Saved (Real Men Crave Curves Book 5) Read online

  Saved

  An Older Alpha & BBW Romance

  (Real Men Crave Curves #5)

  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

  Lucy

  I was chasing my dreams in the big city when I was attacked in an alley.

  Just as I was wondering what horrible things were in store for me, an Everest of a man took my attacker out with a single punch.

  My hero is gorgeous and strong and I feel safer just being around him.

  But I can't allow myself to fall head over heels for an older stranger, right?

  Jesse

  I never would have guessed saving a stranger from a scumbag would change my life completely.

  But I was drawn to the curvy beauty from the instant I set eyes on her. And I knew that saying I'd saved her once upon a time just wouldn't be enough.

  I wanted to spend the rest of my life protecting her, and I wasn't going to let anything or anyone get in my way...

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  Chapter One

  Lucy

  “Thanks again for joining me tonight, John,” I said to my newest client as I gave him a final handshake at the restaurant’s front door. “I’m really looking forward to getting started on your website.”

  “The pleasure was all mine, Lucy. I can’t wait to see what you come up with and put your talent to work.”

  I gave the owner of Tompkins Technologies a smile and watched him make his way to the town car idling at the curb with its tuxedoed driver.

  It must be nice to have so much money, I thought to myself as I pulled out my cell phone and opened the Uber app. At least he’s not a rich jerk, like some of my other clients.

  Jerks or not, I was grateful for every new project that came my way. I was quickly finding out that being a freelance graphic designer in New York City wasn’t for the weak-willed or lazy.

  Once I confirmed my ride was on the way, I slipped my phone back into my purse with a sigh. I was proud of myself for scoring the Tompkins account, but it was almost eleven o’clock and I was exhausted.

  Getting out and having a meal in one of the fancy restaurants downtown had been fun. Especially since I wasn’t the one paying the check when it came. But I was still a Midwestern girl at heart, and I was ready for some comfy PJs and a cup of tea on my couch.

  As I waited for my Uber, I moved a little further down the sidewalk to keep the doorway clear for other people, and thought about how different my life had become since moving here from Ohio a year ago.

  My parents had thought I was crazy to give up a college education and make the risky decision to move to NYC at such a young age. And at first, I thought they might have been right.

  It wasn’t easy being single and alone in such a big and expensive city. I’d celebrated my twenty-second birthday a few months back with ramen noodles for dinner and a cupcake with a single candle in it.

  But things had been looking up over the past thirty days and I was happy to be able to tell my folks I was no longer a “starving artist,” as they put it. My bank balance had ceased being pathetic, I was getting some great work done, and client referrals were rolling in.

  Before too long, I’d be able to move into a nicer place and stop sweating the bills so much. Now, if only I could meet a decent man in this city…

  I’d been wandering while I thought, and looked up to find myself in front of an alley around the corner from the restaurant. It was pitch black down there, and I was glad I didn’t have to go that way.

  Just as I was silently thanking God for modern technology like Uber that kept me out of the subway, I felt something hard poke me in the back and I gasped.

  “Don’t move a muscle,” a male voice grated out behind me. “If you don’t want to get hurt, you need to do exactly what I say.”

  Jesse

  “I’m not doing this again,” I said in my most serious voice. “I mean it, Janet. I know you want to help, but this isn’t the way to do it.”

  I could hear my sister sigh on the other end of the phone and I braced myself for what was sure to come next. “Jesse, you don’t want to be alone forever, do you?”

  With a sigh of my own, I made my way out of Sam’s Tavern and into the dark street. It was late and I wasn’t in the mood for having the same argument with Janet. She was like a pit bull with a bone, dammit.

  “Alright, I’ll give it one more chance, but that’s it, Janet. One more blind date and I’m finished, okay?”

  My sister was more than a thousand miles away, at her place in Minnesota, but I could see her satisfied smile as if she was standing right in front of me.

  “You’ve got a deal,” she said, and I tried to tell myself it wasn’t smugness I heard in her voice. “I’ll find you a keeper this time, I promise!”

  “Goodnight, Janet. Give the kids my love.”

  I ended the call before there was any chance for further conversation and shoved my phone into the pocket of my jeans.

  At least I insisted on meeting at a bar close to home this time, and didn’t have to get all dressed up, I thought as I took a deep breath and rubbed my temples. Or pay for another wasted meal at an expensive restaurant.

  Janet had been pushing me hard about being a bachelor ever since I’d turned thirty-five. I’d been out on more blind dates than I’d like to admit since then.

  I knew she was doing it because she cared about me, but I was beyond over it, and it was time to call a halt to the whole thing. I was happy the way I was. Well, mostly happy.

