Forbidden: A Reluctant Series Novel # 2

Chapter 1

She’s a tenant, Shelton reminded himself for the tenth time in the last five minutes. Then he reminded himself that he did not get involved with his tenants, especially tenants living under the same roof. Still, there was nothing to stop him from watching the girl moving into his upstairs apartment. She was wearing what looked like oversized men’s sweats with her hair perched in a messy ponytail atop her head. Though Shelton was particularly enjoying the small fitting t-shirt she was wearing, it was obvious that she hadn’t been dressing to impress today. Yet, Shelton found her extremely alluring.

Nick Connor, the brother of his cousin Fallon’s best friend, had called him to ask if he’d had a vacant apartment available to rent for a client of his. Nick’s car dealerships were contracted to supply this Sterling Savagar with his company’s cars. Apparently he was some big important person in the world of business. Nick had explained that during a conversation over a golf game, the man had told him about his dilemma with his daughter wanting to move out. Shelton had immediately come to mind since Shelton owned several properties and a property management business. Shelton was also in the right location.

Though their business relationship began in Los Angeles, Sterling Savagar had relocated to Northern California a couple of years before his daughter had started college. Shelton lived in Northern California, and most of his properties were there. Mr. Savagar had either insisted or cajoled his daughter into attending college locally. But, now that she was getting her masters, she was insisting on moving out. The traffic stopping girl he was lustfully watching now was the daughter of Nick’s client.

When Nick had explained that the daughter had just graduated from college and would be starting a master’s program in the fall, Shelton had thought the father might be going a bit too far insisting on finding and arranging her living accommodations after she’d insisted on moving out. The girl had just graduated from college for goodness sakes. Cut the cord already. The whole thing sounded like something the very rich did. He thought back to his conversation with Nick.

Why do I feel like I’m missing something? Shelton had asked. Is she a pain in the ass or something? Spoiled, bratty type with a princess complex that has Daddy under her thumb? What?

Not at all, Nick had chuckled. She’s actually a real sweetheart. Her father is just…a bit over protective.

Shelton wasn’t sure he believed Nick. Still, she had to have some backbone wanting her freedom.

Seriously, they are really nice people. The whole family, Nick had further assured him. I promise she’ll be no trouble at all.

Shelton had his doubts. And, the army of guys helping her move in didn’t diminish those doubts any. A woman like her was bound to have men buzzing around her like bees around honey.

I’ve told her father, Mr. Savagar all about you, Nick had informed him.

Yea? What did you say? Shelton had asked, slightly amused.

A assured him his daughter would be safe with you, and that you’re a wonderful landlord and very responsible, Nick said. He seemed to feel more comfortable with the idea that there was a man around that came highly recommended.

Shelton snorted. I’d be her landlord, not her body guard.

He’s not expecting you to be a bodyguard, Nick had said patiently. The man just doesn’t want his only daughter living alone.

Well, I have the upstairs apartment available in the place I’m living in, Shelton had informed Nick.

Even better, Nick had replied enthusiastically.

The house he lived in, in fact, was a duplex. He’d used the entire house as his own for a while once the upstairs tenants had moved out. There was one main front door, which gave the appearance of a single family dwelling. However, once you stepped into the entryway, there were double doors leading into the living area downstairs and stairs to the living area on the second floor. Another door was at the top of the stairs. Shelton had just left it open. Without the inner doors being closed or locked, it was just a two story house.

Nevertheless, after living in it for a few months alone, he found that it was a lot of space for just himself. There were two bedrooms and a master suite upstairs, as well as two bedrooms and a master suite downstairs. Each had a family room, a kitchen, two bathrooms, and a laundry room. Aside from the bigger family room upstairs, he preferred being downstairs. So, he’d decided to rent the top space out again.

I’d just decided to rent the space out, and it’s not that far of a commute to the university, he’d told Nick.

Better and better. Like I said, her father is very overprotective. Maybe he’ll back off of her a little, knowing you’ll actually be on the premises and not just her landlord.

Shelton had forwarded the rental agreement and necessary paperwork to Nick. The next day, Mr. Savagar had delivered them personally when he came to tour the property and meet Shelton. Shelton didn’t even bother to do a background check on the man since Nick already had so much information on him. He just filed the paperwork without a glance. He trusted Nick.

