Second Time Around: A Small Town, Second Chance Romance (The Billionaire Brothers Series Book 1) Read online

  Second Time Around

  A Small Town, Second Chance Romance (The Billionaire Brothers Series)

  Kelli Walker

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  It’s a 60k words stand-alone romance novel.

  No Cliffhangers and a HEA!

  Blurb: Second Time Around

  It’s taken a damn tragedy for Ryan to return.

  I didn’t think I’d ever see him again.

  The way he left.

  The way he broke my heart when we were still teenagers.

  * * *

  It’s still surreal to think about.

  Surreal… and pathetic.

  I still wear the bracelet he gifted me.

  Still miss his gentle touch.

  * * *

  And the look in his eyes that said he loved me.

  But a lot has changed since we broke up.

  * * *

  Ryan is a billionaire. He has women swooning over him.

  There’s no reason for me to think that he feels the same way about me.

  * * *

  Seeing him back in town is going to be hard.

  Keeping my distance from him… even harder.

  * * *

  Mending my heart was never easy.

  And doing it a second time around will be near impossible?

  Contents

  1. Harley

  2. Ryan

  3. Harley

  4. Ryan

  5. Harley

  6. Ryan

  7. Harley

  8. Ryan

  9. Harley

  10. Ryan

  11. Harley

  12. Ryan

  13. Harley

  14. Ryan

  15. Harley

  16. Ryan

  17. Harley

  18. Ryan

  19. Harley

  20. Ryan

  21. Harley

  22. Ryan

  23. Harley

  24. Ryan

  Epilogue - Harley

  Did you Read The Alpha Ever After Series?

  Harley

  “I know he’s a dork. I mean, there’s a very clear reason why I went for Hollis first. He’s a dreamboat with the full body package. He’s got great pecs, decent legs, a great ass, and his abs - oh baby, don’t even get me started.”

  I wrinkled my nose against the phone but laughed, having known the brothers since we were all kids. “Yes, yes, every girl we’ve ever known has spent at least one night drinking at a party, eyeing Hollis’s arms more than the face of her own date.”

  “Harley, let me tell you, Andy might not be the best looking of his brothers, but he’s hilarious! He’s always the life of the party, making everyone laugh… and he’s terrific in bed.”

  I opened up my mouth to cut her off, but there’s no stopping Eleanor once she gets started.

  “I mean, if you look up ‘dad-bod,’ the first thing you’ll see is a picture of Andy, but the image would’ve had to be photoshopped so that his gut looks thinner. Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t an ugly man by any means; you just wouldn’t exactly catch him on a magazine cover, and nobody is getting wet thinking of Andy stripped down to a swimsuit.”

  I know precisely what she means. Of all the Fleming brothers, Andy was the one partying in the stands, cheering with the rest of the school while Hollis and Ryan sank three-pointers and scored touchdowns.

  Before I can say as much, Eleanor’s voice on the other end of the line keeps ongoing. “He is always making me laugh, though. Seriously, I’m constantly struggling to breathe because he’s so funny. And, don’t tell the girls that are still ogling over Hollis’s muscles, but he makes Andy look like a professional when it comes to going down on pussy.”

  “Eleanor Holmes! Stop it! You know they’re both like brothers to me, gross! I mean, kudos to you and everything, but I don’t want to think about either of them that way.”

  I took another sip of my morning coffee, relishing the daily dose of caffeine and trying to burn the image from my mind. As my best friend began to voice a teasing apology, her breathlessness through the phone suddenly caught my ear.

  “Are you working out right now?”

  Her voice grew louder during her reply, and I realized that she was leaning closer to the mic in her earbuds.

  “Yep. I’ve gotta get a few more miles in. I know if I don’t do it now, I’ll forget or just keep putting it off.”

  “Yeah, but Elle… You’re a personal trainer! Working out for a living just isn’t enough anymore? You make me sick!”

  Her laugh crackled through the phone, followed by Eleanor’s attempt at defending herself.

  “I have to fill in my own workouts on days where I only have one or two classes to teach. Besides, Girl, you and I both know that, no matter how many hours I spend on these machines, you’ll always have a better body than mine. Don’t deny it! I’ve resigned myself to keep pedaling and lifting until I’m at least the sexiest silver-medalist I can be. But hey! You changed the subject! You were supposed to be telling me how great Andy and I are together.”

  I held the phone with my shoulder, readying my purse, and gathering my car keys for work.

  “I just can’t understand how it’s not weird for you to sleep with him when you already dated his brother. Are you seriously telling me that it doesn’t bother either one of you in any way?”

  I heard Eleanor’s snicker and could see her familiar smile of sly salacity in my mind. Her reply, however, brought a sourness to my morning that was miles more maddening than imaging her and Andy’s acts of intimacy.

