Beyond (BOOK 1.5) (10 page)
Authors: Melissa Pearl
I love the way he always laughs when I'm mad...well, sort of love it. He's chuckling as he grabs my wrist so I can't hit him again. "It was a last-minute decision." He rubs his thumb into the palm of my hand. "I…I was trying to avoid LA, because of my past. I know it's a massive city, but I just didn't want to bump into anyone I once knew." Shaking his head, he grimaces then looks at me. "I've been tortured ever since not getting into Columbia. I felt like it was a sign, but I didn't know what to do. Every east coast school I applied for rejected me, but UCLA took me straight away."
"So all my stress was for nothing?"
"Don't blame me. You didn't tell me what you were up to." He sounds just a touch annoyed.
"Neither did you," I mutter, slumping back down on my bed.
"I didn't want to say anything in case it didn't come through. Even when I got the interview, I still didn't want to pin my hopes on anything."
"The interview?"
"Yeah, that's where I went this weekend. It's funny, just before I left, I got a call from the mayor offering to be a referee for me, for whatever school I wanted. I was too happy to figure out why he just randomly called me." His grin is delicious as he traces my jawline with his index finger. “I guess I now know why."
I don't know what to say. I can't even think straight. UCLA - University of Cali-frickin-fornia, LOS ANGELES! As in just down the hill. I'm speechless. My mouth opens and closes for a minute, and then I blink like I'm in some kind of trance and say, "So, no Columbia then?"
Dale blushes. "No Columbia." He brushes my bangs across my forehead and tucks them behind my ear. "Nicky the thought of being that far from you was killing me. UCLA's like a two-hour drive away. I can come home for weekends or you can come visit. We'll be in the same time zone. It'll be—"
I grab his face and kiss him. It's all I can do. He probably feels like I'm mauling him, but saying
thank you
just won't cut it. He's not leaving me! He's chosen a school that's close by. He wants to stay with me. He wants to be near me!
I can feel his shoulders shaking with mirth as I hold his face and kiss him senseless. His muffled humor soon changes to a pleasant moan. His hand slides up my leg and over my butt, his fingers finding their way beneath my shirt. They glide over my belly, cupping my breast softly before threading around my back. I wrap my good leg around him, pulling him on top of me. I love the weight of his body, protecting me, loving me. I can feel his excitement and can't help wondering if this is it. Are we finally sealing the deal?
My heart spasms at the idea.
And then the freaking phone rings! It's not mine, it's his. It makes his butt buzz. I reach for his back pocket and pull it out, tempted to throw it on the floor. He grabs it before I do, finally pulling himself off me, to look at the number.
He looks a little disappointed as he touches the screen.
"Hey Mom." I can tell it's an effort for him not to sound out of breath. His arm is still pinned beneath my back, his touch sending me to distraction.
"Uh-huh," he says, trying to wriggle away as my fingers inch along the waist band of his jeans. He throws me a look that's supposed to be stern, but ends up just being adorable.
"Yeah, yeah, okay. I'll be home in a minute."
As soon as he hangs up, I let out a groan. With a soft chuckle, he kisses my chin, then runs his lips down my neck. My skin is just starting to zing again when he whispers in my ear. "Another time. I promise."
I glance into his eyes. He's never said anything like that to me before. Those four little words mean so much. Is he serious? They're dancing with a truth that is delicious.
I prop myself on my elbows so he can slide his arm free. He sits on the edge of the bed, facing me. His hand slides up my thigh. I love how reluctant he is to leave. I give him a sexy grin. He kind of whines in his throat and I can see what an effort it is for him to stand up and move off the bed.
"You want to come back later?"
He picks the Columbia letter off the floor. "I better not. My sister's just arrived with the kids. You want to come over?"
I shake my head. "I'm too blotchy."
He grins, leaning down to kiss my puffy eyes. "They'll like you blotchy."
"Forget it." I push his shoulder so he'll stand up. I've only met Rachel once and there's no way I'm hanging out with his gorgeous sister looking like this.
"Okay," he says with a sigh. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
I watch him walk to the door, my insides flying with that giddy floaty feeling. The one where you're so happy you might pass out.
Dale pauses at the door, tapping the letter against the frame. Digging the edge into the join, he glances at me with a soft smile. "By the way..." he licks his bottom lip. "I love you too."
I think my heart just stopped beating.
What did he say?
I swing my legs over the side of the bed and grip the edge, trying for a casual laugh. It comes out like this weird cackle. I swallow it down and look at him. "I...I never said I love you."
Pulling the letter free, he waves it in the air. "Yeah, you did."
I'm going to drown in the expression on his face right now. I match it with one of my own and he eases out the door with this goofy grin that will stay in my brain all night. I slump back onto my pillow feeling euphoric. If I float to the ceiling right now, I won't even be surprised.
I hear the front door open and wait for it to close behind Dale, but there's a pause.
