Exposed: New Adult Sport Romance (The Boys of Winter Book 5)
Read Exposed: New Adult Sport Romance (The Boys of Winter Book 5) Online
Authors: Violet Vaughn
Exposed
Ready for love…
Ruby Raines swore off men after her high school relationship with a reckless ski racer ended in an unplanned pregnancy. Heartbroken, she buried herself in her fashion design where any mistake can be recycled and torn-out stitches easily replaced.
But then sizzling hot entrepreneur Neal Morgan enters her life with a business proposition. He wants a partnership to launch her clothing line—but he has a reputation for intimate proposals too.
After years on the race circuit Trevor Sullivan moves to the resort town of Breckenridge, Colorado to teach skiing and settle down. He stumbles on Ruby—the one who got away. Even discovering she kept their child a secret can’t make him forget their steamy connection. But is he in love with the woman Ruby has become?
Ruby can’t resist the pull of past, when Trevor’s dogged pursuit reminds her of the dreams she once had and the wounds she thought would never heal. But Neal’s invested in her in more ways than she believed possible. Can she take a chance on the love of a lifetime?
Exposed
A Fire and Ice Novel
Violet Vaughn
Sugarloaf Press
Copyright © 2015 by Violet Vaughn
All Rights Reserved
First E-book Edition 2015
Editing services by Jodi Henley, Kats Eye Editing and Red Adept Publishing
Cover design by Kim Killion
Layout by The Printed Page
This novel is a work of fiction. The town and ski area of Breckenridge, Colorado has been embellished to suit the story, and the references to people, events and locations are used fictitiously. Names, characters and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form including but not limited to printing, scanning, and photocopying without permission from Violet Vaughn. However, brief quotes in reviews are allowed.
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Other Books by Violet Vaughn
Fire and Ice Series
Pulse
(2015)
Violet also writes paranormal romance as V. Vaughn.
Learn more about
Called by the Bear
—a shapeshifter romance serial
Contents
This is dedicated to Tamra Work. Thank you for being the kind of friend everyone should have.
Special thanks goes out to my sister, Dr. Elizabeth Pietras for the numerous text responses to my medical questions. Thanks for always being there and supporting my crazy dreams.
“Wha
t do you think, Ruby? Would this make a girl like you go out with me?” Neal’s strong fingers push dark blond hair from his forehead as he throws his shoulders back in a pose.
I force my eyes away from the sexy grin and mesmerizing blue eyes. I’m about to lose my patience with him because this is the third time he’s come in to Rhinestone Cowgirl to try on a leather bomber jacket. He fishes for compliments and continues to flirt with me as if I’m one of the many women ready to fall at his feet and into his bed.
Neal turns his back to me to look in the mirror, and I peruse his broad shoulders that taper down to his slim hips. He has the athletic body of a runner, but he’s not gaunt. No, he fills out jeans and shirts in a way that makes my clothing-designer heart flip.
I sigh quietly and find my inner schmooze. “The cut emphasizes your strong shoulders.” I tug at the bottom of the leather near his waist. “And shows off your fit body.” Knowing he likes to be touched, I walk around to the front of him and fit the zipper insertion pin into the slider body to pull it up. The hum is soft as I pull it up and my hand brushes against his belly. It’s taut and trembling under my touch, and I want to touch more. I inhale quickly at the thought and stop partway up his chest. I step back to give him the onceover with my gaze. Our eyes lock, and I say, “Yes, I might go out with a guy that looks like you do in this coat.”
Neal grins at the way I avoid his attempt at asking me out. But my words don’t stop him. “Let me be more specific. Would you go out with me if I buy this?”
Now I sigh loudly. “I’m not into dating right now, I’m sorry.”
He steps into my personal space, and his lightly spiced scent tempts my nose. His voice hits home when he says, “Whoever it was that hurt you is making this awful hard for me. I’m not that guy.”
Oh, but you are, Neal. He’s the sexy, successful type women fall for. He flirts in a way that makes a girl feel special. Neal treats women with respect and charms his way into their hearts. I guess when he tires of the latest conquest he’s on to another, leaving a trail of lovesick women that spanned a decade and probably the longest ski trail at Breckenridge.
