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Chapter 8
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Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Thorntons Book 4 Chapter 9
Trent dreamed of his mother that night.He didn’t dream about her as often as he used to. Sometimes he even thought he’d moved on from her death. But then the dreams and the memories would return with a force to knock the breath out of him.He was fourteen again. Tall for his age but skinny, he’d been a loner in middle school. It didn’t help that the Younger family had a reputation: a deadbeat father and crazy mother, the kids would whisper. There’d been more than one instance where a kid would act like if Trent got too close the crazy would rub off from him like a disease.Trent had punched that kid in the nose and ended up with detention for two weeks straight.He dreamed he was in his childhood home, yet it wasn’t the same house. The walls kept shifting, the photos changing. One instant there was a happy family photo, the next the photos crumpled like the corners had been lit with a match. Trent touched the wall, trying to find his balance as the floor rolled underneath his feet
Last Updated : 2021-10-03Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Thorntons Book 4 Chapter 10
When Lizzie looked up to see Trent entering the lobby at her OBGYN’s office, she had to restrain herself from laughing. Here was Trent—all tattoos and muscles—amidst a bunch of pregnant women and young children. There were a few husbands, but for the most part, it was all hormonal women with various-sized bellies.Lizzie had texted Trent to let him know when her ultrasound was scheduled, and he’d assured her he’d be there. It was strange to have him here, and yet, she was glad not to be alone.“It’s freezing in here,” Trent muttered as he sat down next to her.That made Lizzie laugh. “Do you want to tell a bunch of pregnant women that you want to turn up the thermostat?”“Good point. I’ll just suffer in silence.”She shook her head as she continued to read the fashion magazine she’d reached for earlier, but she couldn’t concentrate. She could smell Trent’s woodsy scent, and every time he shifted in his chair, she lost her place.Finally, she set the magazine aside and asked him,
Last Updated : 2021-10-03Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Thorntons Book 4 Chapter 11
Lizzie had known she’d fallen in love with Trent when he’d climbed up the trellis to get into her room the first time.Her parents hadn’t known she’d started dating Trent, and Lizzie had tried her best to keep Trent from her parents’ judgmental questions and gazes. They’d known of Trent’s parents, of his father mostly, and Lizzie hadn’t wanted him to get hurt.But she’d also known a part of her hadn’t wanted to deal with her parents judgingher.And in her deepest of hearts, she’d known part of the reason she’d kept it all secret was for herself. Dave and Lisa Thornton wouldn’t have approved of her dating someone like Trent Younger. His family had no money, no connections, and with a deadbeat father and dead mother, he was particularly unsuited to be the type of boyfriend her parents would’ve chosen for her.She hadn’t told Trent point-blank he couldn’t come over, but he wasn’t stupid. He understood why they had to have their study sessions at the library or, if Edward was
Last Updated : 2021-10-03Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Thorntons Book 4 Chapter 12
Trent held Lizzie as she cried, and he cried, too, letting himself feel the grief he’d kept locked up inside for nine long years. Lizzie clung to him like a lifeline, and her sobs broke his already cracking heart.“It wasn’t fair,” she gasped. She sounded like a little girl, but he felt the same way. It hadn’t been fair and it hadn’t made sense.“I know.” He stroked her hair. “It wasn’t. I’m sorry.”She cried until she’d soaked his shirt, until her eyes were red and she looked exhausted. When she looked up to see tears on his face, she reached up to wipe them away with gentle fingers.“Don’t apologize,” she whispered. “If anyone should apologize, it’s me. I hurt you.”He wouldn’t deny it. The day she’d told him they were over and that she no longer loved him had almost broken him. He’d barely put the pieces of his life back together again.“I was so angry. I wanted to blame someone. You were the easiest target. I know that—even then, I knew it was wrong of me. But I didn’t want t
Last Updated : 2021-10-03Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Thorntons Book 4 Chapter 13
Trent awoke to the sound of humming. Opening his eyes, he saw Lizzie’s naked back, and he gazed at the perfect line of her spine, his mouth watering as he took in her amazing ass. He swallowed, the memories of the night before flooding him. Lizzie was writing something down, and when he rose and wrapped his arms around her from behind, she only smiled and kept writing and humming.He kissed her shoulder, her neck. He ran his fingers through her hair, but he didn’t need to say anything. He let Lizzie compose her song as the morning passed, the minutes spent holding her almost as delicious as the moments when he’d been inside her last night.When Lizzie’s stomach rumbled with hunger, she laughed and put down her pen. Trent smiled.“Hungry?” he asked. He swept a hand down to cradle their child.“Mmm, I could eat. Do you have toast?”“I think I can manage that.” He kissed her again and, after telling her to stay in bed, he padded to his kitchen to make them breakfast.They ate in bed
Last Updated : 2021-10-03Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Thorntons Book 4 Chapter 14
