Hell On Wheels

By Lindsey Power

Shelley Blake hadn't dated for over twenty years. Recently divorced, with a new home and starting a new job, she had too much on her mind to think about romance. She didn't even know where to begin. But a series of messages on her computer had her intrigued... and worried. Who was this person that seemed to know what she was doing? Was he stalking her? Was it somebody she worked with?
When he invited her out for a drink she thought it would give her a chance to find out who was annoying her and give him a piece of her mind. But when five o'clock came, he was nothing like she expected.
For one thing, he was way too young for her - only twenty eight. She was forty-one for Gods sake!
There was no denying that Drew McAllister was attractive, in a wild sort of way, but there was no way Shelley was going to have a relationship with this... this... boy.
Drew had other ideas however, and wasn't shy about getting his own way. Pretty soon Shelley found herself swept up in a relationship with a man she knew very little about. And while their time together was passionate and exciting, he seemed to spend a lot of his time away from her. He was very vague about what he was doing and reluctant to commit. Was there something he was keeping from her?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lindsey Power
• Release date: Sep 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301148790

Lindsey Power

I had thought about writing a novel for a long time but never got around to it - so many things to do! While watching in dismay as the release date for a favourite author's latest book got put back further and further, I decided to have a go at writing a romance myself.There are lots of Regency Romances set in England, but as I live in rural New South Wales, I thought I would base my story here. The result is my first novel, The Convict, set around Parramatta and the Hunter region in New South Wales in the 1830's. It is a romance between a convict and an innocent young lady. Not the usual regency romance!For my second story, I tried something contemporary. I read a blog from a book editor who mentioned a lack of stories featuring older women so... my next novel, Hell on Wheels, was a sexy romance between an older woman and a younger man, set in urban Sydney. Things get quite hot between this couple (adults only!)My third story, Parallel Wife, is a short paranormal adventure. Not strictly a romance but it does have some romantic elements. What would you do if you suddenly woke up in a parallel life in the middle of a drama you know nothing about? My heroine soon finds out!I think my fourth story, Gentleman Jack, is my best effort to date. It's a mix of romance, revenge and adventure set in Colonial New South Wales. Unlike my first historical novel, which was originally written to a romance formula, I just wrote this for myself. Knowing I was going straight to an e-book meant I didn't have to pad it out or worry there were too many secondary characters. They just appeared when they were needed.I hope you enjoy my stories and leave me some positive feedback.

Book preview

HELL ON WHEELS

by Lindsey Power

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2013 Lindsey Power

www.lindseypower.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means without written permission.

The principle characters in this book are fictitious..

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter 1

Hellonwheels07: good morning u sexy thing!

The chat window popped up on Shelley Blake's computer screen.

She turned around and looked through the glass partition into the office beyond, but the few people already at their desks seemed to be busy working. Nobody was looking in her direction.

Shelley frowned for a moment and then chuckled to herself. There were worse ways to start a new job, she supposed. Time to put her new computer skills into practice.

TBL_reception: Good morning yourself! How can I help you today?

Hellonwheels07: what r u wearing?

Taken aback, Shelley looked again through the partition behind for signs of sniggering. Surely they were all too old for juvenile pranks? As publishers of scientific journals they didn't exactly look like 'the wild bunch'. Still… they were mostly men…

OK. She'd have to give her anonymous correspondent the benefit of the doubt. It was part of her job to answer the online chat from the website. It wouldn't do to tell a customer where to get off on her first day.

TBL_reception: I am ready to answer your queries regarding TBL Publishing. Do you have a question?

Hellonwheels07: hmmm… r u wearing high heels?

TBL_reception: If you don't have a serious question I will have to end this chat.

Hellonwheels07: i am serious. dont u want to talk to me?

TBL_reception: Only if you have a genuine business enquiry.

Hellonwheels07: yr breaking my heart! xxx

TBL_reception: I sympathise with your medical problems but I have a job to do.

Hellonwheels07: now yr being crewl

TBL_reception: I think you mean 'cruel' and you wouldn't be the first one to think so. Perhaps I can interest you in a dictionary?

Hellonwheels07: ouch! i thougt you loved me :-(

TBL_reception: Since I don't know you from Adam that's highly unlikely.

Hellonwheels07: yr not maggie?

TBL_reception: No. I am the new Receptionist. Maggie has left.

Hellonwheels07: o shit. where did she go?

Hellonwheels07: r u still there?

TBL_reception: Yes. I had to answer the phone. I'm afraid I have no idea where Maggie went. This is my first day. If I can't help you with a TBL query, I really must log off and do some work.

Hellonwheels07: ok. nice chatting with u

TBL_reception: Likewise. Goodbye.

