Sweet Sunrise (Indigo Bay Sweet Romance Book 3)

by Kay Correll

  “I’ll be okay, Will. Don’t worry about me.”

  “I know you’ll be okay. You always are.” He reached across the table and took her hand. “Caroline’s right. This will blow over. Things will go back to normal.”

  “I hope so for Doc Browning’s sake.”

  Ashley’s phone rang and she snatched her hand back. She dug out her phone. “It’s Jerri Lynn.” She tapped the screen and answered the call. “Okay. Yes. Okay, I’ll be right there.”

  Ashley put the phone back in her purse. “I’ve got to go. I actually had an emergency come in.”

  “Go on, I’ll get this.”

  “Thanks, and Will?”

  “Yes?”

  “Thanks for coming with me and trying to cheer me up.”

  “Any time.”

  He watched Ashley hurry out of the restaurant and went back to eating his pecan pie. And the last half of Ashley’s. No use letting a good piece of pie go to waste.

  Caroline came over and slipped into Ashley’s vacated seat. “So… you and Ashley?”

  “There is no me and Ashley. I was just trying to cheer her up a bit.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I do say so.” He set his glass down on the table with an emphatic that-is-that.

  “Can I just say one more thing?” Caroline look directly at him.

  “Can I stop you?”

  “Probably not.” Caroline smiled. “I can see the way you look at her. Maybe it’s time you gave yourself a second chance with her.”

  “Ashley doesn’t want a second chance with me. She has her plans and she never varies from them. Everyone knows that. She plans so she can control her world… though this Vicki thing is putting her in a spin.” He leaned forward. “Anyway, I’m leaving pretty soon.”

  “Maybe there’s a reason you came back to Indigo Bay right now. Maybe it’s to give yourself a second chance with Ashley. Maybe it’s to give yourself a chance to make peace with your father. Sometimes the universe gives you what you need whether you know you need it or not.”

  Will fiddled with the spoon in front of him. “I think it was all a coincidence. Well, Whitney didn’t tell me that Warren was here, or I never would have come.”

  “Yes, you would have. You’ll always come when Whitney needs you.” Caroline contradicted his protest.

  He sighed. “I can never say no to Whit. You’re right there.”

  “Maybe it’s time you make peace with all your past, Will. As we grow older we sort out our past. Make peace with what we can. People change, you know. Maybe you need to give them a chance. Forgive people and move on.” She reached over and settled his hand that was still fidgeting with the spoon. “Maybe it’s time for you to do that.”

  Caroline got up without another word, and walked away to wait on some new customers entering Sweet Caroline’s. He took the last sip of his tea.

  Maybe Caroline was right. Maybe it was time to grow up and make peace with his past. The problem? He’d no clue how to do that.

  Chapter 10

  Will barbecued burgers for dinner, then Whit had insisted on washing the dishes and Warren had gone in to watch a baseball game on TV. Will wandered out on the beach to catch the reflections of the sunset. He strolled aimlessly down the beach with his mind in a whirl of memories from the past and feelings from the last week.

  His father was not at all what he expected, though Will still half expected him to just up and leave as soon as he was recovered enough to get around on his own. It’s what Warren did best… disappear.

  Then there was the whole Ashley thing. Even though she’d broken his heart and he knew better than to trust her, he was still drawn to her. She had an irresistible pull that tugged at him and made him forget his resolve to stay unattached to anyone who might leave him again. Ashley definitely fit that bill.

  As if the universe were laughing at him, he glanced up to see Ashley slowly walking towards him, seemingly conjured up from his thoughts. She lifted a hand in a small wave as she approached.

  “Looks like we had the same idea. It’s such a lovely evening. The weather has been perfect this week, hasn’t it?”

  Sure, he could talk about the weather with the best of them. He turned back toward the way he’d come and fell into step beside her. “Yep, nice weather.”

