Fierce: New Adult Sport Romance (The Boys of Winter Book 4) Read online

  Fierce

  Not just another pretty face…

  Ex-model Dannika Hamilton knows she’s spoiled and when her brother abandons her, she’s desperate for another man in her life. Flirting for keeps, she gets one. The wrong one. While the guy who challenges her in every way keeps her in the friend zone.

  Financial whiz Christian Nickleson moved to Breckenridge, Colorado to escape the rat race and mend his broken heart. Intent on a year as a ski bum and casual dating, everything changes when he meets Dannika. Suddenly he’s back in business, with a girl that that tempts him to be more than a professional partner.

  A family death makes Christian rethink his move and leave Colorado behind, along with Dannika. Forced to fend for herself with a prosperous business, but not the guy, Dannika learns to trust herself. When Christian returns can he convince her he’s worth trusting too?

  Fierce

  A Fire and Ice Novel

  Violet Vaughn

  www.VioletVaughn.com

  Sugarloaf Press

  Copyright

  Copyright © 2014 by Violet Vaughn

  First E-book Edition 2014

  Editing services by Jodi Henley, Kats Eye Editing and Victory Editing

  Cover design by Kim Killion

  Book Design/Layout by The Printed Page

  This novel is a work of fiction. The town and ski area of Breckenridge, Colorado has been embellished to suit the story, and the references to people, events and locations are used fictitiously. Names, characters and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form including but not limited to printing, scanning, and photocopying without permission from Violet Vaughn. However, brief quotes in reviews are allowed.

  Please join my mailing list to be notified of Violet’s latest releases.

  You can learn more about me at my website.

  Other Books by Violet Vaughn

  Fire and Ice Series

  Crave

  Release

  Rush

  Fierce

  Exposed

  Pulse (2015)

  Contents

  Fierce

  Fierce

  Copyright

  Contents

  Dedication

  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

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  About the Author

  Dedication

  Thank you to Tamra Work for always being there

  to celebrate the big and the small.

  Chapter 1

  He enters the coffee shop like a dream. The sun is behind him, and his well-groomed hair glows auburn around his chiseled face. I say to my friends, “Don’t look, but wait till you see what just walked through the door.”

  Megan is sitting next to me and says, “Nice. I do like a man in cuff links.”

  Casey and Lori lean in as their eyes widen, waiting for further description. The guy is about to walk by our table and loosens his tie. I say, “He can bind me to the bedpost with that tie anytime. Hell, I’d even let him gag me with it.” I chuckle but stop when Casey’s green eyes glance above my head and she starts to laugh. Lori is doing a better job of protecting my feelings.

  I cringe. “Shit. He’s right behind me, isn’t he?”

  Casey tucks a red curl behind her ear. “Yup.”

  The faint smell of a spicy musk drifts around me as hot breath tickles my ear, and a voice rumbles through my being. “I’d never gag a mouth like yours; I think I’d enjoy what you have to say.”

  I slide down in my chair and hide my face in my hands while Casey says, “Nika, meet Christian Nickelson.”

  Christian Nickelson? As in my brother’s girlfriend’s brother? The soon-to-be brother-in-law of my brother, making him my what? My brother-in-law once removed? Without turning around, I stick my hand up in the air to shake. “Nice to meet you.”

  He shakes it quickly, and a chair scrapes across the wood floor as he pulls it up to sit next to Casey. I peek through my fingers at him. Damn, he’s gorgeous and staring at me.

  I drop my hands. “Yeah, so I guess we’ll be walking down an aisle together soon, won’t we?” Shit. My stomach lurches. “Wait, I mean—” My face has to be fire-engine red at this point, and I should probably just shut up.

  “I mean, we’re going to be something-in-laws and in a wedding together and…” His grin is huge, and a set of perfect teeth practically blinds me.

  He reaches over and takes one of my errant hands, probably to keep me from knocking something over. “Yes, we’ll likely walk down an aisle together in the near future.” He winks at me.

  The grasp of his warm hand has me speechless, which at this point is saying a lot. Megan saves me. “So, Gretchen’s brother Christian, what brings you to Breck?”

  He nudges Casey with a shoulder and says, “Powder and the pleasures of a ski resort.” He glances at me quickly, and I experience a back draft as heat flushes my cheeks once again.

  I pick up my latte for something to do and take a sip. It’s cold, and the bitter coffee flavor makes me long for more cake instead.

  Casey asks, “So how did it go?”

  Christian answers, “Good. Looks like I’m staying.”

  “Sweet! It’ll be fun to have you around.” She bumps her body against him.

  He says, “I’m going to go get a coffee. Will you ladies still be here when I get back? Can I get anyone anything?”

  I should go home to my dogs, but no way am I leaving just yet. I shake my head, as Lori says, “No, we’ll be here when you get back.”

  I take a quick look to make sure he’s out of earshot. I ask my three happily attached friends, “Seriously? Could I be any more of a dork?”

