Falling in Love Again

By Mia Ford

My cheating ex-wife broke my heart.

I'm never letting a woman mess with it again.

I'm all about the job now. 

Getting my work done, making money.

That's why I bought out my competitor.

And found myself working with Raelyn Owens.

I don't want to be around her…

But my body's telling a different story.

You could melt steel with the heat between us.

A couple of late nights in the office and we're on my desk.

The sparks should have set the fire alarms off!

But it's lust, not love, ok?

I can't let her get that close. 

Close enough to hurt.

But maybe fate's not going to give me the choice.

Will it take facing the pain of losing Raelyn for good…

To make me understand she's the one?

My one true valentine.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark Duff
• Release date: Dec 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393056393

Book preview

Falling in Love Again

Blurb

My cheating ex-wife broke my heart.

I’m never letting a woman mess with it again.

I’m all about the job now.

Getting my work done, making money.

That’s why I bought out my competitor.

And found myself working with Raelyn Owens.

I don’t want to be around her...

But my body’s telling a different story.

You could melt steel with the heat between us.

A couple of late nights in the office and we’re on my desk.

The sparks should have set the fire alarms off!

But it’s lust, not love, ok?

I can’t let her get that close.

Close enough to hurt.

But maybe fate’s not going to give me the choice.

Will it take facing the pain of losing Raelyn for good...

To make me understand she’s the one?

My one true valentine.

Chapter One – Carter

O h, you are beautiful , I murmur as I bury my face into the stunning blonde’s neck. I inhale her sexy musky scent and almost fall apart with need. No wonder you’re a model. Fuck me, and I get to keep you.

She moans and tosses her head back, sounding like she’s in agony and bliss all at once. My cock strains against the material of my trousers. If she isn’t careful and she doesn’t pull it out in a moment, it might explode free. Thankfully, she seems to sense exactly what I need and she yanks my zip down. She drops to her knees and doesn’t hesitate before taking me in her mouth. All of me, every fucking inch. Her soaking wet lips wrap around me and she takes me to the back of her throat, her rough hot tongue swirling all around me.

Fuck me, Anna, I grunt. You really know how to drive me wild, don’t you?

I fist up her hair and guide her movements. She takes all of me without an issue which is why I fucking love her. I love her with everything that I have. She’s the best thing to ever happen to me. Whenever I’m with Anna, I always feel so happy. That’s something I’ve been missing for what feels like forever.

I tremble. My muscles tense up and I get an intense heat in the pit of my stomach. I know it won’t be long now, Anna’s magic already has me teetering too close to the edge for my liking. I haven’t fucked her yet and I really need to. The urge is crushing me, I’m desperate for that wonderful sensation of her wet folds around me.

I need to fuck you, I pant out. Stand up. I need to be inside you now.

In what feels like a fluid movement, Anna spins around and spreads herself across the table with that pert round ass poking towards me. She spent a lot of money on that thing, and it looks great for it. It was worth the cash. As I get my hands on it, I’m scared I might come hard all over her back.

I love you, I mutter as I slide inside her. Her walls grip on to me, already coaxing an orgasm from me. Anna gets things moving quickly with how well her body fits around mine. She’s perfect for me. My head spins, I know that I’m about to lose it, and that feels even better knowing that it’s with the woman of my dreams.

Oh, Daniel, she moans back. Daniel, you feel so fucking good. Oh, Daniel!

It takes me a couple of moments. An embarrassingly long time actually, but I soon click on to what’s happening. She’s calling me by another name. By my best friend’s name. The friend that she’s shagging.

My wife and my best friend... all the memories flood back in one heart stopping, ice cold, sobering moment. I stop and try to pull back, but Anna grabs on to me and pulls me back inside her against my will. I try and fight it, but she’s strong, stronger than me and her will is more powerful as well. This is a nightmare...

Argh, shit! I bolt upright in bed, the dream still swimming around me. The hell of being back with Anna, back in that nightmare toxic relationship where I loved my wife like she was everything and she didn’t give a shit. I didn’t see it at the time, but now it’s obvious she only wanted me for my money.

The money that gave her the lavish lifestyle, the money that brought her that body, that gave her everything she wanted. I have earned my money the hard way, working my ass off to get my company to where it is right now, and she just took it from me. She married me and took what she wanted. I was just a cash cow to her. She seduced me hard as soon as I started to do well, and I naively fell for it. Probably because she is beautiful. I stupidly let her pull the wool right over my eyes and now I’m paying the price for it.

I could have lost everything and she wouldn’t have cared. As long as she’s okay, that’s all that matters to her.

