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  Published by The Hartwood Publishing Group, LLC,

  Hartwood Publishing, Phoenix, Arizona

  www.hartwoodpublishing.com

  St. Elmo

  Copyright © 2018 by Skye McNeil

  Digital Release: June 2018

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination, or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  St. Elmo by Skye McNeil

  It should be simple. Follow ten easy steps to make Jared Whitaker fall in love with her. What Bobbi Davis doesn’t expect is for him to play hard to get.

  After a short romance at their respective siblings’ wedding, Bobbi and Jared return to their separate lives. When the chance to return to Timberline for a family event comes up, neither is excited for the awkward moments to follow. While visiting her sister in New York City, Bobbi discovers that she never stopped loving Jared. With the encouragement of her best friend, Bobbi sets a plan in motion to win the Army Ranger back before it’s too late using the techniques from a magazine article.

  Bobbi was the one person Jared couldn’t get out of his mind during his last deployment. He couldn’t pin down those feelings, but when he sees her again, it all makes sense. Both wary of the outcome, can Jared and Bobbi find love among the aspens or will their love disappear with the falling snow?

  Dedication/Author Notes/Acknowledgements

  Special thanks to the Dewey family in Alpine for allowing our family to stay in your gorgeous cabin.

  Prologue

  The Whitaker-Davis wedding was extravagant and brilliant, just like the couple themselves. Bobbi Davis sipped the expensive champagne out of the fluted glass and watched through weary eyes as the newlyweds danced on the mountain dance floor. The smooth tones of Ed Sheeran filled the meadow, though no wildlife dared to join the party. They were adorable together. They had been since day one. Asher brought out something indescribable in her sister. It was a wonder the man had any shot at all, but if anyone could chisel away at Jessie’s hard façade, the handsome author could and did.

  She finished off her drink and saw Jared out of the corner of her eye. Speaking of handsome men… Not looking at the better version of Ian Somerhalder was impossible. Glancing around the singles table, she noticed each one of her female cousins had the same problem. Bobbi licked her lips when Jared’s mint green eyes clashed with her baby blues. Her body was pinned to the chair whether she liked it or not. There was something demanding and excruciatingly erotic about those eyes. Her cousin, Erin Davis, sighed. Clearly, I’m not the only one who thinks it too.

  Jared winked so fast she almost missed it and then disappeared onto the dance floor with his mother in tow.

  “What’s he like?” Erin asked from beside her.

  Eyeing the cousin from Memphis she saw only at weddings and funerals, she shrugged. “He’s nice.”

  “Nice? Seriously, Bobbi? Nice is how I describe my gynecologist.” Her cousin adjusted the front of her dress to show off more cleavage.

  She rolled her eyes to the blue sky then back to the table. “Fine. Jared is charming, sexy, and downright dangerous.”

  Erin stood when the song ended and called over her shoulder, “Perfect. I’ll plan an autumn wedding.”

  Biting her tongue, Bobbi followed her with her eyes. Erin batted her long black eyelashes, fake most definitely, and flirted shamelessly once Jared relinquished his mother to her seat. Though she couldn’t hear the exchange, she stifled a chortle when he was quick to shut down Erin’s endeavor to sneak him behind the nearest bushes and have her way with him. The gallant beauty queen from Tennessee flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder then moved on to the next potential victim.

  By the time Jared reached her, Bobbi had managed to get the smug grin wiped off her face. It was difficult since Erin kept getting turned away from all the Whitaker men.

  “Your cousin is,” he cleared his throat, “quite direct.”

  “Yep, that’s Erin for you. She’s never been one to dance around a subject.” She took in the crisp, white shirt rolled up to his elbows. “And neither have I.”

  Jared’s blatant tattoos stuck out more profoundly than his brother’s, if it was even possible. He didn’t shy away from decorating his arms until they were an artist’s dream. “One of the reasons I’m attracted to you,” he admitted, moving his chair next to her.

