The Conflicted Maid of Honor (The Conflicted Love Series Book 2)

by Sharon Sue Thorn

  As if to test her resolve, a text from Leslie popped up on her phone.

  Country line dancing? Tonight @ the usual spot. U game?

  Can’t. Too much to do. Sorry! She knew that answer wouldn’t go over well with Leslie, but it was what she knew she needed to send.

  You sick?

  No, just extra busy.

  WTH? Haven’t seen you since you got back home. Something happen?

  Sammie sighed. No way would she be able to explain the change she was feeling to Leslie. She and her cousin had been close when they were younger, and they’d both tried to maintain the connection as adults. But unless they were both drunk, it always felt forced. Jenny was the only person Sammie had ever let down her guard with. Sure, she’d always loved a good party, but after her experience in St. Lucia, she wanted to get her life straightened out.

  Just need to find a different job. Sammie texted back. Will explain later. Next time.

  Before she hit Send, Sammie deleted the last part of the note. She didn’t think there’d be a next time anytime soon. So why bother saying it? She hit Send and turned off her phone.

  Sammie opened her suitcase and caught a whiff of fabric softener. Fortunately, the ship had had laundry facilities, and Owen had paid for all of his guests to have their laundry done. She’d sent off a bag, and everything had come back clean, either folded or on hangers. It took no time at all to put it away now. She dropped the folded items into her dresser and hung the rest in the closet. Ah, the luxuries of being rich. It had been a nice gesture on Owen’s part.

  Moving on to her backpack, she removed her laptop and e-reader. During her first six days on the ship, she’d finished three books. It had helped her pass the time.

  When she pulled out her make-up bag, it struck her that, other than moisturizer, she hadn’t put anything on her face since she got home. She hadn’t thought much about it, other than the time it saved her in the morning. Next, she removed her shampoo and conditioner and then decided to just take the bag into the bathroom. After pouring everything on the counter, she sifted the items out and put everything in its correct spot.

  When she got down to her last bag, a tote, she just stared at it. She couldn’t seem to forget Dominic, as much as she tried. She’d shoved him out of her mind a million times since the moment she’d gotten out of his car. Over and over, she told herself she was stupid for being stuck on someone she barely knew. Then again, she’d only been home a week. Maybe she just needed more time to come to terms with everything she’d experienced on the trip.

  As she pulled a bag out of her tote, her heart did a funny little flip in her chest. “He’s a gazillion miles from here,” she said out loud. “Get over it.” But she sat on the side of the bed, gently unrolled the top of the bag, and removed the dress he’d purchased for her. As she did so, she heard something else shift in the bag. She reached in, raking her hand across the bottom, and took it out.

  Both of the photos she and Dominic had taken together lay in her hand. A swirl of emotions seized her, and tears sprang to her eyes. She couldn’t help but wonder what could have been. She felt elation at seeing his face and hers in the photos, both of them happy, but disappointment that he hadn’t kept at least one photo for himself.

  What was she thinking? Had she expected Dominic to be in St. Lucia lamenting their whirlwind drama? Meet. Kiss. Fight. Depart. Her life had always been a series of short bursts. Why would her encounter with Dominic be any different?

  Unable to draw her eyes away, she stared at Dominic’s face in both photos. On the outside, he was pleasant to look at, but he was so much more than a hot guy. That was the problem. He worked hard, had a wonderful sense of humor, and was compassionate. He could also be sarcastic, but usually with good reason.

  Noticing that the back of one photo felt different from the other, she turned it over and saw a piece of paper folded in half, attached to the back. She pulled the paper off, unfolded it, and began to read.

  Sammie—Your unexpected presence in my life has caused a stirring in my soul. I know we only just met, but I feel as if I’ve known you an eternity. We should find a way to spend time together and get to know each other better. We could talk in between the kisses when we’re together and talk about kisses when we’re apart. ~D

  Stunned, Sammie sucked her breath in as she read the message again. It was clear he’d written the note in anticipation of their mending their argument. He could have withheld the bag at the end, but he hadn’t. That could only mean one thing: he wanted her to know how he felt.

