“Joe—”
“You were right, and I should have seen it. I guess we got stuck in a pattern somewhere along the way, and I liked that you needed me.”
“I do need you. But I want to be needed too.”
“And I haven’t done a good job with that. Maybe because I wanted to be your hero.”
She swallowed, her mouth dry. He was her hero, in every way. From the moment she’d first laid eyes on him, the sexy pilot with a devastating southern drawl, and her heart felt like it had been drop kicked across the floor.
His eyes were soft now, a beautiful blue. “I don’t need much, but I do need you.”
“Oh, Joe.” She went into his arms, and he practically crushed her against his chest.
“Listen to me,” he said, pulling back to cup her face in his hands. “I love you, and I want you to stay.”
And now she was crying, a blubbering mess over this man. “I got mad when I thought you were going to make me go.”
“Never. I like it when you get all feisty and tell me what you really think. Don’t stop.”
“I thought you’d be mad. You like that?”
He squeezed her tighter. “Yes, darlin’, when you’re honest and real with me. Whatever it is. Don’t be afraid to tell me anything because I’m never going to stop loving you.”
Forever. She’d never had forever. “Always?”
“Always.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “How do you feel about a ring?”
The ring. “You mean like, get married?”
“Too soon? I can wait.”
“No, I don’t want to wait. I want to marry you, Joe Hannigan. My whole life I never felt like I belonged anywhere. And then I met you and for the first time I fit. I didn’t think I could fit in this little town. But I was wrong. So wrong.”
“You fit right here. With me.”
“Forever.”
Epilogue
One month later
“I look like a queen!” Eileen Turlock said.
Kailey had been hard at work all morning on this late June day, Eileen and Giancarlo’s wedding. She and Fallon had braided Eileen’s shoulder-length wavy brown hair into a bun and were now threading freshwater pearls through it. Eileen Turlock-soon-to-be-Merlini looked better than a queen. She might be a woman of age, but being a woman in love she seemed ageless. The fact that Eileen had chosen an iridescent and fitted strapless lavender gown for her wedding dress, opting for color, only made her more special to Kailey.
When all was said and done, Kailey and Fallon had done hair and make-up not only for Eileen, but for her entire bridal party: Brooke, Gen, and Giancarlo’s youngest daughter, Sophia. Granted, all three looked pretty mortified in their short puffy skirt bridesmaid dresses but the hair was more than making up for it.
Eileen’s father, the man everyone called ‘Pop’ opened the door to the bride’s suite and leaned in. “How’s it going in here? You all about ready?”
“Almost,” Kailey called out and waited as Fallon adjusted one last pearl in place.
Eileen turned to Pop. “How’s Giancarlo doing?”
“Nervous,” Pop said with a grin. “But he’ll be there. Don’t make the man wait, Eileen. You’re not getting any younger.”
“You can leave now. But don’t let him go anywhere.” She laughed. “Not that he would.”
“Of course not,” Sophia protested.
“Don’t worry. If he tries to leave, he’ll have to deal with three large and pissed off men,” Brooke said.
“Wallace would kill him,” Gen said.
“Joe, too,” Kailey added, knowing how fond her fiancé was of Mrs. Turlock.
Her fiancé.
“I know my dad,” Sophia said, “And believe me, he’s in love. Disgusting as it is and all.”
Everyone laughed.
“Sophia, my darling, I hope I have many years ahead of thoroughly making you sick,” Eileen said. “We’re looking forward to our honeymoon in Italy!”
“I’m so happy for you,” Gen said, hugging her mother-in-law to-be.
Apparently, Eileen had wanted to visit Italy for a long time and never had the chance.
Sometimes dreams did some true. Kailey raised her left hand slightly and admired her ring again, as she did about one hundred times a day. Joe hadn’t waited long at all to give it to her. One morning in bed he’d slipped it on her finger and told her to never take it off.
She never would.
Finally the bridal party filed out one by one, Kailey and Fallon following them.
