Deeply

By Jill Edick

Internet Dating.
A Stupid Stalker.
Volcanoes.
Hot Love Affair.
Evil Step Family.
Parole Hearing.
Daring Rescues.


Remember Lena? Well, this is Ceras story! This is book #2 in the Cer/Lena series.
Hang on for a funtastic ride with Cera. Of course Lena and Kendall are back for more adventures. The good, the bad, and the scary.
Will Cera survive a night on Eyjafjallajokull, one of Icelands more active volcanos? Will Cera finally find true love, with a young hunk named Trevor? Will Cera and her friends survive this trip and go on to live Deeply? Or are they just in too Deep?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 18, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546256168

Jill Edick

Jill is completing a lifelong dream of writing and publishing a book with her first full length novel Truly. She is in the process of writing a follow up to Truly and starting work on a new original novel as well. Jill lives in Colorado with her family.

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Copyright © 2018 Jill Edick. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/16/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-5617-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-5616-8 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Epilogue

DEDICATION

To all my friends who gave input knowingly and in personality! I couldn’t do this without you.

To my family who gave input and encouragement. Thank you for your kind words and support.

Special thanks to Jodi and Angela (A.K.A. Ang) I love you both! I’m blessed to have you both in my life!

PROLOGUE

BANG!

I SAID NOT NOW TREVOR!

Well why not Cera? Huh? Because you’re afraid?

No dumbass! I’m not afraid. I’m reasonable!

Reasonable? This is reasonable? This is as unreasonable as it gets!

Simple fact Trevor, I’M NOT INTERESTED! Period! End of story!

What in the bloody hell is going on out here?

Cera jumped and turned to see Kendall standing behind her in barely there underwear.

Kendall! Sorry, Trevor was just leaving.

Just leaving? Do you realize it’s 12 o’clock at night, and your slamming doors? We have a sleeping baby!

Yeah, you! Lena snarled as she turned to Kendall with a glare. Good morning? Or is it night?

Hi Lena, sorry to wake you. I felt miserable, first the fight, now Lena and Kendall were here to witness it.

I wasn’t asleep yet. What is going on? Turning to the man, Have we met? I’m Lena.

Hello Lena, Trevor. I believe we met momentarily in Thailand actually. Sorry for the disturbance. He extended his hand to Lena then Kendall.

Yes, you work with Cera, I remember! How are you?

YES, THAT’S RIGHT, he WORKS with Cera, Cera being me! AND I AM TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW IS NOT THE TIME TREVOR!

There is never a right time for you Cera! I give up! You know how I feel, I don’t care how you try to change that, it will not happen Cera! I love you! Get it through your thick skull!

You love me? Was the sex that good? Seriously Trevor. It’s the middle of the night and you are waking the neighborhood up here!

I’m not the one screaming and slamming doors. I’m simply professing love. This has nothing to do with sex Cera! You know that.

I know nothing of the sort! We are co-workers, no actually I’m your boss, whom I had a random moment with. That’s it. Nothing more. And there won’t be ever again. I’m sorry Trevor.

Well when you wake up and smell reality Cera, you have my number.

With that Trevor turned and walked away.

Cera turned to the now wide awake and very attentive Lena and Kendall.

I’m sorry guys. I didn’t mean for that to get so out of hand. He just has a little crush and doesn’t understand life.

Hmm, I think he gets it quite well actually. Kendall dear, as much as I love you in those teeny drawers, I do believe you should perhaps go put on some clothes. I’m going to go chat with Cera for a bit.

Well, I can take a hint, I will leave, but I think I will wait for you to deal with my teeny drawers when you’re done with Cera. Kendall winked and turned to walk back into the house.

Mmm Mmm. I hate to see him leave, but I love watching him go. So anyway Cera, got any wine?

Who are you talking to? Do I have wine? Pulease! Come on in.

Cera disappeared into the kitchen and returned with two glasses and a new bottle of Maui Splash.

I feel like I need something sweet after the way this night has gone. Would you prefer Cab? I can go get you a bottle.

No, you know I love pineapple wine! I’m so glad we found this so we aren’t sending Kendall to Thailand all the time for the other.

They were pouring the wine and taking their first sips.

Mmm, yummy, that is so delightful!

Yes, yes, it is. Sounds like at some point young Trevor was pretty delightful too.

Cera spewed a mouth full of wine across the room.

Oh, sigh Lena, just sigh! Do we really have to go there?

Oh yes, we are totally going there. Spill it, and not the wine, you waster. When did you get this action in Thailand?

