Troping through the snow.., p.1
Troping Through the Snow: The Complete Bundle, page 1
TROPING THROUGH THE SNOW
THE COMPLETE BUNDLE
ALEXA RILEY
CONTENTS
Brother’s Best Enemy
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Epilogue
BONUS Epilogue
The Cozy Agreement
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Epilogue
BONUS Epilogue
Blackmailed by the Grump
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Epilogue
BONUS Epilogue
Forbidden Stranger
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Epilogue
BONUS Epilogue
Stalking the Secret Baby
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Epilogue
Finding My Best Friends Daughter
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Epilogue
Read Me Romance
Stalk the Author
Copyright © 2023 by Author Alexa Riley LLC. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email to riley_alexa@aol.com
http://alexariley.com/
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Edited by Aquila Editing
To all of us that live for the holiday tropes…
TROPING THROUGH THE SNOW
BY ALEXA RILEY
The best thing about romance is falling in love with your favorite trope. That's why we've created the town of Troping, where there's love for everyone.
Grab the complete Troping Through the Snow bundle with a Surprise Brand New Novella and FIVE Bonus Epilogues - one for each book in the series!
This bundle includes Brother's Best Enemy, The Cozy Agreement, Blackmailed by the Grump, Forbidden Stranger, Stalking the Secret Baby, AND a Surprise Novella: Finding My Best Friend's Daughter.
BROTHER’S BEST ENEMY
Tinsel is the town sheriff in Troping and she loves her job. The only downside is her brother's best friend Jack, who also happens to be her nemesis. He does everything he can to get under her skin, but she's always got a ticket ready to pass out to annoy him right back.
Jack has been in love with Tinsel since his best friend first brought him home for the holidays. The only problem is keeping his distance when all he wants to do is hold her close. For years he's kept his control, but it's not going to last much longer. How can a woman who is hell-bent on making his life miserable be the woman of his dreams?
Warning: Enemies to lovers and brother's best friend were never so much fun! Come with us to Troping, where you'll find all the best stories!
CHAPTER 1
TINSEL
He’s here again, and this time he’s not alone. Jack pulls up next to my patrol car in his fancy SUV that costs more than some people’s houses. Emily, who works the front desk and is Jack’s right hand, sits in the passenger seat.
That’s the second day in a row they’ve come to Snow Baked together to get their morning fix of coffee and some kind of delicious pastry. I’m here every morning but mostly because I live above the place. Who am I kidding? Even if I didn’t, I’d still be here for my morning sugar cookie coffee.
Emily used to come alone to collect Jack’s order, but now they’re coming together. Why? Emily isn’t even from Troping. I suppose neither is Jack, but he and my brother are best friends, and he’s been around for years.
When my brother North came home from college, he brought Jack with him. Jack decided to open a snow resort for people who visited the town during the holiday. He’s also pretty busy in the summer too when we do Christmas in July. Troping is always decked out in holiday cheer because no one takes down their lights. If they do, it’s because they’re changing them out for a new color.
The first time I met Jack was when North brought him home for the holidays their freshman year in college. I remember being excited that my brother was bringing someone home. He’d told me that Jack lost his parents and didn’t have anyone to spend the break with. I felt terrible and went out of my way to make him feel welcome. I even made sure he had gifts under the tree so he wouldn’t feel left out on Christmas morning.
Wrong. Jack was more of a Jack-ass. My brother failed to mention Jack was a rich prick from the city. The very second I met him, he was an asshole, but for some reason, I’m the only one that gets that side of him.
It really stings because when he first walked into my parents’ house, my heart gave this tiny little flutter. I was sure it was the same feeling Mom told me she got when she met Dad and how she knew he was the one. Well, if Jack is the one, I’d rather live out my life alone. Guess I’ll die a virgin while I’m at it.
Why he moved here when my brother came back after college, I have no freaking clue. But then he went and opened the snow resort, which kept confusing me. It’s even worse because although I wanted to hate the place, it’s so stinkin’ adorable. It’s also nice for people to have a place to stay when they pass through our town. The holidays are what keeps this town alive and thriving. Then in the off season we get to lie back and enjoy our small town all to ourselves. I love how we get a bit of both worlds in the town of Troping.
