Summer Wish

by Jill Sanders

  Her entire body melted against his. Her hands held onto his shoulders as their legs kicked under the water, keeping their heads above the surface.

  When he felt himself growing too hard to hide in his swim shorts, he dunked them under the water and they both came back up laughing.

  “How was your swim?” she asked as they made their way towards the edge of the pool.

  “Good. Relaxing.” He sat on the step near her. “How was work?” He remembered the couple and wanted to ask what they had seen her for.

  “Good.” She tucked her knees to her chest and looked out at the other people enjoying the water.

  “I’ve been dying to know what the couple wanted to see you about?” he asked, nudging her on the shoulder.

  “Couple?” She glanced over at him. Then her smile grew. “Barb and Richard Rixton.”

  “They seemed pretty embarrassed about something.” He glanced around, making sure the couple in question wasn’t anywhere near.

  “Yeah, situations like that can cause some… embarrassment.” She smiled. “It wasn’t anything serious.”

  “So?” He nudged her again, causing her to laugh.

  “Sorry, patient-doctor confidentiality,” she replied, causing him to groan.

  “Come on, I told you about the details of the Wilder case. Even though I wasn’t supposed to,” he prodded.

  “That’s different. Corey Wilder was found dead, floating face down in the river. The Rixtons are”—she glanced around them— “very much alive and somewhere on these grounds.”

  “I won’t tell a soul.” He held up his fingers. “Scout’s honor.”

  Lea tilted her head and then sighed. “I won’t tell you the details, but…” She leaned closer and once again lowered her voice. “If you ever have to take pills…” She glanced down at his shorts. “Remember to take only one dose and follow the instructions.”

  “Oh.” He drew out the word and then smiled. “I suppose you see that often.” Her eyebrows shot up and she smiled. “I mean, with couples.” He felt his face flush. “Happening here, often. Not that you…”

  Her chuckle had him shutting his mouth quickly.

  “Yes, I get several cases like that a year around here,” she admitted. “Typically, the most I have to deal with are sprained ankles or small cuts.” She shrugged.

  “I’ve been giving some serious thought to taking the security job Elle has offered me,” he blurted out.

  “You have?” She turned to him suddenly. A look of excitement crossed her face for a brief moment. “That’s… good?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “Might be, might not be.” He glanced down at the nasty scar on his upper left thigh. “It all depends.” He glanced up at her. “Do you think I’ll be recovered enough to go back to work anytime soon?” he asked. She bit her bottom lip. Before she answered, he already knew the answer.

  “With a lot of therapy, maybe.” She looked down at his leg. “I’m going to suggest you start the next level of therapy next week. I think you’re ready for the more… strenuous stuff.”

  He shook his head. “What you and Ken have been doing to me so far hasn’t been strenuous?” he asked.

  She smiled. “I’ve been taking it easy on you since I worked you too hard last week,” she admitted. “Ken and I both agree it’s time to push harder.”

  He groaned and sank below the surface of the water, only to have her pull him back up as she laughed.

  “How about some lunch?” she asked. “I’m starving.”

  Chapter 11

  Lea had been looking forward to Zoey’s baby shower for weeks. After she’d gotten her invitation, she’d taken her next day off and had gone crazy baby shopping. With her trunk loaded down with the carefully wrapped gifts she’d purchased, she headed towards the camp, eager to spend a night with her friends.

  She’d enjoyed Hannah and Owen’s wedding, but this party was about a baby, one she’d been asked to help bring into the world herself.

  Brett had gotten wind of the employee’s beach party that employees Damion, Carter, and Dean— known around the campgrounds as the dynamic trio—were throwing.

  Damion was the full-time pool boy and boat guy on the grounds. At one point, Damion had asked her out, but she’d turned him down. Not because she hadn’t found him attractive. He had sexy mocha skin and very kind eyes, but he was easily five years younger than she was. Besides, she’d been too busy working back then to date.

