After Her Flower Petals: A Second Chance Romantic Comedy (The Svensson Brothers Book 7)

by Alina Jacobs

  “Is it Walter?” I growled.

  She glanced back at me, nibbling her bottom lip. “Okay, so there is something.” She tipped her head forward. “Something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

  My heart raced.

  “Having you jackhammer your cock into me doggy style in my office wasn’t my only fantasy related to the building,” she purred. “I also really want you to fuck me in a stairwell.”

  “Damn.” I was immediately hard. I pushed my hand under her skirt, hooking my fingers under the lacy panties. It was like she dressed every day with the intention of driving me up the wall. My fingers brushed over her warm, damp pussy lips. Meghan let out a delicious gasp that seemed to echo in the stairwell.

  “Damn, you’re already hot and ready for me, aren’t you?”

  She grinned. “What are you going to do about it?”

  I pushed myself against her, letting her feel the long length of me, the strength in my body. She let out a little whimper, arching up into me.

  “You really want me to fuck you in the stairwell? Where anyone can hear us?”

  Meghan huffed a laugh. Her hand slid down and cupped my erection, and I could not help but rock my hips into the teasing touch.

  “I don’t know. Are you going to give me a reason to make noise?”

  She knew exactly what to say to push my buttons. My dick throbbed. Bending down, I captured her mouth against my own, kissing her harshly. She barely had time to respond before I ripped away again, turning her around so that she was braced against the banister.

  “Now that’s a little more like it,” she said and leaned down over it, ass up and ready in full display.

  “You drive me crazy.” And I loved every second of it.

  Flipping her skirt over her back, I took two handfuls of her ass and squeezed. Meghan groaned softly in response and shifted her stance to widen her legs—opening up for me in full display. It was enough to drive any man wild. If I didn’t pound my way inside her at this moment, I didn’t know what I would do.

  Unzipping myself, I pulled out my cock and rolled on the condom that I kept in my pocket for emergency situations. This definitely counted as an emergency.

  She still wore her panties, and I didn’t bother to pull them down. I just pushed the thin lacy fabric aside and rammed into her.

  Meghan’s squeak of surprise became a low, drawn-out moan. Snapping my hips back, I took her again, deeper, this time to the hilt. She was so wet and ready that I slid in and out with just the hot clench of her pussy being the only resistance.

  I fucked her like I was trying to prove something, and she hung onto the banister, taking everything I could give to her and more.

  Meghan stuffed her hand against her mouth to try to keep it down, but I was beyond caring.

  Grabbing a fistful of her hair, I pulled her head up just to see the mix of shock and building ecstasy on her face.

  I slammed home and the noise she made was like lightning down my cock. I don’t know who came first, only that I was moaning out my pleasure as she clenched spasmodically around me.

  Dragging in ragged gasps of air, I leaned over her to brace myself against the railing. I felt like I had just run a marathon, and yet my galloping heart wanted more. Distantly, I wondered if it would ever be enough.

  “Damn,” I breathed as the pulse in her neck started to slow down. “I didn’t know this was something I needed to do with you.” I nibbled her ear. “I guess you earned the sandwich I brought you.”

  “You brought me a Cicely’s sandwich? Where?” she demanded.

  I blinked. “I’m a little concerned that you seem more excited about the sandwich than me.”

  “I can get fucked by you anytime I want,” Meg said, grabbing the sandwich when I handed it to her. “But eating a Cicely’s sandwich is a rare occurrence and must be treasured!”

  69

  Meghan

  That was close. I had been concerned that Hunter was going to wrangle the fact that I had seen his father out of me. The sex in the stairwell had been a stroke of genius. To be totally honest, I had not even fantasized about being fucked like that by Hunter in a stairwell. Though now that it had happened, I would not be opposed to repeating the experience.

  He wrapped his arms around me, kissing me deeply.

  “You’re going to make me drop my sandwich,” I murmured against his mouth.

