The Forgotten Bride
By
Marquita Valentine
The Forgotten Bride
Copyright © 2015 by Marquita Valentine
Digital Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted downloaded, distributed, stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, without express permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, or any events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Cover Design by Okay Creations.
www.marquitavalentine.com
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The Forgotten Bride
Sexy former reality television star Luke Ambrose has returned to make a home in Holland Springs again—this time as the newest doctor for the town’s local clinic, and with every intention of making up for his past wrongs against his ex-wife.
After slipping into a coma due to a freak car accident, Lily Sawyer finally wakes up in the hospital, unable to remember the past ten years of her life. But what she does remember—she’s a dance teacher and she’s married to her high school sweetheart, Luke.
Torn between letting the past be the past and telling Lily the truth about their fragile relationship, Luke gives her the basics—they’re divorced but trying to work things out.
However, when Lily regains her lost memories and none of them include her new relationship with Luke, will she leave him once again, or give their love the second chance it deserves?
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
About the Book
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Epilogue
Sneak Peek at The Christmas Bride
Books by Marquita Valentine
Acknowledgements
Author Bio
Prologue
‡
Luke wasn’t quite sure what had made him stop at Fish Taco Friday’s to order half his weight in food to take home. His youngest brother’s wedding reception had been filled with good food, plenty of drinks, and great company.
Except he felt like there had been one person missing. One person who should have been there, would have been there—if he hadn’t messed everything up and made her leave him. She was the one person he intended to set things right with as soon as the opportunity arose.
But he hadn’t exactly tripped all over himself to make things right as soon as he moved back to Holland Springs. Then again, he was scared of doing everything wrong and making things worse.
Honestly though, he wasn’t sure how he could make things worse. He and Lily hadn’t spoken to each other in years.
With a small frown, he got out of his car and headed inside, stopping short when he caught a glimpse of a familiar face. She stood to one side, her profile complete perfection.
She was perfection.
“Lily,” he said, and she whirled around.
Auburn brows furrowed. “Luke. This is a surprise.”
He smiled, or attempted to without looking like an asshole. “I was hungry.”
“Do you usually get take out while wearing a tux?” Her chocolate-colored eyes traveled the length of him before settling on his face once more. His senses spiked, as though she’d just run her hands all over him. Something he was not opposed to in the least.
“Only when my youngest brother gets married,” he said, hoping like hell she’d declined the invitation to come, instead of not being invited in the first place.
He knew she spent time with his sister Zoe during their once-a-month book club, and that his family still considered her a part of the family due to the lack of ill-will against her.
For all they knew, his and Lily’s relationship simply hadn’t worked out. No one was to blame—except he knew the truth… he was to blame.
Lily nibbled on her bottom lip for a moment. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to go, but I sent a present via Willow.”
Relief flowed through him along with disappointment. “You could have gone. I wouldn’t have cared.”
A frown creased her forehead.
“I didn’t mean that I don’t care about you. I just meant that it wouldn’t have been weird to see you there.”
“Ah.” Her brow smoothed. “Thank you for that.”
“Number thirty-six,” the woman behind the counter shouted.
Lily raised her hand. “That’s me.” She turned her attention back to him. “It was… nice seeing you again.”
“Nice enough for dinner with me?” he asked, embolden by her response. In the past, they would have been at each other’s throats by now.
“Dinner with you,” she repeated.
He nodded. “Yes, I’d love to have dinner with you.” Please say yes. Give me the chance. “I’m free this week. You pick the evening.”
She swallowed, her porcelain skin flushing a light shade of pink. “Bluebelle. Tomorrow evening at seven. I’ll meet you there.” Then she moved to the counter, grabbed her brown bag of takeout, and strode outside.
“Hell yes,” he shouted, then winced as the people in the line craned their necks to look at him. “Sorry. I’m really digging tonight’s special.”
She’d said yes. Lily Sawyer, his ex-wife and the love of his life, had said yes to dinner.
Chapter One
‡
Lily Sawyer had married the one great love of her life, and then divorced him—all before she was twenty.
Apparently, she had not been his one great love. Or his love at all. Luke had loved his career more, the opportunities that had inexplicably arose in the form of a reality television show, and the fame that had gone along with it, than a future with her.
Ten years later, the thought of their short-lived marriage caused a rather bittersweet ache in her chest instead of inducing a rage that defied logic and reasoning.
In those early years, right after the divorce, the two of them couldn’t be in the same room, much less the same state, without screaming at one another, without hurling accusations like bombs. Each so eager to make the first wound and ready to raze the other to the ground until there was nothing left but complete surrender.
