by Milly Taiden
Winter Takes All
Milly Taiden
Latin Goddess Press, Inc.
Contents
Winter Takes All
Untitled
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Epilogue
About the Author
Also by Milly Taiden
Also by Milly Taiden
Also by Milly Taiden
Also by Milly Taiden
Also by Milly Taiden
Winter Takes All
Paranormal Dating Agency
NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
MILLY TAIDEN
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Where’s a curvy girl with a love of snowy mountains and cold, crisp air to find a man who’ll light her fire? Gerri Wilder knows just the place and most certainly the right shifter. Promising a guy with warm hands and a hot body to keep Juliet Taylor cozy on those long Alaskan nights, the sexy scientist has to wonder if the renowned matchmaker’s idea of a hot date will waddle up to her door wearing a tuxedo made of feathers.
Leaving home after a heart-wrenching tragedy, Tevrik Awulf has stayed hidden away in the most remote corner of Alaska for nearly fifteen years. Guilt, loneliness, and snow his only companions, he refuses to believe that any woman would ever live in a shack in the middle of the frozen tundra, let alone that the mate for him will fall out of the sky. Obviously, his friend’s had way too much caffeine.
Threatened by an avalanche, Tevrik finds himself catching the most gorgeous woman he’s ever laid eyes on as she falls right out of the sky. With every hour that passes, Juliet sinks deeper into his soul and becomes part of his very existence until he’s wonders how he ever lived without her. The world stops when Juliet goes missing. With the need to find, protect and tear apart whoever has taken her, Tevrik’s suppressed alpha roars to life. Can this lonely warrior let go of the past that haunts him or will he lose the only woman who can give him a future worth living?
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real in any way. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Published By
Latin Goddess Press, Inc.
Winter Springs, FL 32708
http://millytaiden.com
Winter Takes All
Copyright © 2019 by Milly Taiden
Cover by: Willsin Rowe
Edited by: Tina Winograd
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Property of Milly Taiden
January 2019
Created with Vellum
—For my readers.
Love will find you even in the ends of the earth!
1
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Juliet held back tears. Tried to anyway. She was such a damn romantic, she was surprised she wasn’t bawling her eyes out. She watched as her best friend Raven was swept from the singles auction into the limo where her soul mates secretly awaited her. It was the sweetest thing and she loved every second of it.
Juliet heaved, swallowing a sob of happiness. Raven was the best friend anyone could be blessed with. How many friends would’ve flown two thousand miles, put their life in danger, and almost died, to rescue you? Yeah, not many. That’s why Raven was so deserving of love and happiness with two of the hottest men on the planet.
She bounced on her toes and waved as the limo drove away, then stood there watching the tail lights fade into the darkness. She sighed. Was it considered wrong to be jealous of your bestie in the love department? Juliet would never try to take one of the guys from Raven, but why couldn’t she just find one. Out of seven billion people on the damn planet, she wanted only one who was made for her.
You’ve got to go where the men are, Raven constantly told her. There were men in the Arctic region among chest-high snow and icebergs. Just not many. And unfortunately, Juliet had probably met them all and no love connection.
The charity ball and singles auction continued inside the mansion. Juliet was no longer in the celebratory mood required for the event. She blew out a breath, dabbed at her wet eyes, and turned—
“Oh,” she said, startled there was a woman standing behind her. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know anyone was still out here.”
“They make a lovely trio, don’t they,” the woman said, nodding toward the distant limo.
Juliet’s heart twisted, but she smiled through it. “Yes, the perfect trio.”
The woman put her hand out. “I’m Gerri Wilder.”
Juliet shook the delicate, flawless hand. “Juliet Taylor. I’m a friend of Raven's.”
Gerri slipped her arm around Juliet’s and guided her through the front mansion doors. Juliet was about to object, wanting to go home and cry in a half-gallon of vanilla bean Ben & Jerry’s and watch The Proposal for the thousandth time.
But Gerri said, “I set up Ice and Frost with Raven. I knew they’d be a great match. That’s what I do. Paranormal Dating Agency matchmaker extraordinaire at your service. I knew right away they were the perfect ones to give her quite a few of the Os.” Gerri smirked at Juliet.
Did she really just mention orgasms? Was she being pranked? Hidden cameras somewhere?
If Juliet had been drinking, it would’ve snorted out her nose. Matchmaker? In the twenty-first century?
“You mean that you work at one of those dating sites that put people together based on their traits?” She’d thought about trying a couple of those online hook-up websites, but heard they were just that—hook-ups for one night. She didn’t know if that was true or not, but that wasn’t her.
