Falling a small town gru.., p.1
Falling: A Small Town Grumpy/Sunshine Romance (Landmark Mountain Book 4), page 1
FALLING
LANDMARK MOUNTAIN
BOOK 4
WILLOW ASTER
CONTENTS
Note to Readers
Content Warnings
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
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Epilogue
Find Out What’s Next
Acknowledgments
Also by Willow Aster
Follow Me
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Willow Aster
www.willowaster.com
Copyright © 2023 by Willow Aster
ISBN-13: 979-8-9880213-6-0
Cover by Emily Wittig Designs
Photo: ©Regina Wamba
Map artwork by Kira Sabin
Editing by Christine Estevez
NOTE TO READERS
*A list of content warnings are on the next page, so skip that page if you’d rather not see them.*
CONTENT WARNINGS
The content warnings for Falling are an animal death, profanity, and a surprise wedding.
CHAPTER ONE
PULLING A RUNNER
RUBY
I love my dress.
In the front, it’d almost be proper, with a high neckline, long sleeves, and a fitted A-line skirt, if it weren’t for the sheer peekaboo bohemian lace and the cutout in the back that dips low. But my veil is a contender for being the showstopper. Longer than my dress, the sheer tulle is edged with lace and attaches to my low bun of artfully arranged curls, courtesy of Lydia, the stylist who’s been doing my hair since I was thirteen.
Since the day I tried it on, I’ve imagined my veil blowing behind me as Junior and I run hand-in-hand to the old-fashioned car that will be waiting for us outside, the Wasatch Range standing proudly in the distance.
There’s a knock on the door and my mom peeks her head in. She gasps when she sees me and my cousin Kess. “Oh girls, you look gorgeous.”
“Thanks, Aunt June,” Kess says, smiling. “So do you.”
“Oh thank you, love. I’ve got your dad with me, sweetheart,” she says to me. “Is it okay if we come in for a minute?”
“Of course, I was hoping you’d get here soon.”
My mom steps in and my dad follows, stopping in front of me and carefully kissing my cheek.
“Absolutely breathtaking,” he says.
“Thanks, Dad.”
My mom sniffles next to me and when I reach out and squeeze her hand, her lips wobble as she smiles.
“My baby,” she says.
“No tears. We promised.” I laugh.
“I know. I know.” She dabs her nose with a tissue and laughs too. “But it’s hard not to with you looking like a dream.” She straightens and exhales like she’s shaking it off. “I’m sorry we got hung up.” She holds up a set of keys. “You are looking at the proud owners of a Class A, 35-foot motor home! Love, light, and sunshine, baby!” She laughs again as I stare at her in shock.
Most of the time, hippie parents are cool, but…
“What?” I stand up. “But, how? Can you afford that?”
She waves me off and leans into my dad who gazes down at her like she hung the moon.
“Junior gave us a little wedding gift too,” she says. “Isn’t that nice?”
“What do you mean, Junior—”
“We’ve worked out a little arrangement, one that will make everyone happy, I think,” Dad says, grinning at me.
I stare at them for a few seconds and then head for the door.
“Honey, where are you going?”
But I’m already down the hall and outside, watching my step as I keep my dress and veil from touching the ground. I hurry past the caterers starting to set up and am out of breath when I reach the room on the side of the stables where Junior and his groomsmen are getting ready.
Something about this is not sitting right with me.
“You really ready to be married, Junior?”
I stop short of knocking when I hear Mitch needling Junior through the door.
“It’s only for a year,” Junior says.
My breath hitches and sweat beads on my forehead despite the chill in the air.
“If I had Ruby Jones in my bed, I’d keep her for longer than a year,” Charlie says.
“Meh,” Junior says.
Meh? It takes everything in me to not tear in there and…well, I don’t know what I’d do, so I just keep standing here listening.
“No, she is a great lay,” Junior says. “And I’m not quite ready to give that up…but the real prize at the end of the rainbow is all this land. After we say I do, it will be mine.”
My hands are shaking as I lift them to my mouth, trying to stay quiet.
“You mean you and Ruby will own it,” Charlie corrects.
“Nope.” Junior laughs. “I mean, her parents can’t see past their peace and love bullshit—they don’t have a clue what they’ve signed.”
“Fuck,” Charlie mutters. “How the hell did you do that with a clear conscience, bro?”
“Pretty easily,” Junior says.
“Does that idiot that’s always following her around come to bed with you too?” Mitch cracks up at himself.
I’ve heard more than enough.
And the sad part about it is that I’m not even completely surprised.
“Life is a highway,” I sing at the top of my lungs.
