WAKING KATE ~ SARAH ADDISON ALLEN

This was an enjoyable novella.

I thought it was odd that Kate recognized Mr. Donbeet on TV and then later that day he was getting off the bus, when she thought it would be Matt and how Kate went out and knocked on his door.

The fact that Mr. Donbeet told a bit of his life history and that it seemed to be an echoing thought in Kate's mind.

Now, was that a dream or did it actually happen. That is what is the thought in my mind and where is Matt? It definitely was a bit of a cliffhanger for me.

4 stars

FIERCE ~ CLARRISA WILD - RELEASE DAY BLITZ & GIVEAWAY

Title: Fierce

Author: Clarissa Wild

Publication Date: January 27th 2014

Genre: New Adult Romance

Price: $ 0.99 - 1 week only! (Regular price $ 2.99!)

Fight for your dreams. Fight for your life. Fight for love. 

Nerdy girl Autumn Blakewood is the prime example of a goody two-shoes. She studies every night, is never late for class, and always follows the rules. She has never felt the need to step out of her comfort zone. That is, until she meets Hunter. 

 Hunter Bane is a cocky, confident bad-boy, who's nothing but trouble. He’s a dangerous distraction to everyone around him. Sexy and strong, Hunter enjoys the swooning effect he has on women. Especially those who aren't used to attention, like Autumn. 

 Autumn finds it hard not to give into Hunter’s advances, even though it all seems like a game to him. Trying to understand him is impossible, because he shrouds himself in mystery. 

What she doesn't know is that Hunter has more baggage than anyone should have to carry. When she discovers he's in an illegal frat club to save the one person that matters to him, Autumn realizes this could mean the end of her undeniable connection to him. Even their lives are at risk. 

But it's too late to turn back now ...

 

$ 0.99 for 1 week! Grab it before it's too late!

Amazon / Barnes&Noble / Kobo / Google Play / All Romance / Smashwords (Coupon: QR69M)

 

Suddenly, a shadow is cast over the pages of my novel. The sun is blocked by something … or someone.

As I peer up with furrowed brows, I see it’s Hunter, and my annoyed look turns into a cheerful smile.

My eyes light up the moment I see him. He’s towering above me, wearing ragged pants and a flimsy tank top, which barely covers his broad chest. I gulp at the sight, especially because his black jacket makes him look so tough.

He’s like a motorcycle rider, only he isn’t. He just looks like one.

Hunter goes to his knees and snatches away my book.

“Hey!” I snap. “I was reading that.”

“Yeah, ‘was.’ And now you’re not.” He holds out his other hand. “Get up.”

I grab his hand, and the moment my fingers touch his it sends electrical shocks through my entire body. He’s so strong, he can lift me in one go without my help. My boobs bounce from the way he jerks me up, and I see his eyes flick to them for only a fraction of a second.

I gulp, and a flush spreads across my face as I pull my shirt up higher.

“What’s this for?” I say.

“Time for some training.” He leans forward, grabs the blanket, and folds it up.

“What, now?”

“Yes, now. My classes are finished, and by the looks of it so are yours. We don’t have much time, so let’s make the best use of it.”

“B-but I have to study and―”

“But, but, but,” he mocks, making a pouty face. “If you wanna learn how to defend yourself, you gotta put in the effort.”

I frown. “I was busy. You think I’m just going to adjust to your schedule?”

“You can read a book anytime you want. I can’t do this with you anytime I want. If I could, I would, trust me,” he grunts with a thick voice that makes me shiver.

My pupils dilate when he says that, and my core heats up. Damn, why does he always do those things? And why do I find it so goddamn attractive?

He steps back a little, putting on a cocky smile as he throws my … his book in the grass. Then he throws the blanket on top of it. Grinning, he takes off his jacket. The lines of his muscles show clearly through the thin fabric of his tank top, and my heart is already beating in my throat just seeing it. His biceps bulge
and for a second I think he’s flexing them.

