What If You
Sandi Lynn
Sandi Lynn Romance, LLC
Contents
What If You
Mission Statement
Books by Sandi Lynn
Introduction
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
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
What If You
New York Times, USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author
Sandi Lynn
What If You
Copyright © 2021 Sandi Lynn Romance, LLC
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Created with Vellum
Mission Statement
Sandi Lynn Romance
Providing readers with romance novels that will whisk them away
to another world and from the daily grind of life – one book at a time.
Books by Sandi Lynn
If you haven’t already done so, please check out my other books. Escape from reality and into the world of romance. I’ll take you on a journey of love, pain, heartache and happily ever afters.
Series:
Forever Series
Forever Black (Forever, Book 1)
Forever You (Forever, Book 2)
Forever Us (Forever, Book 3)
Being Julia (Forever, Book 4)
Collin (Forever, Book 5)
A Forever Family (Forever, Book 6)
A Forever Christmas (Holiday short story)
Wyatt Brothers
Love, Lust & A Millionaire (Wyatt Brothers, Book 1)
Love, Lust & Liam (Wyatt Brothers, Book 2)
A Millionaire’s Love
Lie Next To Me (A Millionaire’s Love, Book 1)
When I Lie with You (A Millionaire’s Love, Book 2)
Happened Series
Then You Happened (Happened Series, Book 1)
Then We Happened (Happened Series, Book 2)
Redemption Series
Carter Grayson (Redemption Series, Book 1)
Chase Calloway (Redemption Series, Book 2)
Jamieson Finn (Redemption Series, Book 3)
Damien Prescott (Redemption Series, Book 4)
Interview Series
The Interview: New York & Los Angeles Part 1
The Interview: New York & Los Angeles Part 2
Love Series:
Love In Between (Love Series, Book 1)
The Upside of Love (Love Series, Book 2)
Wolfe Brothers
Elijah Wolfe (Wolfe Brothers, Book 1)
Nathan Wolfe (Wolfe Brothers, Book 2)
Mason Wolfe (Wolfe Brothers, Book 3)
Standalone Books
The Billionaire’s Christmas Baby
His Proposed Deal
The Secret He Holds
The Seduction of Alex Parker
Something About Lorelei
One Night In London
The Exception
Corporate A$$ETS
A Beautiful Sight
The Negotiation
Defense
Playing The Millionaire
#Delete
Behind His Lies
One Night In Paris
Perfectly You
The Escort
The Ring
The Donor
Rewind
Remembering You
When I’m With You
LOGAN (A Hockey Romance)
Introduction
Fear is the common response to things we can’t believe in or conceive in our minds. We fear the unknown. Things we can’t understand.
Everly
I was different, and I lived my life as low key as possible. My childhood wasn’t easy, and relationships never worked out, so I stopped trying. I accepted the fact that I would more than likely grow old alone, and I was okay with that. The more men got to know me, the faster they ran. Then I met Asher Remington under unusual circumstances. For him, it was unusual, but for me, it was the norm. I was sent to New York to convince him not to go through with a merger that would end up destroying him and the company his father worked so hard to build. He thought I was crazy until he discovered the truth in what I had told him after he kicked me out of his hotel suite. My job was complete, and I needed to forget about him. But after spending one beautiful night together, it became impossible. The more time we spent together, the harder I fell. He was living in the shadow of a lie, only he didn’t know it. If we were to have a chance together, he needed to know the truth, and he needed to put the past to rest.
Asher
Everly King was crazy. She was the craziest yet most beautiful woman I’d ever known. We met under very unusual circumstances. She saved me from making what would have been the most destructive decision of my life. I owed her. After spending one night with her, I craved more. Even though there were things about her that frightened me, I didn’t want to stop seeing her. Then I let my guard down and feelings emerged. I couldn’t allow it, and I needed to stick by the decision I’d made several years ago after an incident determined the course of my life. I needed to forget about her and let her go. There was no “us,” and there never would be. The problem was the fear I had inside was giving in and it tried to reason with me. It kept asking the same thing over and over: what if you…
Prologue
I stood in the center of the ballroom as my eyes diverted to the corner where he stood. He was six feet two inches tall with brown hair that was meticulously cut in a classic crew style. The expensive black tuxedo he wore hugged his muscular body. With the slight turn of his head, he glanced my way. Blue eyes, sculpted cheekbones and a strong masculine jawline with a five o’clock shadow. The corners of his mouth curved upward as he stared at me. The small smile that graced his lips was approving, irresistible and infectious. The faint scent of his cologne lingered through the air. A scent made up of Bergamot, Sweet Persimmon and Patchouli. His gaze left mine as he exited through the large double doors. Holding up the silver sparkly long gown I wore, I ran across the room and followed him into the lobby of the hotel where I saw him walk out into the dark streets of the city.
