Evernight Publishing ®
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2015 Michelle Monkou
ISBN: 978-1-77233-349-7
Cover Artist: Jay Aheer
Editor: Lisa Petrocelli
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
To The Writing Experiment, a wonderful circle of friends and writers who are fulfilling their dreams one story at a time.
BOUND TO HER
Romance on the Go TM
Michelle Monkou
Copyright © 2015
Chapter One
Life sucked the big one. To add to the stockpile of shitty luck, a slow-moving nor’easter promised to kick ass for the next three days along a swath of the upper northeast area of the US. Bethany wished that she’d asked the cab driver to stay put after he’d pulled up in front of the family-owned inn. Now she had no choice but to proceed ahead and enter the Victorian structure that hooked her from the beginning, as the idyllic centerpiece for this emergency getaway to Maine.
The front door clicked shut behind her, sealing out the beginning of the foul weather. After a few steps, she stopped short, disconcerted at the silence but more than a little awestruck with the surroundings. The brightly lit lobby decorated with festive garland, wreaths, and ornaments resembled a holiday wonderland. A light mixture of spices reminiscent of apples, cinnamon, and gingerbread scented the air. She inhaled, instantly relaxing under the warm and cozy setting. “Peaceful” described the feeling, as it wrapped her in a snuggly thick blanket of comfort.
Nothing should disrupt the tranquil ambience within these walls. It felt safe…good…like home should be. Damn it. Her spirits needed an uplift to stop the downward spiral into deep funk where she licked her wounds. Out there, beyond the door, remained the stormy portions of her life rumbling like the nor’easter with its morbid imminent timing.
A twelve-hour trip from San Diego to Bangor, including the two-hour drive north to this charming hideaway, did drain her bad mood somewhat. All she wanted was the key to her cabin, the family-size bags of nachos, BBQ chips, and the last of the god-awful fat-free popcorn from her cupboard that she’d packed for her planned binge-eating sessions.
“Good afternoon.” A woman, possibly in her mid-thirties, stepped out from a room in the back. Her hand was outstretched in ready greeting. “Welcome to Sommer Valley Resort.” Her easy, welcoming smile was sufficient to brighten anyone’s mood, including Bethany’s, which had been stuck in an anger-hurt-bitter repeat cycle.
Bethany shook the woman’s hand. “Hi, I’m glad that I made it.” She added a smile, an act that felt stiff from lack of use.
“I’m the innkeeper, Mandy Braxton. Please call me Mandy. You’re Bethany Rhodes, correct?” After Bethany responded with a nod, the innkeeper continued with her cheery smile firmly in place, “Have a seat, please. By the way, forgive the holiday decorations, I don’t take them down until the first official day of spring. People can come here long after the commercial hoopla is over for a rustic holiday atmosphere.” She motioned toward an oversized desk and its accompanying chairs for the guests.
Bethany pointedly scanned the room. “I feel like I’m the only one here.” She couldn’t help the hushed tone.
“As a matter of fact, you are the only guest here. With the blizzard rolling in hard during the afternoon and into this evening, other guests had cancelled or rebooked. Since we’re not a ski lodge but more of a retreat type facility, these harsh conditions aren’t ideal.” The innkeeper accepted Bethany’s credit card and ID to complete the check-in process.
“I didn’t pay attention to the weather forecast back in California. I kinda had tunnel vision when I booked the flight and hotel. Needed to get far from everything.” Her words tumbled out into a confessional glob. “Then I crammed clothes into a suitcase and headed for the airport. The airline attendant told me I was lucky to get the last flight coming into Bangor.” All Bethany had wanted was a location opposite to California’s sunny weather. And she also wanted some place that was far from Kelvin “Shithead” Gasby, the surfer ex-boyfriend, and his traitorous fling with their thrice-divorced landlady.
“Hey, I understand that need to escape every so often. With six children and a husband, I’ve had my jump-on-the-plane moments.” Mandy laughed, drawing in Bethany to share amusing stories about her sister’s similar sentiments of the hectic life with triplets. The innkeeper got an A+ for prying loose the rest of her funky mood.
Mandy continued. “As you can imagine, we’re on a skeleton crew. Staff had to get home to their families. A few volunteered to stay on.”
“I feel like a ditz for not checking the weather and cancelling.” Bethany didn’t have any alternate solutions to offer, though. Booking a return flight wouldn’t be possible for the next few days.
“Hey, I would have contacted you if we were closing. No worries! I’m here, along with my brother, a cook, and a couple of college kids for housekeeping. They’re here during the winter break. Please don’t worry, you’re not an inconvenience.” Mandy turned up her reassuring smile again. “Just so you know, we have generators, lots of food, and the indoor pool, hot tub, and sauna are all yours. Can’t beat that, right?”
Bethany tried not to show how ecstatic she was over having all the amenities to herself. She could pretend she was a VIP with exclusive access for a few days. In particular, she looked forward to staying in the boutique cabins, eating herself silly, and afterward heading for the pool to work off the guilt. If good luck managed to limp over to her side by the end of the trip, her heart should stop its mini-meltdowns to kick off the healing process.