  Megan smiles at me as she twists a dark blond lock around her finger. “Well, he seemed to find it cute. I wouldn’t dwell on it.”

  Casey says, “Christian’s great. I wouldn’t worry about it either.”

  I roll my eyes. “And this is why I don’t have a boyfriend.” I’ve been a ski instructor in Breckenridge, Colorado for almost a year. A dry year, without one date, while watching my twin brother fall in love with the woman he’ll marry.

  Lori asks, “What ever happened with Kelly? I remember he
spent a lot of time hanging around your locker and flirting last winter.”

  “He did, but he never asked me out. I got tired of waiting and stopped flirting back.”

  Casey asks, “Tired of waiting? I’ll bet he was too afraid to ask out a model. Why didn’t you make the first move?”

  Being an ex-model isn’t as great as one would think. It works against you when it comes to dating because everyone assumes you get hit on all the time. I sure don’t. “What if he said no?”

  Megan snorts. “Then you would have known for sure. I have to agree with Casey. You intimidate guys and give off an unavailable vibe.”

  “Really?”

  Lori looks at me with her warm brown eyes and says, “You kind of do. You’re beautiful, and they think you’ll say no. And the fact that you don’t really encourage them doesn’t help.”

  “What do you mean? I flirt.” But I do wait for the guy to make the first move, it’s true. I wait for things to happen instead of taking a chance. I’m not sure I’ll ever get past feeling like the high school geek I was.

  Casey says, “Yeah, but because they know you were famous, there’s a mystique that makes you seem unavailable. You’re going to have to try harder to let them know you’re interested.”

  Megan says, “Give them a little model attitude.”

  If only it were that easy. When doing a job, I take on the role. I’m fierce. But when I’m just me? I sigh and am about to say more, but Casey grabs my arm and nods her head to indicate Christian is within hearing distance.

  Christian sits down to a table full of silence. He scans us. “So besides Casey, do any of you teach on Peak 8?”

  Megan answers, “We all do.”

  He smiles, and his gray-blue eyes, which are like Gretchen’s, twinkle. “Great, I will be too.”

  I feel my brow furrow as I wonder why he would apply for an instructor job in a dress shirt and tie.

  Casey says, “You’re welcome to live with me this winter if you want.” A twinge of jealousy runs though me. I wish I had thought to offer first. Now that Derrick and Gretchen are gone, my big house is lonely.

  Christian says, “Thanks. I’m actually meeting with a real estate agent later, but I may take you up on the offer.” He takes a sip of his coffee and looks straight at me. “Gretchen tells me you have quite the house with a beautiful view.”

  My instinct is to drop my eyes, but considering the conversation I just had, I don’t. I catch Lori’s raised eyebrows and tilted head encouraging me. My inner brave girl shoves the shy one out of the way. “Would you like to come see it?”

  He smiles, and I do an inner cartwheel when he says, “Yes, that would be nice.”

  Since I was so successful the first time, I plod on. “You could stop by when you’re done with your appointment if you want. Do you need the address?”

  “I have it.”

  My face heats up. Of course he does. His sister lived with me for most of last winter. I pick up my fork to play with my cake crumbs, and a hand lands on my mine, surprising me. I look up into Christian’s face and notice the same cheekbones Gretchen has. He says, “Give me your phone and I’ll enter my number. I’ll call before I stop by.”

  Oh, boy. His touch shouldn’t affect me so, but my insides are trembling. “Sure.” I reach for my fleece hanging on the back of my chair and manage to knock my fork onto the floor. It clatters, and I pretend it didn’t happen while I hand him my phone. “Here.”

  Casey’s lips are twitching like she’s trying to hold back laughter, and I would kick her under the table, but the way things are going, I’ll end up kicking Christian instead. She bends down to retrieve my fork and I forgive her.

  When he hands my phone back, I notice the time and realize I have to go. “Hey, guys, I really need to get home to the dogs. This was fun, thanks.” I look at Christian and pretend he’s a regular guy. “It was great to meet you. See you soon.”

  Whew, that wasn’t so hard. Now all I have to do is get out of here without knocking over a table in the process. I stand, and Christian does too. He says, “I should go as well. I’ll walk you out.” He turns to Lori and Megan, “Nice to meet you ladies, and Casey, I’ll text you.”

  Clearly he doesn’t have a sense of self-preservation because I’m bound to hit him with the door and self-combust with embarrassment. When he places his hand on my lower back to guide me through the tables, I’m sure I’ll catch fire, but it’s a whole different kind of flustered.

  Chapter 2

  When we get outside the air is crisp with the taste of winter to come. Snow dusts the mountaintops and a breeze blows Christian’s hair, giving it a sexy, rumpled look. I ask, “What kind of properties are you looking at?”

  “I’m looking at vacation homes. Something to invest money in.” His dress shoes tap on the concrete as my cowboy boots echo.

