by Kay Maree
AIDAN
“Why are you doing this?” I asked, astonished that after everything we had been through that she would go and dump me like this.
“It’s not you Aidan, it’s me,” she spoke.
“Bullshit. Don’t you dare start blabbing rubbish like that when I know its total crap,” I grumbled. “What the hell Rubi, what happened?” I asked.
I needed to know what the fuck had changed for her to be leaving suddenly. For Rubi to be saying that whatever we had was over. I didn’t understand.
“I only came here for a holiday. I didn’t come here for love,” she stated.
“If you weren’t here for love, then what the fuck was all of this Rubi?” I asked.
“This, us…it was a beautiful friendship, but that’s all I ever wanted it to be. I didn’t mean to get caught up in it all. I never expected for us to end up in bed and for me to regret that fact,” she declared. “What did you expect us to be?” she added.
“Oh, I don’t know,” I remarked sarcastically. “I thought we were a little more than friends, but it’s fucking clear that what I thought was very wrong, since you’re calling this a beautiful friendship,” I retorted.
“The truth is, I can’t explain to you what I felt, how I felt about you, because everything you ever did for me was amazing. But I only ever looked at you as a friend and that’s why it’s so hard for me to say goodbye to you,” Rubi said with a sigh.
“What the fuck, Rubi. We weren’t just friends and you know it. We fooled around and you can’t tell me that when we kissed we didn’t have something going on between us. You can’t lie to me Rubi,” I replied. “You can’t lie to me about what happened between us last night.”
“This isn’t your fault Aidan. I just wasn’t here for the same things you thought I was. I said I hadn’t come to London for love, and it’s true. The heart wants what it wants, and mine isn’t ready for anything yet. I came out of a relationship that’s been hard for me to move on from and…”
“And I was the fucking rebound,” I roared.
So, there it was, the truth. Holy fuck, I’d just been used…I was the fucking rebound guy. I was a fucking Idiot to think that being friends with a girl could lead to anything but heartache. I never expected Rubi, of all the women, to wreck my life in such a way that I couldn’t even describe what I was feeling emotionally.
What the hell had I allowed to happen?
“I’m sorry, Aidan. I never meant to hurt you,” she whispered.
“Get out,” I yelled, turning my back on her. I couldn’t look at her. I’d been fucking played. I now knew what the women I slept with felt; those poor girls that I took to bed and never saw again; I now knew how they felt.
“I’m sorry I didn’t love you,” she said.
“You hurt me, more than I deserved, and that’s because I loved you more than you deserved,” I whispered.
I’d never allow a woman to influence me in this way ever again. How the fuck could I have fallen for someone who clearly wasn’t in love with me.
***
WAYNE
Fucking hell, I wondered when it would happen. I’d seen it coming, yet I did nothing about it.
In my defence, Aidan was a grown man and could look after himself, but he paid me to make his problems go away. However, I couldn’t make this go away.
Rubi had broken him, and I knew he wasn’t coping well with the whole idea of being played.
I couldn’t blame him. I had honestly been pushing him, telling him to not hurt her, and yet she’d done it. She’d ripped him open and left him as a man who was now hitting the booze and sleeping with every woman he could call in his little black book.
“Are you alright?” Lenah asked as she leaned against my office door.
“I’m ready for lunch,” I groaned, running a hand down my face.
“Are you stressing about Aidan?” she questioned.
“It’s a little hard not to,” I replied.
“You’re such a sweetheart, but Aidan’s a big boy…maybe a break from London life for a while will allow him to move on. I’m sure there are many women in the States that would love to have one night with Aidan Northman,” Lenah stated.
“Are you one of those women?” I asked, letting the question blurt out. Oh shit, that sounded bad, like I was prying. Fuck.
“I’m sorry,” I said, hoping she’d forgive me. Lenah was American but had moved to the UK almost five years ago.
“No,” she giggled. “I’m not into Aidan at all. You’re actually more my type,” she smiled.
I returned her grin, she was cheeky I’d give her that, but maybe she was correct. Maybe sending Aidan on a holiday would allow him to sow a few wild oats. It couldn’t be easy for him to stick around knowing that Rubi was still here. She’d be leaving in a couple of months, but by then she’d have caused him even more damage than what she already had.
Breaking his heart was one thing, but to keep seeing her after their break up was only driving him mad.
“Did you want me to order in?” Lenah inquired. “Dutch’s make great sandwiches…healthy,” she smirked.
“Are you suggesting that I need to lose a few pounds,” I joked.
She chuckled, shaking her head no.
“You get the healthy sandwiches and I’ll grab the coffee. You’ll have a latte, two sugars, and almond milk, right?” I stated, getting up from my office desk, and slipping my cell into my pocket.
