by Stella James
Wild
A Blue Falls Novella
Written By Stella James
Copyright © 2017 Stella James
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 without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons living or dead, events or locations are entirely coincidental.
*The town of Blue Falls is fictional*
Rachel,
I made this for you out of an old tin can and a bedazzler.
Xox
Acknowledgments
I wouldn’t be able to write anything if it weren’t for my husband. As usual, thank you for your love and support. Thank you to my three little girls for inspiring me every single day to be happy and wild and to not take life or myself too seriously.
Thank you L, R and J for being the amazingly fabulous women that you are. I love you.
Dee Ellis, thank you for not only being a wonderful friend but for also knowing shit that I don’t/am too lazy to know. You are a highlight in my everyday life and I adore everything about you.
Christine Besze, you little sex pot. You make me laugh, you say the most logically uplifting things right when I need it and I can’t imagine not having you as a friend.
Megan. I cannot imagine a life without your presence. I love everything about you. Our conversations about random non-writer things make my day and the fact that I love everything you create with your amazing mind is just icing on the cupcake. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your brain child, thank you for always being there for me and thank you for making me feel like I’m not alone in this crazy, scary, busy world of indie publishing #VT #Iwannawearyou
Ace Gray, thank you for your encouragement and for always letting me vent my concerns, frustrations and random thoughts. I am grateful for you.
Shay, Jess, and Maren, thank you for your support and love. Thank you for the gorgeous edits and for every single time you’ve shared something of mine. Amazing things happen when women support each other.
To all of my insta family and friends, whether you are a writer or not – THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for continuing to welcome me into this crazy amazing world. There are so many of you – far too many to list here, but you know who you are. My fellow team members at Indies Ink, thank you for the wonderful conversations and all of your support.
And finally, thank you to my wonderful readers.
Love, Stella xoxox
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Epilogue
About the Author
Exclusive Excerpt
Chapter 1
Hanna
When I was in the fourth grade, my teacher Mrs. Cunningham told me I had ants in my pants. I literally had no idea what that cranky old goat was talking about until the day after I graduated high school and I was overcome with this insane itch to hop on a plane and get the hell out of Blue Falls. I had a nice little savings account from years of babysitting, so that’s exactly what I did. Las Vegas, Thailand, London, Paris. I worked as I travelled and was fearless in my pursuit of any place that felt new and shiny. Now here I am…eight years later, driving down the highway in my step mom, Barbara’s, Ford Taurus wearing nothing but my Wonder Woman undies and a novelty T-shirt with a picture of Sam Elliot’s face on the front.
Two weeks ago I had been living in Ireland for nearly four years, only coming back to the small town I grew up in at Christmas time. Two weeks ago I had an epiphany as my boyfriend Sean broke up with me over a pint at the pub where he bartended. If I see one more Irish crotch loaf, I’m going to vomit. Not exactly what Oprah would call an ‘ah-ha moment’ but it was enough to get me on a plane and back home so I could figure out my next move. If I’m being really honest with myself, I was already getting restless before Sean ended things. We weren’t that serious and actually ended up getting completely shit faced together that night to celebrate the ending of our brief but very enjoyable relationship. Now I have no idea what I’m going to do or where I’m heading next, which would usually suit me fine but at the moment it just doesn’t feel right to not know.
I look up at the rear view mirror to see a set of blue and red flashing lights. I glance at the speedometer and notice that I’m breaking the speed limit by more than just a smidge. Great. This is exactly what I need right now. I look down at Sam and his sexy as fuck moustache before I sigh my frustration and flip on my blinker, pulling over onto the side of the highway. I just saw Trace with Sophie and their little girl along with the rest of our crew at the lake so I know it won’t be him pulling up behind me, unfortunately.
I turn off the ignition and reach for my wallet along with Barbara’s insurance and registration slips. I roll down the window and prepare to use my innocent girl voice which is usually reserved for naughty foreplay, when I hear the crunching of boots on gravel and a dark, looming shadow blocks the streaming sunlight from my open window. I glance up slowly and let my eyes take in the trim waist and broad chest that strains against the tan polyester blend of his uniform. I drink in the set of large biceps and veiny, sweet baby yoda, veiny forearms attached to deliciously large hands whose thumbs are now hooked onto a belt. A belt that I bet can do alllll kinds of things besides hold up this guy’s pants.
“License and registration please ma’am,” he says in a voice so deep and sexy that my panties nearly disintegrate on the spot.
“Here you go officer, was I going a little fast?” Cute and innocent. That’s me.
His large hand reaches out and takes the thin cards from me and I actually have to stop myself from licking his tan skin. Jesus, it hasn’t been that long, get your shit together Hanna.
He continues to stand outside my door and I’m wondering if there’s a problem with my license. That’s the first thing I did when I got back in the country was retake my driver’s test because I knew I’d go nuts if I couldn’t get around on my own. It says “temporary” on it while I wait for my official card but the girl at the DMV said I shouldn’t have any problems.
