The Hidden (sample)

Chapter One

Chapter One- Emily

Monday, August 17th, This Year

Dallas, TX

 

Summer heat smacked me in the face as the grocery store’s automatic doors slid open. The heat tightened my skin, making my face feel shrink-wrapped to my skull. I grimaced and shifted the bajillion grocery bags in my hands, continuing my trek through the parking lot to my car, which was still–

Damn it. Like a thousand miles away.

My eyes caught someone’s cart starting to roll down the gentle slope of the parking lot’s pavement up ahead. Bent over and buried in the trunk of his shiny black luxury car, the owner of the runaway cart was oblivious.

“Hey!” I called out.

He didn’t hear me.

The cart picked up speed, its front wheel wobbling inconsistently as it zoomed down the row, heading for a group of parked cars. And of course, my car was on the very end, sticking out like a giant fucking bullseye.

Shit.

I dropped my bags and took off running, my feet pounding on the pavement. I caught the front end of the cart just as it was about to slam into my driver’s side door. My body was all jittery from the sudden adrenaline rush, and I exhaled a shaky breath.

“I’m so sorry.”

My head jerked back, seeing Mr. Oblivious jog up to me, carrying my abandoned grocery bags. He stepped into the shade of my parking spot and asked, “Are you okay?” as he set the sacks down.

I scowled and pushed his cart to him. “I’m fine, but maybe next time you should pay more attention.”

He smiled, revealing a set of pearly whites that would be any dentist’s dream, and said, “Again, I’m really sorry.” He set his black aviator sunglasses atop his artfully messy dark hair, and I nearly died.

Spectacular golden-green eyes stared back at me under long dark lashes that, honestly, I was kinda jealous of. Large chunks of gold dotted his green irises, and they seemed to glow softly, as if backlit by a candle.

Holy damn. I’d been talking to a god this whole flippin’ time! Shit, how was my hair? Did I sweat all my makeup off?

I dropped my eyes and looked past him, to his car. Doing a double take, I squinted at his Virginia license plate. “You’re a long way from home.”

“Yeah, I go to school up there,” he said. “I’m home for the summer right now.” He picked up my bags and nodded to my trunk.

I pulled out my keys and unlocked it, lifting the lid for him. “I actually start college next week in Virginia,” I said.

His brows lifted, and he paused loading groceries into my car. “Really?”

I nodded, watching his well-defined forearms as he worked. Boy was built. I fought the urge to fan myself, and it had nothing to do with the heat.

“Maybe we’re not too far away from each other,” he said. “I’m at Potomac Ridge University. Where’re you going?”

I laughed and shook my head in disbelief. “No way. This is too weird.”

“What?”

“That’s my school. That’s where I start on Monday.”

He cocked an eyebrow as he put the last two bags in my trunk and shut the lid. “You’re pulling my leg, right? There’s no way the world is that small.”

“No, I swear.”

He stuck his hands in his pockets and stepped closer. “I never got your name.”

How did I get here, again? My mom sent me out to buy groceries, and I ended up talking with a guy who should be half-naked on a billboard in Times Square…

So far, my day wasn’t half bad.

“I’m Emily.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Emily.” He smiled. “I’m Gabriel.”

Tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, I gave him my best flirty smile.

“I’ve actually got to run right now,” he said as he checked his watch. “We should get together in Virginia. You heading up there soon?”

I nodded. “At the end of the week.”

“Me, too. Hey, why don’t you give me your number and I’ll give you a call when I get up there,” he said, pulling out his phone.

I bit my lip. This guy was smooth, I’d give him that. So I flashed Gabriel a polite smile and recited my phone number.