Seventeen-year-old Emmy O’Connell is the epitome of a hot mess.
Her boyfriend’s been shipped out of town to some boarding school four states away. Her step-douche is constantly drunk and badgering her. And then there’s her good-ole-mom… The lady is nothing more than a miserable shell of a woman. She’s turned off all of her feelings and her ability to be a good mother as well, leaving poor Emmy and her four year old brother Jamie to suffer. Life couldn’t get much worse, right?
Enter the elusive, cocky, and oh-so-broody Jack Hartman…
The jerk cousin of her boyfriend becomes Emmy’s worst nightmare…times ten. He’s cruel. He’s insensitive. But he also has this strange little ability over her – he makes her weak in the knees with thea single touch. No matter how miserable or amazing Jack makes her feel, Emmy can’t seem to deny him, especially when he takes on the role of her protector –her pseudo-knight in a black leather coat.
A knight who also happens to ride in on his black Harley, instead of a white horse…
And to make a bad situation worse…
Werewolves and teens shouldn’t mix! But what can Emmy do when she finds herself thrown head first into the center of it all. Can she handle the supernatural mess her life rapidly becomes or will she fight against the inevitable fate her heart desires?
Heather Van Fleet stopped by today to interview smoking hot Jack Hartman from Book One in her new series: Resisting Fate.
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Me: *Takes a deep breath just as Jack “the lickable” Hartman saunters into the room. Like always, his black leather is coat slung over his shoulder. But his helmet is MIA this time.*
Good to see you Jack, how’ve you been?
Jack *Narrows eyes* You honestly don’t need me to answer that question now do you Miss Van Fleet?
Me: *laughs uncomfortably while squirming in my chair* Uh…well… *Crap…he’s still mad at me*
Jack: *Cracks his neck back and forth as he sits in the chair across from me* So enough with the small talk here. What’s this all about anyways? I’m kind of busy right now.
Me: *Curls lip in annoyance* Hey, don’t be rude. I’m in control of your life…you don’t want to mess around with me.
Jack: *Laughs and grins, settling his elbows on my kitchen table.* Sorry, just a little bitter that you sort of, well, screwed me over and all.
Me: *Holds hands out in defense* Okay, fine, I deserve that. But now that were here, let’s have a little heart to heart. There are a lot of people out there who are pissed at me about what I did, but I’m not about to get into that now.
Jack: *Nods knowingly.* Go on then…
Me: Okay. Let’s get the first question out of the way.
Jack: *Raises brows, but stays silent*
Me: First off, tell your devoted loving Jack fans –“
Jack: Seriously? I have fans?
Me: *Narrows eyes* You know you do! Now quit interrupting me. First thing: what exactly you were thinking when you first saw Emmy that day at the store when you got back into town?
Jack: *Grins, shaking his head* You want to know what I was thinking…?
Me: Well, duh! I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t expect an answer. Now spill it.
Jack: *Sits back in his chair and crosses his arms.* Fine. But don’t tell her…she can’t know. It might get to her pretty little head.
Me: *Crosses my heart and rolls eyes, but secretly crosses my legs under the table too. Emmy and I don’t keep secrets…but he doesn’t need to know that.*
Jack: I was thinking that it was a mistake to come back to town. I was thinking that there was no way I’d be able to be so close to her without wanting her the way that I was meant to have her. And then when I saw her, it was like this flood of emotions came back, hitting me in the chest…
Me: You mean you and Emmy’s mating connection, right?
Jack: *Nods, staring down at the table* I was pissed, because I didn’t want to feel that way. I didn’t want to feel so indebted to her too. I just wanted to be normal, I guess you could say. I didn’t want to want her like I did. But the feeling…it was too powerful to ignore. And I wanted her so badly, that I couldn’t take it, and I almost attacked her in that break room. But I was also warned to stay away – that Zachary still had a claim on her, even though he had to leave. I knew she’d always be mine though. I just wanted her to have a choice about who to love, and how to spend her life, just like I wanted to have one too. Deep down I knew though, that I’d never want someone the way I wanted her.
Me: *swoons…so much so, that my face heats and tears form in my eyes. This cocky son of a gun tears me up inside.*
Jack: *Clears his throat, sitting back up. All business Jack is back* So, what else do you want to know. I’ve gotta get back to my brother.
Me: Ah, Adrian. Yes. I can imagine things aren’t…well, never mind.
Jack: *snarls*
Me: Okay, moving on. *note to self here, avoid Adrian talk* I’ve got another one, it’s a little lighter this time. Where’d you inherit the Harley?
Jack: *Grins, and relaxes again…thank God. Angry Jack scares the bejeezus out of me* Easy. I bought it the day I turned sixteen from my neighbor. It was fast, it got me to where I needed to go, at a pace that a car couldn’t have done. Adrian hates it, calls me an idiot for riding it, but he’s a bastard and doesn’t know what’s good for him anyways. *shrugs one shoulder*
Me: *rolls eyes* I love Adrian. He’s a good guy. *crap…what am I doing?*
Jack: Yeah, but if it weren’t for him…
Me: *sighs* I know. *Goes quiet again. So much for a lighter conversation*
Jack: Let me ask you a question here, Miss Van Fleet.
Me: *cringes* Okay…what’s that?
Jack: What the hell were you thinking screwing with Emmy’s life like you did?
Me: I’m an author…I’m evil like that. Sorry? *Shrugs, biting lip*
Jack: If you weren’t in control of my fate right now, then I’d probably –“
Me: Whatever, you don’t hit girls.
Jack: *growls*
Me: Onwards, onwards Jack. *swallows hard* Let’s see…I’ve got it! What song would you pick out for you and Emmy?
Jack: Easy. I Can Barely Say, by The Fray
Me: *smiles* That’s my choice too.
