Grand Lake Colorado Series: A Complete Small Town Contemporary Romance Collection

by Alexis Winter

  I recall seeing her peeking out behind a living room curtain when I was out back in my parents’ hot tub. She thought I couldn’t see her, but I did. Back then, she was just a little skinny girl that hung around my house. Now, she’s a full-grown woman who I’ve felt pressed up against me, who I’ve tasted.

  The next morning, I wake to a pounding on my cabin door. “Come on, old man. You said breakfast was on you.” I grunt and roll over, grabbing my phone off the nightstand. It’s barely past seven.

  “Out in fifteen!” I practically growl as I drag my half-asleep ass to the bathroom. I stand in the steamy shower for barely a minute when images of last night’s incident come rushing back to me. I can’t help but smile, but then an image of Trevor flashes through my brain. Should I tell him? What if Trevor has been in love with her all along? Before I can decide, I step out and towel off, looking at myself in the mirror. I can still feel her soft, warm breasts pressed against my chest.

  The thought pisses me off. “I need to get laid,” I say under my breath as I comb my hair. I quickly throw on a flannel, jeans, and my work boots and step out into the sunshine.

  “Take any seat in the house, boys. I’ll be right out with ya,” Delilah shouts at us as she ducks into the kitchen.

  “Man, this place hasn’t changed a bit. Still looks exactly like the day I left, including Delilah.” Trevor glances around the restaurant.

  “You realize you’ve only been gone for about six years? It’s not like it’s been decades.” The Place has been in our town for as long as I remember. Delilah and her husband, Chip, ran it. After Chip passed a few years back, she managed to keep it going with the help of some locals, including her son, Will, who attempted to manage the bar. The only thing he ever did was hit on women and ignore paying customers.

  “Boys, it’s so good to see you back together. Give me a hug, Trevor.” Delilah scurries over to our table with outstretched arms as Trevor stands to embrace her. “You look more and more like your dad every day, you know that? I just wanted to say a quick hello. I’ve got to get in the back, so Pearl will be out shortly to get your orders.”

  I forgot Pearl always worked the weekend morning shifts at The Place. I’m about to tell Trevor what happened last night when out walks Pearl. She’s holding her notepad against her chest with her chin as she ties her apron around her waist. “Morning, gentlemen. What can I get started for you?” she says before looking up.

  Our eyes meet when she finally lifts her chin and grabs the pencil from behind her ear. I can see the blush start at her neck and quickly creep up her entire face. She involuntarily crosses one arm over her chest as if she’s covering herself.

  “Hey, P. I didn’t know you still worked here. That’s crazy! What’s it been now? Ten years?” Trevor asks as he gives her a friendly bump on the arm.

  “Uhh…uh, yeah. It’s been…just about ten years.” She squishes her face as she scratches behind her ear. She is doing everything she can not to look at me.

  “I thought you guys already played catch-up. We ordering or not?” I say a little gruffly.

  “Well, apparently, someone’s a little hangry.” Trevor laughs. “I’ll do the egg white omelet with extra veggies, turkey bacon, and black coffee.”

  “Turkey bacon? Seriously, bro? You watching your weight?” I roll my eyes.

  “Umm, I don’t think we have turkey bacon? I’ll double-check with the cook but probably not. I’m sorry.”

  “No worries. I’ll just do a side of fruit. Some of us care about our cholesterol,” he jokes as he leans across the table and pokes at my stomach.

  “I’ll have the ultimate breakfast platter, extra bacon,” I say without even looking at the menu. “And a screwdriver.” She glances up at me from her notepad with a bit of a strange look before turning on her heel and walking away. Before she can get too far, I say after her, “Oh, and, Pearl, make sure the screwdriver is virgin.”

  She stops in her tracks and turns back around slowly. “So, orange juice? You want a glass of orange juice?” she practically spits out. I just smile broadly as the blush returns to her cheeks and she stomps off.

  “What was that about?” Trevor looks between us.

  “Nothing. So, what’s going on with you and the woman back in Chicago? Ma said you scared her off?”

