Finding Charley (Full Circle #2)
by Casey Peeler
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Finding Charley
Synopsis
One bottle of Jack and the words “I’m sorry” are all
it takes for Charley’s world to turn upside down… again. Charley has a decision to
make. Does she sink or swim?
After Dylan reminds Charley that he always has the
upper hand, she decides it’s time break free. But how? She uses her past, present,
and what she hopes to be her future to find her freedom.
With the help of Cash Money and the Kluft Girls, she
devises a plan to take down Dylan. Will she succeed, or will she find that she will
never escape his hold? Once this plan is put in place, who will be by her side when it
comes to an end? And will this plan include Jackalope Joe?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=JCNnzs7Hv8c&w=853&h=480]
Excerpt
We push through the glass door and past the bouncer
who eyes me from head to toe as we make our way into Hank’s. Of course, we form
our usual beeline to the bathroom and the stall with no door.
“All right, ladies, what’s the plan tonight? Who’s
getting a piece before they go home for a month?” Hayden questions. She scans all
of us, and most have their hands raised but Georgia and me. “Char, I hate to break it
to you, but if you don’t get a piece, it’s your own damn fault. Georgia, we know you
well enough to know that you’re gonna have those hips rockin’ the dance floor with
one guy all night long.”
I just shake my head. Sometimes being sober isn’t
fun. Hell, it never is, but tonight’s about cutting lose and staying in control.
We make our way to the bar and order Bud Lights
all around plus my water. Then, it’s to the dance floor. The sound of Flo Rida’s
“Wild Ones” echoes through the speakers, and we know exactly what to do. We hit
the dance floor and go hard. It’s about us girls having a good time tonight. Here
we don’t have to worry about some ass trying to interrupt or put moves on us that
we don’t want. Hayden starts acting a fool by doing that damn sprinkler dance
move, and I totally lose it. We all take turns goofing off and busting out old school
moves.
When Drake’s “Started from the Bottom” comes
across the speakers, we quit goofing off and start dancing our asses off. Before we
know what’s going on, the entire baseball team is surrounding us and enjoying the
view. Songs bleed from one to the next. Once sweat begins to drip down my back, I
pull my hair up into a messy bun and continue to enjoy the night.
By song number four, a smokin’ hot baseball player
has his strong hands wrapped around my waist. I swear I’ve just met Chipper Jones
fifteen years ago! I continue to dance and take in the aroma of sweat and Dolce and
Gabbana. Holy crap. I never thought those two things would go together. The songs
change pace and begin to slow. I know I need to separate myself from him, because
at this point I’m not looking for someone new. As I start to pull away, he grabs my
hand and pulls me close.
“Hey, Char, I’m Tucker, or can I call you Squirrel?”
I must have looked like a damn deer in headlights because I completely froze.
No one called me that but Joe. WTF? My breath begins to heighten, and I can feel
sweat building under my arms. Tucker must have noticed as well. “Um, did I say
something wrong? I thought that was your nickname?”
I swallow hard. “Well, that’s what Joe calls me.”
“So, is it okay if I call you that?” His eyes looked as
sincere as they could with the amount of alcohol he had flowing in his veins. I shake
my head no.
“I’d rather you not.”
“All right, but just so you know, he’s a complete idiot
for letting you go that easy.” Here we go. Another night with my drama. What
do I do? I have to get him to shut up about Joe before I freakin’ lose it. I take my
hands and run them up his washboard stomach. I can feel every chiseled ab and
indention. I look up at him, and he gets the point. Not one more word about Joe. As
the song comes to an end, he pulls me in close and lifts my chin. “Like I said, he’s a
fuckin’ idiot.” Then his lips brush mine.
My mind takes a moment to focus on what is going
on. Warm, soft, hungry lips are covering mine. Tucker pulls away from me and
kisses my forehead as the next song, “Roar” by Katy Perry, begins to play. I
start to laugh inside thinking about Hayden and then I glance at the Kluft girls who
are thinking the exact same thing. I smile at Tucker and make my way to the Kluft
girls about the time the chorus begins, and we begin to sing at the top of our lungs.
You would have thought our life depended on it.
I know it’s near closing time, which means the one
song that always ends a night at Hank’s is about to be played. I push that thought to
the back of my brain and just let loose for the next twenty minutes. When the first
chord of “Let’s Get It On” begins to play, I back away from the dance floor.
As I turn to walk away, piercing blue eyes are staring
back at me. Joe. Joe’s here? My heart begins to hurt. I want to forgive him,
but just can’t. Not yet.
Joe gives me no option. He takes my hand and guides
me back to the dance floor. Georgia looks like she is shooting darts straight at him.
He ignores her and wraps his arms around mine. I drop my head to his chest and
tears begin to fall. Why can’t my nightmare end? Why?
We attempt to dance, but our worlds have stopped.
He stands with his arms around my trembling body, and I look up to him as the
song ends. Barely audible words escape his lips. “Squirrel, I’m here when you’re
ready.”
I wipe the tears from my face as I pull myself from his
embrace. I turn and leave him standing alone on the dance floor. The Kluft girls are
waiting for me at the door. Georgia pulls me in for a hug. We exit Hank’s and pile
into the Love Machine, and I don’t look back. As I take a deep breath, crank the van,
and begin to pull out, I see Joe walking out of Hank’s. Our eyes meet, and I turn my
head as quickly as possible. I do not want to feel any connection to Joe, but my heart
tells me otherwise.
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About the Author
Casey Peeler grew up and still lives in North Carolina
with her husband and daughter. Her first passion is teaching students with special
needs. Over the years, she found her way to relax was in a good book.
After reading Their Eyes Were Watching God
by Zora Neal Hurston her senior year of high school and multiple Nicholas Sparks’
novels, she found a hidden love and appreciation for reading.
Casey is an avid reader, blogger (Hardcover Therapy,)
and now author. No Turning Back (Full Circle #1) is her debut novel
released September 30th.
Her goal is to one day be an author who is recognized
nationwide like Jamie McGuire, Colleen Hoover, Tiffany King, and Amanda
Bennett.
When Casey isn’t reading, you can find her listening
to country music, spending the day at the lake, being a wife and dance mom, and
spending time with friends and family.
Her perfect day consists of water, sand between her
toes, a cold beverage, and a great book!
More about Casey Peeler
Website: http://authorcaseypeeler.weebly.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/caseypeelerauthor
Facebook Author Group: https://www.facebook.com/
groups/219865574845739/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/AuthorCasey
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/authorcasey/
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