  Carter was the camp’s part-time veterinarian, who looked after all the horses they owned. He also worked in town at the only veterinary clinic.

  Then there was Dean. Dean was the camp’s gigolo. Or so all the rumors claimed. He was good-looking enough, with his James Dean hair and sexy bedroom eyes, but Lea knew the guy and just couldn’t see him taking advantage of anyone. He and the rest of the trio were really nice guys. They were flirts and liked to party, but who didn’t when they had the night off.

  She parked next to Elle’s Jeep and was unloading her trunk when she heard the gravel behind her crunch and spun around to see Brett walking towards her.

  “I thought you could use some help,” he said, shifting the cane in his hands.

  She looked down at him. “No, I’ve got this. You should be—”

  “If you say resting…” He reached into her trunk and pulled out one of the larger boxes. “What did you do? Buy out the entire baby store?” he asked after seeing all the boxes and bags in her trunk.

  “I may have gone a little… overboard,” she said with a sigh.

  Brett chuckled. “You think?” He shifted the box and reached for another.

  “No, you can’t carry those and use your cane.” She tried to take the box from him, but he held them away.

  “I can. They’re light.” He reached in and took a smaller box; one she knew weighed a little under twenty pounds.

  “What is in this thing?” he asked, shifting it in his arms.

  She shrugged. “Gifts.”

  He rolled his eyes. “I got them some baby blankets and diapers. What is this? A car battery?”

  She smiled. “You offered to carry it.” She took the rest of the boxes and bags and shut her trunk.

  “That’s before I knew you were going to have me carry the heaviest ones.” He shifted slightly to tuck his cane under his arm.

  Letting out a sigh, she grabbed the smaller box from him and nodded to his cane. “Use it. You don’t want to piss off your doctor.” Then she started marching down the walkway, hearing him following her more slowly.

  “You look nice,” he said, catching up with her. “I like seeing you in a dress.”

  She glanced down at the simple silver dress she’d pulled on. “Thanks.” She ran her eyes over his board shorts and T-shirt, the same attire he’d been wearing since he’d moved to the campgrounds to recover. “You look ready for a beach party.”

  “I am.” He smiled. “I sure wish you were going.”

  She glanced over at him. “I might be able to sneak away for a few moments,” she said as they walked into the main building.

  “I’ll look for you.”

  They walked into the employee’s dining area, where the party was just starting. He set the larger box down on the gift table and then gave her a kiss before saying, “See you later.” Then he disappeared.

  “You two look so cute together,” Aubrey said, walking over to help her set the rest of the gifts down.

  Lea rolled her eyes. It wasn’t the first conversation she’d had with her friends about what was between her and Brett. Nor, she thought, would it be the last.

  The Wildflowers liked to gossip. And part of Lea had to admit she enjoyed being included in that group.

  “He’s coming along so well.” Aubrey changed the subject quickly.

  “Yes, he is.” She glanced back at the door that Brett had disappeared through moments ago.

  “We’re going to miss having him around when he’s gone,” Aubrey added.

  “Gone?” She
frowned and jerked her eyes back to Aubrey, who instantly frowned and took a step back.

  “Um, yeah, he’s… moving out of the cabin tomorrow. He told Elle that he wanted to get back to his place. I assumed you knew.” Aubrey glanced around as if she was afraid to look Lea in the eyes.

  “Oh,” Lea said. “Right.” Brett hadn’t told her that he was leaving the camp. Why not?

  That thought ate at her as the party started. Here she’d been so excited for the baby shower and now all she could think about was sneaking out to ask Brett why he’d hidden the fact that he was leaving the camp from her.

  The more she thought about things between them, the more she realized that, outside of the years of friendship, they had just had a few hot and heavy make-out sessions. Nothing more. No tender words of commitment, no promises for a larger future together.

  Whatever she’d believed they’d had was just that, her belief. Here she was once again, thinking that she was nothing more than a convenience to Brett. Why did she always question so much when it came to relationships?

