Preorder: Worth the Wait by Charity West #MilitaryRomance #NewAdult @Writer_Charity
EXCERPT
Jake Bennet reclined on his bunk, his booted
feet crossed at the ankles, one hand behind his head. The picture on his phone
wasn’t new by any means, but it was no less enthralling. He’d had a thing for
Gemma Rhodes for as long as he’d remembered, not that he’d ever admitted it to
anyone other than his mother. If his best friend, Riley, knew that Jake was
crushing on Riley’s younger sister, there would be hell to pay. Although, after
he’d offered to pay for half her car two years ago, he’d wondered if his friend
might have an idea. It had cleaned out his savings account at the time, but it
had been worth it.
He smiled a little as he stared at the
picture and wished he could be there with her now. Even though she was still in
high school, after everything he’d been through, nothing would keep him from
her side. Her smile was bright enough to light up any room, and her eyes were
bewitching. He’d wanted to ask her to his senior prom, but then the school had
passed a rule that only seniors could attend. Jake had fought the ruling, but
in the end, he’d lost and had to take a fellow classmate.
The way Gemma had chased after her brother
and him had always been cute, even if her brother had never thought so. But
sometime around Gemma’s fifteenth birthday, Jake had realized that she was
growing into a rather stunning young lady, one that he wouldn’t mind dating. As
he’d watched Riley chase off all of Gemma’s would-be boyfriends, he’d known
that he didn’t stand a chance, not until
he’d proven himself worthy. When Riley had talked about joining the Marines,
Jake had thought he’d finally found a way to prove he wasn’t a screw-up, but
someone who Gemma could depend on when things got tough. Not a boy chasing after dreams, but a man who could
provide for her and offer her a real future.
And now he was stuck in Afghanistan, fighting
for…hell, he wasn’t even sure what they were fighting for, and he doubted any
of his fellow Marines knew either. It was hotter than the lowest level of hell,
and every time he inhaled, he swore he breathed in more sand than air. He’d
joined the Marines with thoughts of being a hero and defending his country, and
now he realized that in this war, there
was no such thing as a hero. Every man here followed orders the same as
everyone else. Some had medals from
previous battles and acts of bravery, but if you asked those men if they were
heroes, every last one would tell you no.
His phone vibrated then flickered out, and he
cursed the low battery. Shoving to his
feet, he decided to check his email and
see if there was any news from home, but on his way, he passed Riley.
His best friend looked deathly pale, and like
he might puke at any moment. Unease settled in Jake’s belly. He didn’t know
what had caused Riley such pain, but he knew it wasn’t good, and since Riley
only had two living relatives, something had to have happened to either his dad
or his sister. Just the thought of anything bad happening to Gemma was enough
to make him feel a little green himself.
“What’s up, Riley? Bad news from home?” Jake
asked.
“It’s Gemma. Dad said she went to the store
the other night, and someone crashed into
her car. She went down the embankment and into the gorge off Brierview Road.” Riley lifted his gaze. “It’s
bad, man. Dad sent the email yesterday and said Gemma hadn’t woken yet. She has
a broken wrist and stitches in her head where she bashed it against the window
and steering wheel. They aren’t sure when she’ll regain consciousness.”
Jake had to lock his knees to remain upright.
There was a roaring in his ears and tightness
in his chest.
“I want to ask for leave to go home and be
with her, but Dad told me my duty was first to our country, and I had a job to finish. He’s right. I know he’s right,
but it tears me apart thinking of her lying there hurt, and I’m way the fuck
over here unable to do a damn thing.” Riley shook his head. “This is seriously fucked up.”
Jake couldn’t argue the point since he felt
the same. The worst part was that he didn’t even have a right to ask for leave
to check on Gemma. They weren’t dating, or engaged. If they were older and
married, he’d take off in a heartbeat to be with her, but he knew that was just
a dream for many years down the road. If Riley wasn’t going to let him date
Gemma, big brother sure as hell wasn’t going to let him marry her. Hell, he was
only nineteen and shouldn’t even be thinking such thoughts, but when he saw
Gemma, he saw forever.
He just hoped he’d get the chance to tell her that someday.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Charity West is a young
adult/new adult romance author who has always had her head in the clouds. She
had her first crush when she was four, and it lasted for six years. Then she
quickly fell head over heels for another boy, until she had to move away and
leave him behind. Jumping from one boy to another, she finally found a keeper
when she was twenty, and she’s been married to him ever since.
By the time Charity was twelve,
she was sneaking her mother’s Harlequin romances and reading them in secret
when she was supposed to be asleep. Teased throughout middle school and high
school for the bodice ripper covers on the books she openly read in class, she
knew that one day she wanted to write her own happily-ever-afters.
Charity Online: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Newsletter
Comments
Post a Comment