An Avalanche of Love

  ALEXA RILEY

  Contents

  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

  Epilogue

  Virgin Husband

  Chapter 1

  Read Me Romance

  Stalk the Author

  Copyright © 2022 by Author Alexa Riley LLC. All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email to riley_alexa@aol.com

  http://alexariley.com/

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  Edited by Aquila Editing

  For ridiculous romances and the joy they bring…

  An Avalanche of Love

  BY ALEXA RILEY

  Natalie has lived on Bear Mountain her whole life and never found love. When the developer who wants to steal her land comes to town, it’s just her luck that the magic finally decides to work. How is she supposed to fall for someone that’s her sworn enemy?

  * * *

  Walker has always focused on work and making money, but something about his latest acquisition isn’t sitting right with him. As soon as he meets the woman he’s been obsessed with, it’s all starting to make sense. Too bad she hates him.

  * * *

  Warning: Can an avalanche bring two people together? How else could this possibly work out? Cuddle in and see how things heat up!

  Chapter One

  NATALIE

  “Oh my gosh,” my mom gasps from the doorway. “Honey, you did all this by yourself?” Her eyes, so much like my own, are wide with surprise.

  “Is it too much?” I wring my hands together wondering if too much is a bad thing. I know sometimes people can say I’m a bit over the top, but every now and then, it’s called for.

  I’ve been at Hot Toddy since ten this morning. I wanted to get inside the bar as soon as possible, but Buck said the only way he was letting me into this place at six in the morning on a Sunday was if I slept in his bed the night before. Which happens to be over the bar.

  I’d rolled my eyes and agreed to ten. I get it. The bar is open till two in the morning on Saturday night, but I wanted this to be perfect. My twin brother is having a baby, and I’m in charge of the baby shower. I’m determined to make sure that everything is perfect.

  “It’s not too much.” She walks over to wrap me in a hug. “It’s never too much when it comes to you. I just wish you would’ve let me help if you were doing all this.” She motions around the room.

  “What? It’s a bar and I had to turn it into a winter wonderland.” That takes a lot of work.

  There aren’t a ton of places to hold events in Bear Mountain. It’s slim pickings around here, but we kind of like it that way. Bear Mountain is a beautiful little town that the corporate world hasn’t gotten their hands on. Not that some haven’t tried. We have some of the best skiing mountains in the world if you ask me, but we’re a small piece of heaven tucked away and kept secret.

  If more people knew about us, this town would turn into Touristville in no time. We don’t mind a bit of company to fill the small bed and breakfast places around here, but we don’t need some giant ski resort taking over.

  I’d gotten a taste of that one weekend when I’d decided to rent out a few of the cabins we have on our family's land. That had ended in a nightmare with a bunch of rich asshole college kids. Though it did give us Evie, who married my cousin Connor, but I’m not making that mistake again.

  “You really thought of everything.” She runs her hand over one of the tablecloths and looks around. I’ve covered almost everything in the place to hide that it’s a bar. Even the ceiling is hidden by balloons. My fingers are going to hurt from tying so many of them off, but it was worth it.

  “Think they’ll love it?” I ask.

  “Of course.” She gives me a smile that turns into a knowing look. Oh crap. “You did all this because you don’t want them to know you’re a bit sad.”

  “What? I have no idea what you’re talking about. Oh gosh, you losing your mind? You’re so young.”

  “You’re a brat.” She laughs before her face goes serious on me again. “You’ll find the one too, Natalie.”

  “I’m not looking for ‘the one,’” I huff. She lifts a brow, not buying what I’m selling. Since I was a little girl, I always talked about finding a love like her and Dad’s. “Anymore,” I add.

  “Honey.” She pulls me into one of her big soft mom hugs. She gives the kind of hugs that linger even after they’re over. They also get you to word-vomit all over the place, but I’m not going to do it this time. No way. “I love you.”

  “Okay! I’m jealous, and I want to make sure that’s not coming through. I won’t let my jelly feelings touch this baby and their love. All right? I adore Bri, and she’s the best thing to ever happen to Wilder. Well, except me, but I don’t count.”

  “You count.”

  “I know, and I’m so happy for them.” I bite the inside of my cheek to make sure my chin doesn’t wobble.

  It always quivers when I’m about to cry, which I will not do because I’m an ugly crier. My whole face turns red and blotchy, and it lingers for hours, and everyone will know. Then they’ll worry about me and ask what's wrong. Which will steal attention from the baby shower. All attention is going to be on Bri. It’s her moment to shine.

  She’s been through so much, having lost both her parents a year ago. When Wilder and I lost our dad, it was hard. I can’t fathom losing both parents at once. It’s been my mission to show her that she has us now, and though we’ll never replace her mom and dad, we can be a kickass family to her. Also we adore her to pieces.

