Stranded
Eve Vaughn
Stranded PRINT” by Eve Vaughn
Read An Excerpt Online
Genre: Interracial Romance, Red Hots!
ISBN: 978-1-59998-810-8
Length: 232 Pages
Price: 12.50
Publication Date: June 24, 2008
Cover art by Scott Carpenter
One island…One woman…Two studs
India Powers is at the end of her rope. After dumping her cheating fiancé and having a falling out with her parents, she decides to take a much needed vacation. In route she meets two hunky fellow vacationers in the form of Rafe Santiago and Grant Thompson. Though she’s not looking for love, India sees no harm in a little island flirtation.
Rafe and Grant have been friends since they were kids; both from broken homes, all they had were each other. Their closeness leads them to the discovery they enjoy sharing the same women. After surviving a stormy marriage that nearly destroys their friendship, Rafe vows to never let another woman come between them. To celebrate Rafe’s divorce, he and Grant take a vacation in hopes of finding Miss Right along the way.
Tragedy strikes when their plane goes down. In a twist of fate, the only survivors are India, Grant and Rafe. Stranded for weeks, their daily fight for survival turns into something much deeper when India falls for both men and they for her. However, when they’re rescued and returned to civilization, they fall under public scrutiny. Can their newfound love survive when outside forces step in to tear them apart
Chapter One
“Have you any idea the embarrassment you’ve caused this family, young lady?”
India stared at the floor, unable to meet her father’s intense scrutiny.
“Your father is speaking, the least you can do is look at us when we’re addressing you,” Leila Powers scolded.
India lifted her head, still not catching either parent’s gaze. “What do you expect me to say?”
Her father huffed in his annoyance. “An explanation would be a start. What were you thinking to make a scene like that—in front of all those people no less? Haven’t we taught you better than that?”
Wrapping her arms around herself, India stood and walked over to the window. The fierceness of their stares burned a hole in her back. “Everything there is to say was said at the restaurant. Steven and I are through. I can’t marry him.”
“Are you out of your ever lovin’ mind? He’s a Cartwright! Do you know how connected his family is? Not to mention their money. What possible reason could you have for rejecting and humiliating a fine young man like that—and us?” Her mother’s voice had grown progressively louder with each word spoken.
India was fast losing her temper. She’d called off her engagement tonight and all her parents could think about was themselves. Any second now they’d mention Jack.
“Jack would never act the way you did tonight. I’m very disappointed in you, India.” Her father acted as if she’d just committed murder.
Tears swam in her eyes and she let her arms fall to her sides, fists clenched. “I’ve always been a disappointment to you two, so what else is new?”
Trevor Powers gripped her shoulder and turned India around to face him. “Don’t sass me, girl.”
She pulled out of his hold. “Do you really want to know why I called off the engagement? Because I caught your precious idol in bed with another woman!” she screamed her anger.
Her father recoiled as if he’d been hit.
“I guess Steven isn’t as perfect as you guys think he is,” India muttered.
India’s mother joined them, and patted her on the arm as if she were a mentally challenged child. “India, you’re the one he’s going to marry. Do you mean to tell me you’re going to let a silly misunderstanding come between you marrying a fine, upstanding young man like Steven? He was just featured in Ebony magazine as one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. He’ll eventually run for public office like his father. Not only is he politically connected, his family has money. A lot of it! Use the good sense God gave you, child.”
India should have known her parents wouldn’t offer much in the way of support, especially when her decision had gone against their plans.
“Your mother is right, India. I’m sure you overreacted. Steven is a powerful man. There are bound to be times when he needs to let off some steam.”
Did she hear him correctly? Was her father telling her it was okay for Steven to cheat on her because he was successful? “Is that what you call it?” India snorted in disgust.
Trevor rolled his eyes. “You can’t expect people in Steven’s world to be completely faithful. He is a man, after all. You should be grateful someone like him wanted you. Think about it, girl, you’re not going to get better than him again.”
What a thing to say to one’s daughter. If she weren’t so used to this from her parents, it would hurt far more than it did.
Her head began to throb. Arguing with her parents was like banging her head into a brick wall. “Look, I’m going home. You’re obviously not going to support my decision, which by the way is final, so there’s no point in continuing this conversation.” India walked to the couch where she’d left her jacket and collected it along with her purse.
