Book Info
by Rebecca Berto
Publication Date: April 12th, 2013
Secretly crushing
Crushed by a tragedy
Charlee May’s been crushing on Dexter Hollingworth since she was fifteen. Five years later, a horrific skiing disaster at Mason’s Ski Lift Resort leaves her millionaire dad critically injured and her mom dead at the hands of Dexter operating the lifts. Charlee is suddenly the sole caretaker for her little brother while their world falls apart.
Dexter couldn’t be more different from Charlee. He’s tattooed, avoids exclusive relationships and his Dad has a fair share of illegal dealings. With Dexter’s reputation, almost everyone believes he planned the Mason’s skiing disaster.
And after all these years he’s still crushing on Charlee May, the girl who’s too good for him.
When this cruel twist of fate ties Charlee’s family and Dexter’s reputation together, Charlee and Dexter wonder if their feelings are reciprocated, while Dexter discovers his dad is trying to steal the May’s millionaire fortune.
But like an addiction, one look, one touch, one taste—they’re hooked no matter the consequences.
Excerpt
Dexter
Mom’s still working at the hospital so my only choice is to walk.
Twenty seconds into my escape, the first raindrop splatters on my eyelid. I
shake it off and tip my head to the sky. Bloated, gray clouds hog the space
above. I can’t remember it being blue in so long. This Melbourne winter isn’t
much better than when I was a kid in Chicago. But we don’t even get snow here.
It’s just freezing.
Freezing.
The word escapes and I feel it. My bones are rattling. Looking down, I remember
I put on my holey jeans and my black shirt with the rolled sleeves at my
elbows. If I could do over my pitiful walk out of Dad’s and my argument, I
would have grabbed my hoodie.
And
that’s when everything gets fucked up. I give myself a handshake, tap my
cheeks. Nope, I’m hot still. Not cold at all. Which means…I don’t want it to be
true but—
I’m
holding my fingers in front of my face. I stop at the corner of our street, a
car vrooming past, another coming up, but I don’t hear them because it’s become
quiet in my world. I feel my fingers trembling before I see them quiver and
blur as my vision falters.
This is
karma, I bet. I’m having a hypo attack ‘cause I’m diabetic, by which I’m
essentially…what’s the word… What am I…?
My mind
is looping already. It’s bad, I know. I was so wrung up arguing with Dad I
didn’t notice it, but now I do. Trembling when his face came near had nothing
to do with being scared.
I need
sugar quick, like I do with every hypo. I pat my pockets down but I only feel
my leg through the material, because, of course, I hate carrying my candy on me
in case someone sees and asks what it is for.
Fuck my
diabetes. I’m my own worst enemy. My body can’t even sustain itself. My blood
sugar level is dropping, and it’s making my steps wobbly.
One of
the cars approaching slows. Noises come from chatter inside. I refuse to look
and give those shitheads the time of day since I know exactly what they’re
looking for. But when I hear a snicker I start. I swear I know that voice. If I
had to guess, I’d say it belongs to Robby. I haven’t seen him since before the
Mason’s ski accident mess when he used to talk and hang with me in the group.
Lucky I
decide to turn after all because an egg, followed by another, tumbles in the
air in a direct line for me. I duck and they sail just over my hairline.
When
another car slows, I’m ready to fucking lose it, even if it only backs up my
new reputation as a killer. But my words are stumbling, smooshed, and not
coming out of my mouth right thanks to my severely depleted blood-sugar level
and the fact that my body’s in survival mode.
Then
out of the window pops Darcy May’s head. I know that kid. He’s Charlee’s little
bro.
Just my
luck. That her mom was the only one to die at Mason’s. I’ve been wanting to
kiss this girl since before I got my first tattoo, or my eyebrow ring. Before
seeing her at the opposite end of the occasional party. All things considered,
a rich, beautiful, kind-looking girl like Charlee would never bring home a guy
like me. I’ve never spoken to her the way I want to. Why take the risk of
getting rejected by the only girl I’ve ever really wanted? And even if she did
want me, would she see me or me as
the person as what I’ve done to her parents?
I know
Charlee’s read the papers; she couldn’t have missed it.
Dexter Hollingworth was on shift as a
lift operator when the overhead wires snapped on one of the lifts at Mason’s
Ski Resort. No charges have been laid.
Charlee’s
Audi hatchback stops beside me. Darcy pops his head back in and chucks a thumb
at me then turns to whisper something to Charlee.
I take
these rare moments when I still see her around to imagine her letting her
blonde hair down and shaking it out across her face. About getting a hand into
that hair and holding her to my chest with the other. I want to know what she
smells like.
It’s as
close as I deserve to get.
Giveaway
This book looks like such a great read!
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