  “You look dashing. I like the whole dark prince vibe.”

  A slow smile crossed his face. The pearly white of his teeth shone despite the dwindling sunlight overhead. “Dark prince, huh?”

  Bobbi tugged at his tie until it was loose. “Yeah. You know, you send out this mysterious aura with your raven black hair and cool green eyes. Pair those with your plethora of hardcore tattoos and damn, and you’re just begging for girls to fall for you.”

  “What about you?” His tepid breath held a trace of spearmint. “Is this dark vibe working on you?”

  Not backing down, Bobbi looped her right hand around his arm and whispered, “Follow me and find out, Jared.”

  She stood and was grateful the bride and groom kept the crowd busy with toasts and adorable mushy crap involved in all weddings. If her almost-wedding taught her anything, she wouldn’t put years of planning into her next wedding. A small, intimate venue was the way to go. Preferably on a beach.

  Casually, the two drifted from the throng of guests until the lights mellowed out and darkness overcame the meadow. The tree line of aspens and evergreens loomed ahead, so she steered them in that direction. When they finally reached the safety of an ancient pine, Jared spun her toward him and thrust her back against the tree’s trunk.

  “You’re irresistible, you know right, Bobbi?” he admitted, kissing down her neck.

  Plunging her fingers through his military-cut hair, she moaned as his tongue swirled along her clavicle. When he reached her mouth, she kissed him without abandon. Gasping as he pressed his hard body flush against hers, Bobbi’s heart drummed in her ears.

  She wasn’t exactly sure when their connection happened, but she wasn’t going to throw stones. A wedding party fling was all it was. No promises; no relationship; nothing except a good time. The problem arose when she started having feelings for the tall Army Ranger. She tried to convince herself it was mere infatuation, but the way he kissed her was unlike all others. It’s a rebound, Bobbi. Stop making it more.

  “Jared? Yo, Scout man, are you out here?” a man’s voice called in the night air.

  Growling, Jared paused his ministrations on her lips. He pulled away long enough to yell, “What do you want, Spencer? I’m kind of in the middle of something.”

  “Lieutenant Ratchet called me. We got a new assignment,” the other man informed.

  Fixing the hem of her dress, Jared let out a frustrated huff. During their entire week together, not once had the opportunity of stepping over the line come into play. Mostly because her family was nosy, but it wasn’t new to her. Jared, on the other hand, wasn’t a fan. The bullets they’d dodged over
the last week gave even Asher and Jessie a run for their money. When it wasn’t her grandmother interrupting them, her cousins took over the role. How Davis women ever got married was a wonder to her.

  “I’m sorry, Bobbs. I need to see what he’s talking about.” Jared’s lips covered hers one last time, his hands palming her ass through the dress. When he broke free, she wasn’t sure which part of her body tingled the most. “I hope to continue this later.”

  Bobbi leaned on her toes and wiped the smeared lipstick off his mouth. Pink wasn’t the best color on him. “Me too.”

  He scanned down her body one last time before stepping toward Spencer and digging his phone out of his back pocket.

  Instead of scurrying back to the party, Bobbi opted to stay in her place and wait. It didn’t take long for him to check his voicemails. His once-festive demeanor shifted to dismal by the time he hung up.

  “Shit,” he mumbled.

  “Yep, pack a bag, Jare, we’re heading back to the Taliban deserts.” His pal scratched the back of his neck. “Did you close with the bride’s sister? She’s pretty hot.”

  Jared glanced over his shoulder and spotted her. He offered an apologetic grin and then muttered, “Spence, not now, man.”

  Spencer followed his gaze. “Damn, sorry. I thought she left.”

  Stepping into the open, Bobbi shrugged. “He didn’t for your information.” She scrutinized the man taller than Jared. He was good looking but much too cocky for her liking. If it was possible, the guy was cockier than both Whitaker men combined. A staggering feat. “So, you’re leaving?”