Her father tried to stall her. “We’re not through talking to you, India.”
She snatched her arm away. “But I’m through talking about it. Goodnight.” She didn’t stop walking until she made it to her car, despite their calls for her to come back.
There was no pleasing them. It wasn’t enough that she’d gotten good grades, graduated at the top of her class, held a law degree and a respectable job, or that she’d done everything they’d ever asked of her. No matter how hard she tried to be what they wanted, she couldn’t.
India’s parents had let her know in none too subtle ways she’d been unwanted—an “oops” who’d come along in their lives when they should have been enjoying their golden years together.
Trevor and Leila Powers had been happy in their family of three until she’d come along. They’d already had their one perfect child in Jack. He could do no wrong. She on the other hand could do no right. Growing up, it had hurt seeing how much more they cared for her unappreciative brother, beaming at every single nonachievement in his life, while she had to do headstands to get their attention.
They’d gone out of their way to attend all of Jack’s events, but found excuses not to do the same for her. Even when she’d gone through her rebellious stage, they barely batted an eye.
In adulthood, it was India who ran errands for them and who was there when they needed a favor, but was it even acknowledged? Never. When Jack decided to grace them with his presence, which was rare, her parents were all smiles.
It was one thing to feel one’s parents loved their sibling more than them, but it was quite another to know it was true.
Only when she’d begun dating Steven Cartwright did they seem to take an interest in her life. Besides Jack, there was nothing her parents loved more than one-upping their friends and family. They had to have the best house, buy the most expensive cars and go on the most exotic vacations, even if their incomes didn’t always support their extravagance.
India’s engagment to such a prominent up-and-comer had been a feather in their caps. Of course she’d been flattered to have someone like Steven take an interest in her. He was good looking, polished and smart—all great qualities. It was too bad he couldn’t keep it in his pants. Catching him cheating brought all the uncertainties she’d dealt with throughout their relationship to the forefront. It made her wonder whether she would have gone through with the wedding had she been none the wiser. If India was being completely honest with herself, she wasn’t sure if she’d agreed to marry him because she loved him or because her parents liked him so much.
Regardless, they were through. Her mother may be willing to accept infidelity to maintain her way of life, but India wasn’t prepared to do the same.
When she made it to her apartment there were three messages on her answering machine. Against her better judgment, she checked them.
“India, I don’t know what the hell got into you tonight, but you have a lot of explaining to do. You embarrassed me in front of my friends, colleagues and family. Once I calm my parents down, who have been nothing but nice to you by the way, I’m coming over to straighten this mess out.” Steven practically yelled the message.
Was he kidding? His mother was a holy terror. Sure she was nice to her “baby”, but when no one was around Mrs. Cartwright let her know in no uncertain terms India wasn’t good enough for her precious Steven.
Mr. Cartwright was no better, constantly talking to her in a condescending manner, and putting down her job as a public defender. What bothered her most about him were the “accidents”. The first time he touched her booty, his hand supposedly slipped, but the second and third time was beyond enough. Telling Steven about it had done nothing to change matters.
Good riddance to the lot of them. Anyway, Steven was sadly mistaken if he thought she’d allow him to cross her threshold.
The cheating bastard.
“India, sweetheart, this is your Aunt Val. I’m just checking in to see if everything is alright If you’re up to it, give me a call and let me know if you’re okay.”
A slight smile touched her lips. Good ole’ Aunt Val, always there when India needed her.
“India Rochelle Powers, you have a lot of nerve walking out on your father and I after the stunt you pulled tonight—”
India pushed the button to shut off the message. She didn’t need this. The only person she was inclined to call back was her aunt.
Picking up the receiver, she punched in Aunt Val’s number.
“Hello?”
“Aunt Val, it’s me, India.”
“Hey, sweetheart. I’m glad you called. I was worried about you. How are doing?” There were no recriminations in her tone nor did she demand to know why India had done it.
And she appreciated it.
India sighed. “Pretty good, considering I was just tag-teamed by Mom and Dad. They weren’t happy about what I did.”
Her aunt chuckled. “Well, standing up in the middle of the toast to tell the guests you weren’t going to marry…uh, a no good son of a bitch, according to you, at your engagement dinner was bound to create some drama. I’m sure you had a good reason though. It’s not my place to judge.”
