Author: kharrison

Eleanor ~Part 2~

Read Part 1 here

Mr Lanford’s eyes bore into her as he flashed a half smile her way. “And how did you come to be mine…err here Miss…?”

“Luchia. My name is Eleanor Luchia, sir.” Eleanor quickly filled in. “Ms Penn hired me to organize your paperwork. I’m sorry, I thought you were aware.”

“And how long have you been employed here Ms Luchia?” He glanced over at Eddie as he asked the question. Eddie’s only response was to chuckle quietly next to her.

She hesitated, not wanting to get in trouble if she had overstepped her bounds, but since he was still smiling congenially enough at her she confessed. “A little over two months.” 

“And where have you been hiding for those two months?” He quickly covered his shock with interested curiosity.

Eleanor pointed to the room she had left to open the door. “Right there.”

Both Eddie and Liam followed her pointed finger with amused gazes. She looked up at Mr Liam Lanford. “I apologize if you were unaware. I’ve been doing my best to make good progress. But when Diane didn’t answer the door I figured I would. Upon hearing it was Mr Dubois I became distracted and failed to inform you that he was here.”

“Distracted?” Liam crossed his arms.

“Discussing your plans for my expansion.” Mr Dubois interjected. 

At Liam’s slow appraising nod, Eleanor blushed. “I’ll get back to my work sir. Sorry for the interruption.”

As she scurried back to her room she heard Eddie remark, “Quite the intelligent and engaging woman you have hiding in there, surrounded by your mountains of paper.”

Not trying to eavesdrop but curious as to what he would say in response Eleanor turned slightly toward them in her retreat. She couldn’t understand what he said but he didn’t sound angry so she hoped it was positive .

An hour later Eddie popped his head in where she was working. “I am on my way out Miss Luchia and I wanted to tell you how delighted I am to have met you. Being able to spend a little time discussing those plans with a fresh set of eyes is just what I needed.”

Eleanor blushed in surprise but nodded. “It was wonderful to meet you Mr Dubois.” She watched him disappear out of sight and once again focused on the papers in front of her.

A few minutes later she looked up to find Mr Lanford standing once again in the doorway. Immediately she rose. “Sorry I didn’t hear you come in.” The apology tumbled out as she straightened the papers in front of her.

“No need to apologize Miss Luchia. If anything, I should be apologizing to you. Ms Penn failed to inform me that had filled the position already or I would have come to introduce myself earlier. I don’t believe in being a faceless boss. Don’t be concerned if I come to check on you every once in a while. I do so with the employees I can in order to stay connected.”

She nodded, only slightly frenetic beneath her calm appearance. Maybe it was his piercing green eyes. Or the fact that he was drop dead handsome. Or maybe it was because she had made a complete dolt of herself in front of him when she’d ‘forgotten’ to bring his client in to him.

She only remembered to breathe after he nodded and strode smoothly out of the room.

The next morning, as she was sitting there, trying to focus on the sorting and not looking for interesting papers to glance over, Eleanor didn’t hear the soft footsteps of someone approaching and stopping just inside her doorway.

With a softly cleared throat he gained her attention. “Good morning, Miss Luchia. I figured I needed to make up for lost time and check in today, find out what progress you’ve made.”

In her best competent voice she began to explain her sorting and organizing tactics. Mid-sentence she recalled her manners and motioned to her chair. “Oh please sit. I didn’t mean to leave you standing.”

His low chuckle shook her professional veneer. “I am fine standing for the moment.” He moved in closer. “However, the progress you have made in two short months is impressive. I know that I’ve completely given up trying to keep order in here and would throw papers into a box and shove the box in here.”

“Does that mean you have another box in your office accumulating, unsorted, right now?” 

He shrugged. “Guilty.”

Eleanor shook her head. “Don’t worry. By the time you have filled up that box and throw it into me I will have everything organized so well that it wouldn’t take me long to sort it out. Of course I hear I have several other rooms that require my attention as well.”

With a slow deep nod he laughed. “I have let it overcome me I fear. I do have one question, now that I think of it. How do you know Eddie?”

“Mr Dubois?” Eleanor blinked in surprise. “I don’t. I met him yesterday.”

“Yet you know of our expansion plans for him through our design and construction company.” He stated levelly.

Flustered, she wrung her hands. “Oh… I… just from sorting sir. I have to know what each paper is in order to sort it.” 

“Furthermore, You know enough to have an in-depth conversation with him based on glances while sorting?” He surveyed her with renewed interest.

“Well. I do have an MBA sir, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Construction.”

Surprise lit his eyes.

“You never saw my resume did you? Ms Penn really did hire me because she figured I could sort papers.” Eleanor’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “I apologize if I overstepped my bounds. It won’t happen again.”

“Overstepped?” He roared as he laughed. “And here I find myself questioning why you are not working for me as a team lead or manager or architect. Why are you here in a dusty room filled with paperwork?”

“To become a part of the company and work my way up. I applied for your other positions first but they always filled without a word my direction. So I saw this as my only option left.”

Liam glanced at his watch. “I have a meeting in 5 minutes so I have to leave. But do not doubt that we will be talking later.” He paused at the door and looked back. He almost took a step back toward her.

“I’m tempted to fire you.”

Shock laced through her. “What?”

He shook his head and shot her a wry grin. “But I won’t.” 

Eleanor let out the breath she had been holding.

“Eleanor, I think it is only fair to let you know, I really want to kiss you right now. And as your boss, I can’t. And as a gentleman, I won’t. Just tempted.”

Without another word he left the room, leaving her mind swirling with temptations of her own.

Shannon

I roll my shoulders back and double check my hair as I make my way through the other partiers. I know where I am going. Now is the perfect opportunity and I am not going to waste it. 

Scott is in the hot tub and none of his stupid friends or giggly groupies are with him. If I play it just right I’ll get him to actually notice me and be impressed by how I look in my brand new baby blue sundress. Sitting on a dry spot at the hot tub’s edge I smile over at my high school crush.

“Hey Scott.” I say as I slip my feet into the warm water.

Although it is slightly disappointing when he doesn’t open his eyes to see who I am, he also doesn’t exactly ignore me. I am thrilled to hear his deep ‘hey’ rumble across the water. My love-struck heart grasps hold and holds tight to that treasure of a greeting.

