How it All Began: Timber Falls

By Fiona West

Trust is like car keys: easy to lose and hard to get anywhere without it…

 

Evan only intended to strike up a casual conversation with the stunning blonde with Goldie Hawn looks–now he finds himself trying to cross paths with her on campus every chance he gets. But his water polo teammate appears to have damaged his chances with Farrah before he could even ask her out. 

 

Farrah's been out with players from the water polo team before–and it's always ended in tears. The handsome medical student who wants to help her get revenge says he's not like them…but there's only one way to know for sure. 

 

Will a trip to his hometown seal the deal or prove this player's all washed up? How it All Began is the prequel to the popular Timber Falls series--fans of Hart of Dixie and Gilmore Girls love these witty, kisses-only reads! Get your copy of this short and sweet romance now, and start the series right now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tempest and Kite
• Release date: Oct 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9781952172465

Fiona West

Fiona West is an American author living in the Caribbean. Writing fantasy romance is her favorite thing, followed closely by knitting and drinking tea while looking out the window. She does not care for brushing other people's teeth, stout beer, or phone calls from unlisted numbers. She does care for her husband and two kids. Her debut novel, The Ex-Princess, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and is the first book of her Borderline Chronicles series. Her next book, The Jinxed Journalist, will be out October 2019. 

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Present Day

It was a typical Sunday in late March: Evan Durand walked into the bedroom to get something, got a text from Mrs. Greenwich about an ache in her hip, answered it, and now he couldn’t remember what the item was. He looked around the white bedroom to jog his memory, but nothing seemed to do the trick. Farrah’s vanity was neat as ever, her perfumes lined up carefully. There was nothing on the rocking chair in the corner. His own dresser was piled with receipts, biker pant clips, and prescription pads, but there was nothing unusual about that.

But today was unusual in its own way, and he hadn’t forgotten that.

How does this go again? asked a voice from around the corner.

He peered into the bathroom to find his youngest son Daniel, fussing with a skinny black tie, his long blond hair tied back in a tight ponytail.

Wait, is this event formal? Evan quipped. I thought it was sweatpants and chardonnay.

Daniel laughed mockingly, and Evan grinned as he went over to help him with the tie. He stood behind him, expertly flipping it around, and it was strangely gratifying to still be needed by his twenty-six-year-old son.

Pulling out a fancy tie, huh? I suppose it’s not every day that my son’s girlfriend comes over for the first time.

And her mom. Don’t forget that.

Given that Dr. Baker’s your boss and I see her at the hospital from time to time, how could I? Evan patted his son’s shoulders to signal that he was done with the tie, but Daniel kept straightening it, anyway.

"Yes, thank you for that reminder. That’s definitely going to make it easier to relax." Something about seeing his son’s face in the mirror, so young, so much less weathered than his own, was pulling Evan back in time...college memories began flooding back to him, and he smiled privately, even as Daniel snagged some of his good cologne.

Let’s distract you, so you don’t think about it too hard.

No more bike rides; I already showered.

Not that, Evan said, scowling in faux annoyance, even though it was a pretty fair assumption. Come on. Keep me company while I get the deck chairs cleaned up, and I’ll tell you about the first time your mom came to Timber Falls. Like all great love stories, it starts with a bike...

We know, Dad, his middle son Kyle said, coming into the bedroom. She helped you with your lock.

That’s–that’s not the half of it, bud.

Right, Daniel added, and she gave you a haircut. Big deal.

Guys, this was not just any haircut, all right? You’re all spoiled because she gives you all your haircuts, but back when we met, there was no salon in Timber Falls...

Is that what you’re wearing? Daniel interrupted, directing the question to his older brother.

Kyle looked down at his solid blue cotton polo. Is something wrong with it?

No, it’s just a little casual...

I’m not going home to change.

I’m not saying you have to, Daniel said, but–

Winnie’s not my girlfriend. And Dr. Baker and I already know each other from the hospital. I have already made a first impression. End of story. Evan had heard an argument similar to this about five hundred times between his sons, so he didn’t bother to stay for the end.

Dad, you’re going to change, though, right? Daniel called after him, and Evan gave him a thumbs up on his way down the hall.

Just gonna clean up those outside chairs first.

Oh, right. You said that.

I sure did. Empathy enabled him to keep his laughter inside; he’d never seen easy-going Daniel so flustered. He checked his watch. Philip, Claire, and the kids would be here soon. He wanted the cleaning done so he didn’t forget...but seeing his wife’s blonde head in the kitchen, bent over a recipe, still had him reminiscing...

CHAPTER TWO

September, 1981

5-7-9-2. That was the combination, he was sure of it. Bright autumn sunshine streamed through the tall maple trees, its Technicolor leaves unable to stop its blazing light, and Evan squinted at the bike lock as the light reflected off the metal. Maybe he was bumping it? Or not pulling hard enough? All those hours in the pool should be good for something more than winning water polo games; if he couldn’t even get his bike lock open, he needed to put in more hours in the weight room.

I should really sleep more, he mumbled, sitting back on his heels with a sigh. The manicured lawns of his college campus made a nice place for red and orange leaves to fall, creating a mosaic under his sneakers. He wasn’t really in a place to appreciate it, though; even though he’d studied with his dad, who was already a doctor, organic chemistry was kicking his behind. He’d finally given up studying around 2 AM when his eyes just wouldn’t focus anymore. His mind had wandered off earlier. So this afternoon he’d hit the library for some quiet focus time...his attention tended to wander in the dorm room.

Need some help?

Pushing his hair out of his eyes, Evan looked up. As nice as he’d thought the sunlight was before, it was heaven now, shining off the young woman’s blonde hair, giving her a glow.

Uh, sure.

What’s the combination?

You’re not going to steal it, are you?

The young woman gave him a wide smile. I’m not the thieving type.

He pointed at her playfully. All right, but if I try to head to the cafeteria to get my morning bagel and my bike is gone, your name will be at the top of the list I give to student safety.

That’s fine. She crouched next to him carefully, the hem of her daffodil yellow pants hovering above the ground, letting her bag slide to the sidewalk with a thump. The combination?

Five, seven, nine, two. No, wait. I’d remember if it had a fifty-seven in it, because that’s on the ketchup bottle. It must have been five, nine, seven, two.

When he said things like that to his brothers, he often got laughed at, but he was too tired to censor himself. If this line of thinking surprised or amused her, she didn’t show it. In fact, the only indication that she’d even heard him was in the calm concentration on her face as she keyed it in, using her cherry-red thumbnail to move the small gears to the right numbers. She flipped her long hair over her shoulder, then gave the lock a sharp tug. It gave easily, and she flashed him a triumphant smile as she stood, brushing the dust off her hands and picking up her bag.

There you go.

Perfect. Thanks. He stuck out his hand. I’m Evan Durand.

The woman reached out as if she was going to shake his hand, then her hand faltered before they could connect. You’re on the water polo team?

He followed her gaze to his chest, where he was wearing his team shirt. Yes? Is that bad?

Her smile dimmed. Have a nice day, she replied, backing up a few steps. Wait, no handshake? She was walking away. Wait. He needed more than that. "Wait, what is your name? You know, in case the bike goes missing."

Should’ve thought of that before you divulged your combination, she called over her shoulder, rejoining her friend back on the path toward the central part of campus. Evan quickly pulled his trusty white Raleigh Professional Mark IV Carlton Campagnola off the U-shaped