For Keeps (Real Men Crave Curves Book 3) Read online

  For Keeps

  An Older Alpha, Younger BBW Romance

  (Real Men Crave Curves #3)

  Mandy Morgan

  Copyright © 2019 by Mandy Morgan. All Rights Reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.

  This publication contains sexually explicit material. All characters are 18 years or older and all sex is consensual.

  Table of Contents

  Summary

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Epilogue

  More Books

  About the Author

  Summary

  An Alpha and BBW Insta-Love Romance…

  Ashley

  I was just trying to help my best friend get over her asshole ex-boyfriend.

  That was the only reason I ended up in a cop bar on a Friday night.

  And how I caught the attention of an older man that just can't seem to take no for an answer...

  Jason

  I knew from the moment I saw the curvy cutie that she was coming home with me.

  What I didn't know was how much more I was getting than my usual choice in hookups.

  But now, I'm in it deep...and I'm playing for keeps.

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  Chapter One

  Ashley

  I was still wondering how the hell Liz had talked me into going out as we walked into Murphy’s Pub. Just one quick look around the dim, smoke-filled room told me everything I needed to know about the place.

  “Have you lost your mind?” I asked my best friend of more than a decade. “This is obviously a cop bar. Why would you bring us here?”

  Liz just laughed and tossed her long, auburn hair over one shoulder. I might think she was crazy, but I had to admit she looked hot. We both did, if I was being honest with myself. Of course, that was the point of a rebound outing.

  “Relax! I know what I’m doing,” Liz replied without bothering to look in my direction. “Let’s get a drink and see what we can see.”

  As far as I could tell, Liz was already doing that, and I couldn’t help but shake my head as I watched her hungry eyes drink in the well-muscled men milling around.

  “Alright, let’s hit the bar,” I said with a sigh. “Think they have any chardonnay?”

  Liz gave me a wink, slipped her arm through mine, and led the way to the battle-scarred wooden bar at the other side of the pub.

  “My guess is this is a whiskey and beer kind of place, Ash, but you never know until you ask.”

  As Liz flirted with the bartender and placed our drink orders, I glanced around and did my best to not feel like a fish out of water. This was not what I’d normally be doing with my Friday night.

  But when your best friend asks you to be their post-breakup “wing woman,” what can you do, other than pretty yourself up and go with the flow?

  I’d known Liz since grade school and we both attended the local university, in the hopes of getting degrees in business. We were as close as sisters and tried to always be there for each other.

  I hadn’t really been surprised when Liz told me she’d dumped Robbie’s ass a few days ago. It had been a long time coming, as far as I was concerned.

  He was controlling and manipulative. And he couldn’t seem to stay off the dating apps. Robbie was the kind of guy that believed the grass was always greener on the other side, which made a serious relationship impossible with him.

  Liz’s ex-boyfriend was not what I would consider a good man. He was also a police officer. Which was why I was surprised that we’d ended up in a cop bar to find her rebound fling.

  As I waited for Liz, I couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous and exposed. This was not my typical kind of place. These weren’t my usual kind of guys. I was more into the aspiring CEO or entrepreneur type.

  But I knew Liz would be there for me, so I did my best to take everything in stride. I was just about to make my way over to Liz, so I wouldn’t feel like a piece of bait in open water, when I felt a presence behind me and heard something that sent a chill down my spine.

  “You’re way too pretty to be alone, little mama. You’re coming with me…”

  Jason

  I’d been watching the blonde with the killer curves ever since she’d walked through the door. I knew I had to have her, but first, I needed to get her alone.

  Luckily for me, the friend she’d come in with made her way up to the bar, leaving the curvy cutie alone at a stand-up table in the middle of Murphy’s.

  But just as I was about to make my move, I saw a sleazy looking guy slither up behind her. This asshole was always hanging around and preying on any woman that came in.

  I was sick of his shit. And there was no way he was getting between me and what I wanted. So, I moved in quick and quiet, grabbing his upper arm and digging my fingers in as deep as they could get.

  “You need to get the hell out of here,” I hissed into his ear. “Or you might end up getting hurt.”

  I gave him a hard shake before releasing him and kept my eyes on him to make sure he actually made it out the door. And then I turned my attention back to the gorgeous cause of the ruckus.

  She was still standing by her table and waiting for her friend. But now her eyes were wide with shock and fear. I knew I should probably give her a chance to calm down, but I was too drawn to her to do that.

  “Are you alright?” I asked, approaching her slowly and with my hands held up in an “I come in peace” gesture. “I hope that asshole didn’t upset you too much.”

  She looked me up and down, apparently trying to decide if I was a threat or not. And I took the time to get a better look at her, too.

  I noted how her honey blonde hair curled at the ends as it flowed over her shoulders. How pretty her dark blue eyes were as they glinted in the dim lighting. How her skirt clung to her curves and was just short enough to let my imagination run wild.