After the tour, Mr. Savagar seemed pleased. Shelton got the feeling Mr. Savagar had also gone through other channels to have him thoroughly checked out. He expressed confidently that he felt that this was the right place for his daughter. He’d even insisted on paying more than what Shelton was asking for. Then he’d provided Shelton with all of his phone numbers, email addresses, and cell numbers in case of emergency. He told Shelton to call him anytime, day or night, if he needed to.

After that, Shelton figured the poor girl was probably half crazed trying to get out of her father’s house. She was obviously a grown woman who’d graduated from college, yet he was treating her like a child. Though, now that he was actually looking at the woman, he understood a little better why the man kept her under lock and key. He could only imagine the hordes of men the poor man must have had to keep away from his daughter. There was no doubt, she was something to see. And, if she had been a wild child, the man must have had his hands full when her hormones had started raging.

He wondered at the team of young men unloading her belongings. She seemed to know them, and they her. Maybe that’s why her father was absent and not watching over her now. They clearly weren’t professional movers. Relatives maybe? Some of them were, he was sure. There was an obvious resemblance.

Shelton watched the small army of young men traipsing in and out of the upstairs apartment. They’d had most of the items on the moving truck moved inside in no time. The stunning girl with the laughing eyes who was to be his tenant had been directing the others and carrying small things in too. He probably should have gone down to introduce himself, but he’d been too busy enjoying himself watching her walk back and forth. He’d also found himself wondering if one of those eager to please guys was her boyfriend. He rather thought he didn’t like that idea. Not something he should be thinking about a tenant. Why should he care? She was bound to have a boyfriend. Shelton shrugged. It was only a thought. Then he pondered how her father might feel about the direction of his thoughts aimed at his attractive daughter and frowned.

He watched the movers a while longer, then went back to his computer work. He spent the day catching up on his property management duties for the properties he owned. He took breaks now and then to see what was happening when he heard someone coming or going from upstairs. But, mostly he just heard them laughing, talking, and moving things around upstairs. Finally, around 11:00 p.m., he heard footsteps coming downstairs to the main front door and out. He heard car engines and the moving truck engine start. Then, they were gone and all was quiet.

Chapter 2

For once Savina could finally see the benefit of being surrounded by so many males. She was the only girl, and second to the youngest of five. Although her brothers had confusing parentage, they were all her brothers. Even Sergio, she told herself. Sergio was the oldest, and actually the son of her father’s first wife. She’d married a man with a son who’d subsequently died, leaving her alone with a young Sergio. Though she wasn’t Sergio’s biological mother, she was his mother in every other way. Anyone who saw her fussing over him wouldn’t know he wasn’t her first born. Then, she’d met and married Savina’s father. Next came Tyler and Luca, who were her father’s first two children. Her father had also immediately accepted Sergio as if he were his own flesh and blood. So, though he was technically no blood relation to them, he was the eldest brother as far as the family was concerned. After Tyler and Luca, came Savina and Jamie, the only two children her father had with his second wife.

Since most people didn’t know the complicated story of their origins, and those that did found it too confusing to follow, they were just known as Sterling and Elan’s brood of five, Savina being the only girl.

All of her brothers were here now helping her move, as well as some of her cousins. She’d made moving out a condition of starting her master’s program. Her overprotective father had tried to insist that she stay at the family compound. Savina had refused, stipulating that she would not only be moving out, but would find her own financing for school if her father tried to insist that she stay. They finally settled on him finding her a place to stay and still paying her tuition and rent. She didn’t like arguing with her father, but it was high time she got out from under his thumb. She knew it was a victory just getting him to accept her moving out. She would let him get used to that before she insisted on her financial freedom from him as well. He paid her well for working for him. It wasn’t like she couldn’t afford to pay for herself. The man was loathe to accept that she’d grown up. One thing at a time. For now, this was a big victory. A small step, but a big victory.

