Unsettled
Authors: S.C. Ellington
Unsettled
Copyright 2013 by S.C. Ellington
www.scellington.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without the express written consent from the author, except in the case of a reviewer, who may quote brief passages embodied in critical articles or in a review.
Trademarked names appear throughout this book. Rather than trademarked name, names are used in an editorial fashion, with no intention of infringement of the respective owner’s trademark.
The information in this book is distributed on an “as is” basis, without warranty. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this work, neither the author nor the publisher shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book.
The characters, locations, and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity or resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Print ISBN: 978-1493645541
eBook ISBN: 978-1311191809
Cover design by Marcharda White
eBook formatting by Maureen Cutajar
Table of Contents
Keep in Touch with S.C. Ellington!
About the Author
S.C. Ellington is an up and coming author who enjoys expressing her creativity through frequently writing adult, contemporary romance novels that readers can relate to, but more importantly, enjoy.
Aside from writing, Ellington enjoys curling up with her e-reader and absorbing herself in novels loaded with emotion, desire and passion. She also likes to spend sunny, wistful afternoons, in her hammock thinking up new ideas for great stories.
S.C. Ellington currently resides on the west coast with her beautiful family and loving friends.
Novels by S.C. Ellington
Unsettled, Book One of the Unsettled Series
Surrounded, Book Two of the Unsettled Series
Dedication
To all my fangirls, Logan and Brooklyn have arrived!
Acknowledgements
I am so gracious to everyone who has assisted me in my endeavor to publish a living piece of work.
To my husband, thank you for putting up with me while I feverishly let the words for this novel flow through my fingertips. Our son is grateful as well! I am very thankful to have you in my corner.
To my parents, you sculpted me into the woman I am. I thank you for everything that you did for me. I wouldn’t have made it nearly as far without you.
To “The Clan”, you have been such a great help to me during this whole endeavor! You are all going to go far! I love you! Fi, I loved you before, but even more now—unbreakable bonds.
To RT, thanks for being my very first beta reader! It all started with you!
To MW, thank you doesn’t cover it! Without your help, my finished product would not have been nearly as great!
To JL, I am now overly familiar with g-mail thanks to you! Thank you for all your help and support throughout this journey! Get ready for two and three!
To KER, you know your place in my heart. Thank you for the support and guidance.
To all my blogging buddies and social media friends, thank you for all your help, guidance, support and wisdom! Before I ran into you, I knew nothing!
1
“G
ood morning, Washington, D.C.! Here’s your daily dose of Jo!” my alarm radio screamed at me. I turned my body slightly and slammed my hand on the buzzing box, nearly knocking it to the floor. I grunted with disdain as I rolled over, not wanting to leave the comfort of my bed.
“Shut up Jo! It can’t be that great of a morning with you ringing in my ears! When will it be the weekend?” I muttered into my pillow.
Although it was Thursday, I seemed to be stuck in a never-ending cycle of work and sleep. I doubted I would ever become a morning person. I found the thought of cracking my eyelids before ten in the morning appalling.
With my eyes wired shut I propelled my arm from underneath my lilac duvet and yanked the plug of my space heater from the wall as if I were some type of cuttlefish, using my denticulate suckers to secure my prey.
Last week marked the second week of April and the winter storms had thinned out somewhat. A slight cold front had swooped in for a while on the East Coast but was supposed to taper off within the next few days. At least that was the scuttlebutt according to Heidi, the latest bouncy blonde weather girl employed by my local news station.
I let my arm fall to the side of my mattress. Every muscle in my body creaked.
Must be my old age setting in.
My forehead creased at my disheartening thoughts. It was too early in the morning for me to be honing in on my increasing age odometer. Even though all the reasons why I needed to start my day crept through my sleep-fogged head, like every morning, I laid listlessly in bed.