SIERA LONDON
CHASING AVA
A BACHELOR OF SHELL COVE NOVEL
CHASING AVA
Copyright © 2015 by Siera London
Digital ISBN: 978-0-9864243-0-4
Print ISBN-13: 978-0-9864243-1-1
Cover art by The Author’s Secret
Image copyright © javiindy - Fotolia.com, © Peter Atkins - Fotolia.com
Edited by Rebecca Martin of Bare Essentials Publishing
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For permission please contact the author at www.sieralondon.com.
This is a work of fiction. Certain real locations are mentioned, however, all names, characters, events and incidents described in this book are used fictitiously or a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Dear Reader,
The Bachelors of Shell Cove series grew out of my love for my hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, the nursing profession and my twenty-two years of service in the United States Navy. The city of Shell Cove, the setting for this novel, is a fictional portrayal of Florida’s beautiful northeast coast. In tribute to nurses in uniform and out, the heroine of CHASING AVA transitions from a civilian career to commissioned officer status in the US Navy Nurse Corps.
In CHASING AVA you’ll meet the Walters and Masters families and the colorful staff of Shell Cove Medical Center. I hope you enjoy Logan and Ava’s story, as well as the other romances in the Bachelors of Shell Cove series. I love to hear from readers. You can contact me at my website, www.sieralondon.com, and chat with me on Facebook.
All the best in life,
Siera
Dedication
To my phenomenal husband ~ whose loving support and patience through the years made this writing journey possible.
To the amazing ladies in my life - my mom, Lenora, Veronica, and Natasha, thank you for believing in me before one word was on the paper.
To the most awesome critique partners and beta readers a neurotic writer can have -Tammy, Soni, Cherlyn, and Devri, this book would still be filed in my computer without your invaluable input.
To my fabulous mentors, Mary Wine, Elizabeth Johns, Tamra Lassiter, and L. Francis, I cannot thank you enough for helping me chase my dream.
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
-Hebrews 11:1
Chapter 1
Ava stood in the elegantly adorned grand foyer outside of the Coastal Towers ballroom, her feet firmly rooted to the plush carpeted floor. Adjusting the non-existent watch at her wrist for the third time, she remained frozen as a statue in front of the ballroom entrance. A random assembly of colleagues made eye contact with her, offered greetings, and moved along without a second glance. She shouldn’t have agreed to come out tonight.
To her left, she had a picture perfect view of the city’s namesake, Shell Cove, and the larger Queens Bay in the distance. A scattering of waterfront mansions with private docks and moored yachts dotted the waterscape. Nestled on the east coast of the Atlantic Ocean thirty miles south of the Georgia border, Shell Cove was an eclectic mix of historic waterfront communities, an urban luxury city center to the west, and seven pearly sand beaches covering twenty miles of coastline. The temperate Florida weather coupled with year round golf, a wealth of cultural attractions and the subtle affluence of the region made Shell Cove a haven for a diverse group of residents. With her peripheral vision she saw the frown on her best friend’s face.
“Ava Elaine Walters you can’t back out. You are two size-seven stilettos away from the party.” Lina chided.
Lina James, her best friend since elementary school gave being an extrovert a new meaning. They both were registered nurses at Shell Cove Medical Center, or SCMC for short. The clinicians at SCMC were the leaders in medical research in the Northern Florida area and Ava was proud to be a part of the team. Though she and Lina shared the same profession, the two of them couldn’t be more different. Lina was cocoa to Ava’s butterscotch complexion. Ava’s petite frame lacked the fluid poetry of Lina’s full curves. Lina had the type of figure that teenaged boys cut out of magazines and hid under their mattresses. Ava lived her life backstage while Lina chose to be in the center spotlight.
She’d allowed Lina to talk her into a group social event. Ava had sworn off non-clinical social interactions six years ago. If she hadn’t known someone before spring semester of her sophomore year then there was a “no admittance sign” firmly tacked on her forehead. She did not let anyone new into her inner circle.
Pop tunes wafted through the lobby with every evening gown clad young woman entering the ballroom. A reliable indication, that the SCMC fundraiser gala had hit its full swing.
“It was a mistake to come. I’m horrible at social interaction. Thanks to you and Jace I left the house on a Saturday night. That’s celebration enough for me.” Tonight would be classified as another foolish decision, in a long list of errors.
“It’s a Christmas miracle and you’d be better at interacting if you tried it more often.” Lina rolled her eyes heavenward, the hint of laughter reflected on her face.
“Don’t worry about driving me back home. Go join Jace inside. The valet can hail me a cab.”
“I’m not worried because we are going to sashay through this door together.” Lina pointed to the twin ornate brass handles on the twenty-foot high doors.
Ava ground her teeth in frustration. Nothing grated on her nerves more than friends and family telling her what to do. The worst part, they genuinely believed she needed direction. The fault lay with her. How had she sunk to making those closest to her feel responsible for her life? It was official. She had baby-bird syndrome. She was dependent and too weak to leave the nest. She should have been a nurse in the United States Navy, with Janna, her college roommate, but fear kept her tethered to the familiarity of home. Pathetic.
