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Flashback to 5 years ago . . . FRAZIER I chased her all the way to the front of my house and caught her wrist. “Autumn, stop. You don’t have to leave.” She finally stopped and turned around to face me. “Look, Fray. Today has been really fun but I seriously don’t need another episode with your mom.” “She’s not my mom.” Autumn lifted one brow and I quickly added, “Well, technically, she did give birth to me but she is not my mom. She abandoned me a decade ago and I don’t fucking care about anything that woman says.” “I’m sorry.” Her eyes softened and she twirled her hand so she could squeeze mine. “Every child deserves their parents’ attention and love. I know how you feel. My parents aren’t always like this.” Taking a deep breath, she ducked her head and licked her bottom lip. “Anyway, I think it’s best if I just go home. We can continue being James Bond tomorrow.” With my free hand, I put a lock of curly dark-brown hair behind her ear and slid my hand to her chin then tilted her
AUTUMN I HAD NEVER SEEN FRAY CRY so when he did, I ended up crying with him. We were standing in the doorway, watching Sev sleeping so we ended up sobbing in silence, not wanting to wake him up. Frazier was the first to move, his arms snaked their way around my waist and I was being pulled into his body. I let my arms go up to his arms. His biceps turned hard beneath my touch and for a split second, I wanted to drop my hand thinking that perhaps this wasn’t a good idea to be up close and personal with Frazier Ronan. But then he slid his hand to the small of my back and put his mouth next to my ear and said, “I can’t tell you enough how sorry I am. I should’ve been there. I should’ve been fucking there with you. I’m such a bloody idiot.” For the last few years, I’d always been putting up my brave face. I’d always been wearing a mask, acting tough, and never cried. Now the dam was broken. I had one hand holding the back of his neck and the other tangled up in his dark blonde hair wh
This 2nd update of the day is dedicated to Ann, MCreader, 2Merlinda Pineda, & Marilyn 4 Daria who have voted for this book. Thanks a million, ladies! ********* Frazier’s POV I WAS SITTING IN FRONT OF THE BIG SCREEN WITH ZOMBIES trying to claw my eyes out and eat my brain. My phone buzzed and it was a text from Autumn informing me of her new phone number. Reading her text brought my mind to reel on what had just happened today. If yesterday I thought there had been jaw-dropping information I’d learned about my mum’s lies, today just topped that off. I was suddenly reminded of the feeling I’d had when I’d been holding Severus in that hospital. His small hand was holding the edge of my sleeve while his head nested on my shoulder. Now that I thought about it again, when I’d held him in my arms, I hadn’t wanted to let go. Yes, I’d wanted to help Autumn, I knew how tired she must’ve been but that wasn’t the only reason. I could’ve let her bring her baby inside, I could’ve simply held the
Autumn’s POV I WOKE UP AT SIX AM SHARP and started to get ready. I soaked myself in a warm bath for about thirty minutes to release the tightness of my muscles before I rinsed myself off and got dressed. Being a mom required me to work early because Sev would be wide awake at seven. I wore a cream-colored blouse and a black pantsuit. I stopped by the bed and planted a kiss on Sev’s forehead before I headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. I was halfway preparing Sev’s breakfast, a bowl of Pongal with a chutney that I’d learned how to make from Ashwini when the doorbell rang. My gaze automatically checked out the clock on the wall, it was six-fifty. It couldn’t be Frazier, right? It was too early for him to come. I went off work at eight. I moved across the living room. My eyes widened when I saw Frazier's face on the monitor next to the door. I swung the door open and was greeted with a small smile and a "good morning". “Morning. You’re early.” I held the door and took a step ba
“If you need anything, holler,” I informed Frazier one last time as I watched Sev showing off his Thor’s hammer and his other toys to his dad. He was very cute being all proud of his collection. “Don’t worry, I will.” I kneeled down and planted one kiss on top of Sev’s head. “Mommy’s going to work now. You gotta introduce Daddy to everyone, okay? Including Mr. Teddy and Thomas, okay?” Sev nodded as he pulled Thomas out of the box and brought it to Frazier. I stood and walked towards the front door. I gave one last look before I left for work. It seemed that I was doomed to be busy all day that day. I didn’t mind being busy but what I did mind was people being difficult. “I want to have a magical fairytale wedding. There should be a castle, some moat, maybe horses. We can have a carriage too, right? I want to be carried by a carriage to the alter. Won’t that be splendid, darling?” The future groom, completely smitten by the future bride, nodded with a grin. I looked down at t
FRAY THE BREAKFAST WENT WELL AND I loved the fact that Sev enjoyed scones more than pancakes like I did. He was a quiet kid and the whole meal, all he’d said was “Mommy, this is my new favorite food” to which Autumn replied with a small laugh and eye roll. It showed as if they had their own private joke. Autumn must’ve noticed something on my face as she explained that Sev had said that at least two dozen times now, claiming food as his favorite which troubled her when I’d asked her earlier about his favorite food. Sev and Autumn had a whole ritual, a whole life that I knew nothing about, and that had nothing to do with me. Seeing it made me a little uncomfortable, and I really couldn’t say why. When Autumn said goodbye to Severus, he didn’t get teary at the fact that he was going to spend the day with me, someone he had just met today, and I took it as a good sign. It didn't look so good after the front door closed behind Autumn. Sev put down his toy and stood in front of me. I was
I was humming along with the fading classic song in the background while chopping the strawberries. Occasionally I paused to glance at Severus who sat on top of the counter with Thor munching his favorite snacks. A smile widely spread across my face. This felt good, this felt normal. It surprised me how something so simple, so mundane such as cooking while having my son sitting on the counter in front of me could bring joy. I put the chopped strawberries into a bowl and placed the knife on the kitchen isle behind me, far away from Sev’s reach. Even though I knew he wouldn't touch the knife, I wasn’t dumb enough to put sharp objects anywhere near three years old. “Dad?” I swallowed. When would I stop doing that, getting nervous all of a sudden just because he called me ‘Dad’. “Yeah?” “What are you doing with the strawberries?” He placed Thor on the counter, steadying the small action figure so it stood with its two feet, then he leaned in to take a peek at the bowl of strawberries.
