A blizzard of love, p.1
A Blizzard of Love, page 1
A Blizzard of Love
ALEXA RILEY
Contents
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
Epilogue
Kissing Her
Chapter 1
Read Me Romance
Stalk the Author
Copyright © 2022 by Author Alexa Riley 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, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email to riley_alexa@aol.com
http://alexariley.com/
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Edited by Aquila Editing
To those of us that never want winter to end…
* * *
A Blizzard of Love
BY ALEXA RILEY
Chapter One
BRI
When I stop walking and tilt my head, I look up at the gray sky and see the first snowflake. I’ve been living in the little town of Bear Mountain for over a month, and this is the first time I’ve gotten to see it actually snow. Grams told me it snowed all the time, but since I moved here, I’ve yet to see that. Sure, there’s snow everywhere, but the few snowstorms that came through were during the night, and I missed them.
One giant flake smacks me in the cheek, and I reach up to touch where it landed. When I wipe away the drop of water, I realize I’m smiling. It’s not often I smile anymore, so it surprises me. It’s hard to smile when your heart is broken. I run my finger against the ring I’ve been wearing since the funeral home gave it to me three months ago. It’s my mom’s wedding ring, and it never left her hand. Dad wouldn’t allow it, although I’m not sure that she ever wanted to take it off.
It’s crazy how fast life can change. One second you think everything is perfect, and the next it’s all ripped away from you. My parents are gone. The people who loved me most in the world have left me alone.
It’s why I’m here in the little town of Bear Mountain and living with my grandparents. California isn’t my home anymore. It’s too sunny and bright, and everyone is always happy. They go about their lives like nothing happened, and I know to them nothing did, but not for me. An anger built inside of me, and it was a foreign feeling. My mom always said I was the happiest baby she’d ever seen and that nothing ever upset me. She also said that I was too forgiving at times. I suppose it’s easy to be happy when you think you have the perfect cookie-cutter family with your life all mapped out until all of it slipped through my fingers. College and all my plans no longer mattered to me. Nothing did anymore.
When Grams and Grandpa showed up at my door a month ago telling me I was going home with them, it was the first time I’d actually wanted to do something besides hide away in the little studio apartment I rented after the house sold.
It had actually already been on the market. My parents wanted to downsize some with me going off to college. It made it a bit easier to walk away because it was too hard being there alone. I was drowning in memories.
My father grew up in Bear Mountain, but we never visited because of the cold. My mom had terrible arthritis, and it would flare up when they’d make the trip out, so my grandparents always came to visit us. They did it so often that Dad built an apartment over the detached garage before I was even born.
I shake off the memories and make my way back from Molly’s Diner. I went down to grab Grams and me a hot chocolate. It’s my new addiction, and I can’t get Molly to give me the recipe. She always claims she can’t give it to me because she won't get to see my beautiful face twice a day if she did.
Everyone in this town is so sweet. I wasn’t sure how I’d take to it here, but I’m actually enjoying it. There’s a calm here that settles me, and I haven’t had a single panic attack since I arrived. I had them when I was little, but I thought I’d grown out of them. Well, until life went to hell.
“It’s snowing,” Grams says from behind the checkout counter the second I step into the little general store she and Grandpa own.
The small store is quaint, fitting in perfectly on the main street of the small mountain town. Everything about this town looks plucked right out of a movie or a magazine and dropped down in the middle of the mountains. I think the only reason Dad never came back is because of Mom. He’d met her on a trip, and that was that.
Mom always called him her mountain man and told me when I grew up if I ever wanted to get married, I needed to find myself one. There weren't too many of those floating around back in California, and dating has never been high on my priority list. The boys in high school never drew my attention. My parents' love for each other really gave me a high standard for what I wanted. My grandparents too.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Let’s see if you’re saying that after we’re locked in the house for a few days. We likely won’t be open tomorrow.”
“We’ll close the shop?” I ask, handing her the hot chocolate from the diner.
“Yeah, everyone will hunker down. We’re used to it around here.”
“What I’m hearing is I need to load my Kindle up with some new books.”
“Those books you read will keep a girl warm.”
“Grams!”
“I might have peeked at a few of them.” She winks at me, and my face warms. I can’t help but wonder what titles she might have seen.
“A girl's Kindle is private.”
“That mean you won’t give me any recommendations?”
“Grams,” I groan.
“Hey, I’m no prude. I’ve been having sex for over forty years.” My mouth falls open, and I have no response for that. “Oh, and we almost sold out of all those sweets you made.”
