by Lisa Oliver
Harder in Heels
Alpha and Omega Book 4
By Lisa Oliver
Harder in Heels (Alpha and Omega series, book 4)
Copyright © Lisa Oliver, 2016
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Cover Design by Lisa Oliver
Image credits – Dreamstime
Image ID: 852399 Copyright Dwphotos | Dreamstime.com http://www.dreamstime.com/dwphotos_info
Image ID: 33722082 Copyright Pixattitude | Dreamstime.comhttp://www.dreamstime.com/pixattitude_info
Feature Model – Paul Henry Serres – Exclusive license – Krys - KL1_097 http://www.paulhenryserres.com
First Edition July 2016
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author, Lisa Oliver. [email protected]
No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the internet or any other means, electronic or print, without permission from Lisa Oliver.
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights and livelihood is appreciated.
Harder in Heels is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
The following companies/products/trademarks have been mentioned in this book.
Armani Suits - Armani
Baby One More Time - Brittany Spears
Believe - Cher
Bye, Bye, Bye - 'N Sync
Daydreams Pizza – Winterpark, Florida
Google Search Engine
Harley Themed Wedding - Viva Las Vegas Website
Just Like Fire - Pink
Little White Wedding Chapel - Las Vegas
Orlando Sentinel Newspaper, Orlando
Tiffany's Jewelers
YouTube
Table of Contents
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Epilogue
Other Books By Lisa Oliver
About the Author
Dedication
This book was already in production when the shocking tragedy of the shooting at Pulse took place. Orlando was and still is an amazing city full of warm, friendly people – it’s not possible for one person to change that, and for that I’m truly grateful.
This book is dedicated to those who died at Pulse, June 12, 2016.
Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old
Amanda Alvear, 25 years old
Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old
Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old
Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old
Cory James Connell, 21 years old
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old
Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old
Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old
Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old
Frank Hernandez, 27 years old
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old
Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old
Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old
Kimberly Morris, 37 years old
Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old
Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old
Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old
Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old
Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old
Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old
Love Defeats Hate, Light Defeats The Darkness - Orlando United.
Chapter One
“I’m not in the mood for some skanky club tonight, Asaph. I thought you were going to take me somewhere fancy, like Turrets, or the Watch Tower? I wanted to wear my new dress.”
“I wasn’t asking you to come with me. I’d assumed you made dinner plans with friends,” Asaph Bosch said distractedly. His eyes kept wandering to the Albion flyer and the tickets that sat on the side of his desk. There was something about that man, those eyes; it was almost as if….
“It’s no fun without you.” It was the tone that made Asaph look up. Sure enough, Leticia had her pout on and not for the first time, Asaph hid his grimace. His girlfriend of six months might be tall, slender, with luxurious blond hair and breasts most men would drool over, but she was also rich, spoiled and used to getting her own way. The red dress she was wearing highlighted a stunning figure, but was definitely unsuitable for the office and reminded Asaph, yet again, the woman had never worked a day in her life.
“I’m going to the Albion,” he said firmly. “I’ve waited a month for these tickets, and if you’re not keen, fine. Bronson will come with me. I’ve no problems with you dining with friends.”
“But I want you to take me somewhere fancy.” My gods, the little witch actually stamped her foot. That was new. Asaph could feel his wolf rising, his animal had been getting harder to control lately, especially around Leticia. Despi
te being human, his wolf felt this woman was a threat in some way; Asaph wondered, not for the first time, if he should break things off. Leticia wasn’t his mate, so he’d never feel anything but affection for her anyway and lately it’d been hard to fake even that. The fact she’d barged into his office as though she owned the place wasn’t helping.
“I have plans. Plans that don’t include you,” he said with more anger than intended. “I suggest you call up your entourage, and make other arrangements.”
“What are you saying?” Leticia got up from her chair and stood far too close to his desk for his liking. Her blood-red nails tapped on the wood, and Asaph hoped she wouldn’t leave marks. The desk was a prized antique.
“I’ve made myself quite clear.” Asaph stood up, straightening the lapels of his Armani jacket and buttoning it. “I have plans this evening and won’t be available to take you to dinner. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have appointments all afternoon.”
