Falling for Alaska

Book 0: Moose Falls, Alaska

by Belle Calhoune

Genres: Small Town & Rural; Clean & Wholesome Romance; Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

Don't miss the first trip to Moose Falls, Alaska where a down-on-his-luck football player and a sassy restaurant owner find themselves going from enemies to lovers in this small-town romance — perfect for fans of Brenda Novak and Annie Rains!

A small-town restaurateur and a big city former football player go head-to-head in this heartfelt enemies-to-lovers romance . . .
 
As the oldest of three brothers, former pro-football player Xavier Stone is no stranger to making tough calls. Like returning to his small hometown of Moose Falls, Alaska to help run his grandmother’s hard cider company and gastro pub. He agrees to keep an open mind, but between working with his estranged father and confronting heavy childhood memories with his brothers, Xavier’s ready to rush back to civilization. Even the stunning woman who runs his grandmother’s restaurant seems to instantly dislike him . . .

True Everett knows better than to let a ridiculously handsome man distract her, especially when it’s the same guy who stands between her and owning Northern Exposure, the tavern she manages. She didn’t pour her soul into the restaurant just for Xavier to swoop in and snatch away her dreams. But amid all the barbs—and, fine . . . all the sparks—flying, True glimpses the man beneath the swagger. That version of Xavier, the real one, might just steal True’s heart.
 

Release date: March 26, 2024

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Print pages: 336

Sample

Twenty Years Later

The moment tall, dark, and handsome walked into Northern Exposure, True Everett’s stomach lurched as if she’d taken a ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl at the carnival. The last time she had gone on that particular thrill ride, True had been twelve years old and eager for excitement. At twenty-eight years old, she knew better than to look for adventure in a good-looking man. Been there, done that. Having her heart smashed into little pieces had taught her a huge life lesson. She was never going down that road again.

Of course, she knew who the man was on sight. Xavier Stone, a ridiculously handsome ex–football player for the Arizona Cardinals. The Storm was what the fans called him, according to her little brother. There weren’t many men in the universe who checked off all the boxes at first glance. This guy packed a solid punch visually.

Easy there, girl, she reminded herself. He had “handle with caution” written all over him.

True inhaled a deep, steadying breath as he walked straight toward the bar where she was taking orders. Her insides were now nothing but mush. Even meeting her ex, Garrett, for the first time hadn’t yielded this type of visceral reaction. Although Garrett was easy on the eyes, he wasn’t a showstopper. Not like this fine work of art handcrafted and dipped in the finest chocolate.

He had to be at least six feet tall. Skin as smooth as a Hershey bar. Full, wide lips. A strong jaw. When he shrugged out of his jacket, True could see his amazing physique. Even while wearing a sweater and jeans, his body popped—strong legs, a powerful chest, and muscled arms.

Body for days! It was enough to make a girl’s eyes pop out of her head.

Good grief! This man was going to create a feeding frenzy in Moose Falls. Sheer pandemonium would ensue at the mere sight of him. It was almost the setup for a joke—a hot football player walks into an Alaskan tavern. Not a single person can stop staring at him, including the tavern’s manager. Ba dum tss.

True cast a quick look in his direction. He’d almost made his way over to her. Every step he took was full of swagger. She began the countdown in her head as Xavier advanced, her body tensing with every step he took. Why am I such a nervous wreck? This is ridiculous.

“Hi there. Can I put in an order over here? The dining area is pretty packed.”

Dang! Even his voice was spectacular. Deep and velvety, like maybe he sang R & B ballads in his spare time.

Don’t look him directly in the eyes!

Don’t look him directly in the eyes!

DON’T LOOK HIM—

Before she could stop herself, True locked gazes with him. BAM! Eyes the color of cognac stared back at her. They were framed by the most striking black lashes. A nice smile showcased perfect white teeth. His pictures hadn’t done him justice. A sigh slipped past her lips. She’d just made a huge mistake by looking straight into his soulful brown eyes. True had immediately been swept away into this vortex of warmth and dreaminess and knock-your-socks-off charm.

“Of course. What can I get you?” True asked. Stay calm, she reminded herself. Xavier Stone was the last person on earth she wanted to fangirl over. From what she’d read about him, he already had an ego the size of the Chugach Mountains. That’s what happened when you were an NFL football player with thousands of fans and buckets of money.

