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B & E Ever After: A Hansel and Gretel Story Copyright
B & E Ever AfterCopyright © 2019 by Linda KageThis is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses or establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.All rights reserved. No part of this book—except in the case of brief quotations in reviews—may be used, reproduced, or translated without written permission of the author.Contact Information: linda@lindakage.comPublishing HistoryLinda Kage, September 2019Smashwords EditionCreditsCover & Formatting: Kage CoversEditor: Summer @ Red Pen RevolutionProofreader: Shelley @ 2 Book Lovers ReviewsProofreader: Judy @ Judy’s Proofreading Created with Vellum
Last Updated : 2024-10-29B & E Ever After: A Hansel and Gretel Story Prologue
“Watch it, Broderick! You’re spilling them everywhere.”At my mother’s sharp voice, I lifted my attention from the Game Boy I’d been playing to find her swiping a super-sized bag of Skittles from my little brother.“God, you are such a mess.”Brick hung his head glumly, mumbling, “Sorry,” as she jerked him around until he was facing away from her so she could unzip the backpack he was wearing and cram the Skittles inside, out of his reach.Then she huffed impatiently and started away from us, snapping, “Well, come on. At this rate, the shopping center will close by the time we get there.”Brick dutifully shuffled after her, and I filed in behind him, returning my attention to my game. It was easy to keep track of him out of my peripheral vision; he wore a bright orange shirt and had Bart Simpson on his book bag. So I was able to beat a new record and advance a level without paying attention to where we were going, even though the foreign country we were in had some pretty cool sit
Last Updated : 2024-10-29B & E Ever After: A Hansel and Gretel Story 1. Hayden
I sat in my car a block from her apartment for nearly twenty minutes, waiting for her to emerge. When she finally did, I sank lower in my seat to remain undetected, though I had no idea why I bothered. She was utterly clueless to my presence, paying no attention to her surroundings as she swept down the street and headed in the opposite direction from where I watched, her head down as she dug for something in her purse. She was probably singing or whistling as she strolled merrily along, too.That sounded like her.She walked right past a stranger who paused to gaze after her as if she were a tasty morsel. My stomach clenched. I wasn’t sure if he was contemplating mugging or raping her, or maybe he just wanted to check out her ass, but I wasn’t a fan of his crude attention.“Dammit, Kaitlynn,” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head in aggravation as she finally tugged her keys from her purse and then paused at her car to unlock the door, still unaware of any possible danger lur
Last Updated : 2024-10-29B & E Ever After: A Hansel and Gretel Story 2. Hayden
Judge Fashions Industry sat in the heart of the city’s downtown. If legend could be believed, Marcella and Arthur Judge had started the business in a crumbling building that once stood in this very lot, on the second floor above a laundromat with a single Singer sewing machine Arthur had given Marcella on their wedding day and bits of material neighbors had cast off from their own darning endeavors.Marcella had been the art and creation—or what her husband had termed the soul—behind the clothes they made, while Arthur was the businessman. With his animated and persuasive personality, he could’ve sold sand to people on a beach. He could’ve been anything. But what he was most proud of was his wife, so he put his life’s work into selling the designs she made.And within ten years, they were millionaires with three dozen employees and business ventures around the globe. They bought the entire block around that deteriorating laundromat, razed all the buildings, and built up JFI as it sto
Last Updated : 2024-10-29B & E Ever After: A Hansel and Gretel Story 3. Gabby
You knew you’d hit rock bottom when you were desperate enough to accept a date with a man for money.Actually, I had no interest in money per se. But medicine, chicken noodle soup, saltines, maybe a bottle of Sprite, and a box of Kleenexes. Now that would be heaven right about now. And since a person typically needed money to procure such things, I was prepared to do what I had to do for the cash that could get them for me. So here I was, approaching the ritzy side of town on foot after nine on a Saturday night. During Halloween.“Hey, lady! You got any candy?”Slowing to a stop as two pint-sized humans raced up to me—one dressed as Iron Man, the other Captain America—I deflated, realizing Miguel was totally missing out on trick-or-treating tonight. Not that we’d made him the best costume, though it had taken forever to cut up cardboard boxes, then tape them back together, and cover them in aluminum foil to make the robot he had planned to be. I just hated that having the flu was ma
