I wanted to run and hide in my room—which was basically what I did most of the time, only coming out when my mother practically dragged me down the stairs, insisting I socialize.
It should also be said, that at that point in my life, I kinda hated my mother. But I digress.
I did the best I could to avoid being in Griffin’s presence for the rest of their stay, only finding comfort in the rare times I was able to watch him, unknowingly, from afar.
Like a total creeper, but whatever. Unrequited love would do that to a young girl, after all.
The second time I saw Griffin I was fourteen, having my first period while experiencing the worst breakout in history. and wearing braces with neon colored rubber bands.
It was a travesty the likes of which Humanity had never seen before.
He was twenty-three, fresh out of the police academy, even better looking than the last time I saw him, and with his girlfriend.
With.
His.
Girlfriend.
Her name was Heather. I hated Heather. I wanted to throw her out in the frigid Buffalo winter and watch her slowly freeze into a ditzy, blonde dumbsicle. I hadn’t thought it was possible, but watching him kiss her or lean in and whisper in her ear, or hell, even smile at her, hurt like tens of thousands of tiny paper cuts. My heart was broken. My melodramatic, hormonal teenaged world had come to an abrupt end. There was nothing in life worth living for if Griffin Locklaine didn’t know I existed.
Okay, yes, so I was a teensy bit overemotional. But I was a young girl, premenstrual for the first time in my life. Add raging hormones and a whopping dose of adolescent angst together and the combination was catastrophic.
The third time I saw Griffin was pure happenstance… or fate, depending on how you looked at it.
Just a heads-up, I totally saw it as fate.
I’d moved to New York City shortly after graduating high school, determined to fulfill my dream of opening my very own high-end clothing boutique, so I was going to school for business and fashion merchandising, living in the same city as my brother and my forbidden crush.
I might have changed substantially over time, physically and maturity wise, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t reduced to a bumbling idiot when I just so happened to stumble into him and his date on a random sidewalk after seeing a movie with a few friends.
“Pepper? Is that you?” I nearly choked on my tongue as his familiar voice broke through the laughter of me and my friends as we made our way home from a late show. “Holy shit! Is that really you?”
I didn’t know whether or not to be offended or flattered by the bewildered look on his face. Yes, I looked different. Gone were the knobby knees and pointy elbows, and in their place were curves that rivaled one’s I’d seen in women in magazines. I’d discovered a smoothing cream that managed to tame my wild, frizzy hair that no longer glowed neon orange, thanks to the deeper red and brown lowlights I added. I wore makeup—correctly. I dressed in clothes that fit my frame. I’d come out of my shell, grown up. I’d developed my own style and personality. I wasn’t that same shy, nerdy little girl I used to be.
That was, until I crossed paths with my unobtainable crush after almost five years…while his arm was wrapped securely around a blonde that barely deemed me worthy of acknowledgement.
“H-hey, Griff,” I stuttered as my two girlfriends gawked at him with undisguised longing.
“No fuckin’ way!” he laughed excitedly, and nearly dropped dead right there on the sidewalk as he released his life sized Barbie doll and wrapped me in a tight hug. “Look at you, red. All grown up.” He grinned affectionately as he placed his hands on my shoulders and held me away from him so he could get a better look. My heart tripped over in my chest at the gleam I caught in his frosty blue eyes. If I squinted juuuuuuuust right, it looked a teeny-tiny bit like lust. I was sure of it.
“Come on, babe,” the blowup doll behind him whined in a nasally voice. “We’re going to be late for the movie. You know how much I like watching the previews.”
It took everything in me to suppress the urge to lunge for her and snatch the extensions from her hair as Griffin let go and stepped back.
He shot me a friendly grin as he pulled the blonde against him. “It was good seeing you again.”
I wanted to die as I forced a smile of my own. “Yeah, you too.”
“Well, see you around, kid.”
With that, he was God.
Kid?
Kid!
Yep, I was most definitely dying inside.
The fourth time I saw Griffin was the night everything would change. I was twenty-one years old and in the middle of the grand-opening celebration for my boutique, Fire & Ice. I’d done it. I was living my dream. I had my own shop where I sold some of the finest clothes in the city. I was on cloud nine, so euphoric that I didn’t even cringe at the sight of Griffin walking in just behind Dex. I was totally blissed out and slightly buzzed from the glasses of champagne to even care about the whole kid incident from three years earlier.
