The Profiteer

By Evan Asher

At first, Kelly Davis can't believe Hudson Industries is coming to her small town of Cedar Grove. But the rumors are true. Luke Hudson, roguish son of billionaire Crawford Hudson, has invaded her little city with his infuriating swagger and a profiteering style that could change her beloved community forever.

He doesn't only have his eye on Cedar Grove, though. Kelly has also caught his attention. And it doesn't bother him one bit that Kelly already has a fiancé. Luke Hudson is a man who thrives on competition, business and otherwise.

Before moving on, he'll put some sizzle in Kelly's world and turn her safe, predictable life upside down.

The Profiteer is a spicy contemporary romance. Approx. 44,000 words. Contains love scenes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evan Asher
• Release date: Mar 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311214591

Book preview

The Profiteer

A Contemporary Romance

by Evan Asher

Book Description:

At first, Kelly Davis can't believe Hudson Industries is coming to her small town of Cedar Grove. But the rumors are true. Luke Hudson, roguish son of billionaire Crawford Hudson, has invaded her little city with his infuriating swagger and a profiteering style that could change her beloved community forever.

He doesn't only have his eye on Cedar Grove, though. Kelly has also caught his attention. And it doesn't bother him one bit that Kelly already has a fiancé. Luke Hudson is a man who thrives on competition, business and otherwise.

Before moving on, he'll turn Kelly's safe, predictable life upside down.

© 2014 by Evan Asher

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 9781311214591

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, locations and events in this work are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously.

Cover Design: Covers by Ramona/Romance Novel Center

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Chapter 1

Kelly Davis wondered if this meeting was a mistake. It had seemed like a good idea earlier.

A benevolent early-summer sun graced the small community of Cedar Grove. Welcoming shadows pooled under awning and tree. But the beauty of the day was lost on the man she dated. Curtis Irvin slumped in a window booth of Chickie’s, the town’s only vintage diner, with Kelly and his two cousins.

I have no idea how to handle this, he grumbled. Worry tightened the fine lines around his light brown eyes. His manicured fingernails beat a tiny rhythm on the Formica tabletop.

Kelly patted his hand, stopping the motion. We’ll put our heads together and come up with something.

You think we can solve this? Curtis asked. He was graced with sandy hair, an even complexion, and symmetrical, pleasant features. But now his handsome face was stiff with displeasure. I almost lost my lunch yesterday when I heard the news. It’s all over town now, from the paper to the radio. I’m telling you, I can’t survive this.

For a moment, there was silence at the table. His cousin Ginny shot him a look of sympathy, but she was obviously as upset as he was.

Curtis, Kelly said, with a sympathetic smile. Honey, it’s a blow to almost every businessperson in town. But, we have to keep our heads, try to maintain some perspective.

There’s nothing wrong with my perspective! Curtis snapped. If you’d get your head out of the clouds, you’d realize I’m only calling it like I see it.

Head in the clouds? Kelly bit back a defensive retort. But, it might not be as bad as you think.

Wake up, Kelly, Curtis said bitterly. Crawford Hudson’s a rapacious old predator. He’ll ruin Cedar Grove from a thousand miles away. All it takes is a decision on his part and his big fat John Hancock on some paperwork. That’s how the big shots do things.

Kelly gazed at her boyfriend’s slumped shoulders and admitted to herself he was probably right. From all accounts, Crawford Hudson was a powerful force, a heartless corporatist, and he had his greedy eyes fixed on Cedar Grove.

Curtis stared into his coffee cup, face gloomy, as if his entire life was nothing but a sour exercise in scrabbling to stay afloat. He didn’t contain his resentment well, and it permeated the atmosphere like an ill smell.

His bleak mood made her uneasy. Do you want more coffee? she asked, ready to signal Irene, their waitress. He waved away her question, too irritated to accept her kindness.

Kelly crumpled a napkin in her hand, searching for patience. She and Curtis had such different outlooks. He fell easily into despair, while she preferred a solution-oriented approach to problems. It left them at odds with each other sometimes. She always tried to infuse him with optimism, pull him from his dark thoughts, and he seemed to need that from her. The wellspring of hope did not flow naturally in Curtis. It required priming.

As she pondered the situation now facing the merchants of Cedar Grove, she twisted a lock of her long auburn hair around a slender finger. Her green eyes held a faraway look.

Kelly was usually a buoyant person, but now her good cheer was dampened. Since she’d heard the news yesterday about Crawford Hudson’s plans, she’d struggled with a sense of impending doom and fear for her future.

She was also concerned for Curtis and his cousins, too.

There are rumors that Hudson might put his son in control this time, said Ginny. I tried to check him out on the internet, but he avoids publicity. It’s hard to find any information on him, but given that he’s a Hudson, he’s probably as much of a shark as his old man. Ginny, a robust blonde in her mid-forties, was a stout purveyor of pessimism, much like her cousin. Unlike Curtis, though, she didn’t let it hold her down for long. She bounced nervously over the bumps of life, always keeping an eye out for the next one.

Her sister, June, was slightly older and great deal more level-headed. I heard Crawford Hudson and his son were on bad terms. They had some kind of falling out. Why would the man put him in charge?

For all we know, they could be as close as grapes on a vine. I mean, there are all kinds of rumors about them, but nobody really knows for sure, Ginny said. I found a lot of speculation, but few facts.

June chewed her lip thoughtfully. As rich as they are, there should be all kinds of information out there about them.

You’d think. Ginny was wry. From what I read, even the paparazzi have to work to get their shots.

This guesswork is a waste of time. It doesn’t do any good, Curtis complained. He took a sip of coffee and set the cup in its saucer with a loud clink.

