Built To Last (Sweet Contemporary Romance) Read online

  The time she and Jake spent together was filled with funny stories, laughter, and a lot of quiet moments just spent in each other’s presence. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so comfortable, so at ease, with another person. And she didn’t think about her father or Melissa at all when she was with Jake.

  She probably should have but for once, she was being selfish.

  But a niggling deep in her heart troubled her. She and Jake had just met, just had their first date. It was way too soon to talk about a future together, but she should have discussed her plans to leave town. He hadn’t said it, but everything about Jake screamed family man. She loved her family and despite the last ten years, she wouldn’t give them up for anything. But she was finally in a position to take some time for herself. To find her place in the world.

  Jake had tried several times to talk about his dreams for the future, in broad terms, and she’d constantly redirected the conversation. He’d even asked about her tattoo. She wasn’t quite ready to share that connection to her mother.

  Ashley threw her arms around Erin. “Oh, honey. I’m so happy for you. And I have to tell you, that man is hand-some.”

  “Yes, he is,” Erin agreed and they both dissolved into laughter.

  “If we are quite done with all of the gossiping…” Austin’s voice rang out from behind them. Erin’s face heated. Ashley hustled away, leaving Erin to fend for herself. Austin was a great guy but he was still her boss… and Jake was his friend. What would Austin think about her going out with Jake?

  “So, we had a nice weekend, did we?”

  “I did. Jake came and found me at happy hour and asked me out to dinner.”

  “I’m glad. He asked about you after his session, but you had already left. He’s a good man, Erin. But…” Austin paused, his voice hesitant. “Be gentle with him. He had a bad breakup with a girlfriend not long ago.”

  Why hadn’t Jake told her about his ex-girlfriend? Was he still in love with her? Erin shook her head. They had just started dating. They hadn’t reached the point of having conversations about their pasts… or their future. But she couldn’t be upset with him. She was keeping something from him, too. “I will. We just met. I don’t even know whether we plan to see each other again.”

  “I’m just saying. He’s my friend, and so are you, and I’d love nothing more than to see the two of you happy together.”

  Austin turned and headed back to his office, leaving Erin alone to ponder everything that had happened since she’d stepped out of this door on Friday night.

  She reached into her desk drawer and withdrew the resignation letter she’d drafted last week. She’d been so excited when she prepared the memo, knowing her dreams were within her grasp. All it needed was her signature.

  Taking off, seeing the world and what it had to offer, had been her dream as long as she could remember. She didn’t have a specific place in mind, her destinations unknown, but she couldn’t stay in Laguna Beach. So many people saw this town as a dreamy location, a beautiful, peaceful beachside home. But it had always been her prison.

  She’d planned to give Austin her resignation today. But as she stared at the piece of paper in her hands, uncertainty crept into her gut. Maybe she should have a more concrete plan in place before she gave up the best job she’d ever had. Her sister and father needed to be taken care of. There were a lot of loose ends to wrap up… and loose ends made her nervous.

  And then of course there was Jake. Meeting him had thrown a wrench into her plans she hadn’t expected, but even after knowing him only three days, she knew that she had to take what was happening between them into consideration.

  She slid the unsigned letter back into her desk drawer and closed it.

  There were so many thoughts running through her mind right now, she wasn’t sure what to do. She needed advice and knew just where to look. She pulled out her phone and tapped out a message.

  Are you free for lunch?

  Her friend, and Austin’s wife, Abby, answered almost immediately. I’m game. Where?

  Erin could always count on her friend to be up for lunch. And she’d be honest with Erin when so many others may tell her what she wanted to hear. How about Adolfo’s? 12:30?

  Sounds perfect. See you then.

  Even without giving Abby all the details, she would help Erin make this decision. Besides, Abby had the chance to leave Laguna Beach and instead she came home after college. She and Austin both did.

  Erin was tucking her phone into her purse when it vibrated with another text. Good morning.