Fuck Anna, I tell myself as I stand up. And Daniel too, fuck the both of them.

It still grates me, even two and a half years later, that she was shagging my best friend. All the time we were together, all the time we were married. I wouldn’t have found out if I didn’t walk in on them. They would still be taking the piss out of me now. To learn that two people used me, two people I cared a lot about were laughing at me behind my back, it killed me. It destroyed me. I don’t know if I have recovered yet. Not fully.

I pad towards the bathroom, trying not to wonder what the two of them are up to now. As far as I know, they are still together, living off the money they got from me in the divorce, living the dream. And I’m still here alone, wondering what the hell I did wrong to end up with nothing. They should be the ones broken and hurt, they were the ones who did wrong things, not me. I was fine. I looked after her, I was a good husband.

Fucking hell, who cares? I blurt out angrily. Who gives a shit about them?

I step into the shower and wash my hair, trying to wash away all thoughts of them at the same time, but of course, Anna and Daniel remain at the forefront of my mind. That’s been happening a lot recently, I’ve been thinking about the past which is really annoying. I don’t like it one bit. I have moved on now. Not into another relationship or anything, but I’m over it. I don’t know why I’m still thinking about them.

Fuck off, Anna. It’s almost as if I say it aloud, it will be more effective. You’re done.

As I head back into my room, I try to focus on work. That’s my happy place, where I’m most comfortable, where I know that my judgements can be trusted. My business brain has got me this far and I know that it will continue to do so. Relationships are a minefield, but my business, Lace Enterprises, is all good...

I wonder if that’s because I don’t have any women in the office. Not directly working with me anyway. That way, I don’t have to think about it. I don’t have to worry about being hurt again. I can just focus.

Some people might have a negative opinion of me because of that, but since no one has said anything to my face about it, I don’t care. I could explain it if they did, but if they just speak behind my back then so be it.

I pull my charcoal work suit on, thinking about the meetings I have today. Business is booming, my computer parts are selling like crazy, and its time to think about an expansion in one way or another. I want to make sure that I have all the market share in this area, whatever that takes. Yes, I’m ruthless, but I always do things in an ethical way.

Unlike Anna who absolutely trashed the ethics of our wedding vows. Not that I’m thinking about her.

Ring, ring...

Just as I’m about to head for the door, my cell phone grabs my focus.

Ring, ring...

I sigh as I pull it out and I see my mother’s name on the screen. I know that I’ll have to answer or she’ll worry, but she’s really infuriating me at the moment.

Ring, ring...

She will want to know about my love life, I just know it. Even though there isn’t anything to tell.

Hello? I answer cautiously. How’s it going, Mom?

Hello, Carter, she replies warmly. It’s been forever since I talked to you. Do you know that?

Sorry, it’s been chaos at the moment. You know what it’s like with work...

She tuts loudly. Life isn’t always about work; you know?

Hmm. I don’t bother to answer because our opinions will always differ.

So, how are things out of work? I don’t want lots of business spiel... not that I’m not proud of you, of course! You know that I am, I just want you to stop being quite so consumed by your job.

I huff and shake my head while looking around for my car keys. As soon as I get into my vehicle, I can end this call. Even though I have a car phone, Mom has an old fashioned view that it’s still dangerous to talk while driving. It doesn’t matter how many times I explain it to her, she just won’t get it.

Everything is good, Mom. Nothing has changed.

You haven’t been out on any dates or anything? Because I really think...

I know what you think, Mom, but I don’t have time for that.

Yes, you do. You had time when you were married, you could make time now.

Mom!

What? I’m not allowed to talk about Anna now? That bitch, after what she did to you? Surely, you aren’t still at the stage where you can’t talk about it. It happened ages ago.

Which is exactly why I don’t want to talk about it. Honestly, it was getting harder by the second to keep my temper in check. I just want to forget it ever happened.

You won’t be able to forget it if you don’t meet someone new.

Mom, that isn’t how it works. I roll my eyes as the only way that I can silently express my irritation. I just don’t want any of that at the moment. I’m quite happy as I am.

How will I have grandchildren? Hmm? Time is running out.

Mom, I’m only thirty-one years of age. It isn’t like my biological clock is ticking.

You’re being selfish. I can almost hear her shaking her head. I don’t understand why. You want kids, I know you do, and I would like some around when I am still young enough to look after them.

I need to end this call and I have to do it now before I end up saying something that I regret. Mom, I have to get in the car now. I have meetings all day long and I can’t be late.

She tuts again. Alright fine, if you don’t have any time for your mother.

