Then There Was You
A Single Parent Collection
Esther E Schmidt
Kathy Coopmans
Dani René
Evan Grace
Anna Brooks
Alex Grayson
L.A. Cotton
Freya Barker
Angel Devlin
Kally Ash
Gianna Gabriela
Heather Lyn
Lauren Dawes
HL Nighbor
Vixen Publishing
ANTHOLOGY BLURB
A Single Parent Collection
Sexy Single Dads. Strong Single Moms.
With stories from 14 unbelievably talented authors:
Alex Grayson
Angel Devlin
Anna Brooks
Dani René
Esther E. Schmidt
Evan Grace
Freya Barker
Gianna Gabriela
Heather Lyn
HL Nighbor
Kally Ash
Kathy Coopmans
L.A. Cotton
Lauren Dawes
Read on for a taste of the stories you'll find within!
Back to Life by Dani René
Both having been heartbroken in very different ways, Kayla and Caleb find themselves in a very unlikely situation where they can't deny the electricity coursing between them. Can love really bring them back to life?
Boss of Me by Angel Devlin
Single dad Jude's icy exterior keeps women at a safe distance; but fiery Pippa could be about to start a thaw...
Chester by Esther E. Schmidt
Some issues cut deep; they are hard to face and even harder to find a solution for.
Fighting For Us by Heather Lyn
She rescued me when I didn't even know I needed saving. But now lives are on the line, and we might lose our forever, before we even get the chance to start.
Heartbreaker by Anna Brooks
She was never supposed to happen, and her baby girl sure as hell wasn't part of my plans.
Hunter by Lauren Dawes
A mate's death. A rogue wolf. A new life.
Just Because of You by Gianna Gabriela
He broke me. I left. He stayed. Now I'm back.
Resisting Rayne by HL Nighbor
Their worlds collide and an unlikely friendship forms, but will they continue to fight the pull for something more or give into the pull and take a chance at love?
Riddick by Kathy Coopmans
Do you believe in heaven on earth? I did until one day, she vanished.
Ripple Effect by Evan Grace
One night changed everything.
Tempt Me by Kally Ash
Temptation comes in many forms. Can Gianna or Max resist?
When Hope Ends (Life Begins) by Freya Barker
It's the best day of his life--the worst of hers--when one moment in time leaves their paths unavoidably connected by the single heart beating between them.
Whispered Prayers of a Girl by Alex Grayson
A lonely man, a widowed woman, a carefree boy, and a broken girl... Can the four come together and help heal each other?
Wicked Truths by L. A. Cotton
The truth won't fix anything... it'll only hurt more. Won't it?
THEN THERE WAS YOU features single parents who weren't looking--didn't need anyone--until the right someone came along. Experience the highs and lows of parenthood, love lost and gained, and new beginnings with this collection of stories. They're sure to leave you with a full heart and a smile on your face.
AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME
Proceeds will be donated to a non-profit organization which addresses family homelessness.
Then There Was You
A Single Parent Collection
Copyright © 2019
First edition, 2019
E-Book ISBN: 978-1-7339950-0-9
Hardback, Part #1 ISBN: 978-1-7339950-1-6
Hardback, Part #2 ISBN: 978-1-7339950-2-3
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, or by any other means, without written permission from the author. The only time passages may be used is for teasers, blog posts, articles, or reviews, so long as the work isn’t being wrongfully used.
This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places, events, and incidents portrayed are solely from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual places, people, events, or other incidents is coincidental or are used fictitiously.
Some of the stories within this collection are intended for mature audiences due to graphic language and sexual content.
Cover design by Sly Fox Cover Designs
To Single Parents,
You do it all and you do it well. Thank you for your resilience, patience, and perseverance.
Sincerely,
Your friendly neighborhood authors
Contents
ESTHER E. SCHMIDT
CHESTER
KATHY COOPMANS
RIDDICK
Dani René
BACK TO LIFE
Author Evan Grace
RIPPLE EFFECT
Anna Brooks
HEARTBREAKER
Alex Grayson
WHISPERED PRAYERS OF A GIRL
L.A. Cotton
WICKED TRUTHS
FREYA BARKER
WHEN HOPE ENDS
Angel Devlin
BOSS OF ME
KALLY ASH
TEMPT ME
Gianna Gabriela
JUST BECAUSE OF YOU
HEATHER LYN
FIGHTING FOR US
Lauren Dawes
HUNTER
HL Nighbor
RESISTING RAYNE
CHESTER
Swamp Heads
ESTHER E. SCHMIDT
1
CHESTER
I close my eyes and press my thumb in one and my middle finger in the other. I don’t have time for this shit. They all just need to leave me the hell alone. All of them; the whole outside world. Because I could seriously manage all of it from inside my basement. Everything. Online.
