Best of Virgins Bundle

by Cathy Williams

  But he had misjudged her and the situation. She had not escaped to the Bahamas to lose herself in the arms of another man. She was not looking for a companion with whom to share a bed and some physical comfort.

  She was a virgin.

  Had he known, he never would have slept with her.

  Or would he?

  Knowing the pleasure he’d experienced, the incredible connection they had shared, he did not regret a moment. But did she?

  Was that why she’d left without saying goodbye?

  Had she chosen him out of loneliness? Despair?

  It didn’t matter. Much to his surprise, he awoke with an overwhelming desire to see her again. When he awoke to find her gone, he was filled with despair. He knew right then and there that he had to find her again.

  It had been years since a woman had made such an impression.

  He’d been with a lot of women since the demise of his engagement. But he’d kept them all at arm’s length. “She permanently scarred you,” one woman had said of his ex-fiancée. And until he met his mysterious, auburn-haired stranger, he’d thought she might be right. After all, he had been young and naive when he’d fallen in love with Lisa. She was a fellow college student and together they’d planned their future. When he received an internship at a prestigious New York equity firm, he had asked her to marry him. But shortly afterward he had come home early to find Lisa in bed with another man. To make matters worse, it was his boss at the firm. She married his boss, but not before telling Hunter why. Years later he could still hear her words. I could never marry a poor man.

  Her rejection had only fueled his desire to become wealthy and powerful. And he had discovered what Lisa had no doubt realized by now, as well. Money did not guarantee happiness.

  He glanced back out the window as the plane began its descent. He was surprising himself. He did not consider himself a sentimental type, but he was a man obsessed, consumed by a sweet, brief memory. It had been a long time since he’d enjoyed the simple pleasures in life like a stroll on the beach, a drink from a coconut.

  The plane lurched as it touched the ground. He looked out the window. It was snowing in Shanville.

  Four

  “Are you still going to try to talk to Mr. Axon?”

  Cassie glanced at her friend, whom she’d known her entire life. She hated to disappoint Frances. Sixty-five years old, Frances Wells—like most of the people in Shanville—lived paycheck to paycheck. If she lost her job at the mill, she would not be able to find employment elsewhere.

  Unfortunately, Frances was not alone. The community was aging, and most of the workers were fifty or older. Cassie might be able to move on, but they would not. Still, she couldn’t risk losing their severance packages. “I can’t gamble with everyone’s future. It’s a long shot, anyway.”

  “But it’s Oliver. He loves you.”

  “No,” Cassie said quickly. “According to him, he never did. But even if I did have some pull with him, he no longer has any control. He’s already given over the reins to Axon Enterprises.”

  “I don’t know how Oliver can stand by and let this happen. If I had known what a devil he would become, I would’ve swatted his behind while I still had the chance.”

  “So would I, if I’d thought it would’ve made any difference.”

  Frances smiled. “Well, at least I’m happy for you.”

  “What do you mean?” Cassie asked.

  “The severance is just what you need. You’ll have the money to move away and return to school.” The older woman smiled sadly and patted her hand. “You don’t belong in a mill, Cassie. You never did. You belong behind that camera of yours, taking pictures. Working for National Geographic or someplace where you can make your dream come true.”

  “Oh, Frances,” Cassie said. Once again, she felt as if she might cry. “I would be more than happy to never take another picture again if it meant you would all be able to keep your jobs.” Cassie glanced around her. “And I’m not so sure that’s my dream anymore.”

  “What are you talking about? Ever since you were a little girl you loved that camera.”

  Cassie shrugged. “All I know is that I can’t stand the thought of losing this mill.”

  Frances glanced at the old stone building in front of them and shrugged. “I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later. We all knew that things haven’t been right around here for years. It was foolish to think young Oliver could handle it, just because he had a fancy education.”

  “I think he could’ve saved it if he wanted to,” Cassie said. “He chose not to.” She shook her head. “I wish I’d seen what he was intending. Perhaps I could’ve talked some sense into him while there was still a chance.”

  “Nonsense,” Frances said. “You know as well as me, Oliver always had a mind of his own.” She put an arm around Cassie and squeezed. “At least I can sleep easier knowing that you’re going to be okay.”

  “Okay?” Cassie asked.

  “Your grandmother and I never thought Oliver was right for you.”

  “What?” The news astounded her. “I thought Grandma loved Oliver.”

  “She loved him like one loves a wayward child. She knew you two had been friends your entire lives, but she had grave concerns about your future together. ‘He makes Cassie happy,’ she used to say. ‘And that is all that matters.’”

  Could this be true? Had there just been a colossal misunderstanding? Had both she and her grandmother tried to convince themselves Oliver was Mr. Right because they’d assumed it to be what the other wanted?

  But what did it matter? Her grandmother was gone, and Oliver was engaged to someone else. And she, well, she had moved on, too. With a little help from her Bahamian bartender.

  It was days since they were together, but Cassie couldn’t stop thinking about him. It was as if he was seared into her consciousness. Everywhere she looked she was reminded of him. Everything she did made her long for him.

