Falling Deep Read online

  Falling Deep

  A Nelson Island Novella

  Diana Gardin

  New York Boston

  Begin Reading

  Table of Contents

  An Excerpt from Wanting Forever

  Newsletters

  Copyright Page

  In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  For My Mom

  Acknowledgments

  I’m so very blessed. I thank God every day for giving me the drive and the passion to be a writer.

  To the very best agent in the whole entire universe, Stacey Donaghy. You are a complete rock star. Every time we talk, you build my confidence just a little bit more. I promise to leave you more voice messages in the future! Thanks for falling in love with Reed just as much as I did.

  To Reed’s very first readers, Skillet and Kate. Your opinions on my writing are always so important, and you really helped to mold my man Reed into something amazing. Thank you!

  To my fabulous, super-smart editor, Leah Hultenschmidt, Nelson Island is coming into the light because you loved and believed in Sam and Aston! Thank you for helping Reed’s story to be the very best version of itself.

  To my other wonderful editor, Dana Hamilton. Thanks for coming on board for Falling Deep! Your insights were so valuable, and I couldn’t have gotten it to its current polished state without your input.

  To my publicists: Fareeda Bullert at Forever, you’re a wonderfully refreshing woman to work with. You’re fast and you’re a fabulous communicator. Thank you, Fareeda, for your hard work on getting Nelson Island on the map! Autumn Hull, you are someone I wanted as a friend on my side. You’re always in the know when it comes to New Adult, and you’ve done a phenomenal job of getting the word out on the last two books. Thank you, Autumn!

  There are several bloggers and readers who have been there from the beginning, and I’m so lucky to have you on my side. Thank you so much for requesting advance review copies, and for loving what I do. You’re just as invested in my books as I am, and that always feels so great. I still can’t really believe anyone picks up one of my novels. Thank you for your love and your shares!

  To my love, who has actually started reading my books, thank you for loving me enough to read romance novels. You’re my hero.

  Thank you to my amazing little family who lives with my crazy every single day. Our two little wild things are my entire world, and my husband is the sun in our galaxy. Without you all, I wouldn’t have a purpose, or a reason to want to make our lives even better with this amazing career. Thank you for being perfect for me.

  Prologue

  How It All Ended…

  She bit down hard on her bottom lip, the soft trickle of blood pooling in her mouth a welcome distraction from the terrible ache beginning to build in her chest.

  She could see the darkness as it crept into his eyes. It was the shrouded darkness she had been so attracted to when she first laid eyes on him under the hot stage lights. The hard pallor that let her know, despite his glossy appearance and the obvious presence of prosperity in his life, he had clawed his way out of a long dark tunnel of pain similar to her own. She had been drawn to him because she hoped if he could get out, then maybe she could, too. Maybe he could pull her to the end of her very own darkness.

  Then she’d made the mistake of getting to know him. She learned that he wasn’t full of darkness, that he was full of the brightest light she’d ever dared to dream of. And when that light was directed at her, she’d completely fallen victim to his goodness and the shine that made him Reed.

  But that hope was gone now, that flame had been extinguished, and in its place stood the bleak certainty that no matter how hard she wished, no matter how hard she wanted it, she was never going to be able to escape this life that karma had gifted her.

  And Reed Hopewell wasn’t going to be her savior, after all.

  One

  How It All Began…

  He tried not to squint against the harsh lights aimed at the stage. He was beginning to get used to the feeling of all eyes on him, the palpable waiting that came with being the center of attention. His heartbeat soared with anticipation as he looked out over the crowd standing before him. He rubbed a hand over the scruff dusting his angled chin, and the audience emitted a collective sigh. He grinned, and the women in attendance screamed in response.

  “Thank y’all for coming out tonight,” he said, leaning into the microphone.

  The crowd cheered, a swelling of sound that met his ears and pushed him to the limit of adrenaline that was currently pounding through his veins.

  “I want to sing you one more before I go; would that be all right?”

  Roars of approval consumed the club, and his grin grew. He clutched his guitar a little closer to his chest and strummed out a chord.

  “One day, I hope to be singing this for someone special,” he continued over the crowd’s growing noise level. “But for now, I’d like to throw it out to all the gorgeous ladies here in the crowd tonight. This one’s called ‘Endless Fall.’”

  The biggest yell yet vibrated the rafters; Reed opened his mouth and the lyrics of a new song he had recently written came pouring out.

  The crowd became hushed, swaying in rhythm to the rough beauty that was Reed’s voice.

  It was difficult for him to lay eyes on members of the crowd with the blinding lights in his eyes, but he scanned the faces to find his sister, Aston, and her fiancé, Sam. Her sparkling diamond glinted off of the light as she raised her arms above her head and swayed. One corner of Sam’s mouth turned up at Reed as he wrapped his arms around Aston from behind and nuzzled her neck.

  The vigor and nourishment he got from the stage coursed through his body as he finished the song, and the audience erupted into applause and cheers as he thanked them. Grinning and tugging on the strap of his guitar, he exited the stage.

  “Well done, little bro,” Aston said as he sat his burden in its case. “Amazing, as always.”

