Don't Let Go (Hope Harbor Book 3) Read online

  Don’t Let Go

  Hope Harbor

  Ann B Harrison

  Contents

  Untitled

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  Chapter 23

  Copyright 2019 Ann B Harrison

  Kindle Edition

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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

  Ann B Harrison is the internationally best-selling author of thirty-five plus romance novels including her fabulous Watson Brothers Romance stories published by Tule Publishing Group.

  For information on new releases, covers and to win exclusive members-only content, sign up to Ann’s Newsletter, or follow Ann on Facebook.

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  Chapter 1

  “Are you kidding me?” Agnes Hope leaned against the counter of her bakery, legs suddenly shaking. What a nightmare! The worst way to start her working day. Oh, she’d known it was going to happen sooner or later but it was easy to ignore the obvious if some effort was made. “Why would you put me and Liam together? Don’t you know how embarrassing that’s going to be?”

  April Williams sighed and rolled her eyes. “Seriously, you knew this day was just around the corner, so it shouldn’t come as a big surprise. Plus, you and I both know how you feel about the gorgeous Dr. Liam Davidson.” She leaned her hands on the counter and gave Aggie a wicked grin. “What a perfect time to make a move on him, Aggie. You guys were hot when you were younger. I don’t see why you can’t reignite that flame. You know you want to.” She gazed at the remaining delicate pastries in the glass cabinet before speaking again. “Weddings always bring out the romance in people.”

  Aggie glared at her. Liam Davidson and romance in the same sentence? “We’ve discussed this. As much as I might have once worshiped the ground that man walked on, I cannot—will not—make a play for him now. And you damned well know why.” Of all the people in the world, she thought her best friend would understand how much her life had changed since the nights when Aggie and April’d lain on the bed in Aggie’s room and talked about getting married. They’d planned the dresses they’d wear, how their hair would be styled, even down to the food they’d serve. And now April was finally getting to marry the man she’d dreamed of: Aggie’s brother, Drew. It might’ve taken another marriage before they’d re-connected, and they’d had a rough beginning, but April was back on Hope Island where she belonged.

  She wanted Aggie to be her maid of honor, just as they’d planned. But that plan had been put in place before it happened. The event that had changed everything. “Can’t Drew ask one of my brothers to be best man? That I could deal with.”

  “Nope. He wants Liam and it’s his call, Aggie. I understand how you feel but you can’t deny him his best friend because you can’t discuss what happened with anyone.”

  “I can’t do it.” A cold sweat broke out on Aggie’s face. “I just can’t.”

  “Tell me why. You’ll be safe with us all around you. There’s no reason to be scared.”

  “I’ll have to be close to him. I don’t know if I can do it. Thinking about it makes me freak out.”

  “But this is Liam. You grew up together. He’s the last person who’d hurt you.”

  Aggie closed her eyes. “I know. But I can’t help it, okay?”

  April moved around behind the counter and wrapped Aggie in her arms, making soothing noises. “It’s okay. We’ll get you through this.”

  It would be easy to stay caught up in the moment but Aggie had bread to bake, paperwork to do, and a shop to clean before she started either of those jobs. This was just another hiccup in her life she had to deal with, though it was easier said than done.

  “You don’t understand, April. It’s not that easy, not after…you know.”

  The sympathy in April’s eyes did nothing to make Aggie feel better. If anything, she felt weighed down by the love her friend showed her. Understanding from her friend was one thing but having to face herself was another.

  April rubbed her hands down Aggie’s arms and dropped a kiss on her head. “I wanted to swing by on my way home from work and let you know the date. Drew is asking Liam tomorrow. Things are going to be hectic because we’re rushing things, but we can do this. You were always going to be my maid of honor, Aggie, and that’s not going to change, no matter what happens.”

  “Can we not talk about it right now? I need to process this and I can’t do it now because I have to start baking.”

  April shrugged. “Okay. But be warned; I’m taking you dress shopping as soon as I know you have the day off. Don’t go doing anything to change that either, or I’ll get Aunt Gigi onto you.”

  The sneak! “You’d still let her fight your wars for you? I’m ashamed of you, April.”

  A huge grin showed just how little April cared about having someone on her side. “Hey, whatever works is fine with me. You did it plenty of times growing up so I guess this is payback.” She blew Aggie a kiss. “Now I have to go home and feed my family and cope with the million and one things I need to organize for the wedding. Be good and I’ll talk to you later.”

  She turned her back and almost got away before Aggie remembered. “Hang on. If you go home without treats, the kids will never forgive me.” She took a small bakery box and opened the chiller cabinet door. Two cream puffs went in the box followed by a couple of Portuguese tarts. Her brother adored the flaky pastry and soft custard-like filling. It’d be a shame to throw them out in the morning before she refilled the shelves and deny him a tasty dessert.

