Enduring Love

By Pat Snellgrove

ENDURING LOVE is a standalone novel set in the beautiful country of New Zealand. If you like heartwarming, sexy, small-town romances, you'll enjoy Cas and Lindy's journey to find their happily-ever-after. Happy reading!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pat Snellgrove
• Release date: Dec 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201225001

Pat Snellgrove

Pat lives in a small Wairarapa Town in New Zealand.  She has a son, a daughter, three grandsons and two grandmothers, which are the light of her life. She has been writing for what seems like forever. But it wasn;t until 1999 that she had success when her first book was published in e-format.  Pat has since had three more books published as e-books and has taken part in several anthologies. She loves writing and cherishes the friends it has brought into her life. For news of Pat's latest releases please visit patsnellgrove.com or join Pat on Facebook.

Book preview

About This Book

Young love is marvellous, but can it last?

For Cas and Lindy it didn’t.  Life, career choices and being on the other side of world from each other got in the way.

When they met again several years later they are still drawn to each other. Can the love they had for each other be rekindled or did it never die?

Perfect love always endures.

ENDURING LOVE is a standalone novel set in the beautiful country of New Zealand. If you like heartwarming, sexy, small-town romances, you'll enjoy Cas and Lindy’s journey to find their happily-ever-after.

For news of Pat’s latest releases, please visit patsnellgrove.com or join Pat on Facebook. Happy reading!

Other Novels by Pat Snellgrove:

Model In Flight

From This Moment

Enduring Love

Chapter 1

Another plane, another airport, another hotel, another track, another race, another party, another woman in his bed, another hang over, feeling down losing track of time, then back on the same old merry-go-round again.  Another plane, another...

Hell, I've got to get off this mad roundabout.  It's driving me crazy!

Throwing down a partly folded shirt the man stomped across to the half-opened terrace doors and flung back the sheer gauzy curtains.

You're crazy Cas, absolutely crazy.  Why, would you want to get out when you've got the world at your fingertips?

Because I'm sick of it!  Cas snapped anger in every line of his body.

Turning to face the speaker, he added, I’m totally bored by everything. The adoration! The fawning women.  The wins! The crowds! Everything!  I need a change!

We all do.  And some of us would like a change like you enjoy all the time.  The second man replied a teasing note entering his voice but when he saw his companion's face tighten in anger, he continued, So I understand how you're feeling, but there is little either of us can do about it.  You're under contract until the end of the year.

You think I don't know that Jase?  Hell, why did I ever get myself into this business? 

With another exasperated sigh Cas crossed back to the half-packed suitcase and began to throw clothes haphazardly into it.  Slamming it shut he clicked the locks, before placing it beside another on the floor.

A worried frown creasing his weather-beaten face, Jase watched the man's actions.  He had never seen him like this before.

At times Cas had had bouts of disillusionment with his chosen career, but never to the extent that he wanted to quit completely. 

If only there was some way he could get him over this period of antipathy. But other than being there for him, Jase couldn't think of another thing which might help.

I must go and pack, we have to be at the airport in an hour.

Pushing up off the rumbled bed, Jase got to his feet.  But as he did something protruding from beneath the edge of the sheets caught his attention. 

Leaning down he pulled it free, a smile spreading across his well-lined face as he realized what he had found.

Dangling the article between thumb and finger, he crossed the room to stand in front of Cas.

She left something behind my friend! 

A teasing smile spread across Jase’s lips as he swung the sheer pantyhose in front of his friend's face.

To his surprise a growl of anger erupted from Cas before he snatched the offending article from Jase's hand screwed it into a ball and fired it across the room toward the rubbish bin, missing it by inches. 

Like a snake the pantyhose curled across the floor reminding Cas only too vividly of the woman with whom he had intended to share his bed the night before, but who had stalked from his room anger in every line of her beautiful body.

Disgust spread across his face as he stared at the coiled pantyhose.  How could he have thought all his problems were going to be solved by another one night stand?  Trying to gain relief that way only seemed to add to them not fix them.

Switching his attention back to Jase he snapped, And that's another thing I'm sick of - one night stands!  Sick of women who only want to have sex with me so they can brag to their friends that they have bedded a celebrity. So sick of them in fact I can't even...

Just in time Cas stopped speaking before he blurted out what had been happening to him every time he got near a woman.  How he couldn't take advantage of what those women had been offering, and how long it had been going on.  It was bad enough it was happening. He didn't need to broadcast it far and wide.