  “That’s right, you worked in finance. And according to Gretchen, you were quite successful.” I’ve turned right to walk to my car and wonder if he’s parked this way but don’t question it when he follows instead of stopping.

  “I’m still in finance but have decided to I’d like fewer hours and take a bit of a break. I’ll be working with a small firm here.”

  Ah, that explains the dress clothes. I wonder if his decision has anything to do with his father’s stroke last year. “Well if you’re going to goof off, this is the place to do it.”

  He chuckles and takes my arm. “I guess you’re the white Land Rover up there. Am I right?”

  I smile. “I think you have insider information.”

  “I do.” The way he says it makes me curious over what else he might know. “Thank you for taking such great care of my sister last winter. I was busy and couldn’t take time off to visit. Feeling like I was trapped by my job is part of why I’m here.”

  A car hit Gretchen last winter, and her injuries were extensive enough to ruin her chance at being an Olympic snowboarder. She spent months living with Derrick and me while we helped her recover. “I’m glad you’re here. It’ll be nice to get to know Gretchen’s brother.” It hits me that she should have told me he would be here. “Why didn’t Gretchen tell me you were coming? I would have invited you to stay with me.”

  “Ah, well, that’s because she doesn’t know. I kind of did this on a whim.” We’ve arrived at my car, and I watch him comb through his hair with his fingers. “I quit my job last week. I haven’t told my family yet.”

  “You rebel.”

  He smirks. “Actually, that’s Gretchen’s role. I’m the responsible one.”

  I grin because that’s the fun Gretchen I know and love. The one that stole my brother’s heart and makes him whole. Before I think about how the words sound, I say, “You need to stay with me. After your appointment, go check out of your hotel and plan on using my guest room until you’re ready to move.”

  He shakes his head slowly. “I don’t think I can impose like that.”

  I hold up my hand. “No, it’s not an imposition. I have a big house, and it’s so lonely without Derrick and Gretchen. You’d be doing me a favor, really.”

  He cocks his head and studies me. Determined to win, I pull out my phone. “Don’t make me text Gretchen. I hate having to type whole words.”

  Christian chuckles and holds his hands out. “Okay, okay. I’ll stay at your house.”

  My car beeps when I push the button to unlock it, and he adds, “But you have to let me take you out to dinner tonight. I won’t put you to any trouble.”

  I’m not a great cook, so it takes me a nanosecond to answer. “Deal.”

  He starts to walk backward the way we came. “Great. Make reservations at your favorite restaurant, and I’ll be by around four.”

  “Will do.” I wave and watch him walk away longer than I should. I’m glad I did, because way past where he should care, he turns around and gives me another wave. I almost squeal. I am going on the closest thing to a date I’ve had since moving to Breckenridge.

  ***

/>   My house is a couple of miles out of the main town of Breckenridge. Set in the middle of an evergreen forest, my one-street development is mostly second homes for people. I never minded until lately. My twin, Derrick, and his fiancée, Gretchen, moved back to New Hampshire in August, and I’m lonely.

  My car pulls quietly into my driveway, and when the automatic garage door opens, the rumble is accompanied by the barking of my three Portuguese Water Dogs. I open the door to the house and them barreling out to greet me. I lead them out to the yard, and they do their business.

  While I wait, I decide what to wear on our run. There’s a trail behind my house that I take the dogs on daily for exercise. They churn around me for attention, and I soak it up. Instead of fur they have hair, and it’s super soft in my fingers as I pet them. I don’t know what I would do without my canine friends.

  “C’mon, guys. Let’s go get ready for the woods.” The clatter of nails on the hardwood stairs follows me up to my room. Built in a log-cabin style, my home has an open-floor-plan section on the ground level with a kitchen that separates an eating area from the great room. A small den and formal dining room make up the rest. The second floor has two master bedrooms, two guest rooms, and a large family room while my basement is designed as a man cave, complete with a pool table.

  My drawer closes with a soft thud after I pull out my running tights and a long-sleeve nylon shirt. I’m going to need mittens and a hat today to go with my fleece. This is my favorite time of year to run because it’s not too cold and I don’t sweat much. Plus the smell of winter in the air makes me excited about the season ahead.

  Last year I quit my modeling job and became a ski instructor. It was the best decision for me because I’m much happier now. I can eat pretty much anything I want, and I’ve got the curves to prove it. While I’m certainly not overweight, I’m soft and it makes me feel sexy.

  The dog’s tags jingle when I clip on their collars, and the two jet-black boys start to bark while my chocolate-brown Cleo gives me her soulful look. I open the door and let them race to the trail. Once we’re on it, they take off in a sprint.

  Vapor bursts out of my mouth as I begin to jog. Dead leaves crunch under my feet, and I’m careful to take high steps to avoid tripping. I’m not actually a klutz; today’s display in the coffee shop was uncharacteristic. No, I only get that way when I’m flustered, and Christian Nickelson certainly had that effect. The thought of him hearing my tie comment makes me flush all over again.