A Little Less Girl

Look for Tess Oliver's newest release: Distraction (Years from Home, 1)     Everything has always come easy to Jake West. But when Amy, the girl obsessed with him, commits suicide, the entire town of Raynesville is quick to blame Jake. Now Amy's cousin, Dani, has moved into town. And suddenly Jake has an obsession of his own. Dani Spencer has always dreamed of a home and normal life. When her beloved cousin and grandmother die, her wild, impetuous mother inherits their house in Raynesville. With Amy's diary in hand, Dani intends on finding out what happened to her cousin. And there's an obvious place to start . . . Jake West, the guy who broke Amy's heart.*Excerpt*Dani stayed next to me. "He thinks you are the greatest person in the world." "Actually, I think you've replaced me in that category," I said quietly. "Not true." I surrendered to my urge and turned to look at her. Our faces were close. I lost myself in her dark brown eyes. A slight breeze blew through the trees and dislodged a strand of hair from her pony tail. It fell across her cheek, and the end tickled the jagged scar on her chin. My breathing sped up. Her nearness was pushing on my chest like a lead blanket. "Be careful not to hurt Blister," I said. "Things don't always go the way he wants. He takes stuff pretty hard." "I would never hurt him." "Why did you tell him that your scars were from a dog bite?" "Maybe it wasn't a lie." "People who've been bitten by a dog are generally pretty scared when a snarling one comes barreling at them." She shrugged. "We all deal with our fears in a different way. Some of us prefer to confront them head on."  "That's bull." "Not all of us grow up in a charmed life." The loose strand waved over her lips and without thinking I reached up and brushed it off her face. My finger tips grazed her lips. She stared up at me with that same look of anger, hurt and confusion I'd seen before. Her mouth quivered as if she wanted to speak but couldn't. She didn't need to. I knew the question on her lips. Why'd you do it? I dragged my gaze from hers. "It was five stupid words. Amy was never supposed to hear them." My thoughts finally broke free, words I'd wanted to say to Dani since she'd walked into class. "I had no idea she was behind me, or I never would have said it." My jaw clenched as I thought about that day. I'd been set up by my own friends. They knew Amy was standing nearby. "It was too late. She'd heard me and when I saw the hurt expression on her face, I wanted to throw my fist through a wall. It was one of those regretful moments in life you can't take back." Dani was staring up at me. It was obvious she was assessing how much of my confession was the truth. But it was all true. "You were her romantic hero." I looked away. "They only exist in books."Other books by Tess Oliver:Camille (Camille Series, Book I)Bitterroot CrossingSafe LandingBlood TideHeart of the Huntress (Camille Series, Book II) Cowboy DarkAngel BeachHome is Where the Heartbreak is