Oona

Oona

CJ Hunt

19.5k Words / Completed
2
Hot
29
Views

Introduction

"Rivers End may be a small town—but the romance is big. This series has everything for readers: humour, romance and the occasional touch of magic." ~Eileen Cook, author of Unpredictable OONA WALSH learned early on that being honest about her gifts only leads to heartbreak and abandonment. But now she’s made a place for herself in Rivers End as the owner of Indulgence, a thriving bakery. There, she can use her powers to help people while flying well under the radar. But when sexy architect Sam Walker throws her carefully constructed world into chaos, she’s faced with a choice that will change her life forever—no matter what she decides. Will revealing her secret cost her the only place that has ever really felt like home?SAM WALKER is finally ready to move on from his messy divorce and start dating again. When he finally gets a shot with Oona, it’s everything he’s been fantasizing about—and then some. Sam’s learned the hard way that a relationship without a foundation of honesty is doomed. But Oona is hiding something from him.Will she come clean and give them a chance? Or has Sam bitten off more that he can chew when it comes to Oona? Come home to Rivers End and fall in love with this ‘sweet with a dash of heat and magic’ small town, contemporary romance. A note from author CJ HuntWelcome to Rivers End! All my stories take place in the same small town and there is no right or wrong way to explore the stories. You can read them in chronological order, by miniseries (family or theme), or just jump in with any book, novella or story that interests you.A Touch of Magic in Rivers EndMerry (Merry+Dillon)Oona (Oona+Sam)The MacAllisters of Rivers EndSilver Bells (Jenna+Isaac, Beginnings)Tipsy (Shannon+Lucas)Reindeer Games (Ginger+Eli)Wedding Bells (Jenna+Isaac, HEA)Elfed (Lindsay+Noah)The O'DonnellsThe List (Selina+Connor)The Martinez FamilyMaybe (Lucie+Daniel)
Read More

Share the book to

facebooktwitterpinterestwhatsappreddit

About Author

CJ Hunt

Chapter 1

CHAPTER

1

I

ndulgence was Oona’s favourite place to be. The bakery was the only place she’d consider spending time so early in the morning other than her bed.

She bustled around the kitchen, collecting ingredients for her double-chocolate cookies and taking stock of her progress with her list for the day. She’d already finished the muffins and scones, the cinnamon buns were in the oven, and she’d moved on to cookies.

On top of the usual customer favourites, she had three large orders to fill for local businesses, so she’d come in when the sun was still asleep. While it was fantastic that business was booming, she’d had to hire an assistant to help her keep up with the volume. That had its ups and downs.

A glance at the clock told her that Jesse was about to walk through the door with a caramel macchiato in hand for her. That was one of the ups. Another was that Jesse was great with the customers. The female customers, especially, loved him.

The downs were a little more complicated.

Knowing she didn’t have much time before Jesse arrived, she put butter, eggs, and sugar into the big stainless steel mixer. When the mixture reached the right consistency, she slowed the speed and added salt, baking powder, and vanilla. A liberal dose of cocoa powder and a dash of cinnamon, a touch of nutmeg and a pinch of cayenne pepper. She liked to surprise people’s taste buds a little, and this recipe had several variations that she loved. Today’s was inspired by Mexican hot chocolate. The spices would get the blood flowing and introduce a little heat into the rich chocolate—and the person who enjoyed it.

She slowly added the flour, and when the dough was just mixed, Oona removed the mixing blades from the bowl, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes.

Her hands over the mixture, she concentrated on words as familiar to her as the other ingredients in the bowl.

She opened her eyes only when she could feel vitality, courage, and self-confidence radiating from the mixture. The red haze stabilized and faded away around the edges of the bowl.

As the doorbell chimed, indicating Jesse’s arrival, Oona set the bowl aside and wiped her hands. He could start his day by spooning balls of dough onto the waiting cookie sheets. She’d even started coaching him on what ingredients went into the mixes. But she never let him watch her do the final step.

Her assistant didn’t know she was a witch. And she intended to keep it that way.

