Live Like There's No Tomorrow (Summer Lake Book 12) Read online

  Live

  Like There’s No

  Tomorrow

  Ben’s Story

  Summer Lake Book Twelve

  By SJ McCoy

  A Sweet n Steamy Romance

  Published by Xenion, Inc

  Copyright © 2017 SJ McCoy

  Live Like There’s No Tomorrow. Copyright © SJ McCoy 2017

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system without prior written consent of the author.

  ISBN: 978-1-946220-14-1

  Published by Xenion, Inc. First eBook edition, February 2017

  www.sjmccoy.com

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are figments of the author’s imagination, fictitious, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons living or dead is coincidental.

  Cover Design by Dana Lamothe of Designs by Dana

  Editor: Mitzi Pummer Carroll

  Proofreader: Aileen Blomberg

  Contents

  Live Like There’s No Tomorrow

  Dedication

  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

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  A Note from SJ

  PS – Project Semicolon

  Also by SJ McCoy

  Dedication

  This book is for YOU!

  I imagine since you’re here, you’ve already been on quite a journey with me. It all started back in early 2013. I thought I was going to be writing a series of four books—Emma, Pete, Missy and Ben. I thought Ben’s story would neatly wrap up the series. At that point, I thought he and Laura would get together and that would be it! Instead, as soon as Laura and Smoke laid eyes on each other, I knew they were meant to be together. Ben wasn’t worried, he liked Laura, but only as a friend. He started whispering to me about his past, and the fact that he’d never gotten over his first love, Charlotte. Other characters kept showing up and demanding I tell their stories, too. Ben wasn’t in any hurry, he helped me tell the others’ stories and helped them find their happily-ever-afters. When everyone went to Vegas for the weddings, he finally decided it was time to share his story of lost love. Chasing Tomorrow was a hard one to write, but it was the story that needed to be told before he could step into his future. He’s finally ready to find his happiness, I hope you’ll enjoy following him on his journey to forever.

  I’ve always seen his book as the end of Summer Lake—that’s one of the reasons it’s taken me so long to write it. But I couldn’t make him wait any longer. This book wraps up the story of the original Summer Lake gang, and I have to be honest, that makes me sad. It won’t be the last time I visit the lake, though. This place has been my safe place, my happy place for the last four years. I’m not ready to leave it behind completely, I’m not sure I ever will be. I’ll be going back to visit a new bunch of characters, and will no doubt bump into our old friends around town, but they won’t be central to the new stories. I think I still want to write a couple of catch-up books. There are still a couple of weddings I’d like to invite you to, and I don’t trust these characters not to talk me into other stories here and there, but I’m not making any promises either way.

  Thank you for coming on this journey with me. I wasn’t sure anyone would ever want to read these stories when I first started writing them. I’m so grateful for all the wonderful friends I’ve made through these books. Thank you for reading them. Thank you for loving my imaginary friends and for visiting my happy place with me. I hope they’ve brought you some happy times. These stories are my escape from reality, I hope they’ve been an escape for you, too.

  With love and big hugs

  SJ

  Oxo

  Chapter One

  Ben ran down the steps from the lodge. He liked to check in with the night auditor before going to drink his morning coffee out on the deck over the lake. He loved this time of day; the resort was still quiet, and he felt as though he had the world to himself for a while. The day was still untouched, ready for him to make of it all that he could.

  He made his way to one of the big picnic benches and sat on it, taking a sip of his coffee and staring out at the lake. He had a busy day ahead of him. Saturday was changeover day—the morning filled with guests checking out and the afternoon with new guests checking in. It was a routine that had been a part of his life for as long as he could remember. Even when he was a little kid he’d helped his grandpa Joe out on Saturdays. As he’d grown into his teens, he’d pretty much taken over the process since his parents screwed it up so often. He sighed and took another sip of his coffee. He’d spent his whole life in this place, doing the same things over and over, year in, year out. And he still loved it.

  He looked up at the sound of footsteps approaching and smiled when he saw Joe.

  “G’morning.”

  “Morning. What are you doing down here so early?”

  “Early? I’m late for my doughnuts.”

  Ben laughed. “Yeah. The bakery’s been open for a good hour already, you won’t get the first batch this morning.”

  Joe shrugged and heaved himself up onto the table beside Ben. “I won’t get the first coffee down here either, but I’ll be happy to take the second.” He eyed Ben’s cup.

  “Okay, I’ll be back in a few.” Ben let himself into the restaurant and made two fresh mugs before heading back outside. He stopped at the edge of the deck. The sun was just peeking above the horizon, and Joe sat silhouetted, bathed in golden light. Ben caught his breath. Joe was probably the person he was closest to in the whole world. He was more than a parent, more than a friend, more than a mentor, he was all of those wrapped into one. Right now, though, sitting there staring out at the lake in the early morning light, Ben saw the silhouette of a frail old man. It made his heart stop beating for a moment. He’d been aware for a long time that Joe wouldn’t be around forever, but the sight of him perched up there on the picnic table really rammed that fact home.

