AspenTrilogy (Boxed Set)

by Cindy Stark

  "Sure, honey." Her dad scooted closer and took her hand.

  She'd always been grateful for the quiet, steady support her father had offered her. Her mom stepped forward, too, giving her a measure of comfort.

  "I'm in love."

  The sharp intake of her mother's breath set her back on edge. "Not that Beckstead boy."

  "Mom." Katy stood and took her mother's hand. "This is where the listening part comes in."

  "Eleanor." Her father sent her mother some sort of silent communication, and Katy smiled. Her parents had been talking like that since she could remember.

  Her mom looked between her husband and Katy. "Fine." She took a seat next to Katy's dad.

  "I do love him, Mom. I know he's not the doctor you were hoping for, but he's a successful business owner. He's kind, and so, so sweet to me."

  Her dad smiled, but her mother didn't look convinced.

  "Look, I know you love me. If you could see how happy I am when I'm with him… If you'd just give him a chance, I know you'll see what a wonderful person he's turned out to be. Yes, he had a rough time when he was younger, but I think that's what helped make him the man he is today." She paused, searching her parents' faces. "Please give him a chance."

  "Katy—"

  "Mom. You and dad have had this wonderful relationship with each other. I feel like I could have that, too, with Scott. Just give him a chance before you label or condemn him?"

  Uncertainty hovered on her mother's face.

  "Of course, Katy," her father answered.

  Her mom glanced between them both again before she sighed. "What can I say? You're right, Katy. If you care about him, I should give him a chance." She nodded. "It's not that I have anything against him. It's just I've always wanted the best for you."

  "I know." Katy held out her arms, and her mom stood and hugged her. "Thanks, Mom." She glanced at her father. "Dad."

  He nodded.

  "What are the chances we could get both of you to come to Christmas dinner tomorrow?" her mom asked.

  Katy's grin formed in her heart and spread to her lips. "I'm going to say the odds are pretty good." Or at least she hoped and prayed that they were.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Scott sat alone in front of his television, suffering through a dim night of searching for ways to pass the time until he could crash in bed. He'd skipped over A Christmas Story and It's a Beautiful Life, instead opting for his DVD of The Expendables. Nothing like some serious violence to take his mind off losing Katy.

  Luke and Lily had invited him to their house to celebrate Christmas Eve. Normally, he would go, but he just wasn't in the mood this year.

  His phone rang, and he eyed it with a wary expression, knowing Luke wouldn't give in until he said yes. His heart stopped and then raced forward at an alarming pitch when he saw Katy's name on his screen.

  Damn it.

  He shouldn't answer. He was at his weakest right now, and it wouldn't be a good idea to talk to her.

  He let it ring a couple more times before he succumbed to her call. "Hello."

  "Scott, I need you."

  His brain tried to warn him against falling for her sweet voice, but his heart sang louder. "Are you okay?"

  "Not really. One of my pipes burst." Her voice sounded panicky. "I can't get a hold of my dad or anyone else. Would you please come help me?"

  "Of course." How could he ever refuse her? "I'll be right there."

  Despite the snowy roads, he made it to her house in record time. He knocked on the door, toolbox in hand, and this time, she answered right away.

  She didn't look as panicked as she'd sounded earlier.

  "Which room? Kitchen or the bathroom?" The delicious smell of something cinnamon caught his nose.

  She bit her bottom lip, a look of uncertainty wavering in her eyes.

  "Katy?"

  "I lied."

  "What?" With his initial spurt of adrenaline now fading, he recognized the soothing strains of Christmas music playing in the background, and the way all of the lights in her living room had been dimmed allowing the Christmas tree to glow brighter. "You don't have a leak?"

  "Not in my pipes." She gave him a trembling smile. "But maybe in my heart."

  He took a step back, knowing she'd tugged him down a slippery slope with her words. He needed a moment to fully process what she'd said. "You lied?"

  She moved closer to him, placing her hand on his cheek, watching him with her green eyes. "You lied, too. You said you weren't ready to get serious, but you were."

