by Linda West
What happy readers are saying about
Chocolate Kisses and Love Filled Wishes…
“A heartwarming and delightful read! The inhabitants of Kissing Bridge were adorable. If you want some perfect feel good uplifting holiday fun, this is the go-to book. I wish I could give it 10 stars!”
S. Stevens, Kindle Good Reads
“Within a matter of pages, I was laughing my socks off and immediately fell in love with the slightly crazy Summer … Linda West has such a knack for the humorous side of characters … Her writing style is so upbeat and unique. I hope to see more of these characters I’ve come to love - can’t wait to see what happens next in the cute town of Kissing Bridge!”
M. Sinclair
“This is exactly the feel-good holiday romance book I was looking for! From the start I was absorbed in the magic of the season and had a smile on my face. I laughed from the fist page and finished it in one sitting! I’d love to see a movie made out of this.”
D. Dragna
Dedicated to my Dad
Copyright February 2016
Linda West
If you haven’t read the first two best-selling
holiday books in the
“Love on Kissing Bridge Mountain Series”
please check them out!
Prelude:
After a long day it’s nice to relax and unwind. So take a moment to get a cup of tea and nice sweet bread and sink into your comfy chair with a warm blanket. You are about to go on a lovely ride through the enchanting town of Kissing Bridge Mountain. Wonderful things happen here in Kissing Bridge and miracles have a way of coming true...
Chocolate Kisses and Love Filled Wishes is the third book in the “Love on Kissing Bridge Mountain Holiday Series.”
I was inspired to write the first book, Christmas Kisses and Cookies, because I was unable to find the warm, feel-good holiday book I wanted to read. So I wrote one myself! I laughed the whole way through. After becoming a number one best-selling book and receiving hundreds of letters from fans asking for the series to be continued, I wrote the next two books in the series. This is the third book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Wishing you a love-filled Easter and holiday season.
Chapter 1
Pro Snowboarding Qualification
Grand Prix
Mammoth Mountain
Kacey Anderson, a 22-year-old all American cutie, eyed the scoreboard. The bright February sun shone off the white snow and lit up her beautiful sweet face sprinkled with a dusting of freckles across the nose and cheeks. Her strawberry blonde pigtails hung out on either side of her white snowcap, which was splashed with her sponsor’s name, O’Neil. Her soft grey eyes shot up the mountain watching the next rider get in place.
The Grand Prix at Mammoth in California this year had been a free-for-all. With half of the usual winners out on the sidelines with injuries, the medals could go to anyone.
Her boyfriend, Brody Jenkins, had already secured first place in the Men’s Slope Style and was almost assured to take first in the Big Air Event later. He had already scored an epic 9.8 on the first run and was way ahead of his contenders. He still had a second run to go.
Kacey screwed up her face as she looked at the conditions.
Horrible.
Another winter without enough snow on the west coast.
They had to make man-made snow and the mountainside was a dangerous mess of ice. That’s how she had ended up on the sidelines—watching.
Brody had told her not to try her latest trick when they were back in his hometown of Telluride, Co. The dangerous conditions were very similar and of course Kacey had not listened. If he could do it, she could do it.
Wrong.
She had fallen badly, and herniated a disc near her spine. She was under doctor’s orders not to snowboard, and so her stormy grey eyes matched the clouds hanging above on this dreary February day.
Her biggest competition, Brittany Roberts, had just pulled out a new trick, and received a 9.3. This would put her in first place in the women’s slopestyle and make her this year’s Grand Prix Mammoth winner. She would be a top contender now for the Women’s 2018 Olympics US team. Kacey Anderson tried to think positive. She knew she could beat Brittany easily if she could just heal quicker and get back on the mountain to practice her new routine. Despite her youth and experience, she had come in 4th place, just under the medals two years ago in Sochi—beating out many well-known snowboarders. Her fluid style and courageous tricks had made her a fan favorite. Kacey was such a natural athlete; her tricks often rivaled the difficulty of the guys she trained with.
She had been such a hopeful for the 2018 Olympics but now all those dreams seemed to be going up in smoke.
She turned her attention to the Men’s Big Air Event.
Brody was taking his place at the top of the hill, next in line. It was beginning to sleet, which was never good for the course. Off he went, with his perfect style and speed as he approached the jump.
Kacey couldn’t help but to hold her breath.
Yes, he made it look easy like all the pros did—that was part of good style—but it was a dangerous sport.
Every jump you risked your life, or a horrible fall.
