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Thursday 3 April 2014

Book BLitz For L.K Lewis's Bending The Rules



Book & Author Details:



Bending the Rules by L.K. Lewis
Publication date: April 1st 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:
“Drake isn’t just someone I love, he’s the one I love the most in this world. He’s my best friend, my breath, my everything. I realize in this moment that the true reason I’m on this journey to find Drake is not just because I miss him and want him back, I’m also missing a huge part of me. Until we’re together again, my life isn’t complete. Without him I’m not whole.”-Morgan

“… I’m so sorry I couldn’t go to you. It was nearly impossible not to but Morgan we wouldn’t be standing here right now if I had. You found me Baby. When you met me on your first day at Baylor what seems like a lifetime ago you found me. Only this time I’m not letting you go.”-Drake

Struggling to get her life back on track after being left suddenly and inexplicably by (secret) boyfriend –not- boyfriend and boss Drake Baylor Jr., Morgan Lane searches the globe to find Drake knowing that the only way to truly live the life she’s worked so hard for is with him by her side.

Banished to Zurich, Switzerland by his father after being caught Breaking the Rules, Drake has nine months to get the European Division of Baylor Industries back on track. Again, he must obey the rules so that he can hopefully return to his life with Morgan and take the helm of Baylor Industries.

Everything is going according to plan as usual for Adrian Thompson who has just gotten Drake banished to Switzerland as part of his plan to get Morgan (his college sweetheart and hopefully future trophy wife) back in his life for good. With a little help from Lana Lane, Morgan’s mother, Adrian is hoping to have Morgan wearing his ring by New Year’s Eve.

After a few months of being wooed by old flame and now boss Adrian, and without so much as a word from Drake, Morgan hesitantly accepts Adrian’s invitation to join him for New Year’s Eve in St.Moritz Switzerland. Foiling Adrian’s plan, a “chance encounter” finds Morgan back in Drake’s arms.

Will Drake and Morgan be able to overcome the distance and time that is now between them along with a few of the hurdles that life has thrown their way? Morgan and Drake are once again faced with figuring out how to start their new future together- this time not Breaking the Rules, only Bending them.




AUTHOR BIO



LK Lewis lives in Northern Michigan with her Husband and 3 year old son.
Born and raised in Michigan, LK spent her early twenties chasing the man of her dreams (now husband of 8 years) around the country, residing in both New York, and Portland, Oregon.  While living in Portland, LK attended East West College of the Healing Arts, and is now a Massage Therapist, Makeup Artist, and Spa/ Boutique Owner.

When LK isn’t working, writing, or chasing her son around, she enjoys boat days, playing in the sunshine, and giggling with her husband.  You may also find her on twitter most days, especially live tweeting when The Bachelor/Bachelorette, Sons of Anarchy or The Walking Dead is on.  Check her out, you may enjoy her colorful commentary!

Author links:


A Few Excerpts For you:

Excerpts:
Morgan
“Hi, sweetie!” my mom answers the phone cheerfully. She obviously has put the “happy” in “happy hour” today.
“Hi, Mom.” I do my best to hold back my sniffle and speak in a clear voice, but fail miserably.
“Morgan, what’s wrong?” I never cry in front of my parents, so hearing a sob of any kind is cause for concern for my mother.
“Oh, Mom. It’s all screwed up,” I sob into the phone, while racing around my apartment trying to get packed for a trip with no real destination or timeframe.
“Okay, Morgan, slow down and take a deep breath,” my mom says as I envision her closing her eyes and doing her deep yoga breathing, while touching her thumbs to middle fingers and chanting “om” as she’s done so many times during my life. “Now tell me, darling, what is ‘all screwed up’?”
“Everything!” I continue to sob. “Everything is screwed up. I’ve lost Drake, I quit my job, and now I’m packing for a flight to God knows where, to search for the love of my life and bring him back, only I don’t have a clue where to start, and I can’t reach him.”
“You quit your job, Morgan? What happened? And who is Drake? Not Drake Baylor… Morgan, please tell me you haven’t fallen for a married man. That’s completely distasteful and unladylike.”
“Drake Baylor Jr., Mom. Not Sr. We’ve been dating for a few months now, only he isn’t allowed to have a relationship if he wants to take over his father’s company, so we have been dating in secret. We are head over heels in love, Mom. We went to Vegas last weekend and he told me he hoped to take over Baylor Industries soon, and as soon as that happens he plans on marrying me. Now he’s gone and I can’t get ahold of him. I know something has happened and I’m worried about him. I have a feeling his father has shipped him off somewhere, or he was fired and needed to clear his head and figure out his next move, but either way I have to find him. He needs me and I need him. God, I’ve never needed anything so badly in my entire life. Anyway, I thought you would like to know I’m going to the airport tonight, and will call you when I land, wherever that may be.”
“Morgan, sweetie, I think you might be overreacting just a bit. Why don’t you just come home for a few days, regroup, and figure things out. I’ll take you shopping, what do you say?” My mom obviously wasn’t listening to anything but what she wanted to hear.
“I’m not overreacting, Mom. I’m simply reacting. My life has taken a sudden turn and for once in my life I’m grabbing the reins and taking control. I made the decision to break the rules with Drake just as much as he did. He’s out there somewhere fighting for me, and I need to step up and do the same.”
*****

