Wounded Love (A Rocky Harbor Novel Book 3)

by Marianne Rice

  Later that day, after presents were opened and all the Rileys lounged around his mother’s living room, stuffed and content, Blake motioned for Colton to join him in the kitchen.

  “Come out to the barn with me. I want to show you something.” Blake grabbed two bottles of beer and nodded toward the back door.

  “Sure. What’s up?” They put on their coats and trudged through the new layers of snow. He’d shovel the path to the barn again before going home tonight. Or one of his brothers would. They always took care of their mother.

  When they got to the barn, Blake turned on the overhead light and shoved his hands deep in his pockets. “I’ve been thinking.”

  “Well, shit. The world’s about to end.”

  “You still looking for a job?”

  Colton sipped his beer and swallowed his pride. He didn’t like mooching off of Ellie, living at the inn, not paying rent. Granted, she didn’t have a mortgage to pay either, but he wanted to contribute in more ways than doing repairs around the place. His trailer still sat on his hundred acres, waiting to collapse under the weight of the next Nor’easter.

  For months he’d been scouring want ads, but nothing jumped out at him. His childhood dream of being a lawyer had gone by the wayside, and what did a former Marine have to offer the little town of Rocky Harbor? He could make a hell of a shot from a thousand yards away, but other than during hunting season, it didn’t serve much purpose around the small town. Colton liked working with his hands and enjoyed his military training, other than that, he had no lifelong dreams other than to marry Ellie and have more kids.

  Only what kind of father would he be if he couldn’t support his family?

  “You have plans for your property?”

  “Someday. Maybe. I don’t know.” A long time ago, when he bought the land, he envisioned himself retiring from the Marines at a ripe old age of sixty, maybe sixty-five, and settling down in a log cabin. Something like Luke’s. He didn’t need the house now that he and Ellie had the Inn.

  “Would you sell it?”

  “To who?”

  “Me.”

  “What the hell are you going to do with it? You don’t even own a condo. You stay in apartments or hotels or tents. Or at Mom’s. What are you going to do with a bunch of fields and woods?”

  “I have a proposition for you. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time but can’t go at it alone.” Blake chewed on his thumbnail, a sign of his nerves he didn’t show too often.

  “What can’t you do alone? I’m not cleaning up some mess you’ve left behind somewhere.”

  Blake’s life was an open book that no one had been invited to read. He didn’t commit to a home or a relationship. He traveled from state to state building and organizing crazy-ass obstacle course races for diehard athletes. For people who were into hurting themselves for fun by running through electrical currents, crawling through mud under barbed wire, and scaling ten foot walls.

  “I’ve been with Mud and Muscle for seven years. I’ve learned a lot about how to run an event and build safe, but challenging obstacles. The fad has been awesome, but I’d like to do something more permanent.”

  Colton nearly spit out his beer. “You? Permanent? Since when?”

  “I’ve got a plan.” Blake set his beer down and dug out a large poster board he’d hidden behind the workbench. Pushing the screwdrivers, hammers, and boxes of nails and bolts aside, he spread out the paper on the table. “People love doing these races. There are the professionals who travel the world hitting up every event they can find. And there are those who do it for fun, with a group of coworkers or friends. They love it. It’s empowering. But it’s a once a year thing. I want to make it an everyday event. Maybe not the mud and fire and shit, but I want to build an outdoor adventure gym with stuff you see on America Ninja Warrior and at the other obstacle events.”

  “Wait, what? You want to build a gym?”

  “Maybe we’d expand to an inside area as well. You have the perfect property to design a training course. Rock climbing on the cliff, some tree climbing, you’ve got hills and flat area, a stream for water or mud components. We could sponsor corporate and school events but also have a monthly membership deal.”

  “So an outdoor adventure gym?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And you want to buy my land for this?”

  “Actually, I want to go into a partnership with you. With your military training I figured you’d have some ideas for obstacles and challenges to add to the course. We’ll need to keep it fresh. Constantly adding to it.” Blake chugged the rest of his beer, his excitement evident, and contagious. “And I thought you could be a personal trainer, too. Not everyone will want one, but we could offer that service.”