  “I’m almost offended that you care about that more than me.” He kissed me again on the cheek as I took another bite.

  “This is a special sandwich. I can’t just go to Manhattan and buy another one.”

  “I’d go there and get you another,” Hunter said.

  “You mean you’d pay someone to do it,” I joked.

  He tipped my head up. “If you want me to personally go get one for you every day, I will.”

  “I’d rather you were here with me,” I said.

  “I love you, Meg.” He gave me a crooked smile. “I’ll be wherever you want me to be.” His face was so open and honest. My heart squeezed. I did love him. He was trying. The little gestures—like bringing me my favorite sandwich just because he knew it would make me happy—hinted he was trying to show me he loved me in the best way he could. Maybe Hunter wasn’t perfect, but he was the perfect man for me.

  “I love you, Hunter,” I told him.

  He smiled and kissed me, holding me tight. I felt safe, warm, and cherished.

  “Does that mean you’re moving in with me?” His voice rumbled in his chest.

  “Mmm, depends on the house.”

  “I’ll buy you any house. Your house probably won’t go up for auction for a bit, though.”

  “Maybe we should get a different one,” I suggested. “You know, a fresh start.”

  He brushed the hair out of my face. “But wasn’t that your parents’ house and your childhood home?”

  “Yeah, but.” I shrugged. “Change can be good.”

  I felt lighter than I had since Barry had collapsed. I was feeling good about the election. I hadn’t seen Hunter’s father at all since the other night. Hunter loved me. I had a sandwich. And I might have a swanky new house with the man of my dreams coming my way.

  I should probably start packing up my things. The girl I was renting from was coming back into town in a few days. The station wagon could only transport so much without the back wheels sagging. I packed up my baking supplies first and carted them down to the station wagon that I had parked on a side street nearby, nestling them carefully in the front seat.

  There had still been no word from the bank about my request to access my house. If it didn’t go through soon, I may have to break the rules again and rescue the rest of my baking equipment. If Hunter and I were buying a brand-new house, I was going to tell him I wanted a huge kitchen. I was definitely going to up my cooking game.

  Meg: On my way with the first load!

  Hazel: You better not be bringing a lot of stuff. My building already looks like a hoarder house.

  Meg: It’s only a few boxes.

  Meg: You won’t even know I’m there.

  Hazel: Just don’t park that gross car in front of my building.

  Meg: You’re such a snob.

  Hazel: That car is a biohazard.

  “Meg!” Karen exclaimed as I stepped off the elevator at my floor. “I was just looking for you. I’m so glad I found you.”

  I narrowed my eyes, immediately suspicious.

  “I just had to tell you in person,” Karen said, grabbing my hand. “It’s just awful.”

  “What happened? Is it Hunter?” I started to freak out and mentally calculated when I’d last heard from him. What if something terrible had happened to him? I loved him. I couldn’t lose him. “Is he all right?”

  Karen reached out to place a hand on my shoulder and looked at me sympathetically. “I know it’s going to be hard for you to hear,” she said, eyes wide, “but Hunter has been lying to you.”

  I jerked away from her. “There’s no
way I’m believing a thing you say,” I spat at her. “You’re the one who’s lying. You were a liar when we worked together, and you told everyone Hunter was sending you flowers and not me. You lied to our bosses and had me fired, and you lied to weasel your way back into Hunter’s life. Hunter loves me, and I love him. He does not love you, and he doesn’t want you.”

  Karen gave me a pitying look. “Oh, poor naïve little Meg.” She clicked her tongue. “Hunter doesn’t love you. He’s been using you.”

  “Why do you care? You don’t even like me. Why are you telling me this?” I cried.

  “Us women have to stick together. There are lines we can’t let men cross,” she said as she took her phone out of her purse. “And one of those lines is revenge porn.”

  “No.” The room spun.

  “All those dirty pictures you sent? I overheard him and his brothers talking about how they were going to release them to the public right before the election to ruin your chances of winning.” Karen gave me a sad face.

