Authors: Sigal Ehrlich
Tags: #romance, #Romantic Comedy, #New Adult & College, #Contemporary, #Literature & Fiction
Layers
Layers
by
Sigal Ehrlich
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.
LAYERS
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Copyright © 2013 Sigal Ehrlich
. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical without the express written permission of the author. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials.
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
Cover designed by Regina Wamba of
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Cover art:
Copyright © Thinkstock photos Collection: iStock 167313076
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Published by Telemachus Press, LLC
http://www.telemachuspress.com
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ISBN: 978-1-939927-94-1 (eBook)
ISBN: 978-1-939927-95-8 (Paperback)
Version 2013.10.10
Table of Contents
Chapter 2: Crime and Punishment
Chapter 6: Indecent Intentions
Chapter 9: Repetitive Emotional Stress Injury
Chapter 12: A Night at the Ball
Chapter 14: Second Time Around
Chapter 15: Just Another Day at the Office
Chapter 19: Workplace Romance and Fraternization
Chapter 21: Poor Chinese Life Philosophy and Then Some
Chapter 22: Change of Location
Chapter 24: At The Depths of A-1
Chapter 28: Cramps and Revelations
Chapter 31: From Zero to a Hundred in a Split Second
Chapter 36: Like Sheep to the Slaughter
Chapter 38: Too Little, Too Late
Chapter 40: When It Rains It Pours
Writing Layers was an absolute remarkable journey. But, like everything in life it had its tough times, setbacks and a whole lot of doubts …
Layers wouldn’t be what it is without the help and support of some truly extraordinary individuals that stood by me throughout this voyage.
My Beta readers, I cannot thank you enough for your support, feedback and patience that cannot be measured.
Sylvie, Tali, Merili, Evelyn, Hila, Liis, Kriistina, Sirle, Beth and Sima; a big, fat thank you all for falling in love with the story and D, together with me.
Nicole Hornbaker, for being my gateway before stepping into the real world. I wouldn’t have the courage to turn Layers from a manuscript to an actual book without you.
Cassandra Marshall, for being one of the most professional, honest people I’ve worked with. It is thanks to you that Layers eventually become what I’ve envisioned it to be.
Regina Wamba, for taking my imagination and crafting it to a better reality.
The team at Telemachus Press led by the wonderful MaryAnn Nocco, for being as good at your work.
Shachar, for being an inspiration and such a gorgeous one … You absolutely ROCK.
Hila, my soul mate, for believing in me more than I ever did. How much you mean to me can not be quantified!
My three nutty, amazing kiddos, Tommy, Bar and my own private Daniel, you make my world better.
My husband Gal, THANK YOU so much for supporting me like I never thought possible. I must have been a saint in my previous life to have gotten you. I. LOVE. YOU.
And last, but certainly not least, to all those who read, reviewed and spread the word. Thank you so much!
To Gal, for being you.
To reach the core of inner beauty, one must first unravel the many protective layers.
Layers
My vision of the sea of people dancing around me to the deafening music is getting obscure; they all blend into one amorphous cluster.
Please, could someone open a window? I can’t breathe. I need to breathe!
I’m suffocating and these lights, these flickering lights, are blinding. Repeatedly blinking, I try to focus my sight. I brush back the long, blonde curl that cling to my forehead.
Air, I need air!
Pushing my way, I squeeze through the frenetic moving mass of bodies, bumping into sweaty body parts, not really caring.
I need to get out of here
.
With my rear against the cold cement wall I bend down to rest my hands on my knees and inhale the first compulsory lungful of the night’s cool breeze.
You’re fine now, Hales. Calm down
. I straighten and my head feels dizzy from the haste of my movement.
Or is it due to the vast amount of alcohol flowing in my bloodstream
? Leaning my back against the wall, I take in the air again, filling my lungs to full capacity, and slowly, with a long, warm whistle-like breath, exhale, letting it gradually out.
How much have I had to drink so far?
I’m not even competent enough to do the math in my current state. How stupid was I to agree to Tasha’s juvenile challenge? “Who can consume more mojitos?” I shake my head, upset at my callow behavior.
