About the Book:
Life for Tessa had been steady and calm—with the exception of her overly jealous boyfriend—until the moment Jace Fowler walked into her life.
Jace—incredibly charming with boy band good looks—is someone whom Tessa can’t seem to stay away from… no matter how much she knows she should.
After surviving a strange animal attack, Tessa learns just how mysterious and secretive Jace really is and that his secrets not only involve himself…but her as well, making Tessa question everything she’s ever believed regarding her life and those around her.
And now for the excerpt!
Chapter One
I noticed him the first moment he stepped into the diner, along with every other female both young and old. There was something about him that made it hard to look away. Maybe it was the smooth confidence in his stride, or his boy band good looks. Whatever the reason, I found it nearly impossible to not stare, even in the presence of my boyfriend.
His eyes shifted to mine and lingered long enough to make my heart flutter. There was something in their glint that struck me as lonely, but it was overshadowed by something else swirling beneath the surface of the rich honey color, something intriguing I couldn’t name.
“Is it love at first sight, Tessa? Because it sure looks like it to me and I’m not the only one noticing. Sam seems like he could crumble the table with his bare hands right now,” Rachel said, refilling a sweet tea pitcher.
I glanced over my shoulder at Sam. Rachel was right; he didn’t seem happy. I’d better get a grip on myself or else we were bound to have another argument.
“Hardly,” I muttered, grabbing out a menu and tucking it under my arm before picking up Sam and Kyle’s tray of food.
“He is eye candy, though, don’t deny it,” she said with a shit-eating grin.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not, but I’m not about to go there either.”
“Oh, I would.” She glanced over at Kyle. “Well, maybe just a little, not full force or anything.”
“Yeah, well not everyone can be as bold as you.”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” she demanded.
“Nothing.” I winked and headed toward Sam’s table.
During the length of space from behind the counter to Sam and Kyle’s table, I allowed myself one glance in Mr. Dreamy’s direction and that was all it took to make my heart start racing again. Golden blond hair, tanned skin, a muscular build—he was the total package.
I fumbled setting their tray of food down, nearly dumping crinkle-cut fries in Sam’s lap.
“What’s up, Tessa, pretty boy over there got you all flustered?” Sam asked with a slight chuckle, but I could see the seriousness pooling in his baby-blue eyes.
“Whatever.” I grinned, attempting to seem nonchalant. “You guys need anything else?”
“Nah, we’re good,” Kyle answered, glancing between Sam and me nervously.
“I need you to stop staring at Prince Charming over there,” Sam muttered under his breath.
I put a hand on my hip. “Really, Sam? Are you seriously that jealous?”
“Maybe,” he said firmly.
“It’s part of my job to notice when people come in and where they sit,” I snapped. “I’m gonna go hand him this menu; don’t have a heart attack.”
Maybe I was being slightly defensive, the guilty always are, but Sam’s jealousy had been way out of control lately and for no good reason. We’d had one conversation where I’d told him I didn’t plan on staying in this tiny town after graduation and he’d been going bonkers since. At this point, Sam had become more like a bad habit I found hard to break than a boyfriend.
I slowed my pace and relaxed the muscles in my face, attempting to look friendlier before I reached Dream Guy’s table.
“Hey. I’m Tessa; I’ll be your waitress tonight. Can I get you something to drink?” I asked with a smile, sliding the laminated menu across the tabletop.
His amber eyes met mine as he returned my smile with a pearly white one of his own. “Hi, sure. I’ll take a sweet tea, please,” he answered, his voice sultry and hypnotic sounding.
“Sweet tea,” I repeated unnecessarily as I walked away.
What was wrong with me? I didn’t normally act so stupefied and giddy because of a guy.
I noticed him the first moment he stepped into the diner, along with every other female both young and old. There was something about him that made it hard to look away. Maybe it was the smooth confidence in his stride, or his boy band good looks. Whatever the reason, I found it nearly impossible to not stare, even in the presence of my boyfriend.
His eyes shifted to mine and lingered long enough to make my heart flutter. There was something in their glint that struck me as lonely, but it was overshadowed by something else swirling beneath the surface of the rich honey color, something intriguing I couldn’t name.
“Is it love at first sight, Tessa? Because it sure looks like it to me and I’m not the only one noticing. Sam seems like he could crumble the table with his bare hands right now,” Rachel said, refilling a sweet tea pitcher.
I glanced over my shoulder at Sam. Rachel was right; he didn’t seem happy. I’d better get a grip on myself or else we were bound to have another argument.
“Hardly,” I muttered, grabbing out a menu and tucking it under my arm before picking up Sam and Kyle’s tray of food.
“He is eye candy, though, don’t deny it,” she said with a shit-eating grin.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not, but I’m not about to go there either.”
“Oh, I would.” She glanced over at Kyle. “Well, maybe just a little, not full force or anything.”
“Yeah, well not everyone can be as bold as you.”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” she demanded.
“Nothing.” I winked and headed toward Sam’s table.
During the length of space from behind the counter to Sam and Kyle’s table, I allowed myself one glance in Mr. Dreamy’s direction and that was all it took to make my heart start racing again. Golden blond hair, tanned skin, a muscular build—he was the total package.
I fumbled setting their tray of food down, nearly dumping crinkle-cut fries in Sam’s lap.
“What’s up, Tessa, pretty boy over there got you all flustered?” Sam asked with a slight chuckle, but I could see the seriousness pooling in his baby-blue eyes.
“Whatever.” I grinned, attempting to seem nonchalant. “You guys need anything else?”
“Nah, we’re good,” Kyle answered, glancing between Sam and me nervously.
“I need you to stop staring at Prince Charming over there,” Sam muttered under his breath.
I put a hand on my hip. “Really, Sam? Are you seriously that jealous?”
“Maybe,” he said firmly.
“It’s part of my job to notice when people come in and where they sit,” I snapped. “I’m gonna go hand him this menu; don’t have a heart attack.”
Maybe I was being slightly defensive, the guilty always are, but Sam’s jealousy had been way out of control lately and for no good reason. We’d had one conversation where I’d told him I didn’t plan on staying in this tiny town after graduation and he’d been going bonkers since. At this point, Sam had become more like a bad habit I found hard to break than a boyfriend.
I slowed my pace and relaxed the muscles in my face, attempting to look friendlier before I reached Dream Guy’s table.
“Hey. I’m Tessa; I’ll be your waitress tonight. Can I get you something to drink?” I asked with a smile, sliding the laminated menu across the tabletop.
His amber eyes met mine as he returned my smile with a pearly white one of his own. “Hi, sure. I’ll take a sweet tea, please,” he answered, his voice sultry and hypnotic sounding.
“Sweet tea,” I repeated unnecessarily as I walked away.
What was wrong with me? I didn’t normally act so stupefied and giddy because of a guy.
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