  Why would they talk about something important or meaningful… like the fact that the sunset was throwing rays of color across the delicate curves of her cheeks, or the fact that her lips were the tiniest bit moist and he longed to lean over and kiss them?

  “Supposed to heat up soon.” He meant the weather, not the air between them that crackled with electricity. Surely she felt it too?

  “I heard that. Getting much warmer next week. Spring is always such a roller coaster here in Indigo Bay.”

  “Ash.” He reached out a hand and stopped her, knowing he was making a mistake. A really big mistake.

  She turned slowly to face him.

  “I swear, if I don’t kiss you within the next ten seconds…” He leaned forward and pressed a questioning kiss against her soft lips.

  She slipped a hand onto his shoulder and stepped closer. He wrapped an arm around her and deepened the kiss. A kiss filled with years-long urgency. A kiss he’d thought would never happen again.

  She finally pulled back and looked directly into his eyes. “I… I’m not sure that was very smart…”

  “Probably not.” He shrugged and pulled her close to him, holding her wrapped in his arms. It probably wasn’t the brightest idea he’d ever had, but he wanted to kiss her again.

  She rested her head against his shoulder, and they stood looking out at the sea. A peace settled over him, one he hadn’t felt in years. Ashley had this way of making him feel like he was right where he was supposed to be.

  Ashley could feel Will’s heart pounding as she leaned against his chest. Their hearts beat in sync, drawing them closer.

  Closer to danger.

  Because Will Layton was not part of her carefully mapped-out plans.

  He gently reached over and tilted her face to his. She sank into another one of his delicious kisses. She could remember every nuance of his lips, of his touch.

  This time he pulled back and looked at her. “I’ve missed you, Ash. Missed these kisses. Missed our friendship.”

  She looked at the golden rays of sunset illuminating every angle of his face, the one that had haunted her dreams for years. “I’ve missed you, too.”

  This day was not turning out like she’d planned, from the sudden lack of patients to the kiss that stirred up feelings she’d spent years burying deep from conscious thought.

  Will traced a finger along her cheek, leaving a burning trail of memories in its wake. Her world started spinning out of control, a feeling she hated with every fiber of her being. Never, ever, would she let circumstances or anyone control her life. Not anymore.

  She took a tentative step backwards. Then another one, more determined this time. “Will, we can’t do this.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because… well, because.”

  “That’s a valid reason.” He cocked his head to one side and watched her every move. He reached out a hand and slowly encircled her wrist, pulling her gently back to him.

  She didn’t even try to resist. She fell into his arms and his kisses rained down on her. She’d give into the kisses now, and sort out rational thought later. That was a plan she could deal with.

  Ashley sat on the edge of her bed, slowly unbraiding her hair. The light from the lamp on her nightstand spilled across the silky softness of the comforter. She reached a hand up and touched her lips. She could still feel the heat of his kisses, feel the way her heart had flip-flopped when Will held her. She could feel the way he’d kissed her one last time when he walked her back to her cottage and she’d watched him saunter away in the moonlight.

  What was she thinking? He wasn’t part of her life now. He lived three states away, bartending, still floating through
life.

  She had plans.

  She had goals.

  And her life marched in rigid step with those goals.

  She rose from the bed and crossed over to the window. With a tug, she threw open the window and let the sea breeze rush in, soothing her jangled nerves. The tangy scent washed over her. Every inch of her skin felt alive tonight.

  Will had always been able to do this to her, throw her off-center and make her question herself. He’d always tried to encourage her to do spontaneous things. Like years ago there was that time they’d jumped into the ocean at midnight under the full moon, fully clothed, swimming and splashing and laughing. The heady feeling of freedom had washed over her as they’d frolicked in the waves. It had been one of the best nights of her life, and she remembered every little detail of it.

  But one week later there’d no longer been a Will and Ashley.

  She’d broken up with him in her anger over him dropping out of high school. Who did that? A person needed a high school education and college or at least some kind of training to get on in this world, to be a success.

