started a different search.

Instead, I began searching for someone that I could hire to run the restaurant in the evenings rather than an overall general manager.

I’d finally given up trying to find a perfect replacement – trying to find someone as perfect as Emma - and lowered my expectations.

God, I miss her, – and still my heart squeezes painfully, just as raw as the day she left, as I think of her.

I’d tried dating again but I pretty much had the same results as trying to replace Emma at the restaurant. I guess if I lowered my expectations like I did for the restaurant, I could settle.

But how could I settle after having Emma?

I now knew what it was to experience being in love, to want to start each morning and end each day, with the same person...

With Emma.

I couldn’t picture someone else in my bed.

I couldn’t picture allowing myself to fall as fully for someone else.

And yes...

I do now regret how I ended things between us.

That last night with her, I’d been so angry and had wanted to get back at her somehow. Emptying myself inside of her and then leaving her unfulfilled had been childish.

But my rage had propelled me to try to hurt her somehow, like she’d hurt me.

Sighing, I rub the back of my neck as I try to focus on what the woman, named Deidre, sat across the table from me, is saying. She is my latest attempt to move on. I’d met her on one of the wine tours I’d hosted. When she extended an invitation to dinner tonight, I’d done the once over of her body, and liking what I’d seen, I’d agreed. Her body was different from Emma's, not as lush or strong, and I’d hoped that Deidre's slight figure would capture my attention and make me forget about Emma.

It hadn't worked.

As Deidre sat across from me, flirting about nonsense, my mind wandered repeatedly to Emma. Not for the first time, I self-deprecatingly wondered if Eric was as happy with her as I’d been.

If I ever see Eric again, I’m unsure I’ll be able to control myself.

Fucking bastard – I silently swear as my hands, even after all this time when he’s not even around, clench into fists underneath the table.

Lucas? Deidre inquires after she has droned on for several minutes, trying but failing, to hold my interest.

I'm sorry, Deidre, I reply, giving up the fabrication of trying to pretend I’m interested, as I push back from the table and stand. I have too many things on my mind. Perhaps it's best we call it a night.

Startled, Deidre looks up at me. I wince internally and take pity on her. She is beautiful, and I’m sure she is attractive to someone.

Just not to me.

I’m sorry, Deidre. I’m not ready for this. I was in a serious relationship up until four months ago. I’d hoped that I’d moved past it, but... Sighing, I admit as I continue, I haven't, and it isn't fair to keep you here any longer.

Deidre pauses, her eyes searching my face.

Finally, she nods and releases my eyes to place her napkin on the table. Standing, she holds out her hand for a handshake. Taking it, I bring it to my lips in apology.

Watching me, Deidre says with admiration, I can see in your eyes your honesty and sincerity. If it wasn’t for that, I’d be highly offended right now. She sighs deeply and regretfully as she continues, An honest man is a rarity. Whoever she was, she was stupid to let you get away.

Then withdrawing her hand, Deidre gives me one last wistful smile before she reaches for her purse.

Turning back to me, she gives me a gentle smile before she says softly, If you ever get over her, you have my number.

Her hand comes out to squeeze my arm comfortingly and then she is gone.

Thankful to be out of that dinner so easily, I search for our waiter and quickly pay the bill. Walking down the sidewalk, my eyes stray to couples who are out walking together, holding hands, laughing quietly to themselves.

It causes this hole in my chest to throb painfully.

Will I ever find that again? - I quietly wonder.

Not wanting to go back to my lonely house, I decide to make a stop into a bar. I sip on my beer and broodingly watch couples dancing together, my mind wandering to Emma, as it has several times already tonight. She’d tried to contact me several times since she left, and even though I’d come very close to replying each time, I’d held my ground.

There was no way I could maintain contact with her and not beg for her to come back.

She’d changed my entire world.

I hadn't, and still didn't, like her decision but I’d understood deep down even through all of my anger, that she had to take that step.

She had to give her dream a try or otherwise always wonder what she could’ve accomplished.

I’d known and understood that all along.

But her going to Eric, him being a part of that dream, is what had filled me with so much anger and rage.

I knew he was giving her something I couldn’t.

My ties were here. My businesses...