  That was the number one reason she’d broken things off with her very first boyfriend, if you could call him that. She’d gone out on three dates with him.

  She’d caught him looking at their waitress with interest and… she’d fled the relationship.

  Well, Brett was someone she could see herself fighting for. Even if there wasn’t anything more between them than friendship.

  “You’re not paying attention, are you?” Aubrey nudged her shoulder.

  “Hm?” Lea snapped to attention.

  “The game,” Aubrey hissed. “We’re losing.” She motioned to the tablet Lea had been taking notes on for the game.

  “Sorry.” She handed the tablet to Aubrey, who quickly jotted down the answer to the last few questions about Zoey and Dylan. “I’m going to…” She nodded towards the doorway.

  “Go, I’ve got this,” Aubrey said not even looking up from writing. “I am so going to win that gift card.”

  Lea slipped out the side door and took a deep breath of the evening air. At this point of the season, it was still cool after the sun went down. She wished she’d thought of sneaking her coat out with her. She made her way quickly towards the beach.

  River Camps sat on a peninsula that jutted out between the Gulf of Mexico and Pelican Bay. The bay side housed the boat house and most of the boats and other water recreation equipment. The Gulf side boasted the camp’s private white-sand beach, which sat on emerald-green water.

  The beach was crowded with employees and guests alike. There were more than a half dozen campfires going in metal bins with people standing or sitting around each of them.

  Finding Brett was going to be next to impossible.

  “There you are,” a deep voice said behind her.

  She turned to look up into Brett’s blue eyes, which were laughing at her.

  “Are you drunk?” she asked, snagging the can from his fingers.

  “No, it’s…” he started to say.

  She held the can up to her nose and sniffed. Smelling nothing, she frowned down at the label.

  “Water,” he said with a chuckle.

  “This?” She held it up to the firelight and frowned at him. “Liquid Death?” The sixteen-ounce can looked like your standard beer can with a gold scull and gothic lettering. “Right.” She took a sip and then frowned. It was water. Good water. Cold, crisp, so she took another sip. “Fine,” she said, handing it back to him.

  “I was thirsty and didn’t have my doctor to help me back to my cabin after.” Brett shrugged and motioned to two chairs that sat near a fire pit. “Come sit down. It’s a little hard for me to stand long in the sand.”

  She sat next to him, and he grabbed another can of water from a cooler and handed it to her.

  “How’s the party going?” he asked.

  She took a sip of the water and then turned on him. “Are you leaving the camp?” She could have been a little more diplomatic when asking him, but this worked too. After all, she’d mentally talked herself into a fit of anger.

  “The camp?” He frowned over at her. “I’m returning to my apartment tomorrow, yes.” He nodded. “I overheard that they were completely booked this week.” He shrugged and set his can of water down. “I guess I felt guilty for taking away some of the camp’s revenue.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.

  “I only just told Elle and Hannah an hour or two ago,” he said with a chuckle. “I figured I’d tell you when you stopped by here later.” He leaned closer to her and lowered his voice “So, um, this is my last night in the cabin. I’m heading back to my apartment tomorrow,” he said with a smile as he took her hand. She tried to yank it away, but he held her still. “And…” He paused. “I’ve agreed to take the head of security job here at the camp.” His smile turned slightly strained. “I made sure to stress how important it was that bit of news didn’t go beyond Aiden’s or Elle’s lips or I’d kick their butts with my good leg.”

  “You…” Her breath was locked in her lungs. “You’re not going to go back to being a cop?”

  Brett took a deep breath and glanced off to the dark waters beyond the crowd of partiers.

  “No,” he said softly, then turned towards her. “It looks like I’m going to be a glorified babysitter for this place,” he said with a chuckle.

  She smiled and squeezed his hand. “Not until your doctor releases you to work, you aren’t.”

  He chuckled. “Right.” He sighed and leaned back. “So, how is the party going?”

  She glanced behind them to the lights from the main building and sighed. “Good. I shouldn’t have snuck out.” But she’d wanted—needed—to talk to him.

