One Hundred Promises

by Kelly Collins

  She couldn’t help herself. The mention of Adam had her eyes skimming his body and landing at his zipper. A silly giggle burst forth. “No, you are definitely not Adam.” She held her hands out roughly three inches apart and expanded the space to eight.

  Wes covered her hands and expanded it by an inch. “If we’re going to be transparent, we should use facts.” His chuckle warmed her heart.

  “What are the facts?” She rested her hands on her thighs. His fell to his side.

  “Courtney was a bad decision made in haste. We got along and enjoyed each other. We married impetuously.” He winked. “Another big word.”

  “Seriously? Aren’t we over that?”

  Wes shook his head. “I’m going to milk that for all it’s worth.”

  “Whatever. Go on, Mr. I’m a Simple Man with a Killer Vocabulary.”

  “Not much more to say. We had different goals. She wanted a law degree and big city living. I’m not interested in that.”

  “I’d say you communicated poorly?” Wasn’t that the problem she had with Adam? Their issues went beyond lack of communication. Hell, they lacked everything.

  “I’d have to agree.” He leaned back in the chair and stretched his long legs in front of him.

  Lydia had a hard time concentrating. She’d seen him naked. Even though he was fully clothed, she still saw him nude in her mind.

  “Seems to be an epidemic with relationships.” Lydia looked to the opening of the tent. “Courtney doesn’t seem like she’s received the message you two are divorced.”

  He rocked his head from side to side. “She’s a friend. She’s a good woman. She’s just not my woman.”

  Lydia let that soak in for a minute. “What if she had stayed here? Would you still love her?”

  Wes leaned forward, only inches from her face. “I’m not sure love was ever a part of the equation. I’m not going to kiss and tell. It’s not my style. All I can say is she never lived here. We lived in Denver when we were married. It was a short union, and she moved to Boston.”

  Lydia rubbed her face in her hands. “So she was great in bed.” When she looked at Wes, she saw nothing in his expression. He’d masked it because that was the man he was. He wouldn’t tell her sister they’d kissed, and he wouldn’t tell Lydia that somehow Courtney had a magical vagina. “She called you her Wes. I don’t think she’s finished with you yet.”

  “Are you jealous?”

  Was she? The answer was yes, but she had no reason to be. Wes wasn’t hers. She had no plans to stay in Aspen Cove. Anything that happened between them would be superficial and short-lived.

  “No, of course not. I have no claim to you.”

  “We kissed.” He shifted forward so they touched foreheads. “It was a great kiss.”

  There was no hope for her. She needed to know. “Better than kissing Courtney?” She drew back and lifted a brow.

  Wes narrowed his eyes. “Still trying to get me to talk, are you?”

  “A girl has to know her strengths.”

  He leaned back and smiled. “Kissing is one of yours.”

  Happiness bubbled inside her. The effervescent feeling brought a smile to her face.

  “I love it when your smile reaches your eyes. They almost change color. Go from steely gray to sunny sky blue. Beautiful.”

  “How the hell are you single?” Lydia couldn’t imagine how Courtney could have wanted something more than Wes.

  “Interesting question coming from the woman who alphabetized my dry goods and did my laundry. I have my faults.”

  “Being sloppy and disorganized aren’t deal breakers. Those are bad habits, not character flaws. You can correct a habit, while with a character flaw you’re stuck.”

  “I don’t know what that asshole did to you outside of what you told me, but he let a good thing go.”

  “Thank you for seeing good in me. Even if it’s only my kissing skills.”

  Wes laughed. “Let’s not forget your OCD, that’s been beneficial to me. Let’s talk about your lack of respect for personal space.”

  She tried to suppress a smile. “Oh you mean the show you gave me in the bathroom? To leave would have been disrespectful,” she teased.

  “To stay can get you in trouble.” He leaned in and brushed his lips across hers. “Might get me in trouble. I’m not looking for trouble.”

  God she wanted a little trouble. Needed a little trouble if it came packaged as Wes. Grandma Dotty always said the best way to get over one man was to get under another.

  “What are you looking for?”

  “Forever.”

