Hungry Mountain Man

by Charlize Starr

  Now, she sat outside his office, practically wringing her hands together. So much nervous energy coursed through her body right now, she needed to run a few laps to get rid of it, but all she could do was sit and wait.

  His secretary knew who Olivia was, of course. She’d been polite when she told Olivia to take a seat, but then she’d picked up her phone and continued to chatter away on it, casting sidelong glances at Olivia. She was probably telling everyone in town that Olivia had the nerve to show up here and try to speak to Mr. King.

  Well, none of that mattered to Olivia. She’d hold her head up, regardless of what people thought of her. She hadn’t done a thing wrong. She wasn’t the one who cheated and Flynn hadn’t been some illicit tryst—she loved him.

  After about ten minutes, the door to Mr. King’s office opened. He had a sober expression on his face. “Come in, Olivia.”

  She stood and followed him into his office then sat down on the couch alongside one wall when he gestured to it. “Can I have someone get you some coffee or water?”

  “No, thank you so much. I’m fine.” Her mouth was so dry and a rope tightened around her middle. “I appreciate your seeing me. First of all, I want to apologize for any embarrassment I caused your family when I left the church.”

  He joined Olivia on the couch and gazed at her openly for a moment. “Can you explain what happened?”

  “My maid-of-honor told me, minutes before the wedding, that she and Jared were having an affair the last two years. She had some pretty compelling evidence—a birthmark.”

  “Lincoln,” he confirmed.

  “Right. It was awful. She actually slapped me when I asked her why… it was all very upsetting and I just couldn’t go through with the wedding. But, I handled it all wrong. I should’ve told the guests myself, not left like a scared little girl.”

  He nodded, his face thoughtful. “I don’t disagree with you, but I can understand you having such a panicked reaction to a scene like that. I can’t speak for Jared. I won’t speak for him. His behavior was reprehensible. But, as far as I’m concerned, your apology is sincerely accepted.”

  He got up and walked to a window to gaze out. “I had no idea he’d cheated on you. When I asked him why you’d just disappear that way, he played dumb.” He turned to face her. “You’re a good person, Olivia, and I’m sorry for any upset my son caused you.”

  Olivia didn’t know how to respond to that. She’d hoped he would have a positive reaction to her, at least that he would believe her about Jared’s activities. She couldn’t have known he would forgive her so easily.

  All the same, she had to push her luck. She needed to know he wouldn’t lash out at Flynn. “I have to be honest with you about some personal details. I promise I have a good reason which will become clear when I’m finished.”

  He crossed his arms and leaned against the glass. “Please go on.”

  “When I left, my father’s friend took me to his cabin so I could get out of town. Then we got snowed in.” She swiped at her face. This was so hard. It felt like she was spitting out marbles. “In those days we were there, just the two of us, I fell in love with him. We… I can’t say we began a relationship because I’m afraid my feelings are all one-sided… but, we were intimate.”

  Her face felt about a thousand degrees, her cheeks burned so. “The reason I’m telling you all of these very personal details is because Jared found out and he confronted me this morning. Flynn Wilder is my… is the man who helped me. He’s the man I’ve fallen in love with. I know he has a potential contract pending with you for the big hotel you’re developing. Jared promised you wouldn’t give him that contract because of my feelings for him, just to try to ruin his business. I couldn’t allow that to happen without speaking to you first.”

  “Don’t stop now. What is it you’re trying to say?”

  “Please don’t ruin his hard-earned reputation or his company because of my choices or Jared’s choices. He’s a good man who was only trying to help his best friend’s daughter. It’s my fault he’s so caught up in all this. Not his.”

  Mr. King crossed to his office chair and sat down behind his desk. “I am giving the contract to Mr. Wilder. I’d planned to for the last four weeks or so. I’ve been waiting on some other details to work themselves out before I made the official offer. You should listen less to Jared.”

