“I’m not showing up for a wedding that I’m not invited to. It’s a time for family and friends, and I’m neither,” Doug Atwood said, and then heard Beckett mutter profanities under his breath.
“KJ needs you,” Beckett Davis’s voice boomed through the phone.
“I can only help those who want it. I think what she’s going through is stress about her upcoming wedding in a few days and nothing more.”
Doug wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince Beckett or himself. KJ wasn’t his friend, but she was a fellow Marine, and that was an indisputable bond. That didn’t give him the right to force his way into her personal life and ask questions she might not be ready to answer. Especially on her wedding day. Although he did have concerns. KJ had been on his mind since their last meeting a month ago. They’d met at a baby shower for Beckett and Danielle. As a single man, it wasn’t a place he wanted to be, but KJ seemed to want out of there even more than he did. When he saw her outside alone, he followed her. It didn’t take long before the topic turned to the Corps. That’s when KJ confided she was having reoccurring nightmares. She said she saw herself back overseas treating the wounded. Every person she tried to save had the same face—Drew’s. He offered to counsel her, but she refused. She said the nightmares were less frequent, but when she did have them, they shook her to her core.
With her wedding to Drew Navarro fast approaching, he was concerned her past war experiences might be interfering with her future. He’d seen it too often, fellow servicemen afraid of being happy. Not believing they were entitled to happiness. They held on to the pain, kept it close. If there were other stressors involved, like planning a wedding, it wasn’t unusual for memories of horrific events to be triggered. KJ should be a little more settled after the wedding.
“Doug, I’m telling you, this isn’t cold feet.”
He could hear the concern in Beckett’s voice. It was always easier to spot the damage in someone else rather than see your own. Beckett wasn’t facing his own demons. It was possible Beckett was redirecting his emotional state onto KJ. Since getting married to Danielle, Beckett’s struggle with PTSD seemed to be held in check, but Doug knew those invisible scars never healed fully. Add the constant reminder of a missing leg, and it becomes nearly impossible to forget. This easily could be all about you, Beckett.
Unless he was there to observe them both, he wouldn’t know. Yet, he couldn’t just show up at her wedding uninvited. It’d be so obvious why he was there. If she were in distress, thinking her friends were seeking help for her behind her back might only enhance it. If he was going to do anything, he needed to be extremely cautious.
“Has KJ spoken to you about it or asked you to contact me?”
“No, but Drew looks like shit. I asked him what was wrong, and he said KJ wasn’t sleeping well.”
“That’s all you’ve got? Drew saying his fiancée isn’t able to sleep a few days before her wedding?” The sarcasm in his tone wasn’t completely intentional. Beckett wasn’t giving him anything to go on.
“You know me, Doug. I wouldn’t have called if I didn’t think you needed to be here. Besides, I’m inviting you.”
“To a wedding that isn’t yours?” Beckett’s lost his mind.
“Yep, and you even have a date.”
Doug didn’t have anything to go on, nor did he take anything Beckett said lightly. The entire conversation troubled him; if it hadn’t he would tell Beckett what he could do with his so-called date. He had so much on his plate right now that a date was the last thing he needed.
“KJ won’t appreciate you inviting one, never mind two additional people.” Doug didn’t have any siblings, but he knew enough about women to know to tread carefully around certain things. A wedding was on the top of that list.
“Don’t worry about it. Your date is on the guest list, and you just became her plus-one.”
“My date? Who is this mysterious woman?” Up until the time Beckett met Danielle, his choice of women left a lot to be desired. Yes, they were sexy as hell, but without an ounce of intelligence. It wasn’t that Doug didn’t appreciate beauty, but barely skin-deep wasn’t his style. What the fuck am I thinking? Bachelor is my style.
“You remember my kid sister, Rose?”
Not one easily forgotten. She matches her name, a delicate rose. “Vaguely. Why?”
“She’s been dating this guy, and let’s just say the guy has rubbed me the wrong way.”
