One Hundred Goodbyes: An Aspen Cove Romance

by Collins, Kelly

  “I promise to look for another living situation as soon as I can. On my walk, I saw several vacant properties. Maybe someone would rent to me at a reasonable price.”

  His heart thumped twice and nosedived into his gut. He hadn’t meant to hurt her or to imply she wasn’t welcome. He wasn’t forcing her to leave. “Oh no. You misunderstood. I’m not looking for you to leave unless you’d feel more comfortable somewhere else. This has to be awkward for you. I’m a stranger.”

  She smiled, but it didn’t light the amber specks in her brown eyes. “You’re the nicest stranger I’ve ever met, and I’ll never forget you.” She stepped forward and held out her arms like she would hug him and then dropped them and stepped back. Eden Webster was definitely a hugger.

  He reached out and tugged her in for a squeeze. “It’s going to be okay. This is like summer camp. You never know who your roommates will be. Only, at Camp Cross, the food is better.”

  Her belly pushed against him. The telltale ripple of the baby moving made his heart warm. He had an opportunity to help her and he would. This was different than before. Eden didn’t ask to stay with him. Like him, she was put in a situation that didn’t have many options.

  This was not his child, but he’d happily help her bring it into the world. It was the right thing to do.

  “You’ve got about ten minutes if you want to shower or change.” The puff of air she expelled when she spoke made his uniform flutter in place.

  “I think I need a shower.”

  She inhaled his scent and stepped back. “You smell good. Like a wood fire mixed with sexy cologne.” She hopped back another step and turned around, but not before he could see a flush rise to her cheeks.

  “I’ll be back in a few minutes. I’ll set the table and we can eat together if that’s okay with you? It’s about time I got to know you better, don’t you think?”

  She nodded but didn’t turn around.

  He chuckled all the way to the guest bathroom.

  The hot water pulsed against his skin like a massage. Fighting fires was arduous work. It didn’t matter if he was driving the rig, manning the hose, or humping equipment back and forth from the site, his muscles got a workout.

  With his head bowed, he leaned his hands against the cool tile and let the water sluice down his back, washing away the stress of the day. Though he tried to clear his brain, Thomas’s thoughts kept going back to Eden. He was dying to know her story, but he wouldn’t press her for it. He knew how the wrong story could eviscerate a person.

  It struck him as funny that he was willing to help this stranger. Hell, while he hadn’t been keen on her coming, now that she was here, he’d let her stay for months if it would help her and the baby. With Sarah, he’d walked out of the hospital ten minutes after Heather was born. He told her he would never raise another man’s child. He still felt strongly about that. He’d seen it a thousand times with his friends growing up. His best buddy in high school had to split his time between his father and mother. Blended families were bullshit. The tug of war torturous.

  He pushed off the wall and turned off the water. It hadn’t occurred to him to get a change of clothes from his room and there was no way he was putting on his soot covered uniform, so he wrapped a towel around his waist. He scooped up his laundry, silently damning James for turning his boxers and T-shirts pink. He tucked the cotton-candy-colored underwear inside his bundle of clothes and strode down the hallway.

  When he turned the corner into the master bedroom, he came face to face with Eden.

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” Her eyes moved over his body like warm honey. Her tongue slipped out to lick her lips. “Let me get out of your way.”

  They stepped in the same direction. Each time they moved she looked at him like he was dessert. He lowered his roll of dirty clothes in front of his towel to hide his growing arousal.

  Get a grip.

  “You stay, and I’ll move right,” she said. She shifted her body and walked toward the door. Before she left, she said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I found your laundry in the corner and washed it.” She let out a giggle. “I’m assuming you didn’t want your undergarments pink.”

  He had no idea what to say. “You didn’t have to do my laundry, Eden.”

  “I know, but I’m trying to be helpful.”

  On his dresser sat neatly folded piles of white.

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Thank you is enough.” She moved toward the kitchen, the clack of her soles on the wooden floor muting to nothing.

  The homemade dinner was more than he could hope for but turning his underwear white again was pure sorcery. Eden had brought some magic with her presence. What was he going to do with her? Most importantly, what was he going to do with his feelings about her?

  His emotions were a tug of war. She was a woman in need of help. No, that wasn’t entirely correct. She was a hot woman in need of help. A damn pregnant woman carrying someone else’s child and no matter how much his hands wanted to touch her, and his mouth wanted to taste her, she was a problem with a capital P. Pregnancy.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Eden

  The phones were steady all day, which didn’t give Eden much time to replay the evening in her head. It was downright pleasant from seeing Thomas’s near naked body to gorging on pasta and garlic bread. It was a night of overindulgence, but for the first time in weeks, she didn’t think about the future. Maybe that was the key to happiness. If she concentrated on one moment at a time, then maybe things would be okay.

  “I’m heading home to nurse the boys, but I’ll be back at noon when you’re off.”

  “No problem. Take your time.” Her eyes lifted to the clock above the desk. It was a cat with a swishing tail, and each time it hit the top of the hour it would meow. At noon it sounded like a cat in heat with its constant mewling.