I grab on to the change of subject. “Really?” I say, surprised. “I didn’t think anyone would actually buy them.”
Grams suggested I sell them at the store since the kitchen had become flooded with all my desserts. I’ve always loved to bake, and it’s something Dad and I often did together. Mom was terrible in the kitchen, but she was the best taste tester, so it worked out well for all of us.
“Yeah, I think there’s only a few things left. You'll have to make more.” A bubble of excitement fills me. “I’m going to pop into the hardware store to grab a few things. Can you man the counter for a bit?” Grams asks. “Don’t give me that look. You’ve got this. I promise I wouldn’t leave you alone if I didn’t think you could handle it.”
“All right,” I nervously agree. The cash register and I aren’t on the best of terms, but we’re getting friendlier each day.
“I won’t be long.” She gives me a quick kiss before she leaves, and I step behind the counter and pull out my Kindle. I’m searching for a few books to download now since the Wi-Fi is better here at the store than at the house.
The bell on the door chimes, and it draws my attention away from my search. When I look up, a man steps into the store, and my stomach dips.
He’s a mountain man unlike any I’ve ever seen.
Chapter Two
WILDER
I can practically smell the storm coming as I hop out of my truck and trudge through the snow. It’s reported to be one of the smaller ones this season, but I’m not so sure. I’ve got this sneaking suspicion something is coming. Something big.
My cousin Connor and his wife Evie gave me a list of supplies they wanted to stock up on. Not surprising Evie wants sour cream and onion chips. She’s been eating them non-stop since her second trimester and Connor had to request that the general store keep more in stock.
My twin sister Natalie is staying with our mom while the storm comes through, even though my mom has told her a million times she’s fine. We worry about her, but that woman has chopped wood in her bare feet with knee-deep snow all around her. She’s tough as nails and doesn’t need a babysitter. Truth be told, I think Natalie gets scared being alone in her cabin with bad weather, but she’d never admit it to me. Probably because I’d tease her about it for the rest of her life.
My log cabin is probably the most remote of all of ours and sunk back into the woods. It’s quiet out there, but I don’t mind it. Especially since we’ve closed the bunkhouses to skiers for the season. After Connor met Evie, he wanted to shut it down completely, and we didn’t argue with him. Sometimes we get requests from friends of people in town to come and stay, so we open them in the warmer months. Right now, it’s just us, and although I don’t miss the people all up in our shit, talking to someone besides my immediate family is nice.
Since last winter I’ve let my hair and beard grow a little long, but it’s nice to have something on my face when the wind cuts. As I open the door to the general store, I pull off my winter hat and knock my boot
When I finally look up, I see a woman behind the counter that I know I’ve never seen in town before. I’d never miss eyes like hers. They’re big and a soft brown, like fall leaves in the woods. Her black hair has copper highlights, and it’s so beautiful I wonder what it would be like to run my fingers through it.
My legs move before I can tell them to, and I’m walking slowly to the counter. I haven’t blinked, haven’t taken a breath, since I laid eyes on this stranger. I lick my lips and open my mouth to say something, but all I can think about is kissing her. Would she taste like fire or the smoke that lingers afterwards? Would she be so hot she’d burn straight through me, or would she smolder like a cinder in my chest? Cinder. That’s what it feels like when I look at her. A warmth beginning at my heart and slowly spreading all over me.
“What can I get you?” Her quiet voice hits me like a sledgehammer, and I want to fall to my knees and promise her the world.
“Everything.” The single word comes out of my mouth before I can stop it, and I have to clear my throat. That’s when I blink and look down at my hands, trying to get myself under control. What the actual fuck is happening to me right now? I feel possessed. “I mean, everything on this list.”
I pass the piece of paper over the counter between us, and she looks down at it. “Let me see if we’ve got all of this.” This time when I look up at her she’s smiling at me, and I swear my knees feel weak.
“I can do that.” Normally I come in and grab what I need, but Connor called down and placed an order yesterday. It should mostly be together behind the counter, but I’ll take any excuse to stay longer. “I haven’t seen you around here before, have I?” I know the answer to that question because there’s no way on this earth I’d forget her. My eyes move a little lower, and although she’s covered in a thick sweater, I can tell her curves are ample.
“I’ve been here for a little while but only work the shop for my gran when she’s out.” She shrugs a little and gives me one of those million-dollar smiles again. There’s that cinder again, burning me up inside. “I’m Bri, by the way.”
“I’m Wilder.” I hold out my hand, and she pulls hers out of her pocket to shake it. It’s warm and so fucking soft I want to rub it against my face.
