Just Friends: Rumor Has It, #2

By Stephie Klaire

Pine Valley spells "small-town charm" with a capital G-O-S-S-I-P.

When the bright lights of New York City send Kinley Reed packing, she finds herself back in small town USA, with shattered dreams and a broken heart. Miles from Broadway, Pine Valley may be home, but it's certainly not where the heart is. Especially when it comes to love.

Life in Pine Valley may have boasted all the small-town charm a single dad, like town pediatrician, Jace Detweiler, might want to raise his son around, but he didn't count on it being… lonely.

A twist of fate sparks an unlikely friendship between the dancer and good Doc, full of quirky mishaps leading to town-wide gossip, thanks to the local busybody who thinks she's stumbled upon a scandal.

The unexpected duo initiates a revenge plot, evening the score with some drama of their own to give the town gossip a taste of her own medicine, but the joke's on them.

What started as Kinley's humiliation quickly turned to Jace's hopeful optimism...

Rumor also has it...revenge looks a lot like forever. Or will a choice between New York City dreams and Saturday morning cartoons wreck it all?

• Language: English
• Publisher: THE SSK GROUP
• Release date: Dec 21, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386629528

Book preview

1

"I’m trying to think of something a little classier than come here often?"

The deep, throaty voice coming from two barstools down shook Kinley from her stormy mood and pity-driven dark hole of thoughts.

I’m sorry? Kinley replied.

Oh, I’m just trying to provoke a little conversation and I’m clearly out of practice, the man let out a defeated laugh. You look a little lost over there. What is that, number five?

A crooked glance landed on her face as she tried to piece together what she was missing. Number… five?

Drink. Drink number five? Wow, I really am out of practice. Jace Detweiler, town pediatrician and terrible flirt. He tossed her a wink and an ornery grin, clearly in a funk of his own.

Nice to meet you, Doc. Kinley Reed, she extended her hand for a friendly shake, washed-up dancer and town…town…

Her words trailed off as the thought of who she was or was not, bounced around her head, deepening her sense of woe. Stirring her drink with the long green olive spear garnishing it, a little chuckle escaped her.

Just Kinley, I guess. This isn’t even my town, she finally admitted. And this… is sparkling water. Everything else in town is closed for the night.

Interesting. I’m sitting in a bar drinking… juice. I guess we both had the same problem tonight. The only downside to small-town living is they roll up the sidewalks at dusk and the only thing opened is this place.

Touché. At least you know what you’re doing here.

"Well, just Kinley, that sounds serious. Tell me, where is your town?" the man asked, seeming genuinely curious.

"That, my new friend, is a loaded question. I’m from all over, really. Home was New York, but… not anymore. Kinley tipped out her toned, tan left leg in his direction and pointed to the back of the lower half where there was an angry scar. Career-ending injury. Or that’s what the headline was."

Headline? Career ending? Wow, am I in the presence of greatness? Jace joked.

Ha! I never quite got there. Her stare moved from the swirling green olives to the handsome Doctor Detweiler beside her. Got my big break on Broadway. Moved to the Big Apple, and I was on everyone in the industry’s radar… a dream come true. Then the male lead let me down too hard from a twirling lift. I shattered my ankle and several bones in my foot.

Oh, wow. I’m really sorry. I don’t even know what to say. As a doctor, Jace understood more than most what that kind of injury could mean for someone like her — a lifetime of physical pain from shattered bones, and emotional pain from shattered dreams.

Yeah, well… Kinley let her words trail off with a matching shrug. What’s your story, Doc? I haven’t been counting, but I’m guessing you had about a drink or two head start on me.

A mega-watt smile crossed the man’s face. Jace’s night looked a little less bleak at Kinley’s comment. If she knew he had a head start, it was because she knew Jace was there first, which meant Kinley noticed him when she walked in. That also must have meant Kinley chose to sit nearby, given her close proximity, and the ample amount of empty barstools to choose from. Maybe the night wasn’t going to be a total bust for the doctor after all.

Blind date, the handsome doctor said.

Blind date? Kinley looked around, trying to identify the date she had clearly missed and hadn’t noticed once in the hour or so she had been there. The only other person sitting at the bar was the older gentleman to Jace’s left, who was currently eyeballing her.

Kinley pulled her hand to her chest in surprise. Her mouth gaped and her eyes went wide when she realized what she’d missed. "Oh! Oh, I am so sorry." Kinley leaned forward a bit to address the older man to the doctor’s left, who still had rummy eyes on her.

Waving a hand between herself and the two men, she said, I didn’t mean to interrupt, I’m so sorry. I misread… well, didn’t think you were… gah! I’m sorry to have interrupted your date, guys.

Temporary confusion crossed the doc’s face, quickly followed by a humorous look of shock and a bit of amusement. Kinley thought Jace was there with the older, somewhat inebriated, man. Temptation to run with it tickled Jace’s senses as a cocky smirk led the way in an attempt at revealing some sort of sense of humor. Oh, him? Jac thumbed in the older man’s direction. Not much of a date. I’ve been paying for my own drinks all night.

