Synopsis:
I’m drowning in the numbness. It’s pulling me under and I
can’t see the surface. It’s easier to pretend I can’t feel. And the longer you
pretend, the easier it is to believe. But he wants to save me. Only he can’t. I
have to save myself…and I don’t know if I want to.
Rowan Sinclair’s life has been anything but easy. With an
alcoholic mother and a sleazy stepfather, it’s been her responsibility to raise
her younger siblings. At twenty-one she’s chained to a life she doesn’t want,
but sees no other alternative. After all, what would happen to her brother and
sister if she were to leave?
Trenton Wentworth sees the pain behind Rowan’s eyes. He
wants nothing more than to make it disappear. To hold her. To love her. Except
Rowan keeps everyone at a safe distance. But if there’s anyone that can break
down the walls she’s built around herself, it’s Trent. So she avoids him at all
costs. But Trent isn’t one to be easily evaded. He’s stubborn and determined.
He’ll save this girl even if it costs him everything.
Love, lies, and deception.
That’s the name of the game when you’re Tempting Rowan.
Author Bio:
Micalea Smeltzer is an author from Virginia. Her name is pronounced Muh-call-e-uh. She is permanently glued to her computer, where she constantly writes. She has to listen to music when she writes and has a playlist for every book she’s ever started. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading a book or playing with her three dogs.
You can email Micalea at:
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Website:
Giveaway: Signed paperback set of the Trace + Olivia
Series plus swag.
Excerpt:
“Just the two of you?”
A waitress appeared beside our table, glaring at Jude. Geez, I couldn’t go
anywhere with guy. Had he slept with everyone?
“Yeah, just the two of
us,” Jude replied, leaning back in the booth with an easy grin.
She dropped the menus
on the table and the plastic made a smacking sound as it hit the table. “What
can I get you to drink then?”
“Water,” I answered.
“Same,” Jude replied,
smiling at the waitress.
She rolled her eyes and
turned sharply on her heel.
“She’s so going to spit
in my drink,” I grumbled.
Jude chuckled, pulling
off his beanie and running his fingers through his hair. “Nah, she won’t bother
you. It’s me that’ll be drinking her spit.”
“Ew,” I wrinkled my
nose. “Anyway,” I picked up the menu, “what’s good here?”
“Everything,” he
replied.
“That’s real helpful,
Jude.”
“Hey, it’s the truth,”
he chuckled, scratching his stubbled jaw.
Since I was starving
and running out of time before I had to get to work, I ordered a turkey club
sandwich. Jude ordered the same and cheese fries for an appetizer.
“Uh…Rowan?” He leaned
forward with both his hands on the table, looking at something over my
shoulder.
“Yes?” I responded,
inspecting my water for any foreign substances.
“Do you have a
boyfriend?”
“God no, Jude! You know
that! And no, I’m not going to date you!”
“Hey,” he raised his
hands in defense, “I know you’re not interested in me, that’s why we’re
friends. But that dude over there is glaring at me like he wants to rip my
balls from my body.”
“Thanks for that
disturbing visual, Jude,” I groaned.
I looked over my
shoulder to see who he was talking about, but couldn’t see anything, because
the top of the booth blocked my line of sight.
“Did he leave?” I
asked.
“Nope,” Jude picked up
the wrapper from his straw and began playing with it, “he’s still staring. I
think he’s planning to kill me and trying to figure out the best place to hide
my body so no one finds me.” He reached across the table and took my hand. “If
I don’t make it out of this alive, please tell my mom I love her.”
“Are you sure you’re
not studying to be an actor?” I pulled my hand from his grasp.
“Oh, fuck,” Jude paled,
sitting up straight, “he’s coming over. I think he’s pissed that I held your
hand.”
“Hello, Rowan.” Both
words were said through gritted teeth, telling me the person who spoke them was
beyond mad.
A shiver danced down my
spine as I recognized the voice.
“Hi, Trenton.” I tried
to keep my tone light and sound unaffected, even though my whole body was
humming with pleasant zings at his close proximity.
“You know this guy?”
Jude asked me, his mouth falling open in shock that I might possibly know
someone other than him that possessed a penis.
I nodded. There was no
way I could deny it, and I didn’t want Trent to cause a scene. Well, an even
bigger scene.
“Oh, she knows me
better than I’m sure she knows you,” Trent smiled—and there was nothing
pleasant about it—as he slid into the booth beside me. “Who are you?”
“You don’t have to say
anything,” I warned Jude, taking a sip of water.
Trent glared at me.
Jude swallowed thickly,
looking like a deer caught in headlights. “I’m Jude.”
“And are you on a date
with my friend here?” Trent tilted his head towards me.
“No-o-o.” Jude’s voice
shook. Scaredy-cat. “We’re just grabbing a bite to eat.” Jude was a tough guy,
and I found the fact that he was scared of Trent to be hilarious. I’m sure with
the way Jude got around he’d run into plenty of jealous boyfriends, and had to
fight his way out of a sticky situation, but something about Trent had him
shaking in his boots.
“Yeah, and I bet you’re
trying to figure out how you’re going to get her to go back to your place,
aren’t you? I bet she’s just another conquest to someone like you. I know your
type. You’re always looking for an easy fuck. So, I suggest you look
elsewhere.”
My eyes widened and my
jaw dropped at Trent’s words. I punched his arm as hard as I could, forcing him
to acknowledge my presence. I could tell Jude was pissed too, and opened his
mouth to say something to Trent, but I didn’t need Jude to fight my battles.
