Doughnut Darlin' (Plus Size Romance 4) Read online

  “What the hell does that mean? Listen up, you no-good, rat-shitting, biker baboon. We had a deal. You deliver my fat-ass package to me. I give you a nice chunk of change.”

  Ronan gritted his teeth. He was developing a deep distaste for this disrespectful sonofabitch. Taming his temper, he lied with ease. “I can’t deliver what I don’t have. Erman is a bust. Raven isn’t here.”

  There was a long stretch of silence. For a minute, Ronan thought Alan Shore had hung up. When he spoke again, his voice was a little softer and a lot less confrontational.

  “I see. Do you have any other leads?”

  “My computer guy traced an email she sent this mornin.’ The IP address indicates a location in Tennessee. Looks like Raven’s headed north.”

  The edginess returned to his voice. “Then I strongly suggest you head north, asswipe,” he snapped, disconnecting the call.

  Ronan breathed a sigh of relief. He had bought himself a little more time to get to know Raven. To hear her side of things before deciding whether or not to take her back to that low-life douchebag. For a man with high morals and ethical standards, the decision would be a no-brainer. But Ronan Dark wasn’t that kind of man. Nope. He had always looked out for Number One, making life choices based on how it best benefited him.

  The fact that he hadn’t snatched Raven up, carried her back to Shore and collected the twenty-thousand dollars owed him was a testament to the effect she had already had on him. He knew it was ridiculous to feel anything for her. They hadn’t been on a date. He hadn’t kissed her. Hell, they hadn’t even had a full conversation. Yet, the curvaceous beauty had stirred something inside him. An odd longing to do the right thing. To put someone else’s welfare above his own. Raven’s influence over his thoughts and emotions was strange and disturbing. It was also alluring and irresistible. So much so that he had been sitting on his Harley in front of her apartment building for the last three hours. He would sit there three days straight for just another glimpse of her gorgeous face.

  It was almost dusk, and he was dying to be near her again. To gaze into her warm, brown eyes. To touch her creamy, flawless flesh. To take her for that nighttime bike ride. The one he told her she would beg for. Sitting astride his motorcycle with an erection so monumental it threatened to rip the crotch out of his Levis, he wanted to beg her. But he wouldn’t. He would play it cool like he always did, showing no vulnerability. Never revealing his true need and desire. Raven would be the one to ask him, not the other way around.

  RAVEN JERKED AWAKE, FEELING slightly disoriented. She had only meant to close her eyes for a few minutes. To take a short catnap at most. Looking at her watch, she groaned. She had been asleep for three hours. Twilight was closing in. It would be dark soon. Damn it! Now she would be wide awake all night. She really should remember to set a timer for these impromptu naps. The last time this happened, she felt like crap for three days. It took that long to reset her circadian rhythms and get back on a regular sleep schedule.

  If there was one thing she knew for sure in this world, it was that proper sleep habits were essential. They could make or break a day, dictate one’s moods and determine whether or not a body was productive. Stretching, she stood and walked to the window. Beautiful thoughts of Ronan blossomed in her mind like buttercups bursting from a meadow.

  Her dreams of him had been deliciously naughty. She could literally feel his big, strong hands intimately caressing her body. His full, masculine lips seductively brushing the side of her neck before finding her mouth. His tongue delving inside to tango with hers. His knee forcing her legs apart while he ground his hardness against her softness.

  Grabbing the TV Guide off the coffee table, she fanned herself. It was only a dream. One that would never come true. Hot men with rocking hard bodies, riding Harley-Davidson Motorcycles didn’t make love to women of her size. Raven had seen those biker chicks on magazine covers at the convenience store. Those women were tall and lean, draping themselves over the bikes and the men riding them. Their long, blond hair flowing down the length of their backs to the top of their perfectly-shaped, tiny asses.

  Raven didn’t fit that description at all. She was of average height with the four B’s—brown hair, brown eyes, big butt. She knew she shouldn’t engage in self-deprecation. It was negative and destructive. Maybe she wasn’t model thin, but she had lots of great attributes. She was kind, honest, funny and smart. Even if she was a little on the chubby side, she was still very pretty by any standard.