No, my parents, depended on me. I could never just walk away. After watching them struggle for so long, there was no way I could have watched them possibly struggle again.

Along with that was the deep-down love that I have for all that my family has built.

But it came nowhere near the feelings I had – still have – for Emma.

And I now regret that I hadn’t at least tried to have a long-distance relationship with her...

Because a little bit of Emma would have been better than what I have now.

I wouldn’t feel as empty, as detached from life as I feel right now.

Just barely existing.

But at that time four months ago, the thoughts of her going to Eric had made me insanely jealous, and for me to allow her to follow her dreams, to not hold her back, I’d needed to break all contact with her.

Otherwise, I would’ve begged her to be with me, to stay with me and not to go to LA.

To give up her dreams for me.

So I could selfishly live mine.

But now I know that if I’d held myself together, had tried the long distance, I wouldn’t have the regrets of what if that I’ve had since the day she left.

My heart would’ve perhaps been broken down the road when it didn’t work out but at least I wouldn’t have these current regrets that I don’t know if I’ll ever get past...

That are consuming me more and more as each day passes.

Plus, my heart has been broken anyway...

And still is broken.

Picking up my phone from where I’d placed it on the bar top, I bring up Emma’s contact. As it has always done when I’d picked up my phone to call her over the many times I weakened and almost gave into the urge to call her since she left, my heart jumps...racing...whenever I see her face fill my screen.

Would she want to hear from me at this point?

What would I say to her?

What if I call and Eric is there? Possibly in her bed? - my heart twists, my stomach wrenching...

My thumb hovers over touching the screen to place the call...

My heart beat thick in my ears...

Can I buy you a drink? I hear a familiar female voice ask.

Turning my head, I see Sarah, standing next to me.

I struggle with trying to bring my emotions under control.

I’d been so close to calling Emma.

Swallowing thickly, I reply, Hey, Sarah.

She may not be able to replace Emma fully, but since hiring Sarah to run the restaurant in the evenings, she’s been a great employee with a lot of potential. She’s always eager to attempt to take on new tasks and to work overtime whenever I request it.

Her eyes study mine before she asks, Are you here by yourself?

Not wanting her to see just how very emotional I’d just been, I reply, smirking, Yeah. I just came from a date. I ended it before we got to the main course.

Her probing and concerned eyes thankfully cease their scrutinizing as she chuckles lightly, before asking, That bad, huh?

I don't reply. Instead, I take a sip of my beer, looking over her shoulder to the dance floor again.

I swallow thickly, using the action of savoring my beer as a cover up to just how widely my emotions are still swinging.

You can join us if you want, Sarah offers in her friendly way, indicating with her head to her group of friends who just walked onto the dance floor.

Glancing over at the group, I smile and reply, Thanks but no thanks. I’m not much company these days. It’s why the date ended so badly. I’m just here for a drink. I’m heading out soon.

She nods and turns to leave but she pauses at the last moment to say soberly, I've heard through the grapevine that you had a bad break up a few months ago. I'm sorry to hear that. I’ve gone through the same thing very recently as well. Then chuckling to lighten the mood, she adds easily, If you ever want to chat or grab a drink, I'm about the safest person you can be around. After what I went through, I have zero interest in men.

I consider her words for a moment, a lump thick in my throat.

Emma had been much more than a bad breakup.

No, what I’d done is stupidly let Emma go.

I lift my beer to click to her glass in silent gratitude for her offer, before replying, I may take you up on that someday.

She smiles in understanding before turning to head back to her friends on the dance floor.

I watch for a moment as Sarah rejoins her friends, all of their movements light in their half-drunk merriness, laughter ringing out from them as the group takes over most of the dance floor.

I wish I could, for one more moment, feel as light and carefree as they are right now.

But I don’t know if I ever will because with each passing moment, I’m only missing Emma more and more.

Turning my attention back to the bar top, I pick up my iPhone again.

I don’t tempt myself again by pulling up Emma’s contact again.

Instead, I shove the phone in my pocket before paying for my bar tab.

And then I head out into the night...

Feeling once again so god damn lonesome – and completely lost.

Chapter 2

Eric

Oh, yes! I hear her moan. That’s it, right there? And