Drake
It took every last cell of energy in my body not to turn around when Morgan called my name. I saw her walking to the baggage claim and turned around hoping she wouldn’t notice me. Of course she did though, we’re drawn together. I could have been perfectly camouflaged into my surrounding and she still would have sensed me in the room. It absolutely kills me that I can’t talk to her but I know that if I give in and break the rules even just this time, my father will find out and even the last month or so without her will be for nothing.
I want to run and grab her, have that moment that movies are made for when I call her name and we run toward each other with smiles, and tears, and don’t stop until we crash into one another all lips and teeth and kisses and hands in hair passion while those witnessing clap and cheer and cry. But instead I play by the rules, only bending them slightly as I play voyeur, watching her every move as she collects her bag, calls for a cab, takes a hopeful yet heavy hearted breath and departs from the airport and my presence once again.
*****
Morgan
“Morgan, where are you, are you alright? It’s late,” Amanda asks as she picks up the phone, her husky sleep voice barely audible.
“I’m sorry, I forgot about the time change. I just woke up. I’m stuck in a Paris hangover.”
“A Paris what? Morgie, I know I’m half asleep, but that doesn’t even come close to making sense,” Amanda mumbles into the phone.
“A Paris hangover. I don’t know, I just made it up. It’s like I’m here, in the city of love. A city with so much history and so many things to see. I should be out enjoying my day, but I’m in bed with a headache, trying not to throw up. It’s like when you party hard on Saturday, and you wake up Sunday and it’s such a beautiful day outside. You know you should be out enjoying the last few moments of your weekend but all you can manage to do is lie bed with a killer headache trying not to puke and all you want is some glorious McDonald’s Angel to show up at your door with a fountain Coke and fries,” I explain.
“I understand. So why don’t you feel well? Did you pick up a bug with all of the recycled air on your flight?” Amanda asks. She’s starting to sound a little more awake which I’m grateful for, but feel bad for waking her up.
“No, I’ve been here for a week now looking for Drake, if it was the recycled plane air I would have come down with something sooner I think.”
“Then what is it, Morgan?”
“He’s not here, Amanda. He’s supposed to be here. I’ve searched everywhere. He’s supposed to be here, and he’s not…WHERE IS HE?” I start to sob into the phone.
“Shh. Don’t cry, Morgan. You’ll find him. He’s out there somewhere, he has to be. You know he loves you,” Amanda says, trying to soothe me.
“He is out there somewhere, just not any place I’ve looked. Maybe he doesn’t want to be found. At least not by me. I’ve gone everywhere looking for him. I really thought I’d find him, Amanda. I thought I’d find my happiness. What do I do now?”
“Oh, Morgan, I’m so sorry. I wish you could have found Drake. You’re right… maybe he doesn’t want to be found right now. Maybe he’s still working things out for himself. You said his father dissolved his position. That’s a huge blow for someone who has worked so hard to get his life on track. Maybe he’s still working out a way to give you the life you’ve always wanted. You told me he wants to do that for you. Morgan, you said he told you in Vegas he couldn’t wait to marry you. Maybe time alone is exactly what he has needed, that’s why he isn’t there looking for you too. You know I love you more than anything, Morgan, but you might not like what I’m about to say…maybe it’s time to come home, put your big girl panties on, get a job, and face life in the real world again.”
*****
Adrian
“How did it go? Did you run into her on your way in?” Morgan’s mother asks me as I greet her with a kiss on the cheek before joining her at her table. The dishes from the brunch she just shared with Morgan have been removed, but her cocktail has recently been refreshed.
“It’s all going according to plan, Lana. You might want to ease up on the suggestion of marriage, though. Morgan was pretty freaked when I ran into her fleeing the club.”
“I was merely planting a seed, young man. Don’t forget that I am her mother. I’ve molded her into perfection from the day she was born. These last few months spent with Drake Baylor Jr. were only a slight detour. Things between them have now gone south, and she went running back to you to save her. I didn’t even have to suggest her working for you, she came up with that idea all on her own.
