Falling for the British Soldier: Homecoming Series, #1

By Ashley Leigh

The rich girl from Cali. 

The Yorkshire boy who stole her heart and went off to war. 

A love story that knows no boundaries.

 

Peyton Rose wanted nothing more than to return home after a bitter break-up. With her parents disowning her, she has no one to turn to but her best friend in La Jolla. 

A fresh start is all she needs, and time to mend her broken heart.

 

What she didn't expect was to return at the same time as Reed Shaw--not only her first love, but someone she believed to have died while on active duty in Afghanistan. His return sparks a passion she never thought could be rekindled.

While once lost and without hope, can they both face their inner demons and fears and finally find themselves again...this time, together?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Captive Quill Press
• Release date: Sep 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393506058

Book preview

Prologue

PEYTON ROSE WATCHED Reed Shaw while he slept. She played with the waves of his coppery-brown hair, breathing in the scent of his deodorant and shampoo.

She’d miss that smell. She’d woken up in a cold sweat that matted her brown hair to her face and head.

Something wasn’t right.

None of it was.

It was the last night they’d have together before he deployed for Afghanistan. The sky began to brighten as early dawn crept upon them outside his bedroom window. She willed it to go away, to give them another day.

She was eighteen and he was nineteen, and they were ready to begin their lives together. He just had to survive the army. Being at war, the many prospects worried her. She knew that his father and grandfather had served in the royal army in England, and he was compelled to follow the family tradition, even in a new country.

Reed was a good man, loyal, honorable, and the best thing that had ever happened to her. When everyone else turned their back on her, he was there, with open arms.

Now, four years stood between them and happiness.

She pressed her head to his chest and listened to his breathing. A tear escaped the corner of her eye.

She’d miss him more than anything. Going off to college was supposed to be an exciting thing, but the truth was she was afraid. With her best friend going to an entirely different school and her boyfriend going off to war, she feared what would become of her.

Peyton? Reed called, his accent making him pronounce her name in a way that sounded magical. Are you okay.

He sat up and yawned before looking at the clock. It was five in the morning and they only had four more hours together.

She looked away, not wanting him to see her tears.

Alarmed, he held her hand. What’s wrong? Why are you up so early?

She couldn’t keep the tears at bay and he pulled her into a tight embrace. She sighed and straddled his lap as he held onto her.

Baby?

I couldn’t sleep. I keep having nightmares about something awful happening to you. My stomach is in knots. I don’t think you should go.

She sniffled and wiped her face.

They were just dreams.

Peyton kissed him, desperate to convince him to stay. They’d been together for a year and he was the best thing to ever happen to her.

Don’t go, Reed, she said looking at him from behind a veil of tears. Please.

He stroked her hair. It’s too late for me to back out now, Peyton. I can’t just change my mind. I’ve already done basic training and signed my contract.

She lowered her eyes and he tilted her chin to look back up at him.

Babe, it’s going to be okay. This is what will help us follow our dreams. I can take care of us after I get out.

She shook her head. No. I don’t feel good about it. I feel it in my stomach that something bad is going to happen, and I can’t shake that feeling.

He gave her a smile, and cupped her face in his hands. Whatever premonition power you have is all in your head. I am going to be fine, and we are going to be together forever. Trust me.

You don’t have to do this to take care of me. I get my trust in a few days and I can support us for the rest of our lives.

Reed’s smile faded. No, Peyton. I will not use your family’s money. Not after everything they’ve done to you and to us.

It came from my grandfather. Not from my parents.

It doesn’t matter, he said, his green eyes looking deep into hers as he held her by her arms. It’s my job to take care of you, not the other way around.

She put her hands on either side of his face and pressed her forehead to his. We can take care of each other.

Yes. We can. But I still have to honor my vow and serve my time. You go to school and get your degree. We will have our lives together when I come home.

She pursed her lips, knowing that her argument was fruitless. Reed had to go, and there was nothing she could do about it but believe in their bond and their love.

For without him...she’d be lost.

Chapter 1

PEYTON ROSE SPED down the quiet back roads to the local greenway. Something was off at home. A silent storm was brewing and Peyton wasn’t sure she was prepared to face it.

Sawyer hadn’t kissed her before he left for work at the marine base. Instead, he stepped into the bathroom while she was getting dressed and criticized her for the sports bra she’d put on for her run. When she told him that no one would see her and that she didn’t want to change, he stormed off.

There was a limit to what she would take from him, and being told how to dress was something she wouldn’t tolerate.

She parked her car in the empty parking lot and stepped out onto the gravel. Her phone buzzed. She glanced at it to see a text from Sawyer.

Come home. Now.

Rolling her eyes, she deleted the text and placed her phone into the plastic sleeve of her armband and strapped it to her forearm.

Peyton stretched her arms and legs and took a quick drink of water. Once she started down the path into the forest, she began to feel better.

Running was all that took Peyton’s mind off of the turmoil of her life. She breathed the warm air in and breathed out the negativity that seemed to cling to her.

Sawyer was good, better than she deserved or could have imagined. Their home was nice—small in comparison to the custom-built mansion she’d grown up in—but cozy and far enough away from her parents to make her feel like she might just be independent for once.

At twenty-one, she finally felt like she was an adult with her life together. She knew what that meant.

Something bad was bound to happen.

Peyton tuned out all of those thoughts as her feet pounded the overgrown dirt path that cut through the thickly wooded area of the greenway. The scenery was just what she needed. It was early enough that she didn’t have to worry about crossing paths with anyone or having the heat affect the calm serenity she enjoyed above all.

This was her time.

A buzz of her phone distracted her as it vibrated against her forearm from within a hot pink armband. She ignored it, but it kept buzzing. She leaped over a fallen tree and cut through the clearing that led to one of the ponds.

Once her phone rang for the third time, she sighed and stopped, snatching the armband from her arm.

Her brows lifted when she saw that it was her mother. A picture of the two of them at her sister’s wedding almost made her answer it. Instead, she pushed the red decline button and worked at catching her breath.

What could that woman possibly want? Weren’t they supposed to have disowned her—the slut who tarnished their squeaky clean family