Summary:
Holiday at home, check. Snowstorm, check. Hot boss ... check?
Ford Erickson didn't plan to take his hot, and very rich boss home for Christmas. But when an incoming snowstorm grounds flights and there are no vacancies in the small town of Amber Falls, Ford finds himself in close quarters with the aloof man he’s been lusting over.
He’s bound to make Santa’s naughty list with all that temptation.
A family Christmas in a small town was not how Sawyer Lancaster expected his holiday to go… and his plans definitely hadn’t included his adorable assistant and his lovely parents welcoming him into their home. More like a holiday in his cold apartment… alone.
But then again, the best gifts don’t always come wrapped in pretty bows.
When the weather clears, will Sawyer find to the courage to accept that maybe, just maybe, he’s found the perfect gift in Ford?
Summary:
Ford broke the rules and fell for his boss. Hard. All that time stranded together over Christmas, who could blame him?
And maybe it was the magic of sleigh rides and kisses under the mistletoe, but... Sawyer fell for him too. Or, heck, maybe not. Because now that Sawyer had been called back to NYC, he'd gone radio silent.
Like... nothing, nada, zilch.
He was only supposed to be gone ten days, but now it's been a month and Ford is losing his cool. Would it be too crazy to hop a plane and go looking for him?
But what Ford finds when he gets there only deepens his confusion, because his boss is holding a toddler and suddenly everything Ford had thought about his boss makes him question if he even knows the man he’s fallen for.
Has Sawyer been leading a double-life this whole time and he's just too lovestruck to notice?
Read Stranded With The Boss first to enjoy this finale of Sawyer and Ford's story!
Summary:
A single, grieving father.
A manny with a big heart.
Two kids who need them both.
When Dean loses his wife, he wonders how he’s supposed to raise his children alone. Meeting Owen is like a wake-up call... Owen was the lifeline keeping them from drowning… he still is.
Owen loves taking care of Dean and the kids, but he's broken the manny’s cardinal rule: No falling for the father. Especially a straight one.
After six years of one-sided emotions, he knows he can't stay.
Faced with losing Owen, Dean must confront his true feelings for the man who's helped heal his family, and his heart. He only hopes he hasn't waited too long to find the happiness they all deserve.
It's time for a change — and another wake-up call for Dean, before he loses his second chance at love.
Stranded with His Boss #1
1
Ford
“All flights have been canceled until after Christmas. Private planes are no exception. I’m sorry, sir, but nobody’s going anywhere.” Ford hung up the phone and forcibly swallowed the scream of frustration building in his throat.
His boss, Sawyer Lancaster, was the definition of an entrepreneur. He had what the Financial Times had called the “Midas touch,” meaning whatever company he invested in usually ended up making a mint. The Amber Falls resort was his current one.
The door to Mr. Lancaster’s temporary office was open, and he was currently clearing his desk of all the files and blueprints until they returned in the new year. Ford looked at his boss moving around in the office, all sleek and suave like a jungle cat. Jungle cat! Really Ford… He shook his head at himself. Whatever. The fact was his boss was possibly the most good-looking man Ford had ever laid his eyes on, not to mention successful, meaning he won the most eligible bachelor lottery.
So there’s no way he’s noticed you, Ford. Maybe if he said it enough, his stupid heart, or maybe places further south, would get the memo.
That was probably how Mr. Lancaster had convinced old man Roberts to sell the small ski hotel his family had owned for almost three generations. Now, his boss would be turning it into a high-end ski resort in the winter, and in the summer, it would offer a number of recreational activities, including hiking, mountain biking, zip-lining, and all the other wonderful outdoor things you could dream of doing during the warmer months.
Construction would start in the new year, and that was when Mr. Lancaster was supposed to be returning after he’d left for the holidays, but it looked like he wouldn’t be leaving at all. With the weather the way it was, there was no way Mr. Lancaster was making it to New York for the holiday season.
