Whispers of Winter: A Limited Edition Collection of Winter Romances
Page 1
Whispers of Winter
Nicole Morgan
Stephanie Morris
Caitlyn Lynch
Maya Bailey
Sharon Coady
Donna R. Mercer
Vicki Batman
Jan Springer
Livia Quinn
Amber Skyze
Rebecca Fairfax
Jane Blythe
Suzanne Jenkins
Stacy Eaton
Rene Webb
Marie Mason
Joann Baker and Patricia Mason
Karen Cino
Krista Ames
Romance Collections
Storm of Seduction © 2018 by Nicole Morgan
The Gift © 2018 by Stephanie Morris
Luca’s Little Christmas Cracker © 2018 by Caitlyn Lynch
Christmas Choices © 2018 by Sharon Coady
Hot Coffee © 2018 by Donna R. Mercer
The Great Fruitcake Bake-Off © 2018 by Vicki Batman
Nice Girl Naughty © 2018 by Jan Springer
Christmas Wishes © 2018 by Livia Quinn
Tied Up in Tinsel © 2018 by Amber Skyze
Winter Sparks © 2018 by Rebecca Fairfax
Stranger in the Snow © 2018 by Jane Blythe
Resisting You © 2018 by Suzanne Jenkins
Mistletoe Fantasies © 2018 by Stacy Eaton
A White Hot Christmas © 2018 by Rene Webb
A Wolf’s Claim © 2018 by Marie Mason
Christmas Comes to Silver Falls © 2018 by Joann Baker and Patricia Mason
Winter Encounter © 2018 by Karen Cino
Finding Love © 2018 by Krista Ames
Touchdown Dance © 2018 Carma Haley Shoemaker
First E-book Publication: November 2018
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is strictly coincidental.
Romance Collections
www.romancecollections.com
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About the Book
Winter may be rolling in, but that doesn’t mean your days and nights must be cold.
Before you get snowed in, grab yourself a copy of this limited-edition collection. With heroes and heroines of all kinds, you’ll be sure to find some that you Just can’t help but fall in love with.
These romantic reads can be read as stand-alone stories. But, why would you want to do that? Read them all! Immerse yourself in this wintery ensemble from Romance Collections.
Contents
About the Book
Nicole Morgan
Storm of Seduction
Stephanie Morris
The Gift
Caitlyn Lynch
Luca’s Little Christmas Cracker
Sharon Coady
Christmas Choices
Donna R. Mercer
Hot Coffee
The Great Fruitcake Bake-off
Jan Springer
Nice Girl Naughty
Livia Quinn
Christmas Wishes
Amber Skyze
Tied Up in Tinsel
Rebecca Fairfax
Winter Sparks
Jane Blythe
Stranger in the Snow
Suzanne Jenkins
Resisting You
Stacy Eaton
Mistletoe Fantasy
Rene Webb
A White Hot Christmas
Marie Mason
A Wolf’s Claim
Joann Baker and Patricia Mason
Christmas Comes to Silver Falls
Karen Cino
Winter Encounter
Krista Ames
Finding Love
Carma Haley Shoemaker
Touchdown Dance
Storm of Seduction
Gilpin County Search and Rescue 1
Nicole Morgan
Storm of Seduction was such a fun story to write. I fell in love with the characters a little more with every day that I wrote about Kevin and Lori.
This story is about love, heartache, forgiveness and so much more.
All too often relationships can be hurt by lack of communication, hurt feelings and just plain stubbornness. So, I’d like to dedicate Storm of Seduction to all of those out there who’ve loved, lost and believe in second chances.
My readers, I’d especially like to thank you for giving me the gift of reading my words. Your time spent entering the worlds I create is more valuable than the most precious of gems.
I would also like to take a moment to thank Lori King, who’s not only a talented author, but a kick ass trusted colleague and friend.
And as always, this book, as with all of my others, would not be possible without the support and love of my family. I love you all so very much!