  “I’m fine, thanks,” she said in a breathy voice that had me wanting her almost as much as the sight of her breasts heaving under her low-cut top. “I don’t know what the hell that was all about. I’m just waiting for my friend to come back…”

  Her voice trailed off as she looked toward the bar. The other woman I’d watched her come in with was now deeply engrossed in a conversation with the bartender.

  “Oh, Liz,” she said with a sigh. “You couldn’t even make it past the very first guy to show you some attention.”

  “He seems like a nice enough guy,” I offered, mostly to remind her that I was still there. “She could do worse, as you can see from that little encounter a minute ago.”

  I watched her shiver. “That’s true. Thank you so much for your help. I’m Ashley Wilkes, by the way.”

  She held out a carefully manicured hand for me to shake. I watched as it was swallowed completely by mine and I could have sworn she shivered again before I released her from my grip.

  “I’m Jason Anderson,” I replied, giving her my most winning smile. “And it’s very nice to meet you, Ashley. Can I buy you a drink?”

  There was still a bit of worry in her eyes, but I was determined to fix that. All I needed was a small sign that she
was interested. Just a chink in her armor, and I knew I was home free.

  I watched and waited. And then I got what I was looking for. Ashley took a deep breath, turned to look at her flirty friend one more time, and then gave me a smile that was so sweet, I almost groaned out loud with longing.

  “Thanks, Jason, a drink would be nice. And so would some company…”

  Chapter Two

  Ashley

  My insides had gone cold and my heart seemed to stop when I’d turned to find a guy wearing a creepy smile standing right behind me.

  But before I could even begin to respond to his equally creepy comment about me going with him, a massive arm had come out of nowhere and grabbed the pervert.

  I’d watched with amazement (and quite a bit of excitement, I have to admit) as the muscular stranger had become my hero.

  His strong arms had flexed as he’d given the creep a hard shake and shoved him toward the door. I’d felt like I was in a movie during the short but scary exchange.

  I’d trembled with surprise and desire as Jason introduced himself. He had to be at least ten years older and he was nothing like the kind of guy I normally dated.

  But he’s exactly like the guys that star in your dreams…

  Jason was well over six feet tall, had muscles on muscles, short-cropped dark hair, and hazel eyes that made me feel like I was drowning when I looked into them.

  And he made me feel like I was the sexiest woman in the room. Hell, like I was the only woman in the room. That was a new sensation that I found I liked quite a bit.

  I’d paid special attention to my outfit and makeup tonight before hitting the town with Liz. But that was only because I knew it was what she expected of her wing woman.

  Normally, I preferred to blend into the background as much as I could. Which was probably why I ended up dating bland men with boring jobs. Like attracts like, right?

  At twenty-one, I wasn’t totally inexperienced, but I was far from an expert when it came to men. I was also self-conscious about my curvy figure and size fourteen clothing.

  But Jason made me forget all about the worries I normally had when meeting someone for the first time. He was so confident in everything he did and said that I felt like I could sit back and just let him take over. It was beyond refreshing, to be honest.

  I watched as he approached the bar, tore the bartender's attention away from Liz long enough to get us a couple of beers, and sauntered back to the stand-up table where I was waiting.

  “Is this your first of the night?” he asked as he handed me a frosty bottle of Bud Light.

  “It is, believe it or not,” I said with a laugh. “Liz was on drink patrol, but you saw how far she got with that.”

  We both turned to look at my best friend pulling out all the stops on the handsome bartender. If she wasn’t in his bed at the end of his shift, I’d be shocked beyond words.

  “Cheers,” I said to Jason before I took a long swallow of cold beer. “Why do you ask if this is my first drink?”

  “I want to make sure you’re clear-headed. That way, I know you really want to come home with me tonight, and it’s not just the beer talking.”

  My bottle froze half-way to my mouth. I looked at Jason over the rim and saw raw lust in his eyes. I’d already known he was confident, but this was something else entirely.

  I’d never had a man come right out with his plans to claim me for the night like that. At first, I bristled at his words, and all I could do was stare at him as seconds ticked away.

  But when he leaned in closer, I could smell his sandalwood aftershave, and a wave of heat like I’d never known before washed over me.

  My cheeks burned as I gave Jason a smile. “I’m as clear-headed as can be, don’t you worry about that…”

  Jason

  I could tell by the deep blush of Ashley’s cheeks that she was trying to hide her nerves. She was young, maybe too young for man of thirty-five like me, but she also didn’t seem like a virgin.

  Too bad, I would have liked to have been the one to break her in and keep her safe from creeps in bars…

  But nervous or not, there was no denying the chemistry flaring up between us. I knew there wasn’t even a small chance that I’d be leaving Murphy’s without her that night.