“Great. I’ll do a salmon burger with coleslaw and rosemary fries,” he said. “And let me have two Yukon Ciders. Apple crisp and wild berry. Please.”

“Sure thing. The food will be ready in fifteen minutes or so.” She pointed at a spot in the distance. “There’s a spot that just freed up over by the pool table. We’ll bring your drinks right over.”

Instead of walking away to grab the open spot, Xavier couldn’t seem to look away from something behind her. “What’s with the contest?” he asked, jutting his chin in the direction of the sign hanging on the wall.

“We’re having a hot wings promotion. If you can eat a whole platter of wings in five minutes, you win a prize,” she explained.

“What’s the prize?” Xavier flashed her a wide grin that caused butterflies to flutter around in her stomach. The feeling took her by surprise. Not even her ex-boyfriend, Garrett, had made her feel this way.

“A Northern Exposure T-shirt. And bragging rights.” Judging by his expression, he wasn’t impressed. “Want to take a whirl?” she asked.

Xavier smirked. “No thanks.”

She gave him her best bless-your-heart smile. “I don’t blame you. It’s not for the faint of heart. Most people can’t hack the heat.”

Xavier chuckled and shook his head. “Trust and believe, I can eat hot wings with the best of ’em. Matter of fact,” he said, puffing out his chest, “I’ve won my fair share of contests.”

“You don’t say,” True drawled, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

“No, seriously. I’ve got a really high tolerance for heat.”

“These are pretty hot,” she cautioned. “I’ve known a few grown men who’ve been on their knees after eating these.”

“I can handle it,” he said. Xavier sounded cocky to True’s ears. Humph. He wasn’t even trying to listen to her words of wisdom. A true know-it-all.

“So you’re in?” she asked. When he nodded, she said, “It’ll be on the house, sort of a welcome to Moose Falls gift.” It was the least she could do, considering he was about to be in a world of hurt.

Xavier slapped his palm down on the counter. “You’ve made me an offer I can’t refuse.” Once again he smiled at her, causing her knees to buckle a little bit.

True bit her lip. Maybe she should try to stop him. He was acting way too eager to devour a platter of hot wings. Just thinking about it caused an acidic taste to rise in her throat. She didn’t have a tolerance for anything spicy, never mind an entire platter of fiery chicken baked in the third circle of hell.

“They’ll be out in a few minutes,” she said in her chirpiest voice. Keep it light. Be nice.

“Thanks. By the way, I’m Xavier Stone,” he said, sounding way too friendly for her liking.

“I know who you are,” she admitted. “One of Hattie’s grandsons, right? The football player. My little brother has had a poster of you in his bedroom for as long as I can remember.”

He didn’t react at all to hearing about the poster. Instead he knitted his brows together. “Well, I’m at a disadvantage. I don’t know your name,” he said.

“I’m True Everett, and I run the place.” And I know exactly why you’re here in Moose Falls, she wanted to say. You’re the guy who stands between me and owning Northern Exposure. But it wasn’t her place to call him out. She loved his grandmother too much to risk alienating her. Hattie Stone was a good friend, and it was her most fervent wish to reunite with her grandson. True had the feeling that if Hattie had to pick a side between the two of them, Xavier would win hands down. Although it hurt to admit that fact, True knew the importance of family. Even though she’d tried to create one for her little brother, Jaylen, after the death of their parents, True always felt she was failing miserably.

“Nice to meet you, True.”

She slid his ciders across the bar and watched as they landed right in front of him. Her movements were graceful and fast. For some reason it always made her feel accomplished. Even though she was the tavern’s manager, True prided herself on being a jack-of-all-trades.

True had a vague recollection of the Stone brothers from childhood. The middle brother, Caleb, had been in her class for a few years. Clearly Xavier didn’t remember her, although she couldn’t really blame him. He hadn’t lived in Moose Falls for decades. Maybe at some later juncture she would remind him.

Xavier jerked his thumb in the direction of the dining area, then picked up his drinks. “I’m going to go grab that table before someone else scoops it up.”

True watched him as he walked away from the bar. He looked just as yummy from this angle as he had approaching her. Not many men possessed that skill. Have mercy! Miss Hattie’s grandson had brought his A game to Moose Falls. He was definitely sending out main-character vibes.

