One is a Promise (His Angel Series - Book One): His Angel Series, #1

By Christine Axford

Lexi Style

A life of solitude with my four-legged, furry best friend in the Colorado wilderness is all I need.
After surviving a heartbreaking past, I have the perfect setup with predictability and seclusion.
Life can't get any better.
Can it?
But Bear, my pesky Siberian Husky has different ideas when he brings me to a man, half-dead and covered in snow.
I can't exactly leave him to die.
I'll just nurse him back to health and send him on his way.
But things get complicated...

Ty Bradford

An Angel.
That's what I see when I open my eyes. A beautiful angel that saved my life and stole my heart with one look.
She's an innocent and resourceful angel that has shown me a life beyond my indulgent lifestyle in LA.
There's no doubt fate has brought me to her, but this beauty won't come easy.
Can she open her heart and give us a chance?

 

NOTE: This Trilogy Series is a slow-burning to steamy (you do not get explicit until book two!)

^^Content Warning^^
This is a slow-burning trilogy series that contains mature language, and content. It is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christine Axford
• Release date: Apr 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9781777410612

Book preview

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One is a Promise – His Angel (Book One)

Copyright © 2021 by Christine Axford

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction.

Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or is purely coincidental.

Cover Design: Emily’s World of Design

^^Content Warning^^

This book contains mature language and content.

It is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

ISBN - 978-1-7774106-1-2

Table of contents

1 ​ ​Lexi Style

2 ​ ​Lexi Style

3 ​ ​Ty Bradford

4 ​ ​Ty Bradford

5 ​ ​Lexi Style

6 ​ ​Lexi Style

7 ​ ​Lexi Style

8 ​ ​Lexi Style

9 ​ ​Lexi Style

10 ​Ty Bradford

11 ​Ty Bradford

12 ​Ty Bradford

13 ​Ty Bradford

14 ​Ty Bradford

15 ​Ty Bradford

16 ​Lexi Style

17 ​Lexi Style

18 ​Lexi Style

19 ​Ty Bradford

20 ​Ty Bradford

21 ​Ty Bradford

22 ​Ty Bradford

EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK

Jesus, Bear, now you're really trying to give me a heart attack! I snip out, standing a few feet away. He's sitting down, staring at me, and not moving.

Come on, Bear, we have to head back.

He barks again.

For Pete's sakes, what's the matter with you?!

He gets up and moves off to the side, and that's when I see something lying on the ground. 

Oh God, I don't need to see a dead animal, and whatever it is, it appears to be huge!

CHAPTER ONE

Lexi Style

O kay Bear, it sounds like we’re in for one heck of a snowstorm tonight or tomorrow morning. I’ll need to check the backup generator to make sure it’s ready to go. We ran to the store on Monday, stocking up on food, some extra toiletries and my birth control pills, so we should be good, I remark, listing off the items with my fingers.

My Siberian husky perks his ears straight up, cocking his head to the left, giving me a piercing look.

All right, I know you don’t enjoy hearing about my monthly visitor, but seriously Bear, I’m a girl, and I get PMS cramps. The pills help, okay?

He gives me a chirp, as if understanding.

You’re too darn cute, I say, kneeling down to snuggle him, and he gives me a sloppy kiss in return.

I love my four-legged companion more than anything in this world. He is my best friend who keeps my sanity in check, most of the time, a shoulder to cry on when I feel down, and the only boy I’ve ever lived with and love.

He has a white face with a long snout and a charcoal black strip that goes along the top of his nose, up and around his eyes, shadowing into a midnight black around his eye sockets, making him look like a bandit. But what I love the most is his gorgeous eyes. They are an arctic blue, which gives him an icy, calculating look of pure male—a hunter, but I know he’s my big sucky boy who loves to cuddle, give kisses and sometimes talk my ear off. Or maybe it’s the other way around.

Now, where was I? Ah, yes, I also got some batteries, a couple of extra flashlights, and… TREATS! I shout with extra enthusiasm, and he points his nose up in the air, howling. I laugh.

You know I can’t forget our treats there, handsome boy. I got our favorite, Vanilla and Caramel swirl ice cream.

He woofs again, bouncing on his front paws, and I crack up laughing.