“Asaph, don’t be like this,” Leticia’s voice dropped an octave and Asaph guessed she was trying to be seductive. In the first week they’d been together it’d been very effective but in the six months since, it’d lost its impact, on him at least. “You know how my friends talk if I go out without you. Rudy’s always trying to get into my pants and Katy will make catty comments all evening if you’re not there.” At least the fingernails stopped tapping.
Asaph waited for a surge of jealousy at hearing Rudy’s name. It’s true, the self-centered young man was always hanging around Leticia and for a while he’d thought they were a couple. But Leticia always claimed she hated Rudy and would have nothing to do with him. He searched his wolf side, waiting a growl, howl or something but his animal spirit was oddly silent and that spoke volumes for Asaph.
Walking around the side of his desk, he gently took Leticia’s arm and steered her towards the door, opening it; he made it clear he expected her to leave.
“Asaph, I….”
“I’ve got critical business issues coming up; the Santagato Merger; I may have to fly to Europe to sort that one out; the new renovations in Milan and we’re breaking ground in Las Vegas next week. I’m going to be extremely busy. It might be better if you started seeing other people.”
“You’re breaking up with me?” Leticia at least had the manners to whisper, but Bronson Cunningham, who was sitting across from his personal assistant Beatrice, flashed him a grin. Damn wolf hearing. Asaph forced his attention to the woman who wasn’t looking as pretty as she did five minutes ago. Rage had totally distorted her flawless features.
“I’m busy,” he said firmly. “It’s not fair to ask you to sit around in your father’s house, while I’m working. I’m sure you’d rather be out with friends, having a good time.”
“But you don’t need to work. You’ve got managers, foremen, and a whole staff of people who can oversee things for you. You just don’t want to be with me.”
Asaph inhaled deeply, and then let the breath out slowly. He didn’t want to do this in front of an audience, but Leticia gave him no choice.
“No, I don’t. I’m sorry. I care about you and I think you’re a beautiful woman, but the chemistry isn’t there for me.” Thank goodness humans couldn’t smell lies.
“All because I made a fuss about that skanky club? I’ll go with you then, seeing as you’re so hell-bent on ogling dancing men in heels. I can’t see the attraction, but I’ll go as your date.”
“Leticia, this has nothing to do with the show tonight; it has to do with me wanting my freedom. I don’t like being manipulated; I don’t like being told what I’m doing in my limited free time. I don’t like your stuck-up friends, and right now I’m not feeling fond of you. Now please, remember your manners; walk out of here with a shred of dignity, and don’t bother contacting me again.” Asaph swallowed the growl, that decided to make an appearance now, but it wasn’t easy. His wolf wanted Leticia gone, and while Asaph didn’t know why, he was in total agreement.
Leticia scowled, but then, probably conscious of their audience, said in a terse voice, “You’ll be hearing from my father.” She stalked across the room and slammed the outer office door. Asaph felt his wolf settle almost immediately, and managed a tight smile for his friend.
“Waiting to see me, Bronson?”
“Actually, I was trying to tempt the beautiful Beatrice into working for me. But seeing you will do as well.” Bronson stood and took Beatrice’s hand, giving it a kiss.
“As always your loyalty to your boss is second only to your beauty, dear lady,” he said with a flourish and a bow.
“Oh hush, Mr. Cunningham. You’re full of syrup as always.” Beatrice blushed. Although in her fifties she was an attractive woman. More importantly for Asaph, she couldn’t be tempted away from her job, even by his flirtatious best friend.
“Leave Beatrice alone, Bronson, or I swear she’ll suddenly run out of that coffee you like and you’ll be reduced to drinking Chai tea.”
Bronson gave a dramatic shudder. “You wouldn’t do that to me; tell me you wouldn’t Beatrice my sweet. I’ll shower you with roses every day, sing under your window at night, but please, not Chai tea.”
“It’d be good for you. Now hurry along. Mr. Bosch has fifteen minutes before his next appointment. Make sure you keep your chat to a minimum,” Beatrice admonished.
“That woman has you on a tight leash,” Bronson laughed as he plonked himself on the chair Leticia recently vacated. “And now it sounds like you’ve got rid of another stone around your neck. Six months almost to the day. Just like clockwork my friend.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Asaph said a bit peeved at the teasing. He strode around his desk and sat, scowling at the only other wolf he had contact with. They grew up together, and when Asaph left his pack to make a place for himself in Orlando, Florida, Bronson had left his family and friends and tagged along for the ride. Both men became successful in their own right – Bronson, thanks to his string of art galleries across the State and Asaph for his property management and investment skills.