“Morgan might think that her heart is still with Drake, but what she’ll find out soon enough is that you are the perfect man to share the rest of her life with. You’re able to provide her with everything she’ll ever need, and if I may point out the obvious…you’re actually here. You can take her to fine dinners and charity galas, spend time with her on the golf course, and lavish her with gifts and affection. I have raised my daughter the same way my mother raised me. To be the perfect woman on her husband’s arm, garnering envy of him from all other men. A beautiful woman gives a man power. Knowing he is able to land perfection in his personal life...especially his bed…shows those he does business with that he expects perfection in the corporate world as well, and will accept only that. This is how you get people to invest in your company’s projects, making you more successful than your wildest dreams.
“Morgan is the key to turning Thompson Manufacturing around, Adrian, which is something that both you and my husband need. Don’t make me remind you about the money Jim lent you to keep Thompson afloat after your dad’s heart attack. Not only does Morgan have a brilliant mind for business, but she is a beautiful young woman who will look good on your arm, while conducting herself accordingly in the presence of your colleagues.” Lana pauses for a moment while I take in everything she has just said.
“Morgan made it perfectly clear today that her heart is still with Drake. She wanted my assurance that all aspects of our relationship moving forward would be strictly platonic, and professional,” I say.
“Adrian, my dear… Don’t forget who holds the power in your relationship now. You may want Morgan back and are willing to do just about anything to make that happen, but she needs you. Her career means everything to her, though I’m not sure why, and right now that girl is out of a job. She needs you to be the strong, handsome knight that comes in to save the day…giving her the career she needs, while healing her broken heart. Be there for her. Nurture her confidence in the work place. Console her while she cries. Show her how much fun life can be – out in the open, not hiding – and show her she can trust you to not leave her. Once enough time has passed without Drake’s return, she’ll open herself to you again. That’s when you declare your intentions, put a ring on her finger, and seal the deal.”
*****
Adrian
Tomorrow can’t come soon enough. Its Morgan’s first day at Thompson Manufacturing. As usual, this is all going according to my plan for getting her back. I’m going to take Lana’s advice and be a constant support for Morgan. I’ll be familiar, reliable, trustworthy. I’ll remind Morgan of all of the ways we were so good together, without coming on too strong. She is hurting right now.
Two months after I exposed them to Drake’s father, creating their fallout at work and with each other, she is still pining for that loser Drake Baylor. I know they had a connection. I could see it from the first meet and greet at Baylor Industries. Drake is out of the picture now though. He hasn’t even contacted her. I just have to remind her that I’m here now, in the flesh. I’ll pick her heart up from the floor. I’ll support her needs for a career and independence. I’ll show her all the ways she should be loved. I’ll remind her how happy she can be with a relationship that is celebrated out in the open. One that her parents and peers alike support. One that doesn’t have rules. It will be like the old times when we were happy and in love, only without her parents controlling her every move. Morgan loved me once. I’ll just have to remind her how amazing our love was and wait patiently for her to come back to me. Then I’ll finally have everything I need, including Lana Lane finally off my back.
*****
Morgan
“What did I do right to deserve a friend like you?” I ask. I know it isn’t right to call him a friend after a night like tonight. It’s almost an insult, but I don’t know what else to call him, he is my friend. And although I loved our date tonight, I’m not ready to call him anything else yet.
“I know you only think of me as a friend right now, but I’m hoping someday you’ll think of me as more than that. I want to be more than that to you Morgan.”
“I know you do. I’m just not sure I can go there right now, Adrian. I loved our date tonight. I’m just going to go ahead and call it a date, because I think we are both hoping that’s what it was.”
“Well that’s a start, I guess. I loved our date too. We used to have a lot of fun together, Morgan. I want you to know that for me though, it wasn’t just fun. You were it for me. My forever.” Adrian looks at me with such sadness.
