Chasing Dreams, Year Two Read online

  Chasing

  Dreams,

  Year Two

  Shawn Keys

  For more information about the Author

  Visit:

  https://authorshawnkeys.wixsite.com/website

  Cover Art by:

  Christina Patricia Myrvold

  Freelance Concept Artist/Illustrator

  To view her portfolio, visit:

  https://www.artstation.com/christinapm

  See Discussion on this title and others on Facebook:

  Harem Lit Facebook Discussion Group

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1520110688072405/

  Edited by: Kristin Noland

  www.kristinnoland.com

  Originally Published by Shawn Keys

  Copyright © January 2021

  ISBN: 978-1-990164-04-0

  Contents

  Prologue

  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

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  Evelyn Foster entered the private hospital room. Two seconds after entering, she understood why the door had been closed. She clicked it shut, then turned to face the bed with a bit of quiet exasperation on her face. “What happened to being discreet, hmm?”

  On the bed, Daniel Toussaint drifted in a haze of pain killers and snuggles, looking totally unrepentant.

  The first of those had been administered via pill a little while ago and were starting to kick in. He avoided opioids religiously for all the normal reasons people feared them, along with a little added paranoia after being falsely accused of using performance enhancing drugs. He wasn’t a professional athlete anymore, but messing around with any sort of addictive substance was playing with fire, in his mind.

  The pain meds he had been given didn’t soothe him in the same way that the snuggles from Cadence Amirault did. Her long, lean athletic body fit against his like a puzzle piece in its proper spot. With one arm and one leg tucked up over him, her lips pressed sweetly against the outer curve of his left pectoral muscle in an unending kiss. Her eyes were closed, and her whole face radiated contentment as Daniel’s arm cradled her against him.

  Daniel rolled his head on the pillow toward Evelyn. The medical bed was inclined to around 20 degrees, making it unnecessary for him to crane his neck in order to see her. If he had to, he would have made the effort. His affection for her would have demanded that. Not to mention that she would be well-worth seeing. The businesswoman made a habit of dressing to kill, and even Daniel’s discomfort wasn’t going to stop him from appreciating her choices for the day. It’s not like any of my injuries are life-threatening. Even if they were, I’d still look.

  She didn’t disappoint. Evelyn had on a pale pink blazer crafted of light material so she could keep cool even in the Caribbean heat. A pleasant weather system had brought persistent, cool winds over Portesara in recent days, but the island positioned not too far west of Trinidad and Tobago, off the coast South America, was guaranteed to return to its normal, hot humidity soon.

  Under Evelyn’s blazer was the pink, silk, sleeveless shirt he had seen her buy a couple days ago. The colorful top was balanced by a night-black skirt cut a tad too short for a professional garment. Unlike most days, she had left her strong, shapely legs bare. Black pumps that cost more than Daniel made in a month as an electrician completed her attire.

  While he loved Evelyn’s predilection for wearing stockings, he wasn’t going to complain at the chance to admire more of her lightly tanned skin. She enjoyed the luxury that her fortune gave her. She bought the best when it came to moisturizing creams, sunscreen and make-up to guard against what could be a merciless sun in this region. She was one of the minority on the island from a mostly Caucasian heritage, and she had told him that she burned all too easily without properly care.

  Her expensive heels clicked in that special way only generated by a woman’s gait while wearing shoes like that. Daniel had come to connect that sound to Evelyn in particular, considering she often kept them on during their lovemaking. Hearing them now brought even more vitality back into him.

  As she approached his bed, he held out his right hand while his other continued to caress softly along Cadence’s back. The pole-vaulting prodigy murmured softly, shaped her lips into another kiss and then settled back into her pleasant nap.

  Despite Evelyn’s initial chastisement, she took Daniel’s offered hand without hesitation. She lifted the back of his hand up to her lips and placed her own tender kiss there. Sighing, she rubbed his hand against her cheek as if confirming he was real. “I’m sorry it took so long for me to get here.”

  “If there was anything you could have done, I would have told you. Rushing over here would only have caused more harm than good,” Daniel answered honestly. He had meant every word he had said when they had spoken on the phone earlier. He gestured down at his body, indicating the bandages wrapped around the worst of his injuries. “None of this is going to kill me.”

  “But they could have killed you. Those men, I mean.” Dark emotions threatened to emerge in her eyes as she recounted the story that she had heard from him and then seen echoed on the news following the arrest of his attackers. “It could have been a lot worse.”

  “Yeah.” Daniel had to admit that. He wasn’t going to say he had gotten lucky. He had! But he had also fought like hell and generated a little of his own luck in doing so. Never give up. You never know what’s going to happen if you keep fighting. His father had taught him that. His old coach had reinforced it. After he had lost his place in the Olympics, he had nearly forgotten it. Boxing had helped, but it was the two women now by his side who had reignited the spark in him. They were as much a reason for him surviving the ordeal as anything. “But they didn’t. Now they’re going to jail. I’m here with you.”

