Ink

INK Copyright© 2023 by Sadie Rose All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, including photocopying, recording or by information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locations is entirely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products, brands, and/or restaurants referenced in the work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. Cover Design: CT Cover Creations Editor: Charlotte Jane Edits Formatting: Champagne Book Design TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page Dedication Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Epilogue Preview of Rider Also by Sadie Rose Note from the Author About the Author To all the people who kept encouraging me when I didn’t think I could get this book finished. Carmen You have got to be kidding me. Gray smoke billows out from under the hood of my car as I watch in horror from behind the wheel. A car whizzes past on the two-lane road, not even slowing to check to see if I’m okay. I am not okay. This is the second time this week that my car has decided to just stop working; the fifth time this month—and there’s still another six days left before we’re in a new month. I hit my fist against the steering wheel and curse. I mentally cannot handle much more of this and I know my bank account definitely can’t. I cringe thinking about the money I’ve had to shell out on parts. My old Toyota Camry can’t handle that many more miles but I need her to keep going because right now a new car, even a new-to-me car, isn’t in my budget. If it wasn’t for the fact that my best friend is engaged to a mechanic and the owner of an auto parts store, I wouldn’t have been able to make it this long. Rayleighn really lucked out with Rider. He’s not even my man and he’s been so sweet to help me out the last few times my car has caused me grief. He’s only charged me for the parts and even then I can tell it’s been at a major discount. But now, right now, I can’t call either one of them. Tonight they are at a cake tasting for their wedding and I refuse to intrude on such a special event. They both deserve their happiness, and while I don’t begrudge her even in the slightest, I’m jealous as hell right now that she got her happy ending and I’m still… well I’m still single—and I’m not going to open that can of worms. I reach over into my purse and pull out my phone. It’s late and I hate to do it, but I’m going to have to call my papa. I know he won’t mind but he and my mama do so much for me already that I really don’t want to call and wake them. I don’t have any other choice, though. Other than Rayleighn and Rider I don’t have anyone else that I can rely on other than family. My parents help me so much already with my daughter, Lucia. I just hate to ask them for one more thing. I knew going back to school to get my teaching certificate was going to be tough but now with my car frequently giving out on me, it’s making it even more of a challenge. I attend night classes two nights a week and on the other days I’m virtually learning around my schedule at the hair salon. When Rayleighn left the salon and went to work for one of Rider’s MC brothers at his construction company, I knew that it was time to get back to my education not only for my future but for my daughter. I want to show her that I didn’t need a man to support us and that I did it all myself. I want her to know that she can be a strong and independent woman just like her mommy. I get a momentary pang of guilt when I think of her father. A one-night stand three years ago that ended with a broken condom that left me alone and pregnant. Then it led to him signing over all of his paternal rights to a child he never wanted or planned to be around. I would have to deal with that emotional fallout for years to come so yeah, I’d suffer through long shifts on my feet at the salon and I’d deal with my dying car too if it meant any kind of better life for my kid. I’m about to hit the speed dial to my dad’s cell phone when the headlights of a car coming up behind me flood the interior of my car with light. I try to look out the rearview mirror but have to put my hand up to shield my eyes. I quickly look to make sure my doors are locked because I’ve seen one too many scary movies and I will not end up a statistic on the side of the road tonight. I quickly type in 911 on my phone and keep my thumb hovered over the button. As I try to squint my eyes to see more clearly, I realize it’s not a car but a truck and a tow truck to be exact. My