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Mack Bennett is the guy that doesn't have illusions about life. He sees life for what it is. When he meets Paige Moore, their meeting isn't romantic or ideal but has more comedic errors. After dealing with their relationship, Mack and Paige welcome Bella into their life. Their recent addition to their family thrills them until Mack learns that parenting isn't easy. When Bella becomes a teen, Mack gets dragged into her and her friends' teen angst. How? Bella tries to get her crush to notice her with the help of her friends and Ty's older brother. Bella and her friends will learn why everyone needs a Mack in their life. Expect hilarious results from the Bennett family, their crazy friends, and the infamous tee-shirt. Before you and me, it's meant to be because it's just between us. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Before you and me
Mack
People say life is glorious. You have all these moments to consider, but they're full of shit. Life isn't superb. It's rough. Too many people lie to themselves, which is hysterical if you consider it.
They had all these aspirations and dreams. Then someone else destroys them. Do you get where I'm leading with this?
I try to steer clear. Who in the hell wants someone who sets out to destroy you? Of course, I've never been that schmuck who's been in love. There's too much drama.
I had that one acquaintance who assumes they know better than I do. That would be Bob Harrison, who pushes me to find someone like he's doing today.
"Come on, Mack. Don't you realize it's time to settle down?"
"Aren't you too old to whine? What? Are you? Four? What does it matter if I meet someone?" I lifted a container of dirty dishes onto the counter.
Yes, I work as a busboy trying to pay for school. Don't judge. Most people must do the inferior man's jobs. It was honest employment. So, why the hell do I care what people think?
"I'm saying it would help tame your wild ways."
"What wild ways? I work and go to school. Woohoo," I responded.
He twisted his eyes at me.
"Shouldn't you cook something?" That meant returning to work and stopping harassing me about my personal choices.
"Bob, I need a number one and three." Miguel placed an order on the ledge.
"Good luck. Bob worries too much about my nonexistent love life," I quipped.
Bob folded his eyes, and Miguel chuckled.
"Mark my words. One day, you will find the one!" Bob flipped a burger.
I walked over to Miguel.
"He sure has big aspirations for you," Miguel told me.
"I assume he's high."
Miguel snickered.
"Is there a reason you ladies are standing around talking?" Ian asked us.
"We were discussing your poor lifestyle choices such as that hairstyle." I pointed at the mess on top of his head.
"There is nothing wrong with my hairstyle. Gertie finds it sexy." Ian ran his hand against the side of his haircut.
"Is that before or after you use a gallon of oil on it?"
Ian rolled his eyes at me, causing Miguel to howl even more. "Laugh all you want, but at least I'm getting lucky."
"That is debatable."
"Are you still coming to the party?"
"Why?"
"Mack, you need to get out."
"Ian, I don't drink, and people act stupid when they do. What the hell would I do? Stand there and look like a dipshit? I don't think so."
"Then you won't see Paige," Bob said from the grill.
"You're not helping!" I spoke.
"Oh, someone has a crush on Paige Moore," Ian said.
I'm going to kill Bob.
"I do not have a crush on Paige Moore. Plus, she's dating that weasel, Aaron Slade," I said.
"Only because you haven't made a move," Miguel told me.
"And I'm not going to make a move."
Aaron was a dipwad, and I had no intention of being the other guy. FML.
The bell chimed. We noticed Paige walk in with Maria, Gertie, and Ruth. Fuck me. Of all the diners in this town, she had to come here. God must hate me.
My dipwad friends looked at me.
"Don't give me that look," I said.
Then Ian and Miguel came into the kitchen. They threw an apron on me, shoved a notepad and pencil in my hand, and pushed me through the double doors. Assholes.
I stood there as everyone stared at me. "Take a picture. It'll last longer."
Everyone returned to eating.
I walked over and scribbled the girls' orders down, then looked at Paige. "And what do you want?"
"Couldn't you be a little nicer?" Paige asked me.
"I could if I wanted to, but today is not your day, and tomorrow isn't looking better. Now, what do you want, Peggy?"
She glared at me. Yep, I pissed her off. She gave me her order, and I walked back into the kitchen. I handed it to Bob. Miguel and Ian had cheeky grins plastered on their faces.
"I'll hurt both of you."
"Yeah, but not after she hurts you." Ian smirked.
My right eye twitched. That wasn't how I wanted my life to go.