  He grinned. “Thanks, A. I’m not sure if Sam saw it, though; he was too busy sucking on your neck to notice anything I was doing up there.”

  Sam shrugged. “Have you seen this neck? No one would blame me.”

  Reed slapped Sam so hard on the back of the head that Sam almost inhaled the longneck bottle he was sipping. “That’s my sister you’re talking about. Lay the fuck off.”

  Aston waved her left hand in front of Reed’s nose. “That’s my fiancé you’re slapping around there, Reed. I swear I’ll pummel you senseless if you touch him again.”

  Sam smiled smugly. “That’s my girl.”

  Reed rolled his eyes and turned his attention to Sam’s other side. “What’d you think, Ash? You ready to leave your loser husband for me yet?”

  Ashley smirked at Reed as the husband in question turned a full-wattage glare on him. “Nope. Still madly in love with Finn. Sorry, sweetie. But that redhead over there? She’s another story.”

  Reed turned around, searching in the direction Ashley pointed. His sister’s childhood best friend could always spot the groupies, and her radar was as deadly accurate as usual. At the adjacent table, a handful of young women eyed Reed hungrily.

  It was how these shows went. Reed was announced as a guest performer for the club’s entertainment, he sang, and panties dropped like leaves on a breezy fall day. It was a clockwork routine that Reed counted on.
r />   He pulled out his chair and took a seat between Blaze and Tate. Looking his best friends over carefully, he frowned. “Where the fuck is the tequila?”

  Tate Oliver slid a shot in Reed’s direction and grinned. “Had one waiting on you, man. You did good up there.”

  Reed nodded, taking the small glass of golden liquid and tilting it up against his full lips. As he tipped it back and let the fire forge a trail down his throat, he hissed through his teeth and slammed the shot glass back down on the table. Glancing around him, he threw a dose of swagger at the table of gaping girls next door, letting them know that he’d be ready for business as soon as he oiled up his gears.

  Blaze boomed out a laugh that seemed to ricochet through the rafters. “Take me as your wingman tonight! Please!” His gigantic body hunkered down over his own shot of tequila as he knocked it back.

  Reed smiled and signaled the short-skirted girl with a revolving tray of drinks for another round. “Sam? You in?”

  “Nope,” he answered promptly. “I’ve got the princess on the bike tonight, Reed.”

  Reed grunted in response. He loved Sam like a brother, but he was shit for company on a night when all Reed wanted to do was find a warm body to celebrate with after a good night at the mic.

  Tate scanned the room, clearly uncomfortable.

  “Next weekend you’ll be back at Sunny’s, right?” he grumbled.

  “Yeah,” Reed answered, amused. “What, you don’t like it when we’re in Charleston, Tate?”

  Tate and his twin sister, Tamara, had stayed behind in Nelson Island while the rest of them had attended the University of Charleston after high school. Tate never felt comfortable being off of the island, even when he was just right across the bridge in the Holy City.

  “Don’t worry, Tate,” Reed said dryly. “Back in good ole N.I. next weekend. Sunny’s as usual.”

  “Good.” Tate nodded in relief. He sipped his beer and glanced over at the table of women, basking in the lustful glow that Reed cast over the female population of the club.

  Reed glanced impatiently up at the bar in search of the drink runner. He scanned the crowd pressing against the current and stopped on a curvy figure with a short, sparkly dress and the longest hair he’d seen on a girl since middle school. He appraised her as she leaned into the bar, indicating to the bartender the drink that she wanted. Her back was facing Reed as he eyed her, and he took the time to drink in her shapely legs, the curve of her hips, and the glowing olive complexion. He whistled low under his breath, and glanced back at his present company.

  “What?” Blaze rumbled, on high alert. “You spot another bad chick?”

  Ashley exchanged an eye roll with Aston. “Ugh. Are you guys ready to get outta here?”

  “Yeah, I’m pretty sure that was our cue,” Aston agreed. She bent over Reed’s head to kiss his cheek, rubbing off her lipstick as she pulled away. “Love you, Reed. Don’t do anything Sam wouldn’t do.”

  Tate choked on his Coors. “Yeah, right. Everything Reed does is something Sam wouldn’t do. I think it’s a rule.”

  Reed grinned. “Y’all be safe. Don’t knock my sister up before the wedding, Waters.”

  “No promises,” Sam answered, bumping Blaze’s fist as they followed Finn and Ashley toward the exit.

  When Reed moved his gaze once more toward the mystery girl at the bar, she was gone. He hadn’t even gotten to see her face. Somehow, he knew that was probably for the better. Judging from the back of that woman, the front of her was likely to be a game changer.

  Reed worked hard every day. He worked on his craft, and his music was what kept him moving through the motions of life. At night, after a show, he liked things to be easy. Nothing too complicated. Nothing he had to think too hard about.

  Reed scanned the club again, and then shrugged. He rolled his shoulders once, loosening the muscles that tended to tighten while he performed.

  With a half-grin, he refocused on the table full of very willing participants to a hell of a good night.