“I’m so sorry I ever hurt you. I’m glad that you understand why I needed to break things off. I had never done anything on my own before. I had never created my own experiences. I’m not sure what any of this means for us now, but if there was any chance of us finding our way back to each other, I had to find myself first, on my own.”
“I can appreciate that now, Morgan. I’m not expecting you to jump into anything right away either. I just want you to know that my feelings for you have never changed. I’ve never stopped thinking of you. I feel like my prayers have been answered by having you back in my life. You were my lover and my best friend for almost four years. I asked you to move in with me that night before graduation not because I wanted to see how things go between us, but because I was so incredibly in love with you, and couldn’t wait to start the rest of our lives together.
“I wish you would have told me all along what your dreams and aspirations were. You had always talked about wanting your own career, but you never mentioned wanting to go to grad school, or making your own way. I would have supported anything you wanted to do. I know it’s not fair to say I feel like you should have given me a say in the matter, but it’s how I feel. We never really talked about marriage. Maybe that’s because our parents were doing so much of the talking for us. I regret not communicating my desires for a life together with you better. Maybe if I had, you would have felt more comfortable expressing your desires for creating your own path for yourself with me, I guess we will never know that.
“What I’m trying to tell you now, Morgan, is that we’ve made our way back to each other somehow and I’m so grateful for that. I’m completely and hopelessly in love with you, Morgan. I have been for over six years now, and that will never change. I won’t pressure you, but please know that you have someone right here, right now in the flesh. A man who wants to support your dreams. A man who wants to hold you, and make love to you. A man who will never leave you.”
“Adrian…I… I don’t know what to say.” My voice cracks as I try desperately to find the right words.
“You don’t have to say anything, Morgan. Just think about it…us. I’ll always be here waiting. There isn’t anyone else for me, you’re it. All I’ve ever wanted,” Adrian says. Without warning, he pulls me into his arms and seals my lips with a kiss so wrought with passion, love, and even desperation, it almost brings me to my knees.
*****
Drake
I must be imagining things. That’s the only explanation. I excuse myself from the group to grab a drink and as I walk to the bar I’m drawn to the most beautiful and unforgettable long strawberry blonde hair flowing in large curls down a lean, bare back whose skin somehow always holds its tan from the summer.
It has to be Morgan. It just has to be. My body has been on fire since arriving here in St. Moritz. I find myself looking for her everywhere I go. My legs almost start into a sprint toward her but I make them slow to a brisk stroll, doing my best to maintain a steady breath. When I reach Morgan, her back is still turned towards me as she mindlessly swirls the red wine in her glass. I gently wrap my hand around her shoulder and she turns toward me, gasping loudly as tears fill her eyes.
“It is you,” I say, feeling lost for words all of a sudden.
“Drake?” Morgan whimpers as a tear falls down her cheek. I lean forward and kiss it away.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“I’m here on vacation with Adrian,” she starts to explain as Adrian appears out of nowhere.
“Yes, darling?” Adrian says as he hears his name.
The sound of crashing glass pulls me out of the daze I suddenly find myself in and I realize Morgan has dropped her wine glass and it shatters all over the floor. People rush to help us clear up the glass. I look into her eyes and all I see is confusion and sadness.
“Morgan? Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?” I ask.
“I…I uh…I’m sorry, I have to go,” Morgan says as her voice cracks. The next thing I know is she’s racing out of the ballroom. I sprint after her but it’s hard to navigate through the large crowd of people that have convened in the lobby to enjoy some after dinner drinks and munchies. I barely catch a glimpse of her strawberry blonde hair race out the front door of the Ritz and all I can think about is that she isn’t wearing a jacket.
*****
“I’ve been living every second of every day for you. For us. To come home with a clean slate and a Fortune 500 company to run. I want for us to run it together because there is no one else on Earth that could do a better job at this than you. I’m so sorry I never got to say goodbye to you, my love, and I swear I would have if I thought my father wouldn’t find out. I figured he would talk to you and see the hurt in your eyes at my departure if I told you. Everything I have done has been for our future,” Drake says, while wiping the tears from my eyes.
