Carver Ridge Bachelors: Blake

By Rita Sawyer

Blake wants Kimmie the minute he sees her. Once he gets to know her he’s sure she’s the one. But she’s coming off a bad breakup and he doesn’t want to push her. He figures if she stays in town long enough when she’s over it he’ll be there waiting. He gets her a job at the local elementary school hoping it will convince her to stay in town. What he really wants is for her to fall in love with him and stay forever.

Kimmie is falling for Blake. They’re growing close, but he seems to be holding back. Frustrated she starts to think it might be best for her to go home when her contract is up. She doesn’t want to leave her friends. She would be miserable with or without them and Blake, but the thought of seeing Blake with someone else would kill her.

Can Blake convince her to stay or will his hesitance be what causes him to lose her?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rita Sawyer
• Release date: Feb 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005595050

Rita Sawyer

Rita Sawyer writes contemporary romances. Her stories vary in heat level from sweet to sizzling, but hopefully they all have a hint of humor. She grew up in Massachusetts and lives there now with her husband and kids. More about Rita and her books can be found at www.RitaSawyer.com. Readers can contact her at [e-mail].

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Carver Ridge Bachelors:

Blake

By

RITA SAWYER

Carver Ridge Bachelors: Blake

Carver Ridge Bachelors Book 3

Copyright © Rita Sawyer, 2021

Edited by Rebecca Sawyer

Cover Design by Rebecca Sawyer 2021

Image by: www.123rf.com/profile_curaphotography

Electronic Publication Date: February 2021

Smashwords Version

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without permission, except for use in reviews. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other measures without permission is illegal and punishable by law.

Please purchase only authorized editions and do not participate in electronic piracy. Your support in the author’s rights is appreciated.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Author’s Note

Dear Readers,

The deeper I get into writing the Carver Ridge stories the more I realize just how intertwined the cousins’ lives are. So I hope that as a reader that you don’t mind meeting the new characters and visiting with previous characters. One of the things I love about reading and writing series is that I get to see tidbits of how previous couples are doing. Hopefully you enjoy it too.

With that said I hope you enjoy Blake and Kimmie’s story,

Rita

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Prologue

Son of a— Blake cut himself off and glanced around the hall.

It wouldn’t do for the Carver Ridge Elementary school students to hear their guidance counselor swearing in the hall. He remembered the one time back when he had been a student there when he’d gotten caught doing it.

The principal has sternly said, Mr. Mitchell this is your one and only warning.

Blake was now one of the responsible adults who gave those lectures. That didn’t mean he could be a hypocrite and break the rule himself. He let out a soft groan as he walked into his office. He tossed the files he had been carrying onto his desk.

Normally seeing half of the papers slide out and scatter haphazardly across his well-organized desk would irk him. Right now, he just didn’t care. He walked to the window and braced his hands on the windowsill as he stared outside. His view of the parking lot did nothing to bolster his mood.

Tipping his head from side to side and then rolling his shoulders he tried to push away his annoyance and relax. He needed to calm down before he snapped at the next person who asked him a stupid question. It seemed like that was all people had been doing this morning. That wasn’t what had him in such a funk. It was the limbo he found himself in with Kimmie that had his usual easy-going disposition ready to crack.

Over the past few months since Kimmie Dove and her friends, Trish and Angie had come to Carver Ridge Blake’s life had taken a turn. The second his gaze landed on her Blake had been smitten. But once he got to know her a little his feelings had grown so much stronger. She was smart, sweet, and sexy as hell. How could he not fall for her?

He’d gotten lucky when she agreed to take a temporary position at the same school he worked at. It only made sense for them to spend more time together. He was aware that she had recently come out of a disastrous relationship. So he hadn’t pushed for anything more than friendship. But it hadn’t taken long before that had grown into something more. They hadn’t defined exactly what that more was. All Blake was sure of was that he didn’t go around kissing his other friends the way he did Kimmie.

They had fallen into a routine. They ate lunch together at school every day. And they had dinner together either at her place or somewhere in town. Sometimes alone, but often either some of his cousins or her friends would join them. Kimmie and her friends were now like family, so they usually spent the weekends together too. He loved being around her even with his noisy nosy family around.

Blake had been surprised this morning when she’s sent one of her students to his office with a note right after the first bell sounded. The kid handed the paper to him and dashed out of his office as if the place had been on fire. He didn’t blame him. Much like the principal’s office, the guidance counselor’s office was where kids in trouble could often be found.

He’d read the note twice before laying it on the desk. Kimmie canceled on him for lunch today. She’d explained that she had a meeting with the principal that he’d sprung on her this morning when she’d arrived. At a bit of a loss, he ran through all the things he could do for the half-hour he usually spent chatting with her. Of all eleven of his cousins, he was the one that stuck to schedules. He liked structure in his life. Kimmie seemed to like planning her day too.

Of course, there were times when spontaneity was great too, just not during working hours. With a block of free time at his disposal, he had decided to call his cousin Timber and see if he wanted to meet for lunch. He’d been meaning to talk to him for about a week now, but he couldn’t seem to catch him alone.

He’d like to keep their conversation just between them. Finding someplace in town where they could grab a bite to eat and be assured the privacy to talk freely wasn’t going to happen. Kimmie’s friend Angie had written a review of the local lodge owned by the Brazen sisters. It had increased the female population in town by two-thirds.

