Fight Me
Page 21
Avery is the baby of the family. She was born five years after me and wasn’t exactly planned. But, we love her just the same and decided not too long ago that we’d go ahead and keep her.
Today is Avery’s wedding day as she married the man she’s loved for years. My three year old niece, Brooklyn, isn’t Maddox’s daughter, though. No, that honor belongs to her douchebag ex, Drake Connor. What a jerk that guy is. I can’t believe one of my two older brothers hasn’t killed him yet. He basically dumped her the moment she told him she was pregnant just out of high school. And to top it off, he had been cheating on her pretty much the entire time they were together. Today, though, she receives her happily ever after as they become the Jackson family of three.
“Seriously, Trav. What the hell is wrong with you? I’ve been trying to talk to you for ten minutes now, and I’ll bet you haven’t heard a word I’ve said.”
“Sorry. I guess I’m just distracted.”
“Would it happen to have anything to do with a certain brunette walking around that you haven’t taken your eyes off of all night?”
My cheeks flush pink. “What are you talking about?” I ask nonchalantly and without making eye contact.
“Seriously? You think you’ve been doing a good job at hiding it? You’ve been watching that girl all night. Everyone’s noticed. Why don’t you just go talk to her?”
“She’s working, Will. What am I supposed to do, walk up to her and say ‘You’re hot. Let’s go out?’” I ask and take another drink of my beer.
“Why not? It’s better than just standing around and watching her all night like a scared pussy. Invite her to coffee after the reception or something.”
“Maybe,” I reply knowing full well that it won’t happen. Besides, there isn’t exactly a coffee shop open this late in our small town. My eyes find her, again, as she busses empty glasses and bottles off of the round tables on the other side of the reception hall. Her long brown hair is pulled back in a tight, neat pony tail at the nape of her head. She has beautiful hazel eyes that look green when the lights are on like earlier during the reception and brown when the lights are low like now.
She may very well be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Scarlett Johansson has nothing on this girl, and that’s saying something. The few times she approached the table I was sitting at, I caught a whiff of something floral with a hint of vanilla. Though I have yet to speak to her – besides to say “Yes” and “Thank you” when she collected my plate after dinner – I took note of her name tag which says Josselyn.
As I watch her from afar, her striking hazel eyes land on mine. My heart stops and then speeds up again as we stare at each other for a few moments from opposite ends of the room. She quickly looks away and goes about clearing the rest of the table. I’m not the sensitive type or a metro man as Avery would say, but for a second there, I swear I felt the Earth move or stop spinning when our eyes met. That moment, that connection, felt like something monumental and epic.
Holy shit, my brothers would kick my ass if they could read my thoughts.
Josselyn heads towards the back room area where the kitchen is located. For a brief few seconds, I actually consider following her and striking up a conversation with her – work be damned. I decide instead to get back into my conversation with Will. However, when I turn to where Will was once standing, I see that I’m alone. Where did he go? And how long has he been gone?
I decide to step outside for a few minutes. I could use a little fresh air. As I step through the double doors, the chilly March air helps cool my heated body. Every time I see Josselyn my body temperature seems to rise a few degrees.
I take another drink from my beer bottle and head towards the quiet alley next to the reception hall. Music is pouring out of the front of the building, and I could really use a few quiet minutes alone.
When I step around the corner, I see that I’m actually not alone in the alley. Josselyn is there. She has her back against the rough, red brick wall, relaxing, and she appears to have her eyes closed.
I take in the sight of her leaning against the wall, wearing a zip-up hoodie jacket over the top of her uniform. Little puffs of steam come from her slightly open mouth as she breathes in the cool, crisp night air.
As I watch, I try to decide whether I should interrupt her break or if I should just leave her alone. I decide to turn around and give her space, but she must sense my presence. Her eyes open and she turns her head to face me. Our eyes collide and the same Earth shattering moment happens again. We are standing about twenty feet apart, but it feels like she’s right next to me. As if she’s against me.
Her face takes on a startled look as she realizes that she’s not alone out here in the dark alley. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I was just coming outside for some fresh air,” I tell her as I get ready to turn and head back towards the front door.
“It’s okay. I was just on break. I’ll be heading inside in a few moments,” she says.
