Forbidden Attractions: A Contemporary Romance Box Set, page 1
Forbidden Attractions
A Steamy Contemporary Romance Box Set
Emma Vikes
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© Copyright 2020 - All rights reserved.
In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locations is purely coincidental. The characters are all productions of the author’s imagination. Please note that this work is intended only for adults over the age of 18.
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Contents
Special Offer
BOOK 1 – My Daughter’s Nanny
Description
1. Stephen
2. Stacy
3. Stephen
4. Stacy
5. Stephen
6. Stacy
7. Stephen
8. Stacy
9. Stephen
10. Stacy
11. Stephen
12. Stacy
13. Stephen
14. Stacy
15. Stephen
BOOK 2 – The Bleeding Vow
Description
Mike
Alexa
Alexa
Alexa
Alexa
Alexa
Alexa
Alexa
Alexa
Alexa
Alexa
Alexa
Mike
Alexa
Alexa
Alexa
Alexa
Mike
Epilogue
Extra Chapter
BOOK 3 – His Challenge
Description
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
A Note From The Author
The Hudson Brothers Standalone Series
Book 1:
Book 2:
Book 3:
Book 4:
Also by Emma Vikes
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BOOK 1 – My Daughter’s Nanny
Description
Life never got back to the same, after my wife’s sudden death. I was trying my best to be the best dad for my little daughter, Rose, trying to fill the gap she was having by her mother’s loss. But it was getting difficult.
Hence, I decided to get a nanny. Stacy, a young charismatic grad student, stepped into our cumbersome life and Rose instantly fell in love with her new caregiver.
But little did I know that my daughter’s nanny would eventually start to turn into my obsession. Sparks flew leading to a moment of unbridled passion, one that left me with questions, doubt and guilt. Would I ever get over this guilt and let my attraction expressed to Stacy?
Stephen
“Come on Rose. We’ve got to go” I screamed from the door of my bedroom.
I’d walked into her room and woken her up thirty minutes ago, which was enough time for her to have gotten ready by now. I myself had already gotten ready and even prepared breakfast for both of us; a bowl of cereal which we had on weekday mornings and was a good source of nourishment as well as a great time saver.
I turned and walked back into the room, my destination being the mirror that was riveted to the door of the wardrobe. My mission was simple; to make a final decision on which tie I was going to wear from the two options I currently held in each arms.
I was decked in a black suit trouser, a blue shirt and was currently making a decision to either go with a red or navy-blue tie.
“The red one looks better, Daddy.” Rose announced from the blues.
She had materialised out of nowhere and was standing in my doorway. Much to my chagrin however, she was still in her pyjamas and clutching Mr. Brady close to her chest.
I was about to scold her for not being ready but looking at her coupled with the frown that was plastered on her face, a pain tugged at my chest. She looked so much like her mother even at five years old; both a painful reminder of the woman I had lost and a cherished embodiment and evidence that I’d had a perfect life with the love of my life. My perfect utopia hadn’t lasted but Rose was definitely evidence that it had existed.
“Come here, munchkin.” I said, my voice softening instantly as I went down on one knee.
She jetted into a full sprint and slammed into my open arms, snuggling in as close as she could with my arms clasping around her.
“Why aren’t you ready baby?” I asked her.
In the one year since my wife’s death, I’d taught Rose how to get ready on her own to enable us both get to school and work on time. As successful as my lecture was however, we’d still somehow managed to go late more frequently than I would have liked; we ran late at least twice in a week.
“I saw mommy, Daddy.” She responded into my chest.
I sighed. Today was going to be one of those days. We’d both been surprisingly strong in the past one year since Stella’s death but days like this occurred when one of us broke down from the sheer pressure of our loss.
I knew exactly what Rose meant. In her own words, she had simply said that she missed her mother. I pulled her from my chest so I could stare into her big round blue eyes.
“I saw mommy too, munchkin.” I said with a sad smile.
“Really?” my daughter responded, her eyes widening in an instant.
“Yes baby. And she said how proud she is of you that you’re growing into a big strong girl.”
My daughter’s smile beamed back at me.
“She also said she misses you and that she would never stop loving you.” I continued.
“I’d never stop loving her too.” Rose responded sincerely and with childlike innocence.
