ISBN9789356106406©KateWhite2022PublishedinIndia2022byPencilAbrandofOnePointSixTechnologiesPvt.Ltd.123,BuildingJ2,ShramSevaPremises,WadalaTruckTerminal,Wadala(E)Mumbai400037,Maharashtra,INDIAEconnect@thepencilapp.comWwww.thepencilapp.comAllrightsreservedworldwideNopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinorintroducedintoaretrievalsystem,ortransmitted,inanyform,orbyanymeans(electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recordingorotherwise),withoutthepriorwrittenpermissionofthePublisher.Anypersonwhocommitsanunauthorizedactinrelationtothispublicationcanbeliabletocriminalprosecutionandcivilclaimsfordamages.
DISCLAIMER:Thisisaworkoffiction.Names,characters,places,eventsandincidentsaretheproductsoftheauthor'simagination.TheopinionsexpressedinthisbookdonotseektoreflecttheviewsofthePublisher.
Authorbiography
KateWhitewasbornandraisedinthe beautifulcountry, Bulgaria,amongnatureandlovelyandplayfulpets.Kateconsidersherfreedom,independence, andself-improvement tobemostimportanttoher.Ifsheisn’tspendingtimebeingcompletelyobsessedwithherprojects,youcanalmostalwaysfindherontheroadorwithabookinhand.
Contents
Chapter1
Chapter2
Chapter3
Chapter4
Chapter5
Chapter6
Chapter7
Chapter8
Chapter9
Chapter10
Chapter11
Chapter12
Chapter13
Chapter14
Chapter15
Chapter16
Chapter17
Chapter18
Chapter19
Chapter20
Chapter21
Chapter22
Chapter23
Chapter24
Chapter25
SecondBook
Chapter1
"It'ssocold!"IwhispergettingoutofthecabininSweden,Jokkmokk,thinkingaboutthewarmclimateinHonolulu.ButIwantedsomesnow.EspeciallywhenChristmasiscoming.Ismileandmovemygazetothelandscapeinfrontofme.Allforest!Exceptforthecabinonekilometerfromhere.It'ssopeacefulandquiet.ImustenjoyittothefullestwhileIcanbecausemyfamilyiscomingtomorrownight.
Igothroughtheforestandthesnow.Iseeamalefiguregoingafteramoose.Andhere'swheretheshootcamefrom.Ihearanothershot.IfocusonthemoosewhofellalmostimmediatelyaftertheshotandIgotoit.Istartexamingtheanimal'slegswhensomeoneshouts."I'msorrybutIshotit."IlookcarefullyatthemooseandthenIlookup.
Tall,about180centimeters,andobviouslyfit,eventhoughthelayersofclotheson,manisstandingupinfrontofme.Hehasstyledblackhair,mischievousbrown,almostblackeyes,andaslightsmile.WherehaveIseenhimbefore?"Takeit.Iwillcatchanotherone."Hesaysactuallycommandingme."Itisnotneeded.Ibuyanimalproductsfromfarms."
Helooksatmeupanddown."Isityouwholiveupthere?"Heaskswithhiscalm,deepvoiceandInod."JonathanEdmeades."Heintroduceshimselftakingandkissingmyhand."KarolinaFedorova,"Ireply."Iamgoingnow.Haveaniceday,Mr.Edmeades."Iwaveandheadbacktothecabin.
WhenIgetintothekitchen,myphonevibrates.Itisamessagefrommymothertellingmetheflightiscanceledandtheyarecomingthedayaftertomorrow.Itextherbacksayingit'sokayandstartmakingmyselflunch.Takingtheproductsoutofthefridge,InoticeIdon'thavesomeforthemeal.Igrabmykeysandgetinthecar.
