by Tiana Laveen
AQUARIUS
Mr. HUMANITARIAN
THE TWELVE SIGNS OF LOVE
(The Zodiac Lovers Series)
Written by Tiana Laveen
Edited by Natalie Owens
Cover by Travis Pennington
BOOK 1: Capricorn – Mr. Ambition
BOOK 2: Aquarius – Mr. Humanitarian
BOOK 3: Pisces – Mr. Imagination
BOOK 4: Aries – Mr. Adventure
BOOK 5: Taurus – Mr. Persistent
BOOK 6: Gemini – Mr. Versatile
BOOK 7: Cancer – Mr. Intuitive
BOOK 8: Leo – Mr. Boss
BOOK 9: Virgo – Mr. Intelligent
BOOK 10: Libra – Mr. Romantic
BOOK 11: Scorpio – Mr. Magnetic
BOOK 12: Sagittarius – Mr. Philosophical
Welcome to the “Zodiac Lovers Series” – The 12 Signs of Love.
This is a series which features a hunky hero for each zodiac sign of the year!
This series is stand-alone, so whether you wish to only purchase one or two books of this astrological romance series, or all 12, you can do so without missing a beat. Each Hero embodies typical characteristics of their zodiac sign, but please bear in mind, this is simply for fun – and not to state emphatically that any sign mentioned will act as described. Each tale chronicles the life of the hero and heroine’s quest to love and romance, and each story is unique.
Some of the heroes are serious and brooding, others capricious and fun loving. Some of the tales will feel like a modern-day fairytale while others take a more serious tone. Some tales may lie somewhere in between. This series is written from the heart.
Enjoy!
COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2018 by Tiana Laveen
Kindle Edition
All rights reserved.
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 (five) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. PIRACY IS AGAINST THE LAW.
IN OTHER WORDS: If you do any of the above, the karma bus is waiting for you. If you steal this author’s work and illegally loan and/or share it, request illegal/free copies online and/or in printed version, you are no better than a burglar that breaks into someone’s house while you think they are away. You are a criminal. A thief. A cheat. You don’t work for free, so why should authors?!
WE WORK HARD. SHOW SOME APPRECIATION.
BLURB
Aiden Summers appears to be your average guy, but the truth of his nature lies just beneath the surface. After enduring a less than ideal childhood with his alcoholic single mother, he vowed to make a difference in the world – to help those who worked hard but needed assistance in finding a career. A vocational counselor at one of the top employment agencies in Seattle, Washington, he is considered one of the city’s most eligible bachelors. Aiden enjoys his work, but has been keeping a family stressor under wraps, one that has weighed on his mental and emotional health. Although the commitment type, he would much rather be alone than with someone who is not good for his mind, body, and spirit.
Enter a new client, Addison Blue, who grew up in one of Mercer Island’s most prestigious neighborhoods. The middle daughter of upper echelon African American parents and born with the silver spoon in her mouth, Addison has always wanted to make her way on her own. But, unfortunately, life has dealt her a mighty blow, and she finds herself not only divorced from her emotionally abusive ex-husband, but looking for love and work in all the wrong places.
That is, until she walks into Aiden Summers’ office, and a connection is formed that neither of them predicted or deemed possible. Aiden is a born helper, Addison a born rebel – together, they will either clash or make a beautiful pairing. What was seen as forbidden is now their norm, and their existence in each other’s world changes their lives forever. What does one do when one has so much to say, but no voice to say it with? What happens when a man with secrets and undisclosed pain bursts free and falls in love with a woman who is willing to start over again? On one condition though – that he tells the truth. Not to the world … but to himself.
Read “Aquarius – Mr. Humanitarian” to find out how love is found when it’s least expected!
WARNING
Please bear in mind that each book in this series is adult in nature and includes:
Profanity – (sometimes gratuitous depending on the characters/specific book in the series)
Explicit intimate encounters – (this is consistent in all 12 novels of this series.)
Adult topics and situations – (This could be anything from drug abuse to mental illness, disease, etc.)
If you are offended or triggered by any of the above mentioned, please consider this before moving forward.
Thank You.
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to all those born under the Aquarius sign, and strive to make a change in the world.
Also those who care about their fellow man and their neighbor’s wellbeing, sometimes at their own detriment.
Thank you for being a helping hand.