As I am about to launch my full scale charm in drawing him into seeing me as the potential love of his life there is a commotion over in the side yard where the side gate bursts open, letting in a huge horde of guys. Great.

I’ll have to work fast if I am going to have any chance of keeping his attention once all the guys start some sort of game or another that Scott is sure to join in. 

And that’s when I spot him. Dean is in the front of all those guys, already being swarmed by most of the girls at the part which is something I thoroughly do not understand. The guy is a jerk and yet far too popular for his ego. And somehow he has figured out my little crush. If he saw me making my move he would most likely go out of his way just to ruin it.

“How’s the water?” I say to Scott with my best come-hither purr. “I was thinking about getting in but I don’t want to get too hot.”

At that, his eyes slowly blink open and settle on me. Heated chills race down and then back up my spine. His attention is all mine! I revel in my glorified power, watching his eyes skirt along my sundress, taking it all in. Preparing for this party had been an ordeal and now it is suddenly all worth it.

“Come on in.” He holds out his hand to help me in and I blink. I’m not going to get in with my dress on but I certainly can’t stand there and take it off in front of him, nor can I leave and lose my chance. Torn and frozen, my panicked mind frantically searches for a solution. All options are taken from me as I feel two large hands on my shoulders right before I am shoved into the hot tub.

Coming up sputtering for air after my unplanned plunge, I do my best to not look like a drowned rat in front of Scott. Luckily my long hair stays in the bun I had put it in before coming to the party so I wasn’t struggling to get that out of my face. Turning to see who had pushed me in I’m not too surprised to see Dean smiling down at me. Then he turns to Scott and quips, “The girls just can’t help but fall for you Scott.”

Both guys laugh and I hope that my blush is hidden behind the flush from the hot water. And that’s when it hits me; my moment has passed. Scott’s attention is on Dean and the multiple girls that had followed him over.

When Dean pulls off his shirt, I hurriedly look down. I am most definitely not going to be caught staring at the abs of that jerk, even if they are a fantastic view. I don’t look up until the water surges and I have to step back to keep my balance. And I come face to face with Dean and his stupid smile.

“Hey Shan. You need help with that dress or were you going to keep it on in the hot tub?” His slow lazy drawl has a nearby girl twittering.

As quick as I can I peel the wet fabric off and throw it to the side, plopping down as near as I dare to Scott but not close enough for Dean to make some snarky comment that would embarrass me further. I can feel both guys glance down to check out my suit and find my attention snap to Dean’s dropped jaw rather than Scott’s quick almost dismissive glance. Though Dean’s expression is gone a second later, I am glad I chose to wear my cutest suit.

In seconds Dean and Scott are deep in conversation, no room from noticing girls. I deflate just a little. Minutes pass and more girls join the guys, slowly edging me out. I stay in, hoping that maybe Scott will come over and talk to me but the longer I sit there the more I figure it is unlikely he would. As I am trying to pluck up the courage to retreat, my gaze drops to my toes. No one else has said hi to me and I am feeling more and more out of place the longer I sit there.

“Shan.” The low whisper in my ear gives me more chills than it should. I turn to face Dean, discovering that he made his way to sit right next to me and is getting closer. “You weren’t really flirting with Scott again were you?”

“None of your business Dean. Why are you here?” 

“It’s a party! Where else would I be?!” With that he throws his arm around me and pulls me into a fierce hug.

“Somewhere that didn’t involve tormenting me!” I can’t help but huff.

No one else seems to notice or care that Mr Popularity-and-Life-of-the-Party isn’t basking in their attention any longer. Instead he is sucking me into his bright blue eyes, resting his forehead on mine so I can’t see anyone but him.

His voice is so quiet I was sure that no one else could have overheard him even if they tried. “Shannon Caswall. When are you going to open your eyes and see past what you think of as tormenting to see that I’m protecting you from a real jerk?”

I blink rapidly, trying to process what he said. With another blink he is back in the thick of his entourage. He sees me staring and winks.

I flee.

Ellie

Multicolored lights flashed and reflected around the club as the partygoers on the packed dance floor bounced along to the beat. Ellie stood high above it all on the balcony, watching the frenzied mass of flaunting and flirting, bored.

She should have stayed home. Joe demanding that she come listen to his new stuff shouldn’t have been a good enough reason. They weren’t even dating anymore. 

Arms folded, she glared at where Joe was standing at the DJ booth. This was the last night she was dragging herself out to be supportive of her tyrant ex. There was a reason they had broken up, that she had ended things with him.

No more being a walked on pushover. She recited it over and over in her head. During the past year the high balcony had become a refuge of sorts whenever Joe had insisted on her coming to watch him DJ. The club scene wasn’t really one she was all that comfortable with and never had been. For Ellie, that balcony was a gift. She was there without being down in the trenches. Instead she had a bird’s eye view of the whole club where no one would notice her watching. After an hour of sitting on the sidelines, alone and tired, she didn’t see the point of staying any longer. Usually Marci would come up to keep her company when she would get tired of dancing but she’d had to stay home tonight.

Enough was enough. She turned to head down the stairs when a ripple in the crowd caught her eye. Looking closer, she saw it again. People were moving out of the way for someone. A celebrity?

As she leaned on the rail to get a better look the crowd parted once again and she glimpsed a man with a natural bronzed tan striding confidently through the dancers to one of the small standing tables on the edge of the floor. If he knew people were parting to move out of his way, he didn’t show it. Maybe he was famous, but she didn’t recognize him.

The man had changed the entire atmosphere of the club simply by walking in. He didn’t look dangerous, but he definitely had a ‘back off’ kind of vibe. Why go to a club if you weren’t in the mood to be around people? Oh wait, she was there and definitely was not interested in descending into that mass of people except to leave. 

Glancing over to where Joe still stood in front of the crowd on his self-proclaimed throne, she could see him sending glares over at the mystery guest. With him there, Joe couldn’t pretend to be the coolest in the room. 

As Ellie blatantly stared at the new arrival, safe in her assumption of being invisible in the high balcony, she noticed him looking about intently, as if he were looking for someone. It wasn’t a frantic sort of looking around, more like he was searching for someone he knew. She too started to look around to see if she could spot who he could be looking for. She laughed. How could she find someone if she didn’t even know who he was looking for?