“C’mon,” he says, rubbing his hands together. “I’m ready for you.”

One of my eyebrows lifts up. “What? In these clothes? I’m not dressed for sparring.”

He snorts. “You won’t be dressed for it when they attack you again either. Now c’mon.” He signals to me with his fingers, lifting his eyebrow only a little to taunt me.

I take a deep breath and place my hands on my waist. He’s gawking at me from a distance, bending through his knees like a professional wrestler. If the look on his face wasn’t so goddamn sexy, I would’ve shaken my head and walked away, but I can’t.

For some reason I’d love nothing more than to tussle with him.

“Well? Are you going to come at me or what?” he says.

Swallowing, I fling my arms and legs to shake some life into them after sitting for so long. I take a deep breath and a good look at him. His tan muscles are already primed, ready to go. He looks like a football player waiting for the ball to be thrown into his hands so he can race off.

“Don’t make me wait … I hate it when girls make me wait.”

I chuckle. “Oh, really? What then? Are you going to kick a wall again or something?”

He muffles a low laugh. “I’ll come after you myself if I have to. And things get rough with me pretty fast.”

There’s some sexual innuendo in there, I’m sure of it. The way he groans makes me want to bite my lip. God, he’s so hot.

Goddammit, I have to stop thinking like that.

No way a guy like him would ever fall for a nerd. He could pick any girl he wants. Who’d want to pick me?

Clearing my throat, I say, “Okay. Here I come.”

After taking a quick breath I bolt toward him. I put all my strength into it, but he still manages to stay upright as I crash into him. He’s like a rock in the ocean, forever unbreakable, and I’m the fish slapping up against it.

I try to tackle him, but instead I’m the one falling on my ass.

“Ouch!”

He laughs, so loud it makes me feel embarrassed. Everyone can hear him.

“Why are you announcing you’re going to attack? That’s like playing right into my hands,” he says, and he holds out his hand.

I grapple him and try to pull him down, but he remains as balanced as ever. Shaking the finger on his free hand, he says, “You think it’s that easy to bring me down?”

“I’ll make it happen. Eventually.”

He chuckles. “I like your spunk.” He takes a few steps back. “Try again.”

I clean the dirt from my legs and bite on my cheek while thinking about a tactic. If I could only get him to move, then I could take him down. I thought he was going to teach me something, but instead I’m charging into him. Not my idea of learning self-defense.

“C’mon. I can take you, Leafy,” he says, biting his lip.

That name he has for me … God, I hate it. Why can’t he just call me by my real name?

I’ve had enough of his provocations. Maybe I’ll just kick him in the balls instead. That’ll show him not to mess with me.

I know it’s below the belt. Literally. But at least I can try to win this way.

God, I’ve changed, too.

I charge forward without warning this time. As I lift my knee he deflects my leg by pushing it down with his free hand. With the other, he grabs my lower arm.

“You’re getting dirty.” He squeezes my wrist, hard, and makes it impossible for me to escape. “I like it,” he murmurs.

With clenched teeth I fight to get loose, but he won’t release me.

“Put a little effort into it,” he says. “Nobody’s going to be nice for you. I’m not either.”

I slam his arm with my free hand, but he still won’t let me go. It’s like he doesn’t feel anything. Nothing. Nothing at all.

Damn, is he some kind of brick wall?

He chuckles. “C’mon, hit me.” At first it sounds like he’s pushing me, but after a while it becomes plain mean. “Hit me!”

“I’m trying!”

“You’re a wuss. A boneless nerd. You can’t fend for yourself. Can’t live in the real world. Not even one day.”

“Shut up!” I gather all my strength and punch him so hard in the gut his stomach retracts, and he takes one step back. His grip on my wrist loosens, and I jerk myself free.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I say, my eyes welling up with tears again. “You’re being an asshole, and you know it.”

“Damn, that was a good jab,” he grunts.

