by Alexa Riley
Hungry For More
Alexa Riley
Contents
Hungry For More
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue
Epilogue
Prologue
Thankful For Her
Stalk the Author
Hungry For More
by Alexa Riley
Sage Carter has spent her whole life surrounded by her family that treats her like a child. When she finally decides to live life on her own, it’s still under the shelter of her brother’s apartment. But the day before Thanksgiving, his business partner comes to visit and just so happens to find her in the kitchen…in her underwear. Can she make it through the holiday without dying of embarrassment? Or will the incident be the spark that lights the fire from within?
Jensen Powell has done things in his own way on his own timeline. When he’s forced to go home with his business partner for Thanksgiving, he doesn’t expect to find a curvy bombshell waiting for him. One look and she belongs to him, if only she’ll give in. He hasn’t had a reason to be thankful until now, and he’s making the most of it.
Warning: This Turkey Day romance is stuffed full of all your favorites. It’s warm and sweet with all the guilty pleasures you’re after. Go ahead and get second helpings. Nobody is looking.
To all the women out there cooking their asses off… we thank you.
Copyright © 2018 by Author Alexa Riley LLC. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email to [email protected]
http://alexariley.com/
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Edited by Aquila Editing
Cover Designer: Perfect Pear
Chapter One
Sage
I shake the white knitted sweater dress I pulled from the back of my closet and try to get the wrinkles out of it. I love this dress, and with fall here and a nice breeze in the air, I can finally wear it again. Not to mention everything else I own has become a little snug over the last few months.
No one tells you when you move out of your parents’ house that having the freedom of your own space and kitchen might make you go a little overboard. I’ve always enjoyed cooking, but when there’s no one else around to eat what I’ve cooked I end up eating it all myself. If my brother is around, I know he’ll eat it all himself, but he’s hardly ever home. I share this massive penthouse with him, but he’s a true workaholic and part of the reason I agreed to move in here.
It’s like living alone most of the time and it’s wonderful. Not because I don’t love my brother, because I do, but I’ve been ready to spread my wings for a while now. I’m beyond ready to step out into the world and live my own life. One event years ago and I’ve been labeled the girl made of glass.
I’m treated as if at any moment I’ll break or something will harm me.
I turn in the mirror and peer over my shoulder to the scar on my back; most of the time I forget about it. That whole day is still a blur in my mind. A guy who I thought was my friend was telling everyone that he slept with me. I remember I confronted him about it, but after that the rest is blank. It’s like none of it happened, but the scar says otherwise, just like the years that followed. Life changed for me and my family from that point on.
They told me he went nuts and that after I confronted him, I turned to leave and he lunged at me. The knife entered my back and barely missed my spine before puncturing my lung. All I remember is waking up in a hospital bed a few days later. It hurt to take each breath and sometimes I woke up fighting to breathe. I don’t remember the attack, but it’s like my mind still likes to remind me that it happened.
It was hard to believe to begin with because Jimmy was my friend. It took me a while to believe what everyone was saying, but then they showed me the journals with him rambling about a life he thought we had together. There were also thousands of pictures he’d taken of me. But without the memory of the attack, I don’t feel anger when I think of him. When the memory of him pops up, I’m just sad knowing he’s locked away in a mental hospital. His future changed that day, too.
What I think back on the most is the first day he entered our private high school. He looked so alone as all of us had gone to school together since we were little. No one paid him any attention, but I chose to sit next to him and ask him to be my lab partner.
My family doesn’t have the same feelings about him. They said things about him before the attack and my brother made a comment on not liking the way Jimmy looked at me. He made my parents uneasy, but I’d thought it was because he was a boy and they were being overprotective. I didn’t know what overprotected meant then, but I do now.
If I’d known better, I would have kept my mouth shut about how I felt sorry for him even as I healed from the damage he’d done. Now everyone treats me as if I’d let any stranger off the street come into my home. They all think I’m too innocent for the world. If it was up to my family, I’d still be living at home locked away from the rest of the world.
I remember the panic on my parents’ faces when I said I was going to move out. They couldn't stop me because I’m an adult and one way or another I was doing it. I didn’t want them in constant fear that something could happen to me, but they had to let me go. I had to grow up and leave sooner or later, so the deal was struck and we all agreed I’d live with my brother.
Turning away from the mirror, I hide the scar from myself and grab my robe. I put it around me over my bra and panties, leaving it open. My phone chimes and I grab it, along with my dress, and walk down the hall, checking the text message from my brother.
Brian: Running late. Don’t forget I’m bringing Jensen with me.
