Wanted_Found Read online

  Text copyright ©2017 by the Author.

  This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Kelly Elliott. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Wanted remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Kelly Elliott, or their affiliates or licensors.

  For more information on Kindle Worlds: http://www.amazon.com/kindleworlds

  Found

  by Kristin Mayer

  Also by Kristin Mayer

  AVAILABLE NOW

  THE TRUST SERIES

  Trust Me

  Love Me

  Promise Me

  Full-length novels in the TRUST series are also available in audio from Tantor Media.

  THE EFFECT SERIES

  Ripple Effect

  Domino Effect

  THE TWISTED FATE SERIES

  White Lies

  Black Truth

  TIMELESS LOVE SERIES

  Untouched Perfection

  Flawless Perfection

  Tempting Perfection

  STAND ALONE NOVELS

  Innocence

  Bane

  Whispered Promises

  Finding Forever (co-written with Kelly Elliott)

  COMING SOON

  Intoxicated by You

  Wrecked for You

  Changed by You

  Note to Reader: Found is a novella from Kelly Elliott’s Wanted Kindle World.

  Contents

  FOUND

  Also by Kristin Mayer

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Books in the Wanted World

  Chapter One

  Scarlette

  Mason, Texas.

  IT HAD BEEN A MAGICAL place for Momma. In her last days, she often talked about the summer she’d spent on the Mathews’ ranch when she was twenty, helping out. That was the summer she met my daddy.

  It’s hard to believe she’s gone. Three weeks already. I blew out a deep breath as I made the last turn into Fredericksburg, where I would be staying for the next two nights.

  The Mathews’ ranch was about forty minutes from there. My plan was to visit them around lunch tomorrow. Filled with anticipation, I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel. I’d never met these people who had been near and dear to my parents.

  Momma’d had two dying wishes for me.

  Find happiness.

  Spread her and Daddy’s ashes at the Mathews’ ranch in Mason.

  Last week, I finally worked up the courage to call Garrett and Emma Mathews to relay her wish. Without hesitation, Emma Mathews had agreed and asked how soon I could get there. Just like that, I’d been welcomed. It was an odd feeling after having been closed off for so long. Emma had to be in her midsixties, judging from the picture Mom had showed me, which had been taken twenty-seven years earlier.

  I passed the street where I was supposed to turn. “Damn it!” I hit the wheel on my battered car again. It had seen better days, but it was dependable and got me from point A to point B.

  Between the medical expenses and Momma’s funeral, there wasn’t much left. I’d been supporting Momma and myself for the last three years. As an editor, income wasn’t always consistent, especially when I had to scale back my schedule due to doctor appointments, but we made do. After selling what we’d had left, somehow, I’d managed to scrounge up enough to afford a reasonably priced apartment and the bare minimum amount of furniture wherever I ended up.

  Where will I go?

  Someplace new, that was for sure.

  After the phone call to the Mathews, I’d packed up what was left of my life and headed out. Where I went after this, I wasn’t sure. But I needed a fresh start. Desperately. There were too many memories that clung to me like a dark shroud. During the last three years, I’d drifted away from my friends because I’d needed to stay home to take care of Momma. Chemo was a bitch that, bit by bit, had sucked the life from her. And me.

  Finally, I saw the sign for the Inn on Baron’s Creek. I parked the car in front of the white stucco building. As the sun set, it looked like a picture straight from a fairy tale. Tears threatened as I thought about the beautiful gesture from Emma and Garrett. They’d made reservations in my name—fully paid, as well—for the next two nights. One day, I promised myself, I would repay them.

  I walked into the hotel, my mouth agape at the beauty and grandeur. For a moment, I closed my eyes, taking in the sweet hibiscus smell. Flowers were my weakness. Wherever I ended up, I wanted to fill the place with flowers. In the lobby, the fancy plush couches beckoned. Only once before had I been in a place so nice.

  That one weekend I’d taken a chance. The same weekend that had ended in heartache.

  With a shake of my head, I ignored the pang of hurt in my heart. The memories wanted to beat through the wall I’d created, but I wasn’t ready to face them yet.

  A woman wearing thick-rimmed glasses looked up from her computer with a soft smile. “Evening, ma’am. Welcome to the Inn on Baron’s Creek. Checking in?”

  I tried to appear calm, but my nerves were stretched thin after the long trip. “Yes, I have a reservation under the name Scarlette Noelle.”

  After a few clicks on the keyboard, the woman smiled. “Yes, I have you here. Staying two nights.”

  “Yes.” I let out a breath—at least there was a reservation. The Mathews seemed nice, but I didn’t know them. What if I’d misread the email and the clerk asked me for a credit card? If so, I would have had to let them know it was a mistake and figured something else out.

  “Your room’s been paid in full.” She handed me a card key with my room number on it. “Breakfast is included. Enjoy your stay.”

  Phew. “Thank you. Have a good evening.”

  “You, too, ma’am.”

  I immediately felt guilty for doubting Emma and Garrett. Through the years, I’d learned the hard way that most people weren’t dependable. Maybe the Mathews were different, but I couldn’t be certain. I hated how jaded I felt.

