Novels by Tory June

It wasn't up to two hours after I arrived at the gallery the next day that Tyler came in.The door rang softly as he stepped inside, and I felt a tightness in my chest.He was exactly his typical self.. his presence commanding, that familiar air of confidence mixed with something else today... weakness (that could be used to hurt someone or something).His eyes scanned the room until they met mine, and for a moment, the world outside stopped to exist.I couldn't breathe. I didn't know if I wanted to feel the weight of him being here, or if I wished he'd just turn around and leave.I didn't know how to feel anymore."Sam," Tyler said softly, his voice cracking (a) little, like he hadn't spoken in days.Maybe he hadn't.He'd been working non-stop, trying to clear my name, working next to newspapers, web sites, and TV team, and even bringing in private investigators.All the things he'd done in the past few days... it was impossible to ignore the effort.I gave him a stiff nod, barely ab

The soft glow of her phone screen lit the darkened gallery.Samantha sat alone in her office, her chair tilted back, eyes closed, trying to find a moment of peace in the middle of the storm.But peace was hard to see/hard to catch.The past few days had been a blur of media rushed craziness, statements that someone has done something bad, and questions she hadn't been able to answer.She felt like her life had been turned upside down, each piece scattered like glass pieces she couldn't quite put back together.Then, the phone rang.She reached for it, deeply wiping a stray tear from her cheek before answering."Hello?" Her voice was rough-sounding, still recovering from the weight of everything that had happened."Samantha," Tyler's voice cut through the static, familiar yet mixed with a tiny bit of a sense of extreme importance. "I need you to watch the news."Samantha felt a knot in her stomach tighten, a mixture of curiosity and a sick, upset feeling.What now?She quickly looked a

Tyler sat at his desk, a faint layer of sweat on his brow.The phone sat in front of him, the screen flashing with missed calls and messages.He hadn't answered any of them. Not yet. Not until he had the answers.Robert, his ever-loyal personal helper, paced across the room, moving and wiggling around with a stack of papers in his hands.His usually calm behavior/personality was visibly shaken, a difficult to notice sign of the extreme importance they were both facing.Tyler's office was weirdly and unpleasantly quiet, aside from the occasional clink of a pen against the desk and the rustling of paper as Robert skimmed through another document."You're sure this is it?" Tyler's voice broke the silence, his tone tight.Robert didn't respond immediately, his eyes fixed on the document in front of him.Finally, he met Tyler's look, his face tightly stretched."I'm not sure about anything anymore, but this is as close as we're going to get. Julie's fingerprints are all over this."Tyler's

Next day.Samantha's heart raced as she slammed the car door, her phone still pressed against her ear."Rachael, slow down. What's going on?"There was rushing and upset rustling on the other end of the line."Ma'am, you need to get here. The news is all over the place! Rumors are spreading about you! Your name's everywhere.""What?" Samantha froze, her hand gripping the phone tightly. Her pulse quickened. "What? What are you saying?""I... I don't even know where to start. The media's calling it insider trading, theft of money, all these crazy statements that someone has done something bad. It's..." Rachael's voice broke, and Samantha could hear her fast breathing. "It's huge, Sam. You need to get to the gallery now. People are already showing up, asking questions."Samantha's mind spun.Theft of money? Insider trading?Her name, the one she'd worked so hard to build, was now being dragged through the mud. How?She didn't even have time to think.She ran inside the gallery, her heart

Tyler jogged through the hospital parking lot, his pulse pounding. He caught sight of Samantha's car just as she started the engine. The taillights glowed like a warning, and before he could call her name, she sped off."Damn it," he mumbled, rushing to his own car.Sliding into the driver's seat, Tyler started the engine and pulled onto the street, keeping a cautious distance behind her. She was heading toward the familiar route to her gallery. He squeezed tightly the wheel tighter.The image of her in the hospital flashed in his mind.. her shock, her disappointment, and the cold way she walked out.He needed to talk to her, to explain everything before she shut him out completely.Samantha parked in front of her gallery, stepped out, and slammed the car door with more force than necessary.She smoothed her skirt and straightened her shoulders, forcing herself to focus on work.The noise and confusion of the last few weeks had been very strong, and Tyler showing up at the hospital ha

And then, the vibration of his phone shook Tyler from his thoughts. He frowned, quickly looking at the screen. It wasn't Samantha.. it was an unknown number. Waiting for a moment, he finally answered. "Hello?" "Is this Mr. Tyler Wills?" a woman's voice asked, professional but extremely important. "Yes," he said carefully. "This is Mercy General Hospital. Julie Spencer is here. She's been in a car crash, and your number was listed as her emergency contact. We need you to come immediately." Tyler's heart suddenly moved, his grip tightening on the phone. "A sudden crash? Is she... is she okay?" "She's stable for now, but she needs medical attention. We'd appreciate it if you could get here as soon as possible." He didn't know what to think. The last thing he wanted was for anyone.. Julie.. to die, no matter how complicated things had become. He grabbed his keys, heading straight for the door. ********** Tyler drove like a man possessed, weaving through traffic with white-knu