  “There is nothing wrong with anything you just said. Those feelings are normal to have. If anything, it shows how much you love them and this baby.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” I should have known a good word-vomit with her would make me feel better. I think my mood is off because Walker didn’t call me yesterday, but I’m not thinking about that right now. Nope.

  “You’ll find your soul mate, Natalie. That's how things work around this town.”

  Walker comes to mind again, but I push thoughts of him away. I don’t even know what he looks like, so how is he taking up so much headspace? Or popping up when I think of soul mates? He’s annoying and always in my head like an annoying gnat buzzing around. That’s probably why I keep thinking of him. Because he’s like a thorn in my side.

  “I could end up like Buck.” I point my finger up to the apartment over Hot Toddy.

  “Buck is a rare creature of his own making. No one is like Buck.”

  “This is true,” I get out through laughter.

  “Natalie!” Bri squeals.

  I spin around to see her and my twin, Wilder, with my cousin Connor and his wife behind them. Connor has baby Evan in his arms as they come in, and I see Bri has her hands over her mouth, her eyes filled with surprise and tears.

  “You outdid yourself.” Wilder guides his very pregnant wife into the room before he pulls me into a hug. He spins me round a few times then puts me back on my feet. He used to always do that when we were little.

  I have no clue how we’re twins. He’s well over six feet where I’m only a few inches over five feet. It’s mainly our hair coloring and eyes that match, along with the one dimple in our left cheeks. We have a right one too, but we have to be smiling hard to get it to appear.

  “Is that a wedding cake?” Evie asks.

  “Kinda. Wilder loves chocolate cake, and Bri likes vanilla. But who doesn’t want strawberry cake too?” I shrug. “So I had tiers done.”

  “You’re brilliant, you know that? I think I married the wrong twin,” Bri teases.

  “You’re going to get a spanking,” Wilder growls, making her giggle. He tucks her into his side, whispering something into her ear that has her cheeks turning pink.

  Sometimes it’s hard watching them all together. Both Wilder and Connor are so good to their wives, and they’re all madly in love. For so long, it was the three of us kids. Connor lost his parents years ago and felt more like a brother than a cousin. Then over the last year, both of them went and found love. I’m the last one standing, so now I’m the odd one out, and it’s lonely.

  “Why don’t we make some plates before everyone gets here?” I suggest.

  “Yes!” Bri agrees quickly, making a beeline for the food table where I have platters of treats laid out. Evie and I join her while Mom steals baby Evan and sends the men outside to collect some of the things she brought in her SUV.

  “This is your table,” I tell Bri.

  I have her set up at the front near the g
ift table, and we all sit down to dig in. Once people get here, Bri probably won’t have a ton of time to eat; she’ll be talking, and everyone will want her attention.

  “I keep meaning to ask you, is that guy still trying to buy the family land?” Evie asks before popping a mini crescent cheese dog into her mouth.

  I jerk my head back toward the door, making sure my mom and Wilder or Connor aren’t around. I don’t know why I haven’t told them about it, but it's a moot point really. We’re not selling. I’m in charge of the management of the land, when it comes to the paperwork side of it at least.

  “Yes.”

  “Really? How long has this been going on?” Bri shoves a giant spoonful of mac and cheese into her mouth.

  “The emails started a month ago. Now he’s calling, but I don’t really answer. When I do, it's to give him a piece of my mind and then hang up on him.” I smirk.

  He didn’t call yesterday though and he normally calls once a day. Has he given up?

  “You okay?” Evie gives me a concerned look, and I realize I’m pouting.

  I force a smile and shake my head. “No, I forgot to get me some of the truffle mac and cheese. I’ll be back.” I hop up from my seat, taking my plate with me. Instead of going to get my mac and cheese, I end up next to my purse digging my phone out.

  No missed calls.

  Even when he’s not calling me, he’s pissing me off. What the heck is wrong with me?

  Chapter Two

  WALKER

  “This won’t take long,” I say to my secretary Josh as I walk into my small kitchen and see him sitting at the bar. “Go ahead and move tomorrow’s meeting to the day after. I’ll be back by then.”

  “Are you sure?” He looks at me over the dark frames of his glasses while holding a stylus over his tablet. “Because if I’m being honest, Walker—”

  “Aren’t you supposed to be calling me ‘Mr. Smoke’?” Josh keeps staring at me with his deadpan expression, and I ignore him. “Where’s my coffee? What kind of secretary are you?”

  “The best.” Josh places his tablet on the counter and crosses his arms over his chest. “And your coffee is right beside you, Walker.”

