Golden Forever [Frostbite Falls Christmas 3]

  Frostbite Falls Christmas 3

  Golden Forever

  Riley Willis has never liked the Frostbite Falls Christmas ball. Getting dressed up, wearing painful high heels. No thank you. She’d rather be at the family ranch any day of the week. But as a member of the most prominent family in Frostbite Falls, the ball is nonnegotiable. Just like the makeover her cousin forces on her.

  Jasper Monroe and Logan Carver agree to keep Riley company at the Christmas ball. It’s not their idea of a good time, but what’s one night for a friend? That is until they see Riley walk into the ball, decked out in silver and gold, bringing to life new and confusing feelings for both of them. Feelings that include their best friend pinned between them. It doesn’t take long to determine she’s feeling the same way.

  One night is all it takes for them to realize the three of them are meant to be together. Forever. But are they willing to risk their friendship for a future that’s unsure? Is going back to being just friends even possible after a golden night together?

  Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre

  Length: 32,904 words

  GOLDEN FOREVER

  Frostbite Falls Christmas 3

  Willa Edwards

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  GOLDEN FOREVER

  Copyright © 2017 by Willa Edwards

  ISBN: 978-1-64010-843-1

  First Publication: December 2017

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2017 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book or print book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at

  legal@sirenbookstrand.com

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  DEDICATION

  For everyone that has ever opened their mind to something new and frightening. You’re bravery is an inspiration to us all.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Willa Edwards has dreamed about being a writer since she was four years old. When she picked up her first romance novel at fifteen she knew she’d found her place, and she’s never looked back.

  She now lives in New York, where she works with numbers at her Evil Day Job and spends her nights writing red-hot tales of erotic romance. When she’s not at her computer, you can usually find her curled up in bed with her furry baby, her nose pressed to her e-reader.

  Willa loves to hear from her readers. You can contact her at willa.c.edwards@gmail.com or visit her on the web find out more about her current projects at www.willaedwards.com.

  For all titles by Willa Edwards, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/willa-edwards

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Landmarks

  Cover

  GOLDEN FOREVER

  Frostbite Falls Christmas 3

  WILLA EDWARDS

  Copyright © 2017

  Chapter One

  “You can’t be serious, Victoria?” Riley Willis smoothed her hand down her side. She never should have let Victoria pick her dress for tonight. The rough feel of the gold fabric against her palm had her longing for her normal, comfortable cotton and denim jeans.

  If she could have gotten away with wearing them tonight she would have. But the Frostbite Falls Christmas Ball was the most important event in town all year long, and there was no way Victoria would let her miss it. Or arrive in anything short of her Sunday best. “It’s so gold and glittery.”

  “You look fucking hot, cous.” Victoria never minced words. She might be Frostbite Falls’ unofficial princess, but she didn’t always act like a princess. Though she always looked the part, especially tonight. She worked the whole year on the Christmas ball, planning the night to perfection. She wouldn’t let anything disrupt it. Not even her homely cousin showing up in jeans and cowboy boots.

  “You look fantastic, Riley.” Lydia, the newest and nicest member of Victoria’s inner circle, smiled at her from the bed where she sorted Victoria’s shoes into pairs.

  Riley stared at herself in the mirror, wishing she could agree with the other girls, but she couldn’t. The gold dress molded to her body, showing off all her lack of curves. She looked like she should be standing on the top of an award for awkward teenage girls instead of attending a fancy party. But there was nothing to be done about it now. If she knew her cousin, it would be the only option she’d be given. When Victoria was determined, she’d get what she wanted or die trying.

  Riley pushed her hair back from her shoulder, unaccustomed to the long strands falling in her face. Yet another reason why she kept the mass tied out of her way most of the time. That, and it was just plain easier than all this fuss. A lot easier.

  Maybe if she looked more like Victoria, elegant and beautiful, with her hair pulled up in a perfect twist on the top of her head, Riley would dress like this more often. But she just looked awkward and goofy, like a dog in a costume, that didn’t know quite how to move.

  “Glittery works for you, Riley.” Grace Perry, Victoria’s best friend and the town librarian, smiled from the opposite side of the bed as Lydia. “If those boys of yours have any eyes in their heads, they won’t be able to look away from you.”

  Grace didn’t have to mention their names. Riley knew who she was talking about. “We’re just friends,” she protested. Riley had been hearing that all her life. From the other kids in school, her cousin, the nice old ladies at the church bake sale. You’re interested in Jasper and Logan. Logan and Jasper want you.

  Why was it so hard for everyone to believe they were just friends? Logan, Jasper, and she had been best friends since junior 4H, when they were barely big enough to rope a ram. That’s all they’d ever seen her as, and it’s all they ever would. She’d realized that a long time ago. It was simpler to be friends. Lovers came and went. Friends were always there for you.

