by Lyra Winters
Contents
Copyright
Title Page
Dedication
Description
Trigger Warning
Prelude
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
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Book 2 Description
Authors Notes
Also By Lyra
Always Asher © 2020 by Lyra Winters. All Rights Reserved.
Cover Designer: Lyra Winters
Editor: Diamond Editing and Proofreading Services
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Printed in the United States of America
First Printing: April 30, 2020
Always Asher
Book 1 of the Violet Ridge Series
Lyra Winters
For my inspiration: Jacob, Willow, and Harper.
Description
Asher Wells.
My best friend, first crush, first love.
I gave him my virginity one passionate night before he ran off to college, and left me heartbroken.
Seven years later, he snagged a job at Violet Ridge Elementary where I teach fourth-grade. He slammed into my life as if he never left. With his irresistible smirk, captivating eyes, and flirtatious words that leave me breathless.
Now, I’m engaged to a domineering, hotshot lawyer who dominated everything he touched, including me.
After Asher left, it took years to move on. But now that he’s back, all those feelings are flooding back to the surface.
My heart clings to Asher. My body craves him. My brain says otherwise.
Can I resist falling under his charm again? Do I even want to?
Trigger Warning:
While this is a book about second chance romance that unfolds a beautiful story about love and romance, there is mention of child abuse. One of the main characters, Faith, is a fourth-grade elementary teacher. The other main character, Asher, is an elementary gym teacher. Teachers deal with child abuse situations far too often than people realize. This story shines some light on what children, of many ages, go through at home. There is no explicit terminology expressing the abuse but it is discussed within the story multiple times and deal with it legally.
I found myself on the decaying wooden dock as I gazed out at the lake. The sun had dipped below the horizon and the muggy summer breeze skimmed across my skin, rich with the aroma of the earth from the lake’s shore.
Tomorrow, Luca would go off to college and I’d be stuck in this hole-in-the-wall town of Violet Ridge to suffer through my senior year of high school. Alone. Having no siblings, it left me to fend for myself a lot since my father was hardly home. My aunt and uncle practically raised me alongside Luca, my favorite cousin. The lake house held memories that I cherished the most, where I had spent all of my previous summers.
The wood behind me creaked. “Tired of the party, Faith?”
I turned my head and found Asher, with his hands stuffed in his pockets and a boyish grin on his face. A strong wind wafted through, which messed up his honey-brown hair. Bright hazel eyes stared back at me.
Asher was my cousin’s best friend, but more than that, he was mine too. He was reliable, sensible, and caring. I never understood how he and Luca got along. Luca slacked off and threw wild parties, while Asher was on the straight and narrow. He tried—and failed, more often than not—to bring Luca with him.
I loved how Asher was always around. He brought me a sense of comfort I never knew I needed.
“I needed some air.” I turned back to face the lake.
He stood beside me and his shoulder brushed against mine. A chill fluttered through my body as he sat beside me. “I need some, too.”
I played with the ends of my waist-length brown hair. “I’ll miss the parties and the late nights out on the lake.”
He nudged me. “I know how you feel.”
“How do you feel about this party? It’s for you, too.”
He raked his hand through his hair and sighed. “It’s fine, I guess. Luca ditched me and I don’t feel like dealing with everyone else.”
“So, you’re planning on law school.” A small pang went through my heart at the thought of him going down that path.
“Your dad inspired me, actually.”
I snorted. “Oh, really?”
If there was one thing my father was good at, it was his job. It was all he seemed to care about. Family did not come first in his book.
Asher tilted his head. “Well, he always defends the people who need help, and he does it for a hell of a lot less money than some lawyers around here.”
I looked away from him and shrugged. “I guess.”
“What’s wrong?”
I wanted to sink into the water and float away from all of my problems. I thought carefully before I spoke my next words. “I love my dad, but I never see him.” I paused, feeling an ache in my chest. What I wouldn’t give for Dad to realize that work wasn’t everything there was to offer. “Aunt Jess told me he didn’t always work as much as he does now. Since mom died, though, all he ever does is work. I don’t think I can remember a time when he wasn’t a workaholic.”
“Shit, Faith. I’m sorry.” He rubbed the nape of his neck. “I knew he worked a lot, but I didn’t know it was to that extent.”
I took in a deep breath and sighed. “It is what it is.”
A comfortable silence settled over us as the bullfrogs performed their evening tune.
“Do you have anything planned for your senior year?” he asked, and the frogs suddenly became background noise.
“I signed up for some dual credit classes to knock out a few general education courses when I go to college.” I rocked back and forth on my heels. “I want to be a veterinarian.” The thought of becoming one made me smile. “I love animals.”