My heart flutters at the mention of Jensen. He’s my brother’s co-worker, but over the years they’ve become friends. Brian’s bringing him home for Thanksgiving since they’ve both been in Chicago together working on a deal. Brian and my dad are always buying and reselling companies. I didn't know how Jensen plays into all of it, but I know he doesn't work for the family company. He’s around my brother enough for Brian to mention him a good bit, even more so lately.
Apparently, Jensen doesn’t have a family and my brother is pretty much dragging him here. As much as my family can drive me crazy with their overprotectiveness, I could never imagine not having them. I love them and it’s why I let them get away with more than I should. Though I haven't pushed too hard against the cage they keep me in. Who knows what would happen if I truly tried to step outside of it. I don’t have the desire to find out. Yet.
I think about Jensen far more than I should after my brother sent me a candid shot of him so I’d know what he looked like. I think it was taken right before my brother sent it to me. Jensen didn’t look happy about it. In fact, he looked downright annoyed. I’m ashamed to say his intense stare and the furrow between his brows did things to my body I’d never felt before. Now I can’t get his handsome, grumpy face out of my
mind. I’m too excited to meet a man who doesn’t want to be here. Not only that, but he’s staying here under the same roof as me. I could fan myself just thinking about all the fantasies I’ve conjured up in my mind.
Me: See you soon. Making your favorite cookies
I walk into the laundry room to throw my dress into the dryer, hoping the heat will get the wrinkles out. I hate to iron, and a little fluff is all I need.
If Jensen eats as much as my brother, I need to get a head start on cooking. I think Jensen is as big if not bigger than my brother. I could tell by the way he dominated the space in the chair he was sitting in. In the photo he was leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and giving the camera a look that made me think he could have broken the phone in half with his bare hands. I’m sure my brother only laughed at him. He’s always been brazen, even before he had his growth spurt in high school.
I turn on some music that flows through the speakers of the house and try to drown out my thoughts. I know it won’t work, but at least I can try as I get all my ingredients and turn on the oven.
I start on the cookies and my mind drifts to Jensen having to spend Thanksgiving with us. A sad feeling creeps into my stomach when I think that he has nowhere else to go. It’s a shame he doesn’t have a family to make him his favorites or prepare a big Thanksgiving dinner. He could have a girlfriend, I remind myself for the twenty millionth time. I wanted to ask my brother about him, but I know that would set off his radar. Not that I blame him after Jimmy, but he can go overboard.
My brother has no social media, so I couldn't try and take a peek to see if there was a Jensen on his friends list. I went so far as digging into the gossip columns on websites to see if my brother was mentioned with someone named Jensen. There was nothing and I only have the one picture. I’m crafting my own story for Jensen inside my head and right now he’s single.
If he does have a girlfriend, wouldn’t he be with her on Thanksgiving? I have the same silly battle back and forth in my head and I keep coming up with different reasons for why he is or isn’t with his perfect girlfriend. Who I hate.
Maybe I need to date. I haven't done it because there’s a fear deep inside of me that I can’t. I’m focusing in on Jensen because it’s a safe fantasy and I know nothing will come of it. My brother would lose it if he thought I had interest in his friend, so I shake my head, not wanting to go down that road. I’ve got enough people analyzing my every move since the attack that I’m not going to do it to myself, too.
I hadn't brought up the topic of dating with my parents because I knew it would get them worked up. I’ve only recently gotten them comfortable with me living here, but it’s time. I want to fall in love and make a few dozen babies. The flutter I get when I look at Jensen’s picture is new and exciting, and I’ve never felt that way before.
I missed so much after the attack and I didn’t go to college. The story was salacious with two extremely rich and powerful families at the center of it all. The media was a nightmare and the details were everywhere. I didn't even want to leave the house back then, so I decided to skip college and help my dad with his company. I’ve been doing that ever since and haven’t exactly had the opportunity to meet a man working from home with my family.
Once again, my mind drifts back to Jensen as I pull the first batch of cookies out of the oven. I take a deep breath, loving the sweet smell of cinnamon and fall. Christmas is coming and the stir of anticipation is all around me. It’s my favorite time of year and I love to cook. My stomach growls and I know I should wait for them to cool, but I can’t stop myself. I take a bite of the hot cookie and I moan at the flavor.
I turn when I hear my cell phone ring in the distance. I must have laid in down in the laundry room. I put the half-eaten cookie down and walk out of the kitchen. From the sound of the ring, I know it’s my brother calling me.