  That answer deflated her like a popped balloon. She’d never be his forever. She had no business pretending she could be.

  She stood up and walked around the table. Gaining distance was important considering she couldn’t think when he was near.

  “I imagine you should stop kissing me then. I’ll never be your forever. I’d be another Courtney. But if you change your mind and want a here-for-now girl, I’d be interested.”

  Wes stood and walked up to her. He wrapped his arms around her and tugged her to his chest. “Thanks for being honest. I can’t tell you what to wish for in life, but I can tell you that sometimes you get what you want in the unlikeliest of places. Wealth can be measured in more ways than money. Success doesn’t need a title.” He brushed his lips against her forehead and walked out of the tent.

  Lydia went back to her chair, but she didn’t have much time to think about his words because Bailey Brown came in crying.

  Lydia lifted her to the portable exam table. “What’s wrong, little one?”

  Mrs. Brown huffed. “She got stung by a bee.”

  A chill raced through Lydia. “Show me where?”

  The little girl lifted her leg and pointed to a red spot on her plump thigh.

  “I tried to pull it out, but it only made it worse,” Mrs. Brown swiped at the tears under Bailey’s cheeks. “Stop your crying, it’s over now.”

  Something inside Lydia reared up like a cobra ready to strike. “It’s far from over, Mrs. Brown. She has a stinger leaking venom into her leg. Have you ever been stung?” Lydia squirted hand sanitizer on her palms and rubbed them together before she gloved up.

  “No. I haven’t been stung, but it’s not the end of the world.”

  Heat surged through her. “Have you ever been burned?”

  Mrs. Brown stared at her daughter’s bee sting while Lydia scraped at the stinger with a blunt instrument while Bailey cried.

  “Yes.”

  “Hurt bad, right? Imagine that heat coursing through your body. That’s how this feels.” When the stinger popped free, Lydia pressed a piece of white medical tape to it and showed Bailey. “It all gone, sweetie.” She cleaned off the area and covered it with a Band-Aid. After she tossed her gloves, she reached for the smiley face stickers and handed Bailey the whole pack. “Bee stings are the worst. You deserve extras.”

  Bailey wiped her tears and smiled.

  “Sounds like you have experience with stings.”

  Lydia expected Cassidy Brown to push back since she’d basically handed her her ass over her lack of empathy toward her daughter, but instead she smiled.

  “I’m allergic to them. For me it’s a life-or-death matter.”

  Cassidy’s eyes got big. She looked down at the swollen spot on Bailey’s leg. “Will she be okay?”

  Lydia patted Cassidy’s back. “She’s a tough little monkey, this one. The swelling should go down in a few hours. If it doesn’t, call the clinic.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Nichols. I really appreciate you taking care of Bailey.”

  When she looked back at the little girl, she was covered in smiley face stickers. Lydia helped her off the table. “Don’t forget, those don’t go up your nose.”

  Bailey laughed. “No silly, only fingers and Kleenex belong in your nose.” She looked to her mom for approval.

  Cassidy sighed, “One step at a time.”

  Sage walked in
with two plates of burgers as the Browns walked out. “So, did you and Wes make up?”

  “There is no me and Wes, but yes, he cleared it all up. He married her for sex.”

  Sage choked on her first bite. “He did not say that.”

  Lydia’s shoulder shook. “No, but I read between the lines. They’re friends now.”

  “He must be a great guy. Few couples can be friends after a breakup.”

  “He is a great guy, just not my guy. He wants a forever. I’m leaving.” She opened the burger to find it doctored exactly the way she liked it. Sage knew what she wanted. Maybe Wes was right, knowing someone well had benefits.

  “You’re older but far from wiser.” Sage marched behind the table. “Who are you trying to prove something to? Adam? Our dead parents? Grandma? You’re a success. One of the best damn doctors I know, but you’re not the brightest. Maybe it’s time for a self-examination to find out what you really want.”

  “I know what I want.”

  “Fine, but while you’re working eighteen hours a day and going home alone, don’t call me when you’re lonely. I’ll be too busy telling my family how successful their aunt is.”

