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She was kicking a rock out of the way when Cain grabbed her hand and pulled her to a nearby tree, causing her to yelp as she struggled to keep her balance. At nineteen, Cain was thin and lanky—all limbs. She was still short and stumpy. He turned her around brusquely and pressed her back against a tree, the bark digging into her. She looked up at him and saw an intensity in his eyes she’d never seen before. His cheeks were flushed and the vein by his neck pulsed. Suddenly she became nervous. He’d never looked at her this way—the way the cute guys looked at the pretty girls.

Lately she’d felt flustered when Jeremy was nearby, with his mess of curly dark brown hair and dimpled smile. Feelings that hadn’t been there before were now creeping in. In fact, she could’ve sworn Jeremy had been flirting with her lately—complimenting her clothes and hair, brushing against her “accidentally,” inviting her to the movies without Cain around. But these brief flirtatious moments were with Jeremy. Not with Cain. Never with Cain. Cain was just her friend. A little gangly, a little quiet, a lot overprotective.

That was until now.

Suddenly there was an awareness that had never been there before.

When he licked his lips, her pulse sped up. A foreign feeling—desire—began to take root. He reached toward her hair, and she flinched a little before he tucked a stray strand behind her ear. The tender action surprised her. For the first time, she noticed how clear his blue eyes were, how his hair was so blond it almost looked white. All of a sudden, he didn’t seem like just this boy who was always around. Unfamiliar feelings began to erupt throughout her body. She felt her cheeks flame and her heart race.

When he finally spoke, his voice shook a little. “I’m your friend because I want to be your friend. Not because of your parents or your dumb threats. I don’t like it when you call yourself fat. You’re not fat.”

She nodded and murmured, “Okay.” She drew her lower lip into her mouth and nibbled as her wide eyes gazed at his. Cain reached over and pulled her lip out of her mouth. “You’re nervous.” It wasn’t a question. He knew her well enough to be aware of her tells.

“I . . . uh . . . what are you doing, Cain?”

“I don’t want you to kiss just anyone to get it outta the way.”

Words failed her, so she just nodded again. There was a moment where neither spoke. He just looked at her as if trying to decide on his next move.

“I should be the first person you kiss,” he finally said as his tongue flicked out a little and wet his lips.

She gasped and looked up into his eyes nervously. His eyes never left hers, but his reddened ears and neck showed that he was also nervous. She too knew him well.

Like a fool, she bobbed her head up and down mostly because the words were stuck in her throat. It felt like he stared at her lips for an eternity until he finally leaned forward, causing her to press herself further back against the tree, her hands gripping the bark. He tilted his head to the side and she imitated the action.

Should I open my mouth? Leave it closed? What about my tongue? What should it be doing?

Softly, almost feather light, his lips brushed against hers. Her eyes instinctively closed tight, and she stopped breathing. It was less than ten seconds but it was forever. In that moment she fell into the category of girls who’d had their first kiss. She kept her eyes closed for far too long, and when she opened them he was standing upright, his face even more flushed. Her own tongue snuck out of her mouth to taste her lips. She swallowed and looked at him, her eyes as wide as saucers. What just happened?

Then, with the same intensity in his expression, he leaned back down, but this time he pressed harder against her lips causing her lips to part slightly. His body moved closer to hers, and then she felt his hands grip her waist and his tongue touch her lips before it moved into her mouth and brushed hers for a brief second, his fingers digging into her skin at her waist. She instinctively melded into him, her body seeking him out.

Again he moved away and looked at her. His expression never changed, and neither did hers. Her eyes were wide; she touched her lips, as if to determine whether the kiss had really happened. They just looked at each other, neither saying anything, her heart beating so loudly she was sure he could hear it. Finally she spoke and said the only thing that came to mind. “Wow, my cup runneth over,” she whispered. It was a phrase he teased her about constantly, but it was exactly how she felt: she could barely contain her happiness.

He chuckled, and the smile did her in: she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Hard. He wrapped his arms around her waist and walked them the half step back against the tree again. Their noses bumped. It was awkward, but as first kisses went . . . it was perfect.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Vi.” It was the last thing he said to her before leaving for war.

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Michel’s Review

5 Stars

I am a huge fan of the Worth The Fight Series by Sidney Halston. The WtF members, their better halves, and wacky animals are taking over Tarpon Springs, a small town in Florida. This series has captured my heart. Each and every character, whether it be human or animal has a story to tell.

Readers have come to know Cain Sorensen as the mysterious, silent fighter at WtF. He is part of the gym’s backbone. His fighting expertise and quiet nature has intrigued the readers. His mysterious job that takes him away from the gym adds to the intrigue. When he is around, he is completely focused on his training and support of the other fighters at WtF. His quiet self assured presence has earned him the respect of the other fighters. When he does talk, it’s with purpose, wisdom, and quite profound. But when Violet Channing shows up in Tarpon Springs, the WtF crew is going to see Cain Sorensen lose his cool and self assured confidence for the first time. They sense there is a history there. They are extremely curious ( in other words- downright nosey) about Violet and Cain’s past. They are more than ready to welcome Violet into the exclusive WtF family.

Violet and Cain grew up together. They were military brats and raised in very regimented families. Their fathers served together throughout their military careers. They were the best of friends. They also had another best friend, Jeremy, that shared their childhood and history. The three of them were inseparable until Violet turned sixteen . Cain and Jeremy shipped out to war. Violet was left behind to finish high school on her own. That moment in time changed all three of their lives forever.

Twelve years later Cain and Violet are reunited once again. Both of them has changed drastically. Cain became closed off and even more reserved. Violet has become independent and strong. No matter how much both of them have changed, their deep friendship is still the most important thing to both of them.

Violet is ready to move on in life and settle down. She feels awkward in the dating field. Cain has promised to help her out. But what happens when the friendship starts turning into something more? What do they do with this desire they have for one another? It can never work. Violet is too good for Cain. Cain has too many secrets. They no longer have Jeremy as a buffer between them? Will they find their lives together or once again torn apart?

Laid Out was quite different from the previous books in this series. The story revolves around their past in Texas. Rather than revolving around the gym, the WtF crew, and Tarpon Springs this story takes the reader into Violet and Cain’s anguished past. When they go back to Texas to face their past it will open the doors for their new beginning in Tarpon Springs. Rather than having the crazy alpha Chihuahua Drogo scaring the crap out of all the men in this series or fluffy little kittens owning some allergic fighters hearts, we meet a cursing Parrot named Bird. As in Bird’s own words…well I just can’t repeat them!

Laid Out was more than a friends to lover romance, it was a coming of age story blended with a story of forgiveness and acceptance. I absolutely loved this book! It touched my heart in many ways. Sidney Halston can write a book!

Read Laid Out! It can be read in series order or as a stand alone novel.

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