  Good morning to you, too. Thanks again for Saturday. I had fun.

  He inserted a smiling face. Are you free for lunch?

  She paused. She wanted to have lunch with Jake, to see if the magic was more than just a fluke, but she shouldn’t even consider rearranging her life for something short-term.

  And her time with Jake had an expiration date.

  I just made lunch plans with a friend. Sorry :(.

  I’m sorry too. Have a great day at work!

  You too.

  As much as she wanted to see Jake again, she’d done the right thing. She needed this lunch with Abby, to give her a chance to weigh in on the entire situation, and besides, she could use a bit of distance to process every minute of her time with Jake.

  The morning rushed by quickly, patients shuffling in and out, the office operating smoothly. Noon rolled around and Ashley stopped at Erin’s desk. “Hey, I’m running out to grab a salad. Can I bring you something?”

  “Thanks, but I have plans for lunch.”

  Ashley shot her a knowing grin. “Lunch with Jake, huh?”

  “No, as a matter of fact, I’m having lunch with a friend.”

  The expression on Ashley’s face said she didn’t quite believe Erin.

  Just then, Austin ambled down the hall behind Ashley, a pile of papers in his hand. “Hey, Erin. Abby told me you guys are having lunch. Could you take these papers to her?”

  Erin stuck out her tongue at Ashley, then turned back to Austin. “Sure. I’ll be back soon.”

  Erin grabbed her purse and hurried to her car. As much as she was disappointed that she missed out on the chance to see Jake again, this lunch with Abby was important. Hopefully she could help Erin sort through the dilemma she found herself in.

  It didn’t take long to drive to Adolfo’s right off the Coast Highway, certainly not enough time to still her mind. The sun shone bright from the cloudless sky on the outdoor patio. A perfect day to eat in the fresh air. Erin loved the eclectic decorations at Adolfo’s. Blooming pots of flowers of all shapes and sizes lined the railing and sat along the ground, the bright purples, reds, yellows, and greens painting the space in a rainbow of colors. American flags tucked into several of the pots waved in the light breeze. Greenery and kitchy knick-knacks decorated every flat surface, bringing life and character to the otherwise simple yellow building. The entire place exuded happiness.

  Erin spied an open table on the rail and snagged it.

  As soon as she got settled, a waiter approached. “Miss, will you be dining alone or are you waiting for someone?”

  “My friend will be here soon. Can we get a couple glasses of water with lime and some chips and salsa?”

  “Absolutely. I’ll be back in just a moment. Please let me know if I can answer any questions about the menu.”

  Abby passed the departing waiter on her way to their table. Erin stood and hugged her friend. “Hey, sweetie. You look great. I swear I don’t know how you do it after having three kids.”

  Abby laughed. “I think it comes from chasing those three kids around every minute of the day.”

  Her friend looked happy. Correct that, she was happy. While Erin’s future lay on the horizon, Abby had found her bliss right here at home. And that’s why Erin was stuck with this dilemma.

  Erin gave Abby a minute to get settled and for Erin to organize her thoughts. The waiter returned with their drinks and salsa and slip
ped away without a word while they studied their options.

  Erin laughed, folded her menu, and placed it on the table. “I’m going to have the enchiladas. I look at this menu every time I come here, and I swear, I end up getting the same thing.”

  “I like to mix it up. I’m going to get the fish tacos this time.”

  After she and Abby placed their orders, Erin dug in her purse and pulled out the papers. “Austin wanted me to give you these.”

  Abby tucked them in her bag. “Thanks so much. I’ve been bugging him to bring them home for two weeks. But you know men, always forgetful. I figured if I told him to give them to you right then, maybe I’d actually get them.”

  Abby’s retort may sound harsh, but love laced every word. If only Erin could find that kind of happiness.

  And that was why she was here.

  Erin took a sip of her water and dipped a chip, bringing it carefully to her mouth.