  With my worn-out suitcase in tow, I took the elevator to the second floor. The room was as big as the apartment where Momma and I had ended up after we lost the house two years earlier. That thought gave me a sad smile. We might not have had much, but we’d been happy.

  I set my suitcase down inside the room and took a closer look around. Heavy curtains hung from the windows. I ran my hands along the gold bedspread, remembering another room like this one.

  Without warning, images from the weekend with Todd flooded my mind. I’d taken the train into the city a year earlier to meet an author about her edits. On a whim, I’d gone to a bar to unwind. That was where I’d met him—the man with whom I’d spent the next two days locked away in his hotel room.

  I never slept with people I’d just met. Until him.

  Something changed within me, and I’d have sworn he’d felt it, too. I’d heard that love at first sight was a myth, but if you’d asked me that weekend, I’d have said it was real.

  As it turned out, it was all a lie. And after two incredible days and nights, I’d woken up to an empty bed.

  No note.

  No phone call.

  Nothing.

  At that moment, I’d realized I knew nothing about the man, but he knew almost everything about me. Almost.

  Todd had vanished from my life
like a ghost.

  Asshole.

  After that, I’d returned home and buried myself in taking care of Momma and my work. And now that she was gone, my heart wanted me to deal with what had happened. But not today. Maybe after tomorrow.

  Suddenly, the walls were closing in and the room felt too cramped. I needed to get some fresh air to clear my head.

  I grabbed my purse and checked my messy blond bun to make sure it hadn’t become too out of control. In the reflection, my eyes stared back at me with an empty sadness. At one time, they’d been filled with life and happiness.

  Once upon a time . . .

  Unable to stand the confinement another minute, I left the hotel to roam the streets of Fredericksburg. Over the last week, I’d spent a lot of time wandering through the city streets back home or taking trains to nowhere. It was cathartic, in a way.

  The streets were lined with quaint, adorable shops. It was a shame most of the stores were closed. Window shopping always took my mind off things and filled my head with dreams of the future.

  Down the street, a neon sign caught my eye. Buc’s Bar and Grill.

  One drink.

  Honestly, after the last few weeks, I could use it. The parking lot was packed, and music reverberated from the buildings. The noise alone would drown out my thoughts.

  A taller man with large muscles and a black cowboy hat stood outside the door. “Ten dollar cover charge, ma’am.”

  Ten dollars? Holy shit.

  I stopped and took a few steps back. “Oh, thanks. I’ll umm . . . I was just . . . a beer. Have a . . . umm . . . good evening.”

  Heat spread through my body as I quickly turned and walked away. I hated the embarrassing feeling of not being able to afford what most thought of as chump change. With my head down, I picked up speed.

  “Ma’am?”

  I froze and closed my eyes for the briefest of seconds, ready to ignore him and keep walking. Instead, I turned around, opening my eyes cautiously. Surely there wasn’t a fee for simply walking up to the door. Even New York City wasn’t that crazy.

  The man smiled. “Go on in. Cover charge is on me.”

  Wait. What? No. I had a hard time accepting charity. I held up my hands and took a step back. “Oh no. You don’t have to do that. I appreciate it, but I’m going to just walk around.”

  He tipped his cowboy hat. “It’s okay, miss. I’d like to—no strings. Don’t think of it as charity, just someone doing something nice.”

  Wow. The kindness from this stranger nearly overwhelmed me. Most of the time, when things like this happened, people stared at me with distaste—as if I were some lowly creature. Not that it happened often, but when it did, it seared itself into my mind. “Th-thank you.”

  “Beer is on me, as well. Just ask for Marissa at the bar. She’s my wife.”

  I was about to protest, but he held up his hand. “If my sister was somewhere and having a bad day, I’d hope someone would do the same.”

  I brushed back some loose hair. “Your sister is lucky to have you. Thank you again.”

  He gave me a charming smile and tipped his hat. “You’re welcome.”

  I walked into the bar and was immediately engulfed by the music. Couples line danced in the middle of the dance floor. The sight made my heart ache. I remembered when Daddy and Momma would dance like this in our living room. I wondered if they learned to dance in Texas. Probably. Being there calmed me a little and gave me a sense of closeness to them.

  Dodging a few dancing couples, I made it to the bar. A woman approached me, holding out her hand. “I’m Marissa. What kind of beer would you like?”

  “Whatever is cheapest, please. Your husband is very kind.”

  She gave me a wink. “I think so, too. But I might be a little prejudiced.” Rapping the counter twice, Marissa said, “Be right back with your beer.”

  Someone vacated a stool, so I sat at the bar and watched people laughing and having a good time. Waitresses flitted about with food and drinks. The smells made my stomach grumble. Later, when I was back at the hotel, I would eat. I still had a few protein bars left.

  A couple came up beside me, requesting two beers. It was evident from the way they moved and the looks they shared that they were in love. The man had blond hair that crept out from under his cowboy hat. The woman gave him a smile as she tucked it back away from his ear. It looked like their world began and ended with each other. He touched her as if she were the most fragile thing on earth, but there was a possessive air about him, too. This man would do anything for his woman. The obvious love between them gave me hope.

