by T. S. Ryder
Description
A curvy girl in search of a fresh start PLUS her hot high school crush who is now a billionaire PLUS a dangerous stalker preparing to attack!
Hayden is a single billionaire. He’s a shark in the office, but outside of his company’s walls, he’s a gorilla. But only when he chooses to shift into one...
Keeping his secret is difficult, and he’s found it just as difficult to find someone to love him for who he is and not what he has. When he gets a call from his younger sister, asking to let her best friend and his high school crush stay with him, he’s almost too eager to help out.
Kaelyn is ready to start her new life. She’s just graduated college, has a great new job lined up and now she’ll be staying with the hot older brother of her best friend. Who also happens to be a billionaire.
But when things at her new job start to go wrong, she worries Hayden will ask her to leave rather than deal with the trouble her stalker might cause.
Will Kaelyn be able to handle the stalker on her own, and what will happen if she can’t? Will Hayden finally find real love and be able to protect not only his secrets but his heart as well?
Chapter One
Hayden Lynch sat at his large desk, staring out of the window at the city below him. The view from his office was incredible. That was why he choose this building for his company’s headquarters. Who wouldn’t want an office like this, with one wall full of windows to see the world from? It made him feel like he was on top of everything, even on days when he wasn’t.
He’d just come from a particularly stressful meeting. Meetings discussing new takeovers were always stressful, full of strategy and techniques. He needed these few minutes to let his mind unwind before he went on with his next task, reviewing sales numbers from the previous month.
The intercom on his desk buzzed. His assistant’s voice came through. “Hayden? Can you take a call from your sister?”
“Absolutely, Sandy. Thank you.”
The phone rang a second later and he picked it up.
“Little sister. What can I do for you?”
“Well,” Gabrielle said, “Buy out my company so I can travel the world and not have to work another day in my life?”
He sighed. “Your company is already a division of my company. And you barely work as it is. And you travel plenty.”
“Oh.” She laughed. “Right. Well, in that case, then maybe you can just do me a teensy weensy little favor.”
Hayden braced himself. Gabby’s teensy weensy favors were usually anything but. Though she may not be asking him for a new acquisition, she was definitely up to something big.
“I’m not buying you a new house,” he said.
“Oh, please. Three is enough. No, it’s really not that big of a deal at all.”
“Right. Let’s hear it then.”
“Do you remember my best friend from high school, Kaelyn?”
“Of course.” How could he forget her? She was around the house constantly. During their freshman year of high school, the only year they were all in the same school together before Hayden went off to college, Kaelyn and Gabby were inseparable. She had practically been a second sister to him. He’d even had a little crush on her.
“Oh, good. Well, she’s just graduated from some huge tech school with a computer science degree. Stanford, have you heard of it?”
He rolled his eyes. “Hmm. Don’t think so. Is it a popular school?” His company sought a lot of talent from Stanford. It was only the top school in the state. She was being ridiculous on purpose. This must be big.
“Didn’t think so. You really should get out once in a while. How is your dating life anyway?”
“Is this your big favor?”
“No. And it’s a little favor, I swear,” she said. “I just need you to let my dear friend Kaelyn use one of the many, many rooms in your huge mansion to sleep and keep her things in when she moves out of her dorm. Only until she can get her own place and get on her feet. She just got a new a job and everything.”
“So you’re asking me to let Kaelyn move in.”
“Only for a few months, I swear. You’re just so close to her new job, and I’m nowhere near her. And I know that you’re the kindest, most generous big brother a girl could ever hope for.”
“You’ve got me confused with someone else. But that’s fine. When is she coming?”
“Oh, thank you, thank you! She’ll be thrilled. She was going to stay in some cheap hotel until she could find a place. She’s moving out of the dorm next week.”
“Email the details to my assistant so I can have everything ready for her arrival.”
“I will,” she said. “Thank you so much. Really.”
“Does this mean you’ll come to visit sometime soon? Maybe bring that nephew of mine?”
“That’s a good idea. Yes, let’s plan for something soon. We all miss you.”
“Miss you, too. You really need to move back to California.”
She laughed. “You couldn’t drag me from Hawaii if my life depended on it.”
“Guess you have a point. I should be the one coming to visit you. It’s been too long.”
“Absolutely. Thanks a million, Hay. Really.”
“Anytime. Be good.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
***
The rest of his week was busy. Anytime a new acquisition was happening, the hours grew long and stress levels rose. He’d lost all track of the days. The city below him was lit up against the dark sky. Evening was creeping to nighttime.
He yawned and glanced at his schedule for tomorrow. He really needed to find some time to workout. He hadn’t all week and was starting to feel antsy from too many hours in the office. He’d even taken to pacing when he could, just to be up and moving.
At the bottom of tomorrow, it said ‘Kaelyn arrives’. He’d completely forgotten. He tried hard not to bother his assistant after office hours. She deserved to have a life and certainly Lynch Corporation wasn’t her entire world like it was his. But this was important and it shouldn’t take too long. He decided to text rather than call so he didn’t interrupt anything.
