The Bad Boys of Eden

by Avery Aster

  Leila frowned. “Alteration?” She glanced at the group milling around.

  “Just a slight change. There will be a few other passengers on your flight to New York. It seems there was a bit of confusion with their return flight and, well…” He spread his hands.

  “They’d be stranded otherwise?”

  “So you see the dilemma. I do apologize. But I have no control over who flies on which plane. I only check passports.”

  “I see.”

  Leila’s mood deteriorated quickly. Mr. Hayward did what was necessary with her passport and she was led to a much larger plane than she’d ridden in from New York. The group she was with were noisy, the voluptuous blonde’s attitude almost larger than life. She made it clear she was unhappy with the alterations to their travel plans, although the rest of the group seemed to be taking the change of plans in stride.

  The group had boarded the plane first, leaving Leila to take the last available seat near the front of the plane next to a tall dark-haired guy who glanced up briefly as she sat, then gave her a long lingering look and a smile that told her he was going to be nothing but trouble on the flight home.

  “I’m Jeremy.” He held out his hand. Leila looked at it a moment, then shook it.

  “I’m Leila.”

  “Leila. Pretty name. Little old-fashioned, but pretty.” He leaned on the armrest between them. “Like you.”

  “Jeremy, for God’s sake. We’re not even off the ground yet.”

  Leila glanced at the man who spoke, a dark-haired, wildly gorgeous man sitting across the aisle from her. He frowned at Jeremy before turning away.

  Jeremy chuckled and turned back to Leila, leaning on the armrest between them. “Ignore my band mate. He’s just a little uptight from being away from his girl Kate for too long.” He tapped his temple. “Thinks too much.”

  Leila nodded absently. “I see.” She avoided eye contact, hoping he’d give up the chase. She watched the flight attendant make her way down the aisle, offering drinks.

  “You know who we are, right? This here is Gage Stevens, international Rock God.”

  Jeremy sat back as if it was a foregone conclusion Leila would know what that meant. She shook her head.

  “Sorry. I’m not much on current music.”

  “Well, then tonight’s your lucky night.” Jeremy grinned. “You can come to the show, be my guest. Backstage passes, after party. The works.” He leaned closer, his hand on her arm. “I can make it an evening you’ll never forget.”

  Before Leila could answer, the engines of the plane revved and the plane started its taxi down the runway. Excited murmurs rose from the other passengers, drowning out her thoughts.

  The flight home seemed even longer, and far more tedious, than her trip to the island. Her mind kept going back to the last time she’d been with Sebastian in the garden. Her skin still tingled at the memory, a deep warmth lingering deep in her center.

  But then images from her dream crowded in: the man taking her so ruthlessly in her bed and how much she wanted him. And then Sebastian’s face, filled with pain, filled with betrayal. Her betrayal.

  Jeremy kept up a steady chatter in her ear, leaning closer, first resting his hand on her arm, and then, to her astonishment, sliding his fingers down to her knee.

  That was more than Leila could stand. Her hand shot out, covering his. At first, Jeremy’s eyes lit up, but then he frowned as she pried his fingers away from her leg.

  “Stop, Jeremy. Please. I don’t want to be rude, but…I’m not interested.” Despite trying to keep her voice down, it rose above the other voices in the plane. There was a beat of silence and then she heard scattered laughter from the back.

  “Shot down again, Jeremy? Your streak’s unbroken.”

  Leila looked up. A full-figured brunette stood in the aisle next to their seats, her long brown hair tied back, a mischievous grin on her face.

  “Dana Marshall. So cruel. I’m not shot down…Leila just needs to spend a little more time with me to understand my charms.”

  “Leave the poor girl alone.” Dana shook her head, walking back to her seat.

  Jeremy turned back to Leila, his next pick up line already on his lips, but he was interrupted by the flight attendance’s appearance at the front of the plane. “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re ready to start our descent into New York City. If you’ll take your seats, please, and fasten your seat belts, we’ll have you on the ground shortly.”

  Leila busied herself with her seat belt, relieved they were finally close to landing. Her nerves were frayed, not only from sitting next to Jeremy, fending off his advances, but with thoughts of Sebastian and the disturbingly arousing images from the dream. She was ready for her apartment.

  The plane made a smooth landing at the airfield. Much to her relief, Jeremy became engrossed in a conversation with a man with piercing blue eyes and what looked like another rock star…Logan MacKenzie, she thought someone called him. When he turned away to answer, she hurried down the steps, out of the plane, and onto the tarmac.

  She stopped short. This was a different airstrip than where the helicopter taken her on Sunday and where the smaller Learjet had left, bound for Miami. She was momentarily confused, trying to get her bearings. Behind her, she heard Jeremy’s voice calling to her. All she wanted now was someone to take her to the next plane, or helicopter, that would get her closer to her apartment.

  “Ms. Connors?”

  Leila turned toward the voice. A man dressed in a crisp limo driver’s uniform and hat stood, hands folded in front of him, smiling.

  “If you’ll come with me, I’ll take you home.”

