Sand & Snow (Sand & Clay #1.5) (11 page)

“I’m Kate. Kate Jackson,” she said, extending her hand to him.

“Derrick Kane.” His hand strongly grasped hers and his dark brown eyes pierced into hers, smiling at her with a wide, boyish grin that made her heart beat a little faster. 

For the rest of Kate & Derrick’s story, as well as the thrilling, suspense-filled investigation of the infamous serial killer known as ‘The Photographer’, read the rest of Tainted Bodies. Your copy is waiting at any of the major retailers listed below.

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DISCLAIMER: Due to violent and dark subject matter, this book is intended for readers over the age of 18 years old.

COMING SOON
:
THE PHOTOGRAPHER TRILOGY BOX SET

Make sure to check out the full length
Photographer Trilogy Box Set
, coming to all digital platforms as well as paperback on January 1
^st
, 2015! It will include
Tainted Bodies, Tainted Pictures, Untainted
, and a bonus deleted scene that offers a look into the Photographer’s past!
If you love this trilogy, please leave a review on
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Go add
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Pre-order
The Photographer Trilogy Box Set
when it goes on preorder December 10
^th
, 2014. It will be live on January 1
^st
, 2015 on all retail platforms including
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, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, Paperback, and more.

DISCLAIMER: Due to violent and dark subject matter, this book is intended for readers over the age of 18 years old.

DISCOVERED EXCERPT

from Chapter One in Book One of the Cover Series

By
Kim Black

Copyright © 2014 Kim Black

Chapter One

“Let your love be like the misty rain, coming softly, but flooding the river.”

~ Madagascan Proverb ~

EMILY

It was Friday and after the workweek I had had, I needed to unwind. Diana, my best friend, had called earlier during her lunch break to suggest a girl’s night out and I did not hesitate to accept. The girls needed to have some much-needed fun! In addition, it would give me a chance to pause my work woes, and I needed that, badly!

So, the group, which consists of me, Diana and Suzie, gathered at our favorite spot ‘Tanked’. It was not really the best bar in town but there was something about the friendly vibe that the place provided that always cheered up even the most depressed visitor. It had a house band that always killed and most importantly cheap Tequila shots, which I was in much need of tonight.

“Ok, so spill it Em. When I called you earlier you sounded kind of off, so what’s up?” Diana was always in tune with my every emotion, which I loved about her, but also hated it just the same.

I sighed, knowing that I could not really hide anything from them. “They promoted that brown nosing Thomas to Sous-Chef today. I’m not really surprised, but honestly he can’t even boil water, let alone cook at the standards a four star restaurant like Farjo should require.”

Diana reached out and touched my hand, “You’ll get there Em. They cannot waste your talent forever. I say you just continue to be the best line cook you can be, and when the opportunity arises you’ll get your chance to shine and show them all just how awesome you are. Trust me.”

I could not help but smile at my dear friend’s unwavering optimism, but my smile was short lived, “Yeah. If I was as much of a butt kisser as Thomas was, I bet that would happen, but I cannot do that D. If I am ever going to make it in this business it has to be because I’m good at what I do, not because I stuck my head up someone’s butt.”

“Well then, I guess we need to get you hammered tonight,” Suzie chimed in, holding her shot glass in her hand.

With that, we all cheered to sucky dead end jobs, brown nosing coworkers, and lifted our shot glasses, the first of many to come that night.

After several shots and a lot of dancing, I was beginning to forget about my troubles. I was determined to let my hair down and enjoy the rhythm of the music. I did not care that I was not the best dancer, or that I was probably too drunk to even call what I was doing on the dance floor dancing. After a few songs passed, I decided it was time for another round with my friends; but just as I was about to leave the dance floor, a deep, sultry voice crept up behind me and whispered in my ear, “May I have this dance, chérie?” the rich, French voice drawled. I immediately spun around only to find myself staring at the most beautiful man I had ever laid eyes on.
Was he talking to me?

I stood there, mouth-hanging open, as I stared into the unique, soul-penetrating pair of eyes that I had ever seen. At first glance, they were dark grey, but as the lights danced around the bar, I noticed a hint of gold and a lighter shade of grey at their center. There was something about his eyes that put me in a trance, and although I knew I should probably look away, I just could not bring myself to do - not just yet anyway.

“Will you deny a lonely bachelor a dance with such a beautiful woman?” he asked, never breaking eye contact with me.

I must have looked really stupid, standing there with my mouth agape. It was not until I realized that my throat was dry that I finally pulled my eyes away from his stare, trying to look at anything but those beautiful, stunning, and intense eyes. His strong jaw line was indisputable underneath the five o’clock shadow that shaped his soft pink lips, which had a slight pucker to them.

I had an urge to touch them to confirm their softness, but managed to restrain myself, not wanting to look even more foolish than I already appeared, but licked my lips at the very thought, causing the man’s eyes to widen.