  “I didn’t scare her off. We’ve been dating since undergrad. We’ve lived together for about two years and I proposed. She seemed genuinely happy and said yes, but about a month ago, she decided she needed space.”

  “Someone else?” I ask.

  “What? No. No, it’s not like that. She said that she feels like we should take some time apart. We’ve been together for so long and through some pivotal years in our lives. She just thinks she needs some time before making a commitment like that.”

  “To sleep around, then?”

  “You know what, Blake? I’m not going to share shit with you if you just make it all into a joke or turn it into some bitter diatribe about you and Tracey.”

  I raise my hands in surrender. “Sorry, was just teasing.” The silence returns between us just as Pearl approaches with our drinks. I don’t bother teasing her anymore. I want to return to the conversation with Trevor.

  “Food should be right up, boys,” she says, walking away from our table.

  “Well, you’ve always got a number one Trevor fan in Pearl if things don’t work out with your lady.” I toss it out there to test the waters.

  “Ha, yeah. P and I are like brother and sister. That would be weird. Besides, I can guarantee you she never saw me in that way. To her, I was just her nerdy best friend that might as well look like a Ken doll down there.”

  I smirk to myself. Man, he’s a complete idiot. Even though I’m nine years older than both of them, I saw it from a million miles away when they were growing up. I didn’t realize she still felt that way about him, though.

  “I want to work things out with Katherine more than anything. She’s the love of my life and my best friend. I get that she feels like she’s been in this relationship forever, I just…I really hope she sees that I’m the man she wants to marry.” He takes a sip of his coffee and looks out the window for a moment. “I forget how beautiful it is here. How much I miss the mountains.”

  “Think you’d ever move back?” I ask as I see Pearl come through the kitchen door with our food.

  “You know, it’s always a possibility. Pearl, come here, sit down.” Trevor grabs her wrist and pulls her into the booth next to him. “Blake tells me you’re going to be running some marketing campaigns for the cabins. I think that’s great.”

  She glances nervously at me, then back to Trevor. “It’s only part-time for now, but I’m excited. Your mom is amazing for giving me this opportunity.”

  “Well, if Blake here is an asshole as a boss, make sure you let me know. I’ll make sure he behaves accordingly. He’s known to be a little rough around the edges.” Trevor puts his arm around Pearl and motions towards me with a big, goofy grin on his face.

  “I think I’ll be okay,” she says, removing Trevor’s arm from her neck and scooting out of the bench. “I know it’s my first real job, so honestly, I’m just eager to learn.”

  “Well, don’t be surprised if it gets uncomfortable or even painful at times. Everyone’s first time is a little awkward,” I say with a wink.

  Trevor chuckles as she rolls her eyes and disappears again. “You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re the one Pearl has a crush on.”

  I choke on the last bite of my eggs and try to wash it down with the orange juice. He’s an idiot. There’s no way in hell Pearl has a crush on a grizzled old man like me. I can’t tell him exactly how I know that’s true, but I’m sure he’ll find out from her soon enough.

  Five

  Pearl

  I take a deep breath and inhale the scent of the aspens. The sun is shining through in beautiful golden ribbons. One of the things I love most about Colorado is our three hundred plus days of
sun each year. I look overhead to see a few falcons swarming and enjoy the soft breeze as it hits my face. I don’t know why anyone would ever want to leave here. It’s peaceful and serene.

  “Is this a millennial thing?” I’m startled out of my trance by the sound of Blake’s deep voice.

  “You know you’re a millennial too, right?”

  He shakes his head and grunts.

  “I was just taking in the surroundings. You know, I think us natives often take Colorado for granted. It’s so beautiful here.” I don’t know if he’s listening, but I follow behind him as he makes his way to the tool shed.

  “Can I help you with something?”

  He doesn’t look at me.

  “Can we...can we pretend that the other night didn’t happen? I realize you are loving the jokes, but can we keep it professional?”

  “Wasn’t sure if you picked up on those at breakfast yesterday.”