  He stared at her, not knowing where she'd gotten her information, but unable to deny the truth. "I was going to ask you to marry me, Katy, but I love you too much to let you ruin your future."

  Her lips twisted into a smile even as tears formed in her eyes. "I'd like you to be my future."

  "What about your promotion?"

  "I turned it down. Even though you ended things. I've learned enough from you to realize I want to own my life. I'll give my all while I'm at work, but I control the rest. I can't work in a position where I'm held captive twenty-four hours a day." She placed her lips on his in a soft kiss. "I won't be told I can't love you. Even if I tried, it wouldn't work."

  God, he loved her. He set down the toolbox and snaked his arms around her. He held her in a tight embrace, burying his face in her fragrant, blond tresses. Everything in the world was right as long as he held her against him. "Ah, Angel. I can't live without you, either." Unable to deny himself any longer, he claimed her mouth in a passionate kiss.

  She laughed, breathless when he finally pulled away. "I love you, Scott."

  "I love you, too." He dug in his coat pocket. "I have something for you."

  Her eyes grew wide. "It's…"

  "I don't know why I brought it. I guess subconsciously I was hoping." He handed the silver wrapped package.

  "You're going to make me cry again." She put a hand over her mouth, but still took the package from him. Her fingers shook as she opened it, and he couldn't help but smile.

  When she opened the jewelry box, she looked at him with tear-filled eyes. "It's breathtaking."

  "You're breathtaking." He pulled the diamond and platinum ring from the box. "Will you marry me?"

  She nodded, happy tears spilling from her eyes. "Yes."

  He slipped the ring on her finger before tugging her to him, giving her another powerful kiss.

  "I cooked you a turkey," she said between kisses. "And baked you an apple pie. All of the things you said you missed about Christmas."

  "I thought something smelled good." He possessed her lips again. "But you smell better."

  She chuckled. "I need to pull the pie out of the oven before you devour me, or it will be ruined."

  "Deal." He took her hand as they walked into the kitchen. "I'll help, but you can be sure you're the first thing on the menu for me." His heart expanded twice its size and life suddenly became more valuable than it ever had been before.

  He'd found the woman of his dreams, and he would never let her go.

  EXCERPT FROM MOONLIGHT AND MARGARITAS

  CHAPTER ONE

  "What you need is a wild night with a hot man."

  Elena Porter choked on a sip of her margarita and turned to her best friend, Mercedes, gaping at her with watering eyes. "Excuse me?" she wheezed out over the club’s loud music.

  "You’re way overdue, chica." Mercedes's Hispanic accent spiced her words, making her sound sexy and exotic. She flipped her hair, her dark tresses sliding over sun-kissed shoulders. "You’ve been working too hard, and we've both agreed it's time to put some fun back into your life. Now that we're here, I don't think Cabo's sun and cervezas are going to do it for you." She pinned her with dark eyes framed by long lashes. "You need carnal knowledge of a new man."

  Elena didn’t know why she continued to be surprised by her friend's outrageous statements. They’d known each other for more than twenty years, and she was well-versed in her uninhibited and outspoken ways
. "Carnal knowledge?" The look on her friend’s face was so intent that Elena couldn’t help but laugh.

  "What?" Mercedes narrowed her eyes, clearly not appreciating the snicker. "You know it's true." Sex was a very serious matter for her friend. It fell into the basic needs category along with food and air. "How long has it been?"

  Elena stiffened, not liking the turn of conversation. "What difference does it make?" Mercedes knew better than anyone the damage Elena's emotionally-abusive marriage had wreaked on her psyche.

  "It matters. You matter." Her friend leaned close and gave her a few wide-eyed blinks. "Plus, you promised you'd do whatever it takes to break out of your shuttered existence. Remember? So, tell me how long?"

  They wouldn't be having this conversation if Elena wasn't so desperate to feel like a normal woman again. "I don't know. A couple of months?"

  "A couple of months?" Mercedes scoffed.

  So it had been longer than that. "Maybe a year?"