His sharp gaze pierced through the crowd as he continued his intense search. Who was he looking for? Ellie continued to survey the crowd too, glancing back at him every few seconds to see if he was still looking about. No longer interested in the other club-goers or in leaving, her full attention was on him. 

Her mystery man gave off this aura of strength that was almost comforting. Or it would be if they were friends. It wasn’t in his build but more in the way he held himself. The more she took in his appearance the more Ellie found herself wanting to be down there, introducing herself.  

Very unlike her. 

Again she slowly took in his overall look, from his patent leather shoes to the intensity of his dreamy face. He had money but was not flaunting it. If she had to hazard a guess she would say that he was comfortable in his life and wasn’t looking to prove to others how much he made in order to make fake money-worshipping friends.

In the midst of her almost lazy perusal, shock zapped through her as she discovered those eyes looking straight up at her. He wasn’t glaring per se but he was definitely looking right at her. It was more like he was trying to ask her a question she didn’t know the answer to. As he smiled up at her she stepped back and out of sight. She struggled to keep her panic tamped down. He had caught her openly staring at him for who knows how long. It took several minutes to talk herself into moving back to the railing.

When she finally did she discovered that he was gone. A completely different sort of panic flooded through her. Searching the crowd, there was no ripple. Nothing to give her any hint of where he could have gone. She quickly gathered her things. 

Jacket and purse in hand, she moved to the stairs. Before she could make her way down she had to pull back to stop from slamming into the guy leaning in the doorway, his coal black hair swept casually across his forehead. He was blocking her exit and, by the gleam in his eye, he knew it.

“Nice hideout.” He chuckled, uncrossing his arms and stepping toward her. He neatly backed her up to the rail overlooking the dance floor. A few good feet remained between them. After a few moments of silent, surprisingly non-awkward staring he chuckled again and moved to lean on the rail next to her. He glanced down at the dance floor below before he turned his full attention back on her. She felt transparent.

All those gorgeously sculpted muscles in easy touching distance caused Ellie to struggle to smother her gasp. Standing perfectly still, she waited. All her brain could process was how close he was.

He stepped back enough that she felt she could breathe. He flashed her a megawatt smile. “Come here much?” 

Lilah

“Lils, we need to talk.” Carter called to her from his locker.

Lilah sighed. It wasn’t like their lockers were close together. No. He was trying to talk over 10 feet away through a crowded hallway. It was a surprise she could hear him at all. Shaking her head, she ignored him and pulled out her calculus book. She was not going to respond to his down-the-hall summons.

“Aww come on Lils. Don’t be like that.” He hollered, singing out his twisted version of her name. Again. She noticed several people looking between the two of them now. It took several more loudmouth attempts on his part before he sauntered over. Leaning against her open locker door he tried again, this time in a soft singsong voice, “Lils.”

With a deep breath she faced him. “It’s Lilah, Carter.” He had persisted in calling her Lils since he’d first met her freshman year. And now, 3 years later, no matter how many times she’d told him otherwise, he remained consistent. Not once had he ever said her real name. Not that she’d ever tell him but over the years she had grown to like her nickname and the attention he gave her. Most of her irritation towards him was more like their own personalized form of greeting. Yet she was stubborn in her dislike of him.. It was as if whatever relationship they had would dissolve if she ever changed her opinion of him, or admitted it out loud. And so they were considered school-wide as the school’s frenemies. 

Some people were considered most likely to succeed, others the class clowns, and yet her name would forever be linked to Carter’s. 

Maybe this year would be different.

Carter tugged her hair hanging over her shoulder. “Hey. Pay attention to me. I came all the way over here.”

“What do you want Carter?” She absently started pulling out books out of her backpack. Her hands needed something to do.

“You gotta help me.” He grabbed her shoulders, forcing her full attention to him. She looked up, startled.

“With what?” She swatted at his arms to make him let go. “What’s with you today?”

He leaned in close. “I have a new neighbor.” He whispered, still sounding urgently panicked.

Lilah instantly relaxed. “She cute?”

Carter stopped, tilting his head to the side. “How’d you know it’s a girl? Have you met her already?”

“No.” Lilah chuckled. “If your new neighbor was a guy you wouldn’t be coming to me to solve any problems.”

“You are too smart for your own good sometimes Lils.” He chucked her chin.

“I’ve heard that. Your point?” Lilah folded her arms.

Carter looked about ready to take another jab when he reined himself in. “About my new neighbor.”

“Yes?” She goaded. “Spit it out.”

A shrill pouty voice halted their conversation as the blood drained from his face. “Carter!”

“It’s your soulmate calling.” Lilah whispered, watching him cringe.

“What?!” He whispered back.

“She yells through the hallway too. Congrats. I’ll send a flower for your wedding, k?” She was finding an odd thrill in teasing him. Usually she was at the end of his teasing. She was enjoying the turnabout. So much so that she even went so far as to nudge him with her shoulder.

“No!” He pulled her in front of him as if he could hide behind her. His well-toned, track star build wasn’t easily hidden by her petite dancer’s body.

“What is wrong with you?” Lilah attempted to look concerned but couldn’t manage to hide her smile. “Is there a problem in paradise? Does she have a little crush you can’t shake?”

“Not so little.” He shuddered.

“And you want me to do what? Protect you?” His sheepish nod and hopeful smile tugged at her sympathy. “Oh alright but you’ll owe me big.” She relented. Lilah didn’t have time to say or ask more before the girl appeared, standing disturbingly close..

Lilah blinked rapidly in shock. The garish, all pink ensemble Carter’s new neighbor was wearing as she bounced on the balls of her feet in front of them was painfully bright. In seconds Lilah felt old compared to the girl who looked like she had just stepped out of a cartoon.

“There you are Carter!” The girl proclaimed, moving in for a hug.

Lilah could feel Carter move to duck behind her and she quickly stepped in between them to make it look like she was moving forward naturally to introduce herself to the newcomer. She heard Carter’s small sigh of relief and found herself wondering what on earth had happened between the two of them. Sticking her hand out Lilah managed to stop the colorful girl from sidestepping her to get at Carter. “Hi I’m Lilah. It is so wonderful to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you!” 

Flattered, the girl stopped trying to reach Carter and stared up at Lilah. “Carter talks about me?”

Lilah could only stare. The girl’s attention was all over the place. “He forgot to mention what year you are though.”

