Her Dangerous Crush

By Megan Slayer

Danil Jordan never wanted a second chance at love. He had the woman he loved in his arms -- until she left him for another man. He embraced the bitterness and displeasure with his brothers because they had the things he wanted -- love and passion. Can he change his ways and have the love he deserves? Or will her past tear them apart?

Maura Wylie has deep secrets and believes the only way to run from her problems is to work as a maid in the Jordan mansion. She’s lusted after Danil for years and sees the man behind the pain. Will she be enough for him? Or will her past be more than he can handle?

There’s a chance they can make the passion burn into something permanent. Will they take the chance or walk away before someone gets hurt?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Changeling Press
• Release date: Dec 26, 2019

Megan Slayer

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com. When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

Book preview

hurt?

Chapter One

Danil stood at the graves and steeled himself against the cold February wind. His heart ached. He’d buried his former wife and his children a year ago, and his soul was still raw. His feelings for his wife hadn’t dimmed, even when she’d cheated on him. He’d loved her and wanted her back. Loretta had been his first love. Maybe she’d be his only one.

But she’d wanted Kurt Wylie.

What’d it get you? Danil asked, knowing he’d never get an answer. He’d never forgive Wylie for stealing her away. The only blessing -- if it could be named as such -- was that Wylie had died in the same car accident. He couldn’t bring Wylie or Loretta back and give them hell. He also couldn’t save his daughters. Rosy and Natalie were gone. His heart would never heal from the pain of losing the girls.

He missed his daughters. They were sweet girls and had loved him. They were his world when Loretta left him. Then she’d kept them from him. She’d insisted on moving out of the mansion in favor of having one of her own, then dumped him in less than six months.

Now, he’d never have any of them. No bedtime stories, tea parties or laughing. He’d never see Rosy or Natalie grow up, go to dances, fall in love, get married or have children.

All because his wife had wanted another man.

A lump formed in his throat. Part of him hated his brothers for being so happy and having lives. They were settled. It wasn’t fair. They had the right people for them, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be happy, too.

He was all alone.

He hated their happiness.

The rest of him couldn’t contain his jealousy. They thought he spent time with his mother out of devotion. He didn’t have anywhere else to go. His brothers would never understand the shame he felt because his marriage had fallen apart. He’d lost so much when his brothers had everything.

But they didn’t know what he’d gone through. He refused to tell them about the accident or separation. They’d hate him for keeping secrets, but fuck, he was still processing what had happened. He’d gone through one long, lonely year. He’d been on his own for the last three years, though. Loretta had ordered him out of their home, but allowed him to see the girls. Then she’d cut all ties. Damn, it had sucked.

He flexed his hands in his gloves. If Loretta had gone through with the divorce, he’d have given it to her. He’d have let her have the fucking house, too. He loved her and would’ve done whatever she wanted. She’d loved having the big house and the Jordan name while she fucked Wylie. She’d wanted what Wylie couldn’t give her -- a name that evoked fear and enough money to keep her in style.

Danil?

He froze. He knew the voice and hadn’t expected anyone to find him. He cleared his throat. Dash.

Danil. Dash stood beside him. I wondered where you were and where you’d gone.

I have a life. He wasn’t angry. He needed to let someone in on his secret.

We know.

Yet you followed me. Knew? He stared at the headstone his girls shared. I’m okay.

No, you’re not, Dash said. You buried the most important people in your life and kept it quiet. I know why, and I’m sorry, but you didn’t have to keep it from us.

You know? The anger he’d ignored came to the surface. You knew? You have no fucking idea what I’ve been through.

Lower your voice, Dash snapped. You’re in the fucking open, no guards until I showed up. You’re vulnerable. Were you trying to get yourself killed? Get in the limo, and then you can tear into me.

What about my car? He’d rather argue in private, but he didn’t want the vehicle left in the cemetery.

Louie will drive it to the mansion. Come on. Dash bowed his head, then walked away.

Danil waited until Dash was out of earshot. Love you, girls. I miss you every day. Daddy’s girls. He forced himself away from the graves and sucked a ragged breath into his lungs. He joined his brother in the limo.

Dash said nothing. Instead, he swept his gaze over Danil.

What? Danil snapped. He sat across from his brother. Danil might be the oldest, but Dash held the most power in the family. Whatever you need to say, say it.

I have nothing to say. I’m listening because you’re raw and you need someone, Dash said. "I’m heartless, but I’m not that heartless."

He hated how Dash cared, despite the way Danil had treated him. He didn’t deserve this kindness.

I’m your brother, and I have your back. Dash reclined against the seat.

He should talk. The secret was out and overwhelmed him. She left me.

For Wylie.

