Island Refuge (Wildflower B&B Romance Book 1)

by Kimberly Rose Johnson

  She stepped outside with her drink and found a seat facing the water. Sipping the sweet iced coffee, she rested her head back and let her shoulders relax. When had her dream of being an executive chef changed? She’d loved her job in Portland, at least most of the time. Maybe it was the relaxed atmosphere of the B&B. Nick’s face flashed in her mind. Was he the reason she wanted to stay on at the B&B? She really enjoyed the time they’d spent working and visiting together.

  “There you are.”

  Zoe shielded her eyes and looked up at Autumn. “That was fast.”

  “Since I’m not feeling one hundred percent, the girl on the shift after me offered to start a few minutes early.” She coughed into her arm.

  The deep cough concerned Zoe, but her friend wasn’t a child. Surely she’d know if she needed to see a doctor. Zoe sucked down the rest of her drink and stood. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather go home and rest?”

  “Positive. That would be accepting defeat, and I refuse to give into feeling sick.”

  “Well, if you’re sure. Where do you want to go?”

  Autumn rolled her eyes. “Anywhere but here.” She spun around. “Come on.”

  Zoe tossed the cup in the receptacle and strolled beside Autumn.

  “I’m ready for this week to end.” She coughed again, and her step faltered.

  Zoe groaned inwardly. She couldn’t afford to get sick, but there was clearly no polite way out of this. “We can head to the B&B and sit out back.” At least if they stayed outside in the fresh air, it wouldn’t be as easy to catch whatever Autumn had, and her friend wouldn’t be exerting any energy.

  “Is your handsome boss there?”

  Zoe’s insides stilled at the mention of Nick. “You have a thing for him?”

  “Nope, just an offhanded comment. But, by the tone of your voice, it sounds like you may.”

  “He’s my boss, and I’m fresh off a relationship.”

  “How fresh?” Autumn stopped beside a Ford Focus, her faced flushed.

  “A little more than a month.”

  Autumn waved a hand in front of her face as if to dismiss the notion of Zoe being on the rebound and slowly sat in her car. “I’ll meet you at the B&B.”

  Zoe slid behind the wheel of her convertible and backed up. Autumn’s dismissal gave her pause. Kyle was in the past—sure his betrayal hurt, but her heart was intact and she’d forgiven him. Besides she was lucky she found out what kind of person he was before she married him. She gripped the steering wheel tightly and pulled out of the parking lot.

  Nick sat in the forefront of her mind. He’d given her the impression a couple of times that he might be interested, but something was holding him back. Maybe he wasn’t over his wife, or maybe since he was her boss he wouldn’t go there. Although, lately he’d felt more like a good friend than her boss. They were a team and worked well together running the Wildflower. It still rankled her that he’d hired Olivia, but all things considered, his heart was in the right place, and she did need a day off occasionally.

  When Zoe drove into the B&B’s driveway, several cars were parked in the small lot near the house. She took the last remaining spot beside Autumn and hopped out.

  Autumn stood with her arms crossed studying the house. “You know, this place is looking fantastic. Nick has done a superb job fixing it up. It hasn’t looked this good in years.”

  “Thanks. I’ll let him know.” They strolled around to the back of the house.

  “I don’t blame you for not wanting to give this up. Even if you aren’t seeing Nick.” She shot her a teasing look. “Oh, I see a spot with my name on it.” She sank into one of the Adirondack chairs facing the Sound and started coughing.

  “You okay?”

  Autumn held her hand to her chest and nodded. “I have asthma, and it’s bothered by my allergies.” She took a deep labored breath and offered a weak smile.

  “Oh, okay. I’ll go get some refreshments and be right back.” She headed to the kitchen and caught Nick with his head in the refrigerator. “Looking for something?”

  He jerked back so fast he bumped his head on the freezer. “Ouch.”

  “Sorry.” She reached up and gently rubbed the spot he’d hit. “Are you okay?”

  He covered her hand with his and drew it away from his head, his gaze never leaving hers. “I’ll live.”

