Remnants (A Golden Beach Novel)

by Kim Loraine

  A younger man who looked very much like Garrett came out with his own guitar and started strumming. This was surreal. And then it came to a screeching halt. Carson walked out of the house with a beer in one hand and as he brought the bottle to his lips, his cheeks paled. Dark blue eyes connected with hers and that gorgeous face she’d spent hours memorizing, kissing, loving, turned angry.

  Shit.

  She saw him mutter, “Excuse me a minute,” before he strode across the patio and down the path that led to the beach.

  “Stalking is illegal, Sloan.”

  Her chest burned with fury. “I have better things to do with my time than stalk you, Carson.”

  “What the fuck are you doing here?”

  “I live here.”

  He stepped closer, putting his big body only a few inches away from her own small one. “No, you don’t.”

  “Yes. I. Do.” She took a step with every word, sending him backward as she went.

  “Why?”

  God, there were so many reasons. Where did she start? But more importantly, why did she owe him any answers?

  “I needed a change. My grandpa died and left me his house.”

  The anger in his eyes faded, softening into hesitant concern. “I know. I was on the call when he died. I’m so sorry.”

  Her shoulders lifted in a shrug. It had become her automatic response when people apologized for her loss. But his words, the knowledge that he’d seen her grandfather through the heart attack that killed him, made tears burn in her eyes. She moved away, needing some space because he smelled so damn good. Her feet took her back in the direction of the gathering she’d left, but she felt his eyes on her with every step.

  “Hey, Sloan! There you are.” Beckett appeared from around the bend with a hot dog in each hand. She couldn’t risk a glance back at the man behind her, but she knew he was still there. Beckett’s narrowed gaze confirmed her suspicions. “Isn’t he that firefighter? What’s his name . . . Sullivan?”

  “Yeah.”

  He frowned. “Why does he look like he wants to kick my ass?”

  She hooked her arm in his and pulled them away from Carson’s gaze. “We knew each other a long time ago.”

  “Sloan!” Carson’s shout had her heart leaping. “Sloan, wait!”

  Beckett stiffened beside her, but didn’t say a word as she released her grip on him and turned to face the other man.

  Carson jogged toward her looking as though he had no clue how he felt. She met him halfway, arms crossed protectively over her chest.

  “What?”

  “We should probably . . . talk. After everything—”

  “I don’t think it will help to hash it all out again. If I had known you were still here I’d never have come back. I was told you’d joined the Marines.”

  He shook his head and dragged a hand across the back of his neck. “That was my brother.”

  “Of course, it was,” she muttered under her breath. “Look, this town is small but we’re adults and we can coexist, have our own lives. We don’t need to do this.”

  His big hand gripped hers before she could walk away, that small bit of skin to skin contact sending fire racing through her. “Don’t leave it like this. Please.”

  It was the please that got her. Right in the chest. For a moment, he was the hopeful, devoted boyfriend who wanted nothing more than to have a life with her, even if they’d been too young for so much responsibility. But in the end, he’d shown his true colors. He was nothing other than a man who made empty promises and said pretty words. “Leave it like what? There is nothing left between us. You made sure of that.”

  Hot tears burned in her eyes but she fought them back. He wasn’t going to get an ounce of sadness out of her. She’d shed too many tears over this man.

  She ripped her hand away from his before she turned and ran in the opposite direction, away from Carson, from Beckett and the bonfire, and away from the idiotic idea that she could come back here and start over.

  ~ ~ ~

  Sully gritted his teeth and fought off a growl of frustration. She had no right to be mad at him. He’d been the rejected one in their relationship and now he was trying to be an adult and move beyond their history. Clearly, she had other plans.

  “Who was that?” Jamie asked, jutting his chin toward the beach as Sully cracked another beer and sat down.

  “Someone I never thought I’d see again.”

  “Ah, old girlfriend?”

  “You could say that.” God, she’d been so much more than that. She was The One. The only. “Let me tell you something, Jamie. Don’t hand over your heart unless you want it to be thrown in the fire, because that’s what will happen. Even if you think you’re in love, that she’d never treat you so carelessly. You’ll be reduced to ashes and there’s nothing you can do to stop it unless you don’t give her the chance in the first place.”

  “Damn. She did a number on you.”

  He took a long pull on his beer, then closed his eyes against the ache in his chest. “You have no fucking clue.”

  With a heavy sigh, he dumped the remaining half of his bottle in the sand and tossed the glass into the recycling bin. Then he stood and excused himself, offering a nod to Angie and Garrett. Sloan had ruined any potential for a relaxing evening.

  Fucking Sloan.

  His hand shook as he reached to open his car door. There was nothing he could do to keep the memories from crashing into him. His mind went where it wanted and he could almost smell her sweet perfume in the confines of his car. He closed his eyes and broke down the already crumbling barrier which held their past at bay. Her lips, her smile, the softness of her hair. All the things that had haunted him for years came rushing back like a tidal wave.

