One Sweet Day I Found You: A Sweet Romance Book 1

by Jillian Walsh

  Courtney ran a hand across her cheek. That’s weird. “No problem. Thanks,” she said.

  She scanned the shop’s parking lot for Nick’s jeep. It wasn’t there.

  Hmm. She was sure they were meeting at two. She pulled out her phone and tapped at the screen.

  Are we still on for today? I’m at your shop.

  She waited for the three little dots that meant he was texting her back. But no dots appeared and no reply came. She walked back through the store and out onto the docks, where she found a bench and sat down.

  What happened? This wasn’t like Nick. Although, in all fairness, she’d only known him for about a month now. Maybe it was?

  She scanned the docks, considering her options. Maybe she should drive inside the park, have a look around while she waited. Maybe he’d run home for some reason? She could start researching other bicycle shops for her post in the meantime. She could even try to finish more of the Fourth of July story.

  No big deal. She’d give him the benefit of the doubt. He always answered her texts.

  Courtney drove inside the state park, which was only a stone’s throw away from the docks and the shop. She took the only road apparent from the entrance and followed signs until she found the beach that Nick must’ve been talking about.

  There, she parked in the lot, found an empty spot a few yards back from the water, pulled out her towel and visor, and settled down on the sand. She glanced around.

  A man and two little girls built a sandcastle a few yards from the water’s edge. Other children splashed about in the shallow swimming zone of the lake, designated by orange buoys in the water. A couple of teens practiced standing up on paddleboards further out. Courtney grinned as one of them lost his balance and fell, splashing into the water.

  The sun was warm and the atmosphere pleasant. It didn’t take long before she’d emailed three different bicycle shops on the peninsula about the blog post. Someone was bound to want to answer a few questions if they could be featured on the Visitors Board site, right? Finally, she added a few sentences from her notes to the Independence Day post and sat back.

  Satisfied, Courtney set the phone back in her bag and leaned back on her elbows. She dug her heels into the warm sand and relished the sunshine on her skin.

  She’d have to return to this beach on a regular basis when she had more time to kill. Or when she had fewer questions racing around in her head.

  All of this would have made for a very pleasant afternoon on her own if she hadn’t been intending to spend it with Nick. Had he stood her up? Technically, yes. She chewed on the inside of her cheek. But he probably hadn’t meant to, right?

  She checked to make sure her phone had service here inside the park. Four bars. It did.

  Maybe he’d been called out for a rescue. He told her he was often called out without warning. But, why hadn’t he texted or called by now? He certainly would have, if he could, right?

  The date had been his idea. It was also his first day off in a week. Why would he just leave her hanging like this?

  She hadn’t imagined his interest in her, had she?

  Of course, not. Don’t be silly.

  She dialed his number. It rang and finally went through to voicemail. She hung up without leaving a message. He would see that she called and call her back. It’s what they usually did.

  She was starting to get irritated. But maybe she should be worried, instead? Was something wrong? She chewed on a nail, trying to imagine the most likely scenario. It had to be a search-and-rescue call, right?

  Just then her phone buzzed with a text from Kira. She shook off the irritation that it wasn’t from Nick.

  Hey girl, what are you doing tonight? I finished another round of hotel photos so I’m going out to celebrate. Meet me at The Anchor at 9 for a girls’ night out?

  Well, that was tempting. It sounded like fun. But Courtney hesitated. Was Nick ever going to answer her text today, or call her back? Why hadn’t she heard from him? She checked the time on her phone. It was already four.

  She’d better cut her losses and move on. She huffed, tapping at the phone.

  Thanks, Kira. I’ll be there.

  How hard would it have been for him to send a text?

  Courtney stood and shook the sand off her towel, rolled it up, and squeezed it back into her duffel bag. She could definitely use a girls’ night out.