  Nodding, Jared forced a smile. “Sounds like it. I hate to cut this short, but you know how it goes.”

  She cocked her head to the left. “How what goes?”

  The shorter Ranger glanced over at his friend. Their exchange irked her more than his refusal to answer.

  “Sweetheart, this was a rebound, nothing more,” Spencer implied, drawing a brotherly arm around her shoulders.

  “I’m aware of what it was,” she replied, shoving him away. Keeping her eyes on Jared, her frustration doubled when he failed to chime in. He didn’t seem to mind letting his friend talk for him. Though she wasn’t familiar with why it was a rebound on his end, she knew who she was getting over. Her dumbass ex-fiancé who also happened to date her big sister once upon a time. Still, Jared’s rebound should’ve come up during their conversations. Over the last few days, all they’d done was make out, and any discussions were playful with no hint of seriousness.

  “Jared doesn’t have to leave yet, right?” She eyed them both, but neither replied. “So, we have a day or so to have some more fun.”

  Spencer ducked down to her level, despite it only being six inches shorter than his own. “Look, Jared isn’t interested in you for anything more than a quickie, so why don’t you make yourself scarce?” His dark blue eyes slid over her. “Although, I wouldn’t mind spending a day or two with you myself.”

  Bobbi swore her eyebrows lifted all the way to her hairline. “Excuse me?”

  “No? All right, fine. Either way, we’re outta here. Bye-bye, cutie.” The taller of the two men shooed her toward the reception.

  She glared at Spencer and then to Jared. “Are you serious?”

  Sighing, Jared slowly bobbed his head. “I’m sorry, Bobbi. I didn’t want this to end badly, but he’s right. I’m getting over someone, and it’s taking longer than I expected. Since I’ll be deployed soon, I can’t have any attachments. We wouldn’t work.”

  She should’ve been stunned, but she wasn’t. Jessie had warned her about the ladies’ man of the Whitaker family; she just hadn’t believed her.

  “My job is dangerous.” His eyes shadowed. “Leaving someone behind while I’m away doesn’t go well for me ninety percent of the time. Sorry.”

  Piecing together some sort of falling out between Jared and his ex-girlfriend or whoever it was who broke his heart, Bobbi crossed her arms over her chest. “Fine, but don’t expect me to be nice to you when I see you again.” His brow furrowed, so she explained. “You know, our families will get together for all the holidays.”

  He cringed and clenched his jaw tight. “Bobbi, I—”

  She didn’t allow him the opportunity to rectify his pal’s brash words. Stomping through the long grass, Bobbi ignored Jared’s calls from behind her. If he didn’t want a booty call much less an ally, then neither did she. You were just fooling yourself. Jessie warned you about him, and you didn’t listen. The grass whipped at her dress and poked beneath the long blue gown. Why Bobbi thought she and Jared could have a similar connection to Asher and Jessie was unknown to her. It was the fairytale ending in her mind. Sisters marrying brothers and being best of friends. Bah, what nonsense!

  Reaching the festivities again, she swallowed the tears forming. She didn’t want to admit that she cared for him or how their time together wasn’t meant to be. Too bad her heart wasn’t on the same page. One thing was certain, Bobbi wouldn’t allow herself to be caught under Jared’s charms or arms ever again.

  Chapter One

  The sweet aroma of toasted marshmallows drifted through the two-bedroom apartment and out the window cracked at the top. Despite the frigid December weather, keeping airflow was a necessity in the complex boasting fire detectors circa 1970. The person cooking also didn’t help matters much either. Bobbi Davis was anything but a guru in the kitchen, but when the craving for s’mores came up, she couldn’t refuse it.

  “Should we be doing this?” asked the woman decked in pajamas with blue, green, and red Christmas ornaments scattered along the flannel.

  Cranking the gas stovetop up a notch, Bobbi bumped her hip to her roommate, Clara Dawson. “Aw, come on, Doc, live a little.”

