Powerless (Chestnut Springs, #3)(103)

This is the day she deserves.

The day we deserve.

Back where it all began.

“You look perfect,” I murmur as she draws near.

“You look edible. Talk about teenage dream.” Her eyes rake over me and a smile touches her lips.

I hold the envelope up. “Did you know about this?”

She lifts a shoulder noncommittally. “A little birdie might have told me.”

Her hands reach for me as soon as she’s near enough, and I pocket the envelope before pulling her into me.

Into our hug. The one we’ve always done. Except now her hand reaches for her tattoo on my ribs every time.

“You ready?” My jacket muffles her voice.

“Not quite,” I say, spinning her toward the ranch house and squeezing her back against my front.

I hold my left hand up in front of her and wiggle my fingers. The fresh lines of ink on my ring finger catches her attention, and she instantly grabs for it. “Got another tattoo for you this morning.”

“Jasper . . .” her voice trails off as her fingers brush over the dark ink. “That’s . . .” Her hands tremble as she holds my hand with both of hers so reverently. “Permanent.”

“So are we. I’m never going to take this ring off.”

She nuzzles in closer against me, and I can feel her smile as her entire body presses back against mine. I fold my arm over her shoulder and link my fingers with hers.

Then I point to the window of the room that’s always been hers. Right next to mine.

“Eighteen years ago, a little blonde girl peeked at me out of that exact window. She stared at me that day, and I stared back. I didn’t realize what it meant because we were just kids.”

She hums softly, twining her fingers with my free hand. Wrapping herself up in me like I’m her favorite blanket. And I indulge her because wrapped around Sloane is my favorite place to be. “You saw me?”

I turn my head in, my lips dusting across her forehead. “Yeah. I saw you, Sloane. I noticed you too. Didn’t know what made me look up there that day. Had no clue what it all meant.”

“What did it mean?”

“That when it comes to you, I’m powerless.”





In Reckless Winter makes amends and starts fresh in Chestnut Springs. Want to see wild-child Theo melt her icy exterior? Keep reading for a sneak peek! Pre-order Reckless here Need more Jasper Gervais style swoony moments? Flash forward for a peek into his and Sloane’s future. Foot massage guaranteed. Sign up for Elsie’s newsletter and have the exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox!

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Reckless Sneak Peek

Coming June 2023


Chapter 1: Winter

“I can’t fathom why you feel the need to go work at that dingy little hospital in the country.”

I used to think Rob was a nice guy.

Now, I know better.

“Well, Robert,” I drawl, using his full name to piss him off as I shove a final sweater into my overfull suitcase. “I’m not sure if you’re aware, but there are humans—real live ones—who live in the country who are also in need of medical attention.”

I’m not sure why I’m packing so much for a single shift. When I’m in Chestnut Springs, I live in scrubs in the ER and in leggings in my hotel room at night.

“Thanks for clarifying, Winter.” There’s a biting tone to his voice that might make some people flinch. But not me. A dark part of me takes immense pride in the fact I know exactly how to piss off my husband. My lips twitch as I struggle to contain my satisfied smile.

“But why that hospital? Why Chestnut Springs? You’re constantly taking off out there and you don’t even tell me you’re leaving. Come to think of it”—he scrubs at his chin in an overly dramatic fashion while leaning up against the doorframe of my bedroom—“you never even considered my opinion on whether I would want my wife taking this job. This isn’t a smart career move for you at all.”

I used to think Rob was a good man.

Now, I’ve heard him whine like a child.

Nothing makes a man’s masculinity shrivel up and die for me quite like complaining about a woman exercising her professional independence. He might as well stomp his foot and storm out like a tiny chauvinist toddler.

I reach for the zipper and start forcing it together against the bulging contents of my suitcase. “It’s funny,” I start, ensuring that I keep my tone cool and even. “It’s almost like . . . you are the very last person I would ever consult about career choices.”

With a huff of air, I finally slide the zipper into place and look down at the hard-shell case, propping my hands on my hips and letting a satisfied smile touch my lips.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean, Winter?”

The way he adds my name to the end of every sentence feels like he’s trying to scold me.

Jokes on him. I won’t be scolded.

He’s blissfully unaware of what it takes to navigate the medical system as a young female doctor. If I let men as weak as Rob steamroll me on the regular, I wouldn’t stand a chance.