Loves Me NOT: A Small Town, Second-Chance Romance (Slade Brothers Book 4)

by Alexis Winter

  Loves Me NOT

  Slade Brothers-Book 4

  Alexis Winter

  I read somewhere once that you only get one true love in a lifetime,

  And mine—mine was Wyatt Slade.

  Fierce, wild, reckless…that boy was my everything.

  Until he shattered my heart.

  * * *

  He was my first.

  The day he slipped that promise ring on my finger,

  I gave him all of me—there was no going back.

  So when I saw him kiss my best friend, I knew I had to get the hell out.

  * * *

  The thing about growing up in a one-stoplight town,

  When you finally come back home, everybody knows.

  It feels like every corner here has a story—a memory.

  One I’ve been running from for ten years.

  * * *

  But the moment my eyes land back on Wyatt,

  It’s like I’ve fallen in love all over again.

  A stolen kiss drenched in tequila sets off a firestorm,

  One I’m not sure I’ll survive.

  * * *

  A decade spent running from my heart and here I am back in his arms,

  Ready to embrace a new future, and let our past go.

  * * *

  I swore I’d never trust him again,

  He swore he’d never hurt me again.

  Never say never…

  * * *

  Does true love deserve a second chance?

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  * * *

  It’s no secret I’ve always had a crush on Damon Strickland.

  My best friend’s older brother and the center of every single one of my fantasies.

  * * *

  He’s a walking, talking temptation.

  * * *

  That cocky grin and those broad, athletic shoulders.

  You know what they say about a man with big hands right?

  * * *

  Growing up, we always tormented one another.

  I was the nagging, annoying little girl he hated

  And he was the man-whoring, douchebag I couldn’t seem to get over.

  * * *

  Now as adults he actually came through and helped me land a job at my dream company.

  * * *

  How the hell am I supposed to focus when all I can think about is tearing that tight suit from his tempting body!

  * * *

  What’s even worse?

  He forgot to mention, he’s my boss.

  * * *

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  Copyright 2020 by Alexis Winter - All rights reserved.

  * * *

  In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.

  * * *

  Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.

  Contents

  Prologue

  1. Wyatt

  2. Destiny

  3. Wyatt

  4. Destiny

  5. Wyatt

  6. Destiny

  7. Wyatt

  8. Destiny

  9. Wyatt

  10. Destiny

  11. Wyatt

  12. Destiny

  13. Wyatt

  14. Destiny

  15. Wyatt

  16. Destiny

  17. Wyatt

  18. Destiny

  19. Wyatt

  20. Destiny

  21. Wyatt

  22. Destiny

  23. Wyatt

  24. Destiny

  25. Wyatt

  26. Destiny

  27. Wyatt

  28. Destiny

  29. Wyatt

  Best Friend’s Sister SNEAK PEEK

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  READ THE REST OF THE SLADE BROTHERS

  Also by Alexis Winter

  About the Author

  Prologue

  WYATT-2009

  “Come on, man! One more shot before we go in. You know you’re going to need it with these girls making us dance during every single song,” my friend Mark says, pushing a bottle of Jameson my way.

  “Dude, we’ve drunk half that bottle already. Not to mention wiping out that six-pack while getting ready,” I argue. My vision is already doubling. I’d hate to vomit all over Destiny’s dress. She’d kill me for sure. If nothing else, she’d never let me live it down.

  “Dude,” is all he says, still holding out the bottle.

  I shake my head. Clearly, it would be easier to take another sip than to argue about it. “Fine,” I say, ripping the bottle out of his hands and swallowing down a long gulp.

  When I pull the bottle away, I cough and get the sudden urge to puke, but somehow hold it back as I sputter out, “Let’s go before these girls lose their shit.”

  We climb out of the limo and find the girls waiting for us.

  “About time,” Destiny says, wrapping her hand around my arm.

  “I know. Mark just wouldn’t come off it.” My eyes fall from her beautiful face down to her chest, where her breasts are pushed up nicely thanks to the fancy prom dress.

  She laughs and bumps her shoulder into mine when she notices. “There’s plenty of time for that later, Mister. Right now, you owe me a dance.” She flashes me a smile and her blue eyes light up.

  Seeing her in this big white dress only makes me think of the ring I have sitting at home in my dresser drawer. I know we’re young, but I don’t care. I’m going to marry this girl, and I plan on asking her the day we graduate. Only two more weeks until I have that ring on her finger. I’m counting the minutes.

