Isabelle's Mate (Shifters of the Bulgarian Bloodline Book 6)

by Daria Wright

  Every time he thought about telling his parents that he wanted to break things off with Victoria, there was some new financial crisis. Apparently his father’s stocks had plummeted once again. And his mother was planning a new charity ball. And then, after a party at a friend’s house, she wanted to redecorate. And Victoria was the key to all of that.

  But Saige...God, he couldn’t imagine how he’d lived without her for so long. It was like seeing the sun after decades of rain. She challenged him at everything. Races in the pool at night. Knowledge of computer hardware and software. The idea of finally going to college. And, when she’d gotten his mind in a complete whirl, she moved on to his body. He had no idea how she’d gotten so imaginative, but she kept him up in more ways than one.

  When he wasn’t with her, he was thinking about her. When he was with her, he was thinking about how he could spend more time with her. He’d even taken to helping her father in the garden. He’d surprised himself by discovering that he didn’t mind the work.

  He also liked talking with Patrick. The man was intelligent and quick witted, and he loved to tell stories about Saige. That was how Aiden learned that Patrick had raised her on his own. Her mother had died when Saige was only two. She’d had leukemia. Patrick had never married again.

  “Didn’t have time,” he’d said when Aiden had hinted at it. “Had to take care of my doodlebug...and don’t you dare tell her that I told you her nickname.”

  She’d been away at college for the past four years and she’d worked summers to keep from having to take out student loans. Saige was the only graduate he knew that wasn’t up to her eyeballs in debt.

  She was still working odd jobs like the catering one, but she was applying “all over God’s creation,” according to Patrick.

  Aiden wondered what he’d do if she got a job on the West Coast. Hell, what was he going to do anyway? He picked absently at a rose that was climbing the trellis. He couldn’t keep seeing Victoria. Not when he’d fallen in love with the gardener’s daughter.

  He clenched his hand too tightly on the rose and a thorn dug deep into his finger. The stray thought had slipped into his mind so naturally that there was no denying it. He wasn’t just having a good time with her. He was in love with her.

  He knew know that he’d never really been in love before. He also knew that there was no way he could let her walk out of his life.

  He had to talk to her. But he needed to talk to Victoria first. He pulled his cell phone out and sent her a brief text asking her when she could meet with him. She answered that she was free and she’d be there shortly.

  Aiden swallowed hard. He had no idea how his parents would react. He had no idea if Saige even felt the same way about him. But he couldn’t do anything about it. For once in his life, he was going to do the right thing.

  Chapter Eight:

  Victoria walked in, giving him a perfunctory smile. “Hello, Aiden.”

  He gestured for her to take a seat. He’d asked her to meet him in the library because it was the least likely place for his parents to overhear him.

  He took a deep breath, fully expecting a scene. “Victoria, I have something to tell you.”

  She raised an eyebrow, looking mildly interested, which was more than he usually got out of her. “All right.”

  “I’ve been seeing someone else.” He winced a little on the inside at how bluntly he’d spoken.

  “That gardener’s daughter?” Victoria asked. “What’s her name? Daisy? Poppy?”

  “Saige.” Aiden stared at her. “You knew?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Of course I knew. You think I didn’t see you at the party? You behaved yourself well there; no one else noticed.”

  He sank into the chair opposite the couch and stared at her. “And you don’t care?” He’d never expected this.

  “I thought we understood each other.”

  “Understood...what, exactly?”

  “That our marriage, if there is one, would be for show. Honey, everyone knows your family’s broke.” She patted his hand. “But what difference does it make? Daddy’s got more money than God, and I want a husband who’s content to keep his hands to himself. You’re not exactly where my interests lie.”

  Aiden was too confused to even be insulted. Victoria laughed. “Daddy just wants me married off so rumors don’t get started. Your family wants to keep pretending to be rich. I don’t care how much you slum it with the help if you give me the same leeway. Aiden, it’s win/win.”

  He stood up and she followed him to the window. He pushed his hand through his hair and tried to think straight. For a second, he entertained the thought, solely because it would be the easy way out. Marry Victoria, keep his family happy, and...what? Saige would never be anyone’s mistress.

  “You want to marry me?” he asked, his voice tight with anger. “Even if I never love you?”

  She sighed. “You don’t seem to get it. I’m never going to love you, Aiden. But I will marry you and give you everything you want. A future that doesn’t involve living in a one bedroom apartment with the gardener’s daughter and God knows how many of her relatives.”

  “It’s just me and my dad, actually.”

  Aiden’s heart stopped and then made up for lost time so quickly that he felt dizzy. “Saige.”

  “You didn’t tell me you were seeing someone,” Saige said, looking at Aiden, hoping that the hurt didn’t show on her face.

  “Oh, we’ve been together for ages,” Victoria said airily.

  “Only six months,” Aiden corrected.

  “Six months?” Saige felt sick. “Well. I came to tell you some news, but I think your engagement might take precedence.” She’d heard what the other woman had said. “A future that doesn’t involve living in a one-bedroom apartment with the gardener's daughter.” That burned the most. That Aiden’s girlfriend had known about the two of them and had just let him carry on.

