"For the past four months, I'd been working mostly in the tea room at the Grey Goose. This weekend, though, Mr. Mancini was short-handed because of a flu bug going around and asked me to help out upstairs,"Taking a seat at a table, I forced myself to focus on my meal instead of scoping out the place for another local contact. Four months was a long time, and Hailey, the waitress who brought my food, might have come across the elusive photographer I was here to find."This seems like a lovely place," I said, striking up a conversation. "Do you get a lot of business?""It's steady," she replied with a smile. "Lots of locals come downstairs for lunch, and some rent rooms upstairs for weekend getaways or for guests. We also get a few travelers like yourself. Where are you headed?""Actually, I'm a freelance journalist researching local artists for an article," I lied, using the cover story Mr. Aldrich, the lawyer, had given me. Mr. Greyson, the real reason I was here, preferred to keep h
I shoved another breadstick into my mouth, chomping down on it with frustration. I pictured Mr. Bastian right now, probably grilling his employees about what I wanted to know. Most likely, he'd tell them to shut their mouths and not breathe a word to me. Bastian's Gallery was a dead end, that much was clear.My call to the lawyer, Leon Aldrich, half an hour ago hadn't exactly been a ray of sunshine. He'd been grumpy that I hadn't checked in last night, claiming concern for my safety. Sure, I explained about being tired and the bad roads, but deep down I knew the real reason for his bad mood.Aldrich seemed to be waiting for me to vanish with the hefty cash advance he'd given me and never be seen again. He clearly wasn't a fan of me or my assignment to investigate Viktor Donovan. I could practically feel his judgment radiating through the phone. He probably thought I was unqualified for the job, but Mr. Greyson, the one paying the bills, had chosen me. The sour look Aldrich sported wh
"I can't believe you're still hung up on him, Killian. You know there's nothing going on between us. We're having your baby, and I love you." He leaned down and kissed Hailey's cheek. "I know, sweetheart, and I love you too. It's never been about your feelings for me. It's Viktor interest in you that gets under my skin." "He was just kidding, Killian." "Maybe, but like I always say, once he finds his own..." The conversation died as the postal worker chimed in with the cost of mailing the package. Killian paid, and the oversized box was set aside. I watched them go, fiddling with my ear, trying to clear it. I could've sworn Killian said 'mate.' Pushing the strange word out of my head, I approached the counter and smiled at the flustered woman behind it. "Hi! I was hoping you could help me..." I trailed off, my gaze landing on the package just a foot away. Viktor's address was printed boldly on the front. Jackpot! Now, all I had to do was distract the woman for a closer look.
Lucy's nails dug into my back as she moaned on my shoulder, on the verge of coming. I pistoned my hips faster, her bleached blonde hair bouncing with the rhythm. She screamed as her climax hit, and I kept going until she was spent. Three more hard thrusts, and I found my release too, a guttural groan escaping my lips as I emptied myself. With a sigh, I pulled out and Lucy planted a kiss on me, gushing about how amazing it was. I mumbled some generic response and hurried to the bathroom, tossing the used condom in the trash and cleaning up. Glancing in the mirror, I saw Lucy primping herself. Dressed and somewhat composed, she gave me a quick peck on the cheek and a breathy whisper. "Happy birthday, Viktor. Stephan and Daniel spilled the beans, so I figured I'd give you a little somethin' somethin'." "Thanks, Lucy. Best present a guy could ask for, right?" I flashed my usual grin, patting her ass and leaning in for a kiss before she sashayed out. She left with a satisfied smile, w
"Adriana Watson. Looking for Viktor are we?" the woman said with a soft laugh, shaking her head. "You and about half the town, honey."My head snapped up, confused. Were other women after Viktor too? "Excuse me?""Every woman under seventy, and a few who might be pushing it, have tried to snag Viktor's attention," she explained with a mischievous grin. "He's a looker, I'll give him that. Knows how to charm the ladies.""Beth," Josh said, a warning in his voice. The woman playfully swatted his arm."Oh hush, Josh, you know I'm still smitten after twenty-five years. Just admiring the scenery, strictly hands off." A smile played on her lips as they exchanged a quick look. Josh pulled her into a one-armed hug, making me feel like a third wheel intruding on a private moment. I cleared my throat and looked away, pretending to study a poster on the wall.When I finally felt comfortable turning back, Beth, who I assumed was Josh's wife or long-term partner, was returning to her desk with a s
I'm settling in, the cold seeping up from the log and the damp air soaking through my clothes. I rub my hands together briskly, glancing around to catch my breath. Deeper in the forest, the snow lingers more, though patches of bare ground peek through. Tiny animal tracks crisscross the path nothing too big, based on their size.Silence stretches everywhere, broken only by the occasional bird chirp. I inhale deeply, savoring the crisp pine scent and the earthy dampness. Peace washes over me, dissolving the tension from earlier. Maybe Viktor wasn't entirely off-base. There's a serenity, a feeling of oneness with nature, that settles over you in a place like this. I wonder if he's gotten many photos yet, if this is where that wolf picture came from.The thought spurs me on, and I heave myself up from the log. My feet complain, but I promise them a hot tub soak if they just cooperate a little longer. I haven't walked far when a strange feeling washes over me a prickling unease, a sense t
“And then it was the weirdest thing, just liked you’d see in a cartoon.” Daniel jumped in, his wonder at the event he was describing causing him to momentarily forget he was in trouble. “She turned to run, and bang!” Clapping his hands together, he gestured to show what happened. “She ran right smack into a tree and then just sort of slid down the trunk.” He shook his head. “I never thought that sort of thing happened in real life.” I couldn't help but bit back the chuckle that the mental picture evoked. “Is she all right?” “I think so. There’s a lump on her head and that’s why we brought her here. We didn’t think we should just leave her lying there on the ground.” Stephan shifted the woman in his arms. “Bring her inside and we’ll check her out.” I tightened my lips as i turned and stalked back to the house. They couldn’t have just approached her like normal human beings and told her she was on private land, could they? Oh, no. That would make too much sense. I pondered sh
Adriana's POV My eyes fluttered open, disoriented. My tiny Chicago apartment? Nope, way past that. Canada, searching for that elusive photographer. Stump River, rented cabin, then… oh crap. I bolted upright, a groan escaping my lips as my head throbbed in protest. "Hold on there, tiger," a deep, sexy husky voice rumbled from the side. I swiveled my head, wincing at the sharp pain that shot through it. "Ow!" My head screamed again, forcing me to cradle it in my hands, elbows propped on shaky knees. Holding it up felt like a monumental effort. Memories of the events leading to my current throbbing discomfort flooded back, sending a jolt of fear through me. A quick body scan revealed only a throbbing head, relief washing over me. "See? I told you to take it easy." The voice chuckled dryly, instantly sparking irritation. This jerk, whoever he was, found my pain amusing? Squinting through the ache, I tried to make out the figure across the room. Unfortunately, the harsh sunlight st