Oh Bear, I love you so much. I’d be a lost soul without you. I tell him, and he lets out a huff. I know, I know, I’m just being sappy. Ignore me. Okay, back to my to-do list. I need to reseal the windows, and chop some more wood, because we can never have enough wood, right sweetie?

He lets out another huff, keeping his blue eyes trained on me.

How did you get so smart? I ask, and now he decides it’s time to flop down on the floor, wanting me to rub his furry belly. I snicker, bending down to oblige.

We’ll go for a run later this evening. It might be a while before we can get back out again, I tell him, and with that, he jumps back up with another jabbering noise I can never decipher.

Excellent, I’ll take a quick shower, and then we’ll have breakfast before starting our day, I point out, but Bear has already leaped into action, taking off to the bathroom.

Bear! Don’t you dare think about it, mister! I shout, running after him, but by the time I reach my bathroom door, he’s sitting in my tub.

Bear Nathaniel Style, get out of my shower, right this instant, I say, with my hands on my hips, scowling at him. 

He crouches down, almost laying his ears out flat so I can only see his eyes. 

I can still see you, I warn. You don’t even like the water; why do you insist on doing this to me every chance you get?

His eyes don’t waiver from me as he sits there hunched down.

Are you sure you aren’t a man trapped inside a dog’s body? Because seriously, Bear, if I didn’t know any better, I swear you like to see me naked.

He stands straight up, letting out a howl woof. I shake my head, making a snort sound myself. I think my dog is a pervert.

"All right, have it your way, but you better be out by the time I’m naked," I emphasize, and he cocks his head off to the left. 

I roll my eyes, removing my slippers and wool socks, then pull down my gray fleece pants with little pink hearts, along with my underwear. Bear doesn’t move a muscle as his keen blue eyes penetrate my bare legs.

I swear sometimes he has reincarnated as a dog, but I believe he was a man, a very hot man, in his former life. The way he stares at me… I shiver just looking at his icy blue eyes. Yeah, my dog can be super intense. I pull off my long sleeve flannel shirt, dropping it to the floor, and then narrow my eyes at him.

Are you happy now?

His eyes sweep down the entire length of my body, and only then does he jump out. I shake my head once again, and he blows out a puff through his nose, laying down on the mat.

Good boy, I say, turning on the water now and letting it warm up.

You know, one of these days, I’m just going to turn on the water and see how you like that, I taunt him, and he gruffs at me again.

What? Are you calling me out? You think I’m bluffing? We’ll see about that, mister. Next time, I won’t give you a warning, and just turn on the water. We’ll see how fast you jump out then, I say, stepping into the tub.

He gruffs again, giving me a fierce look, and I stick out my tongue at him, snatching the curtain closed.

I shower quickly, and fifteen minutes later, I’m slipping a towel around myself. Bear’s eyes never leave me for a second, but I ignore his sharp gaze. I gingerly step over him, careful not to slip, and grab another towel to dry my hair.

I love my spa-like bathroom, having given it an overhaul last winter, putting in a large, oval white soaking tub with a rain shower head over the top, a double vanity in a rustic Bruce oak gray tone with a white marble countertop, a new toilet, heated floors, and I painted the walls a crisp white.

Once I’m dried off, I apply my favorite lotion, cocoa butter, all over my body. Bear sticks his nose up in the air and sniffs.

You like the smell of my lotion, don’t you, boy?

He lets out another huff, and I giggle. I walk out of the bathroom and down the hall to my bedroom, and he immediately jumps up to follow. 

I dress in a pair of blue jeans, along with a heavy sweater. Darn it, I shouldn’t have washed my hair. I have long golden blonde hair that goes three-quarters down my back, which I absolutely love, but when it comes to drying it, yeah, not so much. It takes at least thirty minutes to blow dry. I grumble, stomping back to the bathroom with Bear on my heels.

He is my shadow, and it isn’t too often I can disappear without him noticing. He can be dead asleep, but I swear he has a ‘Lexi sixth sense’ and knows when I’m not in the same room with him. I don’t mind, but sometimes he’ll scare the bejesus out of me. I’ll turn around to do something, and he’ll be right behind me, making me screech and jump out of my skin. I’ll scold him and ask him how the heck did he sneak up on me without me hearing. He’ll just bark, or stare at me like I have three heads.

