A Reservation for One (Untamed Love Series Book 1) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Dedications & Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Thank You

  Other Books by LaShawn Vasser

  A Reservation for One

  By

  LaShawn Vasser

  A Reservation for One © 2017 LaShawn Vasser

  All Rights Reserved

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  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead are entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved.

  *EXPLICIT ADULT CONTENT*

  WARNING

  This novel is considered romantic fiction with erotic elements or erotica. This is for mature audiences only. This book contains adult profane language, mild violence, and strong sexual content.

  Dedications & Acknowledgments

  There are so many individuals who have helped me along the way, and I would like to thank my BETAS and ARC TEAM from the bottom of my heart for your patience, encouragement, and advice. JB Logic you have been with me from the beginning. I can never say ‘you’re amazing’ enough. My Fabulous Readers, you guys are the best AND continue to inspire me on this journey – Thank you. Lastly, I’d like to send a special thanks to my Mr. for loving me so deeply and giving me such great inspiration (I said this the last book but thought it needed repeating). You’ve always told me I could fly, and I believed you. You hold me down always, and I can never thank you enough.

  Chapter 1

  Tick . . . tick . . . tick.

  The sound of the clock sitting on the nightstand was loud. The noise bounced off the walls and filled the entire room. Its steady beat was overwhelming. Haven had to squeeze her eyes shut in an effort to block it out.

  She’d been home for hours—alone.

  That monotonous ticking sound was always the worst this time of night—or day. Running a close second were the digital numbers staring into the darkness, mocking her. They only seemed to pulse and get larger as the time dragged on endlessly.

  2:03 a.m.

  Haven didn’t think she could shed any more tears since they’d been falling down her face for the past couple of hours.

  She turned onto her side, resting her head on her arm while longingly running the other hand over the empty space of the bed. Haven caressed the pillow where his head should have been. Unsurprisingly, it was cold to the touch.

  Dylan should have been there.

  Haven leaned over to breathe in the spicy scent that was uniquely his. Emotionally spent, she absently expressed her feelings into the darkness.

  “How did we get here?”

  No sooner were the words spoke, did the front door of their apartment open. Haven hated to admit it, but she was glad he was safe and home at last. Then, anger filled every part of her body. The weight of their relationship was so heavy. Haven thought it might crush her. Where the hell had he been?

  Dylan didn’t turn on any lights as she listened to him maneuver around in the darkness. Their apartment was so small Haven knew exactly where he was, especially, when she heard the jingling of his keys and the sound of him dropping his cell phone onto the kitchen counter.

  He attempted to walk into the bedroom without making a sound. As soon as Dylan crossed the threshold, Haven sat up and flipped the switch on to the lamp sitting next to the bed.

  At first, Dylan didn’t speak. He pretended her eyes weren’t watching his every move before finally whispering. “I didn’t mean to wake you up.” He wouldn’t look at her.

  Haven pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “I wasn’t asleep.”

  “You should be.”

  “I couldn’t sleep because you weren’t home, so there is that.” She was irritated and couldn’t hide it. “I was worried.”

  Dylan still seemed to find it hard to make eye contact as he fumbled with the buttons on his shirt. “I told you that me and a few of the guys were going out for drinks after work.”

  “Yeah, you did, but that was around two this afternoon. It’s after two in the morning!” Haven was more than a little skeptical. “I left you a message. Did you check your phone?”

  “What’s with the third degree? I’m sorry, I don’t recall your name being on my birth certificate.” Instead of answering the actual question, he walked out of the bedroom into the kitchen.

  She was getting angrier by the second. Haven scrambled out of bed and followed behind him. “You don’t think it’s disrespectful to come into our home, on a work night, at two a.m.?”

  Dylan snatched open the refrigerator looking for something cold to drink. “We were in a bar, Haven. I was with the guys and lost track of time, damn. You’re being ridiculous. But, if you need an excuse, I didn’t hear my phone ring because I was in a loud ass bar!” He slammed the door shut. “So, no. I didn’t get your message until after I pulled up into the garage. I figured I was home. It didn’t make sense to call you.”

  His explanation was plausible but highly unlikely. Haven couldn’t prove anything, so—again—she had to accept his explanation. The alternative was more than she was ready to deal with.

  Dylan faked an exaggerated yawn. “If the inquisition is over, it’s been a long day. I’m going take a quick shower and go to bed.”

  Haven was still uneasy, but what was she supposed to do? She didn’t have any proof and wanted so badly to believe him.

  Her mind was racing. Was Dylan lying? Was he telling the truth? Was he cheating . . . again?

  He reached for her and pulled her body into his. She pushed him away. He reached for her again. The second time she didn’t fight but angrily walked into his arms. It was what she really wanted—for it to be just the two of them. He took her arms and wrapped them around his waist and pressed her head against his chest. Dylan spoke softly into her ear. “Don’t make fires where there aren’t any.”

