A Little Rain Must Fall (Summer Lake Silver Book 3)

by SJ McCoy

  ~ ~ ~

  When Audrey opened her eyes, it took her a moment to figure out where she was—and why there was a weight on her stomach. She was in Ted’s bed, in his hotel room, and he had his arm around her, holding her to his chest. She closed her eyes again with a smile and nestled against him. She’d wondered what it might be like to wake up beside him, and now she knew; it felt good.

  A wave of warmth rushed through her as she remembered last night. After he’d made love to her, they’d sat out on the balcony in robes and had a glass of wine as they watched the stars come out over the lake. When it had gotten too cold, they’d come back inside, and he’d warmed her up in the nicest possible way. Warm was too tame a word; it had been hot! A shiver ran down her spine as she remembered the way it had felt when they’d made love a second time.

  His arm tightened around her waist, and she turned to look over her shoulder. He was awake and smiling.

  “Good morning, beautiful.”

  “Good morning.”

  She turned over, and he landed a kiss on her lips.

  “Did you get any sleep?”

  She smiled. “You wore me out; I slept like a log. I didn’t snore or do anything embarrassing, did I?”

  He laughed. “Not that I heard, though I slept well.”

  She pulled herself up to a sitting position and pulled the sheet up with her to cover her breasts. She needed to go to the bathroom, but she was buck naked and didn’t relish the thought of parading her bare ass in front of him.

  “Do you want coffee?”

  She nodded vigorously. “You have no idea how much.”

  He got up and turned his back to her to pull his boxers on. She wasn’t sure if he did it deliberately, but she took advantage to grab her clothes and make her break for the bathroom while he made the coffee.

  Before she came back out, she looked at herself in the mirror. She looked different. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair was a mess, but her eyes shone brightly, she looked … alive. She smiled. She knew what Izzy would say, she looked like she’d got some! And she had.

  Ted handed her a mug of coffee when she came out, and she took it with a grateful smile. He was wearing a robe and looked surprised that she was dressed already.

  “I thought we could take these outside.”

  She felt silly. Of course, she could have grabbed a robe instead of getting dressed. She felt as though she’d spoiled things.

  “Are you okay?” he asked once they were sitting out on the balcony.

  She smiled at him. “I’m fine. Honestly, I feel like I’m screwing this up. I’m not uncomfortable with you, but I don’t know what the protocol is here. I got dressed, but I don’t want you to think that means I’m ready to leave, I just …” She shrugged and gave him an apologetic smile.

  He set his coffee down and came and squatted down in front of her. He took hold of her hands and smiled up at her. “If there is a protocol, I don’t know what it might be either. All I know is that I’m glad you don’t want to leave yet. I don’t want you to. Do you have any plans for today?”

  She smiled, grateful that he was so understanding. “Only vague ones to maybe take a hike, maybe take a drive. Definitely take a shower and have some breakfast.”

  “Do you want to do any of those things with me? All of them?” he added with a wink.

  She nodded. “I’d love to. Maybe not the shower, not today.” She liked the idea of showering with him, but not yet. “But the rest of it, yes.”

  He checked his watch.

  “Do you have any plans?” she asked.

  “Sorry. It’s just that Diego calls at seven.”

  She smiled. “So how about after our coffee. I’ll go back and take a shower and you can talk to Diego and then we’ll meet up later?”

  He squeezed her hand. “Sounds like a plan to me. I won’t be too long. We speak every morning to check in and make sure that the day is on track.”

  “How about you call me at eight, and we’ll see where we’re up to?”

  “Okay.”

  ~ ~ ~

  After Ted spoke with Diego, he took a shower and paced his room for a while. He wanted to wait until eight before he called her. He wanted to give her some time to herself if she needed it. He checked his watch. It was ten before eight now. He looked at the flowers on the table and smiled. It was thanks to them that she’d come in here last night, and he couldn’t be happier that she hadn’t left until this morning.

