by Lacey Wolfe
Arranged Love
by
Lacey Wolfe
Arranged Love
Copyright © 2014, Lacey Wolfe
ISBN: 9781940744063
Publisher: Beachwalk Press, Inc.
Electronic Publication: January, 2014
Editor: Leigh Lamb
Cover: Fantasia Frog Designs
eBooks are not transferable. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
Back Cover Copy
They think they’re fooling their parents, but really, the joke’s on them.
Kayla Ames’s parents could win an award in meddling. Every time she turns around, they’re setting her up with someone new. Try as she might, she can’t convince them to butt out of her love life.
Ryan Newell isn’t looking for love. After having his heart torn to shreds by his ex, he’s determined to never again fall in love and leave himself that vulnerable to being hurt. His parents, however, believe he just needs some help finding the right woman, and their friends’ daughter, Kayla, might be a perfect match.
Realizing they both have the same problem—parents who won’t stop nagging them about finding a partner—Ryan and Kayla agree to an arrangement of sorts. All they have to do is pretend to date, and they don’t even have to see each other, they can discuss the details of their “dates” via email. But then the email conversations lead to real dates, and Kayla finds herself struggling to keep her feelings for Ryan in check as he’s made it clear love will not enter into the equation for him. Then Kayla’s parents suddenly announce they’re getting a divorce, and she begins to wonder if maybe Ryan has the right idea.
When it all gets to be too much for Kayla, she has a hard decision to make—agree to stay with Ryan and never experience love, or walk away for her chance to find it.
Content Warning: contains adult language and graphic sexual content
Dedication
To Beachwalk Press for their continued support in me and my work.
Acknowledgements
Writing a book is the easy part. After the story is written comes the hard part—editing and promoting. For Arranged Love, I had a wonderful editor. Thank you Leigh Lamb for all your help polishing up this story and making it shine.
To my readers, your continued support means a ton to me. Each comment, email, tweet, and share warms my heart and helps me keep going.
Ella Jade, Tamaria Soana, and Tara Chevrestt, thank you for your shoulders for me to lean on. You’re always there to listen and help me with plots.
And of course, my husband and children for their continued support and believing in me.
Chapter 1
“You’re kidding me, right? Please, I’m begging you. Tell me this is all some sort of joke.” Kayla Ames stared at her parents in disbelief.
“Give it a chance,” her mother said. “Besides, you’re thirty-two and not doing a good job on your own.”
“This isn’t a foreign country though. I don’t need your help.”
“We’re your parents. We know you better than you know yourself,” her father added.
Was he serious? “I doubt that. If so, you’d have known how much this would upset me.”
“We knew. But it’s what’s best.” He took a sip from the coffee cup he held.
Kayla crossed her arms and slumped against the door frame. “This isn’t happening.” The statement was more for her than it was for them. If she knew her parents, then they weren’t listening anyway. They’d come up with yet another scheme to make her settle down.
“At least meet him,” her mother said.
Kayla sighed. Arguing with her parents was like talking to a brick wall. It didn’t matter how many times she told them ‘no’, they were going to find a way around it. She might as well give in. “Fine. Whatever.”
“Oh, Kayla. You make me so happy,” her mother gushed.
She rolled her eyes. When she left there, she was getting a drink. “Don’t get to ahead of yourself. I’ll meet him on my terms. No way am I meeting him here with you two around. I’d be married by the end of dinner.”
Her parents laughed and she wasn’t sure what was so amusing. Her mother reached out and held Kayla’s hand. “We understand you don’t want to have your first encounter with us there. That would be awkward.”
Awkward…this whole thing was strange. Hell, meeting him with her parents might be the easiest route. She had no idea what to expect and didn’t know anything about him. “What does he do again?”
“He’s a scientist,” her father said.
Kayla sighed. “A nerd.”
“No, dear. He’s a very handsome man. Ryan Newell. When I spoke to his parents, they were just as shocked that he isn’t married yet either.” Her mom squeezed her hand.
Oh yeah, most likely the man had a face only his mother could love. Men didn’t usually need to be set-up—unless there was something wrong with them. God, what was she getting herself into? One date. That was it. After that, she’d tell her parents he was a complete dud and hopefully they could move on from this little fiasco.
“I’m going to head home. When you have the details, let me know. I’ll be sure to schedule it in.” Kayla pushed herself up from the wall.
She hugged both her parents and left as fast as she could. As she climbed into her car, she hoped this might have been some sort of dream. But fifteen minutes later, she entered her one bedroom apartment and it hit her. She was thirty-two and single, had never been close to the altar. Her only companion was her pet rabbit named Bunny. Perhaps she was the one with a face only a mother could love.
* * * *
Ryan Newell locked up his office for the evening. Tonight he could use a beer. A tall, cold one. And he knew just the place. McDuffy’s. The service was crap, but the beer was cheap, and sometimes that was more important. It also helped that McDuffy’s was right next to his condo, so he could walk home if he got too sloshed, which was the plan.