  “You’re giving away our secret,” Evelyn repeated her earlier warning, an eyebrow inclined upward as she looked down the gorgeous, svelte length of their shared lover. Cadence was plainly dressed in a breezy blue shirt and a white skirt. Her sneakers had been kicked off onto the ground, leaving her perfectly sculpted legs unadorned all the way to her toes. Her mass of tightly packed curls was normally braided in the style she preferred when training, but right then her curls were left loose, hanging over Daniel’s arm to lightly tingle his skin.

  Daniel allowed a little guilt to show on his face. “She was exhausted. Maybe still a little tipsy after celebrating. She needed the sleep.” He chuckled. “And I needed her near me.” He shrugged, then gestured out toward the corridor. “I told the nurses I wanted to sleep. They won’t come in unless my vitals start going haywire.”

  “Which they might have done with Cadence sleeping on top of you!” Evelyn jabbed back with pointed humor.

  Daniel answered with an innocent grin. “That’s why we’ve been on our best behavior!”

  “Mmm hmm. I’m still willing to bet your heart is a couple beats faster than normal.” She nodded toward the monitor beeping at his bed side.

  “Even faster since you walked in,” Daniel flickered his eyes up and down her form. “Tempted to try and make room for you on the other side. That would cause a real sensation if the nurses decide to check on me.”

  “Speaking of which, I’m not su
re they think you’re napping. They let me come right in,” Evelyn said.

  Daniel nodded. “That isn’t an accident. I told them you might be bringing news we needed to hear.” He shrugged. “It isn’t even that big a lie, considering you were schmoozing with sponsors all day.”

  Evelyn inclined her head and said, “In keeping with our promise to keep our business and personal lives separate, I’m letting Azélie go over the details with Cadence.”

  “Did ‘the Mouse’ hold her own on her first venture into the big time?” Daniel asked, honestly curious. They had taken a chance in hiring Azélie LaSouris, whose last name loosely translated into the scampering rodent that could provoke both fear and disdain. He had been impressed with the woman’s level head. She had given excellent advice to Cadence thus far, despite being rather new to the field of sports agents.

  Evelyn nodded. “It helped that she had the inside track with one of the most sought-after clients in the field. Cadence put on quite a show by hitting an Olympic qualifying height in her first open competition. You said she had to make a mark at Nationals. Well, she did.” A sad smile formed on her lips. “Which leads me to a little bad news, I’m afraid.”

  “You’re going to steal her away, aren’t you?”

  Another nod. “If she’s willing. And I hope she is. As comfortable as she looks…” Evelyn paused to favor the younger woman with a kindly smile, stroking her cheek with a loving caress. “… it would be in her interest to meet with the Kangaruin executives before they head back to Australia. Azélie lined up a dinner meeting with them. It could mean the difference between a sure-thing where he signs her on the spot and leaving him time to consider others.”

  He struggled through a nod. “You’re right. He might be understanding, assuming he saw the story on the news about her coach getting kidnapped. But he wouldn’t have to be a jerk to not care why he was blown off. They’re taking a risk on an unknown by considering Cadence. She needs to be in that room with him.”

  “How long before you are released?” Evelyn asked.

  “Not long. Honestly, I think they’ll start processing the paperwork as soon as I’m up from my ‘nap’.”

  She chewed on that a second, then suggested, “I could take Cadence in my car, but I’m not sure you should be driving home in hers alone.”

  Daniel shook his head. “We didn’t come in her car. MK drove us here.” An ironic grin quirked its way onto his lips. “And driving me home won’t be a bother for her.”

  “Oh?”

  Daniel sighed. “Cadence might have taken a bit of liberty with offering up your pool house to her.”

  Surprise made the businesswoman’s eyebrows climb toward her hairline. “Might have? Why?”

  “Remember the scene at Nationals between her and Gregoire? Helping her stand up to him was the final reason that asshole snapped on me. Her parents didn’t take her side. They had a massive falling out. She’s pretty much homeless starting tonight.”

  “I’m following so far,” Evelyn admitted, though it was clear she was still missing a large piece of the puzzle.

  “MK is pretty desperate. She doesn’t trust anyone on Gregoire’s team. Most of them hate each other. Gregoire played sick games and set them against each other. Idiot. Anyway, MK trusts Cadence and Irène. When she called, Cadence told her the story of what happened to me.” He sighed. “Not sure I will be able to stop her from feeling guilty about what her coach did. I tried. And I’ll keep trying. But for now, she was determined to help. Gave me a ride when Cadence couldn’t. Along the way, Cadence suggested that she live in the pool house.” He shrugged helplessly. “Sorry.”

  Evelyn struck a judgmental pose. But her huff came out as something more akin to acceptance and sympathy tinged with gentle, good humor. “Ahhh. I… I guess that’s fine. I probably would have done the same.”

  “Helps me out a little as well. She’s hoping I’ll coach her. I still need to talk to her about that before it’s official. If I’m going to do it, having her nearby will minimize the impact on training alongside Cadence. I mean, I know I can help.” Daniel had considered what she had already endured from Gregoire and her parents. “She could use someone who believes in her.”

  Evelyn sighed. “Maybe I’m just feeling a little cautious. There are an awful lot of windows between the main house and the pool area. You moved in so we could all spend time with each other without prying eyes.”

