Unlovable Read online

  Table of Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  About the Author

  Unlovable

  Hooked #7

  Charity Parkerson

  The scanning, uploading, and distributing of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the copyright owner is illegal and punishable by law. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Brief passages may be quoted for review purposes if credit is given to the copyright holder. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. Any resemblances to person(s) living or dead, is completely coincidental. All items contained within this novel are products of the author’s imagination.

  --Warning: This book is intended for readers over the age of 18.

  Copyright © 2017 Charity Parkerson

  Editor: Herculues Editing & Consultants

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 978-1-946099-26-6

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  About the Author

  Introduction

  They weren’t supposed to matter. It was just sex until it wasn’t.

  Rylan is the makeup artist for the stars. Everyone who is anyone employs his services. No one wants him in the way Tim does, especially since Rylan isn’t the least bit likable. Since Rylan isn’t in the business of pleasing anyone except himself, he doesn’t care what people think of him—not even Tim.

  Tim has no idea why he can’t stay away from Rylan. The man is rude, egotistical, and abrasive as hell. Rylan is also the most passionate person Tim has ever met. Every time Tim thinks he’s done, something about Rylan keeps him hanging on.

  After an out-of-town and on-set disastrous weekend together, Tim has finally reached his limit. That is, until he learns the real reason behind Rylan’s inability to let anyone close. Now Tim can’t stop trying to win the most unlovable man on the planet.

  1

  Tim didn’t do the whole meeting of gazes across the room thing, especially with Rylan. Being with Rylan Santos wasn’t love or the thrill of the chase. It was the sex that was as insane as the man. Tim wasn’t attracted to the drama or the man’s “no one can break me” attitude. It was that round ass and the nails down his back. Outside of those moments, Ry was a complete ass. Tim was convinced there was no way even the man’s mother could stand him. He was a diva who belittled everyone he met. One of these days, Tim would quit him. Unfortunately, they saw each other too much at work for Tim to walk away easily. For twelve years, since Tim left the military, he’d worked as Kano Aramante’s personal security and driver. Kano owned the most famous fashion magazine in the world. Rylan was the most sought after makeup artist. The two businesses went hand in hand. Since Tim loved his job, Rylan wasn’t someone he could avoid. That was what happened when he thought with his dick. That was also what he told himself to explain his complete inability to walk away.

  “Why do you keep scowling at me?” Adam asked, sounding dead confused. He should, since Tim had been looking right through him.

  He tried shaking off his dark thoughts. “Sorry. I was lost in my own head. It had nothing to do with you.”

  “Stop scowling at my husband.” Kano never looked up from his laptop as he scolded Tim.

  “You got it, boss,” Tim said, trying to rearrange his features. It was just another reason for his irritation toward Ry. He liked Adam. Kano had married a man way too young for him, but Adam was an old soul. He was sweet natured and beautiful. Jesus, if Tim had known Adam was out there in the world somewhere before the man had met Kano, Tim would’ve scoured the earth to find him. Kano had met Adam first. Not to mention, those nails down Tim’s back that he adored kept him from lamenting the loss to Kano too much. An image of Rylan appeared in Tim’s mind again. The unnaturally blond hair the man kept perfectly combed had Tim’s palms itching. He’d seen Rylan a mess, and he’d been a thousand times hotter then than the perfectly coiffed version of himself he showed the world. Tim had watched those whiskey-colored eyes that were usually filled with malice go soft with desire. His lips tingled. Ry was in the building somewhere. He itched to find him.

  Adam sighed loudly, pulling Tim from his fantasies. “Seriously. What’s wrong with you today?”

  It wasn’t like Tim could be honest. They were less than an hour away from leaving for Texas... with Rylan in tow. There was some Wild-West-themed beauty pageant slash reality show taking place in Amarillo. Since Today’s Beauty was covering it for next month’s spread, Adam would need help with the large number of contestants. There was no way he could handle styling that many people. That meant there was only one person to call—Rylan. Where Adam went, Kano went. If Kano went, Tim did too. This wasn’t the first time Tim had stayed overnight in the same hotel as Rylan, but this was different. It was smaller for one thing. The set was built out in the middle of nowhere with no surrounding hotels. Since they still needed to provide space for everyone to sleep, trailers had been brought in, creating sort of a makeshift city. He didn’t know why the entire setup felt like a recipe for disaster, but it did. That wasn’t something he could explain to his boss.

  “Seriously, I’m not scowling at you. My head is killing me,” he lied.

  Adam stood. He moved behind Tim’s chair and massaged Tim’s temples. A groan rose in his throat. Now he felt like a total ass. He tried playing it off, hoping he wouldn’t make things worse. “Your husband will think you’re flirting if you keep this up.”

  “My husband knows no one else stands a chance,” Adam said, sounding absent.

  “Exactly so,” Kano said without looking their way.

  It turned out, Tim was the jealous one. He couldn’t imagine having what they did. In his thirty-seven years, he’d never found anything close to what they shared. Rylan would certainly never love him.

  “Is this helping?”

