Rush Read online

  Rush

  Zero to sixty in one second…

  Olympic hopeful Gretchen Nickelson doesn’t do love. Men exist for sex and a good time. Snowboarding is her main priority and a clingy boyfriend will only get between her and a spot on the Olympic team.

  Dark and dangerous Derrick Hamilton is all for the physical approach. His carefully guarded heart likes it hard and fast. Meeting an adrenaline junkie like Gretchen suits his sexual needs just fine.

  But when a steamy relationship races out of control toward love, tragedy is inevitable, and hearts aren’t the only collateral. Their accidental love threatens Gretchen’s chance for gold. Can they survive the destruction that changes everything?

  Rush

  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 Najla Qamber Designs

  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 — Available now

  Exposed — Coming in 2015

  Contents

  Rush

  Rush

  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

  About the Author

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to Ellen Shields,

  the best Breckenridge roommate a girl could have had.

  I also want to thank Joel Munn for hiring me

  as an instructor that sunny spring day,

  and changing my life forever.

  Chapter 1

  Heaviness against my shoulder forces me awake. Great. The old man next to me thinks I’m his pillow. He’s taking the “Fly the Friendly Skies” thing a little too seriously. I hunch up, hoping he’ll take the hint. He doesn’t even flinch, so I reach over and push his arm. The second I touch his skin, I know something is wrong. Tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. He’s cold, and I get the odd sensation of having the life sucked out of me.

  I push harder to get him off me as panic makes my heart beat faster. I shove with enough force he lands against the wall of the plane with a thud and slumps into it. Oh yeah, something’s not right about this guy.

  “Oh, my God.” I try to jump up out of my seat, but the seat belt keeps me in place. I fumble with the buckle until it flicks open and clunks against the armrest. Scrambling into the aisle I bump into some guy and fall. Strong fingers grip my arm as he pulls me up. “I. Oh, God.” I raise my voice. “I need some help here.” Further words escape me as I flap my hands and then point at the old man.

  “Hi, I’m Derrick. I’m a paramedic. What’s going on?”

  “That guy, he’s—” He’s what? But I don’t have to say anything because the paramedic is in my seat. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. I’m not sure I’m ever going to forget touching that man. I drag my hands over the rough denim of my jeans as if I can scrape the ickiness off.

  The vibration of stomping makes me turn my head to a woman with a neck full of fake pearls and a pinched mouth. The stewardess says, “Miss, this is a full flight, and you’re going to have to sit down until we land. Quickly. We’re already on the downward descent.”

  The dark-haired medical guy glances up at me. “Would you like to sit in my seat?”

  I feel myself nod like a bobblehead. “Uh-huh.” His brown eyes are kind, and it’s then I notice he’s totally hot. Like model-from-a-Ralph-Lauren-ad hot.

  I stare numbly at his luscious lips as he says, “4C.” The plane suddenly pitches to the side, making me fall against the guy, and he steadies me before the stewardess pushes me forward.

  People are rubbernecking to see what I was freaking about, but the stewardess keeps me moving until I get to first class and find the seat. I plop down in the oversized chair and shudder.

  “So, did something happen in the bathroom? Where’s Derrick?” A cool, elegant hand touches my arm.

  The girl next to me has her straight brown hair pulled back in a high ponytail. She’s model beautiful too. I wonder if they’re famous. In a whisper I say, “I think the old guy next to me died while I was asleep.”

  Her eyes get wide. “Oh, my God. Are you okay?”

  Me? I’m sitting in first class while Derrick is in the back row next to a corpse, and she’s worried about me? “Yeah, but I feel bad for Derrick.” I turn to look back at him, but too many heads are in the way for me to see what’s happening.

  The girl says, “Oh, don’t worry about him. Medicine is his life.”

  While we approach the ground I think how someone just lost their grandfather, their father, or even their husband. I swallow to pop my ears, and a sense of grief settles over me.

  As we taxi to the gate the pilot speaks to us. “Ladies and gentlemen, when we land please remain in your seats. We’ve had an unfortunate incident, and the airport fire department will be boarding.”

  Heads turn to look at me. A blush rushes to my face, and I squirm a bit. I love attention, but not this kind. The girl distracts me. “Do you live in the Denver area? Derrick is moving in with me in Breckenridge.”

  Yup, they’re together.

  “You are? Me, too, I live there.”

  “No way!” She squeals, and I’m hoping everyone is staring at her now.

  Metal clangs as men with a stretcher and heavy boxes file by us. I say, “Are you a skier?” She has that look. Not that I don’t like skiers, but I can usually sniff out a snowboarder.

  “We both are. I bet you ride, right?” Her eyes glance at my wrist, and I know she’s looking at my floral tattoo.