  “Oh, come on, Riley, we all know how much you want those two.” Victoria turned toward her dresser where she’d spread out an array of shiny tubes and metal items that looked on the edge of being torture implications. No way was Victoria using those on her. Not a chance.

  “They’re my best friends. I don’t want them. Not that way.” Why was it so hard for everyone to believe that men and women could just be friends? Was it really so impossible? She spent all her time with men, on the ranch with the hands, or her father, was it surprising her best friends were male, too?

  Victoria only smiled smugly at her. “Whatever you want to tell yourself, cous.”

  She wasn’t telling herself anything. It was the goddamn truth. Relations
hip, sex, love. That was too complicated. Riley didn’t like complicated. She liked simple, easy, predictable. Counting on other people was never predictable. But she counted on Logan and Jasper. If her relationship with them changed, so would that. And she wasn’t sure she could handle not having them in her life.

  Crossing her arms over her chest, Riley stared her cousin down. When it came to determination, Victoria wasn’t the only Willis in the room with stubbornness in spades. If it was a battle Victoria wanted, Riley was happy to give her one.

  Victoria shrugged her shoulders and dropped the argument before it even started, which almost shocked Riley’s eyes right out of her head. Letting the argument go was not Victoria’s style. Maybe she was distracted by the party tonight or all the tasks she still had to do. No matter the reason, Riley would take it. She doubted she’d get the chance again.

  So why did it bother her so much that Victoria wasn’t fighting with her? She should be grateful for the respite from her normally demanding cousin. But she didn’t, not at all. Which was scarier by far.

  This was why she liked to stay on the ranch. Everything was simple on the ranch. Saddle the horse, rope the yew, that was as complicated as it got.

  Victoria leaned back, staring at Riley with a critical eye that had her stomach twisting. She’d seen that look before, and it usually meant trouble. It wasn’t that different than the look she had on her face when she’d presented this horrible gold monstrosity to her. “There’s something missing.”

  Riley stared at herself in the mirror. There were a lot of things missing. Comfort, ease, boobs, but she had a feeling none of those were what Victoria was focused on.

  “It doesn’t look complete.” Somewhere in the mirror Riley saw Lydia nod, but the second she glanced over at her, Lydia looked away. Too chicken to meet her gaze.

  Victoria turned, glancing back to the bed and the array of shoes across the surface. A twinkle lit her eyes, which had Riley’s stomach rolling like a sea storm. She knew that look. She knew it far too well. And it never went her way.

  “These.” Victoria extracted a pair of shoes from the pile on the bed, holding them out before Riley. “You have to wear these. They’ll bring the whole look together.”

  And there she was, the same old Victoria came rattling to the surface. Riley had known it wouldn’t be long till she reappeared. The upward twist of her eyebrow challenged her to fight back, to argue with the official fashionista of Frostbite Falls.

  Is she out of her freaking mind? The gold dress was bad enough, but sparkly silver shoes. Did she really think Riley would wear those tinman—or tinwoman—torture contraptions? The other girls oohed and ahhed as Riley fought back an inner groan. Just what every cowgirl wanted to wear, three-inch glittery heels.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  Riley stared at the heels like they were a snake that could bite her, which was much closer to the truth than she wanted to admit. Sure, they wouldn’t bite exactly, but if she wore them to the ball she’d end up with all kind of pains and blisters all over her feet.

  “What? They’ll look perfect with that dress.” The evil glint in her cousin’s eye had sweat erupting behind her knees. She’d seen that glimmer before. Usually right before Victoria forced her to do something she really didn’t want to. Like lie to Victoria’s father so she could sneak out with her high school boyfriend, or that blind date to last year’s ball.

  But she had to try. It wasn’t in her nature to just accept defeat, even if it was inevitable. “So will my black flats. They’d go with anything.”

  They’d match the gold dress easily, not that she believed that would be a selling point to Victoria. Neither would the fact that they were the nicest shoes she owned that were halfway comfortable. If she had to spend the night on her feet at this fancy ball, meeting and greeting the whole town, she was at least wearing comfortable shoes. Not to mention she hadn’t had time to buy new shoes for the ball. Just like she didn’t have the time to get the dress she now wore. She had to borrow one from Victoria. Again.

  “You can’t wear those ratty old things with that dress.” Victoria rolled her eyes, as if it were common knowledge to everyone that comfortable black flats didn’t go with glittery mini dresses. “That dress is gorgeous. You look fantastic. The shoes have to match.”

  Victoria placed the heels against her hip, showing the contrast between the shoes and the dress, as if to prove something, though Riley wasn’t sure what. Except that they both looked ridiculous on her.

