Alora & Ash Smith's Corner

By Jayne Paton

Love...it comes with no assurances, as life has taught me. Can past hurts be overcome to give me a second chance at finding happiness?

Loneliness has me returning to the place where I grew up and where I left a big part of my heart behind. My return isn’t the only hot gossip in town when it seems fate is out to mess with me once again. Ash Smith, the man who was once my whole world, is now out of prison, and the secret I’ve held close is harder to hide.

A smile that eclipses the sun and melts me faster than the asphalt on a hot summer Texas day is pointing in my direction, but this time I’m older and wiser. Yeah, like that’s the truth. The second Ash aims those sexier than sin, caramel eyes at me, love is back on the agenda. But can I give my trust to a man who once crushed my heart with his rejection when it isn’t only my heart on the line this time?

It seems I’m about to find out.

Smith’s Corner: Ash & Alora (book 3) is a second-chance romantic drama. It comes with a hot as fuck barman who’ll do just about anything to please his daughter and win back his one true love, no matter how ridiculous it makes him look.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jayne Paton
• Release date: Jun 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005389529

Jayne Paton

An author just looking to create a little escapism in a world where everyone needs to be romanced.

Book preview

The clanging of the jail gates brought with it a huge dose of reality that I’d never quite accepted until this moment. For the first time, I acknowledged the fear of what Ash was going to face, alone. How could one night change everything?

As the guard’s gaze swept down over my curves, revulsion and fear followed. How would Ash survive in this place? How was I going to survive without him?

He’d become my everything since the day I’d met him. As the guard indicated for me to sit with all the other visitors on hard plastic chairs that were bolted to the ground, memories of the night floated through my mind.

"Hey, darlin’, what can I get you to drink?" the barman rasped in a sexy voice that sent shivers down my body.

Up until now, the only sexy Smith brother I’d met was Dallas. The youngest of them all, I had been a year ahead of him at school. I hadn’t mixed in the brothers' circle of friends. Their exploits had been gossiped about for years. Then they’d bought the one bar in town, and the word was they were clearing out the deadbeats that were only looking to fight.

Dallas had not prepared me for the man-mountain in front of me. He was huge, at the best guess six-foot and five or six inches of pure man. His large barrel chest was covered in a black T-shirt that clung to every muscle. His arms bulged when he leaned on the bar. Tattoos covered his arms and parts of his hands. I’d never considered that sexy before, but on the man in front of me, hell, they were something else. My gaze moved up to meet eyes that reminded me of dark molten chocolate, and for a second, I forgot what I was doing there, and I was pretty sure even my own name.

His thick, dark brows rose, and a sexy smirk formed on his lips. Cat got your tongue, little lady?

"Erm, can I have four draft beers, please?" The breathy way I sounded caused a wave of heat to ride up my chest and mix with my embarrassment.

The sounds around me disappeared as he slowly stood back up, winked, then swaggered like a cowboy from an old western down the bar to gather up the glasses.

There was a nudge to my ribs. I glanced to my left, finding Caroline, my best friend. He’s so gorgeous. In fact, they all are. I followed Caroline’s gaze to the three other men behind the bar, that, if I was honest, I hadn’t noticed.

"Who’s the one in the black T-shirt?" I whispered out the side of my mouth.

Caroline giggled. That’s Ash. I think he’s the second oldest of the brothers. He’s hot and single, from what I hear. Heck, I think they’re all single right now.

Ash walked back toward us with two filled glasses and placed them on the bar in front of me. Caroline. How’s your brother doin’ after the fall off his horse?

There was a sigh and a sniff before she answered. No, great. Mal is about as happy as his horse is right now, unable to get about and ride. He broke his leg in two places, and that means restin’ up until it’s healed.

Ash rubbed at his bearded jaw. Sorry to hear that. Tell him I was askin’ after him. You could mention if he’s lookin’ for someone to ride his stallion, I’ll help out. His horse is a bit of a handful.

"It is, and it’s why he broke his damn leg giving the thing too much rein."

I gently touched Caroline’s arm, understanding her worry for her brother. He’d been lucky he hadn’t broken his neck. It’s six to eight weeks because he didn’t displace the bones. He’s lucky he didn’t need surgery. After a few weeks of PT and being careful, he’ll be soon back on his feet and getting under yours again.

Ash’s eyes narrowed on me. How do you know so much about that stuff? You hurt yourself in the past?

Was that concern I heard in his voice? The flirtatious look in his eyes remained as he waited for me to answer. My heart fluttered under my ribcage. I’m a nurse, newly qualified, and right now, I’m working in orthopedics.

"Sexy, clever, and all those curves. What more could a man want?"

"Stop flirtin’ with the customers," a gruff, grumpy-looking guy, who, if I wasn’t mistaken, had to be Ash’s brother, said as he walked past.

