V is for Vaden: The Love Brothers Saga #3: The Love Brothers, #3

By Bonnie Vane

Some trials build you up, and some trials tear you down.

 

When the tragedies in Vaden Love's life became almost too much to bear, his grief turned him into an emotional hermit, rarely coming out of the beach house he shares with his dog except for his hated job managing a resort. But a sprained ankle and a surprising chance encounter with a delivery girl threaten to draw him out of his cave—if it doesn't destroy everything else in his life first. One thing is for sure, the girl is trouble with a capital T.

 

Bryana Tallon has a lot of trouble in her life thanks to an overprotective twin brother, working full-time as a delivery girl, and trying to become the first one in her family to get an MBA. As if that wasn't hard enough, she has a stalker threatening her safety, and his attentions seem to be getting worse. When shy-but-sexy customer Vaden Love starts asking for only her to deliver food to him every day, has she just gained a new stalker, or is this the beginning of something that could change her life for better—or worse?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bonnie Vane
• Release date: Oct 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393935575

Book preview

V IS FOR VADEN

Love Brothers Series: Vaden & Bryana

Bonnie Vane

V is for Vaden is a work of fiction. All of the names, characters, places, organizations and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2017 by Bonnie Vane

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

A Note From Bonnie

Other Books by Bonnie Vane

About Bonnie Vane

CHAPTER ONE

Vaden called out in desperation, Julia, come on!

He waited for his female companion to respond, but she just kept playing the waves, grabbing the occasional seashell and tossing it into the air. So much for being lord and master and all that. Vaden put his hands on his hips. Okay, then, no supper for you.

Julia ran up to him and dropped a brown-and-tan speckled cowrie shell at his feet, panting from the exertion. Vaden knelt down to rub her belly and then quickly put the leash on. You know, for a German Shepherd, you really aren’t much for law and order, are you, girl?

The dog nuzzled his face, and Vaden sighed. But you are a sweetie, I’ll hand you that.

Rachel had given him Julia as a puppy, picking her out from a litter of abandoned pups left at an animal shelter. Because she looks like you, Rachel had said.

Ah, Rachel. Had it really been two years? The last night they’d spent together was out here on the beach, letting the tiny puppy get used to the sounds and smells of the seashore. The next day was the accident. His mother, Rachel, Liam’s fiancée, Owen’s and Evan’s girlfriends—none of them ever came home.

The wind pushed Vaden’s hair into his eyes, and he brushed it away. Damn hair, always getting into his eyes, making them water. Yeah, that was it. Julia nuzzled his face again, and Vaden gave her a pat and stood up. Probably should get back to the house to feed Julia, Vaden’s threats notwithstanding.

A young woman in a bright red bikini, who was walking ankle-deep in the water, smiled at him and came up to pet Julia. She’s adorable. And so polite.

Vaden almost snorted at that one. They’d tried puppy school, but Julia had been kicked out for disobedience—she couldn’t even get past the no barking lesson. That was like getting kicked out of cooking school for not being able to boil water. Vaden tightened the leash. Adorable is her middle name.

The woman smiled up at Vaden as if she’d like to pet him, too. I think I’ve seen you out here, before. Live nearby?

In fact, he lived right along the beach and could tumble out his front door and be right there, but he didn’t want her to know that. I live in town, yes.

You must be familiar with the Timbuktu Bar. We should grab a drink there, sometime.

Vaden tried to hold back a grimace. You’ve got to drink to live, or so they say. Although I think they usually mean water.

The woman laughed as if he’d made the funniest joke ever. I didn’t bring any business cards with me. She winked at him. But I do have this, and she actually pulled out a marker from her bikini top. Did many women carry one there?

She grabbed his wrist that wasn’t attached to the leash and wrote a phone number on it. In case you get thirsty.

He mumbled something about deserts and salt water and dog spit, thinking she might get the idea that he was crazy and therefore not great dating fodder, but she just laughed again, then waved at him as she continued her walk down the shoreline.

That was the third woman today who’d flirted with him on the beach. They were all young, they were all attractive, they were all wearing barely legal bikinis, so he should be interested, right? But he wasn’t in the mood. Maybe hadn’t been in the mood for a long time. Not since Rachel.

Besides, he knew they weren’t necessarily as interested in him as they were in his money. Or potential money. Vaden had loved his father, but he often found himself cursing the man for his whimsical bequest that made Vaden and his brothers targets of every money-grubbing single—and some not-so-single—women in the area.

Julie cocked her head at him and whined as if sensing his mood. But she often did that, like a doggy telepath. Time for din-dins. You and me and the TV.

Just not TV dinners, oh no. Vaden would rather pull his tongue out than ever put anything frozen into his mouth. Blasphemy. If God had intended people to eat frozen food, he would have made it that way.

As Vaden neared the door to his house, he looked around to make sure the red-bikini woman nor any of the others he’d run across were watching. He’d no sooner gotten inside than his cellphone on the table starting ringing. He picked it up. Four missed calls, all the same number. And people wondered why he didn’t take it with him on his walks.

