Flirting With Alaska

Book 2: Moose Falls, Alaska

by Belle Calhoune

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

Synopsis

Return to Moose Falls, Alaska in this charming small-town romance, where a single mom takes a chance on a reformed player — perfect for fans of Brenda Novak and Raeanne Thayne!

Can a notorious flirt prove to a small-town single mom that he’s more than his bad-boy reputation?
 

Caleb Stone isn’t ready to give up his Hollywood dreams. But after a disastrous run on a reality dating show paints him as an unapologetic player, Caleb needs a little time and space to regroup. Luckily, his hometown of Moose Falls, Alaska has both, plus a job helping his brothers run Yukon Cider. Even dialed down, Caleb’s flirtatious vibes are a hit at work, except for one woman who seems completely, totally, frustratingly immune to his charms—the gorgeous new photographer for Yukon Cider’s upcoming ad campaign.

Single mom Sophia Brand isn’t made of ice—resisting Caleb’s devilishly sexy grin is hard, especially when it’s so often directed her way. It’s just that she’s been burned by handsome smiles before. Now, she’s focused on setting a good example for her daughter, and that means not getting sidetracked by Caleb’s dazzling charisma . . . or his Hollywood abs. But as they work together on the campaign, Caleb and Sophia begin to let their guard down. Can he prove that beneath his playboy persona, Caleb is a leading man worthy of a starring role in Sophia’s heart?

 

Release date: December 10, 2024

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Print pages: 336

Sample

“Are you really going to marry this guy?” Caleb asked his future sister-in-law, his voice sounding incredulous as he posed the million-dollar question. He was far from serious. He was punking his older brother, Xavier, and trying to get a reaction out of him. Although he was teasing Xavier, the truth was that his big brother getting married hadn’t been on his Alaska bingo card. When they had arrived in Moose Falls four months ago, Xavier had been wary of all women and any romantic entanglements because of being betrayed by his ex-fiancée. Honestly, he could relate due to his own experiences. Now, Caleb had fully accepted that Xavier had found love everlasting with True. They were endgame.

The Stone family was moments away from celebrating the happy couple, along with a host of friends, at their engagement party. He was playing with Xavier, but pushing his brother’s buttons was a habit he couldn’t quit. Doing so had been a way of life in their household growing up. Why would he stop now?

Xavier let out a sigh. “Yep, she’s marrying me. Unless you know something I don’t.”

“We’re definitely getting married,” True said, correcting him.

Xavier leaned over and brushed a kiss on her lips. “That’s right, baby. We’re getting hitched.”

“As in walking down the aisle married?” Landon asked, adjusting his glasses as he spoke. “With an actual official marriage license and everything?” Landon looked over at Caleb and smirked. They were tag-teaming Xavier, who remained oblivious to their joke.

True made a face. “You two are making me nervous. Why the shocked reaction? You’ve had weeks to get used to the news.” She leaned forward and whispered, “Is there something you’re not telling me? Blink twice if the answer is yes.”

Xavier stood up from the couch, throwing his hands in the air. “Okay, guys, I understand you might be surprised by this turn of events, but you’ve been grilling us for the last twenty minutes at our very own engagement party. The answer isn’t changing. True and I are getting married.”

“And I for one couldn’t be happier.” The sound of their grandmother’s voice caused all three Stone brothers to turn toward the dining room threshold. Looking resplendent in a gold ensemble and with her gray hair styled in a fancy updo, Hattie Stone always knew how to make a grand entrance.

She had a habit of appearing without making a sound. These days it was a little harder for her to pull it off due to her electric scooter, but at the moment she was walking under her own steam with the help of a fancy cane. Due to a terminal diagnosis, Hattie was “living with an expiration date,” as she liked to say.

Caleb quickly got to his feet and went to her side. He took Hattie’s arm and led her over to a velvet love seat. After she was seated, he lifted her hand and kissed it. “You look stunning tonight, Grandmother,” he drawled.

Hattie nodded her head slightly in his direction. “Thank you, my sweet charmer. It’s not every day that my oldest grandson gets engaged.” Caleb sat back down in his seat and looked over at the happy couple. Xavier and True were now snuggled up on the couch, whispering to each other and tightly holding hands.