“Who cares? You’re a bully.”

He laughs and steps forward. When I try to hit him again, he grabs both my wrists and comes to a halt right in my face. “I’m helping you.”

“Helping me? You’re insulting me, belittling me, and making me feel like a pile of crap.”

“And those guys didn’t?”

“What do they have to do with it?” I snap.

I try to jerk my wrists free, but he won’t let me go.

“Anger helps you fight. It fuels you.” His lips quirk up into a devilish smile. “Guess this is your first time finding out about the power of rage.”

“Whatever.”

“C’mon. You know I didn’t mean any of it. It’s just to get you worked up.”

“Let me go,” I hiss.

“Make me,” he says jokingly.

I’m so pissed, I kick him against the shin so hard I think I’m going to snap bones.

Instead, I break his stance, and he slips. I see him tumble down to the ground, but not before he grabs my leg and pulls me with him.

I squeal as I land right on top of him.

I’m staring into his face, my body resting on his body.

Oh. My. God. I can’t believe this.

I think my heart has stopped beating, because all I hear is his breathing. My body tenses up, feeling his skin against mine. I want nothing more than to press my body
closer to his.

His chest moves against mine each time he inhales, and these few seconds feel like an eternity.

His hand lifts. When it reaches the top of my head, I swear I’ll fall to pieces right here, on top of him.

Something tickles, and then he retreats. In his hand is a leaf, which was probably stuck in my hair. He releases it and lets it drift away with the wind. Then he stares at me, his eyes suddenly showing a little hesitance. His lips are parted and perky, and all I want is to press mine against his.

And then smack him again.

He’s breathing against my chin, and I feel my groin heat up. I’m getting all wired up because of him.

Shit.

 

Clarissa Wild is the erotic romance author of the Blissful Series,
The Billionaire's Bet series, the Doing It Series and the Enflamed
Series. She is an avid reader and writer of sexy stories about hot men
and feisty women. Her other loves include her furry cat friend and
learning about different cultures. In her free time she enjoys watching
all sorts of movies, reading tons of books and cooking her favorite
meals.

Want to get an email when my next book is released?
Sign up here and receive a FREE short story: http://eepurl.com/FdY71

 

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BLOSSOM STREET BRIDES ~ DEBBIE MACOMBER (BLOG TOUR)

#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber has won the hearts of millions of readers with her moving and inspiring stories. Now wedding bells are ringing in the tight-knit community that gathers around A Good Yarn, a store in a pretty Seattle neighborhood. Knitters come to the store to buy yarn and patterns but somehow they leave richer in friendship and love.

Lauren Elliott has waited years for her long-term boyfriend, Todd, to propose, yet he seems more focused on his career than their relationship. When Lauren learns that her younger sister is pregnant before she herself even has an engagement ring, she feels overjoyed yet disheartened. Knowing she can’t put her future on hold, Lauren prepares to make a bold choice—one that leads her to a man she never dreamed she’d meet.

Newly married to her second husband, Max, Bethanne Scranton is blissfully in love. But with Max’s job in California and Bethanne’s in Seattle, their long-distance marriage is becoming difficult to maintain. To complicate matters, Bethanne’s cunning ex will do anything to win her back.

Lydia Goetz, too, is wonderfully happy with her husband, Brad, though lately she worries about the future of A Good Yarn. As she considers how to bring in business, she discovers that someone has beaten her to the punch. Baskets of yarn are mysteriously popping up all over town, with instructions to knit a scarf for charity and bring it into Lydia’s store. Never before has her shop received so much attention, but who hatched this brilliant plan?

As three women’s lives intersect in unexpected ways, Lydia, Lauren, and Bethanne realize that love heals every heart, and the best surprises still lay ahead.

GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18209302-blossom-street-brides?from_search=true

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345528840?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345528840&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

B&N Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blossom-street-brides-debbie-macomber/1115885540?ean=9780345528841&itm=1&usri=9780345528841&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10:1&r=1,%201

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Book Tour Schedule for "Blossom Street Brides"

January 20th - Melina's Book Blog

January 21st - My Recent Favorite Books

January 22nd - Creative Madness Mama

January 23rd - The Book Bag

January 24th - Jax's Book Magic

January 25th - Shelley's Book Case

January 26th - Tidbits of Experience

January 27th - Griperang's Bookmarks

January 28th - Deco My Heart

January 30th - A Book Lover's Retreat

HUNTED ~ KAREN ROBARDS

This is the first book I've read by this author, but it definitely won't be the last. I definitely was hooked to this romantic suspense novel by her.

Reed Ware gets a call from Hollis that something bad is going down. He is even able to get pictures of what is happening, a shooting in the cemetery.

The action begins.......Reed holds some of the New Orleans elite hostage and a hostage negotiator is called in. The first surprise is that the hostage negotiator is someone that Reed knows. He was once called in to do security for her family and she, Caroline, was 17 and had a crush on Reed. Caroline went so far as to kiss Reed, who kissed her back, only to dump her in a pool.

Caroline ends up going into the house that Reed is holding the hostages with Hollis and boom, bang, the hostages are set free and Reed manages to escape with Hollis and takes Caroline along as a hostage. After that they are being "Hunted" by none other than the New Orleans police.

This book had a great cast of characters who were easy to like and the book wrapped up with some unexpected twists and lots of suspense.

5 stars

NYPD RED ~ JAMES PATTERSON

A first in a new series by Patterson.

It's Hollywood Week on the Hudson and the movers and shakers of the film industry are in New York for it. They are dropping dead at an alarming rate.

NYPD Red, an elite group, is called in. The new cast of characters includes Zack Jordan. Zach's new partner just happens to turn out to be Detective Kylie MacDonald, an old flame who is now married to a producer.

Zack and Kylie work the murders by The Chameleon who likes to watch his "scenes" unroll.

Of course it is action packed and a thriller.

The one unique thing in this book was that although Zack and Kylie were once an item, Zack respects that she is married, yet when things are bad on the job, he is very protective of Kylie, while maintaining a wonderful friendship.

4 stars

COVER REVEAL - "WORTH IT" BY NICKI DESTASI

How can you not love this cover. I'm very excited for the book to come out. Once it does, look for a review here.

Author Bio
Nicki DeStasi, Author
Nicki DeStasi was raised in a small town in Massachusetts. She attended Fitchburg State College and studied Early Childhood Education. As a child, she enjoyed reading, but only recently began doing it again. She has always had an inventive imagination and finally decided to put those ideas on paper for others to enjoy. Worth It will be Nicki’s first self-published book. A few personal facts: Sloth from The Goonies is her third cousin, she acted and stared in several plays throughout high school and college, and she can play four different instruments. Nicki’s philosophy is to appreciate the good things in life. If we didn’t make mistakes and have bad things happen then we wouldn’t know how truly wonderful the good things are. No matter how difficult life is sometimes, if we look to the people that love us, then we can get through them and on to the good stuff.

Facebook-
https://www.facebook.com/CRDestasi?ref=hl
Twitter-
https://twitter.com/nickidestasi
Goodreads-
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7085030.Nicki_DeStasi
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17907239-worth-it
Pinterest-
http://www.pinterest.com/authordestasi/

Synopsis: Worth It by Nicki DeStasi
Anna lives every day the best she can while struggling against the demons that threaten to consume her and drag her back into the darkness of her troubled past. The last thing she needs right now is a guy, especially one as sweet and sexy as Jed.
When the attraction becomes too strong to resist, she gives into it. Even when she knows it’ll only end in disaster and leave her more her scared and broken than she was before.
Jed wants to find the right woman and he’s drawn to Anna by carnal magnetism, but she also brings out an alpha side of him that he’s never known. When his alpha rears its head, it triggers memories in Anna and her carefully crafted wall of protection begins to show cracks.
When fate and misunderstandings threaten their already delicate relationship, can they survive? When Anna’s demons threaten to be unearthed and Jed’s inner alpha only seem to make them worse, can they overcome?
Is it even worth it?