  She reminded herself to breathe, and stepped back, tugging her hand from his gentle grasp. Her entire arm tingled from his touch. She cleared her throat. “What would you like? I’m getting a snack for me and my friend. I can whip up something for you, too.”

  Arms crossed and with a lazy smile on his handsome face, he leaned against the fridge. “I’d love a sandwich, if it’s not too much trouble.”

  She nodded toward the fridge. “You’ll have to move.”

  He pushed off, and his arm grazed hers as he passed.

  She grasped the door with trembling fingers and grabbed sliced turkey, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and mustard. Nick wasn’t a big fan of mayonnaise, which she’d recently found out when she caught him scraping it off his bread. “Give me a minute and I’ll have you set.” Trying to still her response to Nick, she took several slow breaths.

  “Thanks.” He rested a hip against the counter. “What are you up to this afternoon?”

  “Visiting with my friend.” She looked around the kitchen and ducked her head below the bar. “Where’s Aiden?”

  “Rachel took him to the lake.”

  “Oh. Did she say anything more about the ring?” Zoe squeezed mustard onto the whole wheat bread then stacked the sandwich with the fixings.

  “Nada.”

  “Hmm.” She placed the sandwich on a plate and slid it to him then grabbed a small plate with cubed cheese and fresh fruit for herself and Autumn. In less than a minute she had the fixings put away and the counter free of crumbs. “I’ll be out back if you need me.”

  “Okay. Thanks for the sandwich.”

  “Sure thing.” She shrugged, hoping she looked unfazed. Nick could not know the effect he had on her. With one hand holding a tray, she pulled the door open with the other. Hopefully the healthy snack would help Autumn feel better. She approached the chairs and noticed that Autumn’s body shook. “Autumn, are you okay?”

  No response.

  Zoe rushed around to the front of the chairs. Autumn’s entire body trembled, and her head lolled to the side. “Nick!” She dropped to her knees and dumped the snack plate. What should she do? “Nick!” she screamed as loud as she could. “Autumn?” She grasped her friend’s overly hot hand, reached for her cell, and called 9-1-1.

  ****

  NICK DISCARDED HIS sandwich at Zoe’s shout and rushed outside. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s Autumn. She’s shaking all over and not responding to me.”

  Nick’s stomach clenched, and he stopped. His heart raced, and he broke out in a cold sweat. He’d sold his practice. Given up medicine.

  “Nick, hurry! What are you doing just standing there?”

  His heart constricted. “Call 9-1-1.”

  “I did, but can’t you help her? You’re a doctor.” Her voice caught and tears streamed down her face. He took a hesitant step forward. He wanted to help, but a bigger part of him was terrified. What if he messed up? Did the wrong thing? Another person could be harmed. Or die.

  “Please help her, Nick.” Zoe ran to him and pulled on his arm.

  He shook his head. “I can’t.”

  Her eyes widened. “You have to. You’re the only one here with the training to help. Autumn needs you. Now.” She cradled his face in the palms of her hands. “Look at me.”

  He blinked and focused on Zoe’s eyes.

  “I know about Jenna, about your practice, everything. But you’re wrong. You were—are a good doctor. Jenna never told you she was sick. She never sought medical help.”

  “But I should’ve known.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. By your own admission you barely saw your wife. Nick,
Autumn needs you. Please.”

  Zoe was right. Jenna never let on that she was sick, and she’d kept to her side of their king size bed. There was no way he could have known about her illness. “Okay.” He squared his shoulders.

  “Okay?” Zoe released her hold on his face and stepped back. “You’ll help her?”

  “May the Lord be my guide—yes.” He raced down to his apartment and returned with a black medical bag, then sprinted to where Autumn sat, seizing.

  “I can’t do much for her here. She needs to be in a hospital. She’s burning up from fever. We need to cool her down. I need cloths soaked in cold water.”

  Zoe raced to the house.

  “Hang in there, Autumn.” Her seizure eased then stopped, and his heart rate slowed and he breathed a little easier.

  Zoe slid to a halt and thrust several wet cloths at him. He placed one on her forehead. “Put one on her neck.” Autumn mumbled.

  He leaned in close, but her words made no sense. The sound of a siren in the distance grew closer and suddenly stopped.

