Lacey Kinkaid overcame the odds as an orphaned teenager after she ran away from foster care to New York City. Ten years later, she lives alone and runs a successful small business. She couldn't be more surprised when her high school crush, Ty, shows up at her door, demanding she return home. She's also shocked by her strong attraction to Ty after all these years.
After a stolen car crashed off a cliff, foster brothers Ty and Hunter swore they'd never speak of Lillian Dumont's disappearance again. But when Lillian's uncle moves to have her declared legally dead in order to loot her trust fund, the men decide they have to find their old friend. Convincing Lacey to abandon her assumed identity and return to her hometown and claim her inheritance seems easy in comparison to Ty's struggle to control his emotional and physical response to the beautiful woman from his past.
Ms. Phillips creates another likable cast of characters who survive teenage adversity, demonstrate deep concern for their friends, and are rewarded with close-knit relationships and possibilities for true love. Hopefully, their lonely best friend, Hunter, will have his own romance in a future novel. This quick romantic read has engaging characters and a satisfying conclusion.
Lacey Kinkaid is a classic New York success story. As the
owner of Odd Jobs, sheβs gone from rags to riches . . .
sort of. Because Laceyβs harboring a secretβshe was born
Lillian Dumont, and spent her childhood with a silver
spoon in her mouth, until the deaths of her wealthy
parents and the evil schemes of an abusive uncle forced
her to take drastic measures. Sheβs never planned to
return to her former life or her abandoned identityβbut
when her childhood sweetheart, Ty, resurfaces and urges
her to claim her rightful inheritance, she decides that
maybe being the Dumont heiress wouldnβt be so bad. Laceyβs
uncle doesnβt see it that way, thoughβand heβs willing to
do anything to stop her.
Now itβs up to Ty to protect Lacey before that silver
spoon becomes a silver bullet. But if they live through
this, the futureβs looking bright for this downtown guy
and his brand-new uptown girl!
EXCERPT
Prologue
The sky was jet black. No stars. No moon. No light to give
them away. Tyler Benson led the way to the top of the
cliffs with Lilly by his side. Daniel Hunter, their best
friend, lagged behind. Lilly held onto Tyβs hand. Every
once in awhile sheβd squeeze tighter, giving away her
fear. Otherwise Ty would think this was just another of
their adventures. He knew better.
Soon, Ty would start the car, slam it into drive and then
jump out before it toppled off the cliff into the murky
quarry waters below. Afterwards, Lilly Dumont would be
reported missing. Her uncleβs car would be found at the
bottom of the lake. Or it wouldnβt be found at all. No
body would be recovered. Lilly would head for New York,
take the new name the three of them had chosen for her and
Ty would never see her again.
All so Lilly wouldnβt have to leave the safety of Tyβs
motherβs foster home and return to her bastard uncle for
more abuse. She was only seventeen. She wouldnβt survive a
month let alone a year if she returned to her uncle. The
man didnβt love her but her trust fund, Ty thought.
βHurry up, Daniel!β Lilly called back to Hunter, breaking
the silence. She was probably afraid heβd lose them in the
dark.
βItβs Hunter,β their friend and foster brother muttered
loud enough for them to hear.
Ty grinned. Once Ty had told him to go by his last name,
the kids at school stopped calling him βDanny Boyβ and
Hunter quit trying to beat the crap out of anyone who got
in his face. Hunter and Ty were like real brothers and Ty
looked out for his own. Hunter did the same, which was why
Hunter stayed back now, so Ty could have these last few
minutes with Lilly.
The girl they both loved.
Hunter had never said as much, but Ty knew. He wasnβt sure
Lilly did. She was so damn innocent despite her attitude
and that was what made Ty care about her so much. They
werenβt boyfriend and girlfriend but they were something.
Too bad theyβd never have time to figure out just what
that was.
The locket heβd bought her burned a hole in his pocket.
Heβd bought it so she wouldnβt forget him. Ever. His
stomach cramped and he halted suddenly.
Lilly bumped into him. βWhatβs wrong? Why are you
stopping? We arenβt there yet.β
Ty swallowed hard. βI just wanted to give you something.β
He whispered even though nobody was around to hear.
Hunter, who knew what Ty had planned, waited somewhere
behind them.
Ty shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled out the
small gold heart. A hot flush washed over him as he held
out his hand. Good thing it was dark and she couldnβt see
his burning cheeks.
βHere,β he muttered. It wasnβt much and that embarrassed
him as much as giving the gift.