She knew first-hand on the latter, but her close friend had not been so lucky. A head injury had caused her death when she was only 13.
Brody hit the jump hard and spiraled into his signature 880 cab and hit the sweet spot.
A perfect jump!
The crowd went wild. Cheers of “Brody, Brody, Brody!” filled the air.
He continued down the hill and Kacey started working her way through the crowd to meet him.
She watched for the score. 9.8!
She shook her head and smiled.
No one had laid down the scores like Brody had in the last two years since taking the Gold in Sochi. He had come home with three gold medals and a famous face.
He was the American team’s golden child and favorite poster child. Everyone expected a repeat performance in South Korea in 2018.
She made her way through the crowd, stopping to sign a couple of autographs along the way, until she reached Brody. He was surrounded by press as he pulled off his goggles and shook out his surfer blonde hair. He looked like a Norse god.
He had, in fact, been a surfer for much of his life before his parents had moved him to Breckenridge. For some reason he maintained that golden tanned skin, despite where he lived.
His green eyes sought hers and she waved and gave him the thumbs up. His smile spread from ear to ear.
Brody had truly missed his calling in the movies, but his sponsors made good use of his good looks plastering his face on everything from cereal boxes to action figures.
He was being thronged by fans and coaches and Kacey smiled as she watched Brody soak it all in. God, he loved attention. It always made her laugh, as she was just the opposite. The cameras and attention made her uncomfortable. But Brody reveled in it!
Without a doubt, he deserved all the credit owed for his amazing athletic ability and courage. It was a good thing be had that talent because he certainly wasn’t winning any medals for his smarts.
In fact, he could be considered almost simple-minded.
He had never graduated from high school, could barely read a book and never kept up with current events.
Sure they were both involved in the “Save the Winter Campaigns” for climate change awareness, so he had a conscience at least. He meant well, but there was no denying it—he was just simple.
He
was truly gorgeous and simply an amazing snowboarder who scored consistent 9.8s!
To Brody’s credit, he wasn’t just a gorgeous boy toy—he was also very funny. It was he that had nicknamed himself ‘98’ – after his typical snowboard score, and his inflated guestimate of his IQ. Whenever they took IQ tests on their iPhones, he seemed to score between 90 and 95, so they agreed to throw in an extra few. It had since become her favorite endearment for him.
Brody broke free of the horde and made his way over to Kacey. They embraced.
“Great job, 98!” She hugged him again. “I’m so proud of you!”
He beamed back at her. “Thanks, Babe. Sorry you couldn’t be out there today.”
Kacey winced.
It did hurt, but it didn’t take away from being proud of her man.
“That was super air, honey, and you spun that like glass!”
Brody kissed her suddenly, looking at her with a depth and seriousness that wasn’t usual for him.
She let him lead her away from the cheering crowd and press, wondering what was going on.
Brody usually wasn’t one to cut off the press or his fans.
Kacey looked at him. “What’s up, Honey?”
Brody’s sea green eyes darted away, unable to hold her gaze. “I want you to take more time to rehab before—”
Kacey cut him off.
“I’m fine, Brody! The doctor said the threat is over. I just have to—”
“Listen.”
He stopped her. “I know you want to get to the Olympics but it’s not worth hurting yourself.”
Kacey was indignant.
Easy for him to say—he already had his medals.
She had been a tomboy all her life, competing against her four brothers and half the town of Kissing Bridge. This was her chance. Kacey Anderson was tough—tough enough to make it work, despite all the obstacles thrown in her way. Brody knew that. Why was he being so serious? Why didn’t he seem like himself?
He felt closed to her; hidden.
Not like her bouncy ball of child-like energy and joy that he usually was.
She steeled herself for his reaction.
“What—you don’t want to train together? What about our trip to Vail?”
Brody shook his head.
“It’s just too dangerous, Kacey.”
All of a sudden, she didn’t feel so tough anymore, having to blink back tears.
They had planned that trip to celebrate their anniversary of when and where they had met – in Vail, three years prior.
She was probably stupid to hope that Brody might ask her to marry him in Vail, but she couldn’t help it. She knew he loved her, though he had never said it. Now he was acting as though their relationship meant nothing.
“But our special plans…”
“Look, the coaches are concerned too. They asked me to talk to you. They think you are working yourself too hard after such a big injury.”
Kacey’s mouth made a big O.
If this was coming from the higher-ups, then it wasn’t a suggestion; it was an order.
“So this is coming from the coaches? I’m not sure what you’re saying. Are they going to sideline me?”
