Her First Love Read online

  Her First Love

  A Christian Veteran Romance

  Lorana Hoopes

  Copyright © 2021 by Lorana Hoopes

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  To Israel, one of my favorite training partners at the gym. You inspire me to keep pushing even when I’m tired.

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  To all my readers who keep grabbing my books. Thank you for all your kind words and inspiration.

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  To my wonderful BETA readers who helped me make this story even better when I was stuck.

  Contents

  Note from the Author

  1. Israel

  2. Tiffany

  3. Israel

  4. Tiffany

  5. Israel

  6. Tiffany

  7. Israel

  8. Tiffany

  9. Israel

  10. Tiffany

  11. Israel

  12. Tiffany

  13. Israel

  14. Tiffany

  15. Israel

  16. Tiffany

  17. Israel

  18. Tiffany

  19. Israel

  20. Tiffany

  21. Israel

  22. Tiffany

  Three Years Later - Tiffany

  It’s not quite the end!

  Not ready to say Goodbye yet?

  A Free Story For You

  The Billionaire’s Impromptu Bet Preview

  The Story Doesn’t End!

  About The Author

  Note from the Author

  Thank you so much for picking up this book. I love basing characters on people I know, but sometimes it limits me. The real Israel is such a humble and kind person that I had a hard time giving him a fault because I wanted to stay true to who he was. I think I succeeded though I had to change some pieces about him. Still, I hope you like Israel as much as I do, and in turn this book. If you do, please leave a review at your retailer. It really does make a difference because it lets people make an informed decision about books.

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  Sign up for Lorana Hoopes’s newsletter and get her book, The Billionaire’s Impromptu Bet, as a welcome gift. Get Started Now!

  1

  Israel

  Had he made the right decision?

  Israel Martinez stared up at the Patriot Peak Resort that was nestled snugly in the Courage, Colorado mountains and took a deep breath. The place was beautiful and exuded a feeling of peace, but that wasn’t why Israel had chosen Courage as his home. Nor was it because his long-time friend Chance Overstreet managed the resort, at least not entirely. No, if he were honest, at least part of his reason for choosing Courage had to do with a woman. A woman he wasn’t even sure would give him the time of day, but one who had managed to invade his thoughts and reappear in his mind since the night he laid eyes on her. The night of Chance’s wedding a few months ago.

  He had barely gotten to speak with her that night because she had been busy with her bridesmaid duties, but that hadn’t affected his attraction to her. The question was did she feel any attraction to him? He didn’t know, but the hope that she might had brought him back to Courage when his military service ended. That hope and the offer from Chance to help him find a job which was why he now stood outside the resort gathering his courage to go inside.

  The lobby of the resort was bustling with activity, but having been there once before and having an appointment with Chance, Israel headed straight for Chance’s office. He knocked on the door jamb when he arrived, and Chance waved him in with a smile.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were here? I would have come out to meet you.” Chance came around the desk and clasped Israel’s shoulder in the familiar greeting they’d shared for years.

  “I just finished signing the lease on my place. Wasn’t sure how long it was going to take, but since you said the afternoon was free…” He shrugged, letting the lift of his shoulders fill in the rest of his words.

  “Yep, I cleared the whole afternoon for you.” Chance’s grin was wide and almost mischievous as if something bigger than hanging out with his friend fueled it. He squeezed Israel’s shoulder one more time before returning to his side of the desk and taking his seat. He motioned for Israel to do the same in the chair across from him. “I’m so glad you found a place because I have exciting news for you.”

  “You do, huh?” Israel hoped it was a lead on a job. He had enough savings to cover his rent for a few months, but he would need to find a job soon to feel comfortable.

  Chance nodded and glanced down before sliding the sheet of white paper across the desk. Israel lifted a curious brow as he picked up the paper and began to read. Suddenly, he paused and looked up at his friend, sure that Chance was playing a joke on him. “Are you serious?” Head of the maintenance department at the Patriot Peak Resort? It was too good to be true.

  “Dead serious, my man.” Chance leaned back and shook his head as if amazed by the events. “Our lead maintenance man just up and quit last week right after you called and said you were moving to town. I can’t think of anyone more qualified to run the department than you, and I almost called you back to offer you the job over the phone, but I’m glad I waited to tell you in person so I could see your reaction.”

  The opportunity was just the thing Israel had been looking for, but it was so sudden. After all, he’d just moved into Courage, Colorado. The ink was probably still drying on his lease agreement. He’d hoped Chance would be able to help him find a job, but he hadn’t expected to find a job this soon, much less this job. It was almost a dream come true, but… “What about the other guys in the maintenance department? They’ve been here longer. Shouldn’t you promote one of them?” As much as he wanted to accept this job, he didn’t want to take it from anyone who had been here longer and earned the right.

