Ashes & Embers Series Collection (Books 1 to 4)

by Carian Cole

  “I missed him. He’s such a cool dog.” I pat his head while Storm backs out of the parking spot. “Do you think he remembers me?”

  “Of course, he does. Look how happy he is.”

  “Aww . . .” I say. I’m sure I’m getting fur all over me, but I don’t care.

  “Do you think he and Halo would get along? If they were together?” He’s trying to make the question sound casual, but I’m not buying into it.

  I think about that for a moment. Is he thinking what I think he’s thinking? “Um, I don’t know. Halo has never seen a dog, but I’m sure if Niko doesn’t chase him they would be fine.”

  He nods, staring out the windshield. “I was just curious.”

  I want to question what he’s thinking, but I don’t want to rock the boat again, not today. He reaches across the truck and takes my hand in his, resting them together on my leg. I swallow hard and look over at him.

  “Storm . . .”

  He glances over at me quickly then back to the road. “Evie, this is what we do. We hold hands. I’m not giving that up.”

  I squeeze his fingers tighter into mine. It’s such a simple touch, holding hands. Little kids do it. It’s the first step into affection with someone when we are young, to hold their hand in yours. At our ages, this sort of gesture should not hold so much meaning. Most couples our age go straight to wild kisses and directly to bed. Our courtship breathes slowness. It hides in the dark corners. It peeks out with tiny touches, explodes with quick erotic moments, then runs back to hide. It is both sweet and dirty, and it’s taboo.

  “I should probably tell you about my family,” he says.

  “Oh?” My nerves stand at attention and my stomach starts to burn a bit.

  He takes a visible deep breath. “My father is Ronnie Vale. My uncle is Vince Vale. My mother is Aria Valentine.”

  My stomach seizes at the names. I recognize all three. He has to be joking. “Storm, please tell me you’re kidding?”

  He shakes his head and grins at me sideways. “I’m totally serious.”

  “Ronnie and Vince Vale, the musicians from the seventies? And famous romance author Aria Valentine?”

  “Yup.”

  I can’t believe he hasn’t told me this. These people are pretty much household names. I remember my parents listening to the music of the Vales on long car rides. Those songs still play on the radio and are on all sorts of Songs of the 70’s albums. I have read almost all of Aria Valentine’s novels and seen most of the movies on cable based on her books. Of course, the movies were never as good as the books, but I still watched them just to see her sexy, love-struck characters come to life.

  “How could you not tell me this? You can’t just let me walk into a house of famous people, Storm. I don’t belong there.”

  He squeezes my hand harder so I can’t let go. “Evie, one of the things I really like about you is you don’t give a shit about money and fame. You don’t look at it as an opportunity to get something. Like right now. You’re not jumping up and down, getting all excited to meet famous people. You want to go back home. I can hear it in your voice. You don’t give a rat’s ass who I am. I had to beg you to agree to come to my show next week, and I think you’re only doing that because your dickwad boyfriend is a fan.” He pauses to make a turn. “I don’t want to be with a star-chaser, and I don’t bring them near my family. When I’m offstage or with my family, we’re just normal people. We don’t want to be ‘on.’ You’re the first girl I’ve brought home in about twelve years.”

  “I’m the wrong girl to be bringing home, Storm. I have a boyfriend. What will they think of me? You finally bring a girl home and she’s living with another man? I can’t do this.”

  “Evie, don’t get yourself all whacked out. They know who you are. They know you’re not a girlfriend and that we’re just friends. For now.” He looks over at me and winks. I shake my head at him. I’m not sure I can do this. His mother will think I’m a hussy. Living with another man and spending Christmas with her son. I’ll probably end up in one of her novels as the stupid character who can’t get her shit together and just whines all the time and wallows between two men until they both dump her ass.

  “Stop it, Evelyn. Clear your mind of the shit, okay?” He pulls my hand over and places a quick kiss on the top of my fingers, a gesture that melts me every time. “We’re going to have a good time. No one is judging anyone. My family is cool. None of us are perfect. My parents are like hippies. They’re not rich snobs like you see on television. I wouldn’t bring you there if they were like that and subject you to that kind of crap.”