“We both know what’s waiting for you at home.” Lina placed her hands on her hips, careful not to crease the fabric. Ever the diva. Hands on her hips meant Lina was ready to drive her point home.
“How could ‘we’ know that when I’m not at home?” She smiled at her snappy come back.
Her response earned her a “you’ve got to be kidding me” look, from Lina. Taking her arm Lina led her to the coved seating area away from the ballroom doors.
“I know all about your grandmother’s Holy Ghost hook-ups. Let me activate my super powers and predict your future. This, my reclusive friend, is a retelling of the voicemail you received before we picked you up tonight.”
Lina paused before raising her elbows and stacking her forearms in an, I Dream of Jeannie imitation. Of the two of them, Lina was hands down the Grand Diva of dramatic gestures.
“Granny Lou has invited another borderline social security recipient to Sunday dinner.” Ava gave no outward appearance of hearing the statement. Lina continued on. “She’s hopeful that you’ll show a remote interest in the male species before Jesus calls her back to Heaven.” At that, her best friend offered an, I know I’m right expression. Ava had more than a remote interest in one man. And he was probably on the other side of those ballroom doors. She chose to ignore said interest.
Did the entire populace know that her grandmother had taken on the mission of finding Ava an eligible man to marry?
Unfortunately for Ava, her grandmother’s social circle consisted of the seniors club and the church auxiliary. Louise Stanton, affectionately known as Granny Lou was well-intentioned, but also a meddlesome matchmaker packaged into five foot two inches of sparky banter and sequined Velcro comfort shoes.
Ava rolled her eyes heavenward, taking in a deep breath. A telltale sign that Lina’s assessment of the situation was accurate. Ava loved her family, but she didn’t do relationships.
The silence stretched between the two women. Ava squirmed with the subtlety of a car seat restrained toddler under her friend’s scrutiny.
“Your silent routine doesn’t work with me Ava. Which wife-seeking, God-fearing deacon has she invited to Sunday dinner?”
Never one to let you off the hook, Lina held an expectant gaze. It was times like this that Ava regretted having a psychiatric nurse as a best friend. Ava gave a resigned sigh then offered the name of her would be suitor. “Deacon Hill.”
Ava knew the exact moment Lina recalled the porky gentleman. Wide eyes stared back at Ava as Lina’s mouth opened and closed several times before she hid her smile with a carefully placed palm over her red velvet colored mouth. Lina would risk her friend’s ire by laughing, but never would she suffer an accidental smudge to perfectly painted lips.
“He’s the one with the three adult children and five grandkids living in the house?” A vestige of humor at Ava’s expense shone in her eyes.
“That’s the one.” Ava curled her fingers against her temples forcing a breath through her pursed lips. A high definition image of the aged, wide girthed man danced a gig across her mental LCD screen and she cringed.
“Save tomorrow’s worries for tomorrow. Tonight is about us having fun. This isn’t a matchmaking attempt by Granny Lou Incorporated. Come on, Ava please.” Lina flashed her a million-dollar smile. Ava was unmoved. Lina was the queen of improvisation, so her friend switched tactics.
Lina’s pout heaped on another layer of ever-present guilt, but she couldn’t give her family or friend what they wanted. They wanted her to be open, welcome a date with a nice man, and be social. But being social led to meeting new people. Meeting new people, led to making connections. Connecting to new people, especially men, made you vulnerable. She didn’t want to be vulnerable. Not ever again.
“Stop making me feel bad, Lina.”
“So let me get this straight,” Lina stepped closer, their shoulders touching. “At the tender age of twenty-six you prefer to be alone on a Saturday night with thoughts of a dreadful Sunday dinner looming rather than walk into a party with me?” As the reality of Lina’s words settled between them Ava felt the sadness reflected in Lina’s gaze.
“You’ll be with Jace.” Ava stated matter-of-factly. “I’ll spend the night watching the two of you doing the Humpty dance.”
“Ewe, I am so not into watchers,” Lina said, crinkling her nose. Her best friend always kept the mood light.
“You know what I mean. Besides, I think I forgot my ticket.” She diverted her eyes to heaven offering a silent forgive me Lord but desperate times required desperate measures.
“Excuse deferred. It’s your work anniversary. The SCMC Foundation covered your ticket price. Now apologize to the Lord for lying,” Lina countered with a snap of her fingers. “The ticket is a formality. Your name is on the attendee list.”
Ava quickly scanned her mental Rolodex for any plausible excuse that would get her back to the safety of her home.
“You can meet some new people tonight. There are other nurses here. They’re our peeps, waiting behind these doors.” More people entered the foyer, bubbly voices talking one over the other, eager to join the festivities. The rhythmic music beat drew them into the ballroom. It had the opposite effect on her.
Ava raised a brow in doubt. She wasn’t likely to meet a single person tonight. She knew it and so did Lina.
“Stop worrying about everything. It’s a party packed to capacity with gray suit wearing administrators. A few pocket protector wearing clinical researchers and a truckload of fashion deficit doctors.” Lina fashioned a mock pocket protector in the middle of her leather bustier, then mimicked stuffing it with pens. Ava released a snort of laughter at her friend’s antics.