Trent stepped over what looked like a broken-down lawn mower before stepping into his dad’s house. It had been only a few weeks since he’d last been here, and already it seemed like Edward had trashed the place further. How did a man in a wheelchair manage to collect so much junk? Trent had no idea.Edward barely glanced at Trent when he came inside. He sucked on a cigarette, letting the smoke float in front of his face. A rerun buzzed on the TV; the house smelled even more heavily of smoke and sweat, to the point that Trent barely stifled his gag reflex.“What do you want?” Edward said. He didn’t sound particularly interested in the answer.“From you? Nothing. Except that you’ve once again caused another nurse to quit her job. I don’t know how I’ll get another one to agree to come out here.”Edward barked a wheezy laugh. “What does it matter? I’m already dying. Do you think a nurse is going to change that? You were always a special kind of stupid.”Trent gritted his teeth. Why wa
Last Updated : 2021-10-03Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Thorntons Book 4 Chapter 15
Lizzie awoke in the middle of the night to find Trent gone. At first she assumed he’d left the apartment, and her heart sank, but as her eyes adjusted to the dimness of her bedroom, she saw a figure standing by her window.She heard the patter of rain on the roof. Trent’s back was to her, and he didn’t move from his spot. Dawn hadn’t yet arrived, and when Lizzie glanced at her clock, she saw that it was only three in the morning.She went to him, wrapping her arms around him. He jolted a little in surprise before laughing quietly.“Why are you awake?” she murmured. She watched the rain hit the window, illuminated by the streetlamps outside.“I couldn’t sleep,” was his only reply.Lizzie felt the tension in him, the same tension she’d felt when he’d burst into her apartment that evening. She’d never felt so much desperation in Trent’s kisses before, and when she’d first seen his expression, she’d been frightened. Not frightened for herself, but scared forhim.Now, that earli
Last Updated : 2021-10-03Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Thorntons Book 4 Chapter 16
“Why am I here again?” Lizzie asked, staring at her sister and four brothers. “I thought you already grilled me about my life and my choices.”Summer was edging into September, and with it, Lizzie watched her baby bump grow little by little with every passing day. Now past the first trimester, her morning sickness had mostly disappeared, and she felt more energetic every day.It helped that she saw Trent so often. If she wasn’t at his apartment, he was taking her out to dinner, or wooing her like they’d just started dating. He hadn’t mentioned anything else about marriage, however, and Lizzie wondered if he regretted jumping the gun.Tonight, Jubilee had texted her to let her know the siblings—with their respective mates—were going to Harrison’s place for dinner. Lizzie had almost called off, but she knew very well that her brothers would show up at her door if she didn’t make an appearance.Harrison and his wife Sara, along with her son James, lived together in what had been Harri
Last Updated : 2021-10-03
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Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Thorntons Book 4 About the Author
A coffee addict and cat lover, Iris Morland writes sexy and funny contemporary romances. If she's not reading or writing, she enjoys binging on Netflix shows and cooking something delicious.Stay in touch!irismorland.comIris Morland’s MermaidsNewsletter Facebook Twitter BookBub Goodreads Instagram
Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Thorntons Book 4 Also by Iris Morland
Say You’re MineAll I Ask of YouMake Me YoursHold Me CloseOopsie DaisyHe Loves Me, He Loves Me NotPetal PluckerWar of the RosesincludingThen Came YouTaking a Chance on LoveAll I Want Is YouMy One and OnlyThe Nearness of YouThe Very Thought of YouIf I Can’t Have YouDream a Little Dream of MeSomeone to Watch Over MeTill There Was YouI’ll Be Home for Christmas
Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Thorntons Book 4 Enjoy this exclusive excerpt
When a figure appeared from the shadows only feet from her door, Rose reached inside her jacket to pull out her gun. Until she realized it was Seth.“Now you must be stalking me,” she groused. She was halfway tempted to point her gun at him anyway.He had his hands up, although he didn’t look scared. Of course not. Rose was fairly certain nothing scared Seth.“What are you doing out here?” she asked when he said nothing.He shrugged. “I couldn’t sleep. It’s nice out. I thought I’d say hi to my neighbor when she got home. The usual.”“Uh-huh. Well, you’ve said it, and now I’m saying goodbye. I need to let Callie out before I go to bed.”“Then I’ll walk with you.”She wanted to stomp her foot, she was so frustrated, but she had a feeling that would only make it worse. Sighing, she went to get Callie, ignoring Seth even as he walked alongside her.Callie, to Rose’s annoyance, decided she was not going to do her business quickly. The dog wanted to sniff every bush and every mailbox
Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Thorntons Book 4 Epilogue
After a long and unsurprisingly rainy winter, Lizzie was looking forward to sunshine and having this baby born. The closer she got to her due date, the readier she was to have this babyout, and by mid-March, she was huge, cranky, and impatient.She looked over her giant belly at Trent one morning and glared at him. “What are you smiling about?”His smile just widened. “Because you’re so beautiful.” He kissed her cheek, and she gave him a grumpy smile.“Did you get me my ice cream?”“Yes, and the Kalamata olives.”“I guess I’m glad I married you.” She took him by his shirt collar to give him a real kiss, which he returned with great enthusiasm.They’d married down at the courthouse on the coldest and rainiest day in December. Lizzie had worn a blue dress with a tiny sweater, because she was always hot and she’d basically forgone coats this winter, while Trent had worn his best suit and had worried she’d freeze. In front of her siblings and his siblings—a rowdier, more opinio
Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Thorntons Book 4 Chapter 19
Trent didn’t see Lizzie again until the funeral two weeks later. He didn’t speak to her; he didn’t think he could say anything anyway. When she touched his hand and murmured her condolences, he could only nod.Edward had lingered on, just like Phin had said he would. When he’d passed, though, he’d finally seemed at peace for the first time in his life.That was a small thing to be grateful for.Trent had wanted to see Lizzie with a desperation that terrified him. He’d dialed her number and begun writing so many texts, but he’d always resisted contacting her. He’d ended things because it was better for her. He could find the self-control to leave her alone.He told himself that it was better this way. He thought those words like an incantation every night he lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling, sleep eluding him.He worked in his restaurants for twelve, fourteen hours a day. He hoped that if he worked his fingers to the bone, he’d be able to sleep. Sometimes it worked; usually i
Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Thorntons Book 4 Chapter 18
At his lowest, Trent wished that Lizzie would leave him alone. He couldn’t bear to have her see him like this. And even worse, she’d heard every word out of Edward’s mouth. She’d learned things about Trent he’d never wanted her to know.She touched his hand. “Please say something. Anything. Can you hear me?”He tried to reply, but he could only gulp in air. It was like he was no longer connected to his body. He could see everything happening, but it was from very far away. He forced himself to stand, but he staggered a little. Lizzie held him up, but he pushed her away gently.“I’m okay,” he rasped. “You don’t need to be here.”“As if I’m going to leave younow?Jesus, Trent, you look like you could collapse any second.” She pushed his hair away from his forehead. “I’m not going to leave you alone.”He leaned against the wall behind him, taking in deep breaths of cool air. His head pounded. It was ironic, really, that when he’d wanted Lizzie most, she’d left him, but now
Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Thorntons Book 4 Chapter 17
Trent heard the words the attending physician, Dr. Smythe, was saying, but they seemed like a foreign language. They wouldn’t compute in his brain.Heart attackQuadruple bypassWon’t survive the surgeryKidney failureAsh sat next to him in Edward’s hospital room. Thea hadn’t arrived yet, and Phin and Lucy were too far away to come on short notice. Trent stared at his father, currently sedated and lying in a hospital bed, and he didn’t know how he was supposed to feel.He should feel sad, shouldn’t he? But mostly he felt numb. It all felt like a bad dream. It felt just like when Bea had overdosed: a nightmare he’d wanted to claw his way out of, but he couldn’t even move.Ash was grim, his jaw clenched. He kept tapping his foot, and Trent almost told his brother to be still. The tapping got faster, louder, and it was like a hammer in Trent’s temples.“Can you not?” he finally said, not even looking at Ash.Ash grunted and got up to pace instead.Ash had always been the siblin
Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Thorntons Book 4 Chapter 16
“Why am I here again?” Lizzie asked, staring at her sister and four brothers. “I thought you already grilled me about my life and my choices.”Summer was edging into September, and with it, Lizzie watched her baby bump grow little by little with every passing day. Now past the first trimester, her morning sickness had mostly disappeared, and she felt more energetic every day.It helped that she saw Trent so often. If she wasn’t at his apartment, he was taking her out to dinner, or wooing her like they’d just started dating. He hadn’t mentioned anything else about marriage, however, and Lizzie wondered if he regretted jumping the gun.Tonight, Jubilee had texted her to let her know the siblings—with their respective mates—were going to Harrison’s place for dinner. Lizzie had almost called off, but she knew very well that her brothers would show up at her door if she didn’t make an appearance.Harrison and his wife Sara, along with her son James, lived together in what had been Harri
Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Thorntons Book 4 Chapter 15
Lizzie awoke in the middle of the night to find Trent gone. At first she assumed he’d left the apartment, and her heart sank, but as her eyes adjusted to the dimness of her bedroom, she saw a figure standing by her window.She heard the patter of rain on the roof. Trent’s back was to her, and he didn’t move from his spot. Dawn hadn’t yet arrived, and when Lizzie glanced at her clock, she saw that it was only three in the morning.She went to him, wrapping her arms around him. He jolted a little in surprise before laughing quietly.“Why are you awake?” she murmured. She watched the rain hit the window, illuminated by the streetlamps outside.“I couldn’t sleep,” was his only reply.Lizzie felt the tension in him, the same tension she’d felt when he’d burst into her apartment that evening. She’d never felt so much desperation in Trent’s kisses before, and when she’d first seen his expression, she’d been frightened. Not frightened for herself, but scared forhim.Now, that earli