  He steepled his hands together on the desk and offered her a gentle smile. “Jared isn’t involved in the company because he won’t grow up. Him cheating on someone he intended to marry just proves that’s still the case. I wouldn’t let Jared influence any business decision I made.”

  “Thank you so much, Mr. King. I know Flynn will do great work for you.” She stood up on shaky legs, wishing she could run tell Flynn that his business was safe. But she couldn’t. That door between them was closed now.

  ***

  Flynn put on his jeans and a black button-down dress shirt. He’d had his secretary send it to the cleaners and get it pressed just for today. It had been two weeks since he and Olivia stopped talking and he missed her so badly, he ached inside.

  But, it would be all right—had to be all right. He’d make it right tonight. It was Sean’s birthday party and everyone in town should be there. Sean always rented out a local bar and restaurant and invited everyone he knew—which was the whole damn town.

  And, of course, Olivia would be there. Sean had told him the two had made amends and she’d promised to come. Flynn had a plan to show her, to show everyone, that she was the woman for him. He prayed it would work because he couldn’t go another day without her.

  Flynn drove to the restaurant in his Jeep and he’d never been this nervous in his life. Not when he was waiting to hear about a job, never.

  When he got the hotel contract, King called him personally and told him that Olivia had spoken to him. King had said he appreciated Flynn’s discretion and respected him as a businessman too much to let any personal details come between him and the best contractor he knew.

  But that professional victory obviously thanks to Olivia, meant nothing if he didn’t have Olivia in his life.

  He parked the Jeep and got out, running his hands down his shirt. He could do this. And… what if Olivia wanted nothing more to do with him? He couldn’t think about that. Refused to believe she didn’t want a future with him as well, not when she’d gone to so much trouble to fix things with King.

  She’d done everything she could to make things right for Flynn. Why would she have gone to so much personal sacrifice if she didn’t love him?

  Inside, people milled about everywhere. Flynn considered going up to the bar and getting a shot of liquid courage, but then he met Olivia’s gaze across the room. She sat in a corner, nursing a glass of wine, and no one even spoke to her.

  She’d been right—running off with him after her wedding had branded her the town slut. And no one would speak to her. Jared was conspicuously absent, as was Tara. Maybe no one knew what to say to her. He didn’t know, but he knew once he opened his mouth, everyone would look at her different. She’d be in the middle of another gossipfest. Hopefully, she’d appreciate the trouble he’d gone to.

  Soft music played from speakers tastefully hidden on the walls by plants and drapery. Never dropping her gaze, Flynn crossed the room straight to her. People had stopped to openly stare at them.

  When he approached her, she lifted her head to look up at him but didn’t speak. Flynn wanted to kiss her, needed to touch her. She was the single most beautiful woman he’d ever known. And her heart, her capacity for love was overwhelming.

  He held out a hand. “Dance with me.”

  “No one’s dancing.” A smile tugged at her lips then drifted away.

  “Since when do we care about what other people think?”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Don’t we?”

  “Not anymore. C’mon.” He took her hand and tugged her up. Walking backward, he tossed a look over his shoulder, then turned and led her strai
ght to the middle of the room. “You look incredible.”

  She wore a gauzy red dress that hugged her breasts then floated down to her knees. Her lips were lined in the same shade of red and her green eyes were big and brilliant in the soft lights.

  As the music stopped, Flynn pulled the blue velvet box out of his front pocket. He knelt before her, in front of everyone—her father, the townspeople. There was an audible gasp and lots of whispers. “I love you, Olivia. I’m done with running away from my feelings for you. I want you to be my wife.”

  Her mouth gaped and she stared at him. After a minute she looked around the room. “What are you doing? You don’t have to do this.”

  “I know I don’t have to. I want to, more than I’ve ever wanted anything. I want you as my wife.”

  She licked her lips and glanced around. When she looked back at him, her eyes shone. “I… I’m scared.”

