All of You Read online

  All of You

  Jenni Wilder

  Published by Jenni Wilder, Smashwords Edition

  Copyright 2014 Jenni Wilder

  Cover Art Copyright L.J. Anderson, Mayhem Cover Creations

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or receive it through Kindle's lending program, then please return to your favorite e-book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  No portion of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any print or electronic form without permission of the author. This book is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to persons living or dead or any events or occurrences is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are fictional. This book is intended for mature audiences, and the subject matter is not appropriate for minors. This novel contains profanity and sexual situations and may not be suitable for everyone.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Note from the Author

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  I stood in the corner of the heated tent holding a Styrofoam cup of hot chocolate. My gloved hands wrapped around the cup in an attempt to leach the warmth into my fingers. The tent was crowded but even with all the body heat the organizers had to bring in space heaters to keep those of us in the tent warm but they only marginally helped. Still, it was better than being out in the elements. I felt bad for those outside the tent standing on the curb. They lined the street as far as I could see but there wasn’t anything I could do for them. I didn’t want to be here in the first place but my boss had twisted my arm.

  I had been told the New Year’s Eve Razzle Dazzle Parade was something I wouldn’t want to miss. The annual event was the culmination of the holiday season and you could almost taste the anticipation from the crowd. Twinkling lights, colored lights, Christmas trees and light up banners made the entire downtown area glow. There were semitrucks covered in strands of multicolored lights and a giant glowing palm tree that you could see from blocks away. Even the marching band and the parade walkers had lights attached to their clothing and powered by battery packs so they flashed and glimmered as they made their way down the parade route. Even if I didn’t want to be here, I had to admit the atmosphere was exciting.

  The parade itself was a free event organized by the tourism office in an attempt to draw everyone and anyone to the downtown area for New Year’s Eve. People from all over the Chicago area bundled up and braved the cold, lining the street for blocks, trying to stay warm and get the best view.

  The warmed tent I currently occupied, on the other hand, was an exclusive area for top donors and important people. Three sides of the tent were normal tent walls, but the fourth wall, the one facing the street, consisted of huge see-through Plexiglas that allowed for unobstructed parade viewing.

  Men and women in winter clothing stood around the sides of the seating area, laughing, talking, and, I’m sure, making business and political deals of some sort while the parade passed by. Even with the layers of winter clothing, it was easy to see the affluence surrounding these people. I felt it was entirely possible I was the only one here who did not have a trust fund to my name.

  GenChem Labs, where I had my internship, had donated a large chunk of change to the Downtown Tourism Office. In return, they received tickets to the exclusive warmed area of Chicago’s New Year’s Eve Razzle Dazzle Parade. And I, unfortunately, had been the one the boss designated to use the tickets.

  I sighed. Anyone else would probably have jumped at the chance for a spot in the heated tent, but to me it was an obligation and made me feel like I didn’t fit in. Last winter I had scored big while out shopping and found my coat on the clearance rack. I'd splurged and purchased the beautiful white wool peacoat with three giant black buttons down the front and black trim on the sleeves. The only place I had worn it last winter was to the Oriental Theater when my sister had gotten tickets to see The Phantom of the Opera.