  I feel myself falling deeper and deeper into him. I know he is doing this on purpose to try to get me to leave Michael. Every time Michael fails, Storm is there to make it all better.

  But even I know someday, Storm will fail, too.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  GRAM’S HOUSE IS A BEAUTIFUL SPRAWLING ranch-style in the shape of an ‘L.’ The trees and bushes out front are decorated in pale blue lights, and white lanterns line the driveway and walkway. It’s pretty and welcoming, just as Storm described on the ride up. I wished I had baked cookies or a pie, or brought a bottle of wine with me. Something. I hope his family doesn’t perceive me as some ungrateful tart, crashing their family dinner without even enough manners to bring a thank-you offering. I cringe at what my mom would think. She raised me better than this.

  Storm opens the passenger side door and takes my hand to help me out of his truck. We watch Niko run around the yard for a few minutes before heading for the front door, where he turns to bestow his most irresistible smile upon me. “Don’t be nervous, baby. This is home for me. If . . . and yes, I’m fucking saying if, we are ever together, we would spend a lot of time here. That’s what I want. I should warn you, though; Gram is itching for a great-grandchild.”

  My mouth gapes open at him. “Dude, I am in no way ready to discuss babies.”

  “Don’t call me dude. And neither am I. But someday, maybe . . .” He quirks his eyebrow up at me.

  At that moment, the door opens and a tiny, gray-haired woman is standing there. And I mean even shorter than I am, putting her at under five feet tall. She is simply adorable, and she is beaming at us.

  “Come in, come in!” Niko rushes in past us and sits expectantly at Gram’s feet as we enter the foyer and close the door behind us. She hands the dog a big Santa-shaped cookie. “Now, go find your bone and be a good boy.”

  She turns to us. “You must be Evelyn!” She grabs my hands. “I’ve heard so much about you, honey! I’m so glad you’re here! Storm talks about you nonstop—”

  “Gram!” Storm interrupts, but he’s smiling ear to ear. He leans down and kisses her on the cheek. “She doesn’t need to hear all that.”

  “Of course she does, dear!” She takes my hand again. “Come into the kitchen and meet everyone!” I glance back at Storm as Gram leads us to the kitchen. He smiles and winks at me.

  The house is gorgeous, but decorated with a very comfortable and lived-in touch. The kitchen is modern and monstrous with a large island in the middle. A small group of people are laughing at the table in the corner, and Gram gently pulls me over. They all look up and smile at us.

  Storm steps up beside me. “Hey, you guys. I want you to meet Evelyn. Evie, this is my dad Ronnie, my mom Aria, and my little sister, Rayne.” Storm and Rayne. I love it.

  They all smile and say hello at the same time.

  “Thank you so much for having me. It’s wonderful to meet all of you.” Thank God, my voice didn’t crack as it usually does when I’m nervous.

  They stand up for a proper greeting and take turns hugging us. “Evelyn, we’re delighted to finally meet you,” Aria Valentine says, kissing my cheek. The woman is gorgeous. Tall with long wavy hair, beautiful skin, and emerald green eyes like a cat. I can see so much of Storm in her.

  I, of course, recognize Ronnie Vale, Storm’s father, as I’ve seen him on television at least a hundred times. He
is tall, handsome, and well built. His graying hair is longish and tied in a neat ponytail at the base of his skull. He hugs me then looks me up and down quickly. “Storm, you weren’t kidding when you said she was gorgeous.”

  Oh, my God. I feel myself blushing. Storm shrugs.

  “Daddy, you’re embarrassing her!” Rayne pipes up, rolling her eyes. She is also beautiful like her mother, and very petite. Her hair is dyed jet black with purple highlights. She’s wearing an over-sized sweatshirt with the neck cut out, a purple tank top layered beneath, and skinny jeans with holes in the knees. Even dressed casual, she has a sense of cool style about her. I wonder if she’s also a musician of some sort. She definitely has that look going on.