This wouldn’t be my first choice of music to listen to right now, but my dad sent me this song after we went through a Cars movie phase together, so it’ll always be special to me. And I guess it’s fitting since I’ve been driving since just after noon and it’s seven thirty now. Either way, these mountain roads are curvy, and I don’t dare risk messing with my playlist.
I’ve made a few stops along the way and avoided a lot of phone calls. I was tempted to throw my phone out the window when I drove across Colorado’s state line, but that felt foolish. I did, however, make sure my location was turned off.
“You’re doing good, Jolene.” I pat the steering wheel of my beloved RV, admiring the way she’s hauling herself and the trailer attached up these mountains.
I’ve been working on Jolene for the better part of a year, getting out all my HGTV energy on this passion project. My parents wanted to sell our family camper, but I was too attached to it. No, I didn’t love the orange floral wallpaper and orange Formica tabletop or the excessive use of brown…everything, but I loved all the memories we’d made in this thing. And I had a vision for what it could become.
I’d call it a vintage vehicle, except I feel vintage evokes images of silver Airstreams or those dainty red camper Christmas tree ornaments.
This is not that.
You’d never know it from the brown and orange pinstripe on the outside, but inside my petite 1979 Class C RV is a white and pale pink homey oasis. After I removed the circular burnt orange chairs and stripped the wallpaper and the brown shag carpet, I had a clean canvas to work with and a clearer perspective of how to accomplish it. The white subway tile in the kitchen area makes a huge difference, as does all the white shelving and the built-in couch with the pale pink cushions and throw pillows. A long plush runner lets the maple plank flooring show through, and the trailing plants I’ve hung up high add pops of green.
I’m not the only one in love with Jolene. From the beginning, I’ve documented my progress on TikTok and my website, and it’s blown up. It’s how I was able to pay for the wedding, how I’ve managed to keep the creditors off of my parents’ backs a little longer.
I just didn’t expect to be driving Jolene. She’s been parked on our property in Utah while I’ve been renovating her, and I didn’t have any plans to take her anywhere else. She was going to be my adorable office space near our business, not where I live full-time.
My new home was supposed to be with Junior Fitzgibbons, a little starter house we were going to take our time renovating. It was simpler than he wanted, but he relented, knowing it was the next project I was going to dive into as soon as we got home from our honeymoon.
That’s all changed now.
I swallow down the lump in my throat.
Yes, I feel stupid.
I can’t believe he tricked me into believing he cared about me.
And yes, I’m tempted to tell the world that he has a two-inch willy and doesn’t make up for it by figuring out how to satisfy a woman in other ways either, but the joke’s on me, because I almost married him despite that.
But even though my former fiancé turned out to be a hateful, money-grabbing maggot who didn’t mind trashing me to his friends on our wedding day, I wouldn’t stoop to that level.
I have a hard time wishing ill toward anyone.
I just could not let Dolly stay with him—I still see red that Mitch called her an idiot. It was hard enough to let the others go. I had to give in…but there was no way Dolly and I would survive without each other.
I was there the day she was born, helped her come into this world, and from the time she opened her eyes, we had a bond.
When I pull into Landmark Mountain city limits, I breathe a sigh of relief. I can’t believe I made it. Even with all this snow, I did it.
I hope Uncle Pierre is okay with me showing up like this. I haven’t been able to reach him, but he’s always wanted me to come stay with him. At the end of every phone call, he says there’s a place for me here. I think he’s lonely for family even though he claims he’s happy.
The pretty shops and all the twinkle lights make me smile, but to avoid all the traffic on the main road, I pull down a side road and keep driving, thinking the map will update to tell me a different route to Uncle Pierre’s. There’s more snow on this road though, and navigation takes a minute to update. As the voice says rerouting, I brake quickly and it’s a mistake.
“Noooo,” I yelp.
Losing control and veering all over the road, I plead with the universe to protect me and Dolly. After a little dip, I hear a really weird sound and we crunch to a stop in a deep snowbank.
It’s way darker out here—I should’ve stayed on the busy road with all the lights after all, but I think I see house lights in the distance. When I try to shift into reverse, nothing happens. I turn the ignition and…nothing.
Jolene is dead.
I open my door and my eyes widen when I see how much snow there is and hurriedly close the door. It’s amazing how fast the chill went to my ears with that blast of cold air.
Grabbing my phone, I jump out, cringing with each step. My white lace ankle boots with the satin ribbon ties aren’t going to survive this and that’s just a shame. Snow seeps through to my feet and in some places, it hits me mid-calf. It’s jarring to my skin, but I don’t care, I’m too laser-focused on getting to the trailer behind my RV. Fortunately, the trailer is on the road more than my RV is, and it’s just barely tilted.
“I’m coming, Dolly,” I yell, and I can hear her answering call. “Thank goodness,” I whisper.