“You’re glaring,” Frostie says from behind the counter.
We’ve been best friends our whole lives. She took over the bakery from her grandma two years ago, right when I became a deputy. We share the apartment over the bakery, and I keep watch over the town while she keeps the people fed.
Pretending to find my coffee super interesting, I stare down at it as Emily and Jack get out of the vehicle. I don’t want to be caught staring. I don’t have to look to know that Emily will be dolled up. How does she do that? Honestly, I’m impressed. Most of the time she’s in heels too while I can barely get myself to put on some mascara and lip gloss. My hair is usually pulled back to stay out of my face, but Frostie actually braided it for me this morning.
I want to hate Emily, but it’s not her fault. Even if I want to choke Jack, I can’t stop the attraction I have for him, and it pisses me off. Why do they look so perfect side by side? Emily is always nice to me, and I hate it. Why can’t she be a bitch?
Jack usually wears a suit or some sweater that fits snugly. He must use the gym at the resort since it’s the only one in town. Of course he lets everyone use it even if they aren’t staying at the resort because he’s so nice. I roll my eyes thinking about it.
“Morning, Tins!” Emily chirps as she enters the bakery.
“Morning.” I give her a smile before dropping my gaze so that I don’t have to meet Jack’s glare.
“Morning to you, too,” Jack mutters.
I ignore him, which is something I’m terrible at. Biting the inside of my cheek, I don’t say a word as I scream internally. Picking up the frosted donut that’s covered in green and red sprinkles, I shove the last half of it in my mouth. That should do the trick.
“Maybe I should have the donut. It must be good.” Emily laughs as I chew with my cheeks puffed out. I bet I resemble a chipmunk right about now.
My eyes catch Jack’s, and once again he’s staring right at me. Emily moves to the counter, her attention now on the display case, checking out the donuts.
“You got a staring problem?” I say as I swallow the rest of my donut.
“I
I’m in my uniform, and although I’ve never really been self-conscious about my body or looks, seeing Emily, the perfect blond Christmas tree topper, has my uniform feeling a bit snug.
“You break enough of those, don’t you think?” I toss back at Jack-ass.
“I’ll swing by City Hall and take care of those tickets later.” He winks at me, and I grind my teeth.
“You do that,” I snap back. Frostie’s and Emily’s eyes bounce between the two of us, and Emily’s brows are raised all the way up. “You ladies have a great day. Love the heels, Emily,” I say sweetly. I hate that Jack can bring out the snippy side of me like nobody else.
I get along with everyone in Troping. Hell, I know everyone too. So why is Jack so different? Why does he go out of his way to aggravate me and push my buttons when he doesn’t even give me the time of day?
Tossing my wrapper away, I take my coffee and head out to my patrol car. Once I’m inside, I pull up the records of all the tickets I’ve given Jack.
Sure, there are a lot, but that’s because I clock the man for anything I can. It doesn’t matter how small the crime is, I have this need to irritate him as much as he irritates me. It’s not as though he can’t afford the tickets.
A smile pulls at my lips when I see today is the last day he has to pay the one I’d given him for parking in the handicap spot. If he doesn't, a bench warrant will go out for his arrest.
Okay, maybe he wasn’t fully parked in a handicap spot, and the tire of his SUV was on the line, but I really hope he forgets to swing by City Hall and take care of it.
I’ve never actually gotten to arrest anyone before, but I wouldn’t mind Jack being my first.
CHAPTER 2
JACK
“What’ll it be?” Frostie asks, and I turn my attention away from the window where I watch Tinsel grinning like she’s the cat that ate the canary.
“Just a coffee please. The usual.”
“Caramel macchiato with a sprinkle of cinnamon?” she asks, and I nod.
“Hey, Frostie, can I ask you something?”
“Go for it.” She keeps making my coffee as I move down to the other end of the counter.