  He picked up the carafe. He’d have to find somewhere to buy a vase for them today, but for now, he was going to take them to her. He didn’t imagine that she’d mind him showing up at her door again instead of calling.

  When he got there, he knocked and then held up the flowers in front of him, hoping to make her smile. Instead, he got a very different reaction when she opened the door.

  “Oh. Thank you. Erm. Come in. But I have to go.”

  He followed her into the room with a frown. “You have to go where? Why?”

  She was wringing her hands together, and her bag lay on the bed half packed. “I have to go home. It’s Brayden. There’s been an accident.”

  “Oh, no. Is he all right?”

  “Yes. No. I don’t know. Ally called. She’s on the way to the hospital. He was knocked off his bicycle. He cycles to work. All she knows is that he’s in the hospital. His coworker called her.”

  Ted’s mind raced. He knew that she and Izzy had flown up here on a commercial flight and driven up from the airport in a rental car. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and called Diego.

  “I didn’t expect to hear from you again today,” Diego answered with a laugh.

  “Where’s the plane?”

  “It’s here. Why? What do you need?” The immediate change in Diego’s attitude reminded Ted of their earlier days, and just how much he knew he could rely on his old friend.

  “Audrey needs to get home in a hurry. Is Zack here?”

  “No. He’s in Nashville. Let me call Smoke and see if any of his charter planes are available. How many passengers and when?”

  “Two.” Ted didn’t stop to question whether he should go with her. He looked at Audrey, who was watching him with a bewildered expression. “How long do you need to get ready?”

  She looked at her bag and then back at him. “I’ll be leaving in fifteen minutes.”

  It was only when she said that that he realized he hadn’t asked her if she needed help—or offered any. “Two passengers,” he repeated to Diego. “And we can be at the airport within half an hour.”

  “Okay. Do what you need to, and I’ll call you back.”

  “Thanks.” Ted hung up. “Diego’s going to find someone to fly us back to Ventura.”

  She stopped packing and straightened up. “I … I was going to drive. I …”

  He went to her and put an arm around her shoulders. “You have a rental car. It’ll take you a couple of hours to get to the airport, and you don’t have a reservation.”

  She looked at her phone that was sitting on the bedside table. “I’m on hold. Trying to change my ticket.”

  “Diego knows the guy who runs a charter operation here. He’s calling him now. All we need to do is get to Summer Lake airport.”

  She frowned. He’d guess that she was in shock.

  “What can I do?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t know what I can do. I’m packing my bag.” She looked around. “I’m leaving.”

  He hugged her into his side. “It’s going to be okay. It’ll take less than an hour, once we get in the air. I’ll call ahead and get a rental car for when we land.”

  “We?”

  It hadn’t occurred to him until that moment that she might not want him to go with her. “Unless you don’t want me to come?”

  She blew out a shaky sigh and rested her head against his shoulder. “Thank you.”

  His phone rang when they were halfway to the Summer Lake airport. “Diego. Talk to me.”
r />   “Smoke will take you himself. He’s standing by now. How long will it take you?”

  “We’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  “Okay. I’ll let him know.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Audrey watched him hang up the phone. She felt as though she’d floated through the last half hour. She looked at the clock on the dashboard. It was only half an hour since she’d hung up with Ally. At that point, she’d gone onto automatic pilot. Packing her bag, calling the airline, waiting on hold in the hope that they’d be able to find her a flight. Then Ted had come in and taken over.

  He glanced over at her. “Smoke Hamilton is going to take us. He’ll have the plane ready when we get there.”

  “Smoke?”

  He nodded. “He owns a couple of planes and runs a charter operation.”

  “He’s Laura’s husband?”

  “That’s right.”

  She had to pull herself together. Her phone rang, making her jump. It was Ally.

  “Hi, sweetheart. What do you know?”

  “Not a lot. I came to the hospital. He was unconscious when they brought him in. His leg’s broken and … I don’t know what else. Are you going to be able to get home?”

