Love You Still

by Kat Bammer

  Lisa’s eyes were brimming with tears. Claire held her feelings always close to the vest. Lisa probably knew her better than anyone and even with her, she didn’t often open up completely. She had built a wall, a defense mechanism of some sort. Most likely to keep out the terrible things that happened to her in the past.

  “We’re in this together. I couldn’t do any of this without you.”

  Claire nodded.

  “This is our dream and nothing and nobody will ever change that. I’m so lucky to have you as my best friend. I couldn’t wish for a better friend.”

  Claire got up and hugged Lisa. “I feel the exact same way.”

  Claire got back into her chair and they talked about the last few weeks Lisa had missed, the new guests that were arriving soon, and how and when the wedding should take place.

  * * *

  Peter and Blake sat on the concrete railing of the patio nursing a beer.

  “How are you holding up?” Blake looked at Peter.

  “I’m fine. We are fine. I got her back, so everything is good.”

  “Okay, that was the official answer, I get that, but how’re you really holding up?”

  Peter looked at Blake a long time. Blake knew him better than anyone else. “I don’t know how she does it. She seems so normal, like nothing bad happened, but it must have been a nightmare. In fact, it was a nightmare, for Christ’s sake. She was captured, abducted, stabbed. She had to fight for her life, and I wasn’t there to protect her from all of this. But she seems okay. She’s talking to Richard daily; I don’t know why, but somehow she’s comfortable confiding in him. She didn’t have nightmares last night, so I guess she is dealing with it just fine. Me”—he pointed with his bottle at himself—“I’m stressed out. Overcompensating, overprotective, easily irritated. If I let myself think about how close I was to losing her…” Peter paused. “I still can’t even compute that. So…” Peter wiped at the dew with his thumb. “I’m not quite there, but getting there.”

  Blake leaned to the side until their shoulders slightly touched. “Maybe, we should take the boat out some day soon. Do a little recreational fishing.”

  Peter nodded and hopped off the railing. Blake followed his lead, and they both made their way to the women.

  “All good?” Peter leaned down, swooped Lisa up, and settled down with her on his lap.

  Blake hesitated, then he lifted Claire’s feet, swept the pillow underneath onto the floor, sat down, and put her feet on his lap.

  “Great party, ladies. You really liven up our little town,” Blake said.

  Lisa and Claire chuckled and enjoyed the last rays of the sun before it vanished behind the mountains. The last of the guests said their goodbyes, Lisa’s mother turned in for the night, and soon they were the only ones left.

  “So, what’s with you two?” Peter asked.

  Claire and Blake both looked out at the lake. Clearly they didn’t intend to answer the question.

  “So, when’s the wedding?” Blake asked back.

  Lisa and Peter shared a look and a smile.

  “As soon as the boys can come back, and I’ve lost the cast and crutches. We have all the plans for it in place,” Lisa answered.

  “And where will it happen?”

  “Where do you think? There’s no other place like here at the Inn, in Moon Lake. With family and friends and the whole town in attendance.

  Thank you for reading Love You Still. The Moon Lake Series continues with Blake and Claire’s story in Meant to Be.

  It was just a fling, friends with benefits, nothing serious… until she got pregnant.

  Available HERE!.

  The Moon Lake Series Books

  Moon Lake. A small town situated between mountains and forests. With dark secrets, past hurts, and danger lurking.

  If you love military heroes and strong, independent women they fall in love with, you'll love the Moon Lake Series.

  Love You (Prequel)

  Peter & Lisa

  Young love, tragedy and new beginnings...

  * * *

  Love You Still

  Peter & Lisa

  One night brought them together.

  Life tore them apart.

  Returning home may be their second chance.

  * * *

  Meant to Be

  Blake & Claire

  It was just a fling, friends with benefits, nothing serious… until she got pregnant.

  * * *

  Moments of Trust

  Kevin & Julie

  She's his therapist… and his best friend's little sister.