  “Well, you know, normally I’d have a backup plan. But, if things don’t work out with Andy, I guess I’m shit-out-of-luck… seeing as you’ve made the third brother totally off-limits.”

  The statement was a joking one, and I knew Elle meant no harm, but it still stung. I began rambling off a series of excuses, saying that, “I never made him out of bounds,” and that, “Ryan has nothing to do with you, Andy, and Hollis,” but Eleanor saw right through me.

  “First of all, well, let me rephrase that: We both know two undeniable truths about this. First of all, I am not the first girl who started with either Hollis or Andy and somehow ended up hooking up with the other one. In fact, that list is probably much longer than I want to think about right now, so we’re going to focus more on the second thing.”

  I giggled quietly but wasn’t allowed to break in.

  “The other undeniable truth we both know is this: the only reason there aren’t any girls who switched either of them and their brother is because he was always with you! And, no matter what you say, we both know that you’ve never been able to get over Ryan.”

  My response was well-rehearsed, but my voice still shook, and I knew I wasn’t going to be doing any convincing.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. That was so long ago. We were high school sweethearts and bar
ely even dated after graduation.”

  I knew deep down that Eleanor was right. Without wanting to, I looked down at the bracelet on my wrist. Its memorized inscription, hidden against my skin, echoed in my mind and made my spirits drop.

  Regardless, I continued my feigned denial, as used to its flavor falling from my lips as the heartbreak holding my heart.

  “Besides, I date! I’ve gone out with tons of guys since Ryan, and I ended things.”

  “First off, ‘you and Ryan’ didn’t end shit. He broke your heart and became a fucking billionaire. I’m sorry, but you aren’t doing yourself any favors pretending otherwise. Granted, I don’t think he knew that he was going to be rolling in money when he left you, but still. It has to hurt more when your ex is hanging out on his yacht banging supermodels instead of being stuck in rehab or marrying the dry cleaner’s daughter with a dozen cats.”

  The truth stung. I tried to jump in, but over the phone, Eleanor just kept on talking.

  “Furthermore, Harley, yes, you date, but never the same guy for more than a few months. When’s the last time you ended a season with the same guy you started it with? Hookups, weekend throwdowns, and summer playthings are great and all, but you haven’t even given any of those guys a chance to fill that spot you’re still saving for Ryan.”

  “Okay, Elle, okay! I get it. You win.”

  “I’m sorry, hun. You know I am. I just want you to be happy. We can talk about something else if you want.”

  I glanced at my stove and saw the time. “No, that’s alright. I have to get to work anyway. Being the town bank manager is the only way I seem to meet men anyway. Although, I’m not sure it counts when the closest thing to courtship I get is old, stinky Mr. Lawson constantly hounding me to approve him for a loan.”

  Eleanor laughed with me, rather than offering pity, and that, in essence, was why we were best friends. We said our temporary goodbyes, and I headed out the door.

  I backed my car out of the gravel driveway, leaving my house behind and turning toward work.

  I did my makeup at the town’s main stoplight, then pulled in to park at the bank’s rear.

  Grabbing my purse, I locked my car and set off across the parking lot. My heels chirped atop the asphalt, and, as expected, I could see that Clarice had already opened the building for the day’s first customers.

  I neared the glass entry doors but retracted my hand as I saw someone exiting. The door swung open, and into the morning light emerged, of all people, Hollis Fleming.

  “Oh, hey there, Harley.”

  “Good morning, Hollis. Did they take care of you in there?”

  “Yeah, you bet. I was just dropping off a deposit. How’ve you been? Andy mentioned something about you and Eleanor raising Cain at the fair the other night?”

  I shook my head, smiling coyly and adjusting the handles of my purse at my elbow. “Per usual, Andy is being a bit over-dramatic. Elle and I… well, we were enjoying ourselves, playing the stupid carnival games, and maybe having one or two adult beverages. We had a blast, but there were these kids - these annoying teenagers - that were just being way too loud and raunchy. We were polite at first, asking them to tone it down for all the younger kids and families around, but they decided to act all rebellious and just started throwing their trash around and cursing… one of them gave Elle the bird… you know, just teens being dumb. She never said why Andy didn’t come. You should’ve joined us, too!”

  A look of sadness flashed over Hollis’s face, dampening his handsome smile. Once he started to explain, I imagine my expression did the exact same.

  “Yeah… We would’ve loved to, but… Mom got checked into the hospital again. She caught some sort of bug, and the chemo has just left her with no immune system to fight it off.”

  My cheeks burned with a flush of embarrassment. I felt terrible for acting so jovially before, but there was only one way I could’ve known. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Hollis. I don’t know why Eleanor didn’t tell me. She should have.”