  Joe turned and met his gaze. “Any chance I can get that coffee while I’m still breathing?”

  Ben hurried toward him with a smile. “Sorry.”

  Joe nodded and took the mug from him. “Nah. I’m sorry, son. I seem to be losing my patience. I can’t have many years left on this earth, and I don’t like to waste the moments, you know?”

  Ben nodded. He did know, but he didn’t like to admit it out loud. “So, what do you want to do with the moments?”

  Joe’s bushy eyebrows knit together. “I’ve done most everything I want to do.” He gave a deep chuckle, “And I don’t reckon I could manage much of what I’d like to do now anyways.”

  Ben laughed. “Don’t give me that. You could pull off just about anything you want to and we both know it.”

  Joe nodded slowly and rubbed his fingers over his chin. “I reckon you might be right there.” He turn
ed and met Ben’s gaze, his eyes serious now. “Just about anything, but not quite everything.”

  Ben raised an eyebrow. “That’s sounds to me as though you’ve got something in particular in mind.”

  “I sure do.”

  “So, tell me. What do you want, and how can I help you get on with it? You know I’ll do anything I can to help you out.”

  Joe’s stare bored into him. “You’re the only one who can help me with the one thing I still want in life.” He shook his head. “But, see, I should be keeping my lip buttoned.”

  “What?”

  Joe shrugged. “The one thing I still want is to see you happy before I die.”

  Ben dropped his gaze.

  Joe elbowed him in the ribs with a chuckle. “Don’t you think I’d have turned up my toes and called it quits years ago, if I knew you were going to be all right?”

  “I am all right. In fact, I think I’m doing pretty well.” He swung his arm out in a gesture that took in the restaurant, the lodge, and the marina. “I’m happy with what I’ve achieved here, I took what you gave me and I’ve run with it, though you know I’ll always be working to improve. To do more.”

  “Course I know that. Don’t treat me like an old fool, Ben. I might play the part sometimes, but we both know the score.”

  “I’m not! I…”

  Joe gave him a hard stare and Ben closed his mouth. There was no point denying he knew damned well what Joe was talking about—and it wasn’t the resort.

  “When we saw Charlie in Vegas, I thought it was just a matter of time.”

  Ben nodded. So had he.

  “But it’s been a long time now. A very long time.”

  Ben nodded again.

  “And now there’s Angel.”

  Ben jerked his head up and met Joe’s gaze. “What do you mean?”

  Joe pursed his lips. “I might be knocking on, but my eyes and my ears ain’t failed me yet.”

  Ben shrugged. He didn’t want to talk about Angel. He didn’t know what to say.

  “Come on. Put me out of my misery. What’s going on between you and her? And why hasn’t Charlie come back yet?”

  Ben sighed. “There’s nothing going on between Angel and me.”

  Joe raised a bushy eyebrow and lifted his chin.

  “There isn’t! At least, nothing like you’re thinking. She works for me. She’s running the lodge over at Four Mile. She’s—”

  “A good-looking woman,” Joe finished for him.

  Ben brought both hands up and rubbed them over his face. “She is, but that’s got nothing to do with anything.” He knew there were rumors flying around about Angel and him, but there was no truth to them.

  “So, you’re telling me she’s just an employee?”

  “No, she’s … She’s …” Ben sighed while he considered what she really was. “She’s become a friend. And I don’t see why everyone has a problem with that. Kenzie’s a good-looking woman, she came to work for me, and she became a friend, too. So did Renée and April, for that matter.” He met Joe’s gaze. “Why is everyone so interested in Angel?”

  Joe looked away and then looked back. “Because, son, maybe we can all see that you seem to be interested in Angel, and the two of you might be a good match.”

  Ben’s heart hammered in his chest. “No!”

  Joe shrugged. “No?”

  “No.”

  “So, when’s Charlie coming back?”

  Ben closed his eyes. “I don’t know.”

  “But you said that she wouldn’t come back until you asked her to.”

  “Yeah.”

  “And you haven’t asked her to?”

  He shook his head.

  “Because?”

  “Because, I already told you, because I can’t ask her to come to me while she’s still a married woman.”

  Joe nodded. “I haven’t pried all this time. I figured you’d tell me as much as you wanted to. I’m sorry I can’t keep my nose out any longer. I’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting, thinking one day you’d just turn around and tell me Charlie’s coming home tomorrow. Or maybe she’d just waltz in. But that day hasn’t come. And Angel, well, she’s here, and I dunno, Ben.”

