Irresistible Love at Silver Falls (Island County Series Book 7)
Page 1
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Beyond Control Excerpt
Mia Excerpt
Contact the Author
About the Author
Irresistible Love
at
Silver Falls
(Island County #7)
Karice Bolton
Copyright © 2017 Karice Bolton
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any printed or electronic form, or stored in an unauthorized retrieval system, or transmitted in any form without permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, incidents, and events either are the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover: AdobeStockPhotos:
© kiuikson © panaramka
Interior: B&B Formatting
Adobe Stock: ©beaubelle
ISBN-10:0-9978787-9-7
ISBN-13:978-0-9978787-9-0
Irresistible Love at Silver Falls
After all the girls for a girls’ weekend jump ship, Brooke Sahler is left alone to spend a makeshift spa weekend in the mountains of Washington. As she’s happily wrapping herself in plastic wrap and smearing mud on her face, a freak spring snow storm leaves her stranded in the cozy cabin she rented. But not to fear, she’s got plenty of food and cable television to indulge in until the snow melts.
When the owner of the property stops by to check on her, she’s shocked to see her first crush standing on the other side of the door. He’s sinfully sexy, and every sizzle and tingle returns with a vengeance.
Funny how Aunt Hildie never mentioned who owns the lodge. . .
Kyle North always had a thing for his friends’ little cousin, Brooke. He remembers spending summers in Colorado tromping around with her and his best friends, Jake and Chance Harlen. She had a knack for getting them into plenty of trouble and daring him into the most intimate adventures. They shared a lot of firsts, and he’s never quite forgiven himself for taking one of them.
By the look in her eyes, it’s safe to say she remembers that night and is less than pleased to see him—even if he’s holding an armload of wood to keep her warm. When she invites him in, every single emotion he felt when he was a teenager slams into him. She’s gorgeous, smart, and completely uninterested.
Too bad she doesn’t believe in second chances. . .
Contact the Author
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BOOKS BY KARICE BOLTON
LUKE FLETCHER SERIES
HIDDEN SINS
BURIED SINS
REDEMPTION
MIA
V MAFIA SERIES
BLAKE
DEVIN
JAXSON – Coming Soon
ISLAND COUNTY SERIES
FINDING LOVE IN FORGOTTEN COVE
LOVE REDONE IN HIDDEN HARBOR
TANLGED LOVE ON PELICAN POINT
FOREVER LOVE ON FIREWEED ISLAND
TEMPTING LOVE ON HOLLY LANE
CHANCE AT LOVE ON MYSTIC BAY
IRRESISTIBLE LOVE AT SILVER FALLS
TITLE TBA – Spring 2017
SILVER RIDGE SERIES
TBA – Spring 2017
BEYOND LOVE SERIES
BEYOND CONTROL
BEYOND DOUBT
BEYOND REASON
BEYOND INTENT
BEYOND CHANCE
BEYOND PROMISE
BEYOND the MISTLETOE
AFTERWORLD SERIES
RecruitZ
AlibiZ
Zombie UprisingZ
THE WITCH AVENUE SERIES
LONELY SOULS
ALTERED SOULS
RELEASED SOULS
SHATTERED SOULS
THE WATCHERS TRILOGY
AWAKENING
LEGIONS
CATACLYSM
TAKEN NOVELLA (A Watchers Prequel)
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Beyond Control Excerpt
Mia Excerpt
Contact the Author
About the Author
Chapter One
I’m sorry. I’m a chicken, but I don’t drive in snow. I know you’ll have a blast with the other girls. Think of me as you finish that second bottle of wine tonight. See you soon.
I stared at the text, groaned, and tossed my phone on the couch. Apparently, Gina didn’t know I’d already gotten texts from our other three friends bagging out on our girls’ weekend because of the freak snowstorm.
One way or another, I was going to enjoy a spa weekend with the girls, or more aptly a girl. A weekend in the woods with me, myself, and, I, with no worries or stress from home, and it would start with the first at-home spa treatment.
Grabbing the plastic wrap, I looked around the cozy cabin I’d rented for a spring getaway—spring being the keyword—and suddenly wondered if I should hightail it out of the mountains too. I plopped on the oversized, red microfiber chair, draped my legs over the arms, and stared at all the groceries I’d hauled with me.
This wasn’t exactly what I’d envisioned when I begged all my friends to ditch their men and come up to the mountains for the weekend.
I imagined us all running around with clay face masks, sipping wine, eating chips, watching movies, and dishing on everything that made us drink the third glass of vino.