  “Saige, wait!” Aiden moved to go after her, but Victoria put her hand on his arm.

  “Now don’t do anything silly, Aiden,” she said coolly. “I don’t mind you having a girlfriend, but I do mind our entire social circle knowing about it.”

  He swallowed hard and tried to keep from shouting at her. “We’re through, Victoria.”

  She smiled and patted his cheek. “Think about it,” she said. “I’ll call you in a few days.”

  Aiden growled with frustration, but she didn’t turn back. He collapsed into a chair and covered his face with both hands. Before Saige had turned to go, he’d seen tears sparkling in her eyes. What had he been thinking? Why had he waited so long?

  Chapter Nine:

  Aiden tried her phone for days, but she was ignoring him resolutely. He was getting desperate the day he heard his mother’s voice raised in the front room.

  “What do you mean, you’re leaving?” she demanded. “Who’s going to handle the grounds for the gala?”

  “I’ve left you a list of men I’d recommend.”

  It was Patrick’s voice. Aiden hurried into the room. Saige’s father was standing in the middle of the room, his bag over his shoulder.

  “You’re leaving?” Aiden asked.

  “You’ll never get a good reference from me!” Savannah informed him, speaking over Aiden

  “I didn’t really think I would, ma’am.” Patrick turned and started to walk out.

  “Wait!” Aiden called after him, but he didn’t. After a split second Aiden abandoned his dignity and chased after him. “Please, Mr. Gilmore, hang on!”

  Patrick sighed and turned. “I’m not telling you where she’s going,” he said flatly.

  “She’s going?” Aiden asked.

  Patrick sighed again. “Best if I just shut my mouth.”

  Aiden tried to think of what to say and realized there was nothing that would excuse his behavior. “Will you please just tell her that I’m sorry?” he asked humbly. “And that I’d like to see her again before she…goes.”

  Her father eyed hi
m for a long moment and then nodded. “I’ll tell her.”

  Saige sighed when her father gave her the message. “I don’t have anything to say to him.”

  Patrick shrugged. “Then don’t call. If you’re really sure.”

  That was the trouble. She wasn’t sure. She glanced around the small apartment. Boxes were packed and stacked neatly, ready for their departure. She could go and never have to deal with Aiden Cross again.

  But what did he want to say? With another heavy sigh, she dialed his number. He actually sounded a little nervous when he answered.

  “Dad said you wanted me to call you,” she said stiffly.

  “Yeah. I did.” He had to swallow hard before he could continue. “I’d like to see you again.”

  Her heart twisted. God, she wanted to see him too. “Aiden...I don’t see the point.”

  “I know that I hurt you,” he said, blurting out his words desperately, nothing like his old, suave self. “And I was an idiot and I handled things the wrong way--”

  “Is there a good way to handle sleeping with two different women at the same time?”

  “I never slept with her!” he said firmly. “Never.”

  “You were going to marry her!”

  “No! Well...okay, sort of. But it’s complicated. Her family has money. And my family...well you know all that.” He rubbed his temples and sighed. “I’ve ended it with her now. Please, Saige. Give me another chance. Please.”

  Her mind was running a hundred miles an hour. He hadn’t been sleeping with the other woman? And he really did sound so sorry. But then why... “No!” she said suddenly. “I don’t think that I could ever trust you again.”

  “What if I could prove it?” he asked, determination and resolve strengthening his voice. “There’s something I’d like you to hear. Even if you don’t want to be with me anymore. Will you come over?”

  She paused for so long that he was convinced that the answer would be no. His pent up breath whooshed out in a relieved rush when she finally agreed.

  “I’ll be there in about 15 minutes,” she said. “And I can’t stay long. I’m packing up.”

  She didn’t wait for him to reply before disconnecting the call and heading out the door.

  Aiden was waiting for her on the front porch when she arrived. He moved to take her hand and stopped himself before he could. He was desperate to touch her, but he recognized that that might not be his place anymore.

  “Thanks again for coming.”

  “Sure,” she said, clenching her hands in the pockets of her shorts to stop from touching him. He looked like he hadn’t been sleeping well, and he hadn’t shaved that day. “What did you want?”

  “I want to tell my parents that I’m not marrying Victoria. Or any of the other rich women they throw my way. I want to tell them that I’m moving out and going to college. I have some money stashed away that my grandfather left just for me. It’ll get me started and a job will do the rest. And...I’d really like to tell them that I’m seeing you.”

  Saige stared at him. “Are you serious?”

  Aiden nodded. “Saige, I’m in love with you.”

  She sat down on the porch swing more abruptly than she’d meant to. Aiden knelt in front of her and cupped her face in his hands.

  “Are you okay?”

  She managed a nod. “Aiden, tell me the truth. Were you sleeping with me and Victoria at the same time?”

  He held her gaze steadily and said, “You’re the only one I’ve been with, Saige. And I hope it stays that way forever.”

  She took a deep, shaky breath. “One more thing. Would you talk to them even if I stood up and walked away right now? About getting your own place, and about going to college?”