IaminthegrocerystorelookingforturmericwhenIhearamalevoice."Mrs.Fedorova,itisapleasuretoseeyouagain."Hesayswithhiseyesonmeandalittlesmilecreepingonhisface."Itisapleasuretoseeyou,too,Mr.Edmeades,"IsayandfinallyfindwhatIwassearchingfor."Preparingforlunch?"Inod."Yes,Iam.Andintheprocess,IunderstoodIwasoutofsome...stuff."Ianswerwhilegrabbingsomeavocados."Areyouinahurry?"Heasksme."Notexactly.Why?"
"Iwouldliketohavecoffeewithyou."Hesayssoundingbossynotactuallyasking.AtthatmomentIseesomethinginhiseyes.Ican'texplainwhatbutIseeitbutitkindascaresmeandatthesametimepullsmetowardshim. "Okay.Justaftershopping.Isthatokay?"Iask.Universe,forgiveme,please!"Ofcourse,Mrs.Fedorova.AndIhavetobuysomethings,too."HeanswersandIseeitagain.Ibitemylip."Okay,"Isaynodding,everysinglemuscletensedinmybodyandmybreathonhold.Iturnandwalkawayreleasingmybreath.Igrabonelastthing,batteries,payandgoout.
Itakeaverydeepbreathandexhaleslowlythroughmymouth.IputthebagsonthebackseatsandthenIseeMr.Edmeadesdoingthesame.Hecomestomeandtakesmyhand."Shallwe?"Iswallowhardunknowinglywhyandnod.
Weenterafancycafe,calledcafeGasskas.Itisalmostlikeahouse,ayellowtwo-flooroneandtherearenomanypeople.Mr.Edmeadeschoosesatablenearthewindowandwesit."Whatbringsyouhere,Mrs.Fedorova?"HeasksandIbringmyattentionfromoutsidethewindowtohim."IlikesnowatChristmas.AndsinceinHonoluluthere'snosuchathingassnow,Ichosetocomehere.IcanlearnandhaveanamazingChristmasatthesametime."Ianswerwithalittlesmileonmyfaceandordergreenteawithlemon.Mr.Edmeadesordersblackcoffeeandthewaitressgoesaway."Whataboutyou,Mr.Edmeades?"
"JustJonathan,please.Well,itlookslikeweareherebecauseofthesamereasons.AnditissurprisingtomethatIhaven'tseenyoubefore.SincewebothliveinHonolulu.ItmaybebecauseItravelalotrecently."Hesaysandlooksatmeasifdiggingintomysoul.Iswallowhard.AwaiterbringsourdrinksandIalmostimmediatelysipofit.Theteawashotbutitcalmedmedown."Areyouokay,Karolina?Youseemtensedup."
"Iamfine."Ihurrywithananswer.Jonathanpurseshislipsandtiltshisheadtohisrightalittle.Ibitemylipandlookaway.WhyamIsonervous?Iquestionmyselflookingatsomechildrenplayingoutside."Doyoulovekids?"IhearJonathan'svoice."Ido.ButIdonotplanonhavingonesoon."Ianswerstilllookingthroughthewindow."Areyoufreetonight,Mrs.Fedorova?"Heasksmewhichmakesmeturnfacetofacewithhim."Dependsonwhatyoumeanby'tonight',Mr.Edmeades."
"Like6PM."Hesaysanddarknesscrosseshiseyes.Inod."Idonothaveplansfor6PM.Fornow."Isaylookingatmywatchandthenupathim.Hetiltshisheadtohisrightagainandatraceofasmirkappearsonhisface.IbitemylipandreleasemybreathIdidn'tknowIwasholding."Okay,then,"Jonathansaysandthenasksforthecheck.
Chapter2
IhitplayonWhethanandDuaLipa'sHighandclosemyeyesfeelingtherhythm.Istartmoving,touchingmybodyandradiatingconfidenceandsexiness.