Ford knew it wasn’t his fault that his boss had chosen to leave things until the last minute to book a flight, or that they were snowed in. But it now fell on him to tell Mr. Lancaster he wouldn’t be going anywhere.
How on Earth was Ford supposed to tell a man, who probably didn’t know the meaning of failure, that there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell of getting a flight out of town?
I’m so screwed.
Everyone else had left for their Christmas vacation, and it was just him and Mr. Lancaster remaining in the office. Christmas fell on Tuesday this year, and today was Thursday. According to the weather forecast he’d checked, after speaking to the very unhelpful woman on the phone, they were likely going to be snowed in until Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Ford loved living in the small town of Amber Falls. To him, it was perfect. They had the ski slopes, the gorgeous lakes, the mountains, and the most awesome hot spring ever. He’d grown up in Amber Falls, and he would probably die here if he had anything to say about it.
Amber Falls was the best of small-town America. There were bigger cities within driving distance, but they were still, in essence, a small-town community where neighbors still looked out for each other.
The town’s main source of income was tourism, yet they were selective on who they allowed to open up shop. Ford saw it as the best of all worlds, but he wasn’t sure how to tell his uber-sophisticated boss that he would be having an Amber Falls Christmas instead of spending the holidays in New York.
Ford hadn’t been outside of Colorado, but if every TV show and movie was to be believed, a New York Christmas was all about the glitz. While Amber Falls was stunning, it couldn’t compare to New York.
When he’d applied for the job of Mr. Lancaster’s assistant during this project and had gotten it, he’d been so excited—especially because it meant he would be up for a job at the resort once it opened. But now, he was cursing his good luck.
Then again, it seemed like said luck had run out because if he couldn’t get his boss out of the state, hell, out of this town, then he’d be screwed six ways to Sunday. And not in a good way either.
I’ll probably have to start looking for a new job by the new year, Ford thought bleakly.
Ford didn’t know where his boss would stay. He’d called around to the four B&B’s in town and had been told that they were all booked up. Amber Falls was picturesque this time of year, so they got a lot of people from around the country who wanted to experience a snowy Christmas. Then there were also the avid skiers. That meant that his boss, who’d already checked out of one of those B&B’s, was now stuck in town with nowhere to go.
Yeah. Not good.
Fuck my life! Fuck my life! Fuck my life!
Ford wiped his face in frustration, trying to come up with a way to not only tell his boss there were no departing flights but also that the cozy B&B he’d been staying at was now fully booked. Sawyer was a good boss, but he had high expectations and expected them to be met. The thing was he held himself to the same standard, so Ford couldn’t really complain.
Forever With His Boss #2
1
Ford
Sunlight filtered through the blinds and lit up Sawyer’s perfect skin. The urge to stroke his body almost won out, but Ford wanted to simply lie there and stare a little while longer. The world was quiet and still. His heart sped up as the man he loved slept right beside him. His deep breathing, in and out, was almost hypnotic.
Ford’s eyes traced every inch of a still-sleeping Sawyer’s face, and he couldn’t help the wide grin that spread across his lips. It was probably super cheesy watching your boyfriend sleep, but he honestly didn’t care. The fact that Sawyer was actually his made him want to stand on top of a rooftop and scream so everyone knew it.
“Are you going to keep watching me sleep?” Sawyer’s voice was all deep and gruff from his slumber and sounded even sexier—not like he needed any help in that department.
“You are very nice to look at.” His eyes traveled down to Sawyer’s exposed chest, and he couldn’t help licking his lips. His man was gorgeous. A light dusting of fine, dark hair spread out under Sawyer’s collarbone, then trailed between his firm pecs to form the happy trail that made its way down his washboard abs, hidden at the moment by the sheet. Ford thought he had the most lickable nipples. “Plus, if you know I’m watching you, you’re technically not sleeping.”
“Is that all I am? Eye candy?” Sawyer’s tone was serious, but his beautiful gray eyes danced, betraying his true emotions. As he spoke, he pushed the duvet down, putting his naked body fully on display.