  As she pulled back the curtains and opened the blinds, she couldn’t help but wonder what standards Ronan would hold her to. Mostly, she just wondered what it would be like for him to hold her.

  Looking up at the skyline, she felt breathless. A million stars sparkled against a solid backdrop of darkness. She marveled at how quickly the dusk had turned to night—a night perfect for a bike ride. Before the thought could solidify itself, she heard the revving of a motorcycle. Squinting her eyes, she followed the sound. Ronan. His sexy silhouette astride such a powerful machine made her heart flutter. He hossed the engine again, beckoning her to him.

  Turning away from the window, away from him, Raven nervously smoothed her shoulder-length hair. It was thick and wavy and felt silky against her sweaty palms. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her bed-head—or in this case, sofa-bed head.

  The impatient roar of the engine made her feel flustered. She scurried about the apartment looking for her tennis shoes. She was wearing tan capris pants and a pink T-shirt with Minnie Mouse on the front. Real sexy, she thought to herself. But there was no time to change her clothes or her mind.

  She had the distinct feeling Ronan wasn’t the type to wait around too long for any woman. Jamming her feet into a white pair of Keds, she grabbed her keys, put them in her pocket and sprinted out the door. When she got to the parking lot, he was gone.

  RONAN SMILED MISCHIEVOUSLY FROM beneath a huge thicket of holly bushes at the entrance to the apartment complex. He concealed the bike behind the overgrown foliage as well. He wasn’t trying to trick Raven or be mean-spirited. He just wanted a chance to talk to her before they took a ride.

  His heart lurched when he saw the crushed look on her face. From the glow of a street lamp, he could see tears glistening at the corners of her big, beautiful brown eyes. They were the same chestnut color as her lovely hair. Shit! This wasn’t going well at all.

  He had to stifle a moan of misery when Raven dropped her sweet head in obvious disappointment, turned around and headed back toward her apartment. He sprinted into action. There was no way in hell he was going to let her get away that easily.

  He was fast, stealthy and quiet. He was close enough to smell her intoxicating scent, but she had no idea he was behind her. Just as she reached for the door, he placed one hand over her mouth and one arm around her waist. He hauled her up against him and whispered in her ear. “You tryin’ to get away from me, Dougnut Darlin’?”

  He chuckled when she sagged against him in what he knew was relief. Removing his hand from her mouth, he gently turned her around to face him. He expected her to smile or maybe throw her arms around him. Instead, she slapped him across the face.

  “You sick bastard! How dare you scare the shit out of me like that?”

  Ronan winced; Raven’s comment had hit too close to home. His mother had been a crack whore. She never met a man she wouldn’t spread her legs for. Ronan didn’t know who his father was any more than his mother did. She overdosed when Ronan was sixteen. She died the day after he got his driver’s license. The state buried her in an unmarked grave. He hit the road and never looked back. Being parentless and on his own at such a tender age did something to him. It made him hard and selfish and sometimes stupid—like now.

  He raised both palms. “Hey, calm down. I was just havin’ a little fun.”

  “At whose expense? God! I wish I’d never come out here,” she said, stomping off.

  Ronan blew out an exasperated breath. “Wait, Raven.�
� His words came out as a command instead of a request. He wasn’t any good at apologizing, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to beg her to come back.

  She whirled on him. “How’d you know my name? Better yet, how did you know my address?” she asked warily.

  Suddenly, his nerves were strung tighter than a banjo string. He grappled for a quick explanation, a believable lie.

  “Okay, I have a tiny confession. When I was at the doughnut shop, I saw the reflection of your computer screen in the window. Your name was on the document you were workin’ on. Later, I stopped back by there after you had left. I asked the old man about you. He’s a pretty nice fella. I don’t think he would have been as forthcomin’ with your address if Sally had been there. I kinda got the feelin’ she don’t like me too much,” he said, flashing her his most charming smile.

  Raven frowned, and he couldn’t tell whether or not she was buying his story.