Chapter One
December 3rd, Two o’clock in the afternoon, Rollinsville, CO…
Lori Hammond threw the items into her suitcase as quickly as she could. She mentally ticked off every item on her to pack list as she went through her closet. With warm socks, turtlenecks and of course, her all-important red teddy which always had a way of making Kevin weak in the knees, she was just about finished.
“Lori, this is a bad idea. You know that, right?”
She glanced over at her sister, doing her absolute best not to roll her eyes in annoyance. The last thing she needed was to be lectured by her boringly responsible and annoyingly always right, big sis.
“I’m not kidding, Lori. This is a very bad idea. Have you even thought this through? What about the ‘what ifs’?”
&
nbsp; Shaking her head, she answered. “I really don’t need this right now, Stacey.”
“Fine. If you're not going to be reasonable…" Stacey reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. "Maybe I should just call Kevin now and warn him of your extremely bad plan.”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
"Wouldn't I? One of us has to act rationally. And as usual, it'll probably have to be me."
“Damn it, Stac. This is my life! Mine! Can’t you just stay out of it? For once!”
"Funny, I seem to recall you saying these exact same things every other time you concocted one of your ridiculous schemes. And despite my numerous objections, you went ahead anyway." Stacey crossed her arms and offered up a look of disapproval. "And tell me, little sis, just how did those other plans work out for you?"
Lori glared at her sister. Partly angry for butting into her business, and partly because she knew her sister was right. Her previous attempts to win Kevin back had gone horribly wrong. She hardly needed a reminder of that.
“This time will be different.”
Stacey shook her head and muttered something quietly that Lori couldn’t understand. Not that she was sure she wanted to hear it anyway.
“Come on, sis. Please. I’m begging you to not do this right now. Just let me do what I have to and stay out of it this time.” She glanced at her watch and added, “I really have to go now if I’m going to make it to the cabin before the weather turns even nastier.”
“Damn it, Lori.” Stacey crossed the room in a huff and placed her hands on Lori’s shoulders. “Fine. I’ll stay out of it. Just promise me you’re going to be careful.”
“I will be. I promise. Besides, I’m not going into this completely blind. I have long johns on underneath my jeans. I’m wearing two shirts and I have my thick parka and winter gloves. I’ll be fine.”
“Yes, because that’s all I’m worried about, you getting cold.” Stacey rolled her eyes.
“Kevin loves me. This will work.”
“I’m pretty sure you said that last time. And the time before that, and the time before –.”
“Stop!” Lori put an end to her sister’s never ending point.
“Ugh. I swear it’s no wonder mom has so many gray hairs.”
“I’m a saint.” Lori smiled.
“What you are is a pain in the ass.” Stacey shrugged before continuing, “but, I love you anyway.”
“Love you too.”
The two hugged and Lori assured Stacey a few more times before heading out to her car. The wind had already kicked up quite a bit since the last time she was out and even putting her suitcase in the backseat proved to be a challenge with her hair whipping around her face like a blindfold.
She heard the faint voice of her sister, barely audible with the howling sounds from the storm thrashing through their canyon.
“What?” Lori yelled back.
“Be careful!” Stacey urged again.
“I’ll be fine, but I’ve got to go.”
“Please, promise me you’ll call me if he doesn’t show!”
Lori pretended not to hear the last part and slid behind the wheel of her Pathfinder. She understood that her sister meant well, and knew their bond meant there wasn’t a thing they wouldn’t do for one another, but this was one of those times she wished Stacey would just let her be.
The winter storm had just hit their patch of the Rocky Mountains that morning. While it probably wouldn’t be the worst one they’d ever seen, the meteorologists were calling for it to last twenty-four hours, covering their entire region with several feet of snow.
Having already burned far too much daylight as she thought up her plan to get Kevin alone at the cabin and pack everything she’d need, that left her with only seventeen hours to get him to see how they were meant to be together, and that this breakup was just one bump in their sometimes rocky road.
She’d be a fool if she didn’t at least acknowledge the possibility that Kevin may not come. Still, no matter how real that possibility might be, she was not willing to entertain the thought.