“Oh silly Carter.” Again, the still nameless girl moved to get closer to Carter but Lilah easily blocked her without making it look like she was. “I’m a freshman.”

Nodding politely Lilah turned to Carter, “We should get going, we don’t want to be late for class.”

For the first time in their history together Carter didn’t say any smart aleck remarks or call her Lils. He only nodded quickly, calling over a quick goodbye to the pink girl. Together they made their escape, but only after the girl gave Carter a rather embarrassing clingy hug that left even Lilah cringing. Once they rounded several corners they both sighed in relief. 

“You’ve got quite the new neighbor there Carter.” Lilah laughed. Instead of laughing, Carter pulled her into him and gave her a big Carter bear hug. Usually whatever hugs he forced on her were tight and uncomfortable but not this one. This hug was almost nice. She was beginning to involuntarily relax into his arms. When he loosened his hold he didn’t fully let her go and pulled her in for a kiss that seared through her in shock.

When they pulled apart Lilah stared in stunned surprise as Carter tried to shrug it off with only a hint of a chagrined blush at his own impetuousness. “Thanks for your help back there Lils. You’re my hero but don’t let it get to your head. We don’t want it to get big or anything.”

Eleanor

The dark mahogany furniture where Eleanor waited in the foyer surrounded by lush carpets and elegant paintings did little by way of comfort as she fought to remain outwardly calm. Anxiously tapping her fingers on her bouncing knee she glanced over her resume again. A severe looking woman in a too tight suit appeared in the doorway holding an armful of folders.

“Eleanor Luchia?” The woman looked down her nose, busy impatience roiling around her like a fog.

Eleanor stood, stopping herself from curtseying to the auspicious woman in her lavish work area, and smoothed her skirt. “That’s me.”

“Well come in and sit down.” She waved Eleanor into the small office. Eleanor laid her resume on the desk.

“Miss Luchia. It says here that you are here for a position as a personal assistant/ secretary for Mr Lanford. Is that correct?” At Eleanor’s nod she continued. “Now, he already has two but he has decided to hire a third to organize and sort through all the paperwork involved in his four separate businesses. Over the past year it all piled up and become an intermingled mess. It is going to take quite a bit of work to get through it all.”  

“Thank you for seeing me today. I understand…” Eleanor stopped abruptly when the woman’s hand went up.

“Miss Luchia, I can see that you are intelligent enough to manage the work that will be assigned to you and not get in the way. Also I don’t have the time to interview all the applicants. You will do. You may address me as Ms. Penn. Report back here tomorrow morning at 6 am and I will show you what room you will be organizing. Business casual dress code.” Ms Penn stood, motioning to the door.

“Thank you Ms Penn for the opportunity.” Eleanor stood.

“Yes, yes, Miss Luchia. Don’t forget to arrive on time.” Ms Penn didn’t bother to escort her out. She waved her away towards the door, already working on something else.

Eleanor walked out, stunned to have a job, even if it was just filing paperwork. She now officially had a foothold into the company she had dreamed of getting involved in.

The next morning, as soon as she arrived Ms Penn shuffled her off into a large room filled with stacks upon stacks of boxes, a small empty table, and an uncomfortable looking chair. Ms Penn nodded to the table. “Miss Luchia, these are the boxes of the most current paperwork. They need to be sorted and accessible. I suggest you start by sorting each individual paper into each of the businesses before going into more depth. There are six more rooms just like this that need sorting. I will be in to check on you later.” Ms Penn left with an abrupt about-face. 

Standing alone in the packed room Eleanor opened the first box and began her sorting. It began with four small piles, one for each company. Those four piles on the table eventually turned to four boxes that she switched for empty ones as they filled. There were never any less of the boxes since she wasn’t throwing anything out. It was more of a grand reshuffling and reorganizing game. It was a matter of moving and labeling what had been sorted and separating it out from what she still had to go through. 

For weeks she sludged through box after box, eventually sorting the boxes she had done into different rooms. Slowly the boxes began to have order, penetrating the chaos. Once she finished sorting through each room she would then need to get all the boxes for one company and begin organizing so that it wasn’t just a jumble of paper but more of a usable archive. Apparently Mr Lanford had no interest in going to a digital filing system. And he kept everything. Hours and hours of never-ending work seemed to stretch out in front of her.

Yet, instead of getting bored by the sheer monotony of merely sorting papers, she found herself fascinated, eagerly absorbing the information presented to her as she sorted. 

Two months in, she had made steady progress, working her way through two of the rooms and she still had not met the boss or even seen him. Occasionally she would hear him talking but never close enough to where she was working. 

One day she was startled by the front doorbell shattering the silence, followed by a man hollering, “Can you get that Diane?”

Seconds passed and the doorbell sounded again. This time the commotion held her attention enough that she set down the stack of papers she was sorting. “Diane! The door!” The deep male voice called out again, impatience now marring his tone. Eleanor stood and peeked out to see if Diane was heading to the door. No one in sight. With the third ring Eleanor shrugged and went to open the door. On the steps was a huge man towering over her in a nice italian suit. He nodded politely.

“Please inform Liam that I’m here.” His lovely tenor voice awakened a slow burning warmth in her chest.

Eleanor was all courtesy as she motioned him in. “Please come sit down and I will let Mr Lanford know you are here Mr…?”

“Dubois. Eddie Dubois.” He supplied with a charming smile flashing her way.

“Dubois!” Eleanor quickly tamped down her excitement. After all the papers she had seen concerning his company, meeting him in person was thrilling to say the least.

“You know me?” The man seemed surprised. 

She nodded hesitantly, “CEO of Renshaw Corp. I’m new here but I’ve been organizing paperwork for Mr Lanford and the plans drawn up for your expansion are fascinating. It truly is a pleasure to meet you.” 

“Really? And what do you find fascinating about them?”

Twenty minutes later Eddie and Eleanor were deep in conversation when a tall athletic man leaned against the nearby door frame. When he cleared his throat Eleanor blushed as she realized the man she was now entirely convinced was her boss was looking her up and down as if trying to figure out the answer to a puzzling question. Her heart practically stopped under the scrutiny. While Mr Dubois may have inspired a warmth, Mr Lanford practically gave her a fever. 

Thankfully instead of addressing her, he spoke to Eddie, “You are bringing your girls to our meetings now?”

