by K. L. Donn
Text copyright ©2018 by the Author.
This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Aurora Rose Reynolds. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Happily Ever Alpha remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Aurora Rose Reynolds, or their affiliates or licensors.
For more information on Kindle Worlds: http://www.amazon.com/kindleworlds
Until Arsen
Daniels Family Book 1
KL Donn
Contents
Blurb
Introduction
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Epilogue
Epilogue 2
Acknowledgments
Also in this Kindle World
About the Author
Also by KL Donn
Blurb
Love is a novel creature.
Mysterious, heart pounding, like smoke on the wind.
We find it, only to lose it.
Until Arsen Daniels…
Marina Parks didn't think she'd ever have it.
Dedication
For Aurora, Sedaka, & CJ
Thank you for letting be in this world.
You’re the inspiration for this story and I hope I make you proud.
XOXO
Introduction
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the Happily Ever Alpha Kindle World.
I personally chose each author participating in the Happily Ever Alpha Kindle World because I love their books, and the way they tell a story. That said, this book is entirely the work of the author who wrote it, and I didn’t have any part in the process of writing the story.
Enjoy the BOOM!
xoxo
Aurora Rose Reynolds
Prologue
Arsen
Love is a fairy tale.
Uninhibited, unattainable, fiery passion. Always elusive.
For me.
My name is Arsen—yes, like the fire, but no, not spelled the same—Daniels. I’m thirty-five years old, and for the first time in my life, I’m thinking about love.
I’ve watched as friend after friend fell in love, found that one woman meant for them, and now, I want it too.
I long for a woman completely consumed by her thoughts of me that she can’t function. I yearn for a woman obsessed in her love for me. I need a woman…
A special woman.
One who can put up with my bad fucking attitude.
One who doesn’t mind that I work odd hours.
A woman who can handle the sometimes-stressful nature of my job.
I want a woman who wants me for me and not what I can give her.
When I find that one certain someone, I’m going to spoil her. Give her everything she’s never dreamed of. I’ll love her so completely that she’ll never doubt it for a second.
My name is Arsen Daniels, and apparently, I’m a fucking sappy little girl.
Chapter One
Marina
“Alright class, one more thing before you go!” I try to sound excited, but to be honest, I’m not. I love my kindergarten kids; I have for the entire year. They’re sweet and funny, and I’m going to miss them like crazy.
Summer vacation is here, and I’ll be all alone for two months. I hate being by myself. It reminds me too much of my childhood. Maybe I should get a cat?
“Yes, Miss Parks,” they respond in harmony. I love the smiles on their tiny, happy faces.
“Yearbooks!” I cheer, holding one up. I spent over an hour the night before wishing them all a special goodbye. “Don’t forget to have all your friends sign them! You’ve all done wonderfully with printing your names this year, so I think we can do this together.” I sound like Mary freaking Poppins.
I watch as the kids run around in excited chaos as they sign each other’s books. Their laughter and smiles, hugs and tears, make me wish for things I’ll never have. Things I’m unlucky enough to never get to experience.
Envy and a little bit of jealousy rush through me as parents begin to crowd into the room, picking up their children on their last day of kindergarten. Saying goodbye to old friends and see you soon to others.
“Miss Parks!” Talon Mayson comes running over to me, his mother, Sophie, in tow.
“Yes, Mr. Mayson?”
“We’re having a huge party! Will you come?” His soulful eyes are alight with excitement.
Smiling gently, I don’t know how to respond. “Oh, I’m not sure, honey, but I’m positive it’ll be great fun.”
“Momma,” Talon groans in his little boy way.
“We would really love to have you, Marina. You need to get out, meet some new people. Enjoy your summer.” The pity and understanding in Sophie’s gaze have me looking away.
She was there that day just over a year ago. She saw the wreckage of my accident and all that it cost me. She was also kind enough to befriend me in the hospital when I was all alone. At twenty-two, I began my life on my own.
Following my accident, I lost the ability to have children, the luxury of continuing my family name. I lost love.
My uterus has been so scarred that my doctors think it’s impossible for me to ever carry a child. If I were, by some miracle, to get pregnant, they don’t think it’d last past the first trimester. After being cautioned to not try, I gave up on the idea of having my own happy ever after.
Witnessing the way Nico, the scariest and sweetest man alive, looks at Sophie with so much love and admiration, I know I won’t be able to settle for anything less.
I’m terrified that if I find a man who catches my attention, he’ll bolt once he learns about my issues. Deem me unworthy. That’s the ultimate rejection I could never handle.
“Marina?” Sophie breaks through my inner musings.
“I’ll try.” It’s the best I can do.
The doubtful look on her face as she walks away with Talon speaks volumes. She’s sad knowing I won’t try. That I’ll go home to an empty house with nothing to do. She’s sad because she knows I’ve already given up hope on having more in my life.
