An Unconditional Love (BWWM Romance Book 1) Read online

  After she’d unlocked the door, she moved aside to let Lauren go in first. Lauren wasn’t a bit surprised to see that Sadie had decorated her home in an eclectic mix of old and new. They’d spent a lot of Saturdays at the flea market in nearby Edwardsville when they were in highschool, Lauren following Sadie around as she dreamed of the day she could have a house full of antiques.

  Sadie showed Lauren to her room so she could leave her luggage there, then they went to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. “When will the rest of your stuff get here? If it’s not too much we can put it in the shed out back until you find a place of your own.” Sadie said, putting a cup of coffee in front of Lauren.

  “There isn’t anything else.” Lauren said, shrugging her shoulders.

  “You don’t have anything else?”

  “No, when you travel as much as I do you learn to live with as little as possible. My apartment was furnished and what little I had that wouldn’t fit into my bags I put in storage until I know where my new home base will be.”

  Sadie studied Lauren for a minute then shrugged her shoulders and said, “I hope there’s something cute to wear to the barbeque in that bag.”

  “What’s all this about a barbeque? I don’t really feel like meeting a bunch of new people right now.” Lauren said, then added. “You know how I hate social gatherings.”

  “I know, but if you want to get a job it might be a good idea to meet some people.” Sadie said, giving her one of those looks that said she knew best and it would be easiest to just go along.

  “Okay, but you still haven’t told me about the barbeque.” Lauren said, giving in.

  “It’s one of the four events that DeYoung Enterprises throws for their employees. Everyone will be there, it’s a perfect opportunity to network. Not only will there be some important people from the company there, but the whole town is invited, so you should be able to make some valuable contacts.”

  “As usual, I can’t fight your logic, but I don’t know if I have anything to wear, most of my clothes run more along the lines of rugged wear.”

  “Well then looks like we’ll be going shopping. I’d lend you something but we’re definitely not the same size.” Sadie said, getting up to fill their coffee cups.

  Lauren and Sadie were almost complete opposites when it came to their looks, Sadie was short and blonde in direct contrast to Lauren with her dark skin, her father’s height and her mother’s generous curves. Even when they’d been girls the contrast had been apparent and time had only made it more so.

  “You know how much I hate shopping, but if you think this is important I’ll suffer through it.” Lauren said, a frown on her face.

  “Now that we’ve settled that, I have another surprise for you.” Sadie said, practically jumping up and down in her seat.

  “What else have you decided for me?”

  “Well, it just so happens that I might have found you a place to live.” Sadie said, a big grin on her face.

  Lauren suddenly felt like things were moving too fast. “Sadie I appreciate all you’ve done and I certainly don’t want to impose on you any longer than necessary, but until I get a job I don’t know if I can afford a place of my own.”

  “I think you’ll find that you can afford this place, besides I wouldn’t be surprised to find that you’ll be working before you know it. Come with me, I’ll show you the apartment.”

  Lauren followed Sadie out of the back door and down an alley that ran behind her property. She’d forgotten about alleys, something you never saw in the city. Sadie stopped at the back of a large property at the end of the alley. Lauren searched her memory trying to remember who had lived here when she’d been a kid but came up empty.

  “This used to be old man Thompson’s property but after he died a new couple moved in. He works at the school and she’s the assistant manager at the grocery store. They want to rent the apartment over their garage to earn a little extra money, they have three kids in college.” Sadie said, pointing to the garage and what was clearly an apartment perched on top.

  “You’ve thought of everything I see.” Lauren said, shaking her head as she gave her friend a big hug. “Thank you for everything you’ve done, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  Chapter 2

  Lauren got out of the car and smoothed the skirt of her new sundress feeling slightly uncomfortable. It had been years since she’d had a dress on and she felt like a kid playing dress up, the strappy sandals on her feet only added to her discomfort. She’d only been in Prospect Falls for a few days and Sadie had managed to turn her life upside down.

  Besides the new dress, she’d let Sadie talk her into a bunch of new clothes and shoes using the excuse that she’d need them for her new job. A job that she didn’t even have yet, but Sadie was so sure of her prospects that she’d let herself be talked into a new wardrobe. Now she was facing a huge group of people she didn’t know, wearing clothes she felt uncomfortable in.

  At least she hadn’t let Sadie talk her into the makeover. She’d had to put her foot down when Sadie had begun talking about chopping of her long hair in favor of a shorter more modern style. Lauren liked her hair just the way it was and had made that fact clear to her friend.

  Checking her reflection in the car window once more, she squared her shoulders and followed Sadie across the park to where the barbeque was being held. She’d expected it to be at the company headquarters, but Sadie had explained that since the entire town was invited the park was the only place big enough to hold the event.

  There were hundreds of people in the park, most of the town must have been there. She saw tables loaded down with food and several huge pieces of meat roasting on open fires. As they got closer she realized that besides the catered food, the guests had contributed food as well. Just thinking of the wonderful food that awaited them made her mouth water.