Eddie laughed. “No, not at all. I didn’t bring this lovely lady. She’s yours.” He paused and shot her a grin. “And I’m finding myself thinking how very lucky you are to have her.”

“Mine?” Again his gaze tore through her as he studied her, from her red high heels to curly honey hair. Eleanor found herself immensely relieved that she wasn’t a mess today. His face transformed when he finished his intense study. “Indeed. Lucky me.”

Click here to read more of Eleanor’s story.

Jana

Don’t damsels in distress get a knight to come save them? If so,where on earth was hers and what was taking him so long? Jana kicked the front right tire of her Camry. It was flatter than flat and completely worthless. Limping over to the other side of the car, she promptly kicked her other front tire, which was also flat.

Unsure how she’d managed two flat tires at the same time Jana leaned her back against the car, letting herself sink to the ground. Not enough people traveled down the Amaryllis Scenic Route enough for her to hope for a rescue anytime soon.

As she was wearily pulling herself to her feet, a huge flashy red truck appeared up the road. Maybe her knight was only running a bit late.

It wasn’t until the truck pulled off the road and the driver hopped out that her shoulders slumped once again. This was most definitely not her knight.

“Well, if it isn’t my lucky day. The first person I see when I get back in town is the one and only J-babes.” The well dressed man chuckled as he sauntered toward her.

Jana took in the man in front of her. He looked like Deuce. In fact, he talked like Deuce. He even drove Deuce’s car. But when had he grown up? And why on earth did he have to look so good in denim?

He had made her life miserable up until the day he left high school, even going so far as to tell her crush of 3 years that she liked him, dooming her to a dateless senior year. When he’d left more than a year ago she had thrown her own little private party.

“Deuce Carter. What are you doing here?” She couldn’t help but growl.

“You mean driving along, minding my own business down Amaryllis? Or stopping behind your broken down car to offer my assistance?”

“When have you offered anything remotely close to assistance?”

“To you, J-babes? This would be a first, so if you like I can hop back in my truck and be on my way.” He smiled cheerily.

“Stop calling me that.” Jana stomped her foot and instantly regretted it as she watched him look down the length of her. From her sloppily thrown back ponytail down to her bright blue skinny jeans and sparkly black ballet flats. He was in no rush, taking his time as he smiled that I’m-really-up-to-no-good smile of his. 

“When did you start looking so good?” He muttered appreciatively, echoing her exact thoughts about him only moments ago.

Deuce continued to move in closer. She wasn’t sure if he was flexing to show off his incredibly thick arms and chest or if he couldn’t help but show how large and muscular he looked but she did know one thing for sure. If Deuce Carter was a stranger and she didn’t know how conniving he could be she might have started drooling right then and there.

Yet, she knew him. All too well. So instead of giving in to any and all delicious thoughts of his handsome physique, she glared. 

He sidled up in front of her, hands in his pockets. “Hey J.” He whispered as he leaned in, following her as she leaned back into her car. Slowly he moved closer as her brain stopped functioning and she couldn’t think straight.

Within a breath of his very kissable lips closing in to touch hers he stopped and held himself perfectly still as a huge smile spread across his face.

Kissable? No definitely not kissable. Had she thought him kissable? She meant slappable.

“Nothing to say?” He smirked but didn’t move back, didn’t give her any room to wiggle away and escape as he waited for her to talk.

Jana put her hands up on his chest and pushed. Unfortunately her efforts proved futile as he didn’t move. In fact, the opposite happened as his hands landed on either side of her, more effectively pinning her where she stood.

“Now that’s not a very nice way to say hello to an old friend.” Deuce chided softly in her ear.

With arms crossed she glared at him. “Old friend?” The words burst from her. “Not once were you ever my friend. You made my life miserable every chance you got.”

The tiniest hint of chagrin flashed across his features before his cocky grin was back. “So I didn’t choose the best way of catching and keeping your attention.” He shrugged. “But it still worked. You noticed me.”

“Notice you?” Jana fought not to shriek. “I did all I could to avoid you.”

Deuce didn’t even seem phased by her outburst. “And yet, for all your efforts, here we are.”

Enough. “Are you going to help me or just stand there?”

As they’d been talking he slowly moved back, giving her some degree of relief. Still he was way too close for normal brain activity to kick in. When she had thrown out that last question his arms abruptly wrapped around her, hauling her in for a huge spinning hug. 

“Put me down, Deuce.” She demanded.

Immediately she was back on her own two feet but he was kissing her instead. It was quick and as inescapable as a hurricane… and just as powerful. Luckily for her, Deuce still had his arms around her when he pulled away because she staggered, reeling.

“My goodness J-babes. Am I glad to see you.”

“I. That. You.” In the back of her mind Jana was screaming at herself to pull it together and form at least one scathing sentence instead of melting into a pile of goo. “You kissed me!” 

“Yes.” He nodded, unrepentant. “I’ve been wanting to do that since that first time I saw you trying to flirt with Ethan by the lunch tables.”

Shock lanced through her. “In 8th grade?” Her memory connected and he nodded. “But you dumped a carton of chocolate milk on my head.”

“I did.” His chest puffed a little, making his embrace just a little tighter. “It was the first thing I could think of to get you to stop talking to him and pay attention to me.”

Shaking her head, she smiled. “Oh I paid attention. I chased you all around the school.”

He tipped his forehead down to meet hers. “But you never talked to Ethan again.”

Jana could only stare.

Eventually he broke eye contact and looked over at her car. “Now what happened here?”

Jana continued to stare at him, her emotions waffling between enraged, stunned, irritated, and flattered. 

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Jana stuttered. “Why now?”

Deuce stopped walking around and looked over at her. “I was going to tell you the night before I left. But when I walked over to your house you were on the front porch kissing Bobby Hanson.” Before she could respond he strode around the car, hooked her around the waist, hauling her in the direction of his red monstrosity. “Your car’s worthless. Get in.”

Ready to read part 2 of Jana’s story, click here.

Adalynn ~Part 2~

Read Part 1 here

Adalynn nodded to her lead escort and straightened her shoulders. After a two day journey they had reached the Lystandian border. The actual border was nothing more than a knee high stone wall with a little gate where the path ended. Why the Lystand delegation had insisted they meet here, she couldn’t understand.

