The Catch of A Lifetime: When A Heart Plays for Keeps

By Alexandra Neville

"The Catch of a Lifetime: When a Heart Plays for Keeps" offers an intoxicating blend of passionate romance, relatable characters, and heartwarming moments that will leave romance aficionados enchanted.... It's without a doubt one of the best romances I've read this year." INDEPENDENT BOOK REVIEW

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alexandra Neville
• Release date: Nov 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9798868997129

Book preview

Table of Contents

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Chapter 1: 1

Chapter 2 (6 months later)

Chapter 3 10

Chapter 4 13

Chapter 5 17

Chapter 6 21

Chapter 7 26

Chapter 8 32

Chapter 9 37

Chapter 10 43

Chapter 11 47

Chapter 12 55

Chapter 13 60

Chapter 14 65

Chapter 15 74

Chapter 16 78

Chapter 17 82

Chapter 18 88

Chapter 19 92

Chapter 20 97

Chapter 21 101

Chapter 22 107

Chapter 23 113

Chapter 24 118

Chapter 25 124

Chapter 26 128

Chapter 27 134

Chapter 28 139

Chapter 29 145

Chapter 30 152

Chapter 31 155

Chapter 32 161

Chapter 33 167

Chapter 34 175

Chapter 35 180

Chapter 36 188

Chapter 37 191

Chapter 38 196

Chapter 39 201

Chapter 40 205

Chapter 1

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hank you, but don’t I get a kiss goodnight?" Colt’s words hung in the air, freezing the hand that was placing a blanket around him. He had

meant to sound clever, but his voice was husky from sleep and flowed out more like a sensual invitation.

He couldn’t help himself. While the caress was harmless and motherly, it left a trail of fire on his well sculpted shoulder. Chemistry was an undeniable bed partner.

The darkness masked all identity, but he knew it wasn’t his sister waking him up with such a tender gesture.

The owner of the gentle hands let out a muffled gasp.

Darn it. The lamp on the coffee table wavered, teetering on the edge, before being steadied by an unknown hand that urgently flicked its switch. Warm light flooded the room.

As his eyes adjusted, Colt found himself face-to-face with a fiery warrior, ready to defend her territory. All one hundred and twenty pounds of her.

Hey, sorry! Colt tried to suppress his amusement as he smoothed his beard. You must be Becca, my sister’s roommate. I’m Colt, her twin brother. Didn’t she tell you I’d be visiting this weekend?

Recognition sparked in her eyes, followed by a blush.

Damn, she was rare. From fire goddess to fairy princess in seconds flat. "Oh, shoot, yes. I’m sorry, too. I just got back from a date and completely

forgot you were coming. She’s on the night shift… Her hand moved to fix the blanket on his bare shoulders, but then stopped. Of course you knew that."

There it was again, an instant spark from her touch. He cocked his head to see her reaction. The swift jerk of her hand back to her side and a troubled glance away was clue enough that they were on the same page.

I didn’t mean to startle you, Colt replied.

Same. Did you think I was her, coming to say goodnight?

Hell, no. She’d probably give me a dog blanket and tell me to make do with that. Besides… He looked her in the eye, hoping for a reaction. When she raised her brow, he took a chance. I would never ask her for a kiss goodnight. Did you think I was her?

Yes, she grinned, relieved to move away from any talk about kisses,

innocent or not, until I remembered she doesn’t have a beard right now. Maybe when the snow flies.

Colt laughed, captivated by her cheekbones that could grace the pages of a cosmetic advertisement. Yet, he couldn’t tell if she was wearing any makeup. His sister was right. This one was different.

I hope me being here didn’t put an early end to your date. He reached for his neatly folded t-shirt on the couch. He knew better. She had opened the door alone.

No, he accomplished that all on his own, she sighed and looked at her watch. Do you need anything before I go to bed?

No, but thanks. Her date was an idiot to screw up. He wondered what the misstep was, besides not seeing her safely home. Her perfume was a delicate blend of herbs and citrus. It would have been easy to spend more time with her.

Alright, see you tomorrow then. Good night, Colt.

Sweet dreams, his voice was still husky from sleep. He watched as her bedroom door closed gently behind her and casually dropped his T-shirt back onto the floor.

It wasn’t wise to fantasize about his sister’s best friend, especially when he had a lot on his plate in the coming months.

But that didn’t stop him from wondering where that goodnight kiss would have led if she had been daring enough to agree.