“I can’t believe you
just said that to him,” I spat at Trent, keeping my voice hushed so we didn’t
disturb the other people in the restaurant.
“Yeah, well,” Trent
reached up and ran his fingers nervously through his hair, obviously ashamed of
his behavior, “I’m a bit pissed off that you keep wanting to brush me off, but
you’re out with this guy. You turned me down for dinner last night, but here
you are with him,” he pointed a forceful finger at Jude.
“This guy,” Jude
pointed to himself, “has a name, and it’s Jude. J. U. D. E.”
“Do I look like I
care?” Trent glared, his nostrils flaring with anger.
“I’m not on
a date, so stop being rude to him,” I told Trent. I was tempted to kick him,
but since he was beside me, that would’ve been quite difficult.
“Then what are you
doing?” Trent looked from me to Jude.
“Why should I tell you?
You’re the one that came over here like a dog pissing on its territory,” I
seethed.
“Oh, this is good,”
Jude chuckled. I turned in his direction to see him shoving cheese fries in his
mouth. “Please, continue.”
I ignored Jude and went
back to glaring at Trent. I was embarrassed by his behavior and I knew I’d have
a lot of explaining to do, because Jude would want to know what was going on
between Trent and I. I’d do my best to avoid that conversation for as long as
possible. I didn’t want to go into details with Jude about my past with
Trenton.
“And you’re the one
that acts like you hate me, then I kiss you, and it’s obvious you do want me,”
Trent countered, referring to the night after we shopped for groceries. “You
can keep denying this as long as you want, but as long as your body continues
reacting to me, I’ll keep coming back.”
“You kissed him?” Jude
asked, dipping three fries in ranch. Of course, out of all of that the only
part Jude noticed included kissing.
“He kissed me,”
I argued, glaring daggers at the two guys. “And it hardly was a kiss at all.”
“Whatever you need to
tell yourself to feel better,” Trent smirked in my direction. “Can I have some
of those?” He asked Jude, pointing to the fries.
“Sure, as long as you
promise not to kill me and cut me up into tiny pieces,” Jude shrugged, sliding
the plate closer to where Trent and I sat. I guessed they were best friends
forever now thanks to the magical bond of cheese fries. “Now, tell me about
this kiss,” Jude probed Trent for answers.
“There’s nothing to
tell,” I spoke up before Trent could open his big fat mouth.
“It was a simple kiss
goodnight,” Trent shrugged, taking a fry as he talked over me.
“You naughty girl,
Rowan. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me,” Jude winked.
“Why would I tell you?”
I muttered under my breath. “You’re a guy. Besides, it wasn’t worth talking
about.”
“Burn,” Jude coughed,
eyeing Trent warily in case he decided to jump across the table and strangle
him.
“Well, then,” Trenton
turned to face me, a challenge glimmering in his blue eyes, “I guess I’ll have
to give you something to talk about then.”
“Huh?”
In a lightning fast
move, he grabbed my face between his large hands and pressed his lips against
mine. The kiss was demanding and forceful, but somehow still passionate. It was
the kind of combination that left your world spinning. I found my traitorous
body responding to the feel of his tongue against my lips. I felt insecure and
unsure what to do. I hadn’t been with anyone since Trenton and that had been
five years ago, so I was clearly out of practice. I found that my body seemed
to know what to do though, despite my lack of knowledge. I grasped his
sweatshirt between my fingers, curling the fabric into my fist. His tongue
flicked against mine and a soft moan escaped me. My mind had gone completely
blank and all I could do was feel. My lips followed his in a passionate dance.
Cold water flicked
against my face and I pulled away from Trent. We both wiped our faces and
looked in the direction the water had come from. Jude sat there grinning,
wiping his hands on a napkin. “Y’all looked like you needed a cold shower.
Seeing as how we’re a little low on showers at the moment,” he looked around
the restaurant, “I thought this would suffice,” he pointed to his glass of
water.
Playlist:
1.
Stay the Night-Zedd
2.
Hey Brother-Avicii
3.
Nitesky-Robot Koch
4.
Addicted to You-Avicii
5.
Wicked Game-Emika
6.
Kill Your Heroes-Awolnation
7.
Ticking Bomb-Aloe Blacc
8.
Say Something-A Great Big World
9.
Afraid-The Neighborhood
10.
Still into You-Paramore
11.
Heart Attack-Enrique Iglesias
12.
Sweater Weather-The Neighbourhood
13.
Happiness-The Fray
14.
Heaven Knows-The Pretty Reckless
15.
Dead in the Water-Ellie Goulding
16.
My Blood-Ellie Goulding
17.
Love Me Again-John Newman
18.
Waiting Game-Banks
19.
Don't Be Afraid-Lee DeWyze
20.
Open Your Eyes-Lee DeWyze
21.
Touch-Daughter
22.
Heavy in your Arms-Florence + the Machine
23.
Invincible-All Good Things
24.
Where I Come From-Lifehouse
25.
Team-Lorde
26.
Last One You Love-Goldhouse
27. Don't
Wake Me-Robots Don't Sleep
28.
Sad Song-We the Kings
29.
What it Is-Kodaline
30.
Drink You Away-Justin Timberlake
31.
Do or Die-3OH!3
32. Don't Deserve You-Plumb
32. Don't Deserve You-Plumb
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