Mom, it isn’t like that and you know it. She does. The guilt trip is just one of her silly little games. I’ll call you on the weekend when I have a bit more time, okay?

Alright, well make sure that you do.

I will, Mom. Love you.

Love you too, Carter. Speak soon.

Bye.

As I hang up the phone, I shake my head in bemusement. She is crazy, absolutely ridiculous. I know that she thinks she is doing her best for me, but I really am fine. If she would just stop focusing on her view of what my life is like and just see how happy I am, she would be fine. I really do have everything that I want. I love my job, I live for my business, I have it all. I have friends, love in other ways, people I care about.

The next time I do let someone in, if I ever get that far which I’m not totally convinced that I will, I will trust them. The only problem is as I have already proven, my judgement isn’t the best and cannot necessarily be trusted, so I don’t know how my barriers will come down.

Maybe they don’t need to. Perhaps, despite what everyone else says to me, I’m doing just fine, thank you very much.

Chapter Two – Raelyn

Ilook at the numbers , my heart skipping excitedly. This is good news, really good. I have crept into a market which already had a really good leader with Lace Enterprises, and I’ve taken a good chunk of the market share. For a small business that’s fantastic news, I’m really proud of myself.

Our computer parts are better than those at Lace Enterprises, I discuss with Leon, my production manager, and we produce them at a cheaper price as well which means we can sell them cheaper too.

I agree, Leon says happily. Soon, we will take even more from them. We’re kicking ass.

Well, that’s the issue, isn’t it? I rub my chin thoughtfully. Lace Enterprises has more financial security than us, and a much bigger infrastructure. We are limited which means we can only progress so far.

That’s okay... isn’t it? Leon asks carefully, as if he isn’t sure how I will react.

Not really. I want it all. I want to take them down if possible. We will get to a certain point and we’ll have to stop, won’t we? Then Lace Enterprises will be able to turn things around and claim it all back. I don’t want anyone stealing anything from R. Owens Parts. We deserve it all.

I can’t help it; my competitive personality always overshadows everything else. I always want to win. I can’t stop myself from aiming higher and higher, looking for the next goal. I’m never satisfied. That is something that started in school, I always wanted to be at the top of the class so I would work to make sure that happened. And it did. Of course it did, I wasn’t going to rest until it happened. I sacrificed willingly. I didn’t socialize much or go to parties, and I didn’t even care. I had my goal in mind and I was going for it no matter what.

I smile widely at Leon, trying to put him at ease, but he’s worked for me for two years now. He knows what I’m like. When I get a bee in my bonnet, nothing will hold me back. And that’s exactly what’s happened right now. I know what I want, I want to be the best of the best and I need to figure out how.

Raelyn, you have me worried, he admits. You’re up to something and I’m scared.

I laugh loudly, tilting my head back as I do. You know me too well, Leon.

Are you going to change everything around? Am I going to have to change my job up?

I nod and smirk. I don’t have a solid plan in mind right now, but I will figure it out.

Oh God. He groans and claps his palm to his forehead. You know I don’t like change.

But change for the better is good, right? I pat him on the shoulder. You’ll see.

I go to walk away, ignoring his moans and groans as I do. He’ll be fine, I know he will. Leon does like to keep things the same, but whenever I’ve made changes before, he’s adapted in the end. He knew what it was going to be like when he started working for me anyway and it’s fine.

I am going to work things out, one way or another. I’m going to claim the rest of that market share somehow, I just need to work out how. There is an answer somewhere, I just need to find it...

YOU’RE LOOKING BUSY, Leon comments quietly as he finds me at my desk. Do you have something going on in your mind?

I sigh loudly and shake my head. I think I might need to get an investor, don’t you? So we can get as big as we want to be. I am just trying to work out who might want a part of us.

Hmm, with Lace Enterprises as our competitor, it might be hard.

I glare at Leon angrily. That is not what I want to hear right now. That isn’t positivity. I don’t want to think about the competition right now. I want to think about us. Only us.

He steps back and raises his hands in a surrendering gesture. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you, I was just thinking aloud. Actually, I just came to let you know that I’m leaving now. It’s nearly six o clock.

Shit, is it? I leap up, my heart pounding with terror. I’m supposed to meet Abbi in a moment.

Abbi is the one friend I managed to maintain throughout high school and afterwards as well. I don’t know how that happened, she’s the opposite to me really. Confident, laid back, and fun loving, but I’m glad I have her. She is the Ying to my Yang and I need her. If I am late again because of work, she will kill me.