  “She probably didn’t know. We didn’t really have much of an idea what was going on at the time, and Andy likely didn’t want to say anything until he knew more. Dad took her in for radiation and, since Mom is always feeling like shit, she didn’t even realize she was coming down with something. It wasn’t until they took her temp and vitals before the treatment that they figured it out.”

  I shook my head in sympathy, trying to fathom how hard that must’ve been. “I’m sorry, Hollis. Do they have any idea how long it’ll take to help get her better? How’s your dad handling it? I know it must be so difficult to see your mom this way.”

  Hollis nodded, finally letting go of the bank door he was holding open. He crossed his big arms and assumed a serious look as he contemplated the questions.

  “Well, you know, Dad. He’s a tough son-of-a-bitch, but when they said that they wanted to admit her, it really got under his skin.” Hollis chuckled dryly as he recalled something to add. “He’s been camping out in the hospital room with my mom since they won’t let him come back without full blood work, showing he doesn’t have anything contagious that might be passed to Mom. So, naturally, Dad has been driving the nurses and doctors up the wall. They even moved the patient next door so that he could sleep in there. At least that way, they’ll have a few hours treating my mom without him hovering and questioning their every move.”

  I smiled, easily seeing the situation play out in my mind. “I bet the hospital staff already have a secret code to warn each other when he’s on the warpath. If they haven’t started yet, it’s only a matter of time before you hear a page over the loud-speakers for a Rob-Alert or a Code-Rob.”

  My smile waned as I felt my joke fall flat against even my own sense of humor. Hollis didn’t seem bothered by it at all and, although he didn’t laugh much beyond a short snicker, I could tell my familiarity with their family wasn’t far from the truth.

  “You aren’t wrong, Harley. Anyway, I only left to take a breather and run some errands. Andy is passed out at home. I’m about to do the same. We’ll be heading back tonight with some food for Dad. Hopefully, by then, the doctors will have some better news.”

  “Is there anything I can do? I don’t want to be in the way, but I can come visit with your mom and keep Rob company.”

  She can tell that the sentiment is appreciated, but Hollis shakes his head all the same. “No, you don’t have to do that, Harley. Mom is mostly sleeping. The last time she was awake enough to speak, she mistakenly told the nurse administering meds that her name was ‘Janice,’ not ‘Janine.’ Thank you for offering. It really means a lot, and I’ll be sure to tell Dad that you were thinking of them. That’ll brighten his spirits. You know he sees you as the daughter he never had - Mom, too. You’re one of the family, whether or not Ryan was too stupid to realize it.”

  At the mention of his name again, my insides twisted with a wide range of emotions into a gnarled knot. I forced a small smile, trying to hide the mixture of feelings.

  With a few more parting pleasantries, Hollis departed, and I entered into the bank lobby.

  My team of tellers, associates, and managers each offered warm welcomes, but my reciprocating responses were altogether tempered by the news of Janine’s downturn and my newly solemn mood.

  I mustered as much of a gentle greeting as I could manage but otherwise indifferently maneuvered to my office and closed the bank manager’s door behind me.

  Not wanting to further draw attention to my mental isolation by drawing the blinds between myself and my coworkers, I morosely discarded my purse atop the desk, slumped in my leather office chair, and swiveled away from any prodding faces.

  Staring between the slats of the exterior window shades, I allowed my thoughts to manifest unsubdued. My childhood memories of Janine, beautiful, with brilliant golden hair and capable of instantly conveying serenity to anyone in her presence, were replaced by the years’ more recent changes.

  I recalled the feeling of hopelessness she and I
both shared as tendrils of her gorgeous hair started falling out in handfuls and clumps. The momentary joy we all felt after her first bout with cancer ended in remission flashed through my mind with images of the beach-themed luau we threw for her in celebration.

  I remembered the moment she and I were having brunch after the oncologist gravely informed them that the disease was back and worse than ever. She was in optimistic spirits as me and Elle anesthetized the first return to treatment with mimosas and a myriad of midday soufflés. However, I could still feel the promise of a second recovery vanish as Janine held her thin fingers up to her lips, looking confused, and opened her hand to reveal a full-size tooth, fallen out without any force, a victim from the chemotherapy’s harsh side effects.

  Staring at the sunlight shining outside my office windows, I tried to shake the memories from my mind as the tears started to stream down my cheeks. The complex sea of emotions was only made more complicated by renewed thoughts of Ryan. Was he there? At the hospital? If he was, what did he look like?

  Without meaning to, I imagined him sitting there, beside the hospital bed, with his mother’s venous-catheter-taped handheld warmly within his. I could see the sadness in his bright blue eyes, and I could almost feel his forlorn frown, veiled beneath the black hair of his close-cropped beard.