“You dumped Leticia; I knew you would. Six months. Then something they do pisses you off, and poof, you dump them. You never last longer than six months with anyone, man or woman.”
“I don’t date men,” Asaph growled. He was a respected businessman and while Orlando was gay friendly, he didn’t believe in doing anything that might cause a negative rumble in the society or business pages.
“It wouldn’t make a difference if you did,” Bronson said flippantly. “You find someone, woo them, you’re interested for a week and then you spend the next five and a half months trying to get them to leave. When that doesn’t work, you dump them. Face it, you’re a serial monogamist.”
“Better than shagging anything that moves,” Asaph snapped. “There was something not right about Leticia. I don’t know what it was, but…the whole thing had gone on long enough.”
“Your animal nature not interested?” Asaph appreciated Bronson’s discretion. Even with the connecting door between the offices shut, Beatrice knew she had the right to enter anytime.
“Downright snarly.”
“Then you did the right thing.” Bronson shrugged. “Anyhow your keeper of the outer office will be here shortly. I wanted to know if you had plans this evening.”
“Yes, as a matter of fact I do, and I was wondering if you wanted to tag along.” Asaph threw the flyer and tickets at his friend, and watched Bronson’s face carefully. His friend’s face was an open book and this time was no exception.
“You think he’s one of ours, don’t you?” Bronson said, his voice the quietest it’d been since he entered the office.
Asaph nodded. “The eyes, the way they talk about his ‘unnatural grace’. I can’t think what he’d be, but I’ve been twitchy since the wretched flyer came in the mail. It’s taken me a month to get tickets. They’re always sold out.”
Bronson handed the flyer back. “You should have told me about this sooner. I coul
d have gotten you tickets – one of the barmen is a friend of mine. But no matter. You have them now, and I wouldn’t miss seeing this guy’s moves for the world. Chico raves about him.”
Asaph wasn’t reassured by his friend’s comment. Bronson was an equal opportunity player, and would bed anyone he deemed attractive or interesting. The star of the show ticked both of those boxes. Asaph’s wolf growled deep inside and Asaph found himself rubbing his chest. Why the fuck was his animal so protective of someone he’d only seen in a picture?
Chapter Two
“Hells bells, I don’t know how you walk in these things, let alone dance.”
Ronan Montgomery looked across to where his friend Enzo Wilmington was trying to shove size twelve feet into what were clearly size nine boots. He hurried over to rescue them.
“Enz, darling, it has everything to do with foot size, the strength of your calf muscles and having impeccable balance,” he said as he tugged his precious footwear away from his grabby friend. “You, my sweet young thing, have none of those things, including the correct sized feet. I’ve told you before to leave my footwear alone; that pair will set you back a month’s wages or more and believe me, if you stretch them, I’ll take that much out again from your hide.”
“You wouldn’t hurt me; you think I’m cute.” Ronan looked up from his boot inspection and sighed. Enzo was sweet and sexy; his curly blond hair, bright blue eyes and slender frame with a delectably pert ass had men sighing in his direction every night of the week. His only fault, if he had one, was that Enzo had big feet and he kept trying to force them into Ronan’s prized footwear. He looked at the boots Enzo had been trying to wreck. Sleek, soft, made of the finest leather, they were handcrafted to Ronan’s exacting specifications. He ran his hand up the seven inch heels and almost purred, even while glaring at his friend.
“Cute will only get you so far,” he warned. “Leave my boots alone.”
“Thinking about someone special? A tall, blond, muscle-bound hunk that’ll fall at your feet and promise you the world?”
“Aye?” Ronan saw where Enzo was watching his hand, still caressing the heel of his boot. I suppose it could be considered some sort of phallic symbol, he thought as he put the boots in their appropriate box. His dressing room was small, but it had everything he needed including large shelves that were filled with his boot boxes. Angel, his boss and the club owner, had objected when Ronan insisted he needed them built in, but given that his shows were always sold out more than a month in advance; and he received and refused copious requests for private dances, his boss agreed that shelving was a small price to pay for keeping Ronan from taking up one of the many other offers he got to perform elsewhere.