When I walk through the living room I stop when I see the broad back of a man in a suit. At my small gasp of surprise, he turns and my eyes land on Jensen. He’s even more handsome than the picture, and bigger, too. In fact, that look on his face is impossibly more annoyed than the one my brother sent. Everything about him is more than I anticipated, but nothing prepared me for the raw attraction that’s pulling me towards him.
Chapter Two
Jensen
“There’s no way I’m making it to the house before you. Take my key and I’ll meet you there,” Brian says as he slaps his keys in my hands and goes back to sending an email.
“It’s fine. I can stay,” I say, looking down at the set of keys.
“There’s no point in both of us having to wait on the builder. My dad should be here any second and he’s going to give me the plans. I’ll be fifteen minutes behind you, tops. That will give you enough time to say hey to Sage and settle in.”
I feel the grumble of complaint climb up my throat and he holds up his hand to stop me.
“You’re not getting a hotel. My place has more than enough bedrooms, and it will give us a chance to go over work stuff this weekend.”
“I said one night.” I can’t keep the irritation out of my voice.
“No, you agreed to come to my family Thanksgiving dinner for one night. You’re staying at my place until Sunday.”
I clench my teeth and feel my jaw pop. I want to protest, but he’s right. I just thought I could get him to agree that it was only one night and it would be my excuse to get out of there. It’s not that I don’t appreciate his hospitality, but I don’t like being anyone’s charity case.
“Stop doing that or you’re going to break a tooth,” he says, not looking up from his screen.
“I have work I could be doing, too.”
“And you can do that as soon as you get to my place. Sage will have the Wi-Fi password and you can kick back until I get there. Dinner tonight is at seven. I’ll come swing by and get the two of you and then we can go out to eat. We can have an early night tonight and then go to my parents’ in the morning.”
“I thought you said fifteen minutes?” I correct, and he shrugs.
“I’ll be there as quick as I can.”
Again, he doesn’t look up and I sigh. It’s no use because I’m not getting out of this and I regret ever answering him honestly when he asked me if I had plans for the holiday. Next time I’m going to lie and make up a family member.
When I was young I used to pretend my imaginary family spent holidays traveling the world. It was one way to escape the foster family’s house I was stuck in. I remember one Christmas sitting in my room and closing my eyes as I imagined a ski trip in Europe. I even opened the window to make it cold, but as soon as my foster mom found out she yelled at me for wasting the heat and made me give my one present to another kid. I don’t like to think back on the time before I got out of there, but now I really could go to Europe for Christmas if I wanted. I’ve gotten used to being alone and maybe it would be nice by myself.
“Later,” I say as I tuck the keys in my pocket and walk out of the office.
Brian hasn’t told me much about his mom and his sister. I’ve met his dad several times through work, but the company I run with Brian is separate to the one he has with his dad. I met Brian a few years ago when he wanted help running part of his company. I develop software and manage data for several companies across the United States. Brian needed someone to take over that aspect of his job so that he could grow. When I stepped in it was only meant to be temporary, but it only took a couple of years of his constant nagging and I’ve signed on full time. He and his dad manage a ton of industrial properties and warehouses, but his dad mostly manages them while we travel. I can do my job from anywhere, but Brian likes me to be with him as much as possible. I think he knows I’d end up living in a cabin in the woods hundreds of miles from anywhere if he let me. The bastard just loves to nag.
I hail a cab and give him the address of the penthouse, hoping the traffic this time of day isn’t too bad. I’ve never been to his place, but we travel a lot a
nd haven’t been this close to his family in a while. He’s mentioned his sister only a handful of times, and the way he talks about her makes me think she’s skittish. It’s nothing in particular he’s ever said, but I get the impression she’s really young and unattractive. I’ve never seen a picture of her and he’s never said her age, but anytime he’s brought her up it’s always to talk about how she’s not ready to be in the world and that she’s got a nice personality. To me that’s code for sweet and homely. I’m not looking forward to making small talk with a kid.
“Take the tunnel,” I bark at the driver, who looks at me in the rearview before he rolls his eyes.
I wait for him to say something, but he puts his blinker on and does as I ask. I sit back and feel the throb behind my eyes and wonder if a headache is beginning to form. The last thing I want to do is have to meet his weirdo sister when I just want to face plant into a mattress and sleep for a week.
The last data update is scheduled for next month at the end of the quarter, and the system isn’t ready for it. I need to do some coding and test it out, and that’s going to eat up hours of my time. I don’t have time to make nice and eat turkey with his family, but Brian has been good to me and I owe him this much.
When the cab pulls up outside the building, I hand over some cash and grab my duffel bag next to me along with my messenger bag carrying my computers. I don’t have much in the way of clothes, but I do have three laptops that I’ll need over the weekend.
