Fresh Start – Melissa Lark

I think for a second. “I dare you to make the hostess jealous.” Kate’s grin falls into bewilderment. “Huh?” “Make her jealous. She’s already asked for my number and she seems to not be taking no for an answer.” “Why did you tell her no?” She shifts in her chair to get a better look at the front of the restaurant. “She’s gorgeous.”

I scan the dark-haired hostess with her leopard print dress. “Not my type,” I say. Kate scoffs. “What? She’s totally your type.” “No, she’s not.” My gaze twines with Kate’s for a few seconds too long, and pink flushes her cheeks. “Are you chickening out on a dare, Kate? Never thought I’d see the day.” Kate sets her chin. “How does she know I’m not already your girlfriend? There’s no one else here.” I edge even closer.

“I told her I was meeting work associates, and she must have smelled fresh meat.” Kate laughs, sultry and low, only a few inches from my face. “Well, judging from her irritated look, I’ve already accomplished your little dare.” I glance over my shoulder. The hostess doesn’t look jilted in the slightest. She even gives me a little finger wave. “You little liar,” I say, turning back.

Her grin is wicked as she pulls away. “Worth a shot.” I open my mouth to condemn her as a dare dropout, but my breath hitches as Kate’s hand moves to the back of my neck. My head plummets forward of its own volition, stupidly allowing her full access to my kill switch. Kate carries on a one-sided conversation about her day. Her fingers lift and drop each lock of hair across my nape before her thumbs begin to move in sensual circles, massaging the tension that always seems to gather there.

This impromptu massage should be relaxing, but I’ve never felt less relaxed. Each nerve beneath her fingertips is on fire, licking away my sense of reality and fanning fantasies awake. Her other hand runs trails of sparks up and down my forearm, and I wonder if she can feel the electricity rolling off my skin. Kate’s conversation comes to an abrupt halt, and my eyes slit open. I catch the hostess’s small huff before she spins on her heel and strides out of sight. “Well done,” I manage to grate out.

“Thanks.” Her hand drops from my neck. I straighten, trying to look as though each cell of my body isn’t molten desire for my ex-girlfriend. “Okay, Mr. Roberts. Your turn. Truth or dare.” I eye her warily. Hangry Kate is one beast, but this enigmatic, teasing version of her seems even more fraught with danger. “Dare?” I venture. “Is that a question?” She arches her brow. “Yes?”

Beside the use of brief, spoiler-free quotations in a book review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, contact [email protected] The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious.

No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred. First edition January 2026 ISBN: 979-8-9925932-3-5 Cover by Lark Publishing Co Edited by Angela Morse www.melissalark.com OceanofPDF.com To Danger and Mini-Me, for falling in love and never growing up. May we never be bored a day in our lives. OceanofPDF.com trigger warnings This book is closed-door, low profanity, and includes the topics: – Coping with emotion through promiscuity (vaguely defined) – Strained family relationships / manipulation / neglect – Anxiety / grief / loss of a loved one (past) – Alcoholism / stalking OceanofPDF.com M one PAST KATE y boyfriend is making out with one of my sorority sisters.

I pull up short at the sight, grappling for the swinging door before it can bang open against the wall and alert them to my presence. I misjudge the distance. The loud smack reverberates off the fraternity house’s dingy bathroom tiles, and the couple’s wild eyes fly to me —still frozen across the threshold. At least Jax has the decency to look embarrassed, but Tweedle-Dee perched on the pedestal sink is too glazed over with desire.

She promptly returns to my three-week escapade and crushes her lips to his again. Jax makes no effort to resist, giving me a half-hearted shrug before returning to his terribly unsanitary make-out session. I roll my eyes, drain the contents of my red plastic cup, and close the door. It’s not like I care. About him, anyway. Jax was getting clingier by the day, and I have a zero-cling policy.

I might as well be carrying a can of non-stick cooking spray and spraying the abs of each hot guy I fraternize with. I’d rather catch any of the diseases I learned about in my undergrad health class last semester than catch feelings. I stumble down the narrow staircase of the fraternity house, dodging other fall-break students engaging in nefarious acts.

I scan the crowded living area. The pumping bass from the second-hand speakers writhes deep in my stomach. The room is crammed to the breaking point with loud laughter, sloshing drink cups, and kissing couples. And then, there’s just me. Without Jax as a distraction, the music suddenly feels too loud, the laughter grating. Anxiety senses my weakness like a predator, closing in as I cling to the handrail.

The frat house’s front door slams, making me flinch.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: 72078ade8486c0aa
• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 4,274,397 bytes (4.076 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• ISBN: 9798992593235
• Pages: 409
• Language: English (en)

Reading & Word Statistics

• Estimated Reading Time: 647.57 minutes
• Total Words: 129,513
• Total Characters: 707,617
• Average Words per Page: 316.66
• Average Characters per Page: 1730.11

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