Abandon Read online

  Abandon

  A Seaside Pictures Novella

  By Rachel Van Dyken

  1001 Dark Nights

  Abandon

  A Seaside Pictures Novella

  By Rachel Van Dyken

  1001 Dark Nights

  Copyright 2019 Rachel Van Dyken

  ISBN: 978-1-970077-25-4

  Foreword: Copyright 2014 M. J. Rose

  Published by Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.

  Book Description

  Abandon

  A Seaside Pictures Novella

  By Rachel Van Dyken

  From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken comes a new story in her Seaside Pictures series…

  It’s not every day you're slapped on stage by two different women you've been dating for the last year.

  I know what you're thinking. What sort of ballsy woman gets on stage and slaps a rockstar? Does nobody have self-control anymore? It may have been the talk of the Grammys.

  Oh, yeah, forgot to mention that. I, Ty Cuban, was taken down by two psychotic women in front of the entire world. Lucky for us the audience thought it was part of the breakup song my band and I had just finished performing. I was thirty-three, hardly ready to settle down.

  Except now it's getting forced on me. Seaside, Oregon. My bandmates were more than happy to settle down, dig their roots into the sand, and start popping out kids. Meanwhile I was still enjoying life.

  Until now. Until my forced hiatus teaching freaking guitar lessons at the local studio for the next two months. Part of my punishment, do something for the community while I think deep thoughts about all my life choices.

  Sixty days of hell.

  It doesn't help that the other volunteer is a past flame that literally looks at me as if I've sold my soul to the devil. She has the voice of an angel and looks to kill—I would know, because she looks ready to kill me every second of every day. I broke her heart when we were on tour together a decade ago.

  I'm ready to put the past behind us. She's ready to run me over with her car then stand on top of it and strum her guitar with glee.

  Sixty days. I can do anything for sixty days. Including making the sexy Von Abigail fall for me all over again. This time for good.

  Damn, maybe there’s something in the water.

  **Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

  About Rachel Van Dyken

  Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

  She keeps her home in Idaho with her husband and adorable son. She loves to hear from readers!

  For more information, visit her website at http://rachelvandykenauthor.com

  Also from Rachel Van Dyken

  Liars, Inc.

  Dirty Exes

  The Players Game Series

  Fraternize

  Infraction

  MVP

  The Consequence Series

  The Consequence of Loving Colton

  The Consequence of Revenge

  The Consequence of Seduction

  The Consequence of Rejection

  The Wingmen Inc. Series

  The Matchmaker’s Playbook

  The Matchmaker’s Replacement

  Curious Liaisons Series

  Cheater

  Cheater’s Regret

  The Bet Series

  The Bet

  The Wager

  The Dare

  The Ruin Series

  Ruin

  Toxic

  Fearless

  Shame

  The Eagle Elite Series

  Elite

  Elect

  Enamor

  Entice

  Elicit

  Bang Bang

  Enforce

  Ember

  Elude

  Empire

  Enrage

  Eulogy

  Envy

  The Seaside Series

  Tear

  Pull

  Shatter

  Forever

  Fall

  Eternal

  Strung

  Capture

  The Renwick House Series

  The Ugly Duckling Debutante

  The Seduction of Sebastian St. James

  An Unlikely Alliance

  The Redemption of Lord Rawlings

  The Devil Duke Takes a Bride

  The London Fairy Tales Series

  Upon a Midnight Dream

  Whispered Music

  The Wolf’s Pursuit

  When Ash Falls

  The Seasons of Paleo Series

  Savage Winter

  Feral Spring

  The Wallflower Series (with Leah Sanders)

  Waltzing with the Wallflower

  Beguiling Bridget

  Taming Wilde

  The Dark Ones Saga

  The Dark Ones

  Untouchable Darkness

  Dark Surrender

  Darkest Temptation

  Stand-Alones

  Hurt: A Collection (with Kristin Vayden and Elyse Faber)

  Rip

  Compromising Kessen

  Every Girl Does It

  The Parting Gift (with Leah Sanders)

