Irresistible Desire: Bay Shore, #2

By Susan V. Vaughn

His playful seduction was hard to resist…

Music teacher Ann Green moved to Bay Shore to protect her heavily-guarded heart. But when she meets a handsome fisherman who tests her resolve to stay single, she loses all control. Now she is stuck between the painful memory of her father's betrayal, and the man who just might be her future.

 

A boundless hunger has taken over…

Andrew Rybak has taken care of his two younger siblings since his mother's ongoing drug addiction began. But he secretly aches to escape Bay Shore, and leave all his responsibility behind, until a beautiful stranger moves into town, and opens his eyes to a new future. But will she trust him enough to open her heart? Especially as his inner passions are ignited, and everything he's been holding back comes pouring out at once.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
• Release date: Dec 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781953335142

Book preview

Susan V. Vaughn

The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, places, or events is coincidental and not intended by the author.

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If you purchase this book without a cover you should be aware that this book may have been stolen property and reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher. In such case the author has not received any payment for this stripped book.

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Irresistible Desire

Bay Shore: Book 2

Copyright © 2020 Susan V. Vaughn

All rights reserved.

2nd edition

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ISBN: (ebook) 978-1-953335-14-2

Inkspell Publishing

207 Moonglow Circle #101

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

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Cover art By Najla Qamber

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This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. The copying, scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions, and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials.  Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

Chapter 1

Ann stared at her twelve-week-old Welsh terrier mix. His brown and tan curly hair made him look like a teddy bear, but the devilish gleam in his dark eyes reminded her that he needed a walk soon or he was likely to take his aggression out on something tangible.

Ann looked around the small living room of the home she was renting. She had a ratty old couch inherited from her younger sister’s dorm room, some mismatched Ikea bookshelves, and a twenty-inch flat screen TV. What could one little puppy damage in a room full of crap?

But then she remembered her collection of Tolkien books, and how her darling puppy ripped them to shreds only yesterday, which earned him his name, coincidentally: Beast.

Come on, Beast, it’s time for a walk. Ann put on Beast’s harness and listened to him whine. The little devil hated his walks. He spent half of the time dragging behind her, and the other half running ahead because he knew they were almost home. All in all a very unenjoyable experience, especially when she was trying to get to know the town she moved to.

Ann snapped the leash to Beast’s harness and pulled him out her front door. Outside, the morning mist greeted her like a sticky slap to the face. She had yet to adjust to the muggy Michigan summers. Ann grew up in Vegas, and was used to the blistering dry heat. The humidity thing, although great for her skin, was a killer on her auburn hair, which was naturally curly. She had straightened her hair her whole life, finding the sleek look more flattering to her round face. But since accepting a teaching job in Michigan and moving to Bay Shore, she had given up her old beauty regimen, tossing her expensive flat iron into the trash. She had only been in Bay Shore for a week. She couldn’t imagine what a year spent in the Midwest would make her do.

Ann walked down her rocky driveway and headed straight for the dusty paved street in front of her house. The road was a lonely one, despite several homes tucked away on either side. Tall trees lined the front of each residence like perfect soldiers, with their bushy, green leaves meeting in the middle, giving her a caged-in feel. This was why Beast hated his walks. The streets in Bay Shore were mostly like this one—solitary and quiet—except for the occasional little animal scurrying around, making eerie sounds. Ann often felt like Goldilocks on the way to her grandmother’s house.

For a Vegas girl, used to the bright lights of the Strip, Bay Shore was a shocking change—even though she wanted this change and had purposefully applied for a teaching job out of state. She always had an urge to explore the world, despite how out of control it made her feel now that she was actually doing it. Her obsessive-compulsive tendencies were definitely becoming a problem. Besides walking Beast, all she'd done for a week straight was clean, and clean some more.

It reminded her of when she was a little girl, and her father had an affair, leaving the entire family for a much younger woman. To combat the abandonment she'd felt, Ann controlled everything around her, becoming a second parent in the household. She excelled at managing the family finances, loved to do all the outdoor chores, and backed up her mother when her little sister got into trouble. Sure, Ann was a little controlling, and maybe the fun in Vegas was wasted on someone as introverted as her. At least she could rely on her life always being the same, always knowing what to expect. Until now, when she'd made a drastic decision that turned everything in her life upside-down.

She glanced down at Beast, Stacey’s good luck in Michigan present, watching him trot along. The dog was a ridiculous gift. She neither had the time, nor the will, to take care of a new puppy. Ann didn’t even like canines. But she could never say no to Stacey. Not after they'd both watched their mother turn into a heartbroken zombie. Not when they'd both experienced their father’s abandonment.

Don’t think about it. Move forward. New life.

