by Sam Crescent
Evernight Publishing
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2013 Sam Crescent
ISBN: 978-1-77130-647-8
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: Karyn White
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
It takes a lot of courage to get past our fears and to allow ourselves to live or explore the world around us. Writing is something I love and I was terrified to put it out there. It took me a lot of years to gain the courage to give it a shot. I'm living my dream. Please, take your chance in life and never give yourself a chance to live with regret.
FALLING FOR THE ENEMY
Falling in Love, 1
Sam Crescent
Copyright © 2013
Chapter One
“Man, have you seen who’s working across the street?” Max Carter asked.
Trey Hunt glanced up from the design he was learning to draw to glance at one of his best friends. He knew who was working across the street from him and that she owned the building. Ever since she’d moved in across the street he’d tried not to think about her.
“I know,” Trey said, going back to work on the design. The woman who wanted the dolphin surrounded by the ocean on her back was flying in to see him specially. His reputation, or more importantly, the reputation of Get Inked, was growing. From the moment he left high-school he’d gotten the right certificates and training to open up his own tattoo parlor.
Dale Lewis, his other best friend, got up from where he was also working to check out the commotion. His two friends worked with him on the weekends when their jobs at the local construction site were slow. Both of them knew how to ink and were trained to do so, but neither of them would accept a full-time job from him. He was thankful for their help even if they didn’t work with him every day.
“Okay, wow, I didn’t even realize she’d gotten back to town,” Dale said, whistling.
They lived in Winters Fall, a decent sized town where the nearest mall was over thirty miles away. Trey had noticed the moment June Armstrong got back into town. It hadn’t taken him long to remember her either, not that he’d ever forgotten her. Staring down at his notepad he concentrated on getting the angle of the dolphin right. He didn’t want to make any mistakes. This ink was expensive and was going to take a lot of time.
“Trey, get your head out of your ass and check her out,” Max said.
Seeing no other choice, Trey got out of his chair and went to check out the woman across the street.
June wore a pink apron with her pitch black hair pulled back into a ponytail. Gazing across the street out of his shop window, Trey took the time to admire the length of her curvy body. When June left Winters Fall right after high school graduation she’d been a chubby, shy, teenager. Staring at her now, Trey saw the change inside her. She didn’t look down at her feet like she used to in the school halls. There had been a time when it would take him a full week to get to look into her eyes. The woman stood outside was no longer shy. Her gaze was straight and steady. June was a voluptuous, attractive woman, and every time he saw her, Trey got hard.
What his two best friends didn’t know was his reaction to June had never changed. Even in high school he’d found her attractive with the extra weight on her bones. He never understood why he was attracted to the chubby kid. Many times in the classes they’d shared he would stare at her hoping to find an answer to his horny behavior around her. Nothing would come to mind. Her smile was sexy, and her blue eyes always seemed to see more than he wanted her to.
Yeah, his crush on her was his own personal secret. There was no way he’d ever be able to act on it.
“Fuck me, she’s hot. I thought she was a looker in high school, but her tits and stomach always seemed so big. She wasn’t that fat at all,” Max said.
Jealousy spiked through him. Trey kept staring at her, hoping his friend would shut the fuck up.
“High school was a different ball game all together,” Dale said. “She was a nerd, and we didn’t date the nerds. Do you remember how she always had her head in a book?”
He remembered. Trey also remembered what they had done to her as well. Instead of asking her out or leaving her alone, he’d made June’s life a misery. He was staring across the street at the woman he used to bully in high school.
“Guys, we made her life horrible in high school, and she’ll never go for any of you,” Trey said, moving away. If he didn’t pull himself away from the window he’d gladly spend all day watching her, trying to catch a glimpse of her through the window. He’d not even built up the courage to go and check out her bakery.
“We never hurt her.”
No, they hadn’t. Some bullies went for physical pain by punching, hitting or kicking. They hadn’t done that. Trey couldn’t bring himself to touch her or hurt her. In fact, there were times he’d said something about her name or her dress sense and seen the hurt in her eyes, and it had cut him to the core. They, in their own way, had still hurt June growing up.
Going back to his picture, Trey tried to focus on what was in front of him rather than the beautiful woman across the street.
“Besides, I thought you both hated full women?” Trey cut the thought of her full tits out of his mind. Another memory entered his head of seeing her, without any friends, at the swimming pool. She’d been looking at the wall and not noticed him stood in front of her. He remembered watching the length of her body encased in a one piece swimming suit. She had to have the largest breasts in their school year. Staring at her, he’d imagined her naked, gotten hard and panicked.