This 2nd update of the day is dedicated to Merlinda Pancho Pi who has voted for this book. Grazie mille!*********AUTUMNTHIS WAS WEIRD. Definitely weird. How else would you describe sleeping next to your ex? Okay, I stood corrected. He was not my ex. We had never been boyfriend and girlfriend. No. We had slept together once —not exactly once, but you know what I mean—and it was a one-time thing. Albeit it resulted in me carrying his child, it did not necessarily make him my ex unless there was a term called ex-one-night-stand which I doubt its existence and logic.My head turned slightly, very slowly to the right and my eyes caught his dark blonde head bowed, his forehead nearly touching Sev’s. They looked so much alike. So much that it made me envious because I did not see any part of me in Sev even though I’d carried him in my womb for eight months and twelve days.I still remembered how small Sev was when he was born. I cried when I first saw him. Not only because it was a touchi
Autumn POV AS I WALKED TOWARDS HIM, I started to feel nervous. Perhaps I shouldn’t do this. The look on his face was full of hope and the last thing I wanted was to turn it into sadness. The last thing I ever wanted was to break his heart. But at the same time, I knew this was the right thing to do—that I needed to do this for both of us to move on. Tyler hugged me the second his eyes met mine. I let myself relax in his embrace. This would be the last one. After a while I stepped backward, his hands dropped to the side of his face and when our eyes finally met again, I knew that he knew. He knew what I was going to say. I could see it in his eyes, feel it in the air as I watched his expression turn sour. “You don’t want to start over,” was all he said. “After all the things we’ve been through, you refused to give me another chance. Even after everything, Autumn? Really?” “Look, Ty, I really don’t want to do this but I have to.” I took a deep breath and tried my best to ignore the
Fray POV “YOU DO KNOW THAT I DON’T LIKE YOU, RIGHT?” Steven said after he took a swig of Corona Extra. I met his eyes deadpan, daring myself not to show any sign of weakness. “The sentiment is not lost on me although it does make me wonder.” “What?” “Pardon?” Steven growled. “It makes you wonder what?” “It makes me wonder how come a person dislikes someone he doesn’t truly know. Isn’t that a bit like saying you don’t like apples even though you’ve never eaten an apple?” There was a long silence before Steven finally replied. “Fine. You have a point there.” He took another swig of his beer, nearly finishing half of its content, then sighed. “Maybe I am a bit biased. All I know was my sister had a good relationship with Tyler before you stepped into the picture. And when you did, they broke up and she was heartbroken and pregnant. With your kid. Look, I don’t know what happened because she wouldn’t tell me and I wouldn’t force her to. But let’s make one thing clear. I wasn’t
FRAY THE PERSON SHE HAD IN MIND was none other than her brother Steven. I’d only met Steven twice. The first time was at Cas’s home a few years ago during Summer and the second, most recent one was at Tyler’s parents’ wedding. From what I’d gathered, he didn’t approve of me. He seemed to have a close relationship with Tyler so highly likely he blamed me for Autumn and Ty’s breakup. I gazed down at the cup of tea I was holding and took a deep breath in. Sometimes I wondered if I was the reason they were separating but I convinced myself that during my absence, they could’ve gone back together but they hadn’t. Thus I must not have been the reason. Looking at Sev who was sleeping on the couch next to me, I wasn’t so sure anymore. “Fray?” I heard Autumn before I saw her walking into the living room. She smiled the second her eyes found mine. One day, I would ask her. But not today. My lips stretched into a smile, mimicking hers as if they knew that they smiled simply because she was
AUTUMN I SMILED AS I WATCHED SEV sleeping in the middle of the bed, his arms stretched out and his mouth slightly opened. I turned around, leaving the door slightly open, and walked towards the living room where I had some work needing to be done. I always had the habit of bringing unfinished works home so that I could do them when Sev was sleeping. That way it wouldn’t cut any time I spent with Sev. I was halfway through the second draft when I heard his light footsteps followed by his voice. “Aren’t you going to sleep?” “No.” I moved my attention back to my laptop screen again. “I have to finish them so we could still go to the zoo tomorrow.” The couch dipped and I was suddenly aware of his presence. I gripped the paper a little tighter and turned to face him. “Go to sleep, Fray. You don’t need to wait for me.” “Fray,” he drawled. “It has been a while since you called me that.” Feeling slightly nervous about our closeness, I put my laptop aside, then stood and moved to the
FRAY I SWALLOWED HARD. Bollocks! It was hard not to cry when Sev was holding my hand tightly as if he was afraid I was going to leave. He brought me to the classroom inside the daycare where other kids were playing on the carpeted floor. It was even harder when he introduced me to his teachers and some of his little buddies. Parading me around as if to say, “See, I told you I have a dad.” My heart was breaking right there in the middle of the room surrounded by children. It ached so badly. But it immediately was healed the second Sev wrapped his arms around my legs and begged me to sit and play puzzles with him. At noon, Autumn called to check up on Sev. We had a brief video call before her next client came. The next phone call was the one I had been waiting for for days yet when it finally arrived now, I was a bit down about it. It was from Doctor Albright. “Mr. Ronan, we have the result.” “And?” I asked, feeling a bit impatient but at the same time afraid to hear the news.
