Scarlett Hood & the Hunter

By Pumpkin Spice

In the merry village of Amāre, love isn’t just the town’s namesake—it’s a way of life. When Scarlett Hood discovers that her grandmother’s retirement fund has been targeted by the wolf of Wall Street, Bernie Wolfe, the photo journalist realizes she will need more than her telephoto lens to take him down. She’ll need help.

Help arrives in the unlikely Jack Hunter, the local bean farmer, who struck it rich only to lose his golden crop to Wolfe. Now working for the Security & Exchange Commission (SEC), Jack is on the hunt to bring down Wolfe and Giant Investment Services. Nothing—not even his unbridled attraction to Scarlett—will keep him from tackling the man who stole his grandmother’s land and put him out of business. Can Scarlett Hood and Jack Hunter team up together to bring down one of Amāre’s worst villains and find their own happily ever after?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight Publishing
• Release date: Oct 24, 2015
• ISBN: 9781772335415

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Published by Evernight Publishing ® at Smashwords

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2015 Pumpkin Spice

ISBN: 978-1-77233-541-5

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Editor: Karyn White

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION

This was always written for a young woman I greatly admire and imagine as a modern-day heroine. She’s my Scarlett, with a devotion to family and a passion that is yet to be ignited. Like every young woman she’s just waiting for the right hero to come crashing into her life. I know he will, and I can’t wait to watch her love story unfold.

To CM, with all my love, Pumpkin

SCARLETT HOOD & THE HUNTER

The Amāre Tales, 1

Pumpkin Spice

Copyright © 2015

Chapter One

Why does she have to live so far from town? The Dark Forest was especially dim this evening. I pivoted on the heel of my boot. The Enchanted Forest tavern faintly glowed behind me.

The Enchanted Forest tavern wasn’t actually in the forest, but rather on the outskirts of the merry little town of Amāre. While the tavern was housed in a charming cottage with amber colored-roof shingles and slanted eaves where lanterns hung to light the way for travelers, just beyond its reach lay the Dark Forest. And there wasn’t anything enchanted about the Dark Forest. It was a place where even the most skilled huntsman wouldn’t travel.

Seriously. Why does she live out here? I stepped around the fallen foliage that scattered the dirt path like strewn matchsticks. I knew the way to my grandmother’s house, but there was something in the air that sent a chill throughout my body and settled on my scalp. It felt like someone was watching me. But when I turned in either direction, all I saw were giant sequoias and fir trees that stretched high into the evening sky and surrounded me in green. I shuddered, pulled up my hoodie, and tucked my long, red, wavy hair inside my cap. It did nothing to warm me or change the fact that it was way too late to be traveling to Granny’s house alone, but the pink bakery box that was tucked in my backpack and kept pressing into my shoulder reminded me why I was headed there. The bottle of merlot that seemed to swish with every step was the only incentive to keep tracking forward.

Cake and wine, I said to the black crow that seemed to hop along with me from one tall tree branch to the next keeping me company. It’s the makings for a perfect pick-me-up. The crow took flight and landed on the succeeding limb. Pine needles fell like confetti from the sky and scattered beneath my feet. Are you following me? I paused, and for a moment I considered grabbing my camera. But I knew once I pulled it out, I’d lose track of time. It’s what always happened when I was off duty from the radio station and shooting for fun.

When I no longer had to photograph for the purpose of the station’s online photo gallery that updated listeners to stories we were covering on the air, I could let my mind wander. Something about a deadline seemed to put a chokehold on my creativity, but when it wasn’t looming over my head, I was free to let my lens capture whatever it saw. That was the beauty of photography. Through the lens an entirely new world opened up to me. My camera allowed me to see things I normally wouldn’t. And I could only imagine what it would spot in the distance as soon as I focused on the raven.

Can’t stop now, I said to the black bird. Granny’s been sick and needs a little cheer me up. And nothing says, ‘Get better soon!’ than dessert and vino.

I couldn’t agree more.

His voice came out of nowhere. I jumped and screamed in tandem. What the hell! The crow flew from its perch, and suddenly I felt very alone with the dark-haired man that stepped out of the shadows of the forest.

Hello, he said.

What a deep voice you have! The startled thought blurted from my mouth.

The better to greet you with, my dear. He stepped into the light, and I took a step back.

Shit, shit, shit. What do I do? My cell phone was in the front pocket of my backpack, which was slung over my shoulder and out of reach.

His eyes were large and as dark as the raven’s. They seemed to bore into me, and I couldn’t stop staring.

Goodness, what big eyes you have! My thoughts were running random, sporadic, and seemed to fly out of my mouth as soon as I thought them.

The better to see you with, my dear. The man slowly walked toward me, and I backed away in equal measure. He was sharply dressed in a gray pinstriped suit, crisp white dress shirt, and a silver tie. Definitely overdressed for the forest. He’s not a lumberjack that’s for sure. Maybe he’s one of the corporate lawyers trying to get the lumberjacks to unionize.

I mean you no harm, he said and held up his hands. He palmed an iPhone in his right hand. If you’d like to call someone. He extended it toward me.

I shook my head. It’s a trap. I don’t know what kind of trap, but it’s got to be, right? I grab the phone and he grabs me. No, I said curtly. Thank you, but no.

All right. I understand. I’d be leery, too, he said. But perhaps you could help me? His voice softened. I got turned around in this maze of trees, and I can’t seem to find my way back home. He pointed behind him. I met with a client and then after I left her house. He