  She stared out the window at the waves shimmering in the moonlight. Though, to be honest, she’d followed her careful plans and returned to Indigo Bay intent on proving to the people in town she was more than that girl from the wrong side of town. And look where that had gotten her…

  Vicki had crushed her dreams with a few well-placed rumors.

  She crossed to her bed and flopped down on the comforter, sprawling her arms wide, staring up at the lazy blades of the slowly revolving ceiling fan. It spun in circles, just like her life was doing these days.

  Chapter 11

  Ashley awoke the next morning still sprawled on her bed in her clothes and twisted in the covers. She scrubbed her hand over her face, chasing away the last vestige of sleep. A bit of light slipped through the open window. She sat up and stretched her arms.

  The pity party of yesterday was over.

  She pushed off the bed and glanced out at the beginning of the sunrise. A new day, a new beginning. A new day was as wondrous to her as turning the page to a new day in her planner. A blank page, ready to be filled with steps towards her goals.

  Vicki couldn’t ruin her hard won status in this town. Ashley wouldn’t let her. She walked over to the dresser, her mind whirling with thoughts, grabbed her planner, and started jotting down ideas. Somehow, some way, she was going to expand the clinic’s business before Doc Browning returned, and she was going to get him to ask her to stay on. Then everyone in Indigo Bay would see that she’d made a success of her life and know she was a competent doctor.

  She might even convince the Ashford Belles to let her join in their exclusive club.

  Today was going to be a great day.

  Today was starting out as a lousy one.

  Will swiped at the stream of spilled orange juice from the glass that had slipped from Warren’s hand.

  “I’m sorry about that.” Warren sat at the table, mopping up the spill on the tabletop while Will knelt on the floor. Where was Whitney this morning? It was her idea for Warren to be here so she could help him…

  “Not your fault. I should have made sure you had a grip on it before I let go.” Will picked up the pieces of broken glass.

  He was always picking up the pieces here in Indigo Bay.

  He was annoyed he’d overslept this morning and missed any chance to see Ashley before she left for work, but it was no wonder he’d slept in. He’d spent most of the night tossing and turning, wavering between being thrilled he’d connected with Ashley again and reliving every moment of every kiss last night, and chastising himself, wondering what the heck he was doing. Hadn’t he sworn off women, especially women who’d proven they leave him?

  You’d think he would have learned his lesson by now. If you let people get too close to you, if you cared about them… they would eventually leave you, one way or the other. Like his mother had. Like his father had. Like Ashley had.

  Why would he set himself up for that again?

  He wouldn’t.

  Last night was a mistake. It was the last time he’d kiss Ashley. It was. He turned around in determination to see Whitney standing there watching him.

  “You were out late last night, Willie.” Whitney cocked her head to one side.

  “Didn’t know I had a curfew.”

  “You don’t.” His sister lounged against the counter. “So, I also noticed Whitney’s light come on right after I heard you come inside. Were you two out together?”

  “I don’t owe you explanations on my comings and goings, Whit.”

  “Ah, I thought so.” Whitney grinned. “I knew you two would reconnect. You’re perfect for each other.”

  “As seen by the fact that we broke up and never saw each other again for years.” Surely Whitney wouldn’t miss the sarcasm…

  “Minor misstep on your way to happiness. Trust me.”

  “Sure, I trust you. Because you always tell me the truth. The whole truth. No details left out.” He pinned her with a glare and nodded his head towards Warren.

  “I tell you what you need to know.” Whit grinned again then shrugged.

  “No, you tell me what you want me to know.”

  “That, too.” His sister reached into the cabinet for a coffee mug. “Because I usually know better than you, brother dear, what’s good for you.”

  “You don’t say.” He scowled, unwilling to share the details of his night with Ashley, mainly because he wasn’t sure himself how he felt about last night. Yes he did. It wasn’t going to happen again. Ever.

