The Guradman's Elevator Goddess: Prospector's Cove, #6

By S. D. Wells

Lieutenant Christian Thomas has served in the Coast Guards for over twenty years and while on leave he ends up stuck in an elevator with a gorgeous unknown woman. Once they are rescued she disappears and he is sure he had lost her forever.

　

　

Katrina Stockwell is a photographer for National Geographic and has traveled all over the world. While visiting a friend in Los Angeles, she ends up stuck on an elevator with a sexy unknown man. They connect in a way that frightens her and once they are rescued she runs away, hoping to put the experience behind her.

　

　

It not until months later that the couple ends up in the same town again. While he is trying to win her heart she is planning her get away. Can Chris win her heart? Will Kate Succeed in pushing away the only man to ever truly love her? Does this couple stand a chance at forever?

　

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sandra Wells
• Release date: Nov 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386804161

S. D. Wells

I am married with 3 grown children. I was raised in Dallas, Texas and have always loved to read and write. I have been married since April of 2001 to my best freind. I have experince loss of my own in my past. My eldest child died in 2006. I am a Christan and am strong in my faith. To me family is important as are freinds and God.

Book preview

ACKNOWLDGEMENTS

I want to first thank you as my readers and hope you enjoy the story.

To Dalene Dunkerley for answering medical questions and your friendship and support.

To Gina Chipman for editing and helping me along the way. Thank for everything you have done and your support.

To JJ Ellis, my Author friend, thank for you support and all the help you have offered me.

To my husband, Stephen Wells for his love and support through this experience. He is truly a blessing to have in my life.

I especially want to thank God for giving me the courage to go for this adventure and for giving the wisdom to write this book.

PROLOGUE

July 31, 2015 ~ 02:54 am ~ Love Field Airport ~ Dallas, Texas

Katrina Stockwell, or Kate as most people called her, was a photographer for National Geographic and was about to celebrate her thirtieth birthday. It had been almost five years since she started working for the poplar magazine and she had been all over the world. Her brother had joked that as much as she traveled she should have her own private plane on standby. Kate had been everywhere, from the polar caps of Antarctica to the most southern part of Australia. She had been all over Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, North America and a few places in Central America. Her passport had more time stamps than any flight crew on American Airlines. Chuckling, she looked back at her brother and smiled.

They had spent their childhood watching their mother struggle because her husband had left her with two small children. Brody had been twelve while she had only been five.  Her brother had been more of a parental figure than their parents. Their mother had worked two jobs just to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.

After graduating high school Brody had fulfilled all the requirements he needed to join the Houston PD. At twenty five he had met Kathy and then a year later they were married. The woman had been a stenographer at a courthouse when a madman had bombed it, killing several people, including Kathy. Brody had been an emotional wreck and ended up quitting his job to join the rodeo circuit. Eventually, he ended up in a small town in Texas working on a cattle ranch.

Recently he had been elected the town sheriff, married and had a son that would soon turn one. Smiling, she looked at her brother, who was pacing the area with a fussy baby and wondered if she would ever have that. Did she even want what he had? Before now, she would have said no but lately the idea seemed to appeal to her. The problem was she enjoyed her job too much and her schedule kept her too busy to even think about a relationship. Oh she dated but nothing ever came from them, except a few steamy nights between the sheets.

He worries about you, her sister in law stated.

I know but he needs to concentrate on being a husband and father. You guys need him more. Please, you have to tell him to let me grow up. Heidi laughed and turned as Brody approached them.

They are calling for your flight, kiddo.

I know. She hugged her sister in law and then Brody before taking James in her arms. Now, you be a good boy for your Auntie Kate and I’ll bring you back something special.

Where are you off to? Heidi asked as she took the baby.

Back to DC for a few weeks and then I’ll be heading to Arizona. They have some usual sand dunes that have been spotted somewhere outside of Scottsdale.

Be careful out there. It’s been a real scorcher this summer, Brody warned her.

I know but they always take good care of me and the crew. I’ll call once a week if I can. Once she hugged everyone again she headed through the security check point. Just past the security she stopped and looked back at her brother. He smiled at her before picking up the baby carrier and wrapping an arm around his wife. Sighing, she turned and headed toward her gate. Yeah a part of her wanted what Brody had but to do that, she’d have to find someone as good as her brother. That was something she was sure would never happen. Trusting Brody came easy but trusting another man could never happen. At least she didn’t think so.

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November 05, 2015 ~ 03:15 pm ~ San Pedro, California ~ U.S. Coast Guard Base

Christian Thomas, or Chris as his friends called him, was a Lieutenant with the United States Coast Guard and was the only son of James and Joyce Thomas. Actually, they had adopted him when he was six weeks old but he never doubted they loved him. James had been a detective with the LAPD while Joyce had been a forensic investigator with the crime lab. They had met while working on a case together and married almost two years later. They had tried for years to have children of their own but because of medical issues Joyce had, they were never able to conceive. They had finally ended up meeting with an adoption attorney and then almost a year later they brought home a healthy baby boy.

Chris had barely been fifteen when his father had been killed trying to serve an arrest warrant to a known drug felon and his mother died of liver cancer just after he had turned twenty one. He had gone to college to get a degree in criminal justice with the purpose of joining the force or becoming a forensic investigator. However, after his mother’s death his life changed and several months after his twenty second birthday he joined the Coast Guard. Eventually, he had earned his pilot’s license and had aided in more than his share of rescue missions as well as worked with the Navy during wartimes. Now as he approached his forty first birthday he was considering retirement. What would he do with his time? Would he join the force or would he follow in his mother’s footsteps? There were other possibilities and with his reenlist date fast approaching, he didn’t have much time to think.