  “I find it hard to believe Irvin would divulge my personal information that easily. Did you threaten him? If you did, I swear to God I’ll call the police right now and have you locked up!”

  “Look, I like you. Okay? I might have told Irvin a tiny fib, but it was harmless. I swear.”

  “Harmless or not, that makes you a liar. I don’t like liars, Mr. Dark.”

  He grabbed her arm and spun her back around when she turned to walk away.

  “I’m not a liar.”

  She scoffed. “I’m betting that’s another lie.”

  “I told Irvin I was a former classmate of yours. I said our high school was havin’ a fundraiser for one of your favorite charities, and I was sure you’d want to help out. I told him I was leavin’ town tonight and needed to see you right away. He gave me your address, sayin’ he didn’t want you to miss out on the chance to be involved in such a noble cause.”

  He was surprised when she gave him an earth-shattering smile. Even more surprised when she took a step closer, invading his personal space. The tips of her cute, tiny white Keds pressed against the big square toe of his black leather boots was the most adorable thing he had ever seen.

  He was a solid six-foot-two-inches tall, and her sweet, gorgeous face was nearly flush with his chest. Gently, he took her chin between his forefinger and thumb, lifting it so he could gaze into her lovely brown eyes. They should have been cold with anger, but they weren’t. They were warm and forgiving. He didn’t deserve the quiet compassion she was showing him. He had been a jerk. After teasing and coaxing her out here, he shouldn’t have hidden. Shouldn’t have made her think he had taken off without her.

  Her voice was soft and sweet. “Well, I guess as far as fibs go, that’s not the worst one you could have told.”

  “Does that mean I’m forgiven?” he asked hopefully.

  When she didn’t answer immediately, he cleared his throat in an effort to dislodge the gravel of emotion. Fuck! What was wrong with him? No woman had ever been able to choke him up before. To make him feel remorse for his actions. To make him feel anything.

  “I truly am sorry, Raven.”

  His stomach did a flip-flop when she gently touched his cheek. Her expression was beautiful and bright. So damn luminous he could feel her light flickering in the darkest part of his soul.

  “I accept your apology. Now how about that ride?”

  His breath rushed out in a wave of relief. He felt lighter than air. “I thought you’d never ask,” he said, winking at her. “I have to admit, I was kind of hopin’ you’d beg.”

  Playfully, she punched the back of his arm. “Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.”

  He moaned and rubbed his tricep like it was killing him. The truth was, her fist had felt like a feather tickling his rock-hard muscle. He liked it. Before the night was over, maybe he could make her hit him again.

  HOOKING HER LEG OVER the Harley, Raven settled herself onto the plush leather seat behind Ronan. He didn’t put on a helmet, and he didn’t offer her one. For all she knew he didn’t even own one. Raven wasn’t crazy about the idea of her skull being smashed like a pumpkin against asphalt if he wrecked them. But tonight wasn’t about being responsible. It was about taking chances, living fast and dangerous. About getting a real rush instead of a sugar one.

  When the motorcycle roared to life, a jolt of adrenaline coursed through her veins. The intense vibration of the powerful machine between her legs made her feel energized and weak all at once.

  Ronan revved the engine a couple of times and said, “Hang on tight.”

  Raven wrapped her arms around his waist like a vice, and they tore out of the parking lot like a couple of bats out of hell. When they hit the highway, she felt like she was flying. She had no idea how fast the bike was going, but she imagined it was approaching a hundred miles an hour. To say traveling at that speed with her hair whipping in the night air was exhilarating would be the biggest understatement of the year.

  Never in her life had Raven felt so free, so buoyant, so alive. It wasn’t just the good vibrations between her legs that had her whole body humming. It was a hard, masculine back pressed against her breasts, a hot ass clad in Levis nestled close to her womanhood that had her electrified.

  Ronan had been right: a bike ride at night with him was the ultimate rush. It made the sugary jolt of an éclair seem like child’s play.

  She had no idea where he was taking her, and she didn’t care as long as they were together. Part of her wished they could just keep going, riding fast and far. Never looking back. But that was irrational thinking, spurred by fantasy. The reality of her situation left no room for romance. She was certain her stepfather was trying to find her. If she got involved with Ronan, she would be putting him in danger as well.