  “I would if one of them wanted the job.” Chance leaned forward and folded his hands on his desk. “I asked them when the last guy left. Our lead right now, Dustin, is about to have his first child. While he recognizes the raise would be nice, he also knows the hours are longer. He and his wife discussed it, and he doesn’t want to take it on. The rest of the crew are either too young or not sure they want to stay in Courage long term. The short of it is, no one wants it, so not only would you be great at it, but you would be doing me a huge favor.”

  Israel liked the idea of helping Chance out. He and Chance had served in the military together and become almost as close as brothers, especially after the last deployment they’d been on together had taken the lives of their friends and left Chance injured. Chance had then returned to Courage, Colorado and taken over running the Patriot Peak Resort. Israel had finished his term in the military and then gotten out as well.

  Israel read the paper again. He’d never expected to receive such an amazing offer from his friend, but Chance had been there for him countless times, and if he could repay him with something this simple and that would solve his problem as well, then he would be a fool not to take it. Plus, he would enjoy working with his friend, and-

  “And Tiffany is around most days, so you could get to know her.” Chance smiled as if he’d been reading Israel’s mind.

  Tiffany. The beautiful blonde he’d spotted at Chance’s wedding. The one he couldn’t shake from his mind and who he would love the chance to get to know better. “Okay, where do I sign?”

  Chance’s smile widened, and he scooted another paper over for Israel to sign. “Right here, my man.”

  Israel scrawled his name
across the contract, a sense of pride and purpose swelling within him. He’d known it was time to get out of the military - the horrors he’d witnessed weighed heavily on him and the physical demand was taxing his body - but he hadn’t expected everything to fall into place so neatly. He should have though. The desire to come to Courage and settle down had been his own, but he was almost certain it was what God had planned for him as well, and he was not one to ignore proddings from God.

  “Great, now let’s get you set up with security clearance and then I’ll show you around. You only got the crash tour last time.” Chance tucked the contract in a manilla folder and placed it in a tray that was labeled Merribeth. Merribeth was his wife and office manager, and while Israel didn’t know Merribeth as well as he knew Chance, it was obvious she kept him organized. The tiny seed of jealousy that had sprouted within Israel at his friend’s wedding nagged him again. He was happy for his friend, but he also wanted what Chance had found - a woman he could share his life with.

  He’d thought he’d found that once, but deployments and the stress of military life had worn on their relationship and eventually she’d ended it. He’d been disappointed at first, but he was happy for her now, and he’d realized they were better friends than partners. Still, he hoped that he might get a second chance at love now that he was out of the military and his life was more stable.

  As Israel followed Chance to the security office, he took in the environment around him. It was a habit from the military to always know his exits and the lay of every place he worked, and as head of maintenance, he would need to know this building inside and out. The walls were a calming tan and gold color accented with blue, green, and maroon colors, creating a rustic and homey atmosphere. Whoever had decorated inside had definitely had a knack for it.

  “Here we are.” Chance stopped outside a door marked Security and gestured for Israel to enter. The room itself wasn’t large which made the man sitting behind the desk appear even larger. He stood as they approached, and Israel blinked in surprise. Either he had forgotten how large Dougie was or he’d looked smaller in the suit he wore at the wedding. Maybe both. Israel was not a small man, but his average five-ten build was nothing compared to the large black man who was built like a tank with broad shoulders and a massive chest. His dark hair was cut close though not as short as military regulation and he sported a neatly trimmed beard and mustache.

  “Israel, I’m sure you remember Dougie from the wedding. He’s head of security here at the resort.”

  “Good to see you again, Israel,” Dougie said, sticking out his hand.

  Israel clasped Dougie’s hand, unsurprised by the strength in the man’s shake. “You too, Dougie. How’s life been treating you?”

  Dougie smiled, revealing a row of white teeth and softening the lines of his face. “Can’t complain. I assume you’re joining the family here?”

  Chance smiled and clapped Israel on the back. “He is. Israel is taking over as head of maintenance, so can you get him set up with a badge and keys?”

  “You bet. Why don’t you step over here to the camera and I’ll get the card made first and then I’ll get you the key.”

  Israel stepped to the place Dougie had pointed out, feeling very much like he had when he received his first military ID. He’d been nervous yet full of hope back then, and a similar sensation surged within him now as well. There was something about having a direction and a sense of purpose that made him feel grounded and safe. The camera clicked and then a machine hummed, spitting out a hard plastic card a minute later.

  “Here you go.” Dougie handed him the card, and Israel studied it. Though grainy, it seemed to capture his warm brown eyes and soft smile perfectly and more than that, it was his. A tether to this community that felt a little like coming home.

  “That also serves as your key card and will get you into the resort.” Dougie reached into a drawer and pulled out a single gold key on a small ring. “This is the key to the maintenance room. You’ll find all the equipment you need inside. Everyone on your crew has one, but no one outside the maintenance department does besides Chance and myself, so try not to lose it.”

