Always, page 1
ALWAYS
ELIZABETH KELLY
EK PUBLISHING INC.
CONTENTS
Always
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Epilogue
Sweet Harmony Excerpt
The Elizabeth Kelly Newsletter
About the Author
Also by Elizabeth Kelly
Copyright ©2025 Elizabeth Kelly
Published by
EK Publishing Inc.
eISBN-13: 978-1-77446-224-9
This book is the copyrighted property of the author and may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. Quotes used in reviews are the exception. No alteration of content is allowed.
Your support and respect for the property of this author are appreciated.
This book is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.
Edited by:
L. Nunn Editing
Cover art by
EK Designs
ALWAYS
Who has time for love?
Certainly not Jocelyn.
Not with being a single working mom, fulfilling her maid of honour duties for her sister’s upcoming wedding, and the bitter cherry on top… dealing with her deadbeat ex.
Until she meets Sawyer.
The boxing gym owner is sweet, smart, and thinks stretch marks, muffin tops, and frazzled mom nerves are sexy.
But the scars from Jocelyn’s past relationship have her turning Sawyer down for a date. Her expectation that she’ll never see the sexy boxer again fizzles when she discovers that Sawyer is the best man.
Sawyer needed this fresh start.
A new city, a new career. And if that fresh start happens to include the gorgeous woman from the bookstore, even better.
Jocelyn is everything Sawyer wants – intelligent, loving, and mind-numbingly sexy. Spending time with her and her children only makes him more certain she’s the one for him.
However, with Jocelyn’s past weighing on them both, she’ll need him to prove that he’s all in. All in on a life with her and her children. Not just for now… but always.
CHAPTER 1
“Congratulations, Sawyer. She’s all yours.”
Sawyer studied the signed paperwork that Tony pushed toward him. Excitement vibrated through his body, but the hint of sorrow in Tony’s voice made Sawyer temper it. He gripped Tony’s forearm and squeezed lightly.
“I’ll take good care of her, Tony. I promise you.”
“I know,” Tony said in a low voice. “Stupid to be getting this worked up over a gym, but…” he cleared his throat. “You know.”
“I do,” Sawyer said. “It’ll be the same place it always was. Only the name changes.”
Tony nodded. “You might want to think about modernizing it a bit, maybe bring in some of those fancy machines. It’ll bring in a bigger crowd.”
Sawyer shook his head. “No. The gym brings in more than enough revenue as it is now. Besides, I bought your gym because I like it exactly the way it is. People come here because they like the feel of this place.”
Tony grinned at him. “Nah, they come here because they like to beat the shit out of each other in the ring. Isn’t that why you spent most of your youth here?”
Sawyer laughed. “It might have been.”
“I’ll move my stuff out of the office tomorrow,” Tony said.
“Actually, I wanted to ask if you wouldn’t mind managing the place for another week or so. I’m still unpacking shit at the house, and I’m in a wedding in a week.”
Tony gave him a pleased look. “I could do that.”
“You’d be really helping me out. If Ruby won’t mind?”
“She’ll be good with it. She’s been busy looking online at condos in Mexico. We’re buyin’ one, did you know that?”
“Ruby told me at supper the other night.” Sawyer stood and shook Tony’s hand a final time. “Thank you for staying on for a bit longer, Tony. I appreciate it.”
“My pleasure. I’m gonna miss this old girl,” he said.
“Even when you’re drinking margaritas on a beach in Mexico?” Sawyer said.
“Even then,” Tony laughed. “Talk to you later, Sawyer.”
Sawyer nodded and left Tony’s office. His office now, he corrected himself with a grin. He walked past the rows of punching bags toward the boxing ring set up in the center of the gym. Even on a Tuesday afternoon, the place was full, and he grunted with satisfaction. Moving back to the city and buying Tony’s gym was the right decision. He could be happy here.
He passed a woman in leggings and a sports bra as she punched half-heartedly at one of the bags. Miguel, one of the gym’s three trainers, was holding the bag and instructing her to punch harder, but as Sawyer passed, she stopped altogether and turned to face him. She looked to be barely into her twenties, wore pink boxing gloves, and when she smiled at him, her perfect teeth sparkled in the fluorescent lighting.
“Well, hey there,” she said in a manufactured little girl voice. “Haven’t seen you around here before, big guy.”
Behind her, Miguel rolled his eyes, and Sawyer suppressed a grin as the woman’s gaze roamed down his body. He worked hard to maintain his physique, and while he wasn’t the most handsome guy in the room, he was good-looking enough to attract attention from the ladies. He gave the woman a polite but disinterested smile and nodded to Miguel.
“Afternoon, Miguel.”
“Hey, Sawyer. Or should I say boss now?” Miguel asked with a grin.
“Tony signed the paperwork today,” Sawyer said.
“Congratulations!” Miguel said.
“You’re the new owner?” The woman let out a squeal of excitement. “That’s like, totally, awesome. I’m Becky, by the way. I come here all the time. Will you be doing some private training lessons?”
