Always Alex – Sneak Peek

Chapter 1 – Nikki

As Nikki looked at her reflection, she saw not just a princess, but a woman yearning for something more. Something real. Something that might never come.

Why was it that her fairy-tale ending always seemed to be just out of reach?

“Hold still, miss.” The seamstress spoke around pins in her mouth.

Nikki had found Mrs. LeMarc shortly after she and Krisi moved back to Nashville earlier in the year. What had started as an emergency fix for one of Krisi’s outfits had become a beautiful relationship with a skilled seamstress and designer.

“Oh, sorry.” Nikki stopped swishing. I guess there’s more to being Cinderella than twirling in a lovely dress.

Memories of her favorite Christmas came flooding back. Her mother bought her a Cinderella costume, including glass—well, clear plastic—heels. She had to have been five or six when she received that gift. She’d worn the full costume—dress, crown, shoes—everywhere for weeks. Her mother let her wear it to the grocery store, church, even to the St. Claire’s house.

In later years, after Nikki learned the true cost of things, she’d realized just how much her mother must have sacrificed to get her the real Cinderella dress instead of a cheap knockoff. She would have been equally happy with the cheaper dress, but when she wore it to Krisi’s house to play, its quality matched Krisi’s Jasmine costume. Her mother made sure she’d not just had a good Christmas morning, but an equally good experience after.

She’d found that princess dress packed away in tissue when she’d cleaned out her mother’s house after her death.

As Mrs. LeMarc adjusted the gown, Nikki couldn’t help but wonder what Alex’s reaction would be if he saw her in it. Her heart fluttered at the thought, but she quickly pushed it aside. He was Krisi’s brother and completely off limits. Besides, he didn’t think of her like that. To him, she was just his sister’s best friend. Yet the thought of him lingered, like a melody she couldn’t shake.

“Okay, Ms. Nikki, we’re all set here.” Mrs. LeMarc spent the next few minutes unpinning before carefully sliding the dress down Nikki’s slim body.

Once free of the dress, Nikki walked barefoot across the soft wooden floor and stepped behind a privacy screen. The scent of lavender in the workroom mixed with the distant aroma of pine and cinnamon of the holiday decorations on her front porch. Nikki pulled on faded jeans and a bulky sweater, then walked back out, sitting on a chair to put on her boots.

She watched the other woman gently place the dress on her worktable to await its final touches.

“It’s a beautiful dress,” Nikki mused. “Krisi will be so pleased. She’s going to look amazing.”

Krisi had always been the one who shined—confident, elegant, a true St. Claire in every way. Nikki didn’t mind being in her shadow; after all, Krisi was her best friend, her sister in all ways but blood. But sometimes, just sometimes, Nikki wished she could step out of the dark, even if only for a moment, to be seen for who she truly was.

She’d found a lot of satisfaction helping Krisi start and grow her perfume business and was thrilled with her new role in the company. And now that they were staying put in Nashville, she really liked having an office at the back of the store instead of in her apartment.

Krisi had the creative skills to come up with different scents, and Nikki had the organizational skills to get the business up and running. Together, they’d figured out the manufacturing piece of the puzzle, which now ran smoothly. She’d just been given the title of Chief Operations Officer at Scent SCK, which boasted six boutiques around the world.

“I’m thrilled to create beautiful gowns for Ms. Krisi. It’s always a wonderful creative challenge.” Mrs. LeMarc interrupted her thoughts, then paused to look at some papers in her hand. “I know Ms. Krisi could have any designer in the world create her wedding gown, but I’d be honored if she’d take a look at my designs.”

Nikki cocked her head. “You drew them up already?”

The other woman nodded and slowly, tentatively stretched out her hand with the papers.

“I’ll happily share them with Krisi. I’m headed to see her now.”

“Thank you, Ms. Nikki. You and Ms. Krisi are helping me achieve my dream of becoming a designer,” Mrs. LeMarc said as Nikki tucked the designs in her purse for safekeeping.

Nikki grinned. “And today, I got to live a princess dream.” Now she just needed to let a certain prince know.

No. Alex St. Claire was not only off limits but oblivious.

“I’ll have the dress sent over this afternoon, along with the mask and shoes,” Mrs. LeMarc said.

Nikki nodded, plucked her jacket and hat from the coat tree, and waved as she made her way out the front door. Nashville looked ready for the holiday, even though it hadn’t snowed yet. The streets were strung with colorful lights and blow-up characters.

As she stepped into the brisk air, the chill bit at her cheeks and she longed for a warm embrace that was more than fantasy. But that wouldn’t be her life. Dreaming about the prince who would never be hers would get her nowhere.

***

December 17

Two days later, Nikki found herself driving her reliable Toyota sedan north into the hills of southern Kentucky. Singing along with ’80s tunes blaring from the radio, she almost missed the turn for the Bourbon Ridge Resort, where the gala would be held later that evening.

