Kim (Beach Brides Book 8)

by Magdalena Scott

  Jon was a side trip of a sort, and she wondered if she dared explore a little further.

  Chapter Nine

  Their last full day in Minneapolis, Kim and Suzanne had their usual big breakfast in the hotel restaurant, took a taxi into the heart of the city, strolled over the St. Anthony Falls Bridge, and enjoyed the historic Riverfront District. They walked and walked before finally stopping for lunch in a German restaurant.

  Suzanne finished her meal, pushed the plate away, smiling. “I already want to come back here again. Hard as we’ve tried, we’ve barely begun to explore it.”

  “I agree,” Kim said. “I’d like to come back again, too.” She held up a hand. “Oops—don’t get me wrong. I’m not inviting myself for your next trip here with Travis.

  Suzanne laughed. “Gotcha. Who knows when we’ll get here again. The conference moves to a different city each year, and with Elliott...” She shrugged, a smile on her face saying she would be happy staying home with Elliott next year. “I hate to admit it, but I’m ready to go back and have a nap.”

  Kim took the linen napkin from her lap and laid it on the table, then pushed her chair back and stood. “You’re wise to pay attention to what your body tells you, Suzanne. Some people never learn to do that.”

  “Maybe mine speaks more loudly.”

  When they reached the hotel lobby, Travis and Jon were sitting on one of the couches, deep in discussion. Suzanne put a hand on her husband’s shoulder and he looked up. “Oh, hi, honey.” He gave her a peck on the cheek when she sank down next to him. “Jon had a call from his factory and thinks he’s going to have to fly home.”

  “What happened?” Kim asked.

  Jon’s brows were knit in concern. “One of the machines—it’s old, keeps breaking down. Only two of us know how to fix it. The other guy is on vacation. Hiking. They’re trying to get hold of him, but in the mountains, cell service isn’t always dependable. I told them if they can’t get him by this evening and secure a promise that he’ll be there by tomorrow morning early, I’ll get a flight out of Minneapolis to Nashville.”

  Travis continued, “Get a cab to our house, pick up his car, and drive another three and a half hours to Legend. Exhausting day—or night—depending on the flight. He’s checked and can get a nonstop flight, be in Nashville in a little over two hours.”

  It was a lot shorter and less exhausting than the road trip they’d all expected to be on beginning early tomorrow morning.

  Kim was disappointed at this insight to Jon’s priorities. “It’s a bit convenient to have an emergency come up at this juncture, isn’t it? You jump on a plane, hop in your Corvette, and barrel down the road home, leaving the three of us to deal with the road trip.” The hateful words seemed to come out of their own volition. This wasn’t the way Kim treated anyone. Why was she so hard on Jon?

  He glared at her. “It’s not convenient at all. Without that machine running, the whole factory has to shut down. Nobody gets paid. At least a day’s production is lost.”

  “If you say so. Suzanne? You were going up for a nap?” Suzanne looked at Kim as if she’d never seen her before, but Travis nodded and the women got into the elevator.

  “Kim, you can’t believe Jon created this problem in order to avoid the drive back with us. He wouldn’t do that.”

  “Wouldn’t he? Most of the time I’ve been around him, he’s doing something on his phone, unable to let go of the reins for even a couple of days.”

  “He’s dedicated, but he’s not a liar.”

  “Suzanne, I’d like to believe that. I’ll try, okay? Now you get some rest.”

  Kim saw her friend to her room then went downstairs to her own. How dare Jon bail out on Travis and Suzanne? How dare he bail out on her? Sure, the long drive was a pain, but they’d both known it would be when they agreed to come.

  She pulled her hair out of its clasp, brushed it vigorously, and put it back up again. She paced the room like a caged animal, so angry with Jon she could scream. She’d been attracted to him, believed in him, allowed herself to imagine the two of them had possibilities together.

  But she had been right about him in the first place. Just like Sean, he was around when the situation was convenient for him, but once you thought you could rely on him, he disappeared.

  Just when she thought her day and the trip was ruined, her phone rang. As soon as she hung up, she received a second call from a different department of the Serendipity Hospital.