  I can see he’s smiling to himself. “Uh, yeah. I’m not stupid and you laid it on pretty damn thick, Blake.” I turn to walk toward the office when I remember what I really wanted to ask him. “Hey, you didn’t te—”

  “I didn’t say a word. That’s between you and him.”

  I nod and make my way to go meet up with Adele. I spend the next few hours talking over my plans with her. I spent some time over the weekend mocking up a website, a Facebook page, and an Instagram and Twitter account.

  “You think all of that is necessary?” she asks, looking overwhelmed.

  “Absolutely, but don’t worry. I’ll manage all of it. This is my generation’s ‘thing,’” I say with a wink. “Trust me, it’s free advertising. I can promise you with the renovations that Blake is doing and with all of this marketing and rebranding I’m doing, we are going to see a complete turnaround in business.” I can’t hide the excitement in my voice. Not only am I finally excited and motivated by my job, but I want so badly to save her business.

  “I think that we can do a grand re-opening around the Fourth of July. We already have the parade and the barn dance, and they always brings in a lot of tourists. I glance at my phone. “It’s only April 3, so we have some time to get traction and start booking up these cabins. The renos will be complete by then, so I think it’s a great plan.”

  She reaches out and squeezes my hand. “You are just what we needed my dear. You know...I always hoped that you and Trevor would end up together.” She smiles and the wrinkles around her eyes deepen.

  I laugh nervously, unsure of what to say. “Well, he’s an amazing man, so any woman would be lucky to have him.”

  “Well, you know his fiancée left him? I hate to see my boy heartbroken, but it could be a good time to remind him how important you once were in his life,” she says, nodding her head. “Still hard to believe that Blake went through this same thing just shy of a year ago.”

  “He what?” That got my attention.

  “Yes, his fiancée left him. Tracey. I never really cared for her. She always wanted...or expected, rather, for Blake to do everything for her like she was a princess. Anyway, she left town one day with a note, and he hasn’t heard from her since. Poor boy, I know it broke his heart.”

  “Guess that explains his personality.” I snort to myself just as I hear someone behind me clear their throat. I slowly hang my head and turn around to see Blake leaning against the doorjamb with a look on his face that says I’m in trouble.

  “Professional? You want to keep things professional? Where was that when you were in there discussing my business with my mom?”

  “Hey, she brought it up! I didn’t ask her about it!” I shout as I stomp after Blake.

  He spins around and points a finger in my face. “Yes, you did. You asked what and then you made your dumbass comment about my personality.”

  I cross my arms across my chest. “Aren’t you a little too old to be this immature? Why are you so butt-hurt that your mom is talking about her sons with someone they grew up with? It’s not like we were gossiping about you.”

  I watch as Blake removes his flannel shirt and takes a long sip of the cold water he had gone inside to get. Beads of sweat run down his neck and chest in rivulets. I watch his Adam’s apple bob with each gulp. I’m completely mesmerized by his tanned abs glistening in the sun and the small happy trail of dark hair that dips below his low slung jeans. I’m staring. I try to count the ab muscles before he’s done, but I’m caught.

  “See something you like?” he asks as he wipes his mouth with the back of his arm.

  I roll my eyes and scoff before walking back up to the office. I hadn’t realized that I broke out in a small sweat while watching him. I remember seeing him in the hot tub when I was younger, but his body is different now. He’s probably put on thirty pounds of muscle and grown another few inches. He’s at least six four with a neck like a tree.

  I stop right before I get to the door and turn. I can still see him. He pulls on his gloves and goes back to chopping wood. I didn’t even realize people still chopped their own wood till now. His body is like a fine-tuned machine, his muscles bunching and rippling with each blow of the ax. I lick my lips and remember how his rock-hard body felt against mine and the heat that radiated off his chest. I don’t even realize I’m squeezing my thighs together till I hear the crunch of gravel and see Trevor approaching in his mom’s car.

  I let out the breath I was holding and wave at him, hoping he doesn’t catch on to the fact I was spying on his very shirtless brother.

