What Once Was Mine Read online

  What Once Was Mine

  Falls Village Collection Book 4

  Krystyna Allyn

  Contents

  Also By Krystyna Allyn

  Falls Village

  Prologue

  1. All by Myself

  2. New to Me

  3. The Set-Up

  4. I Like New People

  5. Glutton for Punishment

  6. The Pee-Pee Patrol

  7. The Truth Shall Set You Free

  8. The Ending is What’s Important

  9. Here We Go Again

  10. I Hate You

  11. Man Up

  12. Aftermath

  13. Mix Tape

  14. Meet the parents

  15. Good Pussy, Bad Pussy

  16. Family Ties

  17. Broken

  18. Prisoner

  19. The Shit Has Hit the Fan

  20. Home Free

  Epilogue

  Thank You

  Falls Village Collection

  Falls Village Authors

  Where to find the Author

  Copyright © 2020 by Krystyna Allyn.

  All rights reserved.

  Cover Design: Bibliophile Productions

  Editing: Kristan Roetker, edit LLC

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, written, electronic, recording, or photocopying without written permission of the author or publisher except where permitted by law or for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Any names or characters, places, events or incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Also By Krystyna Allyn

  The Hybrid Series

  Finding Kylie (Book 1)

  Saving Heather (Book 2)

  Redeeming Marco (Book 3)

  Sexy Romantic Standalone Series

  Coming For Christmas

  Finishing in the New Year

  Seducing My Valentine

  Falls Village Collection

  What Once Was Mine

  Dedication

  To my mom,

  No matter how many times you ask, I will not try your pants on.

  Falls Village

  Falls Village, Maine is an upscale New England town with less than five thousand year-round residents. It’s located on the coast, a picturesque harbor town for art lovers, foodies, and charm seekers. It was once a small fishing village, but now it’s the go-to summer retreat for city dwellers looking for soft, sandy beaches. That’s the good side of town. But it’s split into the two sides of the tracks.

  One part of town is wealthy (Port Dock), but the other section (East Brook) is a run-down zone of long-abandoned warehouses and empty parking lots in need of redevelopment. It’s been the platform that each politician has claimed to support over the last decade or two. None have followed through and the area continues to be the place where kids go to buy drugs, businessmen know they can find a cheap girl at the ready, and the local police have written off their beat.

  After the revitalization where East Brook will be renamed Port View Center, Falls Village will be considered the mecca of the arts. With converted warehouses that will be turned into residential loft apartments, art studios, and trendy restaurants, the real estate will be sought after by many looking for a new business opportunity. Local artists will open their studios to the public once a month and tourists will come for the showcase of wares, specialty food indigenous to the area, a giant seasonal farmer’s market, and of course, an upscale gallery. Port View Center will be home to thriving, upscale neighborhoods with posh apartments, a seaport filled with yachts, a new contemporary restaurant, and art gallery

  Prologue

  The Town Speaks

  I remember the days long ago when I was an upscale New England town located on the coast of Maine. Over time, I became split in half, into two distinct sections of town. One was wealthy, the other was not. Port Dock and East Brook, they were named, as the segregation of haves and have nots took hold.

  Alexander Hardware and Building Supplies is a staple in the Falls Village community. The owners, Harry and Ruth Alexander, are well-loved by everyone. Their son, Cole Cody Alexander, is another story altogether.

  Cole leaves a trail of broken hearts in his wake, namely, Taylor Hamilton’s. She had a crush on him for years and Cole’s response was to marry another. Personal tragedy and a divorce bring Cole back to Falls Village with his tail between his legs. When a woman from his past shows up, Cole begins to rethink the choices he’s made. Enter Marley Bishop. She strides into town with one purpose in mind.

  A fresh start.

  With Cole in the forefront, things don’t go as planned.

  1

  All by Myself

  Bro Tip #15

  Never be the last one to leave after a one-night stand. It’s embarrassing.

  Cole

  “Fuck, I’m going to miss my flight,” I mumble to an empty hotel room after checking my phone. The gorgeous woman I slept with last night is gone. Was I that bad she had to escape in the early dawn hours?

  My original plan was to visit a college buddy of mine for a night of Manhattan debauchery in celebration of my divorce from the shrew. On the docket, a series of strip clubs with possible happy endings. Unfortunately, his daughter had a fever and he had to bow out.

  Instead of heading back to Falls Village, I opted to stay the night and have a drink at one of our old hangouts. That’s when I saw her, or more, her glimmering top.

  Like a flashing beacon in a dark room, it drew me in her direction. Was I intimidated by the group of women seated at her table?

  Nope.

  Even the crazy one who asked for my license and blood type couldn’t steer me away. I came on strong, this I knew. Still, she smiled shyly at my greeting, the fire in her hazel gaze stirring something inside me. I’ve never experienced such a sensation from any woman before and I wanted more of her. She said her name was Sparkle, but I knew better. Hell, I invented the fake name brush off. Once, I told a hookup my name was Armand and I was an exchange student from Italy. Even with my bad accent, I still got laid.