The songisabouttoendwhenbangsonthefrontdoorpullmeawayfrommytranceandIjumpalittle.IturnaroundandseeJonathanstandingnexttothedoorwearingagreyformalsuit.Ifreeze."Thereishalfanhourtosix!"Isaywaitingforanexplanation."Iknow.ButIbroughtyousomethingIwantyoutowear."Hesaysandmybreathhitches.HegivesmeasmallboxandItakeit."Openit!"HesaysandIamabouttodosowhenHighstartsoveragain.IlookupwithmyeyeswideandrushtostopitbutJonathan'shandstopsme."Noneed.Ilikethesong.Go,getdressed."Inodandclimbthestairsandheadtomybedroom.Iclosethedoorandgetundressedlisteningtothemusiccomingdownthestairs.Iputonblackjeansandablouse,abrowncoat,andboots.Ilookinthemirror.
My longdarkbrownhairfallingonmyshouldersfitsperfectlywithmyhazeleyesandmyalmostpalecomplexion.Iamherefortwoweeksandmyso-calledtanisalreadygone.Ilookatmyoutfitandthankmyselffortheworkouts,beingactiveandeatingtherightfood.InoticethesmallboxJonathangaveme.Itakeitandopenitcarefully.Anecklacewithaheart-shapeddiamond.Iputitback.
I godownthestairsandTheChainplayson."Youhaveanintriguingtasteinmusic."Jonathanpointsoutandlooksupfrommylaptop.Helooksmeupanddown."Wherearewegoing?"Iaskinterruptinghischeckingout."Whyareyounotwearingit?"Ilookatthebeautifulblackboxinmyhandsandhandittohim."Icannotwearit.Thisisarealdiamond."Hetakestheboxfrommyhands,opensitandtakesthenecklaceinhishands.Hecomesbehindmeandmovesmyhairaside."Ibroughtitforyoutowearit."Hesaysnearmyearsendingshiversdownmyspine.Heplacesitonmyneckandthenturnsmearoundtofacehim.Ibitemylip.Hecomescloser.
I stepbackandtakeadeepbreath."Weshouldprobablygo...whereverthatis..."Isayandstopthemusic.IlookatJonathanandbeforesomeoneofussayssomethingourphonesbeep.Igrabmineandseethenews.Anawfulsnowstorm?!Areyoukiddingme?!"Ihopeyouareprepared,"JonathansaysandreadingthenextsentencesIrealizedwhathemeant.Themeteorologistssaythatitisbestifeveryonestaysindoorsforthenext32hours,countingfromnow.
"Preparation isnotaproblem.IhaveeverythingIneed.Youaretheoneyouhaveaproblem."Isayandsitdownonthecouch."Andwhatexactlyismyproblem?"Heasksandsitsacrossfromme."Youcan'tleave.Andyourbodyguardisoutside."IsaybutoppositeofthereactionIexpecthesmiles."Karolina,couldyoupleaselookthroughthewindow?"Ilookathimandslowlystandup.Igotothewindowandseethebodyguardismissing."IsendhimamessagetoleavethesecondIgotthenews.Andaboutleaving...thatisnotmyproblem."Hesmirks."Mineneither,"Isayandsmile."Iamgoingtochangeintosomethingcomfortable."
I pickanover-sizedpulloverwithatriangleneckline,jeggings,andknittedsocks.IgodownstairsandseeJonathanislyingonthesofacomfortablywithhisjacketandshoestakenoff."Iseeyoumadeyourselfcomfortable."Ipauseforamoment."Areyouupfordinner?"Iask."OnlyifIhelp."Heanswersandstandsup.Inodandweenterthekitchen.
"Where istheflour?"Jonathanasksme."Themiddlecupboard,"Ianswerquickly.HeopensitbutInoticehedoesn'tmakeanyothermove."Whatisit?"Iaskchoppingagreenpaper.Helooksatme."Youdon'thaveflour."IleavetheknifeandstandbyJonathan'sside."Hereitis,"Isaystandingonmytiptoesreachingforthecoconutflour.Igiveittohimwithasmile."Seethewordflour?"Iplacemyfingerbelowtheword."ThatwasnotwhatIwassearchingfor."HeanswersandIreturntochopping."Youwon'tfindthatkindofflourinmyhouse.Oranyfoodcontaininggluten...ormilk."Helooksatme."Ihaveceliacdisease,"Iexplain."Oh!Ididn'tknow.Sorry."Ismile."Noneedtoapologize,Mr.Edmeades."
