Blue Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Epilogue

  More From Jena Wade

  About Jena Wade

  Blue

  Lights of Fate

  Book One

  Jena Wade

  Copyright © 2020 by Jena Wade

  All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this book ONLY. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  Image/art disclaimer: Licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only. Any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.

  Published in the United States of America

  This book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  www.thejenawade.com

  Warning

  This book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Jena Wade’s books are for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

  Chapter One

  Alex

  “What time is the interview?” my brother, Tanner, asked over the phone. It was an hour earlier where he was compared to my new town in Colorado, so while he was just getting ready to go work, I was already dressed and out the door.

  “It’s in twenty minutes.” I’d arrived early was sitting on a bench outside the former ski lodge, recently turned into Winter Edge Resort office headquarters.

  “You’re already there, aren’t you?”

  I shifted in my seat. I’d been lucky to find a dry bench, since we’d had a fresh dusting of snow the night before. “Yes.” Anyone around me would likely see my orange aura darken in embarrassment. My brother knew me too well and didn’t need to see it to know it was happening.

  “Geesh. That blue should hire you based on your interest alone. I bet none of his other applicants have been talking about that resort for the past year, like it’s their own personal pet project.”

  I couldn’t argue with him. Since reading about the town of Winter Edge and its recent revitalization in a travel magazine I’d randomly picked up months ago, I couldn’t get the town out of my mind. I’d become an expert about it in the weeks after reading the article, learning the town’s history, population, and studying up on the various festivals it hosted over the years. I was drawn to the gorgeous small ski town. When the pull had become too much, I’d moved. I hadn’t been able to fight it; it was all consuming.

  The job as event coordinator at Winter Edge Resort that posted on the day I’d arrived was like fate blasting a message right in front of my face. I’d made the right choice. I belonged here.

  “Well, good luck, brother. I’m sure you’ll do great.”

  “Thanks, Tanner.” Getting a positive comment like that from my quick-tempered older brother surprised me. He and I had always been close and I loved him dearly, but the guy was not one to express himself with words.

  After hanging up the phone, I waited outside for another fifteen minutes practicing interview questions in my head. Once it was time, I got up, smoothed out my clothes and made my way inside. Show time.

  Minutes later, I sat down in the modest, yet comfortable furniture of the waiting area, just outside of Sawyer Lunquist’s office. Sawyer’s assistant asked me to take a seat then flitted away as if I was an annoyance he had to work around. He’d rolled his eyes when I’d told him my purpose for being there. “You’re early,” he barked, as if that was a bad thing.

  Being that the assistant was an orange, like me, I thought that he would help me out and the two of us could stick together. Based on his behavior and the way he looked down his nose at me, I didn’t think that would be the case. I wasn't here after his job, I was interviewing for an event coordinator position. Was the assistant after that job too? Or after the boss?

  Sawyer was a blue, which meant he was a potential match, a perfect complement to an orange, like me and the assistant. I put all of that out of my mind though; I had an interview to focus on.

  I held a portfolio in my hand stuffed with letters of recommendation, two copies of my resume, several business cards, and a pad of paper with a list of questions I had prepared. When I’d read about Winter Edge Resort, I’d dreamed of working there someday and now I had my chance. My brother hadn’t liked me moving across the country all alone, but I had to follow my heart. Being a secondary, primaries tended to think that we were helpless without a match. But I knew I could handle it.

  I hadn’t been nervous about the interview until I arrived at the Winter Edge headquarters building. My heart rate rose with each passing minute. I tapped my fingers nervously on my thigh waiting for Sawyer to appear in the doorway. I'd seen pictures of the man when I was preparing for the interview. He was attractive, in a ruggedly handsome sort of way. He looked like he’d be comfortable in a pair of jeans and a suit jacket. Though I had seen a picture of him in a full suit and tie in an article online. He’d inherited Winter Edge Resort from his father and turned it into a profitable business rather than the dilapidated lodge that his father let it go to over the years.

  The door to the office opened and it was as if the air shifted. A ringing sounded in my ears, causing me to wince before it evened out to a gentle hum. Was he playing music in there or some sort of white noise or something? Perhaps one of those sounds of the rain forest, calming music.

  “Come in,” a voice called from inside and I stood up. I walked toward the door. The humming grew louder, and my heart rate quickened again. My footsteps accelerated, almost bringing me to a jog. Suddenly I couldn’t wait to get inside that office.

