Showing results by author "Nicole Dykes" in All Categories

Spark of Hope: A bi-weekly trauma support group. This is my nightmare. When I think of a support group, I think of sad people sitting around talking about their feelings and nothing changing. And yet, when my brother and his best friend, who happens to be a therapist, presented the idea of holding the meetings at my gym, I caved. Because I, Benjamin Price, have always tried to rescue the people in my life. But I can’t. I’ve usually failed them.

She’s gone. And I don’t care. At least that’s what I tell myself, but she also left me with a really big mess to clean up. My siblings hate me. As they should. I may be twenty-four, but no part of me feels up to the task of taking care of my four younger siblings. I barely have my life under control, but it doesn’t matter now. I have temporary custody, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure it’s not only permanent, but also the best thing for these kids.

Reed Ellis is absolutely gorgeous but a total newbie to camming, a virtual nobody in my world. I should have just deleted his message request for a steamy on-camera collaboration. Not everyone is cut out to be a camboy. But there's just something about him I couldn't resist. He's timid and inexperienced, quiet and closed off, but his fumbling first times play out scorching hot for the cameras, and our videos together are an instant success. I know I should just ride this out, sit back and watch the money roll in, and then move on.

I like to party; to have a good time. Life’s too short not to. I learned that when I lost my grandpa. He told me to have fun while I can, and I intend to. Though sometimes when you’re having a good time, you forget others may see you as irresponsible. And sometimes you screw up. I’ve definitely screwed up a time or two, but I’m still determined to have fun. I’m hoping I’ll convince my best friend, Camden, to do the same along the way. He’s too serious. Too focused. Too busy taking care of everyone to just relax. And that’s where I come in.

Life has been easy for me. Top of my class. Star quarterback of the football team. Every guy wants to be my friend, and every girl wants to date me. Yeah, life is pretty sweet. Except it’s not. It’s all fake. School comes too easy for me, and I’m bored. Football isn’t fun anymore. The guys I hang out with aren’t really my friends. And the girls? I don’t want to date them. The only one I want to date... He’s a little bit...hostile.

I know most would probably describe me as a little uptight, unwilling to change, set in my ways… The truth is, I just like my life the way it is—simple and predictable. I have everything I need—good friends, family close by, and the automotive business I've built from the ground up. I'm proud of the life I've made in this quiet, small town. Nothing needs to change. At least, that's what I believed up until the day Damon Deveraux, a lively and bold little whirlwind of a man in lip gloss and short shorts, saunters into my life and changes everything.

I’ve always wanted to be a firefighter, and I never thought I would become a father, but it turns out—I’m both. And while being a firefighter was the only career I ever wanted—being a father has become my greatest destiny in this world. Now I need to do everything I can to protect my son, even if that means going back to my hometown. I won’t let my son down, no matter what, and I will do my duty as a fireman. Hopefully, I can do it without everything else burning down around me. Spencer I never expected to see Kade again—my high school crush and my biggest heartache in adolescence.

All I’ve ever wanted is to go to college and get out of Kensley. That small town is all I’ve ever known. I want to be free to be myself, not stifled by small minds in the football-loving town where I grew up. Then I blew my one and only chance. Now, I’m just stuck. Stuck in small-town life with the same small-town people I’ve always known. Stuck where I don’t want to be. Constantly on the defense and hiding secrets about myself. To never be the real me.

He’s an influencer—whatever that means. He’s also stunningly beautiful with a feisty attitude, and I can’t deny that it intrigues me. But more importantly, he’s in trouble. I’m not like my brother. Except for being a cop, I don’t strive to save the entire world. However, I find myself compelled to save him. If he’ll calm down and just let me.

I cannot stand Bennet Montgomery. His rugged hotness knows no bounds, and his unwavering cheery disposition is maddening. How can someone be that happy all the time? His smile infuriates me. I need to keep my distance from this man and all his Midwest charm. I have my camboy career to focus on, and I can't afford to get attached or bogged down with his nonsense. When Bennet receives devastating news about his mother, his grief consumes him. I don't know what to make of this new sad side of Bennet.