  * * *

  The ride was surprisingly brief. Leila sat in the backseat of the long black limo, in air-conditioned silence, watching New York flash past her windows. The limo turned down her street, and then it pulled up in front of her building.

  The driver stepped out, walked around the limo, and opened the door for Leila. She hesitated in the open door, looking up at her apartment building, then stepped out onto the sidewalk. New York came rushing up to her, all the sounds and smells, traffic noises, the diesel fumes surrounding her. Finally, she was home.

  Chapter Ten

  The elevator stopped at her floor, the doors sliding open. Leila stepped into the hall, a strange sense of déjà vu washing over her. Shaking her head, she walked down the hall to her apartment door, half-expecting to find a note slipped under her door, another adventure waiting for her.

  But there was nothing tucked under her door this time, and so she quickly unlocked it and stepped inside. It smelled like dust and stale air, but otherwise, everything was the same as she’d left it.

  She sighed, closing the door behind her. It felt as if she’d been gone for far longer than just a few days. So much had changed. She’d changed. For one thing, she had a completed first draft manuscript of a romance novel, and she’d been coached by one of the best writers in the business.

  For another, quite possibly, she’d met the man of her dreams. And lost him. If he ever even truly existed.

  She pulled the manuscript from her bag and settled on the couch. Flipping through the pages, she began reading her story. The words were vibrant, the story fresh, her characters alive on the page. Certain scenes still made her smile, and when her characters were torn apart, tears pricked her eyes.

  At the end, she sighed. Her characters were reunited, secure in their love. She set the manuscript beside her on the couch. Certainly there were sections that needed tightening, maybe a few scenes that could be expanded. And, as Cheryl had advised her, there were places where she could give her characters more emotional depth. A rueful smile tugged at Leila’s lips. There still was the missing…physical description of her hero. Leila knew now exactly what to write for those scenes and exactly how her heroine should feel.

  The light was fading when she heard noises in the hall. There was a thump, then a louder noise, a man’s muffled voice. Her heart sank: Jordon Richards.
>
  The knock on the door made her jump. The last person she wanted to see was Jordon, at least until she’d gotten a good night’s sleep, or three. Maybe if she ignored him…

  The knocking came again, louder this time. With a sigh, Leila rose. Jordon wouldn’t give up until he’d at least talked to her or tried to make a move. Knowing him, he’d been watching her from his door. She was surprised it had taken him this long to make his presence known.

  Leila looked through the peephole then drew back in surprise. All she could see was the back of someone’s head. Her hand trembled as she reached for the doorknob, slowly opening the door.

  “Can I help you?”

  The man turned back to Leila. For a long moment, they held each other’s gaze, Leila finding herself lost in the green depths. Her eyes widened: those beautiful green eyes, the startling blue circle ringing the iris.

  After a long moment, the man spoke. “I’m sorry to bother you. I just moved in…” He turned and gestured to the apartment across the hall. Turning back, she caught a look on his face, a flash of recognition, maybe, or confusion.

  Leila blinked. The voice was the same, deep and masculine. The eyes, the hair…but did he know who she was?

  “I’m sorry. I’m being rude.” He held out his hand and smiled. Leila’s heart sped up and she suddenly found it hard to catch her breath.

  “I’m Sebastian Phillips.”

  She looked down at his hand for a moment and then, as if in slow motion, reached out and took it. His grip was strong, his skin warm and very familiar. Her hand lingered in his for a moment longer. A fleeting look of bewilderment crossed Sebastian’s features, matching hers. But Leila voiced her confusion first.

  “I’m Leila Connors. You’re moving in across the hall? But that’s Jordon Richards’s apartment.”

  Sebastian shook his head. “I don’t know who that is. I just moved to New York…a friend gave me a list of places to check and this building had a vacancy. I called, saw it Monday, and the landlord just called to say my references checked out. It’s all mine.”

  The confusion on his face deepened, his dark brows furrowed.

  “Oh…”

  “I came to ask you…I don’t have my keys.” He tilted his head, suddenly hesitant. “I’m sorry, I know this is going to sound crazy.”

  He took a step toward Leila. She held her breath.

  “I…have you ever have that feeling like you know someone, even though you just met them?’

  Leila nodded. “I have.” Her voice was nothing more than whisper.

  Sebastian took another step. Leila could feel the warmth of his body, and she waited.

  He reached out, tentatively, then dropped his hand. His eyes searched hers and in that moment, she saw a flash of emotion. “It’s like I know you…more than just know you. I mean, like I’ve met you before. It’s like we…” His voice was low, intense.

  “It’s like we were together, somehow…somewhere.” He shook his head. “I know. That all sounds crazy. I sound crazy…”

  “No…” She reached out, her hand on his arm. “Do you believe in fate, Sebastian?”

  Leila took a step forward, reached up, and touched Sebastian’s cheek. Wordlessly, he folded her into his arms, the truth hanging heavy in the air around them.

  His lips found hers, and they felt just as she remembered, warm, strong, and just as possessive. The kiss deepened and every emotion she’d felt on the island came rushing back, and she poured it all into their kiss, giving herself freely to him.