I’m okay now, everything’s fine.
“Rough night?” The voice comes from my left, startling me. As I look for the source, my eyes fall upon a dangerously hot, tall, and dark guy with puffy biceps under a tight grey tee. He stands next to me on one leg, leaning back against the wall, bringing a burning cigarette to his flirtatious smirk as he takes his time sizing me up, ending on my somewhat glassy brown eyes.
“You could say that.” I smile at him, checking him out head to toe just as he did me, and I end up liking what I see. Without any prior reasonable urge I giggle, not sure why or what about. My senses aren’t fully aligned with the present. It seems as though my mental clarity has temporarily faded, along with any sensibility I might have had before.
The guy’s eyebrows flash up as he bites his lower lip, eyeing me, ready to attack like I’m some easy prey. “Can I help make your night better?”
Game on, hot stuff.
“I am pretty positive you could,” I say, “but I’m not sure I want you to.” I flash a seductive grin at him, ending it with a slow motion of my tongue over my lips. Under his piercing stare, I push myself to stand. My legs feel wobbly, and it takes me a moment to regain stability. As I do, I sashay slowly, very conscious of my body’s enticing sway as I make my way back to the club. With one foot in, I turn back to send yet another smile to the sex on legs who regards me with a lavish grin and a wink.
Got you
. I beam to myself.
“There you are!” Tasha yells over the loud music, working her provocative dance moves next to Ian, who counters her with his own sensual motions.
Had I not known Ian’s preference was for full of testosterone, buff alpha males, I’d assume he and Tasha are about to be all over each other right there, in the middle of the hectic dance floor.
“Come join us, gorgeous.” Ian extends his lean, toned arm to let me in between them. I squeeze in, hugged to an almost asphyxia amid my two best friends both loudly singing out of key in my ears about being young and setting the world on fire.
I titter in response, synchronizing my moves to mirror theirs, and the three of us dance energetically; our spirits elated, we occasionally caress or kiss each other with friendly pecks, giving the crowd a free threesome show.
“What’s the score?” Tasha asks in a high-pitched voice, grinning at us. She dances to the music, deliberately inclining her chest forward, pelvis teasing in round motions. Her navy blue dress sways around her curves adding to her overall sensual act.
“Eight to six. Hales is lingering behind,” Ian says, his face illuminated under the multicolored, flickering lights.
Tasha raises an impeccably trimmed eyebrow at us and declares, “Replenishment time friends,” then turns her face to me.
“You’re behind, Missy. Let’s do something about it.” Her lips curve up, challenging.
I shake my head in playful disapproval as we leave the dance floor to move toward the bar, holding our hands together in a human chain, passing through the thick smoke layer.
“I’m not sure I’m capable of drinking anymore,” I say. They both regard me, mischievously amused.
“It is not a matter of your capability to drink, it’s a matter of you losing. There’s a lot at stake,” Tasha utters dryly, twisting her mouth.
I feign a frown at them both while suppressing a smile, then turn to the bartender.
Wow, steady Hales.
Everything around me spins for what seems like forever. I hold the bar and take a deep breath.
“Let’s find love,” I hear Tasha telling Ian over the music. Ian laughs.
I snort and turn my head to send her a scornful glance. She smirks back.
“It’s a myth, no such thing exists,” I say.
She rolls her eyes at me and shakes her head. “Myth,” I mouth and shift back, resuming my attempt to order yet another round of drinks.
“A shot of vodka from the gentleman across the bar.” The broad, blond, and inhumanly tall bartender hands me a small, frozen shot glass, preventing me from executing my original plan.
As I turn my gaze in the direction he gestures, my eyes meet the guy from outside. He raises a matching glass my way from the other end of the bar. Throwing it back, he keeps his eyes steady on mine.
I copy his action, sending him an inviting grin while running a hand through my hair.
This is way too easy
.
“Back to your old habits, are you?” Tasha whispers in my ear, admiring my flirting techniques. Not leaving his gaze, I lean back a little to whisper next to her ear, “Just for tonight.”
“Are you sure, Hales? I thought you quit that BS. You know how it makes you feel.” Cynicism leaves her voice, replaced by concern.