Page 1 of Dare To Break

Chapter 1

Arabella

“Arabella, I’m home, and I’ve got some news.”

The peace and tranquility of my Sunday morning is shattered by my mother’s voice. I can’t stop an irritated sigh. I wish she’d called ahead to warn me she was coming back from her summer jaunt. August is all but over, and she spent most of it in Florida, blowing money we don’t have on parties and clothes.

Other than a few random phone calls to let me know she was alive; she’s neglected all her parental responsibilities. So much so, that I have been forced to take an after-school job at the local mall, just to cover the bills.

“Arabella? Where are you, honey?” The excitement in her voice is unmissable.

Resentment builds, but I push it back behind the rest of the emotions bottled up inside me. There’s always something new with Elena. I’ve known from an early age that Mom is more of a child than I am. It’s no wonder my dad left when I was born.

I draw in a deep calming breath, inhaling the aroma of freshly baked cinnamon cookies which lace the air. My latest batch is cooling on the counter, waiting to be packed up and taken next door to Mrs. Goldmann’s for her Bridge night with her friends.

I untie my apron and slip it off, eyeing the mess I’ve left over the counter.

“What is it this time, Elena?” I call her by her first name because she hates being called Mom.

The click of high heels moving toward the kitchen heralds her arrival, and a second later she appears in the doorway. She pauses in the doorway to strike a flawless runway model pose—hands on her hips, showing off her slender hourglass figure in the new black designer t-shirt and faded blue jeans she’s wearing. Platinum blonde curls frame her face. It’s not her natural color, but not far off.

She holds out her hand, with a wide smile. “Surprise! I got married.”

My heart stills at the sight of the huge, glittering diamond ring on her finger, and all I can do is gape at it.

“What?”

Elena giggles and beckons to someone in the hall. “This is Elliot. Darling, come in and say hello to your new stepdaughter.”

This has to be a joke, right?

A man appears behind her. Tall, with salt and pepper hair, and broad shoulders which are emphasized by the cut of his jacket. He’s handsome, and at least ten years older than Elena. He doesn’t look like the usual type my mother falls in love with. There’s an understated elegance about him. He steps around Elena and gives me a smile.

“It’s nice to meet you, Arabella. Your mom has told me so much about you.”

I’m hit with a sense of unreality and confusion. “You got married?”

My mother leans into the man at her side. “In Vegas. I’m Mrs. Travers now. Elliot says we can have your name legally changed to match, or he can adopt you.”

I stare at her blankly, not really comprehending the words she’s saying. “What happened to Carl?”

The smile falters on her lips, and she rests one perfectly manicured hand on Elliot’s arm. “Could you give us a moment, darling? I think our news has sent my daughter into shock.”

Shock is a fucking understatement.

The numbness encasing me cracks, and my heartbeat thuds in my ears.

Please, God. This can’t be happening.

Elliot laughs, patting her hand. “Eli reacted in a similar way. I better go and chase him out of the car.”

Elena places a kiss on his cheek, and he turns and walks down the hallway. The second he’s out of sight, she turns back to me, her blue eyes hardening like ice. “Don’t mention Carl again. He was boring, self-absorbed, shallow, and inexperienced. Elliot, on the other hand, is charming, caring, sexy as hell, and rich.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to point out that she shares the same qualities as her now ex-boyfriend. Everything except inexperience, because we both know she can’t keep her legs closed when she’s around a man with money.

“He’s a complete stranger!” Anger boils under my skin. “How long have you known him?”

“A week,” she admits, with a careless shrug. “He proposed, and I accepted. Don’t give me that look, Bella. Elliot is my soulmate.”

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