  He puts an emphasis on my name because he’s right. He is the best, and it would be weird for him to call me something else. Josh has been with me over ten years now and knows my life's schedule better than me most days. He’s more like my annoying baby brother who happens to usually be right about everything, but I’d never tell him that.

  Taking the hot coffee, I mumble a thank you and ignore his smug smile as I lean my hip against the island and wait for him to continue.

  “As I was saying, are you sure this won’t take long?”

  “When have I ever not been able to charm my way through a deal?”

  “I don’t know, but I have a feeling about this one.”

  “You said that about Georgia,” I point out, but he’s not budging.

  “And you had to flip that property within the year or take a multi-million-dollar loss.”

  “Yes, but I sold it,” I counter, and he rolls his eyes.

  “I told you from the beginning that was going to be a problem.”

  “And you think this one will be?” I wait as he gives me a funny look.

  “I’m not sure.” He drags out the last word as he taps his pen to his chin. “But I’ve got a funny feeling about this deal. I can’t put my finger on it, but I’d pack an extra change of clothes if I were you.”

  I glance down at my cell and think about calling Natalie Thompson for the hundredth time. She’s the one in charge of the Thompson property holdings and the one person I need to say yes. She also happens to have the sexiest voice I’ve ever heard in my whole fucking life. Even when she’s yelling at me. Hell, who am I kidding? It’s even sexier when she’s yelling at me.

  “Yes, Mother,” I sigh as I glance to the front door and see my travel bag is already packed and ready to go. “You already packed my stuff, didn’t you?”

  “You’re welcome,” Josh sing-songs, standing and grabbing his tablet. “Call me when you land, and we’ll talk more about how long you’re going to be there.”

  “I’m going to fire you one day.”

  “But not today.” He shrugs. “I'll be on a beach sipping drinks out of a coconut by the time you get there, so I’m not stressing it.”

  “I didn’t give you permission to take a vacation.”

  Just before Josh leaves the kitchen, he looks back at me once more and then points at my phone. “You forget that I know you, Walker. The way you keep glancing at that thing is the reason I’m heading to the tropics.”

  “That doesn’t mean anything.” Even as I say the words, I know they’re not true.

  “Let me ask you this,” he says as he grabs his coat. “If you didn’t have to come back to this tiny apartment with hardly a stick of furniture in it, what would you do with your life?”

  “That’s a ridiculous question.” I wave my hand at him, and the little shit smiles. “I love my job.”

  “You’ve got no family, and I’m your only friend.” I start to argue but snap my mouth closed. He laughs and shakes his head. “You’ve made us both enough money so that we don’t have to keep doing this. Why this one, Walker? What is it about Bear Mountain that makes you have to have it?”

  A long silence stretches between us, and finally I shrug. “I don’t know.”

  Josh smiles as he comes over and surprises me by giving me a hug. “Then go find out.” He’s gone before I can say another word, and I’m left with what he said hanging in the air.

  I was raised by my dad after my mom took off when I was a kid, and the only thing he ever taught me was how to work hard. That’s all I’ve done all my life, and maybe Josh is right. Since my dad died, I’ve been left with nothing but the work I do, and Josh as my only connection to anyone.

  Most of the people I deal with either despise me because they have no choice but to sell to me, or they love me because I’m paying them a shit ton of money for it. I’m the middleman between a company with a plan and a development being built. I’m the one that takes the idea and secures the property to make it happen. I don’t actually build anything myself or come up with the ideas; I just acquire what’s necessary and make it happen.

  A company that wants to build a new ski resort approached me a few months ago. They didn’t have a specific location in mind, but they wanted me to scout the right one and make the deal as smoothly as possible.

  My research gave me lots of options, but one little comment in a forum on some of the best-kept secrets in skiing led me to Bear Mountain. There wasn’t much to go on, other than an old website that was no longer taking reservations. I could have given it up and showed the company a number of other recommendations, but it wouldn’t leave me alone. I had to ask around, and through word of mouth, I got Natalie Thompson’s number.

  I’ve developed a reputation in my world as someone who gets a yes every time. Only this time I’m not getting what I want. Which is why I’m going to Bear Mountain myself to make Natalie an offer she can’t refuse.

  Maybe Josh is right and it will take a few more days than I planned, but in the end, I’ll close the deal.

  Grabbing my coffee and my suitcase, I look around my apartment. Josh said it was tiny, and that was being generous. Here in the city I could have afforded an entire floor to myself, but what was the point? It’s only me, and there’s not enough stuff in here to fill up one big box. It felt like a waste of money and a waste of space. I hate reminders that it’s just me living here, even though all of my stuff could fit in one box. The furniture is rented along with the space, and within an hour, I could make this apartment look like I’d never lived here.