If You Could Only Imagine
Copyright 2018 Monica Clayton
Published by M.E. Clayton
All Rights Reserved
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This book is a work of fiction. The entire content is a product of the author’s imagination and all names, places, businesses and incidences are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), places or occurrences, is entirely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any manner whatsoever without the express written consent from the author, except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Formatting: Smashwords
Cover: Adobe Stock
Warning: This book contains sexual situations and other adult themes. Recommended for 18 years of age and over.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Dedication
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
Chapter_14
Chapter_15
Chapter_16
Chapter_17
Chapter_18
Chapter_19
Chapter_20
Chapter_21
Chapter_22
Chapter_23
Chapter_24
Chapter_25
Epilogue
Playlist
About_the_Author
Other_Books
Contact_Me
Acknowledgements
The first acknowledgement will always be my husband (unless we ever divorce, then probably not so much after that), but seeing as how I can’t imagine that day ever coming, I can’t ever put myself out there without thanking him for all his love, support and belief in me.
Second, there’s my family; my daughter, my son, my grandchildren, my sister and my mother. They are the people who love me the most and know me the best and love me dearly, despite all they know…LOL!
And, of course, there’s Kamala. She insists that I don’t have to thank her in every book, but my love for her and gratitude for all her support and enthusiasm, claims otherwise. She’s the first person (outside my family) that I shared this dream with, and she’s been by my side every step of the way. Kam, you really are the best kind of friend and an awesome beta!
And, finally, I’d like to thank everyone who’s purchased, read, reviewed, shared and supported me and my writing. Thank you so much for helping make this dream a reality and a happy, fun one at that! There are not enough ‘Thank You’s in the world….
Dedication
For my daughter–
Your sass and strength are what make you a wonderful challenge!
Prologue
My eyes snapped open, and I immediately knew it was all bad.
My eyes were not greeted by the familiar smoky blue hue that covered my bedroom walls. They weren’t greeted by the north facing window that always teased a little sunlight into my room. And the rest of me was not nestled in the comfort of cheap retail store cotton sheets.
Nope.
My body was cradled in a billion thread Egyptian cotton sheets. A luxury I’m sure I could afford if I wanted to eat noodles and crackers for six months.
No. My eyes snapped open to dark grey walls, sliding glass doors that led to a balcony-that I seriously contemplated throwing myself from-and the magnificence of expensive dark blue sheets.
And the weight of a very masculine, tattooed arm around my waist.
My naked waist.
How could I have been so stupid?
I wasn’t that girl. I swear, I wasn’t.
I was smart. I made good choices. I was driven and focused.
I did not do things that would lead me to wake up in Aiden Buchanan’s bed.
Except that I did.
I did many things last night I didn’t know my body was capable of.
Or maybe I should rephrase that to, I let Aiden do all manner of things to me last night that I didn’t know my body was capable of.
I spent weeks running from the man, only to end up where he wanted me all along, and fresh regret was coursing through my body in shameful waves.
How in the hell was I going to get out of here minus the morning after awkwardness? His arm was freakin’ heavy. How in the hell was I going to escape out from under it without waking him?
This was so bad.
Like calling out the wrong name in bed bad.
Except, I hadn’t called out the wrong name last night. I had called out the right one. Over, and over, and over again.
Aiden Buchanan was, hands down, the best penis I have ever met in my life, but…
Did I mention this was bad?
I held my breath, and in the best boneless worm impression I could manage, I slid my body out from under his arm until my ass met the floor.
I held my breath and opened my ears to any microscopic sound that might be coming from the bed above. Still holding my breath-I’ll worry about brain damage later-I peeked up and thanked Sweet Baby Jesus that Aiden appeared to still be in a deep sleep. Thank Christ!
I ran out of the room-not daring to shut the door-and quickly gathered my clothing but realizing rather quickly that most of it had been shredded to bits last night. I decided to mourn my shirt, bra and panties and make do with Aiden’s discarded shirt from last night and my skirt. I didn’t dare to put on my heels. My mission was to make the best ninja in the world jealous with my ghostly skills.
I found my purse exactly where I had tossed it and prayed to all that was holy that my cell phone didn’t ring or some such stupid crap like that.
I need to get the hell out of here ASAP.
I neared the door and my body was cursing me to hell and back, demanding that I crawl back into that bed and have rounds five, six, seven and eight with Aiden’s body and penis, but my mind was calling me all kinds of a stupid imbecile, and urging me to run. To run for all I was worth.
Like ‘Run, Forest. Run’ run for my life.
I went back to using my ninja skills, and I, ever so slowly, turned the doorknob on the door leading to my freedom and private shame. It clicked open, and I was on the other side before I thought to hold on to its weight and shut it just as quietly. Nope. The door slammed shut.