Across the border a lone rider sat mounted on his horse, presumably waiting for her to cross and start her new life. Breathing deep she fortified her heart and resolved to endure. There was no other choice. Once the council had made the decision to marry her off to some Lystand noble  in hopes of peace, they had kept her confined to her room. A prisoner in all but name. The Lystandian delegation had not even promised peace, only hinted at it. Yet her own council had been more than happy and willing to hand her over, eager even.

Adalynn was more than a little miffed that she didn’t even know to whom she was being married to. The council had not cared to ask. Thus she was going into an abysmal unknown: uncertain of anything once she took that step over the border. They could be marrying her off to a peasant in a mud hovel and she wouldn’t have a say. According to all the papers she had watched the council sign without even glancing in her direction, it was all final. Where once she was Queen Adalynn of Mourvna, now she was only Adalynn with no foreseeable future.

With a sigh, she spurred her horse forward, well aware that while everyone surrounding her was watching to see that she crossed the border and made it to the Lystandian delegation of one, no one would be coming with her.

Nudging her grey mare forward she kept her head held high and moved directly to the man waiting. With great care Adalynn pointedly refused to look back. Her whole kingdom was abandoning her but she didn’t have to watch them turn their backs.

Her waiting escort only looked at her, no hint that he ever smiled. Even without any kindness softening his features he looked strong and capable, as if he had seen several lifetimes. He was young, possibly only a few years older than herself. What was the Lystandian monarchy thinking, only sending one man to bring her back? Would she be safe? Or were they hoping she would not make it to their destination unharmed?

When he saw her looking in his direction he nodded once, possibly in greeting, before turning his horse away and into the trees. Adalynn’s squared shoulders deflated slightly and she nudged her horse to follow him.

It was several hours of mindless plodding before he stopped and looked back to see if she was still there. Adalynn found she didn’t care. Her emotions had gone cold, her heart lost in its frosty whirl, as she blankly stared after him so as not to get lost. Her life may be over but she wasn’t going to die out in the middle of nowhere.

When her horse pulled to a stop she quickly jerked to attention and looked around.

The man was right in front of her reaching out his hand. Unblinking she looked at it.

“Do you need to stop?” His warm voice trickled into her weary thoughts. It wasn’t until he spoke that she realized how cold she was; so stiff she couldn’t find the will to move much.

“C-cold.” She whimpered, hating herself for sounding so weak.

With an abrupt nod his proffered hand snaked around her waist and pulled her off her horse and into his arms. He cradled her against him with ease. Nestled into his chest, she weakly attempted to escape his embrace but he didn’t move.

With her title and Mourvnan custom demanding she not be touched anywhere but her left hand, she hadn’t been held so completely for so long that the sensation of his arms overwhelmed her.

“What are you doing?” She demanded even while she was shivering uncontrollably.

Again his deep voice deliciously heated her senses as he gruffed. “You are too cold. If I don’t get you warm soon you won’t make it much further.”

As he was speaking, he rubbed her arms. At first the feel of her thick coat against her arm chafed, hurting the highly sensitized skin. Slowly she began to feel the friction and exhaled in a sigh as the warmth along her skin seemed to penetrate deeper, giving her a relief she hadn’t realized she’d needed. Adalynn looked back and up into his face, her head cradled by his shoulder. “Do you know what is going to happen to me or are you just a messenger?”

“I wouldn’t say just a messenger but yes I do know what you have to look forward to.” He didn’t look away. For just a moment she thought she saw anger skim across the features of his face, disappearing as quickly as it had surfaced.

A trickle of fear rolled through her. “Am I in for a rough adjustment?”

“They didn’t tell you anything?” His anger returned but mixed with something else. Concern? Or was it irritation? Was she supposed to already know and be prepared? From years as queen she squelched the panic rising up her throat and maintained an outward calm.

“I was not consulted nor informed of anything.” Adalynn looked away and out at the snow surrounding them.

“Forgive me. I assumed you knew what was ahead.” He shook his head. “And no, it will not be a hard adjustment. Not if I can help it.”  

“You?” Her eyes snapped back to him, locking on to his.

He nodded, holding her gaze as he continued to hold her close.

“Who are you?” Her curiosity combined with her near frozenness eliminated any of her careful diplomatic tact.

“Zayne, son of the Kalen, our kingdom’s equivalent of a king.”

“Oh.” She blushed and once again tried to extract herself from his embrace. “Forgive me for not knowing. The Mourvnan Council has kept much from me since my father’s death.”

He shook his head roughly, not looking at her. “You should have been told.” He paused. He hesitated to look at her face. “Did they not tell you who you are to marry?”

“No.”

Adalynn felt him exhale forcefully and she shivered again.

Blake

Blake leaned back in her white wicker rocking chair, happily soaking in the last of the fading sunset as she swayed. The warm Georgia summer heat encompassed her senses, inviting her to stay lounging in the relatively cool shade of her veranda forever. She closed her eyes with a groan when she heard the sharp clicks heralding her sure-to-be-irate mother.

“Blake Lorelai Dawes, it is unseemly for you to be out here unaccompanied. I have taught you better than to put yourself in such a precarious situation. Your father would have a fit if he discovered you out here alone.” The elegantly plump lady tapped her foot over and over, ruining the calm stillness of the coming night.

Blake sighed, raising her head to look over at where her mother was standing in the doorway, hands on hips and covered in flour.

“He’d have even more of a fit if he came out and discovered I wasn’t alone momma.”

Blake’s mother gasped in dismay. “Child, what a thing to say to your mother!”

“Oh momma. I wasn’t planning a scandal. The sky was putting on a colorful show that I simply couldn’t resist. Soon enough it will be dark and the stars will be twinkling up there just for me.” Blake lay back again, tipping her chair back further.

“Come inside, girl. I will remind you that rarely does a young lady plan for a scandal…and they still happen.”

Lazily shaking her head Blake didn’t look over. “Please, a few minutes more momma. Then I’ll come inside. I promise.”

Mrs Josephine Dawes left in a slight tizzy, muttering under her breath about willful daughters who don’t listen to their mothers as they ought. Apparently she didn’t appreciate that her only daughter never listened to her anymore.

It only took a minute, maybe less, for Blake to completely forget her promise to her mother. The stars were out and the beautiful simplicity of the sky made it impossible for her to leave. Minutes stretched as the stars twinkled overhead.