I hit Uncle Pierre’s number on speed dial as I’m still hopping to the back of the trailer and when I unlock the door and see Dolly, I start crying.
She’s huddled in the corner with all her blankets and when she sees me, she scrambles to her feet, her head bobbing as she walks up to me and lays her head on my shoulder. I shuffle to hold back all the material flying around us and wrap my arms around her, rubbing her back and speaking in my calmest voice.
“You’re okay, Dolly. I’ve got you.”
She squawks and nestles her head in my neck the way she does when she’s scared.
“We’re okay, pretty girl. Yeah, that’s right. You’re good. We’re gonna be all right.”
I glance at my phone again, realizing Uncle Pierre never answered and I try again. This time, he picks up.
“Ruby,” he breathes. “Where are you?”
“Uh, I’m here, actually. Well, not at your place exactly. But I made it to Landmark Mountain. I just…ended up in a snowbank. Not far from the main road…”
“What do you mean, you’re there? Oh, honey.” His voice rises.
My heart drops when he says there…like maybe he’s not here.
“I’m okay, I promise.”
“You’re in a snowbank?” He sounds just like my mom when he’s upset.
“Yeah, I’m just a little bit stuck. I hope it’s okay that I came. I had to—”
“But, honey, I’m not there,” he says. “I came for your wedding...”
I slump and Dolly nestles deeper into my neck. “I didn’t…ugh. I didn’t think you were coming.”
“I didn’t think I could at first. It was going to be a surprise.”
“I can’t believe I had no idea. Thank you and…I’m sorry. How is it there?”
“The question is how are you? Everyone has been worried sick. You should call your mom, Ruby.”
“I will. I’m just…I couldn’t talk to anyone yet.”
“Are you hurt?” His voice breaks. “Hang up and call an ambulance. I’ll call a few friends to get there right away.”
“No, no, it’s okay. I’m not hurt, Uncle Pierre. Really.” I try to inject lightness into my voice so he doesn’t panic. “I’ll be okay until you get back. I might just need some help getting out of this snow so I can get to your place.”
“Oh dear. I didn’t leave a set of keys there. Oh, honey. The thing is, I’m supposed to fly from Provo to LA on Monday for a conference, but I can come home and see about you and then fly out from there.”
“No,” I insist. “Don’t change your plans for me. Do what you need to do.”
“It’s almost a week. I was supposed to be there until Thursday.”
“Do it. I’ll be okay…I’ll figure this out.”
He clears his throat and his voice is authoritative when he speaks again. Uncle Pierre in action is something to be seen. “Tell me exactly where you are.”
I describe where I turned off and the lights I see in what seems to be a house not too far away.
“I’ll call you back in two minutes,” he says. “Get back in your vehicle until then.”
“Okay,” I say, but he’s already hung up.
I don’t get back in the vehicle. Dolly’s too shaken up to leave her right now. And Uncle Pierre does call back in two minutes.
“Help is on the way. I was able to reach Callum Landmark. You’re on his property and he’ll help you. You can trust him. His sister owns a resort and they’ll be able to set you up until I get back.”
I start to tell him I have a little more than just myself to consider in staying somewhere overnight, but a truck pulls up behind me, lights shining bright.
Dolly’s chirps turn into a drumming sound, and I pet her reassuringly. When the truck door closes, a tall man strides toward me. When he steps into the light from his truck, it’s just bright enough for me to see that he might also be extremely good-looking.
At least from what I can tell, I think…maybe…oh yeah, he is. He’s also wearing the biggest scowl I’ve ever seen.
Fierce.
Yikes. I giggle and cover my mouth.
I stand up taller and forget to hold onto my veil. It flies out in front of me and brushes across the man’s face.
He dusts it off, his frown deepening, and stalks closer. I feel a rush of nerves and adrenaline.
Uncle Pierre said I can trust him, I remind myself, shuffling my feet in the freezing cold.
My mom’s motto plays on repeat. It’s like she’s perched on my shoulder saying it: Ruby Sunshine Jones is afraid of no one. Love, light, and sunshine, baby!
“Ruby Jones?” His voice is husky and wraps around me like a cozy blanket.
How that’s possible with his grumbly voice and deep glower is beyond me. Fascinating.
“Callum Landmark,” he says a little louder. “Your uncle called.”
Dolly moves quickly and steps protectively in front of me, the drumming sound intensifying from her chest. Callum shines a flashlight on us and she startles, getting louder.
“The hell?” he says under his breath.
“Uh, hi! Yes, I’m Ruby,” I say, peering around Dolly. “And this is my emu, Dolly.”
CHAPTER TWO
SATAN’S WHISPERS
CALLUM
“You late for a wedding?” I don’t normally ask questions that aren’t my business, but I want to know what kind of timeframe we’re dealing with here.
