No Time for Love (The No Brides Club Book 1) Read online

  No Time for Love

  No Brides Club, Book 1

  Raine English

  © 2019, Raine English

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  No part of this work may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.

  Sweet Promise Press

  PO Box 72

  Brighton, MI 48116

  To Nikki.

  Your love of animals inspired this book.

  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

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Epilogue

  Sneak Peek

  Acknowledgments

  More from this Series

  More from Sweet Promise Press

  More from Raine English

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  The colors of dusk shot across the Manhattan skyline in vibrant magenta and tangerine, while the lights from the high-rise buildings twinkled like the first stars of the night. The view from the West Ridge penthouse was spectacular and added a bundle to the selling price. It also played a huge role in why her buyer wanted it, making it the largest sale in Kinsley King’s career as a real estate broker. And that was saying a lot because she was among the city’s best.

  She didn’t usually do walk-throughs this late in the day, but it was the only time the Sultan of Mawta’s representative could do it. “Everything you requested has been taken care of,” she said, turning her back on the wall of floor to ceiling windows and strolling into the kitchen. The dark gray soapstone countertops had been replaced with white marble that had been highly polished to bring out the veining and character of the stone. That alone had cost a pretty penny, but the seller was willing to do just about anything to close on the property.

  The tall, slim man ran his hand over the smooth surface. “Very nice. Exactly as requested.”

  Kinsley took him through the rest of the penthouse, letting out a sigh of relief after he left that everything was perfect. She’d been worrying all day that something might go wrong, but so far so good. Now they just had to get through the closing. It wasn’t unheard of for a sale to fall apart at the last minute.

  She needn’t have worried, though. About an hour later, she was headed to her office in Tribeca, one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city, with a nice big check in her hand.

  “My, my, don’t you look like the cat who swallowed the canary,” Sue, her assistant remarked when Kinsley strutted into the office.

  She grinned as she dropped the check on the desk. “Nothing makes me happier than getting both ends of the deal, and this one has me ecstatic.”

  Sue’s mouth dropped open when she saw the hefty commission seventy-five million brought. “Guess I don’t need to ask if you’re celebrating tonight.”

  “Looks like I’m buying dinner for the No Brides Club.” Kinsley looked at her watch. “And I’m late.”

  “That’s right. It’s Thursday.”

  “Has been all day,” she replied with a wink, before heading into her office to change into a sleek little black dress. Three years ago she’d met some fabulous women during Happy Hour at the Briarwood Tavern, an upscale restaurant with a gorgeous roof-top bar. Kinsley had been going there for years. It was her favorite haunt, especially after a stressful day of showings. She used to go alone, have a glass or two of wine while checking her emails, and then head home to her multi-million dollar loft on North Moore Street. However, now she had friends that were just as career-driven as she and who had dreams that didn’t include a husband and kids. Many people would find that selfish, but those women didn’t. They were all on the same page—tired of having their wants and needs pushed aside for a man’s. And that’s why they formed the No Brides Club—a group of like-minded women who had sworn off marriage.

  Kinsley took down from the closet shelf two evening bags—a Chanel and a Gucci—holding them both in front of her. She always had trouble deciding on accessories. Luckily, Sue didn’t have that problem.

  “What do you think? The envelope clutch or the velvet cross-body?” Kinsley stood in front of her assistant’s desk.

  “You know me. I’m a Chanel girl.”

  “Hmmm…” Kinsley handed her the cross-body, then tucked the black satin clutch under her arm. “You’re right of course. Would you mind putting the Gucci back in my office? I’ve got to run!” She didn’t wait for an answer. Sue knew the ins and outs of King Realty and was used to locking up.

  The walk to Church Street was a short one, and Kinsley enjoyed the trek through the neighborhood with its cobblestone streets and cast-iron buildings. The nineteenth-century mercantile architecture was simple, yet beautiful. There wasn’t the hustle and bustle of the Upper East Side, and that was one of the things Kinsley loved most about it. She spent a big part of the day in Manhattan and by nighttime was more than ready to return to the quieter streets of Tribeca.

  When she entered the Briarwood, the usual Wall Street types were at the main bar. Kinsley had to squeeze past them, bumping into the back of a guy with a full glass of beer that nearly ended up all over her new Jimmy Choo shoes.

  The group was at their usual table in the dining room, and she slid into one of the tufted leather banquettes beside Melody Mitchell, a pretty brunette with gorgeous green eyes. They’d met at a showing and had been at the bar celebrating Melody’s new apartment the night they met the other No Brides Club members. Although they were a tight-knit group, Kinsley and Melody had become the best of friends.

  “Sorry I’m late,” she said. “I had a closing. Dinner and drinks are on me tonight.”

