One Hundred Promises

by Kelly Collins

  “What’s next?” he asked.

  She turned into him and placed her head on his chest. “That wasn’t enough?”

  “More than enough. I should have…” Adrenaline mixed with arousal had made his release explosive. He hadn’t considered anything but pleasing her. He’d acted impulsively. “Used a condom. I’m sorry.”

  “Not your fault. We got caught up in the moment and it was beautiful.” She hugged him. “Don’t worry, I’m on the pill. There’s no need to panic.”

  Getting Lydia pregnant was the farthest thing from his mind when he filled her body. Even now, the idea didn’t scare him in the least. In fact, he’d already seen their children in his dreams. Little girls with wavy blond hair. A son with her big, blue eyes.

  “I wasn’t worried, but that’s good to know.”

  “It’s just…most men would freak out. I want you to feel safe. I’ve been tested and I protect myself.”

  “Not very well. What if I had a disease?”

  “You don’t. I checked your record, and you were tested a few months ago. Since you always have a condom handy, I figure you are Mr. Safety with everyone.”

  “Are you even allowed to look at my file?”

  She pinched his side. “Yes, I’m your doctor.”

  A cool breeze wisped over their naked bodies. Wes inched out from under Lydia and reached for their clothes. “Aren’t there rules against doctor-patient relationships?” If she said yes, he’d gladly transfer to a doctor in Copper Creek.

  She pulled her shirt over her head. “You make me want to break all the rules.”

  Right there at the end of Jasmine Lane, Wes experienced many firsts. First time he’d TP’d a house. First time he’d had sex on a public street. First time he’d not used a condom in his life. It was the moment when everything changed. When pressing himself inside Lydia turned from sex to making love.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Her eyes flew open when his lips pressed against hers.

  “I’m heading to work. Have a good day.” Wes looked damn right sinful sitting on the edge of the bed in a black T-shirt, with his scruffy beard and wet hair. She’d asked him to not shave because she loved the feel of his whiskers on her neck.

  In a sleepy voice, she asked, “Are you working at the Guild Center?”

  He brushed the hair from her face. “We will frame today. This is where it gets exciting. It’s so much fun to watch it all come together.”

  She cupped his cheek. He was the sweetest man she’d ever met. “I’m so excited for you. I can see you’re exactly where you want to be.”

  He licked his lower lip in that sexy way that made her body tingle. Something about it made her want to strip him naked and have her way.

  “Where I want to be is buried inside your body, but where I need to be is at work. You want to have dinner together?”

  She let her hand drop to the bed. “I’ll cook since you cooked last night.”

  “Sounds great. See you tonight, sweetheart.” He brushed his lips to hers before he left. As soon as Wes disappeared, Sarge took up his space. He pressed his furry body close to hers and went to sleep.

  She listened to the door close downstairs. All this time she’d been hoping for the universe to cut her a break. It seemed as if it did when Wes came into her life but if karma ever smiled on her again and sent her a decent job, she’d miss him terribly. Not only was he gifted between the sheets but he had the biggest heart she’d ever seen. What man paid for his ex-wife’s college? What man volunteered to design the fire station and the park? That man was Wes, and he did it because the people around him mattered.

  An hour later, Lydia got up, showered, then went downstairs. She followed her normal routine of answering emails, applying for jobs, and paying bills. Her student loans were killing her. She had the money to pay them back if she used the profits from the sale of her house, but if she drained her account, she wouldn’t have the money for a new place once she got to wherever her forever was.

  Working at Doc’s clinic didn’t pay enough to cover her expenses and her loan payments. It was a choice between live comfortably now or comfortably later. She hovered over the payment button. One click and her loan would be gone. One click and she’d be living paycheck to paycheck. Was it better to borrow from Peter to pay Paul? Screw Peter. She pressed the button and watched the money move from her checking to her loan. In seconds she was the proud owner of a fully-paid-for medical degree. Something about that felt so grown-up.