EPILOGUE: The air in the Malvis estate was filled with the soft hum of life.. the distant chirping of birds and the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze.Avalynn stood on the terrace, her eyes drifting over the landscape as the day slowly gave way to night. The previous few months had been a blur as she adjusted to her new position in the family business, planned the wedding, and experienced the pleasures of married life. She had, however, had a profound sense of joy and happiness throughout it all that she had never experienced before. With a little smile on her lips, she carelessly stroked her expanding tummy. Even though everything had changed so rapidly, life yet seemed quite right. The days had been full with love, laughter, and a wonderful sense of what was ahead.Silently, Jace walked into the room behind her, his light hardwood floorsteps. With his chin resting on her shoulder, he encircled her with his arms from behind and followed her look out the window. With a low g

Avalynn stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection with breathless eyes. Her body fit the ivory gown, which seemed a second skin with brilliant veil cascading down her back and delicate lace flowing down her arms. Grateful for the pearls' coolness, she ran her fingers over the beaded bodice.Lisa was behind her, adjusting the finishing touches, tucking the dress's train and setting the veil.With a note of wonder in her voice, she said, "Ava, you look amazing."Avalynn shifted slightly and looked into Lisa's mirror. With tears still welling up in her eyes, she said, "I can't believe this is happening. I never thought this would happen."With a kind grin, Lisa squeezed Avalynn's shoulders. "You are deserving of everything." You will make the most stunning bride when you tie the knot with the love of your life."Avalynn inhaled deeply and then looked at her mirror again.The girl who was gazing back at her appeared to be a dream - graceful, dazzling, and brimming with joy

With the sun rays coming in through the transparent curtains and lightning the room in a warm, golden glow, Avalynn stirred in her deep sleep.The blankets hugged her body tightly, leaving the remains of last night's excitement still visible on her skin.Jace stirred at her touch, his eyes slowly opening. When he saw her, a slow, lazy smile spread across his face, and he tightened his hold on her, pulling her closer. “Morning, beautiful,” he whispered, his voice husky with sleep.His features, softened by the dawn light, were relaxed in sleep, a far cry from his usually controlled and powerful look.Her heart became big with love and happiness as she reached out and gently brushed a lock of hair off his face. Peace, love, and the man who had become her whole world were all she had ever wanted.At her touch, Jace moved and slowly opened his eyes. A slow, lazy smile crossed his lips as he spotted her, and he tightened his grip, drawing her in. He whispered, "Morning, beautiful," his vo

The dim light of the bedside lamp cast a soft glow over the room, creating a cozy atmosphere that enveloped Jace and Avalynn as they lay side by side on the large bed. The events of the past weeks had been intense, but now, everything seemed to have settled into place. The room, decorated in muted tones of gray and blue, felt like a sanctuary from the outside world.. a place where they could finally breathe and enjoy the calm after the storm.Avalynn laid her head on Jace's chest and made gentle circles over his skin while she listened to his heartbeat.They had a comfortable stillness that was laced with the warmth of unsaid understanding and shared experiences. Thinking about how far they'd come and how a one-night encounter had brought them to this point, she grinned to herself."Remember the night we first met?" Avalynn has a hushed, almost dreamy voice.With a chuckle, Jace ran a hand through her hair. "How could I overlook that? You were the most stunning woman in the club, an

Two weeks had passed since the whirlwind of revelations that had shaken the foundation of Avalynn’s world. But now, the dust had settled, and with it, a newfound clarity and peace had emerged. Avalynn had come to terms with her heritage, her place in the Malvis family, and most importantly, with Jace. The man she loved, who had been her anchor in the storm, was no longer just the man she thought she knew; he was so much more.The Malvis house was a hive of joy tonight. The huge hall gleamed with wealth and grace, decorated with crystal chandeliers and high ceilings. The walls, which were covered with pictures of the Malvis ancestors, appeared to witness to the importance of the evening.. the official recognition of Avalynn as a real Malvis and the celebration of the family's victory over the Rinders, longtime enemies.Guests started to pour into the hall as the evening sun started to set, soaking the estate in a warm, golden glow. With the quiet hum of string instruments playing

With a deep breath, Jace's grandfather looked at him and Avalynn who were seated across from him. There was a tight, stifling silence as the weight of the information he was about to impart seemed to drain the room's very oxygen. As Jace's jaw tightened and his eyes locked on the elderly guy, Avalynn shifted in her seat, her heart pounding rapidly in her chest.The grandfather said, "Jace, Avalynn," in a tone that was serene but full of a gravity that made Avalynn's skin crawl. "The results of the DNA test are in."The words, thick with anticipation and terror, hung in the air like a fog. Avalynn braced herself for what was about to happen, her fists clenched in her lap and her claws digging into her hands. Jace leaned forward a little, his eyebrows furrowing in a startled yet nervous way.The grandfather stated, "The test proves that Avalynn is in fact my late son's biological daughter."A painful gasp from Avalynn's lips as her breath caught in her throat. The words echoed in her