- CHAT ENDS -

Phew! At least her anonymous correspondent didn't seem to be one of her co-workers. They would have presumably noticed Maggie's absence and seen herself sitting at the desk.

How are you settling in?, asked Penny Jones. Have you got the hang of the computer?

Yes. I've had a practice on the chat line. Just a prank caller I'm afraid, but at least I know how it works. I'm about to go through the emails.

I'll sit with you a moment and help you direct them to the right people. You should get to know who's who in a few days.

Penny Jones was the Office Manager who had hired her. Shelley admired Penny's no-nonsense attitude, but not her look. Although very stylish, the severely bobbed black hair and thick rectangular glasses shrieked 'ball-breaker' to Shelley, and she wondered if men these days found that attractive. But then again, she was woefully out of touch with what men liked.

Back on the job, and singles market, after twenty odd years of marriage, she had concentrated her efforts so far on upgrading her skills and finding employment. With that now accomplished, perhaps it was time to upgrade herself - starting with getting fit.

Do you know of any decent gyms in the area Penny?

Yes. There's a fitness centre a few streets away where I go three times a week after work. I'd be glad to show you.

Shelley eyed Penny's slim, toned body with envy, comparing it to her own over-generous curves. Still, she had to start somewhere.

That would be great.

Ah, here's Brian

Shelley looked up to see a suave middle-aged man in an expensive suit coming towards them.

Brian Williams, said Penny, I'd like you to meet our new Receptionist, Shelley Blake. Shelley, Brian is our General Manager.

Brian took Shelley's hand and squeezed it, stroking her knuckles with his thumb.

A pleasure to meet you my dear. Some coffee when you have a moment. He smiled as though wondering which bit to eat first then released her and turned towards his office. Shelley unconsciously wiped her hand on her skirt."

Yes, he has that effect on people, laughed Penny. Just between us, we call him Brian the Groper so don't get too close to him. Come, I'll show you how he likes his coffee. Everybody else can manage to make their own.

The day passed in a blur as Shelley learned her job, answering the phone, the email, the chat, typing letters, sorting the mail, the photocopying and packing books for the regular flow of couriers.

By the time she got home she was thoroughly exhausted but happy.

Home.

Not the home she had shared with Mark for nearly twenty years, but her new little townhouse. The rooms were small, but it did have a decent bath and a delightful, if tiny, garden.

She kicked off her shoes and poured herself a glass of wine, relaxing on the sun lounge to catch the last rays of the day as they filtered through the warm summer air.

Shelley felt torn between relief, and the loss of having nobody to cook for, pick up after or talk to… nobody demanding her time. While she was glad she had raised such independent and self-reliant children, she was still sad when they actually left home. Ben was off backpacking in Europe and Rachel away at university. And Mark…. well the less she thought about him the better.

No, this was her time now. Time to re-discover herself. To read all the books she'd never had time to read. To go to the places she wanted to go without catering for the demands of everybody else. To cook the things she liked, to invite whoever she liked... to hog the damn bathroom as long as she wanted.

On that thought, she went upstairs and soon eased herself into a hot bath with scented oil and a good book.

Bliss.

*

By Wednesday Shelley was getting things under control. She was starting to remember the names of her co-workers and what they did. She was looking forward, with some trepidation, to her first session at the gym this evening.

Brian's voice came over the speaker. Shelley, could I have some coffee when you have a moment?

No problem.

Here you are, she said a few minutes later, placing the mug on his desk.

That's very efficient, he smiled. Do you take such good care of your husband?

Shelley narrowed her eyes. I'm divorced. I'm afraid my husband's had all the care he's getting out of me.

She nodded politely and went back to her desk.

Brian watched her go, admiring her round arse and shapely legs. Her tits weren't bad either. She was certainly an improvement on Maggie.

*

Shelley hoped her old bike shorts and stretch tee-shirt were not too unfashionable for a modern gym, but Penny reassured her they were fine.

Being on an industrial estate in inner city Sydney, the fitness centre attracted people from a wide variety of the local businesses. They seemed to be at various ages and fitness levels and Shelley felt a little less intimidated as she left Penny at the treadmills.

A nice instructor called Brad, with a shaved head and bulging biceps, showed her how the various pieces of equipment worked. She ran, stepped and pumped herself into a sweat for more than an hour before her body decided enough was enough.

Save some energy for next time, said Brad. When you come on Friday, try one of the aerobics classes instead of the weights. Mix it up a bit.

You're presuming I'll still be walking by Friday, she puffed.

Don't give up. The first few weeks are the hardest. After you get into a routine I think you'll actually enjoy it.

