Authors: Christa Simpson
Twisted
TWISTED
The
Twisted Series: Book 1
By Christa
Simpson
By Christa Simpson
Copyright ©
2013 Christa Simpson
KINDLE EDITION
Blog:
http://christasimpson.wordpress.com
Email:
[email protected]
Cover Art by Razzle
Dazzle Design.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This
ebook may not be re-sold or given away to anyone other than the person who
purchased it. In the case that you wish to share this ebook with others,
please purchase an additional copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of
this author.
Thanks to my hubby and my girls
for putting up with me, while I spent hours typing away on my computer. It was
slow going at first, but I think I finally got my hubby on board.
Thanks to my mom and my sisters
for being my sounding boards whenever I needed one (which was often).
Thanks to everyone else who
has been supporting me on my new journey as an author.
Last, but certainly not
least, thanks to you for purchasing my book!!
Happy Reading!
~Christa Simpson
OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
~
ANXIOUS
AND IMPATIENT, I sped toward my quaint Victorian house settled snugly in the
luscious green City of Rose Arbour. I maneuvered my fast black car through the
City streets and swung into my double driveway. Jamming my foot on the brake,
I brought the car to a stop and slammed it into park, reckless but effective.
With long strides, I hurried to my front door and slipped inside my house, my
heart beating fast, my face covered with a smile.
It was the perfect night for a blind date. What am I
saying? There’s no such thing! Regardless, I had to get ready for my night
out and fast. I was expecting my mystery man any minute.
Edwin Santora’s eyes were on me the second our solid wood
door clunked shut. After kicking off my shoes, and giving a silent wave to my brooding,
shirtless roommate, I rushed directly upstairs taking two steps at a time. Within
seconds, Edwin was flying up the stairs behind me, all brawn and pride. He stalked
me down the hall, his large agile physique a shadow of stealth. But no matter
how smooth Edwin thought he was, I could always sense when he was lurking
around.
I disappeared into the bathroom, ignoring his approach, heart
still racing, cheeks flushed with a healthy glow. It had been way too long and
it was time for me to move on with my life. The days of Edwin and I were over,
and I had finally faced that fact. For that reason, I trusted my matchmaking
to an eager co-worker. What else could I do? I didn’t seem to have any luck
finding
myself
a man.
Edwin filled the doorframe with his imposing shoulders. "Where
are
you
going all dolled up like that?"
I should have slammed the door shut behind me while I had the
chance. The last thing I needed now was Edwin giving me a hard time. It had
been months since my last date and let’s just say that it’s not possible for
this one to go any worse than that one had.
After carefully touching up my mascara in the mirror, I
twirled around to face him, my glossy brown hair fanning out behind me. "I
got a date!" I smiled from honest excitement, but I really didn’t have
time to chat about it.
"Who is he?" Edwin pried.
"You don't know him."
Edwin’s chest flexed under my warm gaze, his abs held tight,
sculpted from stone. Oh, I love watching him sweat. He narrowed his aqua
eyes, in response to my devious smile, and, as if on cue, the doorbell rang.
Before I even reached the bathroom door, Edwin stepped toward
me, boxed me out with his hip and hurried down the hall with swift, powerful strides,
every muscle in his body twitching with adrenaline. There was no point in
trying to fight him for the front door. He had me beat.
“You think you could put on a shirt Eddie? Please.”
"I'll get it," he hollered, shuffling down the
stairs, ignoring my request. He was all too eager to answer the door and his mischievous
grin gave away his greedy intentions.
"Edwin, be good!" I warned, stopping at the top of
the open staircase.
"What? I'm always good." He flashed me a sly
smile and raised his dark arched eyebrows.
I knew it meant trouble and my nerves started to get the best
of me, butterflies dancing in my tummy. Edwin better not blow this one too. He
had a tendency of scaring away my dates. It was getting old. I suppose, if this
guy can’t handle Edwin's pressure, maybe he’s only saving me the trouble. I clung
to the wooden post, hoping the poor guy would pass the test.
Edwin opened the front door ever so slightly and started in
on his usual act, deliberately blocking my view.
Bastard.
Then he
cracked the door open a little farther, teasing, his generous back still in the
way. He folded his bulging arms over his impressive chest and stared
down
at my date with eyes dark and voice low. "Can I help you?" he asked
firmly, acting all macho.
I nearly burst out laughing and had to hide the smile on my
face to show that I was not amused. Even if I was.
"Is this the home of Abigail Jenkins?" the poor guy
asked hesitantly.
"Yes," Edwin answered, but didn’t invite him in.
"Edwin!" I warned, scowling at his back. I’d had
enough. As I started down the stairs to intervene, I struggled to interpret
their mumbling. It was time that I took things into my own hands.