His cellphone rang. Pulling it from his pocket, he glanced at the screen. His mother. She loved to talk, and at the moment he was just too exhausted, both physically and mentally, to listen to her talk about the cat or any of the other things she usually went on about for hours.
The ringing stopped and he felt slightly guilty about ignoring her. He’d make sure to call her tomorrow.
Ten minutes later, he parked in front of McDuffy’s. As he entered the dimly lit building, he heard someone call from a corner pool table. “What’s up, Newell?”
He nodded in that direction, but continued to make a beeline toward the bar. He sat down on the tall stool, and a sultry looking redhead came over, leaning forward enough so her cleavage was the first thing he noticed.
“What can I get for ya?” She winked.
“Whatever is on tap tonight.”
“Bad day?”
He groaned. “Long day. Make the mug frosted as well.”
“I can do that.” She turned, leaving a trail of strong perfume. A moment later, she slid the cup in his direction, beer spilling over the sides.
Ryan grabbed a napkin from the stack and cleaned up the spot. He crumpled the paper and tossed it aside before picking up his cool mug and spinning around slightly on the stool. He’d been working on a new project at work and it wasn’t going the way he wanted it to. He was at that point where he wanted to start over. Somewhere along the way, something hadn’t been calculated correctly. He had a whole notebook of notes he needed to start looking over.
He took two big gulps then set the beverage down. A woman a few stools down caught his attention. She sucked on a bright pink straw, enjoying what he assumed to be a fruity drink with the fruit lining the cup. She must have sensed him watching her, because her gaze caught his and she smiled at him. Something about those lips intrigued him.
Maybe tonight he’d really let loose. Perhaps that’s what his brain needed. Ryan could take that woman back to his place, sink into her, and for an hour at least, his problems wouldn’t exist.
Sliding off the stool, he went over to her.
“Hi,” he said as he set his beer down next to her fruit concoction. “What’s a beautiful woman like yourself doing down here by herself?”
“Trying to forget that her parents run her life.”
He nodded, thinking of the ignored phone call from his mom. “I have a set of those too.”
“Oh, yeah?” She raised an eyebrow at him.
“I think it might be our parents’ job though.” He stared at her, taking her in. She wore her brown hair long and straight. She wasn’t the skinniest girl he’d ever seen, but her curves could definitely get his motors pumping. “What’s your name?”
She took a long drink before answering. “Ah, Tatiana.”
Tatiana? Why did he have a feeling that was a made up name? Perhaps that was best. Leave this anonymous. If he did get lucky, he knew it would be only for tonight.
“I’m Doug. It’s nice to meet you, Tatiana.”
“Nice to meet you too.”
He took a deep breath. He was never forward. He was usually an over-thinker, but staring at this woman in front of him, he decided that tonight he was ‘Doug’ and ‘Doug’ didn’t over think. He took life by the reins, and when something as hot and scrumptious as Tatiana was presented, he was going to take it.
“How about we go somewhere where we can get to know one another a little better,” he suggested nervously. She was going to laugh and turn him down flat; he just knew it.
Tatiana stared at him, chewing her bottom lip. Then she spoke. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Holy crap! She’d agreed. “G-Good. Let’s go.” He held a hand out to her.
She took it, her skin soft in his palm. “Where are we going?”
“It just so happens that my place is within walking distance. If you’d prefer though, we could—”
“Your place is fine.”
They left the bar, and Ryan hesitated a moment about leaving his car there, but figured it would be fine. He didn’t expect Tatiana to stay the night. They’d connect, have a little fun, and he’d send her on her way once he knew she was sober enough. At least, that’s how he thought it would go. He’d never done anything like this before.
At his condo, he unlocked the door. Pushing it open, he motioned for her to go inside first. Was this going to get awkward? Did they just go straight to his room?
She turned to him. “I don’t usually do this sorta thing.”
He was about to tell her that he didn’t either, but if he was going to keep up with this Doug shenanigan, then he was certain that Doug did. “So far you’re doing great. Can I get you anything to drink?”
She shook her head. Her breathing was quick.
Ryan walked over, slid his hand around to the back of her neck, tilted her head up with his thumb, and kissed her. She moaned and molded her body against his. As they kissed, he took the time to build up his courage. He had to get her from the living room to his bed. But damn, he didn’t want to stop kissing her. She was good, and his cock was ready to explode.
He lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her to his room and sat on the bed slowly. Tatiana broke the kiss and shoved him back onto the mattress.
“I don’t want a lot of foreplay. What I need is a thorough fuck. Got it?”
He gazed at her, wondering if he was imagining this. Did he drink too much and hit his head on the bar? But she was there, in the flesh. And she was taking her shirt off.
“Let me help.” He started to sit up, but she stopped him.
“You get your clothes off, and I’ll do mine.” She climbed off him.
He watched as she reached behind her back and unclasped her bra. When the material dropped to the floor, he thought he might be paralyzed. She had big breasts. He could imagine doing so many naughty things to them.
