Only For Forever: An Enemies to Lovers, Small Town Romance (Men of Rocky Mountain)

by Alexis Winter

  I took a total of $3,000 so when I spotted the car for only $1,500 I didn’t think twice. I offered the man $1,200 cash and he accepted. I offered the owner an extra $300 if he’d let me keep it at his place until I could pick it up. He agreed, no questions asked thankfully. It’s four miles from my house and I know my only option is to walk there tonight to pick it up.

  The moment my feet make it out of my back door, I take off running across the field behind my house and don’t look back. My lungs burn by the time I make it to the tree line but I don’t stop. I know if I take the road it will be shorter to where the car is, but I can’t risk it if Daryl wakes up and jumps in his truck. He has giant spot lights on his truck just for that reason, he’d spot me in a minute and I know without a doubt, he’d shoot me.

  I run the entire four miles, tripping and stumbling over branches and rocks. I have a small flashlight but it’s no match to the inky blackness around me. I have no phone, I left it behind because he tracks it. Finally, I see a small light in the distance and I know I’ve made it. I exit the woods and cross the street, the Aveo is parked in the man’s side yard just off the driveway. I don’t think twice or hesitate, I reach into my bag and hit the unlock button on the car. I open the door, climb inside and say a small prayer as I insert the key and turn it. The engine comes to life and I see there’s half a tank of gas. I throw the car in drive and take off.

  Tears begin to fall down my cheeks as a sob rips through my chest. Elation, excitement, fear…all of it courses through my body as I realize I’m finally free.

  ***

  Present day…

  “Class was fantastic tonight Steph, thank you. Really needed that after having a week of sick twins.”

  “Oh you poor thing, I’m glad you got some mommy time tonight.” I smile at Cheryl as she throws her bag over her shoulder and walks to the door.

  “I’ll see you on Thursday, have a great night!” She waves to me as she steps outside and heads to her car.

  I lock the door behind her, looking out into the parking lot. It’s been three years since I left Daryl but I haven’t stopped looking over my shoulder. Sometimes it’s almost like I forget that I’m in hiding or on the run, that my life is in limbo but I try not to because the moment you let your guard down is when your past catches up to you.

  I never intended on staying anywhere very long. In fact, the first town I stopped in was Virginia Dale, Colorado, a small town just over the border from Wyoming. I had planned only to stop for gas and a bite to eat, maybe a night in a hotel but I ended up staying there for almost a year. I thought I’d end up as far away from Wyoming as possible to throw off Daryl and his Sheriff cousin Rick who always does his dirty work but then I thought maybe hiding in plain sight was smarter.

  I liked it in Virginia Dale, made some great friends, got a waitressing job my second day and settled into a routine but when I saw a bartending job open here in Grand Lake I took it. I knew that if I didn’t want to get caught, I’d need to stay on the run. But here I am, two years later. If you’d told me that I’d go from tending bar and waiting tables in country cafes and diners to managing a Pilates studio owned by my best friend and even certified and teaching classes, I’d tell you you’re crazy. I love my job. I love connecting with my students and sharing a holistic and healthy way to strengthen your body and release negative energy.

  I finish sanitizing the equipment we used in class tonight and sweep and mop the floors. I turn off the light in the studio and step into the hallway to do a once over check in the locker rooms when I hear something. I stop dead in my tracks, my heart beating against my ribs as I hold my breath to listen. I hear it again, it’s the sound of the doorknob turning but the door is locked.

  Fear grips me as I reach into my pocket to pull out my phone when I hear my name, muffled through the shut door.

  “Steph you in there?”

  My shoulders drop and I release my breath in an audible exhale as I recognize Ryder’s deep, melodic voice. I step around the corner and see his imposing 6’4” figure blocking the entire glass door. His long, dirty blonde hair is tied up in his signature man bun. A lazy smile slowly spreads across his full lips as I approach the door and open it.

