After surviving her parents' relationship drama when her older sister elopes, Claire Gardner vows not to date during high school. Now, three years later, Claire is thrust into new relationship drama--her two best friends have boyfriends. Which means Claire is spending more and more time alone. And she's more than a little peeved.
Enter Gray Langley. His year-long crush on Claire's friend Lindsey has made him desperate enough to ask Claire for help. Hesitant at first, Claire agrees--anything to get rid of Lindsey's current evil boyfriend. But as Claire and Gray plot together, an attraction develops, and now she must decide if being with Gray is worth the pain that will come from confronting her parents with the reasons for her vow.
Life in the no-dating zone
by Patricia B. Tighe
It would take
about twenty steps to get there. Twenty normal steps—no lunges or anything—and
I’d be standing beside Lindsey Taylor’s group in the middle of the lawn. It was
the perfect opportunity. No sign of her boyfriend, Adam Castro, and only a
couple of guys to compete with. And Mike and Parker were complete tools. There
shouldn’t be anything stopping me.
Except the fact
that I hadn’t had a real conversation with Lindsey since seventh grade. That,
and an up-close look at her in that pink bikini might make me turn purple. I
cursed under my breath. Why did I have to suck at this? Lindsey and Claire were
some of the nicest girls in school. It’s not like they’d tell me to get lost. I
could just sit down and join the conversation.
I probably
wouldn’t even have to say much. There was a lot of noise over there with the
football players throwing themselves off the diving board and the girls
cheering. I could become one of Lindsey’s group. And then someday, when Castro
did something stupid and she dumped him, I’d be there to console her. Right. Me
and about ten other guys.
Tool #1 Parker
jumped up from where he’d been sitting beside Lindsey, and after a short
conversation, jogged toward the patio where I was holding up the wall of the
house. Now there was only one guy. I should go now. Right now.
The sliding
glass door to the patio opened and dumped out Amy Acton and that girl whose
name I could never remember. They edged over to the tables of snacks. Parker
arrived and, after rifling through an ice chest, pulled out a bottle of tea. He
then started messing with the other coolers. Lift. Slam. Lift. Slam. What the
heck was he looking for?
I grabbed a
handful of potato chips so I wouldn’t look like I was hovering, then went back
to leaning against the house. I sensed the snacking girls staring, but ignored
them. Instead, I concentrated on Lindsey’s reddish-brown hair, which shone in
the sunlight like a beacon. I really should go over there.
In fact,
Lindsey’s friend Rose, and some guy I’d never seen before, had just joined the
group. I could’ve gotten there at the same time and not looked so obvious.
“Hey, Grayson,”
Amy called, and then both girls giggled.
I almost
launched into an explanation about how I’d shortened my name to Gray, but
didn’t really want to get into it. Besides, country music blared loud enough
nearby that I’d have to get closer if I really wanted to talk to them. I
didn’t. So I settled for a brief smile. For some weird reason that made them
giggle more.
I'm not the writer who's been writing for as long as she can remember. In fact, I didn't start writing fiction until I was almost thirty. But, I've always been a reader. Which, of course, is one of the basic requirements for being a writer. I've read everything from horse novels and spy thrillers to historical romance and fantasy sagas—and lots in between. There's something wondrous about picking up a book and entering a new world with new adventures. And I don't plan on stopping any time soon.
When I'm not reading, I hang out with my husband and two old dogs, plus my grown sons whenever I get the chance. In the fall I spend way too much time yelling at my TV while watching football. I'm also addicted to British TV shows. Top Gear, anyone?
Oh, yeah. And I write. Kissing books. Or at least books that include kissing. Hope you enjoy them!
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