“Rose isn’t a child, Beckett. You can’t tell her who to date.” Rose is truly beautiful, and if she were a little older, hell, it’d be me Beckett would be warning off.
“Believe what you want, but I’m telling you, there is something about this guy. So I made sure he was not on the guest list.”
Doug shook his head. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Big, bad Beckett had stooped so low as to manipulate his sister’s relationships. “Don’t you have enough going on with Danielle ready to deliver any time?”
“Listen. We’re having a girl. All I can think about is if that creep was hanging around my daughter I’d—”
“I get it. You don’t like the guy. What’s his issue? Drugs? Criminal record?”
“Don’t know. Only met him once. That was enough for me.”
Doug was happy to be off the subject of KJ, yet talking about Rose’s love life wasn’t much better. When he’d first met her at Beckett and Danielle’s wedding, she’d caught his eye. She didn’t look like her brother at all. Actually she looked like an angel, and that was exactly what he called her when he first asked her to dance. Normally, he wouldn’t step foot on a dance floor, yet he hadn’t wanted to let her go. Once he found out his angel was Beckett’s kid sister, it became hands off. You don’t mix business with pleasure, and you sure as hell don’t sleep with your friend’s sister. No matter how tempting it is.
Even though she was off-limits to him, it didn’t mean he liked hearing about her with some shady guy. This isn’t typical Beckett behavior. What’s really going on?
Doug was damn good at reading what people weren’t saying. Over the phone, it was more challenging, yet not impossible. However, it was especially difficult when it came to a person like Beckett, who’d been trained to contain his true emotions. That ability was one of the things that made him an excellent leader in the Corps, but made it difficult to decipher what was going on personally. If they hadn’t been friends for almost fifteen years, Doug might not have noticed.
Beckett’s brother Trent was usually the overprotective, controlling bastard. Beckett normally rationalized things and thought clearer, then typically based decisions on facts. Something more was going on in Beckett’s life, and Doug couldn’t identify what it was. Could it be the stress of the baby on the way? Or was it truly as simple as he didn’t like Rose’s boyfriend? If it was the latter, he didn’t want to get involved in any sibling issues. If they didn’t like the guy, he was sure they could make him go away. The Davis men were an outspoken group and didn’t need any help from him. “What does any of this have to do with me?”
“You’re her date.”
“Rose?”
“I want someone I can trust. Besides, you’re not her type at all. It’s perfect. You can keep an eye on Rose, and at the same time try to get a feel for what’s going on with KJ.”
Gee, thanks for the jab to the ego. It should please him to know Rose wasn’t interested in him. She was his friend’s kid sister, and he wasn’t the man she needed in her life. He’d just turned thirty-eight, and if he was correct, she was only twenty-seven. He’d be the first to admit age was just a number, but they also had nothing in common. Outside of sexual attraction. She was outspoken and full of life. He had no idea what her likes or dislikes were, but he could guess she didn’t sit home with a good book on a Friday night. Someone as stunning as she was had no reason to be sitting at home.
“I’m not doing it.”
“Doug, trust me; she’s not going to make it through this wedding without you.”
Calling Beckett’s bluff wasn’t an option. If KJ needed him, she would’ve called. If Drew thought she needed him, he would’ve called. Beckett’s call seemed more like a cry for help for himself. The problem was, it didn’t matter which one needed him. Doug had made a commitment to help as many Marines as he could. Never before had he turned away anyone’s cry for help. If there was a chance, even a slim one, that KJ or Beckett needed him, Doug had to go. He’d never forgive himself if he lost anyone else. Was it that desperate? Was Beckett that worried?
“I’ll be there,” he said reluctantly.
“Great. I’ll have Gunny pick you up in the seaplane.”
“I’ve got his number. I’ll see you on the island in two days.” There were things Doug needed to take care of first.
“Roger that.”
Doug tossed his cell phone on the coffee table and headed for the room service cart that had brought dinner earlier. The steak was still untouched. He wasn’t in the mood to eat. Drinking seemed more in order.
