Falling for Aspen: A Sweet Steamy, Curvy Girl Romance (Sweet Seasons Book 2)

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2019 by Lex Cole

  All Rights Reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use or quotations in a book review.

  Warning: This book contains graphic language and sexual situations. It is intended for a mature audience only.

  Nash

  I climb the steps to my sister's house fresh from work on a damn Saturday. Lucky for her, today wasn't too warm out and not a typical workday. We start a new project this upcoming week so I wasn't working my ass off like I normally would have been on a Saturday. Instead, I was making phone calls and helping Levi set shit up for next week, keeping me from being a sweaty, dirty mess walking into her house.

  I close the door behind me and within seconds, two little high-pitched voices are screaming my name and barreling right for me.

  “Uncle Nash, Uncle Nash! Why are you here? We missed you,” my niece and nephew say, mouths running a mile a minute. I chuckle at their excitement. It's only been a week since I saw the little shits, but I'm not complaining. I love them like they're my own, and since my baby sister had these kids with a buddy of mine, I'm always around, spoiling them like crazy.

  “Oh my gosh, Nash, you are a lifesaver. I will owe you big time for this,” my sister, Claire says.

  “You haven't exactly told me what it is I'm gonna be doing, sis.”

  “Yeah, about that,” she starts, her eyes steady on mine. “Something came up at the office. I have an emergency meeting and all the bigwigs will be there, so I can't get out of it, and today is the kids fall festival at school. They've been talking about it for weeks. I can't let them down. Mom is still sick, and I didn't want to ask Dad to leave her,” she tells me.

  I let that sink in. Well, shit. I wasn't expecting something like this when Claire called me earlier saying she needed my help. It's sure as hell not what I would prefer to be doing on my Saturday night, but I can't let my little niece and nephew down. I love their crazy asses too much.

  “Hell, Claire, you could have given me a heads up. I would've stopped by the house and changed.”

  “You look fine. It's not like you’re trying to impress anyone, it's a school function.”

  “Maybe not, but I could have cleaned myself up some,” I tell her. As it is, I'm wearing my best pair of work jeans. They're worn and sporting a few holes, but otherwise stain free. I threw on a black tank today, in case I got hot, and my favorite blue flannel, not bothering to button it. I hardly ever button them and I'm hoping I won't have to at the school.

  “I'm sorry. If it makes you feel any better, the women there aren't going to give two shits what you're wearing. You will get the same looks whether you're wearing this or if you had changed. Maybe more so since you look like you just came from working,” she says, giving me a wink.

  “I did,” I reply, but she waves me off yelling for the kids to put their shoes on and to grab their jackets.

  A few minutes later the kids are all buckled in their booster seats in my truck and Claire is hightailing it out of here to make it to her meeting.

  Marie talks my ear off for the first five minutes we're on the road. I smile at the little chatterbox thinking she's so much like Claire. She tells me about kindergarten and how fun it is. How her teacher reads them stories every day and is so pretty and so nice. She tells me about her best friend Josie and how she wears glasses and plays soccer and now she wants to play soccer too. Needless to say, I get very few words in.

  Finally, she gets distracted by whatever Lance is watching and stops talking to me. Claire insisted they bring their tablets in case they get bored, but I'm thinking they probably would have been fine without them.

  I glance in my rear-view mirror a few times to check on the kids. My heart does something funny having my backseat filled up with little people. I wouldn't mind looking back there and seeing my own kids someday. I'm thirty-one and have never had much interest in having a family. I've just been content being single and selfish. Something about the way this feels though, taking my niece and nephew to a school thing, is bringing out a desire I never thought I would have.

  I park in the gravel lot next to the school since the parking lot is blocked off for the games and stuff out front. I pull open the back door to let them out. They're full of energy and excitement and it's contagious because damn if I don't find myself excited as hell to see what this is all about.

  I take their hands and walk them up to the side door. I don't have the first clue what to expect, but it's definitely not that I would need to buy fucking tickets for the kids to do anything. Luckily, I have some cash on me today and can get the kids forty tickets. We walk around to the first few game booths before I realize a few people — mainly females — are staring at me with the kids. I guess Claire was right.

  We stop at the first grade game booth and Lance tells his teacher I had to bring them today instead of his mom. I tell her my sister had to an emergency meeting, and she nods like she understands and smiles at me. While the kids play the game, she talks to me like she's known me forever. She compliments Lance and tells me stories in hopes I'll relay them to Claire, which I will.

  We finally move on and Marie is dying to go to the kindergarten game booth, so when she spots it she pulls her hand from mine and flies through the crowded gym.

  “Marie, get back here!” I scold, sounding like a real parent. But it's no use. It's too loud, and she's already made it to her destination. Thankfully, I can still see her and Lance stays by my side. She'll get a talking to after this though, she can count on that.

  When Lance and I are a few feet from the booth, my eyes land on the woman coming around the front of the table, and I'm rooted to the spot. All I can do is stare at the curvy young teacher that's kneeling down in front of my niece. Marie talks animatedly to her teacher and I can only imagine what she might be saying. Then Marie points over at me with a cheesy grin on her face and the beautiful woman turns her head in my direction.