“Oh, I know.” He chuckled. “Remember when that baby squirrel fell into the lake and you dove in to save it?”
My smile became a huge grin at the thought. “Yeah.”
“You did everything in your power and nursed it back to health. I loved watching you feed it with the baby bottle.” He gave a cheeky grin. “It was adorable.”
“We released him over there.” I pointed to the wooded area beside the lake. “I miss that little guy.”
“I’m sure he’s living a great life.”
“I sure hope so.” That little squirrel was so full of life. The whole experience gave me confidence that I could help animals. It was why I chose to be a
veterinarian. My chest grew with excitement. I knew I had chosen the right path to explore, especially since Asher remembered it.
“Still planning on going to the University of Violet?”
I nodded. “They have the best veterinary science program.”
He smirked with a gleam in his eye. I knew he was thinking we would be going to the same university. “We may see each other more often, then.”
“Yeah, after a year.” I bit my lip and tried to bury the sinking feeling of loneliness. Not having either of them around would destroy me, especially since I already felt alone most of the time, anyway.
His hand grazed mine. “I enjoy spending time with you… and so does Luca. You’ll come to visit us, right?”
The heat from his hand sent goosebumps up my arm. So many emotions welled up inside me as I stared at him. Every time he found a way to touch me, my heartbeat sped up.
My voice came out just above a whisper. “I will.”
“You’re beautiful, Faith.” He paused and heat began rising on my cheeks. I knew I probably looked like a bright red tomato. “You’re so damn compassionate. All the times you cared for Luca when he was drunk off his ass, didn’t go unnoticed. You cared for him when you didn’t have to...just like the squirrel.” His hand swept a stray hair away from my face as I smiled. “I see you do that a lot. You care for people all the time—Magnolia, Evelyn. Hell, even me.”
My heart leaped into my throat, and my senses went into overdrive. His cologne smelled of cedar, it was incredible.
“Your hair is this perfect shade of chestnut-brown and don’t even get me started on your eyes. Your incredibly captivating blue eyes.” He held my gaze for a while before his eyes drifted to my lips. “Besides that, you have a heart of gold. Anyone would be lucky to have you in their life.”
“I didn’t know you thought that,” I said, as I trembled in front of him.
His eyebrows furrowed. “I’ve always felt this way. That time Luca got me wasted, you were the one who looked after me. I swore you’d never have to do that again—not for me, at least. That’s when I knew exactly how I felt about you.” Our hands interlaced as he leaned closer, and I began to feel lightheaded. His lips hovered just over mine and I could smell the mint on his breath. “Can I kiss you?”
Asher was my childhood friend. A boy I’d had a crush on since I was in elementary school. My crush had continued to brew over the years, but I had long accepted that romance was off the table for us. He was perfect and I was just plain old Faith. But after feeling like this for so many years, I knew I couldn’t let this moment between us slip through my fingers.
“Yes,” I whispered.
Every nerve in my body ignited in that split-second before his lips met mine. The anticipation of being together in a way that was so completely tangible had me breathless. I didn’t want to think. I just wanted to feel.
Our lips met and the fire blazed within me. He pulled me closer, his hands slowly sliding up my back, brushing against my neck, sliding into my hair. His hands worked their way around my body. Every place he touched electrified me. I never wanted the feeling to stop.
We broke apart and both of us were breathing heavily. A few seconds passed before I spoke.
“Wow. I…” His lips stopped me mid-sentence, as they pressed against mine once more.
He pulled back and bit his lip. “Do you want to go upstairs?” He glanced up the pebble path to the cabin on the hill. The faint sound of music and chattering drifted down.
I shivered. Did I? I knew what going upstairs meant. After that kiss, we would explore this newfound passion for each other. But somewhere deep down, I knew this moment was going to change us forever, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for it. Even so, my head moved on its own in a nod.
“Yes,” I whispered. In what seemed like minutes, but was probably only seconds, he took my hand and led me back up the path and into the cabin, away from the ruckus of the party.
Upstairs, in the room I had lived in during my summers, we sat on the bed and reminisced for hours. Later, he captured me in a kiss that was seared into my memory forever.
I gave him my virginity that night. A bright-eyed teenage girl hopeful of exploring that beautiful connection we shared—the start of something amazing. The next morning, Asher was gone and my already fragile heart was broken into tiny little pieces.
I refrained from yanking my hair out. I took a deep breath and led my fourth-grade class down the blue and white halls of Violet Ridge Elementary School. I mentally rolled my eyes as I listened to our intervention teacher gossip about the new gym teacher.
“Faith, I’m telling you. He’s unbelievable.” She popped her gum. “He’s in his third year teaching and now he’s at Violet Ridge. Apparently, he’s a local who just came back.”