The stillness was shattered when a sharp crack came from the small grove of trees off to her right. Instantly adrenaline stampeded through her as she stood and leaned against the rail of the veranda. It was much darker than she had realized. Maybe going inside would be best. Sitting out alone in the dark wasn’t her most brilliant idea. She couldn’t see a thing. The beginnings of panic edged into her breath as she took a slow step back, as if she could sneak inside unnoticed if she moved slow and quiet enough.

Another crack that sounded much closer had her nearly jumping in her skin. She scarcely breathed as she looked for the source of the noise and failed. She spun around to flee indoors. Instead she ran right into a solid mass of warmth. Staggering back in surprise, Blake struggled to keep herself upright. He stepped forward, his arms outstretched but not touching her, as if he could hold her up by willpower alone. 

“Ma’am.” The deep gravelly voice was just as heart-stopping as the rest of what she could see of him in the waning light. “Robert Hawkes, at your service.”

“Oh Mr. Hawkes.” Blake swept a hand to dust off her skirts before checking on her hair. Rumors had circulated about the man who had bought the nearby plantation and here he was standing in front of her looking all tempting. “A pleasure to meet you. My parents mentioned you had moved into the neighborhood. If you would excuse me for a moment I can step in and fetch them.”

Blake forced herself to stop staring, dropping her gaze to the porch. She moved to go around the large appealing man when his hand shot out, unseen in the darkness, snagging her corseted waist and forcing her to stop. He didn’t pull her into him, as she’d heard rogues would do when they caught a lady unattended but he didn’t let her pass either. A shiver ran amok across her nerves, her mind hyper aware of the warmth of his touch. She opened her mouth to protest, only to discover no sound would come out. She simply stood there gaping at his audacity.

After she stared at him for several seconds in shock, he loosened his hold slightly. “Before you go, if I might ask you a question?” He paused. “A personal question.”

Doing her level best to not hyperventilate at his close proximity, Blake strove for her most detached snooty tone. “You may.”

“Do you make a habit of tempting any and all passersby with your beauty in the moonlight?” His low voice immediately flooded her imagination with a variety of stolen kisses in the moonlight.

She didn’t have a chance to answer as his face moved in closer to hers, his arms wrapping further around her, pulling her in.  Her breath caught. She couldn’t believe her first kiss was going to be with a man she didn’t know, even one as tempting and rugged as Mr. Hawkes. Her hands moved to push him away, knowing she should, and found herself unable to move him. In seconds her hands were pinned between them, useless.

A mere breath away from their lips touching he stopped and held her there, caught.

He sighed, looking straight into her eyes, “I suppose you’d never forgive me for stealing a kiss.” After a pause, he added, “I also suppose I better meet your mama if I ever hope to have a chance at courtin’ you.”

“Me?” She breathed in shock as he still held her close, pressed up against him. “You want to court me?”

“Right now, I can’t think of anything I’d want to do more.” He stepped back, gently letting her go. With a tip of his hat he moved even further away to a distance a respectable gentleman should give any young lady he chanced upon in the dark or anywhere since well-behaved young ladies were not out in the dark where they could be chanced upon.

“Momma.” She called out calmly, after she managed to catch her breath. “We have a visitor.”

Megan

“Stay down.” The man whisper-yelled as another bullet hit the sidewalk to her left, pressing her lower and tighter into the stone planter as if he could keep her safer that way. With each gunshot she shook harder. How was this happening?

Only seconds ago it had been a normal day. She had been walking to work with her big shoulder bag bumping against her hip in a comfortable rhythmic pattern, pleased that she would be getting to work on time without rushing.

Next thing she knew this guy came out of nowhere, enveloped her in a huge hug, pulling her down to the planter, at the same time gunshots started ringing out. The noise made her repeatedly cringe, wishing she could melt into the cold stone pressing into her back. It wasn’t until the man who had tackled her glanced over and forced her to make eye contact that she came to herself. She didn’t know him.

“Are you ok?” He asked as he held her gaze steadily. He didn’t even flinch at all the noise.

Megan couldn’t stay focused. Her gaze jumped from him to the people screaming around them, to where she could possibly run to escape, back to him, then on to any and everything else until he gripped her chin with a firm but gentle hand.

“Megan, I need you to look at me and verbally confirm that you are ok.” His calm voice broke through the chaos rebounding in her mind. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I…no. I’m not hurt, I think.” Megan blinked, staring up into his eyes like they were a lifeline. He returned it, as if he knew that she needed the steady reassurance. He continued to stare as her senses struggled to make sense of everything that was happening. 

“We need to move.” He declared. And suddenly his face was right in front of hers. “Now.”

“Who are you? How do you know my name?” She pulled away, shrinking further into the cold stone.

Immediately she was distracted from her own question by the wry smile on his rugged face. “Now?” His head tilted to the side as he asked.

“What?” She gave a little shake to clear away her rather vivid imagination urging her to lean forward just a little and give him a quick kiss. He was so close and so gorgeous, it was hard to resist. Megan barely had the presence of mind to take his outstretched hand.

“We have seconds to get you out of here before that guy realizes that you aren’t hit or worse.” He rushed to explain.

“ME?!” Megan’s heart dropped. “What did I do?”

“You didn’t. Your boss did. Please let me get you safe before we go through what happened.” 

At her nod he hauled her to her feet. There was a slight pause in the gunshots.

“How did you…” She began to ask as he pulled her quickly around the nearest corner.

“Not now!” The man insisted as they ran down the street. 

It was several blocks before he flagged down a taxi and immediately directed the driver to go to a high rise building across town.

Megan flopped back into the seat and began to cry. While she had attempted to sob quietly he still noticed. Gently his arm came around her as he pulled her slowly over to him. The soft embrace only caused her to cry more.

When the driver noticed, he drove faster, probably wanting them out of his car before she did anything hysterical.

“Who? Who are you?” Megan whispered up into his ear.

“Dante.” He whispered back.

“You don’t look like a Dante.” She confessed as she leaned back into him. He was so comfortable.

He chuckled softly as he squeezed her close for an instant. “I promise I will do my best to explain everything as soon as we get to my apartment.”

“Your apartment?” Megan repeated.

“Safest place I know.”

She nodded. That made sense.

Once the cab dropped them off in front of a tall apartment building Dante slid his arm protectively around her, leading her into the building and to the elevator. It only took a few short minutes to make it safely into his small apartment. Megan plopped down on the couch. 