  “Yes. I’m on the way. I’ll be there in a couple of hours.”

  “How? It takes that long to get to the airport.”

  “Ted’s bringing me. We’re going to fly from here.”

  “Oh. That’s good.”

  “Have you called Izzy?”

  “No. Have you?”

  “No, but I will. I’ll ask her to come and be with you. You shouldn’t be there by yourself.”

  “I’m fine, Mom.”

  “I’ll call her anyway. Have you called your father?”

  “No.”

  Audrey blew out a sigh. “You should.”

  “I don’t want to. If you want him to know, you can tell him.”

  “Ally!”

  “Sorry, Mom. But I don’t want to have to deal with him.”

  “Okay. I’ll call him. But I’ll call Izzy first; she can come and be with you till I get there.”

  “Thanks. She’ll keep Dad at bay—if he bothers to show up.”

  “Call me if they tell you anything. That’s all they’ve said so far—that he had a broken leg, and he was unconscious?”

  “Yes. They said they’d be able to tell me more after the doctor’s been in with him.”

  “Okay. I’ll call Izzy now. I love you.”

  “Love you, too, Mom. Tell Ted I said thanks for bringing you back?”

  “I will.”

  Audrey hung up and looked at Ted. “His leg is broken, and he was unconscious when they brought him in.”

  “I’m sure he’s going to be fine.”

  Somehow, when Ted said it, she believed him. It calmed her a little. “I need to call Izzy.”

  “Go ahead.”

  Izzy answered on the second ring. “Good morning. Do you have anything exciting to tell me?”

  “I have something to tell you, but not what you’re expecting. Brayden’s in the hospital. Ally’s there with him. I’m on the way home. Can you go and stay with her till I get there?”

  “Oh, God, Audrey! What happened?”

  “He was knocked off his bicycle. He was unconscious, and his leg is broken. That’s all I know.”

  “I’m on my way out the door. Is he at Memorial?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you on the road? Have you managed to get a flight?”

  “Ted’s bringing me. We’re flying, he says it won’t take more than an hour.”

  “Oh. That’s good. And what about Richard?”

  “I’m going to call him next.”

  “Do you want me to do it?”

  Audrey thought about it. She wasn’t looking forward to making the call, but she knew she should be the one to do it. “Thanks, but no. If he gets there before I do, would you mind keeping the peace? Ally didn’t want to call him.”

  “Sure. Don’t worry about it. I can’t stand him, but I can be civil to him in these circumstances.”

  “Thanks, Izzy. I’m going to have to go. We’re at the airport.”

  “Do you need me to pick you up when you land?”

  “Thanks, but Ted booked a rental car.”

  “Well, isn’t he turning out to be a hero?”

  Audrey glanced over at him as he parked the car in front of the airport building. “Yes. He really is.”

  “I’m glad. I guess I’ll see you at the hospital, then. Call me if I can do anything.”

  “Okay, and call me if the doctors tell you anything.”

  Ted got out and came around to open her door. “I’ll take your bag and go and talk to Smoke if you like, while you call Richard.”

  She made a face. “Thanks. I’ll be quick. I want to get going.”

  She watched him walk inside and shake hands with a tall guy who was standing just inside the doors. She took a deep breath and dialed Richard’s number.

  “Audrey. This is a nice surprise. How are you? I have to tell you, you looked amazing this weekend. I was thinking, it’s been too long since we caught up. Do you want to have dinner with me when you get back?”

  That was so unexpected, she couldn’t even speak for a minute.

  “Are you there?”

  “Yes. Sorry. Listen, Richard. I’m not calling to chat. I … it’s Brayden.”

  “What about him?”

  “He had an accident this morning. He’s in the hospital. Ally’s with him. His leg is broken, and he was unconscious when they brought him in.”

  “Oh, and let me guess, you’re off at the lake with Ted Rawlins, so you want me to deal with it?”