The tears that had threatened to spill earlier flowed down her cheeks. To have someone in her corner meant so much to her after all she’d been through today. She sniffed. “Thank you, Aunt Val. And yes, I did have a good reason, although Mom and Dad don’t think so. I remembered I left my jacket at Steven’s place and when I went over, I spotted his car in the driveway, but he’d told me he’d be in court all day. I don’t know why, but I got a funny feeling, so I let myself in with his spare key. I heard noises coming from his bedroom and to make a long story short, I saw Steven in bed with some woman.”
Her aunt gasped. “That asshole! What did he say when you caught him?”
India’s face burned with humiliation as she remembered what she’d seen. “Nothing. He didn’t see me standing in the doorway. I left the house before he could. I probably should have told him before the dinner, but…”
“But what, baby?”
“I knew how upset my parents would be.”
Val snorted. “My sister doesn’t use the two brain cells she was given and your father—those two deserve each other. Leila has been putting on airs since we were kids. If we didn’t look so much alike I would wonder if one of us was adopted.”
India wondered the same thing herself. The rest of her family was so down to Earth. “They are my parents, so I guess I’m stuck with them.”
“Unfortunately,” Val said in a deadpan voice. “What are you going to do now?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t thought this far. I still can’t believe I did that.”
“Maybe you should take a vacation. You can take a couple weeks off work can’t you?”
The state did owe her some time off. India had been saving her vacation days for her honeymoon, but seeing how there was no point of that anymore, why not? “Yes, I actually have four weeks to take. I don’t know if I’ll take them all at once, but going away might be a good idea.”
“Most definitely. Besides, as I’ve said before, there comes a time when you realize that you can’t please everyone all the time, so why not please yourself?”
That was the best thing India had heard all day.
* * *
“Are you going to be okay, Rafe? It’s not every day a guy gets divorced.” Grant patted his friend’s shoulder.
Rafe shrugged. “Yeah, I’m okay. Angie and I have been over for months, but now it’s official. I’m better off without her.”
“You’re probably right. I wish it hadn’t cost you so much. She didn’t deserve a dime after what she put you through.”
Rafe sighed. “It’s not as if I’m in the poorhouse. At least she took the lump sum instead of making me pay alimony for God knows how long. Besides, would you rather have had the intimate details of our marriage revealed for public record?”
Grant took another swig of his beer, finishing it off. “Is that why she was able to walk away with so much?”
A mutinous expression crossed Rafe’s face.
Grant knew it well. After twenty-five years of friendship, he knew Rafe better than Rafe knew himself. “She threatened to name me in the divorce, didn’t she?”
“Don’t press the issue, man. I’d rather not talk about it at all. Don’t concern yourself with it. Angie is out of my life—out of our lives.”
Grant threw his hands in the air, frustration taking over. “How can I not concern myself with it? The two of you broke up because of me… I mean, I feel responsible.”
Rafe shook his head. “No, you’re not.”
“But if we hadn’t—”
Rafe held up his hand. “Grant, she was the one to break our agreement. What happened between the three of us should have stayed that way. What we did, didn’t give her license to fuck every Tom, Dick and Harry—and on our bed, for godsake! What we shared was…”
“Special?” Grant finished for him.
There. It was out.
They’d both been avoiding the subject since Rafe had filed for divorce against his wife of three years. Regardless of what his friend said, Grant felt partially, if not completely, responsible for the split. He should have given the couple more space, not visited so much, not called as often. It had been clear from the beginning of Rafe’s marriage that Angie resented the men’s closeness.
The friendship he shared with Rafe was a bond tighter than most, even that of blood. It was hard for most people to understand, especially those on the outside looking in. Grant often wondered how different his life would have turned out if Rafe wasn’t in it. He shuddered as the memories came flooding back.
They’d met not long after Rafe and his mother had moved next door to Grant and his father in Kensington, Philadelphia, a working class neighborhood. Grant had been startled awake by the sound of screaming coming from his neighbor.
“And stay out until you get some fucking manners!” The yell was followed by the slamming of the door.
In most circumstances Grant would have ignored the commotion, but for some reason, curiosity got the better of him. Looking back, he was glad it did, because if he’d pretended not to hear the other boy’s cries drifting to his window, there probably wouldn’t have been a friendship.