Behind my computer, it’s easy to push people out. Not answer a call, email, PM or whatever. Hardware, software, not a care in the world. That’s my happy place. But instead of remaining where I want to be, I get out of bed to show my face to people. That’s what normal folks do, right? Be social, be nice, be responsible, be proper. Okay, I can do the first three so I’m going to ignore the last one.
I push myself into the most worn pair of jeans I’ve got stashed in my closet. Might be leaning toward a plumber’s crack; that’s always a nice way to start the morning. Nothing like a little gust of wind stroking your skin as a reminder you’re working outdoors; annoying my co-workers while I’m at it? Bonus!
Funny little thing about those coworkers though, most of them are either family, or close to it. No worries, they are accustomed to my weirdness, but that is also why it’s getting harder every day to drag my ass to work. With showing some of it off, my sister-in-law might have a crack at firing it.
One last look in the mirror tells me that my beard is looking amazingly out there. Meaning it’s got a life of its own and is scattered in every direction. I’m a mess, and to be honest, it has actually taken me a lot of effort to get there. Why? I’m fastidious about hitting the s
hower every day and cleaning my place. I even have a comb for my beard that I use to ruffle it up.
I might not resemble perfect hygiene, and reflect poverty, but I’m quite the opposite. That right there is nobody’s business but mine. Locking the door behind me, I place my bare foot on the ground. That’s the only effin’ reason why I don’t wear shoes. To feel grounded. Connected. Every tiny object underneath my skin that presses into my sole makes me aware that I’m here, walking the Earth. That, and the fact it helps with the whole bedraggled appearance that I strive for.
My brain is still plotting the best way to annoy everyone as I approach the personnel entrance of Bertie’s Snap & Wrap. Don’t get me wrong, I did love the job once…saving gators, and people for that matter. A gator farm where we offer entertainment, educate the visitors, and place the welfare of animals where it should be.
Bertie married my brother Cyrus a while back. They run this business together now. Shit, even my sister, Elsie, works at the souvenir shop and her husband, Dale, works here as well.
See the whole one big happy family work environment picture I was talking about? I just feel trapped here. I love my family but I would rather have my hands deep in a computer instead of in the mud, if you know what I mean.
Strolling through the gate of Bertie’s Snap and Wrap, I start to wander around the park. No need to check in or ask what I have to do today. I have my own agenda, working on stuff that needs to be done. No questions asked, I just do what I need to do. Today, I’ve decided to do nothing. They don’t know that, and I’m fine either way. Bull corn. That’s what this lousy thing called a job is. Worst of all? I’m not even under contract or anything.
Nope. I just decided to help out one day and kept coming around. Bertie considered me hired help after sticking around and working for a few weeks, even though I refused to let her pay me. It took Bertie about a year to finally stop thinking of ways to shove money my way.
I have loads of that stuff already because I run my own company. I’m a computer genius who only handles online services and only a handful of people know this little fact. Mainly because it’s an online company so they see my brand as a face and not my actual face. The others see me how I want them to visualize me.
Again, this might seem easy but it’s hard to spit out stupid things and keep a straight face. Because if people are in a conversation about something and I know the answer or want to set them straight, I can’t because I’m the stupid one that looks like he just dragged his ass out of a gator nest.
Why do I feel the need to play dumb? In the end, it’s easier this way; the perfect thing to hide behind. Like the computer screen I usually have in front of my face. ‘Oh, it’s just Chester.’ People assume, dismiss, while in the meantime I can do my own thing with minimum interference. Exactly…it’s my own thing.
Glancing to my right, I see a little girl staring at my back. Her gaze comes up and locks with mine. The little brown pigtails left and right shake and she’s got one hand slapped over her mouth while the other’s pointing at my ass.
Holy moly. I did not intend to flash ass cracks at little girls. My eyes cross as to examine the tip of my nose that is currently all scrunched up. Good distraction because she’s now in full-on laughter mode with her eyes closed, so I can pull up my pants.
Balancing on her knees, with her head pointing to the ground, she gets her breathing under control while her laughter ebbs away. Until she sees my bare feet. Again, she points and I respond with a wiggle of my toes and a shrug of my shoulder.
“You’re funny.” She states when she finally manages to get her breathing under control.
She has a sweet angelic voice that sounds a bit like she’s holding on to her nose.
“No, I’m not.” I answer. “I’m Chester.”