  Finally, I walk closer to the table, my focus unwavering.

  Her eyes widen a fraction and her mouth drops open a bit before she schools her features, trying to hide her reaction to me, quickly turning back to Marie.

  But it's too late. I saw it.

  And I felt it.

  Aspen

  This is only my second year teaching, and I love it more and more every day. Events like the fall festival are so exciting to me because I get to see my little friends and their families outside of their normal school environment. I watch them run around, laugh, play and get to witness their interactions with their family and their classmates.

  When Marie Wilkes rushes to our table full of bubbling energy, I can't help but hug her to me and laugh. She is such a delight. She sits enamored each time I read them a new story and is quick to jump in for discussion. Marie is happy-go-lucky and I'm so glad that's she's my student.

  “Ms. Russell! I got to ride in Uncle Nash's big truck,” she says, making a gesture with her little arms to show me how big his truck is.

  I widen my eyes in surprise. “Whoa, that is big!” I tell her.

  “I'm so excited for the fall festible, Ms. Russell. Mommy couldn't come and my daddy's out of town, so Uncle Nash is here. See, he's right there,” she says pointing over my sho
ulder. I turn in that direction, my eyes searching for who might be her uncle.

  My eyes widen for a whole new reason and I actually let out a small gasp at the sight of the man standing just a few feet away.

  Oh, my god.

  He's so tall and muscular, his flannel shirt is unbuttoned and I can see how well his under shirt molds to his chest and flat stomach. When my eyes meet his jean-clad legs and the bulge between them, I snap my mouth shut and turn from him. My face flushes with embarrassment.

  Marie's uncle is hot. And I don't use this word lightly. I've thought plenty of men were gorgeous, very good looking, and easy on the eyes, but there's few I would ever call hot. The man radiates confidence and oozes sex appeal.

  I come to a stand, straighten my top, and take Marie's hand. My pulse skyrockets when my eyes meet his steel blues. I try to swallow the lump in my throat so I can speak to him. This is not the first time I've ever talked to an attractive man, maybe they weren't as eye-catching, but still, I don't understand my hold up. Yet I do.

  This thing I'm feeling is unlike anything I've ever experienced, and from something as simple as one look, it's baffling.

  His eyes bore into mine and my breathing picks up. Suddenly, my lips are ridiculously dry. I dart my tongue out, attempting to wet them, and his gaze tracks the movement. A jolt of desire rushes through me knowing his eyes are on me. I can feel my panties dampen at this odd interaction. The tension that surrounds us is thick with temptation and lust. And I've never felt anything like it.

  Marie pulls her hand from mine, running over to where her brother stands, jerking me out of my stupor. My face heats anew.

  Oh, God. What am I doing?

  He clears his throat, then thrusts his hand in my direction. “Nash Phillips, Marie's uncle.”

  I take his hand and smile as best I can through the emotions warring within me. “It's so nice to meet you. I'm Aspen Russell, Marie's teacher.”

  “Definitely nice to have met you,” he says, in a low gravelly voice that shoots straight to my center making me wetter than I was before.

  Oh, my god. I am at a school function. What is wrong with me?

  I've never been this turned on before. Never. Let alone, only by proximity and a gentle handshake. I'm staring at him like I haven’t ever seen a handsome guy before. He probably thinks I'm nuts. This is so not me, but I can't deny the strong attraction nor the tension that lingers around us.

  I swallow thickly, taking my hand from his, and turn to look at my colleague and friend, Rachel. She's smiling at me, looking back and forth between Nash and myself before helping the next student to come up to our hula hoop toss booth.

  “I, um, I'm sorry. I have to go... help with the game,” I say, pointing to where there are a few kids in line now. I am a hot mess. Never in my life did I think a man could make me jumble my words while speaking to him. This is all new, and I don't know how I feel about it.

  “Yeah, okay,” he says, shoving his hands in his pockets like he hasn't got a care it the world, but he's staring at me like he has something to say. For my sanity's sake, I hope he doesn't. I'm not sure I could handle anything he might say to me tonight, not with the way I'm feeling.

  “Uncle Nash, let’s go!” Marie says, appearing from out of nowhere, wrapping her little hands around his muscular arm to pull him from our table. It serves to break the stare-athon we seem to have been having.

  “Okay, baby girl. Say bye to your teacher,” he tells her. And she does. I watch as he takes a few steps away before turning back to me, gifting me with a panty-dropping smile. I almost swoon right here. And with his eyes trained on me, he says, “I'll see you around, Aspen.”

  I stand here like an idiot staring after them long after they disappear through the cafe doors, wondering what in the heck just happened.

  Nash

  After meeting Aspen Russell, the rest of the night goes by in a blur of shaved ice, more games, a bounce house, and stealing every glance I can at my niece's gorgeous teacher.

  My heart hammers in my chest when I get a glimpse of her head tilted back and a laugh tumbling through her open lips. Fuck, I am so enthralled by her. This is insane. I don't date. Women do not get under my skin like this. But she's so damn gorgeous. Levi would get a fucking kick out of me panting after this girl like a damn lost puppy. Finally, I shake my head and turn from her, determined to let this... well, whatever the hell this is, go.

