Unruly Norse: Love Without Limits Read online

  Unruly Norse

  Love Without Limits

  Frankie Love

  C.M. Seabrook

  Contents

  Copyright

  Unruly Norse

  1. Erik

  2. Sofie

  3. Erik

  4. Sofie

  5. Erik

  6. Sofie

  7. Erik

  8. Sofie

  9. Erik

  10. Sofie

  Epilogue I

  Epilogue II

  Preview

  Also by Frankie and C.M!

  About C.M.

  About Frankie

  Copyright

  Edited by My Brother’s Editor

  Cover by Mayhem Cover Creations

  Copyright © and 2019 by Frankie Love and C.M. Seabrook

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Unruly Norse

  I’m a Nordic fisherman with a simple life.

  But when my sister dies in a tragic accident, I’m suddenly the guardian of three children who sorely miss their mother.

  My fishing fleet won’t run itself, so I hire help for my niece and nephews.

  Sofie is no ordinary nanny - she’s beautiful inside and out.

  And when she’s in my arms, I never want to let go.

  But Sofie has a life that’s bigger than a small coastal village.

  And I’ll have to prove to her that I’m more than a fling - I’m her forever.

  Dear Reader,

  Turns out we have a soft spot for fjords, fisherman, and Norse gods!

  Well, Erik’s not a god, exactly.

  But with that hair, those stormy eyes, and that mountain of a body we’re calling him Thor.

  All. Night. Long.

  Xo, Frankie & Chantel

  Chapter One

  Erik

  “Astrid, you need to eat.” I sit down at the kitchen table beside my niece and push her plate closer to her, but the six-year-old just stares blankly at the old raggedy doll she clutches to her chest.

  She’s barely said any words since my sister and brother-in-law were killed by a drunk driver six weeks ago. The girl has grown more and more sullen, drawing deeper into her sorrow each day.

  Unlike the two unruly boys that run around the kitchen, tormenting each other, and causing as much havoc as they can, Astrid has internalized her pain. And I have no idea what I’m supposed to do.

  Finn, my eight-year-old nephew, holds a candy bar above his brother’s head, taunting him. “You can’t have it because you’re too little.”

  “Finn, Lars, go outside,” I order, running a palm over my beard, and wondering how I’m going to survive this. I should be out on the water with my men, bringing in a haul of cod, not looking after my sister’s children. But one selfish asshole changed all of our lives forever.

  “Give it to me,” Lars shouts before using all of his weight to tackle his older brother.

  The four-year-old is all Johansen, sturdy and blond, with eyes like mine and Nora’s, the color of the sky just before a storm rolls in. And I have no doubt he’ll match my six-foot-four build when he’s older.

  Finn, on the other hand, is built more like his father, slim, and tall, with dark hair, and clear blue eyes that are constantly looking for trouble.

  The boys roll on the ground, and I grab the two of them, pulling them apart before any punches are thrown. God, what would Nora do right now? Or Daniel? He’d have these two under control with one stern look.

  I’d wondered what my sister saw in the American when she’d first brought him home, but the man had quickly become one of my closest friends. And together we’d grown our company, bringing economic growth and prosperity to the small fishing village forty miles south of Oslo. And while we grew our fleet, Nora had built a home.

  A happy one.

  A family that any man would be jealous of.

  Anyone but me. I’d been content with my life at sea. Sure, one day I figured I’d find a good woman and settle down. But I’d never imagined I’d be twenty-six and taking on the responsibilities of three young children.

  Children that are still squirming in my arms, trying to strike out at each other.

  “Outside, now,” I say, putting them down. I break the candy bar in half and give each of the boys a piece, then point toward the door. “And take Odin with you.”

  The hound’s ears perk up at the sound of his name, and he follows my nephews out the front door, wagging his tail.

  I can see them through the large kitchen window as they race across the yard, Odin following behind, crisis temporarily averted.

  Leaning on the counter, I take a deep breath.

  Everything will be okay. But even as I think it, I’m not sure if it will be.

  I need help.

  The woman from the nanny placement services arrives tomorrow. And I’m hoping that things will be able to get back to normal, or whatever my new normal will look like.

  It was Daniel’s mother who’d recommended the agency. After the accident, she’d come to Norway to help with the children, but she’d only stayed a few weeks before returning to the States.

  There’d been some talk about her taking the kids back to Seattle with her. Part of me wondered if it would be for the best, because honestly, what do I know about raising kids?

  But I know my sister would want her children to be raised here - in the home she built, surrounded by the green hills and open sea. She may have married an American, but her heart always belonged to Norway.

  So I’d done as her will had asked, and moved into their house, taking over the responsibilities of mother and father.

  And I’m drowning.

  “I want my mamma,” Astrid says so softly I barely hear her.