  It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

  It was a one-night stand with a stranger. Intimacy without commitment. Lust without love. She didn’t even know his name.

  So why couldn’t she forget about him?

  She felt nothing but irritation when she saw her ex-fiancé, but when she looked at the picture she had taken of her bartender on the beach, she felt like crying. She couldn’t help but hope that one day she would see him again.

  But would he even remember her?

  Probably not. His experience with women was obvious. She had little doubt that he had found someone else to share his bed.

  She followed Frances into the cafeteria. Employees were packed inside like cattle. At the front of the room were three chairs. Oliver and Willa sat on either side of an empty chair as if waiting for the king. Oliver stood up and said, “Mr. Axon was delayed. But he called a while ago and said he should be here shortly.” His face brightened as he nodded behind her. “There he is now.”

  Cassie turned. There, walking toward her, was none other than her bartender.

  Hunter walked through the crowded auditorium, trying not to make eye contact. He had been in this situation many times before. He knew what the questions would be. These people would not be receiving the answers they wanted to hear.

  He would be closing the mill within six months. All employees, however, would receive a generous severance package. According to Willa, who had done a thorough study of the area surrounding Shanville, it was more than enough to give them time to find another job.

  He looked at Oliver. Oliver jumped to his feet and began applauding.

  Applauding? It was overkill, but Oliver couldn’t seem to help himself. Oliver reminded Hunter of the rich kid in prep school, the one who was always complimenting the teacher and making fun of the unpopular kids. “Stop please,” Hunter said, annoyed. Oliver was kidding himself if he thought these people would welcome him. Willa had said that she had already informed everyone of his intentions.

  Oliver’s face fell, and he drop
ped back in his chair. “Sorry, Mr. Axon,” Oliver said. “Did you have a nice flight?”

  “No,” Hunter said. He couldn’t help himself. Oliver just annoyed him for some reason. Once again he reminded himself to be civil.

  He turned back toward the crowd. “I apologize for the wait. My flight was delayed due to inclement weather. Now, I know you all have a lot of questions. I promise you I will do my best to answer every single one of them.” He scanned the crowd. This would not be easy. Most of the workers were older than he had expected. Younger workers typically welcomed the severance package as it was intended, a means to a better way of life. But these people would have a difficult time finding employment elsewhere. “Why don’t I begin by telling you a little about my company—”

  He stopped. She was standing toward the back of the room, staring at him as if he were a ghost.

  She was there.

  Run.

  Cassie turned and made her way through the crowd, back toward the exit. It was an instinctive reaction, an urge for self-preservation. She hurried as if her very life depended upon it.

  Cassie flung open the door and escaped outside. She paused for a moment to catch her breath. She was winded, not from the rush, but from the shock.

  She had slept with Hunter Axon.

  The realization was enough to give her another surge of energy. She rushed toward the stairwell as her head continued to pound. She had lost her virginity to Public Enemy Number One. The man who was closing the mill and putting her friends out of work.

  How could this have happened?

  But it had. There was no denying it.

  Why had he lied to her? Why had he pretended to be someone he wasn’t?

  Cassie threw open the stairwell door and began rushing down the steps. She needed to get back to her loom. She needed the comfort of something familiar. A quiet place where she could recover from brain overload.

  “Wait!”

  The sound of his voice made her stop. But not for long. In a flash she was back on track, moving as fast as she possibly could.

  But it was not fast enough. “Wait,” he said again, practically jumping down the steps. He grabbed her arm, stopping her. “I’ve looked everywhere for you.”

  Looking at him, at the tortured expression on his face, she almost believed him. Almost.

  “Hunter Axon?” she said.

  He smiled and extended his hand. “Nice to meet you. And you are…?”

  As she stared into his brown eyes, her confusion faded. What difference did it make who he was? What mattered was that she had found him again. What mattered was that he had not forgotten her. That he had been looking for her. She took his hand and said, “Cassie Edwards.”

  “Cassie,” he said gently, as if he had been reading the tenderness in her eyes. He held on to her hand firmly, as if he had no intention of letting go. “What are you doing here?”

  “I work here,” she said, abruptly dropping his hand. She had to forget about their past history. She had to ignore whatever feelings were choking her. This man was not the man she had thought. He was Hunter Axon. And he was destroying the life she had known.

  The smile faded from his face. “I don’t understand.”

  “I went to the Bahamas to meet with you.”

  “What?” he said, the muscles tightening in his jaw. It was obvious that his surprise was genuine. He had not been told of her visit, despite his assistant’s assurance to the contrary. “Why?”

  “I wanted to talk to you about your intention for the mill. I tried for two days to get in to see you. I went to your office as well as your home.”

  He hesitated. “So, when you saw me in the bar…?”

  “I didn’t know who you were. I never would’ve…” She swallowed.

  “A coincidence,” he said, taking a step back. It was as if she had thrown a bucket of cold water over his head. All earlier signs of intimacy were gone.

  “Yes,” she repeated quietly.

  The door opened and the sound of high heels echoed through the stairwell. “Hunter? Hunter?” It was Willa.