  She could so easily see herself with him, showing him Kansas, trying to cook for him and not burn the eggs. She’d feel lucky on the nights he cooked wonderful Caribbean-style meals. They could wake up next to each other.

  Or maybe she could even move to St. Lucia, and they could run his business together. She probably knew how to make at least half the drinks he served, if not more. And she was good at bookkeeping, too. As a teen, she’d helped with her father’s lawn care business. He was always impressed that his little girl who always seemed to get into trouble was able to figure out the software that kept his sales, taxes, and payroll straight, among other things.

  But the thought that overruled them all was the memory of Dominic’s lips on hers. Having him all to herself, staking the claim that she’d be the last woman those beautiful lips would ever know, would be a dream come true. She loved his body and his strength. Loved the way they fit together. Who knew she’d love feeling so feminine and protected?

  Sammie laid her head back on the couch and closed her eyes, remembering as much as she could of their time together. Instead of skipping over the Natasha scene, she let it play in her mind. The look on Dominic’s face when she said she was having his baby was pure incredulity. Why had she been so quick to run instead of recognizing the moment for what it was, another female’s drama? She knew Natasha’s type—conniving, manipulative, and downright dangerous. Leslie’s relationship with her husband was the same way. There were always problems, always arguments to be had. Maybe not on the same scale as Natasha’s overboard behavior, but enough that there was never peace in Leslie’s life.

  She stared at the photo in her hand. In it, she was looking up at Dominic with a huge grin on her face. What am I going to do?

  She grabbed her phone, looked up the phone number to the bar, and dialed. It rang three times.

  “Dom’s Bar.”

  Sammie froze. Hearing his voice sent an ache straight through her.

  “Hello? Is anyone there?”

  Sammie remained silent until the line went dead.

  Chapter 22

  Dominic carried his suitcase down the stairs, a messenger bag slung over his shoulder.

  “There he goes,” Lery called out.

  Charles looked up from his books and grinned. “How long will you be gone?”

  “Long enough to figure things out,” Dominic said. “I appreciate you both for being here for me.”

  Lery waved a dismissive hand. “I’m glad you are finally taking some time away. You work too much.”

  Dominic gave his cousin a hug and a firm pat on the back. He then turned to Charles’ grinning face. “You won’t get behind on your studies, eh?”

  “No way!” Charles said. “Besides, this work is very easy.”

  “Really?” Dominic drew his head back.

  Charles shrugged. “I read a lot, and much of this I have already read. I’m sure it will become more difficult later. But my grades will be good, I promise.”

  “All right, then.” Dominic held his arms open, and Charles rose to give him a hug. It was a rare occurrence. “Help Lery hold t’ings together, and I’ll be back soon.”

  Charles stood back, his face serious. “I know you told me before to stop t’anking you for everyt’ing. But I just want to say, I appreciate all that you’ve done. This,” he said, putting a hand on his school book, “would not be possible without you.”

  Feeling emotion welling up, Dominic p
laced a hand on Charles’ shoulder and simply squeezed rather than speaking. He waved goodbye to both men, picked his bag up, and walked out of the bar.

  The driver of the shuttle climbed out, giving Dominic a strange look before he took his bag to store in the back. He then opened the door for Dominic.

  “Mési,” Dominic said, thanking him.

  The driver nodded cordially. “I thought I was picking up a tourist.”

  “Ah.” Dominic smiled in understanding. “Don’t worry, man. I will still tip you.”

  The driver laughed. “I am Samuel,” he said, extending his hand.

  “Dominic.” He shook Samuel’s hand and climbed into the shuttle van. Samuel returned to the driver’s seat and pulled away from the bar.

  “Hi.” An older woman in the shuttle reached across another passenger, offering her hand.

  “Hello,” Dominic said as he took her hand. “I’m Dominic.”

  “Oh, how lovely. You’re a local!”

  Dominic chuckled. “I am. Have you just arrived on the island?”

  “Yes! I’m Caroline, and this is my husband, Paul.” She patted her husband’s protruding stomach as she introduced him.

