Seeking More
Single on Valentine’s Day Book 12
Allyson Lindt
This book is a work of fiction.
While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2019 by Allyson Lindt
All Rights Reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
Manufactured in the United States of America
Acelette Press
Table of Contents
Copyright Page
Seeking More (Single on Valentine's Day, #12)
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
THE END
Breaking the Rules by Erin Cristofoli
Also By Allyson Lindt
About the Author
For my eternal dragon
CHAPTER ONE
Miles grinned when Ivy’s face flashed on his phone, along with the familiar ringtone that filled his bedroom. Bright blue eyes on a freckled face, framed by a messy-and-sexy-as-hell ponytail, smiled up at him.
He swiped Answer. “Morning.” It was impossible to keep the cheer from his greeting.
“What is this?”
Not quite the hello he expected. “You’ll have to be more specific.” It couldn’t be the gift he’d arranged for her, to keep his best friend from wallowing on Valentine’s Day. She was going to love that.
“This letter.”
Yeah, that wasn’t sounding great. “About...?” He flipped through the button-down shirts hanging in his closet. This wasn’t the best day for soliciting charitable donations, but it wasn’t bad. Showing up as the attractive single guy, complete with the right wink and a little flirting, usually got him in a couple extra doors.
“I know you did this. Some guy just knocked on my door—he was dressed like a bellhop or something, completely with the little hat—and handed me a black envelope.”
That would be his gift from Single Status. The letter was supposed to distract her, not piss her off. “Did you open it?” Miles asked.
“No. I called you irritated because of a pretty black envelope.” Her sarcasm was heavy, but some of her irritation was vanishing in amusement. “Do you know what’s in here?”
The promise on the website was that it would give Ivy a way to celebrate her single status. An anti-Valentine’s kind of thing. “Something super amazing, for my bestest friend ever.”
“So, no.”
“Busted.”
She laughed. Staying angry had never been her thing. “You’re impossible. And I’m not doing it.”
“What is it?” Now he was really curious. Some of the examples on the website were gift cards and reservations for one to high end restaurants, opera tickets... Each adventure was supposed to be customized to the receiver.
Some of Ivy’s favorite things were games and her art, and he’d driven that point home when he filled out their pages of forms.
“It’s a scavenger hunt.”
He’d paid top dollar for a scavenger hunt? “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. Apparently I can complete the tasks on my own, but if I want to upload my results to their forum, there’s blind voting, and the person with the best finds wins.”
“Wins what?”
“A prize. I didn’t go to the website and look.”
That didn’t sound too bad. In fact, it sounded kind of fun. “You should do it. If you’re not in the mood, I bet you don’t even have to interact with anyone.”
“No. I appreciate the thought and the gift, Miles, but I have plans.” She still sounded amused, but the warning was creeping into her tone. That edge that said he needed to ease up soon.
He could picture what she looked like right now. Her lips would be pursed—and perfectly kissable—and she’d be pacing, probably chewing on a pen or the end of a paintbrush.
Speaking of, he needed to finish getting ready for work. Maybe he should have sent the letter to himself. A scavenger hunt sounded more fun than his day.
But he was more worried about Ivy having a good time. “Since when do you have plans?” He wasn’t making fun. She’d told him two days ago she was going to spend the day wallowing and ignoring the world.
“Since last time we talked. Will the world end if I don’t do this?”
“Sitting around hating the world is not a plan.” He grabbed a tie. He wasn’t worried about the sunk cost if she gave up, but he was worried about her. Ivy deserved better than the memories of broken hearts she had from previous Valentine’s Days. She deserved a guy who worshipped her and adored her and didn’t hurt her.
That last one yanked Miles straight off the good enough for Ivy list.
“I just want to do it for a day.” She sighed.
Fuck it. Her scavenger hunt sounded way more fun than work, and since he was the boss, he could take the day off. He tossed his tie back with the others, and grabbed a more casual suit coat. “If I go with you, will you play?”
He’d hang out with her, make sure she had an amazing day, and be done in time for his date tonight. Date was a loose term. More like heart-day inspired one-night stand.
“That’s not why I called.”
“I know. And that’s not what I asked.” He wanted her to see the day wasn’t any worse than any other, and maybe draw her out of her love sucks funk.
It wasn’t the best logic, but he was trying. Her last breakup hit her hard, and he didn’t know how to help. This was weak, but he needed to try something new.
“If you go with me, then I guess I have to do it.” If she meant the words to sound resigned, she failed. The hint of glee in her reply was enough to make him smile.
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Be ready.”
“Yes, sir.” She laughed. One of his favorite sounds.