  “You can stay for a few more minutes.” He reached over and took her hand. “What time does your party end?”

  “I’m not sure,” she said, relaxing back. She had to admit, sitting in the dark on the beach by a fire was a lot more relaxing than being in a bright loud room full of women, most of whom she didn’t know.

  “Want to come over to my place after? Maybe we can watch another movie,” he said slowly.

  She smiled, remembering the last time they’d tried to watch a movie. They’d watched maybe one scene. The rest of the time they’d spent making out. Pleasing one another. Going as far as they could without hurting his leg.

  “I might…” Just then someone burst out from the pathway behind them and shouted her name.

  “Here.” She jumped up and sprang into action. She couldn’t count how many times she’d been called out on an emergency. Expecting blood, broken bones, or worse, she spotted Aubrey scanning the darkness for her.

  “Here,” she said rushing over to Aubrey. “What’s—”

  “It’s Zoey. Her water just broke,” Aubrey said a little breathless but with a smile.

  “Okay.” She smiled and then glanced back at Brett. “Rain check?”

  Brett smiled. “Yeah, go.” He waved her away. “Have a baby. Take care of our girl,” he called after her as she and Aubrey sprinted down the pathway again.

  “It’s supposed to be a baby shower. No one was expecting actual water,” Aubrey said as they ran. Lea chuckled.

  When she stepped into the room, she was slightly surprised to see Zoey standing there, calmly commanding the entire room while her friends surrounded her. Elle was on the phone, no doubt to Dylan. Hannah held onto one of Zoey’s hands and Scarlett held the other. They were trying to get Zoey to head towards a car, but Zoey was too busy talking to Elle.

  “It’s in the closet by the front door,” Zoey said, a little exasperated.

  “He’s got it and is going to meet us at the hospital,” Elle said.

  “Lea’s here,” Aubrey burst in. “We can leave now.”

  Lea rushed to Zoey’s side and started asking questions. If she’d had any contractions and how far apart they were.

  She’d spent an entire year in medical school preparing to help in a childbirth. It wa
sn’t the first baby she’d help bring into the world. There’d been three others at this point.

  Still, she knew the best place for this baby to be born was at the hospital, surrounded by medical equipment and other medical personnel. Not to mention the baby’s father.

  She rode in the back of the car with Zoey as Elle drove them to the hospital, all the while counting off the time between the contractions and checking Zoey’s and the baby’s vitals.

  When they pulled into the parking lot at the hospital, Dylan was waiting outside with his brothers, Owen and Liam, and their father, Leo Costas.

  Lea estimated that the baby would be arriving within the hour since the contractions were growing closer and closer together.

  Since Zoey and Dylan had requested that she take part in the delivery a few months back, she scrubbed up to assist as they waited for the OBGYN doctor to arrive.

  When Zoey’s OBGYN arrived a few minutes later, Lea stood aside and watched Dylan support his wife and answered any questions they directed at her.

  When Paige Emily Costas was finally born at seventeen after eleven o’clock that evening, Lea was just as exhausted as the mother and child.

  “Thank you,” Dylan said, giving her a hug.

  Lea laughed. “I didn’t do anything except stand there watching your wife do all the hard work and the staff do what they do best.”

  “Just knowing you were here in case anything went sideways helped a lot.” He gave her another hug. “Zoey, Paige, and I appreciated it.”

  Lea smiled over at the new mother, holding the little girl close to her chest. Paige was already enjoying her first meal.

  “Congratulations you two,” she said before quietly leaving the room.

  Since she’d been one of the lucky few to see the baby first, when she walked out, she shared a few pictures she’d taken on her phone of the happy family with everyone who’d been stuck in the waiting area. Then she made her excuses and started heading out. Her mind was so focused on getting back to Brett, maybe catching the end of a movie and enjoying time with him, that she hadn’t spotted Dr. Sanjay Rufkin until he blocked her exit.