No Choice but to Marry: A Historical Mail Order Bride Romance

by Stephanie Hunt

  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 him 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 the
m 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 ***

  Rescued By The Alpha Wolf

  By: Stephanie Hunt

  Erica flew on Flight 497. When she was setting out on her trip, she had no idea the adventure she was getting into. It seemed like a normal trip. She got to the airport two hours early, and checked her luggage, the same as usual. She was flying to visit her boyfriend who lived several thousand miles away and was excited to depart.

  As the plane flew across the continent, Erica relaxed into her seat and began watching a movie. Then there was a bump, and the plane encountered some turbulence. Nothing out of the ordinary. But then there was another bump, and the turbulence worsened. Erica didn’t really have a problem with flying and so didn’t panic. After all, these types of small disturbances were normal. Weren’t they? But the turbulence continued. The woman sitting next to her made a cross over her chest and clutched the arm of her seat with a tense hand. Erica hated sitting next to people who weren’t okay with flying. Their anxiety always inevitably transferred to her, and she hated feeling anxious.

  “It will be alright,” said Erica, half to the woman beside her and half to herself. But as the plane jostled and bounced she doubted the sincerity of her words.

  A plane crash was imminent. Erica soon became terrified as the plane took a nose dive and started plummeting down towards the snowy mountain range below. She looked out of her window and saw the bright horizon angled down on 45 degrees. She grabbed the back of the chair in front of her and lowered her head as per the safety instructions explained by the stewardess several hours prior. A beautiful, well-groomed stewardess raced from the back of the plane to the front and strapped herself in to one of the cushioned seats. Erica felt that death was certain at this point, as the plane did not seem to be correcting its malfunction.

  Erica glanced out the window only to see one of the engines explode in a fiery blaze. Metal scraps trailed the wing and spun off into the sky. Her terror soon turned to despair and then to downright frenzy. She was not a religious woman but she couldn’t help but send a silent prayer up to God to see her through this ordeal. The woman next to her vomited onto the floor and then fainted. She wanted to help the woman but knew there was nothing that could be done. Another glance out the window and now the mountains were closer and the ground was quickly approaching. She knew that only moments stood between the present and the inevitable crash. Soon a flurry of white, powdery hail pelted the aircraft and she knew that there was a stormy blizzard outside. Another quick prayer and the plane leveled off somewhat before smashing into the ground, sending rock and snow every which way. Erica blacked out.

  *****

  As consciousness back crept in, Erica was aware that she could hear before she could clearly see. The noises, which were frightening, could only be described as low, steady growls. The cold, wet snow beneath her chilled her to the bone. She realized that she was going to have to regain her faculties soon if she was to avoid imminent danger. She forced herself to sit up. Pain shot through her spin and down her legs and her head rang and throbbed. She could feel blood trickling down her forehead. She opened her eyes and everything seemed a blur. The growling noises intensified. Whatever was making those sounds was coming closer. Finally, she regained her vision and was shocked to see a group of about six or seven large brown bears gathering around a smouldering pile of wreckage which was the destroyed aircraft. Bodies, blood, and gore were strewn about haphazardly in a wide radius surrounding the wreckage. It appeared, from the outset, as though there were no other survi
vors. Erica made a mental note to check for signs of life, but then quickly realized that this would be impossible with the pack of predators close by.

  She crawled on her hands and knees over to the plane and hid beneath a broken piece of wing. She could only hope that the bears did not see or smell her. They seemed to be aggressive and would probably jump at the chance to make a meal out of her. Suddenly a growling noise thundered from behind her. She turned about and saw the biggest bear she had ever seen charging towards her. Moments before the bear was on top of her a grey blur intercepted the attack and knocked her backwards while saving her from certain doom. Her head hit the side of the wing and she was once again concussed into darkness.

  When she woke up for the second time she was aware that she was lying in some sort of sturdy bed. The mattress felt soft beneath her and she felt the warmth of a quilted blanket. There was also a warm, wet towel on her head. She thought of the bears, and the dead passengers, and the plane crash. She wondered if the woman who had sat beside her had survived. She wondered if anyone had survived. The cabin that she was in was modestly decorated, and a fire was blazing in a stone hearth in one corner of the room. A man was sitting in a chair next to her reading a book. The man was tall, dark, and handsome. He had a muscular build and was wearing tanned pants and a loose-fitting white cotton shirt. His mouth seemed to have a sort of handsome benevolence to it, as if he was constantly smiling about something. She guessed that he was her saviour and was now taking care of her and treating her injuries. She also guessed that the cabin belonged to him and that he was probably some sort of lumberjack or mountaineer. After all, they were in the remote wilderness and probably miles away from any town or settlement.

  Erica decided to speak up: “Hello. Who are you?” It was a simple question, but she did not know how to begin a conversation with this strange man. She knew very little about her current situation, in fact.