The Winter Wonderland Weekend, hosted by Roger Harrington, was an annual three-day extravaganza with activities for everyone in the family. It began Friday evening with the masquerade gala, then over the next two days, there would be a variety of activities, ranging from a gingerbread house competition to sledding to story time with Mrs. Claus to so much more. The event raised money for leukemia research, a cause near and dear to Mr. Harrington’s heart after his wife died of leukemia years ago.

Nikki would arrive early to check in to Krisi and Brian’s room, and her own room would be ready later in the day. Krisi’s gorgeous gown Krisi was tucked safely in her backseat, along with custom crystal shoes and a handcrafted mask. Krisi had also asked her to bring up one of her suitcases. Since Nikki was only staying one night, she only had a backpack with a change of clothes and didn’t mind bringing Krisi’s luggage.

Krisi had invited Nikki to come to the ball with her and Brian, even offering to get her a custom costume through Mrs. LeMarc, but Nikki had a new book she was looking forward to diving into while Krisi twirled her night away as a princess. She was happy to bring Krisi’s clothes and get her room ready, but that was as much as she wanted to participate in the weekend’s activities. Christmas wasn’t her favorite time of year, and celebrating for three days was more than she could fake her way through.

Nikki always felt socially awkward at large parties like this gala. She didn’t really enjoy the type of small talk that inevitably took place at a $10,000-per-person event. Although she’d grown up as Krisi St. Claire’s best friend, she was also daughter of the St. Claire children’s nanny and was very aware of the differences in their social status. Nikki was comfortable with who she was and where she belonged—in her room, reading her book.

As Krisi’s personal assistant for so many years, Nikki instinctively knew how to stay in the background and let Krisi shine in the spotlight. It wasn’t hard—Krisi was a natural beauty and the spotlight loved her. And fortunately for their friendship, the spotlight wasn’t something Nikki desired.

Nikki’s cell phone trilling brought her out of her memories just as she drove into the resort. She pulled off to the side of the long driveway and turned the radio down to answer the call.

“Hey, Krisi.”

“How was the drive?” Krisi asked.

Nikki looked around her. Pine trees mingled with bare and skeletal branches stretching up into the winter sky. It was beautiful.

“Gorgeous and easy. I just pulled into the driveway. What time do you think you and Brian will head out?”

“About that—”

“Is everything okay?” Nikki asked tentatively as her gut clenched.

“Yes and no. Shelby’s plans changed, and she’s coming home tonight instead of Monday. Brian wants to be here when she gets in.”

“Oh sure. Understandable.” Shelby was Brian’s sister, in her senior year of college, and his only family. It made sense he wanted to welcome her home. “So you’re coming up alone? What time should I expect you?”

There was a long, unsettling pause, then Krisi cleared her throat. “I’m not coming up tonight either, Nik.”

“Oh!” Nikki’s mind was whirling with next steps. She’d need to cancel the hotel, see what other activities Krisi and Brian had signed up for that she’d need to cancel…should she just turn around and head home now?

“Would you be willing to go to the party in my place?”

Nikki cringed at Krisi’s question.

“I know it isn’t your thing, Nik, but I’d really appreciate it.”

Nikki’s heart sank as Krisi’s request settled in. “Only for you would I do this. I’m not going to stay the whole time. I’ll check in, make an appearance at the gala, but that’s it. I’m heading back to Nashville tomorrow morning.”

Attending the gala in Krisi’s place was more than a favor; it was stepping into the spotlight she always avoided. Even though she’d lived amongst the wealthy her whole life, this wasn’t her world. What if she couldn’t pull it off? The thought of navigating the social intricacies of the wealthy, alone and under scrutiny, made her hands grip the steering wheel a little tighter. But there was no turning back.

“Thank you, Nik. I know you hate these events, especially at Christmas, and this is a big ask.”

Christmas events were the hardest, stirring memories she preferred to keep buried. Her stomach twisted at the thought of mingling with the privileged, pretending to belong. Yet Krisi was her best friend, and Nikki would do anything for her—even if it meant stepping into a world that felt more like a gilded cage than a festive escape.

Maybe, just maybe, a small part of her wished for a bit of Christmas magic, but she’d never admit it.

“Yeah, yeah. No problem.” Nikki’s mind was already back on how she’d need to cancel Krisi and Brian’s room and see what else they’d signed up for.

“You don’t mind, do you?”

Nikki had missed most of what Krisi had said.

“Since my room should already be ready, stay there and cancel yours. And thank you, Nik.”

“Say hi to Shelby for me.” Resigned to her new circumstances, Nikki said her goodbye and disconnected the call.

