Carly Atwood always remembered the man that used to live in the loft above the barn when she was a little girl. John was her childhood crush, he was the guy she wrote about in her diary, and when he left her in his army greens, he was the first man she ever cried for. Nine years later, Carly isn't the eleven year-old girl John left behind. She grew up and moved on with her life, taking over the Atwood Ranch following her father's death. John isn't the man he used to be either; physically and emotionally scarred following his last deployment in Afghanistan, John is returning to the only place he ever called home, back to the loft above the barn and to the pretty blonde girl that's been holding onto his dog tags for all these years. ----- Title inspired by the song of the same name by Tim McGraw.

"... Isn't that... My shirt?" "Huh?! Then how did it end up in my locker?!" We both froze, my face turning red as I looked down at the baggy material. How could I not have noticed? And why did he have to walk in just now? Christian watched me, his face slightly red as he moved closer. I closed my eyes, waiting for the punch, the kick, the pain... But it never came. Instead, I felt something different. Soft lips on top of mine, moving slowly and sweetly. I opened my eyes. Christian Nelson, the most popular jock in the school, was currently making out with me in a gym locker room.

She wants to escape it all. She runs from it. She gets a chance to leave it all behind. And she does, without thinking twice. Gabrielle leaves France, her home country, when she finds an offer to babysit in London. She doesn't have a lot of experience with kids, but she's willing to do whatever it takes to just disappear from the world she somehow got sucked into. She comes to a rich family, who has a daughter and a son. She gets a big surprise when she arrives there. The little girl might be little indeed, but the son is nothing like she expected. He's all tall and broad with tattoos marking almost every inch of his skin. And he screams bad news. Alexander shows he doesn't like Gabrielle from the first time he sees her. However, they somehow just can't ignore each other as much as they'd like to, even though Alexander told Gabrielle to never involve in his business. But her being stubborn and fearless, she quickly finds out why people call him 'Sin.' *WARNING! This story contains a strong language and violence.* *The Literary Awards 2017 winner Cover by @ForeverIsland

"You know nothing about me, absolutely nothing! Who are you to tell me what's best for me Joslyn?!" he yells. "So all the girls you sleep with, you think that's healthy? I'm looking out for you, I can see right past this bullshit facade!" "Then tell me" he begins to walk towards me until my back reaches the wall. "What do you see?" "I see.." He presses his forehead against mine while his hands stay balled up against the wall above me. "Say it Joslyn..please." "We shouldn't be in this position...you have to-" "Joslyn." he whispers. His voice is filled with something I can't quite place. "Someone might see us." I whisper. He lowers his head and places a gentle kiss on my lips but that soon becomes a hungrier, more demanding kiss that we've both needed. His arms wrap around my waist as he deepens the kiss. But this isn't right. This isn't the person I'm supposed to be going on a date with. In fact, the person that is supposed to be going out with me is standing right in front of us. "Joslyn?" ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~ Joslyn Lozano is a 22-year old college student who's been through a lot in life. It shaped her to be a strong, independent woman who isn't afraid to tell things as it is. She refuses to let anyone belittle her. After a few parties, she meets people that will ultimately change her life forever. Mason. Ava. Tristan. Jace. Danny. Will she finally let someone in her heart or will fate tear them apart? Will her life change for the better or will her sad past repeat itself? Could she survive losing another person she loves? They say college is one of the craziest times of your life.. (There will be sexual scenes marked with *)