Hope Falls: Hidden Love (Kindle Worlds Novella) 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 Melanie Shawn. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Hope Falls remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Melanie Shawn, or their affiliates or licensors.

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  Hidden Love

  Nana Malone

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Epilogue

  Thank You

  Complimentary Download

  Nana Malone Reading List

  About Nana Malone

  1

  What the hell are you doing? Being stupid that’s what.

  Cara Jenson gently eased her fingernail under the false eyebrow and slowly peeled it back. She winced as some of the glue clung to her fine hairs. Her hands were shaking so badly she almost ripped the damn thing in half.

  When it was off, she did the same for the other eyebrow. Gently, she placed them in their case and went to work on the filler implants in her cheeks.

  The implants had been made into a retainer that molded to her teeth. Once out, her jawline returned to its normal feminine outline. The wig went next. The short brown, hair while serviceable, and complexion matching did nothing for her. She peeled it back from her forehead, taking the wig cap with it.

  The moment the tight nylon was off her head, she felt like she could finally breathe. With a quick swipe of makeup cleansing towelettes and a shake out of her hair, she breathed a sigh of relief as her natural russet waves cascaded down her back. Hell, she even shook it like Beyoncé for fun.

  There, that was better. The nervous energy made her hands unsteady, but she ignored that. She’d been hiding herself for so long, it felt unnatural to be herself. Like it was somehow wrong.

  You are taking a risk by doing this. Is it really worth it?

  Fuck yes, it was worth it. She could only hide who she was for so long. Only pretend for a limited time before the loneliness ate at her.

  Yeah, but is it really worth dying for?

  For a night as Cara? For one night where she didn't have to hide? Some things were just worth the risk.

  In thirty minutes she was out of the rest stop bathroom, sitting at The Whiskey Stop Bar, and felt more free than she had in God only knew how long. Tonight she wasn't on the run. Tonight she’d shed the identity that kept her safe, but made her a different kind of prisoner.

  Forget risk, this was downright stupid. She knew the rules she’d set for herself and the reasons she'd set them. But still, she’d had to get out.

  The hiding, the playing a part. Sometimes it just got to be too much and she needed an escape. But you’re due for Sam's birthday. It’s just a week away.

  Yes, she could have waited for her best friend’s birthday. But she’d chosen to go out. Besides, it was one night. What could go wrong?

  She shoved away the rational voice in her mind. Sam was the only one in Hope Falls that knew her secret. As it was, even that was a risk. But as Sam had seen through her early disguise when she first arrived, there had really been no choice but to tell her.

  Except to run again.

  And after three identities and three years on the run, Cara had needed somewhere to land. Somewhere safe. Somewhere she could have family. As luck would have it, though, Sam was a make up artist. She flew all over the country to do starlets and politician’s wives. She'd once been the makeup artist behind a couple of Broadway shows. But after her mother had fallen ill, she’d been called home to Hope Falls.

  Cara had no idea what she would've done without her friend. Her family, really. To replace the one she couldn't see. No doubt, she would've been discovered. Hope Falls was the first time she’d tried that particular disguise.

  The wig had been awful. It hadn’t fit well and always showed the bumps and bulges of her own thick hair underneath. The cut had also been terrible with the most unnatural part she’d ever seen. She’d also gone with just a sports bra then, and frankly she was too curvy to make it work convincingly. Binding worked better.

  She was also total shit with make up. She didn’t have the fillers then so her face looked softer, more feminine. And she had no idea how to contour or whatever the hell Sam called it to make her face look harsher, more masculine.

  That said though, it had worked better than any of the others. Just dying her hair, changing her name, and wearing dark glasses all the time didn't provide enough protection.

  She shook herself out of her reverie. Nope. She was wasn’t going to think about that. Tonight was perfectly safe. She driven all the way to Tahoe just to get a drink. Just to see some other people. All to stop hiding for a night. If she was being honest with herself, it helped her spirits to look more like herself. To have her hair out, to wear makeup. Hell, even a dress. And an honest to God, real bra. Binding was a bitch.

  It was the little things in life. She'd never complain about a bra again.

  All around her people drank and danced. Cara set herself up at the bar, and ordered a Gin and Tonic. She didn't usually drink much and she planned to nurse the drink all night. It would also keep away anyone who wanted to buy her drink as she already had one.

  Tonight, all she needed was the energy of the crowd. A change of scenery, and a chance to feel like herself.

  She liked the bar seat because with the mirror behind the bar, she could see the guys approaching her. The ones that figured they’d give it a go and try their luck. It didn't take long before one guy with a blazer and slicked back hair glanced back at his friends with a cocky grin before sidling up. Batter up.

  If she’d been the kind of girl who could do the dating thing, or the Tinder or Matchbook or whatever the hell new dating app was hot these days thing, then she might have thought the guy was okay. He didn't have the intensity she usually liked but, he was almost six feet tall, dark hair, wide smile and eyes that crinkled at the edges.