  Was it her own insecurities working against her? She didn’t know and didn’t trust herself. Haven spoke in a barely-there whisper. “I was hoping you had a little energy left for me. That’s what my message said.” Dylan tightened his hold on her, and she inhaled. That’s when it hit her like a MACK truck, the light scent of floral perfume.

  Before she could react, his cell phone vibrated on the counter. They both looked at it at the same time. Haven shoved with both hands as she pushed him away.

  “Why are you always so pissed? I can’t win with you!” The phone continued to buzz all over the counter, and Dylan see
med content with ignoring it.

  Haven’s eyes narrowed. “Are you going to get that?”

  “It’s late. Whoever it is, I’ll call them back tomorrow.”

  The tiny hairs over her body stood up. “I wonder if it’s the same woman whose perfume is on your shirt!” After a second of indecision, Haven stalked over to the phone. As soon as Dylan realized what she was about to do, he moved to grab the phone before she could. Unfortunately, Haven beat him to it.

  Chest heaving, she answered it. “Hello?”

  There was silence on the other end. Her stomach bottomed out. She could hear someone breathing yet they didn’t say a word. She yelled into the mouthpiece, “If you didn’t know, I’m Haven Shaw, Dylan’s girlfriend! The woman he lives with!” The line went dead.

  Dylan snatched the phone out of her hand. “What the hell, Haven? You’re acting like you’ve lost your damned mind!”

  She turned accusing eyes at him and screamed at the top of her lungs, “Who was that, Dylan!? What bitch is calling your phone this time of morning!?!”

  “How the hell should I know!?”

  “Because SHE was calling you!”

  “She? Did she have a name? Who did they say it was?”

  “You’re playing games. Whoever it was decided to breathe heavy enough to let me know they were on the line before hanging up.”

  Dylan shook his head and brushed past her. “No one even said anything? Wow. You never cease to amaze me. I’ve done everything in my power to make you trust me again, but it’s going to be your insecurities that will kill this relationship before another woman will.”

  Haven followed him out of the kitchen toward the bathroom. “I hate feeling like this. If I’m insecure, it’s because you’ve made me this way!”

  Dylan ignored her outburst and slammed the bathroom door in her face.

  She stood there like an idiot staring at it until the shower came on. Then, slowly, Haven backed away, walking into their office with her mind made up. She had to get the hell out of this toxic relationship. Lately, she was acting so crazy; even she didn’t recognize herself.

  *****

  Haven was sick to her stomach. The sun would be coming up in a couple of hours. After her fight with Dylan, she couldn’t go in their bedroom and sleep next to him. She was afraid she might put a pillow over his face and suffocate him. Instead, Haven started to formulate plans for what she was going to do next. After going online to check her bank account, she was devastated. The numbers on her laptop started to blur as tears dripped onto the keyboard.

  She had two hundred and sixty-three dollars to her name. Her next paycheck would only net her another eight hundred dollars. That wasn’t enough to get her own place. What the hell, Haven? When did you start to depend completely on this man and not have a plan for your own damn self? She should never have listened to him tell her not to worry about money—or how they were a team and would get married as soon as they accomplished a few things, and for her to only focus on finishing her degree. Now, she was in an impossible situation and felt trapped.

  Who could she crash with? All of her friends were Dylan’s friends. There was no way she would put them in the middle of their mess—and they wouldn’t want to be. Then, there was her mother, but she lived with a drunk. That relationship was worse than hers. Katrina Shaw was in no position to help her. There was always Ms. McKenna, but that was her boss. She wasn’t going to take advantage of her. Disgusted, she dropped her head into her hands.

  Her thoughts were so loud that she didn’t hear Dylan walk into the room. He went behind her and leaned his head low nestling his lips into the soft curve of her neck kissing her tender skin.

  She jumped at his touch and tried to wiggle out of his embrace.

  “I’m sorry.” He whispered into her ear.

  Haven stilled. Her voice was an anguished cry. “Don’t. Don’t touch me, Dylan.”

  “I’m not cheating on you. I promise that I’m not.”

  “I smelled her perfume.”

  “It was innocent. We were at a bar. I might have danced a little with a few women, but I promise you that was all.” His voice dipped. “You’re all that I want, Haven. I want to make a life with you, nobody else but you. I’m sorry that I didn’t call. It’s just, the guys and I lost track of time.”

  She closed her burning eyes. Dylan said what she wanted to hear after every fight but was any of it true or was it all bullshit? “What about the phone call?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know who was on the other line. I changed my number after we decided to work things out, and sometimes, I still get calls for whoever had the number last. I can tell you what it wasn’t. It wasn’t a woman looking for me. I’m devoted to you.”

