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    Under Her Skin
    Under Her Skin
    Under Her Skin
    Ebook86 pages54 minutes

    Under Her Skin

    By Mary Winter

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    About this ebook

    A wilted flower never gets sent. A scarred woman never finds love.

    Ari intimately knows these two truths. She works as a florist. Her job is to create beauty. But a horrible car accident left her permanently scarred. She’s buried herself in her work and stayed to busy to think about her lonely nights and empty heart. A trip to Greece changes her life forever.

    When Ari falls asleep in the ruins of an ancient temple, she dreams of a place where her outside is as beautiful as her inside. It’s just a dream, but even so they wake the Greek God of healing, Asclepius. It’s been so long since anyone has prayed to him, and he knows he’s just the man to give Ari everything she desires. He takes mortal form and comes to her with only one goal: to show her she’s as beautiful as her floral arrangements.

    Her tears woke him. His passion will heal her heart.

    This is a re-release of a previously published book by the same title.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMary Winter
    Release dateOct 1, 2016
    Under Her Skin

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      Book preview

      Under Her Skin - Mary Winter

      Under Her Skin

      By Mary Winter

      Copyright 2015 by Mary Winter

      Smashwords edition published by Jupiter Gardens Press at Smashwords

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. Permission is granted to make ONE backup copy for archival purposes.

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Prologue

      Walking in a land steeped in history should have made Ari forget all about the scars covering her body. The grace and beauty in the Greek architecture, the people, and the artwork reminded her of the car accident that had torn her world asunder. Though clothing hid the worst of her scars, she knew she’d never again be as beautiful as the goddesses the ancient Greeks once worshiped.

      Ari paused to stare at partially excavated buildings. Chills ran up and down her spine as she thought of those who once lived here. People had laughed here, loved here. The history of the place awed her.

      Though the ruins of Abdera didn’t seem like much, she suspected in its heyday the city had covered far more than these seven hills. Outside the city, people eked out a living from the land. Mythology said Hercules founded the city. Looking around, Ari knew it would take a miracle to release the city from ages of neglect.

      A small temple caught her attention. It drew her, and she walked toward it thinking that if anyone needed a miracle, it was her. The Mediterranean sun beat down, and Ari plucked at the long sleeves covering her scarred arms. A wide-brimmed hat shielded her face. She wished it would hide the puckered scar high on one cheek and the nasty white line radiating away into her hairline. Pursing her lips, she paused in the paltry shade cast by the building. The locals had warned her against the midday heat.

      She should have listened. Her calm place on the beach had been disturbed by two local lovers. She fled before they saw her, and before they could remind her of things she’d never have again. Physical therapy and surgeries    through it all she promised herself a trip to Greece. And now she ventured beyond the cities to explore areas not overrun by tourists. Athens had been all right, and she’d seen the major attractions. But here, away from it all, she allowed her heart to be free and the burdens she carried to lift, just a little.

      Rested, she rose to her feet and walked to the small temple. It would be nice to rest here for a while, and maybe the gods would have mercy on her and no one would disturb her. She wanted to be alone, far away from the pitying looks. She’d seen them. The man who tried to flirt with her in the airport, yet when she’d turned the scarred side of her face to him he’d smiled apologetically and turned away. The cab driver who’d winked then frowned once he fully saw her. Ari traced her fingers over the two visible scars on the side of her face. They’d long since failed to bring physical pain, but the emotional    oh, how it still hurt.

      Ari stepped into the temple. The austere decorations gave no clue as to which god claimed it. There were so many in Greek mythology, and she had only learned about a few before her trip. Maybe Apollo who made the sun shine so brightly. Or perhaps Zeus, who lorded over everything, though the temple seemed too small for him. Ari shook her head. A low bench sat before a block of stone. Perhaps it was an altar. Her feet carried her there, and she knelt.

      I don’t know which god rules this place, but whoever you are, I’m so very alone. If only someone could see past my scars to the woman inside. I didn’t change with the car accident, only my skin, but even my friends don’t know what to say when they see me. So they go off dancing by themselves, and I’ve ended up here. If only I had someone with whom to share my love of old things. She smiled and stifled a yawn. Stretching out on the bench, she thought of the ancient Greeks worshipping gods at this temple and decided she’d rest here for a while.

      She stood in the center of a party wearing a gorgeous dress. The bodice hugged her, curving around her breasts and nipping in at her waist like a lover’s caress. With her wavy brown hair French braided, it left her neck and shoulders bare. A strand of pearls shimmered around her neck. She slid her hands over the silk skirt, smiling at the calf-length. The strappy sandals on her feet added inches to her height. A chill breeze caressed her bare back, and Ari shivered. A strapless, backless dress. She’d always wanted to wear such a creation but hadn’t since her accident. Too many scars and too much skin. Still, in this dress, in this moment, she felt like the most beautiful woman in the world    a princess.

      A passing waiter handed her a flute of champagne, but as she took the sparkling drink she couldn’t miss his look of pity. Men turned to her, started toward her, then frowned and turned away. Across the room a woman laughed, high and shrill. Who does she think she is? She’s ugly and scarred. The woman’s hurtful words carried across the room.

      Ari turned away. She stared back at the way she’d come, debating whether to leave or not. The beautiful dream turned into a nightmare, so much like the ones she had nearly every night. She thought about opening her eyes. Waking up would relieve her of the pain. The woman spoke again, more hurtful words. Laughter, sharp and cruel, filled the air. Tears stung Ari’s eyes. She looked around at the men in their tuxedos, the women in their beautiful gowns. Once she’d belonged in this world, but nevermore.

      A man stepped from the crowd. His thick dark hair begged for

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