Forbidden Harmony (Harmony Falls, Book Three), page 1
Forbidden Harmony
Harmony Falls Book Three
Elizabeth Kelly
EK Publishing Inc.
Contents
Forbidden Harmony
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
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Epilogue
Redeeming Harmony Excerpt
The Elizabeth Kelly Newsletter
About the Author
Also by Elizabeth Kelly
Copyright © 2020 Elizabeth Kelly
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Published by:
EK Publishing Inc.
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ISBN: 978-1-77446-010-8
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This book is the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, scanned or distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. Quotes used in reviews are the exception. No alteration of content is allowed.
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Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated.
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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
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Edited by:
L. Nunn Editing
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Cover art by
EK Designs
Forbidden Harmony
She’s done being the good girl.
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Addison’s life was perfectly planned…
Until she caught her fiancé in bed with another woman.
Her ex-fiancé’s claim that she’s terrible in bed, left her reeling. Now, the self-proclaimed good girl is looking for someone to help her be very bad.
And the sexy as hell, Preacher, is the perfect choice.
Asking Preacher to show her how to be a sexy vixen isn’t her worst idea. But falling in love with the secretive tattoo artist most definitely is.
Preacher’s attraction to the prim and proper schoolteacher isn’t something he ever planned to act on. The town’s good girl has starred in all of his dirtiest fantasies, but he’s certain his obsession is one-sided.
Until she approaches him with an offer promising to bring even his most deviant fantasies to life.
It’s only supposed to be sex. But as Addison chips away at Preacher’s tough outer shell, she begins to see the real him.
But will Preacher’s past secrets destroy their chance at happiness? Or can Addison convince him that he can outrun his past?
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Author’s Note: “Forbidden Harmony” is Book Three in The Harmony Falls Series. It is a stand-alone story in the series.
Read more about the Harmony Falls series, HERE
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For a FREE Elizabeth Kelly short story, as well as excerpts of upcoming books and contests and giveaways, sign up for Elizabeth’s newsletter here
Chapter 1
“Addie, this is really bad timing.”
“It’s fine, Mom. Honestly.”
Her mother brushed a strand of hair away from her face. “It was bad timing when the wedding was happening and it’s even worse now. I should stay. You know what? I’m going to stay.”
Addison smiled at her mother. “You’re not staying. We are literally at the airport and your flight leaves in three hours.”
“It’s not the time to be leaving you. Your father will understand.”
Addison glanced at her father. He was standing at a kiosk a few feet away, purchasing two neck pillows. He waved at her before shuffling forward in the line.
“Dad’s work trip is six weeks long. You’ll miss him like crazy. Besides, you retired early for a reason, remember? You wanted to go with Dad on his work trips.”
“I know, but…” her mother touched Addie’s hair again, the auburn colour the exact same shade as her own, “you’re my baby and you’re hurting.”
“I’m fine,” Addie said.
“Honey.” Her mother’s look of exasperation was kind of sweet. “Your fiancé cheated on you. You’re not fine. And it’s okay that you’re not. Gosh, I hate Harrison for what he did to you. I’m so glad that Daniel broke his nose.”
“Daniel almost went to jail for breaking his nose,” Addison said. “You would have been forking out bail money for your son.”
“Totally worth it,” her mother said. “Harrison is the jerk here, honey. You know that, right?”
“I do.”
“Spend lots of time with Gracie and Kira, okay? Don’t lock yourself away for the entire summer vacation in your apartment watching bad reality television and knitting Harrison voodoo dolls.”
“I won’t,” Addison said with a small smile.
“Maybe you should go and visit Harper in New York. She’s your best friend and she -”
“I was just there, Mom. You know that. Besides, she has her own stuff going on and doesn’t need me moping around her apartment.”
“So, instead you’re gonna mope around your own apartment? What if you’ve gone feral by the time your father and I return from Tokyo?”
Addison laughed so hard that a short woman with ‘Hawaii or Bust’ written across her t-shirt stared at them as she walked past.
“I’m not gonna go feral, Mom. I promise.”
Her mother smoothed her fingers across the neckline of Addie’s t-shirt, studying the empty space where pearls usually graced Addie’s neck. “Sweetie, you wore jeans and a t-shirt to drive us to the airport. You’re not even wearing makeup. Honestly, you’re halfway to being feral already.”
“I got up late, that’s all,” Addie said. “I promise I’m okay.”
“I know I’m your mom and I’m old, but will you humour me and take some advice?”
