Built To Last (Sweet Contemporary Romance) Read online

  Built To Last

  by

  ALLIE KINCAID

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Dear Readers

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Copyright

  Dear Readers,

  BUILT TO LAST is a re-release of a book that was published by Nancy Stopper as Dreams Come True in Laguna. The original version of this novella was a sexy contemporary romance. BUILT TO LAST has been completely revised and all mentions of intimacy have been removed. It is being re-published as a clean and wholesome romance under the pen name Allie Kincaid.

  I hope you enjoy reading Erin and Jake’s story in BUILT TO LAST.

  ~Allie

  Chapter One

  “HEY ERIN, CAN you step into my office for a minute?” Dr. Austin Taylor’s voice carried down the hall and Erin Johnson leaned back in her chair just in time to see his head stuck out of his office door.

  He’ll never learn, will he? She chuckled as she stood and grabbed her notepad and pen sitting beside the intercom. The same intercom connecting the front desk to Austin’s office in the back.

  She rushed into Dr. Taylor’s—Austin’s—office. He sat with his back to the door, staring out the window at the cliffs of Laguna Beach and beyond them, the deep blue Pacific Ocean.

  “You know, Dr. Taylor, I can show you how to use the intercom, if you’d like. It’s pretty complicated, of course. I mean, you have to remember to push the button before you speak and everything.”

  Austin’s chair spun and he turned an easy smile on her. “Very funny. Hilarious. I don’t need that ridiculous thing. It’s not like the office is so big you can’t hear me if I yell.”

  She laughed as she slid into the guest chair that flanked his desk. They’d had this same conversation a thousand times. But the exchange just reflected the kind of office Austin ran—

  “Erin, how long have you worked here?”

  “Five years.” And she had enjoyed every minute of the time working with Austin and the staff. He took a chance on hiring her at a time when she needed a job and it had been the best thing to happen to her.

  “Five years. Right. It’s been five years. My name is Austin. Maybe you can say it—Auuuusssstiiiiinnnn.” He motioned with his hands to draw out the sound. “You’ve been to my house and played with my kids. You’re friends with my wife. You can call me Austin.”

  “When we’re in the office, it’s Dr. Taylor.” Erin’s parents had raised her to treat others with respect. Austin had worked hard to earn his title of doctor and she was going to use it.

  Austin quirked his mouth.

  He’d never convince her otherwise. Yet another tired conversation between her and the boss that had been such a good friend to her. Speaking of which. “How is Abby?”

  “She’s great. You should call her, go out to lunch. You know she’s always up for a break.”

  “I bet those kids are running her ragged. I’ll give her a call. In the meantime, what did you want to talk about?”

  “Huh? Oh yeah, right. Would you set up a new patient file, please?”

  She flipped back in her notebook to their staff meeting last month. “I thought we weren’t taking any additional patients until the new doctor came on board.”

  “We aren’t. This is a friend of mine and I told him I’d squeeze him in. He had an accident on his work site this morning. X-rays are clear but he’s in a lot of pain.”

  “You’re such a nice guy.” She’d told him that a lot. He was a nice guy, the kind she hoped to find and marry herself. Someday. But she didn’t expect someday to happen for a long time. She had other plans. Plans she’d delayed for the past ten years but that were finally right in front of her.

  She rubbed her thumb across the inside of her left wrist.

  “Oh, gosh, don’t let that rumor get around.” Austin laughed. “His name is Jake Cooper.”

  “Whose name?” She’d been daydreaming again and lost track of her conversation. Something that happened more often now that her future was about to become her present.

  “The new patient.”

  “Oh, right. I’m sorry. I guess I was distracted. I’ll take care of that right now.”

  “Thanks, Erin.”

  She rose from the chair and threw him one last response on the way out the door. “You’re welcome, Dr. Taylor.”

  Austin’s laugh followed her back to her desk. As the most sought-after chiropractor in a community where the wealthy residents scheduled adjustments like they scheduled their salon visits—once a week, like clockwork—the office was always hopping.

  She was thrilled his practice had taken off, but she also felt guilty. Her resignation letter, still unsigned, burned a hole in the desk drawer. She was waiting for the right time, if there was one, to hand it over.

  She was ready for the rest of her life to begin—as far away from here as possible. It wouldn’t be long now. For many, Laguna Beach, California was a piece of heaven on earth. But for her, it was her jail—a place she had been forced to live when bigger and better things loomed over the horizon.

  She rubbed the tattoo on her wrist again. The world was at her fingertips. She just had to reach out and grab it. What, then, was holding her back?

  She pulled the new patient paperwork from the file cabinets, chuckling about her conversation with Dr. Taylor, err Austin. Despite his jokes, everyone knew he was a nice guy. If he wasn’t seven years older than she was, and if he weren’t happily married with three kids, she might have a crush on him. Let’s be honest—she had a crush on him despite those things. Every girl in the office loved his deep red hair and mischievous green eyes. But he was hopelessly devoted to Abby.

  Erin could only hope a man like that was in her future.

  She loved working at Taylor Wellness Center and would be sad when it came time to leave. They were family and she would miss them.