A storm had hit the area that day and they had been called out to rescue a bunch of kids whose boat had taken on water. Being the superior officer in charge he had ordered two men to go down while the other two waited in the chopper with him and his co pilot. After three of the kids had been rescued the ship finally went down leaving not only two other kids trapped but the two seamen as well. The winds had picked up making the chopper unstable. He had no choice but to call in for reinforcements.

Lieutenant, let me go down...

We can’t. The winds have made things too unstable.

But we can’t just leave them down there.

I have ordered a motor lifeboat to.... Before he could finish the sentence his crewman jumped into the water. Damn it! Jensen, take the controls. Quickly, he suited up and went after the missing seamen and the other kids. He’d make sure the kid was seriously reprimanded for his insubordination.

It took almost twenty minutes for him to locate the missing seamen and the kids. After ordering Jensen to take the chopper back to base, he huddled with the others on a life raft while they waited to be rescued. Forty minutes later they boarded the boat and it took everything in him not to punch the kid who had endangered everyone’s lives.

When they were docked back at the base he turned on the kid. Morrison, if you ever disobey a direct order again I’ll...

You were going to leave them down there.

I had the rescue boat coming for them. You will obey orders or else.

One of those seamen is a friend of mine. So you can kiss my ass. Chris lost it and hauled off and punched the kid. It took two officers to finally pull the two guardsmen apart.

In my office now! Captain Westmoreland ordered when he stepped out of the building. Both of you! With a groan, Chris shook off the other men and followed his commanding officer inside. He would most likely get reprimanded for hitting a fellow guardsman but he also knew the kid would be punished for disobeying a direct order.

Once in his office the captain turned to face them. What the hell is going on?

Sir, Chris began, the weather had made it unstable in the air and I had called a rescue boat to come pick up the remaining kids and seamen trapped in the water. Morrison disobeyed a direct order when I told him not to go after them.

Morrison, what do you have to say for yourself?

Carter is a friend of mine and...

No matter, you were given a direct order by a superior officer and you ignored it. Thomas here knows what he is doing. Do not ever disobey a direct order again. Consider this an official warning. You can forget about your weekend pass. Now get out of here. Chris turned to leave but the captain stopped him. Thomas, wait! The tone told him he was in it deep. He turned and stood at attention. Have a seat.

With a sigh, he obeyed and waited. He knew his own punishment was coming and silently waited. Sir, I know I had no right punching the kid but....

No you did not but that is not what I wanted to talk to you about. Chris sat up and arched a brow. When was the last time when you took a leave?

I’m not sure. A couple of years at best.

I think you need to take some time off. You are on the verge of cracking up. Today’s episode has proven that. Your reenlist date is coming up and I know you are thinking about retirement. You have a lot of decisions to make before then.

Yes, sir.

"Now get out of here. As of 0-eight hundred hours you are officially on leave until after Thanksgiving. Got it?

Yes, sir. Do you want me to apologize to the kid?

Hell no! Maybe next time he will think twice about disobeying a direct order from a commanding officer. Chris laughed as he stood. After saluting the captain once more, he left the room.

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It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. By: E. E. Cummings

ONE

November 07, 2015 ~ 05:27 pm ~ Prospector’s Cove

Ethan Summersby and his siblings were gathered around his sister’s home for a memorial dinner to honor their mother. As he looked around the room he couldn’t help but smile. They were each happy and they only had their mother and aunt to thank for their new lives.

His sister Anna and her husband Luke had a daughter who would turn two in February and a son who would turn one in March. Plus they recently found out they were expecting another child sometime in May. Her bakery was successful and his brother in law had a rodeo and equestrian facility that had become a success as well. Ethan knew that the two were blissfully happy.

His eyes then moved to his brother Cole. He and his wife had had a daughter and had just found out they were expecting another child sometime in April. Cole ran a successful financial firm while his wife played the happy housewife and mother. It was what she enjoyed doing. She tutored kids but mostly just for family and friends. Ethan always knew that those two were prefect for each other.

As he looked over at his brother Chase, the man bent to lightly kiss his wife as he rubbed her swollen belly. Their first daughter entered the world on the Fourth of July in 2014 and they were expecting twins sometime as early as January tenth. They all agreed that Chase would be blessed with all girls as punishment for his previous life style.

His eyes then moved to his own family. John, his son, had just turned eight, his little girl, Carolina Rose, would turn one on December first and they had recently started trying for their third. He and Amber had been through a lot but had found their way back to each other.

In August of that year the town of Prospector’s Cove celebrated the opening of their very own hotel that served delightful treats from the bakery and the town’s only diner. Though his wife had a culinary degree, Ethan had no doubt she enjoyed running The Cattleman’s Lodge. Ethan worked part time as a deputy sheriff and flew the medevac when it was needed. As for the horse ranch, well it was a booming success that his children would someday inherit.

Contentedly, he looked around the room once more before clearing his throat and standing. May I have everyone’s attention please? Once the kids were quieted down Ethan continued. A few days ago I received a parcel from mom’s attorney. He sent me a letter from mom that I am to read to you all now. After unfolding the letter he began to read it aloud.

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My Dear Children:

It has been three years since my passing and if you are reading this letter, then my wishes had been fulfilled. I want you to know that I am proud of the people you have become and as I look down from heaven I am very happy with the family choices you have made. I’m sure it was a tough road for Chase and Ethan but in the end I know you are happy. All I ever wanted for you four was for you to be happy, treat each other with respect and make good choices in life. It’s what every parent wants for their child.

What I am about to tell you will come as a shock to Anna and Cole. I’m sure Ethan and Chase know some of what will come out. I loved your father and I did