  I’ve always been a womanizer, even while married.

  With Sparkle, it was the first time in my life I was disappointed a woman didn’t give me her real name. I suppose it serves me right. Call it karma for all of the bullshit I pulled throughout my life.

  I consider scouring Manhattan in search of the mysterious beauty; instead, I’m scrambling to find my clothes. I guess the memory of her is all I deserve.

  “What’s this?” I say as I reach between the space of the dresser and the bed, grabbing the piece of jewelry. It’s the silver locket she wore last night. It wasn’t visible until I tore the glittering top from her body and licked the valley between her incredible tits. Just thinking about the taste of her gets me hard. I shake my head to clear my mind, returning to the task at hand.

  Despite my limited timeline, I take a quick second, opening the locket. On one side, Sparkle appears to be between the ages of ten and twelve. She has the most innocent grin spread across her face. The photo on the other side depicts a boy with a similar smile, not as bright as hers. Her brother. The locket meant the world to her, so I’ll hold onto it for safe keeping.

  Shoving the jewelry in my pocket, I gather the rest of my bags and rush out the door. I don’t bother checking out with the front desk. The hotel has an auto-bill system and I’ll review my charges later. Despite my expensive divorce, I still have money left over. Thankfully Chrissy agreed not to pursue alimony payments, contingent upon me giving up our Greenwich four-bedroo
m, which sucked, and the poodle, Peaches, which did not. She now resides in the home I worked for with her personal trainer.

  Juan can have her.

  My ex and I are better off apart anyway. Neither of us had been faithful since our second year of marriage. We were already heading for divorce. The loss of my job only sped up the end result.

  Besides, I have more important things to deal with, namely, my mother. When your father dies unexpectedly, it makes you take stock of the negativity in your life. With no wife, no employment prospects, and a chip on my shoulder the size of an iceberg in Antarctica pre-global warming, I decided to return home to Falls Village.

  Currently, I’m focusing all of my energy on improving the family business, Alexander Hardware and Building Supply. For a time, the neighborhood was on the decline. Though, with town revitalization plans spearheaded by Mallory, my buddy Mason’s sister, and the rest of the James’ siblings, things have been on the upswing in our small town for a while. I bet with their brother, Max, being the mayor, business meetings are interesting. The guy is a straight arrow but, perhaps, one time he’ll deny one of Mason’s contracts for giving him a wedgie in fourth grade. Siblings can be funny in that way, or at least from what I’ve seen. I’m an only child, so I wouldn’t know.

  Chuckling to myself, the driver glances at me and I give him a chin lift. I’m not in the mood to chat about the weather or who won the big game. I’d rather be alone with my thoughts, which go back to Mason. He and I had some fun times growing up, but while he got the girl and started his family, I fucked around. Things didn’t turn out well and he was widowed. Despite my self-centered ass, I was there for him as best I could be from Connecticut.

  Even with the horrible turn of events, still, he found love with Hannah Bailey. She’s good for him and his two little ones. It’s nice to finally see him smile again.

  Once, I came close to considering a relationship with someone worthwhile. Taylor and I hooked up during Christmas break during my senior year of college. I was dating Chrissy at the time, but we weren’t serious, and I knew Taylor had had a crush on me since she was a teen. Mallory told Mason who told me. She can be a gossip sometimes, but Mason only clued me in, or more like warned me off, because he considers Taylor his unofficial sister. Fat chance I listened.

  I fucked her and made promises I intended to keep. Unfortunately for Taylor, Chrissy was more convincing. When I returned to school in January, I made plans to propose at graduation. After we married, I rarely visited Falls Village and never looked in Taylor's direction again.

  We’re older, and since we’re both single, the possibility is there, yet the girl who called herself Sparkle claims my thoughts. Maybe in a month I’ll forget about her, move on. After all, it was only one night.

  I arrive at the airport with moments to spare. TSA security surprisingly took under ten minutes to run their passenger checks. After grabbing my seat in coach, I sigh, longing for first class. With finances being what they are, the cheaper option is what works best.

  Before I power off my device, I send a quick text message to Lenny Waters, the hardware store’s only staff member. He’s covering for me while I’m away. Indicating my impending arrival, I question him about a few outstanding tasks I didn’t have the chance to finish earlier in the week. Like me, he works the registers and, when needed, he also goes out on emergency heating and plumbing situations. Diversification is what’s kept the store afloat for so long, my father’s choices, ensuring our family’s financial survival.

  Harry Alexander made sure I knew the ins and outs of plumbing, construction, and other manual tasks. He was a firm believer in hands-on labor. Sure, my dad wanted me to succeed in whatever my chosen career, but he also wanted me to have something else to fall back on. I balked at it, yet paid attention, being sure to learn all he had to offer. In the long run, it was a smart decision, making things more manageable when I took over the business.