Bonnie Walker, her co-worker and close friend, sidled up to her and said, “Take a picture. It’ll last longer.” With a peaches-and-cream complexion, freckles, and a mane of dark red hair, Bonnie was adorable.

True playfully swatted her friend. “You have to admit he sure is nice to look at.”

Bonnie chuckled. “I’m surprised you’re saying it out loud considering the way you’ve been carrying on about his impending arrival in town.” Bonnie looked around. “By the way, where are his brothers?”

True shrugged. “No clue.” She’d also wondered about the whereabouts of the Stone brothers, but Xavier hadn’t mentioned them. So she hadn’t either. “I need to put his food order in. Can you bring him some fresh bread while he waits?”

“My pleasure,” Bonnie said with a wink. “Something tells me he’ll look even better up close. Maybe I’ll take a picture.” She wiggled her eyebrows, earning her a chuckle from True.

At least she could laugh about the situation, True realized. That was progress. For months she’d stewed about Hattie’s grandsons coming to Moose Falls and the fact they were set to inherit Yukon Cider and all her other holdings, including Northern Exposure. True didn’t like feeling helpless, but she wasn’t in the driver’s seat in this situation. Xavier and his brothers held her fate in their hands. She was at their mercy.

A short while later, Petie, one of her servers, came out of the kitchen with the platter of chicken wings and a small carton of milk in his hands. “I’ll take those,” True said, reaching for the items. She turned around and walked them over to Xavier. His face lit up as soon as he spotted her.

He rubbed his hands together. “I’m so hungry, my stomach is grumbling. Are you going to be timing me?” he asked.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. “I just need to set my timer. I’ll be at the bar, but I’ll be watching. As soon as you take your first bite, I’ll turn the timer on.”

“You can take the milk with you,” he said with a wink. “I won’t be needing any.”

“Are you sure?” she asked. “Hot wings are no joke.” She hadn’t been expecting this level of bravado.

“Have a little faith in me,” Xavier said, subjecting her to another grin. He held up one of the ciders. “I still have some of this to wash it down with.”

True walked back to the bar area with the carton of milk in hand.

“Oh no. He’s trying to be a hero, isn’t he?” Bonnie asked, her eyebrows raised.

True let out a sigh. “Nothing we haven’t seen before.”

What was it with men and hot wings challenges? They always acted like they were invincible. In her experience, the bigger they were, the harder they fell.

The moment Xavier lifted the first chicken wing to his mouth, True started timing him.

Bonnie grabbed her arm. “Wait. Did you tell him they were ghost pepper wings?”

True slowly shook her head, her eyes never straying from Xavier. He was chowing down on the wings at a record pace. Beads of sweat were now pooling on his forehead. He was fanning himself with his hand. But he continued to eat at a rapid speed.

“I can’t say that I did,” True admitted, avoiding eye contact with Bonnie.

Her friend let out a shocked gasp. “True! That’s terrible.”

Bonnie’s horrified reaction immediately caused guilt to crash over True.

She turned toward her friend. “What? He was acting so cocky about the challenge, practically calling it lame. Plus, he’s an expert at eating hot wings, so who am I to talk him down from the ledge?”

Bonnie shook her head. “You’re letting your personal feelings cloud your actions. It’s not his fault that he’s set to inherit Yukon Cider.”

“And Northern Exposure,” True muttered. “Don’t forget that.” A sinking feeling grabbed hold of her. “All of my dreams are going up in smoke.”

“That’s not true. You’re being dramatic.” Bonnie covered her hands with her eyes. “I do not want to watch this train wreck.”

Unlike Bonnie, True couldn’t look away for anything in this world. Xavier picked up another chicken wing and placed it in his mouth, quickly devouring it with finesse. His fingers were long and graceful, like a pianist’s. His tongue darted out to lick sauce from the corner of his mouth. Over and over, he picked up a wing and treated it like a precious object. He was making this a spectator sport for the tavern’s clientele. A ring of people now surrounded him, shouting words of encouragement. When he devoured the last wing, the group started clapping and cheering. He’d finished with a whole minute to spare.

And even though she’d decided to dislike Xavier on sight, True couldn’t help but feel a grudging respect for him. He’d eaten the platter of ghost pepper wings like a boss, even though she suspected he was about to hurl all over her hardwood floors.

