Winters Wilde

By A.J. Nighthawke

Foxe Wilde is back from the big city to his quaint hometown of Banner Elk. He's tired of the hustle and bustle and is eager to start his new job as the detective at the Banner Elk Police Department. What takes him by surprise is the other detective. He wasn't told of another detective. Who has a part-time detective anyway? ...why is his baby sister's best friend the other detective? Avielee Winters runs the Winters Inn along with her family. He remembers her as tiny knees and elbows. Sparks are bound to fly with these two because the feisty brunette is just as strong-willed as Foxe. Their combustible energy and dominant natures will sure keep you entertained and turning the page.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A.J. Nighthawke
• Release date: Nov 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201513290

A.J. Nighthawke

There is nothing like a good story that leaves you feeling warm and cozy inside. Here is my promise to you - Within the pages of my books, you will never find anything vulgar or inappropriate. My goal is to leave you encouraged and happy. Who doesn't like a happy ending? You may find a little drama, maybe a touch of suspense. Some of the characters might even face hard challenge's but a sweet kiss, and a happily ever after is a must.

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Winters Wilde

© 2021 A.J. Nighthawke No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise – without written permission from the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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Cover: Pixabay

ISBN: 9798702376769

Published by: A.J. Nighthawke

Printed in the United States of America

Winters

Wilde

By

A.J. Nighthawke

Table of Contents

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 1

Wilde

    The cool, crisp winds of home felt familiar as they stung my cheeks. The feeling brought a much-welcomed reprieve from my stuffy office. That office was located in Raleigh and didn’t even have one window. Most days, I never see the sun. I’m at work before that big ol ball of gas rises, and I’m heading to my apartment when she’s already set. Sure, I loved my job as a detective for the great state of North Carolina. I just hated the hustle and bustle of the big city, and don’t even get me talking about the blame traffic. When you grow up in a small community, you get used to the country mile and minute.

    Son! Daddy calls before I even slide out of my truck. His big cheesy smile is genuine, and I know that he and Mama have missed me.

    Hey, Daddy, I greet, throwing my arm around him and clapping him on the back.

    Come on inside. Mama is cooking a feast to welcome you back home, he says, pivoting to stroll inside.

    I never really pictured myself moving back in with my folks, but I was due to start my new job on Monday, and real estate doesn’t tend to move as fast as I do.

    Rushing into the farmhouse, the pungent scent of garlic assaults my nose. I’m already liking this arrangement if I get Mama’s cooking every evening.

    "Foxe!’ Mama squeals, dropping the wooden spoon that is covered in homemade marinara.

    Mama, I sigh, rushing across the kitchen to wrap around her.

    I’m glad that you are finally home, she admits with a shake of her head. You living in that city always made me worry.

    Where is Charlee? I question, glancing around and wondering where my baby sister is. Charlotte Wilde, aka Charlee, was the light of our family as well as the bane of my existence. I guess all big brothers think that about their baby sister, especially when they’re navigating the dating waters.

    She will be here in about fifteen minutes, Daddy informs, glancing down at his watch to be sure. He spins to take the sweet tea from the refrigerator. She gets off at five.

    She got a job? I ask, knowing that she had been looking for employment for months after being laid off from the bank.

    Sure did! Mama says, turning her attention back to the stove. The Winters had an opening after their concierge retired, and you know that Charlee and Avielee wouldn’t let that opportunity pass. Charlee loves it there.

      The Winters family lived higher up the mountain than most folks. The family-run the Winters Inn and ski slopes. My sister and Avielee Winters have been best friends since the two met in pre-school. It was rare that anyone called her Avielee. Most folks thought that name was too hard to pronounce, so we all called her Winters.

    Winters was a permanent fixture around our house growing up. She was either here, or Charlee was up at their inn. My parents thought of her as an adopted daughter, so I guess I tolerated her like an annoying sister. Although now, I don’t know why I always thought she was annoying. She never really said that much to me. I guess it was because Charlee always wanted to hang around me, and by default, that meant Winters was around as well.

    The last I saw Winters was the night my parents threw me a send-off party just before I left for college. My high school buddies were around, and of course, I didn’t want to be the laughingstock of my friends for hanging around the fourteen-year-olds, so I tried to avoid her and Charlee.

Winters and I just happened to be fixing our plates at the same time that night. I remember that she was a sweet girl. That night she tried to just make small talk. She was trying to be nice, asking me if I was excited about college.

    When I started to answer, one of my good friends, Trevor, interrupted. What do we have here? he drawled, eyeing Winters like a menacing lion waiting to pounce. He taunted the poor girl. Do I sense an immature crush?

Winters tanned skin blushed beet-red with embarrassment.

    Pffft, I scoffed. No crushes here. Definitely not interested.

    Yeah, I can see why, Trevor sneered. Nobody is ever gonna want knobby knees and elbows.

Winters tried to cover it. But I could see the tears pool in those emerald-green eyes that now darkened to look almost black. Abandoning her plate, Winters left the room. Come to think about it, I’m pretty sure that she left the party altogether because I didn’t see her again after that encounter.