  “I
do.” Something about this girl makes me like her, so I add, “But a lot of my friends are skiers.”

  She sighs. “I would snowboard, but Derrick thinks it’s too dangerous. He says he sees too many snowboard accidents and that I should stick to skiing.”

  The words come out of my mouth before I can stop myself. “Do you always do what Derrick says?” I wince. “I’m sorry. That didn’t come out right.”

  She chuckles. “Don’t worry about it. Let’s just say I pick my battles.”

  Whew. “I’m Gretchen Nickelson, and if you ever want me to sneak you on a board just ask.” I manage a smirk that makes her grin.

  “I’m Da—” She looks past me and says, “Derrick!”

  I turn toward a pair of neatly pressed khakis and see my orange Burton backpack in his hands. He asks, “Is this yours?” He leans close to hand it to me, and the spicy scent of expensive cologne mixed with his maleness invades my senses. His cheekbones are elegant in a masculine way. My core twinges, and it surprises me. Since when did pretty boys light my fire?

  The girl says, “Derrick, this is Gretchen, and she lives in Breck too.”

  He squints at her like she’s crazy. I take the backpack from him, and he doesn’t even look at me. He says, “Nika, I’ll be up front.”

  I watch his tight, round ass walk away. Damn I would love to hold onto that, but what a douche nozzle.

  Once he’s gone the girl says, “He’s so serious. I’m hoping this year off will loosen him up. All he does is study and then work at saving people.” She waves her hand. “I sound so shallow. But Derrick needs to learn to have fun or he’ll implode one day. By the way, I’m Nika.”

  An hour or so later we’re finally clear to leave the plane. Nika pulls a red damask fabric suitcase from the overhead bin. “I hope we run into each other in Breck. It’s been fun chatting with you.” The handle clicks up so she can pull it.

  “I’m sure we will. It’s a small town.” The strap of my heavy backpack bites into my skin as I join Nika in the aisle to file out.

  When we get to the exit a stewardess touches my arm and asks, “Are you okay, dear?”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  She gives me a kind smile that makes me think of my mother. I step forward to hug her and stop. What am I doing? But she hugs me anyway and tears threaten to come.

  I pull away to breathe in the crisp, dry air that sneaks between the plane and the gateway. It’s good to be home. Roller bag wheels rumble as the line of passengers marches through the tunnel. My week in Vermont with my parents was relaxing. They seemed old to me, and it makes me sad to realize they won’t be around forever. Just like the man that died… I shake my head and take a deep breath though my nose.

  Time to get back to my usual life.

  I’m working at the rec center this summer. While the job isn’t very exciting, I do get a free membership. I check in passes for the weight room, monitor trampoline time and the outdoor skateboard park.

  The days I’m outside are the best, especially because I can work on tricks if it isn’t busy. It’s great training for the snowboard park, and I’m working on having some sick air moves for next year.

  The siren for the luggage conveyor belt blares in spurts as the machine begins to move. I watch as bags pop up and out of the opening and slide down the ramp to the moving platform. People tug off suitcases with a grunt, and I scan for mine. I don’t see it, and I have a sinking feeling it didn’t make the trip.

  A red bag matching Nika’s carry-on marks each full rotation as hope for my suitcase dwindles. I notice she and Derrick appear across the belt from me, and he grabs her bag. Seeing me, he doesn’t move and glares at me. What the fu—fungi? The intensity makes me uncomfortable, and I’m just about to drop my eyes when Nika nudges him and redirects his attention to a plain black suitcase. He tugs it off the belt, and they walk away.

  What the heck was that? Because right now I’m turned on by a stare. Some other girl’s boyfriend’s stare. I shake my head. I need to get laid.

  Chapter 2

  Very few suitcases are left, and I’ve resigned myself to finding the baggage claim agent to fill out a report. A half hour later I’m finally on my way to the parking garage with the promise of my luggage being delivered tomorrow. While it sucks, it is what it is.

  The sound of my feet running up the steps to the fourth floor bounces off the cement walls as my body welcomes a little exercise. Slightly out of breath, I push through the door and inhale the oily odor of fluid-stained concrete. I spy my beat-up Honda. On its last breath, I know its days are numbered.

  Slinging the heavy backpack over my shoulders, I trudge to my car. It really is a sorry-looking thing. I cross my fingers it starts, especially considering the way my day has gone so far.

  The door creaks open, and I notice the rust on the edge. Flicking with my finger, a flake comes off. Yeah, good thing I’m working on that new car fund. I’m going to need it before winter. I take a deep breath and turn the key. It chugs but doesn’t catch. “Please, please start.”

  I turn the car off and let it sit for a few seconds. I try again and it chugs along, still refusing to catch. “You fucking piece of shit!” I slam my hand against the wheel and try again. Now it begins to rasp, telling me the battery is draining. Great. Just great.