“Maybe in a few months, but for now, I’m sure Miguel will be more than happy to keep helping you,” Sawyer said.
The woman arranged her face into a pout that she probably thought was sexy, but Sawyer found annoying. “I would love to get some personal lessons from the gym owner. Are you sure you can’t make an exception for me?”
“Afraid not,” Sawyer said. “Have a good day, Miguel. I’ll see you later.”
He walked away before the woman could say anything else. She was attractive enough, but she was too young and too immature. He’d had his fair share of relationships and casual hookups, but he had zero interest in sleeping with a woman young enough to make him look like a creepy old man at thirty-five.
He skirted around the boxing ring. Two men stood in the middle, exchanging blows as they sweated and grunted loudly. Randall stood next to the ring, leaning against the ropes and shouting instructions to both fighters.
As Sawyer passed by him, Randall gave him a nod of acknowledgment. His dark skin gleamed against his white t-shirt that had a decal of two boxing gloves and the words ‘Tony’s Gym’ on the front. Randall was thin with ropy muscles and deceptively slow movements. Sawyer guessed he was somewhere between sixty and ninety. Randall had been the head trainer at the gym since Sawyer had joined at the age of fifteen. Other than some grey in his hair, Randall hadn’t seemed to age at all in the past twenty years.
As he moved past the ring, Sawyer stopped and stared in surprise at the little boy standing in front of it. He was watching the two men fight, his bright blue eyes wide. Sawyer glanced around the gym, looking for the kid’s dad. Kids weren’t strictly forbidden in the gym, but the men and women who came here didn’t bring their children with them. Some of the newer gyms had daycare facilities set up in them, but there sure as hell wasn’t one in his gym.
He squatted next to the boy. The boy glanced at him before returning his gaze to the fighters.
“Hey, little man.”
“Hello,” the little boy said politely. “Why are those two men fighting?”
“They’re boxing. This is a gym where we teach people to box.”
“Why?”
“Uh, because some people like to know how to fight.”
“Why?” the kid repeated.
Sawyer shrugged. “For exercise and protection.”
“Oh.”
“Where’s your dad, buddy?”
The little boy shrugged. “I only see him sometimes.”
Sawyer frowned before touching the boy’s shoulder. “What’s your name, bud?”
“Ethan. What’s yours?”
“Sawyer. How old are you?”
“Four. I go to daycare.”
“Do you like it?” Sawyer asked.
“It’s okay,” Ethan said.
“Hey, Ethan?”
“Yeah?”
“Where did you come from, big guy?”
Ethan gave him an odd look. “From Mama’s tummy. She pushed me out of her vagina when I was a baby.”
Sawyer’s mouth dropped open, and he quickly stood and turned away before Ethan could see him laugh. When he had his control back, he squatted again and said, “Where’s
“Buying a book for Julie,” Ethan said. “Do you want to play with me?”
“Maybe later, little man. Why don’t we take you back to your mama? I bet she’s worried about you.”
“I wanna watch them fight,” Ethan said stubbornly.
“I know, but why don’t we find your mama first?”
Ethan sighed, but took Sawyer’s hand when he held it out. “Okay.”
Sawyer ruffled his dark hair as Ethan smiled shyly at him. “Do you like to colour?”
“Sure,” Sawyer said as he led the little boy toward the front door. There was a used bookstore two doors down from the gym. He would take Ethan to it and see if his mom was there.
Before they were halfway across the gym, a woman peered frantically into one of the two large plate-glass windows that made up the front of the gym. There was a baby girl strapped to her back, and the little girl smiled cheerfully and waved at Ethan.
The woman ripped open the door and ran across the gym. She dropped to her knees in front of Ethan and pulled him into her arms, hugging him fiercely even as she scolded him.
“Ethan! Oh, Ethan! Don’t ever do that again! Do you know how scared I was when I couldn’t find you? You can’t ever walk away from me, honey. Do you understand?”
Tears slipped down her cheeks, and Ethan’s lower lip trembled. “I’m sorry, Mama. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“Oh, honey,” the woman said before hugging him again. The little girl on her back giggled and pulled on Ethan’s hair.
“Ow! Julie, no,” Ethan shouted.
He pulled away from his mother and rubbed at his scalp before turning around to watch the men fighting in the ring again.
The woman stood and gave Sawyer a frantic look. “I’m so sorry. I – is he – I mean…”
“He’s fine,” Sawyer said quickly. “He just wandered in and was watching them box. He’s perfectly fine.”
The woman closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. Sawyer’s gaze dipped down her body. She was tall for a woman but still shorter than he was. Although at 6’3”, not many people matched his height. Her t-shirt featured a graphic of a blue butterfly, and it hugged her large breasts. He eyed her full hips and rounded tummy with appreciation. She had just the type of body he liked, and for one moment, a vision of his hands cupping her hips and pulling her tight against him flashed through his head. Her curves would cushion his body quite nicely.