  “What time are Lark and Austin meeting us here?” the woman asked.

  I faced forward, not wanting to appear to be eavesdropping on their conversation.

  The man responded, “I just got a text. They’re walking in.”

  “Oh, good! I really like Austin. He’s a good guy. Maybe I could set him up with one of my cousins.”

  Looks like Austin may be getting lucky soon.

  Marissa set the beer down in front of me. “Try this. It’s a local IPA—our most popular.”

  I smiled at her—it was like she’d read my mind. I’d wanted to try an IPA.

  “Thanks again.”

  “Anytime. Let me know if I can get you something else. It’s on the house.”

  That was kind, but I wouldn’t take advantage of the situation. I held up my beer. “Thank you.”

  I took a few dollars out of my purse and slid them her way. Melissa touched my hand. “Keep it. I appreciate the gesture, but no. Pay it forward sometime.”

  “I will. Promise.”

  She gave me a smile and moved on to the next customer. Turning to find an out-of-the-way place to sit, I bumped into someone behind me. “Oh! I’m so sorry!”

  At least I hadn’t spilled my beer.

  The man reached out to steady me. The heat from his touch penetrated my skin. In shock, I lifted my eyes to his face. Familiar chocolate eyes stared back at me.

  Todd.

  From the way his eyes pierced mine, it was clear he remembered exactly who I was. So many confusing emotions ran through me. But there was one overriding thought.

  I need to get away from here.

  The blond girl I’d been sitting next to stood. “Lark! Austin! You made it!”

  Todd turned to face to the woman.

  Austin? Lark? Why is she calling him Lark or Austin?

  I took a step back and bumped into someone else. “Excuse me. I . . . uh . . . so sorry.”

  The man nodded. “No worries, darlin’.”

  “Scarlette.”

  All eyes turned to me, and I froze like a deer in headlights. The woman gave me a smile. “Are you going to introduce us to your friend, Austin? Where are your manners?”

  “Austin?” The word came out half-choked. When he paled, I knew he’d lied to me. Like every other asshole in my life. Anger burned in my stomach. With more force, I asked, “Is your name Austin?”

  Silence.

  I downed my beer and slammed it on the bar harder than necessary. I noticed Marissa was watching us. “Thank you. I need to leave.”

  Her eyes met mine. “You okay, honey?”

  “I will be.”

  Pushing through the crowd as the tears formed, I hurried away from the bar. The last thing I wanted was to have a breakdown in public while the emotions I’d tried so hard to keep hidden bubbled to the surface.

  Chapter Two

  Austin

  FUCK. FUCK. FUCK.

  I’d gotten myself into a mess. Lark watched me with a raised eyebrow; he knew something was up. I need to go after her. Seeing Scarlette disappear out the entrance left me uneasy. Shit, I really messed up. I had to get to her, explain what happened. I didn’t want her to make a bad decision because she was upset with me. I need to make things right.

  Scott and Jessie watched me, confused. I’d figure out what to say to them later once I made sure Scarlette was safe. I headed for the door with Lar
k following closely behind.

  Without him having to ask, I gave him the information he needed to understand the situation. “She thinks my name is Todd.”

  Lark swore under his breath. We’d been buddies in the military, friends for a long time. I’d been on a seventy-two-hour furlough when I met her. Ever since I walked out of the hotel room—after giving her a fake name and absolutely no details about my life—I’d thought about her every single fucking day. I hadn’t been in the right frame of mind to make a relationship work. But the last thing I wanted was to hurt her.

  Mission not fucking accomplished, judging by the sadness I’d seen on her face.

  Fuck my life.

  “I need to go handle this. Alone.”

  Lark nodded. “I’ll smooth things over with Scott and Jessie.”

  “Thanks.”

  I hurried out the front door, turned left, and saw Scarlette already at the end of the street.

  The bouncer stepped in front of me. “I think you need to go back inside. Leave her alone.”

  Dick.

  I clenched my fists. “This doesn’t concern you.”

  He shifted his stance until his feet were a shoulder-width apart, obviously preparing to take this to the next level, if necessary. Shit. Being thrown in jail wouldn’t do me any good. He folded his arms across his chest before saying, “But it does. Sweet girl comes in for a beer to forget her troubles. Then she runs out, leaving with more than she came in with. Asks me not to let a man follow her. The way I see it, it just became my problem.”

  I gritted my teeth, holding back. Stay calm. She’s on foot, which means she’s most likely staying somewhere local. Forcing myself to relax my posture, I took a step back. “I understand. I was trying to clear up a misunderstanding from a year ago.”

  “Son, where I come from, you don’t let a year go by to clear up anything with a woman like that.”

  Asshole was right. Why had I let so much time pass? I tipped my hat and walked back inside to the bar to get a shot of something strong.

  Lark found me after I’d downed my bourbon. “Jessie and Scott took off. One of their horses went into labor.”