  “You know this isn’t doing anything good for my waistline, Aggie.” April took the proffered box.

  “I never said you have to eat them. But the kids will thank you.”

  “I know. And of course I won’t be able to resist either, as you well know. Now I really must go.” She turned and walked to the door, then put her hand on the knob before looking over her shoulder, her earlier cheer gone. This was the serious April. “You can do this, Aggie. I know you can.”

  Aggie closed her eyes, the slam of the door and the click of the lock heralding her savior: solitude. Even though she’d been waiting for April to announce wedding plans that would include her, she hadn’t been prepared for Drew to pair her up with Liam, the man she’d once secretly hoped to marry.

  But that was before that night. Now Aggie felt dirty and couldn’t imagine herself with anyone let alone the dreamy Dr. Davidson. He deserved someone without a murky past, without the kind of baggage she carried.

  Her breath hitched in her throat. For two years she’d managed to keep the memories of that night locked away with sheer will and determination. That same will began to crumble as the reality of being April’s maid of honor sunk in.

  Fragments of that night rose
unbidden to her mind, sending her heart racing. Aggie tried to breathe past them but it was all too much, hitting her at once. She couldn’t stop everything from bubbling to the surface and overwhelming her.

  A well-lit path going through the local park. A quiet night that turned into fifteen minutes of unimaginable terror as she walked home from a late shift at the bar.

  Even now she could feel the chill in the evening air, smell the damp, moldy leaves, , the alcohol on his breath and stale smell of sweat as he tore at her clothes and whispered words in her ear. As if anything he said could have made it easier for her.

  Aggie dropped to the floor, hugging her knees as panic washed over her. She lay there trembling, unable to fight the memories as she relived her ordeal.

  * * *

  Aggie was going to be his partner. Yes! At last, a date she couldn’t refuse. Liam punched the air and swung his arm around in an air guitar windmill, rockin’ out a tune in his head. Tonight, you’re mine. Yes, Ms. Aggie Hope. Look out for my charm because there’s no escaping how much I want to be with you.

  He’d followed her with sad eyes ever since they’d been in school together. She’d been friendlier then, one of a bunch of kids who hung out in warmer weather with the freedom Hope Island provided. Eventually their friendship had turned into more—a couple of summer beach dates where they’d held hands or sneaked a kiss behind the rocks when everyone else was preoccupied with their own adolescent angst.

  They’d struggled to stay in contact when they both chose to study in different states. College had been hard because they were so far apart, but they’d remained friends. When they both found work in Seattle, they’d called it fate and caught up for the odd dinner or two. Nothing too romantic because it hadn’t seemed right at the time, not when he’d given his heart to medicine. They were no longer the gangly kids who roamed the beaches from dawn until dark.

  Liam decided he wanted more with Aggie once his studies were done, but he was too late. She moved back to the island, bought the bakery, and closed herself off from anyone but family without a single call to let him know what she’d done.

  Now she hardly spoke to him and he had no idea why. How he wished he could go back and change things, wished he could figure out where it all went wrong.

  But now he had his chance. Liam would get to spend the whole afternoon and evening with the woman of his dreams, dancing, eating, and talking about things like normal people did. Childhood memories, island life, her business—anything to hear her voice. Surely six or seven hours would be enough to convince her to give him another chance. To let things go back to the way they used to be between them: warm and friendly. Comfortable.

  He belted out the rest of the verse in his head, dancing around his office with abandon.

  He paused, took a look at the skeleton perched in the corner of his room and thought about it. Somehow, he didn’t like his chances. What was it that had changed her from the carefree Aggie he’d grown up with to the withdrawn, unsociable, melancholy woman she was today? Nobody was saying, especially not Aggie. If he wanted to have her in his arms, he needed to come up with some serious moves. That is, if she’d give him a chance at all.

  He’d probably have her as a captive audience for all of a couple of hours after the wedding, the speeches, and dinner. Then she’d be able to get up and move around the room away from him. He had to plan this well. He’d messed up in Seattle by not finding more time for her while he was studying, and now he had a chance to state his case and try to get back into her good graces. This time, Liam wasn’t going to let her go without a fight.

  Chapter 2

  After a long night trying to get her work done despite stressing herself stupid over Liam, Aggie stumbled home. She slogged up the stairs to the front deck and met her father coming out of the sliding door with a coffee in his hand. He slid his arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek. “Big night, honey?”

  She leaned into his comforting embrace for a moment. “Yeah. Damned oven is acting up again. I’m going to have to get someone to look at it.”

  “I’ll call our favorite repairman today if you like.” He handed her his coffee.