  “What are you doing out here?” I ask as I approach him.

  “Just thought I’d come out to visit with you and Mom. See how things are going and if I can help out.” He shrugs his shoulders and it reminds of Trevor from high school. He’s changed a lot, grown up and filled out, but I still see the boy I’ve always known in his mannerisms. He’s not as tall as Blake, just under six feet, and still lean. He has a runner’s body, long with sinewy muscle. For the first time, I wonder what his ex looks like.

  “I’d love to show you my plans. I just went over everything with your mom, but maybe you could give me a second opinion?” I try to act cute…although if I’m honest, I don’t have the slightest clue how to flirt. I purposely reach out and pull my hair out of my ponytail, fluffing it to one side and attempting to pout my lips a little.

  Trevor either doesn’t notice or ignores my sad attempt because he claps his hands and then rubs them together. “Sounds like a plan. Let's do this, P-brain.”

  Ahh, another one of his silly little nicknames he used for me growing up. I like to think of them as terms of endearment, but now I’m worried they’re more like kid sister names.

  “I need to make him jealous.”

  “What? Who?” Jade looks confused as she stands in the door of her apartment.

  “Can I come in or what?” I say, holding up two bottles of wine.

  “Lead with that next time. Now, what the hell is going on?”

  I walk over to her tiny galley kitchen and grab two wine glasses. “Trevor. I need to make him jealous. That’s the only way this plan is going to work.”

  “Oh, Jesus, have mercy. You’re still on this plan?” She flops onto the couch before reaching up and taking one of the glasses from my hand.

  “Hear me out.” I take a big gulp before diving into my plan. “I spent several hours with him today at the cabin office, and he just sees me as a guaranteed thing, right?”

  “I literally have no idea what you’re saying, but go on.”

  I roll my eyes. “Okay, so growing up, he was the one who would have a girlfriend here and there, and he was the one who would be too busy. I, on the other hand, have always been the one to be at his beck and call. So, I was thinking I make up a boyfriend or something so he thinks I’m seeing someone. That way, when he wants to hang out, I’ll be too busy or have a date!”

  Jade still looks completely confused. “Okay, sweetie, this plan…I don’t love it. Have you tried just being honest with him about how you feel? Just tell him you’r
e interested and you’d love to see where it goes?”

  I take another slug of wine and avert my gaze.

  “What’s that look? What happened?”

  “Nothing. I thought about that approach, but I don’t think it’s the right one. He just got dumped, so he’s hurting and I think he’ll just say the ‘I just got out of a relationship’ line and it will just be too easy to set myself up for failure.”

  I can tell she’s not buying the plan. I reach out and grab her arm. “Jade, I just want Blake to see me for who I am. See me as a grown-ass woman and not just the nerdy, Star Wars lov—”

  “Blake?” she asks.

  “What? Why’d you say Blake?”

  “No, you said Blake. You just said I want Blake to see me as…”

  “No, I didn’t!” I feel my cheeks heat up.

  “Yes, you did, and your voice is like crazy high right now. What is going on?”

  I panic. “It’s just the wine. I haven’t eaten all day, and I had an argument with that shithead Blake today at work. You know I meant Trevor.” I’m not sure who I’m trying to convince more: her or me.

  “Whatever you say. Blake is hot as hell, though. He’s got that older guy, daddy thing going on.”

  “Ugh! Please never say Blake and daddy in the same sentence again, okay?”

  “Hey, I’m just saying he’s hot. You can’t deny that. I’d take him over Trevor any day.” She lifts her glass before finishing it.

  “Really? He’s so…moody, though.”

  “Yeah, and the quiet, moody ones are always the ones that are good in bed. I bet he’s dominant but in a sexy, passionate way. I saw him dance at last year’s Fourth of July party and whew! That man can move his hips.”

  I can feel my face burning like it’s on fire. Thoughts of his hips moving beneath mine flash into my brain. The way he loosened his hands from my grip before flipping me onto my back. Jade wasn’t wrong about his dominant side. I wonder if we had gone further, how he would have taken me.