You’re going to give me a heart attack one of these days, Bear. Then what are you going to do? I ask, wagging my finger at him. He’ll then give me his puppy dog eyes, making me feel bad for scolding him. Grrr! It’s impossible to stay mad at him, and I swear, he knows how to play me like a violin. 

I’m a sucker for his gorgeous blue eyes!

Thirty minutes later, my hair is dry and pulled back into a low ponytail.

All right boy, time for breakfast and then chores, I say, heading out to the kitchen, and he rushes by me to get there first. I get his food ready, placing it down in his raised dog tray. Yeah, he’s spoiled. Then, I refill his water bowl. He sits by his bowl and waits. I decide for something quick and easy, making some hot oatmeal with cinnamon, and a couple of minutes later, it’s ready. I take my seat at the kitchen island and then look at Bear.

Okay, boy, go ahead, I say, and he digs in.

After we’re done, I clean up my dishes, putting them away, and then head to the mudroom to get my winter gear on. I grab the plastic seal wrap along with the duct tape, and I’m all set.

Okay, handsome, let’s go, I say, opening the door, and he bullets out like a freight train, disappearing into the woods.

Hey! Where do you think you’re going, mister? I thought you were going to help? I shout, but the little fart is long gone.

You would think he never gets out, or maybe he’s secretly meeting up with his girlfriend.

Don’t you dare think about leaving me! I shout again, only to have the birds squawk at me for disrupting their morning.

Oh, hush up. At least you guys have each other. Who do I have? I ask the birds, squinting upwards to see them high in the trees.

I think I might be going a little crazy since I talk to the animals and frequently. But who else do I have?

That’s right, nobody. So if I shout at my dog for him not to leave me, please don’t judge me, I declare to the birds. Silence. Thank you, I reply, still trying to convince myself I’m not going entirely insane.

I live in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere, and I absolutely love it. I bought the house in Florissant, Colorado, five and a half years ago. It came with ten acres of land, and it’s all mine. My house isn’t small or big by any means, being roughly twenty-five hundred square feet on the main level, with a staircase that leads to a loft on the upper level, which currently remains vacant.

I have always thought about closing it in someday, and putting my bedroom up there as it has beautiful, floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the mountains. But then, I’m reminded of all the work that would be involved. Walls would need to go up, carpet replaced, or hardwood floors put in, a fresh coat of paint, and, honestly, if I’m putting my bedroom upstairs, a second bathroom will also be in need. That means even more work. So for now, that project remains on my ‘wish’ list.

My place has two bedrooms on the main level, even though I never have company. Well, that isn’t entirely true. Sometimes Frank will come around when I need help with the big stuff, as he is my handyman and good friend. He and his wife, Sarah, occasionally come out for a visit, but I most often communicate with them via a CB radio, or I’ll run into town myself.

If the weather is terrible, Frank will volunteer to bring me what I need. I’ll tell him it isn’t necessary, as it can wait until the next time I come into town, but forty-five minutes later, he’ll show up at my doorstep.

My only way of getting around is through my boy, Bear and our trusty sled. It usually takes us an hour and ten minutes to get into town.

Bear and I both love the cold weather, but unfortunately, I’m always the first to get cold after a few hours. When the coldness seeps in, I know it’s time to head in, and get my pajamas on, make a hot cocoa, sit by the fireplace with a warm blanket wrapped around my legs, and read a book.

Besides my upper loft and two bedrooms, I have one full bath and an extra powder room, a laundry/mudroom combination, a family room with a fireplace, a separate sitting area off to the side, and my kitchen, all open concept. It’s simple, nothing overly lavish except for the bathroom I renovated.

The other thing I love about this place is the porch on the backside that runs the entire length of the house and faces the gorgeous mountains. My hot tub sits on the back deck that’s semi-enclosed with a roof over top, and a sidewall on the right to shelter from the snow and wind. There have been many days where I’ll slip into the hot tub with a tall glass of wine, and I’m good as gold with my picturesque views.

I spend the next several hours sealing up the windows as best as I can. They are only eight years old, but I find the seal wrap helps keep the cool drafts down, and according to Sarah, we’re in for one heck of a snowstorm, but you would never guess that now, because the sun is shining brightly above without a cloud in the sky. It’s blinding and hot as heck when you’re dressed like an Eskimo.

