Shifter’s Baby (Alpha Fantasy Paranormal Billionaire Shifter BBW Romance) (124 page)

CHAPTER SEVEN

Leila
sat on the back on an ambulance bus an aluminum blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She stared down at the road below her feet. The police were still talking to Jackson, confirming the story that she'd told them three times already. Once she'd made it through the window, she ran to the neighbor's banging on door after door until one opened up and let her in. They let her use their cell phone to call the police. From there she waited until the sirens sounded, until from the kitchen window she saw Jackson walking out the door with two officers in handcuffs. Leila ran so fast back to the scene demanding that he be released.

The emergency medical technician came back and asked her to lie back down. He wanted to do a fetal monitor check; Lincoln had been oddly respectful of the baby after she told him that she was in fact with child. She didn't endure torture. Now Leila stared at the monitor screen, the baby's heartbeat once again filled her ears just as Jackson was released to join her. He took her by the hand and kissed it gingerly.

"Everything looks good but that head wound needs to be checked out by a neurologist and you need to stitches for that arm." The EMT advised. "We'll be taking you in shortly."

"Thank you." Jackson said but he didn't take his eyes off of Leila. When the tech left he started to cry, softly pressing his forehead against hers. "I'm sorry baby." He whispered to her. "This is all my fault once again. I am so so sorry." She ran her fingers through the waves of his hair.

"Stop apologizing." Leila commanded. "I knew that you would come for me. I knew that you would be the one to rescue me."

"I was so scared when you didn't reply and when I called your phone didn't ring." Jackson told her. "I walked all over campus, I thought maybe your phone had died. I looked everywhere and then I went to your house and Caitlyn said you weren't there, I knew. I just knew they had you." He closed his eyes. "I'm sorry." She tilted her head up and met his lips with hers.

"What did I tell you about apologizing. You need to just stop." She said between kisses. "I'm okay, the baby is okay, and you're okay. We will be fine. Those guys are going to go to jail. They can't both us any more." Leila had tears raining down her face again despite the words she was saying. Jackson grabbed a hold of her hand, locking his fingers between hers. He turned and watched police vehicles driving away with the Daggers. He hoped that Melvin kid doesn't look back, that he goes home and cleans up. Jackson turned back to Leila.

"I love you more than anything in this world, you know that right?" She nodded at his words. "Move in with me. Let's get us a house and a yard. We can raise our kid there and maybe have more? We'll get married in the future when you're ready." He smiled now. "We can't stay in our houses once the baby comes anyway!" Leila bite her bottom lip. She had thought about this for a long time so she knew he was right. She even thought about what it would be like to live with him.

"Okay, I'll move in with you." They kissed again as they laughed together.

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Mail Order Bride: Penelope

By: Katie Wilson


Copyright 2016 by Katie Wilson - 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. All rights reserved.

Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.

Chapter 1

Penelope Stewart stared at her father in anger. “You can’t do this to me!”

“I absolutely can, will and have.” Her father yelled at her. “You’ve been given
every
opportunity to pick your own husband. Now I’m picking for you.”

“That is because I don’t want a husband.” She insisted, clenching her fists up. “You can’t do this to me, I’ll run away from home. I don’t care what you say, the men you picked for me just cared about the money, not me.”

“Exactly why I found you a husband the way I did, Penny, you need to shut up and let me explain,” Dick Stewart told her, “please?”

Penny hesitated for a moment, she’d been about to storm out, but her father never said please. Sighing, she crossed her arms and looked at him.

“Fine, make it fast, or I swear to all that is holy, I will run away from home.” She told him. She loved her father but his desire to marry her off had her quite upset. She reached up and tucked a fire-red curl behind her ear as she stared at her dad.

“I found you a man across the country. I used a mail order bride service, he doesn’t know you have money. I spoke to him on your behalf, he knows all about you, minus how much you are worth. He has money in his own right, he doesn’t need our money Penny.” Her father shook his head and then looked her straight in the eye. “He is willing to marry you sight unseen, he sent a description, and he sounds like a decent looking man.”

“And if I try to run away from home?” Penny said, staring at her father.

“Then I will personally tie you up, and hand him the rope.” Her father said. “This is not up for debate; I will cut you off from everything. No more Penny. It’s time.”

“And how are you going to make sure I end up at the alter in all of this?” She asked her father, speculating what her chances are to escape a marriage she didn’t want.

