Without Hesitation Read online

  © 2014 by CJ Azevedo. All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any written, electronic, recording, or photocopying without written permission of the publisher or author. The exception would be in the case of brief quotations embodied in the critical articles or reviews and pages where permission is specifically granted by the publisher or author.

  Although every precaution has been taken to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein, the author and publisher assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for damages that may result from the use of information contained within.

  Cover Design: Regina Wamba of MAE I DESIGN

  Photographer: Richard Hunter of RiHu Photo

  Cover Models: Scott Jacobs and Danielle Tyler

  Models Agent: Ellie Lovenbooks of Lovenbooks.com

  Editor: Erin Roth of Wise Owl Editing

  Without Hesitation

  the Without series

  Book 3

  Without Hesitation

  Dedication

  This book is for all the girls that loved that special boy and stuck around. Young romances don’t always work out but when they do, they’re pretty fantastic stories to tell. So kudos to you.

  Chapter One

  July 1, 2003

  Macie’s 14th Birthday Party

  Macie was more than a nervous wreck waiting for her guests to arrive. She had been dealing with nervous flutters for a few days now, but when her girlfriends showed up last night for a slumber party, those nerves went through the roof. They hadn’t slept a wink all night, and they just made her even more nervous by all the boy talk. Samantha, Kerrie, and Dahlia had been giddy with excitement all morning getting ready for her first boy/girl swim party to celebrate her fourteenth birthday. She had no idea if the boys would show up or not, but she was hoping Jason would.

  Jason Carpenter had been in all of her classes since kindergarten; they were friends and she wanted him to be her boyfriend, but he didn’t seem to like her like that. If she was being really honest, Greyden Michaels, her brother’s best friend, the boy who moved in next door three years ago—he was the one she really wanted to show up. But her brother wasn’t allowed to be home today so there was no way Greyden would be coming to the party. She knew how much her friends liked her brother and Greyden. Whenever her friends came over, they flirted with them as much the boys would put up with, which wasn’t a lot, but she didn’t dare tell anyone about how much she liked Greyden. For one, Greyden was too old for her. Her brother and his friends were all three years older than her, plus she wasn’t allowed to date until she was fifteen.

  Macie’s mom had the whole backyard decorated with pink and purple balloons and streamers and flowers on the tables. It was a lot more than the other kids did for their parties but she was okay with it because she really liked to decorate too.

  “What are you going to do if Jason kisses you as part of your present, Mace?” Dahlia asked Macie as she put on one more coat of mascara. Dahlia was a little more adventurous than Macie was when it came to boys and she had a lot more experience too. Macie hadn’t even been kissed yet and Dahlia felt it was her personal mission to get her friend kissed before they started high school in just another month and a half.

  “He’s not going to kiss me. You’re being ridiculous and you need to stop watching All My Children with your mom!” Macie exclaimed as she tossed a throw pillow at her from off of her bed.

  Samantha and Kerrie agreed with Macie as they laughed and put the final touches on their hair and nails.

  “Girls, some boys just showed up!” Macie’s mom called from downstairs.

  All four girls squealed loudly as they raced down to greet them.

  It wasn’t Jason, but a group of other boys from their class, and although they were being nice to Macie and even brought her gifts, they were paying more attention to her friends. Her girlfriends, even the ones who came later, all wore bikinis. Macie still wore a one piece. Dahlia tried to convince her to put on a bikini for the party but she had never worn one before and it terrified her to do it for the first time at a party with boys. So she was stuck in her one-piece and not the center of attention (even though it was her birthday party), flipping through the CD case and deciding what to put on next.

  ***

  Greyden wasn’t invited to his best friend’s little sister’s birthday party, but she was a nice girl and he thought that maybe she’s had a little crush on him for a while, so he got her a birthday present. He went to the side gate and let himself in. He saw several groups of kids standing around talking, a few guys messing around in the pool, and then Macie standing alone by the radio. He stopped just off to the side of the patio and watched her. She was a beautiful girl, with an awesome personality, but standing there at the radio, she just looked sad. He didn’t like it at all. It was an instinctual feeling of discomfort to see her like that. He stood there for another minute, taking in the scene before him, trying to figure it all out. He noticed some of the girls that come over to the house frequently were laughing with a group of guys, flirting shamelessly, and the guys were eating it up. They all look older than Macie.

  Shit.

  He looked back at Macie again and really looked at her this time. Her friends were standing around in bikinis and flip-flops; Macie was wearing a one-piece with a cover up. Greyden shook his head, pulled his keys back out, and ran quickly back out to his car.

  After getting to the mall as fast as he could and getting help from the salesgirl on a size, he picked out the hottest bikini he could find and drove straight back to the party. Mrs. James was probably going to kill him for this, but he was going to save Macie’s reputation and make sure she had a good social standing in that uptight high school she’s headed to.

  He snuck back into the backyard, his only cover the shade of the big old oak tree hovering over his head.

  “Macie!” he whisper-yelled just loud enough to startle her from her thoughts.

