by K. Street
I needed to put distance between me and the past, and I was well on my way to a fresh start. I’d landed a new job as the school nurse at Jaxson Cove Elementary and leased a house. I longed for a place where the wounds inflicted on my heart would begin to heal. Somewhere I wouldn’t stand a chance of running into my former fiancé around every corner because that shit got old fast.
Fucking Jared.
Jared was the son of a bitch who had made me into the worst kind of cliché. He didn’t deserve to occupy space in my head or my heart.
I followed the signs for the I-10 interchange and forced my thoughts to shift to the new job I’d be starting soon. I thought about my new place and the furniture scheduled for delivery this afternoon. I wondered what it would be like to live within ten miles of the Atlantic Ocean and spend my weekends at the beach. For the first time in months, it felt like there was a tiny beam of light at the end of the tunnel.
A few miles outside of town, that feeling flew straight out of my open window. My engine light came on, and then the car started to stall.
“This is not happening.”
My fingers tightly gripped the steering wheel as I coasted onto the shoulder. When the car came to a complete stop, I reached for the key to shut off the ignition. Then, I balled my fists and beat them against the steering wheel.
This was the last thing I needed right now.
“Are you kidding me?” I yelled to no one and pulled the hood release.
I opened my door, got out of the car, and then glided my hand over the metal. Carefully, I lifted the hood and studied the engine compartment. There wasn’t any sign of smoke, and I had plenty of gas, which meant, more than likely, it was the battery.
Knowing AAA was my only hope, I got back in the car, closed the door, and searched my purse for my cell. After I unearthed it from the bottomless pit, I tried to unlock the blackened screen, but it was pointless. My phone was dead. Typically not a big deal—unless the car battery was dead, too. In that case, you were screwed six ways to Sunday.
“Son of a bitch.” I smacked the steering wheel again. “Fuckity, fuck, fuck!” I yelled. “Damn it, Lucille! This is bullshit.” There was something about screaming at inanimate objects that always made me feel better.
A low whistle caught my attention. The source of the noise stood just outside my car door. I pressed a hand to my rapidly beating heart as my eyes shifted upward. Tall, broad, and easily the sexiest man I’d ever laid eyes on stood there, casting a shadow over my face. He was huge but not in an ominous way.
“You damn near gave me a heart attack.” I tried to calm down. It took all of point-two seconds for it to dawn on me that he’d probably witnessed my entire meltdown. Mortified, I covered my face. “Oh God,” I said into my palms. With my hands still hiding my face, I spread my fingers apart and peeked through the cracks. Now would be the perfect time for a crater to open in the ground and swallow me. “Did you see all of that?”
A low chuckle rumbled from deep in his throat. “I heard it, too, and I must say, it was pretty damn impressive.” He smiled the sexiest smile I’d ever seen. “I didn’t realize fuckity was a word.”
I dropped my hands from my face and imparted some useless knowledge. “I didn’t even make it up. It’s in the Urban Dictionary.”
“Is that right?”
“It’s true. Urban Dictionary is a gold mine.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. You look like you could use some help.”
“It was the open hood, wasn’t it? Totally gave myself away.” I grinned.
“I know a thing or two about cars. I’ll be happy to have a look.”
He was attractive and charismatic … but then again, so was Ted Bundy. Slowly, I slipped my hand into the passenger seat, reaching for the Taser my dad had given me last Christmas. At the time, I’d thought he was just being overprotective; now, I was thankful for his foresight. I’d seen America’s Most Wanted. Statistically speaking, the sexy stranger standing outside my window probably wasn’t going to murder me, but I wanted him to know I wasn’t going to go down without a fight.
I held the Taser up and pinned him with a menacing glare, which made me look about as threatening as a litter of puppies. “You seem like a really nice guy, but just in case you get any ideas, I want you to know that I’m not afraid to use this thing.”
He held his hands up in surrender. “Relax. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Did you read that in the serial killer handbook?” I joked.
He laughed. Hard. And I found myself relieved because I was pretty sure serial killers didn’t laugh like that.
“I’m just here to help, I promise.”
I skeptically eyed him. It was balls hot, my phone didn’t even have enough juice to power it up, and I had no way to charge it. My options were limited at best.
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“So, what happened? Did you run out of gas?”
“No, I still have a quarter of a tank. I think it’s the battery.”
He folded his arms over his chest, which only served to draw more attention to his biceps and the thick veins that ran up his forearms. My tongue trailed across my bottom lip because … damn, those arms. A backward ball cap sat on his head. My eyes focused on the bead of sweat that had formed below the rim of the cap. His neatly trimmed beard had me imagining all kinds of things. The black sunglasses he wore hid his eyes, and I found myself wondering what color they were.
“Mind if I have a look?”
“Not at all.”
He walked to the front of my car to inspect the engine.
Since I was basically a sitting duck, there wouldn’t be any harm if I got out, so I did. If the sexy Samaritan tried anything, I’d tase his ass before I ran like hell. I walked around the rear of the car on the passenger’s side and made my way up to the front, stopping a few feet from him.
His gaze shifted from the battery to my face. “Are you new in town or just passing through?”
“New.”