Excerpt#1:
The Past: Anna
A few weeks later, I approach the lunch table, and Shannon shouts, “Happy birthday!” I think she enjoys embarrassing me. The smile on my best friend’s is the only thing that stops me from smacking her.
“Why don’t you say it a little louder Shan, I don’t think people across the street heard you,” I mutter as I plop in between her and Jared.
She rolls her eyes. “Smile, it’s your birthday. You’re not allowed to be grumpy.”
Jared snakes an arm around my shoulders and pulls me into a half hug and plops his usual friendly kiss on my head. “Happy birthday, beautiful. How does it feel to be fifteen like the rest of us?”
“Feels like any other day. It kinda sucks to be born in the fall though.” I smile up at him as our hug separates. Until I met Todd, I wanted Jared. He’s sweet and gorgeous with dark brown hair and matching eyes. My eyes shift and catch his newest girlfriend scowling at us. A month ago, her presence would be a smack in the face, a reminder that my feelings weren’t shared. But now I have someone who does share my feeling.
Thinking about him, my eyes drift around the cafeteria to see if I can catch a glimpse of Todd. Even though we’ve officially been dating a month, he still doesn’t want people to know that we’re together, and that is a little jab to my heart. I don’t want him to be embarrassed of me, but I try and understand. I want to make him happy, so I swallow my disappointment.
“Who are you looking for?” Alison asks. Alison and Aaron, who are dating, are the final two in my little group of friends. Well, Shannon’s boyfriend too, but he goes to a different school.
I quickly bring my attention back to the table because Todd doesn’t even want my friends to know and I don’t want my wandering eyes to spark questions. “No one.”
“Really, you looked like you were looking for someone.”
“Nope,” I say. “So are you guys going to the football game on Friday?” I know I won’t be able to go because my dad is working, and someone needs to be home with my sisters, and although Mom will be there, she’ll probably be in her bedroom. Again.
The distraction works and they chatter on with their plans for Friday night and no one is surprised when I say I can’t join them. I zone out until I notice everyone has stopped talking. When I realize that their eyes are focused behind me, I look over my shoulder and worry seeps through my veins. Todd stands behind me with clenched fists and a blank stare that just barely conceals the anger underneath. My heart races and my palms sweat as my worry turns into panic. Something is wrong. Very wrong.
“Savannah,” he says evenly. “Can I talk to you in the hall for a minute?”
I glance back at my friends who wear matching shocked expressions. When their eyes shift back to me and I see the questions forming, I stand up and mumble, “I’ll be right back.”
I start to follow Todd when Jared puts a hand on my arm stopping me, and I turn to see his brow furrowed. “You okay?”
I open my mouth to respond, but Todd interrupts him with a curt “She’s fine. Let’s go, Savannah.”
My gut is a jumbled mess, but I give my friends a half smile and turn to follow Todd out into the hallway.
When the cafeteria door closes behind me and the two of us are alone, he turns to me and pushes me against the nearby wall. “What the fuck are you doing? Are you trying to make me angry?” he hisses and inch from my face.
My eyes widen and my body electrifies with anxiety. I wrack my brain to figure out what I did wrong, what I did to make him so angry. My heart races as I stammer out, “I’m sorry. I…I don’t know what you mean.”
“Why is that little shit putting his hands on you?”
“Who? Jared?”
His jaw clenches and his hand on my arm squeezes tighter, but he says nothing.
“He’s just my friend. We’ve been friends since middle school,” I rush out. Even though, I had a crush on Jared since I’ve known him, my feelings for him are nothing compared to what I’m feeling for Todd.
“If he’s just a friend, why the fuck did he kiss you?” His eyes flash with anger.
“I…I don’t know. He’s always done that,” I explain quickly.
“I don’t like him. I don’t want you hanging around him.”
My face drops. Jared is my friend and has been for a few years now. I don’t want to make Todd mad at me, but I don’t want to lose my friends either. “But he’s my friend.”
“That little asshole wants in your pants, and I don’t want him anywhere near you.”
My face flames at the mention of sex. Todd was my first kiss and other than a few make out sessions, I’ve never done anything more than that. Jared doesn’t see me that way anyway, so I shake my head. “He doesn’t.”
His hand grips me harder and I wince. “So you want him, then huh? Is that it?”
“What?! No!” I guess, on some level it’s a lie, but I’m not pining after Jared romantically anymore. I have Todd and I care about him. I think I may even love him, so I don’t want him to think that I want Jared. He might leave me and that thought makes me tense and scared.
“You sure?” he asks, his face softening a little making the stiffness in my body begin to melt away.
“Yeah, I only care about you,” I reply softly.
He rewards me with a gorgeous smile and my body relaxes completely when he envelops me in his arms and presses his lips on top my head. He keeps them there for a few beats allowing contentment to settle over me.
“I think you should prove it,” he mumbles against my head.




