Rescuing the Virgin

By Livia Lang

Emmeline's life is comfortable. And utterly boring.

She lives in her small hometown, works at her dad's shop, and goes on blind dates set up by her parents. And sex? Well, that's never happened...at all.

Then her good-for-nothing brother disappears across the ocean and everything changes.

Forced by her mother, Emmeline must track her wayward sibling down in Europe. Her only lead comes in the form of a tall stranger with smoldering eyes and the ability to make her knees weak. Lav is a smoking hot dream who claims he wants to protect her - but is he more interested in taking her V-card than in keeping her safe?

With everything on the line, Emmeline is beginning to fear that finding her brother may require losing her heart along the way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Livia Lang
• Release date: Sep 21, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393044802

Book preview

1

Emmeline Smith hoped a meteor would hit the small Italian restaurant she was currently sitting in. Or perhaps the romantically lit candles would set the heavy drapes on fire, causing everyone to stampede towards the doors. Or better yet, maybe the waiter would spill hot soup on her dress, and she'd have to make her excuses and head out to the parking lot as quickly as possible. She was willing to suffer some superficial burns if it meant she could escape the hell she was currently in.

Accounting is much more interesting than people think. It is like detective work - if any of those little numbers don't add up, I have to find out why. The tall, lanky man across from her was still droning on in a voice as pleasant as a chainsaw.

I hope he didn't bring any charts with him. I don't think I could sit through that, she thought to herself, grabbing her water and awkwardly chugging it. I'll have to stab myself with a fork if he pulls out a bunch of spreadsheets to show me.

One of the problems with growing up in a highly religious household was that she didn't drink booze. She had never tasted alcohol in her life, but the current moment made her longingly wonder what some wine would do for her nerves. A sip or two would at least dull the buzzing that filled her ears every time Jared opened his mouth, right? Maybe it wasn't too late to acquire a taste for pinot grigio...

For example, just the other day I discovered our monthly balance was off by over five dollars. I stayed late at the office looking everything over until I realized our secretary didn't properly record her latest run to the office supply store. She had forgotten several packs of pens! Now that doesn't seem like a very big deal to many people...

Nope, it really doesn't matter to me at all. Please stop talking.

...but five dollars a month can really add up over time. Soon you have people double charging their lunch or printer paper going missing at a rapid rate. It is very important for all the accounts to be watched quite carefully in order to keep the business running smoothly.

The second problem with growing up as an American ‘good girl’ was the relentless pressure to get married. Emmeline was twenty-five, healthy, and considered attractive by most people. So the fact that she was still unmarried drove her parents absolutely insane. They set her up on blind dates every weekend, encouraged her to think about starting a family, and tried to counsel her to spend more time at the church. Because nothing said romance like sitting in a pew, apparently.

Jared was their latest suggestion and perhaps the worst one yet. He wasn't necessarily ugly - just tall and awkwardly proportioned. Seemingly made mostly from ears, red hair, and knees, he had sharp edges, weird lumps, and a musky smell that made Emmeline's stomach turn.

If only I had the nerve to stand up to Mom and Dad's disapproval. I could tell them to fly off and let me find a man that’s actually interesting.

Jared kept going, oblivious to her discomfort. ...That's my best trait, I think. Being dependable. I will make sure my family is well taken care of and properly managed. He was smiling at her now, desperation wafting off of him so heavily it might as well have been cologne. He was nearly thirty and also unmarried; his mother was no doubt dropping hints about grandbabies at every Sunday dinner.

Oh? That's...nice. Emmeline nervously started playing with her long blonde hair, trying to will herself to get up and leave. She wished she could just walk out the door, leaving the mediocre food and boring conversation behind.

Of course, that would lead to another long talk with her mother, filled with subtle shaming. Emmeline had had plenty of those conversations lately and didn't relish the idea of yet another round of weeping - on either her or her mother's part.

The waitress, wearing a nametag that said 'Cherri,' chose that moment to walk up, hands on her shapely hips. Can I get you two anything else?

Jared jumped in before Emmeline had a chance to reply. Yes, thanks. Everything is fine.

Cherri murmured happily in approval and moved away, leaving the scent of vanilla and strawberries behind. This left Emmeline once against trapped with the most boring person she had ever met.

Everything is the opposite of fine. Goodness, why can’t I be out with someone exciting. Someone who makes my knees weak and my heart flutter? I’ve never once felt like that – maybe there is something wrong with me?

Would you like to take a stroll after dinner? Jared broke into her silent reflection.

Oh, well...that's sounds... Emmeline fumbled vainly for an excuse. She was well out of college and couldn't pretend to have exams. If she claimed to have a headache, he'd no doubt try to show up the next day with a get-well basket. The desperate men were the worst to try and fob off. Relentlessly they'd chase her, which wasn't surprising considering most were waiting until marriage to have sex. Thirty years was a long time to wait.

Emmeline would know – she also hadn’t been laid yet. And from the way the current night was going, she was pretty sure she never would.

Bing-a-ling-ling!

Emmeline pounced on her purse, ripping it open in haste. She took one look at the screen and her face broke into a wide grin. Oh no, I'm so terribly sorry, but it looks like there is a family emergency and I'm going to have to go. My mother has just sent out the S.O.S. I'll call you some other time.

She flung down her napkin and grabbed her purse before the final words were out of her mouth. The dumbfounded Jared soon found himself alone as Emmeline practically sprinted out of the restaurant.

For once, her mother had done something useful.

2

Lav Divjak relaxed at a cafe in Sarajevo's Old Town. Nearby he could hear the pounding of hammers in the metalsmith alleys, where little shops were filled with gleaming copper plates, spoons, and jewelry. For hundreds of years those tiny shops had employed entire families, and it was with great pride that Sarajevo celebrated their copper craftsmen. It was good to be known for something besides the war and a long-ago Olympics.

It was a warm summer night, and the tourists were out in full force after dinner, walking the narrow medieval streets and gawking at the historical buildings. The pigeons were also flooding