Sam pulled

the helmet off his head and hung it on the bike’s handlebars. Riding to town on trails and back roads was the only way he could justify making the trip to Indulgence so often.

He caught sight of himself in the glass door and cringed. He ran his fingers through sweaty hair, but considering he was covered in mud and soaked in sweat, tidier hair wasn’t likely to make a difference. He was a mess.

It wasn’t quite prime riding season yet, but it was mild for late February. The trails were muddy, and there was a chance he’d run into snow at the higher elevations, but he wouldn’t run into anything too risky if he stuck close to town. He’d spent too much time this winter rotating between his drafting table, his computer desk, and the bakery. He got antsy when he spent too much time inside.

His stomach growled, reminding him that there were cinnamon buns waiting inside. He pushed through the glass doors and into heaven.

The aromas from the ovens were the first thing to hit as they wafted out and filled the front of the bakery. She’d made something chocolate this morning. And the underlying cinnamon scent made his mouth water.

At least until he got to the counter. Then something else got his juices flowing. Oona was leaning down, fiddling with something in the display case. It was always hot in the bakery, and for that he was thankful. It meant she had no need to bundle up. Today, her T-shirt was hot pink, and the low V-neck offered a view that beat out the cinnamon buns for mouth-watering. He caught a glimpse of black lace and cleavage before she stood up and flashed him a smile that fried his brain. “Good morning, Sam.”

It is

now

, he thought. His mind might have melted into a puddle, but his body was wide awake and standing at attention.

Oona handed over a cinnamon bun on a napkin, and he felt a jolt of electric current when their hands brushed. Could she feel it too?

“You know, one day I might surprise you and ask for something different.”

Like a date.

Oona laughed. “One day you might. Is today that day?”

Muddy and sweaty from the ride, he thought maybe it was

not

the day to finally get up the guts to ask her out. He took a bite of the cinnamon bun and leaned against the counter. His mood brightened immediately. “Your cinnamon buns are out of this world. I swear they’ve put a spell on me.” Just like she did. He couldn’t seem to stay away for more than a day or two at a time. “What do you put in these?”

Oona smiled. “All the usual things, with a dash of rainbows and moonbeams.”

Sam laughed. Her smile—playful, with just a hint of mystery—slayed him. He wondered what was going on in her head. And what she did when she wasn’t at the bakery.

He felt a flash of irritation as the bell over the door signalled another customer. He handed her a twenty and put the change into his pocket, stepping aside as the new arrival took his place at the register.

“Enjoy your cinnamon bun, Sam.” A timer went off in the back of the bakery, and she headed through the door as her assistant took over out front, bagging up cookies for the guy in a suit who looked like he was buying for the whole office.

He really needed to ask her out so they could have a conversation that lasted longer than the time between customers in the shop.

But that would be risky. And he was a man who avoided risk.

He always felt clearer, more creative, on the days he made the jaunt into town. It was probably the fresh air and exercise from riding. Or maybe it was the adrenaline boost he got every time he looked at Oona. The way that T-shirt hugged her curves would fuel his fantasies for a couple more days. At least until he replaced the picture with whatever she had on the next time he saw her.

She favoured bold colours and plunging necklines at work, a style choice he totally supported. What did she wear when she wasn’t at work? Where did she go? A couple of times he’d hung out at Just One More, the local pub, hoping she might come in, but he hadn’t seen her. And after a few weeks, he’d given up. He hadn’t been there for a while. Maybe he should try again this weekend.

He could, of course, just

ask

about her plans for the weekend. But he didn’t want to come across as a stalker by showing up somewhere she said she’d be.

Rivers End was small enough that if she shot him down, it would be difficult to avoid each other. And Indulgence was the only place in town he could get cinnamon buns like this.

When it came to flirting, he was out of practice. She was the first woman in a long time who made his pulse speed up. The first woman since his divorce who genuinely sparked his interest.

Maybe his sister was right, and it was time to rejoin the dating world. He’d been careful never to mention his interest in Oona, however. The last thing he wanted was his sister sticking her nose into his personal life when it actually mattered.