  “That was a shitty thing to say.” Ten years ago Lydia would have yanked her sister’s red curls and taken her to the ground. If her head didn’t still ache from too much wine, she would have.

  “It was, but sometimes the truth hurts. I’m not saying Wes is your guy, but you’ll never have a man if you don’t find a balance in your life. All work and no play makes Lydia a bitch.”

  They moved to opposite sides of the tent and ate in silence. If not for the few cuts and scrapes they treated, neither of them would have spoken a word.

  When Bowie arrived to dismantle the first aid station, all Lydia could think about was a glass of wine. One glass to ease the tension.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Disappointment weighed him down. It wasn’t as if Wes was searching for the perfect woman to share his life, but when perfect showed up, his hopes were buoyed. Lydia was perfect. Hotter than hell with a spitfire personality, she fascinated him. Add to that the intelligence of Einstein, and lips that tasted of honey, and he thought he’d won the lottery.

  The problem was Lydia had dreams, and those dreams didn’t include Aspen Cove or him.

  Instead of sticking around the park where the woman he didn’t want to kiss hung all over him and the one he did hid in a tent, he headed back to the work site. Side by side he labored with the Lockharts until half the machinery was dismantled and moved. When five o’clock rolled around, he invited them to Bishop’s Brewhouse for a beer.

  The little bar was bustling when they arrived. Not a surprise since the entire population of Aspen Cove seemed to be present.

  Cannon slid a stout across the bar and glanced at the Lockhart brothers. “What can I get ya?”

  They asked for lagers so Cannon took four frosted mugs from the cooler and pulled a pitcher. “Cheaper this way.”

  Wes lifted his hand. “It’s on me.”

  He hadn’t noticed Courtney at the bar until she sidled up next to him. “You buying?” She clung to him like lint to tape.

  “Why not? I pay everything else for you.”

  Noah elbowed him. “You gonna introduce us?” He eyed Courtney like she was barbecued meat and he was sauce.

  “Sure.” He pointed to each person. “Noah. Ethan. Bayden. Quinn.” Then he pointed to Courtney. “This is Courtney, my—”

  “Friend,” she finished. She stepped forward and stood in front of Bayden. He seemed to be a female favorite. Turns out he was lots of women’s type. Considering he was over six feet tall, muscles like a superhero, and the face of a model, it made sense.

  “Pool?” he asked the unoccupied brothers.

  They walked over to the felt and racked the balls. Bayden thankfully stayed with Courtney.

  “Damn, you get the hot ones,” Noah said. “First the doc and now the model?”

  Wes laughed. “It’s a curse.”

  “Seriously,” Ethan added, “how the hell do you find the only two single women within a twenty-mile radius?”

  Wes nodded toward Courtney. “That one is my ex and lives in Boston. She’s in the state visiting her parents and crashed the ribbon cutting party. As for the doc?” Wes looked around the crowded bar and found Lydia at the end sipping a glass of white wine. She stared back at him as if she knew he was talking about her. “Like she told you at the house, she’s temporary.”

  “Best kind.”

  Unless you want more. “How about you? You got a girl?”

  Noah laughed. “Hell no. Why stop at one when you can have them all?”

  Wes remembered those days. Long nights. Lots of women. “How old are you?”

  “Thirty-six,” Noah answered.

  “Thirty-four,” Ethan said. He pointed to Quinn and Bayden. “The twins are thirty-two.”

  “Twins?” He glanced at the two brothers, who were like night and day. One had sandy-colored hair, the other almost black like the night. “Would have never guessed it.”

  “Not identical. Just shared the same room. Haven’t been able to share anything since,” Noah said. “You care if he’s hitting on your ex?”

  Wes leaned against the pool table. Did he? He didn’t have to wait around to find out. Bayden leaned into Courtney and brushed his lips along her jaw line. She giggled, then turned to Wes to see if he was watching. He imagined he should have felt something, but he didn’t. Instead of a flood of jealousy or a pang of possessiveness, all he felt was relief. If she was glued to a Lockhart, she wouldn’t be glued to him.

  “She’s a big girl and can decide for herself.” When she wrapped her arms around Bayden’s neck and kissed him, Wes felt nothing.