EPILOGUE
AIDAN
I wasn’t staying in London pondering over shit I couldn’t change. Rubi had made her decision to leave me and move on with fucking Seth Milton; a man who had once been married to Poppy McCrea, a woman whom I couldn’t wait to catch up with. That girl was beautiful, and if I was brutally honest with myself, she was the one woman I could picture myself settling down with.
I wasn’t the type of man who wanted to settle down, but she made me think of everything to do with taking a leap of faith when it came to love.
“Mr Northman, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Dorian asked as he answered my call.
“I need something to keep my mind from going crazy,” I said, unable to actually tell him what the fuck was going on. But knowing Dorian, the guy already knew what was happening in my life, along with everyone else’s life who was in his close circle.
“When you land in Texas come see me. I think I have the perfect way to keep you and I from falling off the rails,” he remarked before hanging up.
Dorian…always cutting directly to the point, then leaving you hanging and wondering exactly what the fuck he’s going to get up to. Why did he need something to distract him from falling off the rails? The last time I checked, his life was going perfectly. Then again, I’d thought my life was fucking perfect until one woman had come along and made me realise nothing in life is ever carved in stone.
I wondered what Dorian had planned. He had piqued my curiosity, and since curiosity never actually killed the cat I decided that I’d hit up America for a little fun while I tried to get over what Rubi had done to me.
You hurt me, more than I deserved, and that’s because I loved you more than you deserved. Shame on me for kissing women with my eyes closed, shame on me for opening myself up, for trusting someone that clearly never wanted me the way I wanted her. I’d never allow a woman to influence me that way ever again, that was my vow. I had fallen for someone who clearly wasn’t in love with me, and I had been fooled by her in every way.
But… this was only the beginning of my story and it was far from over.
THE END
FOR NOW
About the Author
The best way to this authors heart is through Minties!
I'm a self-confessed shopaholic, book-a-holic and nerdy child!
I'm a self-published Aussie author from a small country town in Queensland. I have 3 children, a menagerie of pets which include cows, chickens, ducks, sheep and several dogs.
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I not only love to write novels but I love to read from many genres which include Y.A, fantasy, romance including erotica and much more. I'm a geek for all things Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings that's just to name a few.
I'm a bit of a clown always up for a laugh and a good joke.
If you like romance with heat, spunk and fire check me out!
Author Links
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/GemmaArlingtonAuthor/
Email
[email protected]
Twitter
https://twitter.com/gemma_arlington
Amazon Author Page
https://www.amazon.com/Gemma-Arlington/e/B00S49TWF8
Other books by Gemma Arlington:
Amore Intimate Series
The Unexpected Wedding
Hello, Stranger
Stripped
Bachelor Weekend
Intimate Disasters
The Black Angel
Playtime Series
Ace
Hardcore
Euphoria
Secret Trilogy
Secret Heart
Secret Lies
Slayer Brothers Series
SMASH
UNHOLY TRINITY
REVENGE
Standalones
The Perfect Business Arrangement
Auction Series – Complete Collection
Londyn for Christmas
LANA COHEN
LONDYN FOR CHRISTMAS
Copyright © 2019 by Lana Cohen
The right of Lana Cohen to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her under the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000
All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical or mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
CHAPTER ONE
I'm running late for work on possibly the most important day of my life. No big deal, right?! I trip over the towel I dropped on my way out of the bathroom this morning as I head back inside to make last-minute adjustments to my hair. I glance into the glamorously lit vanity mirror at my typically well-kept brunette locks and am disappointed to find a few loose spirals dangling flat around my face. I reach for the curling wand and drop it on the ground instantly sending a crack in the newly tiled floors.
Fuck. A third-degree burn on my first day is exactly what I need. Look at me now mom, I bet you're so proud. I collapse to the floor, a pile of nerves and falling curls and begin wailing into the palms of my hands.
Would she be proud of me? She spent her whole life trying her best to keep me away from my father, and here I am preparing for my first day of work at his office.
When he showed up to her funeral, I instantly knew exactly who he was. He looked like money, something me and my mom never seemed to have enough of, and well me. I was drawn to his magnetic presence, and we had spent the last 3 months getting to know each other over the phone and over a few short weekend trips when he managed to sneak away from his family. He wasn't this bad guy my mom had made him out to be, he was just a man who had made a mistake, a me-sized mistake, and chose his wife and life over me and my mom. A betrayal she carried with her to the grave, and that she had embedded so deep in me I always imagined it would accompany me in mine as well. I saw what that hatred did to her, and I didn't want that for myself. What I wanted was my dad and all the years we lost back, but since that's not possible getting the chance to work with him and be integrated into his life now seems like the next best thing.
I wipe my hands on my pants and take in a few deep breaths before carefully leaning over and picking up the curling wand from the ground.
"You've got this!" I say to myself hoping that if I say it aloud maybe I'll actually start to believe it.
I unplug the wand making sure to lean it on its heatproof mat because the last thing I need is to set my new apartment on fire, cut off the lights and grab my jacket, purse, and keys as I head out of my front door.