Taking a deep shuddering breath, he continued in a voice which shook with emotion.  You've got to get me out of this Jase, before I go completely and utterly barmy!

Crossing the room to where he had laid his cases Cas picked them up and headed for the door.  Balancing one case on top of the other he flung it open. 

I'll see you downstairs in five minutes, he snapped, before picking up his briefcase and stomping from the room.

An expression of concern creasing his face Jase stared after this friend.  Cas was acting completely out of character.  So unlike the happy person he had worked with for years.  A person who went out of his way to help people and to consider their feelings before his own.

And his hatred for his chosen career. This was something new as well.  Ever since Jase had known Cas he had always loved his career.  Loved the thrill he got from racing at high speed. The challenges it presented and the euphoria when those challenges were met and brought rewards.  The perks it brought. The publicity he had never sought but which seemed to follow him around. And most of all he had always appeared to love the adoration of the fans, especially the women.  Jase knew Cas had taken advantage of that adoration more times than he wanted to think about and had never appeared to dislike that side of his life.  Until now!

Why, has he changed so much?  What has brought on this sudden dislike of everything he has always held so dear?"

You coming Jase? The sound of a voice from the direction of the door, interrupted his musings.  Glancing up the man focused his attention on the speaker, his face lighting up with a smile as he saw the woman framed in the doorway.

Sure Pieta.  I'll just check Cas hasn't left anything behind.  He stomped out of here in such a bad mood I doubt he checked. 

Jase flipped through the cupboards and drawers.  But they were all empty.  He crossed to the bedside table. 

Bottom drawer.  Nothing.  Middle drawer nothing. Top drawer. 

Ah!

Nestled in its depths were two magazines.  One with a very fast and expensive car blazoned across its cover and the other a copy of an overseas weekly magazine.  Hooking a finger under the magazines, Jase lifted them out, rolled them up and shoved them under his arm.  Getting to his feet, he leant forward to push the drawer closed, but as he did a sheet of paper caught against the back of it captured his attention Being careful not to tear it he pulled it out, and shoved it into his pocket, before banging the drawer closed, and crossing to where the woman still waited. 

Let's go honey, he murmured. leading the way down the hotel corridor.

* * *

Several hours later, having completed check-in and all the usual airport bits and pieces , Jase, Cas and Pieta were aboard a large jet heading across the country.

To Jase's dismay Cas' mood had not improved.  If anything his state of mind had deteriorated further.

Concerned, Jase studied the man seated across from him in the first-class section of the wide-bodied jet.  To the casual observer he looked relaxed and asleep, but to someone who knew him well, all the signs suggested he was far from relaxed. A small frown feathered the skin above his nose and the hands that rested in his lap were clenched together in tight fists. 

A worried sigh escaped from between Jase's lips.  How he wished there was some way he could help his friend.  Get him over this bout of depression.  But there seemed to be nothing he could do without breaking a watertight contract and incurring horrendous legal costs.

Flicking up the catches on his briefcase, Jase lifted the lid and took out the two magazines he had picked up in Cas' room.  Snapping the case shut he lay it back under his seat, and began to casually flick through the first magazine.

He carefully turned over the pages scanning each one before his attention was caught by an article and a full-length photo of Cas.  His gaze ranged down the black and white image to come to rest on the script below. 

CAS TONKS, WORLD CHAMPION RACING DRIVER AND A COMPANION SEEN AT THE PRIZE-GIVING  

His focus slid from the photograph to the man seated in the seat opposite.

Tall and muscular, he was everything that epitomized a successful racing driver and astute businessman.  Women adored his blonde good looks and tanned virile features. Loved his sense of humour. The way he made them feel when he was with them. The way his azure eyes sparkled and his sensuous mouth curled up at the corners when he laughed.

Jase studied his friend more closely.  Why had Cas suddenly started acting so differently?  What had made him skip from one woman to the next without seeming to take a breath?  Why had he started to treat them as if they mattered very little to him?  That they were only a warm body in his bed?  He had never done this before.  Had always treated his companions with the utmost respect while they had his interest!  But now even that had changed.  His interest waned very quickly and the woman tended not to last in his life more than a couple of weeks.  Cas had never been promiscuous.  Never gone from woman to woman without a care for what they or anyone else might think of him.