Caleb and his two brothers, Landon and Xavier, had returned to Moose Falls four months ago after a nearly twenty-year absence. Granny Hattie was dying, and she wanted to make sure her company, Yukon Cider, was inherited by her grandsons. The catch was, they had a year to decide whether to keep the company and stick around Moose Falls or sell it to the highest bidder. The decision had to be unanimous or they would forfeit their inheritance.

Xavier had always been skeptical of staying in Alaska, but now that he was engaged to True, all bets were off. Since the three brothers had to be in agreement on the decision, he and Landon had some sway in the situation. Caleb could still go to Hollywood and pursue his dreams. Caleb knew there had to be a way to make casting agents forget about his disastrous appearance on the reality show Love Him or Leave Him. He wasn’t ready to give up on his dream. Not by a long shot. He was down, but not broken.

Caleb and Landon burst into laughter at the irritated expression etched on Xavier’s face. Seconds later Xavier caught on. “You two are messing with me, aren’t you?”

“Of course we are. For old times’ sake,” Caleb said, grinning.

“Call it an engagement present,” Landon told him.

Xavier shook his head. “Two knuckleheads.” The corners of his mouth were twitching with amusement.

“Enough of this nonsense. It’s almost time for the guests to arrive,” Hattie announced, clapping her hands together in a gleeful gesture. “Look alive, boys,” she barked, tapping Caleb’s foot with her cane.

“Yes, ma’am,” Caleb said, sitting up straight. His brothers hid their laughter behind their hands. They all had the habit of reacting to Hattie’s reprimands. At this point it didn’t bother Caleb. He knew Hattie was old-school and meant no harm whatsoever.

“Has anyone seen Jacques?” Hattie asked, looking around the room as if her man were going to pop up out of thin air.

A chorus of nos ensued.

Jacques was Hattie’s boyfriend, or paramour, as she liked to say. He was also her chauffeur and majordomo. A jack-of-all-trades, so to speak. He was a good man who was in love with Hattie and treated her well. Caleb’s own parents’ divorce had been traumatic and life-altering as an eight-year-old. Nothing in his life so far had shown him that true love was attainable. At least not for him. So why not focus on becoming the next Idris Elba?

Suddenly, Jacques was standing in the entryway, looking dapper in a black tuxedo, a red cummerbund, and a crisp white shirt. Hattie let out a sharp whistle of approval at the sight of him, which caused a huge grin to overtake Jacques’s face. He made a beeline to Hattie, leaning down to press a lingering kiss on her lips. Their love story was opening up Caleb’s eyes about the meaning of love and relationships.

“Get a room,” Landon muttered, looking away from the couple and wrinkling his nose.

“Jealous?” Caleb asked, jabbing his little brother in the side. He tended to tease Landon about being perpetually single, since he’d never had a significant other. Maybe Landon wasn’t finding the ribbing so funny these days, judging by the fierce expression on his face.

Landon glared at him and rammed his elbow into Caleb’s side, causing him to let out a grunt of pain.

“That hurt,” Caleb said. When had Landon gotten so buff? He must be lifting weights in his spare time.

“Good to know,” Landon said, a smile of satisfaction spreading over his face.

“Come on, boys,” Hattie said, her tone full of disapproval. “I expect you to be on your best behavior tonight in the happy couple’s honor. After all, you’re representing the Stone family.”

Representing the Stone family was of the utmost importance to Hattie. Ever since arriving in Moose Falls, he’d felt the weight of her expectations on their shoulders.

The doorbell pealed, heralding the arrival of the first guest. Within seconds servers were in place, holding trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. A harpist was gently playing in a spot next to the fireplace. Caleb stood up from the couch and moved toward the entryway, ready to greet their guests as they trickled in to the great room. He loved the rush of excitement pulsing in the air. Caleb thoroughly enjoyed working a room and socializing. Moments like this allowed him to shine. Schmoozing was good practice for his future in Hollywood. He was more determined than ever to make a big splash as a professional actor.

