Take a Chance on Me (Baymoor Book 3) Read online

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  TITLE PAGE

  COPYRIGHT PAGE

  PLAYLIST PAGE

  AUTHOR’S LETTER

  STORY

  AUTHOR’S ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  TAKE A CHANCE ON ME

  BY

  D. A. YOUNG

  Copyright © October 2017 by D. A. Young

  Cover Art by Karen Kunz/ Lab Media © June 2017 created for D. A. Young

  Proofing by Ideality Consulting © October 2017

  Editing by Little Pear Editing Services/[email protected] Copyright © October 2017

  All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book only. EBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this e-book is a crime punishable by law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including printing, photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/).

  This book is a work of fiction and intended for mature audiences aged 18+ only. All names, characters, places, businesses, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and have been used facetiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales or events is entirely coincidental.

  TAKE A CHANCE ON ME PLAYLIST

  STEVIE WONDER – I WAS MADE TO LOVE HER

  OUTKAST – MIGHTY O

  DJ KHALED ft. RIHANNA & BRYSON TILLER – WILD THOUGHTS

  MIGUEL ft. MARIAH CAREY - BEAUTIFUL

  AALIYAH – ARE YOU THAT SOMEBODY

  TONY! TONI! TONE! – (LAY YOUR HEAD ON MY) PILLOW

  WALE ft. MIGUEL – LOTUS FLOWER BOMB

  KENDRICK LAMAR ft. ZACARI – LOVE

  LAURYN HILL – DOO WOP (THAT THANG)

  TYRESE – SWEET LADY

  RAY CHARLES – (NIGHT TIME IS) THE RIGHT TIME

  TOTAL ft. THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G – CAN’T YOU SEE

  MIGUEL – SURE THING

  BBAYFACE ft. L.L. COOL J., JODY WATLEY & HOWARD HEWITT – THE LOVER IN YOU

  MUSIQ SOULCHILD – DONTCHANGE

  BILL WITHERS - LOVELY DAY

  BEYONCE ft. KENDRICK LAMAR - FREEDOM

  AUTHOR’S LETTER

  Hello,

  Thank you for your patience regarding this book. This one is bittersweet for me as it concludes the trilogy of the Carlton siblings. Don’t worry; there are more stories to be told in Baymoor. Graham and Annabelle’s story was special to me, and at times, hard to write because it deals with heavy topics such as domestic violence and drug abuse and the effects they have not just on the victims or users but the people around them as well.

  If you are reading this book, I’m going to assume that you started with book one in this series and are aware of the Carlton’s heavy history as well as Annabelle and Edith’s. The saga continues along those lines, and at times, the ride will be dark and heavy before you reach the light at the end of the tunnel. If you’re thinking about quitting the book because of these elements, I encourage you to see it through to the end.

  I absolutely enjoyed watching the love between Graham Carlton and Annabelle Gaines unfold! I’d like to disclose that he is now my official book bae, surpassing Max Hayes, Jack Sullivan, and Isaiah Davies. This couple is sexy, hot and funny as hell! At times, I was blushing, but for the most part, laughing aloud at the antics of everyone in this book. There are surprises galore, and as always, it’s great to catch up with Baymoor’s residents.

  I hope you will appreciate the rollercoaster adventure of how they came to be as much as I enjoyed writing it.

  Happy Reading!

  Sincerely,

  D. A. Young

  P. S.

  Interested in what I’m doing next? Follow me on Facebook:

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  BOOKS by D. A. YOUNG

  WHISKEY ROW SERIES

  SWEET OBSESSION

  NEW BEGINNINGS

  THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

  PERFECTLY IMPERFECT

  NO GREATER LOVE

  BAYMOOR SERIES

  THE FARMER & THE BELLE

  LOST & FOUND

  TAKE A CHANCE ON ME

  CIRCLE OF FRIENDS NOVELLA SERIES

  SECOND CHANCES

  FOREVER YOURS

  THE TIES THAT BIND

  BOOK ONE

  Chapter One

  Baymoor, Maryland

  “Are you sure you’ve got everything?” Eliza fretted as she unpacked everything Graham had just packed into the suitcase on his bed. “Don’t forget your sunscreen and that first-aid kit I bought you.” Purposely ignoring his puzzled frown, Eliza unfolded and thoroughly examined every article of clothing before starting the process of meticulously folding each item and placing them back into the suitcase.