Such a snappy turnaround would be downright difficult, though. Her boyfriend’s betrayal collided with a social media airing of her personal dirty laundry, leaving her publically humiliated. Their landlady had descended into a level of immaturity to crow about her new fuck-toy kicking his frigid baggage to the curb.
Although delivering an MMA-style ass-kicking promised to be a great stress reliever, Bethany instead chose an impulsive escape to avoid felony assault charges, but more to hide from the embarrassment. While battling with her desire to binge-eat, a part of her desperately wanted to emerge from the dark, depressing emotional dredge. Once upon a time, she had the breezy, all-is-right-with-the-world attitude. Instead of harboring self-doubts, she had been happy and well-adjusted.
Bethany looked at the brochure and pointed to the picture of the cabin. “Can’t wait to see mine.”
“The cabins are closed,” a deep, male voice interjected with a decisive jab at her balloon of hopeful vacation fantasy. A state park ranger emerged from the same room in the back and planted himself behind Mandy’s chair. Although there was a close resemblance between the two, with striking sky blue eyes, jet black hair, and strong features, his reaction toward her couldn’t be more opposite from Mandy’s. The brooding lawman might as well have brought in a monster weather front of his own frigid conditions.
Mandy gestured over her shoulder with a thumb. “That’s my grumpy brother, Rock. Although we kept the inn open, we had to be proactive and close the cabins. My apologies.”
“Since it’s only you on the premises, we moved you to the main building.” His dry comment was delivered loaded with criticism. His wide mouth flatlined into displeasure. And yet, the iceberg
attitude did nothing to tarnish the natural good looks.
“I wouldn’t have minded staying in the cabin.” Bethany looked away from the icy blue eyes and focused on Mandy’s friendly face.
“Well, I would have minded. I’m not trudging through the blizzard to drag you out.” The ranger stormed through her wistful declaration.
And Bethany felt sure he’d drag her out, if necessary. What else could he do with all the necessary roughness? She dared to ponder.
While Mandy was curvaceous, her brother’s physical attributes were solid and muscular, a plus for his job to serve and protect. Tall, fit, and a determined square jaw held enough promise of what he was capable of doing. The tantalizing tidbits coming to life in her imagination made her squirm. A warm flush of attraction—couldn’t possibly be desire—raced through her entire body.
“Oh, calm down, Rock.” His sister winked at Bethany. “He’s grouchy because he’s worried about me getting out of here before the start of the storm. But I wanted to make sure that you were comfortable and everything was under control before I left you in my brother’s capable hands.”
“Oh, Mandy, I really don’t want you to get stuck.” Now Bethany did feel like an inconvenience. No wonder Mr. Ice Chips had that laser beam locked onto her for detonation.
“We live close. My house is half a mile around the mountain. When Rock isn’t at the station or out at one of the remote posts, he lives in one of the cabins. But during the freak storm, he’ll stay onsite in case there are any emergencies. So he’s filling in as the innkeeper tonight.” She motioned over her shoulder where the archway framed a grand staircase to the upper level.
Bethany should have been disappointed that Mandy and her friendly disposition wouldn’t be around. She should’ve have felt uncomfortable staying on the premises with this sexy, brooding man. She should’ve wondered why her body tingled with an electric buzz zapping at her nerves. And she certainly shouldn’t be reacting like a woman on an involuntary sex-starvation diet, as his gaze swept over her body.
His bold perusal settled on her tits.
No guilt. No remorse.
From him.
From her.
Chapter Two
Bethany’s nipples tightened, as if under his command.
She licked her lips, suddenly parched. He might as well have reached out and cupped her breasts, stroking the buds into submission. Curiosity deep within her awoke, jostled by a mysterious and elusive primal energy that wound around its devilishly handsome owner.
Her mind sought to escape. Her body craved to be explored. And the tumult lay at the feet of this stranger with his rugged good looks. He wore the park ranger uniform with comfort and confidence, like a second skin. Minus the frosty edge, Rock had a mile-long sex appeal that promised to be fucking melt-on-the-tongue delicious.
Mandy cleared her throat. “Because I know you wanted the cabin, and to make up for your disappointment, I’m putting you in our Wildest Dreams-themed honeymoon suite for the price of our standard room.”
“Thanks. I do appreciate it.” Bethany hoped her inner thermometer would de-escalate to normal temperatures. “It’s been a nightmare of a week.” The memory certainly did the trick to cool her jets.
With check-in complete, Bethany took the room key from Mandy.
“I’ll take the luggage to the room.” Rock picked up her suitcases.
“I can do it…” Bethany’s objection died, as he approached her chair and bent only inches from her and grabbed the handles. She leaned forward ever so slightly to enjoy the clean smell of soap and his skin.
He wasn’t clean-shaven, and she liked the look of the hint of a beard. What would the soft bristle feel like against her skin…against her thighs?
Did he read her appreciation?