Jack *frowns* It’s not like it matters now anyways. She’s with…him.
Me: Zachary? Are you so sure about that, pal? I mean, are you really, really sure?
Jack: *shrugs, staring down at his palms* Maybe…
Me: God you’re broody.
Jack: Hey…you made me that way.
Me: Ugh, don’t remind me.
Jack: *grins*
Me: Okay, another question. What’s up with the red helmet?
Jack: I like red, no big secrets there.
Me: Okay then, I’m bored. How about another deeper question?
Jack: One more. That’s it.
Me: Fine. Okay, it’ll be a doozy though. Are you sure you’re up for it?
Jack: *leans forward, wiggling his eyebrows* I can handle anything.
Me: Fine. *rolls eyes * I have no doubt about that, Jack. Tell me about the night when Emmy’s step-father choked her. Tell the readers what you did? Tell them how you saved her…how you knew she was in trouble.
Jack: *groans, and runs a hand through his hair.*
Me: *Sighs uncontrollably… Okay, so I know I shouldn’t drool over seventeen year old boys. It’s just wrong, unhealthy even. But with Jack, it’s almost impossible not to do so. And to be fair, he’ll be eighteen in January.*
Jack: I knew something wasn’t right that night when I was at my aunt and uncle’s house. I felt it – I felt her pain and her sadness like it was my own. *pats at his chest* It’s part of our connection; Emmy knows about it a little, and has the same physical responses as I do, in a way. But for me, being the wolf and all, it’s different, and it affects me even more so than it does her. I know when she’s in pain – all the time – not just occasionally. It’s like she’s living inside of me, a physical part of me. I know it sounds nuts, but it’s how it is…
Me: I know Jack. It’s okay. *leans over and pats his hands*
Jack: *Takes a deep breath* So that night, I made myself go over to her house. I had to. Otherwise I would have gone crazy with worry. It was my job to keep her safe and not just because of our connection, but because I loved her…even then.
Me *swallows a giddy squeal. I love when he says things like that*
Jack: *shakes head* I felt her pain when she was shoved against that wall on my drive over. And so I called my uncle, told him something was wrong. He hopped in the car and headed over too. And then when that stupid bastard step-father of hers put his hands on her neck… *growls through scary clenched teeth and shakes head*
Me: Hey, she’s okay now, remember that.
Jack: *Nods, blowing out a huge breath* The front door of her house was locked and I couldn’t get in. So I used what little warlock power I have, along with my wolf strength, and finally got it shoved open. And when I found the bastard in charge of hurting her upstairs, he was passed out drunk on the floor next to her body. *shake his head, and rubs hands through his hair again* I wanted to kill him, right then and there. But the need to help Em was so overpowering that all other thoughts escaped my head. I…I thought she was dead. *shakes head and growls through his teeth* Her idiotic worthless mom was bawling on the floor, hovered over her husband and not her daughter, protecting the asshat. Jamie was crying over Emmy’s back, just shaking. So I scooped Emmy up in my arms and carried her outside, and managed to get Jamie to follow me. I left the freak on the floor with his wacked out wife though, even though I should have taken care of him.
Me: Yeah, and Alan was outside waiting for you then, right?
Jack: *nods* He got Jamie, but I wouldn’t let anyone near Strawberry. I had to help her. I had to use our connection to heal her a little. She was so close to being gone…
Me: Like I said, she’s fine now.
Jack: Yeah, you’d know. *shakes head*
Me: I lied, Jack. I do have one more question for you.
Jack: Of course you do. You’re nosey like that.
Me: I like picking your brain.
Jack: *frowns* Don’t you do that enough already?
Me: *shrugs* Not nearly.
Jack: *shakes head, but smiles anyways*
Me: What was going on in that head of yours when she kissed you that day in class?
Jack: *fights a grin* You don’t want to know that.
Me: Umm…I think I kind of do.
Jack: You sure about that?
Me: Jack…seriously now.
Jack: Well, I can tell you one thing. I hated it.
Me: *Raises brows in curiosity* You what?
Jack: *Shrugs, crossing arms over his big old, leather jacketed chest.* I hated it. It was the wrong time, the wrong place. And I wasn’t the one to initiate it. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I love her. I love her lips especially. But I was pissed because it wasn’t right. And she just…did it, surprised the hell out of me too.
Me: You kind of sent her over that edge you know – pushed her to do it.
Jack: Yeah…I guess I did. But I made up for it that day on the cliff. *grins* Now that was a real kiss.
Me: Okay. I’m done here. *shakes head and covers eyes* I’ve been in your head long enough. Besides…if my girls and hubby woke up to find me talking to you here, then they might send me to an institution or something.
Jack: You’re not crazy, *stands, and moves towards my steps to leave* but if you don’t stop messing with my girl…then watch out. I’ll find you in your sleep. *winks*
Me: *sighs* Well, unfortunately Jack…you kind of already do that.
Jack: *opens the door to leave and laughs over his shoulder at me* Take care, and get to writing. I need my life back.
Me: Now…where’s the fun in that?
Author Bio:
Heather Van Fleet currently resides in northern Illinois, with her three little ladies, Kelsey, Emma, and Isabella, and her fabulous hubby (and high school sweetheart) Chris, with whom she’s been blissfully married to now for ten years. She’s a stay at home mom by day, and an avid and completely obsessive writer and reader by night.
Heather always had a soft spot in her heart for books, and she’s been creating her own little stories since she was a seven year old. But she never really had the confidence or the time to actually sit down and really do something about it, until her youngest daughter was born just two years ago.
Resisting Fate, book one in her Predetermined series, is her young adult, paranormal baby! It’s packed full of wolves…witches…and one sassy little red-headed teenage girl! She had an absolute blast writing it, and can’t wait to share it with the world!
