Before she agreed to tutor Tucker Price, college junior Scarlett was introvert, struggling with her social anxiety disorder and determined to not end up living in a trailer park like her mother and her younger sister. A mathematics major, she goes to her classes, to her job in the tutoring lab, and then hides in the apartment she shares with her friend, Caroline.
After junior Tucker Price, Southern University’s star soccer player enters the equation, her carefully plotted life is thrown off its axis. Tucker’s failing his required College Algebra class. With his eligibility is at risk, the university chancellor dangles an expensive piece of computer software for the math department if Scarlett agrees to privately tutor him. Tucker’s bad boy, womanizer reputation makes Scarlett wary of any contact, let alone spending several hours a week in close proximity.
But from her first encounter, she realizes Tucker isn’t the person everyone else sees. He carries a mountain of secrets which she suspects hold the reason to his self-destructive behavior. But the deeper she delves into the cause of his pain, the deeper she gets sucked into his chaos. Will Scarlett find the happiness she’s looking for, or will she be caught in Tucker’s aftermath?
Book Excerpt
I go into the bathroom and change before I get Tucker’s water. When I return, he’s snoring again. I set the water on the nightstand then turn toward the door.
“Why are you always running away from me?”
I look over my shoulder and his eyes are closed, but the back of his forearm covers his forehead. “You were asleep. I didn’t want to bother you.”
“Where are you going? This is your bed.”
“It’s okay. I’m going to sleep on the sofa.”
He pushes himself into a sitting position. “No, Scarlett. It’s your bed. You should sleep here.”
“It’s okay, really. You need to sleep it off.”
“Please. Stay.” He reaches for me, hopelessness washing off of him in thick waves.
Hypnotized by the despair in his eyes, I sink to the edge of the mattress.
He smiles, but it’s sad. He slips his hand into mine. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”
“Tucker…I can’t… I’m not…”
“I know, Scarlett. I would never ask you to. I’m still drunk, and you deserve better than that.”
The sincerity in his words freezes the air in my lungs.
He pulls me down next to him, and I find myself unable to resist.
We’re both on our sides, facing each other. He releases my hand and reaches for the side of my face, brushing the hair off my cheek. His fingertips barely touch my skin, yet send shivers down my back. My stomach clenches.
“Sweet, sweet Scarlett.” His palm presses against my cheek as his fingers dig into my hair.
I close my eyes, my stomach tightening even more.
“I’ve never felt this with anyone. Ever,” he murmurs, his words fading.
Neither have I remains unsaid, but buried in my heart.
My panic builds like a storm in the back of my head. How can I be lying next to Tucker Price? How can I let him affect me so? But part of me is tired of basing every single decision in my life on reasoned and thought-out choices. Part of me wants to live.
I can’t help thinking about my conversation with Caroline days ago, when I told her that one didn’t live a little or a lot, they simply lived.
I finally get it.
Nevertheless, I can’t give any part of myself to this man. There may be a hidden window to his soul, but it is not my job to plumb its depths. I’m neither experienced nor jaded enough to survive the attempt.
But maybe I can steal this moment. Just for tonight
*My Review Will Posted Soon*
Author Bio:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period. Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within in two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks. She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.
You can find out more about Denise and her other books at:
or email her at denisegroverswank@gmail.com
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I think I'm going to like this. I'm adding it to my "To Read" list.
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