The asshole. He’d never get over being dumped.

When?

Three years ago. She said she wanted a truly dangerous man, Danil said. She told me he loved her and put her first.

He wasn’t dangerous. He was careless, but I know damn well she wasn’t neglected when she was with you, Dash said. You were devoted to her.

Not enough. His throat clenched. I fought for custody of the girls, and she wouldn’t budge. She wouldn’t sign the divorce papers, either. She turned the girls against me, too. I did nothing but love her. She wanted a man to thrill her. I’m sorry I wanted to be solid. He trembled. The pent-up energy was too much to take. I’m sorry. His brother hadn’t deserved his vocal anger.

I know.

What do you know? What’d you figure out? Danil asked. Who all knows?

It’s not like we had a family discussion, Dash said. I wondered why Loretta stopped coming around, and when she did she was extra nice to everyone. I knew it was fake, and Christy figured it out, too. We wondered what was going on, so I looked into things. I knew she’d started seeing Wylie but didn’t want to lose her chance at your money. I confronted her about it.

Fuck. He was glad his brother was on his side. Was it possible Dash had done more harm than good? What did she say?

She thought I’d come on your behalf and would chew her ass out. I did give her hell and told her I was there because of you. It wasn’t right, especially since she simply fell out of love with you. She even said you hadn’t done anything wrong, Dash said. She wanted a change.

I know. His shame ran deep. I wasn’t enough for her.

No one was.

He wasn’t sure about that, but whatever. Did you know about the accident?

I did, but I opted to let you handle it the way you felt necessary, Dash said. I was alerted by Mac Couper. It’s nice to have friends in the police department. He told me, but I decided this was something you needed to do in your own manner. I paid for the burials and ensured the media was kept out of your business. I also ensured Wylie’s family didn’t set foot at the funeral. None of our brothers know. Just me -- and Christy. We played it like you’ve been an asshole because that’s what you wanted. Remember?

That’s what I wanted. His brother’s generosity and faith in him humbled Danil. He knew Dash cared and had carried out his wishes. Still, I hate I was so terrible to you.

You have been grieving. I understood and I kept my mouth shut. You’re still grieving. I’ve wanted to say something, but wanted to do this on your terms.

Mother knows, Danil said. She’d helped him survive the emotional blow.

I know.

And you kept the secrets.

Our brothers deserve to know. Without us as a safety net, you’d have had to deal with Wylie and the media, Dash said. I wanted to protect you. I’m sure they would want to, too. They’d want to grieve the girls.

A fresh wave of shame hit. He’d kept so much from his family, and Dash had helped him.

You can tell them when you’re ready, but know they will be pissed about the way you’ve treated them. Dash crooked his brow. You’ve been an asshole, even if you were grieving.

He nodded. He’d let his pain get the better of him.

Tell your brothers exactly what happened and ask forgiveness. They’ll be angry, they’ll be sad, but they’ll understand. They’ll continue to rally around you, just like we have all along, Dash said. You deserved better than Loretta leaving, and you should be able to move forward.

I can’t.

The girls would want it.

They hated me. He wasn’t sure how they’d felt. They’d repeated the things their mother had said. Maybe they did dislike him. Maybe not.

They were young and impressionable, Dash said. And their mother talked over everything.

Dash. He didn’t want to deal with the shit in his life.

No one says you need to date or hook up with someone, but let your brothers in, Dash said. We all care, and you need us. You’re stuck and don’t deserve to be that way.

He sighed. He’d been hurt to his core, and part of him would never move on, but Dash was right. He’d been stuck in neutral for too long. Okay.

You’re a Jordan. You’re a survivor.

The strength in Dash’s voice helped, but Danil wished he could be tough, too. A year wasn’t long enough to heal after the death of his former wife and his girls, but he’d been alone for three years. It was time to move forward again.

* * *

Maura Burke fixed her dress and strode across the room. She’d never intended on being a servant. Her family would die if they knew she’d been reduced to cleaning another family’s house, especially the Jordan family home.

Her brother had hated the Jordan family. But her brother was dead. Kurt Wylie had sworn the Jordans were the scum of Shaker. He didn’t know them, but he’d been pretty quick to jump into bed with Danil’s wife. She knew the family and saw the human side of them. They weren’t as bad as her brother had made them out to be.

She dusted the china propped on the mantle. Her brother would have hated knowing she’d lowered herself to working for a living, but she enjoyed her job. Truth be told, she thrived in the working environment. Plus, she liked the tight uniform and earning her way.

She liked watching the family, too. No one cared who she was -- although she guessed Dash knew the truth. He knew everything. Still, they left her alone and didn’t say anything about her half-brother.

She continued to dust as Danil