  “He wouldn’t.”

  “He asked me to do it,” Karen said. “Look.” She handed me her phone. I scrolled through all the pictures and text messages I had sent Hunter.

  “He asked me to go to the next state over and upload them online anonymously at a McDonald’s so they couldn’t be traced back to him. I told him I would, but I haven’t yet.”

  “Are you blackmailing me?” I screeched.

  Karen was offended. “Of course not! I’m just giving you a heads-up. I’m not going to put them online, but Hunter will figure it out sooner or later. And then he’ll make someone else post them.”

  “Oh my god,” I moaned. What am I going to do? “I can’t believe him.”

  “You can’t pretend like you didn’t know he was capable of something like this,” Karen told me. “You know what kind of man he is.”

  I did know what kind of man Hunter was.

  “He’s a liar and a bastard,” I fumed. He also wasn’t stupid. The only way Karen would have had those pictures was if Hunter had given them to her personally.

  God, I was so dumb!

  I packed the last box in the car, slammed the trunk shut and turned to head to the driver’s-side door when I almost crashed into a man’s chest. For a second, I thought it was Hunter. The man reached out, his large hand a vice around my forearm.

  “Meg.”

  I peered up at the man. “Leif?”

  He had shaven, and it was clear where Hunter and his brothers had gotten their looks from. “I came to see if you had rethought my offer.” He released me.

  I looked away. Hunter was clearly about to screw me over big time. If those pictures were out online, it wouldn’t just ensure that I didn’t win the election. My reputation would be ruined. I wouldn’t be able to get a job anywhere in the public, private, or nonprofit sector. My only option would be to become homeless or totally dependent on Hunter.

  Screw the rules. Screw Hunter. I have to get him before he gets me, my mind decided with dreadful clarity. “What kind of information do you have?” I asked Leif.

  He smiled. “Let’s talk business. I have information that will sink Hunter. But it’s not free.”

  “How much money do you want?” I didn’t have much left. I had just received my paycheck, though, for my mayoral duties. Plus, I still had some money from the personal loan from the bank I’d taken out. I had been hoping to pay off my credit card debt, but if those pictures got out, I would have bigger problems to worry about than a late credit card payment.

  “Twenty-five hundred dollars,” Leif told me. “You can Venmo it to me.”

  That was a lot of money. It was all the money I had.

  “This will win you the election and put Hunter in his place, for good,” Leif promised, holding out the envelope.

  “Okay,” I said quickly, before I lost my nerve. I took out my phone and typed in the username he gave me that would allow me to transfer the money.

  My heart hammered. His phone chimed.

  “Received. Thank you very much, Meg.” He handed me the envelope. I wondered if I had made a terrible mistake. What if there wasn’t anything incriminating in there at all?

  Leif stood there, looming over me.

  “I think that’s it.”

  “You should make sure that you are satisfied with your purchase,” he said, mouth slightly crooked. “And… I must admit, I have been fantasizing about seeing your reaction.”

  I opened the envelope, unwinding the red string holding the folder closed. My hands trembled as I took out the papers, notarized forms, and photos.

  “This is… this is a marriage certificate,” I said, eyes swimming.

  “I told you,” Leif crooned. “I know his deepest darkest secrets.”

  “Hunter is married?” I choked out.

  There were wedding pictures. In the photo, a young Hunter stood next to a happy-looking young woman.

  “Why? When?”

  “He was going to be part of the cult. This was his first wife.” Leif smirked at me. “Maybe he was going to make you his second?”

  “Does he…” I was going to puke. “Does he have children?”

  A slow smile spread across Leif’s face. “Let’s just say there’s more information where that came from… if you’re willing to pay for it, of course.”

  70

  Hunter

  I spent the night before and the morning of the debate preparing. Karen had adopted a professional attitude and only referred to me as Mr. Svensson. I didn’t feel bad about leading her on. It had gotten me what I wanted—Meg.