He grabbed the bottle of whiskey and a small lead crystal glass. Pouring himself a large helping, he downed the contents. It burned like hell going down, but he didn’t care. It had been a day from hell, and right now he wanted to stop thinking. He poured himself a second drink and headed back to the couch. This time he lay down. It had been days since he’d gotten a good night’s sleep. It was easy for him to listen to others, sort out their problems, and help them overcome obstacles. It was his job. But resolving his own issues? Not as easy.
He grabbed the paper off the table and read the first line again. “Dear Mr. Atwood, We regret to inform you that your father, Earl LaPrade, has died.”
Not even a phone call. You knew where to find me but couldn’t be bothered to deliver the message in person. Instead, he received a certified letter from some lawyer named Handa this morning that contained no details at all. Had his father been in an accident or fallen ill, and no one reached out to him before it was too late? We weren’t close, but fuck, I’d have gone and seen him if I’d known.
Doug had called the lawyer as soon as he’d received the letter, but his secretary said he was in court and unreachable all day. He hadn’t been close to his father. His parents never married and their relationship had been hostile. His mother said it never became physical, but his parents couldn’t be in the same room without yelling at each other. The fight was always the same. His mother complaining that Earl wasn’t involved in Doug’s life enough. Earl’s answer was to come by even less often and increase his monetary support. There were years he only saw his father once.
When Doug turned twenty, he reached out to Earl, thinking their relationship would be different. It wasn’t. He’d say he’d show up and then was a no-call, no-show. He hated to admit his mother had been right. Earl loved one thing—money—and the older the man got, the more singular his focus seemed.
When his mother was alive, she always said Doug and Earl were as different as father and son could be. Earl was all business, nothing more. Doug couldn’t remember seeing him in anything but an expensive suit no matter the occasion, not that he’d seen him often. Doug had been a jeans and T-shirt guy all the way since he retired from the Marine Corps.
For all practical purposes, Doug didn’t have a father. All his life he felt like the bastard son of a man who’d never wanted children. Outside of this damn lawyer, I’m not sure anyone even knows Earl was a father. Never once had Earl publicly or privately claimed him as his own. Not even on my birth certificate. How fucked up is that?
Doug didn’t hate the man; hell, he’d never really known him. Earl had done the bare minimum in person. He sent support to his mother regularly, and gifts on Doug’s birthdays and holidays, so Earl wasn’t a total deadbeat. Since the gifts were exactly what he’d wanted, Doug assumed that his mother had purchased them and put his father’s name on them. There was no way that man knew enough about him to know his likes or dislikes.
Something inside him always hoped one day they could have some type of relationship. Now it was too late. The one parent he’d had was now gone too.
Earl’s lawyer wanted to meet first thing tomorrow morning. Why? He’s dead. Whatever Dad had to say should’ve been said when he was alive. If Earl had spoken up at any time, he would be back in San Antonio in his own bed right now instead of some fancy hotel in New York City. This was Earl’s style, not his.
There’d been one time when Doug thought his father wanted him in his life. Earl had gotten married two years ago, and Doug actually received an invitation to the wedding. Sad thing was, it was as a guest, not as his son. Earl had taken him around the room and introduced him to many influential people, but only as a decorated hero in the Marines. He’d questioned his father why he wanted him there, and Earl had said, “Someday you’ll understand.” He couldn’t figure it out then, and he still had no idea what he’d meant. They seemed to be a group of people Doug wouldn’t associate himself with willingly. It was just another thing added to a long list of questionable choices his father made.