She’d been persistent, but he just wasn’t interested in any of the women she’d tried to set him up with. There wasn’t anything wrong with them. But none of them hit anywhere past

fine

on the dial.

Oona? On the dial, Oona hit

hell, yes

.

He took a seat at the table in the corner where he could catch the odd glimpse of Oona working away in the back, emerging occasionally to put out another tray of cookies or chat with customers. He watched how she responded to the other people who came and went—a large number of them, incidentally, men around his age. But she mostly baked, while her helper handled the front.

Interesting.

He’d just have to treat this whole dating thing like his next design project. A good architect got the lay of the land before deciding what to build on a site. He would figure out what she liked to do, make sure she didn’t have a boyfriend among the regular stream of guys who came through the door, and work his way up to asking her out.

In the meantime, he’d enjoy his cinnamon bun and scope out the competition.

Oona retreated

to the back room, leaving Jesse to deal with the customers out front. She threw the ingredients for Bliss Balls into a bowl, her hands on autopilot as she dwelled on the mud-splattered hottie sitting out front. She’d make a little something to cool the heat in her blood. Because that man looked good enough to eat.

He looked like he’d been rolling around in mud puddles, but she couldn’t bring herself to care that she was going to have to wipe down his chair when he left. Judging by the bike and the mud, he’d been riding the trails at the edges of town. Most people looked dorky in cycling clothes, but he wore looser shorts with a slightly padded seat and zippered pockets, making him look fit and sporty.

She bet he’d clean up well. She’d be more than willing to help him soap off all that mud in a steamy shower. But sauntering over to his table and offering might come off a little… forward, what with them having never exchanged more than a few words at a time.

For more than three months, he’d come in every couple of days to grab a cinnamon bun. She wasn’t sure if it was coincidence that he showed up just before Jesse started work each morning, or if that was a product of his work schedule. Not for the first time, she wished her Gift included Sight. For a minute this morning, she’d thought he was going to ask her out.

She’d been pretty damn patient, but the man moved slower than a lazy snail. She could see he was interested by the colours swirling around him, but something was holding him back. Maybe he had a girlfriend. She didn’t want to make a regular customer feel uncomfortable by making a move on him, but it wasn’t too often someone came along who set her stomach—and other parts—tingling just by walking through the door.

That was too rare to waste.

She would go back out there, give him one more shot at asking her out, and then she would do it herself. He might be cautious, but life had taught her that you didn’t get what you wanted by sitting around waiting for it to come to you. Some things were worth a little risk.

Oona washed her hands—she’d finish the Bliss Balls once she’d sorted things out with Sam—and ducked into the staff bathroom for a quick mirror check. With her hair pulled back from her face as it always was at work, her lipstick reapplied, and a slight adjustment of the girls, she was ready.

Time to find out if there was potential for a fire along with those sparks.

Oona walked out from the back just in time to see Sam’s very fine ass settle itself onto the bike outside her shop window. He tucked a microfibre towel into a zippered pocket before riding away.

Not only was the man sexy as hell, he was also a pretty nice guy. It looked like she wouldn’t need to clean up his mess after all—in the shop, or in the shower. Unfortunately.

But he’d be back. After all, there was no question how he felt about her cinnamon buns. And when he returned, she’d find out if he was interested in more than her baking.

Comments

No comments yet.

You Might Like 😍

My Marked Luna

My Marked Luna

Completed · Sunshine Princess
"Will you continue to disobey me?" he asks, his gaze cool and hard.
"Yes,"
He exhales, raises his hand, and brings it down to slap my naked as again... harder than before. I gasp at the impact. It hurts, but it is so hot, and sexy.
"Will you do it again?"
"No,"
"No, what?"
"No, Sir,"
"Best girl," he brings his lips to kiss my behind while he caresses it softly.
"Now, I'm going to fck you," He sits me on his lap in a straddling position. We lock gazes. His long fingers find their way to my entrance and insert them.
"You're soaking for me, baby," he is pleased. He moves his fingers in and out, making me moan in pleasure.
"Hmm," But suddenly, they are gone. I cry as he leaves my body aching for him. He switches our position within a second, so I'm under him. My breath is shallow, and my senses are incoherent as I anticipate his hardness in me. The feeling is fantastic.
"Please," I beg. I want him. I need it so badly.
"So, how would you like to come, baby?" he whispers.
Oh, goddess!