  The instant attraction between them?--Totally off-limits.

  * * *

  Trials of Love

  Alan & Jessie

  A small-town doctor. A single mother down on her luck. Can a pretend family really work?

  * * *

  Hero of my Heart

  Richard & Dorothy

  Twenty years ago, he broke her trust and shattered her heart. Now he’s back as the new, too-sexy-for-his-own-good sheriff in town.

  Turn the page for a Sneak Peek of Meant to Be, book 2 in the Moon Lake series.

  Meant to Be

  Moon Lake Series Book 2

  1

  “Oh, God.” What was that awful noise? Claire Gunterson buried her head into her pillow and snuggled into her warm blanket. But that didn’t help with the nasty beeping from her nightstand. She slapped around in the darkness until she got hold of her phone. Claire opened one eye and glanced at her clock.

  4.30 a.m.

  She groaned and with herculean effort, threw her blanket to the side, just to pull it back over her body immediately—it was freezing in her room. Winter was just around the corner in the small mountain town Moon Lake and even though the days were still tolerable, nights—, not so much. This would be her first winter up here and Claire had mixed feelings about the cold and snow.

  Claire yawned. She tried to muster enough energy to get up but her body was heavy and warm from sleep and even wiggling her toes took effort. Why did she still feel tired to the bone if she just slept for eight hours straight? Yes it was early, and still dark outside, but she went to bed extra early.

  “Come on, lazy. Get up. “Usually Claire didn’t talk to herself, but desperate times...

  She remembered the dough in the fridge. Cinnamon rolls for breakfast today. Mrs. Hayes and her lovely husband, their last summer guests, loved cinnamon rolls. So that’s what Claire had planned for their last breakfast at the Moon Lake Inn, and if she didn’t get up now, that wouldn’t happen.

  In a burst of energy she threw her blanket to the side—and shivered. Getting up early had never been a problem in the past. She even liked it. It was her quiet time, her most productive time. Just what was wrong with her?

  Claire got up and dressed as fast as she could.

  Maybe she was coming down with something or maybe she just needed to catch up on sleep. This past summer had been pretty intense after all.

  Lisa’s healing had taken longer than they had expected, but, thank God, her best friend and co-owner of the Inn was okay now. Stupid prick, that psychopath who’d kidnapped and nearly killed her. Claire shivered on her way downstairs—this time from memories so she immediately suppressed them. She switched on all the lights on her way and left the curtains closed when she reached the kitchen. It was still dark outside, anyway. Later she would take a cup of coffee outside and watch the sunrise.

  But for now—she had work to do.

  Half an hour later she rolled up the dough for the cinnamon rolls and cut it into neat little slices and placed them on a tray. The first two batches of breakfast rolls were already baking in the oven and a heavenly scent emanated from the oven.

  Five minutes to switch batches, then she could go outside and watch for the sun to rise over the mountains.

  Claire opened the back door and inhaled deeply. It was still smelling like summer. Even though the air was crisp and fresh. The sun would soon warm everyt
hing up and another beautiful day would arise here in Moon Lake.

  Blake would be up by now. Most likely running. He loved to run in the morning. He loved everything he did, be it working at the bar, running, or having sex with her. Claire remembered their last night together and heat rose into her cheeks. He definitely loved having sex with her.

  She stepped back into the kitchen, just in time for the timer to go off. She grabbed her oven mitts and set the hot baking tray on the cooling rack before she closed the oven and slipped off the mitts to readjust the temperature.

  A minute later she took the tray with cinnamon rolls and opened the oven again. The steamy heat evaporating made her dizzy for a moment and she grabbed the counter to steady herself.

  Searing pain permeated up her left arm, and she instantly dropped the tray which clanged on the floor, and unbaked cinnamon rolls rolled all over the floor.