  It seemed like every woman I’d been set up with was either a total airhead or so full of herself that she didn’t have room for anyone else’s opinion but her own. That was not the type of partner I wanted or needed.

  “Just once more,” I mumbled to myself as I walked along the sidewalk toward my building. “I can get through one more, dammit.”

  Suddenly, I heard a scream and froze in my tracks. I tilted my head to the side, trying to figure out where the noise was coming from and if it was the kind of scream that meant trouble or just too much to drink.

  There was movement to my side and I spun around to check it out. What I saw made my blood boil and my hands curl into heavy fists.

  A nicely dressed young woman was being dragged into a dark alley by a man wearing all black. I saw a flash of silver in his hand and realized he had a gun.

  Oh, you are going down, you scummy son of a bitch, I thought as I moved quickly and silently around the struggling pair, until I was directly behind them.

  The mugger was busy trying to keep his victim quiet and get her off the street to do God knew what to her. I moved closer until I could smell his sweat and her fear.

  And then I laced my hands together and brought them down on the back of his neck in one hard hammer of a hit…


  Chapter Two

  Lucy

  The warning my parents had given me about big city dangers echoed in my ears as I was dragged further into the deep darkness of the alley. I knew I had to fight back if I wanted to get out of this alive.

  Even though I hadn’t seen a gun when the stranger grabbed me, I had no doubt that was what he’d jabbed into my back, and I could still feel it there, threatening and intimidating.

  My eyes swept the street and didn’t see anyone. But I knew there were people still going in and out of the restaurant I’d just left, and I realized I might be able to call for help.

  I was far from a skinny weakling, but I knew I didn’t have a chance of overpowering my attacker. He’d told me to keep quiet, but he hadn’t bothered to cover my mouth yet. So, I took a deep breath, said a quick prayer, and screamed as long and loud as I could.

  “Shut up, you bitch,” the man in the dark clothes hissed. “I told you to keep your fucking mouth shut.”

  His gloved hand closed around my mouth and nose before I could scream again, and my mind began to race with the horrible things he had in mind for me.

  I was sobbing and could barely breathe. This was my worst nightmare, and as I squeezed my eyes shut, I felt some of the fight begin to drain out of me.

  Just then, I heard a surprised grunt from behind me, and the hand disappeared from my mouth. I sucked in air greedily and opened my eyes to see what had happened to my attacker.

  I found him being suspended in the air by the hood of his black sweatshirt. There was a mountain of a man holding the mugger up and shaking him so hard his teeth rattled, and I could see that he was seething with anger.

  There was a sudden burst of light in the dark alley, and I saw that my hero had pulled out a cell phone with the hand that wasn’t holding my assailant off the ground.

  My rescuer appeared to have a halo of light around him and he looked for all of the world like a knight in shining armor in that moment. All I could do was stand there and watch with my mouth hanging open and relieved tears streaming down my face.

  “I just interrupted an assault,” my savior barked into the phone. “I’m detaining him and need the police here now.”

  I listened to him tell the 911 dispatcher where we were and other details of the situation. I could feel myself getting lightheaded and knew I was close to passing out.

  I made my way toward the light from the street and sank down on the curb before I could fall down, but I kept my rescuer in sight. I was still shaking and being near the big man that had saved me made me feel better.

  Even as I sat there trembling from the trauma of what had just happened to me, I couldn’t help but notice how handsome the older man was, and how his muscles flexed as he held my attacker for the police.

  I thought about how I’d wished that I could find a nice guy in New York, and had to hold back a crazy laugh at the realization that my wish had come true.

  Of course, you have no idea who he is or what he’s like when he’s not on a rescue mission, I thought as I heard sirens rising in the distance. But at least you know he’s on your side, and right now, that’s all that matters…

  Jesse

  “Thanks for your help, Mr. Harris. This asshole has been mugging and raping women all over the city.”

  The cop that thanked me and shook my hand after getting the perv I’d been detaining into cuffs was young but professional. He reminded me of myself in the good old days.

  “Happy to help, Officer,” I replied. “Thank you for getting here so quickly.”

  With a crisp nod, he climbed behind the wheel of his patrol car and drove away with his lights flashing. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and turned my attention to the young woman sitting nearby.

  When I’d first heard her scream and came running, I hadn’t really looked at her. I was focused on the perv that had a hold of her and the gun in his hand. Now that she was safe again, I couldn’t seem to do anything but look at her.

  Her wide, hazel eyes poked out from underneath her thick, auburn hair and she was still trembling as I approached her with my open hands up to show her I meant her no harm.

  “Are you alright, miss?” I asked, using my most soothing voice. “Do you think you can stand?”