Apphia's life is harsh, from being mistreated by her pack members to her mate rejecting her brutally. She is on her own. Battered on a harsh night, she meets her second chance mate, the powerful, dangerous Lycan Alpha, and boy, is she in for the ride of her life. However, everything gets complicated as she discovers she is no ordinary wolf. Tormented by the threat to her life, Apphia has no choice but to face her fears. Will Apphia be able to defeat the iniquity after her life and finally be happy with her mate? Follow for more.
Warning: Mature Content
573.7k Views
The Shadow Of A Luna

The Shadow Of A Luna

Completed · The Moon Goddess
All of a sudden there was a growl that ripped through the room and the band stopped playing and I heard something smash. Like it was a wooden chair or something.
Everyone looked in that direction and there was a man standing there that I had never noticed before. He would have been in his early 20's, brown hair to his shoulders, a brown goatee, 6-foot 6 at least and very defined muscles that were now tense as his intense gaze was staring directly at me and Mason.
But I didn't know who he was. I was frozen in the spot and this man was just staring at us with pure hatred in his eyes. But then I realized that the hatred was for Mason. Not me.
"Mine." He demanded.
958.8k Views
Surrendering to Destiny

Surrendering to Destiny

Completed · Allison Franklin
Catherine is not only a rogue half-breed, she is also the result of mate-bond infidelity, was abandoned as a baby and, to top it off, she can only shift during the full moon. When Catherine left the only pack she'd ever known in order to escape the new alpha, the last thing she expected was to find her mate... let alone for him to be the mouth-watering, heavily tattooed, lead warrior of the most feared lycan pack on the continent.

Graham MacTavish wasn't prepared to find his mate in the small town of Sterling that borders the Blackmoore Packlands. He certainly didn't expect her to be a rogue, half-breed who smelled of Alpha blood. With her multi-colored eyes, there was no stopping him from falling hard the moment their mate bond snapped into place. He would do anything to claim her, protect her and cherish her no matter the cost.

From vengeful ex-lovers, pack politics, species prejudice, hidden plots, magic, kidnapping, poisoning, rogue attacks, and a mountain of secrets including Catherine's true parentage there is no shortage of things trying to tear the two apart.

Despite the hardships, a burning desire and willingness to trust will help forge a strong bond between the two... but no bond is unbreakable. When the secrets kept close to heart are slowly revealed, will the two be able to weather the storm? Or will the gift bestowed upon Catherine by the moon goddess be too insurmountable to overcome?
476.4k Views
Crowned by Fate

Crowned by Fate

Completed · Tina Savage
“You think I’d share my mate? Just stand by and watch while you fuck another woman and have her kids?”
“She’d just be a Breeder, you would be the Luna. Once she’s pregnant, I wouldn’t touch her again.” my mate Leon’s jaw tightened.
I laughed, a bitter, broken sound.
“You’re unbelievable. I’d rather accept your rejection than live like that.”


As a girl without a wolf, I left my mate and my pack behind.
Among humans, I survived by becoming a master of the temporary: drifting job to job… until I became the best bartender in a dusty Texas town.
That’s where Alpha Adrian found me.
No one could resist the charming Adrian, and I joined his mysterious pack hidden deep in the desert.
The Alpha King Tournament, held once every four years, had begun. Over fifty packs from across North America were competing.
The werewolf world was on the verge of a revolution. That’s when I saw Leon again...
Torn between two Alphas, I had no idea that what awaited us wasn’t just a competition—but a series of brutal, unforgiving trials.
Author Note:New book out now! The River Knows Her Name
Mystery, secrets, suspense—your next page-turner is here.
The Matchmaker

The Matchmaker

Ongoing · Sophie Smith
Saphira White has spent her life as an outcast—unloved, ignored, and falsely accused of a crime she didn’t commit. Abandoned by her mother and raised in the ruthless Silvermoon Pack, she’s treated as nothing more than a shadow. When her step-sister Ruby brands her a murderer, the pack delivers the cruellest punishment of all: exile to the Matchmaker, the most feared institution in supernatural history.

