Emerald Myst

By Aliyah Burke

So much can happen on the Emerald Isle…
Emmie Donaghue is heading to Ireland to claim her inheritance. What she gets isn't at all what she was expecting and isn't sure she wants. Finn Brannon is immediately enchanted by the flustered American who shows up at the bar. As they work together, they grow closer, will a misunderstanding be the end of what they could have? Or will he find a way to keep her in his life?

***This is rerealse of a book that had been part of a boxset. There is about 15k of new content in this story. This story is  connected to Raw Exposure! Enjoy***

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sensual Romance Publishing
• Release date: Aug 31, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393861027

Aliyah Burke

USA Today bestselling author Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She is happily married to a career military man. They are owned by six Borzoi. She spends her days at the day job, writing, and working with her dogs.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Ms. Donaghue, might I have a moment of your time?

Emmie slowed to a halt before facing the woman determined to get her attention coming up from her left as she strode up the street.

I’m sorry? Who are you?

My name is Mrs. Angel Garcia. She offered over a business card. You’re a hard woman to find.

Emmie shrugged yet still took the card and looked at. She didn’t believe herself to be difficult person to find, her schedule was the same, day in and day out. At her job, she stayed in the back, so the owner’s wife could take the credit for the work. She stared at the woman beside her. Short, a natural black afro that made her face appear nearly cherubic. A delusion for Emmie sensed an iron will lurked beneath that shell. Her dark suit fit her perfectly.

What can I do for you, Mrs. Garcia?

Her gaze relaxing a bit as if to understand right now she wasn’t going to have to continue chasing her down. She reached into a dark satchel and pulled out a thick envelope. This is for you. My information is stapled to the final page if you need to get in touch with me once you’ve read over it all.

Accepting the thick packet, she slid it into her bag. Thank you. What had she just been given?

Her lips compressed. It’s important to read it soon, Ms. Donaghue.

Trying for a smile, she failed and ended up shrugging once more. I’ll read it today while on my lunch. Have a good day, Mrs. Garcia.

She continued on her way, leaving the woman behind. The last thing she needed was to be late for work. True to her word, she opened the packet on her lunch. She went to the park as she did everyday. Grabbed a bite from a food truck and enjoyed the nice day.

What the heck is this? Surely there is some mistake. Emmie had to read it a few times before it all sank in her mind and made a tiny semblance of sense to her.

I’ve inherited a business in Ireland?

Her breaths came short and shallow. She didn’t know much about her history other than her dad was from there, had come here, and married her mom. Then she came along. Losing them at the tender age of five she’d grown up in foster care. Six bad homes before she’d landed in a gem. The woman there, Marissa Hollingsworth, had taught her all about sewing, quilting, and crocheting.

They’d learned this was how she stayed calm, as she truly didn’t react well in large crowds after the other foster homes had been such shoddy experiences.

But this, to read she had something that tied her to her father, across the world from here, it wasn’t anything she was able to comprehend right away. Why would they have waited so long to tell her? Was this just a trick?

Shoving the packet back into her bag, she finished her food, dusted off her hands once the paper wrapping was in the trash, and hoofed it back to her job.

The rest of the day flew by and before she knew it, all of her work had been completed. Mrs. Rollins said it was fine for her to leave early and Emmie wasn’t about to turn it down.

I need to reread those papers and call Mrs. Garcia back.

As she shoved her items in the bag, Mr. Rollins strolled in and Emmie cursed her dallying. He only comes in when she’s gone.

Her heart pounded like she’d just run a marathon when he pushed the door shut behind him.

Emmie, Emmie, Emmie.

Mr. Rollins. She finished packing her bag up and slung the strap over her shoulder.

What’s the rush? He prowled closer.

She eyed him like he was a hyena watching his next meal. And she was on the menu. God, she could use a shower now. Bag gripped in both hands despite it being on her shoulder, she held it between them. As if it even remotely possible for the patchwork handcrafted item would be of any assistance to her.

