Luke Price's life has always been
about order, control, and acting tough on the outside. For Luke, meaningless
relationships are a distraction-a way to tune out the twisted memories of his
childhood. He desperately wishes he could forget his past, but it haunts him no
matter what he does.
Violet Hayes has had a rough life. When she was young, she was left with no
family and the memory of her parents' unsolved murders. She grew up in foster
homes, living with irresponsible parents, drugs, and neglect, and trying to
fight the painful
memories of the night her parents were taken from her. But
it's hard to forget when she never got closure-and she can't stop dreaming
about what happened that tragic night. To make it through life, she keeps her
distance from everyone and never allows herself to feel anything.
Then Violet meets Luke. The two clash instantly, yet they can't seem to stay
away from each other. Although they fight it, they both start to open up and
feel things they've never felt before. They discover just how similar they are.
But they also discover something else: The past always catches up with you . .
.
Excerpt
Luke
She reaches for my fries with an undecided look on her face.
“So I have a question.”
“Okay…”
“About you.”
I slowly chew my food. “I’m not really sure I want to hear
your question now.”
She picks a pickle off of her burger, pulling a repulsed
face. “Well, I’m still going to ask it.”
I grab a handful of fries from the tray that’s on the table
between us. “Go ahead and ask but it doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”
She props her elbows onto the table with her burger in her
hand. “Why haven’t you ever talked to me before? I mean, we’ve walked past each
other probably a hundred times, but never so much as acknowledged each other
and then suddenly you’re stalking me.”
I pick up my soda and sip from the straw. “First off, I’m
not stalking you. I just can’t seem to get rid of you.”
“You didn’t have to stop to pick me up.”
“Yeah, I did.”
“Why? You don’t know me—you’re in no way obligated to help
me.”
“I know, but I wanted to.”
“Why?”
I shrug, setting my drink down. “Why not?”
She gives me a funny look, like I’m the most confusing
person in the world, when really she should be looking at herself like that. “I
don’t get it. Why would someone like you help someone like me?”
I open up the bun of my chicken sandwich to pick the tomato
off. “What do you mean someone like me and someone like you?”
She points at me. “You as in a football player who has
friends.” Then she points at herself. “And me as in the loner girl who could
probably kick your ass.”
I choke on a laugh and my mouth full of food almost shoots
out of my nose. “You could not kick my ass,” I cough, and then take a swallow
of my drink.
She scans me over while scooping up some fries. “I beg to
differ. I think you’re not as tough as you try to look.”
“Do you really?” If only she knew what really lay inside me.
“Because most people think I am and for a good reason.”
“I think it’s all for show,” she replies nonchalantly and I
can’t tell if she’s being serious or not. “I think that deep down you’re just a
softy.”
“Are you trying to pick a fight with me right now?” I set my
sandwich down on the tray and crack my knuckles. “Because I’m not going to
fight a girl.”
“That’s such a typical guy answer.” She hurries and takes a
drink, but I detect a hint of a smile before her lips wrap around the straw.
“You know what I think?” I cross my arms on the table and
lean in, cocking my head to the side as I observe her closely. “I think you
like arguing with me and that’s why you’re bringing this up.”
Her shoulders lift and descend as she takes a bite of her
hamburger. “Maybe, but maybe I’m being serious.”
“You know that as a football player I have to tackle guys,
right? It takes strength to do that.”
“Maybe you just run, though,” she counters. “Maybe you’re
just good at running.”
The way she says it reminds me so much of my past and it’s
like a kick to the stomach. “Maybe I’m not, though. Maybe I suck at running.” I
sound choked and I decide it’s time to cut this conversation short, my brain
seeking that potent taste of Jack and Tequila mixed with nicotine. I glance at
my watch, pretending to check the time. “I just remembered that I have to meet
Kayden somewhere in like a half an hour, so I’m going to have to take you
back.”
She balls up the wrapper for her hamburger, acting
nonchalant, but her shoulders are stiff. “Sounds good to me. I was done
anyway.” She seems irritated and I have no idea why, other than she seems to be
able to read through my bullshit and test me, which most people can’t and won’t
even try. I’m supposed to be a closed book. A mystery. That way no one can see
who I really am. It’s the way I’ve been living for years and it’s comfortable.
Not ideal, but nothing is ideal.
We don’t talk as I collect our garbage and then walk next to
her as she limps out to my truck. I try to offer her my arm and open the door
for her, but she denies my offer, moving to the opposite door and pushing it
open.
During the car ride, she barely says two words to me. I
should be happy about it. That way there’s no room for sudden questions and
statements that will set me off, however I find myself missing the bantering
thing we had going and the way she pushed my buttons. By the time I drop her
off, all I want to do is ask her to stay, talk some more, let me get to know
her. But I don’t understand why. I’ve never wanted to get to know anyone before.
I’ve never even been out on a date. Each woman I’ve been with, I’ve only been
with once. Just sex. That’s all it’s ever about. And I’ve never wanted anything
more.
Until now.
The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessica Sorensen,
lives with her husband and three kids. When she's not writing, she spends her
time reading and hanging out with her family.
