Attraction

Elements of Chemistry: Attraction

 He is everything she doesn’t want, so why does she want him so badly?
From the New York Times Bestselling Author Penny Reid
One week.
Private beach.
Invisible girl.
Jerk-faced bully.
What’s the worst that could happen?
Kaitlyn Parker has no problem being the invisible girl, which is why she finds herself hiding in various cabinets and closets all over her college campus. Despite her best efforts, she can’t escape the notice of Martin Sandeke—bad boy, jerkface bully, and the universe’s hottest, wealthiest, and most unobtainable bachelor—who also happens to be Kaitlyn’s chemistry lab partner.
Kaitlyn might be the only girl who isn’t interested in exploiting his stunning rower’s build, chiseled features, and family's billionaire fortune. Kaitlyn wants Martin for his brain, specifically to tabulate findings of trace elements in surface water.
When Kaitlyn saves Martin from a nefarious plot, Martin uses the opportunity to push Kaitlyn out of her comfort zone: spring break, one week, house parties, bathing suits, and suntan lotion. Can she overcome her aversion to being noticed? Will he be able grow beyond his self-centered nature? Or, despite their obvious chemistry, will Martin be the one to drive Kaitlyn into the science cabinet of obscurity for good?
"QUIET, SILENT, MUTED, hushed, stilled, reticent... I moved my mouth,
breathed the words—soundlessly—from my hiding place.
This game comforted me, calmed me, settled my nerves. Yes, recalling
synonyms while anxious was a bizarre coping strategy, but it worked. And
very little usually worked.
The voices from beyond the cabinet grew louder and were accompanied
by the click of heels and the dull echo of tennis shoes. I held my breath and
strained to decipher how many sets of feet were represented by the
approaching shoes. I guessed two, also because only two voices were
audible.
“...think that he’s going to want to fuck you? After what happened last
Friday?” The words were a hiss emanating from an unknown male voice; I
tensed at the use of vulgarity.
“I’ll get there late. If you do your job then he won’t even remember it,”
came a feminine reply. The female was closest to my hiding spot in the
chemistry lab cabinet; her words were, therefore, much clearer.
“Shit,” he said. I tried not to huff in disgust at his foul language as he
continued. “I don’t even know how much to use. I’ve only used it on
bitches.”
“I don’t know either. Just...double it. Martin is, what? Like, twice the size of the girls you usually dope out?” I heard some rustling then the sloppy sounds of kissing. Instinctively, I stuck my tongue out and mocked gagging. Listening to public displays of affection was unpleasant, especially when lip smacking and groaning was involved, and most especially while trapped in a chemistry lab cabinet that smelled heavily of sulfur. The next words spoken came from the girl and were a bit whiny. “Money, dummy. Martin’s loaded—well, his family is loaded—and they’ll buy me off. All you have to do is give him the stuff tonight in his drink. I’ll take him upstairs, record the whole thing. Bonus if I get pregnant.” My mouth dropped open, my eyes wide, unable to believe what I’d just heard. The awfulness, rustling, and lip smacking continued."