Chapter 2

(6 months later)

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 Textbox 16 ey, Brandy. Last run of the day and you guessed it. I’m out here alone. Talk soon."

Colt put on his gloves after securing his phone in an inner pocket. He almost regretted his choice of skiing partners, or lack of them.

This unspoken thought was his best attempt at sibling sarcasm, and not at all accurate. Being the last on the slopes had been his motto throughout life. Even as an adult, his family expected him to live up to that standard. Mean- while, his brothers were at the hotel, making noble efforts to catch the eye of any willing ski bunny. It was code.

He didn’t need to be a fly on the wall to envision the lodge, fireplace, and flowing drinks. They were enjoying bourbon and vying to win the braided blond who had artfully out skied them all afternoon.

And since it was Colt’s party, it was all on his tab. Jerks. He said out loud and shook off a laugh.

The lift swung in a hypnotic rocking motion; its rhythm worked to remove the sting of isolation. He could have joined them early, but was already considerate of the company’s image. The future head of a famous outdoor clothing company didn’t cut a ski day short or get too slobbered at the bar.

He tugged down his goggles and prepared to unload. The conditions were perfect, and he planned to take a double diamond. After all, he was a Mason. Paul Mason, his father, had groomed him like a well-loved ski trail and Colt learned from an early age nothing worth having would come easy. It was tradition to ski the hardest trail before heading to the lodge, and he valued tradition in all areas of his life.

Besides, fresh air was what he needed before a night of raucous laughter and partying.

If Brandy, his twin sister, had come on the trip, she would be right there with him.

Let’s get off the beaten trail. She would say, pushing for a little out of bounds through the woods. Colt might live life on the edge, but she wore a parachute and was ready to launch past him into the abyss. Since they were kids, this inspired and scared the hell out of him. As he contemplated how his life was about to change forever, he couldn’t help but feel a little envious of Brandy’s freedom.

Once again, his mind was dabbling with inaccurate mockery. She was back at Dartmouth, finishing her internship for a medical degree.

He’d inherited the business, but she got the brain. While Colt eked out a mediocre G.P.A., she was already being labeled a medical maverick.

It had been his father’s brainstorm for him to trek each continent before the actual leadership role began.

Great marketing to boost our website views, Paul said one day in the boardroom, And great respite. A chapter to remember before the genuine work begins.

And it was the genuine career work that terrified Colt. Watching his father spend hours away from home hadn’t been a vision of grandeur if you were up close and personal. It didn’t matter how glossy it appeared in the catalogs. His father had divorced twice and remained single now, a clue this type of business didn’t accommodate a loving marriage.

Brandy wouldn’t waste a free afternoon on life bending philosophy like he was right then.

It wouldn’t surprise Colt if at that moment she was heading out for a full moon snowshoe with her best friend Becca.

He missed his sister’s contagious energy, but Becca baffled him.

He’d met her through his sporadic visits to Brandy during the last few months. At first, her mannerisms seemed a bit too sophisticated for someone their age.

Brandy had let out a slight laugh when he asked if Becca was really as mature and gracious as she seemed.

What you see is really what you get. I think you two would make a perfect pair.

It was then his turn to laugh.

Yet here he was on a ski trail, still thinking about a stunning lady who was already making a name for herself as a respectable yoga instructor.

She was a natural beauty with depth under her skin, a rarity in his history. He’d enjoyed their weekend dinners together and working next to her in the kitchen while she shared tales about Hecate, Shakti, or the alignment of the stars. She was out of his league, and therefore not girlfriend material, but she was a fascinating example of poetry in motion. Her yoga poses left him agape, peeking from a hidden distance with boyish glee.

Coming through! Two snowboarders barreled past him, reminding him he stood on the side of a slope.

He pushed off and started down. There was no reason to think about females while spending a fun week with his brothers before he started his expedition. He was ready to join them at the bar.

As he skied, he was oblivious to how others watched him tackle the slopes. Fathers riding the lifts with their children pointed a pole at him, commenting on his technique and skill. His skis carved deep tracks into the snow as he descended. The cold air stung his well-chiseled, rugged face and speckled his goggles with mist. His red parka, carrying the family logo, presented a striking contrast to his black ski pants and the white powder that flew up in waves behind him with each smooth but calculated turn. His father would suggest a shorter haircut, one that didn’t touch the collar of his jacket. Eligible women disagreed. It always embarrassed him when they told him his dark locks were swoon worthy.