  But she wasn’t that girl. So when he started with his "Hey, I’ve never see you here before." All she could do was breathe a heavy sigh. She was in no kind of mood for this.

  Cara turned to him. "I have to ask, just how often do you use that pickup line?"

  He blinked at her in surprise, his gaze locked on hers. He stuttered over his next words. "I – I – What do you mean?”

  She raised a brow and fought a smirk as he blushed before giving her sheepish smile. "Okay, yes, it was a pickup line. But it's true, I've never seen you here before."

  She spread her arms. "This is Lake Tahoe. We have visitors from all over the country who come here. That line applies to just about any cute girl. You didn't even bring any originality."

  He scratched his nose and shrugged. "You're saying I struck out?"

  She sighed. She really didn't want to have this conversation. "I’ll tell you what. If you can think of a more original one, then you can sit next to me for a while." But even before he opened his mouth, she knew what he was going to say.

  This guy wasn’t about bringing his A game. He’d likely try some variation of: 'Hey, come here often?' 'How about I buy you a drink?' As if the alcohol would make him seem somehow more appealing. This was why she preferred her computers. She wasn'
t great with people. But because her new identity couldn't exactly be a super hacker, she forced herself to limit her computer skills time, in case someone saw what she was doing and asked too many questions. She liked Hope Falls. She wasn't ready to abandon the place yet.

  Her would be date shifted on his feet glanced up at her from under his lashes. "How about, can I buy you a drink?"

  She sighed. "Look, whatever your name is, I'm an original kind of girl."

  "Yeah, I can see that." His eyes drifted over her. Cara had to work not to roll her eyes. While she did appreciate being seen as a woman for once, all his leering did was make her want to shower.

  "I like a guy who is actually either sincere, or tries harder. You are neither of those, so I’m going to sit here with my drink, that I already have, and enjoy it. Go try your lines on the cute blonde by the door. You'll have more luck." Cara turned her attention back to her drink.

  It took her companion a few seconds, but he eventually made his way back to his friends. All of them hooted and hollered at his rejection. She felt bad. But at the same time, he needs to up his game.

  After another thirty minutes of excellent music, four other guys made their valiant attempts at chatting her up and or getting her to make out with them. Even the bartender slipped her his phone number. Cara was ready to go home. This wasn't what she really wanted.

  She'd wanted to escape for a moment. But that wasn't happening. Coming all the way out here to Lake Tahoe felt like she’d just exchanged one prison for another. Because to all of these guys, she was fresh meat. Maybe she should have waited for Sam's birthday.

  As she turned on her barstool, she froze when her eyes connected with the man seated at the far end of the bar. Dark hair in messy disarray over his face like an angel, and eyes so intense she felt pinned to her spot.

  Holy hell, he had trouble and law enforcement written all over his ridiculously good looking features. From the too shrewd eyes that were ever watchful, to the rigid posture. Problem was, she couldn’t look away.

  "Congratulations to my little brother. Special Agent, Axel Nicholson. That's insane. Does the FBI know you used to steal cookies from Mrs. Rawlings down the street? I feel like I should call someone and tell them."

  Axel clapped his brother, Bo, on the back. "What they don't know won't hurt them. Besides, I think they only care about the felonies."

  His brother's brow furrowed. "Bummer. I thought I had you there."

  Axel rolled his eyes even as he raised his glass. “When are you going to learn, I’m Teflon?"

  “But you know, they're the FBI. They can find anything."

  Axel laughed and raised his beer. It had been six months since they’d seen each other. Axel had just finished his first year at the FBI field office in San Diego. He'd been promoted to Special Agent after he helped close a major case.

  He'd missed his brother.

  Growing up, the two of them were attached at the hip. Things were different now.

  Bo took a sip of his beer. "I don't know. Somehow, I thought when you got a job in San Diego, we'd find more time with each other."

  "Well, you’re a big-time lawyer now. I'm a Special Agent. Looks like the cosmos knows that your fragile ego can't withstand me kicking your ass at a little one-on-one."

  Bo’s rumble of laughter boomed over the noise of the other patrons at the bar. "Oh, I see, at the FBI, they've been teaching you to lie. Someone really should do something about that."

  He and Bo had been in a decade-long match of one-on-one basketball. Axel was currently up, and looking to extend his lead. But his brother was good. Axel knew that. Bo had been all-conference when he played at USC. "Nope. They teach me to catch bad guys. But seriously, though, we have to do better. Ever since Mom and Dad moved to Florida, we really haven't made this work."

  Bo shrugged. "Well, maybe we should make Tahoe like a thing. Every two months we come up here for a weekend, drink, tear it up, meet women."

  And that was Bo. His brother couldn’t help himself with the women. All kinds of women. Since he was twelve and he’d somehow convinced a fourteen-year-old Laurie Brooner to show him her tits. That was it, his brother was obsessed, though, sometimes it got him into trouble.