I didn’t mind being the only single female among all my friends, but sometimes it was just nice to get away without feeling like a third wheel.
Now, I was left with four family-sized bags of potato chips, three bags of corn chips, two gigantic cheese and meat platters, a sandwich platter, frozen hot wings, too many bottles of wine to admit to, juice, and cupcakes that took up the entire kitchen counter.
Actually, that wasn’t really a negative.
More of a
challenge, and one I would happily accept if needed, which was why I still clung to the plastic wrap.
I’d wanted to make this a completely girly weekend, which wasn’t something that exactly came easy to me. I was more of a no makeup and wet hair in a bun kind of girl. The one exception was that I got weekly manicures because I was also the hand model where I worked, modeling the lavender hand creams.
Anyway, I’d heard a lot about belly wraps, so I did a little DIY investigating and figured if we all wrapped our waists in cling wrap, we’d sweat out all the toxicities like tortilla chips and guacamole or so goes the legend.
Truth be told, I could never in good conscience consider chips of any kind toxic.
I’d also read that if a person were really advanced, they’d coat the cling wrap with coconut oil—because according to Pinterest that stuff worked on everything—and wrap the legs, arms, and stomach of the willing participant. Now, I knew the wrap wouldn’t make me lose weight, but it would make me feel proactive as I gorged myself on all the snacks I bought.
On that note, I stood, lifted my grey sweatshirt, and began tugging and pulling the overly clingy plastic around my waist until I felt like I’d lost at least one size. I glanced at myself in the reflection of the flat-screen television and rubbed my shiny stomach. Spa treatment number one had officially commenced.
When I’d arrived this morning, the sun was shining and the temperature neared sixty. How this all happened in a matter of hours only the man upstairs fully knew, but now I was left with a huge decision.
Stay or Go?
I glanced out the window and saw the snow coming down in more frenzied bursts as if it had a mission to keep me here. It wasn’t the fluffy kind of snow. It was the icy kind that made everything slippery the moment the flakes touched the ground and refroze.
I shivered and hugged myself. I’d only brought three pairs of yoga pants, sweatshirts, a couple pairs of shorts for my overly optimistic—or naïve—outlook on spring in the Northwest, and a lightweight jacket.
I noticed the small amount of stacked wood next to the fireplace. If I were to stay, I’d definitely need more wood. I wandered over to the front door and swung it open, surprised to see a set of footprints leading away from my front door. There hadn’t been a knock, so why’d they come and go without a word, whoever they were?
The tracks were at least double my size six feet and the width looked like a Sasquatch had been visiting. I glanced in the direction of the trail, and it appeared the tracks went in the direction of the main lodge, but I also noticed a path to the living room window, which was a little odd in a scary movie kind of way. I knitted my brows in confusion right before a blast of cold air blew in, and I quickly shut the door.
Seeing the footprints on the porch was a little unnerving. So much so that if I hadn’t only packed flip-flops and a pair of sneakers I’d make my way to the lodge and ask who was snooping and why.
I itched the plastic under my sweatshirt, unsure how much of this I could really take, and walked over to the kitchen for a bowl of chips while I contemplated my options.
It wasn’t like I was afraid of driving in snow. I’d grown up in Colorado, but I was smart enough to not put myself in dangerous situations, which was why I completely understood my friends not wanting to make the trek once they saw the forecast.
The very forecast I knew wasn’t accurate. Guessed wrong on that one.
But being leery of weathermen started long ago. One very misguided weatherman changed the entire course of my love life.
Maybe that was a little exaggerated, but it certainly started my love life. Enough about that.
Decision made.
I would stay and I’d pamper myself. I’d smear clay on my face in silent protest, pour some wine, eat some cheese and enjoy the peace and quiet that Netflix would offer.
Err…I mean the peace and quiet the mountains would offer. Either way, it sounded like heaven.
I picked up my phone and quickly texted back Gina. I didn’t want her to feel bad.
Okay, maybe I did a little.
Totally understand. It looks like the girls’ weekend turned to a girl weekend-lol. Better luck next year! I’m about to pop a cork, gnaw on some prosciutto, and binge on Netflix.
She texted back almost instantly.
Oh no! I feel horrible. We definitely owe you. You name it. We’ll do it. Maybe there will be a sexy hunk lurking in the woods.
I giggled and texted back. The idea of anyone, no matter how hot, lurking in the woods was really creepy.