The opportunity would have been lost. They would have gone on with their lives, both of them barely scraping through everyday, praying for death or for someone to come take them from their own private hells.
Rafe had become his friend from that moment on. They were each other’s support when Grant’s father had too much to drink or when Julio got into a touchy-feely mood. Grant honestly believed he would have died if it had not been for his friend, because so many times he wanted to take his own life, especially when he felt his father’s fists pounding into him. The experience could have turned him bitter and angry, but he had Rafe to get through those lean years.
Grant’s prayers were eventually answered when he was fifteen. His father was arrested for felony assault, stemming from a bar fight. Grant was placed in a foster home. Ironically, Rafe became a ward of the state later that year as well, when his mother found a boyfriend who wanted marriage, but didn’t want to be saddled with a teenage son. Almost as if fate had intervened, the two of them wound up in the same foster home.
They made a pact with each other to not allow what had happened in their pasts to consume them and make something of themselves. With the other’s support and encouragement, they paid their way through college and found good jobs in their fields of accounting, all while pursing their MBAs. They eventually opened their own firm, which was now a huge success.
Grant considered Rafe his family and he knew his friend felt the same.
“It was more than special,” Rafe finally answered, bringing Grant back to the present. He dragged his fingers through his thick brown hair. “The only thing missing was someone who truly cared about the both of us. Angie wasn’t that person. The only one she loved was herself.”
Grant lifted a brow. “Are you saying what I think you are? You’ve come up with some pretty wild ideas in our lifetime, but this?”
“Come on, Grant. You can’t tell me you didn’t enjoy it. When there were three of us, the sex was amazing, but it could be so much better with the right person. Think about it. What if we found someone who didn’t mind—”
Grant held up his hands. “Whoa. Now you’re talking crazy. What woman would go for that? With our damn luck, we’d end up with another Angie, and that would basically leave us in the same boat we’re in. Besides, it’s not normal.”
“According to whom? I’ll be damned if I let someone else try to put a wedge between the two of us again. Especially when we both have a taste of how good things could be. Anyway, you’re the one who brought it up. ”
“No, technically you did. I was simply finishing your statement.”
“But you wouldn’t have been able to do it if you weren’t thinking along the same lines as me. Look man, I’ve given this some thought in the past several weeks, and I’ve come to the conclusion sharing a woman would be to our benefit.”
“And say we do find someone else to go along with our plan, what’s in it for her?”
“She’d get twice the love and attention.”
Grant rubbed his chin, trying to take everything in. “Hmm, I don’t know about this. How do we know she’d remain content with the arrangement? Or that she’s not just looking for a cheap thrill.”
Rafe’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you keep coming up with excuses for not doing this? Call me crazy, but I think we’ll know her when we see her.”
The corner of Grant’s lips curled. “As simple as that? It may work if we were in a movie, but this is real life.”
“That’s right. And impossible things don’t happen right? Like two kids overcoming their crummy circumstances when statistics say we should either be dead, in jail or abusers ourselves.”
Grant could hardly argue with that logic. He could tell from the mutinous look on his friend’s face, Rafe was dead serious and once his mind was made up there was rarely any changing it. Besides, Grant realized he did indeed enjoy sharing a woman with his best friend—his brother. Did that make them perverts?
On some level, it had brought them closer together. As Rafe had pointed out, things could be so much better with the right woman. He was probably right, after all, Grant had enjoyed the threesome with Angie, a woman who at best he’d tolerated. He could only imagine how exciting things could be with a women he loved as much as Rafe.
“But what if we can’t agree on a woman?”
A wide grin tilted Rafe’s mouth.
Grant groaned. “You’re up to something.”
“Not at all. My divorce was just finalized. There’s no rush in finding Ms. Right.”
“So what do we do until then?”
“We’ll have fun with a bunch of Ms. Right Nows in the meantime.”
Chapter Two
India had the distinct impression someone was watching her. She squirmed in her chair, feeling self-conscious. She looked to her right and found herself staring into a pair of the most beautiful eyes she’d ever seen—cat eyes, a dark gold ringed with black, framed with thick, dark lashes.
Her breath caught in her throat. Had the temperature just gone up? She quickly looked away from him, and grabbed her travel itinerary. She didn’t come on this trip to meet men. This was strictly for relaxing, lying out on the beach and drinking fruity beverages with little paper umbrellas in them.
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