  I know a guy my age shouldn’t be thinking about getting married. Most guys my age are only talking about going away to college and the fun they’ll have. But I’m not planning on going to college. Why would I when I have a good job waiting for me at my family’s brewery? I’m all set to become director of marketing, and I’ve already learned from the best when it comes to doing that job.

  When we walk into the entrance of the gym, we hand over our tickets and wait in line to have our pictures taken. I wrap my arm around Destiny and pull her close, inhaling her sweet scent. I pull back.

  “Are you wearing a different perfume?”

  She smiles and nods. “Do you like it? It’s my mom’s fancy stuff. She never lets me use it, but it was a special occasion tonight.” She shrugs one shoulder.

  “I like it, but I like the kind you always wear better.” I bend my head down and brush my lips against hers.

  “Next!” the man taking the pictures yells, and we all step forward in line as Mark and Julie go to stand in front of the backdrop.

  “I love the color of her dress. I wish I would’ve found one in that color,” Destiny says about Julie’s light-colored baby blue dress. It’s almost the exact same as Destiny’s, or at least it looks that way to me. They’re both long, puffy, strapless, and form-fitting around their chests. The only difference I see is the color.

  I lean in. “I like you in white,” I say, causing her cheeks to flush.

  “Next!” the man yells again, and we go stand on the tape for our pictures.

  Minutes later, we’re on the dance floor, and Destiny is wrapped up in my arms. Blue
lights are flashing around us as we move back and forth to the beat of the music.

  “Damn, look at them moves,” Julie says with a wide smile.

  I flash her a grin but don’t respond. Lately, I think Destiny’s been getting jealous when Julie and I have our usual banter. She says I’m flirting, but I’m a natural flirt and do it without even realizing it. Mark couldn’t care less. In fact, he purposely flirts with Destiny. I try not to think too much about any of it. Mark is my best friend and has been since day one of kindergarten. And Destiny and Julie have been friends for years. If nothing else, I hope Destiny sees how much I love her and that I’d never do anything to risk what we have. I hope to end all that doubt when I put that ring on her finger in two weeks.

  There have been many times when I’ve been tempted to give it to her a little early, but I keep telling myself to wait. It’ll be much more romantic on graduation day.

  “Des, bathroom break?” Julie asks.

  Destiny nods and pulls away. “I’ll be right back.”

  I look over at Mark and he nods toward the back corner of the gym. I follow behind him, thinking we’re going to meet up with some friends. To my surprise, he pulls a small bottle of liquor out of the inside pocket of his jacket. He takes a swig and passes it over.

  I roll my eyes, having learned my lesson from trying to argue earlier. I take the bottle, tip it back, and swallow down the liquid.

  “Tonight is going to be awesome,” Mark says, taking one last drink before tucking it away.

  “I probably won’t even remember it now, thanks to you,” I joke.

  He bumps my elbow with his. “That’s the point. You know you had fun if you can’t remember.”

  My stomach gurgles from that last drink and sweat starts beading on my brow. “I’m going to the restroom,” I say, walking off.

  “I’m going to go spike the punch,” he laughs out, walking in the opposite direction.

  In the restroom, I take a piss, wash my hands, and then lean against the sink. I’m fucking dizzy, my stomach feels like I’ve been on a roller coaster for the last 14 hours, and the loud music is killing my head. Is it possible to have a hangover before you even go to sleep? I shake my head and splash some cold water on my face. I quickly pat it dry with some paper towels then look over my reflection. My eyes are bloodshot and hooded. My hair is already a mess and I make quick work of straightening it the best I can. With a sigh, I give up and exit the restroom.

  The moment I step out, my eyes land on Destiny’s back. Her thin neck teases me with her hair pulled up high on her head. Something comes over me and I’m instantly craving her lips on mine. I wish I could just carry her away from all of this. I want nothing more than to spend the rest of the night buried deep inside her. When the three girls she’s talking to walk away, I step up to her back and press my lips to her neck. She tilts her head to the side, giving me more of her. The different perfume she’s wearing burns my nose as I breathe it in, but I don’t think anything of it when she spins around, wraps her arms around my neck, and kisses me.

  My arms immediately wrap around her, pulling her closer to my chest as I deepen the kiss. Something seems off—different. And it’s not just the perfume. The way she tastes is different; maybe she’s had some of Mark’s spiked punch. But the way her tongue moves with mine is different too.

  “Wyatt!” someone yells, and I pull away, finding Julie—not Destiny—directly in front of me.

  I spin around to find Destiny. Hurt fills her eyes as her mouth hangs open, her bottom lip quivering. I look from Destiny, to Julie, who looks just as surprised, and back.

