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 😍

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.”
Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother

Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother

Ongoing · Harper Rivers
Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother.

"What is wrong with me?

Why does being near him make my skin feel too tight, like I’m wearing a sweater two sizes too small?

It’s just newness, I tell myself firmly.

He’s my boyfirend’s brother.

This is Tyler’s family.

I’m not going to let one cold stare undo that.

**

As a ballet dancer, My life looks perfect—scholarship, starring role, sweet boyfriend Tyler. Until Tyler shows his true colors and his older brother, Asher, comes home.

Asher is a Navy veteran with battle scars and zero patience. He calls me "princess" like it's an insult. I can't stand him.

When My ankle injury forces her to recover at the family lake house, I‘m stuck with both brothers. What starts as mutual hatred slowly turns into something forbidden.

I'm falling for my boyfriend's brother.

**

I hate girls like her.

Entitled.

Delicate.

And still—

Still.

The image of her standing in the doorway, clutching her cardigan tighter around her narrow shoulders, trying to smile through the awkwardness, won’t leave me.

Neither does the memory of Tyler. Leaving her here without a second thought.

I shouldn’t care.

I don’t care.

It’s not my problem if Tyler’s an idiot.

It’s not my business if some spoiled little princess has to walk home in the dark.

I’m not here to rescue anyone.

Especially not her.

Especially not someone like her.

She’s not my problem.

And I’ll make damn sure she never becomes one.

But when my eyes fell on her lips, I wanted her to be mine.
Accidentally Yours

Accidentally Yours

Ongoing · Merffy Kizzmet
“Who the hell are you and why are you tied to my bed?”

Lola Marlowe’s morning-after is a disaster. She’s got a killer hangover, zero memory of Burning Man, and a half-naked, sculpted stranger tied to her bed with her own lavender silk ropes. To make matters infinitely worse, the furious (and frustratingly handsome) “accidental hostage” is Enzo Marchesi, Vegas’s most notorious mafia Don.

For Enzo, this is the ultimate security breach. But the fiery, unpredictable tattoo artist is the most intriguing thing to happen to him in years. To stop his crew from “neutralizing” the threat, he makes an impulsive claim: she’s his fiancée.

Thrust into a world of high-stakes lies and feral attraction, they must navigate rival families and their own explosive chemistry.

One wrong move sparked it. Now neither of them wants out.
1.2m Views
The Prison Project

The Prison Project

Ongoing · Bethany Donaghy
The government's newest experiment in criminal rehabilitation - sending thousands of young women to live alongside some of the most dangerous men held behind bars...

Can love tame the untouchable? Or will it only fuel the fire and cause chaos amongst the inmates?

Fresh out of high school and suffocating in her dead-end hometown, Margot longs for her escape. Her reckless best friend, Cara, thinks she's found the perfect way out for them both - The Prisoner Project - a controversial program offering a life-changing sum of money in exchange for time spent with maximum-security inmates.

Without hesitation, Cara rushes to sign them up.

Their reward? A one-way ticket into the depths of a prison ruled by gang leaders, mob bosses, and men the guards wouldn't even dare to cross...

At the centre of it all, meets Coban Santorelli - a man colder than ice, darker than midnight, and as deadly as the fire that fuels his inner rage. He knows that the project may very well be his only ticket to freedom - his only ticket to revenge on the one who managed to lock him up and so he must prove that he can learn to love…

Will Margot be the lucky one chosen to help reform him?

Will Coban be capable of bringing something to the table other than just sex?

What starts off as denial may very well grow in to obsession which could then fester in to becoming true love…

A temperamental romance novel.
Crowned by Fate

Crowned by Fate

Completed · Tina S
“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.
Mated by Contract to the Alpha

Mated by Contract to the Alpha

Completed · CalebWhite
My perfect life shattered in a single heartbeat.
William—my devastatingly handsome, wealthy werewolf fiancé destined to become Delta—was supposed to be mine forever. After five years together, I was ready to walk down the aisle and claim my happily ever after.
Instead, I found him with her. And their son.
Betrayed, jobless, and drowning in my father's medical bills, I hit rock bottom harder than I ever imagined possible. Just when I thought I'd lost everything, salvation came in the form of the most dangerous man I'd ever encountered.
Damien Sterling—future Alpha of the Silver Moon Shadow Pack and ruthless CEO of Sterling Group—slid a contract across his desk with predatory grace.
“Sign this, little doe, and I'll give you everything your heart desires. Wealth. Power. Revenge. But understand this—the moment you put pen to paper, you become mine. Body, soul, and everything in between.”
I should have run. Instead, I signed my name and sealed my fate.
Now I belong to the Alpha. And he's about to show me just how wild love can be.
The Biker's Fate

The Biker's Fate

Completed · Piper Davenport
"You are absolutely my fucking woman, Dani. Got me?"
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Dani," he pressed. "Do you get me?"
"No, Austin, I don't," I admitted as I pulled my robe closed again and sat up. "You confuse me."
He dragged his hands down his face. "Tell me what's on your mind."
I sighed. "You're everything my parents warned me against. You're secretive, but you're also honest. I feel wholly protected by you, but then you scare me more than anyone I've ever known. You're a bad boy, but when I dated a so-called good one, he turned out to be the devil, so, yeah, I don't get you because you're not what I expected. You drive me crazier than anyone I've ever met, but then you make me feel complete. I'm feeling things I don't quite know how to process and that makes me want to run. I don't want to give up something that might be really, really good, but I also don't want to be stupid and fall for a boy just because he's super pretty and makes me come."
Danielle Harris is the daughter of an overprotective police chief and has led a sheltered life. As a kindergarten teacher, she's as far removed from the world of Harleys and bikers as you could get, but when she's rescued by the sexy and dangerous Austin Carver, her life is changed forever.
Although Austin 'Booker' Carver is enamored by the innocent Dani, he tries to keep the police chief's daughter at arm's length. But when a threat is made from an unexpected source, he finds himself falling hard and fast for the only woman who can tame his wild heart.
Will Booker be able to find the source of the threat before it's too late?
Will Dani finally give her heart to a man who's everything she's been warned about?
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
757.2k Views
The mafia princess return

The mafia princess return

Ongoing · Tonje Unosen
Talia have been living with her mother, stepsister and Stepfather for years. One day she finally get away from them. Suddenly she learn she have more family out there and she have many people that actually love her, something she have never felt before! At least not as she can remember. She have to learn to trust others, get her new brothers to accept her for who she is!
501.6k Views
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?
782.1k Views
Fangs, Fate & Other Bad Decisions

Fangs, Fate & Other Bad Decisions

Ongoing · Elizma Du Toit
Some bad decisions come back to bite you. Literally.

After finding out her boyfriend cheated, the last thing she expected was to stumble across a wounded man in an alley. And definitely not one with fangs. But thanks to a mix of cocktails, shame, and her questionable life choices, she takes him home. Turns out, he’s not just any vampire—he’s a king. And according to him, she’s his fated mate.

Now, she’s stuck with an overprotective, brooding bloodsucker who keeps rescuing her, a growing list of enemies who want her dead, and an undeniable attraction that’s making it very hard to remember why falling for a vampire is a terrible idea.

Because if she’s not careful, she won’t just lose her heart—she’ll lose her humanity.
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.