"When didyoufindoutaboutthefactyouhaveceliacdisease?"Heasksandputsthecoconutflourasideturningtowardsme."Iwasabout18yearsoldwhenIwasdiagnosed.Butmysymptoms...theyhadalwaysbeenthere.TheseriousonesstartedappearingwhenIwasinmyteenageyears.Bloating,constantabdominalpain,changesinweight,troublewithsleepingandfallingasleep.Fatigue,anemia,headaches,bonepains,depression,anxiety,tremblinghandsandonandon.ThenIdevelopedlactoseintoleranceattheageofseventeen.AndIwasconstantlyneedinghelp..."Istopforasecondrememberingsomepainfulmemories."Whyconstanthelp?Youjustneedafewtests."
"That's right.Butwhenyourmotherisworkingalldaylongforbills,food,school...andatthesametimeistellingyou'It'sjustanewvirus.'everysingletimeyoutrytoexplain...well,yougetthepoint."Iputthefishwithavocadoandvegetablesintheoven.IturntowardsJonathanandsmile."Tellmemoreaboutyourself.Youmentioneddepression."HesaysandIcrossmyarms."Ithinkit'senoughtragediesfortonight,"IsayandseeBalbina,myRussianbluecat.Igrabherinmyhandsandhugher."ThisisBalbina.AndCharlieisupstairs.Heisagoldenretriever."
"A catandadog."Hesays,Balbina'seyesonhim."Yep.Ilovebothcatsanddogsandhavingthemprovethatoppositescanmakepeace.Andevenloveeachother."IkissBalbina'sforeheadandputherdown."Dothenamesmeansomething?"Jonathanasks."BalbinameansstrongandpowerfulinLatinorigin.Charliemeansfreeman."Ianswer."WhyRussianblueandaretriever?"Heasksme."Areyoureallythatcurious?"
"You canunderstandalotforapersonjustbythedecisionstheymake.Andsomethingtellsmeyoudon'tjustchoosesomethingbyawhim."HesaysandIsmile."Russianbluesaresweet-tempered,loyal,socialcreatureswhoalsoenjoyalonetimeandarehighlyintelligent.Also,theydon'tshedmuchandproducelowerlevelsoftheglycoproteinFeld1,aknownallergen,thanothercatbreeds.GoldenRetrieversarekind,friendly,intelligent,confidentandactive."
"So Iwasright.Andhowdidyouchoosethenames?"IputmyhandsonmyhipsandIraisemyeyebrow."Isn'titobvious?"Ianswerhimwithaquestionandhesmilesstillwaitingfortheanswer.Isigh."TogothroughthehardmomentsinmylifeIhadtobestrong.Andfreedomismypriority.IfIhavefreedom,Ihaveeverything."
Chapter3
ItisjustafterdinnerandIamcleaningaroundwhenIseeJonathancomingtomewithoutat-shirt.AndIwouldlieifIsaymyhormonesdidn'treact."Letmeguess.Yourealizedyoudon'tbringclotheswithyou."Isayputtingtheplatesinthewashingmachine."Isleepnaked."HeanswersandIgethiscalmnessnow."Okay,"Isayquietlyandturnaroundfeelinghissmirk."Whatisitthen?"Iask."WhereshouldIsleep?"Heanswersmyquestionwithaquestion.Iturntowardshim."Well,twobedroomsarepreparedformyfamily'sarrivalandtheoneacrossmineisfree,sofeelfreetouseit."
"Okay. Isthereanythingyouneedhelpwith?"HeasksandIshakemyheadinresponse."Youcan