  And the tidy little life she’d been creating since her first cancer diagnosis began to fall apart.

  ****

  Travis went to the last session of the afternoon, but Jon knew he was too anxious about his factory to be able to concentrate on a lecture. Instead, he stalked out onto the patio and stood looking out at the city. It wasn’t his fault the machine broke. Ernie knew better than to take off on a hike for a couple of days when Jon was gone. This behavior was insubordinate, but Ernie was a free spirit. There wasn’t a whole lot you could do about that.

  The factory could make a difference to the community of Legend, but only if it remained viable and eventually got upgraded equipment. Maybe even a decent computer system. The people were its best assets—skilled welders and machinists. Jon’s focus was to ensure enough business came their way.

  Kim was a good nurse, competent driver, and when she wanted to be, an enjoyable companion. Suzanne and Travis would be in good hands on the trip back to Serendipity if he had to fly out. They didn’t need him. If they took an extra day or two on the way back, even the last leg back to Nashville wouldn’t be so hard on Travis and Suzanne. They were both expected at work though, and that extra day might be a problem. They were saving days for the arrival of Elliott.

  Best laid plans, as usual, were inclined to fail. Just like this road trip and the matchmaking his friends had done on the sly.

  Jon looked at his phone. Still no news from Legend. He’d better go up and pack, just in case.

  When he was walking down the hall to his room, Kim stepped out of hers, closed the door and started toward him, her face white as a ghost. He stopped as she approached, but she kept walking, not seeing anything. He put out his hands and caught her shoulders, and her eyes flew up to his face. She looked dazed. Had something happened to Suzanne?

  His chest constricted. “Hey. Everything okay with Suzanne?”

  One side of Kim’s mouth went up in a failed attempt at a smile. “Suzanne’s fine. She’s resting. I—I had a couple of calls from the hospital. There’s a freak summer flu going around, and a lot of the staff are sick. They were checking to see how soon I’d be back.”

  Jon’s heartbeat began to recover. “Okay. That’s a relief. About Suzanne, I mean. From the way you looked, I thought the worst. So it must really be big deal to call you twice with the same info.”

  Her face reddened. “It’s bad to have a shortage of nurses and an overage of sick people. Not that I’m a mathematician, but the ratio is kind of important. I’m committed to stay with Suzanne though. I mean, I guess I could get a flight, but I’m needed here and on the trip back. Especially since you’re not planning to go with them.”

  “If I leave, it’s because I have to.”

  “So you keep saying.” She shrugged his hands off her shoulders. “I’m on my way outside. I need some air.” She was still pale and had grown increasingly agitated while they spoke.

  He took her hand, not surprised this time by the spark of electricity at the intimate contact. But it affected him to his core, and he had to clear his throat before words would come. “What else is wrong, Kim? You’re not telling me everything.” He realized he wanted to help her with whatever had her so upset.

  Her hand stiffened, and her eyes turned hard. She jerked her hand out of his grasp. He pulled his back, slid it into his pants pocket feeling cold and empty.

  “Why would I tell you everything, Jon? If you are prepared to bail on Travis and Suzanne, why would I believe you had an interest in me, a person you ba
rely know? Your precious factory is obviously more important to you than we are.” She shook her head, muttering, “I should have expected this.” Then she stared into his eyes. “I tried to give you the benefit of a doubt, in spite of—”

  She didn't finish the sentence but dashed down the hall, and instead of getting into the elevator, took the stairwell. He was tempted to follow, but in her state of mind, that seemed likely to upset her further. He would pack and hope he heard from his second-in-command that they’d found Ernie, and Jon didn’t need to hurry back.

  He hoped very hard that happened. He wanted to fulfill his commitment to his friends and perhaps redeem himself in Kim’s eyes. He just wasn’t sure what he was redeeming himself from.

  When the call came, Jon was even more relieved than he expected to be. He unpacked his toiletries and clothes to wear tomorrow and forced himself to go downstairs for the last night of networking. This trip had gone well for business, but he’d failed miserably with Kim, and he didn’t know what had gone wrong.