When he reached a halfway point, he pulled out his phone, capturing a shot of the bright lodge below and the full moon rising above. He was about to send it to Brandy, thought twice, and added Becca. Hell, he could always pretend he added her by accident. He kept it simple:

Full moon. Where are the pretty witches playing tonight?

He arrived at the lodge to find his brothers had been true to their word, securing a table near an outdoor fire pit.

And here, at long last, the man of the hour. Matt toasted. The man with the power. Jake added.

And the man who needs a shower. Seth finished the speech in usual sarcastic form.

The warmth and glow generated by the fire made it a worthwhile resting place. The overarching atmosphere was resort style at its finest. Residents who lived in the mountains enjoyed a very public love affair with snow and they encouraged vacationers to do the same. A waitress in a royal blue parka and matching boots stopped with an overloaded tray of beer and bourbon.

Bourbon, please. Colt said, while he took a seat. After raising their glasses, they caught up on life and work. Every half hour, someone would rise, let out a groan at the effort, and feed the fire gods. When this dramatized effort happened, the others hardly moved, their legs splayed out toward the fire in a mass of muscle and unbuckled boots.

Resort attendants kept stacking more bourbon and firewood next to them. The image they created for other guests reeked of sporty elegance, so the wise manager took advantage of the free advertising. Colt knew this all too well, spending his high school years as a ski instructor at his hometown mountain.

It didn’t hurt this current resort’s status that this colorful group included him, the soon to be CEO of Mason Gear. He cringed at the concept but understood he needed to get past any discomfort. His life was about to get even more public as hired marketing specialists accompanied him on climbs.

He was fortunate, but life wasn’t perfect. His career was coming together nicely, but key parts of a good life were missing. Without them, he feared he would never experience the satisfaction of true fulfillment.

He didn’t need Brandy’s I.Q. to recognize the missing piece was a serious relationship.

Life to date had been full of willing partners and he’d used the advantage of his handsome physical attributes to his benefit during college. He didn’t quite possess his brother Matt’s golden charm, but fate gifted him with rugged good looks and a winning smile.

Still, the traditional beliefs he carried inside kept him from getting crazy with his physical trysts. Too uncomfortable to share with anyone, at twenty- six he had a rather old-fashioned and idealistic soul. A passionate bedmate was important, but it was only part of the Real Deal.

And his track record had clued him into the recognition that anything less than a real connection would leave him lonelier than going it alone. It seemed his future would be one mighty trail of solitude, marked with a few mutual but meaningless side jaunts to relieve physical desire.

Too bad he really couldn’t have it all.

As he sipped his bourbon and reflected, his gaze drifted to the circle of friends lounging around the fire.

You going to sit around and think all night? Seth Warner nudged with a perpetual sardonic grin. Seth had dreamed of being an air force pilot since he was a kid. He was sharp, fearless, and All American. He was also crazy in love with Brandy, and they had been dating since they were sixteen.

She’d been insistent that they keep it casual and see how things churned out, once confiding in Colt that Seth felt more passionate about flying than he did about her. Colt had put up a feeble protest to defend his buddy, but stopped short. Only a twin could hear what she’d left unsaid. She wasn’t confident it was the perfect union.

Someone has to do some thinking around here. Let me take a pic of you to send to Brandy before you get too wild. He pulled out his phone and snapped a few as Seth offered a mock salute.

Colt appreciated and envied his friend’s deep sense of patriotism. Still, it was a struggle to watch his sister and his best friend navigate vast oceans of distance, spending months apart without seeing each other.

Yet another glaring reminder of why Colt wasn’t ready for a serious relationship. The next year of extensive travel would complicate everything, including any chance at love. Besides, his father’s history with women was a warning flag that CEO's often endured loveless marriages. It was sensible to erase any thoughts of a committed relationship from his mind.

Just then, his phone vibrated, letting him know a text was waiting. He reached for his pocket, guessing that Brandy was responding to the pic he just sent. Becca’s name popped up on his phone.

He gazed at a picture she’d sent of the moon glistening on a frozen field and snow-covered pines. The dark shadows from the trees cast a sensual mood over her well executed selfie.

This witch is playing in a different world, but still under the same moon.

Funny how that works!

Funny girl, he mused. Strange how his finger wanted to respond, asking if she was out in the woods alone.

Matt, his older brother, nudged him from his left.

When are you going to announce where you’re headed first?