  Divine Uprising

  Acknowledgments from the Author

  This is always the hardest part for an author. I’m so incredibly grateful to God that I get to wake up every single day and do something that I love, that I’m able to write stories that hopefully give people a much needed escape from the stress of life! Thank you so much, Liz Berry, for giving me the privilege to write stories for 1001 Dark Nights. To the whole 1001 Dark Nights team, I remember thinking that it would be a dream to work with you guys and now I’m living that dream! A special thank you to my beta readers, editors, and assistants who helped me whip this one out a bit faster than the other ones. Thank you, Nina, for being patient with my schedule every time I tell you my deadlines. Bloggers, readers, thank you so much for reading, reviewing, and sharing. I truly wouldn’t have a job without you guys. Your love for books is contagious. And last but not least thanks to the husband for taking little man swimming while I stayed up late and tried to finish the book. Oh, and I’m sorry about all the pizza! If you want to follow my writing journey visit my website www.rachelvandykenauthor.com or join my ridiculously awesome reader group Rachels New Rockin Readers via Facebook, you can also find me on Insta/Twitter @RachVD, hugs, and cheers to another HEA!

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights

  Click here to explore

  COLLECTION ONE

  FOREVER WICKED by Shayla Black

  CRIMSON TWILIGHT by Heather Graham

  CAPTURED IN SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  SILENT BITE: A SCANGUARDS WEDDING by Tina Folsom

  DUNGEON GAMES by Lexi Blake

  AZAGOTH by Larissa Ione

  NEED YOU NOW by Lisa Renee Jones

  SHOW ME, BABY by Cherise Sinclair

  ROPED IN by Lorelei James

  TEMPTED BY MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian
r />   THE FLAME by Christopher Rice

  CARESS OF DARKNESS by Julie Kenner

  COLLECTION TWO

  WICKED WOLF by Carrie Ann Ryan

  WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING by Heather Graham

  EASY WITH YOU by Kristen Proby

  MASTER OF FREEDOM by Cherise Sinclair

  CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner

  ADORED by Lexi Blake

  HADES by Larissa Ione

  RAVAGED by Elisabeth Naughton

  DREAM OF YOU by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  STRIPPED DOWN by Lorelei James

  RAGE/KILLIAN by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

  DRAGON KING by Donna Grant

  PURE WICKED by Shayla Black

  HARD AS STEEL by Laura Kaye

  STROKE OF MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian

  ALL HALLOWS EVE by Heather Graham

  KISS THE FLAME by Christopher Rice

  DARING HER LOVE by Melissa Foster

  TEASED by Rebecca Zanetti

  THE PROMISE OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  COLLECTION THREE

  HIDDEN INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

  BLOOD ON THE BAYOU by Heather Graham

  SEARCHING FOR MINE by Jennifer Probst

  DANCE OF DESIRE by Christopher Rice

  ROUGH RHYTHM by Tessa Bailey

  DEVOTED by Lexi Blake

  Z by Larissa Ione

  FALLING UNDER YOU by Laurelin Paige

  EASY FOR KEEPS by Kristen Proby

  UNCHAINED by Elisabeth Naughton

  HARD TO SERVE by Laura Kaye

  DRAGON FEVER by Donna Grant

  KAYDEN/SIMON by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

  STRUNG UP by Lorelei James

  MIDNIGHT UNTAMED by Lara Adrian

  TRICKED by Rebecca Zanetti

  DIRTY WICKED by Shayla Black

  THE ONLY ONE by Lauren Blakely

  SWEET SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  COLLECTION FOUR

  ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING by Kristen Ashley

  ADORING INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

  SWEET RIVALRY by K. Bromberg

  SHADE'S LADY by Joanna Wylde

  RAZR by Larissa Ione

  ARRANGED by Lexi Blake

  TANGLED by Rebecca Zanetti

  HOLD ME by J. Kenner

  SOMEHOW, SOME WAY by Jennifer Probst

  TOO CLOSE TO CALL by Tessa Bailey

  HUNTED by Elisabeth Naughton

  EYES ON YOU by Laura Kaye

  BLADE by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

  DRAGON BURN by Donna Grant

  TRIPPED OUT by Lorelei James

  STUD FINDER by Lauren Blakely

  MIDNIGHT UNLEASHED by Lara Adrian

  HALLOW BE THE HAUNT by Heather Graham

  PRINCE ROMAN by CD Reiss

  THE BED MATE by Kendall Ryan

  DIRTY FILTHY FIX by Laurelin Paige

  NO RESERVATIONS by Kristen Proby

  DAWN OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  COLLECTION FIVE

  BLAZE ERUPTING by Rebecca Zanetti

  ROUGH RIDE by Kristen Ashley

  HAWKYN by Larissa Ione

  RIDE DIRTY by Laura Kaye

  ROME’S CHANCE by Joanna Wylde

  THE MARRIAGE ARRANGEMENT by Jennifer Probst

  SURRENDER by Elisabeth Naughton

  INKED NIGHTS by Carrie Ann Ryan

  ENVY by Rachel Van Dyken

  PROTECTED by Lexi Blake

  THE PRINCE by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  PLEASE ME by J. Kenner