  “Do you mind?” Graham asked pointedly as he plucked his boxer-briefs from her hands.

  “Hell no, I don’t mind,” Eliza wrinkled her nose playfully. “I’m just relieved that you actually wear them. I always suspected you went commando for easy access with your continuously expanding fan club.”

  “As long as he’s not going commando in one of those hoochies, I couldn’t care less,” their baby sister Georgina “Georgie” Carlton-Hayes chimed in from the foot of his king-sized bed where she was reclining staring up through the skylight overhead. “This is pretty dope! I think I’ll ask Max if we can install one of these in our bedroom too.”

  Graham snorted rudely at her comment. “‘Old MacDonald is so pussy-whipped that I have no doubt that when I return, it will already be installed.”

  “One, don’t talk about my husband like that. Two, oh, I’m sorry because you’re not pussy-whipped?” Georgie’s saccharinely sweet sarcastic tone was enough to give Graham instant cavities. “Please refresh my memory. Where are you off to again? And for whom?”

  Graham emitted a long-suffering sigh. “I already told your smart-ass that once I commit to a job I believe in seeing it through to the end. That’s all this is. Nothing personal.”

  “Except you’re not being paid for this job,” Georgina pointed out with relish.

  “Do you remember how I used to tickle you until you peed in your pants?” Graham reminded her mildly.

  There was a pause before Georgina squeaked, “You wouldn’t dare!”

  “Is that a challenge? C’mon, Georgie. When have I ever backed down from a dare—”

  “Eliza…” Georgina whined playfully to their big sister. “Graham’s threatening meeee!”

  “Chickenshit.”

  “Stop bickering, children. Scoot over, Georgie, and let me see.” Eliza bent down and removed her black suede ankle boots before climbing atop the bed. She crawled over the mess of clothing she’d made to where Georgina was laying and positioned herself exactly like her baby sister to take in the glowing moon and smattering of stars brightly shining against the midnight sky. “Wow, she’s right! Makes you want to stay up here forever…”

  Except they couldn’t. By no means was he a “run and hide” type of motherfucker, but Graham knew his sisters needed a moment to regroup, and they needed him as well. Words weren’t needed to convey what they felt for each other. They were his life. He would readily lay down his life for them or destroy anyone who threatened them. The proof of that lay six feet under
and scattered across several cemeteries in Las Vegas. And because he’d do anything for them, he toed off his shoes and grunted, “Make some room for your boy.”

  His sisters did as he requested, and Graham settled his big muscular body comfortably between them, just like old times. They stared wordlessly up at the moon, thinking the same thoughts. But who would be the first to say what was on their mind?

  The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

  The idea of being anything like their degenerate parents was too repugnant a thought for the siblings to bear. Thank God for the presence of their beloved uncle and aunt, Nate and Valerie Banks, to provide a sense of stability and a loving environment. The Carlton siblings were happy with their lives and the successes they’d achieved after their rocky start. That lifestyle was long gone, and none of them were interested in reliving any of the hell they’d been put through. Nor were they interested in having any reminders of it around as they settled into the new phases of their lives in the small, picturesque town of Baymoor, Maryland.

  Georgie owned, operated, and designed all of the lingerie for Feminine Intuition, her high-end intimate apparel line and boutique. She was also married to Maxwell Hayes, owner and proprietor of Cinnamon Farms. Eliza was a freelance architect and recently engaged to the sheriff of Baymoor, Wade Holloway. They share a daughter, Camille, from a relationship they’d had nine years ago. Their love affair had been rekindled when Eliza and Camille moved to Baymoor earlier this year. Graham’s occupation was sort of a mystery to the entire family. All they knew was that he’d been in the military, worked for the CIA and NSA, and was the best at what he did.