  The flight lasts only an hour and a half, but it feels like an eternity. I usually prefer the aisle seat for an easy escape; however, a last-minute glitch has me smack dab in the middle seat. To my right is a mother holding an infant and on my left is an old woman with several bags of yarn. Each is chatty, including the baby, his version of conversation is screaming for the last thirty minutes of the flight. When the plane finally taxis, I shoot up from my seat and grab my carry-on, excusing myself from the older woman in the process.

  I do have manners.

  After deplaning, I walk briskly to my car. Well, I used to have a car—a Mercedes C class. I lost it in the divorce and gained a 2005 Ford F-150, my father’s pickup truck. He took care of it and it runs well. No reason to buy another vehicle. My mom has her own two-door Honda she uses to run errands, and we need to save money where we can. The only thing requiring payment on our vehicles is insurance.

  Not going to lie, I miss my car, but the complications attached to having it weren’t worth the drama.

  Before I pull out of the parking garage, I phone Mason.

  “Sup,” I greet switching my telephone to speaker. I set it in the plastic case attached to the dashboard.

  “I’m feeding the kids lunch before I head back to the site.”

  “You realize it’s Sunday, right?” I make my way down the winding path of the parking garage.

  “I do, but I forgot to bring home the floor plans. Mallory is thinking of expanding the back room of her gallery and I need to make sure there’s enough space to do so.”

  “Okay. Let me know if you need anything on my end. Who’s babysitting Amber and Teddy? Hannah?”

  “No. She’s out with Taylor. Matty volunteered.”

  “And you think he’ll show up?”

  “My brother is many things, but a bad uncle isn’t one of them. Besides, I think he’s turning over a new leaf.”

  Mason’s tone says otherwise. His brother Matthew has always been a screw-up. He and I are similar in that way. I’m confident it'll take something life-changing to alter this behavior, but for now, I go with Mason’s thoughts. The man doesn't need any more stress in his life.

  “How was Manhattan?”

  “It was good.” I merge onto the highway following the signs to Route One A toward the coast. My drive will take more than an hour and a half, but gas is cheaper than chartering a private plane to Bar Harbor. Those such luxuries I can no longer afford.

  “Only good? I thought you and Brad were planning on visiting every strip club in the entire borough.”

  “Alicia had a fever and he canceled.”

  “Then it’s great I didn’t come. The visit would’ve been a total waste.” I invited him, but he gave an excuse as usual. He knows the kind of fun I like to have and he never wants to upset his girl.

  “Actually, it was. Your wingman skills have been lacking lately.” I take a sip of a half-full water bottle I found resting in my cupholder. It tastes gross, but my mouth is dry.

  “So, you met someone?”

  “Yeah.” I won't elaborate because I’m a bit embarrassed she left me naked and alone.

  “What’s her name?”

  “Don’t know. She called herself Sparkle… an obvious lie.”

  “Aw, you sound hurt, which is weird. Usually, you’re down for no-strings sex.”

  “I’m not.” I am. She was sexy, funny, and engaging, qualities my usual hookups never have. It would’ve been nice to have a name to go with the face. “We had fun. She left. The end.”

  “Wait. She left you?”

  Why did I say that out loud?

  “It’s not exactly what happened.” It is.

  “Liar.” He laughs. “Serves you right. How many women have you done the same way?”

  I don’t reply. Mason knows my history, minus the extramarital affairs I’ve had. Those are not public knowledge and I’d like to keep it that way. I’m not in the mood for the I am disappointed in you speech. The only thing he knows about my divorce is how Chrissy and I grew apart. My mother is the single person wh
o knows the real reason and I receive enough annoyed looks from her to last a lifetime.

  “Look,” Mason says, “I realize you’re not the same asshole from way back when, but you gotta admit, that shit is funny.”

  “Shut up,” I chuckle, glancing at my passenger side mirror. When it’s clear, I change lanes. “I’ll never see her again, so I suppose it doesn’t matter.”

  “All done, daddy,” I hear Amber announce in the background.

  “The natives are restless. I’ll call you later on.”

  “Alright. See you.” Mason ends the call.

  I envy his happiness. Hannah truly healed him. I shouldn’t want it, hell, I don’t deserve it, but it would be nice to just once have a love of a good woman, one with the strength to handle my flaws and change me for the better.

  Like that will ever happen.

  The afternoon sky is bright, hints of the coming dusk show in the orange-tinted sky. Highways signs for Falls Village fly by me, the last one indicating my exit. After passing through East Brook, I arrive at my mother's home, located at the edge of Fallen Hills Estates. It’s the nicer part of Falls Village, the larger family homes occupied by many small business owners and white-collar professionals alike.