“See you out there,” Kailey said to Fallon, and went to find Joe.
As weddings went, this one was pretty much the event of the year in Starlight Hill. Popular restauranteur marrying the mother of the local multi-millionaire. The wedding was being held outside among the vines at Brooke’s, the vineyard Billy and Pop owned.
A beautiful trellis surrounded a small make-shift altar in the middle of a clearing. Kailey glanced out into the crowd of guests already seated on lawn chairs under a large covered awning—there was Rosie, who waved when she saw Kailey. Ophelia, one of Kailey’s new and regular customers, smiled and nodded in her direction. Ivey, seated with her husband Dr. Jeff Garner, also smiled and waved.
No doubt about it, Kailey was slowly becoming part of this town.
She found Joe talking to Wallace, who was dressed in a black tuxedo and not looking too happy about it. She slipped her hand inside Joe’s.
“Kill me now,” Wallace was saying.
“This is a good drill for your own wedding,” Joe reminded Wallace as he squeezed Kailey’s hand.
“I don’t mind wearing one of these things for my wedding, but it’s cruel to make me wear one now. Who knew my mother was this sadistic?” He grimaced and rubbed the back of his neck.
“You think you’re miserable, take a look at your brother.” Kailey had a difficult time not laughing out loud as she pointed in the direction of Scott. The youngest Turlock brother, Scott was also the biggest. Tall and built solid as a rock, he appeared to have been rolled into his suit. It didn’t look like he could move his arms.
“Billy always looks good in a suit,” Wallace said, pointing out the obvious. “He’s had plenty of practice.”
Billy already stood next to Giancarlo near the front of the altar, looking more like a movie star than a retired pitcher. But no one looked better than her Joe, wearing a casual blue double-breasted suit jacket so effortlessly it looked like he’d been born in it.
Kailey caught Billy beckoning Wallace with one finger.
“I guess it’s time. See you all after.” Wallace walked towards his brothers.
Joe led her to their seats on the bride’s side. One by one the bridesmaids filed out to the beautiful sounds of a string quartet. Brooke followed by Gen, followed by Sophia, the maid of honor. Finally all eyes turned to the rear and Eileen, arm in arm with Pop, who looked quite dapper in his black tux. The string quartet switched to the familiar sounds of “Here Comes the Bride”, and Eileen walked slowly to the front to meet her groom.
Kailey glanced at Joe, her heart full.
She could tell the past month hadn’t been easy for him, but he was letting her take care of him. Sometimes. Despite the fact he liked to take charge most of the time, in many ways he had shown her how much he needed her. She’d finally opened up to him too, about her wild teenage years and getting kicked out of one foster home after another. She’d been running from herself all this time and never realized it. But now, she was finally home.
Home with Joe. Sometimes, love worked things out.
Like today. The wedding of two people who might not have ever thought of dating each other if Brooke hadn’t played matchmaker with Eileen and Giancarlo, who was younger than his bride by about a decade. Stranger things had happened.
Like a big city celebrity stylist falling for an ex-military small town guy.
The ceremony was short and sweet. Then the wine flowed freely as it tended to in these parts
, and Pop toasted the couple before their first dance.
“To love again, at any age!” Pop raised his glass. “And to family!”
“A la familia!” Giancarlo’s brood cried out.
Everyone clapped and cheered.
When it was time for all the couples to join in, Joe pulled Kailey onto the dance floor.
Her hands went up around his neck. “You know what, Joe? I’m sure glad I met you when I did. I like to think you would have wanted me even if you met me at fifty, but I would hate to have missed the next twenty-five years with you.”
Joe bent down and she felt his lips graze her forehead. “Twenty-five years? Darlin’, don’t you know what forever means?”
For the first time in her life, she was beginning to understand.