Caleb reached for a bacon-wrapped scallop from one of the serving trays and popped it into his mouth. He had the feeling this was going to be a long night. As the rooms began to fill up, Caleb found himself feeling a bit out of sorts, which was unusual for him, since he loved parties and being in the spotlight.

With Xavier getting hitched, nothing in their lives would ever be the same again. He felt it acutely. True was the perfect woman for his brother, and Caleb thought they made a great pair, but at the same time it felt as if he was losing something. He and his two brothers had always been the Three Musketeers—all for one and one for all. That dynamic would shift now with Xavier becoming a husband and a surrogate father to True’s younger brother, Jaylen.

Suck it up, buttercup, a voice buzzed in his ear. This is life. He’s your brother, and he also happens to be your best friend. Be supportive. Stop acting as if the sky is falling in.

Caleb looked around the room, determined to distract himself from his feelings, and caught sight of a flash of red—all curves and hips—snapping photos with a professional-looking camera. Her vibe was intense as she zeroed in on the guests to take their pictures. She looked vaguely familiar but he couldn’t immediately place her. She was walking on the highest heels he had ever seen, and for a moment he held his breath as she appeared a bit unsteady on her feet.

Why did women put themselves through such torture? Especially at the risk of falling on their butts. But she was defying the odds by staying upright. He couldn’t look away from her. The woman was smoking hot with a curvy figure and long auburn hair. Her skin was the color of mocha. She was radiant.

Easy there. Remember your vow.

Women were off the agenda, especially while he was here in Moose Falls. He still wasn’t over the public humiliation of being branded “the Love Rat” on a reality television show. Caleb had believed that starring on the show would give him a leg up in Hollywood. Instead, he had been caught in a love triangle and had his dirty laundry aired for all the world to see. Or at least the show’s seven million viewers. His version of events had never made it on-air, and he’d been left to twist in the wind by the woman he’d fallen in love with. That betrayal still burned, and he couldn’t even fathom the idea of pursuing another relationship.

But there’s no harm in looking. Surely that couldn’t get him in any trouble, could it?

He was in Moose Falls for about another eight months, and working at Yukon Cider without any extracurricular activities was getting old. All work and no play made Caleb a very dull boy. He smiled directly at her, giving her his million-dollar grin. Caleb then raised his champagne glass to her. It was his go-to move at social gatherings, and usually women responded quite well to his flirty vibe. He wasn’t used to being subtle when it came to women. And if history was any indication, they loved his swagger.

Wait for it, he told himself. She would be swarming him at any moment now. Ten, nine, eight, seven…

She gave him an icy look followed by an eye roll. She then turned her back on him and faced a completely different direction. Ouch!

Shock washed over him like a bucket of ice-cold water. He wasn’t used to a woman responding to him with no interest. This had to be a first. Had he lost his touch?

Why did the Stone brothers have to be so freakin’ hot? Sophia Brand asked herself for the tenth time that evening as she walked around taking pictures of the guests. Especially the middle brother, Caleb. Things would be so much easier if he were cross-eyed and homely instead of looking like Webster’s definition of the word “fine.” Super fine, in fact. Honestly, jaws in Moose Falls had dropped the moment these three men arrived in town.

No wonder Caleb had made hearts melt all over the country during his stint on reality television. Thankfully, she knew enough about him from watching Love Him or Leave Him to never see him as anything other than a complete jackass. That had made it easy for her to resist his come-hither look from across the room. She wasn’t going down that road with him… or anyone else, for that matter.

The Love Rat. She stifled a snort. And, boy, had Caleb earned the nickname by hooking up with the twin sister of the woman who had selected him as her final pick. What a disaster! He had cemented his bad boy reputation in reality show history with his antics. She almost felt bad for him. Even at his brother’s engagement party, Caleb was trying to flirt up a storm.

This wasn’t her first time seeing Caleb Stone in action. About a month ago he’d winked at her from across the room at Northern Exposure when she was talking to True. The gesture had been overly flirtatious and downright cheesy. Maybe if he’d walked over to her and introduced himself, she might have been receptive, rather than getting the ick. Maybe she hadn’t been fair in her assessment of him. After all, as a huge reality TV junkie, Sophia had known all about Caleb before he’d ever stepped foot in Moose Falls.

