Page 1 of Powerless

PART I

HOW IT ALL BEGAN.

PROLOGUE

BENNETT

“She’s cute,” I say to Liam as we sit in class.

“She’s not your usual type.”

I flash him a look and raise my brows. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You like them blonde and wide-eyed. She’s not blonde.” He pointedly looks toward the hot chick who just walked into our class. “She looks way out of your league,” my best friend teases.

The beautiful, dark-haired girl looks around the class and catches me staring at her. She offers me a timid smile before turning to face forward. There’s something special about her. She has this amazingly elegant way that she walks and stands. Even her hair is sophisticated in the way it cascades down over her shoulders. She’s not dressed like the other girls; she’s stylish yet classy. “I’m going to marry her,” I say as I keep my eyes glued to the long-haired beauty.

She sneaks a look over her shoulder toward me, and my heart thumps with a ferocious need to have her.

“You? Get married?” Liam jokes. “Besides, your parents have other plans for you.”

“I couldn’t care less what they want.” My jaw clenches as I turn to face Liam.

“Well...” Liam screws his mouth up as he glances toward the girl. “All I’ll say is good luck with them, buddy.” He lifts his hand and places it on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “What kind of flowers do you want for your funeral?”

“Smart-ass.” I flick his hand off my shoulder before turning toward the front when our teacher enters the room.

But in truth, the girl with the long, brown hair has my undivided attention.

* * *

“So, you’re new?” Justine asks my future wife. I hurry to catch up to them before they get away.

“Hey, Justine,” I say.

The girls are heading out of class, and I’ve left Liam behind so I can use Justine as a buffer. This is the perfect opportunity to find out who she is.

“Oh, hey, Bennett.” Justine smiles up at me. “This is...” Justine pauses and turns toward the new girl. “I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”

“I’m Kathryn.” Even her voice is smooth and luscious.

I hold my hand out to hers as we’re walking through the halls. “Bennett,” I say.

“I know,” she quips with a smirk and a raised eyebrow.

“Have you just moved here?” Justine asks.

“Mom was transferred, so we moved.”

“Army brat?” I ask.

“No,” Kathryn chuckles. “Mom’s a banker and she got a promotion.” Her shoulders tighten against the barrage of questions.

“That’s cool,” Justine says. “A woman in power. I like that.” Justine digs her phone out of her pocket and lifts it to her ear as she pulls away from Kathryn and me.

“There’s a party this weekend,” I say, “and I was wondering if you’d like to come with me.”

Kathryn scrunches her nose and shakes her head. “I’m not the partying type, so that’s a ‘no’ from me.”

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