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What happens when a hook-up gets complicated by a baby? Can she hide the secret from him? Or will he show her how possessive he can be when he learns she's carrying his child? "Seven years ago, I had a one-night stand with my brother's best friend, who also happened to be my lifelong crush. The next day, he vanished leaving me pregnant. Now, I am a single mom raising our son in the same small town. Recently, he returned to attend my brother's wedding and the truth about our son was finally revealed. As he reclaims his place in our lives, the sparks between us reignite. However, danger from his past threatens to shatter our newfound connection. I am torn between my love for him and my fear of getting hurt again, especially now that I have two hearts to protect - our son's and my own."
Samantha
"Happy Birthday, Sam!"
I raised my red solo cup into the air and let out a wild laugh as my friends cheered for me.
Today was proving to be my best birthday yet, hands down.
My friends had planned a rager for me in the woods just outside our small town of Greenswood.
A bonfire blazed, and several kegs had been tapped.
I was feeling good and tipsy and happy as I danced to the music blaring from someone's pick-up.
I was eighteen at last. A woman! The future was mine for the taking, or some sentimental crap like that.
Whatever. I didn't have to think about that just yet. I just wanted to enjoy my party and forget about everything else.
Smiling, I spun in place and screamed out the lyrics to the song that was playing.
Suddenly, I noticed a familiar figure emerging from the surrounding trees.
He was tall, with shaggy blonde hair and familiar golden eyes. Eyes that were just like mine. I came to a stop. It took a few moments for my vision to clear, but when it did, I let out a squeal of delight.
"Jason!" I threw my cup to the ground and rushed forward. "You came!"
Chuckling, he opened his arms as I threw myself into them.
"Of course I did," he told me. "Couldn't miss my baby sister's birthday party, could I?"
I gazed up at him with wide eyes. "Don't tell Mom and Dad! They can't know I'm drinking!"
Chucking me under my chin, he said, "Don't worry. I won't tell. Just don't do anything stupid, all right?"
"Stupid? What could I do that's stupid?"
Before Jason could answer, another person stepped up beside him. Startled, I turned my gaze and froze.
"Wh-what are you doing here?" I murmured.
My brother's companion gave me a small smile.
I often dreamed of that smile, as well as the sparkling, blue eyes gazing at me. He was slightly taller than my brother, with dark brown hair and wide shoulders. He was the most handsome man I'd ever seen, and I had been all but obsessed with him since the age of twelve.
"Don't be rude, Sam," Jason teased, smacking me lightly on the head. "Ryan wanted to wish you a happy birthday. Say thank you."
I swallowed and gazed up at Ryan Carson, my brother's best friend, and my longtime secret crush.
"Than-thank you," I murmured, feeling suddenly shy despite the alcohol buzzing through me. I always felt shy around him. It was frustrating as hell, because I wasn't a shy person by nature. I was outgoing and social. The life of the party, really, but when it came to Ryan...
I was a crumpling, awkward mess.
"Seems like you've been having fun," Ryan said with a smirk, looking at me in a way that made me melt.
I blushed and nervously tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear.
"Ye-yeah," I stammered, my lips twitching into a goofy, little grin. "It's been a good party. Lots of fun."
"Glad to hear it." He chuckled.
I gulped. There was something I wanted to ask him. Something I'd been wanting to ask him for a long time but had never had the courage to say.
At that moment, though, the words were on the tip of my tongue, on the verge of spilling from my lips before I could stop them.
Luckily, before I could mutter a single word, Jason clapped Ryan on the shoulder and said, "Let's go get a drink. I'm going to need one to hang out with all these kids."
Ryan chuckled and nodded before flashing me another smile.
"Don't let us get in the way of your fun," he said with a wink.
Struck speechless, I watched as he and Jason walked toward one of the kegs. I couldn't seem to take my eyes off him. He was just so...perfect.
I let out an unbidden giggle.
"Sam! What are you doing? Snap out of it, space cadet!"
Blinking, I turned just in time to catch my friend, Jessica, rushing toward me with a wild grin. She threw her arms around my neck and laughed.
"What? Sorry!" I exclaimed, shaking my head. "I, uh, guess I'm more buzzed than I thought."
Jessica glanced in the direction I had been staring and her mouth dropped open and realization dawned on her face.
"Ahhhh, I see." She grinned. Turning her gaze back to me, she wiggled her eyebrows. "I see your Prince Charming has arrived. I thought he and Jason were still at school?"
"Fall break," I murmured, my gaze finding its way back to Ryan. "I knew they were coming home, but it never crossed my mind that they'd come here."
Jessica let me go and moved to stand beside me. We watched the two older men for several moments in thoughtful silence.
"Are you going to tell him?" Jessica asked after a while.
I scoffed. "Are you kidding me? No way!"
"Why not?" Jessica questioned. "It's the perfect night for it! You're legal, you're tipsy, and he's here and available."
"You don't know he's available. Maybe he's got a girlfriend back at college."
The mere thought had jealousy shooting through me, and I clenched my hands into fists at my sides. Jessica snorted.
"Right, I doubt he has a single girlfriend," she replied. "He's probably got a harem built up by now."
I scowled at my friend. "Don't say things like that. He's not that kind of guy."
"Right, right, he's perfect." Jessica chuckled and shrugged. "Not a manwhore at all, despite the many rumors saying otherwise. It doesn't matter, though. If you're going to make a move, you've got to do it tonight. You'll never get a chance like this again!"
"I don't know why you think I have a chance at all!" I exclaimed. "He hardly knows I exist. If he weren't Jason's friend, I'd be totally invisible to him."
"That's not true," Jessica insisted. "I've seen the way he looks at you. He's totally interested."
I gave her a skeptical look. "Bullshit."
Shaking her head, Jessica said, "No! I swear. I've seen it. There were a few times at your house that I spotted him watching you when you weren't paying attention."
I blinked, stunned. "Why didn't you ever tell me that?"
"I didn't want you to get worked up," Jessica explained. "But honestly, I think you have a chance tonight. Come on. Do it! For your birthday!"
Chewing my lip nervously, I let my gaze stray to where Ryan and my brother were standing.
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
Looking at the divorce papers my lips curled up into a mocking smile. 'How big fool I am? How can I think that he will give a chance to this marriage? How can I forget that I was nothing more a tool in his eyes to vent his anger until his beloved Tara is back. Since, she was back, how can he let me stay there?' "After you will sign these papers, you will receive 100 million dollars as alimony." the lawyer added. Because of his words, I came back to my senses took the pen from him, and signed the name. I have also gotten exhausted from this marriage both physically and mentally. Even though I had wanted my child to be born into a complete family, I didn't want my child to have a stepmother and live miserably like me for the rest of his life. After taking the papers from my hand, the lawyer gave me the bank card, turned around, and was about to leave when he paused at the door. He then turned around and added, "Mr. Carter said that he hoped that you won't pester him, or you have to bear the consequences." The lawyer's words were like a knife stabbing in my heart, but I still nodded. Anyway, I also don't plan to have anything to do with him anymore. I just want to live a good life with my children. After the lawyer left, the ward fell into silence. I placed my hand on my belly and said to my children, "Baby, I am sorry, Mommy can't give you a complete family! But I promise you, I will do my best to give the love of both mother and father." 'As for giving one of my child, I will never do that. They are my babies and my alone. I and I will give birth to all of them and raise them no matter what.' Four Years Later... Anya came back to the country with her three kids, to inherit the company left by his grandfather...