“Can I get your sausage?” Her voice is breathy as she says it, and I can’t help my smile.
“Excuse me?”
Bri’s face immediately turns to shock, and she jerks her hand out of mine. “I’ll grab your sausage.” I have to press my lips together to keep from laughing as she bumbles over her words. “I mean I’ll get you some sausage because it’s on your list and that’s what you came for,” she says carefully without making eye contact as she comes around from behind the counter.
“That’d be great, thank you.” I want to tease her because I love how cute she looks when she’s embarrassed, but I decide to give her a break.
“Are you visiting for the winter or making Bear Mountain your new home?” I ask, trying not to be hopeful that it’s the latter.
When she walks in front of me, I shamelessly stare at her ass and try to suppress a moan. She’s got what my grandma used to call “child-bearing hips,” but seeing Bri’s ass right now, I’m thinking they’re more like handlebars.
“This is home now.” She shrugs, and when I glance up, I see a sad look cross her eyes for only a quick moment before it’s gone. “I love it up here.”
“It takes someone special to stay up here year-round. Most people leave after the first big drop of snow.” We walk down to the refrigerator section, and she grabs a basket. I immediately take it from her, and she smiles.
“Thanks,” she says as she points to all the options in the cooler I already know by heart. “So far it’s wonderful, and the people in town have been really welcoming.”
“That’s good to hear. Maybe I could show—” Just as I’m about to ask to show her around town, she reaches up and tucks her hair behind her ear. When she does, the movement causes light to reflect off the ring she’s wearing. The giant diamond wedding ring. I close my mouth quickly and look away from her. “You know what, I think my cousin called this order in. It should be behind the counter.” I clear my throat and take a step away from Bri.
As beautiful as she is, as much as I want her, I won’t go after a married woman. Not now, not ever. That cinder that was in my chest is still burning, but now I resent it. Why would this happen if it wasn’t meant to be? My dad told me when I saw the one, I’d know right away. I would take one look at the woman that was going to be my bride, and the world would stop. That’s what I thought happened today, but fate is a cruel bitch. I’ve met the woman that I’m supposed to marry, but she’s already taken.
“Oh, um, okay yeah, let me check.” She turns away, and this time I don’t look at her ass.
Instead, I walk to the counter and lay my cash down as she finds the order.
“Thompson?” she asks, and I nod, still not looking at her.
When she tells me the amount, I pass the cash and take the bags. “Keep the change,” I say and force myself to back up.
When I get to the door, I hesitate and stand there staring at it. Behind me is what felt like my forever, and outside it’s nothing. I close my eyes, and for half a second, I think about running back to her and telling her that she’s wrong and she’s supposed to choose me. But I won’t be the thing that breaks up a home.
With all the strength I have, I walk away from the woman I’ve just fallen in love with.
Chapter Three
BRI
“What was that?” I whisper to myself.
My heart is still pounding out of my chest, but it never stopped once Wilder walked through the door. He’s the most handsome man I've ever seen in my life. Emphasis on the word man.
I never really thought I had a type, but clearly I want them to have thighs as thick as tree trunks, rugged beards, and eyes so blue they could pierce your soul. Because that’s what Wilder has done to me. He marked me and then he turned and walked away.
Before I know what I’m doing, I’m rounding the counter and stepping out the front door of the shop. I watch Wilder’s taillights disappear, and my heart starts to slow. But then that familiar ache of loss returns. I’d almost forgotten the pain for a moment. I reach up and rub the center of my chest, and the ache is worse now. How is that even possible? Or maybe I think it’s worse because it lifted for a second and something else filled the space.
“Bri?” Grams touches my arm, pulling me back to the moment. I didn’t even see her come back. I have no idea how long I’ve been standing here. “You okay?” She gives me a curious look.
“Yeah.” My eyes are still trained on where Wilder’s truck disappeared to.
“I think we can close up. Did Wilder come by? He was the last order I was waiting on.”
“He just left.” I look away from the road and notice more snowflakes fall and land in Grams’ silver hair.
“All right, let's lock up.” I nod in agreement, following Grams back into the store. “Are you sure you’re okay, honey?” she asks again.
She’s worrying over me. “Wilder.” The second the word is out of my mouth, Grams smirks, and I bite my tongue, deciding not to ask about him.
She’s always asking me about different men that come in that she knows are single and if I think they’re good-looking. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she’s trying to get me out of her house, but I know Grams loves love and is just a romantic at heart. She also probably wants some great-grandbabies too.
