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    Shaken: Santa Clarita Love Stories, #1
    Shaken: Santa Clarita Love Stories, #1
    Shaken: Santa Clarita Love Stories, #1
    Ebook111 pages1 hour

    Shaken: Santa Clarita Love Stories, #1

    By Evangeline Kelly

    5/5

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    About this ebook

    A Contemporary Christian Romance

    Olivia Donovan fell for her brother’s best friend, Jax, years ago and thought the feeling was mutual. How wrong she’d been. He’d invited her to meet him at the oak tree at her parent’s house, and then never showed up. She avoided him for years and moved on with another boyfriend.

    On the day of her move to a new city, Olivia’s brother informed her that he wouldn’t be available to help, but not to worry, he set up a replacement. When Jax Hunter showed up at Olivia’s door, she was determined not to like him. After all, he was the stereotypical bad boy from her high school days and she wanted nothing to do with him.

    But when a colossal event took place, relationships were tested and character revealed. Truth always has a way of rising to the surface. Will Olivia be able to trust God to make the biggest decision of her life? Or will she let the fear from her past hold her back?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherEvangeline Kelly
    Release dateJun 3, 2017
    ISBN9781386686170
    Shaken: Santa Clarita Love Stories, #1

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    • 4/5
      Short and sweet! Although sometimes I wanted to shake Olivia for her blind support of her boyfriend, even when the signs were so clear!

    Book preview

    Shaken - Evangeline Kelly

    Shaken

    Evangeline Kelly

    Copyright © 2017 by Evangeline Kelly. All Rights Reserved.

    No part of this book shall be used or reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the author. Road Trip is a work of fiction. Names, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, or people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

    Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. https://www.esv.org/resources/esv-global-study-bible/copyright-page/

    Table of Contents

    Free Book

    Chapter 1

    Chapter 2

    Chapter 3

    Chapter 4

    Chapter 5

    Chapter 6

    Chapter 7

    Chapter 8

    Chapter 9

    Chapter 10

    Chapter 11

    Chapter 12

    Free Book

    Sign up for the author's New Releases mailing list and get a free copy of the second novella in the series, Matchmaker.

    Click here to get started.

    Chapter 1

    Of all the days to flake out on me, today was the worst. When my brother, Noah delivered the news over the phone that in a few short hours he’d be flying to London instead of helping me move, I nearly lost it.

    I can’t believe you’re bailing on me. You and Harrison were the only ones helping me today.

    I’m sorry, Liv. Noah’s voice sounded strained. You think it makes me feel good to leave my little sister in a bind? I feel terrible, especially since Mom and Dad are on their anniversary cruise. I know you were counting on me.

    With my cell phone crooked between my shoulder and neck, I put the last of my sewing supplies in a large brown box and used packing tape to secure the top. There’s no way I can get a moving company on such short notice. Now it’s all on me and Harrison.

    I’m surprised that loser agreed to help.

    Don’t start.

    Everyone knew my brother didn’t like my boyfriend. After five years of dating, Noah thought Harrison had been stringing me along with empty promises. But Harrison lived three hours away, and long-distance relationships were difficult. Which is why I’d taken it upon myself to move from San Diego to Santa Clarita in order to be closer to him.

    He should have moved to you, not the other way around. The only good thing is I’ll be here to comfort you when he breaks your heart. Strangely enough, Noah moved to Santa Clarita way before Harrison ever did. When the apartment next door to my brother became available, I jumped on the chance to move.

    You’re one to talk, Mr. I’m-not-ready-to-settle-down with one woman. You could write a manual on breaking hearts. Inwardly, I kicked myself for saying that. He’d been engaged to Tess, but she’d moved on with someone else. That was probably the biggest reason for his concern. He didn’t want me to get hurt like he’d been.

    It’s not the same. I don’t mislead any women. Everyone knows where I stand.

    Harrison isn’t misleading me. He’s just not ready for marriage yet. I sighed into the phone. This isn’t helping right now.

    Sorry. I know this isn’t the time to voice all the reasons you shouldn’t be with him."