  “Fuck, oh Christ Almighty.” Claire looked at her hand, then at what she had touched. She hadn’t grabbed the counter but the hot baking tray on the cooling rack. Now her fingertips were an angry red and hurt like hell.

  She lunged at the sink and ran cold water over her fingers while tears ran down her face. The pain was instantly manageable under the cold water, but as soon as Claire shut the water off, the searing pain started again.

  What was wrong today?

  Claire was still sobbing and cooling her fingers when Lisa’s mother, Jo, entered the kitchen. Lisa, Claire, and Jo had developed a ritual in the last months after Lisa’s dad died. Jo came in every day, helped her prepare breakfast, and all three of them had a nice cup of coffee and breakfast together. Jo had changed. She was more vulnerable, softer, than when Claire and Lisa arrived in Moon Lake. The death of a loved one changed you—Claire knew that better than anyone.

  “Claire, what’s wrong?” Jo wrapped her arms around Claire’s shoulders. “Why’re you crying?” She looked at Claire’s hand under the running tap. “Oh, burned yourself? Poor dear. There’s some burn ointment in the first aid kit.” She went to the kit and rummaged around. “It just happens sometimes, when you handle these hot things daily.”

  Jo would know. She and her husband had run the Inn for decades.

  Jo helped Claire sit in the breakfast nook and cared for the wounds.

  “Wow, these are bad, poor dear. I’d say you’re out of commission.”

  Claire teared up again.

  When Jo was done with the burns, Claire grabbed Jo’s hand with her good hand and held on a little longer. “Thanks, Jo.” She couldn’t remember the last time someone took care of her. Her own mother hadn’t been the caring type or the staying type, for that matter. And her grandfather, who had practically raised her, had been former army. Tough as nails and not very caring by nature, even though he really tried.

  Lisa stepped into the kitchen a little while later. She took one look at Claire’s bandaged hand then at her mother working at the counter and pinched her brows together. “What happened?” Her gaze swept from her mother to Claire and back.

  Claire’s eyes got wet and before she could swallow down the tight feeling in her throat, Jo answered. “Claire burned her fingers. She’s out of commission for now.”

  Lisa squeezed her shoulder on her way to the coffeemaker. “Hurts like a bitch, doesn’t it?”

  Claire nodded and Jo looked up at Lisa. “Remember when you were a kid. You burned your arm on the stove. God, we had to go to the hospital it was so severe.”

  They both nodded, lost in shared memories.

  Claire smiled about their little mother/daughter moment. Then the events of the summer came flashing back. The hairs on her arms stood up. Now the burn wound on her arm wasn’t the only mark on Lisa’s body. She had the scar of a stab wound in the back and multiple scars on her leg to remind her of the terror she endured. Claire shifted uncomfortably. Dizziness clouded her vision again.

  “What’s wrong? You’re white as a sheet.” Lisa pinched her brows and put down her coffee, but hovered over her seat opposite from Claire.

  The dizziness subsided and Claire could see the concern on Lisa’s face.

  “Nothing, it’s okay. Just dizzy for a minute.”

  “I think you really need a little time off. Take the weekend, starting immediately,” Lisa said. “Maybe you and Blake can spend some time together. The Hayes’ departure is today and I can get their room into shape on my own. Season is nearly over, anyway.”

  Claire wanted to disagree, but Lisa didn’t give her the chance. “You deserve it, Claire. You worked like a dog during my recovery. But I’m fine now. Mom and I can manage breakfast.” She looked at Jo, who nodded and smiled at Claire.

  “Yes, dear, we’re all right. Get yourself a little rest. You look exhausted and with your fingers, you wouldn’t be of help anyhow.”

  Claire bit her lip and sat silent for a minute. She had been tired a lot lately. Maybe she should take some time off. Sleep and rest sounded wonderful. Crawling into bed right now sounded like heaven.