  When we get to my place, I put the TV on the Disney channel and grab a bottle of beer. I stew on my thoughts and feelings for a while. I have failed at every damn turn tonight to forget about that woman. When I close my eyes, I can still see her laughing. The way her face lit up while she talked to Marie.

  Not to mention the way her leggings clung to her thighs and ass. Fuck, what an ass it was, too. Aspen not only has a stunning face, but a body that makes my mouth water.

  ✽✽✽

  “Holy shit, Claire. Why didn't you warn me?” I say, when my sister walks up the steps to my porch a little over an hour later.

  “Warn you of what?” She asks, leaning against the wooden beam on my porch.

  “Marie's fucking teacher. God, what an ass I must've made of myself.”

  I watch as Claire's eyes bug out of her head.

  “Oh, no. No, no, no, no. Nope. You are not going there. Not with one of my kids' teachers. Hell NO, Nash,” she says crossing her arms over her chest, giving me what is probably a look she reserves for her kids when they annoy the piss out of her.

  “Are you done now?” I ask, and she narrows her eyes at me. “Why not?”

  “Really? Surely you do not need me to explain why you're not allowed to fuck around with Marie's teacher.”

  I guess I don't have the best track record when it comes to females. I'm not boyfriend material. I haven't had a single girlfriend in fourteen years. Not since me and my high school girlfriend broke up. I honestly never wanted to feel so foolish and helplessly in love with someone ever again. I refused to give anybody the power to hurt me like that again. I've had sex-only relationships, but the second something shifts, I'm out. I don't do clingy and I like my space. So maybe my sister has a point, but it doesn’t change the fact I can't get the sweet, curvy brunette out of my head. It’s all I can do not to think about how I felt when I was near her.

  “It's impossible to fucking explain, so I won't even try, but I feel something for her, Claire.”

  She huffs out a laugh. “You feel something for my daughter's teacher, whom you just met a few hours ago?” She asks disbelievingly.

  “Yes. That is exactly what I said. I don't expect you to believe me, but it's true. It's more than whatever it is you're thinking. I felt something. I could feel it in the fucking air around us. I can't explain it. But I want her, Claire. Scratch that, I need her.”

  “Oh, my god. You've lost your damn mind. Seriously, Nash, go find someone else to fuck and forget about Ms. Russell. She is off limits to you. Understand?”

  I narrow my eyes at my little sister. I don't know who the hell she thinks she's talking to. I understand her concerns but it's not like that. I almost say something that would definitely stir up some shit, but leave it be for now. Maybe she's right. I don't want to fuck up, she's my nieces teacher, I'd hate for something to happen that causes problems.

  I lift my brows and salute my sister, deciding to sleep on my feelings for Aspen. The ache in my chest tells me it won’t help. I'm already falling for her.

  Aspen

  This has been the longest week I've had in a long time, and I’m definitely looking forward to a mostly relaxing weekend. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my kinders, it's just that my mind has been elsewhere since the fall festival. I haven't been able to get Nash Phillips out of my thoughts. I've even dreamt about the man. It's disconcerting how much time I've spent thinking about him this week.

  I halfheartedly wonder what Rachel or even my cousin Winter might be doing tonight. I fear I might go crazy if I have to sit in my duplex day
dreaming about Marie's uncle for one more night.

  I’m torn on my feelings toward the man I spent a whole two minutes. I mean, are they authentic or made from my attraction to him coupled with lustful thoughts?

  I rub my forehead and stop behind the car at the stop sign, glancing to my right. There's a new house being built. I’ve been admiring the view of them every day this week on my way home. Lots of good-looking men in hard hats. Oh my.

  I pull up to the stop sign and wait for the car across from me to turn. The car turns left, pulling my attention back to the hot construction workers. I let my foot off the brake, barely pressing the accelerator when I see him. It surprises me so much that slam on the brake. I learn quickly that it’s a horrible decision on my part when the truck behind me smacks into the back of my Escape.

  I gasp at the sudden impact and my stupidity. Thankfully, they weren’t speeding, so it was little more than a tap, but I still jerk forward a bit with the momentum.

  Oh, my gosh. What did I just do? I’ve never been in an accident before. My dad will be so disappointed in me for getting distracted.

  Tears well in my eyes unbidden. I look into my rear-view mirror just as the guy is getting out of his truck. I hurriedly put on my hazards and unbuckle my seat belt. Just as I'm reaching for the handle, a hard knock sounds on my window, causing me to jump. I look up into the face of a very pissed off guy.

  I would get out of my car if he weren't blocking my way. I can see his lips moving, probably cussing me out, but why won't he move out of the way? I swipe away the tears that have fallen down my cheeks and decide I'm not waiting. I open the door slowly, giving him a chance to step back, and he moves a bit, but apparently not enough because when I shove it the rest of the way open the edge catches his left knee.

  “Oh, god. I'm so sorry,” I say, my face flaming with embarrassment.