    No, it’s not. Especially since he’s the only one showing up today.

    It’s not my fault plans changed, he said.

    I thought you weren’t leaving until Monday. What happened?

    Jason had the travel agent change our flight without telling any of us. Apparently, there was a deal and he saved us money. I just found out last night.

    I let out a groan. And you’re just now giving me a heads up? Why didn’t you call last night?

    He paused. Because I was working on finding a replacement to help you.

    Maybe things weren’t as bad as they seemed. Quite possibly he’d found someone else to help out, and although it wouldn’t be the same as having my brother’s help, it would have to do. I used a black, permanent marker to write Sewing Supplies on the box I’d just finished packing. Who’d you get?

    Don’t freak out. He was the only one available.

    Who is he?

    Jax.

    My mouth dropped open for one heart-pounding moment. Jax? As in Jax Hunter?

    What other Jax would I be talking about?

    You’re not serious. Tell me this is all a terrible joke and you’re five minutes away.

    I wouldn’t joke about something like this, and I’m actually at LAX right now.

    No, no, no, no. This can’t be happening. Jax was the last person I wanted to see. He’d been my brother’s best friend ever since they were kids, and it was no secret I couldn’t stand him. He’d been a bad influence on my brother from day one, not to mention he was a stereotypical bad boy. Back in high school, he smoked weed behind the school bleachers and drag raced vintage cars with shady characters I wanted nothing to do with.

    You know how I feel about Jax. You couldn’t have found someone else?

    There’s no one else.

    The silence was unsettling as I let that sink in. My throat grew very dry and I suddenly needed a drink . . . pronto. I reached for the plastic red cup I’d been using ever since I’d packed away all my glasses. You really think Jax is going to be much help? He’s probably stoned right now.

    Olivia, that’s not fair. His voice was sharp with reproach. He only called me Olivia when he was angry, so evidently, I’d struck a nerve. That was a long time ago. He’s changed. I already told you he gave his life to the Lord, three years ago.

    I know. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be like this, but I’m really stressed out right now. I took a sip of water.

    It had been six years since I’d last seen Jax. I’d been eighteen years old when I’d fallen under his spell, just like every other girl at my high school. Guys like him were dangerous, and I knew firsthand just how dangerous.

    I’d shied away from him, but he’d somehow won me over. He was the kind of guy you didn’t want to like, but against your will, found yourself leading his fan club. We’d had one kiss. One mind-blowing kiss that left me breathless. And then he’d asked me to meet him by the oak tree in my back yard at midnight. Against my better judgment, I’d agreed. Only he never showed up. And I promised myself I’d never see him again after that.

    Jax is a different man. If you hadn’t avoided him the last six years you’d have seen that, Noah said.

    I don’t want to talk about it. Just tell him not to come. I don’t want his help.

    Don’t be stupid. Harrison can’t lift all your boxes by himself. He’s a weakling.

    He had a point. Harrison had a lot of strengths, but fitness wasn’t one of them. Not that he was overweight or anything. He just didn’t work out much.

    Harrison will do just fine.

    Liv, Jax has my back. There’s no one I trust to help you more than him. Please, stop being so stubborn.

    There was a knock on the door. Look, Harrison’s here. I have to go.

    So, you’re fine with Jax coming to help?

    Not really, but what other choice do I have?

    Good. Glad you see it my way. I’ll see you in a month.

    I’m surprised Jax isn’t going with you on the trip.

    Yeah . . . something else came up.

    Oh. Well, anyway . . . you’d better send me a postcard.

    You bet. He hesitated. Don’t be too hard on Jax. He has a good heart.

    Yeah, whatever. Go have fun on your ridiculously long trip to Europe. Wish I was flying to London right now instead of moving all my stuff.

    Says the girl who turned down the trip so she could move closer to her annoying boyfriend.

    There was another knock, this time more insistent.

    Gotta go. Talk to you later. After Noah said good-bye, I hung up my phone. With one hand, I took another sip of water, and with the other, I pushed boxes out of my way, clearing a path. When I swung open the door, my stomach twisted into knots because it wasn’t Harrison. It

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