Xavier placed a hand on his throat as a burning sensation threatened to permanently damage his esophagus. Stay cool. Surprisingly for this time of the afternoon, the place was packed. People were watching and treating him like a conquering hero. The most beautiful woman in Alaska was gazing at him from a few feet away, and he didn’t want to make a fool of himself. Too late, he realized, as hot tears ran down his cheeks. He quickly swiped them away with his sleeve, careful not to get hot wing residue in his eyes. The heat from the wings had invaded his nostrils, his eyes, and the inside of his mouth and throat.

Bring on the fire brigade! He was burning up!

“You did it!” True called out as she made her way over from behind the bar. “And you lived to tell the tale.”

“Barely,” he croaked.

“Here you go, hotshot. Milk will make it a lot better.” True placed a carton of milk and a glass down in front of him. She poured him a healthy serving.

Hotshot? The way she tossed the word out made him want to frown. It wasn’t exactly a term of endearment. There would be plenty of time later for him to analyze her choice of words, but for now all he wanted was to guzzle down this glass of milk. Xavier had never chugged milk so fast in his life. The only thing he could compare this experience to was when he’d gobbled down a box of fireball candy as a kid. His mouth had been on fire for what felt like hours. But this! This was worse. Way, way worse.

“Are you all right?” True asked, concern flaring in her stunning brown eyes.

“I—I think so. Are my lips still here?” he asked. “I can’t feel them.” He raised his hand to his mouth. Or at least what used to be his mouth. A few minutes ago, it had been tingly, but now he felt nothing. Had he burned his lips off?

Even though it had been a minute since he’d smooched anyone, he still wanted to be able to kiss someone. The thought had crossed his mind that True’s lips looked very kissable.

She was quite the looker, Xavier noted. Up close she was even more beautiful than at first glance. A short hairstyle highlighted flawless bone structure and a heart-shaped face. Her tawny skin was complemented by big hazel-brown eyes. Her soulful eyes were hard to look away from. She was no more than five foot four with a curvy figure.

Maybe he wouldn’t be bored to death in this little town after all.

Tiny freckles dotted the bridge of her nose, and a small scar rested above her right eye. The slight imperfection did nothing to dim her beauty. How, he wondered, had she gotten that keepsake? Had she broken up a bar fight? Fallen out of a tree as a kid? Been cut by a piece of glass?

Suddenly she was leaning toward him and perusing his face. “I can tell you with absolute certainty that your lips are still attached to your face.” The sides of her mouth twitched with mirth.

If she hadn’t been standing next to him, he might have let out a howl of pain. But he didn’t want True to view him as a wuss, even if he felt like one. Xavier imagined that this was what it felt like to drink gasoline.

Suck it up, buttercup. As a professional athlete, he had endured way worse pain than this. That’s why he was back here in Moose Falls after a twenty-year absence. A tough hit in a championship game had given him a severe concussion and loss of peripheral vision in his left eye. As a result, his stellar NFL career had crashed and burned in a single instant. He’d lost everything, including his fiancée, Heather Denton, who’d replaced him in her affections with one of Xavier’s teammates. A friend, no less. He couldn’t be certain when the cheating had begun, but finding out about the affair after his injury had been gut wrenching.

“You’re a good sport,” True said, patting him on the shoulder.

“W-what was in the sauce? Molten lava?” he asked, panting. He took another swig of milk, then filled his glass up again.

True shifted from one foot to the other, then chewed her lip. “Hot peppers.”

“I’ve had hot peppers before. Do they grow them differently here in Alaska?”

She mumbled something he couldn’t quite hear.

“What was that?” he asked.

“Ghost peppers. They’re ghost pepper wings.”

Xavier’s jaw dropped. “And you’re just telling me that now?”

“Hey, you were pretty insistent about taking on the challenge.” She smiled at him brightly. “Congratulations. You won a Northern Exposure T-shirt.”

He scowled at her. “And bragging rights,” he said dryly.

“Exactly,” True said. “Let me know if you need any more milk. The rest of your food will be out shortly.”

Once she’d stepped away, Xavier let out a grunt. As if he could eat anything else after consuming those death-defying wings. He could barely remember what he’d originally ordered. Maybe the wings had fried his brain in addition to every other part of his body.