"I guess you can come in," Edwin finally offered,
swinging the door wide open and smirking at me over his bulky shoulder.
I wanted to throttle him, but decided on saving it for later.
"I'm Kerry by the way, Kerry Malone." He offered
his business card to Edwin and then extended his hand for a shake.
Edwin nodded at him and left him hanging, but took the card. "Isn't
Kerry a girl's name? Is there something you're not telling us Kerry?"
Oh boy, here we go. Why Edwin had to pull out the immaturity
card at a time like this was beyond me. "That's enough, wise guy," I
said, jabbing my elbow into Edwin’s rock hard gut. My cheeks warmed with
embarrassment. "Don't mind him," I said, smiling at Kerry.
Kerry flashed me an anxious, selfless smile, his dark
chocolate eyes warm with hope.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
Edwin strode off toward the living room, without another
word, but I had a distinct feeling that I wasn't in the clear just yet. I
detected a slight sense of annoyance from Edwin, and maybe a little disappointment?
I quickly shuffled that thought away.
"Is that pest your brother?" Kerry asked, curious but
quiet.
"You could say he's something of the sort," I lied,
loud enough for Edwin to hear.
"Ha!" Edwin snapped from the living room, carefully
listening in, as I suspected.
Kerry ignored Edwin, totally focused on me. "You look
beautiful tonight."
"Thank you," I replied smiling, my cheeks warming
all over again. He must have liked the hair. I had styled long loose curls in
it this morning and it was still looking soft and glossy like polished
mahogany.
I bent over and slipped on my new stilettos. "Shall
we?" I asked, motioning toward the door. I didn't want to leave an
opening for Edwin to come back and sabotage Kerry's chances. So far so good.
I stepped out into the heat, as Kerry made his way down the
porch steps, the pavement still distributing the warmth from the hot day's sun.
It wasn’t even summer yet, but the weather was exceptionally warm and I was
enjoying every waking moment of it.
Kerry opened my car door and my smile revealed my
appreciation. Check. The soft music and laidback conversation was
encouraging. Check. He drove his car steadily to the restaurant, without
trying to make a show of it. Check.
I watched his body language, cool and cautious. His
shoulders slanted toward me and his left hand casually dangled over the top of
the steering wheel, as he smoothly shifted gears. He seemed kind and totally
attentive the entire trip to the restaurant. Finally, this night had turned
right.
When he stared ahead, monitoring the oncoming traffic, I took
the opportunity to check him out some more. His face was attractive,
especially when he was donning that anxious smile that curved up a little
higher on the left. All in all, the combination of his short silky black hair,
dark brown eyes and appealing smile was actually quite charming.
When his car came to a halt, I got my own door. This is the
twenty first century people. I rounded the front of the car and met up with
him before we approached the restaurant on foot. Suddenly everything took a
turn for the worst. Everything always had a way of doing that for me.
It started with an enormous bulge jutting out from Kerry’s back
pocket. How did I not notice that before? I let him take one full stride
ahead of me and decided his wallet looked more like a pocket dictionary; totally
ridiculous. It made me second-guess my assessment of his character.
Then there was our obvious height difference. Now I suppose
it didn't help that I was wearing 4" heels, but he couldn't have been an
inch over 5'6" on a good day. After having dated Edwin, an easy 6'2"
with tree trunks for legs, Kerry seemed to me like half a man. Considering the
fact that I had him beat by a couple of inches standing flat-footed, it was
official that this date was hopeless.
The restaurant was his selection, an average run-of-the mill
chain restaurant. The music was too loud, the lights too dim and the patio
lanterns set the stage for an awful night.
I tossed my voluminous hair over my shoulder, inspecting the embarrassing
distance from his shoulders to mine, my confidence wavering from his
shortcomings. I literally towered over Kerry, as the petite, young hostess
asked for his name. He handed her his business card.
Okay then.
I wanted to keep an open mind, but I had already come to
terms with the fact that I’m a pessimist by nature and it would be a hard fight
with myself to win this one. Weak and unimpressive were words that came to
mind, when I prefer strong and commanding.
I smiled at Kerry when he looked up at me, but when he opened
his mouth, that just put the icing on his goodbye cake. His breath reeked of
liquor and I started to wonder how I hadn't noticed his slight slur before
now. That would explain why he was driving so carefully.
For lack of a good escape plan, I figured I might as well get
a good meal out of the deal. His wallet was fat enough. I'm sure he could
afford it.
Soon a waitress led us to a booth near the bar.
Thoughtfully, Kerry offered for me to take my seat first. I slid into the
middle of the leather covered bench seat. Seconds later I realized that Kerry
was feeling daring tonight, and he slid in next to me. There was nowhere for
me to go, shoved up against the wall, so I dropped my purse in between us. I
could only hope that it was enough to keep him at bay.