  With a sigh, I turn and place a hand on top of her head, willing myself to be what she needs. Knowing I’m far from it. “I know, sweetheart. I wish she was here too.” I crouch down so I’m eye level with her. “But even though she’s not here, I know she wouldn’t want you to get sick. And if you don’t eat, you will. So will you please take a bite for me?”

  Fine wisps of blonde hair fall over her face, and there are tears in her eyes when she finally looks at me. “Okay, Onkel Erik.” She takes a slice of the bread from her plate and takes a small bite before putting it back.

  “Good girl.” I kiss the top of her head before standing. It’s a small victory.

  The boys are still in the front, and I groan when I see Lars. He’s covered head to toe in mud, and from what I can tell he’s got fists full of it and is chasing Finn. The phone rings before I can yell out at him.

  “Ja?” I say, answering the phone.

  “We need you down at the harbor,” Filip says on the other end. “One of the boats is having engine problems.”

  “Then call the mechanic. I can’t make it in today.”

  Filip sighs. “The men need to see you, Erik. I know you’re dealing with a lot right now, but there’s been talk—”

  “What kind of talk?”

  He hesitates before answering. “You’re a good man, Erik. But we all know that you’re a better fisherman than a businessman. Daniel kept the books—”

  “You can tell whoever’s been talking that they don’t need to worry. They’ll get their paychecks on time.” A car has pulled up the driveway, and I frown. I’m not expecting anyone. “I told you, I’ll be there Tuesday.”

  “It is Tuesday,” he says with a sigh.


  I glance at the calendar and curse under my breath. How did I lose a whole day? Not only that, I was supposed to be at the airport three hours ago to pick up the woman the agency sent.

  “Dritt,” I mutter more loudly, causing Astrid to raise her brows at me. “I’ll call you back,” I say before ending the call. “Astrid, get your shoes on, we need to go.”

  She slips off the chair. “Go where?”

  “To the airport. We have to—”

  Through the window, I see what happens next in slow motion. But no matter how fast I move, I know I can’t stop it from happening.

  Both Lars and Finn are hidden behind a bush, and I see the trouble in their eyes, and the mud in their hands. When the back door of the car opens, a pretty woman steps out.

  Strawberry blonde hair whips in the wind, crystal clear blue eyes scan the yard. She’s tall and lean and has an elegance to her that takes my breath away. And she’s about to have mud slung at her.

  I push open the screen door, yelling at my nephews as mud balls are flung through the air. The first one hits her arm, and I’m halfway out the door yelling at the boys when the second one lands square on her cheek.

  Dritt.

  She sucks in a breath, those blue eyes going wide with shock. Her delicate hand reaches up and wipes away the mud from her cheek, then her gaze locks on mine and I see her step back, her hand on the door handle of the taxi.

  “Vær så snill,” I say, storming toward her.

  “What?” she asks, her voice soft and smooth. Like she needs someone to hold onto her, to keep her here. That person is me.

  “Please,” I say in English. “Don’t go.” I contacted the agency because I needed help this summer.

  But one look at her tells me I need a hell of a lot more than help.

  I need her.

  Chapter Two

  Sofie

  I was so excited about this adventure. My grandmother had told me about the beauty of Norway since I was a little girl, and I’ve always dreamed about visiting. So when a job opened up for the summer to nanny for a family just outside Oslo, I jumped at the chance. Even though it meant turning down a modeling job in New York.

  Nothing could put a damper on my excitement. Not even when I realized that someone had obviously forgotten to pick me up at the airport. I’d waited two hours, and tried calling the number the agency gave me a few times, but each time I’d called, a young child had answered then hung up.

  But not even that had upset me. I was in Norway. The country of the midnight sun. The home of my ancestors. So I’d hired a car to drive me to the address I’d been given, and made the decision not to let anything ruin this day.

  And as the car had pulled to a stop in front of the brightly painted two-story house that overlooked the sea, a huge smile tugged at my lips.

  Then I stepped out of the car.

  And you’d think getting plastered in the face with mud would sour my mood - but I can’t think about anything other than the hulk of a man that marches toward me, saying something in a language I can’t understand. I mean, he is the epitome of a Norse god. Long, dark blond hair, thick beard, grey eyes so stormy that my knees get all wobbly.

  Literally.

  “What?” I manage to squeak out as I take a step back. My heel gets caught on something, and I feel myself falling.

  And then he catches me.

  He actually catches me before I fall. Those fierce grey eyes are on me, searching mine. Intense. Hot. Filled with promises of pleasure I’ve never allowed myself to experience.

  I know I’ve been on the cover of magazines since I was fourteen years old, but I have never felt so seen as I do right now.

  Love at first sight may have been a teenage fantasy, but I swear one moment is all it takes. Smitten, signed, sealed - delivered. He is more than a bearded mountain man - he is my dream come true. Or at least the image of the man I’d always imagined in my dreams.

  And his touch - I swear I can feel the heat of it on every inch of my skin.