And please give yourself a hand as well…
One love.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright
About this Book
Warning
Dedication
Letter to the Reader
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
About the Author
LETTER TO THE READER
To my Laveen Queens and Kings, welcome. If you’ve been rocking with me for a while now, then there are no words to express my gratitude. To any new readers who happen upon this book—welcome, and thank you for going on this journey with me. All right, so as to the question that many will ask: why did you create this series, Tiana? Since a very early age, I have nurtured an interest in the field of astrology. It wasn’t something I relied upon necessarily, but I was intrigued by it, especially if a specific forecast rang true. Regardless of any one’s personal beliefs, astrology can at least be considered an interesting study. Some believe it to be total nonsense. Others believe there may be some credibility, but it is still rather farfetched. Yet others believe that the entire subject is evil while some tend to take it quite seriously and consider it no laughing matter. Whatever one’s beliefs, please suspend them for the reading of this romance series.
None of the books in this series are about conjecturing, prophecy, pre
dictions etc. They are merely avenues, or tools, if you will, to view the astrological sign as a gateway into a particular character. This is used to highlight a few key characteristics, be they good, bad, or indifferent, about all 12 zodiac signs from a male perspective.
I am an author who writes lengthy books by default. You would be hard-pressed to find over 10% of my portfolio that does not hit the 100k+ word mark. With that being said, I wanted this series to be full-bodied, but not overwhelming. I wanted to write love stories that unfold in a timely manner, something a reader could knock out in a day or two, but not be explored so fleetingly that the reader misses my signature character and story development. I prefer to write extensive novels because I am practically addicted to the human mind – the psychology behind a character. Why did he say that? Why did she do that? How did this happen? Who were their parents? And so on and so forth.
This kind of in-depth exploration takes time, which equals a longer page count. Longer does not always equate to better, however, and in my personal writing journey this series has been inside my mind for quite some time and needed to come out. I wanted the series to be standalone, meaning if a reader only wished to read Pisces, Cancer and Libra, they could do so without missing key components. In fact, my “Raven Maxim” series is similar – no book is contingent upon the other, though the stories take place in the same town. That series is ongoing and may never end, because I have given myself permission, as an author, to fully explore the characters, the city etc., and not worry about readers waiting a long time for a conclusion due to a succession of cliffhangers. Series are mostly either loved or hated, but standalone books in a series, to me, merge the best of both worlds. In the Zodiac series, the link that binds the books is that you, the reader, are looking at the hero’s astrological sign. But there is so much more to these men, these exciting heroes, than this.
These guys are all different, from all walks of life. They tell their tale in the manner that they see fit. Some are entertaining, others inspiring.
In this 12-part series, you will meet 12 men and their love interests.
12 signs…
12 different minds…
12 lifetimes…
You will sit back and watch the magic unfold.
Please get comfortable, grab your favorite beverage, and enjoy the, “Zodiac Lover Series – The Twelve Signs of Love.”
It is a gift from me to you…
Tiana Laveen
I like to travel and meet new people. I don’t get overly emotional; in fact, emotions make me uncomfortable quite honestly, although I understand when others feel that way and don’t judge them too hard. In fact, I’m not judgmental in the least. Just because I don’t like something doesn’t mean everyone else must dislike it, too. I get it—we’re not all the same. Not only that, we are human. We make mistakes. Everyone messes up, but you have to fix things. Make them right. I believe in accountability and doing the right thing. I can be stubborn on occasion, but I’m strong-willed and believe in a sense of self. I am fairly easygoing and get along with just about anyone, but whatever you do, don’t try to make me bow down to your rules. I get irritated if I feel manipulated and then, another side of me comes out.
I like harmony, but will buck up when things are not fair, or not to my liking. Don’t impede my freedom. If I give up my space and time to share it with you, it’s a choice, and it means I think you’re worth it. When I love someone, I love them deeply, regardless of the fact that I may not tell them each and every day. I try to show it with my actions and if my lady uses the right tools and loves me hard enough, she may see my vulnerable side. It’s not always easy to get me there, though.
I’m a quiet storm. If I open up to you and let you see me on the inside, it means you’re special.
I’ve chosen you.
I am your Aquarius lover…
CHAPTER ONE
Unpacking the Past for a Blast into the Future
“You know, like, Sega Genesis … old school.” Tim’s long fingers gripped the top edge of the gray cubicle as he peered down at Aiden with his squinty, light brown eyes. Aiden’s lips crimped in a grimace. Shaking his head at his best friend and co-worker, he spun around in his seat to glare at his computer screen. He yawned. It was far too early for Tim’s shenanigans. “So, are you in, man?” Tim asked.
Aiden fell into the rhythm of the music playing from his desktop playlist. “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran.
“Well?” Tim’s high-pitched voice jarred him away from the soothing melody.
“A classic video game tournament in Seattle, Washington, huh? When did Mercer Island suddenly become cool? Anyway, hate to piss on your parade, but I don’t think so.”
“Awww, come on, Aiden!”
