PAIGE
When Erik left town, I thought my world had ended. Even at the tender age of ten I knew how hard my life would be without him. And as I grow older, as the letters between us became sparse to nonexistent, I can’t help but feel like a wall has been built around my heart.
There is only one boy for me, and I know I’ll never see him again.
ERIK
She was my best friend, the only person I knew I couldn’t live without.
But we had to leave each other.
Time went on, we drifted apart, and it always felt like I’d left a piece of myself back with her. But I’m a man now, a wounded Marine, and fate brings me back to the one girl who completes me.
Paige has always been mine, and now it’s time to prove that to her.
Warning: Tighten that seat belt because you’re about to go on an over-the-top, totally unbelievable ride. Featuring a possessive and devoted hero who saved himself for that one girl, it’ll still have that sugary-sweet aftertaste you crave. Don’t forget that cold glass of water, because you’ll need it for the heat this book—and Erik—is packing.
When Erik left town, I thought my world had ended. Even at the tender age of ten I knew how hard my life would be without him. And as I grow older, as the letters between us became sparse to nonexistent, I can’t help but feel like a wall has been built around my heart.
There is only one boy for me, and I know I’ll never see him again.
ERIK
She was my best friend, the only person I knew I couldn’t live without.
But we had to leave each other.
Time went on, we drifted apart, and it always felt like I’d left a piece of myself back with her. But I’m a man now, a wounded Marine, and fate brings me back to the one girl who completes me.
Paige has always been mine, and now it’s time to prove that to her.
Warning: Tighten that seat belt because you’re about to go on an over-the-top, totally unbelievable ride. Featuring a possessive and devoted hero who saved himself for that one girl, it’ll still have that sugary-sweet aftertaste you crave. Don’t forget that cold glass of water, because you’ll need it for the heat this book—and Erik—is packing.
I don’t know how long I stood there, watching the road, maybe thinking Paige would come back, like it wouldn’t be weird between us. I didn’t want it to be like that, but I guess it was unavoidable.
“You got it bad,” Will said from behind me, and I clenched my jaw. Staying with them and my aunt was temporary, as in I was already going to look at a few places for my mom and me. Yeah, moving back to town had been short notice, and yeah, they were family, but Will and Cal were already riding my ass, and I hadn’t even been here that long.
I should have told him to fuck off, but instead I just turned from the street and made my way up the porch. My mind was on Paige, how pretty she was, how grown up she’d become. She wasn’t that cute little girl anymore. She was a woman, a gorgeous woman.
And mine.
First thing I needed to do was find a car. I hadn’t needed one, not since I was in the military, away from home, with nowhere to go. But this was different. I was back in Blue Springs, Paige was here, and I needed to be able to get to her.
But on that thought I remembered what she’d said. She had a place, her own place. But did she share it with someone? I’d looked to see if she wore a ring—which she didn’t—but that didn’t mean she wasn’t taken.
No, she’s mine. She’ll only ever be mine.
“Fuck,” I mumbled under my breath and headed toward the back room. I also needed to get out of here, like yesterday. I knew my mom liked being here with her sister, but I couldn’t stand Cal and Will. One of these days they’d push me, say the wrong thing, and I’d beat their asses.
“You got it bad,” Will said from behind me, and I clenched my jaw. Staying with them and my aunt was temporary, as in I was already going to look at a few places for my mom and me. Yeah, moving back to town had been short notice, and yeah, they were family, but Will and Cal were already riding my ass, and I hadn’t even been here that long.
I should have told him to fuck off, but instead I just turned from the street and made my way up the porch. My mind was on Paige, how pretty she was, how grown up she’d become. She wasn’t that cute little girl anymore. She was a woman, a gorgeous woman.
And mine.
First thing I needed to do was find a car. I hadn’t needed one, not since I was in the military, away from home, with nowhere to go. But this was different. I was back in Blue Springs, Paige was here, and I needed to be able to get to her.
But on that thought I remembered what she’d said. She had a place, her own place. But did she share it with someone? I’d looked to see if she wore a ring—which she didn’t—but that didn’t mean she wasn’t taken.
No, she’s mine. She’ll only ever be mine.
“Fuck,” I mumbled under my breath and headed toward the back room. I also needed to get out of here, like yesterday. I knew my mom liked being here with her sister, but I couldn’t stand Cal and Will. One of these days they’d push me, say the wrong thing, and I’d beat their asses.
Once in the room I shut the door and grabbed my cell. I stared at Paige’s number, wanting to call her, wanting to be with her even though she’d just left. And even if she was with someone, I didn’t know if I could just let it go. I didn’t know if I could just stand back and be her friend, even though I’d said I would take her any way I could. I meant it when I said I wanted her as mine, and that had just cemented itself back at the diner when I saw her for the first time again after so long.
Meet me tonight for dinner?
I shouldn’t have sent her that message. She’ll think I’m a fucking creep for sure. Damn it. I ran my hand over my hair, breathing out, feeling tightness in my chest. It was the same feeling I’d gotten when I first saw her at the diner. It was the same sensation I’d gotten when I watched her drive away all those years ago. I rubbed my chest at the same time my cell vibrated.
Paige: I’d love to.
We had a lot to talk about, a lot of time to make up for. I just hoped she hadn’t fallen in love with someone, because she was meant for me.
We were meant for each other.
Meet me tonight for dinner?
I shouldn’t have sent her that message. She’ll think I’m a fucking creep for sure. Damn it. I ran my hand over my hair, breathing out, feeling tightness in my chest. It was the same feeling I’d gotten when I first saw her at the diner. It was the same sensation I’d gotten when I watched her drive away all those years ago. I rubbed my chest at the same time my cell vibrated.
Paige: I’d love to.
We had a lot to talk about, a lot of time to make up for. I just hoped she hadn’t fallen in love with someone, because she was meant for me.
We were meant for each other.
Jenika Snow is a USA Today Bestselling Author that lives in the northwest with her husband and their two daughters. Before she started writing full-time she worked as a nurse.
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