  Nick sat at a red light tapping his fingers anxiously on the steering wheel. Out on the lake, it seemed that several inexperienced kayakers had caught a dangerous current and drifted too far offshore. Nick had received the call from the dispatch center, jumped in his Jeep, and sped out of the shop’s parking lot as fast as he could without breaking the law.

  The kayakers were now stranded in very deep waters where small vessels like kayaks were not supposed to be.

  It was reported that the six individuals, each in a separate canoe, were now in danger of a collision with a larger vessel. They’d also created a situation in which larger vessels might collide with one another to avoid hitting them.

  Shoot. This was not good.

  And apparently, the wind was kicking up as the afternoon wore on. The water would be choppy.

  The coast guard was heading out to do the search-and-rescue, so Nick and Tom had been called in to act as medics. The other members of the volunteer crew hadn’t been able to take this particular call—one of their crew was already out on another—so Nick had agreed, despite his plans with Courtney. It just wasn’t a situation in which he could say no.

  The red light finally changed to green and he laid on the gas.

  The call had come in about forty minutes before Nick’s shift ended, but the guys at the shop had said they’d be fine without him. The coast guard station was about a fifteen-minute drive. He would text Courtney as soon as he arrived.

  There were reports that one member of the party might be passed out in her rig, not moving. Another kayaker was doing his best to stay next to her.

  Nick guessed that too much sun and a lack of experience had probably played the biggest roles in creating the predicament in which these people now found themselves. He hoped it hadn’t been alcohol, too.

  Nick swore under his breath. Sure, anyone could paddle a canoe, but there were rules and guidelines to follow. Obviously, the people had ignored at least some of those things, or they wouldn’t be in that situation.

  If Nick could make it in time, he’d be on the forty-five-foot response boat deployed by the coast guard.

  Nick slowed at another stop sign. He waited impatiently as a mother and her two children dawdled across the street in front of him.

  He knew the drill for this sort of operation. Upon contact, the team would extract each of the boaters from the water. A second boat would follow to tie up the kayaks so they could be brought back to the marina.

  All parties would be checked out and lifesaving measures would be taken, if needed. But if he didn’t make the boat in time, he’d be left to wait on shore.

  He really didn’t like the scenario where he’d have to wait on shore. For one, there could be other unexpected medical issues that Tom couldn’t easily handle alone.

  Two, things always went more smoothly when the medics had access to the victims at the earliest possible moment.

  And three, he didn’t want Tom to have to deal with six individuals by himself.

  The coast guard would certainly assist and could help with basic measures, but they didn’t employ a medical team, themselves. In this case, the guard would be doing more of the search-and-rescue, while Tom and Nick would be facilitating the emergency medical response.

  Nick really didn’t want to leave Tom on his own. He only hoped he wasn’t too late.

  He leaned into the turn and raced into a parking spot inside the lot of the Heritage Bay coast guard station, which sat on the northern end of town, north of Headland State Park.

  Tom’s car was already here. The boat’s engine hummed as Nick grabbed his emerg
ency supply kit and the duffel bag of personal items that he kept in his Jeep for trips like this. A pair of sunglasses and a change of clothes, among other necessities, often came in handy for a water rescue. He double-timed it toward the rig.

  Hopping up onto the dock, he flashed his identification card and boarded the boat.

  After a few words with Tom and the others, he stopped for a second, pulled up Courtney’s name on his phone, and punched out a few words.

  Got called out—a rescue. Need 2 reschedule. Pls don’t be mad.

  He added the sad face emoji and hit the arrow. Send.

  She’ll understand.

  He turned off his phone to save the battery and tossed it inside his bag. He wouldn’t get any bars out on the water anyway.

  The roar of the boat’s engine signaled they were leaving shore and Nick breathed a sigh of relief. He stood at the back of the boat as it pulled away from the dock, his eyes on the lake as the water churned to white.

  Sixteen

  Kira sauntered across the bar, decked out in form-fitting capris, an off-the-shoulder crop top that showed off the insane core workout she swore by, and a sassy pair of red heels. “Hey girl. What’s up?”