  “Thanks, Dad. I left a note for the girls so if I’m able to schedule a repairman today, they wont be surprised when he shows up. Aggie swallowed half the mug’s contents before giving it back. She sighed and let the caffeine do its job. “Appreciate it.”

  “So, I hear April talked to you last night about being her bridesmaid.”

  Aggie screwed up her face. That was one thing she was trying to push to the back of her mind. Funny how it kept creeping back with no effort. Kneading the dough, tearing it into roll-sized portions and smoothing them off, before putting them on the tray hadn’t helped. All she could think about was the wedding. How close would she have to sit to Liam and for how long? Who else was going to be there? Would she have to dance with him? What would she do if he asked her out again? How could she refuse without looking bad, as though she was spoiling the wedding when all she wanted to do was protect her heart?

  “Yeah.”

  The biggest problem for her was worrying if anyone would guess her secret. She couldn’t let that happen.

  “That’s a problem for you. Why?” Her father nudged her over to the chairs facing the ocean, and Aggie sat. “Talk to me.”

  “Because I’m not in the mood to wear a dress and act all girly. But I’ll do it because I promised I would and it will make April happy.” She rested her head back against the chair and shaded her eyes from the early morning sun and her father’s all-knowing gaze. She could feel the disappointment seeping from him.

  “Sweetheart, you’ve been best friends ever since you were in kindergarten. It’d break April’s heart if you backed out. Is there anything I can do to make things easier for you?”

  She smiled and shook her head. “You can’t fix everything, Dad. Sometimes things are out of your control.” She sniffed and rubbed her tired eyes. “Nope. I’ll do it. Just don’t expect me to be standing in line to catch the bouquet.” Aggie pushed herself up and wandered into the house, desperate for sleep and to get away from the questions.

  She’d almost slipped into her bedroom when her aunt came floating down the hallway, her bright caftan flowing around her legs. “Morning, darling girl. Isn’t it exciting news? A wedding on the island—just what this family needs. We’re all so delighted. I’ll talk to you later when you’ve had some sleep and lost that scowl off your face.”

  Aggie shut the door and leaned against it. This was going to be hard. Everyone was so full of wedding joy and all she wanted to do was shut herself away until it was all over. It made sense that they were all excited, but that didn’t mean she was going to feel the same way. Anxiety filled her throat. It wasn’t fair to April and Drew. How on earth was she going to be the good friend and sister and get through the day?

  A twinge of guilt crept up her back as she stripped off her bakery whites and threw them in the dirty clothes hamper by the bathroom door. Drew and April deserved to be happy after all they’d gone through, having been childhood sweethearts who had broken up only to find each other again. She couldn’t be happier for them, truth be told. But if she could wake tomorrow and the wedding and all the hectic preparations that went with it were over, she’d be the first to cheer.

  She closed her curtains, plumped up her pillows and slid between the sheets, desperate for sleep. She lay there, trying to shut off her mind. April meant well but that didn’t make things any easier for Aggie. Before she knew what was happening, it’d be dress shopping, choosing colors and flowers, then wedding rehearsals and intimate get-togethers. She’d be spending more time with Liam than was good for her because that was the way wedding preparations went. It would snowball out of control and Aggie would get more anxious.

  Since she’d been home, she’d tried so hard to avoid all efforts to be part of normal society. That’d been why, when the bakery came up for sale, she’d pounced on it. It gave her the per
fect excuse to sleep all day and work all night, avoiding everyone. Even going in earlier than most bakers did worked in her favor. She saved money on an assistant most nights and managed to keep to herself. That hadn’t worked for her last night though. It’d given her too much time to chew over the wedding and her part in it. Now she couldn’t shut down her mind.

  Half an hour later, Aggie turned over and punched her pillows, closed her eyes and tried to rest her racing mind. After ten minutes of imagining puffy white clouds floating across the sky on a calm day, she sat up. Damn it all. Why was she surprised? After all, she had trouble getting to sleep most of the time. She sometimes resorted to a sleeping pill or a sneaky glass of wine, but that usually only gave her a couple of hours before she was fighting insomnia again.

  It was way past time she talked to someone and got help, but she couldn’t face it. Reliving the incident over and over in her own mind was bad enough, but saying it out loud and seeing someone else’s pity would kill her; it would make it seem as though it was happening again. She didn’t want that. She didn’t feel like she could speak it out loud and not lose her mind.

  She padded to the bathroom and took out a sleeping pill, washed it down with water, and tried to ignore the dark circles under her eyes. Some bridesmaid she’d be. Let’s hope makeup will cover most of the blemishes.

  Shame nothing would ever cover the haunted look in her eyes.

  * * *

  Drew caught up with Liam at the island’s medical practice later that day. “Listen. April suggested we all get together for a pre-wedding dinner. She has a list of stuff to do a mile long. I’m freaking out already. What do you say?”