It's In His Forever (A Red River Valley Novel Book 5)

  Contents

  Also by Shelly Alexander

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Also by Shelly Alexander

  About the Author

  Also by Shelly Alexander

  Shelly’s titles with a little less steam (still sexy, though!):

  The Red River Valley Series

  It’s In His Heart – Coop & Ella’s Story

  It’s In His Touch – Blake & Angelique’s Story

  It’s In His Smile – Talmadge & Miranda’s Story

  It’s In His Arms – Mitchell & Lorenda’s Story

  It’s In His Forever - Langston & His Secret Love’s Story

  It’s In His Song - Dylan & Hailey’s Story (2019)

  The Angel Fire Falls Series

  Dare Me Once — Trace & Lily’s Story

  Dare Me Again — Elliott & Rebel’s Story

  Dare Me Now - TBA

  Dare Me Always - TBA

  Shelly’s sizzling titles (with a lot of steam):

  The Checkmate Inc. Series

  ForePlay – Leo & Chloe’s Story

  Rookie Moves – Dex & Ava’s Story

  Get Wilde – Ethan & Adeline’s Story

  Sinful Games – Oz & Kendall’s Story

  Wilde Rush - Jacob & Grace’s Story Coming 2019

  To my husband. You’ve been my forever since the day I met you.

  And to my niece, Connie.

  Thank you for helping me plot this story.

  Chapter One

  Only in Red River would the city council meet in a saloon.

  Sandra Edwards tried to keep her voice steady and confident as the council members stared at her with blank expressions. Because it was Monday morning, Cotton Eyed Joe’s—Red River’s favorite watering hole—was empty, besides a few busy employees who were getting ready for the lunch crowd. So, the council thought it would be perfect for an emergency meeting.

  The Irish liqueur Chairperson Clydelle requested in her morning coffee probably had something to do with the meeting location, too.

  Sandra squared her shoulders. “The extreme snowboarding championship is just two weeks away, and we’re ready.” Red River had gotten plenty of snow; every inn, bed and breakfast, and hotel in town was booked solid. The best snowboarders around the globe would start arriving soon for practice runs before the competition began. “There’s just one issue we need to address, which is why I asked to speak to you first thing this morning.”

  As the event coordinator who’d brought the competition to Red River after the previous location had to withdraw due to lack of snowfall, it was her job to keep the council up to date, but she did not want to give them the news. Convincing the council to host an event of such magnitude right there in the small vacation town of Red River, and on short notice, hadn’t been easy. It had taken a lot of assurances that she wouldn’t let anything go wrong. A lot of promises that she wouldn’t allow the event to become a black mark that could deter Red River’s booming tourism. A lot of guarantees that she could and would make the competition a smashing success.

  She’d meant every assurance, every promise, every guarantee. Even if no one else in Red River had confidence in her tarnished reputation, she was confident that she could pull off the enormous undertaking.

  Until late last night.

  A sixtyish man wearing flannel and a camouflage, winter duck hunting hat with flaps covering both ears braced his elbows against the rustic wood table. “We heard about your problem,” said Councilman Flaps.

  Of course, they had.

  Sandra’s sharp breath whistled through the small part between her lips.

  Why had she bothered to hope to do damage control by delivering the news herself? News traveled faster in a small mountain town than a world class snowboarder on a downhill course during the winter Olympics.

  She cleared her throat. “Yes, well—”

  “You’ve lost your safety officer for the event,” said Councilwoman Maureen. She was a tough cookie who didn’t put up with nonsense, and had been the receptionist at the sheriff’s office for years. Probably why she got away with wearing a sweatshirt that read “I’ve got beautiful granddaughters. I’ve also got a gun, a shovel, and an alibi.”

  They were already referring to the problem as Sandra’s. Message received. She had to come up with a solution, and fast, if she wanted to pull off the event and collect her big payday so she could start her life over somewhere else.

  Anywhere else.

  She laced her fingers in front of her as she stood facing the council. “Dr. Wells took an unfortunate tumble on the slopes.” The International Snowboarding Association guidelines required a safety officer be present during the event who had both first aid knowledge and skill on the slopes. Cooper Wells—Red River’s only chiropractor—had agreed. Unfortunately, his expertise as a black diamond skier hadn’t stopped a reckless teen from blindsiding him during the annual midnight downhill torch parade.

  Another councilman in a cowboy hat snorted. “Unfortunate tumble? I heard he needs several surgeries, metal pins to piece the bones in his leg back together, and at least a few months of physical therapy so he doesn’t walk with a limp the rest of his life.”

  That description seemed like the very definition of unfortunate to Sandra.

  She nodded. “It’s horrible, but his wife called me last night. Ella and Coop said the show must go on.” Sandra waved both hands in the air like she was in show biz and did her best to flash a dazzling smile.

  Every last council member kept a poker face.

  Even scarier, not one of them blinked.

  Sandra seriously considered breaking into a tap dance just to get a reaction.

  Slowly, Chairperson Clydelle raised her spiked coffee to her lips and sipped. Then she hiccupped and covered her mouth with her fingertips.