  Mercedes narrowed her eyes and shook her head. "Don't lie to me, chica. Who was the last guy you were with?"

  "I don't remember." She took a drink of her margarita and turned toward the crowded dance floor, hoping to end their discussion.

  "Has there been anyone since your divorce?"

  The doubt in her friend's voice was enough to spike her temper. "Yes, there has," she lied. "And you know, my business has been—"

  "A full-time commitment." Mercedes finished her sentence and effectively threw her words in her face. "Don't give me that excuse again."

  Elena clamped her lips together and sent her friend a pointed look.

  Mercedes laid a warm hand on her arm. "Don't go getting all mad, Elena. You know I love you, and you know that everything I'm saying to you is for your own good. That's why we agreed to the conditions of this trip, because I knew once you got here, you'd get cold feet. But we're going to burst this protective bubble you've put around your heart so you can start living again. You need to meet new people and have exciting experiences. Otherwise, you're a dead soul in a living body."

  Mercedes was right, of course. Life was passing her by. She'd worked damn hard to gain her freedom, but what good was that if she didn't enjoy her life. She could admit she'd dreamt about having a man's arms around her again, but there was a difference between the safety of dreams and real life. She seemed to be experiencing some disconnect between wanting to meet someone and actually putting herself out there again. How could she guarantee she wouldn't lose herself in another relationship?

  On their flight to Mexico, she'd seriously considered this problem. The answer seemed to be a fun fling with a man she'd never see again. That would be a good way to dip her toe into the water without fear of drowning. Cabo certainly offered the possibility. "Okay." She sucked in a deep breath. "I want to do this."

  "Is hot sex back on the menu, then?" Mercedes raised a challenging brow and smiled. Her friend had pushed right through her doubts and had her ready to laugh again.

  "You're relentless. Besides, first, I'd have to meet a decent guy."

  Her friend gave her a confident nod. "I promise, somewhere in this overcrowded club, there's a perfect guy for you."

  A wild night with a hot man? Could she really do it?

  Elena's gaze slipped to the intimidating mass of hot, mostly younger bodies crammed on the dance floor not far from their table. The dancers gyrated to a wild salsa beat. The alluring sounds vibrated through the darkened club before spilling out onto the moonlit beach just steps outside the door. The urge to bury her inhibitions and experience a taste of total freedom pulled at her like an outgoing tide. Everyone else in the bar seemed to be having a good time. Why not her?

  "You make finding someone sound as simple as walking up to a street-side vendor and grabbing the first coconut I see."

  "Coconut's a good metaphor." Mercedes grinned and shifted in her chair to ogle a passing dark-haired hunk. "How about that one? He's cute." The young Latino caught Mercedes's visual approval and nodded at her as he passed. Her friend purred with delight. "Mmm.... Never mind. He's mine."

  "Will you stop?" Elena said with a laugh. "It's hard enough to get back in the singles' game without your relentless sex drive getting in the way. Besides, I thought I was the one looking for a man."

  Her friend grinned. "I'm always looking, chica. You know that."

  She did know that. Her friend went through men like Elena's floral shop went through roses on Valentine's Day. The men were always looking at Mercedes, too. The skimpy burnt-orange dress that hugged every curve of her friend's well-endowed body screamed for attention. Elena had thought her own white Marilyn Monroe-style dress would be sexy, but it paled in comparison. Same with her blonde hair and light skin next to Mercedes's striking features. "And you're the one who always gets them."

  Mercedes tsked. "That's not true. You landed Richard."

  Elena rolled her eyes. "He was the worst of all." Financially and physically, Richard had been a dream come true with his classic Norwegian good looks and as the successful owner of a conglomerate of businesses. The moment she'd said "I do", money ceased to be an issue in her life, which was huge for her, considering she'd grown up with very little. She also had a beautiful daughter to show for all the time she'd invested in her marriage, but sixteen years had been far too long to spend with a man who believed beating her down emotionally and controlling her was the equivalent of loving her.