Well when did you get your action in Thailand? You aren’t the only one who experienced coitus interruptus on that super special night! Fortunately for me it was coitus interruptus number three I experienced.

This is just now coming up? What kind of friend are you?

The kind that was busy taking care of you. I didn’t think my little one nighter was crucial to your recovery process.

Well, this sounds like more than a one nighter Cer. He seems quite enamored with you. I believe I heard the word love mentioned? Talk to me. I’m fully recovered from all trauma, talk to me woman, and if you leave out any detail so help me I will disown you as BFF!

Well I wouldn’t want that. Let me refill my liquid encouragement that you made me spew.

More wine was poured, and drank. OK Cera, quit stalling. You have power slammed two glasses. Was the sex that bad? If it was, then maybe you can go easy on the details.

Ha! Not even. The sex was spectacular. There is something to be said for younger men. Totally teachable and last for hours! And usually pretty content to get up and disappear in the morning too. How did I find the clingy one? Serious?

More, wine and details!

Wait, aren’t your breastfeeding? Should you be drinking?

Oh hell no. I quit breastfeeding on like day two. Where have you been? God bless those who can breastfeed, for I am not one of them. Quit stalling!

Okay, okay. So, Trevor started with the company about two years ago. Fresh out of college. I have been training him to take over for me so I can work at home and quit traveling so much. Thailand was supposed to be our last trip together. But of course, we had two field people quit and I have been busy traveling still and training still. I still have a couple more trips to go and I am done. Thank goodness.

Yeah yeah, Thailand!

Geesh, impatient! So, in Thailand, you so kindly left with Kendall, remember that?

Vaguely yes. Soooooooooo?

Well, Trevor took me out for dinner. I won’t lie, he is very attractive and I always thought I wouldn’t mind tapping that. So, I decided since you were otherwise occupied, and I was technically not going to be working with Trevor after Thailand, I would enjoy my last few days in Thailand making memories too. I cut dinner short and we had dessert in my room. It was very, very good. He is quite delish!

And, what happened? Why the fight?

Because he has since decided he is in loooove. He doesn’t understand that great sex does not equate to great love.

Well why not? Really Cer, you two have a two-year history of getting to know each other, traveling together, working together. There was obviously attraction, you admit that. Why is it such a stretch to fall in love?

Because he is like twelve Lena!

Don’t be ridiculous! He is older than that!

Well yes, obviously, but barely! I am nine years older Lena! Nine!

So?

So???? So?!! He is the ripe old age of 26. I am 35. He is young, I am not. He may want kids, you know I can’t have kids. I’ll be in a nursing home, he will still be running marathons! That is the so!

Cera, really? Overdramatic much?

No Lena, I’m not. Okay, fine, nine years not so much, but he is young. What if he wants kids? You remember Jackson, what a complete cluster fuck that was!

First of all, Jackson the jackass is not a good example of all men! Second, why don’t you talk to Trevor about this! Maybe he doesn’t want kids, maybe he would be happy to adopt, maybe this is a conversation for the two of you to have. You’re making a decision for him that he should be making, not the other way around. Give the guy a chance.

Yes, Jackson was a jackass, but he said he didn’t want kids and they didn’t matter. I planned a damn wedding. I spent a fortune. The fucking invites were mailed, remember? Then the fucker shows up with his mistress to tell me she’s pregnant and he’s going to marry her, ‘soooo sooorry you childless bitch’ to me. I was the one left calling everyone to cancel the wedding, and boy that was a giggle a minute. Meanwhile he flies off to fucking Mexico with bimbette and now they have three little monsters and I have a maxed-out credit card that I am still paying off from that fiasco! Why Lena? Why would I ever want to experience this again? Give me three good reasons, just three!

All right. One, not every man is Jackson. Not even most men are Jackson. Two, you haven’t even given this Trevor the opportunity. You can’t guess what he wants or what he will say until you talk to him. Three, when did you become such a chicken shit? Seriously! If you tell him about the kid thing and he says deal breaker, great then you know. If you tell him and he says so what, then you tell him about Jackson. He is either going to run for the hills or say ‘so what’. What if he wants you regardless? What if you try to trust him? What if you give him a chance? I don’t know Cera, I think he may have been onto something when he said you’re afraid.

I am not afraid! I just don’t need a man in my life. I don’t need the drama. I don’t want it. What about that huh? What about me not wanting a relationship?