  I was glad to be wearing it to the parade tonight, though. It was warm and pretty, and I felt like I might slightly fit in with this crowd. Although I was probably kidding myself on that one. If I really thought about it, I figured I stuck out like a sore thumb. No matter how much I liked my fancy white peacoat I knew I didn’t fit in with this crowd. But despite feeling extremely out of place, I was happy to be warm with my cup of hot chocolately goodness, and I was in for a show.

  ~~~~~~~~

  The lights danced and flashed before my eyes as the floats paraded down the street, and my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. But it was worth it. This was simply magical and full of joy. The little kids in the front were enthralled with the parade. The lights glowed on their smiling faces, and every float captivated them as well as me. The parade was pretty spectacular, and I couldn’t decide what was better—watching the lights or watching the kids’ reactions.

  The kids were balls of energy and excitement, running all around trying to experience everything. Highly overstimulated and running on the thrill of being up past their bedtimes on New Year’s Eve, they zipped around in the tent, weaving through the legs of the adults. I wished I had their energy. For as exciting as the parade was, I had been up early and worked all day in the lab and was exhausted.

  But I focused back on the float that was currently passing in front of the tent, thinking it was good I wasn’t epileptic because the over-the-top crazy flashing lights on this float were sure to induce a seizure. Yeah, it was definitely past my bedtime.

  Just as I was about to turn and make my way to the exit, I felt a presence move up next to me. “Enjoying the parade?” a male voice said in my direction. I was sure he wasn’t speaking to me, but his warm, inviting voice made me turn to look anyway.

  He was looking down at me with a small smile and a look of anticipation. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach, and my breath caught as I analyzed the man. He was drop-dead gorgeous. His face was rugged and solid, lean but not gaunt, and his chin was covered in a short, rugged beard that made him look like a sexy wild man, enhancing the beauty of his friendly smile. His dark brown hair was short and beautifully styled in a messy, sexy kind of way.

  But the thing that made my mouth dry, rendering me speechless, was the width of his shoulders. I couldn’t see details under his thick, dark gray winter coat, but he had to be strong. My eyes flicked back to his face, and he raised his eyebrows, obviously waiting for an answer.

  I turned my attention away from his body and back to the parade where a giant glowing lobster was sitting atop the current float passing in front of the tent. “Um… yeah, it’s really neat. I’ve never seen anything like it,” I finally replied, fumbling a sentence together. I wasn’t prepared to have to make conversation. I figured no one here would waste their time talking to me when I obviously couldn’t help them leverage a business
deal or make a political connection.

  “I’ve never been able to figure out what lobsters have to do with New Year’s Eve, but this float is one of the crowd favorites every year.” The man indicated to the float and then to the crowd outside that was currently hooting and hollering at the beaming crustacean.

  “Oh, you’ve seen the parade before?” I asked, not sure why I was engaging him in conversation.

  The man turned toward me and nodded. “My family attends this event every year. It’s kind of an obligation,” he said with a shrug before taking a drink of his hot chocolate.

  “It’s kind of an obligation for me too,” I said smiling. “But I’m really enjoying it.”

  The man grinned wide. “I can tell. You have the biggest smile in this whole tent. I noticed it right away. It’s beautiful,” he said in a rush and took a small step closer to me.

  Alarm bells sounded in my head. His bluntness made me automatically pull into myself as the blush set into my cheeks. “Um… thanks.” I didn’t know what else to say. What do you say to that?

  The man gave a small chuckle as if enjoying my unease. “Sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I’m Lincoln,” he said as he extended his hand and gave me a friendly smile. Social pressures made me unable to resist offering my hand back to him. We shook hands, but it only made me feel slightly less uneasy around this man. “And your name is…?” he prompted.

  “Oh, sorry. I’m Chloe,” I lied. I gave him my standard fake name I used whenever a man made moves as if to hit on me. There was no reason to give a guy my real name when my only intention was to end the conversation as quickly as possible without being rude and/or looking like a freak.

  Lincoln smiled. “So what are you doing here?”

  I froze. I knew it was obvious I didn’t belong in this rich people’s crowd, but I hoped I could just enjoy the parade without being insulted.

  “I… um… I have a ticket,” I stuttered, trying to defend my presence in the elite tent. I pulled the tickets out of my coat pocket as proof.

  “You actually have two tickets there. Where’s your date?” he asked.

  “Oh, I don’t… it’s just an extra ticket,” I admitted and looked away, feeling foolish like I always did when anyone asked anything about my nonexistent love life.

  “No date? How does someone as beautiful as you not have a date on New Year’s Eve?” he asked.

  Wow. This man was forward. How did people go through life acting that way toward other people? Does that normally work on women? I supposed it did for him, considering how attractive he was.

  I locked eyes with him and felt the blush rush to my cheeks. Yeah, he was gorgeous and I needed to shut him down. “I’m here for work,” I stated briskly and focused my attention back to the parade.

  “Oh?” he inquired with his focus on me. “Must be a nice job to get you tickets to this.” He hinted for more information, but I hesitated. That was too personal.

  “Mmhmm… “ I said vaguely and focused on the parade, determined not to let this man get to me. What was the point of flirting with him if there was only one way this was going to end? I knew better than to hope for something I would never have.

  “Is that a yes?” he pressed, but I’d had enough. No matter how incredibly handsome this man was, I wasn’t going to let my guard down. There was no point in continuing this idle small talk.

  I turned toward him. “It was nice to meet you. I hope you enjoy the parade,” I said briskly and started toward the exit of the tent.

  “Whoa, whoa. Wait a minute. Don’t leave,” Lincoln said, extending his hand toward my shoulder in an attempt to stop me from fleeing.

  My eyes zeroed in on his hand, and I quickly sidestepped out of his reach. But that move had turned me back toward him so we were now face-to-face.

  “You can’t shoot me down that quickly. I was just trying to make conversation. I didn’t mean to scare you off.”

  I let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m sorry. I just… I mean, I’m not trying to be rude. There’s just no point.”

  “No point in being rude?”

  “No point in your making conversation with me.”

  His brows furrowed. “Why would you say that?”

  I exhaled loudly again and blurted out, “I’m not sleeping with you.”

  Lincoln's face broke out in amused surprise. “I don’t recall asking you to,” he said with a smile.

  “I just meant I’m not giving you my number, you won’t be calling and asking me out for drinks, and we’re definitely not going to ‘hook up.’” I used my fingers to make air quotes. “So there’s no point in this,” I said resolutely, waving my finger between Lincoln and myself.

  Lincoln stared down at me. He stared long and hard into my eyes as if trying to work out a code behind what I had said. He was at least a foot taller than me, and with his wide shoulders, he was more than a little intimidating. “Are you always this harsh toward men who try to talk to you, or is it just me?” he finally asked.

  I hesitated, biting the inside of my lip. I should at least tell him it wasn’t because of him. “It’s not just you,” I said honestly.

  Lincoln sighed. “I simply wanted to watch the parade while standing next to the most beautiful woman in this whole tent. If you don’t want to make conversation with me, that’s fine, but may I at least finish watching the parade while standing next to you?”

  I looked down at my hands. He had called me beautiful again. I knew the inaccuracy behind his words, but how could he know how off base he was? I suppose I shouldn’t fault the guy for trying. There was no harm in staying to watch the parade with him, was there? If that was all he wanted. I looked back up at him and nodded, feeling ridiculous for overreacting.

  “Thank you,” Lincoln said and smiled widely while motioning for me to return to watching the parade.