  I'd known several people who had met their match, the one person that their heart and soul recognized as theirs and theirs alone. Each one of them described the experience differently. The intense connection, instant love, and general devotion you felt toward your match when you touched them. Each one mentioned the hum. It was if your two colors were finally finding their fit, and harmony was what followed. I’d hoped it would happen someday, had dreamed about it, but at this moment, it took me by surprise.

  When I entered the room, I knew immediately that was what was happening.

  Sawyer stood, buttoned his suit jacket and walked around his desk. He lifted a hand to shake mine.

  “I’m Sawyer,” he said.

  I acted on auto-pilot, sure that this was my match, but I wouldn’t know until I touched him. I slipped my hand into his and it was as if the world righted itself. All my life I’d lived with a tilt I didn’t know was there, and now suddenly everything was upright and perfect.

  My match was right in front of me. A slow smile split across his face, in a goofy, yet dumbfounded expression that I never would have expected to see on a man of his status.

 
“It's you,” he said, his voice filled with awe and wonder.

  “It is.” What was I supposed to do? Kiss him? Wrap my arms around him? My fingers itched to do just that. I wanted to rub my face along his jawline and feel the scruff of his five o'clock shadow against my skin. My grin had to match his as the two of us stood there just staring at one another.

  “I’ve always wondered what this was like,” he said with a nervous laugh. “Everyone kind of describes it differently.”

  “Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing. I never would have thought in a million years. I mean, I knew you were a blue and you had to have known that I was an orange. It just didn’t occur to me that we’d be a match.”

  The space between us closed. He dropped my hand and cupped my cheek. I nuzzled into his touch. I brought my hand to his face and ran my fingertips down his jawline. Our gazes were locked together as we soaked in the mere presence of our colors. Our auras touched, his blue hue melting against my orange.

  His thumb grazed over my lower lip. “You are magnificent,” he said.

  My feet moved on their own. I pushed myself up on my tiptoes and my lips landed softly on his. He cupped my face and I threaded my fingers through his hair. Our lips stayed locked together, connected in a moment of time that was all our own. The world melted away and just the two of us were left.

  Slowly, we floated back to earth and the kiss ended. There would be more where that came from, I was sure of it.

  I licked my lips, missing the taste of him already. I laughed. “I guess that settles it then, we know how this interview is going to end.”

  “Yeah, suppose we do.”

  “So, I got the job, right?”

  He shook his head. “Absolutely not.”

  “What?” My heart sank. He wasn't kidding. The intense longing that I felt for the job and my involvement with the company dissipated into disappointment. “What do you mean?”

  “I can't have my complement working for me. You're my match. You'll stay at home.”

  Chapter Two

  Sawyer

  My match’s face contorted from shock, to dismay, to straight up anger as he stared at me. He dropped his hand from mine and took a step back. The loss was like a kick to the gut. Since he’d walked in, I'd heard the distant hum that played like a melody inside my head, but also in my heart. When I’d held him, touched his skin and grazed his lips with my own it was as if I was seeing color for the first time. Like my life was dull greys until now. His orange glow bringing light into my life.

  My arms ached to hold him, talk to him and tell him everything about myself. I wanted to learn everything there was to know about him. So, what had him stepping back?

  “You don't believe that secondaries should work?” he said. The horror clear on his face and he took another step back, which was the exact opposite direction I wanted him to go. The further away he got, the dimmer my world grew.

  “No, of course I don’t believe that. This isn't the Dark Ages. Secondaries are fantastic workers. I have several of them on my staff.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “So, you just don't want your secondary to work?”

  “Correct,” I said, as if it wasn’t obvious. “There will be plenty of things to keep you busy. I own a large home, and I belong to several social groups. I'm an active part of the community here.” As my match, I expected that he would be as well. Though, perhaps the plans I’d envisioned in my head were not going to come to fruition.

  “Right,” he said slowly. “I get that. I did do some research on you before applying for this job.” He scratched his head. “But that's not what I want to do, at least not the only thing I want to do. I want this job. I want to work for the resort.”

  My stomach clenched as if I’d been kicked by one of my horses. “You don't want to have a match?” It wasn’t unheard of for a match to part ways, but it was extremely rare. What cruel twist of fate would cause me to have a match that didn’t want me?

  “No, that’s not it all. Of course I want a match. More than anything, but I can be your match and still work. Plenty of people have two income households. Secondaries even work after they have babies. Some primaries stay home with their children now. It’s a brand new world out there. It is, as you said, not the Dark Ages.”

  I leaned against my desk, needing something to steady me. “I'm glad that works for them. But that's not something that I want.”