  Not that women didn't get Axel into his fair share trouble, but Axel was more measured than his brother was. Bo tended to dive into things headfirst. Kind of like now as he ogled a cute blonde chattering with her friends at a nearby table.

  Axel would think that given his brother's profession, Bo would be a lot more measured. But no. When it wasn't about his clients, his brother could be borderline reckless at times. "Well, I like that plan. Execution can be a bit tricky though."

  "We’ll make it happen, but you know something I need to make happen first, getting that blonde’s number."

  Axel chuckled. “Fine, go get shot down, I’ve been needing a good laugh.”

  As his brother sauntered of, Axel turned his attention back to his beer, but caught the eye of the redhead at the other end of the bar instead.

  He’d been watching her for the last hour or so. She’d been gently shooting down guys, and hadn’t let a single one of them buy her a drink.

  Matter fact, she’d been nursing just the one drink. But now, her eyes were locked on his, and for some reason, he couldn't tear his away. He wasn't sure what it was about the redhead, there's something very familiar about her. Maybe it was her direct stare.

  Normally, he would come up with an excuse not to talk to her. But he drained the last of his beer before making his approach. When he reached her, she rotated on her stool.

  “Please, please, please, tell me you’re going to be original. I have high hopes for you.”

  The corner of his lips tipped up into a smile. His skin felt too tight. Too itchy. What was it about this girl with the haunted green eyes? “I’m Axel. You’re beautiful.” She flushed and he seized the opportunity to lean closer. “But you know that already.”

  She tilted her chin up. “I'm Cara. Is there something wrong with embracing what I look like?” Her voice was low, throaty, and husky. She’d make a mint as a phone sex operator.

  He shook his head. “Nope. Confidence is sexy. C’mon, we’re dancing.”

  Her laugh was clear and throaty and the sound of it went straight to his dick. “Was that you asking?”

  “Better to ask forgiveness than permission. Besides, as confident as you are, you like it when someone takes charge.”

  She opened her mouth presumably to argue, but then snapped it shut.

  Music thrummed and vibrated around them as he wrapped his hand around hers. When he pulled her into his arms, she shivered and he smirked. Only problem, he was just as affected by her scent and the soft press of her hand in his.

  When other dancers jostled them and her gaze flickered around anxiously, he leaned down to whisper, “Relax, forget about them. All you need to do is concentrate on me.” Axel maneuvered around the crowd and tugged her into the darkened shadows of the covered patio. “See, now that’s better isn’t it?”

  Her intense green eyes lifted to his and the jolt of electricity nearly stopped his heart. Holy shit. What the hell was that? His dick twitched as if to say: You know how hot that was. That was my call to arms.

  Down boy. This was just a dance. Besides, he wasn’t Bo. He was the rational one. The calm one. The one who kept his shit together, composed, controlled.

  Her lips twisted into a wry smile. “I love how you problem solve.”

  Axel tugged her closer and her soft curved pressed against him. “Comes with the territory.”

  “You are surprisingly good at this.” Her breath was feather soft against his skin and the combination with her husky voice made his skin buzz. She met his eyes again. Once more, electricity crackled between them, and again he shut down the connection by turning her in his arms to dance. The DJ changed tracks to the latest bass-pumping song, and she let him meld their bodies together. “Good dancer and expert problem solver. Anything else I shoul
d know about you?”

  He smirked. “Good in bed.”

  She grinned. “Modest too.”

  “Not even a little. Know thyself and all that.”

  A smile teasing her lips, she asked. “Tell me Axel, now that we’ve dispensed with the less important things, tell me, tea or coffee. I’m warning you this could make or break this situation.”

  He coughed out a laugh before he could self-edit himself. “Coffee. Black. I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t need caffeine.”

  She nodded sagely. “Good answer. I was going to have to leave you all by your lonesome if you’d said tea. Especially Green Tea. Yuck.”

  “Well in that case I’m glad I passed your test. I like holding you.”

  She studied him for a long moment. “Something tells me you don’t let a lot of people get too close.”

  Axel locked down his expression before a frown could erupt. She saw too much. “What makes you say that?”

  “You're still. Quiet. Watchful. Like you don’t trust anything.”

  Danger. Danger, his mind blared. But like a moth to a flame, he flew closer…moron that he was. “And you look like the kind of woman who’s running from something. Care to tell me what?”

  She frowned. Shit, he’d gone too far. He didn't want to let her go yet. Surprisingly though, she didn’t step out of his embrace. “What makes you say that?”

  “Dunno, you are here alone. You’ve been shooting guys down all night. You’ve nursed one very watered-down drink, you keep checking your exits, and,” He reached up to trace his thumb over her lips. “And there’s a little thing called a micro expression. You smile, but it never reaches your beautiful eyes. Why is that?”

  Cara cleared her throat and ducked her head. “You’re way too perceptive.”