  ~~~~~~~~

  The last float retreated down the street away from the tent and away from Lincoln and me. Its glowing lights faded as the crowd began to disperse.

  “Wow. That was really awesome,” I said as I turned toward Lincoln with a huge smile on my face.

  “I agree. Best parade ever,” Lincoln said with his eyes locked on my face.

  Having him stare at me made me feel uncomfortable again, but not enough to want to leave just yet.

  “What was your favorite float?” I asked shyly. The way he was smiling at me was helping to erase the feelings of discomfort I had around him.

  “I have no idea. I wasn’t watching the floats. I was watching you,” he replied bluntly, making me blush terribly.

  I looked down and took a half step back. As nice as it felt when he smiled at me, I needed a little more space from this man.

  But he either didn’t notice or didn’t care what my reaction to his confession was. “You looked just as excited as the kids watching the parade. The expressions on your face were captivating. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

  I was speechless. I didn’t even know this man, and he was calling me captivating. Clearly there was something wrong with him. “Um… well… thank you,” I stammered while shaking my head.

  Lincoln's grin grew bigger as he finally noted my discomfort.

  “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me,” I admitted. It was true.

  Immediately Lincoln’s smile dropped, and he looked confused. He continued to stare at me, and my discomfort grew to the breaking point as I pondered what I had just said, if I should say something next, or if I should just leave.

  Lincoln interrupted my thoughts. “Listen Chloe, I know you said you weren’t going to give me your number, but if I don’t ask, I’ll always regret it.” Lincoln had a glimmer of hope in his eyes as he waited for my answer.

  For a second I imagined giving him my phone number. Maybe I would wake up to a good morning text from him, and he could call me and we would spend time together doing fun things. But then reality stepped in and snapped me back, and my smile faded. Nothing in that scenario would
happen. I hadn’t even given him my real name, for Christ's sake.

  Lincoln must have seen me floundering in my decision. “I promise I’m a stand-up guy,” he said quickly in an attempt to persuade me. “I have a decent job… I own my own house… I’m nice to kids and small animals... I pay my taxes… Do you want me to keep going?” He nervously laughed and rubbed the back of his neck.

  I smiled sympathetically. I appreciated his attempt, but there was only one way this could end.

  “Look, I’m sure you’re a great guy, but I just can’t.” I tried to say it gently.

  Lincoln's smile faded, but he nodded in defeat and then dumped his cup of hot chocolate down the front of my pretty white coat.

  Chapter Two

  I saw it a second before it happened. An adorable little girl with blond curls had been playing with the other kids. They were chasing each other around the tent after the parade ended. The girl went to make a circle around where Lincoln and I were standing but was knocked sideways by an older boy as she ran past Lincoln. The little girl collided with Lincoln’s leg, causing his knee to buckle and his balance to shift forward. His upper body pitched forward, and hot chocolate erupted out of his Styrofoam cup, splashing all over my chest.

  In the back of my mind, I registered that this man had probably just ruined my coat with his chocolately drink, but my only concern was the little girl who was now sitting on the ground with her lower lip quivering.

  I didn’t even hesitate. I immediately crouched down on one knee and in my most calming voice asked the little girl if she was all right.

  She turned her bright eyes shining with tears up to me. “I FELL ON MY BOTTOM!” she howled and burst into sobs. She raised her arms in a ‘pick-me-up’ motion, but I was unsure if I should comfort the child. I didn’t know who this little girl was or to whom she belonged, but she needed comforting. I scooped her up and propped her on my hip. She immediately wrapped her arms around me and buried her head into the crook of my neck and continued sobbing.