"I love you, Nicole Tepper!"
A giggle rushes between my lips. My voice is quivering as I shout back, "I love you, Dale Finnigan!"
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If you have read and enjoyed this book, I would be most grateful if you could take the time to review it for me. Your review will help get my books get a little more exposure and hopefully encourage other readers to check out my work.
Thank you so much for your help and support.
Once again, there are so many people to thank. I'd like to give special mention to:
Allison Potter - my editor, publicist and PA. Working with you is a blast. I'm loving it.
Scott & Ruth - I so appreciate your time and advice.
Eden Crane - this cover is gorgeous and captured Dale and Nicole perfectly. Thank you.
Inklings - what would I do without you girls? Thanks for your time, advice and just being such an awesome support to me.
Indie Inked - thanks for making this writing journey SO much fun!!
Karen & Suzy - thanks for your proof-reading skills, your cheerleading and unwavering support.
My precious family - you guys are the sunshine in my day.
My saviour - you make life worth living. Thank you.
Melissa Pearl is a kiwi at heart, but currently lives in Suzhou, China with her husband and two sons. She trained as an elementary school teacher, but has always had a passion for writing and finally completed her first manuscript in 2003. She has been writing ever since and the more she learns, the more she loves it. Keep an eye out for future projects.
You can contact Melissa Pearl online:
Website:
http://melissapearlauthor.com
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The Elements Trilogy
Unknown
Unseen
Unleashed
The Time Spirit Trilogy
Golden Blood
Black Blood
Pure Blood
The Mica & Lexy Series
Forbidden Territory
Forbidden Waters (due for release: early 2014)
Betwixt Series
Betwixt
Before
The Masks Series
True Colors (due for release: Dec 2013/Jan 2014)
Find out more on Melissa Pearl's website:
http://www.melissapearlauthor.com
Beautiful, wild-child, Nicole Tepper, is hit by a car and left for dead. But when she wakes the next morning, Nicole finds herself in bed without a scratch. Perhaps she was more intoxicated than usual, as her mother is giving her the silent treatment and her friends are ignoring her as well.
Things take a turn for the weird when Nicole soon discovers she is actually hovering between life and death. Her body is lying in the forest while her spirit is searching for anyone who can hear her. Unforunately the only person who can is Dale Finnigan, the guy she publicly humiliated with a sharp-tongued insult that has left him branded.
Desperate, Nicole has no choice but to haunt Dale and convince the freaked-out senior to help her. Will he find her body before it's too late? Or will the guy who tried to kill her with his car, beat him there and finish her off before anyone finds out?
Chapter One
My boots make a sharp tapping sound as I clomp my way home. The loose gravel at the edge of the road jumps away from my anger, skirting ahead of me then tumbling down the steep embankment.
I can't believe I'm in this situation. How could my boyfriend be such a jerk? I cross my arms and shiver, trying to block the last thirty minutes from my mind. What will people think? I blink away tears as I imagine the gossip tree shaking with mirth. How am I going to face everyone tomorrow?
I should have just given in and done what he wanted me to. I have before.
I look up at the night sky. It is clear and cold, the stars are brilliant with no streetlights to hinder their glow. I'm guessing it's around midnight. I can't see my watch face in this dim light. I can barely see two steps in front of me.
A cool wind whistles through my clothing and I wish, yet again, that I hadn't chosen to wear a sleeveless shirt with a plunging V-neck that left nothing to the imagination. Maybe Trent was right. I had dressed for it.
I look down at my knee-high boots and skinny jeans so tight they'd have to be peeled off. I suddenly feel like a hooker. My lower lip wobbles. I can feel the melt down setting in. I struggle to hold it together.
I'm stuck in the middle of who knows where. I have no idea how long it's going to take me to walk home... I don't even know which direction home is.
Trent said it would be romantic, the best vista point he'd ever found, but it wasn't a scenic overlook. It was just a clearing of darkness where mischief could never be discovered.
Bile swirls in my stomach.
The metal dog tags clink against my sternum. I can feel them swinging back and forth in time with my march. I grab them through my clothing and squeeze. I'm tempted to take them off and hurl them into the trees beside me, but I can't. I blame them though... well not them exactly, but the person who gave them to me.
Why had I put them on? They had been hidden in my jewelry box for months. My fingers had brushed over them as I was searching for my hoop earrings and I'd been compelled to slip them over my head and stuff them beneath my shirt. If I hadn't put them on, I wouldn't have thought of him and if he hadn’t been swimming around in the back of my brain, I wouldn't be in this situation.
Dale Finnigan.
Dale Finnigan and his "you should know better look" had a lot to answer for tonight. I hitch my bag higher onto my shoulder. My march is getting faster and the need to be out of here burns. I start the long descent down the winding road, my mind playing tricks with me.
Maybe you should call, Dale.
I grimace.
You know he'd come and collect you.
