Wanting You
(Broken Road #1)
by: Becca Siller
From Goodreads
After a bad break-up from her abusive ex-boyfriend Tony, Charlotte McElroy and her best friend Riley Tate decide to let loose in Las Vegas. Even though she has sworn off men, Charlotte finds herself powerless against her attraction to a gorgeous dark-haired movie star. His charming sense of humor and good looks are a lethal combination against her resolve to not get involved with a man like him.
Wyatt Grayson and Miles Porter embark on a weekend of drinking and partying with their good friend and fellow actor Jesse. On a short break from filming the second installment of the Forced Romance trilogy, the trio find themselves at the mercy of the two beautiful women. Wyatt and Charlotte never intended to fall in love but when she's attacked by her former boyfriend, Wyatt quickly learns that he can't live without her. Charlotte finds herself clinging to Wyatt for her own salvation from her nightmare.
But can their love withstand the broken road they find themselves on? Can it prevail despite Wyatt's promiscuous history, the temptation posed by ever-present and ever-willing bimbos, the geographic distance between them, and his demanding film schedule? Or will the turmoil of Charlotte's past, Wyatt's troubled childhood, and the threat posed by Tony keep them forever apart?
Charlie
Oh my heavens, I think this Wyatt guy just completely undressed me with his eyes. The worst part is that I liked it. It’s like his slow perusal of my body was a gentle caress and the more he perused the hotter I became. By the time Jesse suggested drinks I was practically panting. When he shook my hand I felt like everything in me ignited. While he looked toward Jesse I took my chance to ogle him. Ok, inventory: light brown straight hair slightly shaggy, broad defined shoulders, narrowed at the waist but not too much, I do hate a scrawny guy, tall, very tall maybe like over six feet. Wow! He is handsome, which means trouble for me. I look away before I get caught staring at him. I glance toward Riley and she and that Miles guy are practically making bedroom eyes at each other already. Thank heavens for Jesse. I cannot get caught alone with Wyatt. I look again and he’s staring, I think, at my tattoos now; I see he has a tattoo peeking under his right arm coming from his back to his ribs. Maybe it’s some kind of anchor…I quickly look away.
“So, Charlotte, what do you do?” Wyatt asks. Ok, harmless enough question.
“I’m a veterinarian. I work in Portland.” His eyebrows shoot up. I know that reaction. I always get that reaction, it’s because I look younger than I am and that I’m a fully certified vet at age twenty-six.
“Oh…that seems interesting. You must love animals?” he says, seeming interested. Huh…he didn’t ask the typical questions, which is good because I don’t want to explain.
“Uh yes…I loving being around the animals although it is very difficult at times. But I love it.” Talking to him is making me so nervous. His voice is like a deep caress. I swear I’m getting goose bumps from him just talking.
“Oh. So what makes your job difficult?” he asks.
“When people are irresponsible and the animal suffers the consequences. So what do you do, Wyatt?” I question him, anything to change the subject off of me.
Laughing, “Like as if you don’t know?” he answers quizzically. His arrogance rubs me the wrong way.
“I’m not exactly sure why that’s funny but I truly don’t. Should I know?” I utter directly.
“Huh…well, Jesse, Miles, and I are all actors. We are kind of a big deal.” He seems genuinely confused by my ignorance.
“Oh really,” I say with a sardonic smile. “Well, tell me something you’ve been in and then maybe I’ll remember.”
Now with a smile more wary and questioning, he says, “Well, have you seen Forced Romance? Miles and I were both in that one. Jesse is a new character in the second installment that we are currently filming.”
“Hmm…I don’t know. Ry, have we seen Forced Romance?”
Turning to look at me, “No, babe, I don’t think so...should I have?” Riley answers.
“Well, according to Wyatt here, he and his friend Miles there are kind of ‘Big Deal’ actors...” I say with as much sarcasm as I can. I don’t like being made to look like an idiot for not wasting my time watching movies. I turn back to Wyatt and his smile has faded and now he’s scowling at me. “I’m sorry, we don’t watch movies much. Oh unless they have that smoking-hot Zac Efron in them. Sorry.” There, I know I sounded like a total bitch but I think he deserved it. I turn and rise to get in the pool and Jesse takes my hand.
“Damn, girl, you burned his ego bad,” Jesse says, laughing quietly. “I don’t think anyone has ever turned him down.” I glance over to Riley and she gives me the “now that was just mean grin.” I grin back and walk over to jump into the pool.
Wyatt
Well now that was frustrating. Her little show, as if I was peacocking or something. And that damn Jesse just walked off with her. No loyalty. None! I’m so mad I could yell. Then to watch her walk away – I knew that ass would be round and tight. Well I need to just get over her. There are a dozen girls that would happily take her place. “Sorry about that, Wyatt. She takes longer to warm up is all,” Riley says to me with an apologetic smile.
“So what’s her deal? Is she gay?” I ask, already knowing the answer to that question. I know she was checking me out. I could feel her eyes on me, hot on my skin. I wave to the attendant for another round of drinks. Riley breaks me from my thought with her laughter.
“Oh, hell no! She is definitely not gay. She’s just a little more guarded.” A shuttered look passes across Riley’s face before she quickly composes herself. Just then a phone starts ringing from a bag next to where Charlotte was sitting.
I turn to see if Charlotte can hear it, when I catch sight of her scrambling to get out of the pool. When she stood up and all that water slid down her perfect tight little body my gut tightened and my cock twitched. Crap, what is this? This woman just insulted me but my body stands at attention at the first sight of her. The sun is shining bright and it’s almost like her skin is sparkling. She jogs slightly to get to where we are sitting and that extra bounce in her step, Jesus. I swallow hard, trying to get control of myself.
