His Every Fantasy

by Holly Nicolai

  His Every Fantasy

  Holly Nicolai

  His Every Fantasy

  Smashwords Edition

  Holly Nicolai

  Text Copyright © 2015 by Holly Nicolai

  Cover Images © 2013 Shutterstock, Barbara Kraft, Canstock

  Cover Title and Work © 2015 HN Designs

  Paperback ISBN: 978-1514325926

  Newhouse Publishing Inc.,

  PO Box 52, Havelock, Iowa 50546-0052

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, organizations, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  For Toni,

  Who gave me the courage

  to write in this genre.

  One

  FIVE MILES DOWN. Five miles more to go. Damn, the only thing better was Krav Maga training. It was the most dangerous, non-sport, form of martial arts. Mandy was full of anticipation concerning the high intensity workout she’d endure later that evening. It was the favorite part of her night, five days a week. The weekends were optional. As she reached the midway point to the city’s limits, she became fanatic and obsessed to the point of insanity and pushed her body right past its limits, through the exhilarating, heart-pounding, all-over body burn, running at full speed. Endorphins flooded her body with their sweet release and freed her from the confines of her own mind. Only while running long distance at full speed or doing her Krav Maga training was she truly as free as the wind that sought to hinder her foot falls.

  Her best friend and roommate, Nicole Givens had started the run with her, but quit after three miles and joked about how insanely driven Mandy was even as she knew the driving force behind it. She had also used the excuse of it being inventory day and therefore, her turn to meet the delivery truck and put all of the new best sellers out on the shelves. A job Mandy often cherished and hoarded.

  But after getting very little sleep the night before, today she needed a release. She would be at the bookstore moments before the doors were set to open for the day. She was nothing if not punctual. Even on this, the one day of the year she disliked more than any other, except one. It was the first day of summer for most but for her, it was the busiest day of the season at the bookstore. It was a day she tried to remain hidden in her office with the excuse of having to do all of the ledger books for the month before and allowed Nicole to handle all the customers and sales.

  Mandy preferred the solitude of her self-imposed isolation where strangers who had no concept of personal space, could not invade hers. The rude, egotistical, know-it-all men who assumed it was ok to breeze right into her space and assumed she'd automatically want to go on dates with them, strangers. Whatever! She was perfectly content being a strong, independent, decisive and successful business owner who enjoyed being isolated from the world as much as possible.

  The last thing she needed was a piece of shit straight man in her life! It was bad enough that she saw him––everywhere she turned, no matter how improbable or impossible, since he is in prison. But he was due to be released later that year on a damn technicality no less! She convinced herself over and over that he couldn't find her there. She'd been careful and even changed her name and had the records sealed. She was safe now. No man would ever get that close to her again!

  Mandy shook her head from side to side as the anger began to rise within. She forced her mind to shut down the thought process before it could even get started. Those damn thoughts refused to be but away and once again incessantly nagged at her like selfish spoiled children who wanted all of her attention. They were ruining her fantastic runner's high. Dammit! David and his memory had no right intruding on her personal time, her version of paradise. Locked up, and he still haunts my days and my dreams! I desperately need to find an outlet or avenue to help me put the past to rest, once and for all.

  Deep inside, hidden from everyone including her closest friends, she was running on fumes and desperation. She yearned to be normal like everyone else and just be able to move forward with her life. Maybe Nicole was right and she merely needed to step way out of her comfort zone in order to find that avenue of relief. A place where she could remain anonymous for just one night, where she could live the fantasy that resided within her heart.

  Too many people within a hundred mile radius of her former home remembered her face due to the damn overwhelming publicity of David's trial. She'd moved halfway across the country to escape it all, but ended up having to accept the truth of the matter, there was no escape for her. Urgh! Enough of this shit! Mandy scolded herself at the city limits and pushed herself even harder on her way back home to the condo.