“I understand, Drake, but you have to know that these have been the hardest months of my entire life,” I say. “I looked for you. I searched the world for you.”
“I know,” Drake interrupts.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“I saw you in Paris. I watched you collect your bag in the baggage claim at Charles De Gaulle.”
“You what? Drake, how could you? You must have known I was looking for you. I wouldn’t have told anyone. I can’t believe you would let me continue to torture myself by searching for you when you could have explained what was going on. I knew it was you in the baggage claim. I sat there calling your name like an idiot. I wanted to run and throw my arms around you but the soldiers patrolling with their heavy artillery scared me and I didn’t want to cause a scene. How could you stand there and not turn around?” I’m so hurt and so pissed I can’t even see straight. I slam my tea down on the coffee table before me and run to the bathroom, locking the door behind me.
 All I’ve wanted for the past three months is to have Drake back and now that I do, I suddenly need space from him. I’ve thought about how it would be if we were ever reunited…would we find our happy ever after? Can we survive this separation? We love each other more than anything, but I’ve been so hurt I don’t know how to see past this. And now we have a baby on the way, how can we not be together? It’s getting late and I’m confused and tired and emotional. I feel like putting this conversation on hold until the morning when we have both rested and can think clearly.
I’m about to exit the bathroom to go crawl in bed when I hear a light knock on the door and Drake starts speaking in a soft, almost broken voice. “Morgan, I was torturing myself too. Don’t you have any idea how hard it was to walk away from you? You are my breath, my life, my everything. I would have never done this if I had another way to keep you forever. I promised you I would always fight. I was fighting to keep your job at Baylor. To support your dreams. I have been fighting every God damned day for the past three months for us. If I would have talked to you in Paris it would have put us in jeopardy. There was no way to be sure my father wouldn’t find out than to leave you alone. That was my only certainty.
“I’ve already said there is no way for me to ever show you just how sorry I am for everything. Please forgive me, Morgan. That’s the only way we will be able to move on,” Drake says. I open the bathroom door and lock eyes with Drake. I can see the hurt in his eyes and I know he’s been just as miserable as me. I take a step towards him, and he whispers, “I love you, Morgan. I never in a million years wanted us to have to go through these past few months,” while reaching out to pull me into his arms.
I go willingly, curling myself into his embrace and crying into his chest. “I believe you, Drake, and I forgive you,” I whimper into Drake’s chest. “It’s going to be hard to forget that though.”
“I know, baby. Please just tell me you’ll try. Let’s figure out how to move forward together,” Drake says as he showers the top of my head with kisses.
*****
“Take me to bed, Drake. I need to feel your warmth inside me again,” I say while pulling out of his embrace. Drake doesn’t waste any time taking me by the hand to lead me to his bedroom. When we reach his bed, Drake slowly undresses before me. I haven’t taken the time to fully admire just how beautiful he looks in his tuxedo until I watch as he starts removing his bowtie then works his way down. I’m practically drooling when he finally drops his boxers, his erection springing free.
I take Drake in my hand, slowly massaging his velvety smooth girth as I reach behind his neck with my other hand to pull him down for a kiss. “I love you, Drake, I’ll never stop fighting for you either,” I say as I continue to slowly stoke him.
Drake reaches for the band of my yoga pants, yanking them down to the floor. He gives me a slow, sweet smile encouraging me to step out of them and I do, while reaching my arms overhead so he can pull my sweater off. Drake lays me down on the bed and suddenly his eyes go wide while he looks me over head to toe.
“When were you going to tell me?” He asks as he pulls his mystified gaze from my belly, meeting my eyes.
“How do you know?” I ask, bewildered that it only takes him a moment to realize something it took me months to figure out.