  “Please,” he says. “Don’t go.”

  “I...” Couldn’t move even if I wanted to. Which at the moment I really, really don’t. I swear the man could pass as a Viking, or Thor...yeah, definitely Thor.

  “Are you okay?” he asks, his voice tight.

  “Yes. It’s just a little mud. No damage done.”

  His lips thin, and his eyes darken when he glances over at two young boys who peek their heads out from behind a bush. From the guilty look on their faces, and the mud that covers them both, I know they’re my assailants.

  “Finn, Lars, come here now,” the man says as he helps set me straight.

  When they don’t move, he storms toward them and says something to them in a different language that has both boys looking terrified.

  “You’re sure you’re alright?” the man asks, turning his attention back to me.

  “Yes.” Other than the butterflies that are currently doing a dance in my stomach.

  “I’m Erik.” He holds his hand out, and I take it. More heat and electricity pass between us. “Erik Johansen.”

  “I’m Sofie,” I say, pulling my hand back as I realize with a mortified flush that this man is more than the all-powerful Thor. He’s my boss. Swallowing, I look around for his wife, pushing my lust-driven motivations far away. Could I be less appropriate?

  This is the story of my life though, always falling for the wrong man at the wrong time in the wrong place. At ten, I sent my fifth-grade teacher a Valentine’s Day card declaring my love for him. At fourteen, my first agent was also the first man I touched myself thinking about. And when I was nineteen, I fell for my handsome art professor who happened to be married to a very nice man.

  For me, love has always been unrequited, and now, with my cheeks burning at the thought, I realize I am once again lusting after a man who is totally off limits.

  “Lars, Finn, say you’re sorry,” he reprimands, this time in English. “Or no more sweets.”

  I frown, coming out of my ridiculous daydream. “No sweets?”

  “What’s wrong with saying no sweets?”

  The hulk of a man looks down at me - not in a negative way - just literally, down. He is that tall. That big. That sexy. God! I have to stop. Must focus. Concentrate.

  “Right, um,” I start. “Taking away sweets is maybe not the most beneficial consequence.”

  He scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest. “And what would be better?”

  Running my hand over my skirt, I lick my lips. “Perhaps they could do the laundry. Wash the clothing they’ve just muddied. Both mine and their own.”

  The boys drop their mouths open, immediately pushing the idea away. “Mamma always does the washing,” the little boy says.

  “It’s not fair,” the taller boys protests. “Tell her that’s not fair.”

  Erik runs a hand over his beard, looking me over, then nodding. What he sees I don’t know, his eyes are clouded now, and he reveals nothing besides sheer sex appeal.

  “Fine. You’re in charge now. Boys, you’ll do as Sofie says when I’m gone,” he says briskly.

  They both start to protest in unison. “But—”

  Erik says something to them in Norwegian that stops their complaints, then pulls out money and hands it to the driver before moving to the trunk of the car.

  “Come,” he says, reaching for my luggage, lifting the suitcases as if they were light as a feather. “I’ll show you the house, but then I’ve got to go to the docks.”

  “The docks? You’re leaving? I’ve only just arrived.”

  “And the timing couldn’t be better,” he says. “You’ll be fine with the children, won’t you?”

  I look at the rascally boys in front of me, covered in mud head to toe. “It’s just the two of them, is it?”

  “No, this is Lars and Finn. Their sister Astrid is inside.” He nods, indicating that I should follow him.

  The boys though are running off in the opposite direction of t
he house, toward the tree line.

  Erik sighs, and I see him hesitate to yell after them before deciding it isn’t worth the effort. “But I’m guessing she’ll be hiding in her closet most of the day.”

  “Hiding? I ask, suddenly bewildered as I enter the house.

  “Ja,” he says, setting down my cases in the foyer that overflows with coats and shoes, tote bags and bins of mail, vases filled with flowers that need to be tossed and curtains that need to be opened to let the daylight in.

  “Why is she hiding, exactly?” I ask as Erik pulls on a work coat and then grabs a set of keys from a hook by the door.

  “She’s been crying every day since her mamma died six weeks ago. Did the agency not give you any information about us?”

  I lift my eyes, shocked at the information. “Your wife just died?” I ask, pressing my hand to my heart.

  He shakes his head. “Nei. Not my wife, my sister. I’m the children’s uncle.”

  Their uncle? I don’t even have time to ask about their father, because he leaves without another word, and I’m left alone in a strange house, in a foreign country. And the three children are nowhere to be seen now.

  I knew coming to Norway would be an adventure, but I feel like I may have bitten off more than I can chew.

  Chapter Three

  Erik

  Before I leave for the docks, I find Lars and Finn in their forest clubhouse and tell them that if they don’t do as Sofie says there will be hell to pay. I can tell they’re surprised at my sharp tone, but I’ve been holding on by a thread these last weeks and I feel so tight I might just snap.