Nothing at that wedding was normal, not even the bride. Earl married a woman named Candi who was in her mid-twenties. Although Doug only met her that one day, it had been more than enough time. She was the true definition of a trophy wife yet from what Doug could tell, the girl had the IQ of a pigeon. There was no doubt what she saw in his father. His money. If he had the slightest doubt of it when they’d been introduced, it ended quickly. Candi had way too much to drink. Doug watched as she made her way from one man to another, always hanging all over them. That type of woman made him sick, and knowing his father had just married her sickened him even more. Even though Candi didn’t know he was Earl’s son, somehow Doug didn’t think it would’ve mattered. She eventually made her way over to him, grabbing his ass and rubbing herself all over him as she slipped him her phone number.
If he’d cared at all what his father did, he would’ve said something to Earl at that moment. But why bother? His father had never sought his opinion before, so he shut his mouth and walked out of the wedding reception. His father reached out a few times after that, but Doug didn’t return the calls. Then the communication ceased entirely. It was clear. His father had his life, and Doug had his own. Neither of them needed the other. The last of my blood family is gone. I hate that we didn’t have a relationship. I’m not sure how to mourn your loss. His lack of emotion or mixed feelings left him feeling melancholy. Not a feeling he allowed himself.
That made the letter from the lawyer confusing. Anything necessary should have been said long ago. He didn’t need a lawyer to read some formal document telling him Earl had left his business and assets—i.e. everything—to Candi. He’d done fine all those years without any assistance from him, and Doug felt it almost hypocritical to want anything from Earl now that he was dead.
Doug scanned the document again before crumpling the paper and tossing it across the room onto the floor. Whatever you sent that lawyer to tell me can go to the grave with you. I’m not interested in hearing it now. I fucking stopped caring years ago.
Emptying the glass of whiskey a second time, he reached to put the glass on the coffee table, missed, and it crashed to the floor. His head was pounding, and he didn’t want to think of his father anymore. Fuck. I should’ve had room service send up two bottles. He rubbed the stubble on his unshaven face and closed his eyes. He didn’t care which came first, sleep or passing out. All he wanted was the next twenty-four hours to be over with. Hell, make it next week. ’Cause I’m not looking forward to that wedding any more than meeting with the lawyer.
Rose Davis stared at her phone. I don’t believe it. He’s backing out at the last minute? No explanation.
She slipped the phone back into the pocket of her nursing scrubs and pulled out the keys to her car. Rose never checked her messages while on duty. Tonight she wished she had. Coming off a double shift in the emergency room was bad enough. Finding out you were being stood up was just the icing on the cake. It wouldn’t bother her so much except she’d only taken the double shift so she and Toby could spend an extra day on vacation after KJ and Drew’s wedding. Now I’m not only exhausted, but I don’t have a date either. What the hell?
The invitation list wasn’t huge, and she knew most everyone attending. Going alone wasn’t the problem. It was the cold text message to cancel.
She’d been dating Toby for six months. Not the most motivated guy she knew, and he sure wasn’t the love of her life, but he was fun to be with. The last time they’d spoken, Toby seemed excited about attending the wedding with her. Rose got in the car, closed her eyes, and rested her head on the steering wheel. Who am I kidding? He just wanted an all-expenses paid vacation.
That made his sudden change of heart all the more confusing. Who wouldn’t want a week of beach, sun, and fun with the additional bonus to leave the cool spring temperatures in West Virginia? She started the car and was about to put it in drive when she felt her phone vibrate in her back pocket. Quickly she unbuckled and pulled it out from underneath her.
Rose didn’t want to speak to him right now, but ignoring his call was never a wise choice.
“Hi, Beckett.” She tried to sound cheery, but he could always see right through her. Even through the phone you’re a force to be reckoned with. I’m not sure I’ve got it in me to pull this off.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m exhausted. Just pulled a double. All I want to do is go home and go to bed.” It wasn’t a lie. There’d been a multi-car crash, and they’d lost two of the passengers. She could hold herself together in the heat of the moment, but now, sitting alone in the car, she felt her emotions on the brink of breaking and needed to hide away for a bit. She didn’t want to talk about it with anyone. Burying the pain was a poor coping mechanism, yet she couldn’t seem to stop herself from doing it either. That’s why I need a no-stress vacation. Now I’ll have to answer all the questions as to why Toby didn’t come. I’m not sure if that’s worse than the questions about bringing him. I can’t win either way.