  Raven had been super-careful to cover her tracks. She had brought her laptop with her when she left home and only used it for writing. Well, she did do some occasional research, using the Wi-fi at The Little Doughnut Shop. She had paid cash for her bus ticket to Erman, and she used cash to pay her rent on the apartment. With no paper trail, she was hopeful Alan wouldn’t be able to locate her anytime soon. She really wanted a chance to spend some time with Ronan even if it was short-lived.

  The bike slowed down, and they took a hard right off the main highway onto a dirt road. Dust particles danced in the glow of the headlight. About a hundred yards in, they stopped. Ronan cut the engine. The rough driveway ended abruptly, melting into a wide-open meadow. A few hundred yards past that stood a cute log cabin. There was a porch light casting a soft yellow haze around the perimeter.

  Ronan got off the bike and extended his hand to her.

  Raven shook her head. “I don’t think we should trespass. People get shot for that sort of thing, you know.”

  He smiled, pointing to a small FOR SALE sign. “The place is empty.”

  She accepted his hand and dismounted the Harley. Her legs were wobbly and felt like rubber. She swayed, nearly losing her balance.

  He put his hands on her waist to steady her. They were like secure iron braces cinched around her middle. Strong and possessive yet warm and gentle. “Easy, darlin.’ Gettin’ your bike legs is a lot like gettin’ your sea legs. It takes a few minutes.”

  Raven had a feeling she would never get her legs back as long as she was standing this close to an honest-to-God heartthrob. She never imagined herself going for the bad-boy biker type. But lord-a-mighty, he was sex on a stick. If she didn’t put a little space between them, she just might unashamedly throw herself at him. Act like some wanton, horny harlot. The truth was, she had only been on a few dates. Taking care of her mother hadn’t left any time or energy for a social life.

  Ronan would probably laugh his fine ass off if he knew he was cavorting with a virgin. He probably liked experienced women. Ones who had been around the proverbial block a few times—on a Harley.

  RONAN COULDN’T HELP STARING at the sexy, voluptuous, full-figured woman in front of him. She was even more beautiful in the moonlight. Standing in lush grass beneath a heaven full of stars with
this goddess was magical. Never had he wanted to share any part of himself—his hopes, dreams and plans—with anyone until now. But in order to that, he’d have to tell Raven the truth. The first thing he’d have to share with her was the real reason he was here in Erman. It was a conversation best conducted indoors.

  He had met with the realtor before staking out Raven’s apartment. He filled out the paperwork and put down a deposit. She gave him the keys to the cabin. He had planned on using the twenty thousand from Shore to pay the remaining balance. But every second he spent with Raven pushed him light years away from turning her over to that vulture and collecting the money.

  Slowly, he slid his hands from her waist and asked, “Are the legs feelin’ stronger now?”

  She nodded. “Yep. I’m good.”

  “Great,” he said, gesturing toward the cabin. “Wanna have a look inside?”

  Her big brown eyes got even bigger. “You mean like breaking in?”

  He chuckled. “No, darlin.’ I mean like usin’ this key and goin’ in like civilized folk.”

  “How’d you get a key? Let me guess. You told the realtor you needed this place for a high-school fundraising event.”

  He rolled his eyes. “You’re such a smartass.”

  “Don’t you mean sweet ass?”

  She was throwing his words back in his face, and he liked it. Hell, he liked everything about her. She was smart and sexy, sweet and sassy.

  “Yes. Now get that sweet ass in gear. I want to show you my future home.” The place where we’ll spend a lot of time together. Maybe. Hopefully.

  “Ronan, you’re buying this place?”

  “That’s the plan.”

  He placed a steadying hand on the small of her back as they walked up the steps to the porch. He stuck the key in the lock and pushed the door open, his hand gently nudging her to step over the threshold. Standing close behind her with his groin pressed flush against her glorious behind, he reached around the corner and flipped on the light switch.

  She gasped. “Oh, Ronan! This place is precious. I love it!”