  To commemorate being together again after so many years apart, the trio decided to put down roots in the community they’d grown to love and invest in a family business. They’d created the Cashmere Inn, a bed and breakfast located on the outskirts of town, next to Cinnamon Farms. The last four months had tested their limits as they learned how to work together and respect each other’s opinions, but they’d finally pulled it off. Tonight was the celebration of the opening of the inn, and they’d invited everyone they knew to celebrate and reap the rewards of their hard work. Everything was going smoothly until life decided to test exactly how far the siblings had evolved.

  That challenge came in the form of their mother, Ingrid Carlton. She’d shown up unexpectedly and did what she did best for her children: ruined everything. Luckily, her older brother Nate had dragged her away before she could cause a scene, but the damage was already done in her children’s eyes. As soon as the party was over, Wade and Max had seen to bidding their guests farewell while the siblings retreated to the spacious suite Graham now resided in. It was decided unanimously by the siblings that Graham would live at the inn to keep an eye on things, Eliza would work from there, and since she had her own showroom and dance studio to maintain in town, Georgie would only pop in twice a week. Forenzo Tuleto, Eliza’s old friend, ran the day-to-day operations. He’d fallen in love with the little town and decided to move there after coming to see her and Wade.

  “SHE cannot stay here. I refuse to allow her toxin to contaminate the air we breathe. I. Want. Her. Gone. That bitch dared to talk to my baby!”

  It was Eliza who finally broke the silence. Her normally calm and composed demeanor was ruined by the bitter emotions brought forth from coming face-to-face with Ingrid, twenty-two years after their last encounter. Years of memories from dealing with the verbal and, sometimes, physical abuse at Ingrid’s hands were consuming her. She hadn’t missed Wade’s hurt look when she’d withdrawn from his attempts to comfort her. Later, she’d apologize, but for now, Eliza couldn’t talk to Wade about it. He would never understand what she’d endured, unlike Graham and Georgie, who’d lived it with her. With her siblings was where she belonged right now. Her hands covered her stomach protectively. An action that didn’t go unnoticed by Graham.

  “I agree,” Georgie backed Eliza. “I thought she was gonna get bodied by Aunt Val when she told Camille to give her a hug! Why would she just turn up out of the blue? Ingrid had to know this was the last place she’d be welcomed!”

  “Quit actin’ brand new, Little Bit. Since when has she ever given a damn about anyone but herself?” Graham made sure to keep his voice evenly measured, despite the intense displeasure that he was feeling about Ingrid’s impromptu arrival. His anger would only upset his sisters more. They needed a distraction. “You need to calm down, Eliza. The stress can’t be good for our new niece or nephew.”

  Georgina gasped and rose up on her elbows to peer over Graham at her surprised sister, squealing, “You’re pregnant?! Congratulations! Why didn’t you say anything??”

  Eliza’s wide smile was tremulous. “Thanks, boo. We just recently found out and didn’t want to say anything before the wedding.” She nudged Graham’s shoulder with a mock frown. “How’d you know?”

  “You’re joking, right? ‘Mr.-I-Spy’ knows every damn thing!” Georgina kidded. “So, how are you feeling? Ready to do it all over again? How does Camille feel?”

  “She’s excited but wants us to get married before making any announcements,” Eliza confessed with a fond smile. “Wade and I even received a lecture about us jumping the gun.”

  “That’s my girl,” Graham declared proudly of his precocious niece who was eight going on forty. She was too precious with her old soul personality and sense of responsibility.

  “Max wants babies, but I don’t think I’m quite there yet,” Georgie said with a worried frown marring her lovely face.

  “I’m surprised it hasn’t happened already with the way you two go at it,” Graham retorted with a shudder, earning him a laugh from Eliza and a pinch to his arm from their baby sister. “Sometimes, I think y’all need a restraining order against each other.”