She unzipped her jeans and slid them down her thighs, along with her panties. She was naked. Oh God, he was going to burst. He needed to get inside of her quick.
Ryan removed his clothes in record speed. He took the only condom he had from his wallet. Once he had it on, he decided to fully embrace this new side of him. He grabbed Tatiana by the waist and spun her around so her back was to him. “Spread them,” he commanded.
“Certainly.”
And she did. She leaned over the bed, and he couldn’t hold back any longer. He tangled his hands in her dark locks and guided himself to her entrance. He then thrust into her, finding the stress relief he’d been seeking all along.
Chapter 2
Kayla hated being outside alone in the dark, but what other choice did she have? As she crept through the grass toward McDuffy’s, she hoped no one she knew saw her. She’d just done something so out of her element and now she needed to escape and pretend as though it never happened.
She finally made it to her car. Pressing the clicker in her hand, the doors unlocked, and she quickly climbed inside. She gripped the steering wheel for a moment before she put the key in the ignition, started it up, and began her drive home.
Doug had rocked her world, and she would’ve loved to stick around for a second round. It had taken everything in her to sneak away after he’d fallen asleep. She had to remind herself that it was a one-night stand, nothing more. But as she drove down the road, she couldn’t shake the feeling she’d see him again. How? She wasn’t sure, unless she made it a habit to visit the bar regularly. Then again, guys like Doug would forget her by morning. And by the evening, he’d have someone else in his bed, screwing her so thoroughly she’d walk funny for a week.
Kayla twirled a strand of her hair around a finger, biting her bottom lip as she smiled. It had been fun to do something out of her norm. Maybe one day she’d meet the man of her dreams, and he’d make love to her the way Doug had. Perhaps that would be her goal from now on. Get fucked—hard.
Pressing her foot down on the pedal, she sped home. When she finally walked through the door, she barely made it to her room before passing out. Morning would come too soon.
And it did. The next morning, her phone vibrated itself right off the nightstand. Opening one eye, she saw it was only seven. She knew exactly who was calling—her mother. It was a Saturday morning. People liked to sleep in, except her mom. Every single day she called at the crack of dawn. Last night Kayla had forgotten to turn her cell off. Hell, she still had her heels on.
The vibrating started again on the floor. Her mom wasn’t going to give up. Apparently, she had something she really needed to tell her daughter. Kayla groaned and reached toward the floor until she found the phone.
“Hello.” Kayla pushed her hair from her face.
“You can’t still be sleeping.”
“I am, actually. A good portion of the population likes to sleep in on their days off.”
“But you were home last night. You could’ve gone to sleep at a reasonable time.”
Kayla groaned. “I went out last night. I actually met a nice man.”
“Oh, yeah? And where did you meet him?”
“At a bar.”
Her mother gasped. “Kayla! You’re never going to meet a man worth your time at a place like that. They only want one thing.”
Grinning, she had to agree. He had only wanted one thing, but he was worth her time. “I assume since you called back-to-back there is something you want.”
“I know you wanted to meet Ryan on your own terms, but your father and I had a great idea. We could have his parents over and both o
f you. Might make things a little easier for you two. His mom says he’s shy.”
Did her mom ever listen? “No. Absolutely not.”
“Don’t be difficult.”
“Mom. This is already something I don’t want to do. Don’t push it.”
“It’s too late. They are coming over tonight.”
Kayla covered her eyes and sucked in a deep breath. If this guy had parents like hers, tonight was going to be a nightmare. Somehow she had to get out of this.
“Dinner’s at six. Get here before then please, and be sure to wear something nice.”
“I’m not coming.” Kayla sighed, wondering why she was bothering to argue.
“Yes, you are,” her mother insisted, her tone stern. And she disconnected the phone call.
Kayla stared at the blank screen. If she couldn’t get out of this, then she’d make tonight memorable in more than one way. And her parents would never try to set her up again.
* * * *
Ryan sat at his desk and glanced over the notes on his current project. This morning he was feeling rejuvenated. And with his head clear, he was able to see what had gone wrong with the current medication he was working on.
His email dinged. Minimizing the browser window on his computer, he maximized his email software. A new message from his mom. He wondered what it was about. The only time she emailed him was when she needed him to know something right then. His eyes were always glued to a computer or his phone.
Ryan,
We’re having dinner tonight at a friend’s house and we’d like you to come. We need to be there by six. So if you would arrive at our place at a reasonable time, we can all ride together.
Thanks,
Mom xoxo
Ryan stared at the message, wondering why he was needed. This must’ve been why she’d called the evening before. Was this another one of their set-ups? They’d attempted this once before and the woman had been…well…psycho. She’d wanted to get married right away and have babies. Lots of them. It had taken him changing his phone number and blocking her on his social media and email to get rid of her. Even now, if he saw her in a store, he turned and walked the other way. She was still single according to his parents, not that he was surprised.