It had been so long since a man had turned me on and yet this man stood before me now, with his muscular frame barely hidden under his dress shirt, managing to awaken parts of me that I had long forgotten existed with just one look.

“Sorry… I’m actually out with some friends tonight.” I was not sure what that really meant since I really did not answer his question.
Crap, I look stupid.

“I mean… I… uh... can’t” I murmured, trying desperately to look at anywhere but into his eyes, and failing; I felt trapped.
Where were Diana and Suzie when I needed them?

He smiled and I caught a glimpse of something in his eyes that I was all too familiar with. Living in California for the last three years, especially while working at the restaurant, had exposed me to an array of different men. This said, there was one particular type I found most distasteful of all: a man who thought he was exempt from rejection. It was the same overconfident look that my ex, Adam, had sported when we were dating last year. The same look that I had fallen for before finding out that he was cheating on me, and I had no doubt that this man in front of me was no different…a playboy!

As if on cue he continued, “Surely your friends wouldn’t mind if you chose to dance just one song with me.”

After all that I had gone through with Adam, I felt my blood begin to boil. Determined to project an outward calm I did not feel and keeping my expression devoid of any emotion, I replied with a raised brow, “And what would make you think I would want to dance with you?” Without waiting for a response and keeping my head held high, I turned and walked away from him, adding a sexy little flick of my hair and an extra sway to my hips.

“That should teach him…” I muttered to myself, feeling satisfied that I had finally told his type where to go. Though he was not Adam, it somehow felt like I was berating him too which felt great!

I found my friends at the table staring at me when I walked up and took a seat.

“What?”

“Did you just turn down that total hottie? Tell me you didn’t… Em, please say it isn’t so,” Suzie said as she stared at the dark, sexy, creature.

“I know his type and I’m not interested, remember Adam?” I said as I snatched Diana’s shot glass from her hand, emptying the contents with one gulp, ignoring her obviously annoyed face. “I don’t need another smooth talking sex symbol with the inability of keeping his penis in check, and who thinks that he is God’s gift to women. I’m thankful to Diana for saving me from any further embarrassment and I have no intention of going down that road again, thank you very much!” I continued as I gave Diana a grateful smile.

I was just starting to get over the humiliation I felt when I discovered that Adam was sleeping with a few of the other interning chefs at Tajh
.
Diana had come over to my house, her face ghostly pale and in tears, telling me how she went by Tajh looking for me and found him and two other co-workers getting it on in the kitchen. She told me how she cursed him out and stormed off, coming directly to my place to tell me.

“I’m so sorry Em, I hate that he did this to you but I’m just glad that we found out when we did
,” I remembered her saying to me, as I cried on her shoulder until I could not cry anymore.

I was beyond sick after that and cried for months. Of course, he tried to deny it when I confronted him, but I was having none of it. It was over! It was the greatest pain I had ever felt, one that I would not wish on my worst enemy, even that brown-noser, Thomas. That ordeal caused me to quit my internship at Tajh and apply to Farjo just a little over a year ago.

“But he’s gorgeous. I mean, seriously… if it were me, I’d be in his car heading for his crib already,” Suzie continued, “and he’s still looking at you! Girl, you better snag him up before I beat you to it.”

“Snag away! Tonight I just want to hang out with my girls and enjoy myself, man free…” It was true that I might have been slightly attracted to the man, but that sense of entitled confidence in those determined, focused eyes made me feel unsettled. I had dipped into the pool of sexy, headstrong men before and it only screwed with my life. So, gorgeous or not, I was not about to walk down that road again.

“Don’t listen to Suzie. If you aren’t ready, then take your time,” Diana responded, ignoring Suzie’s deathly glares.

“Well thank God someone understands me.”
What would I do without my best friend?
I thought to myself.

After a few more drinks, and lots of laughter, I was beyond my limit; and from what I could tell, so were the girls. We gathered our things and headed out of the bar.

“Man, I’m going to have such a headache tomorrow,” Diana, slurred as she tried to hail a cab, swaying slightly.

“You and me both” I responded as I tried to focus my eyes on my cell phone. Closing one eye, I could just make out some emails from work. I should have probably tried to read them right away, but I really did not want to ruin my night.

“I can give you a lift,
ma belle
,” the smooth voice said from behind me.
The Frenchman…man, he really didn’t know how to take a hint.

It didn’t hurt that his French accent was rich, and thick, and oh so sexy, but no amount of sweet-talking would get him anywhere with me. I was done with men like him. Men who sweet talked you right out of your panties, made you fall in love with them and then broke your heart into a million pieces, leaving you alone and broken. Never again!

“You’re just so sure of yourself aren’t you? I bet the girls you normally hit on can’t wait to get into your car, huh? Well not me, sorry buddy,” I fired back at him, not even bothering to turn around.

I heard him laugh under his breath and that brought a surge of anger through me. “So, you think it’s funny that I’m not falling at your feet? Well, other women might fall all over themselves to get a piece of you, but I will not! I know your type and I’m not interested!”