  Dominic bit his lip to keep from snickering. “Nice to meet you both.”

  Paul only grumbled a response. Dominic’s eyebrows rose slightly, but he caught himself.

  “Don’t worry about him,” the woman said. “He’s not being rude. He just can’t hear anything. After we got off the plane, he told me I talk too much and turned his hearing aid down.”

  Dominic and Samuel both laughed.

  “You’re not angry with him?” Samuel asked.

  “Nah!” The lady waved her hand. “I do talk too much.”

  “How long have you been married?” Dominic asked.

  “Forty-one years. I was seventeen when we married. He was twenty-two. It caused quite a stir with him being an older man and all. But look at us now. We’re here to celebrate our anniversary.”

  The shuttle stopped, and Samuel twisted around in his seat to face Caroline. “Here is your hotel. I will grab your bags.”

  “Aw. So soon?” Dominic asked.

  Samuel shrugged and went around to open the back door. Dominic climbed out so the couple could get out on the side facing the sidewalk.

  “Tell me, Caroline,” Dominic said, taking her hand to help her down. “What is your secret to a long-lasting relationship?”

  Caroline wrapped her delicate hands around Dominic’s. “It’s okay to fight as long you make up. It’s okay to turn your hearing aid off sometimes. Just be a team and always have each other’s backs.” She let go of Dominic’s hand and grabbed her husband’s. “It’s me and Paul against the world. No one thought we’d make it, but here we are in the same place we were five years after we got married. That’s when we could finally afford to have a honeymoon.”

  Paul wrapped his arm around Caroline’s shoulders and squeezed. “And sometimes it’s okay to let her think I turned the hearing aid off even if I didn’t. I don’t want to miss too much.”

  Dominic grinned. “Have a blessed day, and enjoy St. Lucia.”

  Samuel helped the bellhop load the couple’s belongings onto a cart.

  “Where are you off to, may I ask?” Caroline said.

  “To Florida for business, but I might make a pit stop in Kansas while I’m away.”

  “Well, if that pit stop has to do with a special girl, then I hope whatever is meant to be will be.”

  Dominic said goodbye to the couple and gave them his card. “Let me know when you travel here again. I would love to welcome you back.”

  “We’ll do that.” Caroline beamed at him.

  “As long as we’re still kicking, we’ll be back,” Paul said. “C’mon, Caroline, let’s let these gentlemen get on with their day.”

  On the way to the airport, Samuel picked up other passengers, but none as charming as Caroline. Dominic hoped he would be as lucky as she was, to have someone special enough to spend more than the next forty years with him. If they were meant to be, he hoped that person would be Sammie.

  When Dominic stepped out of the shuttle at the airport, he tipped Samuel and grabbed his bag. In about twenty hours, he’d be landing in the U.S., a place he’d never been, to meet someone he’d never met—a woman named Patty.

  Chapter 23

  At ten p.m. Friday night, Sammie peeled off her scrubs for the last time and sat down on the couch, leaving the clothing on the floor. The two weeks she’d put in at the nursing home had officially ended, and her last day had been brutal. There was no last-day fanfare. It seemed like half the staff had called in sick, and the residents all were having a bad day as a result.

  If it had been any other job, she’d have gone home early. But no, instead, she’d ended up working an extra four hours. She was famished, but she’d forgotten her wallet that morning and couldn’t stop for takeout on the way home.

  Technically, she didn’t have another job yet, but she’d be working for Betsy while her assistant manager was on maternity leave for six to eight weeks. Betsy had said Sammie’s email couldn’t have come at a better time.

  But Betsy had impeccable timing, too, calling back when she did. Sammie’s lease on her apartment was up in two months, and she had already decided she would leave Dover. Jenny would be floored when she learned of the new plan, but Sammie was sure she’d be supportive. By the time she was finished working for Betsy, she would have her apartment packed up and would see where she landed a new job. She’d decided to apply for jobs all over the country.