  “I should have brought something, it doesn’t look good showing up empty handed. You should have warned me, I can still cook you know.” Lauren said, suddenly more nervous than before.

  “Don’t worry, everyone knows you just moved to town, they won’t expect you to bring something. Now if you show up for the Christmas party empty handed that will be a different story. Now let’s go have some fun and in the process we’re going to find you a job.”

  Lauren followed Sadie into the crowd and straight to the bar where they each got a cold glass of white wine. Wine in hand, they began to circulate, Sadie introducing Lauren to her coworkers from DeYoung Enterprises. They also stopped to chat with several people that Lauren remembered from her childhood, finding it less uncomfortable than she though it would be.

  Memories of her mother had been plaguing her since she’d come back, a fact that didn’t surprise her. Some were good memories, but some were filled with the pain and anger she’d felt back then. It wasn’t uncommon for her to feel this way, but normally she could bury those feelings using the distraction of her latest extreme adventure.

  But here, where it had all happened, there was no escape and each time she came across someone who still remembered those days it was even harder. Just as she thought it was all becoming too much, Sadie suggested that they get a plate of food and find a place to sit and eat. Relieved to leave all the socializing behind, she filled her plate with all the foods she’d missed during her travels.

  Once they were seated, Lauren was happy to listen as Sadie gossiped about the people around them. Sadie seemed to know just about everything about everyone in town, but she’d always been that way.

  “Is your boss here?” Lauren asked, once Sadie had exhausted her library of knowledge.

  “I haven’t seen him yet, but he’ll be here. Last year he was late because his girlfriend didn’t want the wind to mess up her hair. I wonder who he’s bringing this year.”

  “You don’t know? I’m shocked, that must be very annoying.” Lauren said, laughing.

  “Cole keeps his personal life just that, personal. He neve
r brings his girlfriends to the office, the only way I can learn anything is by following him on his social media page.” Sadie said, pouting.

  They sat in silence, finishing their wine and enjoying the shade of the big tree under which their table sat. Lauren was actually beginning to feel relaxed, the barbeque hadn’t been as bad as she’d imagined it would be and she had met a few people that might be able to give her a job.

  She was beginning to feel sleepy when there was a commotion in the parking lot. A line of big black SUV’s had pulled into the lot. Sadie sat up in her chair suddenly very interested in what was happening in the parking lot. As they watched, a group of people got out of the vehicles and made their way to the center of the barbeque.

  It seemed that everyone was trying to get the attention of one well-dressed older man. That he was wealthy was apparent by his clothes, which while not fancy, were clearly of the best quality. Lauren assumed that the man was the infamous Cole who everyone including Sadie had been talking about.

  She was a little surprised to see that he was much older than she’d expected, especially since Sadie seemed to have a crush on him, but it was obvious that he was well liked by everyone there. Plus she reasoned, it took time to amass the kind of money that Cole had, she shouldn’t have been surprised that he was older.

  Before she could question Sadie, she’d jumped up and was heading straight for the group that was slowly making their way across the park toward the food tables. She hesitated for a second, trying to decide if she should follow or not. The decision was taken out of her hands when Sadie turned around, suddenly remembering Lauren, and gestured for her to follow.

  As they approached the group Lauren’s eyes were drawn not to the man she believed to be Cole, but to a handsome man about her age who was walking next to him. He could have easily been his son she decided, they shared some of the same good looks. But the son had a full head of thick dark hair. Her memory sparked when she thought of that hair but she couldn’t remember why that seemed important.

  As they approached the group their eyes met and Lauren felt an almost immediate thrill of attraction. The man’s green eyes held hers far longer than was necessary and she was forced to look away first. Her heart was hammering in her chest as she crossed the grass behind Sadie. Never had she felt an attraction this strong from just a long look like they had just shared.

  She quickly caught up to Sadie wanting to know who the man was. “Who is that with Cole?” she asked, hoping her friend wouldn’t realize why she was asking.

  “Which one?” Sadie asked distracted by the approaching group.

  “The one with the black hair and green eyes.”

  “That’s Cole, silly. Remember I told you about those wonderful eyes.” Sadie said, finally looking at her friend. “That’s his dad with him. You can see the resemblance, but Cole got those eyes from his mother.”

  Lauren watched Cole as he moved across the park, not only did he have the most beautiful eyes she’d ever seen, there was a decidedly masculine quality about him that stirred something deep inside her. She could understand why so many women would be attracted to him, but unnerved that she has so easily become one of them.

  Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to retreat back to the table under the tree and pretend she’d never seen him. But Sadie took her firmly by the arm as if she’d read Lauren’s thoughts. As they approached the group, Cole stepped forward and gave Sadie a hug.

  “I’m glad to see you made it. It’s a perfect day for a barbeque and it looks like we have plenty of food.” He said, gesturing to the laden food tables.

  “I think we have more than last year.” She said, then turned to Lauren and pushed her a little closer to Cole. “I’d like you to meet Lauren Witter, she’s just move back to Prospect.”

  Cole held out his hand and said, “It’s nice to meet you Lauren. Are you from Prospect originally?”