  “Well, then it’s lobster and Champagne,” Rachel, an aspiring Broadway actress said with a laugh.

  Kinsley shot her a huge smile. “You go for it, girl. Tonight’s a celebration. I’d been trying to sell the West Ridge penthouse for over six months and could’ve lost the listing if this deal hadn’t worked out.” With that said, when the waitress came by, she ordered a Magnum of Dom Perignon, after which she poured each woman a glass. “You all mean so much to me. I’m extremely grateful that you’re part of my life.” Kinsley raised her flute in a toast.

  She’d just taken a sip when her cell phone rang. “No work tonight,” she said, more to herself than anyone else as she ignored the call and set the phone to vibrate. A moment later it went off again and then again.

  “Maybe you should take it,” Melody advised. “It might be important.”

  “They’re all important,” Kinsley replied, letting it go into voicemail for the third time. “How
ever, tonight I’m not working. This is my time with my girlfriends.” She took a huge sip of champagne. Work was the love of her life, and most of the time she couldn’t get enough of it. Kinsley was smart enough, though, to know that too much of a good thing could cause burnout. She knew when it was time to take a break and those breaks were usually Thursday nights at the Briarwood. But all good intentions came with a price, and that price could mean losing a listing, so a few minutes later, she excused herself and headed to the ladies’ room where she checked her messages. The calls had come from an attorney in Upstate New York. Before she could call him back, her phone rang again. Boy, insistent. Must be an anxious buyer. Her favorite kind. “Hello. Kinsley King here.”

  “Ms. King, this is Robert Sykes, Cora Forrester’s attorney.”

  Her pulse quickened. Why would an attorney be calling about her aunt? “Is Cora okay?” Her voice was high pitched and a little shaky, revealing her inner terror. Besides Kinsley’s father, Cora was her only other relative. If something happened to her… Kinsley’s thoughts were jagging in a million different directions and were interrupted by the man clearing his throat.

  “I’m sorry. I hate to have to tell you this, but Cora passed away,” he said quietly.

  “What?” Her throat felt like it was about to close up. She swallowed hard, but that didn’t help. A picture of the elderly woman’s face appeared in her mind’s eye—short silver pipe-screw curls encircled her round rosy face and her pale blue eyes, so much like Kinsley’s mom’s eyes. She’d never seen her aunt angry or upset. She loved life and had always lived it to the fullest, believing the cup was half full, never empty, even in her darkest of times. Kinsley had tried to emulate that in her own life but usually wound up failing miserably. There was no way she could match Cora’s upbeat attitude.

  She sucked in some much-needed air and then said in a small, squeaky voice, “What happened?”

  She heard his heavy breath on the other end of the phone. “It was a heart attack. She’s at peace. Remember that.”

  When Kinsley didn’t respond, he went on to say, “You’re her main beneficiary. I can mail you a copy of the will, but I think it would be best if you came here to read it. After all, there are the animals to consider. You’re going to have to decide how best to run the sanctuary.”

  Kinsley’s grief quickly turned to shock. “What do you mean, run the sanctuary?”

  “Well, it’s yours now. Although Cora did ask that Dylan Reese stay on as manager, she didn’t make that a provision in the will, so ultimately it’s up to you. If you’d like someone else, you’ll have to let him go. Best to make these decisions right away.”

  “Yes. I suppose it is.” Kinsley sank onto a plush velvet settee. “I have a few things I need to do in the morning. I can be at your office at one. Will that work for you?”

  “That’s fine. I’ll see you then.”

  “Please text me your address.”

  “Will do, Ms. King. Good night.”

  After she hung up the phone, she held her head in her hands and let the tears she’d been holding back flow freely. She hadn’t seen her aunt in ages and guilt tugged at her heart. Kinsley should’ve gone to visit, but time had gotten away from her. There was always something important that required her attention, and that became even more the case after her dad retired and turned the business over to her three years ago. Still, she could’ve taken off a few days…

  She thought back to when her mother died and how devastated she’d been. It was Aunt Cora who’d consoled her, despite having to deal with her own grief at losing her sister. Kinsley had spent a week at the sanctuary and during that time had grown even closer to her aunt as they celebrated Donna King’s life, rather than despairing over the loss of it. That was seven years ago, and the last time she’d been to Forever Wild. She’d been amazed at how well Cora handled the animals, letting the wolves lick her face and the bobcats rub up against her. Kinsley had been terrified, but then she’d never even had a puppy. Animals weren’t in her wheelhouse, but they were her aunt’s entire world. And now she was gone, and Kinsley owned the sanctuary! A new wave of grief washed over her and with it another round of tears.

  When the ladies’ room door swung open, she quickly reached for a tissue from the box on the counter and began to pat at her face. She must look a mess with mascara and eyeliner smeared across her cheeks.