I continue to watch her, not really knowing what to say next. Was she inviting me to stay out here with her?
“So, how long have you worked for the caterer?” I ask. Stupid. Yeah, I actually said that. You’d think this was the first time I talked to a girl.
“Ummm, I guess only a few months.”
“Do you like it?”
“It’s okay. It helps pay the bills, I guess,” she replies as she looks down at the ground in front of my shoes. “Are you in the wedding?” she asks as her eyes finally find mine again.
“Brother of the bride,” I tell her.
“That explains the tux,” she says with a small smile. Her eyes look tired as if she didn’t sleep much the night before.
“Yeah. My name is Travis,” I tell her as I step forward and extend my hand towards her.
“Josselyn,” she replies as she places her soft hand inside of mine. The moment we touch, it’s like lightning shoots straight through my entire body rendering me immobile. My entire body is alive and my blood is pumping at an alarming speed. I’ve never had this reaction to a woman, from the slightest touch.
“Well, my break is over. I need to head back inside,” she says and looks down. I realize I’m still holding her hand inside of mine. I don’t want to let it go, but I do before this moment crosses over the creepy line. “It was nice to meet you, Travis,” she says with another small smile.
“Nice to meet you, Josselyn,” I reply as she turns and heads back towards the door used by the catering and reception staff. As she pulls the door open, she glances back one more time over her shoulder. Our eyes meet and I have to fight the urge to move towards her; fight to not grab a hold of her and press her between my body and the rough brick wall; fight to not hold her in my arms and kiss the hell out of her.
Before I can act, Josselyn steps back inside, the heavy door closing behind her, and I’m left alone in the alley with my thoughts. Thoughts that are now completely consumed with Josselyn’s hazel eyes and brown hair. Thoughts of what her lips would feel like against my own. Thoughts of what her soft skin would feel like under my callused hands.
What is it about this girl? I know nothing about her except her name and her occupation. But, it’s enough to leave me intrigued and wanting more. Oh yes, she definitely leaves me wanting more.
The rest of Travis’s story, Expect Me, coming March 2015!
Acknowledgements
First off to my readers, thank you for taking the chance on an unheard of Indie Author! I never expected to have the response I had when I released Trust Me. I am truly blown away and so humbly grateful to you all! Thank you for loving Rivers Edge!
To my newly formed Street Team, Lacey’s Ladies, thank you for your excellent pimping. We are going to have so much fun together. I appreciate all of you.
Sandra Shipman, thank you so much for your assistance, your enthusiasm, and your friendship. I appreciate your help with beta reading Fight Me (you did awesome for your first time) and can’t wait for the next one
! You are one in a million!
Amanda Lanclos, I still look to you for guidance from time to time. We bounce plot ideas and character names off of each other, and I cherish the friendship we’ve formed. Thank you doesn’t quite seem like enough, but I mean it from the bottom of my heart. Thank you!
Taryn Clatterbuck, what can I say? You beta read Trust Me without even knowing it was my book. I needed your honesty and I got it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help and your excitement when I finally shared my secret.
Ginny Gallagher of Gin’s Book Notes & Designs, for another amazing cover. I knew the moment I saw it that this was it! I can’t wait to see what you come up with next!
Emily Getty, you are the best! Thank you for your editing expertise and your continual friendship. I can’t imagine having someone else doing what you do. You are my forever friend and I love you dearly!
Holly Collins, thank you for loving me. Thank you for being my passenger and taking this incredible ride with me. This journey wouldn’t be what it is without you! I love you more than words!
Kim Seldomridge, thank you for your support and cheering me on! I am lucky to have such a wonderful, caring, loving sister-in-law.
To my husband, Jason, and our two beautiful kids – to the moon and back. That’s the extent of my love for you!
About the Author
Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and a chocolate lab. Lacey loves watching NASCAR races and should only consume one mixed drink because she’s a lightweight.
Lacey’s debut novel, Trust Me, was released in August 2014. It sent several weeks in the top 100 in contemporary romance on Amazon’s Top 100 Best Sellers for e-books.
Email: laceyblackwrites@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlaceyblack
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthLaceyBlack
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/laceyblackwrite/
Table of Contents
Praise for Trust Me
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Epilogue
Expect Me
Prologue
Acknowledgements
About the Author