  She did an internet search for adoption agencies. When she pressed the number on her phone to connect, the bile rose up in her throat to nearly choke her. She was halfway to hanging up when a woman’s voice answered.

  “Providence Adoption Service, how may I help you?”

  She opened her mouth several times, but nothing came out.

  “Hello?” The voice on the other end was high pitched and chipper. “Hello? Anyone there?”

  Eden cleared her throat. “Yes.” The one word came out like she was hacking up a fur ball. “I’d like some information, please.”

  “Certainly. Are you seeking to adopt or looking for loving parents for your child?”

  “My child isn’t unloved,” she snapped.

  “I wouldn’t dream of assuming that. Often those who come looking for alternatives have found themselves in an unfortunate situation. We can help place your child into a stable family.”

  “I’m not unstable.”

  A deep sigh sounded. “I didn’t imply that either. Tell you what. How far along are you?”

  “I’m due in a few weeks.”

  “Oh.” There was nothing but silence. “Are you looking for compensation?”

  “You mean, am I willing to sell my baby?”

  “No, we never buy babies. Our objective is to make sure the birth mother is compensated for expenses.”

  Eden scribbled no on the pad in front of her. “What about the adoptive parents? Are they expected to cough up a fortune to adopt a healthy child?”

  “Fees are necessary. Let’s start with your name.”

  “Eden, my name is Eden.”

  “The mother of all. How perfect.” The keyboard tip tapped while she entered Eden’s information. “What’s the sex of your child?”

  “I don’t know. Does it matter?”

  “Yes, people have a preference and we try to match people’s wish list as closely as possible.”

  “Jeez, this isn’t Burger King. No one gets to have it their way. I don’t know what sex my baby is. I don’t know what his or her ethnicity will be. No idea about height or weight or propensity for diseas
e. I can tell you that this baby kicks like a soccer star and rolls like a gymnast. That’s about all I know.”

  “You have no information?”

  “None.”

  “How about we make an appointment for you to talk to one of our counselors? We can set up testing appointments to get more details.”

  Her arms came around her belly like an angel’s wings to protect and cherish. “You know what, forget it. My baby is not for sale.”

  She ended the call as Thomas walked in looking hot in his uniform. While he looked great in a towel, there was something about a man in uniform that always got her right in the lady bits.

  “You okay?”

  She took a deep breath and let out a shaky exhale. “Yes. I’m great.”

  He stalked forward like a lion on the hunt. “You hungry?” He leaned on the counter and looked at the notepad.

  Her eyes followed his to the paper where she’d written the word no at least two dozen times.

  “Feeling strongly about something?”

  Damn straight she was. She wasn’t incubating a designer baby that would go to the highest bidder. She was having a child, and it didn’t matter if it was a he or a she. She didn’t care if it was destined to be white or ethnic. Blue eyed. Brown eyed. Green eyed. She would love it no matter what. “Wow, I guess I was.” She palmed the page and crumpled it up, tossing it into the trash can. “Did you say something about food?”

  He reached his hand behind his back and pulled out a box of pure joy. “I got these for you but forgot to give them to you last night.”

  She took the box of Good & Plenty and held it to her chest. “Where did you get these?”

  “You like?”

  “Oh, my goodness, I’m like a crack addict with these. It’s been days and I’m in withdrawal.”

  “I bought you a case. You can have them all, or I can distribute them daily to keep the shakes away.”

  If her heart wasn’t already weakened by his full lips, his muscles, and how that white terry cloth towel had hugged the globes of his perfect behind, she’d fall head over ballet slippers in love with the man.

  “You’re the best. Don’t give me the case. I have no control.”

  “When you get off for the day, I thought maybe you’d like to have lunch at the diner and take a ride with me to see more than Main Street.”

  It was ten minutes until the clock struck noon, and its inner cat went into heat.

  “That sounds like a great plan.”

  He stepped back and shoved his hands in his pockets.

  She tried to imagine Thomas as a teenage boy asking a girl out on a date. She could see him just like he was now but younger, with his hair longer and swept away from his blue eyes. Though this was no date, it was fun to pretend those days hadn’t been put to rest for her.

  “I’ll meet you at Maisey’s in about ten minutes.”

  “It’s a date,” he said. He shook his head back and forth and rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean.”

  She pointed to her stomach. “Oh, I get it. Who would want to date this?”

  He turned around and moved toward her. “Don’t sell yourself short.” He rounded the corner and stood in front of her. “You are stunningly beautiful. Your pregnancy takes nothing away from your loveliness.”

  Had her nipples hardened? Did her thighs clench? Was that an ache in her core or the baby stretching?

  “You’re hired to boost my ego with regularity.”

  He lowered to his haunches. “You are beautiful. It isn’t a line. It’s not meant to boost your ego. It’s simply the truth.” He touched his finger to her nose. “See you in a few minutes. Don’t forget to bring your smile.” His eyes went to the candy. “And those.”

  * * *

  Thomas was seated at a table waiting. As soon as she entered, he stood.

  When was the last time a man stood up when she approached the table, or opened a door when she entered, or gave up his bed for a stranger?

  “Today’s special is pot roast and potatoes.”