  She nodded and rose to her feet a bit shakily. I offered her a hand and she took it. I couldn’t help but notice how soft and smooth her skin was as I helped her rise to her feet.

  There was no stopping my noticing her curves either, once she was standing on the sidewalk next to me. She had a body that just wouldn’t quit, and I had to wrench my eyes away from the pleasing plumpness of her frame.

  Keep it together, Jesse, I cautioned myself. She’s just had a trauma. She doesn’t need some strange dude eyeing her up and down…

  I gave her hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it and smiling at her. She looked as if she was at least ten years younger than I was and I could tell she was still scared from her ordeal.

  I don’t know what it was about this girl, but I was drawn to her instantly. In that moment, all I wanted to do was make her feel better and more secure.

  “My name’s Jesse Harris,” I told her softly. “I’m glad to see you on your feet again, miss.”

  She gave me a weak smile. “I’m Lucy. Lucy Thomas. I can’t thank you enough for your help, Mr. Harris. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come along when you did.”

  “I just did what any decent man would do,” I replied with a wave of my hand. “And please, call me Jesse.”

  Her smile strengthened a bit. “I don’t know about that, Jesse. It seems to me like being a decent man is a rarity in this city.”

  “Oh, I hope you don’t let this ruin the Big Apple for you, Lucy. There’s a lot of good things about this city, believe it or not, and still some good people here.”

  “I’ll just have to take your word for it right now,” Lucy said and her chin began to tremble. “I used to think the same thing before tonight…”

  “Well, at least there’s one more dirtbag off the streets now. And if you help the police with your testimony, he’ll stay gone, and I promise that you’ll feel better about everything.”

  Lucy gave me an appraising look. “I gave the officers my information and they told me they’d be in contact within the next couple of days.”

  “That’s a very good thing,” I said. “A very brave thing. I hope you follow through with making sure they throw the book at that asshole.”

  Lucy nodded her head and I was happy to see some strength shine through. I don’t know what it was about this girl, but I felt a stronger connection than I ever had with any of the women my sister set me up with.

  I didn’t want to lose that feeling. I took a deep breath and made a leap of faith. “You look like you could use a slice of pie. And I happen to know where they serve the best in the world.”

  The curvy cutie gave an incredulous laugh. “You want to take me to get pie? After all of this?”

  “Not only do I want to, I’m going to,” I told her with my most winning smile. “And I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer…”

  Chapter Three

  Lucy

  I don’t know if I was still in shock from being attacked or just in awe of the handsome older man, but I agreed to have a slice of pie with him.

  Not that he gave me much choice, I thought to myself as Jesse offered me his arm and I surprised myself even further by taking it. There’s just something about him…

  “The best diner in the city is right around the corner,” he told me as we walked down the sidewalk. “I go there for dinner a few times a week and I’ve never been disappointed.”

  I snuck a look at him and took in his dark blonde hair and chiseled features. “Your wife doesn’t like to cook?”

  Jesse turned to me with a devilish grin. “Oh, I’m a longtime bachelor, much to my sister’s irritation. She’s been setting me up on blind dates, in the hopes of getting me to settle down, and stop havin
g to worry about me being lonely.”

  “Really? I figured someone like you would have been taken off the market years ago.”

  As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I wanted to take them back, and I could feel myself blushing as Jesse laughed.

  “Just haven’t been able to make a connection yet,” he said with a shrug. “But Janet keeps on trying. I’m about over the whole thing, to be honest.”

  “Yeah, I know what you mean…”

  I hadn’t had much luck in the love department myself. The guys in my small hometown had all been a bunch of macho idiots that were after sex and not much else.

  And tonight hadn’t helped me trust men. I shuddered as I thought once more about what my attacker might have had in mind for me in that alley.

  “I was out on a blind date tonight, as a matter of fact,” Jesse said with a sigh. “It didn’t go well, but I’m glad I went. Otherwise I wouldn’t have met you.”

  I felt myself blush once more. “I don’t think I can ever tell you how grateful I am for your help. Or repay you, for that matter.”

  “Oh, I’m not worried about that. Helping people is in my nature. And I couldn’t let a beautiful woman like you fend for herself against a scumbag like that.”

  I smiled to myself at his compliment. “You handled yourself like an expert back there. You shook that guy like a ragdoll, even though he had a gun!”

  Jesse shrugged. “I was in the Army when I was younger and learned how to handle myself. I’ve dealt with much worse, believe me.”

  That helped to explain his muscular frame and confidence. Just as I was about to ask him what he did for a living now, we rounded a corner and I saw a cute little diner all lit up like an oasis.