  “Glad to hear you’re clear on things,” I said and smiled as her face flamed up a notch more. “Why don’t we go ahead and get out of here?”

  As I spoke, I reached out and placed a finger on her wrist, and traced it along her arm and shoulder, until I was just inches from her heart.

  Ashley jerked as if she’d been electrocuted and stepped back from me. She just stared at me for a few moments, and I was about to ask her what was wrong when she spoke up.

  “Sorry! I have to run to the restroom,” she stammered out and then she bolted for the back of the bar.

  I watched her as she approached the door marked “Ladies” and then slipped inside. Part of me did it because I enjoyed the hell out of the sight of her rounded ass moving.

  But another part of me was keeping a sharp eye out for her safety. My training and natural protective instinct kicked in with full force when I was around Ashley.

  Of course, she doesn’t know that, I thought as I watched and waited. Hell, she might not even know I’m a cop, although she’s in the wrong bar if she’s looking for a date with an accountant.

  I’d already had to scare off one pervert tonight. I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again if I saw anyone get too close to the woman I’d already staked my claim on…

  Chapter Three

  Ashley

  After I fled the table I’d been sharing with Jason, I made my way into the bathroom and stared at my reflection in the mirror, waiting for my heart rate to slow and my cheeks to stop flaming.

  What the hell was I thinking? Flirting like that? And with a cop, no less?

  Jason hadn’t mentioned what he did for a living, but he didn’t need to, of course. We were in a cop bar, surrounded by uniformed and off-duty police officers, and he had the haircut, demeanor, and dangerous allure of a cop.

  I didn’t need a flashing sign or a written warning. And I had no interest in dipping into the law enforcement dating pool, thanks to the horrible experiences Liz had shared about her time with her ex.

  I turned on the cold water and let it run on the inside of my wrists. I would have splashed some on my cheeks, but I didn’t want to ruin my makeup.

  I’d run away from Jason when things looked like they were going faster than I’d like them to, but that didn’t mean I wanted him to see me at anything less than my best – he was the sexiest man I’d spent time with in awhile.

  And he also scares the crap out of you…

  Yes, that was true, but was it really his fault? I’d only been seriously dating since I’d started college a couple of years ago. Before that, I was living at home and still playing the virgin angel for my parents.

  But once I’d signed up for university classes, I’d met Liz, moved into campus housing, and spread my wings and flown. Well, for the most part. I was still practically a virgin compared to my much more adventurous best friend.

  Are you going to let your fear get the better of you?

  I looked into the mirror once more, forcing myself to hold my own gaze, and realized I didn’t want to be afraid anymore. I wanted to take a chance on something new, scary or not.

  I took a deep breath, dabbed on some fresh lipstick, smoothed my hair back into a presentable state, and headed back out to Jason.

  And to whatever waited for me as a part of his world…

  Jason

  As I waited, I decided to grab us another couple of beers, never taking my eyes off the bathroom door. Just as I was about to go check on Ashley, I saw her headed back toward me and breathed a silent sigh of relief.

  As she gets closer, I notice that her eyes are red-rimmed, and I can feel anger rise up inside of me in an instant. If someone had done something to upset her, they were going to regre
t it.

  Ashley retakes her place next to me at the table and I pin her with my eyes, trying to read her the way I would a suspect in an investigation, but without any luck. I’m too invested in her already to be able to get a clear read on the situation.

  “What’s wrong?” I practically bark and she cringes. I soften my tone and try again. “Ashley, tell me what happened.”

  She looked down at her hands, which are twisted together in a knot on the table. “Nothing happened. I just got spooked, that’s all. I needed to get away for a bit.”

  I felt my heart go out to her and I pushed away my shock at having such a feeling as I reached out and slowly untangled her hands.

  “You don’t have to be spooked, honey. You’re safe with me. You can trust me, I swear. Do you believe that?”

  Ashley brought her eyes up to my face and searched it as I waited for her response. Every instinct I had as an investigator told me there was something she was holding back – something she was afraid of from her past.

  So much for a nice, uncomplicated one-night stand…

  I watched Ashley’s pretty pink lips part as she took a deep breath and gave me her answer. “Yes, I believe that. And trusting you is what I want to do. At least, for now…”

  That was all I needed to hear. I lean forward and take Ashley’s hand in mine, reaching out with the other to brush hair out of her face and caress her sweet, soft cheek.

  I hold her gaze and hook my finger under her chin, tilting her head up and slowly moving my mouth onto hers. I can feel her quiet moan slip in between my lips, and my cock presses against my zipper.

  I want to do much more than kiss her. But we’re out in the middle of the bar and the thought of supplying spank bank material to some perv watching us is unacceptable.

  “Let’s go back to my place,” I murmur, even though my original plan had been to take her to one of the nicer motels downtown. “I think you’ll be a lot more comfortable there.”