She works to live; I live to work. We clash on that a whole lot. She doesn’t understand that my business is my baby and that I’ll do anything for it. I just need to succeed, and I’m willing to sacrifice everything for that goal.

Good job I reminded you then. Abbi is scary as hell. You wouldn’t want to get on her wrong side.

I chuckle. I’m always on her wrong side, it doesn’t matter too much to me.

It does though. It matters so much and if I lose her, I will go crazy. But just like any good friendship, I do have a bit of confidence that she’ll always be there. No matter what I do.

I grab my bag and leave with Leon, locking the doors of the office behind me. I get a warm glow of pride as I say goodbye to yet another day as a business owner. I love this life, it’s perfect for me.

Bye, Raelyn, Leon calls out. See ya tomorrow for another day of fun.

See ya then... if Abbi hasn’t killed me, I laugh back. Bye, Leon.

As expected, Abbi is sitting in the bar already waiting for me. I’m barely five minutes late but the look she gives me shoots right through me. She isn’t impressed. Thank goodness for Leon alerting me to the time. If I was late any further, that dagger look would have been so much worse.

I order drinks for me and Abbi and take them to the table as an olive branch. Sorry, work was...

She rolls her eyes. I know. I understand. Work was really busy. It always is, I get that.

I take a seat and smile sheepishly. I know, but it’s going really well. I’m so happy.

Happy with work, or has someone else put a smile on your face as well?

It takes me a couple of moments to realize what she means. Oh, Tom, of course.

Did you forget about your second date with Tom? I have been so excited to hear about it. I screw up my nose, knowing that I’m about to disappoint her. She groans with disappointment. Oh no, really?

He was weird on the second date. All arrogant. Any sweetness that got him passed date one was gone.

So, you think he pretended to be someone else at first? Then he let himself out.

It happens. I shrug. It’s annoying, but it happens. Remember Patrick?

Oh God, Patrick. We both laugh at that one. He was hell.

Not as bad as Liam though. He was the worst of the worst of the worst.

I shudder, remembering his sweaty palms, the way he insisted on telling me about every single girl that he ever slept with in his life in quite graphic details, plus his insistence that I pay the bill... it was dreadful. The exact reason I don’t much like dates. If I wasn’t looking for love, then I wouldn’t bother at all.

I don’t know. I shake my head hard. I think I might be done with dating.

No, you can’t be! Abbi insists. We need to go through all of this together.

I feel like you are more successful with the online dates than me.

I have more of a sweet look. Short red hair, petite, sweet face. Abbi is sultry and sexy. Her raven long hair and pouty lips just scream out for guys to hit on her profile. Maybe not the right guys so far, but seemingly not as bad as me. I don’t know what it is, but I attract the weirdos.

I’m still single too, babe. Still the same as you. You might think that I’m having more luck, but really, none of my dates have panned out either. So, I don’t know what you’re worried about.

I know, but I just don’t think it’s for me anymore. I’m too busy with work. She glares at me again. I know, I know, you don’t want to hear it, but I am. I don’t have time for these weirdos.

No, that isn’t the truth at all. What you want is the rom-com fantasy. You want the dream, the fantasy, to be swept off your feet and to have a guy give you flowers every day. That doesn’t exist in real life. Abbi rolls her eyes. Real life is nothing like that. Online dating is where it’s at. That’s it. Get used to it, babe.

That isn’t it at all. It is, but only a little bit. I just don’t think the Internet is for me.

Abbi rolls her eyes and pulls out her cell phone. She immediately logs on to her dating app and tries to lure me back into it with all the hot guys. I appreciate what she’s doing but I really don’t think I want it anymore.

I don’t know, Abbi. I think I’m just going to take a break from dating.

Uh oh. Her eyes widen in surprise. If this was a romantic movie, it would be the moment just before you meet the love of your life. The girl always meets the guy right after she says that she doesn’t want to.

I roll my eyes and snort with laughter. You are absolutely crazy, Abbi. Honestly.

It’s true! You just wait and see. You’ll be wifed up in a year.

I would like to be. There is a romantic side to me, but I don’t feel the same competitiveness that I do with everything else. It’s an area in which I’m willing to take a back seat to just let things happen. What will be, will be. I’m only twenty-six years old right now. Maybe once I hit thirty, I will change, if my biological clock starts going haywire, but for now I’m all good. I’m happy to just let it go.

Although now that she’s said it, I’m thinking of the big white wedding and me walking down the aisle towards the love of my life. A man who is sweet and will treat me right. Nothing like the guys I have been on dates with.

"In that case, I need to stop online dating. I will never meet