“I’m escorting you there myself, in person. I’ll correspond by mail and telegram while I’m gone. The whole trip should only take a couple of months. I’m taking you there, making sure you’re married, then heading home.” Her father told her and pointed a finger at her. “You will marry this man. If you don’t, I will make sure that no one will help you. No one will take you in, no one will loan you money, you’ll be completely cut off.”

“I hate you,” Penny glared at her father, although she knew in her heart she didn’t really hate him, but she hated that he’d trap her like this, force her to marry.

“Penny, I’ve done everything I can for you. I made sure I found you a good, honorable man who didn’t need your money. He’s marrying you because he thought
you
sounded interesting.” Her father told her quietly. He reached out to give his daughter a hug, but she pulled away.

“How do you know he wants me? He doesn’t know anything about me, for all I know he’s going to keep me chained in a dungeon somewhere, popping out babies.” She said and crossed her arms, glaring at her father.

“Would babies be so bad?” Her father raised a brow, and then smirked. The idea of a man keeping his daughter in chains tickled him. She needed a strong man, not the kind of man quick to temper or abuse, but one who could keep her in check. He’d tried over the years, but the girl was so headstrong… she made it difficult.

“Not when I was ready for them. I just want a chance to make my own life daddy, is that too much to ask?” Penny gave her daddy the sad eyed puppy dog look, the one that almost always got her what she wanted.

Ignoring her face, he averted eyes. “You can choose to make your own way in life, within the boundaries your husband sets. Once you are married to him, it’s on him to decide what you can and cannot do. Win him over, maybe he’ll let you have more freedom than I would. You never know.”

“Or, he won’t let me do anything and I’m supposed to be seen and not heard.” Penny pointed out. “Fine, but if I murder him, it’s your fault.”

“If the man cannot handle you he deserves what he gets,” her father said laughing.

Penny flounced out of the room, and didn’t hear her father tell the maid to make sure all the bags were packed, since they were leaving first thing in the morning.

When she woke, first thing in the morning her father was standing over her bed, his hat on his head and his jacket on.

“We have to leave in an hour. Get up, get dressed, eat some breakfast. Your bags are already packed. Come along Penny.” Her father said and when she just laid there, he ripped the covers off her bed.

“HEY!” Yelling at him, she sat up and glared. “What are you doing?”

“Getting you up. We have to go, your husband waits for you, get dressed.” He told her, and pulled on her arm until she got up out of the bed. “I’ll be waiting for you downstairs, don’t make me come get you.

“Fine.” She said and waited for him to leave. The maid came in to help her get dressed, but she wasn’t happy. She noticed almost all of her clothes but a couple of dresses were already gone out of her closet, and wondered when they’d managed to do this without her noticing.

After breakfast, she left with her father, but refused to say a word. It was a long ride to a train station that would start them on their journey. She wasn’t happy, she didn’t want to get married, her father and her had gotten into an argument about her staying a virgin forever and refusing to be a wife.

It just hadn’t worked. Her father had found her a husband, and put her in a position where she had no choice but to go meet the man her father had picked out. A few hours later, she finally caved and asked him a question.

“What happens if we meet him in person and he’s not at all what you thought he’d be, or he’s not suitable for me?” She asked her father, raising a brow.

Her father startled, looking as if that had never occurred to him. “He’ll be fine. Stop trying to find problems where there aren’t any.”

“It’s not your life you’re throwing to the wolves, it’s mine.” Penny retorted and sat back with a thump, glaring at her father. “You don’t care what happens to me.”

“Penny, I do, a lot actually, that’s why I’m insisting you get married. If something were to happen to me, god forbid and you were still unmarried, your assets, and our business would be a target. I know in our society it’s not fair, but unless you have a man to help you, life will be impossible for you. Everyone will try to take advantage of you, men will try to seduce you or get close to you or get their hooks in you for your money. At least with a father alive, I’ve been able to keep most of the sharks at bay. If you’re alone in the world, you would be a lot worse off.”

Penny hadn’t heard her father talk like this before and she tilted her head, looking oddly at him.

“You aren’t sick, are you?” She asked him quietly. He didn’t seem any different than usual.

“Not that I know of, but this was around the age my father died, your grandpa, and it just has me worried about your well-being. I want you taken care of. You don’t have any brothers to look after you, or even an uncle. It’s just you and me Penny. I don’t want you alone in life.” Her father reached forward and grabbed her hand in his own. “Just give this man a chance.”