Ford lifted his gaze to meet Sawyer’s, and his breath caught at the look in his eyes. He followed Sawyer’s movement as his hand wrapped around his hard cock, and like a hypnotist, he had Ford’s full attention.
“When it’s such amazing eye candy, can you blame me?” Ford swallowed and bit his lip just thinking about the feel of Sawyer’s thick cock stretching him, the feel of Sawyer’s weight covering his body, the man’s taste on his tongue. “Besides, showing off like that? I think you want me to look, babe.”
Sawyer’s voice deepened, and he crooked a finger. “Come here.”
Ford didn’t have to be asked twice. He crawled until he was straddling Sawyer’s hips.
“I wish you didn’t have to go.” Ford lowered himself so he was chest to chest with Sawyer.
“I know, love”—Sawyer’s arms wound around him—“but I need to go and sort a few things out. I was supposed to go back to New York for Christmas, then again at New Year’s. It’s February in two days… I think Mark is about to send a rescue party.”
“I know.” Didn’t mean he had to like it.
Ford loved when Sawyer called him love. It made him feel all gooey inside because it wasn’t just a throwaway word. When he said it, Sawyer meant it.
“I know.” He lifted his head so he could look Sawyer in the eye. “It’s just…” He put his head back on Sawyer’s chest and listened to his heart beating. The steady thump-thump soothed him. “I’ll miss you.”
Sawyer’s arms tightened around him. “Me too, love. Me too. But I’ll only be gone a couple of weeks, and then I’ll be back to make this my permanent home base.”
“And are you… Do you think…?” Ford’s voice trailed off, not sure he wanted to finish his question. He didn’t want to sound needy. He wasn’t usually clingy, but Sawyer turned him into an octopus, and he wanted to hold on with all his limbs.
“Besides, you’ll be busy. Don’t forget you need to find an office space for us. Plus, all Larry’s requests need to be reviewed, and he needs closer supervision.” He paused for a moment before adding in as an afterthought, “Oh, and a place for me to live.” Sawyer’s hand trailed up and down his spine.
He raised his head from Sawyer’s chest. “Why would you have to get a place? My parents offered you the ‘in-law’ cottage out back.”
“Yeah, but are you sure you want me in your pocket so much? We just got started.” Sawyer’s eyes closed, and his chest moved as he breathed in deeply before releasing it. “I don’t want to screw this up.”
Ford placed a hand on Sawyer’s cheek. “You won’t… we won’t, babe. I don’t need space from you. Besides, there’s a mile between us and the cottage, so technically, we won’t be living together.”
“I just thought maybe we need to follow all the steps relationships take. I don’t want you to get sick of me.” Sawyer ducked his chin, looking away for a moment. When their eyes met again, Ford’s pulse raced at the look in them, and he did what came naturally and leaned in for a kiss.
Sometimes his confident man showed parts of himself that had Ford wanting to hug him and tell him that he wasn’t going anywhere. Sawyer was more vulnerable than he would ever admit, and Ford was so grateful that he got to see that side of him. His boyfriend didn’t need to worry because Ford would hop a train, plane, or automobile to be with him.
“I could never get sick of you. I want to know everything I can about you.” He touched their foreheads together, holding Sawyer’s gaze. “I’m not going anywhere, babe.”
“Promise?” Sawyer’s eyes held his, so full of trust that he hoped he never broke it.
Sawyer wasn’t the most demonstrative, but with him, he was getting better. He tried. And Ford loved him all the more for it.
“I promise.” And it was a solemn vow.
Ford sat up quickly, reached behind him, and grabbed Sawyer’s hard shaft. A low moan escaped from Sawyer’s lips as Ford used the head of his cock—already wet from leaking precum—to tease and slick his rim. His whole body broke out in goose bumps of anticipation. He loved that they’d dispensed with condoms after they’d gone over to Denver to get tested.
There was a clinic in town, but since he didn’t want his business to spread around Amber Falls in five minutes or less, they’d decided to make the trip to the larger city.