He’d tuned out Dale and Max, so when he was shoved from behind he wasn’t prepared for it. Crashing into June, he’d tried to keep hold of her, but she was too close to the pool. His friends kept him safe while June went plunging into the water. When she’d climbed out, gasping for air he’d stared at her tits. Her nipples pressed against the front of her swimsuit. Trey remembered he was going to say something to her, but Max’s words stopped anything from progressing.
“She butt-flopped.”
Pulling out of the memory, Trey recalled it was the last time she’d gone to the swimming pool. He knew it was his, Max’s, and Dale’s fault that she didn’t go.
“In high school you weren’t allowed to like the bigger woman,” Max said. “We were expected to fuck the hot chicks, and we did. June was always a fine piece of ass, but she’s the type of woman you keep for life. Look at that body.”
Throwing the empty can at Max’s head, Trey tried to reel in his anger. He didn’t want to hear about his friend’s crush on her at all.
“She’s never going to go for you, so stop thinking it,” Trey said.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got Abbie to keep me satisfied, and that girl knows what to do with her tongue.”
Laughing, Trey went back to finishing his work. There was no time for distractions. At twenty-four he was trying to save up enough money so he could buy this building outright. He didn’t like the fact this building actually belonged to June’s father, one of the richest men in Winters Fall.
****
June listened to her mother complain about her father. Lexie and Elliot Armstrong were always arguing with each other, which is why
June was always surprised by how in love they were. She’d never known a couple be so much in love yet argue all the time. It was the strangest thing to her. Her parents were supportive of her dream to be a baker. When she’d first told them what she wanted to become at sixteen they’d been against it. To celebrate her twenty-fourth birthday, they’d given her this shop and installed all the latest baking equipment. She loved Just Another Slice and was a hit with the town.
Her father wanted her to be a doctor while her mother wanted her to be a world renowned cook. The professions were so far apart, June didn’t know how her parents picked what to have for dinner. Their life was so strange. Her father was wealthy, a billionaire in his own right, but instead of living the high life, Elliot liked to live in Winters Fall where all the Armstrongs of his family line had lived before him. Lexie was the small town girl who fell in love with the wealthy man. Her mother’s main career was to look after Elliot. So much so that even though they could hire a cook, nanny, and a maid, Lexie did none of those. Unlike a lot of daughters from wealthy families, June had her mother’s support growing up. Her mother cooked, cleaned, and was always there to do homework.
“If he doesn’t stop buying me more jewels I’m going to divorce him,” Lexie said, growling in frustration.
Laughing, June looked at the new addition to her mother’s collection of necklaces.
“Mom, you’re probably the only woman complaining about a necklace or two. Dad loves you, and he wants to give you the best.”
“No, I’ve told him no more gifts. These gifts signify guilt. He’s guilty over something.”
“I think you’re imagining it.” Resting her hands on her hips, June couldn’t help but glance across the street where Trey’s tattoo parlor stood. She made a promise to herself to never put herself in front of Trey’s path again. The bastard, along with his two friends, had made her life a misery growing up. In college she’d learned to get over a lot of her issues that had crawled up inside her. Also, having a man who loved a curvy woman had helped her a lot. She started to see the value of having a curvy body as opposed to a body fit for a teenager.
The diets she’d once lived her life by never worked for her. The weight always kept pounding on her. She’d tried to starve herself, which lasted for three days before her mother tempted her with homemade pizza.
“Is he causing you any troubles?” Lexie asked, seeing where her gaze had fallen.
“No. I’ve not seen him.” Only Lexie knew the true extent of the bullying. It wasn’t as bad as some of the bullying other kids got, but it was enough for June to know she’d never get past it. Trey Hunt was her enemy back then, and he was her enemy now.
“I know he was a pain in the ass to you growing up, but he’s changed.”
“Whatever. I want nothing to do with him.” Trey was the reason why she’d stayed away for as long as she had. Her original plan was to open a bakery up in the city, but her parents wanted her back home. She loved Winters Fall a lot more than she loved the city. Coming home had been a huge deal for her.
Fortunately, Trey hadn’t left the confines of his tattoo parlor to ruin her little buzz.
High school was finished. She wasn’t going to let him stand all over her.
“Well if it makes you feel any better, your father can shut him down whenever he wants,” Lexie said.
“What?” June frowned.
“Your father owns the building. He can cause a lot of waves if you want.”
Shaking her head, June closed her eyes. She was a bigger person than that. “No, I could never do that to him. I’m not that kind of person.”
“I know, sweetie, which is why we love you so much. I’ve got to go. I’m making a pork stew if you’re interested in stopping by.”
June declined the invitation. She wasn’t living at home but above the bakery. Every morning without fail she was up at four o’clock to start baking. She loved the new timetable. Just Another Slice closed at five, giving her an hour to clean everything away. She was home within five minutes of cleaning up, doing her own thing until nine when she was in bed sleeping. Then she’d wake up, and her whole day would start again, apart from Sunday. Her only day off was Sunday. She liked her life, and it was fun.