  “So, what’s up with you? Why the last-minute lunch?”

  Erin nearly dropped salsa in her lap. She should have known that she couldn’t pull the wool over Abby’s eyes. She put the chip back on her plate and linked her fingers together, leaning her head on them while she pondered the best way to approach this sensitive topic with Abby. “Why did you come back to Laguna Beach? After college, I mean. You could have gone anywhere, done anything, but instead you came home.”

  Abby leaned back in her chair, an easy smile on her face. “I loved going away to college. Especially since it gave me a chance to be anonymous.”

  It was easy for Erin to forget that Abby was on that reality show that had taken over Laguna Beach. She seemed so normal, not like some of the over the top fame-seekers that were on most not-quite-reality shows these days.

  “I never wanted to be on television. But it helped pay for college. An education was important but all I ever wanted to be was a wife and a mother. I could be happy anywhere with Austin. It didn’t matter where we lived, as long as we were together. He’s my home.

  Austin wanted to come back to Laguna Beach and open his practice here. So, it all worked out. Exactly like it was supposed to.”

  That’s what Erin wanted. She wanted to be happy. She just didn’t think she could find it in Laguna Beach where she felt the responsibility of her family hanging over her head at every turn.

  “Where’s all this coming from, Erin?”

  She sucked in a breath. “I met a guy.”

  Abby’s entire face lit up with a smile. “I know. Austin told me about Jake. We love him. He’s become like a part of our family. He loves the kids. Treats them like he would his own.” Abby reached her hand across the table and wrapped it around Erin’s clenched fingers. “What’s the problem?”

  “He seems pretty settled here.”

  Abby dipped a chip in salsa and popped it in her mouth. Was she afraid of hurting Erin’s feelings with her response? “Yeah, I think so. He built his house up at Laguna Woods himself. He’d planned to get married and raise a family there. But life had other things in mind for him.”

  “Austin mentioned something about an ex-girlfriend.”

  “Lindsay. We thought they were in love. At least for Jake’s part, I presume. I obviously can’t speak for her. They dated for almost two years before Jake proposed. He set up a beautiful dinner on the beach and poured his heart out to Lindsay. And she threw it back in his face.”

  Lindsay must have been crazy. If Erin could list her criteria for a perfect man, so far, Jake met every one of them. Except he lived here. “Why would she do that? She must have loved him if she dated him for two years.”

  “She thought Jake living in Laguna Beach was all a phase. What she wanted was for him to sell his house and move to Los Angeles with her. She had dreams of making it big in show business. I mean, you know how it can be around here. Anyone who hears anything about the reality show, or meets one of us, thinks they want the same. But the reality is rarely like the dream. I’ve learned that the hard way, as have many of us from the show.

  “But Jake didn’t want that for himself. He’s more hearth and home. Once Lindsay realized he wasn’t going to change, she headed off to LA and left Jake behind… with his dreams crushed.”

  Erin had seen his tender heart first-hand this weekend. Lindsay’s rejection had to cut deep. She still couldn’t understand how anyone, no matter what they wanted out of life, could say no to him?

  But wasn’t that what she was thinking about doing right now? Granted, she hadn’t been dating him for years, but their weekend wasn’t meaningless either.

  “Do you see things getting serious with Jake?”

  “I don’t know. He’s pretty settled here.”

  “And that’s a problem?” Concern laced every word of Abby’s question. Erin couldn’t blame her. She had lived here her entire life. She hadn’t told anyone that she was planning to leave town. But it was time to confide in her friend.

  The waiter interrupted their conversation. After he slid their plates onto the table, she and Abby ate in silence for a few minutes while Erin debated the best way to broach the subject with Abby. “You know I’ve spent the last ten years taking care of my father and my sister.”

  “I do. Austin and I couldn’t admire you more for taking on such a responsibility at such a young age. I could only hope my kids did the same if something happened to Austin or me.”