  "I was just proving my point that you caught a few, too." Mercedes barely finished her sentence before her gaze skipped away from Elena. Her friend's siren red lips curved into a grin, and Elena turned to see what had stolen Mercedes's attention. The dark and delectable young hunk who'd previously passed their table was headed back toward them.

  Unbelievable. Elena shook her head. "Why is it always so easy for you? Men flock to you, and you don't even try."

  "Why do you make it harder than it has to be? Look out there, honey." She gestured toward the crowded bar. "The room is full of men. Pick your coconut."

  This was it, then. If she wanted her fling, she was going to have to put herself out there. It was a crap shoot. Rejection, humiliation or fun—she wouldn't know the outcome until she laid down her bet. But even if it was a baby step and she was operating under the safety of anonymity, it was a step forward. Maybe if she took enough of them, she'd feel whole again.

  "Fine." She nodded. "I can do this. I'm a fearless warrior, looking to conquer." Wasn't that the biggest lie? She fought off the incessant insect of fear that nibbled at her nerves as she scanned the area with a serious eye for business. A dark-haired man sitting at the bar, surveying the crowd with a semi-interested expression, caught her attention. There was something about him—maybe it was the slant of his brows or the way his hair curled at the ends she found intriguing. "What about that guy at the bar wearing the white shirt with the sleeves rolled up? He's kind of hot and close to my age."

  "Who?" Mercedes turned, looking for Elena's selection. "Oh, nice. Perfect for you. Good-looking, probably educated. Go get him."

  "Right. Just go get him." Elena snorted. Life was always so simple when viewed through her friend's eyes.

  "Yes. Look at you. You're a sexy woman. There are a million guys who'd be interested and who'd be lucky to meet you." Mercedes stood as the cute Latino reached their table, never questioning he might not be coming for her. "One minute, baby," she said to the man and then turned back to Elena. "He'll want you. You just need to let him know you want him. Now, go get your man."

  The music stopped and a slower beat filled the void. "Let's dance," Mercedes said, tucking her arm around her young hunk. "I want to feel those hard muscles of yours pressed against my body."

  The guy widened his eyes, and Elena choked on air. "Muy caliente," he said, pulling Mercedes into his arms. "It'll be my pleasure."

  Mercedes's laugh faded as they headed for the dance floor.

  Okay, then. All Elena needed to do was follow in her friend's footsteps. She hadn't left
her precious flower shop in Carmel to come to Mexico for just the sun. No, she'd spent almost three years building a business that could support her, and the time had come to take the next step. She was determined to remove the weeds from her personal life and see it flourish as well.

  Decision made. She downed the rest of her margarita. Reaching into her purse, she reapplied her lipstick. It might not be siren red, but midnight mauve would have to do. She steeled her nerves. This was nothing compared to some of the things she'd done in her life, like garnering the courage to file for divorce and strike out on her own.

  She could do this. She would ask him to dance. It was a step forward.

  Through the crowd, she focused on her target and rose. She tried not to pay too much attention to how young and beautiful everyone was as she wound her way through the partying mass of people.

  In what seemed like mere seconds, she found herself only feet from the object of her attention, and she panicked. She hung back from the bar, positioning herself so she could see him without being obvious.

  Up close, he was even better-looking, making her nerves quiver with excitement. Dark brows slanted over sexy bedroom eyes. Dimples creased his cheeks as he talked to a Hawaiian-shirt-clad man sitting next to him at the bar. Her target's white shirt was open at the neck, and she could see the outline of his muscled chest that lay beneath. He was more than hot, and she was beyond intimidated. She lifted her chin, determined to project confidence.

  She just needed to say hi, right? And act interested. Mercedes had said to let him know she wanted him. She took a step, her feet wobbling in her three-inch heels.

  Damn it. She was only a few steps away, but she just couldn't do it. She stopped and faced away from him, pretending something had caught her eye while she took a moment to hunt down her suddenly-absent courage.

  She desperately wanted to break out of the safe little shell she'd created for herself after her divorce. She wanted to live again, laugh again, have a damn orgasm again. She would do this.