A Best Friend’s Sister Small-Town Military Romance
Regina calls off her wedding at the last minute—she can’t marry a man she loves but isn’t in love with. Unfortunately, the only man who fits that description is Buck. After their one and only kiss years ago, he turned tail and ran, leaving her confused, heartbroken, and wondering what might have been.
A few days after retiring from the military, Buck receives an unexpected inheritance—a ski resort in his hometown of Largo Ridge. It solves the problem of what to do next, but it also forces him to confront his PTSD and the biggest regret of his life—Regina.
For six years, his best friend’s sister has been out of sight but never completely out of mind. Now, they’re both back in Largo Ridge, and the attraction between them is becoming impossible to ignore.
As old feelings resurface and new possibilities emerge, Buck must decide whether he’s finally ready to fight for the woman he’s always wanted. But after years of unanswered questions and a broken heart, Regina isn’t sure she’s willing to take that chance again.
Does Buck have the courage to claim the future his heart has always wanted? And will Regina let him?
Perfect for readers who enjoy the small-town romantic suspense of Julie Ann Walker, the protective military heroes of Cristin Harber, and the second-chance romances of Caitlyn O’Leary.
Chapter 1
On a cool, overcast day, Buck Thompson stood between his two best friends, Ryan Vaughn and Justin Haber, in St. Mary’s cemetery in Largo Ridge, New Hampshire. It was a place they’d spent far too much time in, grieving over one loss or another during their thirty-plus years on this earth.
Buck’s father, both of Ryan’s parents, most of their grandparents, a friend from middle school who’d died of cancer, another friend who’d been in a fatal skiing accident, and Noah Scott, their fourth musketeer who’d been killed in Afghanistan, were all buried there. And today, Buck, Ryan, and Justin were there to say goodbye to the man who’d been like a second father to all three of them—Noah’s father, Matthew Scott, who’d suffered a massive heart attack less than a week ago.
Mr. Scott had served in the Army in his youth and had lost his right leg in a training accident that’d killed two others in his squad. After receiving a prosthetic leg and a medical discharge, he’d returned to his hometown, where he married his high school sweetheart and took over his family’s business—the Largo Ridge Ski Resort. Together, he and Grace had made the forty-guest room resort a place where many clients returned year after year. Some of those faithful visitors were now bringing their children and grandchildren on ski vacations as they’d done with their own parents.
Three days after Buck was born, Mr. & Mrs. Scott welcomed their only child, a son, into the world. After Noah had started school, he’d become best friends with Buck, Justin, and Ryan. Theirs had been a true brotherhood. Arguments had been few and far between the four, most resolved with rock, paper, scissors.
Today, the men were as close as ever, minus Noah. Buck could still remember the phone call he’d received from Ryan to let him know Noah’s helicopter had gone down and there’d been no survivors. That was the day Buck had truly understood the word grief. He’d felt like a part of his soul had been ripped from his body. Even now, tears filled his eyes, and a sense of loss raced through him as he glanced over at the tombstone at the head of Noah’s grave, next to the one that had been dug for today’s services.
Sitting on chairs in front of the three friends were Mrs. Scott and her niece, Maxine. Sixteen years ago, the Scotts had taken in the then fourteen-year-old girl after her mother had been arrested and found guilty of murdering a convenience store clerk, along with her drug-addict boyfriend at the time. At least that’d happened in Ohio so Maxine could start over in Largo Ridge without a scarlet letter on her chest. At the teen’s request, her aunt and uncle had arranged to legally change her name from Judy Maxine Rhodes to Maxine Scott after she’d come to live with them. Very few people in Largo Ridge knew about Maxi’s background, but they included the men she’d come to love as surrogate brothers—her cousin Noah’s three best friends. The men would take her secret to the grave, never wanting her to be humiliated by her birth mother’s actions—something she’d had no control over.
As the Army honor guard readied for the twenty-one-gun salute, Justin and Ryan both set a hand on Buck’s shoulders, silently lending their support and, hopefully, keeping him from having a PTSD flashback. He appreciated their concern just as much as he hated it. Combat hadn’t been kind to Buck—not that it was ever kind to anyone involved. And now, the sound of gunshots had the power to bring him to his knees or make him take off running in a panic before his mind registered he was no longer in that hellhole half a world away.
The first of three volleys from the seven rifles had his knees shaking as if an earthquake had rumbled to the surface. The hands on his shoulders squeezed gently, letting him know they were still there. The second volley caused his entire body to break out in a cold sweat under his good suit. When the third round was fired off, he had to swallow back the bile that’d threatened to spew from his mouth.
As “Taps” was played, he pulled a black bandana from his back pocket with a shaking hand and wiped his wet brow and upper lip. After a moment, he nodded his thanks to his two friends. By the time the American flag draped over the casket had been folded and presented to Mrs. Scott, Buck was back in control of his body and mind again. All three men reached out and touched Mrs. Scott’s shoulders and upper arms as she hugged the reminder of her husband’s military service. Maxi laid a consoling hand on her aunt’s thigh.
After the services concluded, Buck, Justin, and Ryan waited with Mrs. Scott and Maxi while the rest of the mourners placed flowers atop the gray casket and returned to their vehicles. A repast to celebrate Matthew Scott’s life was being held at a nearby restaurant, and everyone had been invited.