“Okay, I’ll see you soon. Do not be a stranger to us,” Lexie said, kissing her cheek.
As June headed back inside the bakery, the scent of cinnamon bagels permeated the air. She loved the smell of baking. It always reminded her of her mother’s kitchen. It was always nostalgic for her. Molly Tatum, her one employee, was handing a ham toasted sandwich to a customer.
“We’re out of whole meal roles,” Molly said, closing the till.
“A fresh batch is already in the oven.”
Molly was a surprise employee for June. During school, Molly had been one of the popular kids. She was always giving parties and wearing new clothes, but she’d never given June a hard time growing up.
Putting the sign up for a full-time assistant, June never expected Molly to answer the advertisement. She learned throughout the interview that Molly was the mother of two children and the father had left her. No one knew who the father was. June couldn’t imagine raising two babies at all, but Molly was doing it all alone. Whenever Molly was asked about the father, the other woman shut down and refused to say anything. June figured it was up to Molly, and she wasn’t going to force her to spill.
She’d needed the job and wanted to get off the benefit because it was sending her into a depression. Pitying the woman, June removed the application from the window and offered Molly the job on the spot. She probably should have interviewed more people, but she possessed a heart and wanted to help Molly. In the month she’d been open she’d met Molly’s two children and fallen in love with them instantly.
Molly never talked about their father, and June never asked who he was.
“If you want tomorrow I’ll teach you to make the dough for the whole meal bagels?” June went to check the oven. Another five minutes and she could pull them out.
“I’d love that. Why are you so good to me?” Molly asked.
“What do you mean?” June turned to the other woman, frowning.
“You’re June Armstrong. You could employ anyone, and yet you employed me and I’ve got no baking experience at all. All I know how to do is put a ready meal in the microwave.”
“Hey, I taught you how to make lasagna and chicken the other day,” June said, smiling.
Molly smiled. “I guess I want to know why?”
“Why I offered you the job?” Grabbing the hair net from the hook June placed it on her hair, wrapping up the strands.
“We didn’t get on in high school. I was popular, you were not, and yet you’re being nice to me. A lot of my old friends ditched me when I turned up pregnant without a boyfriend, but you’re still here.” Tears filled Molly’s eyes, and they gripped at June’s heart.
Her mother had filled her in on all the town gossip while she’d been away.
“I’m not a bitter person. I don’t see the need to hold a grudge. You were never outright mean to me, Molly. When you walked in the door, I wasn’t going to give you the job at all. Getting to know you and seeing your problems, you need this job a lot more than most. Besides, Sasha and Luke love you working for me, and they get more than a frozen ready meal now.”
June pulled out the whole meal bagels and placed them on a cooling rack.
Turning back to Molly, she saw the other woman crying.
“You’re the only friend I’ve got,” Molly said.
“That’s okay. We only ever need one friend in this world to survive.” She moved toward the other woman and hugged her close. “Tell you what, when you pick Luke and Sasha up today, come back here. I’ve got a casserole in the oven, and there’s plenty for all of us.”
“You really are too damn kind.”
Laughing, June went back to the mixer to see if the dough had proven enough. She really did love baking.
Chapter Two
>
The tattoo lasted long into the night. Dale and Max left around midnight while Trey continued to work. The client wanted it done and completed in one sitting. Trey didn’t mind. He’d given her the spare bedroom to rest up and so he could check the state of the tattoo in the morning. By six in the morning, he was exhausted, hungry, and in need of something quick to eat to get his energy back up. He checked the woman’s tattoo, got paid, and sent her on her way with a list of instructions and contact details in case anything went wrong. Trey didn’t anticipate any problems.
Seeing his fridge completely bare, Trey saw no other choice than to go across the street to buy something.
Fuck, he’d been trying to avoid going to June’s place. All he did when he wasn’t working was think about her. She’d entered back into his mind, and now he couldn’t shake her presence.
Talk to her and get it over with.
Slamming his door closed, he saw several of the construction workers exiting her shop. They were all moaning on the way out. The heavenly fresh scents of bread and donuts assailed him.
He greeted the workers, recognizing most of them as they worked with his two buddies.
Fisting his palms, Trey took a deep breath and headed inside. It was busy, considering it was six-thirty in the morning. He heard June’s deep smoky voice the instant he walked in. She was laughing at something one of the workers said. Her eyes were sparkling with happiness. Grabbing his wallet, he pulled out a note and waited his turn.
When it came time to serve him, the whole shop was empty. Clearing his throat, June looked at him. The smile in her eyes vanished.
“Hello, June,” he said.
His mouth felt dry, and his cock was thickening in his pants. She wore a hairnet, which bound those sexy dark curls together, but he was fucking horny.