Snot comes out of her nose when she yet again snorts out her laughter.
“Amelia, that isn’t very lady-like.” A male voice reprimands in disgust.
My annoyance bubbles back. This little girl brought me a little sunshine and here comes this ass-nugget, and pushes the fun right out of my system.
“Snorting is one of the most gorgeous things a lady can give another person.” I state and shoot the little lady a wink. “Even if there’s a little booger bonus.”
There’s a similar repeat of the gorgeous laughter snorts I’ve just mentioned, except this time it’s coming from behind me and not from the little girl that’s standing in front of me. Spinning around, my knees actually buckle at the stunning sight that I’m now facing before me. Holy moly, she’s hot.
“I agree with this nice man, so don’t listen to your Uncle Oliver, sweetie.”
Son of a gun. That’s Amelia’s mother, no doubt about it because she’s got the same angelic voice as that little girl, well the grown-up version anyway. She steps around me and pulls a tissue out of her bag to clean up her daughter’s tiny nose.
Stashing it away in her purse, the beauty turns and holds out her hand. “Hi. I’m Serenity. Serenity Woods.”
I have to give my head a little shake to come out of my effin’ staring and jump into action. Wrapping my hand around delicate fingers, squeezing gently while I add, “Chester, uhmmm, Hayes, me,” Could I be more stupid? Clearing my throat, I try again. “Chester Hayes. Smart little girl you have there, ma’am.”
“Thank you.” Serenity beams and it’s then I realize that her name is very fitting. A blanket of serenity spreads all around.
Well…if I ignore the uncle standing next to Amelia who’s frowning, frustration tainting his appearance.
“Oh, sorry. My brother isn’t very happy right now.” Serenity looks back and forth between me and her brother.
Yes, my heart skipped in relief about the brother, uncle thing. Now I need to find out if she’s got a husband or a boyfriend or…wait. What am I thinking? She’s got a kid and I don’t date because I’m practically married to my computer. Okay, that might be a Polygamy thing I’ve got going on, seeing I’ve got like five beauties in my basement.
A phone rings and I see her brother take a call. None of this matters because I’m still holding on to her... “Sorry, let me give you your hand back. You might need it and all.”
“Yes…it comes in…handy sometimes.” Serenity’s cheeks flush while her daughter starts her snorting laughter again.
“Mommy, that was funny. Handy hands.” She rubs a finger underneath her nose. “Hey, no booger bonus this time.”
“Booger.” I wink.
This time she does add the bonus, making Serenity pull out the tissue again.
The uncle, Oliver, steps back with his phone glued to his ear. “You’re a local, right?”
I nod very slowly, because him and me, it’s like night and day. So why drop a question like that? I clearly have a huge neon sign above my head stating “local”.
“Wait,” Oliver lowers his hand slightly and point the phone in my direction. “You said your name was Hayes, right? Are you related to Elsie?”
Again, I nod very slowly and add, “That would be my sister.”
“Ah. Ok. We’re Dale’s cousins. Any chance there’s some kind of computer store around here? High tech quality, internet connection and all? I need a new laptop because Amelia here ruined mine.” He shoots a glare at the tiny kid.
Why add that part? The look on that tiny little thing is devastating. Must have been an accident. Blasted idiot.
I decide to ignore him and address the little ray of sunshine that brightens my day. “What did you do? Booger bomb it?”
Amelia slaps her hand over her mouth before she can roar out her laughter. Probably to avoid annoying her uncle. Like I said, kids don’t do effin’ crap on purpose. I can see the twinkle in her eyes and yet she reigns it in so the uncle doesn’t get annoyed or…whatever, she’s considerate.
I regain my attention back to Oliver. “No, there isn’t a store like that around here.”
I’m not lying, okay. There isn’t one. You can order stuff online and like I
mentioned earlier, I have an online company. Doesn’t mean I don’t own the high-tech stuff he mentioned. Because I do. Now if that lovely lady, and I can call her lovely because she isn’t my cousin, would ask, I’d have a whole different answer ready. The ass-nugget in front of me can get lost in the swamp for all I care, family relations or not.
Oliver spits out some curses, making Serenity cover her daughter’s ears.
There’s my chance. “Her father not with you guys?”
Serenity’s lips twitch. “No.” She whispers. “He’s not involved in her life. He walked out the door the moment I told him I was pregnant.”
I’m the devil, because that’s music to my ears. Sorry, little girl. Taking advantage of those tiny covered ears for another second, I need to know. “Boyfriend?”
Now Serenity does flash a bright smile while her cheeks turn a fiery shade of red. “No. Single mom.”
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