A decade of reflection had shown her that their marriage had deteriorated because neither of them had been willing to compromise. But if she wanted to keep score, she had compromised more than he ever had.
However, in the end, neither of them had yielded. Both of them had let their stubborn pride get in the way.
Cliché but entirely true in her case, the promise of a career on Broadway had been the final straw that had broken their marriage. Or what was left of it.
So their dreams of a future together, of children and Sunday dinners had dissipated without much fanfare. Luke hadn’t contested the divorce. They’d simply signed their names, and then it was as if they’d never been married at all.
Yet here she was, about to have dinner with her ex-husband a
t Bluebelle—a restaurant with a reputation for romance, celebrations of anniversaries, and surprise engagements.
She’d picked the place, out of nostalgia, she supposed. Luke had taken her there the night he’d asked her to marry him, after all.
If she were honest with herself, she would admit that she wanted to have dinner with him to find out the truth—did she still have feelings for him?
Though she wouldn’t have minded riding together, she’d driven alone, secure in the knowledge that she could leave at any time. Not that she expected anything horrible to happen, but a girl had to keep her options open.
Suddenly, she spied him from the front porch entrance, and a smile curved the corners of her lips. Her heart fluttered in her chest as he approached her from the parking lot, his long strides eating up the distance between them.
Luke’s boyish good looks had transformed him into something out Grey’s Anatomy—the Univision version—with his black hair, whiskey-colored eyes, and light brown skin.
At thirty-three, he was more confident, more aware of himself, and more charming than he had ever been when they first began to date. But they’d practically been babies—her fresh out of high school and him finishing his third year of pre-med.
“Hey you,” he said, taking her hand in his and leaning in to kiss her cheek. “You look amazing.”
So did he. His face had lost every bit of the roundness of youth. His cheekbones were sharp, his nose a severe straight line, but his lips still had that plump fullness that made every woman over the age of sixteen sigh dreamily. Add in a body that would make a twenty-five-year old guy work out harder and Luke Ambrose was the ultimate Doctor McSteamy.
“Thank you,” she said, waiting for the inevitable crash of something to overwhelm her at his touch.
Only something didn’t happen.
Everything happened. Her blood raced, her pulse pounded, and her body came alive, like when she took center stage. Nothing had changed on that account, and she had fooled herself into thinking it would.
Realizing she was holding her breath, she slowly let it out and attempted to mentally pull herself together.
Letting go of her hand, he stepped back, his dark eyes warm. “Shall we go inside?”
“I’d love to. I’m starving,” she said as he opened the door for her. This was nothing new for either of them. His manners were as beautiful as his face.
“Your students keep you busy,” he said.
“They do, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” She wouldn’t. Four years ago, she’d bought Dance to the Beat from the former owner, expanded her client base, and never looked back. Running the business and teaching classes kept her busy and without much time for relationships, though.
Lately, she’d been putting effort into changing that, but she hadn’t imagined going out with her ex-husband.
He checked with the hostess and returned a moment later. “Not even for another shot at Broadway?” he asked.
She laughed a little. “Not even for that.”
“I don’t miss the fame,” he said in a rush, as if she’d take offense that he would bring up one of the reasons for their failed marriage. “I’d trade it all in—”
“Ambrose—party of two,” the hostess called out.
Lily gave him a sympathetic look. “You don’t have to apologize tonight. Or tomorrow…or really, any time. I’m here with you because I want to be.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, ignoring the hostess. “I didn’t think you’d say yes, and when you did…” He blew out a breath. “I—thank you. I want to make things right between us—it’s the reason why I stayed this time. In Holland Springs.”
He had stayed for her?
“We’re moving to Miami and that’s final,” he said in a voice that brokered no argument.
“But we’ve only been here for six months,” she pointed out. “I start my new job next week. You said it would be my turn. It’s why you agreed to transfer here!”
His jaw worked. “It’s just an off-Broadway production, not the real thing. Besides, my contract says that they have to pay for school, and we could use the money.”
Her eyes widened, shock and hurt invading every pore like acid. “Not the real thing? Like yours is? You’re not even a doctor yet, much less a plastic surgeon.”
“None of that matters. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.”
“Yes, it is,” she said. “I can’t believe you’re doing this to me. To us. You promised.”
“I’m tired of being poor. I’m tired of worrying about food and the fucking heat working.” He sliced his hand through the air, and she crossed her arms, her jaw clenching so tight that it began to ache. “Stay here, then. But I’m going.”