  “I do say. I’m your biggest fan, Willie. You know that. I just want… I want you to be happy.”

  “I’m the happiest darn man alive, sis.” Will whirled around and slammed out of the cottage.

  Will pushed through the door of Sweet Caroline’s. In the hurry to leave Whitney’s house, he realized he hadn’t bothered to fix himself something to eat for breakfast. One of Caroline’s cinnamon rolls and a big mug of coffee should turn his morning around.

  Or not.

  He stared at the familiar fancy braid across the room. Ashley had her back to him, but he recognized the set of her shoulders. She was scribbling furiously in her planner. Always her planner. He didn’t think he was ready to face her so soon.

  What if?

  What if, what?

  What if she smiled at him and leaned up for him to kiss her? Would he kiss her? What if she got up and ran out? What if she didn’t feel the same way he did about last night? How the heck did he feel about last night?

  Caroline walked up to him and tilted her head towards Ashely. “Ashley’s sitting by the window, you should go sit with her.”

  “I think I’ll go eat elsewhere.” He needed more time to sort things out. Lots more time… like how many more days was he supposed to be here in Indigo Bay?

  “You know you want a cinnamon roll.”

  “I think I’m not hungry now.”

  “Never knew you for a coward.” Caroline swished at him with the dish towel she had in her hand. “Go on. Sit with her.”

  Caroline was just like Whitney. Both of them always got their way. Always. It was a manner they had about them. People just seemed to do what they asked.

  Will sighed. “Okay, I’m going over there. But I’m just stating for the record that I don’t think it’s a very good idea.”

  He crossed over to where Whitney had her head bowed over her planner, her pen busily writing in the swirling penmanship of perfectly formed letters.

  “Hey, Ash.”

  She looked up and smiled at him, then the smile slipped from her face as if she’d deliberately taken it and hidden it away. “Morning.”

  “Mind if I join you?”

  She paused, then gave a little nod.

  He slipped into the chair across from her, though he wanted to sit in the chair right beside her, but he was unsure of—well, everything. He reached for the menu on the table, not that he needed it, as
he knew everything on it. Not much had changed over the years at Sweet Caroline’s, which was strangely comforting this morning. A waitress came over and he ordered a cinnamon roll and coffee while Ashley sat without saying a word.

  He looked out the window at the people strolling by. Townspeople heading to work. Tourists out enjoying the early morning sunshine. No one rushing. No one as confused as he was…

  “We should talk.” Ashley interrupted his thoughts.

  “About?” He knew darn well what they should talk about.

  “Last night.”

  “You think it was a mistake, don’t you?” He could see it in her eyes.

  “I didn’t say that.”

  He sat in stony silence and stared at her, waiting for the words he feared most.

  “Will, I care about you. I always have. You were my first love, my best friend.”

  He crossed his arms and waited for the but…

  “But we still want different things from life. I want to stay in Indigo Bay, and you’ve always made it clear that you can’t stand the town and can’t wait to leave.” She leaned forward. “But… but, I wish we could still stay friends. Just friends.”

  That seemed like the smart approach. Friends. Because that was about as much of his heart he was willing to give to this woman who’d had such a hold over him. She was right. The kisses last night had been a really big mistake. Really big.

  And, of course, Ashley would be the one to call it quits.

  “You’re right. It’s pointless to see if this goes anywhere. We’ve done that before. Besides, I’m going to be really busy wrapping things up for Whitney before it’s time for me to leave.” He almost believed his words.

  “So we’ll still be friends?”

  “Sure.” He could be friends with her for a few days, right?

  Will left Sweet Caroline’s after an awkward breakfast with Ashley. He’d agreed they should just be friends, so why did her suggestion… sting? It was the sensible thing to do. Besides, maybe he wouldn’t even see Ashley again before he left town.

  That thought caused a momentary panic to race through him, which he promptly stomped down. He didn’t care if he saw her again or not. It would probably be best if he didn’t see her again.