Ash didn’t even so much as acknowledge the other guy as he retrieved the other two beers. Once they were sitting in front of me, I reached for my purse, and he shook his head. On the house…if you’ll agree to go on a date with me.

The fluttering turned to a full-on stampede as my heart tried to work to escape my chest. You wanna take me on a date?

Caroline sighed loudly.

I’d never been good at the flirting game. I’d only ever had one boyfriend before, and he’d dumped me for someone who was half my size.

"That I do, darlin’. So how about it, you wanna take a risk on a bad boy?"

Alora Ashby?

The past disappeared at the shout of my name and brought me back to reality with a crushing blow to my chest. I stood on rubbery legs and walked after the prison guard. There was the scent of sweat and something I didn’t want to think too hard about as I walked down long hallways. The starkness of the white walls and gray concrete floors left no hiding from where I was. Where Ash was going to be living for…

The room the guy led me into had a glass partition between me and the empty room on the other side. I sat in the lone chair and sucked in a deep breath. My hands cupped my belly, and I tried not to think about what the future would hold for me, Ash, or our unborn child.

A sound drew my gaze to the other side of the glass, and my heart tripped over in my chest. The love I felt for this man swelled so fast it left me breathless. He’d been my everything from the very first date four years earlier. We’d been inseparable, and the little house we’d bought together held all the memories of what we could have had if…

I told you, Alora, you should not be coming here. They were words he’d repeated at the court through his lawyer when they’d passed judgment.

I pressed forward in my seat, desperate to feel his arms around me. They’d always made me feel safe and loved. The man staring at me now was a stranger. He was not the Ash I knew. The tears I’d thought had all but dried up, started to slide down my cheeks. I love you.

His expression became closed, and my heart ached for what I understood he was doing. It’s over. I could be here for more than a decade. You need to be livin’ your life, not waitin’ on the likes of me.

If you behave, your lawyer said you can be out in half that time. You are worth waitin’ for, Ash. I love you.

Where was I when you got attacked? Workin’? To busy worryin’ about shit that ain’t important? How can you love me? How? His whole body shook in the chair, his face the same mask of devastation it was when he’d found me at the back of the hospital and realized I’d been attacked. "Listen and listen good. Go and don’t come back. I’ve told them not to let you in again. I need you to live your life and be happy. I need that." His jaw flexed, his eyes full of determination.

The little butterfly movement in the pit of my stomach left me cupping my belly. The child we’d conceived—that he had no idea about—pushed me to fight for the one man who was worth everything. I’m—

Leave, now. He stood and swung around, offering me the view of his back, not giving me a chance to continue.

I whispered, Pregnant, to the now empty room.

Two Months Later

What do you mean you’re leavin’ town today? Caroline questioned, her hands on her waist as I continued to pack my things.

It’s for the best with Ash still refusing to see me. The thickness in my throat made it hard to sound normal, but I hoped Caroline was too angry to notice.

The best for who? You’ll be alone with a baby to raise. If you stay here, you’ve got friends, me and Ash’s brothers. You know they’ll help out.

It was understandable that she didn’t mention my folks because they’d washed their hands of me when I’d refused to get rid of Ash’s baby. They were god-fearing people, or that’s what they’d have folks believe. Ash was the one in prison, so in their eyes, he was the one in the wrong. He’d made a bad judgment call. Yes, there was no denying that. But it was all about me. He’d defended me. They didn’t seem to want to acknowledge that. Wrong was wrong when the guy Ash had beaten to a bloody pulp had been lucky enough to survive.

If I’d known that the second I’d identified my attacker, I’d sealed everyone’s fate, including my own and my unborn baby, I’d have acted differently.

I shoved the last of the clothes I’d laid out into the bag before looking at Caroline. Ash doesn’t want anything to do with me. It was painful to say it, to acknowledge what was happening between the man I’d given my heart to and me. If I go to his brothers, they’ll tell him about the baby for sure. Can you imagine how awful that would be for Ash on top of whatever he’s enduring in that place? We’ve all heard the stories about what happens in jail. I ran my hands over my face, working to keep those images out of my head.

Caroline came and wrapped her arms around me. Okay, you do what’s best for you and the baby. Remember though, I’ll be here for you anytime you need me. Her glistening eyes swept the room that had been mine and Ash’s. His things had been put in storage with the new folks coming to rent the house while I decided what to do with it. Ash had signed it over to me and paid off the remaining mortgage. I was debt-free but without the one thing I wanted or needed: Ash.

I know, and I’ll keep in touch. You can come and visit once I get settled.

She gave me a watery smile. I’ll be visitin’ so often that you’ll get fed up with me.

