Warmed Up by her Rival
(2026)(A book in the Curvy Wives of Willowbrook Ridge series)
A Story by Julia Stone
One mountain. One column. One rivalry that’s about to burn hotter than the storm outside.
Clara:
Micah Ward has never been my partner—only my competition.
When our editor assigns us to chase the same rumor up on the mountain, I refuse to share a byline. We’ll write separate stories using the same facts, sources, and deadline. The better piece gets the column.
It’s the only way I can prove I deserve the spot I’ve been fighting for—and it’s the only way I’ll agree to shack up in some remote lodge with him to get the piece written.
The problem is that Micah has always been the one person who can throw me off balance. Being trapped in close quarters with him while a storm brews outside is a distraction I can’t afford.
But the mountain doesn’t care about my plans.
When an injury pushes us together like no way before, even I have to admit when it's time to throw up the white flag on this internal battle I have with myself, with my feelings, and just… give in.
Micah:
Clara Moreno has been my favorite problem for years.
She pricks up when she'''s angry, and I’ve learned that if I want her attention, all I have to do is push. A raised brow. A lazy question. A reminder that I’m standing too close.
When she finds out we’ll be working together, I’m surprised she doesn’t breathe fire. Me? I’m ecstatic. A weekend alone with her, cut off from the world, feels like an opportunity I’d be a fool to pass up.
The lodge gives me more than I expect. Quiet moments. Lingering touches. A wrong step that puts her in my arms and makes it impossible to pretend we’re only rivals. As the snow traps us inside and the story unfolds, I realize I’m no longer chasing a headline.
I’m chasing her.
If pushing her buttons is the only way to make her look at me, I’ll keep doing it, even if winning the column means losing the only woman I’ve ever wanted.
Clara:
Micah Ward has never been my partner—only my competition.
When our editor assigns us to chase the same rumor up on the mountain, I refuse to share a byline. We’ll write separate stories using the same facts, sources, and deadline. The better piece gets the column.
It’s the only way I can prove I deserve the spot I’ve been fighting for—and it’s the only way I’ll agree to shack up in some remote lodge with him to get the piece written.
The problem is that Micah has always been the one person who can throw me off balance. Being trapped in close quarters with him while a storm brews outside is a distraction I can’t afford.
But the mountain doesn’t care about my plans.
When an injury pushes us together like no way before, even I have to admit when it's time to throw up the white flag on this internal battle I have with myself, with my feelings, and just… give in.
Micah:
Clara Moreno has been my favorite problem for years.
She pricks up when she'''s angry, and I’ve learned that if I want her attention, all I have to do is push. A raised brow. A lazy question. A reminder that I’m standing too close.
When she finds out we’ll be working together, I’m surprised she doesn’t breathe fire. Me? I’m ecstatic. A weekend alone with her, cut off from the world, feels like an opportunity I’d be a fool to pass up.
The lodge gives me more than I expect. Quiet moments. Lingering touches. A wrong step that puts her in my arms and makes it impossible to pretend we’re only rivals. As the snow traps us inside and the story unfolds, I realize I’m no longer chasing a headline.
I’m chasing her.
If pushing her buttons is the only way to make her look at me, I’ll keep doing it, even if winning the column means losing the only woman I’ve ever wanted.
Used availability for Julia Stone's Warmed Up by her Rival