  And the locals called Sandra’s character into question for something that happened eons ago. Something she hadn’t done, but had taken the blame to protect her father.

  For all the good it had done her. The jerk still left her and her mom flat broke, never paid a dime of child support, and bounced from one pharmacy job to the next throughout the Southwest. Target-rich environments for a pharmacist who was addicted to pain killers.

  Sandra drew in a breath and plowed on. “I’ve already got feelers out to bring in a new safety officer. Taos isn’t that far from Red River. They have a much bigger pool of medical professionals.” She kept her tone warm and confident. “And because they’re as…” She covered her mouth with a fist before choking out the next word. “…blessed as we are to live in the southern Rockies, many are seasoned skiers with the qualifications required by the ISA.”

  Sounded legit. Now all she had to do was make a quick exit and get on with the planning. She zipped up her down jacket.

  “No one outside of Red River,” said Councilman Flaps.

  Councilwoman Maureen nodded. “We agreed to this as long as our own residents were put in key positions. This is Red River. We look out for our own.”

  Right.

  The heat of anger flickered to life in Sandra’s chest and spiraled out until her fingertips burned.

  Not a lot of people had come to her defense when she was a frightened teen who had been lucky to get off with community service, a mandatory twelve step program, and probation that required random drug tests. All for a crime she hadn’t committed.

&
nbsp; The familiar sting of humiliation bit at her gut, just as it had every time she’d had to stand up and say I’m Sandra, and I’m a recovering addict in front of a room full of strangers. What she’d really wanted to yell was my dad stole the pills and let me take the fall for it! I was just working at the pharmacy after school to spend time with him.

  She held up a palm. “I understand your concerns, but there isn’t another Red River resident available who meets the criteria. Taos is our neighbor, and their local businesses stand to gain from this event, too, so I’m sure I’ll be able to find a few qualified people to pick from.” It was a win-win as far as she was concerned.

  She adjusted her shimmery lavender knit hat and flipped the matching scarf over one shoulder to cover her neck.

  Councilman Cowboy Hat let out a sound that was close to a grunt. “Businesses in Taos are also our biggest competition, and I don’t trust outsiders when Red River has so much to lose. All it takes is one bad review on a travel site to ruin our reputation.” He waggled an index finger. “One reviewer trash talking us could do a lot of damage.”

  Sandra let her eyelids fall shut and spring open several times, blinking away the disbelief.

  Did they remember who they were talking to?

  For years, she’d been pinned with the blame every time merchandise went missing from one of the stores along Main Street. Denying it did no good because no one believed a drug addict. Or someone who’d pretended to be one.

  “I’m aware.” She reached for the chairback sitting next to her and white-knuckled it.

  “How about Doc Holloway?” Councilwoman Maureen asked.

  Sandra stepped forward to gather up her notes. “Blake Holloway is our only local medical doctor, so he’s in charge of the aid station we’re setting up at the base of the lifts. The safety officer has to be on skis patrolling the slopes, and Doc Holloway can’t be in two places at once,” she said, scooping up her notepad to leave before a council member brought up the one organization in Red River she didn’t want to consider. The one person in town she had to avoid at all costs, for his own good.

  She took a step backward toward the door, the old wood planks creaking under her flat all-weather boots. “We have no choice but to look for a replacement outside of Red River, and Taos is the next best place to find someone qualified. I’ll let you know the second I have a few good candidates.” She took another step backward. A few more steps and she’d be able to turn and dash for the door. “If you’d prefer, the council can even interview them and make the final decision.”

  “The Red River fire department!” blurted Chairperson Clydelle.

  Sandra’s heart dropped to her feet, and her chest deflated.

  Of course, Clydelle wouldn’t miss an opportunity to see the local firefighters in action. Before she became the council chair, she spent so much time trying to get any…or all of them to take off their shirts, she should’ve been sued for sexual harassment.

  Sandra clutched her notes to her chest and glanced over a shoulder at the exit.

  So close.

  “I considered that.” Liar, liar. Her insulated leggings might as well go up in flames. “The entire fire department will be on call during the competition in case of emergencies.” She’d called the fire chief in advance and made sure the Person Who Would Never Be Named Publicly…to preserve his own reputation…would be busy doing something far away from her. She waved her hand in the air dismissively. “I’ve got this handled.” A few peanut shells crunched under her feet as she took another step back. “I’ll find a trustworthy replacement, even if they’re not from Red River.”

  The council members frowned at her like anyone not from Red River might as well be from Mars.

  Sandra resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose by stuffing her free hand into the pocket of her purple down jacket. “You all are worried about Red River’s rep. That’s understandable.” Not to mention it was the council’s job. “If we don’t fill the safety officer’s position immediately, we’ll be at risk of the ISA canceling the event all together. They’ve already had to move it once, remember? That’s how we were able to bring it here. Think of the damage that will do to us on travel sites. People from all over the world have booked rooms and paid for travel expenses to get here. It seems, to me, finding a replacement outside of Red River is much less risky than losing the event all together.”

