Victim Of Love: Rock And Roll State Of Mind, #1

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright 2018 Christa Maurice

Contemporary Timeline

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

About the Author

Also By Christa Maurice

Alan is such a sweetheart

Victim Of Love

By

Christa Maurice

Copyright 2019 Christa Maurice

eBooks are not transferable. All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE:

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

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Contemporary Timeline

Because my series are interlocking, characters cross over into other books and they share a timeline. This list will allow you to figure out where the book in your hands falls in the timeline and if you spot a character you want to know more about, track them down in another book. The dates provided are not the years the books were published, or even the years the books were written, but when the action in that book took place. Shorts show up in my newsletter.

2007

Satellite Of Love, Maureen & Bear, Drawn To the Rhythm

2008

Heaven Beside You, Jason & Cassie, Drawn To the Rhythm

Decisions, Decisions (short), Maureen & Bear, Drawn To the Rhythm

2010

Love the One You’re With (short), Suzi

2012

Waiting For a Girl Like You, Alex & Marc, Drawn To the Rhythm

2013

Victim Of Love, Rick & Tara, Rock And Roll State Of Mind

2014

Let Me Be the One, Brian & Suzi (& Logan though not all at once), Drawn To the Rhythm

Send Me an Angel, Alan & Angie, Rock And Roll State Of Mind

Kickstart My Heart (short), pretty much everybody

2015

Not Second Best, Tessa & Brett, Drawn To the Rhythm

Gift To Be Simple, Gian & Rachel, Rock And Roll State Of Mind

Baby Come Back, Trent & Jenny, Rock And Roll State Of Mind

Remembering Beth, Beth & James, Weaver’s Circle

Redeeming Johnny, Johnny & Elaine, Weaver’s Circle

Saving Sue, Sue & Greg, Weaver’s Circle

2016

Try a Little Tenderness, Ryan & Taylor, Hollywood Nights

Protecting Lucy, Lucy & Dan, Weaver’s Circle

Rescuing Jack, Marie & Will (& Jack), Weaver’s Circle

Celebrating Flora, Flora & Wally, Weaver’s Circle

2017

Love Me Tender, Mick & Sarina, Hollywood Nights

Keep Coming Back To Love, Candy & Ty, Drawn To the Rhythm

Tender Is the Night, Gale & Lisa, Hollywood Nights

2018

Sacked By the Quarterback, Sonny & Mandy, Lumberjacks Football

Rushing the Passer, Hoagy & Danni, Lumberjacks Football

Chapter One

Hi.

Not for sale. Move along. Tara waved him away without looking up from her book. Honestly, all she wanted was two weeks on a warm beach to read a book in English and in peace. She had the warm and the book, but not the peace. This what she got for taking vacation advice from boys.

I figured you weren’t, but I was kinda hoping you spoke fluent English.

Tenacious bugger. Tara shielded her eyes with her hand and peered at him. The shielding only helped a little. The man standing next to her chair was entirely in silhouette. All she could make out was shaggy hair and a pleasant, growly voice that was working on her in too many ways to consider for a ten-day vacation. I do, but I’m not a prostitute.

No, they’re all over there. He gestured toward the little town further along the beach. Then he crouched beside her chair. He had an angelic face, but those dark blue eyes held more than a little wicked intent.

Tara grabbed her yellow and white striped towel and threw it over her torso. She’d been okay with the red bikini on the beach until he came over, even though she kept getting solicited. The difference was the guys soliciting her hadn’t caught her interest and this guy was flat out magnetic. Even though it was a ten-day vacation. Can I help you with something?

I just wanted to talk to someone. He sat down on the sand next to her. Innocent and harmless, yet exuding sex. I’m Rick. How’s your book?

Tearing her gaze from his broad shoulders, Tara glanced at the cover. A spy novel. Not my normal fare, but it was all I could lay hands on at school before vacation.

At school?

Tara stared at him. He had that ideal V shape. Shoulder to hip ratio was perfect. Unless he was one of those self-absorbed bodybuilder types. But if he was, what was he doing sitting on the sand chatting with her when he could find sycophants a plenty in one of the clubs? Yeah, I teach in Conception, Chile. Where do you teach?

I don’t.

Interesting. Tara sat up. Now that she could see him better, he looked familiar. You don’t? Are you a geologist? English teachers, geologists, and oil riggers were about all that came here. Tourists didn’t make it out this far.

No.

What are you doing here?

Talking to a pretty girl who isn’t trying to sell me anybody, especially hers. He scanned down her towel-covered torso. But it’s a nice body.

She meant to smirk at him, but at the last minute, softened. It had been about five months since she’d gotten a sincere and facile compliment. I meant in Brazil.

Oh, that. He brushed his hand through his hair. The longish strands tangled around his fingers before flicking free. I guess I misunderstood the question. You can see how that would happen, can’t you?

I can see how you’re not answering the question. Tara raised one eyebrow. The exchange should have been annoying, but wasn’t. It had been five months since she’d had anything like this. Most of her conversations consisted of Mees! Mees! and gesturing.

I’m not? That’s kinda lousy of me.

Are you going to answer the question?

He tossed his head. I’m here with my band, recording an album.

Your band.

SendDown. He bowed his head and drew circles in the sand.

I’ve heard of you. Tara pulled her hair out of its ponytail and put it back up. Famous guy. Naturally. She looked him over again. Knee meltingly good looking. Tattooed. How had she taken him for an English teacher?

Yeah, you don’t sound like a fan.

Well, if by not a fan you mean I’m not going to squeal and salivate all over you, then no, I’m not.

Good. Squealing hurts my ears and saliva stains. He raised his gaze without raising his face and studied her.

The look burned through to her toes, heating her skin, liquifying her belly and…oh yeah, this bikini top was a lot thinner than she wanted it to be. Saliva stains? The things you learn on a beach. Have you tried OxyClean? I hear it works wonders. Being pithy took too much energy. It distracted her from fighting off his attraction.

He grinned. I like you, he drawled. Yer funny. What are you doing for dinner?

Move fast, don’t you? Her thighs tensed, but she wasn’t sure if she was tensing in anticipation or rejection.

Just wait. He tugged the corner of her towel.

I don’t.

That mean you won’t have dinner with me until tomorrow?

Tara twisted the ends of her hair around her fingers. Five very long months since she’d been hit on by anyone reasonably attractive and it had to be a guy who was way out of her league. She didn’t even know how to behave anymore. I’d have to be an idiot to turn you down for dinner tonight.

I never would have said anything like that about you. He tugged the towel a little harder, slipping it off her opposite hip.

She grabbed the towel. All right. I’ll have dinner with you. When?

Now?

I need to get dressed.

Can I watch?

The heat in her belly collided with the chill that ran down her spine. He was so not her type and she could not be his.

Too fast?

A little.

Sorry, I’ll save it for later.

Do. The heat consumed the chill as she realized that she might entertain the idea of letting him watch her dress. He was hot. Very hot. Sweating confidence. She’d never been big on tattooed bad boys, but this one had a lot of appeal. Swinging her legs off the beach chair, she let the towel ride up so he could get a good look at them. She’d been told she had good legs and the miles she logged walking to and from school helped. "So do you go by Richard and do you even need to know my name or will I be one of