  We all move into the living room, where a roaring fire is lit in a stone fireplace in the corner. I sit in a big, soft chair near the fire and Storm sits on the floor in front of me, leaning against the front of my chair, his arm against my leg. I take in my surroundings. A huge Christmas tree stands in the corner, nearly reaching the high vaulted ceiling. It’s decorated with beautiful glass ornaments and pastel lights. A heap of wrapped presents are piled beneath it. Niko is laying a few feet away from the tree, gnawing on a bone that is about three feet long and has a red bow tied at the end of it.

  A spread of fresh fruit, truffles, crackers, and cheese are set out on the coffee table. Everything looks too beautiful to even eat. Storm’s parents are sitting on the loveseat opposite us, his father’s arm around his mother, her leaning her head into his shoulder and smiling over at us. I remember Storm telling me during the blizzard that his parents shared true love, and he was right. You can just feel the love between them with their shared smiles and closeness.

  Rayne is sitting on the floor in front of the fire, her legs tucked under her Indian-style. “I think the way you guys met is awesome,” she says. “I mean, like, who the hell gets trapped in a truck for two days! It’s epic! Mom, you should totally write this into one of your books.”

  “No, she shouldn’t,” Storm says, playfully kicking his sister.

  Aria smiles warmly. “Some things are meant to be private, Rayne. Storm doesn’t want his love life showing up in a book any more than you do.”

  Love life? What?

  Storm hands me a cookie from the table and continues on with his sister. “Trust me, it wasn’t fun, kiddo. We fucking froze our asses off.”

  “You really didn’t know who he was?” she asks me.

  I shake my head and swallow my chocolate chip cookie. “No, I really didn’t. I actually thought he was some kind of psycho murderer. When he first found me, I yelled at him to get away from me.”

  “Yeah, and she thought Niko was a wolf. She screamed bloody murder when she saw him,” Storm added.

  “Hey, he could be part wolf for all we know,” Ronnie interjects. “He looks bigger every time I see him.”

  “Storm, you better make sure he doesn’t steal my slippers again!” Gram yells from the kitchen.

  “Gram, he’s chewing his bone. Take a chill, and hurry it up in there. I’m starving.”

  I can’t help but smile and feel at ease with these people. Storm was right; they are so easygoing and fun and not snobby in the least. My nervousness begins to subside.

  I tap Storm’s shoulder. “Where’s the restroom?”

  “Down the hall, third door on the left.”

  I excuse myself and make my way down the hallway. The house is much bigger on the inside than it appeared from the outside. I find the bathroom, but the door is open about six inches, and the light is on. There doesn’t seem to be anyone in there, so I push the door open and walk right into Storm.

  It’s Storm, but it’s not. He’s wearing nothing but a towel and is also covered in tats, but they’re not Storm’s tattoos. His long hair hangs down his shoulders, dripping water down a body that is equally as muscular as Storm’s. I stop dead in my tracks and peer up at him, utterly confused. His eyes are dark brown, like rich chocolate, and don’t have Storm’s mischievous glint. These eyes are dark, almost sad.

  “Oh, my! I’m so sorry!” I say, completely embarrassed. I don’t know where to look or which way to go.

  He just looks at me. “Who the hell are you?”

  “Um, I’m Evelyn.”

  “The blizzard chick?”

  What? Is that what they’re calling me? And why didn’t Storm tell me had a twin brother?

  I make a face that I try not to make. “Yeah, I guess that would be me.”

  “You lost again?”

  Ugh. “No, I was looking for the bathroom.”

  He tightens the towel around his waist, and I try not to look at him half-naked in front of me.

  “You found it.”

  “I see that. I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was occupied. The door was open.”

  “Yeah, I was letting the steam out.”

  He’s looking at me but not smiling. I don’t like Storm’s face on this guy. At all.

  “Well, um, I’ll just come back.” I turn for the door.

  “I’m done. It’s all yours, Blizzard Chick.” He pushes past me, his damp arm rubbing against my breasts.

  I lock the door behind him. Geez. I wish Storm had told me he had a twin brother and saved me the freak-out of running into him. I’m confused enough as it is—the last thing I need is a Storm clone running around.