With a sigh, he rang back the number. What’s up, Gregg? Someone break a shower door again?

Even better. The water from the faucets turned brownish. The color of weak tea.

Which faucets?

All of them.

Oy vey.

Yeah, that’s pretty much what I said, only I think it went something more like ‘fucking shitstorm’ or something like that. Anyway, I called the city water department. There was a sudden change in the direction of flow in the nearby water main, so it might be that or the supply pipe from the resort to the water main on the street has a problem.

Sounds like the city’s problem. How soon can they get it fixed?

In a day or so. They’re sending someone out to test it now to make sure it’s safe to drink and shower with.

A day. Did you tell them we have a lot of guests who might not find that acceptable?

They were sympathetic up to a point. But bureaucracy ...

Yeah. Well, until then tell the guests they can get free bottled water from the kitchen. And we’ll have to consider refunds for the night if enough people complain.

I’ll keep tabs on it and let you know.

Thanks, Gregg. If you need me—

You already put in a ten-hour day. I think you deserve an evening off.

Vaden was going to have to give that man a raise. If they had it in the budget. If it weren’t for his assistant manager, Vaden would be in a loony bin somewhere by now. And, of course, the timing of the water problem couldn’t be much worse with the inspection coming up.

He peered into his refrigerator and frowned. When was the last time he’d been to the farmers’ market or grocery? Oh screw it, he didn’t have the heart for cooking, anyway. Well, Gregg had recommended takeout from the Emperor Emporium. Great sandwiches, pizzas, and salads. Always fresh, never frozen was their motto.

After ordering a Verdure pizza with cremini, arugula, ramps, artichoke, zucchini, peppers, basil, and mozzarella, he sat down in front of the TV with his feet up on the coffee table. Hopefully, he wouldn’t get one of those grouchy delivery guys with the attitude.

Twenty minutes later, there was a knock on the door, and Vaden hopped up to answer. Only, he hopped up a little too quickly, because he immediately tripped over the table and tumbled to the floor. The pain radiating from his foot made him worry he’d broken it, as he rolled over and moaned.

The knocking on the door grew louder. Like he was going to be able to answer it, now.

Julia rushed over to lick his face, whining again, then ran off. Maybe she’d gone to get a doctor? He tried to laugh at the thought, but his foot hurt too much.

Something brushed his face, and he looked up to see not Julia’s muzzle, but the frowning expression of a young woman. Are you all right?

Hell no, I’m not all right. I think I might have broken my ankle.

She helped him sit up and started inspecting the injury, gently squeezing and flexing it. Ow, he yelped.

She tapped his ankle bone. Does that hurt?

Not really.

She stood up and held out her hand. I’ll help you up.

I’m not sure I can stand on it.

That’s what you need to find out.

He wasn’t sure why he obeyed, but he did, and after a few tentative steps, he was able to hobble around. So far, so good.

I think you have a sprain, not a break. The fact that there’s no pain over the bone, just the soft tissues, and the fact that you can walk on it are good signs. Still, you should go to a clinic just to be sure.

I can’t afford that. Time or money-wise.

Well, if you continue to walk on it and it’s broken, you could cause permanent injury.

You just said it wasn’t broken.

But I’m not a doctor. And even if it’s sprained, you should rest it for a few days. You know what they say, use the RICE method—rest your ankle, put an ice pack on it, use compression and elevate it.

Why should I listen to you if you’re not a doctor?

Because I’ve had both a sprained and a broken ankle before. And I’m also a top-notch pizza delivery girl, which means I’m an expert at delivering comfort to your doorstep, even if it’s usually the food kind.

She pushed him gently back toward the couch where he lowered himself slowly onto the cool leather. Then she disappeared, and he heard the sound of the freezer door being opened and rummaging around in his drawers. Moments later, she brought a baggie filled with ice, lifted his injured foot up onto the table and placed the baggie on top. Got any ace bandages?

I don’t think so.

Hmm. Well, you should have someone buy one for you and bring it over.

Maybe. If they’re not too busy. He sat up a little straighter. Say, how did you get in here, anyway?

The door was unlocked. After I knocked and heard something crash and a moan, I popped in to see if I could help.

Just like that?

Of course.

What if I’d been an axe murderer taking out my next victim?

She put her hands on her hips. Then I would have used that rock over there, she nodded at a geode next to his TV, and conked you on the head. Name’s Bryana, by the way.

Vaden. At the sound of a small bark, Vaden pointed at the dog. And that’s Julia.

Julia. Bryana smiled. She looks hungry. Bryana disappeared again, and after the sound of more banging around in the kitchen, she brought out a bowl filled with dog crunchies, which Julia immediately attacked with gusto.

She’s a very lovely dog. But why Julia? Old girlfriend?

Vaden must have winced at that, because Bryana asked, Need some aspirin or ibuprofen?

Maybe later. He put out his hand