Ford was already stretched from the night before, so he held Sawyer’s gaze as he slowly lifted himself and then sank down on Sawyer’s cock. Their joint moans were the only sounds in the room as Sawyer’s cock stretched him until he was fully seated.
“Fuck,” Sawyer cursed. His hands tightened on Ford’s hips.
Ford shivered as he lifted himself up, and Sawyer’s tip hit his prostate just right. Sawyer’s grip on his hips tightened further, hard enough that there would be bruises, and for some reason, that only upped his arousal.
Ford rose and lowered himself again onto Sawyer’s cock. His eyes widened, and a moan left his lips as Sawyer thrust upward to meet him. Every movement was a direct hit to his gland. Their combined moans and grunts filled the room, and he was glad his parents were on the far side of the hall.
The scent of arousal and sex filled the air as he rode Sawyer’s cock. Sweat slid down his back as his orgasm built. His balls tightened, and electricity shot down his spine.
“More. Please. Please.” He was rambling, but Sawyer had fried his brain. Sawyer’s hips kept rising to meet each of his downward thrusts. The sound of skin slapping against skin and their mutual groans as they chased their orgasms only served to push him closer to the edge.
Sawyer grabbed his ass, spreading him open wider, and thrust up deeper into him. Sawyer’s finger stretched his hole further, and the feeling went straight to his dick, making him leak even more precum.
“Fuck. Fuck. So good. Please.” Ford threw his head back and rode Sawyer as if his life depended on it. The muscles in his legs screamed in protest, but he didn’t care. The lure of a spectacular release was right around the corner, and he would endure anything to get there.
Ford had never been stretched so much; he was so full. Fuck. Every inch of him was stuffed with Sawyer, and he drowned in the pleasure that built in his stomach as words slipped from his lips that he never even heard. “So good. So good. Sawyer, more. I need you.” He clutched Sawyer’s shoulder, and his fingers left marks behind. “It’s too good!”
Sawyer lifted a hand to his chest and squeezed the tight bud of a nipple as his cock continued to nail Ford’s prostate. That feeling, along with the fullness in his ass, had Ford screaming as his orgasm ripped through his body and ropes of cum shot from his cock, painting Sawyer’s chest and abs.
Sawyer fucked into him faster, and as the last waves of his orgasm coursed through him, Sawyer stilled and threw his head back before letting out a deep moan as his cum shot deep into Ford’s body.
He collapsed on top of Sawyer, not caring about the cum between them, and whispered, “I wish you didn’t have to go.”
Sawyer’s arms went around him, and he placed a kiss on Ford’s head before replying, “I’ll be back so fast, you won’t even know I’m gone.”
“I’ll always know when you’re gone.” Ford trailed a finger down Sawyer’s side. He would never get tired of touching this man. “I won’t be able to sleep well until I have you next to me again.”
“Me too, love. Me too.”
He drew in a long breath and then let it out. Ford reminded himself that Sawyer would be back in ten days. He’d booked the ticket himself, and he could do ten days.
Holding On to His Manny #3
Prologue
Dean
Did it make him a horrible parent for not wanting to go home yet? Maybe he could go on a long drive and find somewhere nice to scream before returning to the chaos that was his life.
Dean zoned out, watching the cashier swipe the items across the scanner, the flashing, repetitive motion soothing in its own way.
All he needed was some cereal… just cereal. But of course, the lines had been long since this was the only lane still open. As much as he’d hated standing in line, he also dreaded his turn coming up. I don't know if I can do this!
I don't know if I can do this! The words were like an alarm clock on snooze, and even though they quieted for a bit, they always came back louder than before.
He pushed all his panic and fear down because his kids needed him. The last few months had been chaotic, and the move had just added to it.
“Sir? Sir?” The cashier’s voice had him looking up.
Dean jerked and turned to face the woman. “Huh?”
“Sixteen twenty-seven,” she said as she pointed to the screen, and his eyes followed.