  “I was scared, too. Scared you didn’t care about me the way I do you. Scared we wouldn’t be able to make a go of it.” He stood to take her in his arms. “Look at me—ignore everyone else. The way I see it, we’re taking a chance on each other. What it comes down to is, are we too scared to fight for love or not. I’m not. Not anymore. I’m going to fight for you, Liv.”

  A single tear streaked down her cheek and she wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest. “Oh, Flynn. I love you, too.”

  Tucking a finger under her chin, he lifted her face and took her mouth in a passionate, soul-soothing kiss. She tasted like cinnamon and love. When they broke apart, he framed her cheeks in his hands. “I will never want another woman. You can trust me. Trust in that.”

  She closed her eyes and beamed up at him. Fresh tears sparkled in her eyes. “I do trust you, Flynn. I know you’d never hurt me. I will always love you.”

  Flynn pulled the biggest diamond he could find in their small town out of the box and slid it on her finger. Other people began to dance and move around them. Flynn had never believed any of this could happen to him, had never believed he deserved to be happy. Olivia made him believe.

  *****

  THE END

  The Mobster's Secret Baby

  Description

  “Without manners, we all turn into animals,” he said.

  “And what’s wrong with animals?” she whispered.

  Sylvia

  All my life I’ve been on my guard, looking over my shoulders because my dad’s a mobster. And now he has made me a prisoner in one of his friend’s homes. Fedor Volkov, the big Russian mafia boss.

  I expected a cold-hearted monster, but he’s sexy as hell with a beard that sets my belly on fire. He stands for everything I despise, yet I can’t stop thinking about him. I want him to be the one to take my virginity. Especially since that would royally piss off my dad.

  But I got way more than I bargained for...

  Fedor

  Every two years I take a vacation in my holiday home, alone. But this time, Will Stern has begged me to take in his daughter and protect her against his enemies. I couldn’t say no. Will is one of my best friends.

  I didn’t expect her to be all grown up, though, a sexy young twenty-three-year-old with endless legs and a cleavage to drive me mad. But I can’t break the code, I am her guardian. I know I should stay away from her, but it’s almost like she’s out to make me fall.

  How much longer can I resist?

  Chapter One - Sylvia

  “I don’t understand what the need for this is!” Sylvia stood aside while her father threw open the doors of her cupboard and started flinging clothes into a large duffle bag that he had brought with him.

  “Think of this as a vacation, sweetie,” Will Stern said, barely looking at his daughter while he continued the task at hand - packing his daughter’s belongings.

  “A vacation? I don’t need a vacation, dad! I just got done with college. I need to find a job.” Sylvia took a few steps in her father’s direction, trying to follow him around the room, but he now laid an arm on her dresser and just swept all her makeup and boxes of little trinkets into the bag. Sylvia shrieked with fright.

  “Be careful with those, dad!” she yelled, but he wasn’t really paying attention. He had only one thing on his mind, and he didn’t look like he was going to take a break.

  “I’ll get you a job when you come back. It’s just for a couple of weeks. It’ll be a nice break for you, after all the hard work you’ve put into your studies. You’ve never been to Puerto Rico,” Will said, finally zipping up the bag. He thought he had packed everything, but Sylvia had already made mental notes of all the stuff that he hadn’t put in - her shoes, the scarves, her prized collection of perfumes.

  “Okay, dad,” she said softly, hoping that a gentler approach might work better. She walked towards him as he stood bent over the duffle bag and put a hand on his shoulder. Will Stern whipped around with a crazed look in his eyes.

  “Dad, I thought those days were behind us,” Sylvia asked, the color rising in her cheeks. She was so tired of this. All her childhood had been spent running away, hiding, always looking over their shoulders to see if they were being followed. It was what had killed her mother. All that nerve wracking will to survive, to live. Her father had been a small-timer then, he worked for someone else, one of the Russian mob bosses. But now that he had a gang of his own, his own security, his own source of income, Sylvia thought that those days of looking over their shoulders were over. That their lives were never going to be in danger anymore.

