Benson: Alpha Company Renegades, #12

By Kali Hart

Ivy

I'm a train wreck.
A complete and total mess.
But when I visit my cousin Blaire, I don't advertise my latest failed success story.
I prefer to pretend everything is peachy.
Never mind that I got fired and evicted on the same day.
No one needs to know how bad I'm failing at life.
Just once in my life I want to be a success story.
So I make one up.
I never expected that white lie to get so out of hand or cost me a chance a true love.

Benson

I've been warned to steer clear of Ivy.
But when I meet her, I lose the ability to stay away.
I'm drawn to her immediately.
She's everything I've ever wanted in a woman.
I want to make her mine.
But when I find out she's been lying to me about her life, I'm torn.
I've been lied to before and it didn't end well.
I should count my losses and move on.
But with Ivy, I'm learning nothing comes easy.
Most of all, letting her go.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jackie M. Wallick
• Release date: Aug 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9798223176015

Book preview

1

IVY

I’m a total train wreck.

No, it’s not an exaggeration.

Unfortunately—despite my best efforts—it seems to be my fate.

In case I needed any confirmation, my busted suitcase appears on the airport baggage claim carousel, the contents scattered. An alarming number of people are getting an eyeful of my pink bras, more fuzzy socks than any one person should own, and a busted box of tampons. I swear there’s a tire track on my favorite sweatshirt.

I could just walk away; pretend I don’t have a suitcase. It’d be easier than facing the humiliation. Already, mothers are diverting their kids’ attention elsewhere and creepy men are getting weird looks in their eyes.

But when you’ve already done the most embarrassing thing you can possibly think of, it’s hard to be shaken by those judgmental stares. Plus, I’m tired and cranky enough from twenty-four hours of traveling that I’d knee a creeper in the groin without a second thought.

I strut up to the carrousel and collect my unmentionables like I expected my suitcase to have exploded, never once flinching at the muttered harsh comments. I’m just happy my face hasn’t been plastered all over the tabloids. Yet.

I told my cousin Blaire I’m here for a long overdue visit while I wait for a new season to start filming, but reality is I’ve got nowhere else to go. I’ve been fired before, and I’ve also been evicted. But never on the same day. I humbly accepted some airline miles from a former coworker. Probably the only person on the entire set who actually liked me.

My phone buzzes in my pocket as I chase down my last stray bra. Don’t you dare, I bark at the lanky, balding man who reaches for it. There’s not enough laundry detergent in the world to erase his grubby fingers touching my delicates, and I can’t afford to burn it. I manage to snag it and stuff it my bag.

I drag my broken suitcase back to a corner bench and fish my phone out of a pocket, hoping it’s Blaire announcing that she’s just outside. I’m ready to get the hell out of airports for a few days. I should win the award for most layovers, but I can’t complain considering the ticket was charity.

Blaire: I have a work conflict. Won’t be able to pick you up.

I bite down hard on my bottom lip as I watch the gray bubble, waiting for whatever comes next. I have a few bucks left in my bank account, but I doubt it would cover an Uber ride all the way to her house. I might be walking.

Blaire: Sawyer is going to send one of his soldiers to get you. Is that okay?

My cousin married an Army guy a couple of years ago, and I can’t say I’d mind a military escort after the last few days I’ve had. Maybe the universe will be kind to me and let him be hot and single.

Ivy: Sure.

Blaire: I’ll make it up