Starts With a Bang: A Redemption Ridge Novel by Aimee Nicole Walker

Author:Aimee Nicole Walker [Walker, Aimee Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chasing Rainbows Press LLC
Published: 2025-02-16T00:00:00+00:00

Dom

“Stop spying through the window, and come enjoy the fire,” Dad said. “Everything is fine.”

I reluctantly turned away from the back of the house. The warmth from the brick oven tempted me, but I’d rather stand in the cold shadows and keep an eye on Sven. “I’m not so sure about that.” My guy had a murderous expression on his face and a sharp knife in his hand.

My guy. I liked the sound of it so much it scared me. Between my failed marriage and the cynical nature of my job, it felt like a Christmas miracle that I could even consider taking a chance on love again. But Sven made me believe, and I didn’t want to waste precious time twisting hope into doom. It was easier to expect the worst in someone because then you wouldn’t be disappointed when things went sideways. That was no way to live. Hell, that wasn’t living at all; it was barely existing. How had I let such a limited worldview become my norm?

I halted and turned to look into the kitchen again. The pendant lights above the island acted as a spotlight, showcasing Sven in all his beauty. And not just his looks. It was the way he held himself, the confident way he moved, and the joy he brought to those around him. Well, maybe not Emerson with his scrunched nose and grim mouth, but he didn’t count. Nana tilted her head back and laughed at something Sven said, and he beamed like he’d won the lottery. Mom and Christian turned from their tasks with smiles on their faces too. They both contributed to the conversation before continuing their tasks. Everyone looked relaxed and happy. Except Emerson.

He looked up suddenly as if sensing my presence. I didn’t think he could see me from where I stood in the shadows, and it didn’t matter if he did. He’d only been a side note in my observations while Sven had been the center of them. If Emerson had mistaken my presence and intentions, then I’d happily set him straight. That would require me to speak to him, but that was inevitable anyway. Ignoring him and Christian would only make my family feel worse, and it could give my ex a false sense of importance in the narrative of my life. He could mistake my silent treatment as pining or jealousy all he wanted. I thought of the brief but powerful interlude I’d shared with Sven in our room and smiled. Emerson would be so wrong. He was nothing but an asterisk and a footnote in my life story. I wanted Sven to be the main plot, my leading man, and the theme that summed up my life. Damn, I had it bad.

“Sven can handle himself,” Uncle John declared as I joined him and Dad.

“That’s what I’m worried about. And Sven hates the color orange.”

“Why?” John asked.

“He says it’s the only color that doesn’t look good on him,” I replied.

“No, I wanted to know why it’s a consideration,” my uncle explained.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.