  “Oh, my goodness, Kins!” Melody bent down to give her a hug. “What’s wrong? We were worried because you’ve been gone a while. Does it have something to do with the calls you were getting?”

  Kinsley shook her head. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. When she tried a second time, she croaked, “My aunt died.”

  Melody sat down next to her. “Your Aunt Cora with the animal sanctuary?”

  She nodded.

  “I’m so sorry, honey.”

  “I have to go upstate tomorrow to meet with her attorney, and I’ve got so much to do before I leave.”

  Melody looked square in her eyes. “Just take care of yourself for once. The business will survive while you’re gone.”

  Kinsley balled up the tissue and threw it in the trash. “You know that’s exactly what my aunt would’ve said.”

  “She was a very wise woman.”

  She shot her friend a small smile. “She left Forever Wild to me.”

  Melody’s eyes grew wide. “She did? But you don’t know a thing about animals.”

  “Exactly, so not only do I have to deal with her death, but I also have to decide what to do with my inheritance.”

  Her friend’s brows shot up. “Won’t you just sell it?”

  “That’s obviously the most sensible thing to do. However, my head’s pounding and I can barely think. Please explain to the others why I went home.”

  “Of course. But don’t you want to take some food with you?”

  “Just the thought of eating makes me nauseous. If I get hungry later, I’ll make some soup.” Kinsley reached into her purse for her wallet and then gave Melody more than enough cash to cover dinner and drinks for the women.

  “That’s not necessary,” her friend remarked, trying to give the money back, but Kinsley refused to take it.

  “I said it was on me and I meant it. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration, so I want you all to celebrate for me.”

  “I love you.” Melody kissed her cheek.

  “I love you too. We’ll talk soon.”

  “If there’s anything you need, just give a call.”

  “I will. Good night.” Kinsley’s thoughts were awhirl as she walked home. Images of her mom and Aunt Cora flickered through her mind, and it brought her some comfort knowing they were together in Heaven. But having been bequeathed Forever Wild was a huge problem and one she wasn’t looking forward to dealing with. However, as she walked, the brisk night air helped to clear her muddled brain, and she knew there was only one thing to do. Sell the wildlife sanctuary.

  Chapter 2

  Dylan Reese listened to Nadia howl. Cora had raised the gray wolf from a pup, and the animal’s sorrow at losing her was reflected in its cries. Soon the other wolves joined in, and their hauntingly beautiful song echoed through the night. Nothing would ever be the same at the sanctuary now that its tireless owner was gone. But how big would the changes be? That was the million dollar question and one that Cora’s niece held the answer to. He’d never met Kinsley, but what he knew of her he wasn’t crazy about. She might be beautiful on the outside—she certainly was in the pictures he’d seen, tall and shapely with big brown eyes and long curly blonde hair—but inside she appeared very different. A spoiled rich city girl, who hadn’t visited her aunt in years. Too busy was what Cora had said after every declined invitation. If Kinsley couldn’t make time for her aunt, how was she going to have time for a sanctuary? She wouldn’t; that was a given, leaving no doubt that she would sell it.

  Cora had started Forever Wild in the early seventies in response to the need for a place where
injured, ill, orphaned, and elderly animals would be cared for and be able to live out their lives in a safe environment. Over the years it grew and became home to one of the largest wolf packs in the northeast. When he joined the staff five years ago, he convinced Cora to let scientists and students observe the animals and conduct research. Now, not only were they visited by regional and national institutions, but international as well. All of that could end depending upon what Kinsley decided to do.

  His mind became congested with doubts and fears as he left the wolf enclosure and headed home to the small ranch-style house that sat in the middle of the three hundred acre property.

  Dylan pulled up the collar on his jacket to keep the wild night wind off the back of his neck. It had been an unusually cold May, so when the sun went down, it felt more like winter than spring. When he reached the house, the first thing he did was light a fire in the huge stone fireplace—the focal point of the family room, then he let his three dogs out—Madison, a spunky yellow lab; Benny, a very vocal beagle; and the newest member of the pack, Sunny, a happy-go-lucky pit. After they romped around the backyard a bit, he fed them dinner and then sank onto a well-worn sofa with the dogs cuddled up against him.

  His thoughts once again drifted to Cora’s niece. Robert Sykes had let him know that Kinsley had an early afternoon appointment tomorrow to go over the will and would most likely stop by the sanctuary after that. Dylan appreciated the heads up but wasn’t looking forward to her visit. Once she actually set foot on the property, his entire world could be destroyed. It wouldn’t be easy to find another job. Certainly not like his position at Forever Wild. And besides that, he loved it here. This was his home.