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Thank you so much for taking the time to read Joe and Kailey’s love story. The story of an outsider, in particular a girl who likes to push society’s buttons while secretly being a marshmallow on the inside, is one that is personal to me. I know you have many choices for entertainment, and I’m honored you took the time to read this novella. If you would also take time to place an honest review, I’d be eternally grateful. Reviews help readers decide whether they should spend their hard earned money on a book.
Anywhere with You is technically book four in the Starlight Hill series but it’s so short we’ll call it 3.5 to be cute. There are three others: All of Me, Somebody Like You, and Until There Was You. Next up in the Starlight Hill series is ex-Army and current firefighter Scott Turlock’s romance, Unforgettable You, a full length novel coming November 2015.
Please join my newsletter to be notified of upcoming releases, contests, free books and other prizes exclusive to subscribers: click here to sign-up.
Stay tuned for an excerpt from All of Me, book one in the Starlight Hill series, available now.
Chapter 1
Not a good sign.
Instead of being ushered to HR to sign employee paperwork and W2 forms, Ivey Lancaster had been sent to the medical director’s office.
Probably some minor mix-up with the paperwork. By now they’d received the glowing letter of reference from her mentor, Babs Holiday. Ivey was more than qualified for the midwife position at the new women’s center.
Deep breath. You’ve got this.
Finally, Dr. Lillian Walker walked into her office. “I apologize, but I’m running behind this morning.” She shook Ivey’s hand. “We’re on my son’s third babysitter. He’s four, and the master of his universe. In other words, he’s going to grow up to be a surgeon.” Lillian sat behind the futuristic-looking stainless steel desk, drew in a deep breath and leaned back in her chair.
Uh-oh. “Is something wrong?” Ivey asked.
Lillian picked up a file, stared at it, and put it back down. “You could say that. This morning I found an orderly and a nurse in a closet, and they weren’t looking for supplies. Dr. Harrison has taken an ill-timed vacation, since his wife threatened that if he didn’t come along she’d go by herself and not come back. So I’m short staffed again. And then there’s this desk. Who ever heard of a desk without drawers? It’s beautiful, but why do I feel like I’m Uhura on Star Trek? I’d like to strangle the designer.”
Ivey wished she could help, but she had her own problems. Aunt Lucy had a broken leg, and she’d be waiting at home right now. Wondering if her niece would get the job. So if Lillian could get on with it, that would be nice.
“And then there’s the women’s center, and the midwife position.” She scowled.
Directors scowling: another bad sign.
Ivey tensed at the overpowering scent of Lillian’s lavender perfume, causing a sudden memory of Mom. On a good day, Mom had always been in Ivey’s corner. On a bad day, Mom couldn’t find the corner.
But this didn’t make sense. Lillian had practically promised the job to Ivey.
“It’s not you,” Lillian said.
Great. Could any good news start out that way? “So there’s a problem.”
“You guessed it. I’ve run into some objections from the obstetric doctors on staff.” Lillian sighed and tapped a manicured nail on her desk.
This didn’t come as any surprise. Ivey had dealt with territorial doctors before, but Lillian had filled her mind with thoughts of a progressive hospital. “But you said ...”
“I know, and I’m sorry, Ivey, but I can’t hire you. I can’t hire anyone right now. The work requisition has been held up due to the doctors’ objections. They went to the board. Behind my back.” Lillian’s lips were a thin, straight line.
“I thought—”
“Think about what it’s like for me as medical director of this hospital. The first female director. Our small hospital has been overwhelmed with budget cuts—”
“But this is why you would save money with the midwifery program. The hospital can save money when a midwife delivers a baby,” Ivey said, but suddenly the problem dawned on her like a pink zebra in the room. Doctors, pressed between onerous HMOs breathing down their backs and struggling hospitals, felt their livelihoods threatened. She’d heard this story before.
“You can imagine how well it went over with the doctors on staff. I only have three of them on the L&D floor. It’s hard enough to keep them here. Malpractice insurance costs, rising health care costs, and now the Affordable Health Care Act.” Lillian waved a hand in the air.