  She closed her eyes against the sting of his words. She wondered if he’d always been that heartless—had she not noticed until the final years of their marriage, or had he gotten meaner since then? “Actually, Ted and I are on the way there now. I was calling because I thought you might care about our son. I should have known better.” She hit the end call button.

  Her phone rang again immediately and much as she didn’t want to, she answered it.

  “I’m sorry, sweetie. I was shocked, and I have to tell you, I’m a little jealous. Of course, I care. Where is he? Is he at Memorial?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay. And Ally’s already there?”

  “Yes. And Izzy.”

  He didn’t reply to that.

  “Don’t worry about it, Richard. I’ll let you know how he is.”

  “Don’t hang up on me again, Audrey. We need to talk.”

  “I don’t have time. I’m about to get on the plane.”

  “Oh, that’s right. I forgot. You and Izzy travel by private jet these days. Do you really think a man like Ted Rawlins is going to be interested in you for long? A man with that kind of money can have any woman he wants.”

  She hit the end call button again. She didn’t need that.

  Ted stuck his head back out the doors, and she hurried toward him.

  “What is it?” he asked when she reached him.

  She gave him a puzzled look, and he reached up and wiped away tears she hadn’t known were falling.

  She shook her head. “Richard.” She didn’t want to have to explain anything else.

  Fortunately, Ted didn’t expect her to. A look of anger crossed his face, but he hid it quickly and wrapped her in a hug. Then he took hold of her hand. “Smoke’s ready to go.”

  Smoke led them out across the tarmac. Under any other circumstances, Audrey would have been impressed by both him and the plane. She registered that Izzy would no doubt love him. But she was more concerned with how quickly he could get them to Ventura and to her son.

  As the plane thundered down the runway, Ted took hold of her hand and squeezed it. “It won’t be long now.”

  She met his gaze, and fresh tears filled her eyes.

  He looked worried. “What did Richard say to you?”

  She shook her head. “It’
s not that. I’m not crying because of him. I have no more tears left for that man.” She managed a smile. “You’re the one who made me cry—good tears. You’ve been amazing. Thank you.”

  He squeezed her hand again. “I’m glad I can help.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Ted slid behind the wheel of the rental car and blew out a sigh. He’d gotten Audrey here to the hospital. And now she was with Izzy and Ally. To his relief, there’d been no sign of Richard. He had a low-grade anger simmering toward that man. He didn’t know what he’d said to Audrey when she spoke to him on the phone before they left the lake, but he did know that whatever it was, it had upset her.

  It was only when he’d seen Audrey wrapped up in a hug with Ally and Izzy that he’d questioned himself—did he have any right to be here? He hadn’t questioned a thing while he’d been making sure that he could get her to her son as quickly as possible, but now that task had been achieved, he was feeling less sure of himself. He’d stepped in and taken charge without a second thought. Of course, Audrey hadn’t minded; she’d been reeling from the news, but he was questioning himself now.

  He’d excused himself and come out here to the parking lot. He didn’t want to be in the way. He didn’t want her to have to factor him into her thinking. She needed to be free to worry about her son and find comfort in her friend and her daughter.

  He leaned his head back against the headrest and blew out a sigh at the sunroof.

  His phone rang in his pocket, and he almost ignored it. It was no doubt Diego, wondering if there was any news. He pulled it out and checked the screen and was glad he had when he saw Audrey’s name.

  “Hey,” he answered.

  “Where are you?”

  “I’m just outside, in the parking lot. I thought I should leave you—Are you okay?”

  She made a little snuffling sound. “Yes. Of course. I’m fine. Thank you so much. And don’t feel you need to wait if … You’ve done so much already. I don’t want you to feel—”

  “Audrey?” He could hear the change in her. She was putting distance between them, speaking politely, treating him like a kind stranger. If that was what she wanted, then he’d respect it, but he didn’t think it was. She was trying not to be a burden to him, and he needed her to know that she could.