The old man tossed a disgusted look at the doc before getting off his stool and saying, Not my type, bud, but this ought to cover it. He tossed a few bills on the bar and quickly left, mumbling under his breath while shaking his head.

Kinley turned five shades of embarrassed. "Oh, my goodness. I am so sorry. I just ruined your date… I…"

Jace let out a robust laugh — the kind that came with tear-filled eyes and left you gasping for breath — the kind you couldn’t help but laugh at too. "No… don’t be. He was a little too salty, and not my date."

Kinley’s slightly distracted mind stalled at the laughing admission, not sure she was interpreting correctly. Wait, what? He’s not… wait… what!

"My date didn’t show. She is one of my nurses’, sisters’, neighbor’s, cousins’, uncle’s, gardener’s daughter type of setup. You know, the kind that don’t… show up," Jace finished with a sarcastic grin and a huff under his breath.

Oh. I see. I’m sorry. Kinley dropped her head, feeling a little guilty that she was actually happy the doc’s date didn’t show — that meant he was fair game. Not that she was looking for anything serious ever again. Wait… you let me think…? Well, well, well, the doc’s a smart aleck. Interesting!

I’m sorry. The look on your face, the nosey old man, five or six sparkling waters… it seemed funny in the moment. Jace shook his head while wearing a menacing grin before taking a long sip from the glass of sparkling water that had been placed in front of him. I feel a little redeemed after that failed pick-up line I dropped a few minutes ago.

"So, it was a pick-up line." A statement, not a question. Kinley liked where this was going.

Jace Detweiler was the most handsome kid doctor Kinley had ever met — not that she’d met many kid doctors. Dark hair, steely gray eyes, and a daring grin that gave her butterflies. Unless the moms in this small town were blind, she’d have to guess business was booming for the good doctor — and very few of the kids were really sick.

Well, it was just chitchat at first. It’s not like me to hit on a really pretty girl at a bar. Or old guys, but you already know that. In other words, this isn’t my scene at all. The wink he finished with made her cheeks blush. Oh yeah. Doc Detweiler was flirting, and he had been wrong before — he was really good at it.

"I see. Well, Jace Detweiler, where do you pick up the pretty girls in this town? I’ll make sure to stop in there instead." Kinley had never been so forward in her life. Maybe this was the new her. Maybe it was where and what she was destined to be now that her dancing career was over — a bar-hopping, sparkling water-drinking tease.

From where I’m sitting, it appears she just got to town… Jace’s tone deepened with each word as his eyes darkened, pinning Kinley with a look that drummed through her, striking her cheeks crimson once more. She’s right where she should be, just a few stools down.

Oh really… Kinley’s response was one of surprise and her boldness was embarrassing her. I think it’s time for me to go.

Jace Detweiler was contemplating his next move, desperately afraid of screwing it up. He was a good-looking guy, never had to try too hard to get a woman’s attention, but was awkward as much as he was confident when it came to situations like this. Truth be told, he hadn’t met a girl in a bar before, or anywhere really. Jace wasn’t sure what he was supposed to say that didn’t make him seem too eager or come across like an overly eager dud. If it were any other day or any other girl, he would say thank you kindly and move on. But there was just something about Kinley, and he wanted to figure out what it was.

Kinley stood from her stool.

You’re staring at me, Jace Detweiler… is that a good thing or a bad thing? Kinley wasn’t sure what to think, she was conflicted. Though she was flattered he seemed interested in her, there was no room in her heart for anything more than a friend because it was still in a million pieces.

Kinley dropped her purse and when she bent down to pick it up, she knocked her head on the edge of the bar and lost her footing, twisting her bad ankle as she stumbled to the floor.

Kinley. Jace was quick to her side. Are you okay?

Kinley was embarrassed beyond belief. There were a handful of people in that bar drinking spirits and ale, yet the girl drinking water stumbles and hurts herself. She couldn’t bear to look at Doc, but when he hooked her chin and made her look at him, she softened. The concern in his eyes made the butterflies flutter again.

You’re bleeding. He said.

Shaken from her momentarily entrancement, she reached for her head and felt the warm damp sign that she’d done a number on herself. When she pulled her hand away and saw the blood, the room began to spin as if she’d had more than sparkling water in her glass all night.

No, no, no. Don’t do that, Kinley. Doc said, hooking her chin again. Look at me. It’s just a little bump, looks worse than it is because it’s a head wound.

Head wound? she questioned with panic. Oh no.

Wrong choice of words. Told you I was bad at this.

If that was flirting, then yes… I agree with you now. she teased, still feeling woozy.

Well, at least we know you still have a sense of humor. Good sign you’re not concussed. He said.

Concussed? Oh boy. I have a concussion. Panic started to settle in.

I just did it again. You’d think I would be better at this part… doctor and all. He helped her to her feet and she hissed in pain when she put wait on her ankle. He helped her sit and dabbed at her head wound with a napkin. "Plan