  “Des, it’s not what you think,” I try to get out, but she turns and runs away.

  I chase after her, but lose her in the crowd of people. My vision is blurring, my feet are tripping over who knows what, and my ears are ringing as my stomach churns. I know I can’t chase after her. If I do, I’ll most certainly vomit right here on the gym floor. I rush to the restroom and make it to the toilet just in time to empty my stomach. I’ll find her. I’ll explain. Everything will be okay. She’ll forgive me and we’ll carry on like nothing ever happened. Then on graduation day, I’ll propose and we’ll live happily ever after.

  1

  Wyatt

  Home. It’s such a simple word. Only four little letters. Home usually means rest, peace, family, love. But to me, it’s nothing but bad memories and loneliness. I lost my mother here. I lost the only woman I ever loved here. People say I’m a free spirit—that I can’t be tamed—but that isn’t true. The only reason I move around as much as I do is because it’s a way to forget. If I keep myself busy enough, I won’t remember my mother dying or my rough upbringing. I won’t look back on falling in love only to have everything ripped away by one drunken mistake. So I keep pushing on—on to the next destination, on to the next great adventure. What happens when you find yourself alone with nowhere to go? You go home.

  “Another round, sweetheart,” I say, holding up my glass.

  She walks over and looks me up and down. “You sure about that, cowboy?” She arches one of her brows.

  I laugh. “Cowboy?” I lean closer. “You like cowboys?” I shoot her a wink.

  She rolls her eyes. “I live here, don’t I?” she says, placing her hands on the bar and leaning in just enough to give me a peek down her top. “What’s your name? I ain’t ever seen ya here before.”

  “Wyatt. Wyatt Slade. What’s yours?” I set my glass down as she grabs the bottle of whiskey and pours.

  A knowing look forms on her face. “You’re Wyatt Slade?” She points in my direction.

  “Ah, I see my reputation precedes me.” I smirk.

  “You just sit on back and enjoy your drink, cowboy. I’m going to call you a ride home.” She starts to walk away.

  “Oh, come on, I thought you liked cowboys,” I tease, laughing and shaking my head. I pick up my glass and take a sip.

  Moments later, the bartender is standing in front of me once again. “I called you a ride.”

  I frown. “I didn’t know this podunk town even had a taxi service.”

  She smiles sweetly. “It doesn’t. I called Drake.”

  Oh fuck. “What? You called my brother?”

  She nods, smile still in place. “Mm-hmm.”

  “What’d you go and do something like that for? I thought you liked cowboys.” I offer up the best flirty smile I can muster given how drunk I am.

  “I do like cowboys; just not drunk ones.” She turns and looks toward the door. “Look who’s here. Your usual, Drake?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he says, sitting down on the barstool next to me. He gives me a disapproving look. “What brought you back to town?”

  “I thought you’d be happier to see me, brother.” I tip up the glass and swallow the rest of the liquid.

  He chuckles. “I am. I just didn’t expect to get this call. Lucky for you, I was just leaving the brewery—you know, the place that funds all your vacations. The place you work. In theory.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I’ll be in tomorrow,” I promise, but even as I say the words, I don’t even know if they’re true.

  He lifts his beer and takes a sip. “You need a ride home?”

  “He’s had almost that whole bottle of whiskey to himself. Yes, he needs a ride home,” the bartender says.

  I push my glass closer and she picks it up and takes it, refusing to fill it again.

  “How’d you get here?” Drake asks.

  “I hopped a plane then hitched a ride with someone who was passing through,” I answer.

  “The tour’s over?”

  For the last six months, I’d been working as a roadie on The Screaming Elephants’ nationwide tour. I didn’t need the money, but the parties were epic. “Yeah, they got signed by a major record label, and they’re planning their worldwide tour now.”

  “You going back out on the road with them?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know, man. I’m tired, you know?”

  He n
ods as he picks up his beer and takes another drink. “I know we’d all like to have you home for a while. Clay just had a baby boy, and Celeste and Brennan are both pregnant now. You have a lot of family to meet.”

  I laugh. “How the hell did you and Colton manage to knock both your wives up at the same time?”

  He chuckles. “Probably has something to do with the four of us always drinking together.” He pats me on the back. “Come on, let’s get you home.”

  I stand up and sway on my feet.

  “Whoa,” he says, righting me.

  I brush off his hands and head for the door with him chasing after me. I grab my bag off the floor near the door and throw it over my shoulder. When we make it out to his truck, I toss it in the bed and climb into the passenger seat. He gets behind the wheel and twists the key as the truck roars to life.