So, like any self-respecting morning after victim, I ignored the elevator and ran towards the stairwell and flew down the five flights of steps that led to my freedom.
It wasn’t until I was sitting, safely inside a cab and halfway home that I could finally breathe. And then it hit me. I just ran and left my boss naked and alone in his bed.
This was baaaaaaaaaad.
Chapter 1
Denise~
Today was not the day to be running late.
But here I was, rushing through the front doors of Buchanan Industries, praying that there wasn’t a meet and greet or impromptu gathering to meet Aiden Buchanan.
>
Aiden Buchanan was the newest Buchanan to graduate and take over a piece of Buchanan Industries and it was a big deal. There were four of them and Mason Buchanan-the oldest-had made his debut a couple of years ago, already taking over and edging his father out, and making room for his brothers. Mason Buchanan was the boss of all bosses. CEO…and did I mention the boss of all bosses?
Aiden Buchanan was here to head up the finance division, answering only to his brother. And once his younger brothers graduated college, they were rumored to come in and head the marketing and personnel divisions.
Most people would be wary or judgmental about men so young taking over a multi-billion-dollar conglomerate, but from what I’ve heard, the Buchanan sons have been being groomed since birth to take over the company. The company gossip was that they spend countless summers and school breaks interning and learning about the company from the ground up. Mason and Aiden, both spent the year after their college graduations working throughout the company from reception, to mail, to security and so forth, until they spent two weeks working each job in the company, so they knew everything that made up Buchanan Industries at present time.
They may be young, but no one could argue that they had more than enough experience and drive to lead this company.
And, thank God, for it.
I didn’t have the same gifts and privileges as the Buchanans growing up. I grew up in the rough neighborhood of Inglewood, California and every day was a battle to just keep my head above water. So, it was nice to know that the company I worked for was in good hands and was promised a bright and successful future.
Now, while I hadn’t grown up swimming around in large bills, I was blessed enough to have had both parents growing up, but because my mother was black and my father was white, life sometimes got uncomfortable. Granted, it wasn’t the 50s anymore, but there still wasn’t a shortage of racism in the world.
My father worked hard, and while it would have been no problem for my mother to work, too, he was desperate for her to be a stay-at-home mom, so he was our only source of income and that income made for some struggles.
But I’ll never forget when he told me, ‘We might not be able to afford to buy you brand name clothes, but we’ll also never have to find a way to afford your bail or funeral’. And growing up in the ghettos of the world, your chance at a future was 50/50. My mother being able to stay home and raise me tilted those odds a little more in my favor.
Soon, after graduating high school, I worked odd jobs here and there. I didn’t mind, except that minimum wage didn’t allow for a whole lot of independence. I struggled to make ends meet. But I was determined to leave and make it on my own, and not because my parents were horrible, but because with me out of the house, they could finally stop stretching their dollars.
They sacrificed enough.
And then fate stepped in and it was in the form of Amelia Brand, who had been on a business trip from Indiana.
She was an account finance manager with Buchanan Industries, and one morning, I was serving her a coffee when she started shouting on her phone. I had waiting patiently for her to hang up on her caller and when I set her coffee down in front of her; she spoke.
“Are you stupid?”
What the hell? “No. I’m not and-”
Looking me up and down, she said, “Do you like your job?”
“I appreciate every job I’ve ever held,” I replied, coolly.
“How would you like a new job, with benefits and a hell of a lot better pay than this?”
“Uh, what?”
“My assistant is an annoying, little shit who was assigned to me by…” she waved her hand around, as if to end that direction of conversation. “I’m firing the little fuck today and I don’t have the time or inclination to hire someone new. So, that means I’ll get a temp and frankly…”
“Frankly?”
“Do you want the job or not?”
I had said ‘hell yeah’ and the rest was history.
I moved and worked my ass off for Amelia for five years, and it all paid off. A spot had opened up in account management and she recommended me for the position. And, now, two years later, I was one of the top account finance managers for Buchanan Industries.
I reached my office in record time and I was able to project the illusion of a well put together professional, but I was anything but. I dialed my assistant, Sarah. I didn’t bother with a greeting as she answered, “Sarah?”
“Yes, Denise?”
“Did I miss anything?”
“Anything?” she asked. “Anything, as in the arrival of the second prince of BI?”
And just like that, all the tension left my shoulders. Sarah has been my assistant for the entire two years of my promotion and she was the perfect fit for me. “Yes. Anything like that.”
I could hear her chuckle through the phone. “No…well, I got a call from Jenny saying he was making the rounds and introducing himself to the commoners, but he hasn’t made it this far yet.”
“Okay, I’ll hold off my nervous breakdown for after lunch, then.”
