The Ruby Riot Series: Box Set Part 44

"Huh." I sink back on the bed and stare at the stained ceiling.

"You're particularly monosyllabic today," she says.

"Are you staying?"

"Today? I told you, I'm working."

"No. Later. Like, until September."

Tegan's eyes widen. "Ah, you were snooping!"

"You left your browser open! I just need to know if you've changed your mind about the States. Cool if you have, but talk to me. I promise to be mature about you leaving this time."

Tegan scoffs and I pull at her towel. She keeps hold, lies on her side next to me, and props her head on one hand. "You're really worried about this?"

I catch her fingers as she trails them from my forehead to my chest. "You know that I don't want us to be apart. But I need some notice to get my head around you going."

"Do you think I'm leaving?"

"No. Yes. I don't know. The States?" I indicate the laptop.

"That? I might housesit for a few weeks. Coming?"

"House sitting?"

"I was going to ask if you wanted to come once the alb.u.m was finished."

"You'll wait?"

"Yes! Silly! I have to clear with Tina the time off work anyway." She flicks my nose and I seize her wrists, so she tumbles onto me.

Tegan's damp hair brushes my face as I kiss her. "House sitting for who?"

"My big brother, of course. He's staying in London because of Avery and has a nice, big, empty house over there."

"Where?"

"LA."

"Serious? And he's fine with us staying?" Tegan grins and wiggles her little finger. "You're devious. You do realise you can have any man wrapped around that finger?"

She smirks. "The important ones. The rock stars."

I growl and tip her over onto the bed. "Not me. I'll do what I want."

Tegan catches my hair and pulls my face close to hers. "The only person who can to tell me what to do. Sometimes."

"That's because I'm a f.u.c.king rock star." I catch Tegan's wrist again and pull her to me, kissing her until she gasps for breath. The damp towel unravels beneath us and her soft, fragrant skin begs for my mouth.

"Mr. Ego," she breathes out as I switch from her lips to her neck and head downwards.

"Remember I promised. I will always make being with Jax Lewis worth your while."

I know what the world says about us. I hear whispers of doubt from people close to us and from the ones trying to catch me out and make a story from our inevitable break-up they predict. Some days, life with Tegan is b.l.o.o.d.y hard, but that's what makes her right for me. The pa.s.sion we share for life and each other is channelled into building a relations.h.i.+p to face the new world together.

I'm not stupid. I know life will never stand still for me now; but wherever I am, Tegan will be with me. Throughout our lives, people have doubted our plans. Every time others told me I wouldn't succeed and my dreams would come to nothing, I tried twice as hard to prove them wrong. Tegan's the same. We never give up on what we believe in and I believe in a future with Tegan. She shares my pa.s.sion and determination, in life and our relations.h.i.+p. We're not like the rest of the world. We never will be. Their rules don't apply to us.

I love Tegan. Wherever she is, wherever I am, as long as the stars s.h.i.+ne in the sky above, I'll love her. So, pretty much forever.

The End * * *

Thank you for reading Cadence. I hope you enjoyed the story. Please consider leaving a review on the site you purchased the book.

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Acknowledgments.

This book started life as a serial sent to newsletter subscribers until I realised that Jax and Tegan needed their own book. The love for the pair from my subscribers and readers group encouraged me to write their story. Thanks to you all for your feedback and encouragement as the story took shape. A special thank you to Louise for her honest feedback when I struggled with the last part of the story. It was a struggle changing this from a serial to a book and Cadence has three endings! Tegan was happy with the one I chose.

This stunning cover was designed by the amazing Najla Qamber. Thank you again for making my book look outstanding.

Thank you to Peggy and Becky from Hot Tree Editing.

Thanks to Jessica from Inkslinger for taking over the promotion and release.

A huge thank you to all the bloggers who continue to support me, I couldn't reach as many people as I do without your help. Every single post, share and shout out means a lot.

To my friends in the Lounge: you ladies keep me sane and make me laugh and I feel I've made so many new friends. When times were tough this year you've helped me through in more ways than you imagine. Thank you.

And thanks to every single reader who has left a review, signed up to my mailing list, spoken to me on Facebook or emailed me. You make my dreams a reality. I'm overwhelmed by the support and can't wait to share more with you!

And a final shout out to my husband, Nick who supports me every step of the way and has watched my dreams become reality.

Shuffle.

A Ruby Riot Novel.

Shuffle.

(Ruby Riot #1).

Will Campbell, Ruby Riot ba.s.sist, is back at university and failing badly at everything apart from partying.

