by Reid, Penny
He was everyone's favorite. Every teacher, administrator, minister, coach. He was great at everything. He was the best.
And this favorite child of Green Valley was grinning at me. At me. Scarlet St. Claire, spawn of Satan and his illiterate mistress. (No lie, my momma can’t read).
Ben reached for my hand where I held on to my backpack strap, fit our fingers together, and coaxed me toward the cafeteria. Again.
"Well, I’m glad you feel lucky. ’Cause I feel the same way about you." His eyes conducted another sweep of my face, making my stomach warm once more. Or maybe I was just really, really hungry.
And yet, my steps were still slow and hesitant, the dread almost eclipsing the good feelings in my torso. If we were seen—and we were definitely going to be seen—by any of the Wraiths kids, it would get back to my father. And that would be like putting a target on Ben's back.
"Ben—"
"Listen. Just trust me, okay? It'll be fine. So what, high school kids will see us together."
"But if we're holding hands, it might look like something it isn't, and then people will talk."
He shrugged, giving me another of his smiles; from where I stood, I couldn’t tell if it was a shy or sly one. "Or, it might look like exactly what it is. So let them talk.” He squeezed my hand. “I'll keep you safe."
I tried to return his smile but couldn’t. It wasn’t my safety I was worried about.
** END SNEAK PEEK**
Beard With Me is Available Now!
Other books by Penny Reid
Knitting in the City Series
(Interconnected Standalones, Adult Contemporary Romantic Comedy)
Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance (#1)
Neanderthal Marries Human: A Smarter Romance (#1.5)
Friends without Benefits: An Unrequited Romance (#2)
Love Hacked: A Reluctant Romance (#3)
Beauty and the Mustache: A Philosophical Romance (#4)
Ninja at First Sight (#4.75)
Happily Ever Ninja: A Married Romance (#5)
Dating-ish: A Humanoid Romance (#6)
Marriage of Inconvenience: (#7)
Neanderthal Seeks Extra Yarns (#8)
Knitting in the City Coloring Book (#9)
Winston Brothers Series
(Interconnected Standalones, Adult Contemporary Romantic Comedy, spinoff of Beauty and the Mustache)
Beauty and the Mustache (#0.5)
Truth or Beard (#1)
Grin and Beard It (#2)
Beard Science (#3)
Beard in Mind (#4)
Dr. Strange Beard (#5)
Beard with Me (#6)
Beard Necessities (#7)
Winston Brothers Paper Doll Book (coming 2020, #8)
Hypothesis Series
(New Adult Romantic Comedy Trilogies)
Elements of Chemistry: ATTRACTION, HEAT, and CAPTURE (#1)
Laws of Physics: MOTION, SPACE, and TIME (#2)
Irish Players (Rugby) Series – by L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid
(Interconnected Standalones, Adult Contemporary Sports Romance)
The Hooker and the Hermit (#1)
The Pixie and the Player (#2)
The Cad and the Co-ed (#3)
The Varlet and the Voyeur (#4)
Dear Professor Series
(New Adult Romantic Comedy)
Kissing Tolstoy (#1)
Kissing Galileo (#2)
Ideal Man Series
(Interconnected Standalones, Adult Contemporary Romance Series of Jane Austen Reimaginings)
Pride and Dad Jokes (#1, coming 2021)
Man Buns and Sensibility (#2, TBD)
Sense and Manscaping (#3, TBD)
Persuasion and Man Hands (#4, TBD)
Mantuary Abbey (#5, TBD)
Mancave Park (#6, TBD)
Emmanuel (#7, TBD)
Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries Series
(A Romantic Cozy Mystery Series, spinoff of The Winston Brothers Series)
Engagement and Espionage (#1, coming 2020)
Marriage and Murder (#2, coming 2021)
Home and Heist (#3, coming 2022)
Baby and Ballistics (#4, coming 2023)
Pie Crimes and Misdemeanors (TBD)
Good Folks Series
((Interconnected Standalones, Adult Contemporary Romantic Comedy, spinoff of The Winston Brothers Series)
Totally Folked (#1, coming 2021)
Give a Folk (#2, coming 2022)
Three Kings Series
(Interconnected Standalones, Holiday-themed Adult Contemporary Romantic Comedies)
Homecoming King (#1, coming Christmas 2021)
Drama King (#2, coming Christmas 2022)
Prom King (#3, coming Christmas 2023)