“That’s great, Linda. Really,” I said before I addressed one of my students, “Jacob, let’s walk!”
“Sorry, Ms. Reed.” He gave me a sheepish smile and picked up the pace.
“Seriously, I’m super interested in this man!”
Linda’s skin was flawless. Her lips were thick and pouty and when she smiled, she showed off her cute dimples. Her curly blonde hair framed pretty brown eyes. She stood a whole head taller than me—tall enough to be a model. She had the male staff members wrapped around her finger. Until they got the chance to know her. Once they discovered the selfish, gossip-hungry woman who hid behind her adorable exterior, they ran straight for the hills and never looked back.
“Have you even talked to him?” I asked.
“Not yet, but I’m planning to soon. I would now, but I have to go pull a third-grader for math intervention.” She rolled her eyes. And that irked me. Her attitude leaked out whenever she had to work. It was people like her who didn’t deserve to work with children.
“Well, that is your job.” I laughed as my students lined up beside the gym doors.
She groaned and flipped her hair over her shoulders. “They give me a ton of kids. I barely have time to breathe.” She walked ahead of us and toward her classroom.
I shook my head. Linda was clearly starved for attention. If I didn’t worship every word that came out of her mouth, she’d storm off.
“Was Ms. Shepherd talking about our new gym teacher?” Rosie, a little girl with the blondest hair I’d ever seen and biggest sky-blue eyes, asked.
Compassion encompassed her. She cared about everyone and everything. She strived to make the world a better place and had more ambition than half of the adults I knew. She got nominated as our student of the month and exceeded expectations at every chance.
“Yes. Apparently, he’s lived in this town before.” I pulled open the gym door to let my class inside.
The smell of rubber and gym shoes hit me as I strode inside.
“Hello, I’m Mr. Wells,” a deep voice beckoned. “Go sit in the middle of the circle on the floor so we can get started.”
I froze. That voice! I closed my eyes briefly and took in a deep breath. It couldn’t be... Could it? There was no way fate could be so harsh. I opened my eyes and wobbled a little when the man looked up from the paperwork he had splayed out on the bleachers and a pair of hazel eyes met mine. The walls closed in around me and made it difficult to breathe. Those same eyes that had stared at me with compassion and love before leaving me naked and alone the morning he left for college.
Memories of that night flooded back in a rush—his lips on mine, his hands caressing me, his voice reciting sweet words. My feet weighed me down and prevented me from running away like I desperately wanted to. My heart crashed against my ribs and echoed in my ears.
He shot up off the bleachers and jogged over to greet me. “Faith... I... You’re... I mean, you look really good,” he stumbled over his words. “I mean, it’s really good to see you.”
I strained my lips to curve upward. “It’s good to see you too, Asher. I have to go. It’s my planning time.” I struggled to get the words out so I could leave.
“But
Faith, I—”
“You have a class to teach. I’ll come to get them after.” I turned and scampered out of the gym and back to the safe haven that was my classroom.
I’d skipped the impromptu staff meeting earlier in the week that introduced the new gym teacher after ours retired a month into the school year. After that disastrous reunion, I wished I hadn’t.
I never expected to see him again. I’d spent seven long years avoiding him. I had thought the only chance of running into Asher was if he was around Luca, but even then, Luca knew to warn me. Luca told me his dream of being a lawyer didn’t work out. But I didn’t ask questions. I didn’t care what he did. I couldn’t care.
The morning he left had confused me. We’d shared a connection. No one could fake what we had that night. I knew he felt it too. But he never contacted me. Not through text, call, not even social media. He couldn’t even be bothered to use Luca as a messenger. I never reached out to him either. Why would I? He left me. I didn’t owe him a damn thing.
Throughout my senior year, I stalked his social media accounts. It was a low point for me; I admit. I obsessed over tagged photos of him with girls. It hurt. Girls hanging all over him, posing with bright smiles next to him. It made me sick.
The summer before I left for college, I deleted and blocked all of his accounts. I told Luca not to mention anything to me that included him. I wiped him off my radar. Mags and Eve suggested it, and I was glad they did. I didn’t feel as obsessive, but I still had a gaping hole in my chest that I couldn’t seem to fill.
I tried. Lord knows I tried. I went on blind dates, partied to numb the pain, and joined dating apps. Nothing could fix the damage he’d inflicted on me. At least, that’s what I thought until I met Preston.
That man dominated everything he put his hands on, including me. From the moment my father had introduced us a year ago, he’d helped me move on from Asher. He didn’t know any of it though. He didn’t care about my previous relationships. He doted on me, spoiled me, and prioritized me. He was the epitome of everything a woman could ask for. At least, he was until we got engaged a few months ago. But I couldn’t think about that.