  After a quick and refreshing shower, Mandy was grateful she was still riding high on her endorphin fuelled rush. She stopped in front of her full length mirror and checked her appearance. Her eyes travelled from the severe bun at the back of her head, she had wrapped her hair into, the light makeup meant to accentuate her features, down to her pin-striped, black and white vest and jacket down past her pin-striped slacks to her red heels. Deciding she looked like she'd blend into a crowd and be easily forgotten, she left for the store. It was the one true source of pride in her life and wouldn't have been possible without her closest friends and co-owners, Nicole and Emmitt. Both had befriended her when she'd moved to the city five years before––lost, alone, and frightened of everything.

  Nicole was a busty red head and very outgoing. She made Mandy feel deficient just standing next to her, but one couldn't help but love Nicole. Emmitt was just as outgoing and charismatic and he had the best taste in clothes. He and his partner Hunter were responsible for her fantastic wardrobe of business and personal outfits.

  She had received a multi-million dollar settlement and used it to purchase an old run-down two story warehouse at the heart of the city and at a rock bottom price too. Together with Nicole and Emmitt's help, they all turned the old warehouse into a combo book store and coffee house that, luckily for them, had become one of the city's most popular. Emmitt ran the coffee house with Hunter while Mandy and Nicole ran the massive bookstore, both businesses were on the first floor of the building. Emmitt and Hunter had converted the second floor into a beautiful and tasteful home for themselves.

  Mandy was responsible for all of the ledger books, orders, invoices, ect.... for both businesses, since she was the one with degrees in business and finance. Her friends had been more than happy to allow her to do the isolated, solitary part of the business, especially after they knew of her past or at least, what she had told them about it. Not to mention, Emmitt and Nicole both thrived on mingling with the wide variety of customers who came in their doors. The design and layout of both businesses had been all Hunter's doing and he was downright brilliant!

  The first floor was set up so that those who came to the coffee house could browse for books and vice versa. Both businesses had been blended magnificently together in the large wide open space.

  When Mandy reached "The Crossroads" she unlocked the door, entered and re-locked it again. All of her senses informed her that she had most definitely reached her home away from home. Glowing with pride, she stopped in her tracks and paid close attention to her surroundings. Nicole was putting vases of fresh flowers on all of the bistro tables and on the end tables that sat on either side of plush, comfortable black leather couches and chairs that Hunter strategically placed all around the book store and coffee house. Some were also staggered around the stage for the open mic nights Emmitt ran every Friday night. There were also corner desks with computers on them for customers to search the internet and a couple in the middle of the store specifically for searching the massive catalog of inventory for the
bookstore.

  Mandy had to admit, she had been against adding the computers, afraid the atmosphere would feel too much like a cold, impersonal internet cafe, but Hunter was right. Keeping them hidden away in the corners, they did not detract from the elegance and warm, friendly atmosphere of the place. They only enhanced it. Mandy allowed her eyes to drift shut, the ledgers tucked tight in her arms like cherished jewels.

  She listened to the clinking sound of vases being set against tables, the sound of the air conditioner kicking on overhead, coffee beans being ground up in the grinder, dishes clattering and the hum of machines.

  Her olfactory was being tantalized by the smell of freshly brewed coffee and freshly ground up beans along with the sweet, warm scent of caramel and chocolate. Then came the scents of freshly baked muffins and chocolate chip cookies just out of the oven combined with the heavenly scent of books, new and old alike. This truly is my slice of Heaven. She stood with a relaxed stance and a serene smile upon her face. Her friends, used to her eccentricities thought nothing of it.

  "I love seeing you as relaxed as you are right this moment...." Nicole whispered and let the rest of her sentence fall away when she saw Mandy jump sky high as though she'd been bitten by a rattlesnake. Nicole felt an immediate need to apologize. "That is, until I opened my big mouth and intruded upon your moment of peace. I'm sorry, Mandy."