Brody shrugged. “I don’t know. I kinda got that.”
“Oh, and they send you—like it’s going to be any easier on me?”
“I agree with them, Kacey.”
Kacey sniffed back her tears.
Darn it.
She wasn’t going to cry like a little girl.
She’d learned that much, being the youngest sister of four brothers.
She’d suck it up.
No training.
No Vail.
Definitely no engagement surprise.
She did her best not to sniffle, though a bit did come out. “Maybe I’ll go home for a while for some R and R?”
Brody grinned.
“Great idea.”
She nodded.
If he didn’t care to keep her with him, and the coaches wanted her gone, sure, she’d go home…
She’d go home to one of the best-kept secrets of Vermont, the Kissing Bridge Ski Mountain at Eagle’s Peak.
Go home?
No problem.
Stop snowboarding?
No way.
Chapter 2
Brad held his cell phone hard to his ear to drone out the commotion of the Valentine’s Ball.
“Hey little sis, what’s up?” he asked. “Happy Valentine’s day!”
Summer Landers, hometown super model, looked over and Brad motioned to the phone and pointed to the door. She nodded and blew him a kiss.
Brad stepped outside the door of the hall. It was a beautiful night.
The snow fell gently and the town glistened with the festive Valentine lights. Flowers were everywhere this special night. The beautiful colors making a lovely contrast against the clean white snow.
The flowers were strewn across the driveways of the homes where single women resided.
It was a lovely tradition for the single men of the town to secretly go out the night before Valentine’s and sprinkle flower buds along the snow-laden walkway to their loved one’s residence. Carnations meant new love, and baby roses meant true love.
“I’m so excited you’re coming home!” Brad said into the phone. “Do you want to stay with me at the house until Summer and I get married? It’s just little ole me.”
Kacey’s voice came across the phone more mature than Brad had ever heard her. She had left to tour with the Go-Pro Slope Team right out of high school. After three years away, she had grown up so much.
“I was hoping you could ask Earl if he had an extra room to rent at the at Eagle Peak’s lodge for the next few months.”
Brad waved at a happy couple as they walked by.
The young girl, Corrine, looked like a fairytale princess in her pink floaty dress.
“Sure, Kacey. A new friend of ours is up there renting a room there as well. Her name’s Dodie. I’ll run it by Earl when I go inside.”
“Okay, great. Can’t wait to see you.”
“Can’t wait either, Sis. It’s been way too long!”
As he put his phone away, he saw that Summer had come to meet him outside during the call. She still took his breath away.
Brad doubted he would ever get used to seeing her beauty so close up. For years he had stared at her modeling photos, wondering where the love of his life had gone, and here she was—back home and soon to be his bride.
He almost wanted to pinch himself to see if he were dreaming.
Brad smiled his happy smile.
His grey linen eyes with the flecks of blue crinkled with pure joy.
“Honey! You’ll never guess who’s coming home!”
Chapter 3
Eagle’s Point Lodge was a beautiful building, situated at the bottom of the ski run. It was the quintessential log cabin, but on a grand scale, with beautiful large picture windows overlooking the mountain. A grand dining room, hall and bar graced the first floor, with fireplaces at each end that blazed all year round and lit up the place with a warm, dusty glow. Upstairs there were rooms aplenty for short-term and long-term visitors to Kissing Bridge Mountain.
Dodie Randall had recently moved into one of the apartment suites that sat at the back corner of the lodge. With its own fireplace, a gorgeous view of the mountain, and a beautiful bathroom—with a roll-top tub, perfect for taking long hot bubble baths after dashing in from the cold—she felt she couldn’t ask for anything more.
Since coming to Kissing Bridge Mountain, her life had changed so much for the better. Each time she looked over the snowy beauty of the mountain, dotted with its stoic evergreens, she felt blessed. God didn’t make mistakes. Against all odds, she had found happiness again—and hope.
Even love seemed to be beckoning her back into its warm embrace.
She smiled as she thought of Jason and how lucky she was to have him in her life. This town, and that man, had helped restore her faith
, and that was a miracle in itself.
Dodie put a bright flower arrangement into a lovely vase, then placed it on the pedestal leading to the apartment suite across from hers.
Jason and Brad’s little sister, Kacey Anderson, was coming to stay for a few months.
Dodie couldn’t wait to meet this rising star of snowboarding—and possibly, if her dreams came true—her new sister in law! She was excited to have her as a close neighbor in the meantime. Who didn’t need more girlfriends?