Tim offered to grab a couple of sandwiches and meet him at the school. At some point, hopefully soon, all the attention Angie’s travel review had gotten Carver Ridge would die down. If the blogs that picked it up and shared it would stop re-posting it that would help. But every time some woman would comment about their visit to Carver Ridge the post picked up more views. People, mostly women but also a few men, figured that since there were hot and single guys in town they’d come to visit and try their luck at snagging one.

It hadn’t happened yet, but their little town’s economy was soaring, so no one was complaining. Well, his cousin Andrew had been bitching a lot until he’d managed to get Angie to fall for him. Now that they were officially a couple he’d relaxed. Blake waved to a couple of kids as he made his way down the halls to the doors. He knocked on the office window and the secretary gave him a little wave.

He had a badge that would let him back in so he wouldn’t have to bother her again. But it was his habit to let them know when he came and left in case anyone needed him. As Blake walked out to his truck, he realized that Kimmie’s change in plans might play into his favor. Tim might not be the best cousin to go to for advice on women, but he was the best listener of their tight-knit group. He hoped if he said everything he was thinking out loud he’d come up with a solution himself.

You’re late, Tim said from where he was sitting on the tailgate of his truck.

No, you’re early. Blake was four and a half minutes early himself.

Blake sighed as he took a seat beside him on the tailgate and Tim said, So what kind of problems are we dealing with today? General, woman, financial?

Of the female variety.

Whoa. Tim pulled back the sandwich he’d been holding out to Blake. You’re having problems with Kimmie?

The disbelief in his cousin’s voice was almost reassuring. It’s complicated.

Dude everything is complicated when it comes to women. What’s going on?

Uh… I think Trish and Angie are thinking of me as a rebound guy.

What the hell does that mean?

Don’t be stupid. Blake shook his head. I’m the guy she’s hooked up with after that disaster of an ex-fiancé screwed her over. I’m the one she’s supposed to be with until her heart mends and then she finds the real next love of her life.

One of them actually said that? Tim’s surprise was evident in his tone.

No. Blake grabbed the sandwich out of his cousin’s hand. It’s just a vibe I’ve been getting.

Do you want me to ask Trish about it?

What is this high school? Blake tore the wrapping off the grinder it little rougher than he needed to. I don’t want you asking your girlfriend if she’s okay with me being with her friend.

Alright. Tim held up his hands in surrender.

Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I just don’t want to be her rebound guy. But I sure as hell don’t want anyone else to be either. Lucky for him she hadn’t even looked at another guy with any interest that he could tell.

He didn’t know how to tell his cousin what the real problem was. Even though they had been spending a lot of time together things haven’t moved as far as he would like. Blake had no problem taking things slow with her. She’d gone through a bad relationship and he wasn’t going to push her into going further than she was ready for.

There were a few times that things had gotten pretty heated. But one of them always pulled back at the last minute, or they would get interrupted. Blake knew why he was hesitant to take their lovemaking to the final level. Not knowing her reasons was driving him a little crazy.

Okay. Tim nodded. I get the feeling there’s more to this. What else is going on?

Kimmie has only been in my life for what, a little over five months, why does it feel like I’ve known her forever? Like I was just waiting for her to finally come here? Shouldn’t feeling that way be comforting instead of scaring the shit out of me?

It’s like that with some people. Do you think she might feel the same way?

I don’t know and honestly I’m afraid to ask her. Her contract was temporary, what if she decides to leave when it’s up next month?

So that’s what you’re really worried about? Her leaving?

Damn straight.

Then you’re going to need to man up and talk to her.

Blake bit into his sandwich. He knew his cousin was right. He couldn’t fix whatever was wrong if he didn’t know exactly what it was. Tim’s voice of reason helped a little. Still, he knew that until Kimmie agreed to stay for good and give Blake a real shot he knew he wouldn’t be able to relax.

Tim unwrapped his grinder not bothering to hide his smile as he did. It sucks, but you know I’m right.

Yeah, you’re right. Blake frowned. Now I have to get her alone and find a way to bring the subject up.

Chapter One

Kimmie had the feeling Blake wanted to say or ask her something but was he holding back. The silent pulsing energy in the car as they drove to the restaurant had felt oppressive. Honestly, it could have been coming off either one of them. Kimmie didn’t want to address it because then she’d have to admit why she was in a funk.

That would only make Blake more pensive than he already was. Hell, maybe she should’ve canceled and stayed in tonight. Normally she loved spending time with Blake. Whether they were sitting at home and watching a movie, going for a walk, or eating out like tonight she had a good time. But she’d gotten a text from her ex-fiancée today and her good mood had bottomed out.

There was nothing she could do to stop the random text and emails. If she blocked him that would only prove that he was getting to her. As it was Jacob had already gone to her father to get a message to her.

All communication between her and Jacob should be going through her lawyer Griffith. Yet she still received the random texts every week or so. She forwarded the messages to Griffith to deal with. Griffith also happened to be Blake’s cousin. At first, she’d been afraid he might tell Blake that Jacob was still contacting her. Blake would be furious. But Griffith assured her that he wasn’t discussing her case with Blake, or anyone else for that matter.

The texts were all terribly similar. Whiny and complaining. Jacob was sorry. She didn’t care. They needed to talk. Umm…no thank you. If nothing else, they needed to get some closure. It was obvious to her that he was the one who needed that. For her, she’d gotten