With Ruby Riot on a break, Will returns to university to finish his degree. He needs major help if he wants to pa.s.s his final year and attempts to join a not-very-rock star study group. Unfortunately for Will, the person organising the group is Fleur Roberts, the girl he's secretly crushed on for two years and who recently threatened him with a restraining order.

Fleur's rock stars are history academics. She has no interest in any variety of pierced, tattooed slacker, especially not the jacka.s.s rock star who humiliated her at a party. There's no way in h.e.l.l that Will Campbell is joining her group.

Faced with losing the easiest way to fix his academic problems, Will has the perfect solution: pretend he's his twin, Nate. Will and Nate have swapped ident.i.ties before so nothing can go wrong. Surely.

Fleur is successful academically, but her love life is a failure. Following a number of disastrous dates, she finds herself falling in love with a guy who is lying to her. But Will's deceit isn't the only thing about to shatter her world. When another man Fleur trusted betrays her, and she attempts to retaliate, Fleur discovers how dangerous he is. And when Will becomes involved, the repercussions threaten both of their futures.

Shuffle is the second standalone book in the Ruby Riot series and can be read separately to the first book.

Dedication.

To the January girls.

We will all get there.

Shuffle.

f()l.

* move (people or things) around so as to occupy different positions or to be in a different order.

* play or arrange (tracks on a music player) in a random order.

1.

FLEUR.

Freshers' Week at an English university is a rite of pa.s.sage for first year students, an introduction to the hedonism they've worked their b.u.t.ts off to achieve. The week often lands them in a messy evening, or seven, and leads to some of the most entertaining and unwanted pictures ever unleashed on the world.

It should be mandatory for their social media accounts to be locked for the duration of the week because the pictures will live in the annals of the internet for years to come, ready for a potential employer to dig up and decide they don't want someone who does that in their employ.

I avoided the heavier part of the Fresher's scene in my first year. Now, three years in, my finals loom at the end of this academic year. At this point, the future sharpens into focus for those who've partied harder than they studied. No problem for me, I've worked hard on my history major degree all through and I'm going for honours. Then Masters and a PhD.

Watching the Freshers' drama unfold around campus at night amuses me. I attend one or two parties in the week, but avoid the ones where the alcohol flows as freely as the first years do into Accident & Emergency when things get out of control.

Tonight is our unofficial, history department welcome-back-party, held at one of the big period houses on the edge of Greenwich. These properties are a goldmine for landlords who pack the students to the rafters. Attic s.p.a.ce? Utilise and create three bedrooms. Who cares if there's no insulation against the winter. Cellar? Two bedrooms. Who needs windows? Eight bedrooms equal eight students, and big money for the landlords they rarely spend on upkeep of the place.

This three-storey house's occupants are third years too so. hopefully, the number of first years will be limited.

"You know who's going to be here don't you?" asks Anne as we hop off the bus.

My housemate, Anne, studies economics but is along for the ride with her boyfriend, Jake. She also knows my secret crushes all too well.

"Half the third year history department?"

She smiles knowingly. "And one in particular."

"Oh, yes?" I ask, although I know who she's talking about.

Anne hooks her arm through mine. "Ethan Daniels."

Ethan, the out of my league guy who all the girls clambered for in the first year. He had a serious girlfriend for a year and a half, but for the past few months hasn't dated any girl. This guy ticks those all-important boxes. Intelligent. Cultured. Respectful of women. When I first saw him, once I stopped staring at his sculptured face and the cute way his dark fringe flopped into his green eyes, I presumed he was one of those guys who chose an arts degree because they think it's an easy ride. Wrong. Ethan argued complex theories with the lecturers from day one, and silenced one or two.

"Will you talk to him this semester?" Anne asks.

"He can talk to me, if he's interested."

Anne shakes her head. "You know that you come across as unapproachable, right?"

"Why?"

"Apart from the fact you're super smart and shoot down in flames guys who hit on you?"

"I do not!"

"Come on, you could have your pick if you weren't so p.r.i.c.kly. Look at you. I wish I had your figure."

I pull a face. I'm tall taller than I'd like because I prefer any guy I date to be above average height. Blessed with long-legs, a metabolism that keeps me slim, and long blonde hair and blue eyes, I'm quietly aware I'm attractive.

"Anne! You're gorgeous. Isn't she, Jake?" I say.

"Huh?" The tall guy is busy looking at his phone and not paying attention.

"Anne. She's gorgeous."