She was the one-woman, one-man forever type. Just like in all her romance books and movies. Happily-ever-after was what she was after. In her mid-thirties, she was ready to share her life with someone who loved her. A huge bonus would be if the man liked living in nature where it was cold. Where they could sit on a mountain and watch the sun rise as little chipmunks tittered at their feet.
Okay, now she was getting a little sickening with all the mushy stuff. If she were to write a book, it would be one big romantic cliché—You had me at hello. We’ll always have Paris.
“Are you here with a date or are you part of the auction?” Gerri asked, snapping Juliet out of her mini pity party.
She laughed. Of course, she was single. Was she glowing in love’s aura? Think not. “I am being auctioned off. My mom’s doing actually. I tried to get out of it, but she was not having any of that.” She quickly added, “Not that I rea
lly wanted out, it’s for a good cause and all. I’m just not expecting to find a match.” Gerri dipped a brow at her. Juliet replied, “Really, if or when Mr. Right shows up, I’m ready and waiting, I’m just not holding my breath I find him at a single’s auction. Besides, I’ve got a great career going.”
Gerri stopped at the back of the ballroom with Juliet in tow. “You haven’t given up on love then? Just waiting for the right person to come along, hmmm?”
Yes, she loved her job and what she did at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, but she wasn’t so driven that she wasn’t open to new ideas or new experiences. Hell, she’d even date a shifter. Raven’s men were dragon shifters and they treated Raven like a queen. She’d just make sure her man wasn’t a weird shifter like a gopher or prairie dog. Were there even shifter prairie dogs? She couldn’t imagine having prairie puppies where they’d shift and hide under the sofa, they were so tiny.
“I completely believe in love. My parents are like horny teenagers even after being married for over thirty-five years. Raven and her men are very much in love. So, yes, I believe in it,” she replied to Gerri. “I’d like to think there’s give and take in a relationship. As long as I don’t do all the giving.”
Gerri laughed with her. “So, you’re okay with something different or new and by that I mean, would a shifter be acceptable, one that would give you lots of…attention, love, and orgasms?”
“Whoa,” Juliet said. Now she was catching on. “Thank you for your assistance, Ms. Wilder. But I’ll find a significant other on my own. I don’t want to waste your time.” And this woman had to be batshit crazy. Who talked about orgasms with a complete stranger?
“What makes you think I’d be wasting my time?” Gerri asked, a little indignant. “I have never been wrong before, nor would I be with you.”
Well, if she hadn’t just put her foot in her mouth. “I didn’t mean to imply that you don’t know what you’re doing. Raven and Ice and Frost are great together—"
“But you don’t think I can find you the man who is perfect for you?” Gerri finished for her.
Yes.
“No,” Juliet stumbled along, “it’s just that I’m so picky when it comes to men. . .” She didn’t know how to dig out of the hole she’d created. “Okay. I’ll tell you what, Ms. Wilder. If you find me my perfect husband, I’ll be the first person to shout to the rooftops how amazing you are.”
Gerri smiled—a little wickedly. It was kinda creepy and made her wonder if she’d just doomed herself.
“I’m sorry, dear. I just love a good challenge,” Gerri said.
Oh, shit. What had she done? Now was she expected to go on a million first dates until the right man came by? She groaned inwardly. “Well,” she said with reluctance, “I’ll be leaving in a bit for Alaska. I have routine work there.”
Gerri perked up. “Alaska? How fascinating. What do you do?”
“I’m a geologist,” Juliet straightened her back. “I work for the national snow agency.” That was how she explained her company to the general public. Better than spitting out the initials NSIDC. That was a mouthful. “And then after that, I’m going on vacation for two weeks.”
“Fantastic,” Gerri replied. “Are you going skiing?”
Juliet’s smile faltered a bit. “No, Raven talked me into going where the men are.”
Gerri smirked at her “And where is that, dear?”
She couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “The hot-as-hell beach.”
Gerri chuckled. “I take it that’s not a favorite place of yours?”
“Are you kidding me? I hate the sand. It gets everywhere and it’s so hot. Give me a cold day in Alaska any day of the week.”
“So, you wouldn’t turn your nose up at a polar bear shifter?” Juliet stared at Gerri for a moment trying to determine if she was being serious or not.
“I would never turn my nose up at anyone, honestly, but are you serious? You would set me up with a polar bear while I am in Alaska?” Juliet didn’t know whether to be amazed, scared, or run like hell in the other direction.