Once they were the only ones still standing at the grave site, the men helped Mrs. Scott and Maxi to their feet so they could all say their goodbyes together. A few minutes later, Maxi escorted her aunt to the waiting limousine that would take them to the restaurant, and the three friends headed for Justin’s truck.
As they approached the black Chevy Silverado, an older, gray-haired man dressed in a dark suit stepped in their way, stopping them in their tracks. “Excuse me, gentlemen. My name is Howard Millner—I’m the Scotts’ attorney. Forgive me for interrupting your day of mourning, but I wanted to make certain I touched base with you before Mr. Thompson returned to Massachusetts, per Matthew’s orders.”
“Orders?” Ryan asked, obviously as bewildered as Justin and Buck were.
“Yes, you see, Matthew has named all three of you in his will, along with Grace and Maxine. I’ve already arranged to meet with the ladies on Friday at ten a.m. for the reading of the will. Is that a good time for you all to attend?”
The friends glanced at each other, their confusion deepening. Buck asked what the others were probably thinking, “Why would Mr. Scott put us in his will?”
“I’m afraid I can’t disclose that until Friday.” He held out three business cards. “Can I expect you at ten?”
Each took a card before eyeing the others. Ryan and Justin shrugged and nodded at Buck, who turned back to the lawyer. “I guess we’ll all be there.”
“I’ll see you on Friday then. Take care, gentlemen, and I’m sorry for your loss. Matthew was a good man.”
As the man walked away, Buck studied the business card in his hand, hoping it would give him some clue as to what was going on. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
“Why would he put us in his will?” Justin asked, repeating Buck’s earlier question.
Ryan stuffed his card in the pocket of his suit jacket. “Beats me. Should we ask Mrs. Scott?”
Buck shook his head. “No. She’s got enough to deal with right now. We’ll know in two days. It’s probably something small to remember him by.”
Pushing his curiosity aside, Buck started for the truck again, with the others following. He’d gotten over the worst of the day. Now, it was time to sit back and toast the man they’d loved and respected for most of their lives.
* * *
“He left us what?” Buck burst out as they sat in a conference room in the lawyer’s office shortly after 10:00 a.m. on Friday. He glanced at Justin’s stunned face, then Ryan’s, before settling his wide-eyed gaze on Grace Scott’s smile. The sixty-one-year-old woman’s dirty blonde hair had only recently started turning gray. If they all stood, the three men would tower over her five-foot-two, plump frame, but she could whip them all into shape with just a disapproving glare in their direction if they’d been fucking up in some way.
“Don’t look so surprised, boys,” she said. “Matthew and I always thought the resort would be passed down to Noah.” A flash of sorrow crossed her face before she continued. “But since that wasn’t meant to be, we decided to do the next best thing. You boys were and still are our son’s best friends. After his death, you always brought him up in conversations, remembering all the good times and making Matthew and I smile and laugh despite our grief. While growing up, I think you spent more time with us at the resort than you did at your own homes some years. You all worked there during your teens, and even while visiting after you enlisted, you still had no problem pitching in whenever help was needed. You know that place inside and out. So, Matthew and I decided a few years ago to leave each of you and Maxine a share of the resort. While I’ll still have a controlling interest, when I pass on, you’ll each inherit an equal share of my ownership.”
“Holy sh—” Ryan caught himself before the rest of the expletive rushed out of his mouth. “Sorry.”
Justin took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Mrs. Scott, I don’t know what to say.”
“First of all,” she responded, “I think it’s time you started calling me Grace. After all, you’re in your thirties, grown up and then some, and now, we’re partners. Second, this wasn’t a decision Matthew and I made lightly. As I walk around the resort, I always recall images of the four of you, at different ages, laughing and playing and enjoying life. We want that to continue. We want you all to start families and raise them like you were—with friends and loved ones. Maxi can’t run the resort alone after I’m gone—she has her practice to deal with.”
Her niece had studied to become a veterinarian and, after graduation, returned to Largo Ridge to mentor under a local vet. She took over his practice after he retired last year.
Grace continued. “Matthew and I knew we couldn’t pass on the resort to anyone but the four of you, but we also understood it might not be what you wanted either. If any of you want to back out, the others will receive your share, and I’ll understand. However, if all of you feel this isn’t something you want, then I’ll start preparing the resort to be listed for sale.”
Well, hell. That wasn’t something any of them wanted to happen, Buck thought. While they were all still flabbergasted, including Maxi, who hadn’t said a word yet, the offer couldn’t have come at a better time. Justin and Ryan retired from the military six and seven months ago, respectively, with Justin now working for his brother-in-law’s construction company. Ryan took over as maintenance supervisor at the resort when Mr. Scott offered the job since the previous one had retired a month after Ryan returned home to Largo Ridge. As for Buck, his honorable discharge had been finalized ten days ago. He was done with the military but hadn’t decided what to do as a civilian yet. It looked like Mr. Scott had made that decision for him, and Buck didn’t mind one bit.
He sat up straighter in the leather chair next to Ryan. “I’m in.”
“Me too,” Ryan added. “I work there already, anyway.”
They both eyed Justin, who grinned. “I really hate working for my brother-in-law, so, yeah, I’m in too.”
All eyes flickered to thirty-year-old Maxi. She shook her head, her long, auburn hair swishing across her slender shoulders, but there was amusement in her hazel eyes. “You know, the last thing I ever expected was to be in business with the three of you, but I couldn’t ask for better partners. If you all agree I can be a silent partner, helping out when and where I can, then I’m in.”
All three men smiled. “Deal.”
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