  “See, they look fantastic together.” The determined glint in Victoria’s eyes was undeniable. This wasn’t a battle Riley was going to win. Not that there were many battles Riley had won against her cousin. At least the heels would put her closer to Jasper and Logan’s height. At the moment she’d cling to any upside she could find.

  They did look nice. Even Riley could admit that. Though they looked nothing like her. And as much as she wanted to be upset about it, she wasn’t. She wanted to rail and scream about how stupid they would make her look.

  And they would. Like a giraffe on stilts. But a part of her still wanted to wear them. Wanted to look and act like someone else. To be someone else. Instead of always being the responsible one, the dependable one, the boss. Maybe for one night she could pretend to be someone pretty, someone desirable. Someone who had the time to spend on her hair and makeup, instead of tossing bales of hay or herding yews. Someone who didn’t agonize over the bills and how they would pay the farm hands each week. It was a foolish dream, but maybe for tonight she could be a girl.

  Sensing defeat, Victoria piled the shoes next to Riley’s feet. Victoria grabbed a brush from the dresser and turned on Riley with the air of victory in her eyes that had every inch of Riley shivering. “Now what do you think we should do with your hair?”

  Chapter Two

  Jasper and his best friend, Logan, sat at a table in the corner of the Frostbite Falls town hall. On a Saturday night, he couldn’t think of anywhere he’d rather not be. The place was decorated to the gills with red ribbons and giant evergreen trees, and he’d never felt so out of place in his life. He couldn’t even order a damn bourbon. According to the bartender, they only had these frilly Christmas drinks to offer. Though he found that hard to believe. Montana men were known for a lot of things, but giving up their hard liquor wasn’t one of them.

  Unconsciously, he tugged at his neck, and the tie tightened around his throat. This damn monkey suit was constricting. How on earth Riley convinced them to leave the comfort of their ranch and normal clothes to wear a suit and attend a fancy party, he had no idea.

  “Stop it.” Logan slapped Jasper’s hand from his neck and tossed him an exasperated glare. “You’re only making it worse by messing with it. Leave it alone.”

  “I should take the damn thing off. It’s choking me alive.” It certainly felt that way. Like it was trying to strangle the life out of him. But maybe that was just being at this party instead of out on their ranch.

  Logan only rolled his eyes. “You can’t take it off. Ties are required. Riley will kill us if we get kicked out before she shows up.”

  If the damn tie didn’t kill him first. Jasper only growled over at his best friend. Twenty years of friendship meant he didn’t have to say any more. Logan knew what he was thinking.

  “We’re here for Riley, remember.”

  Jasper nodded, taking a sip of the drink the bartender had given him. Supposedly the closest to a stiff drink she had to offer. But nowhere close.

  “It’s only one night.” Logan shrugged his shoulders, drinking from his own glass. “I don’t like it any more than you do.”

  Jasper held back his humph of derision. Logan didn’t look uncomfortable at all. He smiled at the waitresses, made goo-goo eyes at the bartender just like he would at the Two Step bar on any Saturday night. He couldn’t understand how much Jasper wanted to run to the nearest exit and just keep running until he reached their ranch. Hell, he’d take scooping manure ov
er this.

  Instead Jasper just nodded. Logan was right. It was only one night. It was the least they could do for Riley. After all she’d done for them over the years, keeping her company at the town Christmas party was nothing. She was the best friend either of them had ever had. Beside each other. But the logic of the request didn’t make it any more bearable.

  The only thing that could make this party better would be having Riley here. She’d understand how he felt. Unlike the bastard standing next to him. She was just like them, even though she was a girl. She felt more comfortable on the ranch than one of these fancy parties. She’d rather be mucking out stalls than shopping for dresses. In fact, Jasper wasn’t sure he’d ever seen her in a dress. He could only count on one hand how many times he’d seen her in anything besides her usual jeans and flannel with a cowboy hat covering her head.

  Jasper leaned against the table, surveying the room. Most of the town had come out for the event. There wasn’t a lot to do in Frostbite Falls, especially in the winter. Any occasion was enough to have the townspeople coming out in droves. But the Frostbite Falls Christmas Ball was more than just any event. It was the event of the year.

  While he’d never met two people more opposite, Victoria and Riley had a few things in common. Commitment and determination being high on the list. While Riley applied hers to the family ranch, crafting one of the most profitable sheep herds in the state, Victoria used her talents toward her clothing store in town, these parties, and her father’s mayor campaigns. And every inch of the town hall showed it. From the eight-foot-tall Christmas tree, the fake snow covering every surface of the room, even these girly drinks he couldn’t stomach. This year Victoria had more than outdone herself.