“What is going on? Why do you think that guy was trying to shoot me?” Megan immediately started sputtering out her questions that had been racing through her head since they had made it to the cab.

Dante shook his head. “Let me explain. It should answer all or most of your questions. I am Mr Alvarino’s head of security.”

“My boss?” She interrupted in surprise.

He nodded and continued. “This morning I went to his home to relieve the night guard, only to discover both the guard and Mr Alvarino dead. After reporting it to the police I was looking for clues as to why they had been killed. Several files were missing and I recalled a conversation I had with Mr Alvarino several nights ago when he mentioned he may have stumbled into a criminal’s business by accident and that he had given you the files for safekeeping. So I immediately tracked you down.”

“How come I’ve never met you before? And why would he give files to me? And how did he get mixed up with criminals, he’s a graphics designer?!”

“Do you have the files?”

“You didn’t answer any of my questions. And how do I know you are who you say and not one of the criminals after these mysterious files?”

He sighed. “I haven’t met you before this because I usually am more behind the scenes, orchestrating who goes where and clearing venues for Mr Alvarino to visit. I don’t have time for field work.”

“Then why come out today?” Megan tilted her head, curious.

His head dropped slightly before he raised his gaze to look straight at her. “I didn’t want you to be a casualty.”

“We’ve never met.” She pointed out.

He shrugged. “I’ve seen your personnel file. You were cleared through me just like everyone else. I’d say I know you pretty well.”

“And so you decided based on my picture and a few facts in a folder that you would ditch your desk and come dodge bullets to save me?” Megan laughed at the absurdity.

His gaze held strong, catching her heart on fire with his intensely sincere eyes. “Yes.” 

“Oh.”

Aria

Aria slowly stepped out onto the top deck of the cruise ship and breathed. The view was breathtaking, worth trudging up all those back stairs. In the next two weeks 2 weeks she could do whatever she wanted and her mother would have no way of knowing how she spent her cruise. Aria had been furious when first learned that her mother had bought her this ‘gift’; another one of her blatantly obvious matchmaking attempts.

Her mother had gone so far as to have her escorted onto the ship and had stayed at her door until just before departure to ensure she didn’t escape, despite her adamant refusal that this cruise was nothing more than a vacation. There were no signs announcing it but Aria was more than a little suspicious that this was a single’s cruise. Her mother had been right in assuming that the only way to make sure she went was to physically place her there herself.

Aria felt the monstrosity of a ship get underway only minutes after her mother left. She stayed in her room for nearly an hour when she decided to explore and had found the top deck. Thankfully no one else had found it yet and she was blissfully alone to stare off into the sea in peace and relative quiet. It wasn’t that she didn’t like people. She just couldn’t stand most of them, the mind-numbingly empty-headed self-absorbed chatterers grated on her patience.

When she heard the heavy footsteps coming up the steps she closed her eyes in denial, wishing for just a few more minutes. She turned with a smile plastered on her face.

Standing in front of her was a blonde, muscled hunk of a man wearing only his swim trunks and flip flops, looking much more ready for the beach than a cruise.

“Sorry. I didn’t think anyone would be up here.” He apologized, as if he could sense that he was intruding on her quiet time. “I just needed a minute away from…” He paused, searching for the right word before shrugging. “…away from people to be honest.”

Relaxing back against the rail Aria nodded. “I can understand that.” She turned back to her view, giving him space. “I’m doing the same.” Out of the corner of her eye she saw him lean on the rail near her. For someone looking to escape people he didn’t seem to mind being close to her.

“Are you just saying you understand to let me off the hook for unknowingly stealing your solitude?”

Tilting her head to look his way she really tried not to laugh. Yet out it came, light and carefree. She really had needed a vacation. It was making her feel lighter already.

“Why do you think I’m up here if I don’t understand? There is sure to be a party in full swing downstairs.”

His laugh almost made her want to move in closer. She didn’t.

“Valid point.” He acceded with a nod.

They stood there side by side in silence for several minutes.

Aria heard someone calling out in search of someone and would have ignored it except the man standing close beside her flinched.

“Is that someone looking for you?” 

Face full of guilt he nodded. Again the woman called out. And still she couldn’t make out exactly what she was saying. “Girlfriend? Crazy Ex? Pyscho stalker?” 

The gorgeous man laughed.

“My sister actually. She told me last week that I hide in my office and work too much. This cruise is her latest attempt to introduce me to the benefits of being social and partying. I think she is probably searching for me because she can sense that I am hiding. Any second now she is going to find me again and drag me downstairs to meet all her new best friends. And then begins all the obvious pushing to get me to date them all to see which one I like best.” He groaned and put his forehead to the railing.

“Not the life of the party?” Aria was growing intrigued by this man who not only managed to not annoy her when he spoke but caught her interest. If people weren’t talking business with her, she found that they irritated her too much to endure their presence any longer than absolutely necessary.

She watched as he faced her. “Truthfully, when I get around to showing up at a party I can be considered quite social and the life of the party. I can hide my antisocial comfort zone very well. Though I simply prefer to not show up at all. And since I haven’t felt the need to be social lately and so my sister has decided that I’m broken and need a girlfriend in order to be fixed.”

“Why? Sorry. I meant to say; would you like me to run interference?”

“Yes!” He laid a hand on hers where it rested on the railing. “If I was hanging out with a beautiful woman, she would get off my back and would have to be nice. A double win.”

Aria pushed her flustered and flattered ego aside for more pressing and immediate concerns. “I don’t think I caught your name. It might be important or your sister will be suspicious. I’m Aria.”

“Mace.”

“Well Mace, now that I am thinking about this, maybe you can help me as well, teach me to hide my anti-socialness. I’m afraid I have never been considered the life of any party.” She shrugged off the bitter sadness that swelled inside her for a moment. Memories of her mother constantly chastising her for hiding in her room during events flooded her.

Mace softly squeezed her hand, pulling her back to the present. His eyes were equally soft as he looked straight into hers. “Preferring some time to yourself is not a flaw. Nor is being shy. And… I will be happy to show you how to have a good time at a party.”

“Mace!” A girl who looked nothing like Mace stormed up onto the deck they were on. “Oh. Sorry.” The girl only hesitated a second before pushing forward, arm extended. “I’m Mace’s little sister. Don’t mind me.”