Pulling back onto the long, winding road to the resort felt like crossing a threshold, one where her carefully maintained boundaries might be tested. A slight frown crossed her lips as she drove around the last curve. The resort appeared almost suddenly, like a hidden treasure in the hills, its rustic chic buildings glowing warmly in the soft light. A huge evergreen in the center of the circular drive was decorated in colorful lights and ornaments. It was beautiful, almost too perfect, like something out of a storybook.

It was time to dig deep and find at least a little Christmas spirit, because it appeared she was stuck in the middle of a Hallmark Christmas movie set. But unlike the popular holiday movies, there was no leading man in sight. Something about this weekend felt different, like the calm before a storm, and Nikki couldn’t shake the feeling that by the time she left, her life might not be quite the same.

Chapter 2 – Alex

Alexander St. Claire sang along with a Michal Bublé Christmas tune on the radio as he pulled his SUV into the circular drive of the Bourbon Ridge Resort. He shut the radio off and looked around. It certainly looks like Christmas, he thought with a grin, staring at the winter wonderland all around him. This was going to be a great weekend. Three days of celebrating Christmas for a good cause. What could be better?

When the invitation arrived to announce the fundraiser, he’d immediately blocked the time off. Tonight was the masquerade gala, then Saturday and Sunday, he’d volunteered to help with lots of activities for families affected by leukemia. He was most looking forward to the gingerbread house competition and the snowball fight.

A light tap on the window brought Alex out of his thoughts. A bellhop stood waiting to open his car door, but it was locked.

He grinned at the man and unlocked the doors. “Sorry about that.”

“No problem, sir. Are you checking in?” At Alex’s nod, he continued, “I’ll be happy to bring your bags in for you. The check-in desk is to the right, just inside the doors.”

The eager young man stood back while Alex unfolded his six-foot-two frame out of the vehicle and stretched his arms over his head. He tugged down his red-and-black plaid vest, then straightened his black bow tie and pulled down the cuffs of a white dress shirt. He deposited his keys with the young man before turning to the backseat to grab his red scarf and black wool coat.

“Thank you”—he looked at the young man’s name tag—“Ronnie. You from around here?”

He nodded.

“It’s certainly a beautiful area. Y’all expecting any snow this weekend?”

Ronnie closed the car door after removing two suitcases from the backseat, then led the way to the lobby. “They’re saying maybe an inch or two tonight. Nothing major, from what I’ve heard.”

Alex nodded, glad to hear it wouldn’t impact families coming in for the weekend. His sister and her fiancé were also volunteering this weekend, and he was looking forward to spending time with them and getting to know Brian. It was weird to think his older sister was getting married next fall. He shook his head with a small grin before stepping up to the counter.

Check-in was smooth and easy, then Ronnie led the way to his room. They walked along a paved path to one of four outbuildings made to look like log cabins. The building was outlined in white lights, and a large pine wreath greeted them on the glass door. Alex paused to look at a family sitting near the fireplace. A six- or seven-foot Christmas tree sat in the corner next to them. Unlike the Christmas tree in the main lobby, with its color-coordinated decorations and perfectly placed lights, this one looked like a family tree—homemade ornaments, colorful lights, tinsel appearing to have been thrown willy-nilly. The scene warmed his heart as he continued behind Ronnie to the elevators.

Ronnie led the way to the end of the sixth-floor hallway, where he unlocked and opened the door before moving to the side. Alex stepped through and was immediately captured by the scene in front of him. The huge windows lining the opposite wall looked onto the pine-filled hills of southern Kentucky. It was stunning.

“Your bedroom is over here, sir.”

Alex pulled his attention from the window and turned to see Ronnie by a doorway to the left. He’d set Alex’s luggage on a stand just inside the room, and they continued the tour. A few minutes later, they were back at the door, where Alex handed the young man a tip and thanked him.

Ronnie looked at the bill in his hand, his eyes wide. “Thank you, sir.”

Alex smiled. “Have a great Christmas, Ronnie.”

The young man nodded and closed the door quietly behind him.

Alone, Alex walked around again, checking out the space. As a single guy, he didn’t really need a suite, but it would certainly make for a comfortable weekend. He stepped back into the bedroom and unpacked his clothing. His sister called him a fashionista and a clotheshorse, which, looking at everything he’d brought for barely three days, was hard to argue. What could he say? He was a stylish guy.

Once everything was hung up or folded in a drawer, he made his way out to the living room and stood in front of the window.

His father’s words echoed in his mind, a weight pressing on his chest.

“I’ll hand over the reins to the business when you’re settled down and I feel you’re ready to handle it,” his father had said.

“Settled?” Alex had asked. “What do you mean settled? And what does it have to do with my capacity to run a business?”

His father, sitting behind his large wooden desk, leaned back in his chair, looking thoughtful, his steepled fingers resting on his chest. “You’re still young, Alex.” He held up his hand before Alex could argue. “I know you’re thirty-two, but you haven’t dated anyone for longer than a few months in years.”