His eyes locked onto hers before his gaze swallowed her mouth. A sigh—hers—escaped. Or was that a moan? Mortified over the slip, she blinked to wipe the slate clean, but caught the slightest hint of a smile breaking the flat line of his mouth as he straightened with her luggage in each hand.
They walked to the elevator and boarded the cab for the second floor. Bethany kept her face aimed straight ahead. A sexy stranger shouldn’t have such power to snatch her up into his clutches, hold her with an alluring spell, and weaken any resolve to a quivering mess.
“What are you running from?” His sudden targeted question startled her.
“Running?” This wasn’t close to the conversation Bethany wanted to have with him.
“My sister said that everyone cancelled or rebooked their trip. Why didn’t you? The travel from the airport to here had to be difficult.” His head tilted and an eyebrow arched as he waited.
Bethany shrugged. The ranger didn’t earn her confidence with his stern judgment. I needed a vacation. I felt rundown, used up, and flat-out exhausted, were her secrets to keep.
“So you left sunny California to come here in our wintry spring?”
“Yes. And when you’re in need of a pick-me-up, southern California awaits you.”
He shrugged. “Most people do run to the sun and beach.”
“I’m not most people. I want the cold, the snow-covered trees, the quiet space without the crushing annoyance of people.” She silently added, some place to disappear and disconnect.
His open regard flickered away as he turned away from her. Tension worked at his jaw, tightening his profile. She wanted him to say something, anything, like a cliché anecdote. Mandy, the innkeeper, would have done so with her trademark smile. Her brother, the park ranger, not so much. His only contribution was heavy silence.
“You know, for the substitute innkeeper, you shouldn’t be in such a…shitty mood.” Bethany followed him out of the elevator cab.
His heavy footsteps echoed off the walls. He walked as if he owned the place…well, he did. Whatever. He moved with his chest up and shoulders back as if there was an invasion. She mocked him with a salute.
“You’re going to be a pain, I just know it. I’m figuring that I’ll be rescuing you in this snowy mess before you leave.”
“Why are you so certain?” She stopped short, but he kept walking.
“You strike me as one of those ‘all about me’ types—the Hollywood effect.”
“Is this your version of hospitality or do you suffer from a disorder that removes the filter?” She’d stayed put, hands on her hips. “I just need to know how to handle you.”
“Handle?” That got his attention. He set down the bags and turned to face her.
“Should I give you a long leash because of your grumpiness or give you a yank to keep you in good order?” She made sure that her smile displayed most of her pearly whites.
His mouth pressed thin. Nostrils flared as his cold regard froze her immobile. “Be careful, let this sleeping dog lie. You can’t begin to handle me.” His candor held no room for discussion or negotiation. He turned his back on her and continued down the hallway.
As the space between them widened, the crackling tension lessened. The man puzzled her. What she’d perceived as his angry disposition became clear that he was merely irritated with her. But why?
Bethany looked down at what she was wearing to check if that could explain his dismissiveness. She refused to believe it was her personality. Maybe her snow outfit of Pepto-Bismol pink and winter-white accents that screamed non-skier tourist annoyed him. Or the matching pink boots was too much, along with the puffy white coat that turned her into a giant marshmallow. In her defense, the ensemble had looked stylish on the mannequin.
But if she were on her own turf, she’d mostly spend the day in a two-piece bikini with a bottle of sunscreen at the ready.
Bethany resumed following Rock. The only positive in this moment was admiring his ass and long-legged stride toward the end of the hallway. There he waited at a pair of double doors. She took her sweet time walking toward him. Her chin jutted out with cool attitude back at him.
After unlocking the door, she stepped in and held it
open for Rock to enter.
“Where would you like to put your bags?” He set down her suitcases near the large floral centerpiece in the suite.
“Right there is fine.” Bethany strode past him to find the bedroom. She pushed open the doors and exclaimed, “Gosh, this is beyond beautiful. So romantic.”
The room contained a king-size canopy bed with decorative cover and gathered curtains tied at each ornately etched bedpole. Matching pine wood furnishing completed the décor. The mint green gave a sophisticated splash of color with frosty cream accents. Bethany trailed her fingers over the linen, enjoying the soft smoothness of the Egyptian cotton. She couldn’t wait to dive between the sheets.
“This is our most popular suite.” His tone didn’t hide his boredom.
“I can see why. It does make for a romantic stay. The perfect place to fall in love.” She turned her face away from another one of his keen gazes.
Not before she saw a slight nod of agreement.
“Romantic interludes are your thing?” She poked at his reluctance to see what was behind the stony reserve.
“Personally? No.”
“Oh.” His emphatic response shocked her. “Maybe I can help change your mind.”
“Why?”
“Why not ask me how, instead?” She enjoyed poking at this grumpy bear.
“I don’t have time for playing silly games. It’s that simple.”
“Fair enough. But I like a challenge.” She walked away before he recovered from her brash talk. “The tub is the size of a lap pool. I may not leave the room.” She continued exploring the suite.
“We won’t have room service during the storm.”
“I’ll be happy to sit in the dining area. Of course, if you’d like to keep me company, there will be an empty seat waiting for you.”
Bound to Her Page 1