And that was the problem. The longer she was single, the harder it was to keep his feelings to himself. He wouldn’t tell her how he felt. Where their lives intersected was perfect, but where things diverged... He wasn’t the kind of guy she needed to commit to, because he wasn’t the kind of guy who could commit.
CHAPTER TWO
Ivy wanted to be upset about the letter, and Miles’s assumption that she needed to be distracted today.
She wanted to be, but she couldn’t fight her smile. She loved that he thought of her.
Besides, the scavenger hunt looked like fun, and there was no way she’d pass up a chance at that prize money. Winning seemed unlikely. She had to try, though. If for no other reason than to fix her car, which was currently sitting in a shop waiting for her to find the funds. And who’s missing presence would have kept her from doing this without Miles help.
Speaking of, she still needed to get dressed. He didn’t leave her much time.
Ivy grabbed her most familiar and comfortable clothes—her favorite torn jeans and baggy swe
atshirt. She stepped in front of the full-length mirror on the back of her door. A frumpy blond in paint-splattered rags scowled back at her.
She didn’t want to be that person today. If she had to face the world on Valentine’s Day, she didn’t want to do it as herself. She’d love if she could be the kind of woman Miles wanted—elegant, composed, and graceful.
An outfit wouldn’t hide the fact that he already knew who she was. His best buddy. Not a love interest.
At least this was taking her mind off her money problems. She loved that she could earn a living with her art, but this time of year was always tightest on the wallet, and the transmission on her car was dying. An expense she couldn’t afford on the best days, and certainly couldn’t deal with right now.
She hated being a statistic. Another twenty-year-old always one emergency from being bankrupt.
She yanked her top off in frustration, tossed it on her bed, and turned back to her closet. There had to be something in here that didn’t have oil paint stains on it, but still looked casual.
This sweater was too bulky.
That was a cocktail dress she bought on clearance because every girl needed a little black dress, and she was going to mend that tear someday.
Then there was the flannel shirt she lounged in when she was binging anything on TV.
The T-shirt that was torn enough it always fell off one shoulder.
Why did it matter? Miles wasn’t going to notice. But she would. She wanted to be stunning and draw attention just for one day.
A chill raced along her skin, reminding her she only wore her jeans and bra.
She should just pick something.
“Ahem.” Miles voice came from behind.
Heat chased away the cold and she whirled to find him standing in her doorway. She should cover up. The way he traced his gaze over her body raised goosebumps everywhere, and a response lodged in her throat.
“I shouted when I got here, but you didn’t respond.” He had a key to her apartment, like she did to his.
She’d never given a second thought to coming and going. “I’m almost ready. Sorry.”
“You could wear that.” Was that a catch in his voice?
She shook her head, both at him and herself. At least she was wearing a nice bra. “It’s thirty degrees outside.”
He worked his jaw, still looking her over. “I’ll be in the living room. Whatever you wear, you’ll look fantastic.”
“I’ll be there in just a minute.” She watched him walk away, and caught another glimpse of herself in the mirror. Of course her skin was flushed pink. It matched the never-going-to-happen images running rampant in her head.
The fantasy that the heat she imagined in his eyes was real. That instead of walking away, he’d stalked across her room and backed her to the wall. Pinned her wrists about her head. Swallowed her whimpers in a hungry kiss while he skated his palm down her stomach...
Want pulsed between her legs and she squeezed her thighs together. If he wasn’t here, she’d take a couple of minutes with her vibrator and imagination, and relieve that itch.
If she did it anyway, would he come back in here and help? Maybe teach her a few things?
Yeah, not likely. He wasn’t interested, and if she could get that through her head, maybe she wouldn’t still be single on Valentine’s Day.
CHAPTER THREE
Miles tried to sit casually on the tattered couch in Ivy’s living room. The one he’d tried to replace for her. Another thing she wouldn’t let him spend money on, because she had too much pride for that.
Getting comfortable was difficult with his erection digging into his zipper. He shifted enough to adjust himself.
At least his mind was off that phone call, and focused squarely on Ivy. His thoughts drifted along a path he never let them stray too far down. A path that took him back into her room. Tied her to the bed. Left her exposed so he could devour her naked body until she was squirming. Begging for more.
Not an option.
Fuck, he wanted it to be.
“Ready. Sorry to take so long.” Her sweet voice drilled him further into the vivid pictures in his mind, rather than yanking him free. She still wore the torn jeans, which were tantalizing anyway. Showing off hints of thigh and leg. And her sweater hugged her curves. Sweet hiding sexy, just like Ivy. “Should we go?”
He climbed back to reality. “Yeah. Where? What are we even doing?”