  “Well, it is the whole idea,” she heckled, her doe-brown eyes full of merriment. “If you burn down the place because you had to have s’ mores, I’ll be pissed.”

  “No, you’ll be dead.”

  “Fine, I’ll be a pissed ghost and haunt you in the afterlife.”

  Bobbi smirked. Getting into trouble wasn’t Clara’s forte. She preferred to stay in and read until she fell asleep by the fireplace. That bit was why the two women hit it off their sophomore year of college at Denver University. Clara was the church mouse who overanalyzed situations, whereas Bobbi jumped first and asked questions later. Their friendship worked not only because of their fondness for over the top romance novels but also because their yin and yang meshed well. Most days. Some were better than others. Like today. They were celebrating two years at Mountain View Hospital where Clara was an emergency room doctor, and Bobbi was the building’s nutritionist.

  “Don’t tell the patients about our little fluff and stuff, okay?” Bobbi promptly smashed a browned marshmallow in her mouth. The gooey white fluff stuck to her lips and tasted like perfection.

  “Gracious no. We wouldn’t want people to think nutritionists like food, much less a sugared snack,” her friend teased with a droll smile.

  Bobbi waved her fork. “Whew. I’m glad you agree. I was afraid I’d have to tie you to a chair and force feed you marshmallows until you saw it my way.”

  “Maybe I’d like being tied to a chair,” Clara pointed out.

  “Eww, I don’t want to hear about your kinks, Dr. Kinky McKinkerston.”

  “Hey, hey, it’s Dr. Kinky Clara McKinkerston Dawson to you, missy.”

  The two shared a giggle and then focused on their dessert. It was more common than not to have some kind of sweet treat after Clara’s long shifts. While Bobbi preferred to purchase, Clara would often concoct a delicacy that made the former recall why she’d gained weight since the time they moved in together.

  A flash of high beams flickered through the living room window. Being on the ground level wasn’t ideal, but it was the cheapest place two college graduates could afford with massive student loans weighing on them. It took getting used to, but Bobbi didn’t mind the stomping overhead or the slew of bright lights when they watc
hed rerun episodes of “How I Met Your Mother,” their favorite sitcom.

  “Um, Bobbs, your diabetic gateway is on fire.”

  “Huh?”

  Whipping her eyes to the burner, she let out a curse worthy of her late grandfather. She pulled the marshmallow back and blew a puff of air on the flames.

  “Hmm, I guess that’s one way to burn calories,” she joked and was met with an eye roll she could almost hear.

  “All right, smarty, I think you’ve had enough.” Clara pointed a pinky to the empty merlot bottle. “Your jokes get worse the more you drink.”

  As if to prove her point, the doctor picked up a marshmallow man Bobbi created out of toothpicks, chocolate chips, gummy worms, and malleable fluff. “I do like the use of gummy worms though.”

  “He’s my date for the big family Christmas.” Bobbi snatched the masterpiece and uncorked a bottle of chardonnay, cradling them equally.

  Clara switched the stove off and leaned against the beige countertop. “Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. When do you leave?”

  “Friday.”

  “As in two days from now?”

  Chugging the wine, she bobbed her head. “Yes, ma’am. The party doesn’t start until Sunday, but you know me, always early.”

  Her friend nodded knowingly. It was the one quality no one could fault her for. Bobbi may show up to the hospital in bunny slippers and a suit coat, but she’d be early. Somewhere along the way, it was ingrained in her core, and she couldn’t alter it. Waking up at the crack of dawn, getting her three-mile run in, and then reading a chapter or two of the latest romance novel was how she started each morning.

  “And Jared?” Clara’s whispered question simmered around Bobbi’s ears.

  “Jared? Jared who?”

  “You know who, don’t play coy.”

  “Oh, the douche who used me for a week of smooching? Yeah, he’ll be there. Super excited to see his mug again.” She tipped up the bottle, not bothering to use the clean glass nearby. “This whole Davis and Whitaker clan commune was my grandma’s idea. Nosy old bat.”