  Yanking my phone out of my backpack, I power up and search for the nearest tow truck. Moments later I lay my seat back and prepare for the wait.

  A shout startles me. “Pooh! Come!”

  I recognize Nika’s female voice. “Pooh! C’mon boy, I’ve got treats!”

  A black medium-sized dog streaks by me, and I get out of the car. He races back, and I instinctively drop to a crouch to entice him to me. He lowers his chest to the ground with his rear in the air to signal he wants to play. I reach for his collar just as he darts away. It makes me smile until Derrick’s feet pound by as he runs after the dog in a full-out sprint. I quickly move to help.

  Derrick nods toward me. “Let’s surround him,” he says as he points off to my right. My footsteps are nearly silent as I sneak to my left. Pooh has spotted me, and I drop into a crouch again as if I’m going to play on his level. It distracts him enough that Derrick manages to step on his leash and then contain the dog.

  He pulls the dog close, and Derrick’s breathing is labored as he squats and forces Pooh to sit. Pushing hair I’m sure is silky out of his eyes, Derrick looks up at me and says, “Thanks.”

  Nika approaches us with two more dogs, one black and one brown. She coos, “Pooh, you bad boy. You could have been run over.” I notice she’s dragging a cart with metal grid panels that are likely parts to dog crates.

  She makes the canines sit and act like perfectly trained pets. I ask, “Are they Labradoodles?”

  Nika answers, “Portuguese Water Dogs. Derrick is allergic, and they have hair which doesn’t seem to bother him.” She pats them each on the head as she says, “This is Ollie, Cleo and Jake. But I call Jake Pooh. It’s a nickname from Jakey Pooh.” She chuckles.

  Derrick says, “Well, he’s a little shit.” The anger in his voice pushes my dog-loving buttons. He’s an asshat.

  I crouch down to pet them all and marvel at the softness of their fine hair. “They’re wonderful. I would love to have a dog here.” I would, but I travel often in the winter, and it wouldn’t be fair to a pet.

  “Not these dogs. They’re a handful, especially Pooh. C’mon, Nika, they’ve wasted enough of our time today.” Derrick is scowling, and it sends me over the edge.

  “You’re such a dickwad.” Dickwad? Jesus, my best friend Casey would be proud of my nonprofane term. “He’s clearly just a puppy, and probably full of energy from the long plane ride.” I turn to Nika. “If you ever need help with them, let me know. Clearly your boyfriend isn’t a dog person.”

  Derrick’s mouth quivers, and it’s then I realize I’m overreacting. “I’m sorry, that was uncalled for. I’ve had a pretty crappy day.”

  Derrick says, “Dickw
ad? I don’t think I’ve been called that.” He’s smiling at me, and damn if it doesn’t send a shiver of desire through my body. He says, “You’ll be happy to know Dannika has much better taste in men than me. I’m just her twin.”

  “Oh.” I feel like the dickwad now.

  Yellow lights bounce off the walls as a tow truck approaches. I wave my hands for him, and Nika says, “Do you need a ride? I’ll let you sit up front and make Derrick be in back with the dogs.” She’s teasing, and I can’t help but smile.

  My smile waivers when I catch Derrick’s intense gaze. I answer, “No, thanks. It’s probably just my battery. But I appreciate the offer. I’m sure I’ll see you two around town.”

  Derrick glances toward my Honda with disgust, confirming he’s so not my type. As I walk away, Nika’s sweet voice talking to the dogs fades.

  Chapter 3

  “No way!” Lori’s brown eyes widen in shock.

  Casey chuckles. “Only you would end up sitting next to a dead guy.” She tucks a reddish curl behind her ear. “Tell them more about the hot medic.” Casey and I are hosting girl’s night at our house.

  Megan hands me a martini glass, and I take a big swig before I hear the creak of her chair as she sits. The burn of vodka races down my throat, and I welcome the pain, knowing the buzz it will bring. “Oh yeah, the guy who helped me was gorgeous. Light brown hair swooping over dark eyes, and rock-hard, model-body beautiful. He’s not my type at all, but shitake mushrooms, he smelled good.”

  Lori grins at my shit replacement. Casey and I made a New Year’s resolution deal. I’m going to teach her to eat well, and she’s trying to keep me from swearing. Working with the public means I need to learn a little control.

  I reach for a piece of avocado covered in balsamic glaze. “It’s a shame you’re all taken, someone needs this man. He’s too smokin’ to be alone.” The moment the creamy texture of the avocado hits my tongue I moan. “This salad is like crack, Lori.”

  “Ahem.” Megan clears her throat with purpose. “I believe you’re single, Gretch. You should do the hottie.”