“Well, welcome to Jaxson Cove.” After another minute, he said, “Go ahead and try to start it.”
I walked over to the driver’s side, leaned in through the window, and dropped the Taser on the seat. I figured, if he hadn’t tried to kidnap me yet, he probably wasn’t going to. When I turned the key, nothing happened.
“Hang tight. I have jumper cables in my truck.”
I watched him as he strolled away, allowing myself a minute to appreciate the way his black T-shirt clung to him and how his jeans fit that ass just right. There was no denying the man was sexy as hell.
The road wasn’t busy, so it didn’t take more than a few minutes for him to do a U-turn, open his hood, and attach the cables. “Try it now.”
This time, when I turned the key, I breathed a sigh of relief. Lucille started right up. My face broke into a wide smile as I returned to the front of the car.
He took off his sunglasses and hung them on his shirt, revealing the most gorgeous set of hazel eyes I’d ever seen. I couldn’t tell if they were brown with green flecks or green with brown flecks. I felt the heat of his gaze as those eyes traveled over me.
“Thank you …” I awkwardly stuck out my hand, realizing we hadn’t exchanged names.
“Tucker,” he replied, sliding his palm into mine. “And you’re welcome.”
The skin-to-skin contact sent an unexpected tingle up my spine. I couldn’t explain it. All my nerve endings seemed to have a heightened sense of awareness brought on by his touch. He expectantly looked at me, and I knew I was supposed to say something, but I couldn’t remember what.
“You are?” His eyes never left my face as he shook my hand.
“Camryn.”
“Well, Camryn, drive safe.” He released me and offered a smile that showed off a row of perfect white teeth.
“Let me pay—”
The look he gave me cut off my words. “Don’t finish that sentence.”
I wanted to argue with him but refrain
ed. “Thanks again, Tucker.”
“You’re welcome again.”
I got behind the wheel and waited as he removed the cables and then shut the hood. Tucker tapped the metal twice with his open palm, signaling that I was all set. After I plugged my phone into the charger, I watched him for a minute before I pulled back onto the highway and drove toward town.
I slowed my speed when I approached Main Street. Brick buildings housed quaint shops, and the gas-light lampposts that dotted the sidewalks created a picturesque backdrop. It felt safe. Like the sort of place where people left their doors unlocked, neighbors looked out for each other, and everyone knew everyone else’s business.
I parked along the curb in front of Jaxson Realty, rolled up the windows, and got out of my car. Since I just needed to run inside to grab the keys to my place, I left Lucille running. I didn’t want to chance the battery dying for a second time, and I had to meet the delivery truck in less than thirty minutes.
A bell chimed as I opened the door and went inside.
An older woman sat behind a large desk. “May I help you?”
“Yes, I’m looking for Macy Caldwell.”
“You wouldn’t by chance be Camryn Parker, would you?” Her smile was warm and friendly, and the nameplate on her desk read Doris.
“That’s me,” I said, returning her smile.
“Just one second, dear.” She picked up the phone and pressed a button. “Camryn Parker is here.”
Macy and I had gotten to know each other a bit over the last several weeks through emails and phone calls.
My circle was small, though nonexistent was more accurate. Dad and I had moved a lot when I was younger. We’d never stayed in one place for more than two or three years, which made friendships difficult. At my previous job, most of my former coworkers had been younger than me. Don’t get me wrong; twenty-six wasn’t old either, but they had practically been babies who loved gossip and drama. Grayson, my best friend from college, had spent the last two years backpacking through Europe. Our last email correspondence was three weeks ago when I’d updated him with my contact information.
So, while I hadn’t been awesome at the friend thing in the past, I hoped to change that.
Minutes later, Macy emerged from down the hall. A striking redhead, she looked to be around my age. Dressed in an emerald-green top, fitted black skirt, and heels, she approached me and stuck out her hand. “Camryn, it’s so great to finally meet you. Welcome to Jaxson Cove.”
People seemed a hell of a lot nicer here than they did in Booker Ridge. Those who disputed whether or not Florida was part of the real South must’ve never set foot in this town.
Macy’s smile was wide, and after we shook hands, she gave me a manila envelope. “Inside you’ll find your keys, a copy of the lease, and even some takeout menus.”
“Thank you so much. You didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”
“Nonsense,” Macy said. “It’s no trouble at all. You have my number. Once you get settled, call me, and we’ll go out for coffee or something.”
“I’d like that,” I said truthfully.
“Wonderful. Is there anything else you need?”
“Nope. I think this is it. Thanks again. It was nice to officially meet you.” I smiled at Macy and then turned my attention to Doris. “It was nice to meet you, too, Doris.”
“Likewise, dear.”
“Have a good day, ladies,” I called over my shoulder.
Then, I got back in my car, hit up a drive-through, and drove toward my new home, praying the entire way that I wouldn’t be late.
A huge grin spread over my face when I pulled up to the house. It was charming, slate gray with white trim and a red front door that gave it a pop of color. Until now, I’d only seen pictures and taken the virtual tour on the realty website.