“Nah, not this time around. I’ll pass. Maybe later down the line.” He picked up his coffee mug with the company logo, ‘Dexter Employment Staffing & Consulting Agency’, took a sip, then quickly scanned the latest postings from the previous evening.
“Man, you can’t do this to me! I’ve got money ridin’ on this!”
“What?” He shot the bastard a look, trying to keep his voice down as his chest burned with rapid fire from his increased heartbeat. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me, Tim.” He whispered the terse words, wishing he could grab the guy and pummel him right then and there with his bare hands. “You bet on me? I’m not a damn horse!”
“Relax, take it as a compliment.” The fucker rolled his eyes and blew him off with the greatest of ease.
“What if I told you I slept with your mom because she’s hot? Would you take that as a compliment, too? Jesus Christ!” He turned his glare back to the computer screen.
“You were the best Sonic the Hedgehog player I knew! What did you expect me to do? Look, I’m sorry if you think I should’ve told you first, but I thought you’d enjoy it, man. Cut me some slack. At least tell me you’ll think about it.”
Aiden shrugged. “I don’t think so. Besides,” he said, draining the contents of his coffee cup and instantly hurting for more, “what’s in it for me?”
“The winner gets $1,000.00.”
Aiden’s eyes instantly widened. Now this was a prize worthy of coming out of videogaming retirement for.
“I’m in! Wait a minute… what’s my cut?” He looked at Tim suspiciously, remembering who the hell he was dealing with. Tim was a great pal, but could be a bit of a shyster with money and gambling deals.
“We could split it fifty-fifty.”
“Aaaaaand I knew you were going to try and pull a fast one. Just once I’d like for you to surprise me and be an upstanding dude.” Aiden chuckled.
“Well, there’s no fun in that,” Tim teased with a crooked grin. “I think it’s fair though.”
“About as fair as a bridge being sold to me. Look, if I’m doing all the work, Tim, why would we split it fifty-fifty?”
“Finder’s fee.” Tim winked.
“You’re the most expensive finder I know… Anyway, you’ve gotten way ahead of yourself putting me on the auctioning block. I’m rusty. You had no business betting on me without talking to me first.” Their boss walked past and they gave him a friendly nod, drawing quiet until he was out of earshot.
“One … thousand … dollars!” Tim burst out in a wicked laugh like Dr. Evil from the movie, “Austin Powers” as he pressed the tip of his pinky finger at the corner of his lower lip. “Okay, 60/40.”
“I haven’t played it in years.”
“I’ve got you covered. You can practice.”
“How?” Aiden threw up his hands. “I’d have to go on eBay and try to track an old one down, and there is no telling if it would be legit or not. Have you heard about these people just selling the boxes of this shit?” He smirked. “You get scammed on collector’s items, vintage stuff, you know, if you’re not careful.”
“I’ve taken care of that, too.” Tim rolled his eyes as if it were obvious.
Of course you did, you snake…
“I’ve g
ot it at home. The original. My Dad dug my old one up from the basement for me. Imagine that, huh? And it still works!”
“Oh, how lucky for me. Whoop dee motherfucking doo!” Aiden laughed. “70/30 and I’ll think about it. I’m not making any promises. Get back to work, man!”
“Come by tonight and take a look,” Tim called out before sauntering off back to his cubicle, pep in his arrogant step. Just then Mark, king asshole numero uno, waltzed by and hung like a pair of musty socks on a line against his cubicle.
“Hey.” He peered at him with his serpent-like amber eyes. “I hear you’re interviewing for the manager’s position that came up.” The bastard tapped a quick little ditty against the wall of his cubicle, as if his statement warranted a musical accompaniment.
“Yeah…” was all Aiden offered, his attention on his computer screen.
“Not to cause any trouble or anything, but do you think you’re actually qualified, Aiden? I mean…” The guy shrugged in an exaggerated way. “You have no managerial experience whatsoever. I, on the other hand, was a manager over at Phylerite.”
“Yeah, and that worked out so well that now you’re over here, terrorizing all of us mere peasants. Get the hell away from my cubicle, Mark. I’ve got a lot of work to do and I’m not in the mood for your shit today.”
“Hey.” The man’s devious smile grew wider, as if he enjoyed the unfriendly banter. “I’m just tryna have a little chit chat.”
“Go chit chat with yourself. No one in here is interested in talking to you. Didn’t you get the memo?”
“I’m going to ignore your immature jabs and be the better man. Here’s a little tip that may help you Aiden, I think—”
“Oh, boy! Let me turn around and give you my full attention so I can get a grasp of these rare intellectual jewels you’re about to toss my way! I’m not worthy!”