Really? If you’re really being honest and you really want to grow old alone then I am behind you 100% you know that. But do you really think Kendall and I don’t see the looks you give us? Do you think I’m stupid? Look Cera, I can’t make you do anything, and I won’t. But you need to get real with yourself. We grew up dreaming of our weddings and the perfect men we would marry and the fancy houses we would live in. Life rarely ever works out the way we think it should as kids. Look at what I went through. What I’m still going through! Kendall and I will never be able to marry because of the cluster that was my first marriage. The second we say ‘I do’, the vultures will swarm in and steal all of his money and destroy his company. Look at what I did to myself after Thailand! I ran, I hid and I almost made the biggest mistake of my life. I may never get to be Kendall’s wife in the eyes of the law, but he is the man I love more than I ever imagined possible. He loves my girls and look how he is with Keegan! He is amazing! And what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t give back some really good advice I once received? CALL HIM!

With that, Lena stood up and started walking to the door.

Really Cera, give him a chance. I want to see you happy, and I see potential here. Now, I’m going to go back to my side of the walls and have crazy monkey sex with the man I love with the ass that just won’t quit. I will talk to you in the morning!

Then she walked out and left me sitting there alone with my thoughts. I didn’t like my thoughts, too much thinking.

Chapter 1

ELEVEN MONTHS LATER

Oh my gosh! This is so amazing!

Thank you beautiful! I wanted something that reminds me of you.

Kendall leaned over and planted a kiss on Lena’s lips.

Oh gag! Do you two ever stop? Geesh! I was told to be here and sign something. If you’re not too busy that is.

Hi Cera! Isn’t this place amazing? I can’t believe this! How can I ever thank you enough for helping us?

My pleasure guys, really. I’m glad I could help! And yes, this is amazing! It should be done, soon shouldn’t it?

Yup, just cosmetic now really.

We were standing in front of Lena and Kendall’s new house. Due to entirely too much red tape required to get Kendall citizenship and Lena’s unfortunate financial situation, I am the proud owner of an amazing piece of property between Broomfield and Boulder and looking at an almost completed structure of my custom built home. Really bought and paid for by Kendall, but in my name so they could actually purchase the land before someone else swiped it from under them while Kendall was fighting with the government and their ridiculous red tape. Legal documents were in place so the girls would inherit this place in the event that something happens to me while jet setting around the world as Lena says. I think she thinks my plane is just going to fall out of the sky or something. Her paranoia, just one of the many things that is so endearing about her.

So, what do I need to sign now?

Well, the final inspection is done, we have received our CO, we just need your signature saying everything is up to your standard and the construction folks can get out of my way so I can finish this myself.

Well show me where to sign, I’m anxious for you to finish my house already! I mean, I’m anxious to get you out of my condo so I can rent it for much more money. Buwahhahaha.

We walked through the house and Kendall gave me the rundown on what he was going to do. Really just paint and customizing a few things. It was a beautiful house. Lena said it looked like his home back in Thailand only more bedrooms and floors. Once this was done and Kendall was done fighting the ‘blasted pain in the ass government thugs’ he was going to build an office building at the back of the property to run his business from. But for now, they were so excited about the house, I think he would work in a shed if that’s all he could get.

This is really spectacular guys! Is there anything else you’re going to need from me before I leave?

Nope, with the signed paperwork, the construction company will sign everything over to you. The closing company says you can close the day before you leave and take full ownership.

Well ok then! I do own an amazing place. How ever will I thank you Kenny?

Start by never using that ridiculous name again Cerie.

We were all laughing when the girls came running in.

There are deer around here, mommy, mommy! Come quick!

The twins were loving exploring the property. Lindy not so much. She was up in ‘her’ room planning the décor. I actually think her and my nephew Marc were up there kissing but that was Lena’s and Jena’s problem.

Ok, ok, relax, do not wake the baby! Kendall, your son. I’ll bring the lunch in when the girls are done showing me the wildlife.

Lena plopped Keegan into Kendall’s arms and took off with the girls. It was so nice to see her this happy again. It was like seeing teenage Lena.

So Cera, where are you off too? I thought you were done traveling.

Well I did too, but apparently, the Icelandic government is being a bit temperamental about novices doing the annual site work on Eyjafjallajökull. Fucking volcano. Leave it to a damn volcano to jack up my travel for work retirement! Oh well. Four weeks hiking around the damn thing and I am finally exclusively a travel for tourism only, human!

"Ha, well it is a beautiful volcano. Beautiful country too actually! Maybe I