  Sebastian finally tore his lips away with a growl, holding Leila at arm’s length, eyes searching hers.

  “Fate, you say?” He shrugged, smiled, and in that smile, Leila saw the confidence she’d known in Sebastian on the island. He pulled her against him once again, his arms banding tightly around her, and pressed his lips to her ear, his voice a low growl.

  “In that case, there’s no sense in fighting it.”

  He brushed her hair back from her neck, his mouth lowering to hers. This time his kiss was soft and slow, nipping at her lips and stroking her tongue.

  Leila moaned, losing herself in his powerful embrace. She wasn’t sure how their story would end, but she had a feeling that she’d have a lifetime to figure it out.

  # # #

  If you loved this story by Adriana Hunter, sign up for her official newsletter at www.SpicyTales.com to hear about her latest releases or keep in touch using the following links:

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  To skip directly to the next story, click here.

  About Adriana Hunter

  New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Hunter writes contemporary and paranormal romance stories that feature irresistibly powerful alpha heroes and beautifully curvy heroines.

  Other Books by Adriana Hunter

  Romance Novels

  Sweet Surrender

  Rock Hard

  Fight For You

  Romance Novellas

  Truth Or Dare

  Something Borrowed

  For Keeps

  Made For The Billionaire

  Learning Curve

  Paranormal Romance Stories

  All American Wolf

  Taming The Alpha & Claiming The Alpha

  Better Mate Than Never

  Anthologies

  Curve Crazy

  To Love An Alpha

  Dangerous Desires

  # # #

  Second Glances

  Elena Aitken

  An unexpected invitation to an island that knows what you need sends Kylie’s mind racing. But when she realizes things are not as they seem, can she open her body, mind, and more importantly—her heart to someone and something, she’s never considered?

  Copyright 2015 Elena Aitken

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  About The Author

  Go to next book

  Go to previous book

  Go to Table of Contents

  CHAPTER 1

  For Kylie Wilson, it should have been just another day in her hometown of Cedar Springs as she made her way to work at the Grizzly Paw, except it wasn’t. Not today. Something was different. And that something was the heavy, gold-lined envelope that weighed heavy in her purse. She’d found it on her front porch, propped up on her welcome mat like it was no big deal. Except it was a big deal. When she slipped her finger under the fold of paper, broke the seal and withdrew the heavy card stock, what she’d read had both taken her breath away and made her pulse speed up.

  Please accept your invitation to Eden.

  A one-week all-expenses paid trip to the tropical island of Eden, where reality is whatever you wish it to be.

  Signed ~The one who’s always loved you.

  It could only be from one person. Only one man had loved her, and only one she’d loved just as deeply in return. But why, after two years, was he finally reaching out? Why now?

  Did it matter why?

  She tugged her down-filled coat tight around her body to ward off the winter wind that blew off the mountains. Kylie sprinted the short distance from her car to the front door of the pub. She’d lived in the mountain town her whole life, and she loved everything about it, including the snow. It was the frigid cold she could do without.

  Just inside, Kylie stopped to look at the signed picture of Marcus Stone, professional snowboarder, local hero, and the man who’d broken her heart in two. Without thinking about it, she reached in her purse, withdrew the envelope, and ran her fingers over the embossed seal of a tropical flower. It had to be from him; he’d been the only one who promised her one day he’d take her to a resort where the b
eaches were as white as the snow.

  “What’s that?”

  Kylie spun and instinctively tucked the envelope away at the sound of her friend and boss’s, Samantha, voice.

  “Hey. It’s…I just…it’s nothing.”

  “Doesn’t look like nothing.” Sam’s smile was warm, and Kylie knew as much as she wanted to, Sam wouldn’t pry. “You’re early.” Sam flipped a towel over her shoulder. “But that’s good because maybe you can help me convince Archer that if we have one more day where chili is the special of the day, our regulars are going to revolt.” Sam walked back to the bar and with a sigh of relief, Kylie followed. She couldn’t even process her own feelings, let alone share them with someone else. At least not yet.

  After she’d convinced Archer, the headstrong, stubborn chef, to make his special baked potato soup instead of chili, and taking care of some of her regular customers, Kylie finally had a moment to think about the envelope in her purse. And Marcus. It had been just over two years since he left her to pursue a professional snowboarding career. She had no business pining after him after all the time that had passed. Especially considering she knew he hadn’t been thinking of her. At least according to updates from his twin brother, Malcolm, who she’d managed to remain close to.

  They spoke at least once a week, and at first it had been Kylie’s only way to stay connected with Marcus. But for more than a year now, Malcolm spoke less about his brother and she didn’t ask, looking forward to their conversations about his life in the city as an important business developer, and updating him on things in town now that the exclusive resort, the Springs, had opened.

  She pulled the invitation from her purse and put it on the polished wood bar in front of her. It had been months since she’d even spoken Marcus’s name.

  “So why now?”

  “What now?”

  For the second time, Samantha had snuck up on her, but this time Kylie didn’t care. She couldn’t keep it inside any longer. “This.” She slid the envelope in front of her friend. “It was on my doorstep this morning.”