  But, for now, her future didn’t include marriage and family. As much as she loved her job, for the first time in ten years, she had a chance to grab everything she’d ever wanted. She needed to see what life had in store for her beyond the borders of Laguna Beach.

  “Hey, Erin.” Ashley, one of the nurses, stepped up to the front desk. “Me and the girls are heading out to SkyLoft for happy hour. You wanna come? Sunset and cosmos?”

  “You bet. Come grab me when you guys are ready to go.” After the week she’d had, drinks with the girls sounded perfect. “Dr. Taylor’s seeing a new patient this afternoon.”

  “Sounds great.” Ashley headed down the hall to prep an exam room and Erin started completing the new patient chart. She was writing the last information on the paperwork when Austin walked out from the back, his voice mingling with another man’s. She had checked no one in. When had someone else shown up?

  Austin smiled at her when he reached her desk. “Hey, Erin. This is Colin Burke, a friend of mine. He went to LBHS with Abby. Have you two met?”

  She stood and brushed her palms against her navy slacks, studying the familiar-looking dark-haired man for a moment. She extended her hand. “No, I don’t believe so. Nice to meet you, Colin.” She turned to Austin. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see him come in.”

  “
No worries. He snuck in the back door for a quick meeting. But it seems my next appointment is arriving.”

  As Taylor’s words hung in the air, the bell above the door announced a new arrival. Erin swung her head around just as the most handsome man she’d ever seen hobbled his way into the clinic.

  “Hey, Jake.” Dr. Taylor raised his hand in greeting.

  The man’s head snapped up and a grimace crossed his face. Austin and Colin rounded the desk to greet the man, which gave Erin a chance to study him unobserved.

  He stood well over six feet tall with wavy, dark-brown hair hanging over his ears. It made her smile. He needed a haircut, but the longer style suited him. His square jaw and rugged face sported light stubble which framed the cutest dimple in his chin.

  There was a ruggedness about him. His work boots, dusted with dried mud as though he’d walked off the job and into the office, definitely screamed outdoorsman.

  A hand waved in front of her face.

  “Erin, um, Erin. The patient file, please.”

  “What? Oh, I’m sorry. Yes, I have it right here.” She fumbled with the papers on the desk, glancing at name labels but not clearly reading them. She hoped the man didn’t notice her hands shaking. Finally, she located the file and extended it to a laughing Austin. “Here it is.”

  “Erin, I’d like to introduce you to a friend of mine, Jake Cooper. Jake, this is Erin Johnson, the best receptionist and office manager a guy could hope for.”

  Jake lifted his gaze to her then, and the deep green of his eyes captivated her. She could get lost in them.

  “Nice to meet you, Erin.”

  She extended her trembling hand. “Nice to meet you, too.”

  He wrapped his palm around hers, a strong jolt shooting straight into her heart. Her eyes shot to his and in them she saw a similar look. She’d never felt a connection to someone when she first met them, having been fooled into trusting the wrong people more times than she could count in her life. But her heart didn’t seem to get the message.

  “Room two is ready for you guys. Ashley is already back there.”

  “Thanks, Erin.”

  Austin passed by her desk, Jake on his heels. He’d taken only a few steps when he turned back. Pressing his hands to the top of her desk, he leaned toward her, his face a breath away from hers. “It was really nice to meet you, Erin. I hope to see you again.”

  Chapter Two

  “TELL ME ABOUT the girl out front.” Jake gingerly pulled his T-shirt on. The grueling hour he’d spent on the table, Austin pushing and pulling and shifting the muscles in his back, had done some good. And the time had afforded him the time to think about the brunette he’d just met.

  Fair skin contrasted with her curly, brown hair hanging long down her back. Hair that framed her face perfectly. Beautiful, long lashes ringed her deep green, expressive eyes—eyes that he could get lost in. And if he wasn’t mistaken, he’d noticed a glint of interest in her, too.

  Austin laughed. “Did I notice a spark between you two?”

  He reached out and smacked Austin across the shoulder. “Just curious, that’s all.”

  “Well, like I said, she’s a great office manager. She’s worked here five years and she’s been going to UC Irvine the whole time. She graduated last month.”

  “Oh man, how old is she? She’s not twenty-two or something, is she?” After Lindsay, he wasn’t ready for a relationship with someone who had their focus on something bigger and better than right here in Laguna Beach.

  “No. She took ten years to get her degree. She’s been going one class at a time while working.”

  Whew. That was close. Since Lindsay had broken up with him nine months ago, he’d had little interest in dating anyone else. Content with his work and his dog. But meeting Erin stirred up dreams he had all but abandoned. How had he managed to live in Laguna Beach for more than two years and not meet her? Why had Austin been keeping her a secret all this time?

  “I think I know that look.”

  He’d almost forgotten Austin was still here, he’d gotten so lost in his daydream. “What?”

  “Nothing. I can just tell what you’re thinking. It’s been a while since I’ve seen that expression on your face, though.”

  Jake shoved his wallet and keys in his pocket. “Yeah, well, I’ve been busy.”

  “You should never be too busy to meet a wonderful woman. I know Lindsay did a number on you, man, but you’ve got to get back out there. It’s the only way you’re going to find the one.”