Suddenly, I found myself standing next to the mysterious and handsome man in front of a tall glass building. With his hands tucked tightly in his pants pockets, he looked up as the e
ntire building came crashing down, floor by floor. Looking to my right, I spotted an older man. He had salt and pepper hair, black rimmed glasses and he wore a designer gray pinstripe suit. He held a drink in his hand. Scotch, I think. Two ice cubes. The look on his face was sinister as he stared at the handsome man. It started to rain. As I looked up, I lifted my hands as the particles falling from the sky fell into them. They weren’t raindrops. They were fragments of dollar bills that were burned to ashes. The mysterious man turned and stared at me as despair and anguish splayed across his face.
My eyes flew open as my heart raced out of my chest. Quickly sitting up, I took in a deep breath and grabbed the phone on my nightstand to check the time. It was three a.m. Taking in another deep breath, I laid down, pulled the covers over me and fell back asleep.
1
Everly
“Everly, over here!” Diana shouted and waved her hand in the air as I stepped inside the gate at LaGuardia Airport.
I let out a screech as I set down my carry-on bag and hugged her.
“I’m so happy you’re here. It’s been way too long.” She hugged me tight.
“It’s been two months since you and Daniel were in Rhode Island for a visit.” I laughed as I broke our embrace.
“Still, it seems like eternity.” A bright smile graced her face as she picked up my bag from the floor and threw it over her shoulder.
“Well, you have me for three whole months.” The corners of my mouth curved upward as I laid my head on her shoulder and we headed toward baggage claim to fetch my luggage.
Diana Lafferty and I had become close friends since she started dating my cousin, Daniel, three years ago. They both grew up and lived in Rhode Island, and when Daniel was promoted to detective and secured a spot for the NYPD, they decided it was time to move in together. They had been trying to get me to come to New York for a visit since they’d moved a year ago, but the timing always seemed off, until the dreams started happening.
“So, how is business?” Diana asked as we climbed into a cab.
“Business is good. I’ve secured some new clients here in the city I’m meeting with.”
“I can’t believe my boss called an emergency meeting, and I have to go into work. He knew I had the day off. He is such a jerk.”
I placed my hand on her shoulder and gave her a small smile.
“It’s okay. I told you before I came that I’d find my way to your apartment and not to worry about me.”
“But I had plans to show you around the city.” A pout formed on her lips.
“We have plenty of time for that.”
Diana reached in her purse, pulled out a key and handed it to me.
“I had an extra key to the apartment made for you.”
“Thanks.” I gave her a smile as the cab pulled up to the curb of her building.
The driver climbed out and grabbed my carry-on and large suitcase from the trunk.
“I’m so happy you’re here and so is Daniel. I’ll see you later when I get home.” Diana hugged me. “I’m nervous about this meeting. With my boss you never know which way it’s going to go.”
“It’s apartment 21C. Take the elevator up to the 21st floor and make a left. You can’t miss it.”
“Got it.” I shut the door, grabbed my bags and headed inside the building located at 10 E. & 29th street.
“Can I help you, ma’am?”
“I’m looking for Detective Langley.”
“And you are?”
“His cousin, Everly.”
“I’ll be damned. You’re finally here!” Daniel exclaimed as he walked towards me and gave me a hug. “How are you, cuz?”
“I’m fabulous. It’s good to see you, Daniel.”
“Good to see you too.”
He broke our embrace and led me over to his desk.
“Everly, I’d like you to meet my partner, James Alden. James, this is my cousin, Everly.”