  “Hey!” Courtney reached out for an obligatory hug.

  “You look great!” Kira said.

  Courtney’s strappy tank and a favorite short skirt revealed a little color on her skin. “So do you!”

  “Thanks! So glad you made it. Come on over and meet the ladies.” Kira turned and headed through the smartly-dressed crowd. Courtney followed, grateful that she’d also thrown on a pair of heels.

  The Anchor Bar & Grill was a popular spot for locals and out-of-towners alike. It had an air of sophistication without the pretentiousness. The vibe was youthful even with its cozy maritime memorabilia. With only a small dining room, it was more bar than eatery.

  Courtney wound through groups of people behind Kira. She still hadn’t heard from Nick and assumed something had come up that couldn’t be helped. She knew he volunteered as an EMT and could be called out last minute. What she couldn’t get past was why he hadn’t bothered to let her know if he had.

  Whatever. She wasn’t going to get upset over it. And a girls’ night out would do her some good.

  “Thanks for inviting me! I’ve only been to a few places in town.”

  Kira spoke over her shoulder. “First time here, then?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Let’s fit you with a drink, then, right away. Time’s a wastin’.” They reached a group of tables that had been pulled together. Courtney did a quick count. Seven young women, all looking to be in their late twenties, sat around the group of tables, laughing and talking. Kira stopped in front and motioned, announcing above the hum of the bar. “Courtney, this is everyone. Everyone, this is Courtney Price. New girl on the block.”

  The women looked up from their drinks and conversations and waved. Courtney returned the friendly wave. “Hey.”

  A redhead pulled an empty chair from a nearby table and patted at the cushion on the seat. “Here you go.”

  Courtney took the offer and settled in. “Thanks!”

  Kira took the seat across from Courtney and waved the waiter to the table.

  “Do you have an IPA?” Courtney asked. He named a couple on draft and Courtney ordered one.

  The bar was lively and seemed like a popular place to be, even on a Tuesday night. For a second, she felt a pang of sadness for the Australian friends she’d probably never see again. She’d spent many happy nights chatting over grog at the local pubs like this.

  But Courtney was thrilled to be out. All at once she realized she’d been spending far too much time alone lately. The curse of a writer—a solitary indulgence.

  She smiled at her own cleverness. You dork. Just another reason she needed a night out—she was talking to herself now.

  The girls at the other end of the table had returned to their conversations, and Kira started up a discussion at their end. “Courtney is Sam’s replacement on the blog.” She took a swig of her greyhound.

  Angela raised an eyebrow. “And?”

  “And she’s doing a bang-up job.”

  Courtney batted her eyelashes. “Well, thank you, Miss Nash.”

  “Not that anyone could truly replace Sammy, of course.” Kira grinned sadly. “But gosh, Sam,” Kira said, her voice loud and brazen, “it’s time for mama to move on!”

  The girls sitting close enough to hear roared with laughter.

  “Good for you, Kir.” Angela, always boisterous but well meaning, raised a glass and made a toast. “To moving on!”

  “To moving on,” said Kira, taking another swig. “But, anyway, Courtney’s doing a great job. I can’t wait to tell Sam how Beecham doesn’t even miss him anymore.”

  Kira laughed and Courtney raised an eyebrow, playing along.

  “I need a shot of tequila.” Kira looked around. Kira was good at ignoring and disguising emotions, and drowning them when the situation called for it. “Who else wants a shot?”

  Gia, a blonde bombshell with a genuine-looking smile, raised a hand. “I’ll do one. Can’t let a girl drink alone.”

  Kira patted her on the shoulder. “Good woman, Gia. You were always my favorite.”

  Gia laughed. Kira got up and headed for the bar. “I’ll be right back.”

  Gia turned to Courtney and kept the conversation going among them. “I’m new in town, too—just got here in April. How are you liking it so far?”