“Morgan, I know your body better than anyone else. I knew when I looked at you tonight that there was something special, more beautiful about you but it only took one look at your gorgeous body to see how it’s changed. Look at your breasts, your hips, this amazing little bump that is carrying our child,” Drake asks with love and admiration in his eyes.
*****
Morgan
In the cab on the way to the airport I stare out of the window and think about the past few days and how my life has taken such an amazing turn. I still cannot believe my New Year’s getaway has returned my love to me, and also opened my eyes about Adrian. His intentions to get me back may have been pure, but lies and manipulation are not the way to win my heart. Especially when it already belongs to someone else. It was kind of fun packing Drake’s apartment with him. He really didn’t have a lot of stuff there, because he packed so hastily to come here and he really didn’t do much besides work while he was there. I saw a little embarrassment in Drake’s face when I noticed some of my things that he brought with him. I thought it was sweet though that he wanted a piece of me with him.
We shipped the majority of Drake’s things back to the States and Drake printed our boarding passes last night, so with only one carry-on each we were able to make our way through security and head towards our gate with ease.
Drake doesn’t seem to notice when we walk right past our gate. “Uh, babe, I think we just walked past our gate.”
“No we didn’t,” Drake says as he grabs my hand and lifts it to his lips to give it a tender kiss as we keep walking.
“But the gate said JFK,” I say.
“I know,” he says, while giving me a mischievous smile and a wink.
“I’m confused. I thought we are going home.”
“We are.”
“So….what’s going on then?” I ask, absolutely loving the fact that Drake is clearly up to something.
“We have a little stop to make first,” he says.
“A little stop? We’re in the international terminal. Where are we going?”
“You’ll see,” Drake says as he lets go of my hand to wrap that arm around me and kiss the top of my head. We walk a little further until we are almost at the end of the terminal and Drake casually guides us to our gate. I read the departure sign and am overcome with joy. I stop walking and look into his face, noticing the shit eating grin he’s wearing. Clearly the man is happy with himself.
“PARIS?” I squeal so loudly that most of the heads at our gate turn to look.
“I thought we could re-create the scene at the baggage claim a few months ago where I watch you get your bag and sadly yet with hope still in your eyes grab a cab. Only this time, we’ll simply just depart from the airport carry-ons in hand and grab a cab together.”
I throw my arms around Drake, tears spilling down my cheeks, and sob into his chest. “I wanted so badly for you to be there. I searched and searched for you, Drake. It broke my heart when I couldn’t find you.”
“I was there. I’m so sorry I couldn’t go to you. It was nearly impossible not to, but Morgan, we wouldn’t be standing here right now if I had. You found me, baby. When you met me on your first day at Baylor what seems like a lifetime ago you found me. Only this time I’m not letting you go.”
“I’m not letting you go either. Whatever the future holds for us, Drake, we will figure it out together.”
*****
Morgan
We walk into a pub not far from Drake’s house, or I guess I should say our house, and find a booth in the corner. Drake helps me out of my coat and I can see Amanda’s eyes go wide. I’m assuming it’s the sight of my baby bump that I’m no longer hiding, but as I sit down she grabs my left hand.
“Holy shit, Morgan, we really do need to catch up! Something you want to tell me?” Amanda’s ever present enthusiasm causes a few people to look up from their meals and stare, but when they realize the restaurant isn’t on fire they return back to their own conversations.
I know she is obviously talking about my wedding rings, but I figure there’s no better time like the present so with my right hand I slowly start to rub my belly and say, “Oh yeah, I know… my baby bump is really getting big isn’t it?”
“Baby? Bump? Wha…..?” Amanda says with confusion as she looks down at my belly. “You’re pregnant? I was talking about your wedding rings!”
“Oh, yeah…I’m married too,” I say with a huge smile, and Amanda throws her arms around my neck and screams. Looking up I notice that every head in the restaurant has now definitely turned towards our table.
“I leave you alone for one week and you come back pregnant and married?” She beams, and then looks over at Drake. “What did you do to my girl?” She says with a huge smile on her face as she jokingly punches his shoulder.
“I just did what I should have done the moment I saw her. I made her mine forever,” Drake says.


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