“Maybe something a bit smaller would suit you,” Gerri contemplated. “Promise me to keep an open mind while in Alaska and I will take care of the rest.”
Juliet nodded. “If you set up Raven, Frost, and Ice, then I will trust you.”
Gerri was about to reply, but Juliet’s name was announced through the speaker system. “Where is Juliet?” Raven’s mother was heading the single’s auction on the stage up front. “Juliet Taylor, where are you? It’s your turn, my dear.”
Juliet groaned and tried to shrink into the wall. “There you are, way in the back.” Everyone turned to find Juliet. Gerri laughed and gently pushed her forward. “Go, have an enjoyable date.”
2
Juliet walked on stage and listened to Raven’s mom read her biography. She tried to appear confident, but it wasn’t every day a girl got paraded in front of a bunch of single people.
“Juliet is a geologist who travels the world with her job. She loves the outdoors and romantic settings with her partner. Our starting bid is $100.”
Damn woman, romantic settings with her partner, sounded like she was trying to pimp her out now. And only $100 to start, she was a cheap date. Juliet tried not to laugh as she paraded around the stage and smiled at the audience.
She tuned out and didn’t listen to the crowd or anything else Raven’s mom said. She daydreamed instead about her trip to Alaska and then her dreaded beach trip. Moments later, she was drawn out of her thoughts when she heard sold. Juliet glanced over and saw a tall, really thin man standing there. She walked over and said hello.
“I understand you are going out of town for work shortly. Would it be to forward to ask you to accompany me for coffee tonight?”
Juliet looked at Raven’s mom and then back to the gentleman standing in front of her. “I suppose we can do that. May I ask your name first?” He laughed and gestured for her to precede him down the steps. “My name is Theodore Grant. I thought we could get coffee to appease the rules of the auction and not interfere with your work. If you agree, we could meet again when you come home.”
Juliet smiled at him. “Coffee would be lovely. There is a nice place down the street. I will follow you in my car.” No way was she getting in a vehicle with a stranger, even if he did spend money on her. He was a bit formal. “I’ll meet you there, I just want to say bye to some friends and let them know where I’m going.” Theo nodded and left. Juliet watched him walk away and then turned to Raven’s mom. “We are going to Corrie’s diner down the street.”
Raven’s mom smiled and kept her bidding announcements going but she did wink at Juliet
The diner was close so it only took Juliet a couple minutes to get there. When she entered, Theodore was sitting at a table with two coffees in front of him. Shit! Was that sweet or creepy?
She walked over and sat across from him. “Thank you for bidding on me. That was really sweet. What do you do for work?”
He smiled. “I’m an accountant, but honestly, I am fascinated by you. Tell me about being a geologist. Gems are a hobby of mine. Being a geologist, you must be around a lot of rocks, right? Have you found gold on any of your expeditions?”
Juliet laughed. “No. Gold is sorta hard to find. You have to dig for it with big machines and mechanical sifting belts.”
“Oh,” Theo said, “it beats the old days. No panning in creeks for you?”
“Definitely!” Juliet replied. “All the big nuggets have been found. If we were back in the 1800s then maybe. They were many big deposits found back then. But nowadays, gold is just a commodity on the stock market.”
“A very expensive commodity, if I believe correctly,” Theo said, raising his brows.
“Yeah,” Juliet answered, “last I looked, gold was selling at $38 per gram.”
Theo thought about that for a second, his lips in a straight line and his brows drawn down in a slight frown. “How much is that a pound?
&nb
sp; Juliet’s focus turned inward. “There are around 450 grams to a pound, give or take, if I remember correctly. So that would be. . .” Juliet did the math in her head for 450 multiplied by $38 which happened to be a bit over— “A pound of gold would be around $17,100.”
“Wouldn’t it be great to have about a hundred pounds of that?” Theo chuckled at the response.
“That would be great,” Juliet smiled at his remark, “but not happening in this lifetime. I’d be happy with a small cabin in the woods where you can’t see your neighbors.”
Theo shuddered. “No, thank you. I enjoy the city too much, I need the hustle and bustle. Too much quiet and I’d go stir crazy.”
Juliet laughed but knew this was going nowhere. They had nothing in common and he was too interested in gold.
She glanced at her watch. “I’m sorry to cut this short but I do have a lot to do before I leave next week for Alaska. Do you mind if we call it a night?”
Theodore stood. “Of course not.” He slid a business card out of his pocket and across the table. “Call me when you get back and we can get to know each other better.”
Juliet took it and smiled. “Good night, Theodore. It was a pleasure to meet you.”