  Sully was jolted out of his memory by the harsh ringing of his phone. “Fuck,” he muttered, pulling the slim device from his pocket and answering without looking. “Hello?”

  “Sullivan. You around?” Chief Roman’s gruff tone was serious.

  “Yeah, what’s going on, Chief?”

  “We’ve got a line of duty accident. I need you to head to General and be with his wife.”

  A cold pit formed in his stomach. Not again.

  “Who is it?”

  Chapter 4

  Fifteen years ago

  “You clean up nice,” Sully’s mom said when she stopped in his doorway. He was attempting to do his tie and failing miserably. “Senior prom. That’s something I never got to do, you know.”

  “What? Why not?”

  “Your dad and I had been going together for most of high school, and we found out Dex was coming in the middle of my senior year. Back then, they still didn’t let the girls who got in trouble go to regular classes. We got married, your dad joined the Navy, and I dropped out.”

  A frown creased his brow as he took in her statement. He let go of both ends of his bow tie and turned to face her. “I never knew that.”

  She shook her head. “Of course not. We didn’t want you or your brother to think we’d do anything different. Besides, I got my GED, we built our family, and I think our life is pretty wonderful.”

  He scoffed. “Except Dad is gone all the time, we barely have any money, and I have to go to the community college unless I get a scholarship like Dex because we can’t afford a good school.” The words were hurtful, that was obvious the minute they left his mouth, but the look in her eyes made him wish he could go back in time and punch himself in the damn throat. “Mom, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

  “It’s fine, baby. Sometimes we have to sacrifice. In this case, we did everything we could to bring you and Dex up well. You’ll understand that one day when you’ve got your own kids. You’re right. We can’t send you to private school, or a fancy college. But money isn’t eve
rything. Family is.”

  He crossed his room in three large strides, wrapping his mother in a fierce hug. His large frame engulfed her and it struck him how hard it must be for her to remember him when he was small.

  His mom stepped out of his embrace before she wiped the tears from her eyes and reached up to pat his cheek. “Handsome boy, just like your dad. Now, let me help you with that tie so you can go get Sloan.”

  When Sloan walked down the stairs at her house, Sully thought he might not be able to speak for the rest of the night. She was a princess. Or, at least what he thought a princess should look like. Her hair was done in a loose braid with tendrils curling around her face, while some kind of sparkling beads shimmered within the braid. But the strapless dress with a fluffy skirt and tight top solidified his speechlessness. It was red. His favorite color. She looked like every guy’s dream—and she was all his.

  “You ready to go, Carson?” she asked, smiling as he took her hand and helped her down the last two stairs.

  He nodded and held out the corsage he’d bought. White roses, her favorite. As he slipped the flowers over her wrist, she cupped his jaw. “You look so handsome,” she whispered.

  “You look perfect tonight. You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.” His gaze traveled from her heart stopping eyes and down to the necklace he’d given her for Christmas. It had cost him an entire month’s pay, but to see her wearing the infinity symbol with their initials, S.C. and C.S. engraved on either side, made it worth every penny. She wore it every day, even now. He couldn’t keep from kissing her right there in the foyer of her house.

  The sound of a throat clearing behind him made his heart jump and he pulled away. Sloan’s parents stood in the entryway, looking annoyed. They didn’t approve of public displays of affection.

  “Sorry, Daddy,” Sloan said.

  “Have her home by midnight, Mr. Sullivan.”

  Sully nodded. “Absolutely. Thank you, sir.”

  He extended his arm and waited for Sloan to take it, trying not to let her parents’ scrutiny make him uncomfortable. The rented tuxedo that was slightly too tight around his shoulders and the shoes that pinched his toes all added up and pointed like a beacon to the main reason her parents didn’t like him. He wasn’t what she was destined for. When she slipped her hand through his offered arm, he relaxed a fraction. As soon as they got in the car, he let out a long breath.

  “Sorry about them. They really don’t like how much I like you.” Sloan’s voice held a hint of a smile.

  “Oh, yeah? How much do you like me?”

  “Too much.”

  He started the car and made his way down the driveway. They’d spend the rest of the evening enjoying each other, not talking about her parents. They could just be Carson and Sloan, happy, together, themselves.

  She was quiet during dinner, pushing her food around on her plate, staring absently at her water. Had he said something to upset her?

  “Sloan, what’s wrong?”

  The tears in her eyes made his heart lurch. “I need to tell you something.”

  Oh, God. She couldn’t be breaking up with him. She was still wearing his necklace, she just told him how much she liked him. He had to swallow past the lump in his throat, but he forced out his response. “What?”

  “We’re moving.”

  It felt like he’d been punched in the gut. Moving? “Where? When?”

  “To California. My dad . . . there’s going to be some serious stuff coming out about him in the next few days. He’s . . . he has to resign as mayor.”