  She was still in the same spot. She turned around and her eyes went round at the sight of him standing there. He gestured for her to come to him and she did without pause.

  “Hey,” Macie said kindly, smiling up at him.

  “Listen, don’t get offended okay? But you’re going to do what I tell you to do. Got it?” Greyden said seriously.

  Macie nodded intently.

  “Take this bag and go change. Don’t worry about what you look like; I swear to you, you’re going to look way hotter than anybody else here. When you come out, don’t fidget and don’t cover yourself up. I’m going to go talk to your mom and then when I do what I do next, swear you won’t be mad at me. It’s only to help you with these guys.”

  “I won’t swear it, tell me what it is,” she replied with anxious eyes.

  “Just go,” he urged. “I’ll deal with it if you’re mad. But don’t cover yourself. You’re beautiful, Macie,” he tells her, his intent gaze making her fidget under his stare.

  Macie took the bag and went to the pool house to change. She was freaking out. Greyden was here after all and he bought her a bikini. And not only did he buy her a bikini, but he told her she was going to be the hottest one here and that she was beautiful! This was the craziest day ever, as far as she was concerned. She no longer felt sorry for herself. How could she?

  The bikini was a hot pink triangle top that had a black embroidered orchid on the left side with black ties and the bottoms were black with hot pink strings that tied at her hips. It covered all of the important parts and although she really wanted to put her cover up back on, she would do what he said since he was going through so much trouble to help her out. She couldn’t believe how much he cared to help her; she never thought he paid that much
attention to her.

  When she opened the pool house doors, it felt like the whole party stopped and everybody turned to look at her. This was a terrible idea, she thought as she scanned the crowd for Greyden. She took a couple steps closer to the pool to step around a group of guys that all said “Hey!” as she walked around them, as if they weren’t here for her birthday party this whole time. Just as she made eye contact with Samantha and started to walk towards her and Kerrie, a brunt force hit her on her right side, knocking her over and right into the pool. A loud, girly yelp came from her mouth just before she clamped her lips tight and held her breath and prepared for the impact of the cold water. Once she was under, large hands gripped tightly around her waist and didn’t leave her as she fought, trying to get free and get to the surface as quick as possible. She hated to be held under water; even half a second wasn’t okay.

  The large hands actually assisted in guiding her upwards rather than making it more difficult and when she reached the surface and pulled in as much air as her lungs would allow, then blinked away as much water as she could, she saw Greyden smiling at her, his dimples as deep as ever and his eyes bright with happiness. She placed her hands on his shoulders and that caused her tummy to flutter in that funny way that it did when he smiled at her.

  “How pissed are you?” Greyden whispered just low enough so no one else could hear him. By this time several other guys and even some other girls jumped in too. The girls wanted Greyden’s attention, of course, but right then he was focused only on Macie.

  Macie lightly shook her head and said, “I’m not.” Before she could say anything else, Dahlia and Kerrie were calling her over to where they were standing with a group of guys in the shallow end.

  “Macie, c’mere, were going to do chicken fights and I want you on my team! We’re going to kill these guys!” Jason exclaimed from where he was standing with the group. Jason, the same boy who held so much appeal to her just an hour ago, now paled in comparison to the guy who currently held her in the water.

  She was actually pretty cozy right where she was, but she knew better than to get used to the idea of being in Greyden’s arms. Taking a look over her shoulder at her friends, she saw the jealousy in Dahlia’s eyes and the wonderment in Kerrie’s smile; it only made her stomach flutter even more. Her arms were still resting on his muscular shoulders and she was probably taking too long to make up her mind about her next move, but she couldn’t seem to make her self make a move.

  “If you team up with that guy, then that leaves me open for your curly-haired friend always trying to make out with me when no one’s looking. Don’t do that to me,” Greyden pleaded in her ear while she continues to look at her friends across the pool.

  She couldn’t help the giggle that came out of her mouth as she turned back and faced Grey. He was smiling at her and she could feel the blush creeping up her neck, even in the cool water.

  “Let’s go kick some ass in chicken fights. Yeah?” Greyden confirmed as he swims with her still in his arms in an awkward position.

  Together they played chicken fights and won several rounds. Macie could feel herself transforming, could feel the timid, shy little girl cracking under the force of the confident, strong, beautiful teenager Greyden had brought out in her with the purchase of a bikini and the empowering words, “You’re beautiful, Macie.” His attention to her today was beyond anything she could have ever dreamt of and was something that will remain with her. Now she didn’t just see him as her brother’s friend that she has an embarrassing crush on—oh, she still has that crush, probably worse than ever—but now he was more of a friend than he’d ever been before.

  The best party of her fourteen years of life came to an end when her mom walked the last group of her friends out to their ride. Macie was out picking up some towels cast aside along the dark side of the pool house, coming to the conclusion that it pretty much sucked to not have anyone she could confide in about the turmoil she was experiencing over Greyden. As of tonight, he was now her friend. A friend she was pretty sure she had loved since she was eleven, but a friend nonetheless, and as cliché as it may be, he was her brother’s best friend, so she knew he wouldn’t cross any lines. Her friends were obsessed with him and her brother, so she had to keep this crush to herself and had no idea what to do with it, except to continue to stare off into the dark and contemplate it like an idiot. Obviously.