  It took Lauren a second to gather her thoughts enough to reply. Shaking his hand she said, “Yes, I grew up here, but I left when I graduated from high school.” She said, her voice coming out more of a squeak than anything else.

  She’d thought Cole was attractive from a distance, but up close his presence was almost overwhelming. When his hand touched hers it was like a bolt of electricity passed between them. Cole didn’t seem to notice, but he was probably used to women reacting to him that way.

  He held onto her hand longer than necessary, almost as if he was reluctant to let her go. Pushing that thought from her mind as silly, she tried to concentrate on the conversation going on around her, but all she could think about was how it felt when he’d touched her hand. Finally, the group split apart, Cole’s group headed to the food tables, while Sadie and Lauren retreated to their table under the tree.

  “I told you he was handsome. I saw that look on your face when he took your hand. Now I bet you don’t think I’m so silly for having a crush on him.” Sadie said, clearly pleased to put Lauren in her place.

  “He is pretty irresistible, I’m ashamed to admit that he actually made my heart beat faster.” Lauren said, shaking her head at the crazy way she’d reacted to him.

  “I know what you mean.” Sadie said, settling back in her chair.

  *****

  As Cole helped his father across the park to the food tables he couldn’t resist one more look at Lauren as she and Sadie made their way back to the table under the trees. Sadie had told him that her best friend was moving back to town, but he hadn’t really paid any attention to the details. But now he was suddenly very curious about Lauren and her story.

  When their eyes had met across the park it had taken his breath away, even more disturbing were the feelings that one touch of her hand had created. If fact he could still feel the tingle of electricity where his hand had touched hers. He’d found himself drawn to her even thought they’d only exchanged a few words.

  He’d only felt this way one other time in his life and that had ended in disaster, but he couldn’t deny the attraction he was feeling. He wasn’t sure he was ready to feel any kind of attraction to a woman, in fact it hadn’t been that long ago since he’d all but given up on his dream of finding the perfect woman.

  From the outside it appeared that he had everything a man could want, a thriving business, the love of his family, and a group of friends he knew he could count on. But the truth was that the one thing he wanted more than anything else seemed to be constantly out of his reach, someone to share it all with.

  Cole knew that he was one of the lucky ones, his parents love story was one that most people only dreamed of. They’d met in college and had never been separated again and that love had fed and nourished his family for his entire life. He’d always taken it for granted that someday he’d meet the perfect woman and spend the rest of his life with her.

  But that hadn’t happened, instead he’d been involved in one relationship after another trying desperately to recreate what his parents had. So far it hadn’t worked, the women he’d been dating were much too interested in his bank account. They were happy to spend his money while complaining that he spent too much time working. If fact, he’d just broken off one of those frustrating relationships a few weeks ago.

  Mandy at first had seemed like she would be the one, she was smart and beautiful. They’d met at a fundraiser last winter and begun dating immediately, he’d thought she was going to be different, but as with the others, time had shown him that she cared more about his bank account than him.

  The final straw had come when they were planning the barbeque. Mandy had insisted that the townspeople be excluded this year to be replaced by a long list of people she wanted to gain favor with. He’d tried to explain to her that the barbeque was a chance to thank the town for all it had done for him, but she just couldn’t understand that attitude.

  “The town hasn’t done anything for you. You’re the one who brought in the jobs and prosperity. They should be thanking you.” She’d said, that pinch
ed look he was so familiar with on her face.

  It was the same look she got when he couldn’t attend some function or another with her because he was working. The look she got when he said she couldn’t have some expensive item she’d set her sights on. Her philosophy was if you’ve got it, spend it, but the problem with that attitude was that it wasn’t hers to spend.

  They’d had their biggest fight ever over the barbeque when he refused to let her have her way. She’d screamed at him and slammed the bedroom door in his face, a move that was enough to finally open his eyes to the fact that once again he’d involved himself in a relationship that was doomed to fail.

  The last straw had come when he’d gotten the bill for the outfit she’d bought to wear to the barbeque. The fact that she’d put the clothes on his account bothered him, but she’d spent almost a thousand dollars on an outfit to wear to a small town barbeque. When he’d challenged her, she’d explained that since he was forcing her to go, she deserved a little treat and he was going to pay for it.

  He’d broken the relationship off that very day, knowing that if he married her it would only get worse. She’d been furious, shouting at him about how much she’d sacrificed for him, even demanding breakup money. It had been such a ridiculous request he’d simply left the house and given his staff instructions to call him when she’d left.

  It had taken her three days and a slew of unanswered texts and phone calls for her to realize that he wasn’t coming back. His housekeeper Blanche, bless her heart, had finally told Mandy to pack her things and leave. When she’d finally gone, Cole had returned home to find a mess of broken dishes and several holes in the wall.

  “I finally had to call security to stop her.” His housekeeper had said as they surveyed the damage.

  “I’m sorry you had to go through that and I promise you won’t ever have to again. I’m done with women, maybe I’m meant to spend my life alone.” He’d said, his spirits as low as they’d ever been.