Hell, I’m sad, too.
Chapter Two
Arsen
“Arsen! My man!” Nico Mayson calls as I exit my truck in front of his house. Nico and Sophie are having an end of the school year get-together for their kids, and for some reason, the man has invited me. “Still driving that thing, huh?” The bastard is always hassling me about my F-150.
“Hasn’t been found on the road dead, yet,” I laugh back, shaking his hand. “Why exactly did your pretty wife want me here? It’s for kids.” I try to hide my scowl. Nico and I have been friends for a couple of years now after a run-in with a perp at a sandwich shop that we were both eating lunch at. The dipshit tried to rob the place. Needless to say, he didn’t get too far.
“Fucked if I know. But she was insistent.” Nico shakes his head at his wife’s antics, but we both know the man would do anything for her. In fact, he has done pretty much everything for her. As mushy as I fucking sound, their love is the kind that happens once in a lifetime. The Mayson’s call it the “boom”, I call it good luck and a damn miracle.
As soon as we enter the house, the sound of kids screaming and laughing assault our ears. “More than just your bunch here today, huh?” I raise a brow at him in question. Nico shrugs and smiles with false innocence.
“Arsen!” S
ophie’s soft voice calls from somewhere. I can’t see her, but she can see me.
“Uh, Soph? You buried in all these kids?” I laugh, only half kidding.
“Oh, quiet, they deserve it.” Her grinning face appears around the corner to the kitchen. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
Before she can reach up to kiss my cheek, Nico is pulling her back, growling, “Watch it, wife.” She swats his hand but doesn’t move.
“Go on out back. The BBQ is on. Food and drinks are spread out. Mingle.” It’s her overly sunny demeanor that has me suspicious as she pushes me out the patio door.
Walking outside, there are at least twenty kids running around, and even though I’ve met the Mayson’s, I’m not so sure I could identify any of them.
“Detective Daniels?” I hear my name and spin around to see Asher Mayson walking towards me. We’ve met twice; both times because of trouble at his club.
“How you doing, Mayson?”
He eyes me critically. We never did get along. “Fine. What are you doing here? Someone call in a noise complaint with the kids?” His smirk holds mockery.
“Nope. Nico and Soph asked me over.” I look around, trying my best to ignore him.
“No kidding.” He seems thoughtful for a second. “You got kids?” I hate small talk. I hate it, even more, when the subject becomes touchy.
“Nope.”
He’s puzzled now as he watches me. “Then what the fuck do they want you here for?”
“Asher,” Sophie scolds, coming out behind us. “He’s our friend, and we invited him.” Her tone doesn’t leave much room for argument.
“Whatever,” he mutters, walking away.
Soph rolls her eyes before looking back to me. “I was hoping Marina would be here by now, but I guess she’s not coming.”
And that explains everything. Laughing, I shake my head. “Soph, I’ve told you, I’m not interested in you setting me up. I can find my own woman.”
The stubborn lady laughs and walks away, handing out popsicles to all the kids. The noise pollution grows louder and has Nico and I chuckling at the midgets’ excitement.
“She really invited me here to set me up?” I ask him once the kiddos have quieted down some.
“Yup. Marina Parks is her name. She’s Talon’s kindergarten teacher. Soph met her last year, I think.”
“You haven’t?” I ask him, thinking it strange.
“Very briefly at the beginning of the year. Scared the crap out of her. Couple more times after that, but mostly she meets Soph for lunch.” He laughs at the memory.
“Tell Soph, thanks, but I’ll pass.” I turn to leave when he stops me.
“She’s a nice person. A little young for you, maybe, but nice.”
Nice?
Nice.
Nice…
Who describes anyone as nice anymore? Isn’t that a polite way of saying they are boring? Whatever. Doesn’t matter. I’m not up for this matchmaker shit.
Turning to leave, I’m stopped short when I see the smallest, hottest little body walk through the front door. Her rustic red-brown hair curling around her sweet cherub face. Her lips look moist but stained a bright red that almost looks natural. Her vibrant blue eyes would be too big for her face if not for her ridiculously long eyelashes. Lashes that curl just the tiniest bit to make her eyes glow.
“You made it!” I hear Sophie come rushing from behind me and the stunning new guest smiles shyly. Hesitant to show any emotion. When her gaze slides over to me, her cheeks heat, and if I’m correct, her breath catches.
Fucking delicious little morsel she is.
“Still wanna tell me you’re not interested?” Nico slaps my back as he walks past me to join his wife. “Miss Parks, how are you?”
I wait with anticipation for her sweet voice to reach my ears. “Fine, Nico, thank you.” Timidly, she pushes hair behind her ear at my friend’s intense attention. Her voice is like sunshine and peaches. Which makes no fucking sense, but goddamn, has she got my full interest.
