Cinderella at Sea (Launching Love Book 2)
Page 8
Manda nodded. “My parents will be there.”
“Good.” He let out a sigh but was a bit disappointed. With her parents picking her up, he’d have no reason to stay with her once they landed. He’d have to get on another plane shortly after she left.
She turned around. “Can we at least have a Valentine’s Day breakfast together?”
“Of course. Everyone else can wait. You are my focus.”
Manda opened her mouth to say something but snapped it closed. She grinned, leaned over, and kissed his lips. “Breakfast, and maybe a little fun, before you get back to work?”
Manda took a deep breath and tried to control her rapidly building panic. What was she going to do? Could she handle going back to her old life? Was it going to be much different? She wanted to have fun. Take vacations and live her life. Not the life everyone else planned or needed her for.
Her breathing became shallow. A tear ran down her cheek. She blew out a couple of quick breaths and then held it for five seconds. It wasn’t working. Nothing was working.
She stood and paced the floor. Her heart raced so fast that it pounded against her ribcage. Her hands shook. She managed to make it to her purse but fumbled to find her anxiety medication. This was the wrong time to have an attack. She was alone and would be until Hunter was done on stage.
Maybe he’d notice she was missing and send someone to find her.
She growled trying to get the child-proof cap off the pill bottle. Tears came faster, and she gasped for air. Sweat beaded on her brow, and she swiped at it with her hand. The cap of the bottle came open and pills scattered all over the floor.
She sobbed as she fell to the floor and scrambled to pick one up, but her fingers refused to work.
A pill. She grasped it, grabbed the dresser, and wrenched herself to her feet. She stumbled as she made her way across the cabin and fell in front of the couch.
She heard the door open as her eyes closed. Familiar arms closed around her and lifted her onto the couch.
“It will be all right,” Hunter whispered.
A smile crossed her face right before she lost consciousness.
Hunter paced waiting for the doctor to come back to the infirmary waiting room with an update.
J.J. walked in. “The concert starts in fifteen minutes. You need to get to the stage.”
“Not until I know she’s okay.”
“The cruise line paid you to do this concert.”
“And the people there can wait a little while. I’m not leaving her until I know she’s okay. Go let them know I’m going to be late. I’ll be there when I can.”
The doctor stepped out of the small exam room. “You can come in. She’s resting.”
Hunter rushed to Manda’s side and dropped into the chair next to the bed, taking her hands in his.
Manda’s eyes fluttered open. “Hunter?”
“I’m here.”
“How did you—” She trailed off, taking a deep breath.
“You were supposed to meet me before the concert, remember? When you didn’t show up, I came looking for you.” He brushed her hair out of her face. “What happened?”
“I’m scared to go back to my life. I can’t go back to doing what everyone else wants. I want to do what I want. I want to have my own life.”
“You will, and I will make sure of it, okay?” Hunter stood and gently gave her a hug.
She glanced at her watch. “Your concert’s about to start.”
“I told J.J. to let them know I’ll be late.”
The doctor came in. “If you’re feeling up to it. I can release you. We gave you valium, so you should be fine for the rest of the night. And you have another to take tomorrow.”
Manda chuckled then frowned.
“What?” Hunter sat on the edge of her bed.
“If they gave me Valium, I should be fine on the plane ride home. That stuff works a long time for me.”
“It’s not going to stop me from flying home with you.” Hunter shook his head. “Come on, the doctor said you could leave. Let’s get you back to your room.”
“What about your concert?”
“You’re more important.”
Manda sat up slowly and leaned forward to kiss his lips. “You’re wonderful. Now, let’s go to your concert. I promise I’ll be just fine sitting in the wings, and you’ll still be able to keep an eye on me.”
“All right.” Hunter nodded. He stood and helped her to her feet. “Afterward, you’re going to bed.”
“But that will—”
He shook his head. “We have the whole plane ride home tomorrow. You need to rest tonight.”
She took a deep breath. “If you insist.”
“I do.” Hunter took her hand, and together they walked to the concert hall.
Chapter Nine
Hunter and Manda walked into a restaurant across from the dock. They were supposed to meet J.J. and Diana for dinner before they left for the airport.
Diana stood as they came over to the table. “I’ve already paid for dinner. You two have a great time. J.J. and I are going to head to the airport now.” She hugged Manda. “Keep in touch, okay?”
Manda glanced over at Hunter.
