Welcome to Book Two of The Red Bow Series TOUGH ENOUGH!

Book One is FINDING HOME, shown here... Jessa and Brodie's Story

You do not have to read it first before this one, as they are written to be read as standalones as well, but they are much better read together and in order.

With that being said, now let's move on to Nicole and Axel's Story. ___________________________

TOUGH ENOUGH _______________________

Main Character Introductions ___________________________

Nicole Winters Age 26 Counselor Single/Divorced Not Looking

Axel Mattise Age 29 Head of Security at The Red Bow Former Military Single/Never Married Also Not Looking

Please Note *Supporting Character Introductions will be made at the end of the first chapter they appear in.*

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Chapter One __________________

_______________ NICOLE _______________

And cooler. Literally and figuratively. Coming from the dry, arrid heat of Phoenix, Arizona to the lush mountain area of Maysville, Virginia was definitely going to take some getting used to.

But I was looking forward to it.

Already I felt freer, lighter.

After driving for a couple days, I was finally here. Ready to put the past behind me, ready to live my truth, ready to make myself happy, ready to find out who I really was and who I wanted to be.

I had pulled over to look at the beautiful, picture perfect view of Sonora Lake, one of several reasons I had chosen to make the move to Maysville in the first place.

Stunning.

Blue skies dotted with a few fluffy clouds, crystal clear water surrounded by picturesque mountains, the breeze softly ruffling the long tendrils of my hair.

This was just the beginning of the lake, so it only seemed fitting to stop and take a moment to enjoy it, since I was also at the beginning of my own new journey.

Was I crazy? I didn't think so. This was what I'd been working toward for the last couple years.

My phone rang, interrupting the moment of peaceful appreciation. I reached back inside my car to grab it, smiling when I saw it was Chrissie.

Chrissie was actually probably the biggest reason I'd decided to move here. I had met her in college, at U of A (University of Arizona). We were roommates, and had become best friends.

She had come from Maysville, Virginia, and always talked about her lakeside hometown.

When we graduated she had gone back home, and I had gotten married and moved to Phoenix. But we had kept in touch, talking at least once a week, and staying as close as we could given the distance between us. She'd even come to Phoenix a few times, and I would be forever grateful for her friendship.

Kevin Dalton was Chrissie's cousin.

I'd obviously never met him, but I had seen plenty of pics. Very good looking guy. Inherited money, but went into the military to serve his country.

Chrissie laughed.

I hated that she had a point. I had said all of that and more. After going through a messy, emotionally draining divorce, I'd worked my ass off for nearly two years, at my job and at the gym, to save up enough money to move, AND lose almost fifty pounds. So yeah, I said I wanted to do all of that.

Saying it, however, was much easier than actually doing it.

As she was trying to convince me I realized my first instinct to shy away was exactly what I had decided I WASN'T going to do anymore.

I was a strong, brave, fiercely independent woman, and not afraid to take my new life by the horns and live it to the fullest. At least I would be that woman, eventually.

A good summer backyard party full of people I'd never met could definitely qualify as the official beginning of all of that, right?

Chrissie squealed into the phone and I couldn't help but laugh.

That I would have to find. It was stuffed somewhere in one of the many suitcases and bags weighing down my car. Ugh.

I took another long look around, at the pristine lake and the beautiful Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, breathing in the fresh, clean air.

*****

Just over half an hour later I walked into my new home.

I was pleasantly surprised. Of course I'd seen the pictures online, but for a fairly small apartment its wide open floor plan, white walls, nice windows that let in plenty of natural light and high ceilings really made it feel much larger, though still cozy. More than enough for just me.

I went back outside to grab as many bags as I could carry. The apartment was located right square in the middle of the small downtown area. And as I took a good look around I was again surprised. It was also bigger, and busier, than I'd anticipated. Plenty of shops and stores, all in easy walking distance. Which was incredibly convenient, because the first order of business after unloading my car would be finding a grocery store.

So much to do, so little time. I was glad I'd had the forethought to come a good week before I would start my new job. It would give me a little time to settle in and begin getting my feet under me in this new place.

I looked at my watch and saw it was already a little after 7:00 pm. Ugh. Better get my ass moving.

*****

At a quarter to 9 I was standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom, finishing my makeup and checking out my outfit choice.

It was still hard for me to believe sometimes that the woman staring back in the reflection was actually me. The new and improved me. Healthy. Fit. Strong. Confident. I might even daresay a bit sexy. And I'd earned every bit of it, spending countless hours in the gym the last year or so when I wasn't working.

Suddenly I heard the loud blare of a horn outside and ran into the living room to look outside. Chrissie was waiting in a cab, waving furiously at me out the window.

