Two worlds collide when Ryder's gf cheats on him with Shadow's husband. Neither of them knew each other until one day he goes into the library and meets the woman of his dreams but sadly they have no chance together with all the baggage they both have. Maybe one day....
Prologue
Shadow's pov
Being a single mother was hard. I loved my kids more than anything. I just wish I had a good man in my life. Then again, I never have time to find one. All I do is work and stay home with my kids. It's not like prince charming hangs out at a library. If he did, he wouldn't want an old frumpy plus size single mom like me.
My husband left me because he said I was hideous so why would I ever expect another man to want me. I looked in the mirror and cried. I hated myself. He killed any self-esteem I had. His new plaything was only 20 and was like a size 2. Yep, he rubbed my face in it every chance he gets.
He hasn't seen his kids in almost a year. I hated how much he hurts them. He broke my heart, but I can handle it they can't. They think they did something wrong.
I loved the library because it was so quiet. Except for today. They were doing construction across the street. They were remodeling for a new night club. I hated that this town was changing so much. I went outside to see how the remodeling was going.
I just wish it was done already so I can get some peace back. I caught sight of the sexiest man to walk this earth. I couldn't help but stare. He looked over my way, so I hurried back into the library. How was I going to get any work done with a sexy man like that being right across the street?
I got back to my laptop. Since it was a slow day, I decided to get back to my writing. I didn't want to be a librarian forever. Actually, I wanted to be a writer. I was on this amazing site called Moboreader to see if I was even any good at writing.
I had all these dreams before I got married, but I put them all on hold. I was done doing that. I will never let another man take over my whole life. It was time I lived for me and my kids. I was so busy writing that I didn't hear anyone come in.
"Hello, I am Ryder I am opening the club across the street, and just wanted to introduce myself."
I jumped not realizing he was there. I just looked at him not knowing what to say.
"Um hi I'm Shadow I run things here."
"It is a pleasure to meet you."
He actually kissed my hand and I almost fainted. This man was deadly. I needed to stay far away from him. Men like this never went for women like me so there is no point in even trying.
"It's nice to meet you, but I really need to get back to work."
"No problem I need to head back. I will see you around Shadow."
He left and I still felt like I couldn't breathe. It seemed like he was flirting with me, but that couldn't be. I wasn't good enough for any man let alone one that looked like that.
Ryder's pov
I saw the sexiest woman looking at me from across the street. I hurried to go talk to her, but she ran into the library. I wanted to go over there and introduce myself anyway, so this was the perfect time.
Maybe I could talk to the beautiful woman I had just seen. I wanted to know my neighbors. I was opening a club in this neighborhood. My father gave me as well as my brother's money to invest in what we wanted. He wasn't happy about me starting a club.
He feels that I have more potential than that. Maybe it's because my younger brother Jacob followed in my father's footsteps and became a lawyer. I walked into the stuffy little library and saw the beautiful woman from before. She was a librarian?
She does not fit in here at all. I said hello and she jumped. I didn't mean to scare her. Great first impression I was making. I couldn't stop staring at her. She was incredibly sexy.
When I went to leave, I kissed her hand. What this wasn't the 20's? I made a complete fool of myself. Hopefully I get a chance to start over. She was defiantly someone I would love to get to know better.
She didn't seem too interested in me though. Maybe she had someone. There was no way a woman like her was single. I was always unlucky in love. My last relationship ended when I caught my fiancée in bed with my best friend. I just walked out and never looked back.
I didn't want the house because it would only remind me of the pain. I moved into a small home far away from her. I have forgiven them both for that, but we don't talk anymore. It's not the first time I have been cheated on.
I dated a younger girl after that, and she left me. She ran off with some married man that was way older than her. The guy left his wife and kids for her. I would never do that, yet I always get hurt. Maybe I should just give up on ever finding love.
Besides I'll be too busy with my new club. I need to stay away from one very sexy librarian otherwise I might just catch some feelings.
Brailey has always been what some would call an empath or a little bit psychic it runs in her family, but it isn't something she likes to share, and she never really had issues with it until him. Now she sees every little move he makes as if they were one. This must mean something right?
Nakia was the kind of woman other women thrived to become. She had a successful career and a beautiful home that she bought, and she was always on point. At thirty years old, she thought she had it all figured out, but boy was she wrong. Her mama always taught her that you need to be the woman a man wants and not the woman you want to be. Every day Nakia lives to prove that theory wrong. Through her so-called weakness, she has found a strength she never knew existed. Don't ever let someone's negative opinion of you become your reality.
Aiden was good and safe. Everything Josie should want, and everyone thought she needed. Yet he was not the one she craved. She was tired of always playing it safe. So, when she met Bryce, he set her world on fire. He was bad with a capital B. Everything she was missing in her life. The only problem was that Bryce would only end up breaking her heart. He was the love-on-them and leave-them type always looking for the next best thing. She knew that Aiden could give her the type of future she would need but was that even enough?
What would you do if your father hated you so much that he sold you off to a group of alpha werewolves? That's the very thing that happened to poor little human Fiona. Now she is forced to live with six sexy shifters and sleep with the four remaining single brothers and whoever gets her pregnant first not only gets land, but they will also become her mate. Who even does that? There was no way she wanted to be a part of any of this...
Willow lost her mother before she could even remember her or get to know her. It was just her dad and her brothers along with her. She started to see a lady riding a horse down by the lake but no one else but her ex Ethan could see the woman so everyone called her crazy. Is she really going crazy or was it someone trying to warn her of incoming danger?
Niko has always strived to be nothing like his Mafia crime boss father even leaving and falling love with a woman and having a son he named Noah. His father hated that so much that he had the girl killed and kidnapped Noah all to bring Niko back to him. All Niko wants to do is get his son Noah and little brother Nikolas away from his father but he knows the only way to do that is a fight to the death....
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
Sawyer, the world's top arms dealer, stunned everyone by falling for Maren—the worthless girl no one respected. People scoffed. Why chase a useless pretty face? But when powerful elites began gathering around her, jaws dropped. "She's not even married to him yet—already cashing in on his power?" they assumed. Curious eyes dug into Maren's past... only to find she was a scientific genius, a world-renowned medical expert, and heiress to a mafia empire. Later, Sawyer posted online. "My wife treats me like the enemy. Any advice?"
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."