  Chairperson Clydelle took another sip, then cradled the cup with both hands, leaving a ring of creamer on her upper lip. “You’re right, dear. Which is why I’ve taken the liberty of inviting the only person left in Red River who is perfect for the position.”

  Worry prickled up Sandra’s spine.

  Joe’s door swung open behind her, a rush of freezing cold air blustering in to chill the cavernous room.

  A shiver rushed over her. She did not want to turn around. She didn’t.

  Unfortunately, she didn’t have to.

  Langston Brooks, all six feet two of hard alpha male and the person she was trying to avoid, stepped up beside her. “Morning.”

  Her skin burned as his gaze licked over her. And she was covered head to toe in winter gear!

  When she refused to meet his stare, or even return his greeting, he turned his attention to the council. “You asked to see me, Ms. Clydelle?”

  “Mmm hmmm.” The chairperson’s voice turned to a coo, and she batted her eyelashes as though she were watching a Magic Mike show live in Vegas.

  Oh, good grief.

  “We’re wasting valuable time.” Sandra glanced at her watch, only to realize she wasn’t wearing one. Involuntarily, her eyes flitted up to meet Langston’s, and her heart skipped a beat.

  Laughter shimmered in his dark soulful eyes. The lights glinted off his wavy chestnut hair.

  God, she loved those eyes. And that hair.

  “I…” Her voice went croaky. She swallowed back the cotton in her mouth. “I—”

  “Langston, dear, how would you like to be the new safety officer for the snowboarding championship?” Clydelle batted her eyes several more times.

  Sandra’s throat closed.

  No. Just no. “I don’t think that’s a good idea—"

  “I’d love to be considered,” said Langston, smiling at her like a cat who’d just eaten an entire pet shop full of canaries.

  Sandra pulled her stare from his squared jaw. From his mocha eyes. From his delicious looking mouth.

  Heat curled through her, settling in places it shouldn’t.

  Dammit.

  “I just need a little time to find someone—”

  Clydelle lifted a boney finger, silencing Sandra. Then she lifted her mug to signal Dylan McCoy, who was behind the long bar, lining up fresh glasses. He wasn’t in line to take over Cotton Eyed Joe’s soon for no reason. The guy had superpowers behind the bar and read every customer like a well-worn book, delivering refills before Clydelle lowered that finger.

  The scent of fresh warm coffee, cinnamon, and liqueur settled over them. Sandra wasn’t much of a drinker, but on a snowy late February morning…in front of what felt like a hit squad…she could use a mug of hot spiced rum. Heavy on the rum, please.

  As if Dylan could read her mind, he finished passing out mugs to the council, then pressed one into Langston’s hand, then Sandra’s. “Tough crowd this morning. Good luck.” Dylan smiled and winked at her. His hip musician look was even cuter than usual when dimples appeared. “Alcohol free.” He nodded at her cup.

  Sandra sighed. She’d never shake the addict reputation in this little town. It refused to go away, constantly prickling over her like a bad skin condition.

  Never mind that she’d been the one to perpetuate it as a cover.

  Involuntarily, she glanced at Langston. As usual, his formidable stature held an air of confidence that commanded respect. Respect that she’d never have if she stayed in Red River.

  Respect that she’d never wanted him to lose because of her.

  She stared into her mug a
s the council started to chatter amongst themselves, as though they’d forgotten she was there. A ribbon of steam unfurled under her nose, and she breathed it in to settle her buzzing nerves. It smelled divine. She took a sip and let the warm liquid slide down her throat.

  Too bad it didn’t contain alcohol. A little liquid courage never hurt a gal who was fighting for her future. Especially when the gal wasn’t exactly the town sweetheart.

  “Sandra, why am I the only person in town you haven’t asked to help with this event?” Langston said low enough for only her to hear, then sipped at his coffee.

  Her stomach churned, as if one of the blizzards that turned Red River into a winter wonderland every year had taken up residence in her gut. “You know why.” She kept her tone low, too. Chairperson Clydelle was old, and the council was preoccupied with a discussion about the Chamber of Commerce building needing new gutters before the spring melt started, but her hearing had satellite capabilities when she wanted to scoop the latest gossip.

  “Actually, I don’t.” Langston rolled the coffee around in his mug before taking another drink. “I’m the best person for the job, and you know it.”

  Yes, she did know. But she was very close to finally making her escape from a town that would never fully forgive her for the past. Even after years of saving a down payment so she could buy the failing ski shop, where she’d worked since high school, then turning it around so it made a profit, a cloud of suspicion still followed her. Once the people of Red River were crossed, it was hard to earn their trust again.

  Which was why the council hadn’t been too eager to approve hosting the competition since it was her idea. It was also the reason they were being difficult now. They didn’t completely trust her judgment, even though the ISA had hired her as the local event coordinator.

  With the payday she’d get, plus the extra revenue that was sure to flow into her ski shop that winter because of the international news coverage, she’d pay off the shop’s mortgage and shut it down since she hadn’t been able to find a buyer. Then she’d be free to move on to greener pastures. Pastures where no one knew of her past and couldn’t hold it against her anymore.