  Mandy opened her eyes and looked right at Nicole with a huge smile upon her face. "It's perfectly alright. You startled me is all."

  "Where was your mind, sweetie?" Nicole asked with a wicked smirk.

  "No, I wasn't thinking about sex, Nicole. That is your thing, not mine. I was merely thinking about how this place is my home away from home and I felt the need to immerse myself in the sights, sounds and smells of our perfectly designed and created baby that has become so popular so fast. And once I put my belongings and books in the office, I intend to immerse myself in the taste." Mandy chuckled at herself for being so fanciful.

  "Well I'll be damned, girl! You honey, are positively glowing from your runner's high. I love it! Now, just to be sure, is this glow really from your runner's high or last night's Krav Maga workout with Mr. Hot and Delicious, otherwise known as Master Yang? Hmm?" Emmitt asked and wiggled his eyebrows up and down and laughed. He handed Mandy, much to her surprise, her large mug already filled with her favorite vice––a chocolate drizzled mocha.

  Mandy gave Emmitt a look of extreme gratitude and switched her books to one hand. She used the other to bring the mug to her lips and took a sip. She groaned in pure pleasure as the ambrosia- gifted-from-the-hands-of-a-god took her taste buds on a journey while she was convinced she just died and ascended to Heaven.

  "Emmitt! I can't even begin to thank your god-gifted and talented hands enough! This is beyond words!" Mandy gushed and smiled while her eyes became half-lidded.

  "Oh darling!" Emmitt clapped his hands and gave her a saucy look. "Your facial expression combined with that moan was more than enough thanks. You almost turned me into a straight man girl! Whew! God help the man at the end of that look, he won't stand a chance!" Emmitt grabbed the nearest hardcover book and fanned himself while they all laughed together.

  Nicole and Emmitt laughed even harder when Mandy's face turned a deep crimson. They both knew it would take a hell of a lot more than Mandy's throaty groan of pleasure and a look to turn Emmitt straight and away from his hottie surfer boyfriend.

  Emmitt himself was average in looks and bald by choice. Tattooed sleeves covered his arms from wrist to shoulder and at five foot six inches tall, he was slightly overweight. But none of that mattered when compared with his larger than life––there is no such thing as a stranger, charismatic personality. That combined with his huge heart are what drew Mandy to him years ago at the coin-operated laundromat around the corner from her run-down apartment.

  "Back to work we all go ladies. The store will be open soon and it is our busiest weekend of the year!" Emmitt lit right up like a kid in a candy store and clapped his hands together in delight.

  "Please don't remind me." Mandy grumbled and tried to hold onto her endorphin high for a few more minutes, before anxiety took hold and ruined her day. She had learned long ago how to completely hide her inner turmoil and put on a mask for the rest of the world to see.

  "Okay. Go and hide in your office sweetie and just relax with your ledgers. We both know working with numbers equals happiness in your world." Nicole joked and chuckled.

  "Only because they're predictable and not complex or confusing like people are." Mandy grumbled again and had her friends laughing again. She walked off in a pretend huff and called back over her shoulder, "I really felt the love there guys. Thanks. I appreciate it," and chuckled.

  "Anytime, honey!" Nicole and Emmitt called out simultaneously and fell into each other laughing.

  Mandy shook her head and smiled as she continued on to her office. She loved their shared jokes and playful banter, even if it was at her expense and only because they both knew her so well, flaws and all, yet loved her anyway.

  Hidden away in her office, Mandy looked out of her large one way mirror window to see Emmitt heading back to his counter to make more goodies while Nicole walked away to unlock the door for the line of waiting customers. Mandy was grateful to Emmitt and Nicole both. She hated to think what would have become of her and her life without their friendship and unwavering support.