We’d been friends since preschool, and she’d always had my back just as I’d had hers. I’d chosen not to tell her what I was doing until everything had been signed and sealed, understanding she’d have tried to persuade me to stay. I couldn’t, not now that it was obvious I was carrying a child. I couldn’t risk Ash’s brothers finding out.

I hugged her hard. I’ll be countin’ on it. Where I was going, I’d have no one, something I was going to have to get used to. How did anyone replace their heart when it’s been given to someone else?

Present Day

Lips twitching, I listened to the girls at the nurse's station talk about the men visiting with my patient.

You’re so lucky, Cassie said as I grabbed the chart to see when Delilah Harrison was due her medication before heading back to check on her.

How so?

Cassie had only been working in the ICU for several months and had a sunny disposition that was hard to not respond to. It was why so many of the staff and patients liked her. You get to eye up the man candy.

I shook my head, my heart skipping a beat over why I would never be the one seeking out a man. Next time, I’ll let you go in.

You’re a star, Alora.

Yeah, yeah. I laughed and went off to my patient’s room.

At the door, I put extra warmth into my smile, hoping to minimize Delilah’s unease at being unable to do much talking right now. As the door swung open, my gaze swept the room, and my smile froze on my lips.

Why now, oh god, why him?

Ash!

Alora! Ash gasped, his skin graying as Stone, his younger brother, stepped into him and wrapped what appeared to be a protective arm around him.

All five Smith brothers stared at me, and a throbbing started at my temples. On autopilot, the protection mode I’d developed over the last seven years kicked in. The only thing I could think about was escaping. I spun around and ran. Ran from a past that took one glimpse of him to know that Ash still held the power to crush my heart.

Halfway down the hallway, I heard him calling out, but I didn’t stop as sobs caught in the back of my throat. The shocked faces of the ICU staff didn’t stop me either. I was known as quiet Alora. The wild-eyed woman now running like the devil was chasing her was anything but that.

Feet thudded on the floor behind me.

No. No! Go away!

The words ran through my mind but didn’t pass my lips as I hit the restroom door at speed. It slapped loudly against the wall and tried to hit me on the way back as I pushed into the empty room. I went to the first stall and locked myself inside. Collapsing onto the lid of the toilet, I buried my head in hands that shook.

What the hell was I going to do now?

Run far away!

Like you can keep doing that.

What had running done the last time? Nothing except make me feel isolated and more alone than ever. In the end, I’d come back to my hometown, Everdale, where the past was around every corner, reminding me of all the things I’d lost. Had I been stupid to come back?

The wild beating of my heart and the wound throbbing painfully inside me that had never healed spoke up. A part of me had known this moment would happen the second I’d heard from the gossips that Ash had been released. I’d avoided all the obvious places Ash might go, and up till now, I’d been lucky…or unlucky.

The wildness about him hadn’t changed. He’d aged, but he was still the Ash I’d fallen head over heels in love with. He didn’t want you. No, he didn’t want you to wait for him. There’s a difference!

It was different, dammit, and I’d had years to see that, though that did little to help on those long, lonely nights when I needed him. Needed someone to share the highs and lows of being a parent.

Crap! Had Levi said anything about Ashe? The daughter I’d named for her daddy. Levi had seen me on the street with Ashe. One look at her, and it was easy for anyone to see who her daddy was.

Alora, my name on his lips sounded like a strangled cry on the other side of the door.

Go away, Ash. I have nothing to say to you. Lies, all lies. I had so much I had to say, but he’d stolen that from me by cutting me out of his life.

Please, Alora—

You don’t get to ‘please, Alora’ me, not now, I snapped out, the yearning to do as he asked hard to resist. You cut me out of your life, not the other way around. Now leave me alone. The latter was no more than a sob, but it did the trick as there was the sound of a door opening then closing, followed by silence.

The tears came, as they always did whenever there were thoughts of what could have been and what Ash had missed out on. I wasn’t sure how long I sat there before the door handle was rattled.

Alora, Alora, are you okay? the senior nurse, Cathie, asked.

I sniffed and pulled some tissue from the dispenser by the toilet to wipe at my eyes as I stood. There was no way to hide that I’d been crying, so I didn’t attempt to as I exited the toilet.

Oh, lovely, what happened? Cathie put her arm over my shoulder, giving me a hug. She was a very caring manager, one I’d come to admire and loved working for.

Ash. That was all I needed to say because I’d shared my past with her when I’d returned to Everdale and applied for a job as a rotating nurse. She’d only moved to Everdale four years earlier, so she didn’t know my history. I’d realized it would only be a matter of time before folks started to talk in town. It was too small a place, and my return with a child would have given people lots to talk about. So I’d been upfront in case she believed what people said about me behind my back.

Oh, lordy. Was he one of the three big men in the hallway a few minutes ago? Tall, tattoos, dark and brooding?