“Um, excuse me, is there a problem?” I ask sweetly.
“I’m going to need you to step out of the vehicle ma’am,” he says.
“Is that really necessary? Because I’m not wea-“
“Ma’am, please step out of the vehicle.”
Yes sir, right away sir. Thank God I didn’t wear a thong today, or better yet, thank God I wore underwear at all. Fuck.
I open the door and climb out as gracefully as one can while wearing such a clearly fashionable ensemble. I think the yellow rubber boots I’m wearing really tie the outfit together. At least my hair and make-up are on point. I’m now standing beside the car with my back turned to officer hot stuff and when I go to turn around his deep voice stops me in my tracks.
“Don’t bother turning around ma’am, I’m going to need you to step over to the shoulder of the highway for a little sobriety test.”
“A sobriety test, it’s three o’clock in th-“
“Please ma’am, just do as you’re told,” he says.
Is this guy for real? Ugh, I mentally take back my initial appreciation and effectively re-name him officer dick face. I walk to the front of the car and over to the side of the highway as traffic flies by. Someone even honks, obviously appreciating me in all my glo
ry.
“That’s fine right there,” he says. “Now just walk in a straight line, one foot in front of the other. I’ll tell you when to stop.
I exhale a loud and clearly annoyed breath and do as I’m told. I walk about ten feet before he tells me to turn around and come back the way I came, one foot snugly in front of the other.
“Sam Elliot fan?” He smirks.
“Who isn’t? But actually, I was at a barbeque at Rock Lake and got barfed on by my friend’s three year old son. After washing off the stench of hotdogs and cotton candy, fashion choices were somewhat limited to whatever I could find crammed in the backseat and trunk. Figured I’d be safe on the ten minute drive home. Silly old me.”
I stop a few feet in front of him and when I look up I actually have to work at maintaining the irritation in my expression. Officer hot stu- I mean dick face, is built like a fucking Greek God. Of course. The line of his jaw is sharp and his light brown hair is nearly brush cut short. I can’t see his eyes behind his aviators but I bet they’re the perfect shade of fucking sky blue, because why wouldn’t they be? He catches me clearly ogling him and grins. Lord have mercy on my dirty little soul, he has dimples. Plural. As in matching little marks of please fuck me on the hood of your cruiser, dimples.
“Well I think it’s safe to say that you’re sober, Ms. Mitchell. I am going to have to write you a ticket for speeding though. You were going at least fifteen over the posted limit.”
He bends over the hood of the car and writes out a ticket, I step towards him and accept the offensive piece of paper, too distracted by him to bother looking at it.
“You’re free to go, have a nice afternoon,” he smiles and turns for his cruiser while I stand there like a moron and watch his fine ass walk away.
The slamming of his door jars me from my pervy inner thoughts and I get back in the car. Christ, I need to give myself a little hello when I get back to Mona’s. I check the time on my phone and figure I should be able to fit in a quick session of one on one time before I have to be at Mac’s for my first shift.
I turn on the engine and fire up the AC before I unfold the ticket and nearly shit myself. THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS?! Is he high? This can’t be right, I’m calling the Sheriff’s office. I scan the ticket for the officer’s name and when I find it in the corner, along with his signature I feel my face turn five shades of red and my jaw instantly clenches. Mother fucking Brent Doyle.
Chapter 2
Brent
Hanna Mitchell. I’ve been off duty for an hour now and I still can’t get the image of her gorgeous ass out of my mind. When I clocked that Taurus, she was the absolute last person I was expecting to see behind the wheel. Shit, I can’t remember the last time I saw Hanna. It must have been at graduation. I know from talking to Mona that she’s been travelling since then and only coming home once in a while for the holidays. Funny enough, I’ve never run into her when she’s been back so seeing her today was the first time in nearly eight years. And little Hanna grew up quite nicely.
I finish off my beer and toss the bottle in the bin under the sink before heading upstairs to take a shower. It was hotter than hell out today and I need to wash at least one layer of sweat off before I head down to Mac’s.
I’m still getting used to day shift but it’s way better than fucking night shift. The department finally hired some new rookies earlier this year and that bumped me off nights and onto days which are usually doled out based on seniority. It was probably a dick move making Hanna get out of her car today but I couldn’t resist the urge to check her out after all these years. I wasn’t expecting her to be half naked and I also wasn’t expecting to find yellow rubber boots so Goddamn sexy.
I peel off my uniform and kick it near the hamper in the corner of my bedroom before making my way into the bathroom. I open the glass door and turn the water on and let it run until it’s lukewarm before I step under the spray. Of all the rooms in my modest home, the bathroom and kitchen are where I spent the most time and money. I hired Stone Contracting two years ago to renovate the old repo I bought off the bank for next to nothing. I cook for myself and I need a decent shower to accommodate my nearly six foot four frame so it made sense to indulge on the two spaces. My bathroom also has a giant soaker tub which I use often after hitting the gym.