  Zoe jumped up and ran around to the front of the house. A moment later she returned with two emergency personnel in tow.

  Nick stood and gave them her vitals, told them about her seizure, then stepped out of the way and let them take over.

  Zoe scooted up beside him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Thank you. Are you okay?”

  “I don’t know.” His arms hung limp by his side too week to raise and hug Zoe back. Why’d it take a crisis for him to see that Jenna’s death wasn’t on him? He was a good doctor. Had graduated at the top of his class. He’d loved helping people. “You should meet your friend at the hospital. Stay with her as long as you’d like.”

  She stepped back—hurt showing in her eyes. “I should? I guess that would be a good thing to do.”

  “How about you go pack a bag and drive your own car? You may want to stay the night with her. I’ll take care of everything here.”

  She tilted her head back and looked into his eyes. “Are you sure? How will you handle breakfast and the afternoon tea?”

  “I’m capable of more than you give me credit for.” He winced at the snippy tone of his voice. He opened his mouth to apologize, but snapped it shut when Zoe spoke.

  “Okay.” She hesitated a moment then followed after the paramedics with slumped shoulders. “I’ll call you.”

  A frown tugged at his lips. His world had gone haywire in a matter of minutes. He scrubbed his hands over his face, and with a groan, headed inside.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  A WEEK LATER, ZOE STOOD IN the middle of the kitchen she’d come to consider home. She’d stayed with Autumn until her health improved, but now she was back and couldn’t wait until morning to see Nick. She’d caught the last ferry over for the night, and hoped he’d still be awake. She’d missed him more than she thought possible, but she couldn’t leave Autumn alone since her family never showed up to be with her. Zoe felt terrible for her friend, but she was fine now. Anticipation at seeing Nick made Zoe’s skin tingle. She skimmed across the kitchen and knocked on his apartment door. She turned her head and listened—nothing. Had he gone to bed?

  They’d only spoken on the phone since she’d left to be with Autumn, and he had sounded odd. She’d thought there’d been a connection growing between them before she left, but only speaking with him over the phone allowed doubt to set in. She was not open to getting her heart ripped to smithereens again and didn’t want to be in love alone.

  She finally heard footsteps on the stairs, and she breathed a sigh of relief. The door opened.

  “You’re back.” A smile brightened Nick’s face. “Welcome home.”

  Home. She liked the sound of that coming from his lips. Zoe drank in the sight of him. From his bed hair to his navy sweats and white T-shirt. He looked perfect. “I’ve missed you.”

  He stepped further into the kitchen and closed the door behind him then pulled her close. “Me too. It’s been lonely here without you.”

  She melted into his embrace, thrilled by his words, and then she remembered her uncertainty about their relationship. He’d practically pushed her away to be with Autumn. She stiffened and stepped out of his arms.

  He quirked a brow. “How’s Autumn?”

  “Better, although she was touch and go for a while. I had no idea a person could get so sick from pneumonia.” Zoe crossed her arms over her middle.

  “Autumn’s young, but even so, if left untreated it can be fatal. I’m glad she’s doing better.”

  Zoe nodded. “She’s going home in the morning.”

  “Good.” He walked to the cupboard. “Would you like tea or warm milk?”

  She grinned at his effort to make her feel welcome. Maybe she’d misinterpreted his behavior the day she’d left. “Look at you. All domestic. Should I be afraid for my job?”

  “Definitely not.”

  She grinned as a lightness filled her. “I’m not thirsty, but thanks. I wanted to let you know I’m back, and that I’ll have breakfast ready in the morning.”

  “Thanks. We are without guests right now.”

  “What about Rachel?”

  “She left.”

  “For good? She didn’t even call and say goodbye.”

  “She left a note.” He pulled open a drawer and withdrew a yellow envelope with Zoe’s name written on the front in feminine loopy script. “Wow, I blink and suddenly everything’s changed.” Zoe had changed as well, but she hesitated to share.

  He chuckled. “I don’t think she’s gone forever.” He yawned. “I know what you mean about everything changing, though.” He moved toward the swinging door and held out his hand. “Join me?”