Excerpt #2
The Present: Jed’s POV
It’s Wednesday now, and I’m watching something stupid on TV. Well, I’m not really paying attention to the TV. My focus is on Anna who is curled up next to me, studying some papers. It’s fascinating to watch her study. She chews on her thumb, tucks a pencil behind her ear, and her beautiful blue eyes skim across the page. Every so often, her eyes will narrow in concentration and she’ll pull the pencil out and jot something down or underline something. Then she’ll twirl the end of the pencil in between her plump, lush, pink lips. That’s when I redirect my attention back to the TV, so I’m not tempted to rip the papers out of her hands and replace the pencil with my tongue. I try to discretely adjust myself, and try and fail to get the image of her lips wrapped around the pencil out of my head, or around my cock… Shit!
When I glance back down, she’s out and I inwardly chuckle. Here I am imagining my cock in her mouth and she’s so tired, she passed out mid-study against me. I’m glad she’s getting a little rest though, and I take the opportunity to drink her in. She’d probably be embarrassed that I’m studying her right now. Her cheek is kind of squished, and her mouth is parted a little more than normal, she’s beautiful. I take my finger and gently, so I don’t wake her, trace the line of her jaw and the curve of her nose. I run my finger along her eyebrows and my dick stirs when my finger travels across those full pouty lips.
Her brow furrows and she frowns, and my lips tip down too. Huh. I wonder what she’s dreaming about.
Her body tenses into a ridged plank and her face crumples. She looks like she’s in pain and maybe embarrassed. Jesus, what the fuck?
“Um…Anna,” I whisper.
“Sthooooppp. Wahda ya doin?” she sobs whispering.
What the hell needs to stop? What the hell is she dreaming about? I’m starting to panic. Should I try and wake her up? You’re not supposed to wake people up or they’ll go on a murdering spree or something, right? Wait, no, that’s sleepwalking. I should try and wake her.
“Anna,” I say a little louder and give her shoulder a little shake.
Her face contorts in agony and whispers, “Ged offa me.”
My stomach drops and my jaw clenches. Get off of me? Christ, I need to wake her up, get her out of whatever hell she’s in.
“Anna,” I say louder and shake her shoulder a little harder.
“Pllleeeaassse sllopp,” she whispers, and then starts to sob tearlessly and nearly silently.
Oh, fuck. I’m freaking the fuck out because I’m almost positive she’s dreaming about rape or something just as shitty. I want to jump in her head and bash the shit out of her dream attacker. I feel helpless, and I hate it.
“Anna!” I yell and shake her hard.
Her frantic eyes pop open, and she sits up so fast that she almost knocks me off the couch, her wild eyes searching the room.
“Are you okay, baby?” I ask and I’m sure the horror and concern are all over my face.
She finally stops her frantic searching and when her eyes meet mine, her face falls and ducks her head, squeezing her eyes closed tighly. That’s the moment I know. I know this wasn’t just a dream. It was a memory, and it was exactly what I thought it was. I swallow thickly, and try not to show an ounce of my rising anger because I don’t want to scare her. I need to comfort her and make sure she knows that she’s safe.
“Hey,” I start softly. “You’re okay, I’m right here.”
“I should go.”
Wait. What?!
“I have school in the morning and you have work and it’s getting late, sorry I passed out,” she says and lifts off the couch. She moves to the chair where her coat and school bag are and starts shoving everything in.