  His eyebrows raised and he let out a dry laugh. “So, we're just going to do whatever you want? Is that how you're going to make things work?”

  None of this was going as I expected and the entire interaction was sinking fast. “Of course not,” I said. “Look, I think we've gotten off on the wrong foot.”

  “You think? Sawyer, I never envisioned that I would have such a despairing difference in opinion with my match. I mean, a match is supposed to match your beliefs, your wants, your desires. You being my match explains why I've been so drawn to this town, to this resort and seeing that you are my complement, my one and only, this position is absolutely perfect. I want nothing more than to see your company succeed, to help you make it a success. And the fact that you don't want me to be a part of it is insane.”

  With each word my respect for him grew. Already, he had the same passion for our business that I did, but that didn’t mean he had to work here in order to assist me. “Take a seat, Alex, please. I think we need to talk some more.”

  “I'm not sure what there is to talk about.”

  “A lot,” I said, and I walked around my desk and sat down. “I just don't see how it can work out having my match work for me. I have seen it before, and it never ends well.” My fathers were a prime example. I would not, under any circumstances, repeat their mistakes.

  “With you, not for you,” Alex said. “It's not something that I've put a lot of thought into. Clearly you have if you're dead set against having your match work.”

  I blew out a long breath. “Look, I just don't believe it's something that can work out. My parents tried to do it, it didn’t work for them.”

  “Were your parents a match?”

  I winced. “No, they were not. But they were married for a very long time. They argued constantly at work and about work. Even when my secondary father didn’t work for the resort specifically, they fought. I would prefer that you do not have a job.”

  Alex crossed his arms over his chest and I couldn't help but watch the way his forearms flexed. My match was a gorgeously built individual with cream colored skin.

  “I think you should give it a chance.”

  “Maybe you should give staying at home a chance,” I countered, though I sensed I was on the losing end of this argument. Alex was like a rabbit, ready to bolt as soon as he found an opening.

  “Your biggest concern is that we won't be able to work together without arguing?” His chin lifted.

  Being this close to my match turned me on like no other, and the fact that we were in the throes of a debate only made things hotter. My secondary had a passion to him, and I loved it.

  “Among other things. I would like you to be home with whatever children we may have.”

  Alex nodded. “I suppose that would be a concern, but there are plenty of working parents in the world. And I suppose my working full time is a deal breaker for you?”

  It never occurred to me that I would consider not following through with my match when I met him. I mean, there were, of course, medical remedies to dissolving a connection like this, but those were radical. “Are you considering going through with the split?”

  Alex recoiled in disgust. “What? No. I mean, it's tempting given your stance, but it's still crazy to think about.”

  I took a deep breath. I needed to reign in this conversation and take control. My goal was not to alienate Alex. He was my match. “Alex, I opened this position because in about nine months’ time I'd like to have a grand opening gala, which will become an annual event. I want everyone in town, all the businesses, all the citizen
s, as well as many of the regular tourists to attend. I want them to see Winter Edge as their new go to place for their winter vacations and getaways. I'd like to put us on the map, so to speak. I had you come in for an interview because your resume is impressive. And I believe that you can do the job.” He was the only candidate I’d called in. Many had applied, but his resume stood out the most. Perhaps our connection had begun before our actual meeting.

  “Suddenly that's changed because I'm your match?”

  I sighed. Now was the time for me to make compromises if this was going to work. “No. I still think you can do the job. I just would prefer it not be you. However, I do consider myself a reasonable man.”

  Alex snorted at that. He gripped the arm of the chair and began to stand. “This is ridiculous. I’m not going to not work just because you have some misguided beliefs about what a match should be. If I can’t work here, then I’ll get a job somewhere else.”

  “Wait. Please,” I said, almost shouting in my attempt to stop him. The hum that had been so pleasant a moment ago screeched in my ears as panic set in. My fingers itched to touch his skin again. Now that I’d met my match and heard the hum, I wasn’t letting him go. He was mine, I was his. I wasn’t going to let him get away.

  “If you and I can work together without any issues, then I think we can negotiate on the status of your employment. And of course, when we follow through with making our match a permanent one, Winter Edge Resort will be partially yours anyway. You can work wherever you want, however you want, as long as it's in the best interest of the company.”

  “All right,” he said. “And how will we determine if me working with you is successful or not?”

  “I'm not sure,” I said honestly. “We'll have to brainstorm on that.” Whatever measure we used, I was sure that I would prove to be right. I couldn’t fathom a way in which us working together day in and day out would be a good idea. As a blue, I was known for being cold and calculating when it came to business.