The drive from my place to the office should only take 10 minutes through the small town, but since I've never been good at directions, I pull out my phone to enter my destination into the GPS before taking off. Fostmore is a small town in Idaho that my father's ancestors helped to build many many years ago. My dad is the town's mayor, for now at least. He asked me to move down and help him prepare to run for Governor of Idaho in a year. I felt so honored he wanted me to be a part of something this big in his life that I accepted instantly. A piece of me knew he was asking because I was that secret that if he didn't manage to get ahead of it could ruin his chances, but I could also feel that he genuinely wanted me around which was something I had been dying to feel my whole life.
"Turn left in 200 yards." Shit. I had zoned out, and now I was going to miss my turn.
I quickly glance over my shoulder and observe the empty road before taking the left turn anyway from the far-right lane. I don't even make it halfway down the next block before I hear the whooping sound of sirens coming from behind me. Today just hasn't been my day. I glance in my rearview as I slowly pull over and bring my car to a stop. The officer is a male that appears to be in his mid-30s kind of cute, and under other circumstances, I may have genuinely been interested in a little game of cops and robbers but today was too important so getting out of here as quick as possible was the goal. I unbutton the top button of my blouse, revealing a little more cleavage than appropriate for the office and reapply my lip gloss before the officer approaches my window. It's the same thing I've seen my mother do countless times to get out of a ticket, and it always worked for her.
"Good morning, officer," I say sweetly as I roll down my window.
"Good morning, ma'am. Do you know why I pulled you over?" he asks, taking a quick glimpse down at my cleavage before returning his gaze back to mine with a slight smirk. I think it's working.
"No, sir. Do you mind telling me?" I feign ignorance as I run my hand through my hair, pushing it to one side and revealing the skin of my neck. He clears his throat before responding.
"Well, ma'am, you took a left turn from the right lane back there."
"Oh, yes. I'm so sorry about that. I'm new here, and I just get so lost, and when my GPS told me to turn at the last minute, I panicked and just took the turn." I give a little pout and watch as his eyes move to my lips. "I'm sorry, I promise it won't happen again."
I watch as something in his demeanor changes, and all signs of emotion drain from his face.
"I sure hope not. License and registration, please?" he says, no longer looking at me.
"Sir, do we really need to do this? I said it won't happen again."
"License and registration, now ma'am," he insists sounding irritated.
I do as I'm told and watch as he disappears behind the car to run my information. What the hell just happened? One second he was basically drooling over me, and the next he wouldn't even look at me. This always worked for my mom. I guess getting out of tickets was just another thing I didn't manage to inherit from her.
I sink into my seat and rebutton my top. If I'm getting a ticket, the show is over buddy. A few seconds later, he reappears at my window nearly startling me to death.
"For fuck's sake," I mumble under my breath.
"You might want to watch that pretty little mouth of yours. Talking like that to an officer of the law could land you in a lot of trouble." He hands over my information before ripping out a paper ticket and hanging it just outside my window.
"Being nice sure as hell didn't get me anywhere," I say as I reach for the ticket. He pulls it away be
fore I can get to it.
"Being nice? Is that what you city girls call using your body to get out of a ticket." My mouth dropped open in disbelief. I mean, that's exactly what I had been doing, but hearing him say it out loud made me sound like a prostitute or something.
"I was...I didn't do that." I stumble over my words, trying to get the lie out as quickly as I can.
He ducks his head down to the window and gently slides the ticket back inside. "That's exactly what you were doing, and I'd be a liar too if I didn't admit it almost worked. Have a good day, ma'am." His voice was low and husky, and I could feel the warmth of his breath on my neck, sending shivers down my spine. I wanted to be upset, but the moisture gathering between my legs wouldn't let me.
I watched in the mirror as he returned to his vehicle, buckled up, and drove off. It took everything in me not to follow, but I had to get to work as quickly as the law allowed at this point. I picked up the ticket that he so gently dropped in my lap.
"$200?! You've got to be fucking kidding me," I yell out the window and start to gently bang the back of my head against the headrest.
****
I pull into the office parking lot that is conveniently near full, except for a single tight spot in the back next to the most rank smelling dumpster. My life literally feels like trash right now, so the parking spot seems to be on theme. I climb over and squeeze my way out of the passenger side, deciding a possible dent in the dumpster is better than one in a coworker’s car on day one.
I head into the beautifully remodeled building and let out a massive sigh of relief when I notice that my dad's door sign still says out of the office. After all, everyone knows you're on time as long as you beat the boss in. I head in the direction of the office he had shown me the weekend before when he gave me the private after-hours tour of the place. I knew I had an office mate, and he had expressed high hopes that the two of us would get along. He said he noticed a lot of similarities between my mother and her over the years and I hoped he was right as I was desperately in need of new friends here in town.