Now that everyone had left, she took in the calm. This was the first time she’d not had her brothers and several of their friends or her cousins all in the house making messes or noise, and generally watching over her. Well, Sergio was still there, but he was her least intrusive brother. When she’d insisted that everyone leave so she could have at least one night completely alone, her brothers had balked. They insisted she not be alone on her very first night in her new place. They’d finally relented with the condition that only one of them could stay, or else she’d call the police on the lot of them for trespassing. She was amazed at the lengths she had to go to in order get her brothers off of her back. She loved them dearly. She really did. But, at times they were just so overbearing and pig headed. And, she blamed it all on her father for basically making them that way.

Sergio was the only exception. It wasn’t that he wasn’t protective, because he was. He just wasn’t overbearing. He never had been. Maybe because he was the oldest, and they hadn’t grown up living together. He had never really treated her like just a little sister. Savina had never known why. Maybe because he truly wasn’t her brother. When her father and Sergio’s mother had gotten divorced, Tyler and Luca were very young. Somehow, in the divorce, Sergio’s adopted mother had succeeded in keeping Sergio from being a part of the visitation agreement. Apparently, her father hadn’t legally adopted Sergio. Something he hadn’t thought he needed to do at the time, but regretted in hindsight when Sergio was kept away from him and his younger brothers. Sergio had instantly been robbed of a father and his brothers. The poor guy had been living as an only child when Savina’s father had met and married her mother, Elan. Then, when the dust had finally settled, Sergio had been thrust back into a family with two more siblings and a step-mother.

He’d been somewhat aloof at first but, over the years, he’d become a brother to the rest of them as well. Only, he was different to her than the rest of them. Savina couldn’t explain how Sergio was different, only that he was. He was good to her, as were all of them. And, she’d always felt close to him. But, there was always something not quite brotherly about him. Maybe it was her. She’d always had a secret crush on him actually. She’d never admit that to anyone, of course. But, to herself, she could admit it. Maybe it was that she had never felt only sisterly towards him from the day she’d met him.

She’d been about 6 years old and he’d been about 12. During the time between the breakup of her father and Sergio’s mother, and her own birth several years had gone by before his mother allowed Savina’s father to reconnect with Sergio. She’d finally relented when she’d realized that she was hurting her son by keeping him away from the only father he’d ever had. He’d already lost his biological mother and father, and now had lost a great father and new siblings.

When Savina was about 6, her father had said that he wanted to introduce her to another of her brothers. They’d gone out to some fancy restaurant Savina couldn’t currently recall. She only remembered feeling very shy and warm around Sergio. She’d kept sneaking covert glances at him. He’d smiled and winked at her a few times, which had made her blush. At the end of the dinner, she remembered thinking her new brother seemed nice enough, and she wouldn’t mind him hanging around. She’d been thankful that Tyler and Luca hadn’t been around. They’d been with Elan, who was also separated from her father by then. They would have probably teased her mercilessly since she wasn’t normally shy.

Her father and mother’s relationship was complicated. Her father was too married to his work according to both Sergio’s mother and Savina’s. However, her mother was the one who hadn’t actually divorced him. Truth be told, he was the love of her life, and she his. Savina knew they loved each other, and neither could seem to file the papers to make their separation final. It was a strange arrangement, but they’d all grown up with it. So, it was normal to them. There was no arguing or fighting when they were together. And, they were both very supportive and loving of all of the children. Sometimes too loving, Savina thought as she remembered how she’d had to argue and negotiate with her father. She suspected it was her mother that had actually intervened behind the scenes to tip the scales. She didn’t like to argue or go against his wishes. But, she couldn’t stay Daddy’s little girl forever. He had to start letting go.

I’m worn out. I’m going to take a hot bath and then go to bed, Savina said to Sergio and stood. She and Sergio had been sitting on the sofa watching the big screen television dominating the far wall that the owner had left. According to her father, the owner had given her permission to use it.

What? Being a drill sergeant all day wore you out? Sergio teased.

Something like that. She smiled at him and headed for the master bedroom.