  But when he saw a tourist walk up to Lydia and lean in to speak to her over the noise, his blood boiled. He gripped the cue like a weapon and took a step forward.

  Noah moved in front of him. “Step it back. You don’t want to ruin a good day with a stupid action.”

  Wes’s grip loosened on the cue. “You’re right, but I don’t want anyone messing with her. She’s had a tough year.”

  “Is that the only reason?” Noah looked over his shoulder toward Lydia. “I’d say you like her.”

  “I do, but it doesn’t matter. She’s set on leaving.”

  Noah filled his mug while Quinn racked the balls. “Make her want to stay.”

  “How do I do that when she has each foot pointed in two different directions?”

  “Put yourself in front of one foot.” He took the spot next to Wes, and they both stared at Lydia, who ignored the man and turned back to the bar and her wine.

  “I’m not looking for here today, gone tomorrow. I want long-term.”

  “Man, long term starts one day a time.”

  Funny how a man who wanted one and done gave him the wisest long-term advice. There was no future with Lydia if he couldn’t make her see the value of each day. He’d wheedle his way past her resistance and make her see how much Aspen Cove offered. Hell, how much he offered.

  An hour later, Lydia hugged her sister and left the bar. Two hours later he finished his game with the Lockharts. Courtney had moved on to another man. When Wes noticed she was unsteady on her feet, he walked over to her.

  “Be safe. Don’t drink and drive.”

  She gave him an exaggerated eye roll. “Oh please, don’t pretend like you care.”

  “We’re not together, but it doesn’t mean I don’t care. I may not love you, but I don’t want to see you hurt.”

  She smiled. “So you care. I’m touched.”

  “Don’t turn it into more than it is. Be safe.” Wes settled his tab and asked Cannon to make sure Courtney got someplace safe. Once he was certain she’d be taken care of, he headed home.

  Sarge beat him to the door. As soon as it opened, he raced into the living room and jumped into Lydia’s lap.

  Wes heard the air rush from her lungs with an ooompf. “Jeez, so
rry about that. The dog has lost his mind around you.”

  She wrapped her arms around Sarge’s neck and buried her face in his fur. When she pulled back, she said, “We sleep together. That builds a connection fast.”

  Wes let that soak in. Maybe his thought process was wrong. Maybe here-for-now might lead to long-term.

  “Lucky damn dog.” He turned to see what was on the television. What he saw surprised him. “Never took you for a thriller lover.”

  She pushed Sarge off her lap and curled into the corner of the sofa. “I love things that make my heart race. Maybe it’s why I love emergency medicine. I’m an adrenaline junkie.”

  He tucked that bit of information into his back pocket. “Care if I join you? I’ll make popcorn.”

  “You don’t have any.” Her lower lip stuck out in a pout.

  “You haven’t found my stash.”

  She perked up. “You have a stash?”

  He offered her his hand and pulled her to her feet. “Follow me. I’ll hook you up.”

  They entered the kitchen with Sarge on their heels. He went straight for the kibble while Wes pulled a Jiffy Pop from the freezer. “It stays fresh if you freeze it.”

  “Jiffy Pop? No microwave popcorn?”

  He shook his head and raised the tin pan. “You haven’t had anything until you’ve had Jiffy Pop.” He turned on the stovetop and placed the pan over the heat.

  Lydia tried twice to hop onto the counter, but she couldn’t lift herself, so Wes gripped her hips and set her on the granite next to him.

  “You smell like peaches again.”

  “Katie got Bowie to go in and get my stuff from the bathroom. They said Abby is coming home next week so I should be able to get back to my place soon.”

  That bit of information meant Wes had to work fast. Having Lydia in his house was perfect. The moment she moved out, things would become impossible. He couldn’t very well stand in her path if he couldn’t get in the same room with her.

  He brushed by her, leaned into her and over her while the popcorn cooked. It was perfect when he needed the salt from the cupboard above her head. Instead of ducking, she leaned into him and he absorbed her weight. He spent way too much time looking for the salt shaker that sat in front of him, but he liked the way she felt against his body.