“When Tinsel smiles like that, should I be worried?”
She laughs, and Emily comes up beside me. “I don’t know what you did to her, but she’s always nice to me.” She thanks Frostie for the donut and goes over to chat with Dr. Grayson, who is having breakfast with her son.
“You two just won’t quit.” Frostie sighs and shakes her head.
“She started it,” I tease as I drop some cash in the tip jar.
“If I were you, I’d steer clear of her today.”
“And what would be the fun in that?” I say as I thank Frostie for the coffee, and Emily and I leave Snow Baked.
She used to come without me, but then she started mentioning that she saw Tinsel there every morning, and I decided to tag along. I couldn’t miss an opportunity to see the woman who occupies my every thought and maybe annoy her a little because of it.
Sure, she pushes my buttons, but I like to think I push all of hers right back. That’s what happens when you fall in love with your best friend’s little sister and she’s one hundred percent off-fucking-limits.
I remember the first time I saw her like it was yesterday. She was wearing a Christmas apron with little gumdrops on it, and some of her curls had fallen out of her ponytail. There was a little flour still on her cheek, and when she smiled, it struck me straight in the heart. I’d never felt like that before, and the only time I’ve felt like that since is when I look at her. Every fucking time I look at her, to be precise.
She stood there with bright eyes, lush curves, and a mouth made to suck—
“Yoo hoo, Earth to Jack,” Emily says, and it brings me back to reality. “You missed the turn.”
“Shit, sorry.” I drive down Candy Cane Lane and make a U-turn. “I guess I was distracted by—”
My words are cut off when I hear the sound of a siren behind me, and then I see blue lights in the rearview mirror.
“Five whole minutes?” Emily checks her watch. “That must be a record.”
“Not necessarily,” I disagree. “She got me that one time for littering when I dropped my coffee and then cited me for defacing public property when it splashed on the barber shop.”
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that one.”
Putting on my brightest smile, I roll down the window just as Tinsel comes to a stop beside it. She’s already writing the ticket before I’ve had a chance to say a word.
“There’s no sign that said I couldn’t make a U-turn,” I say, but Tinsel ignores me as she rips off the ticket and hands it over.
“Have a great day,” Emily calls over me, and Tinsel smiles. What I wouldn’t give to have that smile directed at me.
“See you later, Ems.” Tinsel’s smile drops and turns to a glare before she walks back to her patrol car.
“You know you’d catch more reindeer with sugar,” Emily quips, and I roll my eyes.
“Trust me, this is one reindeer that doesn’t want to be caught.”
As I pull into the inn, Emily heads for the conference room to meet with the staff and go over the day-to-day operations. I’m the owner of Snowed Inn, but she’s the manager that keeps things running. She’s great at her job when she isn’t lamenting about how in love she is with her boyfriend who’s overseas until the new year. I can only hear about how great love is for so long before I have to tune it out.
Being in love is the worst. I would know because I’ve been in love with Tinsel for years, and I’ve had to suffer in silence. Sometimes I think about just laying it all out on the table, but I couldn’t take the rejection. Not with how much she hates me and how it could most definitely mess up my relationship with her brother North. He’s the only family I’ve got, and I wouldn’t want to hurt that because I’m the dumbass who fell in love with his sister. A sister who despises me.
There she was in that damn apron looking like I was Santa Claus come to life and all I could think was, fuck. I’d lost my parents and had no one other than North. When I looked at her, I was so damn angry because I knew I couldn’t have her. All the money in the world couldn’t buy what I truly wanted. I’d already had so much taken away from me, and I couldn’t stand to lose something else. Something so important.
“I’m headed to City Hall,” I call to Emily as I grab my coat and coffee.
It’s just across the street, so I decide to walk through the dusting of snow and enjoy the crisp morning. Days like this make me ache for Tinsel, and I know it’s because the holidays are coming. Every year, I spend it with her family, and every year, I have to sit beside her and use all of my control to not put my hand on her thigh and sink my fingers between them.