What a wild day this had been. Due to her terminal illness, his long-lost grandmother, Hattie Stone, had invited Xavier and his younger brothers, Caleb and Landon, to come back to Moose Falls to take over Yukon Cider. Because he had nothing to lose and everything to gain, Xavier had jumped at the opportunity. Basically, he and his brothers had a year to decide whether to run the company or sell it. The decision had to be unanimous, or they would forfeit the company. Although he couldn’t imagine relocating permanently to this remote Alaskan town, he’d agreed to keep an open mind.

He felt guilty admitting it even to himself, but despite his curiosity about the lucrative hard cider company, Xavier was simply biding his time in Moose Falls. If the Stone brothers stuck it out in Alaska for three hundred and sixty-five days per their grandmother’s request, they could sell Yukon Cider and hit the proverbial jackpot. He didn’t want to be mercenary, but Xavier desperately needed the cash. If his career hadn’t imploded after his injuries, he wouldn’t be in this precarious position. For the last year, bill collectors had been blowing up his phone and sending him threatening demand letters. He had received so much correspondence with FINAL ATTEMPT stamped in red ink, he was beginning to sweat every time the postman made a delivery.

After all he’d been through in the last few years, he deserved something good to come his way. He was tired of playing by the rules. All it had ever given him was heartache. No more Mr. Nice Guy.

True dragged her gaze away from Hattie’s grandson and focused her attention on another customer. “Hey, Roy. What can I get you?” she asked, trying to appear calm, cool, and collected as she interacted with her clientele.

Her cheeks were practically on fire. Hotshot! The word had sounded foolish coming out of her mouth, like she was starring in a rom-com from the eighties. She didn’t know why she’d called him that, but his jaw had dropped in response to the nickname. Ugh! This man had her out here looking foolish. Maybe she’d called him that because her nerves were on edge, and seeing Xavier in the flesh had caused her stomach to churn with anxiety.

Xavier Stone happened to be drop-dead gorgeous, which served no purpose other than to make her more annoyed at the situation. Why couldn’t he be homely and awkward? He’d glided into Northern Exposure with the grace of a GQ model strutting on a runway. He radiated confidence and a certain type of swagger that boggled the mind. Or was it arrogance? she wondered.

True let out a snort. The Stone brothers. Frankly she was sick and tired of hearing about them. The grandsons were all Hattie talked about anymore. She was surprised Xavier hadn’t floated in on a cloud with a halo over his head. She wished that she could be happy for Hattie being reunited with her family, but the whole situation annoyed her to no end. A feeling of resentment rose inside of her. Where had they been all this time when Hattie had needed them? Xavier had been chasing NFL glory and supermodels, while Caleb had been making a fool of himself on reality television. And Landon had been spending his days in a laboratory trying to be the next Albert Einstein. As if!

She’d done her research! All three of Hattie’s grandsons were selfish to the bone, only thinking of themselves. Now that their lives and careers had hit rock bottom, they were running home to Moose Falls with their tails between their legs.

Hattie was like her very own fairy godmother, as well as her boss, so it hurt a little to know that these virtual strangers meant the world to Hattie. They would be her heirs, while True would be nothing more than the tavern’s manager. She wasn’t jealous or anything. Yukon Cider had never been on her radar very much, but Northern Exposure was her baby, an establishment she’d nurtured for the last seven years. She’d begun working here as soon as she was of legal drinking age, right after the death of her parents. In record time True had worked her way up to the role of manager. She had been hungry to support herself and Jaylen.

True loved this place. Northern Exposure was her pride and joy. Hers! Even though she didn’t own the tavern, she had shed blood, sweat, and tears to whip it into shape over the years. All her hard work had paid off, and now it was a top-notch venue in this part of Alaska. She had brought on an amazing chef, Laurie Ito, who had brought her culinary skills and creativity to the tavern. Anyone who thought it was just a bar was dead wrong!

Maybe she shouldn’t feel a certain type of way toward Xavier and his brothers. She didn’t even know them, but it sucked big time that they would be in control of her destiny.

What did they know about Moose Falls or running this unique establishment? Absolutely nothing, she would wager. But because the tavern owner’s blood flowed in their veins and due to Hattie feeling nostalgic about “the boys,” they were poised to inheri. . .