Hidden in the Past: Forbidden Lake Romance, #6

By Elana Johnson

She's a widow raising her baby alone. Even the leader of the motorcycle club knows who Karly Addler is. When he has to walk her down the aisle at her sister's wedding, neither of them expects the attraction between them...

Karly Addler lost her husband fourteen months ago, and she's not all that interested in finding someone new--until she meets Maverick with his intense blue eyes, kind spirit, and arms full of ink. She's got a one-year-old daughter to think about, but maybe she doesn't want to be alone for the rest of her life...

Maverick Malone lives a quiet life with his motorcycle club, the Sentinels. The bikers provide help for those less fortunate in Forbidden Lake, including women like Karly, whose car breaks down near their club. When the VP of the rival club informs him that Karly's grandfather used to be a Hawk and that she's off-limits, he does everything he can to confirm it. But he can't find a definitive answer, and he doesn't want to stay away from her.

As they keep their blooming romance behind closed doors and starting late, late at night, Maverick finds his shredded heart healing. But he's got Hawks on the doorstep and spying on everything the Sentinels do, and a war is definitely brewing in Forbidden Lake.

When he finally learns the truth about where the lines are, will he be able to keep his secret girlfriend and her daughter safe? Or will he have to give up everything he's learned to love in order to keep the peace with his biker brothers?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AEJ Creative Works
• Release date: Nov 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9781393211327

Elana Johnson

Elana Johnson wishes she could experience her first kiss again, tell the mean girl where to go, and have cool superpowers. To fulfill her desires, she writes young adult science fiction and fantasy. She lives in central Utah where she spends her time with many students, one husband, and two kids. Find out more at ElanaJohnson.com and follow her on Twitter at @ElanaJ.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Karly Lydell woke to the sound of her baby crying, something that had happened a lot over the past couple of days. Navy had started having night terrors about a week ago, and Karly’s patience was stretched as thin as her energy.

But there was no one else to get up and go help the child. So she hauled herself out of bed, out the door and across the hall to Navy’s room. Hey, baby, she cooed in the happiest voice she could muster at five-fifteen a.m.

Everything was still dark outside the window, because it was only three days after Christmas, and the sun didn’t shine for long in Michigan in December.

Navy-bear, she said, gently reaching over the crib and lifting her daughter into her arms. The girl’s eyes opened, but she wasn’t all the way awake yet. Karly knew, because she’d read a ton of articles on children and night terrors over the past seven days.

Navy gave one more wail, and Karly held her against her shoulder, shushing her. Hey, girl, she said. Wake up for Mommy, okay?

Navy’s cry tapered off, and Karly bounced her as she moved over to the rocking chair. She sat and held Navy in front of her so she could see her daughter’s face. Hey, sweetie.

A light moved through Navy’s eyes, and Karly smiled at her. Ma-ma.

Karly turned her around and let the girl cuddle into her. She rocked and closed her eyes and hummed a lullaby her mom had sung for her.

Aunt Mia is getting married today, she told Navy. So we get to wear the fancy dresses, and Mommy’s going to do your hair so pretty. She pressed a kiss to her daughter’s head.

And you’re one now. One whole year from today, you were born. Mia had been so worried about having her wedding on the same day as Navy’s birthday, but Karly was secretly glad. She didn’t need a big party for her daughter, and everything her mother did was oversized. The woman didn’t know the meaning of simple, and she certainly didn’t understand that Karly didn’t want any attention on her.

Not since Derrick’s accident and subsequent death, that was. Before that, she arrived late to family parties just so everyone would see her, welcome her, talk to her.

Now, she just wanted to fade into the background, let Navy have fun with her aunts and uncles, and eat another chocolate chip cookie.

Not too many today, she told herself. In the year since she’d delivered her baby and then gone back to work full-time at the family orchards, she’d had a very hard time losing the baby weight.

With her fortieth birthday just around the corner, she’d decided she didn’t care. She wasn’t dating anyway and didn’t want another husband. As she rocked in the early morning hours with her daughter, she allowed the ache for Derrick to overtake her, something she normally held back really well.

But today would be very, very hard without him. He couldn’t kiss their little girl and tell her happy birthday. He couldn’t smile at Mia and her rock star almost-husband and say how perfect they were for each other, then press his lips to Karly’s forehead and say, Just like us.

She’d loved him so much, and she missed him every single day. Some days were worse than others, of course, and she sensed today would be miserable.

Please help me, she whispered into Navy’s hair, and then she let herself doze a little bit before Mia and Sami would be coming to take Navy so Karly could get her hair and makeup done for the wedding.

Sure enough, her sisters found her still snoozing in the nursery with the baby, and she opened her eyes when Sami said, Are you sure? Let’s let her sleep.

I’m awake, Karly said, cracking open her eyes. Mia and Sami stood in the doorway, both of them looking at her with a mixture of concern and love in their faces. Someone take Navy. She jostled the little girl, and Sami rushed forward to take her.

Serenity will be here in a minute, Mia said. Do you want to shower?

Navy yawned, and all three of them paused to look at the darling girl. Karly felt such a rush of love for her that she leaned over and said, Be good, Navy-bear. I’m going to go shower.

She bustled off, knowing she was supposed to be showered, teeth brushed, and in her underwear and slip before Serenity arrived with the makeup kit.

When she finally made it into her bedroom in the get-up she was supposed to be in, she was twenty minutes late. I’m so sorry, she said, glancing around at the clean counter. She was usually never late. And she’d never left dishes out overnight before Derrick had died.