Alex arched his brow. “You pay attention to who I date?”

His father shook his head. “That’s the thing, son. I don’t bother paying attention because no girl is ever around for long. There are plenty of young, beautiful, eligible women in Nashville. Choose one.”

Alex’s brow creased. “Choose one? Father, I’ve dated many of them, and if they can’t capture my heart for more than a couple of dates, why would I risk the rest of my life on them?”

His father sighed heavily. “You’re just like your sister, waiting for love. What you don’t realize is love can come later, with commitment and time.”

“And if it doesn’t? Then what?” Alex knew his parents’ marriage hadn’t been about love. They seemed to scarcely tolerate each other. He would rather stay single than be miserable for the rest of his life. Or make someone else miserable. “If that’s the criteria for me to run the family business, no thanks.”

He’d turned on his heel and walked out of his father’s office, snapping the door shut harder than intended.

Alex pressed his forehead against the cool glass above the hills, chill seeping into his skin with the cold reality of his situation. His sigh fogged the stunning view in front of him, and all he could see was the path his life was supposed to take, now shrouded in uncertainty. Alex clenched his fists, feeling frustration rise within him. How could his father reduce his entire future to something so trivial as finding a woman?

He’d watched his big sister, Krisi, find the love of her life in Brian. Why couldn’t he want the same?

The thought of losing the family business—his birthright—because of this absurd demand boiled his blood. It wasn’t only his career; it was his identity, his sense of purpose. Without his father’s blessing, the business would slip through his fingers, and it would be a loss he wasn’t sure he could bear.

His father wasn’t one to make empty threats, and the longer Alex resisted, the more he risked losing everything. But what was the alternative? Compromise on something as vital as love? Alex shook his head.

This weekend could be a turning point, a crossroads where he might have to decide between his heart and his legacy. No matter which path he chose, there would be no going back.

***

The gala was in full swing, and Alex stood at the back of the ballroom, his gaze sweeping across the glittering crowd. Despite the festivity, he felt a twinge of impatience. Dinner had been served two hours earlier—a several-course extravaganza designed to impress and delight the senses—but where were Krisi and Brian? He hadn’t seen his sister or her fiancé and wondered when they would make their appearance. He’d expected them to be here by now, sharing the celebration. He regretted leaving his phone in his room, but it messed with the line of his outfit.

Alex adjusted the cuff of his ruffled shirt, the cool silk brushing his skin. His white tuxedo felt both regal and confining, its gold embroidery catching the light with every movement, reminding him of the role he was expected to play tonight—Prince Charming, in more ways than one. But as he stood there, he felt like a prince without a court, a lone figure in a room full of masks and pretense.

A woman sidled up to him, and Alex couldn’t help a flicker of irritation. She was beautiful, yes, but her approach felt too practiced, too calculated. Her black gown looked custom-made for her body and attracted the attention of most of the men in the room. Her face was obscured by a black-and-silver mask adorned with a long black feather that swayed with each step.

He forced a polite smile as she introduced herself, his name rolling off her tongue with affected elegance. “Alexander St. Claire.” Her voice was a sultry purr. “You look like you need a princess.”

“I seem to be at a disadvantage here, miss…?” It wasn’t unusual for people to know his name; he was in the paper from time to time.

“Tonight is about mystery, right?”

When she looped her arm through his, a sense of unease settled over him. This wasn’t the kind of encounter he’d hoped for tonight. Maybe his father’s words affected him more than he realized, because she was exactly the type of encounter he typically sought at these events.

“Can I talk you into a dance?” she asked.

Alex bowed his head slightly. “Of course.”

He led her to the dance floor, his movements precise, his posture impeccable. Along with both of his siblings and most of his friends, he’d taken ballroom dance lessons as a boy. He’d thoroughly enjoyed the lessons. At that age, any excuse to have a girl in his arms was a win. But even as he grew older, he enjoyed the beauty of a well-choreographed dance.

He held her in the familiar ballroom hold but could feel her resistance—her subtle attempts to control the dance, to challenge his lead. It was a silent tug-of-war, one that left him mentally exhausted and irritated. He kept his expression neutral, his steps flawless, but inside, he was counting down the seconds until the song ended. When it finally did, he bowed over her hand with all the grace expected of him, but his mind was already elsewhere.

As he straightened from his bow, something caught his eye—a flash of pale blue at the entrance. His breath hitched. A woman with a short halo of curls circling her head, dressed in a dazzling ball gown shimmering with every step, stood at the entrance to the ballroom. Her appearance was almost ethereal, a frazzled expression only adding to her charm. Without a second thought, Alex excused himself, his feet carrying him toward the new arrival, as if drawn by an invisible thread.

In that moment, the masquerade, the music, even the people around him faded to the background.

She was all he could see.

He didn’t understand, but it seemed she was who he’d been waiting for.

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