Living Violet

He's persuasive, charming, and way too mysterious. And for Samara Marshall, her co-worker is everything she wants most-and everything she most fears...

Samara Marshall is determined to make the summer before her senior year the best ever. Her plan: enjoy downtime with friends and work to save up cash for her dream car. Summer romance is not on her to-do list, but uncovering the truth about her flirtatious co-worker, Caleb Baker, is. From the peculiar glow to his eyes to the unfortunate events that befall the girls who pine after him, Samara is the only one to sense danger behind his smile.

But Caleb's secrets are drawing Samara into a world where the laws of attraction are a means of survival. And as a sinister power closes in on those she loves, Samara must take a risk that will change her life forever...or consume it.

"Jaime Reed breathes fresh life into paranormal romance. I loved it!" -Lee Nichols, author of the Haunting Emma series

Chapter One

Love indulged the masochist.

Truer words have never been spoken, if I do say so myself. It's a philosophy that has kept me sane for as long as I can remember and helped me survive the weirdest summer of my life. On the flip side, it's very entertaining what love will make people do. It's a great way to spend your lunch break.

Sitting on my car hood, sucking down a Big Gulp, I watched the pinnacle of love unfold before my eyes. My best friend, Mia, and her on-again off-again boyfriend, Dougie, squared-off like prize fighters in the middle of the outlet center parking lot.

This week's drama included props. Dougie pivoted along the concrete, ducking and avoiding death by the finest designer handbag money could buy. Through the litany of screams, cusses, and purse swinging, I figured Mia had caught Dougie hanging out with another girl. Mia could be a little high-strung sometimes, but when it came to her man, she advanced to straight head case.

That jealous insanity went both ways, depending on the day, and much amusement awaited all who watched.

"God, you're such a liar! How could you do this to me?" she raved.

"Chill, baby! She was my cousin!" Dougie escaped the oncoming blow from Mia's handbag by an inch.

"You lying piece of crap! I've met all of your relatives, Douglas. She never came to your house before."

Dougie ran in circles around her, the blood rush turning his face beet red. "She just came into town! I swear, baby."

"Why didn't you introduce me, huh?" Mia wiped her sweaty brown hair from her forehead. "What, are you ashamed of me?"

He paused, clearly hurt at the suggestion. "No! Why would you say that?"

"Liar!" Her purse swung at his head, but missed.

Dougie grabbed one of the straps, and the two began a full tug-of-war in the middle of the parking lot. Weekend shoppers watched in horror, covering the ears of their children from the curses flying in the air. At any moment, someone would definitely call security, so I decided to leave the lovebirds to their own devices.

"Hey, guys," I yelled behind me. "I gotta get back to work, but I'll see y'all later, okay?"

"Okay, I'll call ya!" Mia yelled back before shoving Dougie in the chest.

I dumped my cup in the trash, then entered the side door of Buncha Books. The air-conditioning slapped me in the face and pushed the June heat back outside. Mellow jazz rang through the speakers in a chronic loop from the satellite radio. Tourists and townies overran the floor in a slow, indecisive dance around the bookshelves.

I strolled through the main aisles, past the kiosk of new releases and bestsellers toward the customer service desk in the center of the store. Working at Buncha Books since sophomore year taught me a few tricks of the trade, namely to never get caught on the actual book floor. I also discovered that if I didn't make eye contact with the cus