She laughed. “I’ll buzz you if I hear anything before his arrival.”
“Thanks, Sarah. You’re always saving my life,” I told her, honestly.
I shook off my thoughts regarding Aiden Buchanan and got straight to work, but my mind kept drifting towards other professional scenarios. There was a rumor that Mason Buchanan had given his wife sole ownership of The Morgan Corporation and she wasn’t sure if she would attempt to run it or sell it off to SMA Global, Inc. The hope was that she would keep it and a select few would go to work for her. Now, don’t get me wrong, working for the Buchanans was a dream job with excellent challenges and amazing benefits, but to be able to work for Shane Buchanan would be the perfect dream job. She was fair, hardworking and determined. But she was also a sweetheart and wasn’t intimidating like her husband.
I was already halfway through my morning when I had forgotten that Aiden Buchanan was supposed to make his rounds. I was lost to the outside world when a knock on my office door snapped me back to the world of the living.
I looked up and almost swallowed my tongue.
A 6-foot-something god stood in my doorway, making me want to pay homage to the male species.
He walked into my office without an invitation and that could only mean one thing. This tall, dark, gorgeous drink of water was Aiden Buchanan. And what an Aiden Buchanan he was.
He was over six feet tall with jet-black hair and eyes the shade of green I’ve never seen before. He had matching dark brows, a Romanesque nose, strong cheekbones and a pair of soft looking lips that accompanied a chiseled jaw.
He was dressed in a tailor-made suit and he was wearing the hell out of it. The jacket draped over a set of broad shoulders, and while I couldn’t make out much of the rest because he had the audacity to be clothed, I could still tell he was trim and athletically built
How did women function around this man?
My body moved on autopilot and stood as Aiden made his way around my desk and offered his hand. “Hello. I’m Aiden Buchanan.” His voice sent shivers down my spine and moistened my panties to an uncomfortable level.
I stretched my hand out and took his in what began as a simple, professional handshake, but the second his large hand enveloped mine, I almost climbed him like a spider monkey. His touch was hot, firm and did I mention hot?
My inner brain kicked my hormones aside and made an appearance. “Good Morning, Mr. Buchanan. I’m Denise Hart, one of Buchanan Industries finance account managers.” Duh, you idiot. Of course, he knows what you do here. It was his job to know.
He smiled down at me and I could feel my ovaries laying down in surrender. They were waving their little, white flags and everything. “Good Morning, Ms. Hart. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Not half as nice as it was to meet him. I mean, holy fuck, just look at the man. LOOK!!
I mean, it’s no secret that all the Buchanan sons were stunni
ng, but Mason was taken so that distorted my view of the man and the twins were babies compared to my 27 years of life. But Aiden Buchanan was…
Sweet Baby Jesus.
I was standing here ogling him as if it was totally acceptable to drool in your boss’s presence.
I was in big trouble.
Chapter 2
Aiden~
I’ve always frowned upon heirs who used their last names and connections to feed their entitlement. Yeah, Mason, Michael, Gabriel and I were walking into a life that had already been carved out for us, but we’ve been learning the hallways of Buchanan Industries since we could walk. No one in this building could say we hadn’t worked our way up from the bottom.
Our father had been a ruthless bastard, and he did not use kid gloves with any of us. He had raised us to be warriors and conquerors. And that’s what we were.
But, now, standing in Denise Hart’s office, I wanted to use my last name and connections to lock her door, rip her clothes off and fuck her on every surface of the room.
She was positively stunning, but that’s not what had me risking my good name and reputation. Nope. It was the feeling she invoked when she placed her delicate, feminine hand in mine. I could swear a bolt of lightning traveled throughout my body at the contact.
I had felt nothing like it in all my life.
And let me tell you, I’ve had some of the most beautiful women around, naked and underneath me, and even in their full naked glory, none of them ever made me feel a fraction of what this one innocent touch had. If this is what Mason felt every time he touched Shane, no wonder he had been willing to walk away from everything he’d ever known to be with her.
We had grown up with a bastard of a father and he ruled with an iron fist. His sons were to be nothing less than perfect, but he fucked up big time. He raised us to be too strong, and it backfired when Mason fell in love with Shane and Dad tried to come between them.
Mason was the oldest. He was only a year older than me, but you could tell he was the oldest. Mason carried himself like a goddamn Admiral and everyone could see and sense his determination. Even if Mason hadn’t been the oldest, he was the perfect one to take over Dad’s spot. Mason had the ability to juggle anything that came at him. He had a photographic memory and he could multi-task like a sonofabitch and he rarely panicked. Mason was a true leader.
If You Could Only Imagine (Buchanan Brothers Series Book 2) Page 1