I WAS ABOUT TO UNLOCK the door when my phone rang. I pulled my phone out of my bag and looked down at the caller ID. Aubrey Vincent. It was Tyler’s mom. Should I answer it? My finger moved on its own and before I knew it, I had my phone pressed on my ear. “Hi, Aubrey.” “How are you, Autumn?” “I-I’m good.” I cleared my throat in the hope that it would shake off this nervous feeling I suddenly had in the pit of my stomach. Previously I had never felt nervous talking to Audrey yet now, I could hardly keep my fingers from fiddling. “How are you? How’s everyone back in D.C.?” I started pacing in the hallway, glancing at the door every now and then. “We’re all good.” There were a few seconds of silence before she heavily sighed. “Look, I know you have a lot going on right now and I’m probably the last person you’d like to talk to but I really have to talk to you.” Now I felt bad for making her feel this way. I couldn’t help it. Talking to my ex’s mom whom I used to be very close was
This chapter is dedicated to Beth Webb-Hepler, Marlotte, Sonya Jones, & Cindy Simmons Mann who have voted for this book. Grazie!*********Autumn’s POVI PUT MY PHONE on the phone holder and Face-timed Steven while waiting for the red light to turn green. He picked up at the second tone, faster than usual. “Hey, sis, what’s up?” I glanced at the view of him sitting on his sofa, his gaze was moving back-to-back on me and what I expected was the TV. “Do you think I am a man-repellent?” I blurted out straight from the jar.“What?” He finally fixed his gaze on me. “What’s that?” “Just now Charlotte and I had a talk and she mentioned that I had this repellent thing on. Something to shoo men away. Be honest with me, Steven, do I have it on me?” Steven looked a tad uncomfortable. “You’re a single mother and a businesswoman, sis. You have a lot going on and a lot going on for you.” “True.” I took the left turn and then sighed. “Still, I’d like to think guys find me attractive. Like I’m a
Grazie mille! Thanks to your vote, POTI finally is promoted on GN App under the Billionaire tab - POPULAR! Here is a chapter to celebrate!*********AUTUMN“AUTUMN,” CHARLOTTE, MY ASSISTANT CALLED ME from behind her desk as I walked past it. “I’ve called Anna’s Wondrous Treats and they said they could lower the price for Derek and Michelle’s wedding as long as we book them for Yeni and Layla’s wedding.” “That’s great!” With Derek and Michelle’s many requests — in which one of them included a magician— it would help a lot if we could save some money from the catering. I flipped my wrist over and looked down at my watch. Seven PM. With the New York traffic, I was sure I’d be late for dinner. I knew it since two hours ago when the meeting with Yeni Parker and Layla Hall became longer than planned. Frazier had called twice today. He had mentioned that Sev was showing him around and introducing him to his friends and teacher. From what I’d heard so far, it seemed that they were having a g
This 2nd update of the day is dedicated to Merlinda Pancho Pi who has voted for this book. Grazie mille!*********AUTUMNTHIS WAS WEIRD. Definitely weird. How else would you describe sleeping next to your ex? Okay, I stood corrected. He was not my ex. We had never been boyfriend and girlfriend. No. We had slept together once —not exactly once, but you know what I mean—and it was a one-time thing. Albeit it resulted in me carrying his child, it did not necessarily make him my ex unless there was a term called ex-one-night-stand which I doubt its existence and logic.My head turned slightly, very slowly to the right and my eyes caught his dark blonde head bowed, his forehead nearly touching Sev’s. They looked so much alike. So much that it made me envious because I did not see any part of me in Sev even though I’d carried him in my womb for eight months and twelve days.I still remembered how small Sev was when he was born. I cried when I first saw him. Not only because it was a touchi