The door of the diner opened and its bell announced a customer. Kelly glanced up. A large, well-built stranger in wraparound shades strode across the black and white tiled floor and seated himself at a table. He had longish black hair secured at the nape of his neck. A light layer of road dust coated his tight jeans, leather jacket, and boots. Her group had been so intent on their misery; they hadn’t heard the motorcycle pull up outside.

The newcomer looked to be about thirty years old, muscular, and tanned. Not handsome in the classical sense, like Curtis, his features were nonetheless arresting, almost gypsy-like. After removing his jacket and draping it over a chair, he slid the dark glasses to the top of his head and his gray eyes traveled over the room. The fabric of his white T-shirt clung to his shoulders, chest, and arms, strained by his well-defined form. His piercing gaze met Kelly’s and paused a moment. Something fiery and immediate leaped between them. Then his sensuous lips curved in a brief smile, there and gone before she could think about how to respond. Even from several tables away, she felt the magnetism exuded by this man.

Suddenly self-conscious, she let her eyes slide over to the window next to her. A red and black bike, a beast of a machine, waited near the curb outside, a helmet the color of midnight parked on its broad seat. She gave the man another appraisal from under her lashes. He radiated a rugged maleness, confident and solid and just shy of being cocky, though for some reason, she was certain he could swagger if the mood struck him. A flush spread its warmth under her skin. She shouldn’t even be looking. Curtis was practically her fiancé; they’d been dating for so long. Though they had the usual disagreements, they were devoted to each other. Another man, no matter how extraordinary, didn’t deserve her attention, certainly no more than a cursory glance at best. She needed to rein in her curiosity.

The rider gave his order to Irene, then leaned back and crossed a booted foot over his knee. Kelly couldn’t seem to keep her eyes off him, and she hoped he didn’t notice. She pulled her attention back to the conversation in the booth. Ginny and June were still debating which of the Hudsons was likely to be worse.

The old man is the real demon, June said.

I disagree. Ginny sniffed and lifted her chin. The young one is bound to be more aggressive. He’s not been mellowed by age yet.

Curtis slapped his palm on the tabletop, causing the salt and pepper shakers to rattle against each other. What does it matter if it’s the father or the son? Any Hudson is bad news. You’re getting high-centered on insignificant details. He glared at his cousins. When they build that factory, they’ll ruin all of us. Know why? Hudson Industries has brought back the concept of the ‘company store’. It’s a regressive model, and just another way to get their hands on even more money and power. They’ll take all the good employees away from the rest of us, and if that isn’t enough, they’ll take all their business, too. Who’s going to shop anywhere but the company store? If their employees run short of cash, they can get credit against their paychecks, just like back in the day. We can’t compete with that. He examined his manicured fingernails, his mouth set in a hard line. I’d like to bomb their corporate offices, burn them to the ground, he said almost casually.

Curtis! Kelly exclaimed. Ginny and June gaped at him, stunned. Though often morose, Curtis wasn’t usually given to expressions of violence.

However, today he seemed especially agitated. Just watch how fast people line up for jobs at that factory. His eyes roved the room, passing over the scattered customers as if wondering how many of them would abandon loyalty to downtown Cedar Grove and throw in their lot with the Hudsons. His frown deepened, marring the perfect lines of his face.

The rider caught his eye and touched his forehead in a salute of greeting. Curtis ignored him as if the man was beneath his notice. Fools, all of them, he muttered.

His rudeness embarrassed Kelly. She regretted inviting him to this meeting. Her intentions were noble; she thought they’d brainstorm and come up with some resourceful ideas to counteract the potential damage that would be caused by a Hudson factory and its company store. But Curtis obviously wasn’t ready for cool thinking and planning. The news was too fresh; he was still too shaken. A rush of sympathy came over her and she reached over to squeeze his arm.

He gave her hand a scathing look and then pulled away as if annoyed with her. Her cheeks reddened at the rejection. She tucked her hand in her lap.

Are things really that bad? Ginny asked. Surely, it won’t affect our grocery!

You’re in no better shape than the rest of us. You won’t be able to hire a sack boy. And as for your sales, well, they’ll plummet, Curtis said to Ginny and June. You’ll be hit hard, too, Kel. No one is safe from this scourge.

Ginny looked at Curtis, worry etching lines in her face. It was easy to see she valued his opinions and took his words to heart.

Curtis was a bit younger than Ginny and June, since he was born later in his parents’ lives. Though they were related, he looked little like his cousins. Curtis had inherited his looks from his mother. He had dark-blonde hair, always flawlessly groomed, and caramel-colored eyes. Both women had the thin flaxen hair, pallid complexions, and pale blue eyes common on the paternal side of the family. While Ginny was rotund, June was angular. When she walked, her raw-boned form was a bag of hangars in motion. Ginny, on the other hand, had a rolling, meaty gait. She shared the frame of her sister, but with considerably more padding. Both women, however, had kind natures and gentle hearts.

Ginny and June had spoiled Curtis while he was growing up and, if the truth be told, continued their indulgent affection for him. Devoted as they were to him, even they seemed to find his manner off-putting. They looked at each other with surprised, sad eyes.

I wish you wouldn’t have that attitude, Curtis, Ginny said, and June nodded her agreement. We need to look on the bright side.

There isn’t a damn bright side, Curtis said, a little too loudly. He snapped his fingers several times at Irene, held up his cup.

Kelly noticed the rider regarding Curtis with a frown of disapproval, and she didn’t like it. This stranger was a wanderer, a free spirit who probably knew nothing about real responsibility. A vagrant. He was certainly in no position to judge Curtis. His eyes drifted to Kelly. She turned her face away as if he didn’t exist.

Irene hurried over with the coffee pot and gave them all a refill before stopping by the rider’s table and topping off his cup as well.

June turned to Curtis, her voice a bit stern. "Since you think we’re all at risk, then how about you pitch in and come