Last Updated : 2024-10-29B & E Ever After: A Hansel and Gretel Story 4. Gabby
Gasping, I reared back, drawing my hand to my chest so the resident wouldn’t see I’d been about to touch their amazing door.A woman exited.“There you are,” she said, her voice accusing as her thin eyebrows arched high with irritation. “I called for you nearly ten minutes ago.”I blinked, confusion reigning. Um. Did I know her?“I—What?”She let out a dramatic sigh. “Dear Lord, please tell me you at least understand English. Is that really too much to ask for in the help around here?”“O-oh,” I stumbled out in sudden realization. She thought I was part of the staff. “No. I’m sorry, you have the wrong—”“And where is your uniform?” she cut in, eyeing my clothes as if they might be contagious. “Don’t think I won’t be reporting you for such blatant disregard for your dress code. It’s utter insolence, is what it is. I don’t pay this place what I do for such subpar service. Your people should learn to be more respectful.”Excuse me, but did she just say, my people?What the actual
Last Updated : 2024-10-29B & E Ever After: A Hansel and Gretel Story 5. Hayden
Fin Tin was alive.Straightening my bow tie, I approached the ballroom of JFI and tried to get my mind to stop buzzing and short-circuiting around that fact.Arthur’s lawyer wasn’t dead after all.The private investigator I’d hired to look into him had contacted me not even an hour ago, and he’d found evidence that Randolph Finley was still breathing and very much alive, living the high life in Mexico, a filthy rich man.Son of a bitch. If he’d faked his death, what else had he faked?My stepfather’s last will and testament, no doubt.Lana was behind this, I was certain of it. I just had to find proof: either the true, legitimate will Arthur had made or a trail from the payoff money Lana had given Fin Tin to make him leave town and disappear forever. No way was she an innocent party in all this. And I was going to find the evidence I needed to expose her. Tonight.But first, I need to make an appearance at this damn office party. I would’ve rather skipped it altogether, but Nash
Last Updated : 2024-10-29B & E Ever After: A Hansel and Gretel Story 6. Hayden
“I—You—This...” Gabby fumbled a moment before looking at the sack in her hands and gulping in miserable guilt.“What’s in there?” I demanded, setting my hands on my hips. “You didn’t steal anything, did you?”“I…” Her eyes were huge as they veered back to me. Then she bobbed her head up and down in confirmation as if her body was answering me without her permission, even as she whispered, “No.”“You little thief,” I accused softly, striding toward her. This was why I stayed away from women and relationships. Being attracted to someone didn’t make them decent or honest or worth the price of your thoughts. It just made you lose your stupid head and want things you shouldn’t.“What the fuck did you steal?”“Nothing!” she screeched.She didn’t try to dodge away from me until I’d nearly reached her, which was why she was too late when she finally gasped and veered backward, trying to escape me.I leapt forward and caught her wrist all too easily.“What—” she started when I hooked an
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
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B & E Ever After: A Hansel and Gretel Story About the Author
Linda writes romance fiction from YA to adult, contemporary to fantasy. Most Kage stories lean more toward the lighter, sillier side with a couple meaningful moments thrown in. Focuses more on entertainment value and emotional impact.Published since 2010. Went through a 2-year writing correspondence class in children’s literature from The Institute of Children’s Literature. Then graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, English with an emphasis in creative fiction writing from Pittsburg State University.Now she lives with her hubby, two daughters, cat Holly, and nine cuckoo clocks in southeast Kansas, USA. Farm girl. Parents were dairy farmers. Was youngest of eight. Big family. Day job as a cataloging library assistant.Harry Potter House Gryffindor, Patronus White Stallion, character match Hagrid. Supernatural Team Dean. Game of Thrones Team Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister. The Walking Dead Team Daryl. Outlander Team Jamie Fraser. Teen Wolf Team Stiles. Avenger Team Thor...or Hulk (can’t
B & E Ever After: A Hansel and Gretel Story The Hansel and Gretel Story