Careful what you promise…I could come up with some humdingers in IOUs! And no to strange men! I’ll just enjoy myself and a dozen cupcakes all by myself… thank you very much.
I smiled, turned on the television, and began surfing through the Netflix options as I crunched on potato chips. I wasn’t embarrassed to admit that I was beyond thrilled to find out that these cabins had wi-fi and Netflix. Hildie, my aunt and current employer, suggested this place. It had looked really cute online, but it was even more darling in person.
The stone fireplace was in the corner of the great room, which opened into the dining and kitchen area. A large wrought-iron chandelier hung in the dining room and a rustic white pine coffee table centered the room, where a tan sectional wrapped the wall, along with two oversized red chairs. It actually reminded me a lot of my parents’ home in Colorado.
Finding the perfect show to begin, I clicked my selection and wandered over to the fireplace to get some heat going.
This was going to be a great weekend.
Once the fire was roiling, the groceries put away, the clay mask rubbed all the way down my neck, and a glass of wine by my side, I finally sank onto the couch with another bowl of chips and a plate full of meats and cheeses.
I let out a long drawn-out sigh and felt all the stress leave my body. Moving from Colorado to Hound Island off the coast of Washington had certainly been an unexpected move, but I’d prided myself in being somewhat impulsive. I didn’t want to be stuck in life because I was afraid to take risks and that even spilled over into my love life.
I turned up the volume and took another sip of wine.
Alone time was exactly what I needed. Albeit, I’d never do this dumb wrap again because finding a comfortable position as it pinched and sucked me in from every direction was impossible. The plastic either dug into my sides or rolled up on my back. I really wasn’t a spa girl.
In fact, by the time I’d finished my second glass of wine and plate of snacks, it was downright awful, but I couldn’t find the end piece to start unwrapping myself. I stood up and frantically began looking for a way to get the slippery plastic off.
As the music built on the Netflix show, so did my anxiety. I seriously couldn’t get this wrap off of me.
All the moving and twisting on the couch had somehow turned the plastic into a tangled suit of armor, and I vowed to never go cheap on spa treatments again.
No.
I vowed never to do spa treatments.
Period.
I wanted to scream, but the mask on my face made it nearly impossible to sip my wine, let alone open my mouth. I saw my reflection in a mirror and couldn’t believe what I was looking at. My brown hair stuck out in several directions from the top of my ponytail, and my brown eyes were the only visible sign there was life behind the dried, muddy mess.
A loud knock at my door nearly made me jump out of the cling wrap. I reached up to touch my face and felt the grainy clay under my fingers.
This wasn’t good.
Or maybe it was perfect because no one would be able to recognize me once I rinsed it off.
Another knock echoed into the room, only this time it was louder.
“Miss Sahler?” A deep, sexy voice came through the solid wood door. “Are you inside?”
I ran my fingers along my cheeks, but the grime wouldn’t come off. I shut my eyes, took in a deep breath before letting out a long yes in the form of a groan.
“Everyth
ing okay?” he asked.
There was a familiar cadence lacing his words, but I couldn’t quite place it.
“Yes, sorry. May I ask who it is?” I peeked out the window and saw the left side of the man who fit the footprints perfectly.
Whoever was standing at my door had to be over six-feet tall, but I could only see the side of him. Considering he was holding a bundle of wood, he seemed like an important person to let in my life.
“I wanted to drop off some more wood for your fireplace. I didn’t exactly expect it to snow like this or I would have stocked up your cabin.” He was still talking as I reached for the door. “I don’t really trust weathermen. It’s this whole crazy thing from when I was a kid.”
I pulled open the door and froze in place. If my jaw could drop, it would have, but it was firmly cemented in place thanks to the clay mask.
“Kyle?” I mouthed, barely above a whisper.
“In the flesh.” He smiled, holding a bundle of wood, his eyes narrowing on me. “It’s good to see you, Brooke.”
Kyle North all grown up.
Darn him!
He looked good.
My gaze fell to the wood floor, and I felt my cheeks redden. I said a silent thank you to the heavens above for this clay mask. He wasn’t the man I wanted to blush in front of, anything in front of actually, considering our past.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
My eyes flew to his, and I felt an immediate charge.
Just like old times.
“Didn’t Hildie tell you?” his low, gravelly voice teased me almost as much as his gaze.
His sapphire blue eyes nearly took my breath away, just like all those years ago. But I’d matured a lot since our teenage tryst. I no longer got tripped up by silly things like eye color, sexy smiles, or muscular builds.