“Have J.J. give me a call. And wish him luck on his new job opportunity.” Hunter grinned.
Diana nodded and hugged Hunter as well. “I’m sure I’ll see you soon.”
Hunter waved and gestured for Manda to sit down.
“That was odd, don’t you think?”
Hunter shrugged. “They can both be odd people. Don’t worry about it. Let’s just have a good meal together.” Hunter pulled out Manda’s chair for her then pushed her in and sat next to her.
The waiter arrived with drinks.
“Did she order for us too?” Manda laughed.
“I did.” Hunter grinned. “That’s why I asked about what you’d want to eat tonight if you could have anything. I put our orders in early so they’d be ready when we got here.”
“You’re a sweetheart.”
“As much as I would love for us to miss our flight. I think it would cause more anxiety than you need.”
“I appreciate that.”
They had barely started their drinks when their meals were delivered.
Manda stared down at the meal before her. “This looks amazing.”
“Anything for you.” He grinned.
She sighed. “I’m terrified of going back home.”
“I’m flying to Indiana with you, then I’ll be back on Thursday. No need to worry.”
Manda smiled. “It’s not about you. I don’t want to fall into the same rut I’ve been in. I want to be able to live my own life, and I’ll never be able to do that if I don’t stand up for myself.”
“Then do that.”
“I’m going to.” Manda nodded. “I’m ready and prepared to stand up and say that I will not be walked over. I have—and want—my own life.”
“Great.” Hunter moved his chair closer so he could lean over and give her a kiss. He took her hand and met her gaze. “Manda, I love you.”
Her smile broadened, and she threw her arms around him. “I love you too, Hunter.”
He hugged her tightly.
Manda’s mind soared. She would be fine over the next week. No need to worry, no need to panic. Everything was going to be all right.
Acknowledgments
First Deb Julienne - Thank you for thinking of me and including me in the original anthology! I had a lot of fun and we made a lot of memories. Can’t wait to work with you in the future.
To my beta readers, Carrie Marie and Jenny Bynum - Thank you, you helped make this novella successful. Hope you two love what we’ve (Amber and I) done with the final project.
Karan Eleni - What can I say about you? There is SO much to thank you for. Formatting help and editing my book for the anthology, making it the best it can be! I love working with you.
Amber Root - In the middle of everything going on in your life, y
ou stopped (in a children’s hospital) and helped me write a sex scene. I don’t know what I’d do without you. You’re my amazing co-writer and I know that both our books written together and your books are going to be fantastic.
About the Author
Ellen Wilder was born and raised in Indiana. She is happily married to her husband of five years and enjoys raising their two girls and one boy in the house where she grew up. They have a border collie/corgi mix named Loki.
Her parents started reading to Ellen and her siblings at a very young age. They quickly tired of books for younger children and turned to chapter books like Tarzan, The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings forging Ellen’s love for reading.
Ellen started writing in Junior High with an assignment from her computer writing teacher. Her first attempt at a modern day Old Yeller crossover with NYPD Blue was “awful”, but that didn’t stop the inspiration from flowing. Ellen now writes contemporary romance novels with a realistic twist to them. If you’re looking for fairy tales, you won’t find them here as her characters deal with real life issues. She loves helping people with their writing, paying forward the help that she has received allowing her to be where she is today.
Sign up for Ellen’s monthly newsletter to stay up to date on everything Ellen Wilder related. http://eepurl.com/bolcE1
Connect with Ellen:
andthencamelove.weebly.com
Also in the Launching Love series
Read Just One Look, book one in the Launching Love series, to see more of Manda and Hunter as they cruise through the Caribbean with their friends.
On a secret mission for her entrepreneur father, Diana Tolliver (aka Diana Clay) finds herself unexpectedly alone on a singles cruise. She befriends another solo female passenger, and they play a game to make their would-be-boring cruise a bit more fun. Each woman must pick out a single male for the other to date for the duration of the cruise.
J.J. Westbrook is working his final gig as band manager for his best friend, country singer Hunter Cross, leaving to pursue a new job. While on the deck of the cruise ship, J.J. spots a blonde goddess and is captivated.
When mutual friends reconnect, Diana and J.J. are set up and quickly become enamored with each other, but only have a few chances to sneak away together during their time on the ship. Will they be able go their separate ways after the cruise, or will romance—and careers—bring them together again?
Buy on Amazon
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Gotta Be This or That: A Short Story Duet (Book 0.5)
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