That night was nothing short of magical. As the hours ticked by the party grew livelier to my ecstatic surprise, Griffin actually seemed to notice me. I couldn’t have imagined feeling happier than I was right then, standing in the shop of my dreams with the man I’d loved for nearly a decade by my side. I was convinced that this was as good as it could get.
I’d been wrong.
It got even better later that night when I gave my virginity to Griffin, knowing, deep down in my bones that it was the start of something epic between us. I finally had everything I’d ever wanted.
So imagine my surprise when I woke with the sun the next morning and rolled over, wanting nothing more than to snuggle against my man, only to find the sheets cold and empty and myself completely alone.
Read More Now
More from the Locklaine Boys
Opposites Attract
Delilah Northcutt has been described as weird, nerdy. But her favorite term is quirky. The eccentric flower shop owner definitely marches to the beat of her own drum. On the rebound from a cheating ex, she’s not looking to open her heart to someone else any time soon. On a whim, her best friend convinces her that one night with a stranger she’ll never see again is just what she needs to pull herself out of the funk she’s been living in.
Overly serious, workaholic Richard Locklaine was always described as the twin determined to do the right thing. Even if it was at the cost of his own well-being. But after years in a loveless, manipulative marriage, he’s finally free and ready to build a life of his choosing. And nowhere in that life is there room for another woman—unless it’s for just one night, of course.
They are complete opposites in every single way. But for some reason, fate has decided to force the two of them together. Despite the chemistry, they’re determined to fight the attraction growing between them. Besides, what could a florist with horrible taste in music and an attorney from Connecticut ever really have in common? Only one thing is certain. When they finally come together, it’s going to be epic.
Almost Perfect
Devon McMillon wasn't looking for a knight in shining armor. She didn't need a man to rescue her or take care of her. She just wanted someone who would treat her as an equal and love her for who she was. Unfortunately, even in a city as big as Manhattan, finding a guy who wasn't intimidated by a strong-minded, slightly outspoken woman was proving harder than expected.
Having fallen in love at the age of fifteen Collin Locklaine was convinced he'd already found the woman he was destined to spend the rest of his life with. That was, until she pulled the rug out from under him and ended their relationship. He'd taken care of her, been her protector. And now he was forced to start over again.
A man with a hero complex and a woman with a fierce independent streak should never work. However, fate has other ideas. Besides, sex that good can't be a fluke, right? With an attraction like theirs, Devon and Collin have no other choice but to dive in and see
where it leads them. Only one thing is certain. When they finally come together, it's going to be epic.
Discover Other Books by Jessica
THE PICKING UP THE PIECES SERIES:
Picking up the Pieces
Rising from the Ashes
Pushing the Boundaries
Worth the Wait
THE COLORS NOVELS:
Scattered Colors
Shrinking Violet
Love Hate Relationship
Wildflower
THE LOCKLAINE BOYS (a LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP spinoff):
Fire & Ice
Opposites Attract
Almost Perfect
THE PEMBROOKE SERIES (a WILDFLOWER spinoff):
Sweet Sunshine
Coming Full Circle
A Broken Soul
CIVIL CORRUPTION SERIES
Corrupt
Defile (Declan and Tatum’s story – coming 2018)
STANDALONE TITLES:
Chance Encounters
Seducing Lola
Tempting Sophia
Enticing Daphne
Charming Fiona
Nightmares from Within
DEADLY LOVE SERIES:
Destructive
Addictive
CO-WRITTEN BOOKS:
Hustler – with Meghan Quinn
About the Author
Born and raised around Houston, Jessica is a self proclaimed caffeine addict, connoisseur of inexpensive wine, and the worst driver in the state of Texas. In addition to being all of these things, she’s first and foremost a wife and mom.
Growing up, she shared her mom and grandmother’s love of reading. But where they leaned toward murder mysteries, Jessica was obsessed with all things romance.
When she’s not nose deep in her next manuscript, you can usually find her with her kindle in hand.
Connect with Jessica now
Website: www.authorjessicaprince.com
Jessica’s Princesses Reader Group
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