Chapter 3

The next morning, Shelton was in the kitchen drinking coffee when he heard the door to the upstairs apartment open, followed by soft murmuring and footsteps coming down the stairs to the main entryway. As he heard the front door open and shut, he peered through the opening in the curtain to see his new tenant and one of the guys from yesterday. She walked him to a car parked at the curb. When they reached the car, the guy turned and said something to her. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, though he found himself straining to do so. Then the guy reached for her, pulling her into his arms for a hug. Maybe he wasn’t her boyfriend, Shelton mused and wondered why he was spying on her through his window. He didn’t even know the girl. He watched the guy say something else and kiss her on her forehead. She laughed and then his head dipped again, covering her mouth with his for a long, deep kiss. Okay, maybe this guy was her boyfriend after all. No surprise there. The guy had been the only one to stay with her last night out of the group of guys that had been moving her in yesterday. The boyfriend finally broke the kiss and buried his head in her thick curly hair. After a long moment he released her slowly, rounded the car, got in, and drove away. She stood there for a long moment watching the car drive away before turning back to the house and walking back inside. Though she faced him, Shelton couldn’t see her face. Her hair, an array of wild curls, hung over her downturned face. He wasn’t sure why, but he got the sense that this was a parting that she wasn’t happy about. Even stranger, he found himself wanting to go to her and comfort her. He hadn’t even introduced himself yet.

Shelton sipped his coffee and thought about his new tenant after watching her make her way back to the house. He’d listened to her quietly making her way back upstairs. He wondered what she was doing. It had been very quiet up there. He had to admit, he was understanding more and more why her father was so protective of her. She was smoking hot, a man’s walking fantasy. She looked so girl next door and all innocence, yet her body and that face made a man think of sweaty bodies and soft sighs. She didn’t really do anything to be sexy, which made her that much more alluring. She had a quick laugh and a carefree walk, yet the sway of her hips just did things to him. She was definitely a guy magnet.

All the guys that had been helping her yesterday all looked to be about her age. She’d just graduated with her BA, Shelton mused. So, she had to be around 22ish, but she looked like she was barely out of high school. Well, until you looked at that curvy, well blessed body. Shelton looked down into the bottom of his now empty coffee cup. He probably shouldn’t be thinking about his tenant like this, but he was a man. He wasn’t blind or dead either. Besides, he had no plans to get involved with her or anything. He didn’t do that. It was bad for business. Even if he’d wanted to, she obviously already had a boyfriend. However, that didn’t mean he couldn’t still enjoy the view. He’d make sure to tell her that the pool was available to her also. He hoped she owned a bikini. Yes, he’d definitely enjoy the view. There was nothing wrong with that.

He idly wondered if her dad knew about the boyfriend. It really didn’t matter. She was a grown woman. And, he was only her landlord, not her father’s informant. Deciding he needed to get moving, he showered and dressed. As he was dressing, he heard movement above him. Since she was moving around now, he figured he’d better go introduce himself and welcome her. He was her landlord after all.

What the hell was that? Savina had mumbled to herself. She’d stood staring after the car as it drove away, wondering what had just happened. Why had Sergio kissed her? Why had she let him? Sergio, was her oldest brother. Ok, well, technically her stepbrother. And, yes, she’d always sort of had a crush on him, but she’d never really considered acting on it.

Savina had always been close to Sergio. Being 6 years older than her, and the oldest, he’d always seemed like a man to her. He’d spoiled her when they were kids. He’d never teased her, and never let the others tease her when he was around. He’d always protected her and her toys from the destructive play of her other brothers. And, when he wasn’t around, just the threat of her telling on them would keep them from being too mean.

While other kids would say they would tell Mom or Dad, Savina only had to say she’d tell Sergio and the others would back off. It only took one time of Sergio smacking Luca, which caused a vicious fight, for them to realize that when it came to Savina, Sergio would hurt them. None of the younger brothers wanted to test him after that. So, Sergio had always been her superhero.

Yet, as they’d gotten older, Sergio had distanced himself from her. It was very subtle, but it was there. He didn’t act different really, he just seemed to limit the amount of time he spent with her and didn’t visit with her as much. They used to talk or text daily, but he’d started going a day or so without returning her call or text. He’d always apologize or say he’d been busy, but she’d sensed there was more. She’d felt hurt at first, but hadn’t outwardly shown that she’d noticed. She’d let him decide how close they would be.

In the last year, he’d gone longer periods of time not seeing her, though she knew he still saw her brothers