  “It’s never truly behind us,” Will said, sitting down at the edge of her bed with a thump. He looked exhausted.

  Sylvia put her hands on her hips, standing with her legs apart. She could feel the rage rising up her shoulders, she was exhausted too. When would she ever be able to lead a normal life?

  “You have the money now, dad. You can pay off people. Frighten them…I don’t know what. You can do something. You don’t have to run away!” Sylvia breathed in deeply, nearly pleading with her father. She didn’t want to leave New York. Not when she was just beginning her job hunt. No matter what promises her father made, the kind of work he’d find her was not the kind of work she wanted to do. She wanted to get away from the mob world, away from the world of money laundering and thugs and stories about people getting killed or beaten to pulp for not paying their dues.

  Sylvia wanted to lead a normal life, work at a startup, have a regular desk job, get a cat.

  “I’m not running away. You’re going to Puerto Rico by yourself. I just don’t want you to get caught up in this. I don’t want your life to be in danger,” Will said, running his hands through his closely cropped dark curly hair. Sylvia noticed the graying of his sideburns. She hadn’t realized before but her father was getting old. But this didn’t mean that she wasn’t still angry with him. For trying to snatch a normal life away from her, again!

  “Well, I’m not running away either. I’ve had enough of this. I’m staying right here. What the Hell am I going to do in Puerto Rico of all places?” Sylvia folded her arms across her chest, and then she saw the shift in her father’s eyes. He was determined. She had seen that look in his eyes very often in the past. She knew it scared people, but it didn’t scare her. She looked back at him directly, defiantly.

  “You’re going. You’ll be staying with my friend. He owns a mansion there. He’s on holiday there and he’s agreed to take you in for a few weeks. You’ll be safe with him.” Will stood up from the bed and picked up the duffle bag up. Sylvia could feel tears bubbling up in her eyes, from the rage. She knew she had lost the fight. There was no convincing him now.

  “I know what all your friends are like. They are all like you. Dirty criminals. You’re all alike. You’re all disgusting!” Sylvia screamed after her father as he left the room, expecting her to follow him as he went.

  Sylvia clenched and unclenched her fists, she stamped the floor repeatedly, and then breathed out deeply to calm herself. This was not going to work. Her father wo
uld eventually get his men to physically drag her to his waiting car outside if he had to. Her struggle, her reasoning was useless.

  So instead, Sylvia just opened her cupboard again. She pulled out one of her Louis Vuitton bags and started stuffing in the shoes her father had forgotten to pack, and then her scarves and her perfumes.

  Just a few more weeks of this life, she told herself as she packed. Then it’d be over. Then she’d be done with this life and would start afresh. Maybe she’d leave the country. Maybe she’d move to London or Sydney or somewhere else where her father couldn’t hunt her down. Sylvia could feel the blood boiling in her veins, but she knew there was absolutely nothing she could do about it now.

  Chapter Two - Fedor

  Fedor Volkov swirled the glass of Scotch in his hands. It was only midday, but he was on vacation now, so he allowed himself the treat. Back in Chicago, he didn’t take his first drink before all the day’s work was done, not before midnight. He needed to be thinking straight at all times.

  He definitely needed this break. Puerto Rico was good for him. His mansion was isolated, well-guarded and he never invited any of his friends or associates along. A few weeks at his getaway meant just that: a getaway. In complete isolation. It gave him somewhere to think, to actually think.

  But Will Stern might have spoilt it all. He had called on his direct line the previous night, sounding crazed, afraid. If Will sounded afraid, it had to be something big. He nearly begged Fedor to hide his daughter, to give her protection till he could sort out this gang war. Fedor couldn’t say no, he couldn’t say no to one of his closest friends. Will and he had both risen through the ranks together. Will was an outsider, he wasn’t Russian, but he had the guts to play with the big boys. They always had each other's backs, and this poor girl didn’t even have a mother anymore. He couldn’t possibly say no.