I'll take your word for it. See you Friday. She smiled and headed for the dressing rooms, waving goodbye to Penny who was pounding away again on the treadmill, iPod in her ears.

Luxuriating in her bath some forty minutes later, glass of wine in hand, Shelley hoped the gain would be worth the pain.

*

Chapter 2

Hellonwheels07: how are u feeling this morning?

Shelley groaned as she saw the chat window pop up.

TBL_reception: You again! Don't you have something you should be doing?

Hellonwheels07: just trying to spred a little sunshine xxx how do u feel today?

TBL_reception: Actually I ache all over. Fortunately I can sit down most of the day.

Hellonwheels07: hard workout?

TBL_reception: Yes, as a matter of fact. How did you guess?

Hellonwheels07: u have a nice bum :-)

Hellonwheels07: u still there?

TBL_reception: Who the hell are you?

Hellonwheels07: its cool. im not a stalker. i just saw u at the gym last night and

- CHAT ENDS -

Shelley closed the chat window, her heart thumping. Who was this guy? Presuming of course that it was a guy. No, it had to be a guy. A young one at that, if the spelling was anything to go by - or did all men have trouble typing?

He knew where she worked and knew she went to the gym - and she'd only been at her new job for three-and-a-bit days!

She looked across to the open door of Brian's office, watching him on his computer. No. Surely not. Would he go to the gym? Would she have even noticed him if he did?

What about her other male co-workers? They mostly seemed like family men, academics and nerds. But who knew what persona they would adopt from behind the anonymity of their computers? She would make a point of looking for them all when she went to the gym on Friday.

Shelley had not quite forgotten the morning chat by the time Penny came to relieve her at lunchtime. Seeking some fresh air and sunshine, she took her sandwich and book down to the small park nearby and tried to relax.

Every now and then she looked up and scanned the people around the park to see if anyone was watching her, but they all seemed to be minding their own business. Relaxing, she lost herself in her book until it was time to go back to work.

Ah, you're back, said Penny. I didn't get a chance - can you pack these books in an satchel? There's the address. A courier will be here to pick them up shortly.

No problem.

Shelley was just closing the satchel when the motorcycle courier walked in.

One delivery, and one pickup for Barnes, he said.

Here you go. She passed him the package and took the large bunch of flowers he held out.

Oh they're lovely aren't they? I wonder who…

Do you have the docket?

Oh, yes, sorry. She put down the flowers and handed over the docket, smiling at the invisible face behind the helmet and sunglasses as he turned and left.

Shelley sat back at her desk, took the card out of the flowers and gasped.

To: TBL reception

Sorry if I frightened you

I was just admiring a pretty lady.

Forgive me?

Hellonwheels07

Surprised, Shelley felt slightly more at ease - if no more enlightened. Perhaps that would be the end of it. Whoever it was would leave her in peace.

Shelley, my dear, came Brian's voice over the speaker, 'a coffee when you have a moment."

No problem.

Shelley took in the coffee and glanced casually at Brian's computer screen. No evidence of a chat window currently open. No evidence of a gym bag anywhere visible in the room.

How are you settling in? he asked.

Well thanks. Everyone's been very nice.

Glad to hear it. I suppose you'll be looking forward to the weekend?

Of course.

Doing anything special?

I haven't given it much thought, she smiled. Excuse me, I must get the phone.

Saved by the bell, she thought, relieved to get back to her desk. That man gave her the creeps.

At ten past four, the chat window opened on the computer.

Hellonwheels07: did u like the flowers?

Shelley paused wondering whether to engage in this conversation, but curiosity got the better of her.

TBL_reception: They were lovely, but you shouldn't have.

Hellonwheels07: am i forgiven?

TBL_reception: For stalking me? That wasn't very nice.

Hellonwheels07: u can spank me if u like :-)

Shelley laughed.

TBL_reception: Not much chance of that. I don't even know who you are.

Hellonwheels07: would u like to know?

TBL_reception: Please don't tell me you work in this office.

Hellonwheels07: would u go out with me if i did?

TBL_reception: No.

Hellonwheels07: in that case i dont. will u come out for a drink with me aftr work?

TBL_reception: I don't think that would be a good idea.

Hellonwheels07: u dont drink?

Shelley laughed again and was disturbed by the phone.

Hellonwheels07: u still there?

TBL_reception: Phone. I still have work to do.

Hellonwheels07: so youll come for a drink?

TBL_reception: You still haven't told me who you are.

Hellonwheels07: youll find out soon. see u at 5 :-)

- CHAT ENDS -

The cheek of him!

Shelley wasn't sure whether to be flustered or flattered. Either way he'd be here in less than an hour.

Oh damn! She hated herself for caring, but got her makeup out of her bag and started fixing