  Immediately Cassie was reminded of Willa’s threat. Let’s just make it a clean sweep, shall we? I mean it’s not really fair to give it to some and not others. If Willa saw her talking to Hunter, would she retract the severance packages, as threatened?

  It was not something Cassie wanted to find out. “I have to go,” she said, turning and heading back down the stairs.

  “Cassie!” Willa yelled, stopping her. Willa was peeking over the railing. “Wait!”

  Hunter closed his eyes briefly and sighed, as if frustrated by Willa’s intrusion.

  “What’s going on here?” Willa asked, making her way down the stairs.

  Hunter replied, “We were just—”

  “Mr. Axon was looking for the men’s room,” Cassie said. She turned back toward Hunter and said, “And I’m afraid you passed it. It’s upstairs, right outside the doors.”

  Hunter was looking at her strangely.

  “Is this true?” Willa asked him.

  He glanced at his associate. “How the hell would I know? I’ve never been in this building before.”

  Cassie suppressed a smile.

  “I’m relieved that you’re all right,” Willa said to Hunter, flashing a fake smile. “I was concerned when you dashed out of the auditorium in midsentence.”

  “I was overwhelmed by a sudden urge to…” He glanced at Cassie. “Use the men’s room.”

  “Like I said,” Cassie repeated, “upstairs to the left. You can’t miss it.”

  “Thank you.” He turned to Willa. “Please give the workers my apologies and explain the situation. I’ll be back momentarily.”

  “Certainly,” Willa said.

  Hunter ran up the stairs. Cassie heard the swing of the doors. She glanced at Willa and shrugged, then turned and began walking back down the steps.

  “I thought you said you didn’t meet Hunter when you were in the Bahamas.”

  Cassie felt her heart jump into her throat. Perhaps their charade was not as convincing as she thought. Cassie swallowed as she met Willa’s eyes. “Are you accusing me of lying?”

  Willa walked down the steps, approaching Cassie slowly. “It’s just a bit confusing. He suddenly bolts out of a conference and I find you huddled together in a stairwell. Quite a coincidence.”

  “I didn’t discuss the mill, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  “Why would I be worried? After all, we have an agreement, right?”

  Cassie glanced away.

  “It would be dreadful to see so many nice people put out of work, with no money to see them through the long, hot summer.”

  “Yes,” Cassie said. “It would.”

  Willa hesitated, as if thinking. “Cassie,” she said, “I’m glad we had this little talk. I want you to know that I do trust you. And I’m sorry that we’ve gotten off to such a rough start. I’d like to make it up to you.”

  Make it up to her? Cassie felt a chill run down her spine. This woman was creepy. She almost radiated evil. “Oliver and I are hosting a little party for Hunter tonight at Oliver’s estate.”

  Estate? Cassie couldn’t help but smile. The Demion house sat on top of a hill overlooking all of Shanville. Although it was the closest thing the town had to a mansion, it was hardly an estate. It had been built by a wealthy family in the mid eighteen hundreds. It consisted of twenty-two spacious rooms and ten working fireplaces. Oliver had moved in several years ago, when his parents had officially gone to Florida and given him the reins of his family business. His house was large, Cassie would give him that. But an estate—in Shanville? Hardly.

  “Why don’t you come.”

  Cassie looked at her. What was she up to? Was she trying to encourage her to talk to Hunter, just so she could pull the plug on the severance packages?

  But could she really do such a horrible thing? And would Hunter allow it…or even encourage it? Or had Willa been bluffing?

 
Cassie needed to decide whether her hunch about Hunter was right. Would he hear her out? Would he actually listen to what she had to say?

  If she was wrong, her friends could lose their severance. But if she was right…maybe they had a chance after all.

  “It should be quite the event,” Willa continued. “I just got word today that the governor is coming.”

  The governor? Would he be able to help Demion Mills? It was worth finding out. Willa may have forbidden her from talking to Hunter Axon, but she could not forbid her from talking to the governor.

  “Thank you,” Cassie said. “I’d love to attend.”

  “Good,” said Willa. “Oh, and, Cassie, it’s a formal event so dress is…”

  “Formal,” said Cassie.

  “Exactly,” said Willa, flashing her the same, creepy Cheshire Cat grin once again.

  Five

  Cassie took a step and stopped. It was not too late to turn back.

  She glanced up at the Demion “estate.” The granite Victorian, never a cheery place, looked almost haunted in the moonlight. Through the windows Cassie could see bits and pieces of the elaborate party inside, a woman’s bejeweled wrist and hand, part of a man’s tuxedo.

  Who were these people?

  And why had they come to Shanville?

  For an opportunity to meet the great and ruthless Hunter Axon?

  It had taken Cassie much of the day to recover from the shock of discovering that the man who had inspired her dreams had also been the one to cause her nightmares.

  A coincidence, he had said.

  An unbelievable twist of fate. One that could have been avoided by asking the most obvious of questions: What is your name?

  That was what she wished had happened, wasn’t it? That she had learned of his identity? That the whole evening had been avoided, and that she had returned home with her virginity intact?

  No.

  As much as she hated to admit it, that was not the case. She did not regret their time together, even though she knew she should.