Kevin was her one and only true love. What they shared was real and she was positive that deep down he felt the same.
No matter how much he tried to avoid her, she knew that he’d still come for her.
He had to.
If he didn’t, it would not only mean that she’d lost him forever, but it might very likely put her in real danger just as Stacey had been warning her.
That loss and danger played equally in her heart and mind as she started the car before driving away.
Her sister stood on the stoop of the home they grew up in, her face still etched in worry as she disappeared into the distance of the rearview mirror.
Lori wondered if her sister could be right, if it really was too late and she’d used up all of her chances with Kevin.
An ache squeezed at her heart at the thought and she said a silent prayer, hoping against hope that she still had one more chance.
Please, Kevin.
Please.
All I need is one more chance.
Chapter Two
December 3rd, Five o’clock in the evening, Russell Gulch, CO…
Kevin Preston opened the door to the Gilpin County Search and Rescue Station where he’d been the President for the past two years. The door nearly swung off the hinges as it banged against the inner wall and gusts of snow and sleet entered their small command center.
“I can see it’s not getting any better out there.”
“No ma’am.”
“Now, Kevin how many times have I asked you to quit calling me ma’am?”
He grinned and nodded. “Sorry.”
Delores, their organization’s dispatcher for the past ten years had run the team with more efficiency and gusto than he ever could. She kept all of their supplies ordered, made sure all of their record keeping was in order and probably knew more about the lay of their land than even he did. Somehow, despite the rowdy bunch they could be, she’d managed to keep the team in line. It was that experience and wisdom combined with her thirty years his senior that made him often forget he was no longer that young greenhorn who had so much to learn when he entered the team at the age of twenty.
He stomped his boots before making his way back to his desk. A quick look at the county map on the far wall showed no red or yellow flags, indicating they were thankfully lacking in possible missing or endangered persons.
Taking off his coat he breathed a sigh of relief when he felt the warmth from his small space heater hit his face.
He'd no sooner sat down at his desk when the door to the station opened up and in walked Jake. He was the newbie to their organization and while he had little experience on their terrain, he'd come down from Canada and had the skill set to match exactly what they needed in the Rocky Mountains that was known for severe weather.
“Fuck! Is it ever nipply out there!”
Kevin shook his head. No matter how many times he’d told the guys to remember that there was a lady present, they always seemed to forget.
“How’s it looking?” Jake nodded his head in the direction of the county map.
"So far all of our early warnings have been heeded." Delores answered, "Thanks to Kevin that is. Everyone in the danger zones has been notified, they're all stocked up on essentials and they have enough fuel for their generators to last through at least a couple of weeks should it get to that point."
“Nice. Maybe we’ll have a quiet storm after all.” Jake replied.
“What’s the first thing I told you when you started here?” Kevin asked him.
“Don’t fuck up?”
Delores laughed. "You're such a smart-ass, Jake."
"Boy isn't that the truth," Kevin added.
“It’s better than being a dumbass.”
Kevin grinned. “And yet you’re both.”
The phone rang and Delores tried to contain her laughter as she picked up the thirty-year-old receiver and answered. "Gilp
in County Search and Rescue, is this an emergency?"
Turning his mind back to work, Kevin pulled up The National Weather Service’s Doppler Radar online and studied it for any variations in the blizzard that was headed their way. He’d been scrutinizing the wind speed when something Delores said caught his attention.
“Uh huh. Yes. And what did you say that license plate was?”
Kevin peered over his computer screen, listening intently.
“Oh dear.” Delores sighed and looked over to Kevin. “Yes. Thank you. Thank you very much. We’ll get someone out there right away.”
“What do you got?” Jake asked her.
There was an unsettling look on her face that dropped a heavy weight into the pit of Kevin’s stomach. He had no idea what she was about to say, but he was certain that he wasn’t going to like it.
Jake tried again to get her attention. “Delores?”
“Umm…” Her worrisome expression hadn’t diminished.
“What is it, Delores?”