“Sorry to bother you after hours, but I’ve just realized Kaelyn is arriving tomorrow. Is everything in place for her?”
He received an answer back within minutes. “Absolutely. A small moving van is arriving at 3 p.m. to bring her things from her dorm. There is a new key waiting for her and a list of the codes and passwords for the security systems and wifi, and your home staff has been alerted. Her room is ready and a basket will be awaiting her. I’ve left room in your evening schedule for you to spend time with her if you should desire to.”
“You are the best. Thank you.”
“Anytime.”
This was exactly why he had no problem making sure Sandy was one of the highest paid employees he had. He demanded a lot of her and she was always ahead of him and on top of things. She never had a bad attitude and she never missed a thing. He wondered if she was just as efficient when it came to her husband, kids, and home life, or if he stressed her out so much that she needed time at home to do nothing. Although she always assured him the work was not too much, and she never complained.
He looked over his schedule again. Kaelyn was coming at 3 p.m. He had meetings until 4 p.m., then he’d hit the gym and be home by 6 p.m. That should be enough time for her to settle in. Maybe he’d take her out for dinner to welcome her.
He sent a text to his housekeeper, who oversaw all his personal staff. “Tomorrow evening, after Kaelyn arrives, I would like to take her out for dinner, if she’s up for it. Please be ready to have something made if she’s not.”
He got a fast response. “I will make sure we have something available, Mr. Lynch.”
Hayden stood and stretched. Though it had been a long, stressful week, it had been a good week. At times like this, he always felt grateful for his staff and all the hard work they did, both in his company and in his home. They made his life so muc
h easier. They kept his privacy and his secrets.
Chapter Two
When he got home that night, it was dark already. This was a perfect time. He got into his car and drove until he reached the forest. When he got to his favorite spot, he parked and slung his backpack over his shoulder. He walked to the twisted tree that had his scent all over it.
Hayden kicked off his shoes first and stuck them in the bag. Then his t-shirt and shorts. He tucked the bag into the crevice in the tree and stood naked in the moonlight. He took a deep breath and fell forward onto all fours. The transition happened quickly, as it always did. He felt his bones thickening and stretching beneath his skin, hair growing on every part of his body in thick black and silver sections. His head grew narrow and his mouth became a snout. He stood tall for a moment and beat on his gorilla chest before roaring and taking off at a run.
He followed the scents through the forest, letting them lead him. He ran for several miles until he caught the scent he was looking for. He turned and ran after her.
It didn’t take long to find her and her sister. When they heard him approach, they called back in shrieks and bounded to him. There was some grunting as they greeted each other, then they took off running together. After a while, they caught up with the last member of their gorilla shifter family and ran together a few miles before coming to a stop in a cave they’d discovered years ago.
One by one, they shifted back to human form, standing naked in the dim light of the cave.
“Hey,” Hayden said to them. “How’s everything?”
“Haven’t seen you in a while,” Katherine said.
“I know, I’m sorry. I’ve been online, though.” They had an online group where they stayed connected and discussed things in the human world. He’d posted earlier that he was coming out for a run. None of them had responded, but clearly, since they were all here, they’d gotten the message.
“Another family came through a few days ago,” Bella said.
“Five of them,” Stella added.
Hayden squinted at the twins. “Why didn’t you let me know sooner?”
“They just passed through,” Stella said.
Bella nodded. “Didn’t even stop.”
“I followed the scent for a while, but they were just passing through to head north,” Katherine said.
“Okay. What else is going on?”
The twins exchanged a look and grinned.
Katherine rolled her eyes. “Just tell him.”
“I’m getting married,” Bella said.
“Congratulations.” Hayden was happy for her, but that now meant they were all married except him. If they had been a traditional gorilla family, he’d be the alpha and they’d all belong to him. But they were more human than a gorilla and spent less time shifting than they did living in the real world. “He knows, I assume?”
Bella nodded. “He agreed to meet you.”
Hayden nodded back. This was part of the job of the alpha. He had to talk to her new fiancé and explain the family and gorilla life and make sure he was okay with it. At first, Katherine’s husband had been up in arms at the fact that she was often naked in front of him. Hayden had tried to make it clear that there was zero attraction between them as family members. Though they weren’t related through human means, they came from a long line of gorillas who stuck together and made families. These women were like sisters to him, as much as Gabrielle was. And when she’d still lived in the area, Gabby had been his second in command. Now it was Katherine.
They chatted a bit more, ran a few more miles in gorilla form, then split up and headed their separate ways. Hayden returned to his tree, changed back to human form and dressed before driving home.
It felt good to get out and run like that. He needed it after his week. He went straight to his basement when he got home and worked out for a while on his collection of gym equipment. He went to bed that night feeling better and ready for tomorrow, looking forward to seeing Kaelyn and unwinding a little.
***
Hayden had planned to leave work by 4:30 so he could hit the gym before going home to meet Kaelyn, but his meetings ran long, and it was after 5 p.m. when he got to his car. He decided to skip the gym for the night and go straight home.