“That’s my girl. So how about you go and get ready for school and continue making your mother proud of you?” I finished with a smile.
“Ok Daddy.” She responded and jetted for her room.
“Whew! Tragedy averted.” I exclaimed softly.
I stood up and faced the mirror again; another painful reminder of Stella as she had been the one to insist on having that mirror attached to the wardrobe. I proceeded to knot the chosen red tie around my neck as another sad smile spread across my lips with the intrusion of yet another memory.
“No one can dispute that you gave birth to your spitting image, Stella. Even in looks and attitude, she’s just like you baby.” I’d said humorously as I knotted my tie in front of the mirror while staring at Stella’s fuming reflection in the wake of one of Rose’s tantrums.
Our daughter had come into our room and ran up the bed the night before as a result of a nightmare she’d had. In the morning, Stella had woken her up and told her to go get her toothbrush so they can both get her ready for school, which had resulted in protests and stern orders. Finally, Rose had jumped off the bed and stormed off to her room in a fit, vowing never to return.
“Oh no she doesn’t. That little wench is definitely nothing like me. She certainly got that attitude from your side of the family.” Stella had responded, still fuming. It had only brought more laughter to my lips especially since I’d been told by my mother-in-law of how Stella herself hated getting up from bed when she was exactly that age. According to her, school day mornings had been a nightmare in their household thanks to Stella.
“Not from what I’ve heard.” I’d countered, causing Stella’s glare to settle on me. She’d known exactly what I was referring to.
“Be very careful, Mister. You are barking up the wrong tree this morning.” She’d responded, her glare growing in intensity and sending me into a fit of laughter.
I’d turned then, my tie knotted and walked over to her in bed.
“And if I refuse to tread carefully? Are you going to punish me?” I’d mocked as I repeatedly kissed her softly on her lips.
She’d initially kept her lips taut, refusing to respond. Slowly however, she’d begun to kiss back as her anger faded and passion took over.
“Oh now you’ve got to be very careful, Mister.” She whispered seductively into my mouth. “Except you plan on not going to work today then by all means, continue.” She finished and bit down softly on my lips. I’d laughed and retreated to get my suit jacket.
My reverie ended then as I walked from the mirror, my tie knotted as I retrieved my suit. I picked up my phone and car keys from the bedside stool and headed for the door. My briefcase hadn’t made it upstairs when I got back from work yesterday, so it was only a matter of retrieving it from the dining table on our way out.
As I shut my bedroom door, I announced loudly, “Are you ready now, munchkin?”
“Almost done, Daddy.” Her response came from behind her bedroom door which was opposite mine.
“Alright baby.” I said as I turned and
I looked at my wrist watch and noted that we were running late already. I sighed as I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen.
‘We need to be more efficient at this morning preparation business.’ I made a mental note.
I began to brainstorm on ways I could employ to save us more time in the mornings so we could stop running late. As it stood, I was already waking Rose up earlier than kids her age so that was not an option. She was still a growing child and needed as much rest as she could get.
‘Maybe I should start waking up earlier so I can get ready and get her ready just in time.’ I thought briefly before rejecting that thought.
If I got out of bed any earlier than my current waking up time of 6 am, I was going to be so unproductive at work.
‘A nanny perhaps?’ I thought.
My elder sister had suggested I do that, months ago. Even though I had turned down the idea then, it was looking increasingly appealing as time went by.
Suddenly I heard Rose call out my name as her footsteps echoed off the stairs.
“Dad?”
“In the kitchen munchkin.” I responded.
She materialised in the kitchen moments later.
“I’m ready!” She announced gleefully.
She was ready in a manner of speaking as I noticed that her buttons were in the wrong holes and that her shoes were on the wrong feet.
“Oh brother!” I whispered as I rubbed at my temples.
I needed help with this child. That was a fact I could no longer ignore.
‘Maybe I should just get the nanny’ I thought as she walked towards the kitchen counter to take a seat and have her breakfast.
Stacy
I walked into Elizabeth’s grocery store, looking forlorn and clutching some envelopes under my armpit.
“What are those?” Elizabeth asked from behind the counter in reference to the stack of envelopes that were sticking out conspicuously from under my arms.