Satisfied overall with my look, I quickly strapped on my sandals and grabbed my purse, along with the small bag containing my bikini, wrap, towel, and swim stuff.

Feeling both nervous and kind of excited, I flipped off the lights and headed out to hug my best friend, and attend my first party in a very, very long time.

**********

_____________ AXEL _____________

Wes Benton and I were in my office at The Red Bow, the hottest bar/club in Virginia, looking at footage from last night on the surveillance cams.

He was my right hand man, next in charge after me, also former military like myself, and we worked very well together.

One guy had accused another of swiping their wallet, and the guy had run off after denying it. So we were looking for the truth. And of course we'd found it.

I was glad to have that taken care of. It wasn't all that often I had a Friday night off, so I wanted everything here dealt with and under control before I left.

Maybe working here hadn't been my original plan, but life hardly ever gives us what we expect.

And I really did love it now. As "Head of Security", a glorified term that really meant "head bouncer", I took my job very seriously, doing the best I could to keep everyone, employees and patrons alike, as safe as possible.

It was a great place. I got paid well, there was live, kickass music nearly every night in the late spring and all summer long, and everyone worked as a team. Including my boss. Speaking of...

Jessa James was my boss. She had taken over the day to day management of The Red Bow when its well-known and loved owner, Bill Wilson, had offered her the position so he could "semi-retire", deciding after a recent health scare last year that he needed to slow down a bit.

Though I wasn't the most outgoing and talkative person at work, I got along with everyone fine. And I had a soft spot I couldn't help for Jessa. She was a great boss, firm but fair, with a wickedly sarcastic sense of humor and a badass, "take no shít" attitude that underlaid a soft heart underneath. She reminded me a bit of my sister, once upon a time.

Yeah, sure. Fat chance of that happening. But then again, who knew? The night was still young.

*****

My best friend, Kevin Dalton, looked at me like I'd grown a second head. Then he laughed.

He pointed at himself as he grabbed another beer from the outside bar.

I took a sip from my glass of whiskey and smirked.

I'd met Kevin about five years ago at the gym when I'd first moved here. We were both big guys that loved to spar in the ring and work out. We'd both been in the Army, both done tours overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, though not together. So we had that in common. But that was mostly where the similarities ended.

In most other ways we were the definition of polar opposites. Kevin was laid back and easygoing. Myself, not so much. He was well-educated, funny and outspoken. He came from family money, had a happy childhood. I was usually pretty withdrawn, came from poverty, had a crappy early childhood before being thrown into a horrible nightmare commonly known as the foster care system.

But somehow Kevin and I connected. We ended up becoming fast friends, and I would trust him with my life, even though I wouldn't dare tell him that. It was too much fun busting each other's balls.

He chuckled, and we both scanned the area, taking in everyone and everything. It was just inherent with a military background.

He was looking towards the side gate while I was looking towards the pool, when I heard him say...

I didn't pay any mind until I heard him let out a long, low whistle.

I was still looking the other way, speaking as I turned.

I did not finish that sentence.

GODDAMN WAS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT

Even from a distance, she was stunning. Toned, tanned, and taut, perfect in all the right places. Definitely a regular at the gym. Long legs in bright white low cut shorts, with laces up the sides, just begging to be undone... a sexy black shirt in contrast to the white, showing off shoulders, her cleavage, and yes, very perky tits...

I had no idea who she was. But she was SMOKIN FÚCKIN HOT.

For a second, I was speechless. I felt my dick twitch under my jeans and swallowed hard. But I brushed it aside, determined to ignore the instant attraction and heaviness I felt down below. There was no fúcking way any woman could affect me that quickly.

I looked at Kevin incredulously, nearly spraying the whiskey out of my mouth I'd just tipped back I laughed so hard.

He cocked his head their way unfazed and grinned.

I was torn by my desire to meet her, and my need for self-preservation. They looked our way, and for a split second her eyes meet and held contact with mine before she blushed and quickly looked away.

No, I absolutely did not feel an instant connection to her. Instant desire? Maybe. Lust? Likely. But that was no surprise. My body had always been a traitor to my brain...

And even then, while I was shaking my head no to Kevin, my feet began moving on their own.

Towards her.

DAMN.

___________________________

Supporting Character Introductions

Chrissie Dalton Age 26 Nicole's Best Friend from college

Wesley "Wes" Benton Age 28 Axel's Co-Worker at The Red Bow

Jessa James (Book 1) Age 25 Wife of Brodie James Manager of The Red Bow

Kevin Dalton Age 29 Axel's Best Friend ___________________________