Now, she seemed to be perpetually fifteen minutes late, and she did dishes when she got to them.

Someone did my dishes. Embarrassment squirreled through her as Serenity smiled at her.

Liam pays me to do it, she said. It’s a hard habit to break.

He still pays you? Mia asked, patting the bottom of Serenity and Liam’s little girl, Thea.

No, Serenity said, ducking her head. I just meant it was my job for like thirteen years, so it’s a habit. She tossed the washcloth back in the sink. So, are you ready?

So ready, Karly said. She sat in the appointed chair and watched her two sisters play with the new babies in the Addler family while Serenity curled her hair. Then she closed her eyes while her sister-in-law did her makeup.

She’d always worked in the family orchards and resort, doing accounting, but her role had been very part-time before Derrick’s death. She could take the time to shower, shave, put every hair in place, and put on false eyelashes before she went in for a few hours.

Karly loved girly things from nail polish to lotions to lipsticks. But since her husband’s death, she was lucky if she showed up at work with two of the same shoe on. Navy came with her three days a week, and that required a big bag of baby supplies, toys, and clothes. Serenity watched her the other two days of the week, but Thea was only two months old, and Karly still felt bad about leaving Navy with Serenity.

After all, she knew how tired she’d been with a new baby at only two months. The same exhaustion plagued her now.

Your turn, Sami, Serenity finally said, and Sami got up from the couch where she’d been watching Navy put together a wooden puzzle.

Go get your dress on, Sami said, pointing to the garment bags on the back of the couch. Karly didn’t want to squeeze herself into the mint monstrosity, but she did, because all of her sisters had weathered her horrible bridesmaids dresses too.

And Mia had done a great job with the dresses. Karly simply didn’t want to wear one today. Didn’t want to walk down the aisle as part of the bridal party. Didn’t want to get her picture taken.

But she would. And she’d smile through it all, because this was her little sister, and it was her wedding day.

Hours later, with all the women properly curled and glossed and straps tucked, the wedding was very near. Karly had sent Navy in with her mother, who sat on the front row with Nana and Pops, her parents from Goderich, Canada. Karly’s paternal grandparents still lived on the lane in the orchard, and they’d be on the front row too.

She wasn’t sure what was taking so long behind the closed doors, and her anxiety for this event and day to be over started skyrocketing.

Do you know who Mia paired me with? she asked Allegra, who was seriously so beautiful and blonde, she didn’t seem real. And she and Phoenix had been married for six months now, and she always glowed with happiness.

Karly actually envied her sometimes, because she seemed to have to work, and claw, and bite for every ounce of joy she felt.

Uh, let me go see. Allegra flashed a smile at her and walked away, the light green dress on her frame much more flattering. She returned quickly and said, Maverick Malone. He’s one of Declan’s groomsmen.

The name tickled something in the back of Karly’s mind, but she didn’t know what. The last year had been trying to say the least, and there were some things she simply couldn’t remember. It seemed like her life existed in layers of gray, and she couldn’t put them together into a whole picture sometimes.

He’s the tall, handsome one over there, Allegra said, twisting to her right. Talking to Jon.

Karly followed her gaze and saw the muscular man. He wasn’t wearing a tuxedo like her brothers, but a pair of pressed black slacks and a white shirt with the customary purple tie. He had shaggy, dark blond hair, and he must’ve been able to sense her watchful eye, because he looked in her direction.

She spun away, feeling foolish and out of sorts. He has tattoos all over his arms, she hissed to Allegra. He’s one of those meatheads from the biker gang.

I think it’s a club, Allegra said. And I’ve heard they do good things in the community. She shrugged. Hey, he might give you a ride on his bike.

I don’t want a ride on his ridiculous bike, Karly said. It’s too loud, and I bet it stinks. She wasn’t a fan of motorcycles, thank you very much. They seemed like personal death traps to her.

Places, everyone, the wedding planner called, and Karly got shuffled around while everyone got in line. They all seemed to know exactly where and how to line up, but she’d missed that memo.

She’d probably gotten it, but her brain could only hold so much information at once. She turned, stumbling into a very solid chest, and a pair of warm hands gripped her elbows, steadying her.

Sorry, she mumbled, looking up into the brightest, bluest eyes she’d ever seen. Maverick had some seriously handsome genes in his family, because dang. He was gorgeous. He looked at her evenly, not an ounce of emotion in his eyes whatsoever.

You’re Karly, right? he asked, and a voice like that could paint pictures.

Karly had started taking a watercolor class over the summer, so she should know. She imagined his voice to be embodied with blues, and purples, and greens. Something soothing and cool and relaxing.

Yes, she managed to say.

Great, he said. I’m your escort.

He wished he was, but Karly didn’t say that. She just cocked her eyebrows and laced her arm through his offered elbow.

The line in front of them started to move, and he leaned down, his whispered tone twice as sexy as his regular speaking voice. And honey, it’s called a motorcycle. Not a bike.

I—

I’ll take you for a ride anytime. He faced the front of the line as they moved, and Karly put her plastic smile on her face, hoping that Maverick would keep her upright, because her legs felt like they were now made of gelatin.

CHAPTER TWO

Maverick Malone hated weddings. He hated monkey suits, and pretending like he cared to socialize, and listening to grown women talk about his motorcycle club like he was a child.

He was forty-two-years-old, and he’d been the