She turned off the paved road and onto a deserted rocky path that led to town. If the road in front of her house gave her a lonesome feel, this street gave her the shivers. Despite the town of Bay Shore being relatively close, she felt as if she were walking to her death. Maybe it was the fact that the road could not decide if it was civilized or a jungle. Large deer usually ran across her path, driving Beast crazy, and scaring Ann to death. She was not used to all this nature. Walking Beast at six in the morning, when almost nobody was around, did a number on her nerves. But this was the time she had to walk him, seeing as he needed exercise before she went to work. Ann might be frightened, but her need for routine was all-consuming.

She kicked a large rock with the edge of her sandal and watched it sail a couple of feet in front of her. She did it to make noise, enough noise to calm her anxiety. Why this road made her especially nervous today, she didn’t know. Probably because everything felt scary now that her life had changed completely.

Come on, boy. Ann pulled Beast ahead. She could see Lake Huron in the distance and knew she was halfway to town. Because of her nerves, she decided to jog a bit, but her little Welsh terrier had other plans. He pulled back on his leash and issued a low, stubborn growl. The dog wasn’t trying to intimidate, just didn’t want to do what he didn’t want to do. And, unfortunately, moving twelve little pounds could be quite difficult.

Come on, you pain in the ass. She gently yanked on the leash. That was all Beast would get for motivation. She had no idea what to do with a stubborn puppy. Just like she had no idea what she was going to do when it was time to leave that stubborn puppy at home for the day. Beast was only a couple months old. The vet said he could only be kenneled for a couple of hours as a time. Her workday was at least eight. Why the hell did I let Stacey give me this damn dog?

Ann stopped yanking Beast along because suddenly her chest was a bit too tight. It was pathetic, but she felt as if she were about to hyperventilate, completely and totally freak out. All because of a stupid dog. Well, really it was about packing all her things, leaving her family, and moving across the country for her very first teaching job. And there was no one here, no one familiar, no one to depend on. No one to tell her it would all be okay.

Ann crouched down and picked up Beast, placing him on her lap. You’re all I got now, boy. She nuzzled her nose into his fur and fought back tears.

Now I’m going to cry? In the middle of the morning, with the risk of someone driving by witnessing her meltdown? It was unacceptable. She had made the decision to change her life, and it was time to put on her big girl panties. She swallowed the lump in her throat and set Beast back on the ground.

The sound of gravel crunching underneath wheels brought Ann instantly to her feet. She turned to take in an old white pickup truck, traveling at snail’s pace down the spooky road toward her. For some reason, the sight made her shiver. Possibly because the day was so overcast and sticky, waiting on a storm that was sure to come. Or perhaps it was just because she had a moment of panic, and already found this street so frightening.

Ann took a deep breath, calling on her common sense. She was twenty-four and about to start her first teaching job in a safe town. It was early in the morning, not the middle of the night. There was nothing to worry about.

Come on, Beast. She yanked on the leash and began walking. Beast issued another low growl but, thankfully, was cooperative.

In the distance, Lake Huron became bigger. The water looked agitated today, another sign of an impending storm. There were no fishing boats out this morning, probably because of the restless atmosphere. It gave her an extra lonely feel, despite being so close to town. She shivered again.

Ann chanced a glance over her shoulder to calm her nerves. The truck was almost behind her, going as slow as possible, as if purposefully trying not to pass her. It was obviously another old person, afraid of running her over. She didn’t understand how the people in Bay Shore got anywhere driving as slow as they did. In Vegas, everyone was going a hundred miles an hour down the Strip, usually on some sort of drug.

She walked Beast over to the side of the road and waved the truck on. Come on, buddy. Move it along.

The truck stopped, and for the first time she saw its passenger. It was a man—large, bulky, and definitely not old. She could not see the color of his eyes through the dim morning light, but she could feel his gaze on her. It filled her stomach with dread. She turned back to the road and hurried Beast along.

Town was only a few feet away. Already she could see the one-bedroom log cabins that hugged the shoreline. Ann held her breath and walked as fast as she could. She could hear the truck rolling behind her. She knew he was following her. She felt so sure it made her knees weak and her adrenaline pound against her head. She was about to become a statistic. Her mother warned her never to walk alone in a strange place. And here she was, doing exactly that. Worse, nobody would even know she was gone. Nobody knew her in Bay Shore. Nobody knew to look for her, to worry about her. Ann felt sure she was going to die.

The truck rolled closer, and the sound forced her feet to hit the street hard. She took off running as fast as she could, Beast jogging at her heels, toward the nearest log cabin. Ann wasn’t sure if the truck sped up, but she could have sworn she heard the sounds of an automobile accelerating. The man was not going to let her escape. He was going to run her over.

She ran onto the main road and straight to the closest home. Instead of knocking on the front door, she ran around the side toward the lake, searching for life. In the distance, she could see a young man fishing off the docks, blue baseball cap on his head. She did not stop to check what he looked like, to make sure he was safe. When he turned to watch her run, and his piercing blue eyes landed on her face, she did not stop to contemplate why her heart slammed against her chest.