He cursed inwardly and shook his head to clear it. The woman was upset, and now was not the time to indulge in a few sexual fantasies about her, no matter how attractive he found her. Her dark hair was cut short in a pixie style that he found very appealing. Hell, even the Cheerio stuck in her hair was oddly adorable. The mystery of the Cheerio was solved when the baby stuck her hand between her chest and her mother’s back and pulled out a fistful of Cheerios. She made a happy little noise and shoved them into her mouth as her mother opened her eyes. They were bright blue, just like Ethan’s, and he stared at them a little too long. She flushed and cleared her throat.
“Thank you so much. I’m sorry to have bothered you.”
“It was no bother.”
Ethan turned again and hugged his mother’s leg before pointing to her shirt. “I know what that bug is, do you?”
“Why don’t you tell me, buddy?” Sawyer said.
“A butterfly,” Ethan pronounced it carefully, like it was a word he’d just learned. “I coloured a butterfly at daycare.”
“Nice,” Sawyer said.
There was a loud grunt of pain from the boxing ring, and Ethan’s attention was immediately drawn back to it.
Sawyer gave the woman a flirty grin. “My name’s Sawyer.”
He held out his hand, and, with a pretty blush, the woman shook it. Fiery awareness shot down his spine when their palms connected, and his hand tightened on hers. She stared at him, and his nostrils flared as he resisted the urge to step closer to her.
His voice lower and more intimate than it should have been, he said, “What’s your name, Butterfly?”
“I’m Jocelyn.” She was staring at his mouth, and Christ, it was gonna give him a stiffy.
“It’s nice to meet you, Jocelyn,” he said as she released his hand. “And who’s this?”
“Julie.”
“Hello, Julie.” He smiled at the little girl, and she ducked her head and buried her face between her mother’s shoulder blades.
He wanted to touch Jocelyn again - was dying to touch her, actually - so he reached out and pulled the Cheerio from her hair. Her hair was silky soft, and she gave him a wide-eyed look as he showed her the Cheerio.
“Sorry. You had a Cheerio stuck in your hair.”
Her cheeks flamed red. “Oh, um, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Well,” she tapped Ethan on the shoulder, “we should get going. Thank you again so much. Come on, honey. It’s time to leave.”
“I don’t want to,” Ethan said.
“It’s time to go,” Jocelyn said firmly. She held out her hand, and Ethan took it with a slight pout.
“Thank you, Sawyer,” Jocelyn said.
Fuck, he liked the way his name sounded on her lips.
“Jocelyn, wait,” he said as she turned to leave.
She paused, and he gave her what he hoped was a charming grin. “Would you like to have dinner sometime?”
“I – what?”
“Dinner,” he repeated. “Would you like to have dinner with me?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t,” she said.
“Mama, you’re holding my hand too tight!” Ethan complained.
She loosened her grip and gave him an apologetic look. “Sorry, honey. Okay, let’s go.”
“Are you sure?” Sawyer asked her. “Just one dinner.”
“I really can’t,” she said. “I’m very busy. But, uh, thank you.”
He smiled again at her, and she gave him an uncertain look as she continued to stand there. There was a moment of awkward silence, and he held his breath. Maybe she’d give him a chance after all.
“Okay, well, um, goodbye,” she finally said.
“Bye, Jocelyn.”
She turned and walked away. Sawyer’s gaze dropped to her ass in her tight yoga pants, and his cock stirred in his pants. Julie craned her head to stare solemnly at him. He waved at her. She raised her tiny hand and waved back before her mother disappeared out the door and out of his life.
CHAPTER 2
Sawyer knocked on the bungalow’s front door before staring at the tulips planted in the front flower beds. The door opened, and he smiled at the pretty, curvy redhead.
“Hi, you must be Stella.”
“I am, and you must be Sawyer,” she said with a happy grin. He twitched in surprise when she gave him a tight hug.
She laughed and stepped back, motioning for him to follow her into the house. “Sorry, I’m a hugger. It’s really nice to meet you, Sawyer. Ford has told me so much about you.”
He grinned at her. “Now I know that’s not true. Ford isn’t a talker.”
She laughed again. “Good point. But I swear he’s told me a few things about you.”
“All good, I hope.” He followed her into the kitchen and sat down as she leaned against the counter.
“Mostly good?” she said before wiggling her eyebrows at him.
He laughed as she pulled two mugs from the cupboard. “Would you like some coffee or tea? Ford just finished working out and is having a quick shower, but he won’t be long.”
“Coffee would be great. Just black, please,” Sawyer said.
He studied Stella as she grabbed a pod and stuck it into the coffee machine. Ford had helped him unload the moving truck last weekend, and he was surprised at how much the big man told him about Stella. He had never seen Ford this happy and relaxed before, and Sawyer’s unease at how quickly Ford seemed to be getting married had lessened a little.