“Yes,” Addie said.
Her mother glanced over at her father still in line at the kiosk. “The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else. Go find yourself a nice boy and sex him up, sweetheart. Nothing serious, just some casual banging. You’ll forget all about that nasty dickface Harrison.”
Addison’s jaw dropped. She’d never once heard her mother say a swear word and hearing dickface come out of her mother’s mouth was more shocking than her suggestion that Addison should do some ‘casual banging’.
“Did you just say dickface?” Addison said.
Her mother laughed. “Just promise me you’ll think about it. Casual sex is a good thing.”
“You married Daddy right out of high school. How do you know that casual sex is a good thing?” Addison said.
“I read a lot. It’ll be good for you, honey. And it’ll give the town gossips something else to gossip about.”
Addison winced. Directly after she’d caught Harrison cheating and they’d broken up, there’d been a period of time where it seemed like she wouldn’t be the talk of the town. It had lulled her into a false sense of security.
She rubbed at her suddenly throbbing temples. What an idiot she’d been to think she could avoid being the town’s hottest gossip topic.
She chewed at the inside of her cheek. Once she’d returned from New York and realized that the gossip had started, she’d been very tempted to take Kira’s advice and accidentally spill the beans about Harrison’s penchant for wearing a dog collar and being spanked, but in the end she couldn’t do it.
Not because she felt any kind of lingering love for Harrison – that ship had sailed after the shock of seeing him cheating with his legal assistant had worn off. No, she’d kept her mouth shut purely for one reason – she was ashamed. Harrison had straight up told her she sucked in bed and that he’d cheated on her because she didn’t do it for him.
It was bad enough that the whole town was talking about poor little Addison whose fiancé had dumped her. If she spread the rumour about Harrison’s tastes, he’d retaliate immediately. She didn’t need them knowing he’d cheated on her because she was terrible in bed.
“Honey?” Her mother touched her cheek. “Don’t worry about the gossip. They’ll move on to the next juicy story soon enough. Maybe about how you’re banging a new guy and having the time of your life doing it.”
Addison shook her head, a small grin playing on her lips. “Yeah, maybe.”
“Ready to go?” Her father joined them, the neck pillows swinging from one meaty hand.
“I think so,” her mother said. “Addie, are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“I’m positive.” Addison took her mother’s arm and steered her toward the security line. “I’ll see you guys in six weeks. I love you both.”
“Your mom is the best, Addie.” Gracie collapsed in the armchair in Kira’s living room and swung her legs over the arm. She took a swig of beer from the bottle in her hand. “And she’s absolutely right. You need to find someone to, as Harper says, hit it and quit it with, sweetie.”
Addie grimaced, folding her legs up under her on the couch and staring at the liquid in her wine glass. “Why would I want another guy telling me that I suck in bed?”
Kira snorted and dropped onto the couch beside her. Beer burbled up out of her bottle and she licked it off the side before pointing the bottle at Addison. “Just because Harrison says you suck in bed, doesn’t mean you do, Addie.”
Addison toyed with the multiple friendship bracelets tied around her wrist. “It doesn’t mean that I don’t though.”
“Oh please,” Grace said, “Harrison is not the end all and be all decision maker of what makes a woman good in the sack. Trust me, most guys are not as picky as your asshole ex-fiancé.”
“Great,” Addie said.
Grace leaned forward. “Okay, that came out wrong. What I was trying to say is that you’re super hot and sweet and funny, and the guys will be falling over themselves to be in your bed. Trust me, sweetie. You hold all the power here when it comes to sex. Half the guys in this town think you’re a total hottie. I’m surprised they haven’t been banging down your door now that they know you and Harrison are finished.”
Addie traced her finger around the rim of her glass. “Maybe Harrison told them how much I sucked in bed.”
“Maybe Harrison can suck a big fat hairy monkey dick,” Grace said.
Kira laughed. “He’d probably be into that, the kinky son of a bitch.”
Grace took another drink of beer. “Look, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do but -”
“I want to do it,” Addison said.
Kira blinked at her. “Seriously?”
“Yes.” Her stomach was churning, and she felt a little sick, but she did want to do this. She needed to do this. Harrison’s words about her being stiff in bed and not sexy kept echoing in her head and if it took banging some random dude to get his voice out of her head, she’d do it.
Maybe you should ask Preacher if he wants a casual bang.