“I’m not joking,” he added, unknowingly pulling her out of her head. “I want to show you I’m different now.”
She stared at him for a moment, trying to reconcile the boy she knew with the man in front of her. This man was humble, contrite, and…determined.
Warmth filled her, suddenly rising to a flash of heat that sent zings of pleasure throughout her body. It wasn’t unpleasant. In fact…
“I’m open to that,” she heard herself say.
It was all Luke could do to keep his mouth from dropping open with shock. Normally, he was a man confident with women. A man who knew what to say, how to wine and dine, how to make them feel special… but the elegant woman at his side…only in appearance did she remind him of the girl he married.
This woman walked with grace that only experience and age could give her. At thirty, Lily was exceptionally beautiful with lithe curves and vibrant, dark red hair.
After they were seated at a table for two with an ocean view, he attempted to concentrate on the menu, but he was completely distracted by his ex-wife. The way she moved, the way the light played on her face.
She still made faces while reading the menu, as if she were having an internal debate on what to order. When they dated, he would make up conversations in his head while he watched her.
How about the lasagna?
Nope. Can’t kiss him with garlic breath
Oh please, he won’t care. Order it anyway. You can always show him your boobs.
Well, he had been twenty-one at the time, and he’d never met a girl like her before. She was vibrant, like liquid fire, and full of passion about dance. An assistant teacher at the local dance studio in Holland Springs, she’d captivated him the first time he saw her dance solo at a recital.
She’d enchanted him then. Every move had been precise, each step perfectly spaced apart, and the poetry of her body…glorious.
Hell, she inspired poetry in him.
“What made you decide to ‘make things right with me’?” she asked.
He blinked at her. “You’re certainly to the point.”
Grinning, she set the menu down on the table. “Life’s too short. Besides, you’re a big boy.”
He couldn’t help but grin back. “And I was the one to put it out there in the first place.”
The server stopped by their table and took their orders, along with the menus.
“Honestly, you’ve been on my mind. With Heath’s unexpected marriage along with Logan thinking about an engagement ring for Corinne, I couldn’t help but think of us. What we had. What we lost.”
Her chocolate-colored eyes searched his face. “Did you ever consider it was for the best?”
“A time or two, but I was mad. I was hurt…betrayed,” Anger flashed in her eyes, and he held up a hand. “By both of us. Not just you. I’m not saying that my feelings were justified. It’s simply how I felt. But not anymore.”
The anger faded from her beautiful eyes. “I don’t feel that way anymore either.”
“How do you feel?” he asked.
“At this moment, I feel really good about being here with you.”
A connection sizzled between them, and for long moments, he could do nothing more than gaze at her.
“You are ext
raordinary,” he said softly.
“You are charming.”
“Didn’t used to be,” he acknowledged. “I mistook cockiness for it.”
“Yes, you really did.”
“Ouch.” He winced. “That was your cue to say, ‘You weren’t that bad’.”
Shaking her head, she smiled. A thick strand of auburn hair slid over her bare shoulder. “I would never lie to a doctor.”
“What about that time you lied about cooking the most perfect sopaipillas pasadas?” he reminded her.
Her mouth opened in mock-outrage. “I did not say I made them.”
“You let me think it.”
She shrugged with one shoulder. “You assumed what you wanted, and you weren’t a full-fledged doctor either.”
“They were perfect,” he admitted. Almost as perfect as you, he wanted to add. But he wouldn’t.
This wasn’t the time, and he wasn’t quite sure if this need to make things right with her was truly motivated by his brothers settling down or if he wanted another chance with her simply because he’d never loved another woman as he had her.
*
Dinner had been better than he expected. They’d laughed and reminisced while carefully avoiding the subject that would normally bring them to verbal blows.
It was…different for them.
Their relationship had been passionate—they had fought as hard and as fiercely as they had loved one another. Everything was a hard-won battle with Lily, but the sweet times, the times they came together in love, had been made all the better by it.
Until reality had set it. Until they discovered they couldn’t live on love alone. That no matter how mind-blowing the sex, outside of the bedroom counted just as much, and as a couple, they could barely function.
Then again, he had to take responsibility for that. He’d been older, supposedly wiser, and hadn’t his dad taught him how to treat a woman right?
Luke couldn’t remember a time when his parents weren’t kind and loving. Sure, they could have cut each other to the quick when he and his siblings weren’t around, but the farmhouse he grew up in wasn’t that big.
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