  Zoe’s pulse accelerated. Something was different with Nick. The way he looked at her, the gentle way he spoke. Curious, she grasped his hand and accompanied him to the sitting room where he flipped on the light. “Whoa. I’ve only been gone a week and look at this. You got new furniture. It looks like a modern living room now.” The antiques had been replaced by a cozy, brown leather sofa and wing chairs with hunter green accents. The fireplace remained the focal point. Green and navy plaid drapes covered the window, giving the room a masculine feel—perfect. “It’s wonderful, Nick!”

  “I’m glad you like it. Sit.” He tugged her down beside him with a soft grin. “Once Rachel returned the ring, her late husband’s grandmother told her to sell it and keep the money. It turned out to be worth a tidy sum.”

  “No way.”

  He nodded, still cradling her hand. “She gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse for all the furnishings in this room.”

  “That’s amazing. Where did she take everything?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know, but it’s out of here and that’s all that matters.” He pulled her closer. “I’ve missed you. A lot.”

  Zoe’s pulse thundered in her ears. She’d had plenty of time to think while sitting beside Autumn’s bed in the ICU, and realized she cared deeply for Nick. Crazy too, since they’d never even been on a date. Dare she hope Nick felt the same way?

  ****

  “WHAT’RE YOU THINKING about?” Nick asked softly, afraid to shatter the sweet moment he shared with Zoe. When he’d opened his door and discovered her standing there, his heart had leapt, confirming what he’d been feeling.

  “It’s good to be home.”

  “I’m glad you’re back. While you were away, I did some soul searching.”

  She shifted beside him. Soul searching—was that a good thing or a bad thing?

  He glanced at her. “You were right about Jenna. I’d blamed myself and let it wreak havoc on my mind. I can’t believe what a mess I made of everything.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. I think you did a pretty good job here.” She stared at the fireplace that sat empty. “And if you hadn’t bought this place and hired me…” her words died on her lips, and she sniffled.

  He slid his arm across the back of the couch, resting his hand on her shoulder. “Then
we never would have met. That’s the worst thing imaginable to my way of thinking. Because without you I wouldn’t have realized how wrong I’d been. You changed everything, Zoe. You opened my heart again.”

  “Are you saying what I think you are?”

  He nodded. “I don’t know when I fell in love with you, but I did. Maybe it was the first day we met when you were covered in flour. Or the day you overslept and paraded around the kitchen with your shirt on backward. Or maybe it was the day you pelted me with the pillows. Or maybe it was a gradual process.” He shrugged, flashing a grin. “I honestly don’t know. But you changed me. Opened my heart, my eyes and my soul.”

  Tears slid down her soft cheeks, and he wiped one away with his thumb. “Don’t cry. I didn’t mean to make you sad.” He never should have said anything until he was sure about how she felt. He’d thought when he saw her at his door this evening…

  She shook her head. “I’m not sad. I’m unspeakably happy, because I feel the same way. I don’t know when it happened either, but you’ve managed to get past the wall I’d built around my heart.” She took his hand. “I love you too, Nick. I never thought I’d fall in love again when Kyle broke my trust, but God healed my heart, making room for new love.”

  His mouth captured hers in a kiss unlike any other he’d experienced. “You are a rather amazing woman.”

  Her cheeks tinged pink, and her eyes sparkled. “When I came to this island, I was running from my past, but I didn’t realize I would find you.”

  He pulled her close to his side. “I want you in my future. We can stay here, or sell the place and move to wherever you find an executive chef position. I could open a new practice…”

  She stilled. “Is that what you want?”

  “To be with you—yes. To practice medicine again? Not tomorrow, but someday, yes.” He slid off the sofa and knelt on one knee, taking her hand between his. “Zoe, this past-month-and-a-half has been the most peculiar, amazing, crazy and refreshing time of my life, and you’re a big reason why. You helped me remember to put my faith and trust in God. Your ready quips and smiles brought happiness back into my life. I want to be with you forever. I know we’ve only known each other a short time, but in that time I’ve grown to treasure you.” He brushed his index finger down her cheek. “I love you, Zoe. Will you marry me?”