“What else? Bills, bills, and more bills.” I said exasperated as I arrived at the counter and slammed the stack in front of her.
“Awww sweetie. It’s going to be just fine.” She beamed back in response.
Elizabeth was one of the few friends I’d made over four years ago at the beginning of my college year, when I’d moved to this city and into this neighbourhood. She and her husband Bill had taken a liking to me and we’d remained close ever since. The friendship had survived all through college and was still going strong even now that I had started grad school. In fact I felt what me and Elizabeth shared was more of a mother and daughter relationship than it was a friendship. With my mom being miles away and with her daughter in college miles away as well, it was a bond that profited us both; one that neither of us were going to complain about.
“Speaking of bills, where is Bill?” I asked, glancing briefly around the store for her husband.
“Oh, he went to the mechanic. How is the job hunt going?”
“Not good, not good at all. I don’t know what I’m going to do at this point, Elizabeth. I really need a part time job like yesterday.” I said while picking up and waving some of the bills I had slammed on the counter.
“And the financial aid angle you talked about exploring the other day?” She inquired.
“That’s a bust. I can’t get any more financial aid than I’m already getting and that isn’t enough to sustain me, let alone take care of these bills.” I responded. “And to worsen matters, my rent is due already. As it stands, I might have to put my car up on sale.” I finished.
“Well…why won’t you let me help you, Stacy?” Elizabeth protested.
I knew exactly what she meant. At the onset of my financial woes when I’d made the decision to go to grad school, she and Bill had offered to loan me some money; an offer I had turned down immediately. On other occasions when my financial complaints had made it into the conversation, the offer had come up again and again.
The problem wasn’t that I couldn’t take their money. The problem was even if I did take the money, without a job, there was no way I was going to be able to pay back. I couldn’t very well then take their money and hold it hostage or have it as a noose hanging around my neck.
I’d also seen how money had come between people in the past and I wasn’t going to let that happen between us. Asides the occasional help I received from her where I could purchase groceries from the store and pay at the end of the month, I wasn’t going to take it further than that.
“Come on Elizabeth, you’ve already done more than enough already. Where else in the city can I buy groceries and pay at the end of the month?” I asked with a chuckle as I ran my hands through my hair.
“You are so stubborn, Stacy. Just like my daughter. Asides groceries, you still need money dear.” Elizabeth continued.
“What I need is a job and I need one immediately.” I chuckled once more as I turned and headed for the standing fridge to get a drink.
As I walked away, the bell above the door entrance jingled, signalling a customer’s entry.
I heard Elizabeth say “Oh hi, Stephen,” before I rounded the corner and disappeared out of sight and earshot, on my way to the fridge.
I arrived at the fridge and just stood in front of it as my mind began pondering on my finances all over again. If I took the drink from the fridge, I was definitely going to be adding it to my debt as I had no money on me. Also if I did take the drink, I would have looked around for something to munch on as well. I began wondering whether it wasn’t better to just head home and make myself something to eat, drinking water afterwards. That way, I was going to prevent my debt to Elizabeth from rising today.
“What you doing?”
The suddenness of the query startled me causing me to spin around. The child who had asked me the question was standing behind me and staring up at me. She couldn’t have been older than five, I noticed. As I looked her over, she clutched tightly to the stuffed animal she was holding as if in a bid to protect herself from my gaze. I smiled and bent over.
“Hello! I’m Stacy.” I said.
She stayed silent.
“What are you doing here all by yourself?” I continued.
She remained silent.
“Well who’s this?” I asked, pointing at the stuffed animal she was holding.
“Mr. Brady.” She responded finally while clutching the stuffed animal even tighter than before.
“Oh hello, Mr. Brady. Nice to meet you.” I said, stretching my arm forward and tapping the animal in her clutches. “So where is your mom?”
She fell silent again, only this time, I could swear I saw sadness in her eyes before they fell to the floor.
I stood and walked to the fridge, pulling out two juice boxes and turning back to hand her one.
“Here, one for you and one for me.” I smiled, hoping she was going to accept my peace offering.
Her hand came up slowly till it was at full stretch. I laid the drink in her hand before watching her go ahead to pull the straw and insert it into the juice box with surprising ease that suggested she was used to doing this by herself.