Clearly, he was the type who thrived in social environments.

Sophia didn’t enjoy going out, even though she loved her hometown of Moose Falls, Alaska, and the townsfolk. She didn’t normally attend social functions on weeknights. Or actually on any nights of the week, if she was being honest. Not that Moose Falls had a hopping night life to speak of, but in the last few years she had been a bit of a homebody. Having a child did that to a person, not to mention being drop-kicked by her baby’s daddy.

Do not think of him. Don’t even breathe his name.

Donny. Ugh. His name popped into her head before she could stop herself from conjuring it. Well, it wasn’t as if she could pretend he didn’t exist, even though it would be nice if he went up in a puff of smoke or fell into a mine shaft. She still had to deal with him until Lily turned eighteen. Since her daughter was only four, it felt like a life sentence.

Tonight she was celebrating her friend True Everett’s engagement to one of the gorgeous Stone brothers. She was marrying Xavier, a former NFL player who seemed super sweet and perfect for True. A small part of her acknowledged that happily-ever-afters did exist, even if they were few and far between. She didn’t believe that one was in the cards for her, which was okay, since she had her sweet Lily. Her daughter was her happy ending. It was difficult being away from her, but this evening was about work.

As a professional photographer she needed to grab jobs as they came her way. She was barely getting by as it was. Due to Moose Falls being a small Alaskan town, Sophia had to hunt down assignments, which tended to be frustrating and very competitive. So when the inimitable Hattie Stone had asked Sophia to take pictures at her grandson’s engagement party, Sophia’s answer had been an enthusiastic yes. Hattie was an icon here in Moose Falls, not only due to her company, Yukon Cider, but also thanks to her lively personality and her philanthropy.

“Sophia, it’s time for you to take a break.” Hattie’s voice came from directly behind her. Sophia whirled around and greeted Hattie with a kiss on the cheek. “You’ve been a whirl of activity since the party started.”

“That’s how I like it,” Sophia admitted. “Once I get in the groove, it’s hard to get out of the groove.”

“Well, grab a glass of champagne and some of those crab bites.” Her face lit up. “Oh, and don’t let me forget the camera in the attic. I’ve been meaning to give it to you for ages now.”

Hattie had told her about a vintage camera that was simply gathering dust in her attic, and she’d offered the camera to Sophia. She could barely hold back her excitement at the idea of acquiring such a rare item.

“Since I’m taking a champagne break, I can run upstairs and get it now,” Sophia suggested. She could use a little pause from the action. Maybe she could even sneak in a phone call to Patience and find out how Lily was doing. She was missing her little girl, even though she knew that her daughter was in great hands.

“I can send one of my grandsons,” Hattie said, looking around the room. “One of them must be nearby.”

“It’s not necessary,” Sophia assured her with a pat on the shoulder. “I’ve got muscles too, you know.” She winked.

“Well, the box is right by the door, so it won’t be hard to find.” Hattie looked down at Sophia’s heels. “Are you sure that you won’t twist an ankle in those clodhoppers?”

Sophia chuckled. “At this point I’m a pro,” she said. She turned away from Hattie and made her way toward the grand staircase. She grabbed the hem of her dress and pulled it up so it wouldn’t be a tripping hazard. Maybe Hattie had been right about the shoes. When she reached the top of the stairs, she took off her heels and placed them to the side before proceeding up the last flight toward the attic.

She huffed out a relieved breath when she reached the final three steps.

“I should have listened to Hattie,” she muttered. Why was she always so stubborn? It was a terrible trait that always seemed to land her in trouble. She could be sipping champagne right now instead of getting a workout and a run in her pantyhose.

Sophia fumbled with the doorknob that didn’t want to budge.

“Hey there. Let me get that for you,” a deep voice said from behind her.

Sophia didn’t need to turn around to know who was standing there. She had listened to him for months on Love Him or Leave Him. The tone of his voice was rich and silky, perfect for charming the panties off unsuspecting ladies.

Little did he know, she was not one. Sophia wasn’t buying anything Caleb Stone was selling. Been there, done that.