I have a secret. We all have secrets. I’m nothing special. It just so happens, however, that my sworn enemy also knows my secret. He’s the absolute worst person to know this, and there’s nothing I can do about it. What he does with this information is totally out of my hands and completely in his. This is why I’ve never let anyone in. I don’t trust easily. I keep to myself. I’m closed off, angry—guarded.

I probably shouldn't be in the office of someone I don't know, filming content for my site, but I quite like the view it affords me, and I really like that leather chair. I like it even more when the owner of the office turns out to be my grumpy, buttoned-up boss, and he catches me in the act. Literally. He's not happy about it, but he doesn't leave, and I don't stop. Suddenly, he's around all the time. Watching me. Taunting me. Teasing me. It soon becomes a game. A game only we play.

I'm keeping some pretty big secrets from my best friend. Secrets, I'm not sure how much longer I can hold onto. Secrets that'll likely destroy our friendship. Because he thinks we're going to college together—but I just can't do it. I can't spend any more time with this lie. Big Bend may have been my beginning, but it never felt quite right. Something was always off—truly, I think it was my false start. Now it's time to live my life with nothing but the truth.

Big Bend is my home. I love it here. I love everything about it. It's my senior year, and I'm determined to have the best one yet. Of course, that's when life gets confusing. I think I may have a little bit of a crush on my nemesis. Something I never saw coming. I just hope I can find a way to make him give me a chance because being together would make not only this year great but this life of ours—absolutely epic.

Coach. That's who I am. The strong, levelheaded, always-dependable coach. But then my wife left me. And my daughter—well, according to the town—she ran off and left me too. Now, I'm branded with scandal. My reputation is at stake, and I have to play by the rules if I want to keep my job. Then along comes Chance Leighton—a rule breaker with a scandal of his own. And worse, he's not from here. He's a Big Bend Bear. I need to keep my head down and follow the rules of this town. This town that's kept me in its perfect package since day one. But he makes me want to rebel.

Here, it's different from my crazy, loud, glitzy life. It's quiet and peaceful. No one seems impressed with my celebrity. No one is less impressed than the sexy, aloof member of the cleaning crew. He couldn't care less who I am or why I'm here. He's convinced I'm one of the fortunate ones—and I suppose I am. I've had it all—big houses, the best care, money, fame, and shallow adoration... but I've never been loved. I've never known if people like me for who I am underneath it all or just for my money and fame. And to me... that seems awfully unfortunate.

Selfish. That's the only way Andrew will ever see me. An abused boy who grew up and became a defense attorney for the rich and famous. I'll never forget the look on his face when I told him. The hurt and disgust I saw in his eyes as I stomped all over his dreams. He left me behind, convincing me he'd hate me forever. Now, circumstances have brought me back into his life. I have one more chance to prove I'm not the man he thinks I am. I'll do anything to prove I'm worthy of him.

I screwed up. Big time. I hurt someone, and I hate myself for it. I'm barely eighteen and already completely exhausted. Tired of being haunted by secrets and guilt. My biggest regret, though, is keeping it all from Adam—my best friend, teammate, protector. My everything since I can remember.

Welcome to Big Bend—my nightmare and my home, all in one. I don't fit in here. I don't fit in anywhere. I've made so many mistakes. Over and over. Two of those mistakes haunt me. One, being responsible for a friend losing his job and reputation in this town. And two, well, that one is even worse. I ruined so many lives with one stupid decision I barely even remember. And now, I'm going to pay for it.

I’m a music manager. I’ve taken the smallest artists and made them soar into superstardom. I’m good at what I do, and I never fail. Except with him. I let him down, and that doesn’t sit right with me. No. I’ll track Justin St. James down and find a way to make him happy and settled. No matter what it takes.