  She sat at the chair across from him. “Is that what you’re having?”

  He rubbed his chin and leaned back as if in thought. “It’s a toss between that and a grilled cheese and fries.”

  “I can see the dilemma.” She pulled her napkin from under the silver and set it on her stomach. It appeared more like a bib than a lap covering.

  She pulled the menu from the wire rack at the edge. Her eyes moved over the offerings.

  “Anything appeal to you?”

  Lots of things including one hunky fireman and every kind of pie Maisey had available. “You seem like a sharing kind of guy. I mean, I know you are since you opened your home to me. How about we get one special and a grilled cheese and share?”

  God, his smile was like a brand new day.

  “I like your style, Eden.”

  Louise walked over. “Hey, you two.” She pulled an order pad from her back pocket. “I’m taking some me time.”

  “You’re working here now?” Thomas asked.

  Louise’s head bobbed like a broken metronome. “A shift a week until Maisey fills”—she leaned in and whispered, “Meg’s spot.” She stood straight. “Whatcha gonna have?”

  Eden ordered the grilled cheese while Thomas ordered the daily special.

  Louise was halfway turned around when she swung back. “Did you get the box of baby clothes I left on the porch?”

  Thomas groaned. “She did not because I put them in the garage on my way out, and with the fire I forgot.”

  Louise tapped him on the head with the pad. “That’s okay. I’m sure she has everything she needs but I figured a mother never had too much.” She laughed. “Unless it’s eight kids.” She blew out a whistle. “That last one did me in.”

  “Eight?” Eden asked.

  “Like a staircase, I tell ya. Line them up and you can enter the attic stepping on their heads. Not that we would.”

  “I’ll take care of it when we get home.” Thomas looked across the table with downcast eyes. “I’m sorry, it just slipped my mind.”

  “Anything you can’t use you can pass on.”

  “I can use it all. I don’t have anything for the baby.”

  Thomas and Louise stared at her for an eternity.

  “But you’re so far along. You haven’t been nesting?” Louise cocked her head.

  She gnawed at her lower lip. “I’ve been in survival mode.”

  Louise’s hand settled on her shoulder. “We’ve got you covered.” She spun on her sneakers and disappeared through the swinging doors.

  The grip that had tightened around her heart over the last month eased a bit.

  Her decision had been building for weeks. That notepad full of the word no was her conscious and subconscious coming together telling her what she already knew. She would never give this baby to a stranger. She would have been happy to give the gift of a child to her sister, but now that her rose-colored glasses had cleared, she realized what a bad decision that would have been.

  When she looked up at Thomas, he had a thousand questions in his eyes.

  “Tell me about this Meg who only deserves a whisper.”

  “I’ll tell you about Meg, but when I’m through, you and I are going to talk about you.”

  Suddenly her tongue took on the texture of dry sand. She didn’t want to talk about her choices. Said out loud, they made her look like an idiot. She wasn’t stupid, just stupidly in love with the idea of having a close relationship with her sister. Stupidly in love with the idea of finally becoming a family. Hell, maybe she was stupid.

  “Meg worked in the diner for a while,” he began. “She was single and looking.” He chuckled. “More like single and stalking.”

  “Did she like you?” Was that pink she saw come to his cheeks? “She did, didn’t she?”

  “Meg wasn’t choosy, she was … crazy. Fatal Attraction crazy.”

  She moved in as close as she could to the table. “Like boiling bunnies
crazy?”

  “Like burn down the Guild Creative Center crazy.”

  Louise returned with a full tray of drinks and food. “You telling her about our arsonist?”

  “Sad that Meg has earned celebrity status.”

  Louise giggled. “She wasn’t a Mae West. More like a female Capone.” On that comment, Louise walked toward Doc Parker, who had entered and moved to a corner booth.

  “Anyway,” Thomas continued. “She wasn’t happy that Riley had snagged her man and she set out to destroy the poor woman.”

  While he spoke, she divided up the plates.

  “Sounds like an awful person.”

  Thomas shrugged. “Who knows why people do what they do?”

  “Love. People would do anything for love.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Thomas

  “Can you climb up or do you need help?” Thomas held the door of his truck open.

  Eden gripped the frame and heave-hoed her body forward but didn’t get enough momentum to put her in the seat. “Maybe if I turn around and enter backward.” She shimmied her perfect heart shaped ass against the leather and attempted to catch purchase on the running board with her foot.

  He could stay there all day and watch her, but it hardly seemed fair to wear her out trying to get in the damn truck.

  “I got you.” He reached forward and lifted her with ease. “The truck is higher off the ground because of the tires. We get a lot of snow in winter and the extra clearance is good.”

  “Thank you for that.”

  He leaned in and buckled her up.

  “For what?” Her belt clicked in place and he pulled back.

  “For not telling me I was a lard-ass and ate too much.”

  “You want me to comment on your ass?” He could wax poetic about her ass for hours. She was one of those pregnant women who stayed exactly the same except for their stomachs and possibly their breasts.

  “No.”

  He shut her door and rounded the truck to hop into the driver’s seat. “It’s perfect, by the way.”