SYNOPSIS:
A chance
encounter. An undeniable connection. An unimaginable twist of fate.
Kailey’s life is
crumbling. Her best friend and sister, Jen, is dying, leaving her young family
devastated. With little hope of saving her, Kailey is forced to face a reality
she never expected.
Trey’s life is
fun and carefree. He loves the girls, his drums, and his friends. That’s not to
say he isn’t continuously plagued by a difficult decision made years ago—one
that changed the course of his life.
Despite the
connection they make when their paths unexpectedly cross, Kailey knows her life
has no room for anyone else right now. But regardless of how many times she
pushes him away, Trey only fights harder to make a place for him in her life
and in her heart.
Trey thought he
knew heartbreak, but he had no idea until life gave him a second chance, only
to snatch it away just as fast. This time he’s determined to keep his place in
the life of the ones he loves.
Is there such a
thing as fate? If so, can Kailey and Trey hold on to one another long enough to
discover there’s no such thing as a chance encounter?
EXCERPT:
Before I
know what’s happening he’s shuttling me out the room, instructing Caden’s
parents to take over. He opens a door
into a private room, shutting and locking it behind us. Walking me over to a couch. Never letting go
of his hold on me, he sits down on the older couch, cradling me in his lap. His
strong arms are wrapped tightly around me.
He holds me close as I continue to crumble, soaking his nice blue button
down with my tears. He’s patient and
kind, allowing me to release the wave of grief that I’ve been straining to
hide.
My body
calms, my shutters stop, and my sobs turn to trickling tears. My finger traces
his tattoos while my head lays against his chest. I should’ve predicted he’d
have this effect, he’s always had a comforting presence to me. He doesn’t
mention anything about our fight or me not answering his phone calls. All of our problems are pushed aside, so we
can deal with the fog of death that surrounds us now.
I
hurriedly stand, straightening my dress after I release myself from the comfort
of Trey’s love. Following me to the door, his steps echo through the small space. He grabs my wrist to hold me in place. I
sigh. “Trey, I need to get back out there,” I tell him, but he pulls me closer.
“They
can wait five minutes, Kailey. Please,
let me be there with you,” he begs, already knowing my heart is lost in some
dark tunnel without a flicker of light. It’s wounded and broken, so my brain
has taken over, translating to me pushing everyone out.
“Trey,
thank you for coming, but you can leave now,” I say coldly with no
emotion. He can’t be tied down with me,
he needs to go and live a life I can no longer be a part of.
“No,
Kailey, I’m not leaving.” He stands firm, planting his feet. Uncontrollable
anger starts brewing in my veins. I’m
mad he won’t listen to me and just disappear. Can’t he see it’s the best for
him to forget us?
My hand
rests on the lock; ready to twist it open when he steps forward. He turns me
around to face him and cages me between his arms against the door. “Trey,” I
argue, but he presses his lips to mine and an immediate raging desire seeps
into my every pore. As much as my body screams to him, anger still lingers that
he’s forcing me to be callous and cruel.
He
places his hands on either side of my face, continuing to kiss me as though
he’s starving for only my mouth. Instinctively, the irrational, live life in
the moment Kailey that he easily pries out of me appears. Something only my
sister and her family could accomplish until he came into my life. “Please,” he
whispers, and my body starts to sway in his strong hold, as he travels his lips
over to my earlobe and down my throat.
“Stop
it, Trey, leave me alone,” I cruelly spout, placing my hands on his chest,
trying to push him back, but he only grips tighter.
“You
know you don’t want me to.” He trusts his keen instincts because they’re
usually always right when it comes to me.
Trying
to close myself off, I press my lips together when his graze across mine again
before his tongue requests permission.
But in the end, I’m not willing to deny myself, I open, allowing his
familiar tongue to roam around my mouth and mingle with mine. The kiss feels safe and warm, like home. Ever since that fateful plane ride, I’ve felt
as if Trey was a part of me. Recalling
our first kiss; it was nothing like this.
God! He ignited my whole body the first time his mouth pressed against
mine. In those three minutes, he ruined
me. No man would ever compare. But this, this is what I crave at night when
I lay in bed all alone. It’s the familiarity of the one man who knows my lips,
my tongue, and my body. My need of one man who continues to enjoy exploring
every curve and nuance over and over again, as if he has discovered his own
wonderland. When my thoughts unscramble, my lips and tongue are moving
carelessly without retention of the real issue.
“Stop
it, Trey.” This time, I use all my force to push him back. I’m torn if I’m
happy, mad, or just sad. Sheer dejection fills his eyes, and suddenly remorse
hits me. “We just can’t,” I softly say,
shaking my head back and forth.
“Yes, we
can,” he says, stepping forward, but I shake my head violently again. “What the
hell, Kailey? All I want to do is love you,” his voice starts escalating, and I
need to flee the room. His presence
alone makes me jittery and uncontrolled. The sooner I leave, the sooner I can
get myself stable again, back into my sealed bubble.
“I told
you already, Trey.” I bite my lip, not wanting to lie again, but I will, if I
have to.
“Don’t
tell me that bullshit again. You and I
both know it isn’t true.” He steps closer to me, and my weakness begins getting
the best of me.
“Please,
I need to get back out there,” I tell him, but he approaches again, pulling me
to him similar to a child with their security blanket. I succumb to the haven of his embrace,
mindlessly relishing the warmness of home.
“Kailey,
it’s taking everything in me not to keep you right here, up against this door,
until you admit you love me. I’ll let you leave this room, but don’t say you
don’t love me again. I know you do, and
no matter how hard you try to push me aside, I’m not leaving.” He releases me
after his rant, and I unlock the door, fleeing the room.
AUTHOR BIO:
Michelle moved around the Midwest most of her life, transferring from
school to school before settling down in the outskirts of Chicago ten years
ago, where she now resides with her husband and two kids. She developed a love of reading at a young
age, which helped lay the foundation for her passion to write. With the encouragement of her family, she
finally sat down and wrote one of the many stories that have been floating
around in her head. When she isn’t reading or writing, she can be found playing
with her kids, talking to her mom on the phone, or hanging out with her family
and friends. But after chasing around
twin preschoolers all day, she always cherishes her relaxation time after
putting the kids to bed.
Twitter: @michellelynnbks
Purchasing Links:
The Invisibles Series:
Don’t Let Go (Book #1)
AMAZON - B&N
Let Me Love(Book #3)
I will
provide link when available.
Giveaway:
Release Launch Hosted by:
