Paradise & Vodka (Saddles & Racks Book 6)
Page 1
Contents
Paradise & Vodka
The Fallen
A Note From The Author
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
Chapter 30
Epilogue
The Fallen
Acknowledgments
Books By Kimberly Knight
About the Author
A Saddles & Racks Novel, #6
No portion of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any print or electronic form without permission.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any persons, living or dead, places, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and storylines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The subject matter is not appropriate for minors. Please note this novel contains profanity, explicit sexual situations, and alcohol consumption.
Copyright © 2020 Kimberly Knight
Published by Kimberly Knight
Cover art © Okay Creations
Interior Formatting © Mermaid Publishing House
All rights reserved.
Created with Vellum
Gabe – Angels & Whiskey
Paul – Tequila & Lace
Seth – Champagne & Handcuffs
Vinny – Rum & Coke
Brad – Gin & Jewels
To Andrea Gehrke:
You waited years for Nick's story and now it's time.
Enjoy it, my friend!
*Please note that you can read this book as a standalone. However, it is recommended that you read it after the first five books in the series to avoid any spoilers.*
Four Years Ago
* * *
I was nervous.
I’d never brought home a guy before. Not because I was scared my parents would hate him, but because I was afraid he wouldn’t like them. I'd only ever had two boyfriends, but I was especially nervous for Douglas Alexander to meet my folks.
Douglas had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, so to speak, whereas I grew up in a small town in Alabama where everyone knew everyone and their business. It was tiny and had a town square in the middle of town where kids would play in the grass while their mothers would gossip as they watched blossoming couples stroll to the one diner. It was also different from where I had been attending college for the past three years. My parents’ mobile home could probably fit in the living room of Douglas’s parents’ vacation home in the Hamptons. To say we grew up the complete opposite of one another would be an understatement, but we had, and that was why I was on edge about him meeting my parents and seeing where I was raised.
The entire time we were flying from New York to Mobile, including a connecting flight, my palms were sweating. I wasn’t sure why I had invited Douglas to spend Christmas at my parents’ home, but I didn’t want to spend a moment without him, and he had mentioned his parents were spending Christmas in Italy on vacation. We hadn’t been dating long, but I knew I was falling in love with him, and before I knew it, I had invited him to spend the holidays with me.
"You don’t have to go," I’d stated, trying to backtrack on my offer.
"I’ve never been to Alabama before. I think it will be fun." Douglas had smiled, his dark brown eyes looking into my own dark brown ones, and then he kissed me softly as we sat on his couch in his Manhattan apartment. Since we'd started dating seven months ago, I’d spent most of my nights at his place because I shared a tiny walkup with four other girls from school and loved the extra space of his apartment.
"Fun," I’d snorted. "I didn’t peg you as a hunting and fishing type."
"Well, no."
"That’s really all there is to do."
"Do you hunt and fish?" he’d countered.
"I did when I was younger." It was my father trying to bond with my sister and me, even though neither one of us cared for the outdoors like he did.
"Really?" I'd nodded. "And now, when you go back?"
I'd shrugged. "We just hang out and play cards or something."
Douglas had smiled. "Well, I know how to play cards. Plus, can’t we go hiking and stuff since it’s not snowing there?"
Douglas’s idea of fun was going to the gym and making sure he was in good health, especially since he was going to be a doctor. We both attended Columbia University; he was in undergrad for med school, and I was on track to get my bachelor’s degree in biology. We were both studying the human body, and while I tried to be in good shape, I was big-boned and the opposite of my twin sister, Everleigh. We weren’t identical. She was the beauty, and I was the brains—literally.
Growing up, Everleigh entered every beauty pageant in the entire state of Alabama, and I stayed home and did homework or science experiments that I'd seen in one of the many books I had. That was how I was able to afford to go to New York for school: I’d won a grant for tuition and room and board from a science fair project my junior year and maintained a 4.14 GPA throughout high school, while Everleigh barely had a 3.0. I wore glasses until I got contacts my senior year, while Everleigh had perfect vision. She was skinny, but no matter what I ate—or didn't eat—I wasn’t.
"I’m not sure about hiking, but we can go for walks," I’d answered.
"Walks are good. And there’s always other forms of cardio." He’d winked.
"What do you mean?" I’d smirked.
"Let me show you."
His form of cardio was much better than going to the gym.
The plane touched down in Mobile, and even though we had at least a forty-five-minute drive ahead of us, my stomach was still in knots. I wanted Douglas to like my family and not judge me by the lack of money my parents had. I was grateful we weren’t staying with my parents. My hometown was small, but it had a nice bed and breakfast where I'd reserved a room. It wasn’t luxurious by any means, but it was better than my parents’ doublewide or staying with my perfect sister.
"Are you still worried?" Douglas asked as we walked toward the baggage claim.
"Is it that obvious?" I chuckled nervously.
He draped his arm across my shoulders and brought me against his side. "Yes, I can tell by how quiet you are, but don't worry. Everything will be fine."
"You remember that I told you they live in a doublewide trailer, right?"
"I'm not dating your parents, Ash."
"I know," I sighed. "Your parents are so perfect—"
"My parents aren't perfect."
"But you aren't embarrassed by your roots."
"And you are?"
I shrugged slightly. "Not embarrassed, really. You and I are just so different. I bet your mom has never stepped foot into a Walmart before, and my parents go there weekly to buy everything for the week."
His father was an attorney, and his mother a socialite. My dad was a mechanic, and Mom was Everleigh's pageant manager. I didn't like to talk bad about my parents—I loved them. I just really hoped Douglas didn't turn his nose up at anything over
the four days we were spending in Alabama.
"To be fair, I don't think my mother has ever shopped for groceries." He chortled.
After getting our bags, we got into the car we rented, and I gave Douglas the address of the bed and breakfast. The plan was to check into the room and then go to my parents' home for dinner. Mom was probably making fried catfish, cornbread, coleslaw, and fried green tomatoes. Dad had likely caught the catfish, and the tomatoes were no doubt from their garden. I'd forgotten to tell Douglas that most of the meals we would have with my folks would be fried, and when I remembered, I didn't tell him. He would find out soon enough, and then fate would take its course. I couldn't stop what was going to happen, so during the forty-five-minute drive, I decided to embrace it all. I was a southern girl, and Douglas was either going to love me for it or he wasn't.
My mood was better as we neared town until I saw the fire trucks.
The fire trucks in front of the bed and breakfast where we were staying.
The bed and breakfast that was on fire.
I was no longer nervous. Instead, I wanted to break down and cry.
The bed and breakfast didn't burn down completely, but there was enough damage that we couldn't stay there. I tried calling places in Mobile, but all the decent hotels were booked, and there was no way Douglas Alexander was going to stay at a motel, even if he told me he would.
I knew him better than that.
We sat in the rental car, my cell phone clenched in my hand. "I could ask my sister," I suggested, even though I really didn't want to. It wasn't because I didn't love my sister—I did. It was because she always got the boyfriends in high school—the boys I liked—and the less time she spent with Douglas, the better. I was already insecure about him dating big-boned me, so him spending time with my perfect sister made me nervous.
"That's probably better than sleeping in the car," Douglas replied. I looked over at him to see that he was smiling. I was so worked up, but the look on his face told me he really was okay with my roots.
"Yeah. Let me give her a call."
The phone rang twice before Everleigh answered. "Sister, sister. Are you here?"
"Yeah," I sighed. "But we have a situation."
"What kind of situation?"
"Well, the Magnolia Inn was on fire."
"Oh no!" she gasped.
"And now we have no place to stay."
"You can stay with Mom and Dad."
I snorted. "In our old room?"
"Yeah, push the twin beds together." She laughed.
"Right," I said, dragging out the word.
"I'm kidding. Do you want to stay here? You know I have an extra room."
"Yeah, can we? I don't want to put you out."
"Puh-lease. You're my older sister. Of course, you can stay here."
I rolled my eyes. I was older by three whole minutes. "Thank you. Can we come now?"
"Yep, and then we can go to Mom and Dad's together."
"See you soon."
I gave Douglas the address, and within five minutes, we were parked in front of Everleigh's two-bedroom cottage-style house. Everleigh was still doing pageants. Her dream was to win Miss America and Miss USA followed by Miss Universe. When she wasn't competing, Everleigh worked as a receptionist for the lone doctor in town.
"This is nice, Ash. What were you so worried about?" Douglas asked, looking at the quaint home.
"Yeah, my sister has done well for herself."
"But it's your parents you're afraid I won't like?"
"They're very backroad, if that makes any sense."
"Like missing teeth and shit?"
"No." I snorted. "Well, maybe one or two."
He reached over and squeezed my knee. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine. I promise."
I nodded. "Okay. Let's grab our things."
Douglas grabbed our bags from the trunk, and we walked up the pathway to the front door. Before I could knock, the door swung open, and two arms embraced me, pulling me against Everleigh's tiny frame.
"I've missed you," she said into my dark brown hair that fell just past my shoulders.
"You saw me less than a month ago for Thanksgiving," I reminded her.
"So? I can still miss my sister."