  The idea sounded intriguing. Colton would be able to spend his days outdoors, which he loved, working with his brother, who drove him nuts but he loved, and would be close to his family and able to adjust his hours so he could be the dad and husband he’d always wanted to be.

  “Do you have any idea how much this will cost? I can only imagine what the insurance will be to cover our asses.”

  “I’ve met with an attorney already. And the bank. I haven’t had many bills over the years and have a nice nest egg already.”

  So did Colton. With no bills or family, he’d tucked away all of his military earnings and had made some pretty decent investments over the years. He wasn’t loaded, but content. Still, the testosterone and the work ethic his parents had instilled in him wouldn’t allow him to sit on his ass all day and watch his bank account drain.

  He’d talk it over with Ellie first, but the investment sounded too good to pass up. As long as he could trust Blake to stick around.

  “You’re telling me you’re not going to feel the walls of Rocky Harbor closing in around you and take off as soon as things turn sour?”

  “There’s my pessimistic brother. And here I thought your woman held your balls in her hand twenty-four-seven making you see sunshine and roses all the time now.”

  “A realist, my single and pathetic brother. Give me your word you’re here to stay. That you won’t jump ship if this plan doesn’t take off.”

  Blake tossed his bottle in the recycle bin by the door and rolled up his plans. “I’m sticking around, Colton. As the only Riley man left with his nuts intact and his head on straight, I gotta look out for the rest of you, not the other way around.”

  Colton couldn’t disagree more, but he slapped Blake on the back and put him in a headlock. “I can’t wait for a woman to get her hooks into you, little brother. This is going to be fun to watch.”

  They made their way back to the house, punching and razzing each other, arguing about the size of their manhood and who could belch the loudest. Ellie greeted him at the door, a question in her eyes.

  “My brother was feeling a little inadequate in the bedroom and needed some advice. His performance should be better from now on. You can thank me later, sis-in-law.” Blake kissed Ellie on the cheek and helped himself to another beer before leaving them alone.

  “What was that about?”

  “Blake needs a woman.”

  “Oh!” The Christmas lights in the window sparkled in her blue eyes. “I know the perfect one for him.”

  He’d let Ellie think their conversation was about Blake’s women issues for now. Tomorrow he’d meet with the bank and Blake’s attorney and get some real numbers before sitting down to talk it over with Ellie.

  And then they’d plan out their future together.

  Damn, he couldn’t wait to marry her. She lit up his world showing him how dark and sad and lonely it had been before her. Giving a piece of himself away to someone he loved made him complete, whole. Not less.

  It was time for his brother to learn this as well.

  THE END

  Playful Hearts

  Read Blake Riley’s story in Playful Hearts…A sweet smile, a dirty mind, and a playful heart.

  Having fun and living his life
on a whim is Blake Riley’s motto.

  When he moves back to Rocky Harbor, Maine, he thinks his life is about to turn predictable…until he meets Mackenzie Pratt. Her smart mouth and quirky attitude make him want to see how wild they can get together.

  Mackenzie’s too busy running the local coffee shop and caring for her mom and doesn’t have time for a real relationship. However, a sex-lationship is just the thing she needs, and Blake, with his crazy sense of adventure and raw sex appeal, is the perfect man for the job.

  As their relationship begins to creep from the bedroom and dangerously close to her heart, their casual trysts develop into something more—something neither expected.

  But Blake’s former life is full of secrets that threaten their developing relationship. Can Blake keep trouble away from Mackenzie? Or will their playful hearts grow cold when his past comes calling?

  BEFORE YOU GO…

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  About the Author

  Marianne Rice writes contemporary romances set in small New England towns. Her heroes are big and strong, yet value family and humor, while her heroines are smart, sexy, sometimes a little bit sassy, and are often battling a strong internal conflict. Together, they deal with real life issues and always, always, find everlasting love. When she’s not writing, Marianne spends her time buying shoes, eating chocolate, chauffeuring her herd of children to their varying sporting events, and when there’s time, relaxing with fancy drinks and romance books. Connect with her on Facebook or visit her website at www.mariannerice.com

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