  She needed to tell someone, so she headed to the bakery. It was Tuesday and that meant cranberry orange muffins.

  Katie was putting a fresh batch in when she arrived. “Good to see you, Lydia. How are things?”

  Lydia generally held her emotions close to her chest but things were good and she couldn’t hide the smile. “Considering I’m broke and homeless, I’m good.”

  “Speaking of homeless, Abby came back early and plans to harvest her bees this week. I’ll have to see to some repairs to drywall and stuff, but the apartment should be ready in another week or so.”

  “Oh…okay.” Gone was her smile. She knew she’d have to leave Wes eventually, but she wasn’t ready to give him up yet.

  “How’s Wes been treating you?” Katie handed her a cup of black coffee and the daily muffin across the counter. “You two seem to get along.”

  Her smile was back. The mention of Wes warmed her insides. “He’s been awesome. He’s such a nice guy.”

  Katie stared at her. “You really like him, don’t you?”

  Her cheeks heated. “He’s a nice guy.”

  “Right, a nice guy who kisses like a porn star.” She picked up her cup of coffee and rounded the counter to join Lydia at the front table.

  “My sister has such a big mouth.” Lydia pulled her phone from her purse and texted.

  I’m at the bakery and you’re in big trouble.

  Two minutes later Sage texted back.

  On my way.

  “So, shall we wait for your sister to talk about the sex or do you want to give me the dirty details right now?”

  “I won’t kiss and tell.”

  “Yes, you will. Girls need to know. I won’t rush on getting the apartment back together if your current situation is satisfactory.”

  Lydia laughed. “More than satisfactory.”

  “I need the details.”

  Sage pulled up in front of the bakery. When she entered, she walked behind the counter and got what she wanted. That was the beauty of being best friends with the owner. Then again, Lydia knew she could do the same. Somehow, she belonged or at least they treated her like she did.

  “What am I in trouble for now?” Sage took the seat across from Lydia. She knew it was to gain distance from the sure-to-come pinch.

  “Porn star?”

  Sage frowned at Katie. “There are no secrets in a small town.”

  “That’s not something a guy wants to hear from a neighbor?” Lydia asked.

  Katie shrugged. “I guess it would depend on the neighbor. I imagine he’d wear it like a badge of honor.” She turned to her sister. “We were just going to discuss whether his porn star talents ended at a kiss.”

  “We were not.” Lydia buried her face in her hands.

  “Oh, please. I’ve told everyone Bowie is bait on my hook. Samantha says Dalton strums her like a fine-tuned instrument. Sage says Cannon is best at sex on the beach.”

  “Your man is in construction. Give us a pun that’s telling,” Katie begged.

  Lydia pursed her lips. In a quiet voice—almost a whisper, she said, “Wes can really hammer it home.”

  An outsider might have thought they’d won the lottery with the way they laughed and giggled and high-fived one another.

  “So does that mean you’re considering staying?” Sage looked hopeful.

  Lydia hated to ruin the fun. She knew the importance of family. Sage was all she had, but Sage couldn’t say the same. She’d built a life and a new family. The fami
ly she chose besides the one she had.

  “No, I’m not staying.”

  Sage slumped forward. “You’re so frustrating. Let me tell you, the grass isn’t greener on the other side.”

  “How would you know?”

  “Because I lived on the other side in your basement. I worked and slept and worked and slept. It was an endless circle of nothing. How sad is it that the best part of my day was passing you on the way to work when you’d bring me coffee?”

  Lydia thought back to those nights when she’d walk in the door while Sage walked out. She’d seen more of her sister in the past week than she had in those few years. She’d moved through life on autopilot for so long she had no idea how to steer.

  “Your priorities are skewed. They have been since Mom and Dad died.”

  Lydia’s eyes grew wide. “Not true. My priorities were you and Grandma. I had to step up and take the reins until Grandma Dotty could. I had to grow up overnight so you could have a childhood.”