Carrington Carrington Jones grew up with seven brothers and sisters. He has a happy-go-lucky nature with a tender heart, which sets him apart from his siblings with their personalities. He meets a woman who captures his heart. The only problem is she has a husband. Carrington’s brothers advised him against pursuing it, especially Mason and Charles, understanding it’s a terrible idea. Carrington can’t stay away from the woman. What happens with romance blossoms? Will Carrington discover his happiness, or will his heart get broken? A forbidden romance is enticing but arises in tragedy. Carrington will discover that it’s not romance where his heart lies but what occurs from it. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Matthew Harper always does the right thing. He doesn’t drink or smoke and protects his family, but he lets his past rule him. After dealing with the loss of his girlfriend Sadie, he thought he could move on, but ghosts of the past resurface. It made him close off his heart to someone who could love him more profoundly than the ocean. What happens when a past love resurfaces, making him rethink his earlier decisions? Will he get a second chance at happiness he deserves or breaks another’s heart again? It takes help from some cousins and an unexpected situation to show Matthew that we can’t let the past rule our future. The heart wants what the heart wants. *The Gray Series spin-off series. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Oliver Harper is a unique person. He doesn’t care about frivolous ideas or someone in his life to complete him. He prefers a conversation that stimulates his mind. When Oliver starts college, his friends and cousins join him. The problem with this bunch is they’re crazy. Have you met the Gray/Harper family? They define bat shit crazy. Olivier will navigate his way through college with the help of his family and cousins. He’ll meet and fall in love with the most unexpected person who’ll stimulate his mind. College life is about to explode. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Growing up next to the Harper boys, Tori Williams learned to hold her own with them. Her brother Gabe is best friends with the boys, and Tori deals with the youngest Harper boy, Deacon. There’s a slight issue when Tori dates Bradley Wilson, whom the Harper boys can’t stand. Wanting to keep Tori from her idiot ex-boyfriend, Nate and Deacon develop a plan of their own. Elias Harper graduated college and returned home to work in construction. While Nate and Deacon scheme to keep Bradley from Tori, another issue arises when Elias takes an interest in a particular neighbor girl. What happens when four years change people? Will a love connection happen, or will someone get burned? With the Gray gene cemented in your DNA, all bets are off. Follow Elias as he discovers who held his heart while growing up. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Lex and Piper are ready to settle down and have a family of their own. After celebrating the wedding of Michael and Lyric, something significant happens to Lex and Piper, which turns the Gray family upside down. Will they be able to get through this, or will they falter? With the help of The Gray Brothers and The Gray Sisters, Lex and Piper will learn the meaning of what it is to be a Gray. Love and humor go a long way for this family. Follow Lex and Piper on their journey as we find out if they can find their way back to each other. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
As the quints head into their third and final year of college, they are going to discover the thing that truly matters most - family. Follow them on their journey as the sisters deal with situations beyond their control. That is when the family becomes essential, especially the Gray Family. Now all they must do is get through the next two years with minor issues. Considering these are The Gray Sisters, expect the unexpected. With a little bit of help from the Brothers and a whole lot of humor, anything is possible. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Three years of marriage couldn't melt Theo's frozen heart. When an art gallery collapsed on Lena, he was off romancing another woman—lavishing her with a private jet. Three steel pins held Lena's shoulder together, but her heart remained broken. She filed for divorce and told everyone that he was impotent. Rising from the rubble, Lena blazed onto the design world's A‑list. She expected him to sail off with his true love—until Theo reappeared at her runway, pressing her against the wall. "Impotent, huh? Care to give it a try?"
Dear readers, this book has resumed daily updates. It took Sabrina three whole years to realize that her husband, Tyrone didn't have a heart. He was the coldest and most indifferent man she had ever met. He never smiled at her, let alone treated her like his wife. To make matters worse, the return of the woman he had eyes for brought Sabrina nothing but divorce papers. Sabrina's heart broke. Hoping that there was still a chance for them to work on their marriage, she asked, "Quick question,Tyrone. Would you still divorce me if I told you that I was pregnant?" "Absolutely!" he responded. Realizing that she didn't mean shit to him, Sabrina decided to let go. She signed the divorce agreement while lying on her sickbed with a broken heart. Surprisingly, that wasn't the end for the couple. It was as if scales fell off Tyrone's eyes after she signed the divorce agreement. The once so heartless man groveled at her bedside and pleaded, "Sabrina, I made a big mistake. Please don't divorce me. I promise to change." Sabrina smiled weakly, not knowing what to do...
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
Sawyer, the world's top arms dealer, stunned everyone by falling for Maren—the worthless girl no one respected. People scoffed. Why chase a useless pretty face? But when powerful elites began gathering around her, jaws dropped. "She's not even married to him yet—already cashing in on his power?" they assumed. Curious eyes dug into Maren's past... only to find she was a scientific genius, a world-renowned medical expert, and heiress to a mafia empire. Later, Sawyer posted online. "My wife treats me like the enemy. Any advice?"
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."