  “Hey, what are you doing here? Classes ended a while ago.” I tease.

  I know it’s a total fantasy, but my god the things this man does to me. Butterflies dance in my lower belly as he lets out a rumbling laugh.

  “I was driving home and saw your car in the parking lot and just wanted to make sure you were okay up here all alone.”

  I step aside as he enters the lobby of the studio. I try to casually rake my eyes up his denim clad tree trunk thighs. He crosses his arms across his broad chest and my eyes continue their journey up his magnificent body.

  This is how I know that Ariana was right about God being a woman, because only a woman could design a man so deliciously perfect and tempting to the female gaze it would make you want to hurl your body off a mountain just so he could rescue you. His insane body and good looks are only half of it, the man is a damn fireman…he literally rescues people. Maybe he could rescue me from a dry spell. I quickly shake the thought from my head and snap my mouth shut before a stream of drool trickles out.

  “Well that’s very sweet of you, thank you. It can get super dark out this way and I’m not looking to be a snack for a Mountain Lion.” I giggle nervously.

  “I had ulterior motives to stop too,” he runs his hand over his scruff and I can hear the scratching, sandpaper like noise it makes.

  Have I imagined that scruff scraping along my inner thighs? Only a few dozen times.

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, I miss our talks over at The Lariat. You were always the best part of my day when I stopped in there and just wanted to see how you were doing.”

  I stare at him for a second. Is he nervous? No, you’re just reading into it Steph.

  “Yeah I missed seeing you too…and all the other patrons and regulars,” I say quickly trying to sound casual. “I told Jerry that I can still bartend when and if he needs me, but he hasn’t text me so I’ve just been teaching all the classes I can here.”

  I watch as he steps further into the studio, looking around the lobby and down the hallway.

  “What about you? How’s work? Still putting out fires and rescuing kittens?” I ask and I realize I sound like a high schooler.

  “Yeah, yeah still putting out fires. It’s about to get busier with wild fire season right around the corner.” He plays with the thick leather cuff of his watch like he wants to say something but he’s unsure. I’m about to say something when his eyes dart to mine, “We should hang out.”

  I smile, those damn butterflies feel like they’re doing backflips in my belly right now.

  “Yeah?” Ugh, high schooler again. Why not just flip my hair while I’m at it.

  “Yeah,” he repeats my answer back to me as his eyes level on me. It’s like they’re looking right through me and suddenly I feel really vulnerable.

  “For sure, we should totally hang out.” I say the last part a little too loudly and try to readjust. Is he asking me out on a date? What does hang out mean these days?

  “You’ve got my number so text me sometime?” I step past him and turn the rest of the lights off before walking to the front desk to grab my keys and bag.

  He doesn’t say anything as he walks behind me out the studio door. I shut the door and lock it before turning and walking to my car, Ryder beside me the entire way.

  “This is me,” I say nodding my head towards the Aveo. “I mean, obviously it’s me it’s the only other car in the parking lot besides yours and you’ve seen my car before so you know what kind of car I drive.” Words pour nervously out of my moth as I fidget with my key ring, my eyes focused on the rocks I’m pushing around with the toe of my shoe. Ryder’s low rumbled laugh breaks the silence again and my eyes snap to his.

  “Doesn’t have to be a date or anything with connotations Steph. Just h
anging out.” He says causally with a shoulder shrug.

  “Yeah,” my voice has gone up about five octaves. “No, I know what you meant. I know we’re both crazy busy and we’re friends, good friends,” I have no idea what the hell I’m actually saying right now. I’m rambling as Ryder takes a step forward and slowly closes the distance between us.

  “Or it can be more,” his voice is thick and low and oh so delicious.

  He leans down, it feels like everything is happening in slow motion as his warm hand settles on my waist, his thick fingers gripping me softly as his lips touch mine.