“Like I said, it’s a scavenger hunt. I checked out the rules on the website. There are dozens of people participating around the world. That is, if we choose to participate in the competition round. There are grand prizes and participation prizes.” She perched on the arm of the chair across from him, and tugged on her shoes.
“It was just supposed to be a letter from a website. I thought they’d give you museum tickets and lunch or something.”
The corner of her mouth tugged up. “This is better. At least, the longer I think about it, the more fun it sounds. Voting ends at midnight, and they announce the winners tomorrow. After we turn in our first entry, we get the next one. Supposedly there are endless clues, so the more we get through, the more chances we have for votes.”
It sounded complicated, but she looked excited, and sounded much more cheerful than when she’d called. “If we’re just posting a picture of each thing you find, how many of them do you have laying around the house? What’s first? Like, a photo of a fish in a dress? We can find one of those online.”
“It doesn’t work that way.” She laughed. More of those for the day, and he’d go anywhere she asked. “It says I have to take a photo of a rare item in a place I’ve had my heart broken.”—
He frowned. “That’s kind of depressing.”
“Or anti-Valentine’s Day. Which is the point, isn’t it?”
“That could still be something here.” Why wasn’t he going along with this? He’d offered to keep her company, and now he was balking? Because he didn’t want to see her dig up old memories.
“Did you really set me up for this thing you’re not willing to do yourself?” Her tone was light, but warning was slipping in. And she had a good point.
As long as he could distract her from the past, it would be fine. “You’re right. Let’s go all out. Where are we headed.”
“That cafe at the mall. The one with the bakery.”
“You had your heart broken there?” He thought he knew the handful of rough break-ups she’d had, but he hadn’t heard that story.
She ducked her head. “Yeah. I, um... That guy I went out with a couple years ago. Richard. Valentine’s Day even. We broke up there.”
There was a hitch in her reply. She was hiding something.
Apparently she’d been hiding a few things, since Miles hadn’t realized she cared about Richard enough to hold onto this kind of hurt.
“Okay. Bakery it is. I’ll buy you breakfast while we’re there.”
How did he miss that she’d been heartbroken? What else had he missed?
CHAPTER FOUR
“What are you working on?” Miles asked.
So many things. Commissions. Merchandise. But he was looking for her newest projects. She loved that he was interested in her art. “I’m not sure.” She just wished she had a better answer. “I’m trying to come up with some new designs for merchandise. Something that will look good on note cards and journals. Catchy and familiar, but unique.”
Which pretty much described everything she tried to come up with for her shop. Custom work brought in decent hourly money, but not great. It was hard to find people willing to pay what custom art was worth. But her online shop, if she nailed a new design, could bring in a decent bonus.
If she asked Miles for the money, he’d give it to her without question. But she couldn’t. She wouldn’t.
“Blue rainbows,” he said. “Rainbows are big right now.”
“I think that’s just an arch” She appreciated his suggestions. Between the two of them, they could usually come
up with something that really sang to her customers.
“Not solid blue.” He navigated the traffic with ease and familiarity. “Like shades of blue. That’s a thing. Like perrytwinkle and carrotflower and stuff.”
She laughed. “Periwinkle and cornflower. But I’m not sure that’s a sellable thing. I supposed to people who really like blue and gradients, but they can get those things at Target.”
“Hmm...” He scrunched his face up in thought. “Monster teddy bears?”
That wasn’t a bad idea. It was a bit overdone, but she could put a twist on it. “People do like those...”
“I sense a but in there. Don’t tell me it’s too dark. We both know better.”
“But that’s more cute-dark than haunting.”
“So, bears with hearts on their chests and ripped bodies, with stuffing coming out, and they have sharp pointy teeth and they’re wielding daggers...”
“On my God, that’s perfect.” Images popped into her head, and her imagination raced forward and full-tilt.
He glanced at her sideways, eyebrows raised. “It is?”
“Not the bears. Though, I have to come back to that, because there’s potential there. Broken hearts.” Vivid images popped into her head, overlapping and vying for her attention. “Like with arrows through them. Daggers. Broken and bleeding. Tragically beautiful with broken wings and thorns.” As she talked she tugged a small notebook from her purse and started sketching one of the ideas.
Her lines were loose and rough, but it was enough to give her a glimpse of what was in her head.
When they stopped at the next light, she gave him a look.
“Stunning, as always.” Awe filled his voice and he studied the sketch with wide eyes. “You’d have to do a series of them. Mugs. If you can do six or twelve, a calendar. T-shirts.”
She didn’t usually pick so many items for single designs, but if he thought this had some kind of sales potential, she’d give it a try.
Her pulse hammered in her ears with the inspiration. It was tempting to go home and start work now.
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