  WOUND TIGHT by Lorelei James

  STRONG by Kylie Scott

  DRAGON NIGHT by Donna Grant

  TEMPTING BROOKE by Kristen Proby

  HAUNTED BE THE HOLIDAYS by Heather Graham

  CONTROL by K. Bromberg

  HUNKY HEARTBREAKER by Kendall Ryan

  THE DARKEST CAPTIVE by Gena Showalter

  Also from 1001 Dark Nights:

  TAME ME by J. Kenner

  THE SURRENDER GATE By Christopher Rice

  SERVICING THE TARGET By Cherise Sinclair

  TEMPT ME by J. Kenner

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  Table of Contents

  Book Description

  About Rachel Van Dyken

  Also from Rachel Van Dyken

  Acknowledgments from the Author

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights

  Foreword

  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

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Six

  Discover the World of 1001 Dark Nights

  Discover More Rachel Van Dyken

  An excerpt from Stealing Her by Rachel Van Dyken

  Special Thanks

  One Thousand and One Dark Nights

  Once upon a time, in the future…

  I was a student fascinated with stories and learning.

  I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and

  the art and science of love and magic. I had a vast

  library at my father’s home and collected thousands

  of volumes of fantastic tales.

  I learned all about ancient races and bygone

  times. About myths and legends and dreams of all

  people through the millennium. And the more I read

  the stronger my imagination grew until I discovered

  that I was able to travel into the stories... to actually

  become part of them.

  I wish I could say that I listened to my teacher

  and respected my gift, as I ought to have. If I had, I

  would not be telling you this tale now.

  But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off

  with bravery.

  One afternoon, curious about the myth of the

  Arabian Nights, I traveled back to ancient Persia to

  see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar

  (Persian: شهريار, “king”) married a new virgin, and then

  sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded. It was written

  and I had read, that by the time he met Scheherazade,

  the vizier's daughter, he’d killed one thousand

  women.

  Something went wrong with my efforts. I arrived

  in the midst of the story and somehow exchanged

  places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had

  never occurred before and that still to this day, I

  cannot explain.

  Now I am trapped in that ancient past. I have

  taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can

  protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to

  protect herself and stay alive.

  Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales.

  And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a

  point that leaves him breathless and yearning for more.

  And so the King spares my life for one more day, so that

  he might hear the rest of my dark tale.

  As soon as I finish a story... I begin a new

  one... like the one that you, dear reader, have before

  you now.

  Chapter One


  Ty

  Grammys 2019

  “You ready?” I gripped my drumsticks tightly in my right hand as the screaming from the crowd pierced my ears, causing an onslaught of adrenaline to pulse beneath my skin.

  Drew, one of the leading frontmen for our band, Adrenaline, rolled his eyes and shot me a middle finger. Then he straight-up tugged his leather pants down below his hips to show off his legendary V.

  We get it, bro, you’ve got an eight-pack where there’s usually only six.

  With a flourish, I pulled off my simple white tee and shrugged. “What? Two can play that game.”

  “Seriously, guys?” Will gave me a shove. “They already gave us shit last time about you two comparing dicks. It’s the Grammys, not the Super Bowl. We have to be clothed.”

  I eyed him up and down. “Question. Was it your plan to go out there looking like the dad of the group, or was it just a happy accident?” He was in skinny jeans and a simple vintage tee and wore his typical thick black glasses that somehow still got him action from his wife, actress Angelica Greene. It was confusing when Will got action and I didn’t.

  Not that I wasn’t getting any.

  I inwardly smirked. I was dating one of our background dancers, while at the same time hooking up with one of Zane’s—both of which were performing with us tonight. Hey, it wasn’t like I planned for them to ever meet! And before you get your panties in a twist and start calling me a whore while chanting things like “I pray your dick falls off,” let me explain.

  I have a solid reason for dating both women.

  You ready for it?

  The truth bomb of the century?

  I don’t actually have a heart. You see, a long time ago in a land where my innocence thrived—you know, before the mistakes with the drugs, alcohol, and the time I carried a live chicken on stage and kissed it—I was in love.

  Real love.

  Not the kind where you say it just because you want to have sex with someone so badly, you’re willing to sell your soul to the devil. Twice.