She scrambles through her bag, not looking at me and desperately trying to not look at Riley, who is scowling at her. She picks up her phone. “Tony!” she exclaims and looks surprised but immediately winces and pulls the phone away from her ear. I could hear yelling. “How did you get this number?” The yelling gets louder and Charlotte leaps up and heads for somewhere more private. I watch her rush away; the look on her face is almost…fear.
“What’s that all about?” I ask Riley.
A pained look in her eye, Riley answers with a big sorrowful sigh, “Her loser ex-boyfriend.”
Immediately sitting up straight and begging us to forget that she ever said anything, Riley adds, “Seriously guys, Charlie would kill me if she knew I even mentioned anything.”
“Consider it forgotten,” I say quickly and Miles nods and agrees. “So Charlie, huh”? I say with a mischievous grin.
“Yeah, that’s what we all call her,” Riley says with huge smile.
“What’s with all the tats?” I ask. I noticed that she had a scripture running along her left side, a huge flower on her right shoulder and a few more that I couldn’t make out…maybe one on her wrist.
“What do you mean?” Riley replies.
“She has a lot of them,” I respond.
“Yeah and your point is? Look, Charlie is just a normal person that has tattoos and…” Riley’s answer is sharp.
I cut her off, waving my hand. “I’m not judging. Shit, I have a couple. She just seems too proper for them.” Then Riley gives me this “you have no idea” smile and my heart races at the thought of taking this girl to my bed and kissing all of her hot little tattoos.
Charlie
I’m hiding behind the drink hut trying to find out how the hell Tony got my new number. Apparently I have someone giving Tony information about me. He never told me how he found out that Riley and I were going to Vegas; I’m assuming the same snitch. For some reason even though I’m fighting with Tony and am terrified with the consequences of what I say, I can’t get that damn Wyatt out of my head. He honestly looked hurt when I shot him down so abruptly.
Me: “Tony, I’m not going to fight with you like this. I’m on my vacation and I am not doing anything wrong. You are not supposed to be contacting me, remember?”
Tony: “You listen to me, if I find out that you’re fucking doing shit that I don’t approve of, Charlotte, you are not going to like my reaction when you get back.”
Me: “Tony, you can’t threaten me like that and I am not going to listen to this shit anymore. I deserve better than this! That’s why I left. Do us both a favor and move on. I’ve got to go. Don’t call me again.”
Before he can get another word in I hang up my phone and turn it off. “Damn it!” I curse to myself. I do not need this right now. I am going to enjoy my vacation with my best friend. Since I’m right here by the drink hut I’m buying drinks for everyone.
On my way back to our little lounging area I call to Jesse and have him follow me. “Are you ok, baby girl?” he asks me.
“I’m…ok. But I’m about to get a whole lot better,” I say with a smile that slowly warms my heart back up. I can’t think about what is waiting back home. “SHOTS!” I yell as Jesse and I return to the others.
Riley turns her concerned gaze on me. She jumps up and pulls me aside, “Hey babe, are you ok? What happened?”
“Let’s just say you need to text Mom and tell her to call your phone if she needs to get a hold of me,” I say as if it’s no big deal.
“Why?” Riley says calmly but with care and wariness.
“Because…I broke up with him but somehow he can’t seem to get the drift and someone gave him my number,” I say, frustrated.
“WHAT!” she shouts, “CHARLIE!”
“SSHHHH, Riley. I don’t need everyone knowing my business,” I say to her in a raspy whisper.
“Charlie, you know he’s not going to just let you go like that,” she said whispering now but I can see the three guys out of the corner of my eye. “Remember the last time.”
“Riley!” I hold my hand up in a clear “back off now” gesture. “Riley, let’s have some shots and have the best days of our lives and not think about that shit until we have the best four days too, ok?” I ask her with a pleading look.
“Ok. I love you, Charlie.”
“I love you too. Now let’s get drunk,” I say, laughing a real laugh.
Going back to the guys, I realize I owe Wyatt an apology. “Hey, Wyatt,” I say pulling him aside. “I just want to apologize for what I said and the way I acted. I was harsh and judgmental and I am sorry. Do you accept my apology?” As I say this he looks at me shocked. I chuckle slightly.
“Um…let me think about it. Sure if you do one of these with me,” Wyatt says, smiling as he picks up a shot. My smile widens. “And if you and Riley agree to go out with us tonight. I think Miles has a thing for Riley,” he says looking in the direction where the two are talking, and sitting very close together.
“Shots first, then yes, I could use a good time out. And I definitely think Miles and Riley are crushing on each other.”
As we all sit around, Riley and I eventually switch to beer and a few hours later we are all feeling the alcohol. We are laughing at stupid jokes. Jesse has quickly become one of my new favorite people. I think he knows something else is up and that’s why the sudden change in my attitude but if he does he doesn’t give anything away. Miles and Riley find any reason to touch each other. I haven’t seen her like this in a very long time. Come to think of it I don’t think either one of us has been this relaxed in a while. I think about how I could possibly have that again one day and my mind strays to Wyatt. Maybe I could have a thing with him. He is so easy to be around. Completely surprising considering what he does. I will be the first to admit that celebrities are way more regular than I thought.
My gaze drifts over to where he and Jesse are joking around with each other. His smile and laugh are delightful. I fear that he isn’t usually this relaxed, and that would be a shame because I feel a warming in my heart when I hear his laugh.
*~~~~* About The Author *~~~~*
BECCA SILLER was born in Mt. Home, Idaho, raised in California by a family of readers, and always enjoyed a good story. She was delighted to become a full-time stay-at-home mom but decided she needed something to keep busy during nap times. With the encouragement of her adoring family and an active imagination, she started on her first novel and hopes to have many more to come. Wanting You, the first book in the Broken Road series, is her first published novel. Visit her at http://beccasiller.com/.