  “Thanks, baby,” he purred, grabbing the drink from her along with a handful of her curved backside as she eased around the edge of his chair. “You know just how I like it.”

  Hope somehow refrained from retching inside of her mouth and took her seat next to him. She crossed her legs and dug her nails into her thighs to prevent the crossing of her arms. Crossing her arms would be against the rules.

  Slapping him across his smug, entitled face would also be against the rules. Hope itched to break those damn rules.

  There had never been a date in her life where she appreciated the man she was with calling her “baby.” She had never been anyone’s baby, especially not the men she spent her time with. Trying hard not to curl her lip in disgust, she pulled them into a taut smile instead.

  “You’re welcome, baby.”

  He smiled indulgently and nodded. She looked away quickly. It wasn’t that he was an ogre to look at; in fact, most women would consider him handsome with his broad shoulders, thick, corded arms, and lush head of wavy blond hair. The success that rolled off of him with his expensive suit didn’t hurt, either.

  But to Hope? He may as well have been a monster.

  She glanced back up toward the front of the club and stifled a groan. The performer for the night was making an idiot of himself. She frequented this club with a date, and the singer-songwriters the club owner hired were nearly always the same. Man-whores with guitars strapped to their chests, all of them.

  This one was no different. He was attractive, like they all were. He could sing, like they all could. She ignored the fact that his singing style may have appealed to her more than most, and that rough-around-the-edges voice snuck up inside of her skin the way some of the others hadn’t. As he sang, she had been lulled into a peace she hadn’t felt in so long. But that didn’t matter. He was still the same. Slobbering all over a table of classless bitches at the moment.

  Just like the rest of them.

  Said the girl with the minidress and mile-high heels. She tried to mentally shake herself for being so judgmental. The last thing she should be doing is placing the other women around her into a box and lashing out at them because of class. At least they were honest about what they were doing. They wanted a rock star. They wanted to see if the way he rocked the stage would be the same way he rocked them between the sheets. They made no game about it, implicating their desires like a neon sign blinking in a shop window.

  “You ready to skedaddle?” Tyler asked suddenly, eyeing her over the top of his glass.

  His eyes narrowed as he studied her face, and she realized he had followed her gaze and misread the reason for her focus on the singer. She tore her eyes away from the head of thick, dark hair and the stupid dimple appearing in the square chin and met the muddy eyes of her date.

  “Uh, yeah. Sure. Do you have an early morning tomorrow?”

  He smirked. “Something like that. Shall we?”

  My, aren’t we in a hurry tonight, she though wryly as they stood. For whatever reason, she threw one last glance at the front table again before allowing Tyler to place his hand on her lower back and guide her out of the club’s front exit.

  She nodded to the bouncer, whom she knew from school and from her frequent visits to the club, one of Charleston’s hottest, and walked beside Tyler down the still-bustling street.

  This part of downtown didn’t settle down until well after 2:00 a.m., and as Hope glanced at her watch she noted that it was scarcely past midnight. She’d never been out with Tyler before, but she’d expected their date to last longer than this.

  It was an uneventful evening. Dinner at a fancy restaurant with some of Tyler’s colleagues and then out to the club to listen to some music and dance. Only Tyler seemed in a hurry to leave, before they’d even had a chance to make it to the dance floor.

  Strange.

  It was better for Hope, of course, to end the date as soon as possible. She was tired of pretending. Her whole life was a pla
y, and she was always anxious for the curtain to close on another show.

  She didn’t need a jacket, as June nights in this southern, ocean-side city were nearly as balmy as the days. She was accustomed to the steaminess of the air; she’d spent her entire life here. Despite the cloying heat, Tyler slid a heavy arm around Hope’s shoulders and yanked her closer to him. She was so tempted to tell him that the date was over, therefore so was the touching, the words just at the tips of her lips, but all she had to do was make it to the fancy limo they’d arrived in and she’d put some definite distance between them once inside.

  But when Tyler turned her down an empty alley off of the populated street they had been traveling and pulled her closer still, she skidded to a halt and twisted her way out from under his arm.

  “Wait, Tyler,” she said. “I don’t think this is where the limo is waiting. Let’s head back onto the street.”

  She turned to go, her long hair flying out around her, and he grabbed her wrist hard enough to send a jolt of pain up her arm. She stared down at his hand and then scowled up at his face. Time suddenly slowed.

  “Hands off.” She’d meant the words as a warning, but they exited her mouth as a breath.

  “Hands off? I don’t think so, sweetheart. This is a date, right? Don’t you know how dates end?”

  The sneer plastered to his face was more frightening than she would have expected, than she liked to admit, because its ugly twist couldn’t be blamed on alcohol. She knew Tyler wasn’t drunk when they left the club. He was alert, bright-eyed, and walking a steady line.

  “No, Tyler,” she said, forcing an air of calm into her voice she didn’t truly feel. “A date with me ends with maybe a kiss on the cheek and a sweet good night.”

  She turned once again to head back toward the busier street.

  This time, Tyler wrapped an arm around her waist and wrenched Hope backward. His hot breath tickled her neck as he whispered loudly into her ear from behind.