As the water cools me off, my thoughts turn back to Hanna. She still wears her honey brown hair long and loose and she’s still trim and athletic like she was in high school. She played just about every sport imaginable during junior and senior high and I remember Mona telling me at some point that Hanna teaches yoga now. Aside from the more defined curves of her hips along with the swell of her generously full tits, she’s still the same old Hanna. The girl I tormented in elementary school right up until the day we got our diplomas.
I can’t think of one good reason why I teased her other than she was different from a lot of the girls we went to school with. Hanna could wipe the floor with your ass on the basketball court but still wear a girly summer dress and make you look twice. As far as I know she never gave anyone at our school a second glance and pretty much stuck close to her small group of friends and her sister. The immature brat in me could never figure her out and rather than try I guess I chose to tease her instead.
As I dry off and get dressed I remind myself that this isn’t high school anymore, and if my path should cross with Hanna’s again while she’s in town maybe I ought to do more than just tease her.
*
Mac’s pub is hectic as usual as I make my way through the double doors and to the corner of the small bar where the pool tables are. I’m meeting my older brother for a game and a beer to blow off some steam after a grueling week of hot as fuck temperatures and busy holiday traffic. Summer is just beginning and Blue Falls, although just a dot on the map, brings in a pretty big herd of people passing through. I spot Eric leaning casually against a table, talking to who I assume is a waitress, but I can’t tell from here with all the people filtering back and forth in front of me.
I navigate the crowd and when I get a clear picture I let my eyes wander up a set of long legs all the way up to a firm and perky ass encased in a pair of snug black cut offs. A loose ponytail hangs down her back and I can tell from here that her black T-shirt is just as tight as those shorts. Jackpot.
“Hey man, took you long enough,” Eric says. “You remember Hanna don’t you?”
There’s no mistaking the way she pulls her shoulders back and stands up just a little bit taller before she turns to face me. Her bright blue eyes are full of irritation. It’s probably wrong to be turned on right now.
“You!” She says through clenched teeth. “You gave me a three hundred dollar ticket you asshole,” she says.
“Now Hanna, I don’t make the laws, I just enforce them,” I say with sympathy.
“Oh shut up,” she says. “You’re so full of shit, I’m surprised you can walk properly.”
“Three hundred bro, really? That seems a bit high,” Eric says shaking his head.
He smirks when I shoot him a glare and I make a mental note to kick his ass later. He might be older but I’m bigger.
“Right?!” She glances at Eric and he nods in agreeance. Asshole.
“If you want to challenge the ticket you can, but you’ll have to wait until Monday,” I say.
“Oh you can bet your ass I’m going to challenge it,” she shoots back. “Eric, I’ll be right back with your beer,” she says, flashing him a genuine smile.
“What about my be-“
“Suck a bag of dicks Doyle,” she says, spinning on her heel and heading for the bar.
That went well. Eric is snickering behind me and puts his hands up in surrender when I snatch the pool cue out of his hand and take the first shot. I know he’s just messing with me but the fact that Hanna gave him a warm smile and me the encouragement to suck dicks is irritating as hell. I’d be jealous of the way she smiled at my brother but I know I have nothing to worry about on that front.
Eric’s wife Brandi passed away last year and he’s nowhere near dating again. My niece Jamie is only four and he puts her before anything else. Hanna comes back around with Eric’s beer and true to her word, nothing for me. I flag down another waitress who I know doesn’t hate me and spend the next two hours bullshitting with my brother while pretending not to watch Hanna as she walks back and forth across the room.
*
When it’s nearly eleven, Eric heads out to relieve our mother from watching Jamie and I glance over at the bar to see Hanna taking off her apron and pulling on a hoodie. I casually saunter over and lean on the counter beside her.
“Are you planning on ignoring me the entire time you’re back home Hanna?”
“Pfft, maybe. Are you planning on being a prick the entire time I’m back home?”
“Fair enough. Look, if I tell you that I didn’t submit my tickets for the day yet will it make you happy?”
“Yes,” she says.
“And if I tell you that I don’t plan on submitting the ticket I wrote you?” I smile.
“Then I’d say that would make me happy enough to not wish death upon you,” she smiles back.
“Sounds fucking good to me,” I say as she grabs her bag and swings it over her shoulder. “You heading to your dad’s?”
“No actually, I’m housesitting for Mona and Walker. They’re in Colorado for a couple weeks visiting his sister and checking on one of their properties,” she says.
“So you’ll be in town for a while then?”
We head for the door and when we step outside she turns to face me as we pause on the sidewalk in front of the pub.
“I’m not sure yet,” she says. “I haven’t decided what I’m doing next. Why do you care?”
“Maybe I want to spend some time with you,” I say, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