Help me. Ann ran right into the man’s arms, gasping for breath.

*

Andrew Rybak staggered back under the force of a strange woman flinging herself into his arms, a small dog at her feet. His fishing pole slipped from his hands in the process, falling into Lake Huron, and immediately getting carried away by the strong current. His favorite baseball cap fell into the lake as well. Normally, this would upset him a bit, seeing as he just spent a fortune on that fishing pole only yesterday, and favorite baseball caps were hard to find. But the woman in his arms smelled so good. Exotic rich amber scents drifted from the soft red curls underneath his chin.

He tightened his arms around the woman. Her body was slim, tall, graceful. Her breasts were high, full, and felt wonderful against his chest. There were worse ways to greet the morning, Andrew decided, even if he lost his fishing pole, favorite hat, and possibly his dinner.

You have to help me, the woman murmured against his shirt. Her delicate contours shook against him, and he was reminded of the reason she ran into his arms. She was scared to death. Andrew recalled the startled look in her honey eyes as they locked onto his right before she ran into his arms, her long curls bouncing with every step, framing her angelic round face and full pink lips. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

I would love to help you, angel, he said, tightening his hold on the woman’s waist—and taking advantage of how close she stood. But first you need to tell me why you are so scared?

There’s a man in a white truck, f-following me, she stammered against his shirt, seeming not to care how close they stood. Or how bizarre it was for her to remain in his arms. She claimed a strange man was chasing her, and yet she ran into a stranger's arms for protection? It didn’t add up.

I don’t see a white truck, he said softly against her hair, taking a deep nose full of her amber scent. It increased his desire, and his hold on her tightened.

As if struck by lightning, or possibly by his arousal, the woman jumped back. You don’t? She turned around to make sure he was telling the truth, that the white truck was nowhere nearby. When she turned back to him, her eyes looked relieved, but her cheeks were flushed—either from her fear, or how long she had just spent embracing a stranger.

The truck is gone, he confirmed, calling her attention back to his. When their gazes locked, electricity sailed up his spine.

"But you did see the truck? the woman asked, darting her gaze away nervously. Maybe she felt something electric too. You saw him following me, right?" Her eyes looked vulnerable, and the blush on her cheeks increased.

A sudden tugging sensation in his chest made him reach out to grab onto her hands. I saw the truck. He waited for her eyes to find his, and when they did, that strange tugging sensation increased. I also know the man driving the truck.

You do? She swallowed hard, looking conflicted. She wanted him to tell her there was nothing to fear but, at the same time, she needed desperately to know her fear was justified.

He sighed. There was nothing he could do to prevent her embarrassment on that one, especially with what he was about to say. The man’s name is Carl Levin. He squeezed her hands, and smiled. I’ve known Carl my whole life. He’s a good man and wouldn’t hurt a fly.

But he... She glanced down, pulling her hands from of his. The look on her face told him she was beyond humiliated. The little dog at her feet barked between them impatiently, adding to their awkward moment, He was following me.

Andrew nodded. He didn’t want to burst this poor woman’s bubble, but he wouldn’t stand by and allow an innocent man to get accused of something he didn’t do. She was obviously a stranger to Bay Shore, since anyone living here longer than a week would know about Carl and why he was harmless. Are you new to the area, angel?

Her honey-colored eyes flashed with sudden irritation. It’s Ann, not angel, she responded coldly. And yes, I’m new to Bay Shore. Not that it’s any of your business.

Do you have a last name, Ann? he asked, ignoring her anger, and his aroused response to that anger. Passion was a good look on Ann. Her eyes burned in a way that made his body snap alive with excitement.

It’s Green.

Ms. Green? He held his breath. This angel better be single, or some poor bastard is about to lose his woman.

Ann cocked one perfectly arched eyebrow as if reading his mind. Mrs. Green, she corrected. My husband’s a professional boxer. Huge guy. Very protective.

Is that so? Andrew grinned. He could tell she was lying. This angel had made a huge mistake. Running from Carl—a harmless, gentle person—right into the arms of a man who was about to devour her whole.

That’s right, Mr.—? She inclined her head, waving him on.

Rybak. Andrew Rybak. He held out his hand, looking forward to more physical contact with the beautifully cautious Ann. My friends call me Drew.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Rybak, she said with emphasis, lightly shaking his hand, and then instantly pulling back. I’m so sorry about my little dramatic episode a moment ago. I don’t normally run into strange men’s arms, especially seeing as my husband would go ballistic." Her eyes darted down briefly. Another lie. Like I said, I wouldn’t have bothered you, but I felt as if I were being followed. She paused, searching his eyes. "You said this Carl guy is harmless, but he didn’t seem very harmless to me. In fact, I tried to wave him past several times, and