  “How does it feel to be fourteen? Any different from thirteen?” The deep but quiet voice startled her from her reverie and she jumped as she let out a silly little scream and dropped the towels she was just clutching.

  Spinning around, Macie saw Greyden trying unsuccessfully to hold in his laughter. “Oh my God, you scared the crap of me! You idiot!” She swatted his now t-shirt-covered chest as her heart continued to beat wildly inside her own. “Why’d you do that?”

  Greyden walked closer and wrapped her small frame up in his much larger arms, encasing her in his warmth. “I’m sorry, Mace, I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you all right?”

  Macie allowed him to calm her down before she responded. Geez, he smells good.

  “Yeah, I’m all right. But now you know better than to sneak up on me in the dark, you jerk,” she admonished with a pretty smile. She couldn’t stay mad at him for long even if she really wanted to.

  “So, I actually came over earlier to bring you your real birthday present, but this works out better anyway,” Greyden explained with a crooked smile. “If I give you something, do you think you can keep it between us?”

  “Sure,” she responded hesitantly, only because she had no idea what it could be that he would want to keep from her brother.

  Greyden dropped one of his hands from around her waist and reached into his back pocket. Holding onto something in his closed fist, he brought his hand up to her jaw and she stopped breathing for just a few seconds until her brain kicked back into action. “Macie, have you had your first kiss yet?” he asked seriously.

  His question caused her to suck in a deep breath. She wasn’t certain her voice would come out steady, so she just shook her head. Macie was aware that they’d come a long way in their friendship today, namely beginning a friendship today, but this was a whole different ballgame.

  “How about you get your first kiss on your birthday so you can always remember it?”

  She couldn’t help but wonder if this was a trick. Really, he could kiss her on any mundane day and she would forever remember it. If she fell for it today, was he going to run off laughing at her and it all be a big joke? Instead of answering, she chose to be mute and see if he could come up with his own conclusion.

  “Can I be your first kiss, Macie?” Greyden asked, close to her face.

  “Seriously?” she whispered, still not believing what was going on.

  He smiled his half-crooked smile and answered, “Yes, seriously.”

  “Okay.” Butterflies took flight and her hands fidgeted down by her sides, having no clue what they were supposed to be doing at the moment.

  “Will you promise me that after tonight you won’t go all girly on me and start calling me your boyfriend? I don’t do that scene, beautiful girl, and your brother would kick my ass.”

  “So this is just a kiss?” Macie wasn’t sure if she could handle that. He didn’t want her to go “all girly” on him, but she was already “all girly.” She couldn’t help that. But could she turn down the one chance she would have at her first kiss being Greyden Michaels? Um, no way.

  “No. This is your first kiss, to set the bar for all your other kisses, one that no other guy will ever touch, by the way.” He smirked and ran his thumb along the line of her cheekbone.

  She laughed at him being a dumb boy and playfully shoved him back. He quickly stepped forward again and gathered her up into his arms; this time she hugged him right back. Macie was on cloud girly nine and loving every minute of it. After a few seconds of him rocking them back and forth, he pulled back so she could see his face. He paused for half
a second before dipping his head down and allowing his lips to meet hers. She knew it was coming, she watched his face getting closer, but it still took her by surprise; she couldn’t help the flinch that overtook her. Greyden held on tighter around her waist, offering her much needed support, but that didn’t stop her stupid overactive eyelids that refused to stop blinking. Then Macie felt his tongue at her lips, parting them, making its way into her mouth.

  Oh! He wants to really kiss me! She opened her mouth so her tongue could meet his. This feels good. Nice, this feels nice. My eyes are still open! Crap! Crap! Crap! Close your eyes, you idiot!

  Their tongues swirled together as Macie finally fell into sync with Greyden and lost herself in her first kiss. She felt his hands glide slowly up her sides until they stopped near her neck. He continued to kiss her as something cool dropped down onto her neck and chest. Just as she was starting to feel like she couldn’t fully catch her breath, Greyden grasped her face in both of his hands and broke their connection. He rested his forehead on hers briefly before rolling his head down again to sweetly kiss her one more time. He reached down and brought her hand up to cover the cool metal lying against her chest.

  “I got you a locket,” he whispered. “I didn’t have a picture to put in it. I figured you would have something you would want to put in there.”

  Macie looked down as he removed his hand from her own small one to see a lovely silver heart locket on a dainty chain. Her fingers skimmed across the etched design along the top of the heart and let it sink in that Greyden just kissed her—not just kissed her, but knocked her socks off kissed her—and then gave her a locket for her birthday. Overwhelmed was an understatement, but she tried her best to stick to their agreement and not go all girly on him. She could freak out after he went home.

  “Do you like it?” Greyden asked as he took another small step back from her, clearly setting their boundaries.