  Sage grumbled. “Not true. While Grandma and I grieved, you buried your hurt and never addressed it. Time passed but somewhere deep inside you’re still sixteen. Trying to get that A on your report card so someone can be proud. Geez, Lydia, no one gives a shit where you work but you. If working eighteen hours a day and coming home to nothing is what you want, then I’ll support it, but I’ve seen you smile more in the last week than the last decade.”

  “So…” Katie broke in in an attempt to avoid a sister showdown. “Did you hear someone TP’d the sheriff’s house?”

  Lydia looked at Katie. The memory of last night eased her agitation. When Sage said she’d smiled more in the last week than the last decade she recognized the truth in that statement.

  “Let’s not fight. It’s been an interesting week for me. Don’t forget that in the last month, my dreams were dashed, and I was thrust into Small Town USA. It’s like being dunked in ice water. While startling at first, I am getting used to it.” She turned to Katie. “Did you say TP?”

  The next hour they came up with a suspect list. Katie thought it was the Dawson’s oldest son. Sage said it was probably his deputy Mark getting back at him for something. All the while Lydia drank her coffee and ate her muffin knowing she and Wes were responsible.

  Wes…what the hell was she going to do about her growing feelings for a man she couldn’t keep? It wasn’t as if staying in Aspen Cove was a possibility. Soon Doc would be well enough to run his two-day-a-week clinic, and Lydia wouldn’t be needed. A startling thought occurred to her. She wanted to be wanted. That’s why being turned down by a dozen hospitals hurt so much. She needed to be needed.

  She rose from her chair and gave both girls a hug. “I’ve got to go. Sarge is alone at the house and he probably needs to be let out.”

  Both women looked at her with lifted brows. “That sounds domestic. Are you making dinner too?” Sage asked.

  She yanked one of her sister’s curls. “Let it alone, smartass. I’m staying at his house for free. The least I can do is let his dog out and fix a meal or two.”

  Katie laughed. “The least for sure. Tell the porn king we said hello.”

  “Now look who’s never grown up.” She walked to the door and turned. “I adulted today and paid off my student loans. That means I’m broke.” She stopped to consider how she felt. “But, I’m happy.”

  The bell above the door rang as she walked into the sun. Main Street was bustling with a dozen or so patrons. People moved between the Corner Store, Maisey’s Diner, and the Dry Goods Store where locals sold their handcrafted goods. There were only two vacant properties on the street. One used to be a beauty parlor, the other a tailor. She closed her eyes and pictured one as a Starbuck’s. While Katie’s Keurig was fine, nothing beat a triple espresso.

  When she got home, she played with Sarge and then read a book before she started dinner. It was the second best day of her week. The first being Sunday when everything between Wes and her became more.

  Tonight she made salmon with steamed broccoli. She didn’t decorate the dining room with tiny twinkling lights but she set the table and brought the flowers in from the pergola.

  When Wes walked in all sweaty and dirty, she’d never imagined she could feel so content. He kissed her and asked if he had time to shower before they ate.

  She turned the oven off and joined him.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Wes sat on one of the folding chairs in the hallway of the clinic waiting for his appointment. There were eight seats and all of them full. If Lydia thought for a second her services weren’t needed, all she had to do was peek out the door and see the crowd.

  Sage came out looking frazzled and pointed to him. “You’re next.”

  He rose from the first chair and entered the examination room.

  “I don’t think you need supervision. I’m running across the street for a coffee. I’ll bring one for you both.”

  Sage closed the door behind her.

  “You okay, sweetheart?” Lydia looked exhausted. Could be because they’d made love all night.

  “Five cases of chicken pox this morning. I told you the whole town would have it. You’ve had them, right?”

  “When I was six.”

  She opened a drawer and pulled out a white bag containing scissors. “Have a seat, Mr. Covington. Let’s get these stitches out.”

  He sat on the exam table and closed his hand over hers. “Take a minute and breathe.”