  Every so often as the hours passed by, Mandy glanced up to see the store was just as busy as it had been when they had first opened the doors that morning. It was as if the steady stream of people had drifted right out of the woodwork, there were so many. It was becoming too busy for her friends to handle alone. She took the initiative and called in Emmitt's part time helper Meg who agreed to come right in. She then called Paula, their part time help at the bookstore who said she could not come in for at least another hour. Mandy thanked her and asked her to come in then. With a heavy sigh, she knew it was time for her to put on her mask of civility, shove her anxiety deep down, lock the door and step out of her comfort zone. Nicole more than deserved her hour long lunch break while there was a temporary lull in the stream of customers.

  With her back as straight as a board, heart pounding in her chest and the anxiety stubbornly refusing to be caged within, she sternly walked to the checkout counter and tapped Nicole on the shoulder. She waited until Nicole finished with her current customer and then ordered her to take a lunch break while she took over in her absence.

  Nicole saw the none too subtle shake in Mandy's hands and asked, "Are you sure? I don't really need one today."

  "I'm sure and yes you do. Don't be ridiculous, I can handle this for a measly hour." A small nervous laugh burst out of Mandy. "Besides, Paula will be here soon to help us out. Now go on and scoot before I change my mind."

  "In that case, you don't have to tell me twice. I'm starving!" Nicole laughed and backed up with her hands held up, palms out and watched as Mandy laughed and relaxed. Job done.

  Mandy knelt down to check their stock of cash register tape and make sure the special orders were lined up in alphabetical order so they could be found easily by last name when picked up.

  Suddenly, she heard the sound of a throat being cleared and she almost hit her head on the underside of the marble counter when she jumped straight up and cursed under her breath.

  "Hmm. Now that I have your undivided attention, I need your assistance, Miss ...."

  Mandy froze in place, her body heating up and heart threatening to slam right out of her rib cage while she stared at the most beautiful man she'd ever laid eyes on. Long shoulder length hair the color of light chocolate rested above and around a face that had her mesmerized. This stranger had a strong, sculpted face with high cheekbones, an angular jaw, deeply intense ocean blue eyes and planes and shadows that she very much wanted to explore. It was as if he had been created as the perfect God-like specimen of man. He wore a pin-striped vest over bare muscled skin with an old fashion
ed timepiece on a chain attached to the vest and a pair of pin-striped slacks and black shiny shoes.

  Her mouth felt as dry as the Sahara desert and her lips parted while her body vibrated and her eyes glazed over with instant heat. It took her a few seconds to regain control of her instantaneous reaction to this god-like, mysterious, intimidating and intense man who looked her over from head to toe as she had just done to him.

  "Mandy, sir. I'm....Mandy. What can I assist you with, sir?" Realizing what she had said could be taken so many different ways and how her voice had come out in a breathy tone, her chest and face heated right up.

  "Mmm. That will happen soon, I guarantee it Mandy." He responded with a deep and gravelly, sexy-as-sin voice.

  Mandy visibly gulped hard and fought to regain her composure. "Excuse me?" She uttered in a severe and stern voice that was at complete odds with what her body desperately wanted.

  "I need a first edition copy of Mid Summer Night's Dream. Can you procure that for me––Mandy?" He asked and refused to comment further on his previous statement.

  His intense stare made Mandy feel as if she was the only woman in the whole world and as if he had just striped her naked and liked what he saw. She intuitively knew a woman would have no real secrets around this man. Her thoughts were interrupted by a rude and snotty woman with a nasal high pitched voice who was waiting in line behind the man and trying to catch his eye.

  "Hello! You want to move your ass along clerk lady, so the rest of us can check out?!" She whined obnoxiously at Mandy who glanced up to see no one else in line.

  Mandy's temper flared to the forefront in an instant, but before she could put the bitch in her place, the hot stranger spoke up in a deep commanding, do as I say or else tone of voice.

  "Take a walk woman. Go and enjoy some coffee or a cappuccino, right now." He growled and turned his eyes full of anger on her and treated her as though she were no more than a disobedient child who deserved to be reprimanded.