No one escapes the Matchmaker unscathed. The process is simple—each participant is paired with a supernatural being, often sealing their fate with blood. Death is the most common outcome, and Saphira expects nothing less. But when the impossible happens, she is matched with a creature so legendary, so powerful, that even the bravest tremble at its name—a royal dragon.

Now bound to an ancient force of destruction, Saphira finds herself among the royal pack. With them, she navigates a world of power, deception, and destiny. As she walks this new path, familiar faces resurface, bringing long-buried secrets to light. Her heritage—once a mystery—begins to unravel, revealing a truth that may change everything.
Alpha's White Lie

Alpha's White Lie

Ongoing · Shazza Writes
“I want you. All of you. Your past, your present and your future. You are beautiful Rosalie and I wish I could show you how beautiful through my eyes.” He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled my flush against his chest.


When a new guy moves into the empty apartment across the hall, Rosalie Peters finds herself lured towards the hunky man. Blake Cooper is a very hot, successful, and wealthy businessman with a life built on a little white lie.
Rosy’s life, on the other hand, is full of mystery. She’s hiding a secret that would tear apart love and friendship.
As the secrets in Rosy’s life start to unfold, she finds herself seeking refuge with Blake.
What Rosy didn’t anticipate was Blake’s admiration for her was so much more than just love; It was supernatural.
Life for Rosy changes when she discovers that Blake’s biggest secret was animalistic and so much bigger than hers!
Will Blake’s white lies make or break his relationship with Rosy?
How will Rosy adjust to all the secrets that throw her life into chaos?
And what will happen when Blake’s twin brother, Max, comes forward to claim his twin bond with Rosy’s?!
My Billionaire Husband Wants an Open Marriage

My Billionaire Husband Wants an Open Marriage

Ongoing · Anna Kendra
“What do you do when the love of your life wants to love someone else?”
"I want an open marriage. I want sex. And I just can’t do that with you anymore."
“How can you do this to me, Tristan? After everything?”
Sophia’s heart breaks when her husband, Tristan, pushes for an open marriage after twelve years of marriage, saying her life as a housewife and mom has killed their spark. Desperate to hold their twelve-year bond together, Sophia reluctantly agrees.
But what hits worse than the open marriage is how quickly her husband dives into the dating pool, even going as far as to violate their set boundaries.
Hurt and angry, Sophia escapes to her art school, where she meets Nathaniel Synclair, a charming new sponsor who lights a fire in her. They talk, and Nathaniel suggests a wild idea: he’ll pretend to be her fake lover to get back at her husband’s double standards.
Caught in the love triangle between her broken marriage and Nathaniel’s pull, Sophia hesitates, sparking a mix of want, lies, and truth that shakes up all she knows about love, trust, and who she really is.
The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride

The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride

Completed · Riley Above Story
On the day Evelyn thought Liam would propose, he shocked her by getting down on one knee—for her stepsister, Samantha. As if that betrayal wasn’t enough, Evelyn learned the cruel truth: her parents had already decided to sell one daughter’s future to a dangerous man: the infamous War God Alpha Alexander, who was rumored to be scarred and crippled after a recent accident. And the bride could’t be their precious daughter Samantha. However, when the "ugly and crippled" Alpha revealed his true self—an impossibly handsome billionaire with no trace of injury—Samantha had a change of heart. She was ready to dump Liam and take Evelyn's place as the family daughter who should marry Alexander.
Yet Alexander made his decision clear to the world: “Evelyn is the only woman I will ever marry.”
Letting Go

