Stolen Memories: A Novella
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Authors: Alyson Reynolds
Stolen Memories
Copyright © 2016 by Alyson Reynolds.
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations em- bodied in critical articles or reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Book and Cover design by Alyson Reynolds
ISBN: 123456789
First Edition: August 2016
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Ashlie,
Thank you. For everything. There are no words for our friendship. Hashtags and all.
I flung open the doors to the church and dashed down the steps like my entire body was on fire. What the fuck was I doing? I didn’t want to get married, and I sure as hell didn’t want to be a pawn in my father’s games. The huge white dress that had seemed perfect only days ago was suffocating me. My breath caught in my throat and I fought to keep from passing out in front of this horrible, ostentatious cathedral. Looking across the street I saw him waiting for me.
Hunter Abbott leaned against his Audi Roadster, sexy as hell in his suit and aviator sunglasses, and of course he was staring directly at me. I was kind of hard to miss in the big fairytale wedding dress, but damn if his gaze didn’t burn my skin. He nodded once, and I crossed the street and ran over to his car, climbing into the passenger seat as he started the engine.
“I thought you might not show.”
“My mother wouldn’t leave. I almost had to push her down and run for it.”
“How long do we have before they find out you’re gone?”
I winced. “Only a few minutes.”
Hunter shot me a weary look and rubbed his hand down his face in frustration. “Then we need to get the hell out of here. Why do you always wait until the last possible second, Megan?”
Ignoring his question, I tugged at the bodice of my dress. It wasn’t intentional, but I had a flair for the dramatic.
“I want to take off this monstrosity as soon as I can. It's hard to freaking breath.” My fingers picked at the rough tulle and I wiggled in my seat as the built-in corset dug into my ribs, effectively cutting off my air supply. As much as I wanted to rip it to shreds, I refrained from doing any further damage. It wasn't the poor dress’s fault that I was an idiot.
“You might have to wait until we reach the plane. We can’t risk getting pulled over and missing our flight time.” I groaned, and his husky laughter filled the car. “But by all means, climb on back and strip down. It’ll be fun to try to explain to the officer why I have a half-naked woman in my backseat, and I really want to see you talk your way out of that one.”
“Did you decide where we’re going?” I asked, trying to distract him. That sexy smirk was back, and I wanted to smack it off of his face. He might be my best friend, but the man was annoying as hell.
“How does Savannah sound?”
“What the fuck is in Georgia?”
“Not your soon-to-be ex-fiancé, or your dad.”
“Fine. I guess it doesn’t matter where we go as long as I get the hell out of here. They're going to be livid when they find out I’m gone.”
Hunter pulled into a private entrance at the airport. He parked and handed his keys over to a waiting employee. I felt rushed as he ushered me along to the tarmac to his jet. I hated the odd looks I was getting from his employees, but I could deal. A little embarrassment would be well worth getting away from all the drama.
“Megan, are you coming?” He asked, holding a hand out. I hadn’t realized that I’d stopped walking. He pushed his sunglasses up on his head as he looked back at me, concern flashing in his emerald eyes.
“Yeah, sorry. I got lost in my head for a second.”
“It's fine, we just need to hurry.”
A shiver ran up my spine as I thought about what would happen if we were caught. The idea of any of my father’s henchmen getting ahold of Hunter made me sick to my stomach. I needed to get the hell out of dodge as fast as possible. Hunter was my savior, and I would do anything I could to thank him for helping me.
I picked clothes from the bag Hunter had grabbed from my apartment earlier and changed quickly in the small bathroom. The person staring back at me from the mirror looked both terrified and exhilarated. My body melted into the comfortable leather club chair as soon as I sat down for takeoff. Now that I was away from the two people that scared me most in the world I could relax a little. Hunter glanced over at me.
“Are you ready to tell me why I got the SOS text now? You know I would do anything for you, but I flew in from New York last night and I’m flying right back out today. I’m fucking exhausted, not to mention I pissed off some potential investors by bailing on them.”
I winced and took a deep breath. “I heard my dad talking on the phone yesterday.”
“And?” he prompted. The man had never been patient in his life and that wasn’t changing now. Maybe that’s why he was so successful.
Damn it, Megan. Focus.
“It was bad, Hunter. He’s basically selling me to Michael. They are pushing through some huge ass merger after I marry him, but only if I go through with it. Michael is a con artist of the worst variety. When I confronted my dad, he threatened to cut off my trust fund and kick me out of my apartment if I didn’t follow through with this sham of a wedding.” He also had a few other choice words, but Hunter didn’t need to hear that we discussed my intact virginity. Or that our conversation was disgusting and a testament to how sick my father was.