  I use the bathroom and check myself in the mirror before heading back to the living room. Sinking back into the chair I was in, I whisper down in Storm’s ear, “You didn’t tell me you had a twin brother.”

  “I don’t.” He holds a strawberry up to my lips. I bite it in half and he eats the other half, his eyes not leaving mine. Sharing fruit has never been so sexy.

  “Well, who did I just run into half-naked in the bathroom who looks just like you?”

  He swallows his half of the strawberry. “That’s Asher. He’s a year older than I am. We just look alike.”

  “Holy shit. You could’ve warned me.”

  “I forgot.”

  “He called me Blizzard Chick!”

  Storm starts to crack up.

  “What’s so funny over there, you two?” Ronnie asks.

  “Evelyn ran into Asher and he called her Blizzard Chick.”

  They all laugh. Not at me, thankfully, but they seem to find a lot of amusement over it.

  “Honey, he gives everyone a nickname,” Aria explains. “Don’t take it personally. He’s totally harmless.”

  “And high,” Rayne adds.

  “Rayne, don’t,” Storm warns. She makes a face at him and I start to giggle. I wish I had a little sister.

  Dinner turns out to be a five-course meal. I am so stuffed by the third course that I can barely eat another thing. I nibble at everything to be polite, but I am not used to eating so much food. Storm literally wolfs down everything and then eats what I don’t. Asher doesn’t join us for dinner, and I wonder what his deal is and where he’s hiding and why. I hope it’s not because of me. Maybe he didn’t want a stranger here for Christmas. Or maybe, like Rayne mentioned, he’s hanging out somewhere just getting high.

  After dinner, Aria approaches me and offers to give me a tour of the house. I accept and allow her to lead me away.

  “Mom! Don’t tell her embarrassing shit about me!” Storm yells after us.

  “I’m just going to show her your naked baby photos!” she yells back, hooking her arm in mine.

  “I don’t mean to fan-girl, but I’ve read all your books,” I tell her. “I had no idea you were Storm’s mom. He just told me on the way here.”

  “Thank you! If there’s any you haven’t read, just let me know and I’ll give you any you want. I’m almost finished with my latest. I’d love to send you a copy before it hits the stores.”

  “Wow, thank you!”

  We walk through the kitchen to the other side of the house to a beautiful four-season room that is all glass. She takes my hand and we sit on a long, white couch. Storm’s family is very affectio
nate I’ve noticed. It’s not annoying, though. It’s actually very comforting.

  “Are you having a good time? We’re so glad Storm asked you to come.”

  I nod enthusiastically. “Yes, I really am. I’m glad I came, too. I didn’t want to at first, but Storm is very persistent.”

  “Yes, he is. It’s one of his many charms.”

  “He’s very lucky to have all of you.”

  “We’re lucky to have him, too.” She tilts her head at me. “Your parents passed when you were seventeen?” she asks softly.

  I am a bit taken aback because I never told Storm that information.

  “Yes, they were in an accident,” I tell her, looking down. I don’t like talking about my parents, especially with people I barely know.

  “Evelyn, I want you to know I had you checked out by a PI. And before you get upset, please understand that I only did so because I love my son. I needed to know if there was anything about you that was . . . well, bad.”

  Yikes. I have no idea how to take this. Checked out? Did she think I was some kind of criminal?

  She continues. “I wanted to apologize for invading your privacy. It’s hard to be a mother and watch your children get hurt. Storm has been through a lot. They all have. It’s one thing if they’re off partying and just screwing girls for fun, which of course I don’t condone as proper behavior, but when I see they are serious about someone, my instinct is to find out as much as I can. I guess it’s the writer in me to fact-check.”

  I nod in understanding, my initial guard subsiding. “It’s all right. I can appreciate why you would do that. I’m not upset with you.”

  She looks visibly relieved. “I’m very sorry for your loss. I was not expecting to hear such sad information.”

  “Thank you.” My eyes drop to my hands in my lap. “It was a long time ago. I miss them very much, though. Especially my mother.”