As he crept one way, she edged the other. Fear had done far more than slither up her spine, it had dug in deep. The look in his eyes advised her, he wouldn’t be taking no for an answer. Not this time.

Emmie abhorred violence and wasn’t a fan of blood either. She wanted to remain in the background.

Stay. I have to talk to you.

"Sorry, I’m meeting Paul. My boyfriend. I called him when your wife told me I could leave early."

His blue eyes flashed with irritation. He can wait. Work takes priority.

Don’t think what you have in mind is work. At least not under labor laws. Unless you’re in Vegas but I’m not about to be a prostitute for anyone, least of all you.

I need to go. Emmie asserted forcefulness into her tone. She’d been working on that, to not be the quiet little mouse who let people run all over her. They had some great dvd’s to help with that on the market today and she had to admit she was doing great with them.

At home.

Right now, she felt as assertive as a kitten.

You and I, he said, shoving through a row of fabric, spilling it to the floor. We have things to address. He loosened the knot of his tie as he neared.

Leave me alone! She lunged to the left, but he was there, blocking her in.

He pushed into her, allowing her to feel along her hip, the unimpressive length of his cock. His breath was rank and her stomach rolled. Fear churned and began to rise as bile in her throat.

You want this, he breathed against her face, yanking at the buttons on his shirt. Desperate in his jerky actions. You’ve had a thing for me. I’ve seen it.

No! She pushed him just as a feminine screech filled the air.

Roger!

He jumped back as if she’d tasered ten thousand volts through him. The man paled and shoved his finger in her direction as his wife stomped in view, her considerable bulk hitting the rows of material as she moved.

"It was her, she was displaying all that dusky skin. She’s a vile temptress, you know I only love you, Sheryl. I was weak in the flesh but never in my heart."

You, Sheryl seethed, her multiple chins wobbling with her anger. "I took you in out of the goodness of my heart because it was the Christian thing to do. But for you to blatantly throw yourself at my husband is immoral."

You took me in because I was a boost to your business.

She trembled, needing to sit but realizing she wasn’t out of the woods yet. This was going to not go in her favor. "He’s the one undressing. Not me. I’ve been harassed by him since I’ve started here. But you insist on blaming me because your husband is an ass and feels it appropriate to harass women then blame them when caught. I have never had an interest in him. I came to work, that’s all. I was trying to leave."

Tears of anger burned in her. She whirled and stomped to the door. There she gripped the knob so hard her knuckles turned white. Emmie peered over her shoulder to glare at them both. I quit. Mail my last paycheck.

Perverse pleasure coursed through her at the look of pure panic that covered both their faces. Emmie walked out, eternally grateful she always kept her stuff at home or in her bag that she used.

Unfortunately, her adrenaline wore off with each step taking her closer to the apartment she rented from a sweet little old lady. She was hoping Paul would be there. She could use some comfort and assurance she had done the right thing. He’d always been so supportive of her, in a gentle kind caring way. He didn’t get loud or beat his chest. He was good. A calm man that made her feel, content.

Ducking her head, she picked up her pace, determined to outrun the approaching storm. Ominous black clouds rolled in, heavy with rain. Lightning cracked and she hurried, disliking storms, especially when the clouds swirled as they were doing now.

She pushed open the door to her place after fighting with the sticky deadbolt. The first drops fell as she made it into her apartment. Closing it behind her, she stood there and shivered. That wind had a serious bite to it. The temperature from yesterday alone had dropped about thirty degrees.

Days like this I could be okay with having a car.

She didn’t have one. While she had a license but no car. An expense she had no wish to incur. Plus she truly enjoyed walking, it gave her time to think, and also create in her mind. Many a quilt design had come to her while walking to or from work.

Shrugging out of her coat,

Reviews for Emerald Myst

[Hladini M · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a lovely and sexy story. I love Ms. Burke's immersive writing! My only critique is that some additional proofreading needed to be done on this book. There are a few spelling, grammar, and inconsistency errors that I found to be a bit distracting.