  “Mind ya business.” Georgina lay back down and stared up at the sky. “Is it crazy that the thought of becoming a mom frightens me to death? I’m married to the most perfect man in the world, and life is pretty damn flawless right now. I want to fill our farmhouse with babies and listen to the pitter patter of little feet running around by kids who look just like him, but there’s a huge part of me that’s worried that I’ll be a horrible mother. What if I turn out like Ingrid?” She leaned her head on Graham’s broad shoulder. “I’d never be able to forgive myself if I brought a child into this world and screwed them up.”

  “Georgie, you’ll make a fantastic mother!” Eliza protested vehemently. “Please don’t sell yourself short. You’re great with kids. Not only does Camille adore you but so do all of the kids who attend your dance studio.”

  “You could never be like her! Just the fact that you care enough to have concerns is proof enough!” Graham informed his sister forcefully. He hated the uncertainty and vulnerability that Ingrid could still stir in Georgie. If his presence wasn’t needed here, he would have been escorting her raggedy ass across state lines by midnight.

  Despite their reassuring words, doubt niggled at the back of Georgina’s mind. Instead of responding to her siblings, she changed the subject. “She didn’t look like the Ingrid I left in Las Vegas. She looked almost…normal.”

  Being drug-free, well-rested, eating three square meals a day, and under twenty-four-hour supervision had done wonders for Ingrid and her wardrobe. She’d traded in her tacky and garish revealing clothing for a red peacoat, simple gray sweatshirt, dark jeans, and white canvas sneakers. Her curly, auburn shoulder-length hair was clean and pulled back from her face in a banana clip, her face was devoid of makeup, and her skin, although faintly scarred, was healthier looking. Even her normally gaunt frame was a little fuller.

  Ingrid’s appearance may had been altered on the outside, but her personality hadn’t been. Graham had seen the calculated look in her eyes as she surveyed the polished surroundings and thoroughly scrutinized the well-dressed women who were present, especially their wedding rings.

  “Yeah, she did,” Graham agreed cynically. “Just keep in mind that a sna
ke sheds its skin for new beginnings as well, but it’s still a fucking snake.”

  ***

  An hour later, Graham entered the inn’s large industrial kitchen to find it occupied by Max and Wade.

  “Everything alright up there?” Max poured a tumbler glass half-full of bourbon and slid it across the large refurbished oak kitchen table toward his brother-in-law who pulled out a chair across from him.

  “Thanks, man. Nah, it’s not alright, but we’ll get there.” Graham eyed Wade who was leaning against the island, nursing his drink. “Just give them some time and space, but don’t baby them. My sisters refuse to be treated with kid gloves. You do that and it’s a guarantee you won’t ever get laid again.”

  At their identical horrified expressions, Graham snickered. “On second thought, do what y’all do best when it comes to your women.”

  “I don’t like feeling this helpless,” Wade growled, Eliza’s earlier rejection still stinging. “This is supposed to be a joyous time for all of us. Any idea on what she wants?”

  “A word of advice? Don’t ask her,” Graham warned darkly. “Keep an eye on her but keep your distance. Ingrid only has two levels she functions at: entitled and ‘woe-is-me’. She’s just waiting for someone to give a damn for her to show her ass and drag you into her bullshit.”

  Nobody knew that better than her children.

  ***

  Past...

  Graham watched from the security monitor as Ingrid manically paced from wall-to-wall in her sterile white living quarters. Her eyes were bloodshot and angry as her frail body shook uncontrollably and she frenziedly scratched her head. Ingrid’s short-sleeved, peach t-shirt was drenched in perspiration and so was her ravaged face. Years ago, she’d been beautiful and vivacious before her husband introduced her to the streets. Faint traces of that beauty could still be detected in her sculpted cheekbones, the delicate point of her chin, and almond-shaped hazel eyes that sadly seemed softest and at peace when she was higher than the Empire State Building.