Beckett, unfortunately, was at the top of the list of people to avoid talking with about Toby. Over the past few months, things had become tense between them. Beckett didn’t hold his tongue when it came to his opinion of Toby. Even though he’d never said exactly what he didn’t like about him, the glaring looks said plenty. Rose was tempted to tell Beckett she found his behavior absolutely ridiculous. He was acting as though she was a teenager and Toby was her first boyfriend. Overprotective and overbearing didn’t even begin to describe his behavior lately. Talking to you now isn’t going to help my mood any. I have enough to process tonight without you adding to it.
“Hope you’re already packed because Gunny is picking you up first thing in the morning.”
She looked at her watch. Not one to procrastinate, Rose had packed a week ago. However, what was in her suitcases no longer fit the trip. Besides the dress for the wedding, she’d picked up a cute new bikini and fun sundresses for her and Toby’s getaway. For the last few months she’d been working a lot. She couldn’t explain why she jumped at every open shift, but she didn’t want to be sitting home staring at the four walls. Now she was burnt out, and a week away was exactly what she needed to rejuvenate.
Going alone was not part of my plan. All she wanted to do was go to the wedding and have Gunny fly her right back to West Virginia. If she weren’t so darn tired, she’d repack the bare minimum and do just that. I can tell them I couldn’t get the time off work. Rose fought back the sarcastic laughter as she knew her brother Trent would make one phone call to the hospital and she’d have a month off, with pay, never mind a week, which was what she had now.
Conceding to her limited options in finding a replacement for Toby at such short notice, she reluctantly replied, “I’ll be ready.”
“I’ll meet you at the dock tomorrow.”
Beckett sounded almost . . . smug. I’ll meet you at the dock tomorrow. Was she missing something? All she did was agree, so why did it sound as though there was something more to it? Interesting he didn’t ask about Toby. Weird. She was tempted to ask him, but Beckett was too good at the game of answering a question with a question, and she was in no mood to play it. “Good night, Beckett.”
She disconnected the call and tossed the phone on the passenger’s seat. It was almost midnight, and first thing in the morning meant sunrise when it came to people like Beckett and Gunny. What kind of vacation is this that I can’t even sleep late one day?
With her car still in park, she scrolled to Toby’s text message and read it again.
Can’t make the trip. Something’s come up.
Like what? A better offer? She was so angry. He never even said sorry. Brief without emotion or feeling. Their connection might not be earth-shattering, but common courtesy would’ve been nice. If not deserved.
So many replies were flying through her mind. She could blast him, calling him for not having the balls to tell her in person. It wouldn’t be a stretch to tell him he wasn’t who she wanted to be with anyway. However, no matter what she said, it wasn’t going to change the fact that she was stuck attending the wedding alone. The one thing she didn’t want to do. Being the only family member still unattached is like wearing a target on my back.
She texted Toby: Have fun! then blocked his number so he couldn’t contact her. Whoever or whatever had come up could have him.
There is no way in hell I’m staying on that island a week. How can I get out of this? What would be a believable excuse? That was the problem. This family seemed to have eyes everywhere. If she lied, she’d need to make it a good one, or she’d never leave that island.
There was only one way on and off the island—through transportation Beckett arranged. Once there, she lost all control of when she left. Then I’m left with no other choice.
I think I’ve just come down with influenza and need to stay home and in bed for a week or two. Sorry.
Rose felt as though a huge weight was lifted off her shoulders. She felt bad about missing KJ and Drew’s wedding, but they were really Trent’s and Beckett’s friends. Her absence really wouldn’t ruin the wedding.
Her plan was perfect. Everyone else was already on the island. If it hadn’t been for work, she would’ve been as well. Even her parents were there and unable to confirm or deny her excuse. Brilliant if I say so myself.