I shrug and offer a small smile. I’m done with this game and hope he is too.
Neal surprises me and says, “I’ll take it.”
Leather is buttery-soft and warm in my hands when I take the coat from him to go ring it up. As I walk to the counter a blast of cold air comes in the side door along with Christian, one of my bosses.
“Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, we’re having duck tonight, and you better starve yourself for it, because I’m going to outdo myself.” Christian’s blue-gray eyes are sparkling, and I wonder what he’s so happy about.
I reach my hand out to graze his stomach as I walk by. “I don’t know why you aren’t fat. If you always eat the way you do when you have me over, you should be huge.”
He winks. “Nika keeps me too busy to get fat.”
Nika is my other boss and his fiancée. She calls out from the office that is along the back wall of the store. “I heard that! Get in here, I’ve got work for you.”
Christian winks at me. “See?” He nods at Neal in a greeting.
I grin as he walks off. Once a week I have a dinner meeting at Nika and Christian’s house. As their manager for their high-end western wear clothing shop in the ski town of Breckenridge, we discuss business and they feed me well. I usually end up leaving with the rest of the wine and leftovers for the next night.
Tissue paper rustles as I pull out a few sheets to wrap the coat. Neal’s plastic credit card slaps down on the counter, and he says, “I’m going to go talk to Nika, be right back.”
Neal owns quite a few businesses in Breckenridge, and I know he’s friends with Nika and Christian. I’m flattered he asked me out, he’s definitely hot, and I’m attracted to him, but I’ve been with his type before. It was a hard lesson the first time, and I won’t repeat it.
When Neal returns to the counter I hand him a pen and a slip of paper to sign.
“Enjoy your jacket.”
“I will.” He walks down the few stairs that lead to the door and turns to me as he opens it. He’s grinning and says, “See you tonight.”
I’m sure I look surprised because he chuckles on his way out.
As if she knows what I’m thinking, Nika comes out of the office and calls to me. “Ruby, help me with this?” She’s rolling a rack of new clothes that need to be hung, and judging by a style I recognize, we’ll be changing out the front window to highlight the expensive pieces too.
I finger the crushed velvet of a skirt, and the softness is luxurious in my hand. “I love this year’s line. The colors are so rich.”
Nika says, “I know, I already set a green one aside for me. Hey, Neal is coming for our dinner tonight. We’ll be talking about the Vail and Aspen stores.”
“Yeah, he mentioned that.” I sigh.
“Uh-oh, is there something going on with you two that I don’t know about?”
“He asked me out today and I turned him down.” Hangers clink against the metal bar of a display rack.
“Why? If I’m out of line just say so, but you haven’t been with someone since I’ve known you.”
“I haven’t dated in years.”
Nika’s hand touches my arm, and her cool fingers seep through the thin fabric of my blouse. “Ruby, you deserve to find love.”
I pull out a size small vest and skirt in burgundy for the mannequin. “I’m not sure Neal is it, though. He has women falling all over him, and I’m not into men who bask in that kind of attention. My ego can’t take it.”
I force a smile, but I’m not really joking. While my wit is quick, banter isn’t my thing. I wouldn’t want to have to fight off the flirting women who would be sure to follow his every move.
“I think if Neal was with the right one she’d be all he saw, no matter where you were. I know he’s liked you for some time.”
“Really?” This is news to me. I thought I only entered his air space this week.
“Really. He’s been watching you since we opened last year. And he’s not really the guy he used to be. Did you know he hasn’t dated anyone in months?” Wheels squeak as Nika rolls the rack back toward the office.
I’m tempted to follow her to ask more about him. But I stop myself because I’m not getting involved with Neal Morgan. I pull out my favorite shaming technique, the memory of my high school pregnancy. Yeah, guys like Neal leave girls like me up a creek without a paddle.
Finding the lacy silk tee I imagined with the new outfit, I button the velvet vest over it. The deep wine red is adorned with silver studs and will make a nice western-style holiday piece. Pinching open the skirt hanger, I begin to daydream about what my daughter might be doing.
She probably started kindergarten this year, and I picture a petite girl with my wild, curly hair and Trevor’s green eyes, coloring at a tiny desk. Regret squeezes my heart as tears make my vision blurry.