  He sighed. Austin lived the life Jake had hoped to have by now. The beautiful wife, the great kids, the family home. Jake had the home, but not the wife and kids.

  He thought he’d found his happily-ever-after with Lindsay. They had dated for almost two years and it had been serious—until he proposed. He’d set up a romantic dinner on the beach with candles and a table set for two. Everything had been going great until he’d dropped to his knee and pulled an expensive ring out of his pocket.

  She’d cried.

  Happy tears, he’d thought—hoped—until she said no. She didn’t want to get married or live in Laguna Beach. He offered to move somewhere else with her, anywhere they could be together. But it turned out it wasn’t the town she didn’t want. It was him. She didn’t want to be “tied down” anymore. Where he had been hoping for the great love of his life, like his parents had, she yearned for the young, single life in a bigger city. So she had headed off to Los Angeles, and he had stayed in Laguna Beach, living in his dream home without a family to come home to.

  “Yeah, maybe.”

  “Well, a little tip. The girls are headed to happy hour at the SkyLoft tonight. Maybe you oughta check it out.”

  “Yeah, maybe,” he repeated. As much as he wanted to find someone to spend the rest of his life with, happy hour wasn’t where he looked. He didn’t think he could start a meaningful relationship over cocktails and appetizers.

  But he debated giving it a shot because the woman with the brown hair and cat green eyes intrigued him.

  Austin opened the door and motioned for Jake to exit. “Listen, man. I’m glad you came in today, but sorry for the reason. It’s been too long. Let’s not let so much time go again. I’ll talk to Abby and we’ll plan dinner.”

  “Sounds great. I’d love to see Abby and the kids again.”

  He followed Austin down the hall, disappointed when Erin wasn’t at the front desk.

  “I guess the girls have already headed out,” Austin said after seeing Jake scan the empty desk. Austin dropped his file on the top of a pile and turned back to him, hand extended. “Good to see you again. Don’t be a stranger.”

  “You too. And thanks for working me in today.” He twisted his head from side-to-side. “It did the trick.”

  “Then I’ve done my job. Have a great night.”

  Jake’s climb into the cab of his truck was definitely easier than it had been earlier. He sat for a minute, his hand poised over the ignition. His conscience told him to go back to work. He looked at his watch. After grabbing his cell phone, he made a quick call to the work site.

  “Hey, Jake,” Ryan answered on the first ring. “How’re you doing?”

  “Better. X-rays were clear. It was still hurting, though, so I hit up Austin for an adjustment. How’s it going there?”

  “Great. Master bedroom is hung, taped and mudded, and most of the downstairs drywall is done. We should finish the rest of the hanging on schedule.”

  “Sounds good. I’m heading back out there.”

  “No need. We’re getting ready to knock off for the day. We’ll see you on Monday.”

  That’s what he wanted to hear. And the reason he’d brought on a partner. Maybe there was some truth to what Austin had said. Maybe Jake hadn’t made enough time for a woman in his life. He could remedy that tonight. “You sure?”

  “We’re good. You can head home.”

  “Yeah, maybe…” He had no plans for the rest of the day. He could go home and
rattle around his empty house… or head to SkyLoft and try to “innocently” bump into Erin Johnson. Before he could reconsider his plan, he turned toward home.

  * * *

  Jake stood with his back to the railing of the rooftop bar, sipping a glass of iced tea. He scanned the crowd and didn’t see Erin. Had the group gone somewhere else? Maybe Austin hadn’t heard right.

  Jake was here now, though, so he may as well relax for a few minutes and enjoy his iced tea. He never took enough time to appreciate his adopted hometown. He turned and looked out at the Pacific Ocean, ignoring the growing crowd behind him. The steady crashing of waves over the rocks soothing his rattled nerves. After draining the last drops of amber liquid, he turned around.

  Happy hour, indeed. Most of the patrons were laughing and talking, smiles on their faces. Several couples shared a quiet moment at the bar or the few tables spread around the dining area. One more drink and he’d call it quits.

  He took a step and pulled up short. Erin was standing with a group of ladies at the bar.

  He hesitated a moment. Lindsay had made him gun-shy but he wasn’t so out of practice that he didn’t know how to approach a beautiful woman. After a few deep breaths and with a new determination, he strode across the floor, hesitating only briefly before tapping Erin on the shoulder.

  She turned. “Hi, Erin.”

  Her eyes lit up and a huge smile broke across her face. After speaking to the woman beside her, she turned back to him. “Fancy meeting you here.”

  “No, not really.” He didn’t want to start off a potential relationship with a lie. Especially after Lindsay. “Austin overheard you guys talking and told me you were coming here. Since I didn’t get a chance to talk to you when I left the office, I thought I’d look for you.”

  “You came here to see me?”

  Heat rose on his cheeks. “Yeah.”

  Her face colored, too. “Well, I’m glad you did.”

  “Can I buy you something a drink?”

  “Sure. I’ll just take a soda.”

  She was at happy hour and he expected her to have a cocktail, but he was happy with her choice. He intended to have a clear mind so he could get to know this intriguing woman and he appreciated that she was doing the same.