Walking closer to the trio, I see her shrink back and have the feeling it’s because of my size. For as big and intimidating as Nico is, I’ve got a couple inches and about twenty pounds on the man. Her gaze flickers around the room before Sophie grabs her attention.
Marina
I don’t know why I’m here. I shouldn’t be. I can hear the kids’ laughter from the street as I stand beside my small, sunshine yellow Volkswagen Beetle with the long eyelashes over the headlights. The parents from my class organized a collection for those as a Christmas gift because of my long eyelashes. It’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.
“Come on, Ari, get in there.”
Great. Now I’m talking to myself.
Shaking my arms at my sides and up through my shoulders and back, I step forward, walk up the path, and knock.
No answer comes after a few minutes.
Probably because of the children.
Pushing back my nerves, I test the handle to find it unlocked. Opening the door, I tell myself if I don’t see Sophie, I’ll just leave.
Once I enter her house, two things hit me at once. A surrounding sense of home and warmth, and the gorgeous man across the room on the back patio with Nico. His ash-colored hair and whiskey eyes draw me in.
“Marina!” Sophie’s ecstatic voice breaks my gaze from him, thankfully. Though, my body is completely aware of his presence. “I’m so glad you could make it!”
Pushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear as Nico makes his way over, my eyes meet the stranger’s, who is oddly more intimidating than Sophie’s hulking husband. The couple speaks to me, but I barely register my response as the mystery man comes over.
Tattoos peek out onto his hands from his forearms, and my body hums. The artistry in the act has always piqued my curiosity.
Stepping back the closer he gets, my back hits the door, and Nico and Sophie share an obviously knowing look that I can’t interpret. “Detective Arsen Daniels, this is Marina Parks. The new kindergarten teacher for Talon this past year.” My friend’s face lights up with triumph as she introduces us.
I’ve never been one to talk to strangers or be outgoing, so when he smiles at me with a crooked grin and dimples appear, I find I want to talk to him just as much as I want to run away. His jaw is strong, square, with enough stubble to say he hasn’t shaved in a few days.
I squeak and jump back at the rough timber of his voice, and he reaches a hand out to shake mine. “Nice to meet you, Marina.” The deep rumble of his words rushes through me like a freight train, making me tingle in places that have been long dormant.
“Pull yourself together, Ari,” I mumble under my breath.
“Ari?” His voice sends a shiver up my spine.
“Crap,” I mutter again. He heard me. Mortified, I stick my hand out to hold his. “Nice to meet you, detective.”
“Arsen,” he says, his hot gaze roaming my body from head to toe. Scorching every piece of flesh with his inspection.
“What?” Is that my voice? All breathy. Belatedly, I realize he’s still got my hand.
“Call me Arsen, Ari.” My body pulses in tune with each word spoken.
“Arsen.” I try to take back my hand.
He pulls me forward slightly so my body presses to his, murmuring “good girl” as he leans down to lightly kiss my cheek. His soft lips set my skin on fire with his brand. The rough stubble on his face scratches me, and I close my eyes briefly.
“Nico, Soph, thanks for having us,” he says, and I’m upset to realize he came with someone. “But we’re gonna go grab dinner.”
I go to step out of his way, and his arm entrenches me as he guides us out the door that I’d literally walked through just a few moments prior.
“Wait, what, we?” No one answers me as Sophie waves, and Arsen guides me down the sidewalk. What just happened?
“Which one’s yours?” His voice awashes me in comfort and longing as his question registers in my brain.
Pointing to my cheerful, pint-sized car, I reply, “That one.”
As we stop in front of it, he looks back and forth between me and the vehicle. His gaze amused. “Of course.” His laughter picks up momentum as his amusement becomes more apparent.
“I don’t get it?” I grumble at him, quickly becoming annoyed with this overbearing brute of a man.
His merriment fades as his golden gaze meets mine again. The hand around my shoulders slides down to my waist, and I feel it to my toes. My body arches into him as he turns to fully face me. His other hand grazes my cheek as his knuckles brush along my brow.
“These beautiful long lashes, they draw a man in. Suck him into your web.” I can feel the stain of a blush hit my cheeks at his words. “So, of course, you would have matching lashes on your little bug.” Amusement laces his words again, and I’m not sure if I should be insulted or flattered.
Looking at my car, I smile, refusing to be embarrassed. “They were a gift from my class.”
I continue to feel his intense stare on me as he slides a lock of stray hair behind my ear. “They’re perfect.” My eyes dart to him then. The emotion and intensity in his own pierce me to my soul, and I get the feeling he’s not talking about the car decoration.
Clearing my throat, I don’t know how to handle him. “Why did you drag me away?” I don’t know if I’m complaining or not because I didn’t really want to come today in the first place, but I don’t understand him.