When he pulled in, there was no moving van. It looked like everything had gone as planned, then. He hadn’t gotten any messages saying otherwise.
He parked his Jaguar in his garage beside his Lamborghini and Ferrari. He kept the Jag for his everyday use. The other cars in his collection were either for show or for play. There was a new car in the garage tonight, though, a beat up Toyota that had to be several years old. It was grossly out of place among his collection of high-end cars. Obviously, that was Kaelyn’s car.
Hayden went inside and was greeted by his housekeeper.
“Mr. Lynch, Miss Kaelyn would be thrilled to have dinner with you this evening.”
“Great. Thank you.” Though he was tired and wished he could hit the gym, it would be good to relax and share a meal with an old friend. “Where is she?”
“In her room.”
Hayden walked upstairs, to the room that was now Kaelyn’s. He knocked and she opened the door.
“Hi!” She threw her arms around him in a tight hug. “Thank you so much for letting me stay here. You’re the best.”
“Anytime.”
She dropped her arms and stepped back from him. Now he could see her well for the first time, and what he saw shocked him. The Kaelyn he’d known in high school had always been a little on the chubby side. Though she was pretty, it seemed her parents were never happy with her appearance and they’d put her through a string of diets and exercise programs. He’d felt kind of sorry for her and remembered Gabby being frustrated over it and saying, “Why couldn’t they just let her be her?”
But, apparently, something had changed in the last years. She was still curvy. Thick hips and voluptuous breasts. But she’d grown into her curves now and she owned them. This was not an insecure overweight woman, but a happy and confident woman who was comfortable with her body, and it showed.
“You look great,” he said. He was trying not to stare, but her cleavage was so visible to him, and it was hard to keep his eyes off her. He was no small guy himself. Being a gorilla shifter gave him something of a gorilla-like body with thick arms and legs and a broad chest. He didn’t like tiny little women who looked like they would break if the wind blew on them too hard. But Kaelyn, a woman with some substance, was exactly his type.
“Thank you.” She gave him a playful smile. “You don’t look too bad yourself. All grown up and everything.”
“Did the move go okay?”
“Oh, sure. I didn’t have much stuff in my dorm room. A few boxes, really. I’m already all unpacked.”
She gestured to the room and he glanced around, amazed at how the space had transformed. On the desk was her laptop, complete with purple cover. Nail polish bottles sat beside it. On top of the dresser were perfumes and hair things. The bed had the comforter that had been there—white with black flowers—but now there was a bright turquoise pillow in the middle that he’d never seen before. The closet, which he had thought was rather large, was packed full of clothing in bright colors and sparkling fabrics. She’d already hung several photos on the wall of her and her friends, including some with Gabby. He couldn’t see it from here, but he guessed that the bathroom was covered in makeup and hair products.
His own room seemed stark in comparison. He had nothing this colorful in his room. It was all suits and ties and workout clothes. Was this what people meant by ‘a woman’s touch’?
“I like what you’ve done with the place,” he said.
“So, where are we going? What should I wear?”
He hadn’t thought that far ahead, but there were plenty of restaurants that would find a table for him if he merely gave them his name. Most were dressy to semi-formal.
“Do you have something like a little black dress?” he asked
.
“Of course.”
“That would be perfect. Want to go in about an hour?”
“Great. I’m starving.”
He closed the door behind him and went to his own room to shower and dress. This could be a problem, he thought. When he’d agreed to let her stay here, he hadn’t pictured the gorgeous woman who was now living in his house. He’d pictured the overweight girl from high school. Even if he’d had a little crush on her then, it was nothing compared to what he just felt looking at her now. How was he going to be so close to her all the time when she was so good looking?
Even as he got dressed, he couldn’t help thinking about her. The biggest problem was, he knew her already. He had known her for years. And most importantly, he’d known her since before he was rich. Which gave him little reason to turn off his feelings for her.
Hayden had been on countless dates and in a few relationships. But it seemed like it was always with the same type of woman. She was pretty, but full of herself. From a wealthy family, so she had plenty of ideas of how to be in public—and how different to be behind closed doors. She spent a ton of money because she was used to it. She thought the world should be handed to her.
It was hard for him to get into those sort of women since he hadn’t grown up with money. They had done okay, but his family had been strictly middle class. When he went off to college and discovered a talent for business, things started to change. His uncle died and left him a little money, which he invested. It grew and multiplied and he invested it again. And then again. By the time he graduated, he was a millionaire. He started to get attention and big dollars backing him and in a few years became a billionaire who owned his own company with hundreds of smaller companies. He’d given companies to his sister and parents and many family members. They ran them and got paid handsomely. He’d made his whole family rich.
But he hadn’t grown up with money like most of the women he encountered. And if he went outside of the circle of the elite, he ran into gold diggers and women who wanted to use him for his money. It had been difficult, and this was why he was still single. Why he’d gotten used to the idea of being single and figured he would be for a long time.