“Oh, right,” he mumbled. Dean fished his wallet from his pocket and handed over some cash to pay for the box of cereal, milk, a carton of strawberries, and a pack of his daughter Kennedy’s favorite tubes of yogurt. After taking the money, the cashier stuck it in the till and handed him his change.
He nodded. “Thanks.” Dean stuffed the money back into his wallet before shoving it back into his pocket.
“Have a pleasant day,” the cashier said.
Dean tried for a smile but wasn’t sure he pulled it off. It was the best he could do.
That seemed to be the motto of his life at the moment.
“You too.” Her attention went on to the person behind him, and Dean walked out of the store, his brain already back to what he knew he would find when he returned home. He had just about reached his car when he heard someone calling out.
“Sir! Sir!” The voice came from behind him and he whirled around. A young man, he couldn’t be over seventeen, maybe eighteen or nineteen, came running up behind him, a few bags in his hand. He stopped once he reached Dean. “You forgot these.” He held up the bags.
“Oh!” Dean shook his head and released a sigh as he took them from the associate. “I guess I have more on my mind than I thought.” He let out a breath. “I apologize.”
The young man shrugged. “No worries.”
Why did it feel like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders? Dean felt like a rubber band stretched too far, and you could already see where it would snap.
“I have a three and an eight-year-old at home.” Dean let everything bubble over like a pot of pasta you didn’t watch, and all the anxiety inside of him poured out. “They haven’t stopped crying, and I swear a permanent headache has taken up residence behind my eyes.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to stave said headache off, but it was too late. “We just moved here after losing their mother… my wife in the line of duty.” His hand went to his chest and he pressed down, rubbing. It didn’t stop that pain that made him feel both empty and as if someone were squeezing his heart at the same time.
Every time he thought of his wife, it was the same. God, why hadn’t he been there? If they’d stayed as partners on the force, this wouldn’t have happened. But then the kids came and they decided one of them should always be home. Dean closed his eyes briefly and took several deep breaths. When he opened them, he was surprised to find the young man was still standing there. He probably should have just said thank you and gotten in his car, but instead, he went on speaking, “My oldest won’t stop yelling for cereal, and the youngest, well, he has not stopped crying for his mama since the day we lost her. I don’t know what to do. What do I do?”
Dean didn’t know why he was sharing his life story with the young man, but he felt like a pressure cooker that hadn’t had the steam let out. He bit down on his lips trying to stop the tears because he just knew if they started, he wouldn’t be able to stop them.
“I’m sorry.” He swiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “I guess I just needed to vent to someone, but I shouldn’t have dumped all that on you.”
“I understand.” The young man nodded as if he did, his blue eyes filled with understanding—or maybe that was wishful thinking on Dean’s part. “Sometimes you can’t help falling apart, especially if you keep trying to hold it in.” His eyes on Dean were knowing, almost as though he were seeing into his very soul and could tell that the broken man in front of him hadn’t cried since the moment a squad car showed up at his house to take him to the hospital. “It’s only human nature.”—the voice pulled him back from that memory—“especially when we keep pushing it down. After a while… boom.”
The young man smiled after making the explosion gesture with his hands, and Dean couldn’t help returning one of his own. Maybe it was the boom, or maybe there was something to spilling your guts to a stranger.
“Uh, so listen…” The kid sounded unsure now. “So, I’m a babysitter and an excellent one at that. CPR certified and all. Oh, and my name is Owen.”
His hand went into a bag slung over his chest Dean had initially missed, and he pulled out a notebook that he put it in his mouth while rummaging around for a pen. Dean watched as the kid scribbled something down, then ripped the page out and handed it to him.
“It’s my number. Since you’re new to the area, if you ever need any assistance, please call me. I’d be glad to help you.” His smile was genuine, and Dean gladly took the piece of paper. He looked down at it and slipped it into his pocket.”
“Thank you,” Dean said, and for the first time in a long while, he meant it.
