By
USA Today Bestselling Author
Heather Long

170 some odd days left in my senior year and everything has changed. I went from untouchable to dating my best friends to making out to being betrayed. Why can’t they understand humiliating and controlling me doesn’t say I care?

Could this get any worse?

We’ve all crossed lines. Broken the rules.

Ian had asked me to Homecoming.

Jake spent the night in my bed.

Coop and I had made out on the sofa.

But Archie? Archie and I had blown past all of them.

Now?

I had to get out of here more than ever. Change was inevitable. College was coming. That was where my focus needed to be. Not on the four guys I adored. Our friendship was everything and there wasn’t enough chocolate in the world to salvage this situation.

Losing them for a few months hurt.

Losing them forever might be inevitable, but it would be unbearable.

If you haven’t read the first book, stop right now and go read it!

This book takes up right where we left off. Before Archie’s party and after the discovery of Frankie’s Mom and Archie’s Dad in a lip lock.

Frankie is mad at all of them, they all knew and no one told her. She’s hurt and the guys just don’t get it. She doesn’t leave the party right away though. She’s still curious about the identity of Mr. Thorns and he’s supposed to reveal himself tonight. Still she’s not sure how long she can deal with everyone.

Frankie has a friend she didn’t know she had in Rachel. I love this girl, she steps in and does some blocking of her own.

This is just one of many favorite scenes.

“Frankie,” he said, his voice low. “Come on, seriously? Don’t…”

“Don’t what? Make a decision for myself? Decide I’m worth more than you guys plotting behind my back? Decide that you keeping an epic secret from me because— what? You thought it would hurt me? Did it hurt me less finding out how I did?”

“First— I’m not apologizing for the Frenchy thing. I don’t know that guy and more, I don’t want to know him. I’ve wanted you for years. The first inclination you show toward dating and you’re going out with some other guy? Not happening. Not without making it clear I care and I think I made it pretty damn clear and so did you.”

Heat flooded my face. Yes, he had made it clear.

“That said, I’m glad we didn’t have to do it. I never want to hurt you.”

I scoffed.

“You think I’m lying…”

“I think you already hurt me.”

He slid his hand down my arm and then closed over my hand even as I curled it into a fist. “I’m sorry that it hurt you. That I can say sorry about. Hurting you wasn’t the intention.” Sighing, he glanced past me toward the pool. “Can we get out of here? Just you and me? I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

I almost crumpled, right there. I just— I needed a hug. I needed someone to tell me this was all going to be okay. I wanted to go back to that floaty feeling I had that morning before Archie told me about the plan and before I’d seen my mom and Archie’s dad.

“You missed us this summer,” he reminded me. “We missed you. Please don’t make me miss you again standing right there…”

My resolve wavered. I was mad but…

“Hey Frankie,” Rachel Manning calling me was probably the second to the last thing I wanted to happen right now. Jake scowled, but the other girl was a lifeline whether she knew it or not and I was drowning.

“Hey, Rachel,” I said, turning and trying to tug my hand out of Jake’s grasp. “What’s up?”

She was solo. Where had her posse gone? Cheryl and the others were by the pool with Maria. Sharon was standing right amidst the other football players, dead in front of Ian, but his arms were folded and he stared across the pool to where we were. Coop wasn’t on my lounger, he’d moved to the patio and looked to be arguing with Archie.

What were they fighting about?

You know, no, I focused on Rachel and finally Jake let me go because I think he got the point that I wasn’t going to stop. His sigh spoke volumes though.

“Just thought I’d see if you had a minute. I know it’s a party— but you think you have time to go over some poetry with me?”

Seriously? Homework help?

“It’s a party, Manning,” Jake said, scowling. “She’s not your private tutor.”

“I don’t think I was talking to you dickhead,” Rachel retaliated. “And since she was trying to get away from you, maybe you should take a hint.”

And okay… “Sure, I can give it a few minutes, but it’s a party and everyone else looks like they’re having fun.”

Rachel shrugged. “You’re not and I think you could use the break.”

Well, she wasn’t wrong.

“Frankie…”

“I’m going to talk to Rachel,” I told him firmly and tried not to drown in those pale eyes. Jake never let me get away with anything and he had to know I was bolting.

It was written all over his face.

“Don’t leave,” he said, then added. “Please. Just don’t take off?”

“No promises.” It was the best I could do. I folded my arms again and faced Rachel. “Want to take a walk out in the garden? It’s quieter. Probably be able to hear ourselves think.” Because someone had cranked the music louder.

Jake loomed over us both but Rachel ignored him. “Sure, sounds good. See you dickhead.”

“Bitch,” Jake muttered under his breath as we walked away and I shot him a look over my shoulder. Seriously? The impatient look he gave Rachel before he met my gaze answered that question. I wanted to reassure him but Rachel bumped me and I glanced at her.

“He’s cranky. Sulking will do him some good. Besides, you really do look miserable.”

I really was miserable.

Didn’t mean I wanted to talk to her about it.

“Thanks,” I said, not bothering to hide my sarcasm. “This is my best hair shirt look.”

She grinned as she pushed open the gate. “Huh, maybe you need more Elizabeth Barrett Browning in your life,” she said as I followed her into the low-lit garden and the music faded behind us.

I needed something.
Heather Long. Changes and Chocolates: Untouchable Book Two (Kindle Locations 341-379).

Frankie has so much going on, you know it has to catch up to her sooner or later. It’s a good thing she has the guys, but she needs girl friends too.

We see more of her relationship with her mother and Archie’s dad, and meet Ian’s folks too.

Archie really steps up in this one, I think I’m in love.

There’s a wide range of emotions this book will take you through, laughter, anger, dismay, tears, friendship, love just to name a few.

I really can’t wait for the next book in this series!

5 Contented Purrs for Heather!

Heather Long

USA Today bestselling author, Heather Long, likes long walks in the park, science fiction, superheroes, Marines, and men who aren’t douche bags. Her books are filled with heroes and heroines tangled in romance as hot as Texas in the summertime.

From paranormal historical westerns to contemporary military romance, Heather might switch genres, but one thing is true in all of her stories–her characters drive the books.

When she’s not wrangling her menagerie of animals, she devotes her time to family and friends she considers family. She believes if you like your heroes so real you could lick the grit off their chest, and your heroines so likable, you’re sure you’ve been friends with women just like them, you’ll enjoy her worlds as much as she does.