Anxious to see the interior, I grabbed the keys from the envelope and made my way inside. The home was older but recently remodeled to include stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and hardwood floors. An entryway led into a living room; beyond that was the kitchen. A small island anchored the space, and an alcove off the kitchen housed a washer and dryer. A sliding glass door led to a screened-in back porch. It was only a two bedroom, but the master was huge even if it did have only a half-bath with a small shower. The full bath was located down the hall.
It was perfect, and for at least the next year, it was mine.
3
Tucker
I hadn’t been able to get the raven-haired beauty from earlier out of my head. If I were lucky, maybe I’d stumble upon her at the local watering hole, which was how I ended up at The Hideaway. In search of her, I walked in and took a seat at the bar, hoping that maybe running into Camryn was in the realm of possibilities. I ordered a beer, and while I waited, I glanced around the room.
No fucking way.
Instead of Camryn, my eyes landed on the last person I’d ever expected to see. At the other end of the bar sat the woman who had fucking destroyed me. I watched as she finished the last of her beer, set the bottle on the bar, and moved in my direction. She looked better than I remembered. Her low-cut shirt showed off her perfect tits. However, I’d have to be drunk and then some to go there again. Wordlessly, she sat on the empty stool beside me.
Mack set my beer on the bar. “Need anything else, Tucker?”
“Thanks, Mack. I’m good.”
He turned to the woman at my side. “What about you, Holly?”
That was the thing about Jaxson Cove. It was a small town, and it didn’t matter how long you had been gone. Nobody forgot who you were, what you’d done, who you’d done it with, or who you’d done it to.
“I’ll have another Blue Moon.”
“Comin’ right up.”
“Holly Jacobs,” I said, without looking at her.
“Tucker Jaxson.” Her tone was sugary sweet.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I took a long pull from my bottle.
“Came home to visit my mama. Didn’t expect to run into you, but I’m glad I did.”
Just then, Mack placed Holly’s beer on the bar.
“Thanks, Mack,” she said.
He nodded and walked away.
“Your mama … she okay?”
Mrs. Jacobs was a good woman. I couldn’t hold her daughter against her.
“Mama’s fine.” She traced her finger over the top of her bottle.
“That’s good.” I needed to get the fuck out of this bar. Dredging up the past wouldn’t do a damn bit of good. “Take care, Holly.”
“Tucker, wait. Where are you going?”
“Home.” I reached into my wallet, threw a twenty on the bar, and headed for the door.
After all this time, I’d thought I’d be numb, but that wasn’t the case. I felt the anger take hold, and I needed to walk away. Just as the door closed behind me, it flung open again.
“Tucker! Can you just talk to me?”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I called over my shoulder.
“We had plans.”
“That was a long time ago,” I reminded her and kept walking.
“I loved you.” She tried again.
“Not enough.”
“Don’t you think I deserve to be forgiven after all this time?” She pushed.
That stopped me in my tracks. I turned and strode back to her. “What did you just say?”
“I want you to forgive me.” She took a step toward me.
Holly had some fucking nerve.
“For which part? You walked away.”
“Tucker, I couldn’t stay.”
My fists clenched at my sides. “Yes, you could have. You didn’t want to stay. You had a choice, and you chose wrong.”
“No, I didn’t. You did.” She pointed an angry finger in my face. “You were supposed to pick me.”
I stepped into her personal space. Close enough that I nearly choked on her too-sweet perfume. My voice dropped low, and I spoke through clenched t
eeth, “That right there is the reason I never did. You only ever cared about yourself. You want my forgiveness? You’ve got it. You stopped mattering to me a long fucking time ago.”
“Tucker, please,” she begged and then swiped at her face. “How can you say that? We were everything to one another.”
“That was a lifetime ago. There’s no going back. Knowing what I know now, there’s not a chance in hell I would.”
Her sobs drowned out all other sounds. I made no move to comfort her as she cried. Her tears didn’t work on me. Not anymore.
I didn’t want to hear another word she had to say.
“Good-bye, Holly.” I got in my truck and drove away.
When I arrived home, I headed straight to the kitchen, opened the small pantry, and reached for the bottle of scotch I kept hidden in the back. Then, I grabbed a glass, poured two fingers of whiskey, and carried both into the living room, placing the bottle on the end table. With the glass still clenched in my hand, I sat down on the couch and brought the alcohol to my lips.
I wanted to quiet the chaos. Dull the memories that flashed before me.
When I’d gotten the phone call about my brother, Griffin, Holly and I had come back to Jaxson Cove. Everything around me was falling apart, and I was doing my damnedest to put it back together. I stayed … but Holly left. Staying had been the right decision. I had known it then, and I sure as hell knew it now.
I emptied another two fingers of scotch into my glass after I finished the first. Then, I got up from the couch, returned the bottle to the pantry, and carried the glass into my room where I finished it off before I got into the shower to scrub off one of the worst days I’d had in a long time.
The following morning, I woke up with a headache. I chugged two bottles of water and popped some ibuprofen. I knew it had more to do with Holly than the scotch. If I never saw her again, it’d be too fucking soon. Needing to get my mind off last night, I walked outside, intending to get the paper, but stopped when I saw a familiar-looking Honda parked in the driveway next door with the hood up.