  Just make it through this debate, then the election, then you will move in with her and live happily ever after. But I was concerned. I hadn’t heard from Meg since yesterday afternoon. I had tried not to descend into a maelstrom of doubt and fear that she had decided to leave me for good after all.

  She’s prepping for the debate, I assured myself as I changed into a fresh suit. I adjusted my tie in the mirror and checked to make sure my hair was parted evenly before I headed to city hall.

  The atrium was packed for the final debate. The election was in three days. Meg was wearing a single-button black suit with a pencil skirt. Her suit jacket was quarter sleeved and low-cut and framed her tits perfectly. She was wearing patent leather black pumps that pushed her ass up enticingly.

  After this, I’m going to fuck her. Maybe in the stairwell again.

  I smiled at her lazily. “Ready to get this over with?”

  “Debates are an important part of the political process, Hunter.” She practically spat my name.

  “Sure,” I said, frowning as I took my place behind the lectern and adjusted the microphone.

  “Welcome to the final debate,” Edna said. “To everyone in the audience or watching at home, please do keep in mind when you vote three days from now that you are not voting for the homecoming court. You are voting for the person most likely to be a competent, successful mayor of our town. To that end, the first question is about your new administration. Who will you choose to be your deputy mayor and why? Hunter.”

  I gave the crowd a winning smile. “If I am elected, obviously Meg will be my deputy mayor. She’s been excellent at it the past few years, and I’d be honored to work with her.” The answer earned me a smattering of applause. I looked over to Meg, expecting her to be gazing up at me adoringly, but her face was a cold mask.

  “Let me make one thing clear,” she said, turning her furious gaze to the audience, “if you do not elect me as mayor, I will not be the deputy mayor for Hunter. The past five years, I have propped up a corrupt, lazy, ineffective mayor in my great-uncle Barry. He and Hunter are cut from the same cloth, and I will not enable bad behavior any longer. If you vote for Hunter, you can forget about all the extra hours, all the times I have gone the extra mile, and all the sacrifices I have made to make sure this town has run smoothly. And let’s be very clear. Mayor Barry was this close to embezzling funds from the town just like he did from me and my
sisters. The only reason the town has been running as well as it has and growing and improving the last few years is because of me and my hard work.” She glared at me, mouth a tight line.

  “Hunter was even given a chance to step up to the plate and prove that he had what it takes to be mayor. He managed to attend four meetings in the last two weeks while I have attended fifty-seven. So, if Hunter wins, he will have to do all of that work by himself. I will not be providing any more free labor, nor will I continue to clean up after men who will not pull their own weight.”

  Shit. There were knowing smirks from the women in the audience. My tie constricted around my throat.

  “With that being said,” Meg continued, “if you elect me, my deputy mayor will be Susie. She has served this town as a police officer for a number of years and is committed to a brighter future for Harrogate.”

  “Women get it done! Women get it done! If you vote for that man, he’s just going to be a bum!” Ida and her fellow Harrogate Girls Club members chanted.

  “Ida!” Her sister turned around to yell at her. “This is a serious event.”

  Ida stuck her tongue out at her older sister, who sighed and shook her head.

  “Well, Hunter,” Edna said to me. “Do you want to make a different decision?”

  I was still reeling from Meg’s announcement. She didn’t want to be my deputy mayor? “Uh,” I said, looking out over the crowd, “I suppose then Garrett will be the deputy mayor.”

  “Over my dead body,” Garrett shot back.

  “I’ll do it!” Isaac piped up, jumping out of his seat.

  “You’re not old enough,” I told him.

  “Yes he is,” Meg corrected. “In Harrogate, the law states that a person can be the deputy mayor as long as they are over sixteen years of age and are a permanent resident.”

  Fuck.

  “So your sixteen-year-old brother is going to be your deputy mayor?” Edna asked disapprovingly.

  “Not officially…”