  “That doesn’t have to end,” Daniel said. “I mean, we might have to pull the curtains before we start tearing each other’s clothes off. But MK knows about us.”

  “She does?” Evelyn’s surprise reignited.

  “Nothing that we did! Cadence told her. Or… well, she let it slip when MK picked us up at your house.”

  Evelyn placed her forehead into her palm. “Well, damn.” Another sigh, and then let out a small, self-mocking chuckle. “I’m my own worst enemy. I should have known this couldn’t stay quiet.”

  “We’ve done well to keep the lid on. And I think MK can be trusted.” He insisted, “That’s the best reason for letting her take me home. You take Cadence to Azélie. Make sure she’s ready for that dinner. If anyone can coach Cadence through a business deal, it’s you.”

  His confidence in her made her smile reawaken as if being reminded why her feelings for him were so powerful.

  Daniel went on, “I’ll go to the house and get MK settled. I’ll speak to her about what’s going on and what’s at stake if she lets anyone know. She is old enough to remember what happened to me at the Olympics and how the court of public opinion tore us apart harder than the IOC. I think she’ll get it. Even if I don’t promise to coach her, I think she’s a decent enough person to not give us away.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Evelyn relaxed a little. “For what it’s worth, I think you are. I’ve only met her a few times, but she seems sweet enough. If she managed to remain that kind after being on Gregoire’s team, then she must be something special.” Her gaze returned to Cadence. “It’s a shame to wake her up. She looks so peaceful.”

  “Yeah, well, I’ll be home tonight. I won’t be doing anything too strenuous for a couple weeks yet. We’ll all have plenty of time for snuggling.”

  Evelyn’s wicked smirk emerged. “Oh, I think we might be able to find a few things that aren’t too strenuous on you to let you know how happy we are that you’re home safe.” Mischief played across her face. “Cadence has gotten good at making me do things. And I just got her a new toy to celebrate her victory at Nationals. I haven’t given it to her, yet. But once she sees it, I’m sure she’ll want to try it out. When she bends me over to ravish me with it, I’m not convinced you’ll be able to stay still.”

  The beeping from the monitor at his bedside picked up its pace.

  Evelyn grinned. “Hmm. Seems we really should get Cadence off you. Those nurses are going to rush in here after all.”

  “Your evil side is a mile wide, you know,” Daniel grumbled, though the note of displeasure in his words was completely ruined by the laughter that resonated under his words. He winced in pain as he shifted to ease the sweet torment of his swelling manhood swelling under the blanket.

  “Well then, be sure to discipline me properly later for it,” Evelyn invested the comment with a little sultriness that reminded him once again of her enjoyment at being handled in that way.

  The beeping of the monitor found an even faster pace.

  The repetitive signal was insistent enough that it woke Cadence out of her light slumber. Bleary-eyed, she peered up at Daniel. “Are you alright? Am I hurting you?”

  “Not at all, love.” Daniel leaned down and placed a warm kiss on her forehead. “Evelyn is just having fun.”

  Squinting up at the businesswoman, Cadence asked, “Oh?” As she reached out to raise herself, her hand fell on Daniel’s hardness lurking just out of sight. Her sleepy look dawned into an understanding smile. “Ohhh!” Her grip squeezed around the blankets and then moved with a pumping moti
on.

  Daniel cut in, even though he really didn’t want to, “Now is really not the time.” He gestured with his head at the beeping monitor. “I’m on a lie detector, remember?”

  Laughing, Cadence stretched up toward his face. “At least I know you really like me.” She gave him a warm and lingering kiss, ending it with a brush of her tongue along his lower lip. None of them missed how the monitor seemed to skip a beat. “Mmm, I love you too.”

  Daniel wanted nothing more than to grapple her down to the bed and show her how he really felt. Then drag Evelyn into the mix and share their joy with her. But timing was everything. He might end up popping a few stitches. Bleeding all over the room was sure to kill the mood. “Alright, now they have an irregular rhythm. We’re definitely going to have company!”

  Cadence unleashed a wicked laugh, then spun on her behind and slipped off the bed. She showed great pleasure in emphasizing her firm, tall, athlete’s body that she knew he lusted after. Pole vaulters needed to be sleek yet strong. Strong yet flexible. They had to know how to move every part of their body to generate the power they needed and make sure no wandering limb was caught where they didn’t want it to be. If not, they would ruin what otherwise might be the perfect vault. She also knew he appreciated the dedication that went into honing a body into a slender missile ready to be launched into the air. Fully half of his desire for her was his attraction to her dedication, spirit and willpower to push herself toward success. Despite her and Evelyn’s differences, it was their commitment to success that gave them common ground.

  Enjoying his attention, Cadence got to her feet and padded over to the chairs in the room. Bending over to get her shoes, she gave them both a nice view of her sculpted ass. As she slipped them on her feet, she looked up toward Evelyn. “Did you tell him how we’re going to kill him if he doesn’t take his recovery seriously?”

  “I think we have an understanding,” she said.

  “Wait a second…” Daniel protested. “You said –”