Lilly accepted the tiny locket. Though it was hard to see,
she turned it over in her hand, studying it for so long he
shifted uncomfortably on his feet while waiting for her
reaction.
βItβs beautiful,β she finally said, a catch in her voice.
He exhaled his relief. βI β¦β Ty wasnβt a guy of many words
and he didnβt know what to say now.
βI know.β As always, she stepped in, reading and easing
his mind. She clasped the heart in one hand and threw her
arms around his neck, holding him tight.
He smelled the sweet scent of shampoo in her hair and he
hugged her back, pulling her soft body against his. Too
many feelings and sensations rushed through him at the
same time. All the things theyβd never do or get to say to
each other passed between them in this one final touch.
Ty couldnβt think or even speak past the lump in his
throat.
She pulled back suddenly and looked down. She messed with
the necklace and somehow she managed to hook the heart
around her neck despite the lack of light.
βThank you,β she said softly, meeting his gaze.
He nodded stiffly. βYouβre welcome.β
Seconds of silence passed, neither one of them wanting to
say the words but someone had to. They couldnβt risk
getting caught.
βWe need to get moving,β Hunter said, joining them. βThe
longer we spend here the more we risk getting caught.β
Ty nodded. βHeβs right. We have to go,β Ty finally said.
βOkay then letβs do this,β Lilly said and the three
friends started forward.
A few minutes later, they walked through the underbrush
and came out near the cliff. A car was waiting for them
just like Tyβs friend who worked with him at the gas
station had promised. So was the reality of what they were
about to do. He got nauseated and struggled against
getting sick.
βIs it really Uncle Markβs?β Lilly asked, rubbing her hand
over the dark blue Lincoln.
Ty nodded. βA buddy of mine knows how to hot wire cars. He
owes me a favor for not turning him into the cops, so this
was no biggie.β Ty had friends in different groups,
different places. Pulling this off had been too easy.
βI canβt believe weβre doing this,β Lilly said.
She stared at him, wide-eyed and afraid. But behind the
fear Ty saw her determination. She was strong and gutsy
and he was really proud of her.
βItβs not like we have a choice,β Hunter reminded her.
βI know.β She nodded, her dark hair falling over her face
before she tucked it behind her ear. βYou guys are the
best, helping me like this.β
βOne for all, all for one,β Hunter said.
Ty shook his head, trying not to laugh and embarrass his
friend. Hunter always said the dumbest things, but Ty
didnβt mind. Besides he figured Hunter wasnβt thinking any
clearer than they were at the moment.
βWeβre the Three Musketeers,β Lilly said, grinning. Just
like always, she stepped in to agree with her friend and
prevent him from being mortified.
Besides she was right. So was Hunter. The three of them
were alone in this and it would bind them forever. Ty
stuffed his hands into front jeans pocket.
βSo tonight Lillian Dumont dies and Lacey Kinkaid is
born.β Her voice quivered.
He didnβt blame her for being afraid. She was leaving
Hawkenβs Cove, their small upstate New York town. Sheβd
take off for New York City alone with just the summer
money Ty made working at the gas station and the petty
cash Hunter picked up busing tables at the only restaurant
in town.
βNobody talks about what happened here tonight. Not ever,β
Ty reminded them. They couldnβt afford for anyone to
discover even a part of their plan and piece things
together. βRight?β he asked, wanting to hear them say the
words. His heart pounded so hard in his chest he thought
it would explode.
βRight.β Hunter agreed.
The three of them had planned her escape down to the last
detail. And Ty knew theyβd both protect their secret
forever.
βLilly?β Ty prodded. She had the most to lose if her uncle
found out she was alive.
She nodded. βIβll never talk about it.β Her gaze remained
locked on his, her fingers toying with the little heart
around her neck.
Ty stared into her brown eyes and suddenly everything was
okay. Theyβd go back to his momβs house and heβd sneak
into her bedroom so they could hang out and talk all
night. Theyβd be together.
Instead she broke the spell. βIβll never forget what you
guys did for me,β she said to them both.
She hugged Hunter first and Ty waited, clenching and
unclenching his fists.
Then she turned to him and pulled him tight. He held her
for the last time, closing his eyes and fighting the
fullness in his throat.
βBe careful,β he managed to tell her.
She nodded, her hair soft against his cheek. βIβll never
forget you, Ty. Cross my heart,β she whispered, the words
for his ears alone.
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