It takes me a moment to recover from the shock. This is not the reaction I was expecting.
“Don’t go right now. Talk to me.” I stand up and approach her carefully.
She plasters a fake smile on her face, but I can see the panic behind it. It’s rising, and I can see her hands shake as she puts on her coat. Ah, shit. I’m trying to tamp down the urge to physically keep her here, but I also can’t have her take off in the state she’s in right now.
She smiles a wobbly smile, and I can see tears forming in her eyes. “Nothing to talk about, but I should get going.”
I can’t let her run from me. Not like this, not right now. “You’re staying. Talk to me.”
She clenches her jaw and won’t look at me, but continues to put on her coat and gather her things.
“You talk in your sleep.”
She freezes and turns slowly to look at me. Her face is full of pain, embarrassment, and regret. She opens her mouth to say something, but then quickly closes it and I see the tears well up again. She swallows thickly and I can tell that she’s trying with everything she has not to cry.
“Talk to me. What happened?”
She shakes her heads with a tiny jerk. “I’ve got to go.” Before I can stop her, she flies out the door.
Shit. I throw on shoes, grab my keys, and rush out the door. She’s sprinting toward her car, but I’m close behind her.
Fuck, it’s cold out here. I forgot my jacket.
I reach her car a few seconds after she closes the door, and I knock on the window.
Her head is buried in her hands, and when she finally looks up at me, her face is tearstained. She looks so tortured and the thought of something happening to her is tearing me up. I’m fighting against my conflicting emotions—need to comfort her and rage towards whoever did this to her.
I open the door and kneel down in front of her. I reach out to wipe away a falling tear. “Let me in.”
She squeezes her eyes closed tight, and then gives a jerky shake of her head. “I can’t.”
I take her face in my hands and lean in close. She needs to open up. I need her to open up. “Did someone hurt you?”
I can feel her jaw clench under my hands. She looks scared and hurt, but I can also see the shutters slam down like a steal door. “I’m sorry, Jed, but I need to go,” she says in a quiet, even voice.
She reaches for the door handle, but I grab her hand a little too hard. “You-” I start to say but when her eyes widen in terror, the words die in my throat. I drop her hand quickly and my mind starts spinning.
She shakes her head, and her face turns blank. “I need to go.”
I’m so shocked that I stand up and step back and she closes her door, starts the engine, and drives off. The whole time I just stand and stare. I know it’s fucking freezing out here, but I don’t feel a thing. As her taillights disappear, I come out of my daze and I want to punch something. What the fuck just happened? And why is this girl trying to drive out of my life? I thought we were finally getting somewhere. She said on Saturday that she’d open up to me one day, and tonight was a perfect opportunity. Instead, she ran. I’m trying to understand that she’s scared and she panicked, but I’m pissed that she wouldn’t unload on me when I’ve been telling and showing her that I’m here for her, that she can come to me. God-fucking-dammit.
My patience is wearing thin. I know she cares about me, and God help me, I’m not letting her go. She might be broken, but I’ll help her put herself back together if it’s the last thing I do.

COVER REVEAL FOR WORTH IT BY NICKI DeSTASI

COMING TOMORROW