  “Maybe I could use a little rest.” She smiled at Lisa and Jo before she stood up. She put her cup into the dishwasher, snapped a cinnamon roll off of the cooling rack, and with a last glance through the kitchen, went upstairs to her room. Her bed was waiting. And she surely would feel better afterward.

  2

  “Great view up here.”

  “Yeah.” Sebastian Blake handed the two coffee cups, he had somehow successfully maneuvered up the ladder, to his best friend, Peter Fisher, who sat above him on a beam of the soon-to-be roof of Blake’s soon-to-be new home.

  “You should build a second floor up here. You would even have a lake view if you cut the trees down there.”

  Blake scoffed. “Nah, got better things to do when I’m up here than looking out the window.”

  He didn’t need a lake view; he just needed a place where he would have some damn peace and privacy. Living in the small apartment behind the bar had been okay for a while, when he took over the bar and moved to Moon Lake. But it was getting old. He surveyed the place. There had been a hunting cabin up here, but it had been old, the wooden beams broken, and it had a hole in the floor the size of a bathtub. So logically, the fixer in him fell in love with the place instantly. The clearing around the old cabin had been nearly the size of a soccer field, big enough to not feel confined by the trees surrounding the meadow, and it had nearly doubled in size with the felled trees he used to build the new cabin. He had decided to just start fresh and build exactly the kind of home, he’d always dreamed of when he was young. Well, it wouldn’t be exactly like that. He had dreamed of a big house for a big family. But dreams change. It would be big enough for him to feel comfortable. Glass and wood and open space.

  Blake stepped from the ladder onto the beam and sat next to Peter on what would soon be the roof construction. They silently sipped their coffee.

  “Winter’ll be here in no time. You need to have the roof up by then,” Peter said.

  Blake’s face tightened. Not only the roof but windows, as well. It was already October. He had to increase his hours up here, or he wouldn’t make it before snow came.

  “I should hire some people to help with shit up here.” His tight face turned into a frown. Blake didn’t like to ask for help. Ever. Not even paid help.

  “Maybe you should. Everybody in Moon Lake would be happy to help. The boys will be back in a few weeks too. Just turn our hunting plans into house-building plans. Would be fun and we’d get a shitload done.”

  “Fun. Or agony.” The teasing would be relentless. But Peter was right. With the boys here, they would have the roof up in no time.

  Peter’s stomach rumbled loud enough even Blake could hear it. “Hey, what happened to those cookies you promised me for breakfast?”

  Blake winced. “I’m sorry. I could have sworn I didn’t even open the packet. But it was empty. If I didn’t know better, I’d say someone’s eating my stuff.”

  Blake’s eyes scanned the area but there was nothing out
of order. First, he had thought it was animals that helped themselves to his food. But he had it stored away in a metal chest for weeks now and there were still things missing, things he could swear he’d left in there.

  “Don’t sweat it. You can make it up to me by buying breakfast at the cafe.”

  Blake’s stomach rumbled, as well. “Deal. I just have to skip by the bar first. Beverage delivery arrives in”—he looked at his G-Shock watch—“shit—fifteen minutes.”

  They both moved down the ladder in a choreographed maneuver. Blake rinsed out their coffee cups by the well hand pump and stored them back in the chest. Water would be another issue. He needed to get the plumbing in order. He would start with that later today. But first things first. Bar, then breakfast, then plumbing. He checked one last time if the gas of the camping stove was off and left the cottage by the front door.

  Peter stood by his truck, one foot already inside. “See you at the cafe, or do you need help with the delivery?”

  Blake shook his head before he gave Peter a two-fingered salute. “No need. I’ll just put it inside and leave it for Milan to store the stuff. Shouldn’t take more than ten minutes, max. Meet you at the cafe.”

  Peter was always eager to help and Blake couldn’t have found a better friend. Blake tipped his head back and closed his eyes for a second. Peter had been like that in the Teams, but being a deputy sheriff suited him even more. To serve and protect, and help and assist wherever he could.