  Chapter Ten

  The sun was rising as Travis and Jon stowed luggage and paraphernalia accumulated at the conference in the back of the Suburban, and Kim volunteered for the first driving shift. Travis and Suzanne were in the back, and Jon rode up front with her, phone in hand.

  Suzanne expelled a long breath when they left the beautiful hotel grounds behind and headed out on the road home. “I’ve loved every minute of this trip. Except the wreck, of course. Yet right now I’d pay good money for a transporter instead of having to ride all those hours to get home.” Everyone muttered agreement. “I’m sure you’re eager to get back, Kim. Has the flu epidemic gotten any better, or have you heard?”

  Kim wouldn’t tell them about the other call, the one from the radiology department. She wouldn’t share that with anyone until she had another mammogram done.

  “I talked to my supervisor last night. When I get home, I’m needed at work.”

  Travis whistled. “That’s harsh, but I get that they’re short-handed. I know we’ve said thank you lots of times, but really, we’ll owe you a debt of gratitude forever.”

  She shook her head, partly to dislodge thoughts of her other task when she got to Serendipity. When her shift was done, and she went to radiology.

  “Please, no debt of gratitude, guys. It’s been a good trip. Much-needed time away with beautiful scenery, new people.” She thought of her interactions with Jon. “I’m sorry my attitude stunk part of the time. I’m thankful you invited me. I haven’t taken a trip in a long time. Emily was pushing me to get some rest. So was my supervisor, who may now regret it.”

  They had a lot of hours ahead of them, so she relaxed her back muscles and settled in for the drive. “Last vacation I took was unique too. A bunch of ladies I’m in a book club with had a very relaxed, decadent vacation together on a tropical island. Fun in the sand and sun and all that.” She pictured the beautiful Enchanted Island, hoping her mind could relax a little too.

  “Oh? That sounds super!” said Suzanne. “With a book club, you say? A local group in Serendipity?”

  Now she wished she hadn’t brought up the topic. Jon would, no doubt, have a low opinion of the whole thing. “Actually, it’s not a local group. It’s an online book club, and the members are from all over.”

  “Really? I didn’t know online book clubs were a thing,” Suzanne said. “I’ve had my head on work for too many years, I guess. Haven’t belonged to a book club in ages. I used to attend one at our library once a month, but I had to drop out. Partly because I was working so many hours—we both were—that it just felt wrong to be out that evening when we could have spent time together.”

  Travis interrupted. “May I interject that I didn’t ask you to drop out. Don’t make me sound like a brute.”

  Suzanne laughed. “No, it was my idea. And besides the time crunch, I was at the point of dreading the announcement of the next book we would read. Most members wanted to stick to current best sellers, and we read some gruesome, depressing stuff. I’d suggest something lighter, but my ideas were nearly always overridden. So, yes, my heart wasn’t in the reading or in the meetings. What sort of stuff does your book club gravitate toward, if you don’t mind my asking?”

  Kim did mind, but conversation made the miles slip by more quickly. “Romance,” she said softly. “We read romance novels.”

  Silence reigned for a long moment.

  “You’re kidding,” Travis said. “I was sure you’d say biographies, nonfiction, something—um—”

  “Respectable?” Kim hoped her voice didn’t have an edge. “Whatever you think of romance novels, guys, if you haven’t read any, you really shouldn’t judge, you know.”

  Suzanne laughed. “Well said, Kim. My husband is like most men, and a lot of women, I’ll wager. Quick to judge the contents of kissing books. I haven’t read a nice, take-me-away romance in way too long. That’s another item to add to my to-do list. So, tell me, what’s your favorite? Historical? Romantic comedy? Suspense?”

  The guys were silent for many blissful miles, as Kim and Suzanne discussed favorite romance titles and authors. At one point, Suzanne told the guys they would do well to read some of the books mentioned, to get ideas about romance. Travis seemed almost receptive, but Jon was a lost cause. He’d never care enough to learn what a woman wanted. He’d try, instead, to tell her.

