Finding Salvation- A Runaway Novel

Prologue

Jacob knew he should probably be paying attention to the girl all but trying to crawl into his lap. His brother would slap him across the head and request his man card if he admitted he had no interest.

There was nothing wrong with her, she was pretty enough and willing enough. Still, he had to admit he held no interest.

Might be because his cousin, Damon, had looked like a kicked puppy when he introduced her to Jacob and realized she was a hell of a lot more interested in sucking his dick than Damon's.

He was smart enough to not want to be anywhere near a situation like that.

He was also smart enough to admit that under normal circumstances, he would've still at least considered sleeping with her. At the very least, he would've rejected her and expected to be treated like a goddamn hero for resisting the temptation.

The truly shocking thing was, he wasn't tempted at all.

And it was all her fault.

She'd caught his eye from across the bonfire, and she'd held it since.

Jacob couldn't name what it was about her that kept dragging him back, but it was definitely real.

"Hey," Jacob called out to his cousin. "Do you know who that is?"

He nodded in the direction of his mystery girl, realizing that she had looked away when he did and was now sitting primly surrounded by guys she didn't seem interested in.

Damon squinted and shrugged. "She didn't go to Harbor Ridge," he named the local high school like that should be enough and in a town this small, it really was.

"Tourist?"

Damon snorted, "Sightseeing all the cows and shit?"

Jacob nodded, having to agree. If he hadn't been visiting family, he sure as hell wouldn't be there.

"Hey," the blonde at his side interrupted. "Who needs the goth freak when you have me?"

Jacob squinted through the fire. Goth was going a little far, but she did seem dark in a way that asked others to ignore her.

Jacob all but threw her off his lap when he stood up to walk away.

"Jackass!" He heard her call from behind him, but he didn't turn around. It would give Damon the opportunity to help her up, agree with her, and make a damn move before she moved onto the next asshole who caught her eye.

Jacob stopped about ten feet away from her, leaning against the truck someone had pulled up to the landline to get the kegs into position.

She was surrounded by a couple of guys who were all failing pretty spectacularly to get or keep her attention.

She looked up as asshole number one started talking about the fishing trip he was going on over the summer break.

She did a small double take when she caught sight of Jacob, her eyes making a slow crawl up from his legs to his eyes.

Jacob smiled, knowing she liked what she saw by the soft flush that took over her cheeks.

He watched her the next ten minutes or so, enjoying that blush go a little further, creeping down into the delectable cleavage her tank top offered.

At a certain point, asshole number two tried to slip his hand up her thigh and that blush took on a tint of annoyance that got him harder than he'd been the last time he had a girl naked in his bed.

She left the fire to the disappointment of the boys who had never stood a chance.

Jacob smiled, enjoying watching her escape more than he'd thought possible.

He found her further up the beach, just far enough away to be in the light, but far enough away that the music was more a dull throb than a pulse coursing through his veins.

"Took you long enough."

Jacob smiled as her voice met him in the almost darkness.

"That mean you were waiting for me?"

She smiled, a small smile that seemed more surprised than happy.

"Suppose I was. Didn't expect you to drag your feet."

Jacob chuckled. "I like to take my time."

"In all things?"

That chuckle became a soul deep laugh. "You always so direct?"

"No. But I know what I want. Do you?"

"You asking if I want you?"

"No, I know you want me?"

"Do you?"

She nodded, her eyes finally finding him in the dark. "You've wanted me since the second you saw me."

"Have I now."

She nodded.

"So, let's say you're right."

"I am."

"Alright then. What are you going to do about it?"