Matt was already enjoying a successful start as a microbrewery owner. Next to him sat Jake Cameron, who had grown up living with the family and was as close to blood as one could get.

Jake’s father, a sugar grower in Australia, was college friends with their father. During high school, Jake’s parents had sent him to spend winters with the Mason family and attend school in the states.

It was no surprise then that the four men around the fire had established their wolf pack early in their teens. They found common ground in their shared love of the outdoors and adventure. Growing up, their father, Paul Mason, was often on the road for business during the week. With no mother around to help manage his high-spirited pre-teens, Paul hired a nanny. She didn’t last long. He hired another, and yet another. Each grew exhausted from corralling rebel children who refused to come home when called. Although absent a mother, most of the Mason clan claimed it was an idyllic childhood.

Colt didn’t agree, but never voiced his dissent. He simply acknowledged he was luckier than most.

Yeah, and who your first hiking partner will be. Seth kicked Colt’s chair. We know it isn’t one of us, so what gives?

Brandy? Jake guessed. Always your first pick. At the present moment, Jake’s ungloved hands rested on the arms of his Adirondack chair, leaving no room for a glass. He snugged a bottle of beer between legs as massive and burly as logs. Although he did more managing than manual labor, both farming, and his gene pool had molded him into a hulking, foreboding grizzly bear.

The group nodded at the assumption and raised their glasses. As they did, a voice interrupted them.

What about me?

They turned to see Grace, the bombshell daughter of a competitive clothing business, sweeping towards them. She smiled at their stunned silence before continuing on her way to Colt’s chair.

Colt cleared his throat, then glanced over at his friend for back up. Seth’s wink was envious, oblivious to his friend’s discomfort.

Matt and Jake shifted in their seats to become involved in a contrived conversation about hockey, while Seth picked up his phone and scanned idly through old texts. Grace perched on the edge of Colt’s chair, leaning in to pluck

his bourbon glass from his limp hand. Her charming fake sip failed to move the liquid level but left pink lipstick on the rim.

Colt smiled outwardly while stifling a groan. He retrieved his glass and shot invisible daggers at his three brothers.

His thoughts on the lift had become reality, as they each avoided his silent plea for help.

He regretted his choice of skiing partners.

Chapter 3

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 Textbox 21 ello Grace." Colt said, wiping her lipstick from the glass.

You’ve been keeping yourself a stranger. She pulled out her sexy pout, a practiced and often used talent. Did you plan on saying goodbye before you left on your worldly adventures?

I’m doing just that with my brothers tonight.

Not so subtle, he knew. Still, she didn’t move from his side.

I’m here all week. Want a key to my room? It could be like old times. Not so subtle either, but she never was.

Colt took a second to consider. He hadn’t had a companion in a while and Grace was her usual warm and inviting self. Next to him, Matt was reliving the last brutal Boston loss. His brothers had gathered here for a guy’s trip. It didn’t seem fair to slink off for any reason, much less a quick interlude with the competition. Any interaction with her was dangerous territory.

I’m sorry, but I need to pass. I’m here with my brothers. He took her hand and gave it a formal peck on the back. But it was good seeing you again.

As he released her hand, she leaned in, as if to add something. Her lips found their mark, planting a warm and sensuous kiss on his lower lip. Too late, he caught the camera flash from the side.

Terrific.

There was no telling how quickly the picture would land in the town’s ski magazine. He knew any kind of romantic involvement with the competition was not the type of marketing and advertising his father intended before they announced the change in leadership.

He rippled with regret, but remained firm as he looked into her eyes, Grace, we agreed to let this go.

He wanted to say more, anything, to change her sultry pout to a smile. He liked it better when he parted on friendly terms with an old flame. All he could manage was giving her hand a last squeeze before releasing it from his grasp. She

stood and stretched like a cat from its nap, at ease in the presence of a camera. Her bright eyes would look fresh and alive to the press. To Colt, they brimmed with humiliated indifference.

No big deal, she said. Sorry to intrude. I just wanted to wish you safe travels.

She tossed a casual wave at his brothers and feigned excited surprise as she moved toward another group at a far table.

How can you get thrown bait like that and lose it so fast? Matt said, pulling Colt’s attention back.

I think that was the plan. Colt looked for the camera happy intruder, but they were long gone from sight.

He couldn’t help but wonder if she’d planned the meeting, the kiss, and even getting caught on camera by some paparazzi lurking nearby. It seemed