Hansel and Gretel – B & E EVER AFTEROnce upon a time, there were two children named Hansel [Hayden] and Gretel [Brick].Their stepmother was very cruel.She took them deep into the forest [a foreign country] and left them there.But clever Hansel [Brick] had some breadcrumbs [Skittles] in his pocket [backpack] and had [accidentally] dropped them on the path so they could find their way back home [to their villa].[Twenty Years Later:]Alas! The birds ate all the crumbs and they couldn’t find the path that led back home. Hansel and Gretel [Gabby needed money. So she went to find some at Preston Estates where she] went deeper and deeper into the forest, hoping to find their way [building, searching for help]. They were hungry [She was desperate] and tired.Finally, after walking for a long time, they [she] saw a cottage [door] made of chocolate, candies, and cake [sparkly bling]. Gretel [Gabby] cried out in delight and ate [reached forward to touch] it hungrily [reverently].
B & E Ever After: A Hansel and Gretel Story Epilogue
I looked down at the ring on my finger and sighed happily.Married. I couldn’t believe I was freaking married. For a full twenty-four hours now. To the man who pissed me off as much as he made my heart pound in double time with love.“Your first book club meeting is today, right?” he asked as he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and kissed the top of my shoulder.“Yep,” I answered, smiling as I leaned back against him to feel more of him against me. “And yes, Kaitlynn will be there. So…” I turned to face him and fluttered my lashes dramatically as I silently asked for permission to—“You want to tell her,” he guessed. “Don’t you?”“I mean, if you want to tell her,” I started on a wince, “that’s fine by me. She’s your stepsister, but…?”I would let him decide, even though I kind of wanted to be the one to spill everything.It had been months since I’d met Hayden in Lana’s apartment on Halloween night. In that time, Camille had started an online group that she was calli
B & E Ever After: A Hansel and Gretel Story 30. Hayden
I felt sick to my stomach.After the big reveal, where I’d gathered my brother, stepsister, Ezra, and a couple lawyers into a room and told them about Lana being a murderer, about how she’d changed the will, and how Kaitlynn actually owned half the company alongside Nash, they had each eventually gone their separate ways to absorb the shock of the news.I hadn’t been able to tell Brick about his true paternity though. That would have to wait for another time. I just didn’t have it in me to report any more shocking news today.It had been a tense enough scene earlier between Ezra’s lawyers and the ones I’d called in to support Kaitlynn. She looked so blindsided and overwhelmed. I had an awful, sinking feeling I’d handled it all wrong.Telling them my suspicions about Lana and the secret investigation I was conducting on her hadn’t seemed necessary at the time. But now that it was all out in the open, I felt like a shithead for not divulging any of it sooner.Sitting on my couch in
B & E Ever After: A Hansel and Gretel Story 29. Gabby
We’d had it. We’d had the proof I’m sure we needed to put Lana away. It was in our very grasp. And we’d lost it.The blow hit Hayden the hardest.He took me directly home after we left Lana’s apartment, and he didn’t say a word the entire way there. When he parked at the curb, he just stared ahead, out the windshield, and methodically tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, his mind a million miles away.“You want to come in?” I asked softly, thinking I sounded like a clingy, insecure girlfriend, but not even caring. I wanted to help him so bad; I just didn’t know how.He glanced at me shortly. “No. Not today.”“Hayden,” I started on a sigh. “Don’t let this get to you. It was just one little setback. We can—”“I know.” He finally sent me the ghost of a smile, as if he was at least grateful for my attempt to cheer him up. “Don’t worry. It’s fine.”But it wasn’t. Not to him. And I didn’t know what to say to make it better.Seeing my concern, he tipped his head towards my b
B & E Ever After: A Hansel and Gretel Story 28. Gabby
“Strange fact,” Hayden panted, slipping his hand over my hair as I began to climb off him, my legs as weak as jelly and heart still racing with a mixture of fear and panic.Because I loved him, I realized. Holy shit, I loved this aggravating pain in the ass. Dazed, I licked my dry lips and mumbled, “What’s that?” hoping he couldn’t tell what I was feeling.“I didn’t much like walking in the door to find my brother in bed with you,” he answered casually, seemingly unaware of the crisis that was happening inside me.But fuck me, I loved a man who drove me crazy, who had insane family issues, who could piss me off like no one else. And, holy hell, I think I liked loving someone who was so messed up.I lifted my face to peer into his eyes. At the moment, he didn’t seem too upset about seeing Brick and me stretched out on the bed together. But he’d also just come so hard he might’ve broken all the blood vessels in his medulla oblongata, preventing him from experiencing anger ever again.