“I appear to be given no choice in that matter, I’m giving him a chance, just don’t think I want to marry him. How fast are you rushing us into this? Do I even get time to get to know him at all?” Penny asked. She didn’t want to admit to her father, that the wedding bed scared her. She’d heard good things and bad things about it, and one of the maids a year ago had been forced on her wedding night with her husband that her family had chosen for her, and she’d described sex as the most painful, horrible experience. Hearing the maid confide what it had been like, had her scared it would be like that with an uncaring husband who didn’t care about how she felt.

“What’s his name?” Penny realized she’d never even asked.

“Flynn.” Her father told her. “Flynn Hartford. I hear he’s some relation to the Hartford Financial group, the family that started it anyways, and that’s where he made a lot of his money before he got into ranching. He’s upper class Penny, he may be a rancher these days, but his roots are old money.”

“Why should old money, or new money make any difference to me?” She asked confused. Money was money. People were people, being a good person or a bad person rarely had to do with the amount of money they had, or how long they’ve had it.

“It may not matter to you, but you kept impressing on me you didn’t want to have someone marry you for your money, I made sure he fit the bill. He’s got so much money he almost makes us look poor.” Her father, Dick, told her. “Just try not to make his life a living hell before he even gets to know you. I don’t want to travel all this way just to have you screw this up. I’m serious about cutting you off and being done with everything if you refuse to find a way to make this work.”

“I already told you I’d behave myself.” She reminded him. Although she had hoped if he’d changed his mind and called it off, her father wouldn’t have blamed her and maybe she could have gotten out of it. Sighing, she sat back and realized this was going to be a very long trip.

Chapter 2

Penelope was in Flynn’s house, the maid had shown her to a room in the large, sprawled out house that boasted at least twelve bedrooms, and had indoor plumbing. Even her home back east hadn’t had indoor plumbing like this. She didn’t want to say she was impressed; it would have ruined her tantrum she was having in her head about everything. Her father and her had taken a carriage there from the train station when they arrived a couple weeks later. She was tired, moody, miserable and feeling sick from the train. Her stomach was still rolling from the constant movement.

She was unpacking, telling the maid to leave her too it. She didn’t want to snap at a woman she didn’t know, and she was in a bad enough mood she didn’t want to take it out on anyone else. Unless Flynn was stupid enough to come introduce himself. She’d gladly take a bite out of him.

Her father had wisely disappeared into his own bedchambers to unpack. He was planning on leaving directly after the wedding, which was supposed to happen in a week. Penny was determined to find a way to get Flynn to change his mind about it, and her. She knew her father would be unhappy, but if it wasn’t
her
idea and refusal, then he couldn’t really take it out on her.

Could he? Penny shook her head and decided it shouldn’t be a problem.

A knock at the door came and she ignored it. She didn’t want to see anyone. When the door opened, she refused to give the person the satisfaction of turning around.

“Are you going to introduce yourself to me darlin’ or just keep your back to me?” A gruff voice said as the door shut quietly.

“Go away.” Penny said, refusing to turn around. She assumed this was Flynn, and didn’t want anything to do with him.

“It’s my house, I’ll go away when I’m good and ready to go away. I’ve already spoken with your father. Charming man. I am here to meet you now. Be a good girl and turn around so we can say hello to each other.” Flynn said.

“And if I refuse?” Penny retorted, sounding sarcastic. She knew she was being a pain in the butt, but she didn’t care. Her trip made her grumpier, and all the good intentions of trying to make her father happy had gone out the window the longer she’d spent on that train.

“Then I’ll make you turn around, but I’d much rather you do it yourself.” He said calmly.

Penny debated, give in now and seem weak, and obedient, or refuse and get in a possible physical altercation where she’d lose because she was physically weaker then him. Before she had time to make a decision, Flynn walked over to her and pulled her away from the cabinet where she’d been hanging her dresses. He pulled her so she was half-way facing him and then moved to stand in front of her. He wasn’t mean about it, he didn’t hurt her, but it did make her have the urge to kick him in the shin.

“You took too long,” he said and grinned at her, flashing perfect, straight white teeth. He was a tall, good looking man. His sandy blond curls teased the nape of his neck and his light blue eyes and tanned skin made it clear that he wasn’t afraid of being outdoors. He had a couple of laugh lines around his eyes that made it look like he smiled a lot. If she hadn’t been in such a foul mood, she might have actually told him he was beautiful.