  Before Tim had time to scramble for another lie, Rylan strolled inside Kano’s office without knocking. His gaze landed on Tim before moving to where Adam’s hands touched Tim’s head. He turned his face away. For a moment, Tim wondered if he was jealous.

  “I’ve been waiting for your receptionist to return for ten minutes. Your staff is rude.”

  Kano still didn’t look away from his laptop. “I know this will come as a major blow to your ego, Mr. Santos, but my staff does not live to serve you. In fact, they work for me, and make it their business to go on the errands I’ve set for them. However,” Kano said, closing his laptop. “You’re here now, and I’m grateful for your assistance. If you’re packed and ready, Tim will escort you to the car. Adam and I will be along in short order.”

  One of the things Tim had always enjoyed about working for Kano was seeing the man’s high handedness with an English accent in action.

  Tim stood without waiting for Rylan to say if he was ready. He flashed Adam a grateful smile. “Thank you,” he mouthed. Adam winked and Tim turned to face the firing squad. He had a feeling he’d b
e the one to pay for Kano’s dismissal of Rylan. He motioned toward the door. “After you.” Jesus, even Tim heard the hint of lust in his tone. What the fuck was it about Rylan?

  Rylan grabbed his rolling bags without waiting for Tim’s help. He’d learned over the years not to bother fighting with Rylan. It was easier to let the man have his independence. Tim followed Rylan to the elevator, staring at the man’s sexy round ass the whole way. Rylan held his silence until they were alone inside the elevator.

  “Do you think we’ll be forced to wait while they fuck on Kano’s desk?”

  Tim thought that was a good possibility, but he shrugged out of loyalty. “Does it matter? Is it so bad being stuck with me?”

  Rylan’s whiskey-colored gaze slid Tim’s way. Tim’s heart sped. The man’s lashes were so dark he didn’t need eyeliner, but he wore some shade that made his eyes look sultry. Tim couldn’t look away. Rylan didn’t respond to Tim’s open flirting. For some reason, the man’s silence heightened Tim’s interest. Rylan made him want to pry him open and inspect every detail inside his head. It drove him insane trying to figure Rylan out. The twenty-six-floor ride down to the garage was made in silence while Rylan held his stare. By the time the door opened, freeing him, Tim thought he’d come in his pants at the first brush of clothes against his erection. Rylan stepped out. Tim followed like he was tethered by an invisible leash. His patience lasted until they reached Kano’s SUV. The moment the large vehicle hid them from sight, Tim crowded Rylan against the door.

  “On the off chance Kano isn’t currently fucking Adam on his desk, we have long enough for the elevator to make its way back upstairs, load up the pair, and head back down. I hope you’re not feeling attached to the lipstick you’re wearing.”

  Rylan snagged two handfuls of Tim’s jacket and tugged. “It’s smudge proof,” he said, hauling Tim in for a kiss. There was never anything gentle about Rylan. He bit, clawed, and pulled hair. Tim did his best to keep up while praying he didn’t end up with a huge wet spot on the front of his pants. He kept his hands flattened against the roof of the car, hoping he wouldn’t tear at Ry’s clothes. Unfortunately, the move left him open to Rylan’s attack. The man stroked every inch of him he could reach. Rylan was the wildest fucking ride Tim had ever been on. This was why he couldn’t quit the man. They had something, even if Tim wasn’t sure what.

  “I hate to make this awkward,” Adam said, bringing Tim’s head up with a snap. His gaze shot the man’s way. Adam looked incredibly uncomfortable as he tried looking everywhere but directly at them.

  “Damn,” Rylan said under his breath, pushing Tim away. “That elevator is faster than I thought.”

  Tim took the small bag Adam carried and headed for the back, using it to shield his erection from sight. He popped the hatch and loaded their luggage. The silence in the garage was deafening. A door opened and closed. Tim didn’t look. Adam appeared at his side. “Sorry,” he whispered as he helped Tim arrange the bags.

  Tim flashed him a smile. Adam was a good person. Kano appeared before Tim could think of an appropriate response to getting busted making out on the job.

  “Forgot my laptop,” Kano explained, handing it off to Tim, oblivious to the drama he’d missed. It was a damned good thing he had forgotten the device. Tim wasn’t so sure Kano would’ve handled things the way Adam had.

  Adam linked fingers with Kano and tugged him toward the back driver’s side. “It’s okay, baby. I’m distracting.”

  “That you are,” Kano said, damn near growling.

  Tim realized as he closed the back that he was smiling. They were in love. It was nice. Most people might be annoyed while spending as much time with the pair as Tim did, but he never got tired of witnessing their unshakable bond grow. There was a lot of ugliness in the world. Sometimes he forgot because he was surrounded by such happiness. He opened the door for Adam. Kano tossed Tim a wink as he climbed in behind him. Tim’s smile grew as he closed the door. Maybe this trip wouldn’t be the disaster he’d feared. They might all be staying in trailers right on top of one another, but chances were good he could get Rylan alone at some point. It might not be such a bad weekend after all.