Her face flushed fire engine red immediately. Thinking about the tattoo artist was a very bad idea. She might have had the occasional fantasy about him while engaged to Harrison, but that was because it’d been safe to fantasize about him. She’d been an engaged woman and there was no chance of that fantasy ever coming true.
And you think now that you’re single, it might? Grow up, Addison. Preacher wouldn’t have sex with you if you were the last woman on Earth. If strait-laced Harrison thought you were bland and boring in bed, you can sure as hell believe that Preacher would think the same. He probably sleeps with a different woman every weekend.
Kira poked her in the arm. “Why are you blushing?”
“I’m not,” Addison said.
“You are.”
“Just thinking about, uh, my night of casual sex,” Addison said.
“Anyone in particular you want to sleep with?” Kira said.
“No.” Addison took a quick glance at Grace. The curvy hygienist’s face wore a neutral expression, but she knew damn well what Grace was thinking. Grace was way too perceptive, and she already suspected that Addie had a crush on Preacher.
Her face flushed again. God, she would be crushing on the exact wrong man for her. She and Preacher had zero in common.
You don’t need to have anything in common to fuck him, Addie.
She cringed at her inner crudeness, but it did make a valid point. Casual sex wasn’t about a connection with someone, it was about fulfilling a need. But regardless, Preacher was not the man for her.
“You’re still blushing,” Kira said. “If you don’t want to do this, you don’t -”
“I want to,” Addison said. “In fact, Daniel mentioned the other day that a few of the firefighters will be at the Thirsty Beaver tomorrow night watching the baseball game.”
Kira clapped her hands. “Banging a hunky firefighter is totally the right call. Oh shit! I’m going to Willington tomorrow night with Connor to have dinner with his parents. Damn.”
“Willington, ugh.” Grace pretended to spit on the floor.
Kira laughed. “Hey, it’s not my fault my boyfriend is from Willington. You’re the one who set me up with your boss, Grace.”
“You’re welcome,” Grace said before raising her beer bottle in Kira’s direction.
Addie smiled a little. Her two best friends were happier than she’d ever seen them. After over a decade of crushing on Addie’s older brother, Daniel, Kira finally tried to make him jealous by faking a relationship with Grace’s boss, Connor, a handsome dentist who’d moved here from their rival town of Willington. It didn’t take long before Kira and Connor fell in love for real.
“Shit, what time is it?” Grace glanced at her watch. “I told Gideon I’d be home by seven.”
“You really gonna let my big brother tell you what to do?” Kira said with a grin. “I know he’s the sheriff, but it’s not like he’ll arrest you for being a few minutes late.”
Grace laughed. “Nope, but he might give my burger to Tank.”
Addison smiled at her. “Have I told you how happy it makes me to see you so happy, Gracie?”
“Thanks, Addie,” Grace said. “Gideon’s the best thing that ever happened to me and I still can’t believe that we’re finally together. The other night in bed, he -”
“Ew!” Kira said. “No sex talk, Grace. I’m super glad you and my brother are together, but I don’t want to hear anything about your sex life.”
Gracie laughed. “I know. It wasn’t about sex, you dork. Anyway, Gideon’s working tomorrow night, so I’ll go with you to the Beav, Addison.”
“You don’t have to,” Addie said.
“I want to.” Grace stood and finished off the last of her beer before leaning over and kissing Addison’s forehead. “I’ll meet you there around seven, okay?”
“Okay, thanks, Gracie.”
“Don’t mention it.” Grace held up her arm and pointed to the friendship bracelets that were wrapped around it. “We’re besties, remember?”
Addison laughed. “I love you guys for wearing the silly bracelets I made.”
“They’re not silly,” Kira said. “I love them and you’re mad talented. Connor and Gideon are still wearing theirs too. Hell, even Preacher still has his wrapped around his wrist.”
“He does?” Addie said.
Shit, did she sound weird? She sounded weird.
“Yep,” Kira said. “He was over the other night with Gideon and I saw it on his wrist. Anyway, I’m sorry I can’t go with you tomorrow night, but I fully expect you to text me in the morning with all the details of who you banged.”
Chapter 2
“Yo, Preacher, that guy is here.”
Preacher finished spraying the metal side table in the room he used for piercing. He wiped up the disinfectant spray with a clean cloth. “Can you be a little more specific, Nolan?”
“The interview guy. Shit, he told me his name, uh…”
“Nix,” Preacher said. He liked his apprentice and Nolan wasn’t stupid, but sometimes he acted like a complete idiot. “Tell him I’ll be a few minutes.”