  She turned around in his arms. “Dylan, if I’m not what you want, just tell me. We don’t have to do this crazy dance.”

  “You’re everything I want.” He lifted her out of her chair and into his arms. “Let me prove it to you.”

  Haven’s gut said everything about this situation was wrong, but she wanted to believe. Instead of following her instincts, she wrapped her arms around his neck and let him carry her to bed.

  Chapter 2

  “Where are you taking me?”

  There was a hint of a smile on Haven’s face, but she kept her mouth shut. They had worked too hard to ruin it now. The answer would be revealed soon enough. Instead, she remained silent and pushed Ms. McKenna along.

  The little minx couldn’t be still and was more than a little antsy. She squeezed the armrest of her wheelchair. “Come on, not even a hint?”

  This time, Haven couldn’t contain her own excitement. “Shhh . . . stop trying to get me to spill. It’s a surprise, and that’s all you need to know. We’re almost there.”

  Haven wheeled Ms. McKenna into her formal dining room. A simple dining area it was not. The space had once hosted many prestigious people over the years, and while the chandeliers were dated, they held just enough sparkle to remind those who believed in fairytales, magic was real. Ironically, Haven was more doubtful than ever in happily-ever-after but thought it was a shame the room was almost never used anymore.

  The second they entered, Ms. McKenna’s nurse and household staff of three yelled aloud, “Surprise!” Her deteriorating health had been getting worse over the past several years forcing her to use a wheelchair. But, if she had the strength, Bertha would have jumped right out of it. Worn, wrinkled hands came up to cradle her pale face in complete shock.

  Stretched out before her were a gazillion pink and white balloons, along with dozens of roses of the same color but with splashes of red ones infused throughout. They were strategically placed all around the room. Haven had smelled the fragrant flowers in the hallway before they even walked inside.

  Everyone was standing at the upper end of the huge mahogany table that seated eighteen. Placed on the table, was a three-tiered birthday cake covered in so many candles it was probably a fire hazard.

  Bertha hadn’t celebrated her birthday in many years. Typically, she would just have an intimate dinner with her nephew, and that would be it. But, today, Bertha was speechless . . . almost. She would never let any moment pass without having something to say. This time was no exception. Her words were spoken like a child full of wonder and amazement. “You did all of this for me?”

  Haven’s lips hovered near her ear as she pushed her closer to the table. “We did. And, of course! It’s not every day one gets to celebrate their seventy-sixth birthday.”

  Bertha’s pale eyes, once the deepest color of ocean blue, glistened. This time she was truly speechless, and as much as she tried to mask it, her emotions began to spill out.

  Ms. McKenna was a tough old lady and rarely did people get to see her softer side. Over the past year, they had been through a lot together, and Haven felt privileged she was one of the lucky few who got to see a glimpse of her vulnerability. Haven choked up as she spoke through her own emotions. “With Dr. Lawrence’s blessing, we ord
ered your favorite cake—red velvet with buttercream frosting.” Haven pointed towards the delectable goodness. “There’s a candle for every fabulous year of your life. I hope it looks like what you described to me . . . when your father gave you the best birthday ever—minus all the candles of course.”

  Bertha’s hands slid down to her throat in complete and utter amazement. “My goodness, all that fire might torch this place.” She had been doing her best to hold back tears but failed miserably. Her voice could barely be heard. “It’s perfect.” No one had done anything this thoughtful in too long to remember. And, why would they? Until meeting Haven, Bertha hadn’t been the easiest person to be around. If she were honest, she’d been a bitter old shrew. Even her only living relative and grandson, Ellis, was too busy conquering the world to visit. He lived out of a suitcase and only dropped in a few times a year. She didn’t see him nearly enough. That’s what made hiring Haven a godsend. She had helped immensely in filling that void, and it was one of the best decisions she’d ever made.

  Haven rubbed her hands together as if plotting an evil plan. She had one more surprise up her sleeve that should be arriving soon. At least, she hoped. Since her surprise hadn’t confirmed, Haven didn’t know for sure if everything would pan out. However, she would know soon enough. In the meantime, they had a party to enjoy. With a broad smile plastered across her face, she held up the cutting knife. “Who wants cake?”

  *****

  An hour later, they’d eaten a light lunch, had several pieces of the red-velvet cake, and opened gifts. Now, it was just the two of them.

  Haven was a little bummed that her big surprise hadn’t materialized, but Ms. McKenna was none the wiser and still seemed to be floating on a cloud. That was all that mattered.

  She reached out and grabbed hold of her boss’ hand. “I hope you enjoyed our little shindig.”

  Ms. McKenna laced her fingers with Haven’s and squeezed. “I had a grand time. Thank you for pulling all of this together.”