Ivey sank in her seat. “I see.” Until this moment she hadn’t realized how much she wanted the job. She’d gotten used to being home again, among the hills and rambling vineyards of Starlight Hill in Napa Valley. Aunt Lucy constantly complained about its appalling lack of nightlife, but Ivey loved the quiet and the time to reflect. She’d been gone too long, kept away mostly by memories too tender to face even after all this time.
But she was back now, and that said something. It said Ivey Lancaster was ready to move on and make a life.
Now she’d have to find Plan B. Damn doctors. “Well, thank you for your time.”
Ivey started to get up, but Lillian spoke again. “Unless, and I can’t ask for this—” Lillian’s steadfast brown eyes settled on Ivey.
“Unless what?”
“Unless you like a fight.”
As it happened, Ivey had been fighting for one thing or another most of her life. Did she like a fight? Yeah, but only if she could win.
“I like a fair fight. And I especially like to win.” Might as well put it out there.
“I thought so. I’ll be honest. I had a feeling it would be difficult to get this idea past the doctors. But it’s time for some changes around here. And I saw something in you I didn’t see in the other candidates. You don’t give up easily, do you?”
She didn’t. A person with dyslexia didn’t get through life without engaging in a metaphorical fight or two. Or three. “True.”
“If you’ll help me, I believe we could make this vision of ours a reality. Since the doctors’ objections, the board has arranged for a subcommittee to oversee the decision. They’ve appointed one doctor to represent them, and I’d like to appoint you.”
“Me?” She was a midwife, not a committee member.
Every time she’d had to make a presentation in school she’d clammed up. It had meant PowerPoint slides and reading out loud, and with her dyslexia, that was not a good time. She’d finally memorized every last word so that she wouldn’t have to rely on any reading.
The whole idea was out of the question. “Sorry, I’m not a good speaker.”
“You won’t have to present. It’s simply a written recommendation to the Board. What I need is someone who believes in my vision—someone who shares it with me.”
“I see your point, but I’m not sure how I can help.”
“I want our new women’s center to eventually have a staff of midwives available. Women who have low-risk pregnancies deserve that choice, don’t you agree?”
“Well, of course I agree.” But that wasn’t the point. T
he point was she wasn’t going to be on any committee, sub- or otherwise.
“Thank you! You won’t regret this. The doctors have appointed a first-year resident to the subcommittee. Some requirement by one of the benefactors. Don’t ask me why, but surely the two of you can get along and come to some sort of compromise. You’re both young, so you’ll be flexible.” Lillian stood up.
“But I—” When had she agreed to do this?
“Follow me. I’ll find the resident they’ve appointed, and maybe the two of you can arrange the first meeting.”
She hadn’t agreed to anything, and yet why were her feet following Lillian like they had any good sense?
Lillian led her to a conference room and waved towards a chair. “I’ll be right back once I find him. He’s an ER resident, so if he’s here at all, that’s where he’ll be. Sit tight.”
Ivey didn’t sit. She’d rather stand, thank you. Pace, more like it. She might pace her way right out of this conference room and right through the front doors of St. Vincent’s Hospital. Hop in her SUV and drive back to the Vineyard Cottages where Aunt Lucy would be waiting.
But she did want this job, and the fact remained that a first-year resident wasn’t going to be all that intimidating. No, she could handle him.
Then the door opened, and Ivey’s world shifted off its axis. She dropped into a chair before she fell down. This. Wasn’t. Happening. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Jeff Garner should not have walked into the conference room like he had any business being here. He was supposed to be away in another state, completing his residency.
He met her eyes. “I was going to ask you the same thing. I’m here for a subcommittee meeting.”
“That’s not funny.”
“Good, because I wasn’t trying to be.” Jeff took a seat on the other side of the table. As far away as he could get from her, because he was good at that. Interesting how some things never changed.
“Why aren’t you in Maryland?”
“Because that would be a hell of a commute.” He leaned back in his seat.
Anywhere with You (Starlight Hill Series) Page 7