How many women had known that body - intimately?  Too many he guessed for even Cas to remember.  Too many?  What was his friend searching for?

Jase's thoughts halted midstream.  Why had Cas suddenly started to overindulge himself with the pleasures of life?  When had it all started? And why hadn't he, his closest friend, noticed it happening? 

Things hadn't always been this way!  Cas had never wanted for female companionship, but in the past he had never had a different woman with him every two or three weeks!  When had this sudden change come about?  And what had caused it?

Jase glanced back at the paper image of his friend and for the first time he noticed what the camera had captured. Even though a wide smile was spread across his well-shaped mouth no happiness showed on his face at having won his latest grand prix.  To those who knew him well the signs of unhappiness were blatantly obvious in the lack of sparkle.  The lack of exuberance that normally epitomized Cas’ pride in winning a well fought race.

Why hadn't he noticed what was happening to his friend, and tried to get to the bottom of it?

Jase didn't have to rack his brain very hard to find the answer to that question.  He glanced down at the small woman cuddled against his side.  Ever since he had found his beloved Pieta, he hadn't had as much time for Cas and his problems.

Angrily he snapped the book shut.  He'd let his friend down. Badly!

What's the matter darling?  Pieta opened sleep-rimmed eyes and stared up into Jase's face.

Jase longed to say nothing and keep Cas' problems to himself, but decided against it.  Perhaps if he told her, Pieta might be able to offer some solution.  Quietly so their voices wouldn't reach the man sitting opposite, he began to explain.

And you think there's some general cause?  Something you've missed picking up on?

I sure do.

He doesn't seem different to me.

You’ve only known him for two years.  He was. Jase’s voice faltered to a halt.  That's it! he exclaimed, after a moment of tense silence. It could be the answer! 

Reaching down he picked up the other magazine and began thumbing through its pages.  Mystified by his actions and his words Pieta watched him hoping he would soon explain what he meant.

Perhaps the answer is in this magazine. Aaah!  The sound slid from between Jase's lips.  I knew it!

Thrusting the book toward Pieta he pointed to a large photo spread across half the open page.  Lindy Greer!

She's very beautiful.  Pieta took the magazine and studied the photograph more closely.  But what has she to do with Cas’ problems?

She could be them! The one woman who wasn't overcome by the Tonks charm. Who refused to have anything to do with him.

I imagine he's been turned down before so why should this have such a profound effect on him?  A puzzled frown creased Pieta's face.  She didn't understand any of this.

Cas really fell hard for her.

He told you?  Pieta exclaimed incredulously.  The Cas Tonks she knew didn't go around telling people how he felt.

Of course he didn't.  But when you've known someone as long as I've known Cas, you can sense these things.  For days after we left Australia he was absolutely unbearable, he...  Oh my God!"  Again Jase's words ended abruptly.

I wish you'd act coherently Jase this is all getting very confusing.

Sorry darling.  Everything is suddenly falling into place.  I think I know why Cas could be acting cranky and uptight.  We're headed back to Australia. The place where he met Lindy.  I don't know whether she lives there or not, but obviously by Cas attitude there is a fair chance she does.

But you went there last year did he act like this then?

We didn't go.  Cas had a broken arm and wasn't able to race.  We went straight onto our next race venue.

Now I'm getting it.  And you think this is why Cas has suddenly become bad tempered and irritable?

Sure do.  I wouldn't mind betting he's scared stiff of running into Lindy again.  Scared of what will happen if he sees her again.  She hurt him pretty badly.

Hurt him?

Absolutely!

Thoughtfully Pieta picked up the magazine and closed the cover, but as she did she noticed the date on its front.

Look at this Jase.  She held it out to him, pointing at the front page.

What?  Jase stared at the book but couldn't see to what she was referring.

This.  Pieta pointed at the date.  This magazine is two years old.  You don't think he's carried it around all this time, do you?

Probably. Jase took the magazine and flicked back to the photo of Lindy.  It looks well-thumbed doesn't it?

Sure does.

Poor Cas!  To think he's still hung-up on a girl who rejected him. Although I'm not sure it wasn't just a defensive attitude on her part. The times I saw them together, she looked already half way in love with him and the way they were acting I wondered at the time if they had met before.

What made you think that?

I don't know exactly.  I never could put my finger on the reason.

"Perhaps they had met before, when Cas