  “But what if this isn’t what I want for my life?”

  Abby tilted her head, like she wasn’t quite understanding where Erin was headed with this conversation. “In what way?”

  “I never planned to stay here after graduation. Unlike you, I wanted to travel. To see the world before I started the ‘rest of my life’, so to say. I’ve been forced to settle for my current situation the past ten years. But a lot of things have finally come together, and I feel like I have a chance now I may never get again.”

  “You’re thinking about leaving.” It was more a statement than a question when Abby said it.

  The moment of truth. That resignation letter had been burning a hole in her desk drawer and it was time Erin did something about it. It’s all she’d been dreaming about for years. Why now was she hesitating? “I am. I just finished my degree, my sister graduated high school, and my father, believe it or not, appears to be doing better than I’ve seen him in a long time. I’m afraid if I don’t go now, then I never will.”

  Erin rubbed her wrist. The world she longed to see felt so big, and so very far away right now.

  Her hands flew to her mouth, hoping she could stuff the words back in. No one knew she planned to leave town. And she just told her boss’s wife. What was she thinking? “Oh, gosh, Abby. You can’t say anything to Austin. He doesn’t know yet. Please tell me you won’t tell him.”

  “Don’t worry. This is your news to share with Austin. But if you are intent on leaving Laguna Beach, then you definitely shouldn’t get involved with Jake. I can say for certain he’s where he wants to be. He wants to find a woman to share his life and build a family with. I love you, and I love Jake, but if you aren’t that person for him, which it sounds like you aren’t right now, then maybe you should just leave well enough alone.”

  Erin grimaced. She could always count on a straight answer from Abby, even if the truth was hard to hear.

  Thankfully, that was the extent of Abby’s advice and Erin took the opportunity to set her confusion aside. Abby had given her something to think about. After that, the conversation wove its way through several topics as they finished their lunch, but they steered clear of any talk of Jake… and Erin’s imminent departure.

  Standing on the sidewalk after they finished, Abby hugged Erin. “I hope you weren’t upset by what I said. I love you both, and don’t want to see either of you hurt. Just think about it, Erin.”

  Like she could think about anything else. Her dreams of adventure outside of Laguna Beach mingled with her rapidly growing feelings for Jake. For the first time since she’d been forced to give up her plans f
or her future, she didn’t know what to do.

  She shook the thoughts from her head and climbed in her car to return to the job she loved. That was another regretful thing she’d lose if she left town.

  When did she start thinking if instead of when?

  Chapter Eight

  JAKE STARED AT his phone long after his brief text exchange with Erin. Disappointment flooded through him. It had only been three days but she had already wormed her way into his life further than he expected.

  They hadn’t really discussed how they moved forward after their date on Saturday. He’d tried. He wanted to discuss her hopes for the future… and his dreams. But she’d pulled away each time he tried, steering the conversation in another direction.

  He should have made plans for the next time he would see her before he dropped her off Saturday night. But he hadn’t and now he was stuck wondering what she was doing.

  He shoved his phone in his pocket and decided to make the most of his day. He’d opted to work in the trailer today instead of on the job site. He didn’t have the focus to operate machinery and wanted the peace and quiet to think. Besides, after what happened on Friday, he was better off here.

  Had that just been Friday? It felt like a lifetime ago when he was laying under a slab of drywall, wondering how he was going to get free. And now he was sitting here, his mind filled with a brunette that he hadn’t spent nearly enough time with this weekend.

  Over the next couple of hours, he completed mindless paperwork, submitting building permits and requesting inspections on two of the ongoing projects. It gave him a lot of time to relive every moment of the time he spent with Erin this weekend. How she laughed easily and looked so relaxed—and so right—in his house.

  His phone buzzed and he jumped. Was it Erin, calling to say her plans had changed? He could only hope. But when he looked at his phone, Nicolle’s picture flashed on the screen. He tried to hide his disappointment when he answered his sister’s call.