“Thanks, but I’ve got it,” she said without turning around, just as the door gave way. She stumbled a bit over the threshold due to the long hem of her gown, propelling her forward.

“Easy there,” Caleb called out, reaching for her elbow to steady her. Feeling a bit foolish, she shrugged off his hand and walked into the attic, making sure not to shut the door behind her. Her fear of small spaces wouldn’t allow her to relax if she was closed in.

He followed behind her, his shoes making a tapping sound against the wood flooring.

“Don’t let the door close,” Sophia said in a raised voice, whirling around to face him.

“Why not?” he asked with a grin. “Don’t worry about being alone with me. I don’t bite.”

Sophia had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. This man made even an innocent comment seem suggestive.

The door slammed shut with an ominous thud.

“I heard a clicking sound,” Sophia said as her heart began to thunder wildly in her chest.

You’re okay. You’re safe. Nothing’s going to happen.

“It was probably just the knob rattling. It’s an old door,” Caleb said. He sounded so matter-of-fact she wanted to scream at the top of her lungs. She knew what she’d heard.

Sophia walked over and tugged at the door handle. Nothing. She tugged again, feeling frantic. It wasn’t budging. They were locked inside the attic. Panic began to rise up in her throat. How long would it be before they ran out of oxygen? Her throat felt as dry as sandpaper.

Just breathe, she reminded herself. You’re not in any danger.

“Y-you locked us in,” she said in a shaky voice.

Caleb reached past her, his arm brushing against hers as he jiggled the doorknob, to no avail. He let out a grunt as he continued to pull at the door handle without it budging.

“Oh, wow. My bad. You’re right,” Caleb said, turning around to look at her. “We’re stuck.”

“Of course I’m right,” she seethed. “I don’t know why you couldn’t just listen to me and accept that I didn’t need your help.” She wasn’t certain about it, but Sophia suspected steam might be coming out of her ears.

“I was trying to be chivalrous.”

“That ship sailed a long time ago,” she muttered.

Ugh. She really shouldn’t have said that. She could only blame it on her fear of small spaces and her annoyance at the situation she had found herself in. But still. Her words were harsh.

His features instantly hardened. Caleb let out a ragged sigh. “You watched Love Him or Leave Him, didn’t you?”

Sophia shrugged. “I may have watched a few episodes,” she sheepishly admitted. “It was mildly entertaining.”

Caleb’s jaw clenched. Up close he was incredibly handsome. Russet-colored skin. Striking features. Big brown eyes framed by jet-black lashes. And he was sexy in his suit and tie. He looked even better in person than he did on the small screen. How was it possible that he didn’t possess a single flaw? His hotness factor was off the charts.

“What’s a few?” he asked, arching his brow.

By a few she meant dozens. Reality television was her secret addiction, and she was hooked. Born to Wed. 365 Days to Love. Train to Love. Marry Me or Else. She’d devoured them all like boxes of Godiva chocolates. Caleb’s show had been one of the most popular reality shows of all time. He had become a breakout star over the course of the inaugural season. By the conclusion of the series, the audience had turned against him. She herself had loved to hate him. Perhaps it was her own dismal love life that had turned her into a reality show junkie.

“I saw enough to get the gist,” she told him, making a face. “You were quite the charmer. Not many people could get two sisters to fall in love with them.” She would never admit it to Caleb, but she’d been rooting for a happy ending for him and Gillian. Until he’d blown everything up by romancing her twin sister and turning viewers against him.

He placed a hand over his heart. “All I ask is that you don’t judge me by the producer’s edit. A lot of things were left on the cutting room floor. I only went on the show to boost my acting career, but I was in way over my head.”

“Really?” she asked him. “You seemed to be in the driver’s seat the whole time.” Could she have been so wrong about what she’d seen on her television screen?

“Not by a long shot,” Caleb answered. “Believe it or not, I was the one walking around in the dark with a blindfold on. The audience only saw half of the story.”

Oh, he was good. Mr. Hollywood. Smooth. Suave. And somewhat convincing. “Frankly, it’s none of my business. Can we use your cell phone to get someone to rescue us?” Being trapped up here was. . .