“Nothing is going to happen. Do this as a gift to me.”
A gift. She had little reserve left in her emotional tank to offer anyone. Ava needed to gift herself a box of hope. One big enough to drown out the self-doubt, the emptiness that plagued most aspects of her life.
Some days the emptiness weighed so heavy on her chest that emotional collapse seemed better than to greet another day of nothingness. The loneliness abated with work. Tending her garden helped, but the emptiness was a stealth army slowly advancing through her existence. It threatened to decimate the fragile threads of a new beginning she desperately clung to.
Relationships and connections were out of the question, but the truth couldn’t be denied. She was lonely. Tonight was a beacon cast in a sea of endless nights. She was all dressed up with somewhere to go. Heck, she was here lingering in the foyer, on the outside catching glimpses of life through the cracks.
She had reason to celebrate. Her Navy nurse commissioning application was complete except for the employer endorsement. The unsuspecting, navy blue, file folder containing her future had been hand delivered to Kathryn Quest, the pediatric nurse manager on Friday morning. Perhaps, one night of fun to capstone the budding joy she felt at starting this quest would fuel her emotional tank. Only two people knew what she had done. Lina wasn’t one of them. She needed to take this first step on her own. Without the deterrence she knew would come from those closest to her.
Ava proffered her elbow in acceptance. This was an evening dedicated to goodwill, and she had her best friend to share it with. She worked side by side with several of the attendees. Her safe zones were home and work, everything would be fine. Lina interlocked their elbows, gently guiding Ava to the ballroom doors.
“Okay, I’ll take the plunge.”
Chapter 2
Logan Masters mentally kicked his own gluteus maximus for wasting his time at another SCMC Foundation fundraiser. A noble cause, but the haughty chatter he could do without. The foundation existed for the sole purpose of raising funds to support the medical center’s research and innovations division. He had a special interest in the foundation’s activities. Foundation donors were the largest contributors to his pediatric wound care project. Not to mention, he was a candidate for the vacancy on the board of directors.
From the twenty-sixth floor of the Coastal Tower, the floor to ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the dense, muted green forestry surrounding Queens Bay expanse to the east and the city lights of Shell Cove to the west. Hardwood flooring gleamed in the fading light of the setting sun. The warm ballroom was overripe with a citrus scent that clashed with the whiskey he’d been sipping for the last thirty minutes. This was a lively bunch compared to last year’s gala especially when confronted by the soon-to-be retired chief surgeon jerking on the dance floor with the rhythm of a river trout flopping on the yacht deck.
“You’re supposed to mingle Logan. The foundation doesn’t select board members who scowl and display the social graces of a pit bull. Besides, who’s better to highlight the contribution of your research to the increase in foundation donor activity? You’re a local celebrity,” his brother said.
Distracted by the sights on the dance floor, he hadn’t noticed Darwin’s stealthy approach to the bar. Leave it to the youngest member of the Masters clan to point out Logan’s failure to duty. Usually, their mother sent the family loyalty reminders. Darwin served as a Navy Surface Warfare officer until four months ago so he understood duty and strategy better than most. He had been the chief engineer on the Navy’s newest assault ship. When an engine room fire left one of his sailors permanently disfigured, Darwin resigned his commission and returned home to Shell Cove. Though cleared of any negligence or wrongdoing, he refused to talk about th
e incident. Logan hadn’t pushed for details. The past was best left alone.
“Walk away little brother.”
“You cut me deep with the little reference.”
There was nothing little about the men in the Masters family. They both topped six feet with an additional two inches bestowed to Logan purely for taunting moments. Darwin was blond haired and blue eyed a mirror image of their mother. Logan’s hair was a combination of blond with a red brick undertone, a remnant of his father’s Irish ancestry.
Darwin took a swig from the long neck bottle before speaking. “How did you arrive with Rebecca Holbrook on your arm?” Darwin sat the bottle on the mahogany polished bar, looked him in the eye, and waited.
“You can thank our darling mother for that surprise. She told Rebecca last week I would be her date for the evening.”
“You never mentioned it.”
Logan narrowed his eyes at Darwin’s accusatory tone. “That’s because I was informed two hours ago.”
“Would you have refused if given prior notice?” The twitch Darwin tried to control in his jaw let Logan know his question was anything but casual banter.
Their mother, Maribelle Masters was a force of nature when it came to her clan or cause. Securing the foundation board member position was more than a personal goal for Logan. It was a family agenda. In the Masters clan everyone had a responsibility in maintaining and/or elevating the family’s elite social status.
His skill and talent as a surgeon was important but powerful alliances were critical. Rebecca was the only daughter of Samuel Holbrook, the Chairman of the Shell Cove Medical Foundation. Partnering with her was a necessary sacrifice to cement his board selection. The Masters family name was a game changer, and enough to make him a first round draft pick with the influencers in Shell Cove. With Rebecca by his side, as his mother pointed out at every opportunity, he was guaranteed a long career in the major leagues.
Chasing Ava: A Bachelor of Shell Cove Novel (The Bachelors of Shell Cove) Page 1