  Ben nodded. “I’ve told you, there’s nothing going on between Angel and me.”

  “Fair enough. But is there going to be? And is there ever going to be anything going on between you and Charlie? Or is it finally over?”

  Ben sucked in a deep breath and looked up to meet Joe’s gaze.

  Joe placed his mug firmly down on the picnic table and eased himself back down to the ground. “Anyways. Thanks for the coffee. I’m off to get my doughnuts. I’ll be out at Max’s place if you need me.” Ben watched him amble away. He took hold of the railing as he started down the steps, then turned and looked back. “I’m not asking those questions because I need to know the answers. I’m asking the questions that you need to answer for yourself.”

  Once he’d gone Ben turned back to look out at the lake. As if he didn’t know that! He’d been asking himself those questions for weeks now. Why hadn’t he heard from Charlotte? He knew the answer, to that one at least. He’d told her not to. After they’d said good-bye at the airport in Vegas, they’d started talking a little, emailing, texting sometimes, but he hadn’t felt right about it. She was married. He’d always thought of her as his, but, in reality, she was another man’s wife. He’d told her that they should wait. Wait until she was single. She hadn’t liked it, neither had he, but they’d agreed it was the right thing to do. He hadn’t thought it would take this long though. The doubts had started to creep in. Maybe she’d changed her mind? Maybe when it came down to it, she didn’t want to leave her husband? Maybe … maybe … maybe … Those maybes kept him awake at night. As for the questions about him and Angel … he blew out a big sigh. He couldn’t think about that. She worked for him; that was all. She understood him; that was nice. She … He shook his head and got down from the picnic bench. It was time to get on with the day.

  ~

  Charlotte sat at the kitchen table holding the envelope. She took the papers out and stared at them. “Decree Absolute.” She read the words out loud and sighed.

  So, this was it, it was final. Alastair had divorced her—just like she’d asked him to. She stared out the window at the rain and nodded sadly. He’d divorced her on the grounds of unreasonable behavior. He hadn’t wanted to. He claimed she hadn’t been unreasonable. But it was the quickest way. And in her heart, Charlotte knew she had behaved unreasonably toward him. What was reasonable about marrying him when she’d known all along that her heart still belonged to Ben?

  Looking at the papers she felt relieved. She felt free. But she also felt sad. She was sad for the years she felt she’d stolen from Alastair. Years in which he might have met someone else, someone who could have given him her whole heart—and children. She got up from the table and went to pour herself more coffee. She hated this flat. It was small and dark. She liked to sit at the table in the kitchen because it was under the window, the one spot in the whole place where she could get some natural light. There wasn’t much sunshine to be had, but even the view of the gray drizzle outside made her feel better than the tired flowers on the wallpaper inside.

  She jumped at the sound of her cell phone ringing. It was Alastair.

  “Hi, Lottie.”

  “Hi.”

  “Did you get the papers?”

  “I did. You too?”

  “Yeah.”

  Charlotte closed her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Please? It was the right thing to do. It’s hard, I’m not saying it isn’t, but it’s better this way. This way we both stand a chance of making ourselves happy instead of spending the rest of our lives making each other miserable.”

  “I never meant to make you miserable.” A tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. He was a good man. He didn’t deserve any of what she’d done to him.

  He sighed. “I know. And I never me
ant to make you miserable, either, but we did. What are you doing today?”

  Charlotte swallowed. “I don’t know.” Usually she went grocery shopping on a Saturday, sometimes she met up with friends from work. She didn’t feel like doing either.

  “Do you want to have lunch with me? We can celebrate.”

  She smiled. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

  “Great. Meet me at the Boar’s Head at twelve-thirty?”

  “Okay. I’ll see you there.”

  When she arrived at the pub she shook the water off her umbrella and shrugged out of her coat as she looked around. Alastair was sitting at a corner table and waved when he spotted her. He was a good-looking guy, no doubt about it. Charlotte smiled and made her way over to him.

  “Hi.” He stood to greet her and kissed her cheek.

  For a moment, Charlotte hugged him too tight and then let go and sat down.

  “How’ve you been?”

  She nodded. “Okay. Work’s been keeping me busy. How about you?”

  “Same here. I got the contract to promote the tour in Australia. We’ve been crazy busy pulling it all together.”

  “That’s great. When will you leave?”

  “In a couple of weeks.”

  “And how’s Anita working out?”

  Alastair rolled his eyes. “She’s doing her best, bless her, but she’s not you. There’s no way I’m ever going to be able to replace you.” He reached across the table and took hold of her hand.

  Charlotte squeezed his hand and dropped her gaze. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. It’s okay. We’re supposed to be celebrating, remember?” He pushed her glass toward her and lifted his own. “Champagne didn’t seem right, so I thought we could toast our new beginnings with a Chardonnay instead.”