    I’m hoping that small slight and offense is long forgotten since I’ll be working for her father. William Winters is the Chief of police in Banner Elk. He hired me as a detective. From our conversation over the phone, I gathered that he had six deputies and a part-time detective.

    William’s wife, Mae, along with Avielee and Aiden, ran the family inn. Aiden was William’s son. He was a year behind me in school. We weren’t super close or anything, but he always seemed like an alright guy. He and Winters practically ran the family inn back then.

    Since Charlee isn’t here yet, I head to drop off my suitcases in my old room. I’d sold my furniture so I wouldn’t have to store it anywhere, so I packed light.

    It’s near twenty-five minutes before a very chipper Charlee bounces in the door. The high-pitched squeal is the only warning before Charlee assaults me with one of her hugs. My arms immediately come around her, and my gaze lifts to the door in search of Winters, but she isn’t there.

    Supper is delicious, and my ears eagerly soak in all the information that I’ve missed. Charlee is the concierge, running the front desk and managing all bookings and cancellations for Winters Inn. By the way my sister glows, telling me about the place and people. She really loves it.

    I’m glad it worked out for you, sis, I say with a smile, genuinely happy for her.

    Me too, she sighs in relief. I love it there. It doesn’t even feel like work when I get to see so much of my best friend. That girl can make anything fun.

    General curiosity has my ears perking up, so I go for it and ask, Well, what is Winters up to now?

    Charlee rolls her honey-colored eyes at my question.

Pffft! she snorts. You, big brother, have never been interested in anything that involves Winters. You’ve avoided her since we became friends, so you don’t have to pretend like you care.

    Ouch! That kind of stung. Is that what everyone thinks?

    Charlee picks back up, "The question should be, what is Winters not up to? That girl is always up to something. I don’t see how she does all that she does. She is busier than a stumped-tail cow at fly time. Winters and Aiden pretty much run the inn now. Those two are all over the place. It’s the peak time for bookings with snow in the forecast, so the ski slopes are being groomed for the winter weather that is supposed to make an appearance by next week. They’ve been up on the slopes all day with their chainsaws. Mae only cuts the checks and works part-time in the office.

    There is no way that scrawny little girl can handle a chainsaw, I balk at the thought. Winters is nothing but knees and elbows.

    Charlee blows out her cheeks while rolling her eyes. Foxe, she scolds in irritation. You are a tail. It wouldn’t kill you to be a mature adult and just be nice to my friend. She’s never done a thing to you, and you are always rude, making little snide comments to cut her down. Winters is my best friend and a sister to me. I love her as much as I do you, and it hurts me that you talk down about her.

    Well, that has me shutting my mouth. This is a touchy subject.

    Excitement has me up at five in the morning, meaning that I’m at the police station just a little after seven. Thankfully, I don’t have to wait long before William shows up. I eagerly follow him inside the station. After unlocking his office and greeting the night shift, the Chief shakes my hand, welcoming me back to Banner Elk.

    The two of us discuss my duties, fill out my paperwork, and I’m led through the department and introduced to the deputies. After brief greetings, the Chief leads me to an office door that holds a golden placard engraved with the word detective.

    With a single flip of the switch, a fairly large office is revealed, and my eyes nearly bug out of my head at the sight.

    There are two gray desks in the room, and I only know that because I see the legs. Both desks are completely covered in files, pictures, and evidence bags. Both desks, along with the four cork boards in the room, are tethered together by bright yellow yarn that seems to connect important information.

    This is a major problem! Where in tarnation am I supposed to work?

      Deciding to play it safe, I ask another question. Is there another detective that I’ll be working with?

    Our other detective is part-time, mostly working on cold cases or very important ones, the Chief says. It just got to the point that we needed someone full-time. She mostly works from home and was supposed to clean this up before now.

    She? I don’t remember anyone mentioning that the other detective was a woman.

    Which is why I’m here now, a soft southern voice drawls from behind.

    Spinning, my gaze locks onto familiar bright emerald-green eyes. Winters? I question in my stunned stupor.

    What in the world has happened to Avielee Winters? She is definitely not knees and elbows anymore. This petite little firecracker is stunning perfection. She is probably no taller than five-foot-three. Her long dark hair is French-braided, but a few loose tendrils frame her beautiful face. Sharp features contrast soft pillowy lips. Perfectly arched, kohl-black brows dip into a scowl as I peruse her in shock. The fan of thick eyelashes bat in confusion, drawing my attention back to the most gorgeous almond-shaped eyes I’ve ever seen. They look like jewels in a showcase under bright lights. I think that is now my favorite color.

    That’s me, she deadpans with no hint of recognition or welcome home. Ouch! She picks up, and I hear the irritation in her tone. If you two would move from the door, Bailey can help me pack up this case.

    William and I take a step back, allowing her and another deputy entry into the office.

    Wait! I call out, but Winters never looks up. You are the detective? If so, shouldn’t you leave all of this for me to go through?

    William is the one that answers. "Yes, my Winters is the part-time detective. She wrapped up this