  “Sloan—”

  “He’s been accused of sexual harassment by five former staff members at his office and one current employee.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before continuing. “I’m not leaving until August. They’re going to let me graduate, but I understand if you want to break up after tonight. I . . . I know it doesn’t make sense to stay together only to have to break up when I move.”

  “What are you talking about? I could never leave you. I want you forever.”

  Her eyes met his, hope burning in them. “Forever?”

  “Yeah, baby. You and me. Infinity.”

  “I love you, Carson.”

  His heart stopped. She said it. The thing he was trying to find the right time to say. She loved him and she was leaving. Unless he could convince her to stay.

  “I love you, too.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Sully pulled his car into a space outside Golden Beach General Hospital. He’d been here too many times in the last six years, and here he was again. Another firefighter fighting for his life. Goddammit. Was there never going to be an end to this? It never got easier . . . never. As he breached the doors, his eyes immediately connected with Donovan Miller’s.

  “How is he?” Sully asked, pushing through the tightness in his throat, his thoughts going to the injured member of his firehouse.

  His longtime friend and fellow firefighter just shrugged.

  “They won’t tell me anything. Say it’s a goddamn HIPAA violation. He fell through a roof though, so it can’t be good.”

  Jesus. Red fucking tape. That’s all they needed right now.

  “Has anyone talked to his wife?”

  Donovan shook his head and jutted his chin in the direction of the waiting room to their left. “She’s in there, but she won’t talk to anyone.”

  “I’ll go.” Sully took a deep breath and put one foot in front of the other, steeling himself for another hard conversation with the wife of one of his brothers.

  Sara Stone sat rigid and blank in the corner, her long, dark hair covering her familiar face as he approached.

  If she locked eyes with him, those warm brown irises would be swimming with unshed tears. In all the years he’d known her, she’d always been a warrior.

  Rubbing a palm over his scratchy beard, he sighed. He needed a shave, but the men on the crew had been betting on who would cave first. So far, it was between him and Alex. The pool was up to five hundred bucks and it had only been a few weeks. Shit, he needed his fucking head on straight and they needed to stop the motherfucker who was setting fires and endangering him and his crew. The bet seemed so insignificant now.

  “That looks like absolute shit,” she said, finally turning her gaze on him. “And I’m sure the chief isn’t going to let it go on much longer. Justin said it’s not safe to have a beard when you’re wearing your gear.”

  “I’ll win and then shave it off. I could do a lot with that cash.” He settled himself in the chair beside her.

  “Justin was fine earlier.” Her words held a distance he could only associate with grief. “He smiled, kissed the baby, left for his shift. I . . . I never thought I’d get this call again. Once was enough.”

  He bit back the emotion threatening to escape. “Have they—” He had to clear his throat before he could continue. “Have they given you any updates?”

  She took a shuddering breath as she shook her head. “They said it’s bad. He’s got several broken ribs . . . a . . . a punctured lung. I don’t know if he’s burned. I don’t know anything else. I just know I can’t lose him.”

  “You did the right thing, getting here so soon. Calling for support.”

  “I know that. I’ve spent enough time around you boys to know what to do. I just never thought I’d have to do it for Justin,” she snapped.

  He stopped himself before he said something else to irritate her, he stretched his legs out in front of him and stared at his dark jeans. There was still sand stuck to the hem.

  “What if I lose him?” she asked in a small voice, so different from her usual strength.

  He didn’t have an answer for her. Years ago, he’d have said she didn’t need to worry about that. But after losing John, Klip, and suffering
a near career-ending injury himself, he didn’t have the flame of hope burning inside him anymore.

  A woman in a white coat wearing surgical scrubs came through the doorway and suddenly all the energy in the room was focused on her.

  “Mrs. Stone?”

  Sara’s eyes widened and she dug her fingers into Sully’s denim clad knee. Standing, she nodded and approached the doctor. Donovan walked through the door and took a seat next to him as they watched the conversation, both trying to discern the situation from the doctor’s body language and Sara’s reaction.

  “You want some coffee?” Donovan offered.

  Sully frowned and shook his head. “I’m good.”

  “Justin’s going to be okay. He’s a tough SOB.”

  When Sara turned to face them, the look of relief on her face said it all. Donovan had been right. Justin had made it. Thank fuck.

  ~ ~ ~

  “So, I saw you came with Beckett to the bonfire. How’d it go?” Megan Pitcher, one of the other second grade teachers sidled up next to Sloan at the coffee counter in the staff room.

  A hot blush crept up her cheeks. “It wasn’t anything. We just rode together.”

  “Yeah, sure. He’s been looking at you every chance he gets. You know, Becks is a good guy. He’d treat you right if you gave him a chance.”

  “I never said he wasn’t nice.”

  A substitute teacher joined them, filling a travel mug with coffee and offering a wave. “Morning, Meg.”

  Megan quickly went from cheerful and teasing to stoic. “Hi, Amy. You here for Paula?”

  Amy nodded and sadness flit across her face. “She called me last night. Justin’s awake and talking, but he’s going to be in the hospital a while.”