Letting Go

Completed · Becky j
Molly's life was perfect. She was married to her high school sweetheart, surrounded by her friends and family and she was looking forward to the future. But that all ends one tragic night when her whole world is turned upside down.
That fateful night leads to Molly and her best friend Tom holding a secret close to their hearts but keeping this secret could also mean destroying any chance of a new future for Molly.
When Tom's oldest brother Christian meets Molly his dislike for her is instant and he puts little effort into hiding it. The problem is he's attracted to her just as much as he dislikes her and staying away from her starts to become a battle, a battle that he's not sure he can win.
When Molly's secret is revealed and she’s forced to face the pain from her past can she find the strength to stay and work through the pain or will she run away from everything she knows including the one man who gives her hope for a happy future? Hope that she never thought she would feel again.
The Rejected Luna: From Outcast to Alpha Queen

The Rejected Luna: From Outcast to Alpha Queen

Completed · Daisy Swift
Five years. Five years I gave everything to Paxton Sterling—my heart, my body, my wolf's soul. I built his empire as Chief Strategy Officer while wearing his mark like a badge of honor.

Then she came back.

Layla—my pure-blooded half-sister with her perfect smile and poison tongue. Within days of her return from Europe, Paxton was ready to throw me away like yesterday's news.

"I want to sever our bond, Freya. Lyra is my true mate."

Wrong move, Alpha.

He thinks I'm just another submissive mate who'll quietly disappear. He's forgotten I'm a mixed-blood Alpha who's been playing nice for far too long. While he's busy playing house with my backstabbing sister, Lucas Morgan—the most dangerous Alpha in the territory—is making me an offer I can't refuse.

Paxton wants to discard me? Fine.

But he's about to learn that some women don't just walk away—they burn everything down on their way out.

I'm done being the good girl. Done being the perfect mate. Done hiding what I really am.
Alpha Nicholas's Little Mate

Alpha Nicholas's Little Mate

Ongoing · Becky j
"Mate is here!"
What? No—wait… oh Moon Goddess, no.
Please tell me you're joking, Lex.
But she's not. I can feel her excitement bubbling under my skin, while all I feel is dread.
We turn the corner, and the scent hits me like a punch to the chest—cinnamon and something impossibly warm. My eyes scan the room until they land on him. Tall. Commanding. Beautiful.
And then, just as quickly… he sees me.
His expression twists.
"Fuck no."
He turns—and runs.
My mate sees me and runs.
Bonnie has spent her entire life being broken down and abused by the people closest to her including her very own twin sister. Alongside her best friend Lilly who also lives a life of hell, they plan to run away while attending the biggest ball of the year while it's being hosted by another pack, only things don't quite go to plan leaving both girls feeling lost and unsure about their futures.
Alpha Nicholas is 28, mateless, and has no plans to change that. It's his turn to host the annual Blue Moon Ball this year and the last thing he expects is to find his mate. What he expects even less is for his mate to be 10 years younger than him and how his body reacts to her. While he tries to refuse to acknowledge that he has met his mate his world is turned upside down after guards catch two she-wolves running through his lands.
Once they are brought to him he finds himself once again facing his mate and discovers that she's hiding secrets that will make him want to kill more than one person.
Can he overcome his feelings towards having a mate and one that is so much younger than him? Will his mate want him after already feeling the sting of his unofficial rejection? Can they both work on letting go of the past and moving forward together or will fate have different plans and keep them apart?
272.1k Views
The CEO's Contractual Wife

The CEO's Contractual Wife

Ongoing · Gregory Ellington
Olivia Morgan’s world is turned upside down when she walks in on her boyfriend betraying her with her friend. Devastated and drowning in debt, she’s thrust into an unlikely arrangement with Alexander Carter, the cold and calculating CEO of Carter Enterprises. In exchange for a year-long marriage of convenience, Olivia receives the money she desperately needs—and a promotion she never expected. But as their fake relationship blurs the lines between business and pleasure, Olivia finds herself torn between the man who offers her everything and the business rival who wants her heart. In a world where betrayal is just a step away and desire burns hot, Olivia must navigate her emotions, her career, and a dangerous game of power, passion, and secrets. Can she keep her heart guarded while falling deeper into a billionaire’s web of lust and love? Or will Alexander’s cold heart melt in the heat of their undeniable chemistry?
Take you Fall into Fantasy.

Download AnyStories App to discover more Fantasy Stories.