“Fuck, Megan. I know I’ve been traveling a lot lately, but how did I miss all of this?”
“It’s my own fault. I never should have trusted them. Apparently, Michael is an excellent actor. It was too good to be true and I would have fallen for it hook, line, and sinker if I hadn’t overheard my dad.” I sighed. “Are you sure you’re okay doing this? Once they find out I’m with you they’re going to try something.”
“Honey, they won’t know what hit them if they fuck with me. Or you, for that matter.”
The determined glint in his eyes comforted me. He grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to his side. He kissed my forehead and I snuggled into his chest, finally calm for the first time in days.
I fell asleep sometime as we crossed over the midland states. It was a long flight from California to Georgia. Fucking Georgia. Hunter thought he was hilarious. We used to vacation there as kids; our families went every summer and now he's trying to drag up those old memories by taking me back there.
When I text him yesterday begging him to help me, he hadn’t hesitated. It killed me to ask for his help, but I knew I wouldn’t have escaped without him. My father had nearly made it impossible for even Hunter to rescue me. My darling father made sure I hadn’t been alone at any point until I tricked my mother into giving me a few seconds right before the wedding.
My eyes opened slowly, and I blinked up several times. Hunter’s thoughtful gaze met mine, and I blushed as I realized he’d been watching me sleep.
“Hunt, that’s kinda creepy.”
“No, it’s not.” He chuckled softly. “You were talking in your sleep.”
“What did I say?” I asked, frowning.
“You’re worried.” He pursed his lips, and I could see the wheels turning in his head.
“Now you have to tell me.”
“You’re afraid they are going to make you marry him when we go back. Or that they will find you and drag your ass to the nearest courthouse. You’re also concerned about what they'll do to me if they realize I helped you. What else aren’t you telling me, Megan?”
I ducked my head. When I texted him, I didn't tell him how scared I actually was. Michael hadn’t ever been violent with me, but there were times I could tell he was holding back his temper. Three months. That’s all it took for me to believe I was in love with him. We’d had a whirlwind romance, or so I thought. Since I was so naïve, I ignored the fact that I was just a pawn in their fucking game.
My dad had paid little attention to me and Cassie growing up until we were old enough to be of use to him. He’d already married off my sister to someone we barely knew, and now he was trying to do the same with me. If I hadn’t overheard him on the phone, I wouldn’t have known until it was too late.
I was worried about what kind of situation Cassie was stuck in. When she got married, she pulled away from me and my mom, but I hadn’t ever questioned her happiness or safety. Until now. Everyone said their quick elopement was romantic and sweet, but warning bells were going off in my head.
“Megan, don’t freak out, but I’m going to suggest something a little wild.”
I raised an eyebrow. Right now everything in my life was crazy, and I didn’t know how much more insanity I could take. “We could get married, at least for a little while. No one could force you to marry this prick if you’re already married. Plus, I could protect you.”
“You’re right, you are absolutely insane,” I said, laughing. “Hunt, you know I love you, but you don’t have to look after me. I just needed help getting out of Cali and coming up with a solid plan of how to deal with them. I can handle the rest.”
I think.
“Really Meg, think about it. Your dad can’t make you divorce me. So you couldn’t legally marry Michael. I can help you check on your mom and Cassie as soon as we get to Georgia. I’m fucking loaded and have more contacts in banking than they could ever hope for. We can make sure your dad doesn’t mess with your trust fund.” He wiggled his brows. “All good things. Plus, admit it, I’m sexy as hell and you’d be lucky to have me on your arm.”
“What about your womanizing, love ’em and leave ’em ways? As your wife I couldn’t ignore the revolving door that is your bed.”
He smirked. “For you, I’ll give up all that pussy. On one condition, though.”
“And what’s that?”
“You would have to sleep with me, of course.”
“Of course,” I deadpanned.
What the actual fuck?
“Don’t deny it; you’ve been turned on since you climbed in the car with me.”
He glanced down, and I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Quit being a perv. We got drunk and messed around once, Hunt. It happened almost two years ago. What makes you think that I still want you?”
“It was a year ago, and if I checked your panties right now would they be wet?”
Oh. My.
My jaw dropped open, and he moved closer on the seat next to me lacing one hand in my hair. The other trailed up my thigh, bunching the fabric of my skirt into his fist. His mouth was inches from mine.
“Your nipples are hard.” His lips nipped at the sensitive skin of my neck and a shiver ran up my spine.
“And you are trying to get me all worked up.”
“It doesn’t take much effort on my part when you’re already halfway there on your own.”
“What do you get out of this deal if we actually go through with this?” I whispered.
“What I’ve wanted for a long damn time, Megan: you in my bed and me inside you.”