Let Me In

“Sure.” I smile at him as he leads us through the dining room past the table of seven playing poker. Out of the corner of my eye I see Reed with a girl to his right sitting closely and Qui

“Have you played poker before?”

“Nope, I haven’t, but I love card games.”

As he is filling our cups he says, “Alright go on in there and grab a chair. I’m going up to get us some change to play.”

I head back in to the dining room and immediately see Blue Eyes lock with mine. Reed is dressed casually in a long sleeved puma t-shirt and jeans. He is holding his cards up towards his face and his hair has fallen over his eyes partially. He gives me a tight smile and gestures to a chair across the table with his eyes. It’s quiet as cards are being laid on the table, but then Qui

I giggle because it is obvious that Qui

“Kate! How was di

“Good.” Somehow everyone at the table is looking in my direction. Luckily, Marco makes his way over and I’m not forced to bare an interrogation.

As Reed is dealing the cards again for Texas Holdem he asks, “How did packing up go?”

Instantly, I see Marco looking at me in question. I simply answer, “Good, I’m all set.” I smile at Reed and avoid the questioning look Marco is giving me.

Marco decides to have us play as a team since I have never played before. After a few hands he lets me start making the calls. Before I know it, I’ve become familiar with “the turn” and “the river”. I win a hand or two and this gets Qui

After a few cups of beer I get up to head to the bathroom. Marco asks, “Do you remember where it is?”

I laugh and say, “Yes, I’ve only had a few this time.”

Once I get up there I have to wait because it is being used. I look across the hall and see Reed’s door to his bedroom open. It is clean and his bed is made like the last time I saw it. I don’t see the picture of him with the girl that was on his nightstand this time though. Two girls come out of the bathroom giggling. The one flips her long auburn hair and says, “Ah, look there is Reed’s room, wouldn’t that be nice to wake up in there?”

Girl number two says, “You wish!” They head down the stairs and I laugh to myself as I head in to the bathroom. I can’t deny that I may have been thinking on the same line.

I open the door and see Reed across the hall leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets and a leg crossed over the other. His head is hung slightly low, so that his eyes have to peek through his hair to see me. Crap.

“Hey Kate.”

“Hey,” I smile slightly.

“Did you enjoy your time alone with Marco?”

I’m desperately trying to remain calm and not show my nerves. Before I answer he takes a step closer leaving me in the doorway of the bathroom. I try to gain some wit before responding.

“Yea, are you enjoying poker with Qui

He scoffs at this and runs his hand through his hair. Now he has moved closer and his arms are on both sides of the door frame to the bathroom. I’m trapped and I’m not sure that I mind it. My mouth is parted and my breathing has become erratic. Oh God. I’m mesmerized by his lips right now as he licks his top lip. He moves to the side of my right ear and whispers, “Hmm, is that what you think...” He lets out a breath in my ear and slowly moves my hair off my shoulder. “You can breathe, Kate; I’m not going to kiss you… yet.” And then moves around me into the bathroom and starts to close the door forcing me into the hallway.

The rest of the evening is spent drinking and playing cards. I try to avoid eye contact with Reed at all costs even when he speaks to me directly. Marco stays by my side the whole night with his arm around my shoulder or a hand on my thigh. Throughout the night I see Qui

It’s past one in the morning and Qui

“Have a good trip.” A small smirk spreads across his lips before he says, “I look forward to seeing you tan.”

“Thanks…” The alcohol has worn off and I’m feeling a bit shy by his forwardness.

“I’ll be at te

“Ok, see you then. Bye Reed.” For some reason the fear of Marco seeing us having this conversation has me eager to leave. I catch one last glimpse of his blue eyes and feel a burning sensation pitted to my core.

“Bye Kate.” I start to head to the front room and feel saddened by the finality of this goodbye.

Then I see Marco waiting by the door for me and I smile at his handsome face. He walks out onto the porch with us as we begin to leave. Qui

“I had a great time tonight, Kate. Can I call you after your vacation?”

“Of course, I’d like that.” I’m not lying.

“Thank you for di

“Sure, I liked teaching you.”

He moves closer to me and his hands snake around my waist. Slowly his lips touch mine. Then his tongue gently opens my lips and begins to dance with my tongue. Instantly, I feel a wave of butterflies in my belly. I kiss him back without hesitation. The smell and taste of ci

Synopsis for The Perfect Distraction

When Katherine “Kate” leaves for her freshmen year at college, a grounded and stable piece of her is missing. She pushes away the ghosts of her past, determined to start her college life single, carefree and distracted.

Throughout high school Kate was reserved and shy, with little experience. Now, on her own, with little holding her back, Kate is ready to branch out. She bonds with a tight knit group of friends and even starts casually dating. What starts out as i

Things get complicated when Kate’s ex-boyfriend and first love continues to pursue her. Kyle deeply regrets breaking her heart when he left for college the year before and is now on a mission to reclaim her. Kyle’s persistence and relentlessness is nothing short of obsessive. He will stop at nothing to win her back and prove his love.