  The thought had crossed her mind to stay with her parents long enough to go back to school, but not for nursing. Maybe she could take some accounting classes. She was already good with numbers, but having a degree would make her more marketable.

  The other thing about the timing was that she’d considered calling Dominic again, to apologize for how things had ended between them. She’d thought that if he sounded receptive, she would max out her new MasterCard to buy a plane ticket. But she’d tried that once and failed when his swoon-worthy voice answered the phone. Actually talking to him might undo her for good. Besides, Betsy had called with a temporary offer that aligned so perfectly with the remaining time on her lease, she took it as a sign. She was meant to stay in Dover, at least for now.

  She pushed aside thoughts of a fairy tale reunion of some sort. Contacting Dominic wasn’t meant to be. Fairy tales were for good girls like Jenny, not for girls like her who took too long to grow up.

  Besides, Betsy needed the help. Finding a job in Dover was nearly impossible, but so was finding employees. Betsy said most everyone in Dover was either retired, already employed, or not worth hiring. Maybe once she saw how competent Sammie could be, she might put in a good word with Owen and then Sammie could see if he had any open positions in Florida.

  Sammie would never ask for that kind of favor just because he was Jenny’s husband, but Owen partially owned Betsy’s B&B. Having a recommendation from him would be professional, not personal. Plus, Owen had witnessed her at her worst. She needed him to receive a positive report from Betsy before she asked for a recommendation. Good feedback from Betsy would go a long way toward dispelling his previous negative impressions of her.

  The time to grow up had arrived with force, and Sammie needed to start thinking past the next weekend.

  Ironically, her phone buzzed.

  Hey! Party at my house tonight. Bring a date if you want.

  It was Leslie texting, of course. Sammie snorted. A date? Somehow, she didn’t think strolling by the B&B would pop out a date for her like it had for her bestie. Jenny and Owen had accidentally met face-to-face exactly that way, but it was a once in a lifetime kind of occurrence. Besides, a date was the last thing she wanted. She didn’t know if she’d ever meet anyone who could make her feel the way Dominic did. Doomed to a life of letdowns, she pecked out a response.

  Honestly, Leslie... I’m over the partying. I start a temp job on
Monday. Going to use the weekend to start packing so I can move in a couple months. No more invites for me, okay?

  What the hell? Ever since that fancy cruise, you act like you’re too good for me.

  Sammie groaned and let her head fall back. Why had she ever spent so much time with Leslie? Partying was the only thing they had in common. Her cousin was completely self-absorbed.

  It has nothing to do with being too good for anything. Need to get my life in order. Can’t be a party girl into my thirties. Sorry.

  Sammie waited, but no reply came. Great, she’d managed to alienate the one person she had left in Dover. But Leslie would have to get over it.

  After a long, hot shower, Sammie wrapped her hair in a towel turban style and traipsed into her kitchen. Checking the contents of the fridge came up with nothing, so she grabbed the phone and placed an order for a medium cheese pizza. She grabbed a Dr. Pepper and the open bag of nacho chips off the counter and got comfy on the couch with her laptop.

  She typed in ‘accounting certificates’ and got sucked in from there, reading all the requirements. An hour later, she felt disheartened. Being a CPA looked great until she realized she’d need 150 credit hours. That was even more than a bachelor’s degree. She’d sent an email to Washburn, the college she’d previously attended, and requested that an advisor do a degree audit. She knew she didn’t have anywhere near 150 credit hours. Maybe she’d go for an associate’s degree in accounting instead.

  She’d figure it out. It was months before the next semester started, anyway. She’d missed the boat on this one, she thought, for lack of a better cliché. However, a few select eight-week courses would begin next month. Maybe she could fit those in. If she was willing to max out a credit card for Dominic, why not max it out for school?

  “Ugh.”

  Why, weeks later, was Dominic still invading her thoughts? When would she forget about him?

  Sammie closed her laptop and stared out the window. The temperatures were dropping, and the leaves were changing colors. That made her think of her bestie, who loved fall. Well, Jenny loved every season except winter. When it got too frigid, she would run around town making sure no one had left their pets outside.