  Chapter Eleven

  At the last rest area on I-65 before the off-ramp to Serendipity, Jon returned David’s call that had come in while he drove.

  “Hey, Jonny-boy. Do you have an estimated time of arrival in Serendipity? We’re looking forward to seeing you guys.”

  “David, yeah, looks like around nine.”

  Jon dreaded the hours after that of even more time behind a wheel, although he much preferred Travis’s car to this massive SUV.

  Kim was still angry with him for something, and it made the miles seem to go on forever. He’d love to stop for the night, but Travis seemed like a horse returning to its stable. He wanted to drive straight through.

  David broke into his thoughts. “Emily says there are two open cabins here this weekend. If you didn’t know, the Standish family Christmas tree farm’s B&B is well-known for its comfortable tiny cabins and the amazing breakfast served in the Christmas shop each morning. Folks come from all over, et cetera.” He chuckled. “Hey, it will be a nice rest before you guys head on down the road. We hope you’ll take us up on it.”

  Jon suspected two vacancies on a Friday evening was atypical. More likely, the cabins had been kept available just in case Travis and Suzanne needed them.

  David wouldn’t admit to that, but he didn’t deny it either. He continued, “You’re at the wheel, or is Kim? Doesn’t matter. Either way, just drive out to the farm. Kim’s car is here, since I’ve been driving it. I picked up Travis and Suzanne’s too from the repair shop. It’s ready for the road, but we really hope the three of you will stay tonight, rest up, and have a big breakfast with us tomorrow before you hit the road again. Emily will be giving the same information to Kim right about now. To avoid any disagreement or misunderstanding.”

  Good idea. Have you been watching the two of us today?

  Jon knew David and Emily were just meddling in order to help Travis and Suzanne. Just like Jon had tried. And...yes, Kim too. “Will do. I’m driving the final leg, so Kim will need to give me directions.” Assuming she would deign to speak to him.

  David laughed. “I think you can manage, Jon. Just turn left at the sign for the tree farm and B&B. But I’m sure Kim will let you know if you don’t see it. See you in a while. Safe travels.”

  After their respective calls, Jon shared a secret look with Kim about the arrangement. It was nice to have an enjoyable secret between them.

  Her audible sigh of relief when he pulled off at Interstate 65’s exit for the town of Mendacious hinted at how ready she was for an end to this journey. Serendipity lay just another twenty miles west. It was apparent that she’d be g
lad to see the last of him. But Jon felt the opposite. He’d misread her at first, then got to know her a little and wanted, so much, to continue that exploration. But something had gone very wrong, and he didn’t know how to fix it.

  Could a relationship have developed between them if they’d met in a different way? If only they could give each other a second chance.

  Jon had a lot of perfect girlfriends before meeting Kim. They were perfect because he only admired them from a distance, saw their interaction with the men they loved. They were Instagram couples, attractive and air-brushed, with impossibly white teeth and problem-free lives. He had wanted that kind of relationship or none at all. The mess with Andrea aside, he had dated some nice women but never took the time to care what was beyond the idealistic facade.

  Now, having spent some time behind the scenes with Suzanne and Travis, and with a few minutes of insight into Kim’s painful past, he realized the perfect relationship was something else entirely. The perfect relationship was the one that was still a work in progress.

  Giving up was easy. When it came to relationships, he was a pro at giving up. But staying, honoring a commitment to the other person when that was the hardest possible decision—that was what he’d never understood. His friends thought he had done them a favor by making this trip, but the fact was, he was the one who benefited by being present.

  Jon had a career, people who depended on him to show up and do the work that would help the company become successful and keep the workers employed. He had a cabin up on the mountain above Legend with a view that took his breath away. And he was healthy, which meant that, barring disaster, a future existed. One in which, he determined, he would be a better human being.

  He glanced at Kim’s resolute profile, looking straight ahead toward home and the life she’d built in Serendipity. It was too late to make amends with her, though he ached to do just that. He ached to touch her, pull that clip out of her hair and let it fall, dark and glossy across her shoulders. To hold her, cherish her, and promise to do better.