  It would be the weekend from hell. Rylan felt it in his soul. Not only was he used to being in charge, Rylan fucking hated answering to Adam. At one time, Adam had been his intern, and the boy had been fired from the position. Now, some wedding vows later, Adam was married to the most important man in the fashion industry and Rylan was being treated like the boy’s lackey. Tim opened his door, freeing him from the confines of the car and the sickening scent of Kano and Adam’s love. His gaze automatically sought Tim’s. For a moment, they held each other’s stare. Butterflies stirred in Rylan’s stomach—the way they always did when Tim looked at him. Rylan would eat glass before he showed how the man affected him, but fuck. Those blue eyes. Rylan would never admit it, not even under the worst torture, but all Tim had to do was crook his finger, and Rylan would climb him like the giant tree he was.

  “I’m glad you made it.”

  Rylan tore his gaze away from the only bright spot in his day to focus on the man greeting them. Tall, chiseled, and perfect in every way, Dex Wise was the billionaire bad boy of everyone’s dreams. He was also the reason they were there. Dex had the crazy idea of putting fifty beauty contestants in an old Wild West setting for a reality show. The last woman standing at the end of three months would win the crown. To promote the show, he’d booked an entire month’s issue to showcase each model. It would take the entire two days they’d been allotted to make the women perfect and shoot the spread.

  As Rylan looked on, Kano and Dex shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. Rylan’s gaze kept straying Tim’s way. The man’s eyes darted in every direction, looking for any threat to Kano. Rylan took in the view. Tim’s expensive suit did nothing to hide his bulging muscles. If anything, the tight threads enhanced his physique, as if they didn’t make a suit that could contain him. His jacket shifted. Tim’s gun peeked out. Fuck. Rylan didn’t know why he found that so hot, but Tim was irresistible.

  “Adam,” Dex said, sounding like he’d plucked the perfect fruit and dragging Rylan’s focus back his way. “I’m thrilled you took this job. The work you did for Honor Mason’s wedding was...” Dex made a motion, as if searching for the right word, before finding it. “Flawless.” Rylan tried not to roll his eyes. The man all but kissed the tips of his fingers—like he’d prepared the perfect meal.

  Adam blushed.

  Rylan lost the battle against his eye roll.

  “Thank you,” Adam said, reclaiming his hand and clinging to Kano’s arm. “I can’t wait to get started. As soon as I heard your plans for the show, I knew you had a hit and I wanted to be part of it.”

  Dex’s smile grew at the blatant flattery. “Who doesn’t want to see fifty beauty contestants progressively get uglier and more conniving as they get closer to winning? That’s television.” The man’s gaze slid Tim’s way as he spoke. He openly inspected Tim’s body. “And you are?” Dex asked, holding his hand out for Tim to shake.

  “No one,” Tim said, accepting the man’s handshake.

  Rylan eyed their clasped hands with malice in his heart, especially since Dex covered Tim’s hand with his free one and refused to let go.

  “Nobody is no one. I’d be honored to know your name.”

  Tim smiled.

  Rylan sucked in a breath. Those dimples were his, goddamn it.

  “It’s Tim. I’m Mr. Aramante’s driver.”

  Dex’s gaze slid down Tim’s body. “I’m sure that’s not the whole of it, especially since you’re armed.”

  “Kano is my job. I’m licensed to carry concealed in forty states for his protection, but if you’d rather I didn’t, please take it up with my employer.”

  Dex looked more infatuated by the minute. “I’m not concerned, merely curious. I’m Dex Wise, by the way. It’s lovely to meet you.”

  Tim retrieved his hand, making Rylan bite back a smi
le. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Wise.”

  “Please, it’s just Dex.”

  Tim dipped his chin, acknowledging the man’s words.

  Dex’s gaze flickered Rylan’s way. “Rylan,” Dex said before turning away and waving them forward.

  Rylan bit his bottom lip to keep the evil laugher in his throat from escaping. Yeah, they’d met.

  “Let me show you around the set. Your trailers are this way.”

  Rylan dragged his feet, falling behind so he could stare at Tim’s ass. This weekend might be a shit show in the making, but Tim’s ass was perfect, and that made up for a lot. He listened with half an ear as Dex pointed out different areas of the set and let them know where they’d be making over each contestant. Rylan would figure it out. He always did. No one made it to the top without the ability to do their job under even the worst of circumstances. He’d once made over the entire cast of a play by candlelight and had a princess ready to face the paparazzi in the back of an SUV using nothing but the contents of her purse. Rylan would deal.

  “I have three trailers reserved for your team. Is that enough?” Dex asked, looking worried.

  Kano eyed the set of large trailers. “Adam and I prefer to be alone. The photographers will be in later and are used to bunking together.” His gaze moved to Rylan and Tim. “I assume the two of you aren’t opposed to sharing a trailer.” He focused on Dex once more without waiting for an answer. “Yes, three will be fine.”

  Dex’s smile turned fake as his gaze moved between Tim and Rylan. “These two shouldn’t be forced to share.” The man’s hungry stare landed on Tim and didn’t move. “I can find Tim a bed I’m sure he wouldn’t be opposed to.”