  She rested her head on his chest. “I feel like I’m back at the ER and there’s an epidemic happening. There’s nothing I can do. It’s a virus and it has to work its way through the system, but I’m worried about Katie with her heart and Doc with his suppressed immune system. It’s going through Louise’s house like an out-of-control fire and she’s pregnant.”

  “Breathe, baby. They’ll be okay.” He lifted her chin and kissed her. The tension left her body.

  “How do you do that with a kiss? You’re like Xanax. Can I keep you?”

  That was the question of the day, not whether she could but if she would. “I’m all yours.”

  She took a deep breath and let it out. In true Lydia fashion, she scrubbed her hands until he was certain she’d have no skin left, donned gloves and opened the sealed bag. She carefully cut and tweezed the sutures from his palm. When they were gone, she brought his hand to her lips and kissed his palm.

  “I’m so glad you lost the battle with that window.”

  “Me too.”

  They both knew that a chance accident had set them on a path to meet each other.

  “Seems like between the cut and the bees, the universe wanted us to meet.”

  She snuggled into him and kissed his neck. “I’d call that luck.”

  He laughed. “I won’t argue with you.”

  She stepped back and cleaned up. “Because I’m right?”

  He shook his head. “No. Because you pinch hard.”

  She grabbed the pebble of his nipple and twisted. He let out a yelp that no doubt was heard in the hallway.

  He held her hand to stop the torture. “Hey, everyone in the hallway will think I’m a wimp.”

  She tossed the used instruments into a holding bin. “No, they won’t. Rumor has it you kiss like a porn star.”

  After a minute of shock, he laughed. “Who’s telling my secrets?”

  “My sister.”

  “But I’ve never kissed her,” he teased.

  “You better not unless you want more stitches.”

  She took his hand and yanked him off the exam table.

  He pulled her into his arms. “The only woman I want to kiss is you.” He kissed her like he had all day even though he didn’t. When he pulled away, her soft satisfied smile told him everything was all right in her world. “I have to go to Copper Creek. How about I bring home a pizza?”

  She wrapped her arms around him. “I could fall in love with you if I let myself.”

  His heart nearly exploded. She had put love and you
in the same sentence when referencing him. The order of words was wrong and there were several extras that were not needed, but the sentiment was there. He was making his way into Lydia’s heart.

  “Let yourself and see where it gets you. You might be surprised.” They walked to the door.

  She put her hand on the knob but he stopped her from turning it. “I have this friend who told me he had his heart set on going to Paris. It was his dream to spend the week photographing the Eiffel Tower, but the French Transportation Department went on strike and he had to cancel the trip.”

  She tilted her head in confusion. “So where did he go?”

  “Nowhere, he stayed and took pictures in Arizona where he lived. He spent the week visiting famous landmarks like the Grand Canyon and looked at life through a different lens. The interesting thing is he sold those pictures to National Geographic for a small fortune. He’d caught images of wildlife and landscape that no one had seen before. My point is he would have never seen what was possible if he’d gone to Paris.” Wes gave her another kiss and walked out the door.

  The rest of his day wasn’t as pleasant as suture removal and kisses. He had to deal with Craig Caswell, who held up the final permits for the new fire department because he wanted to feel in charge. Each day the crew was on standby the fund lost thousands of dollars.

  “I don’t understand what the holdup is,” Wes started. “I’ve filed all the plans. I’ve got everything but your signature.”

  The asshole smiled. “Yep, and nothing happens without my signature.”

  The intercom buzzed. “Mr. Caswell?” a woman asked in a shaky voice.

  “What?” The plaques on his wall shook.

  “Umm…your wife is here and insists on seeing you.”

  “Send her in.” A choking-on-bone cough came from Craig. “My stupid wife has an emergency.”

  The hair stood on the back of Wes’s neck when Craig referred to his wife as stupid. He hated bullies and if evil had a mascot, Craig Caswell would be the poster child.