  The kiss isn’t long. It’s direct and to the point. His pillow soft lips part, kissing mine once and then twice as his tongue softly parts my own lips and briefly caresses my tongue. I’m completely breathless, the air has been sucked out of my lungs in the most delicious and exciting five seconds of my life.

  He reaches behind me and opens my door, helping me inside. He leans down, his face next to mine.

  “Drive safe Steph. I’ll text you.”

  He gives me a wink before shutting my door and walking around my car toward his truck. I watch him in the rear view mirror the entire time, completely torn on if I should run after him and beg him to finish what he just started but just as I put my hand on the door handle, a chill runs through my body and I remind myself that while I’m still Stephanie Hartman here in Grand Lake, Ryder has no idea that I’m a woman on the run with dangerous secrets that could get us both killed.

  Read Stephanie and Ryder’s love store in Waiting for Forever

  Read the rest of the Men of Rocky Mountain Series

  A Second Chance at Forever

  Always Be My Forever

  Only for Forever

  Waiting for Forever

  * * *

  Curious about the Slade Brothers and their stories? Read them all here: The Slade Brothers: A Complete Small Town Contemporary Romance Collection

  * * *

  Or you can read all their stories individually here:

  * * *

  Slade Brothers Series

  Billionaire’s Unexpected Bride

  Off Limits Daddy

  Baby Secret

  Loves me NOT

  Best Friend’s Sister

  * * *

  You can also read Jade, Pearl and all the Grand Lake stories here:

  Grand Lake Colorado Series

  A Complete Small-Town Contemporary Romance Collection

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  * * *

  It’s no secret I’ve always had a crush on Damon Strickland.

  My best friend’s older brother and the center of every single one of my fantasies.

  * * *

  He’s a walking, talking temptation.

  * * *

  That cocky grin and those broad, athletic shoulders.

  You know what they say about a man with big hands right?

  * * *

  Growing up, we always tormented one another.

  I was the nagging, annoying little girl he hated

  And he was the man-whoring, douchebag I couldn’t seem to get over.

  * * *

  Now as adults he actually came through and helped me land a job at my dream company.

  * * *

  How the hell am I supposed to focus when all I can think about is tearing that tight suit from his tempting body!

  * * *

  What’s even worse?

  He forgot to mention, he’s my boss.

  * * *

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  Also by Alexis Winter

  Love You Forever Series

  The Wrong Brother

  Marrying My Best Friend’s BFF

  Rocking His Fake World

  Breaking Up with My Boss

  My Accidental Forever

  The F It List

  The Baby Fling

  * * *

  South Side Boys Series

  Bad Boy Protector-Book 1

  Fake Boyfriend-Book 2

  Brother-in-law’s Baby-Book 3

  Bad Boy’s Baby-Book 4

  * * *

  Make Her Mine Series

  My Best Friend’s Brother

  Billionaire With Benefits

  My Boss’s Sister

  My Best Friend’s Ex

  Best Friend’s Baby

  * * *

  Mountain Ridge Series

  Just Friends: Mountain Ridge Book 1

  Protect Me: Mountain Ridge Book 2

  Baby Shock: Mountain Ridge Book 3

  * * *

  Castille Hotel Series

  Hate That I Love You

  Business & Pleasure

  Baby Mistake

  Fake It

  * * *

  **ALL BOOKS CAN BE READ AS STAND-ALONE READS WITHIN THESE SERIES**

  About the Author

  Alexis Winter is a contemporary romance author who loves to share her steamy stories with the world. She specializes in billionaires, alpha males and the women they love.

  * * *

  If you love to curl up with a good romance book you will certainly enjoy her work. Whether it's a story about an innocent young woman learning about the world or a sassy and fierce heroine who knows what she wants you,'re sure to enjoy the happily ever afters she provides.

  When Alexis isn't writing away furiously, you can find her exploring the Rocky Mountains, traveling, enjoying a glass of wine or petting a cat.

  You can find her books on Amazon or at https://www.alexiswinterauthor.com/

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