Owen nodded. “Anytime. But even if you never call, take care.” He waved as he turned and walked away from Dean.
Dean covered the rest of the distance to his vehicle and walked over to his door, unlocking it with his key fob. He got inside and tossed the groceries onto the passenger seat, then started the car and backed out of the parking spot.
Maybe there was something to letting it out. It hadn’t taken the weight off, but he didn’t feel like he was five seconds from losing his mind anymore. Being both a mother and a father to two kids was something he never thought he’d have to face. He wasn’t sure how he would deal with it all on his own.
You’ll do what you have to do. And that was all he could do. That didn’t stop him from worrying about having more meltdowns just like the one he had in the grocery store parking lot. God, he hoped not. For his kids’ sakes, he would be strong.
Dean looked in the rearview mirror once he pulled into the driveway and parked the car; he didn’t need his kids seeing that he’d been close to tears. He wiped his face for good measure and plastered on a smile.
“As good as I’ll get,” he muttered. He shrugged and grabbed the bags before getting out of the car. He had just made it to the porch when he heard the screaming coming from inside the house. He stopped on the steps and closed his eyes. Man, he’d really hoped they would have cried themselves out by now.
This was not the plan, Angela.
Dean rubbed his forehead and groaned, but then straightened again. He was all his kids had left; he couldn’t fail them. He finally opened the front door and dropped the groceries on the table in the foyer and headed straight for the living room.
“Daddy’s back,” he said, attempting to sound more upbeat than he felt. Dean surveyed the scene in front of him. His three-year-old son was bawling in his mother-in-law’s arms while eight-year-old Kennedy was in front of the television. He knew he should limit her screen time, but right now it was more than he had energy for.
“I hope he didn’t cry the whole time I was out.” He bent down and lifted the toddler from his mother-in-law’s arms. The look on her face was answer enough; she looked like she was on the verge of tears herself. But still she shook her head and smiled, although he could see the frays around the edges of it. “Not at all,” Eleanor said. “He just wanted his daddy. That’s all.”
Neither of them could bring themselves to admit that mommy was the other person he was missing and wanted.
Dean looked down at Asher. His little boy was almost four, but he knew something was wrong. He knew mommy hadn’t come home. As he shifted him from one hip to the other, he thought about the kid with the startling blue eyes… Owen.
It was possible he would need to make that call sooner rather than later because fuck knew he needed to find someone who could help him out. Sadly, he wasn’t able to do it all on his own, and his in-laws were also grieving the loss of their only daughter. Even though Dean moved his little family from LA to Amber Falls so he could be closer to his in-laws and the kids would have their only grandparents in their lives, he still needed help.
Maybe Owen was his godsend. Or maybe his family had another guardian angel.
Dean sank into his chair and let out a sigh, his arms tightening around his son.
I hope I made the right choice, Angie. Moving had been a mostly spur-of-the-moment decision. Watching the casket that held the mother of his children and the woman who had taught him what living was nearly destroyed him. Dean closed his eyes, trying to will the memory of that day away. After that, being a cop in LA wasn’t something he could comfortably do anymore. His kids had already lost one parent on the job, and he refused to let them grow up the way he did—with relatives who loved him but also thought of him as a burden. So it was this small-town life and Amber Falls P.D. that was exactly what they needed.
Everything would work out. It just had to.
For as long as she can remember Rheland's had her nose stuck in a book, getting lost in the world of someone else's creation (She still does). Her love for writing came from her love for reading. She could never have one without the other.
Writing has always been a hobby and a cathartic experience for her. There are many stories lost to the never to be completed or published pile but needed to be written at the time.
She's just a girl that loved stories so much she wrote hers.
Rheland would love to hear from her readers and learn more about Y'all. So if you get a chance... please get in touch.
She also writes Omegaverse as Skye R. Richmond.
EMAIL: rhelandrichmond@gmail.com
Stranded with His Boss #1
Forever With His Boss #2
Holding On to His Manny #3