  The waiter arrived with Courtney’s beer and dropped off margaritas, wine, and a couple of beers for the other girls.

  “I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one. I’ve been here almost a month.” Courtney gave them a very short history on how she’d ended up in Door County and they all listened with interest.

  After a few questions about her trip, Courtney brought the conversation back to common ground. “So, is this place always so busy, especially on a weeknight?”

  Marcy, the petite redhead sitting next to Courtney, answered. “During the height of the summer, yeah. It’s full of tourists on the weekends, but this early in the week, it’s a mix of the out-of-towners and us locals.” She looked around. “Come to think of it, I don’t recognize a lot of people here tonight. Must be more tourists in town than I thought.”

  Courtney and some of the others nodded. “So, what do you guys do?”

  Marcy spoke for them, gesturing to the girls. “Angela, here, is a bartender at The Hideout.” Angela waved from across the table and flipped back her long, almost jet-black hair. “She just finished her business degree at UW Madison.”

  That’s where Nick had taken Courtney for their first date. “I’ve been to The Hideout. Great place.”

  “Yeah, it’s fun!” Angela said. “I’m sending out resumes and paying off student loans in the meantime. Bartending pays the bills.”

  “And I’m a waitress at the steakhouse down the street,” Marcy said, smoothing her strawberry blonde ponytail. “I just finished my master’s in education. I’ll be subbing in Milwaukee in the fall until a full-time position comes along.”

  “Oh, really?” Courtney said. “That’s great.”

  “Thanks.” Marcy shot her a friendly glance.

  “And I know all about waiting tables. I’ve waited my fair share of them—and poured lots of coffees.”

  Marcy and Angela shared a knowing look.

  “And Gia works for an event-planning company out of Anderson Cove.”

  Gia waved a hand. “It’ll slow down a little in the fall, but we’re super busy this summer. It’s fun, but it’s stressful.”

  “I bet it is. I’ve been to Anderson Cove a few times now. Nice town!” Courtney took another sip of her ice-cold beer and thought about her date with Nick to the resort there. She shook off her irritation that he hadn’t been in touch at all today. “It’s great to meet you all. Cheers to my first girls’ night out in Heritage Bay!”

  The girls clinked their glasses a
nd drank. Courtney was having fun. Things were going well.

  Marcy made a joke and gestured to Angela about a couple of cute guys at the bar. One of them stared back at Marcy, who tilted her head to one side suggestively and made eyes at him.

  “You should go for it.” Angela pushed at Marcy’s shoulder. “Go over there. Now.”

  “No way!” Marcy turned to make a face at Angela. Then she grinned. “He sure is hot, though.” Marcy laughed and crossed one leg over the other, revealing some skin and making an exaggerated sexy face at her friends. “The night is young. We shall see.”

  Angela and the others laughed and everyone went back to their individual conversations.

  Gia turned to Courtney and rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to them.”

  Courtney sipped her beer. “Oh, it’s totally cool.” She waved it off and laughed. Bunch of characters, this group. She liked them.

  The night went on in the same manner. Jokes, laughter, friendly gossip and chitchat. Two-and-a-half hours later, Courtney leaned over to Gia. “Hey, where’s the restroom?”

  “Right back there.” Gia pointed.

  Courtney excused herself. “Thanks. I’ll be right back.”

  With lipstick refreshed and hair combed neatly back in place, Courtney took her time as she squeezed among the other patrons to return to her table. It was standing room only near the bar.

  She glanced up. A White Sox vs. Cardinals game played on the flat-screen television over the bar, and every so often, a few people clapped or cheered when one team or the other did something right.

  Courtney smiled. This was turning out to be a good night. She was glad to meet more people from the area. She thought it wouldn’t take long before she could call herself a local, too. It was great to make some more girlfriends in town.

  Too bad about Nick. But a girls’ night out was always good for the soul.

  Stop talking to yourself, Courtney thought. You sound like your mother.

  It was the alcohol talking. She laughed at herself.