  Israel nodded. He was not in the habit of losing things in general, much less something as important as this, but Dougie didn’t know that, didn’t know him well, so Israel took no offense to the words. Dougie struck him as a brother in arms - a rule follower who took pride in his work. Israel had no doubt the two would become good friends.

  “Thank you, Dougie. All right, Iz, let me show you the room and your office and you can meet the guys.”

  Israel thanked Dougie and then followed Chance down the hall to the maintenance room. Like Security, it was on the ground floor, but it was much bigger inside. There was a large desk and several smaller cubicles to the left, and to the right was a massive shelving unit that held all the tools Isreal might need for his job - tool boxes, plungers, electrical tape. It was all there. “Wow, this is amazing.” He could not remember the last time he’d had this much space or a key to his own office.

  “Well, we do have to keep the place working and looking good,” Chance said, clapping him on the back. “It’s not the newest building, so it does have its share of issues. That being said, if you need anything else, be sure to let myself or Merribeth know.”

  “I will. So, how many men do I have?” Israel was already running calculations in his head, and he knew that he would need at least five to keep the hotel running in top shape. More would obviously be better.

  “There are four plus you, however, one of the guys is only part-time.”

  “Part-time? Is there any chance I can hire one more guy then?” He could probably make due with what he had, but if the option was available, he would certainly rather have five full time people.

  Chance smiled. “Let me check with the boss, and I’ll see what I can do.”

  “I thought you were the boss, man.”

  With a chuckle, Chance shook his head. “Iz, you got a lot to learn about married life. Come on, let’s meet the guys.”

  2

  Tiffany

  Tiffany sighed as she sank into the couch.

  “Long day?” her roommate, Holly, asked, looking up from her book.

  Before Tiffany got the job at Patriot Peak, she’d been a nanny, so she’d never rented her own place - a fact she quickly realized when she’d had to check into a hotel after her last nanny gig ended. Thankfully, she’d met Merribeth who needed someone to watch her son Lucas while she worked. Because Lucas was at the resort all day, a room had been part of her pay, but when she got offered the position of running the onsite childcare center, Tiffany had known she would need to get a place of her own. Merribeth had introduced her to Holly, and Holly, with her big heart, had offered to let Tiffany rent a room in her house, and the two got along well. Mostly.

  Holly was an outspoken girl from New York who said whatever came into her mind while Tiffany was more reserved and quiet. Holly was also loud in the fashion department while Tiffany wasn’t, and when it came to cleaning, most of that fell on Tiffany’s shoulders too. However, she couldn’t fault Holly too much. The woman owned a restaurant and worked long hours. Plus, she often brought home leftovers for Tiffany. Leftovers that were generally better than anything she made fresh when she had the energy to cook.

  “They’re all long,” Tiffany said with a roll of her eyes. She loved her job, but that didn’t mean it didn’t drain her emotionally and physically every day. “I had a new kid today, and he was determined to shove everything he could find up his nose. I pretty much had to glue him to my side to make sure he didn’t earn a trip to the hospital.”

  Holly chuckled and folded down a corner of the page she was on before closing her book. Tiffany pressed her lips together to keep from saying anything about the habit. She’d never been one to dog ear books. It just felt wrong in her opinion, almost abusive. Books were meant to be read but cherished. Time and effort had been poured into the pages, and folding down
the corners just seemed dismissive of the hard work, but it was not her book so she would keep her mouth closed. She chalked it up to Holly’s nonchalant attitude about anything domestic, but it was one habit of Holly’s that drove her crazy.

  “I don’t know how you deal with little kids all day,” Holly said, setting the book on the table next to her and crossing one leg over the other in her “let’s chat” position. Maybe it was because Holly was the boss and didn’t get to speak to people normally all day, but she often pulled out this therapist side of herself when she was home with Tiffany, and the “chats” turned into therapy sessions - Holly called them advice sessions - more than Tiffany would like.

  “How can you not love kids? They are so innocent and full of wonder. Everything is new and exciting to them, unlike most of the rest of us who have become cynical and jaded.”

  “Okay that part I can see.” Holly had shared many stories of irate customers, so Tiffany knew she understood. “But they’re so messy and chatty.”

  “You like Lucas,” Tiffany pointed out, although she had to admit Lucas was one of the easier kids to like. Maybe it was the fact that his parents worked at the resort, so he knew he wouldn’t get away with bad behavior. Tiffany remembered meeting a kid in school once whose father was the preacher of the church. She’d said there was a different standard of behavior expected for preacher’s kids, and Tiffany wondered if the same might be said for Lucas. Was he more well-behaved than some of the others because it was expected or because he was used to the routine? Or had Merribeth just done a fantastic job at raising him even though she’d done it as a single parent for the first few years of his life? Tiffany thought all of the options had probably played a role.