Except she was, so she didn’t.

“Okay, now you’ve seen me. I need a bath, some dinner, and a good night sleep before I’ll even be remotely decent company, so if you know what’s good for your emotional wellbeing, I suggest you get out of my room.” Penny told him bluntly. She warned him. At this point, anything he did was his own damn fault for not listening.

“Such sass,” Flynn said and raised his eyebrows upwards as he looked down at her. She was pale, with a few freckles on her nose. Her features were feminine and dainty, and her bright copper red hair was in a single long braid down her back. A few strands had escaped the braid and curled around her cheek, making him stop and tuck one behind her ear. Brushing her cheek with his fingers she stiffened.

“What in the world are you doing?” She hissed at him. “If my father sees you touching me, there’s no way out of this for me.”

“What do you mean a way out?” Flynn looked genuinely confused.

Penny sighed and glared at him. “Marriage. You changing your mind, me going back home where I belong, and my father not blaming me for it. But if he sees you touch me, he’ll insist we be married, no matter what.”

“Sweetie, I’m not giving you a way out. There’s plenty of ways to tame a woman, you don’t scare me.” Flynn told her and winked. “I’ll see you in the morning after breakfast. I assume you know how to ride?”

“Yes, but I have no intention of going riding with you. Now or ever,” she told him frostily.

“I was going to show you the land, but if you don’t want to see it, suit yourself.” He said shrugging.

“I’m sure your land is very pretty, but I don’t plan on staying.” She told him and then tried to pull her arm from him. When he wouldn’t let go she put her hand on his chest and pushed him hard. He stumbled backwards, and took her with him since he didn’t let go of her arm. She landed against his chest hard and tipped off her feet. She didn’t fall because of the grip he still had on her arm.

“Exactly what are you trying to do here?” He whispered inches from her ear, he brought his other arm around her waist to steady her for a moment. Feeling her body fit against his, he closed his eyes for a moment before opening them and looking down at her. His eyes had darkened and the hungry way he looked at her, scared her just a little bit.

“Let go of me,” she ordered him. She could feel her breasts pushed hard against his chest and tried not to wonder what it would feel like if they were pressed skin to skin. It wasn’t painful, or scary like she’d imagined, instead, feeling herself pressed in his arms had her feeling achy in places she didn’t know could feel that way.

“Say please.” Flynn told her and when she shook her head no he laughed. “Okay, then pay the price. A single kiss, I’ll let you go. Either say please, or kiss me. Your choice.”

Penny just stared at him. He wasn’t at all what she was expecting. Every time she pushed, he pushed back. He didn’t seem phased by her at all, and he didn’t seem like he found her irritating.

She’d just have to try harder.

“If you don’t pick one, I’ll pick for you, and since I can’t talk for you I am going to guess you can assume what I will pick,” lowering his voice, he licked his lips and made his intention clear.

Penny stared at his tongue, forgetting to speak. She wondered what his tongue would feel like against her own, if his lips pressing against hers would be soft, or if they’d just mash together in an awkward melding of flesh.

Before she could pick, he leaned down and kissed her, answering the question to that thought. His lips fit over hers and when she gasped, he gently invaded her mouth with his tongue. He let go of her arm and put it on the back of her head to keep her from pulling away. It was soft, and erotic, gentle yet firm. He wasn’t about to let the girl get away, not when he had her exactly where he wanted her and she was melting in his arms.

Penny didn’t even have time to process, she just reacted. Kissing him back, she surprised herself when she wrapped her arms around his neck. She got lost with the way he felt against her, the way his lips pressed and moved against hers, and his tongue teased between her teeth, darting back and forth, touching hers in an intimate way that had her shocked at the way it felt.

When he finally let her go and stepped back he raised a brow. “I don’t regret at all that you’re not the type to say please.”

With that, he left the room and let her stand there and stew about the stolen kiss. Although if she was honest with herself, it really wasn’t stolen and more like she had dared him to do it by refusing to say a simple word. She had no one to blame but herself for that kiss he’d given her. He’d warned her he would and she practically threw herself at him by refusing to say please.

Sighing, she wondered for the first time in her life, if Flynn was the one man she wouldn’t be able to manipulate, and how she felt about that. Tired, she went to sleep, deciding not to think about it tonight. She needed rest. When she woke up, she’d face it tomorrow.