  Aiden wanted to beg her not to walk away, but he composed himself and nodded. He owed her the truth about everything and he knew it. “Yes. Even if I can’t have you, I want my own life.”

  “Then let’s go talk to your parents.”

  Chapter Ten:

  Aiden collapsed to the couch in Saige and Patrick’s apartment. Saige curled herself up beside him and took his hand. He looked drained from more than just the heat of the walk from his place to hers.

  “That was awful,” she said bluntly.

  He gave a half laugh and rested his chin on her hair. “It really was. I’m sorry for dragging you into it. I thought that if I could just get them to see how much I love you, they’d come around.”

  Saige thought that there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell of his parents ever liking her, but she kept it to herself. They’d disowned him. She didn’t even know that people still did things like that. She laced her fingers through his big, strong ones.

  “I’m sorry, Aiden.”

  He sighed, his breath ruffling her hair. “Me too. In some ways. In other ways, not so much.” He tilted her chin and looked into her eyes. “I get to be with you now.” Then he bit his lower lip. “Right?”

  As always, the insecurity that lay under his smooth facade made her grin. She stretched up and pressed her lips to his. “Right.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and pushed her back onto the couch, kissing her again and again. It wasn’t an escape anymore. She was still the best thing in his life, but now that she wasn’t the only good thing, it made him appreciate her even more.

  “Aiden?”

  “Mmmm?” he was kissing his way along her jaw line now, finding that place under her ear again.

  She gasped and arched up underneath him, gripping the back of his head, tangling her fingers into his hair. “Oh that feels good. Hang on, just hang on.”

  Amused, he stopped and braced himself over her. “What is it? I’ve got plans here.”

  “I never told you my news.”

  He glanced at the boxes. “I think I’ve figured it out, haven’t I?”

  She grinned and shook her head. “Nope. Aiden...I got the job.”

  It took him a second, but the way her eyes were sparkling told him all he needed to know. “The one in California? The software developer?”

  Saige nodded. “They loved my new mapping technology and they paid me a huge bonus to come and work for them! That’s how Dad could afford to quit.” She hadn’t meant to mention the money, but the zeroes on the check had made a big impression.

  Aiden laughed and pulled her up, wrapping her in his arms. “That’s my girl.”

  “And,” she said, snuggling into his broad chest. “The University of Southern California is right there.”

  “They’ve got pretty high standards,” he pointed out.

  She pulled back and grinned at him. “Maybe I can use some of my money and influence and help you out.”

  Aiden grabbed the back of her neck and kissed her deeply. “I think it’s time I got by on my own,” he said. “But I’m really hoping that you’ll ask me to move out there with you.”

  She smiled. “Maybe. Once I’m sure you’re not just using me for my money.”

  His surprised laughter told her that it hadn’t occurred to him. Aiden Cross might have been a spoiled rich boy when they met, but something told her that he’d do well living on ramen and staying up long hours tweaking software. She rested her head on his shoulder. She couldn’t wait to move to California with him and see what the future held.

  *** THE END ***

  Bad Boy Daddy Next Door

  A New Adult Romance

  By: Stephanie Hunt

  Chapter 1

  Sabrina was a beautiful twenty-three year old with light brown flawless skin and curves that would make any man buckle to their knees. Sabrina however, led a sheltered life and was completely unaware of how attractive she was. She was innocent and naive when it came to men, dating, and the ways of the world. Her life up until this point had been about getting good grades so she could graduate from college and not have to worry about struggling for money like her parents had. Her parents made sure that boys didn't distract her from this goal. Of course they really just wanted the best for her b
ut they still saw her as a little girl and they felt that men would corrupt her and ruin her life and her dreams. They went overboard by making it clear that she couldn't date until she had graduated and if she broke this rule she would be thrown out of the house. She didn't go out much, living with her parents she wasn't able to do much of anything.

  They were always telling her that if she wanted to go out and party than she would have to find her own place and then she could make her own rules.

  Sabrina had been out a few times in the past, hanging out with friends and sneaking around behind her parents' back in order to go out and have fun. Sabrina was getting tired of them controlling her every move.

  Her best friend Jess had invited her to hang out and sleep over her house. Since Jess still lived with her own parents at age twenty-four Sabrina's parents thought that it would be alright to go over since Jess's parents were home.

  Jess had short brown hair and hazel eyes. She was shorter than Sabrina and a little on the chubby side. She used to wear glasses until she found out that contacts were a lot easier and she looked better with them in.

  “You ready to go?” Jess asked when she walked into the kitchen without knocking on the door.

  “I'm ready. Mom, dad, I'm leaving!” Sabrina called out, knowing that they were in the living room watching the news.

  “Have a good time. We will see you tomorrow morning,” her mother called back without getting up from the couch.

  Sabrina was thankful that both her parents liked Jess. They never questioned her about what they did or where they went.

  “Alright,” Sabrina responded, and out the door the girls went.

  “Wow that was so easy. If they knew what we were planning tonight they would freak out,” Jess laughed when they got in her small, two door car.