I smiled warmly at her as I pulled back. "And I've missed you too." Her dark gaze moved to look over my shoulder, and I turned, reaching my hand out for Douglas. "And this is my boyfriend, Douglas."
They shook, and to my surprise, Douglas kissed the back of her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Everleigh."
She blushed and batted her long lashes. "You too. Ashleigh has told me so much about you."
"All good things, I hope." He snickered.
"For the most part," I sassed.
"Well, come on in." Everleigh waved us in, and we walked inside. "I'm sure this is nothing like your apartment in New York," she stated. Douglas's Manhattan apartment was modern with hardwood floors, an updated kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. He had leather couches, and his mother paid some fancy interior designer to furnish the décor that looked like something out of a magazine instead of at Walmart.
"No, but it is nice. Very cozy," Douglas replied.
"Is cozy good?" she asked with a slight chuckle and looked at me. I lifted a shoulder.
"Cozy is good," he confirmed.
"Well, thank you, then." She beamed.
"We'll just put our stuff in your spare room," I stated and started down the hallway. It was the first door on the right. The room was small, but big enough for a full-sized bed and a single nightstand. "I know the bed is small—"
"Ash," he said with a sigh, "it's fine."
"Okay." I nodded.
He set the bags down and cupped my cheek. "A small bed just means we get to snuggle."
I smiled up at him and agreed, "Yeah."
We didn't stay long at my sister's because we didn't want to be late for dinner.
When we pulled up to the doublewide, I wasn't sure it was the same mobile home I grew up in. I had been home a month ago, but since then, my parents had made upgrades. The area by the stairs that led up to the front door was well manicured with flowers and boxwood greenery. The lawn had been mowed, and every weed had been pulled. The outside had been transformed into a Christmas light show with decorations. Growing up, we’d never decorated the outside; we’d only had a fake tree indoors.
"Did you know about this?" I asked, turning to look at Everleigh in the backseat.
She grinned. "Yeah. I helped them."
"Why … Why did they decide to do all of this?"
Her gaze moved to Douglas and then back to me quickly. She shrugged. "Mom just wanted to."
"Okay," I breathed, and we all opened our doors to get out of the car.
I grabbed Douglas's hand as we walked behind Everleigh and up the steps of the small porch. Everleigh opened the front door, and I expected to smell fried fish in the air. Instead, I was hit with the scent of something similar to a pot roast.
"You're here!" Mother gushed and rushed toward us with open arms. She engulfed me. "We've been waiting."
"Sorry." I hugged her. "The Magnolia Inn caught fire, and we had to find another place to stay."
Mom gasped as she drew her head back. "It did?"
"Yeah, the kitchen burned pretty badly, but the rooms only have smoke damage."
Mom and I broke apart. "Where are you staying?"
"They're staying with me," Everleigh stated.
"Yeah, and," I gestured to Douglas, "this is Douglas. Douglas, this is my mom, Dixie."
To my surprise, my mother wrapped her arms around him and gave him a big hug. "It's a pleasure."
Douglas smiled. "Likewise, Mrs. James."
"Please, call me Dixie."
"Dixie it is."
"Where's Dad?" I asked.
"Right here," he stated, coming into the room from the hallway. He had on a collared shirt and tie, and I had to do a double-take.
I look
ed at my sister to question what the hell was going on. She shrugged with a small smile. I cleared my throat. "Douglas, this is my father, Earl. Dad, this is Douglas."
They shook. "Nice to meet you, sir."
"Pleasure."
Pleasure? Who were these people?
"All right," Mom said excitedly. "I hope you're hungry. I've made my famous chili and cornbread."
"Sounds delicious." Douglas wrapped his arm across my shoulders. Chili was better than anything fried. We were off to a good start.
My mother even served us on her nice china she got from my grandmother.
Dinner went better than I thought it would.
Everyone got along. Dad and Douglas bonded over college football—I had no clue Douglas was into college football—and Mom seemed to fall in love with my boyfriend. Even Everleigh seemed to be head over heels for him.
"I told you everything would be fine," Douglas stated as we unpacked our clothes back at my sister's.
"I know." I wasn't going to tell him that my parents were trying to impress him by changing their entire house and wardrobe. He seemed to like them, and that was good enough for me, even if they hadn’t been themselves. We had two more days to spend with them—Christmas Eve and Christmas Day—before we went home. I was curious if they were going to keep up the ruse.
I yawned as my sister knocked on the door. "Do you guys want to make drinks and sit out back by the fire pit?"
I looked at Douglas, and he gave a quick nod, so even though I was tired from traveling, I replied, "Yeah, we'll be right there."