B & E Ever After: A Hansel and Gretel Story 27. Gabby
When I opened my eyes the next morning, I found myself staring at a stranger.As I blinked at him, trying to figure out if he was real or not, he grinned pleasantly. “Well, hello there, gorgeous.”“Oh my God!” I shrieked.He was definitely real.Lurching upright, only for the sheet that had been covering me to slip down, I gasped out another yelp and scrambled to catch it before I showed off all my bits.Who the hell was this guy?Once I had the covers firmly tucked up under my armpits and had shoved dark locks out of my face, I focused on the man who hadn’t moved a muscle, except maybe to widen his devilish, handsome grin as he watched me fumble about.Waving his fingers, he added, “Good morning to you too.”I glanced around the room. Hayden was nowhere to be found, but this guy had no qualms about being in his room apparently.“Who’re you?” I said, coming back around to blink at him.“What a coincidence.” With a delighted chuckle, he plopped onto the bed beside me, still fu
B & E Ever After: A Hansel and Gretel Story 26. Hayden
When we finally made our way to my room, Gabby curled into me on the cool mattress and tucked her face under my chin before she stroked her hand up and down my arm.I banded an arm around her shoulders, holding her close, and kissed her hair.This was nice.I’d never felt this complete and satisfied before, as if I was a piece of a puzzle who’d just found its misplaced half.Gabby gave a contented sigh and glanced up at me, smiling lazily. I knew we should probably finish going through everything we’d found at Lana’s earlier. Or I should decide what to do about the Isaac-Brick situation. But for the life of me, I couldn’t muster a single care about any of that shit. I just wanted to keep lying here, looking at Gabriella.“I missed you today,” she murmured, walking her fingers up my bare chest.My eyebrows lifted. “You missed me?”“Yeah, you know, after work,” she went on. “I know getting picked up by you and driven home two days in a row doesn’t in any way qualify as a routine,
B & E Ever After: A Hansel and Gretel Story 25. Hayden
Reluctantly tearing my mouth from Gabby’s, I peeled one of her hands from the front of my shirt, where she was holding me tight, and I jerked my gloves off before taking her fingers again to squeeze them warmly.Because seriously, if I let her keep kissing me the way she was, we’d never make it home.“Let’s go back to my place,” I said.Her eyes glittered with awareness, and the color in her cheeks heightened as she nodded eagerly. Jesus, she wanted me. She really wanted me. My body stirred and jeans grew tight.I began to forget about our original mission for the evening and all the evidence we had collected on our phones as I towed her down the hall toward the exit, pausing once at a trash receptacle to dispose of our gloves. Nothing seemed as important as getting inside this woman.Once we reached my car, I stopped completely, turning toward her before I opened her door. After kissing her hair, I pressed my brow to hers and simply breathed her in, enjoying this moment of simply