“It’s nice to meet you, James.” I extended my hand to him.
“Trust me. The pleasure is all mine. I’ve heard so much about you.” He lightly shook my hand.
“All good, I hope.” I glanced at Daniel.
“Nothing but the best.” Daniel gave me a wink. “Diana called and said she dropped you off at the apartment. Did you find your room okay?”
“If it’s the one with the pink sign on the door that says ‘Everly’s Room,’ then yes, I found it just fine.” I lightly punched his shoulder. “I can’t believe you have that. Where did you find it?”
“In the basement at Grandma Tillie’s right before I moved here. I asked her if I could take it with me.”
“You’re weird.” I laughed.
“Maybe just a little. But not as weird as you. What brings you by the station?”
“I just wanted to see where my hot shot detective cousin works.” The corners of my mouth curved upward.
“Langley, Alden,” an older man stepped out of his office, “a body was found in one of the rooms at the Archer. You two need to get down there.”
“Right away, Captain,” Daniel spoke as he grabbed his cell phone from his desk. “I have to run. I’ll see you tonight.” He lightly kissed my cheek.
I took a cab back to the apartment, made a cup of coffee, grabbed my laptop and took a seat on the oversized comfy couch Diana always gushed about since the day they bought it. As I was doing some work, I could feel the heaviness in my eyes and wondered why the caffeine hadn’t kicked in. Closing my laptop, I placed it next to me and curled up on the couch for a twenty-minute power nap.
I found myself on the dark and quiet street where the gray and starless sky laid its blanket over the city. Looking ahead, I took note of the only streetlamp that was brightly lit. Why was that one working and not the others? I picked up the pace down the concrete pavement and as I approached the corner, I saw a man standing underneath the light. He turned his head and stared at me. He was an older man who stood about six feet tall with a medium build and gray hair. He was distinguished and wore a tailored black suit with a red print tie.
“What happened here?” I asked him.
His eyes left mine as he stared straight ahead and pointed his finger.
“You need to help him. My son needs your help.”
“Help with what?”
“You must help him,” he spoke as he kept pointing his finger. “Go now!”
I crossed the street and continued going straight until I found myself in front of a tall glass building. The building was pitch black except for one office on the twentieth floor. Stepping into the lobby, I heard the ding of the elevator. When I turned around, the doors opened, so I stepped inside. The button to the twentieth floor was illuminated as the doors shut and the elevator rose up. When I stepped out, I followed a dim light down the hallway until I reached a conference room. Conference Room A, my eyes diverted to the door. Placing my hand on the handle and carefully opening it, I saw the handsome man sitting down, and across from him was the other man with the salt and pepper hair and black rimmed glasses. Another man was seated at the table with them. Bald, with a round face and small eyes. The handsome man picked up a pen and signed the papers in front of them.
“There. It’s done.” He handed the papers to the bald man.
“Excellent. Your father would be proud of you, Asher.” His smile was threatening.
“Yes, my dear nephew. Your father would be so proud,” the man with the black rimmed glasses spoke.
He turned to the bald-headed man.
“Thank you for everything, Leo. This deal wouldn’t have been possible without your help. My father trusted you with his life and his company.”
The bald man smiled at him as he and the man with the black rimmed glasses walked out of the room. Suddenly, particles started falling from the ceiling as the building began to violently shake. Looking up, I held out my hand as
fragments of burnt dollar bills fell into it.
“Sir, we have to get out of here!” I shouted to the handsome man who stood at the window, staring out into the dark city.
He couldn’t hear me as the entire floor collapsed, taking us down with it.
I let out a large gasp as my eyes flew open and I quickly sat up.
“Everly, are you okay?” Diana asked as she placed her hand on my arm.
“Yeah. What time is it?” I asked as I tried to catch my breath.
“It’s five o’clock,” she spoke with concern. “I just got home. It seemed like you were having some kind of nightmare.”
“Yeah. I guess I was.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” I placed my hand on my forehead.
She could tell there was a hint of uncertainty in my voice.
“Is there something you need to do?” Her eye narrowed at me.
“Honestly, I’m not sure.”