Putting the car in drive, she smiled to herself. She’d need to wait a few hours before calling Beckett back because she’d sounded too healthy a few minutes ago. Her terrible cough wouldn’t come on that quickly. A few hours should do it. Just long enough to make it believable.
Instead of heading right home, she stopped at an all-night diner to grab a burger, fries, and a chocolate milkshake to go. They’d been so busy in the ER, she hadn’t had time to eat. When she finally arrived at her apartment, she ate so quickly she wasn’t sure she tasted the food. That was probably a good thing because, about thirty minutes later, her stomach was upset. Greasy food was something she normally avoided. Now she remembered why.
Rose popped several antacids and lay on the couch. Only two hours had gone by, but she wanted to go to bed and sleep this feeling off.
Picking up her cell phone, she called Beckett. His voice was filled with concern when he answered. “What’s wrong?”
Here we go. “I’m not feeling well. I think I picked up a nasty bug from work.” She tried to make her voice sound raspy and forced a cough.
“You didn’t sound sick earlier.”
“That’s the problem with the flu, Beckett. It comes on quick and kicks your butt. I’m not going to be able to make the wedding.” Forcing more coughs, she continued, “I don’t want to pass it on to Danielle, either, so I better stay home.” Oh, that’s good. He’ll do anything to protect his wife.
“You sound horrible. I’ll tell everyone you won’t be there.”
If her stomach wasn’t hurting so much, she’d feel elated. Instead, she was still trying not to vomit for real. “Thanks, Beckett.”
“I’ll have Gunny stop in later to check on you.”
“No.” Her answer felt too quick and her voice sounded too high. “I don’t want him to catch it either. I have everything I need. All I want to do is stay in bed and sleep this off.”
“Rose, I—”
“Beckett. I’m an RN. I know how to take care of myself. If I need anything at all, I’ll have them bring it to me from the hospital.” She was pretending to cough so hard that it actually started hurting.
“Call me if you need anything, Rose,” Beckett said firmly.
“I will. Tell everyone I love them.”
“Will do. Love you too.”
She ended the call and laughed softly to herself. I never thought I could pull one over on Beckett. First time for everything.
Rose got up and headed to the bedroom with her hand on her stomach. She made a quick detour and raced for the bathroom making it to the toilet just in time. It was supposed to be a lie. It didn’t feel like the flu. She hoped it wasn’t food poisoning. Please let this be nerves and lack of sleep getting to me. Lying was something out of character and doing it to family only made it more difficult. Her hands had been trembling the entire time she spoke to Beckett this time. If it were any other situation, she would’ve told him the truth.
A wave of nausea hit her again as she bent over the toilet. Once her stomach finally calmed down, she stripped off her uniform and took a long, desperately needed hot shower. Her body ached all over from being on her feet sixteen hours.
She towel-dried her long chestnut hair and headed to her bedroom. The sunrise was already starting to peek in through the curtain. Closing the blinds the best she could, she climbed into bed and pulled the blankets over her head. What she needed most of all was some serious sleep.
Rose didn’t even brush her hair, and sleeping with it wet was going to make it look like a rat’s nest when she got up. Since everyone she cared about was on the island, she didn’t need to think about her appearance. She rolled over and snuggled up against her long body pillow.
Thoughts of Toby crept into her mind. Was he lying alone in bed regretting his text message? Probably not. Although the timing was bad, she was glad. With all the weddings happening around her, she was starting to yearn for something more, something real. Toby could never have given her that, nor did she want it with him. Things between them were over. She wasn’t about to let anyone else know her desire to settle down or they’d never let up on her. It’s bad enough already. I’m very capable of finding my Mr. Right by myself. Aren’t I?
Rose reached her hand out from beneath the blankets and grabbed her cell phone off the nightstand. She put it on silent. If all she did for the next seven days was sleep, it was okay with her. Putting the phone back on the nightstand, she closed her eyes.
God, this vacation’s going to suck.