That’s the Smith brothers. Her face got a little flushed, and for a second, my humor returned. They are something to see when they’re all together.

You can say that again. Maybe I need to visit that bar of theirs. The girly giggle seemed out of place for a woman in her fifties who I knew was happily married.

I couldn’t resist teasing her, and it helped rid me of the ugly tension from seeing Ash. Maybe you should. From what I hear, the older brother Levi is still single.

She shook her head, though her smile remained in place. I think my Ian would have something to say about that.

The door opened, and Cassie popped her head in through the doorway. Everything okay?

Cathie responded before I could. Alora’s not feeling great, so can you cover her patients for the rest of the shift.

I opened my mouth to say I was fine when Cathie gave me a pointed look I’d seen a time or two in the last six months of working with her, so I closed it again.

No problems. I hope you feel better, Alora.

Thanks, Cassie. I’ll see you tomorrow.

Cathie waited until the door closed before saying anything more. Go home, hug your daughter and remember if you ever need a shoulder to cry on, I’m here for you.

I was in a senior position due to the level of skills I had, which allowed for me to rotate to other departments to help out, but my favorite was ICU because of Cathie. Right now, I was glad she had my back because I wasn’t sure whether Ash would stay away. The man was bull-headed when he got something in his head. Thank you. Let’s hope he listens to reason.

She gave a sigh. I’ve yet to meet a man that knows how to listen to sense. But let’s hope you found him.

Those words continued to play on my mind as I drove home to change before I had to pick up Ashe from school. I’d messaged Faith to let her know I wouldn’t need her to take Ashe home this afternoon. Faith’s daughter, Royal, was Ashe’s best friend, and Faith was a teacher who worked in the same school the girls went to. It had made life much easier with my shifts when Faith, also a single parent, had moved to town around the same time I’d returned and then offered to help out when the girls became friends. It worked both ways, and I helped her out when she needed it.

As I drove down the street toward my home, my fingers tightened on the steering wheel. Did Ash know I still owned the house? Would he follow me home?

Pulse throbbing harder than ever at my temples, I checked the street for cars that weren’t familiar. More questions followed. Had Ash made any effort to see if I was still in town?

Come on, girl, you know he’s moved on.

Caroline, always the voice of reason, wouldn’t have let me hide, and neither did the voice inside my head even when I wanted to argue back at the look of true distress on Ash’s face in the hospital. He’d seemed genuinely shocked to see me. Had his brothers told him I’d left town? Had he not known I’d returned? There were yet more questions than answers, but there was no sign of any unknown vehicle by my home.

I parked in the drive and got out into the sweltering heat. The nurse's uniform clung to my skin by the time I opened up the front door and stepped inside. The place had changed little from when Ash lived here with me. A new coat of paint here and there and a new sofa after the last tenant had burned a hole in the old one. Otherwise, it was left much the way Ash had set it up. I hadn’t been able to change it, no matter how many times I’d considered it. I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of the stamp Ash had put on the place.

What about the stamp on your heart? When are you going to get rid of that?

A tear slipped down my cheek as I walked up the stairs to my bathroom, knowing that it was so much harder to eradicate than the bits he’d fixed up around the house.

Seven years. Why wasn’t it getting any easier?

In all the years of separation from Alora, I’d forced myself to believe that what I’d felt for her would wither and die over time. The only fool in all of that was me. She was a tree of life who’d buried the roots of her love deep within me, and they clung around my heart. Those roots had sustained me and made me a better man, then I’d ruined it. One look at her today, and all the feelings had returned in great tsunami waves. They’d dragged me under hard and fast, removing the past seven years.

The trip back to the truck was a blur. I remembered none of it as the past chased me with the vengeance of a thousand scorned women.

"Alora, where you at?" I called while squinting into the darkness. I cursed under my breath at the lack of lights around the back of the hospital where the staff exit was. Had she caught a lift with someone else?

She might have given up waiting for me. It was colder than normal tonight. No one wanted to hang around for half an hour. I sure as hell wouldn’t want to. It had gotten busy at the bar, and I’d lost track of time. Levi had given me a nudge, but by then, I was already ten minutes late, so I didn’t bother wasting time calling the hospital. Instead, I’d hot-footed straight here.

The hairs on the back of my neck lifted, and I called out again, stepping closer to the building, Alora. The silence was broken only by the sounds of distant traffic.

Shit. I was going to be in the doghouse. Alora hated these late shifts where she got off at eleven pm. I pulled out my phone and checked to see if she’d messaged me. I didn’t have a habit of being late, and she might have thought something had gone down at the bar. The screen showed no message. Would she have headed to the bar to find me? There were fights that broke out every now and then. Once or twice, I’d ended up in