I take off my hat and gloves with sweat dribbling down my forehead.

Phew, I don’t think I needed all of this stuff, I say to myself as I sit on my front step, removing my boots, and then shimmy out of my snow pants. Ah, much better, I say, fanning my crotch, trying to cool it down, and then snicker, putting my boots and gloves back on.

Okay, time to chop wood.

Wood is always crucial living out here as you never know how bad a storm can get, and if it knocks out the hydro, I will have to rely on my wood-burning fireplace to heat my house. There have been times when I’ve gone without hydro for days, so the more wood, the better. Although I have a backup generator, but it only lasts so long.

I place a log on a flat stump and pick up my ax to split it in half. I have perfected chopping wood, considering I’ve been doing it for over five years now. So, in no time, I have chopped over three dozen pieces. But now, I’m sweating profusely, with my upper body aching immensely, and my hands have gone slightly numb. But it’s nothing that a nice hot bath or hot tub won’t cure when I’m done with the rest of my work.

Stretching, I try to loosen my muscles up before picking up the wood slabs and carrying them inside. I stack each one, repeating the process about a dozen times until I’m done.

There, that should keep me going for a while, I say, wiping my brow and staring at the many stacks of wood all neatly piled up.

Jeez, I’m so freaking hot! I need to cool down!

I think about stripping out of my clothes and flopping down in the fluffy snow. I giggle. It’s not like I haven’t done that before, and no one will see. That’s the best part about living out in the boonies. No one around for miles and miles!

I take off my coat and boots, then shed the rest of my clothes quickly. After that, I put my boots back on, and with a loud squeal, I flop down onto the snowbank and then scream bloody murder as soon as the ice-cold snow hits my bare skin. I leap up, shrieking, and bullet into the house. I fling off my boots and run to the bathroom, grabbing my housecoat and throwing it on. 

Bear barks frantically at the side door.

Okay, okay, I’m coming!

As soon as I open the door, he charges in, looking me up and down.

Yeah, yeah, I was hot, had to cool down, and where have you been? I now demand.

He does a half woof, half gruff, and then dashes by me, parking his butt on the white shag area rug in the family room. I glare at him, tapping my foot.

Your toes better not be dirty, mister, or you’re in big trouble, I say, wagging my finger at him.

He lays down with his eyes peering up at me, and I swear he’s giving me the puppy dog eyes. 

Spoiled rotten dog!

I’m just going to pretend I did not see that and go take a bath, I announce, turning to march off to the bathroom. I hear Bear leap into action, and I take off running. I shriek when I see him hot on my heels, and I sprint, slamming the door in his face. He barks his head off.

What? I can’t hear you. Are you saying something? I shout, but he keeps barking. 

I laugh and start my bath, filling it with bubbles, and then I open the door. He bursts in and stops dead in his tracks when he sees the water flowing.

Ha! I win! I shout, and I swear he gives me the snake eye. 

Seriously, this dog can be creepy.

I don’t understand his fetish with the tub, considering he hates water. He finally lies down, lowering his head with another huff in protest. Making sure the water isn’t too hot, I slip off my housecoat and slide in.

Ahh, this is the life, Bear, I say, closing my eyes and soaking my aching muscles.

A few minutes pass by in silence until I get a strange feeling I’m being watched. I peek my right eye open to see a pair of icy blue eyes staring at me. Startled, I shriek.

Jesus, Bear, what the heck are you doing?!

He just sits there and stares at me.

Seriously, Bear, you’re going to give me a heart attack one of these days. Why are you staring at me?

He doesn’t move.

Grrr!

I splash a little water in his face, and now he barks at me.

Lie down for the love of God. We’ll go for a run later, I promise. He makes another gruffing noise before lying back down. Stay, I say firmly, peeking my head over the tub as he keeps his eyes trained on me.

I shake my head, slumping back down in the water, and close my eyes again. I relax in the tub for a good forty minutes before getting out and dressing again.

All right, handsome, we kind of missed lunch, but it’s almost four. Why don’t we eat supper first and then go out for a run? I ask, and he yips in response.

Excellent.

I decide to make a stir fry with sausages. Once it’s ready, I give Bear a small piece of sausage.

Here you go, handsome. I place his food bowl down.

He doesn’t