Love, Again

By L.P. Dover

Aubrey Reynolds is a small-town girl who’s made it big.
A successful Hollywood director, Aubrey doesn’t have time to linger on what could have been.
But when a routine blood test comes back with a false positive, she decides to take some time off to do the things she’s always wanted to do: taste the famous chocolate chip cookies at the Minnesota State Fair, hike the Grand Teton National Park, scuba dive in the Caribbean.
But after Aubrey admits to herself what she’s really missing, she heads back home to Dusty Valley, Oklahoma . . . and the man she left behind.

Cole Haywood is a small-town fireman and that’s just fine with him.
Sure, when the love of his life left their hometown to chase her dreams he was heartbroken and—he’ll admit—damn mad.
But Cole would have never forgiven himself if he had held Aubrey back from success.
So the last thing he expects after all these years is to walk into his favorite bar one night and find the girl he’s always loved—there—looking for him.
Maybe now’s the time to make his dreams come true.

• Language: English
• Publisher: L.P. Dover
• Release date: Dec 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005261085

L.P. Dover

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Everything’s sweeter in the South has always been her mantra and she lives by it, whether it’s with her writing or in her everyday life. Maybe that’s why she’s seriously addicted to chocolate.Dover has written countless novels in several different genres, including a children’s book with her daughter. Her favorite to write is romantic suspense, but she’s also found a passion in romantic comedy. She loves to make people laugh which is why you’ll never see her without a smile on her face.

Book preview

2

AUBREY

How long did I have? Right now, I felt fine. Who knows what would happen when flu season started back up. I’d managed to evade getting sick for years. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a really bad cold or a stomach virus. They seemed so harmless until now.

I need to get in to see Brad, have the additional tests he mentioned and figure out what to do next. I realize there’s no cure, but there must be something that will stave this off, give me more time.

Time. I have no time . . .

I hadn’t moved from the floor since I found out the news. I’d missed my meeting at the movie set and really ’couldn’t have cared less. My phone had rung nonstop but I had nothing to say. What used to be my lifelong dream of directing movies suddenly didn’t hold its allure anymore. All I could do was stare out at the ocean from my Malibu home, wishing I’d done things differently in my life. There were so many things I thought I had time to do, like travel around the world.

Car doors slammed out front, but I couldn’t move to answer the door when I heard Emilia’s and Brad’s shouts followed by their loud knocking. Aubrey, open the door!

They banged incessantly, but everything about me was frozen in place, including my emotions. I was numb. Closing my eyes, I tried to block out the noise, but I couldn’t. There was nothing they could say that would help me. I’d made too many mistakes in life. This was my punishment for being selfish and greedy.

My body screamed at me to get up, to fight. What made it worse was that I didn’t even have anyone to call and tell. My parents died in a car accident the day after I turned eighteen. ’Maybe it was a good thing I didn’t have anyone to tell, but it still hurt to know that I had no one in my life other than the people at my job and my one and only close friend, Emilia. When my mom was alive we were very close. Losing her and my dad was a pain that never went away. I could feel it even now, ripping at my chest. However, it wasn’t just their loss that tore at my soul. There was someone else, someone from long ago. I’d tried to forget about him as I’d pursued my dream, but it was hard to do when the man still had my heart.

The knocks eventually stopped, and I breathed a sigh of relief. At least until I spotted Emilia on my back deck, racing to the porch door, followed by Brad. Squinting, she peered inside and saw me on the floor, then her eyes widened with panic. Unfortunately for me, the door was unlocked. As she slammed it open it banged against the wall.

She ran over and slid across the floor to me. Her blond hair was in a tangled bun, and only half of her makeup had been done, her eyes now smeared with mascara and shadow. Holy shit, Aubrey, you scared the hell out of me. Grabbing my hands, she squeezed them tight. Why didn’t you answer the damn phone?

Brad knelt down beside us and gently clutched my chin, narrowing his gaze as he looked into my eyes. She’s probably in shock. With a heavy sigh, he bowed his head. I still can’t believe this happened; she’ll never forgive me.

Emilia punched him in the arm, and he fell back on his ass. You’re damn right, she won’t. You need to fire that stupid nurse of yours.

I had no idea what was going on. Licking my dry lips, I finally moved my body. My feet were numb and tingly, and so were my legs. Emilia gasped and tapped my cheeks. Hey, Aubrey, snap out of it.

I glared right at her and opened my mouth. My voice was raspy and rough. Easy for you to say.

A smile lit up her face, and she threw her arms around my neck. You’re back. When you didn’t answer the phone, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew you weren’t the type to hurt yourself. She squeezed me so hard my neck cracked.

You’re the one who’s going to kill me if you don’t let go, I said.

She released me and sat down on the floor, her eyes full of tears. That was why her makeup was so messed up. Sorry. I was just so worried about you. When Brad told me about what had happened, I had to get to you straight away. There’s been a mistake.

My attention snapped over to Brad. He looked horrible, his face all flushed and pale. Even his usual perfectly coifed blond hair looked ragged, along with his disheveled tie. Grabbing my hands, he pulled me up to my feet. I wobbled for a second, but he and Emilia steadied me.

I glanced at them both. What do you mean there’s been a mistake?

Brad kept hold of my hands and sighed. Right after you hung up on me, the nurse who gave me the test results burst into my office. She’d given me the wrong results.

A spark of hope ignited in my chest. What?

He slid his hands up to my face, his eyes full of anguish. I am so sorry, Aubrey. I’ve never had this kind of thing happen before. She’d accidentally filed another patient’s results in your folder, so I was reading you the wrong results. I totally understand if you don’t want me to be your doctor anymore. We’ve got a new system in the office that we’re all getting used to, which in by means is an excuse, as this never should have happened. Again, I’m so terribly sorry.

He slowly let my face go, and Emilia grabbed my hands. You don’t have multiple myeloma, Aubrey. You’re perfectly healthy. It was all a mistake. Your test got mixed up with someone else’s.

I thought it would make me happy to hear that I wasn’t terminally ill. Don’t get me wrong, I was, but in just those couple of hours of thinking the worst, my life had changed. I didn’t feel the same. What could’ve affected me in a way I couldn’t even imagine was going to change my life forever. One thing was for certain: my life was going to be different from this day forward. Though now what was bothering me was that someone else was about to find out they had myeloma. That is, if they didn’t already know.

Relief washed through me, and I was able to take a full breath. Letting Emilia’s hands go, I walked over to the windows that overlooked the ocean. I don’t know what to say.

Say you forgive me, Brad said, his voice quiet. "I don’t know how I’m ever going to make it up to you. We have so many fail-safe protocols for this kind of thing not to happen. It was a devastating fluke, and one that is surely not going to happen again. The practice’s medical board is having an emergency meeting this afternoon to put additional safety procedures in place."

I wasn’t mad at him. Maybe I was a bit upset at myself that it took a misdiagnosis for me to have more clarity about my life. Turning around, I faced him. It’s okay, Brad. Mistakes happen. I’m glad the medical board is going to do something about it. I’d hate for someone else to go through what I did, especially if they’re unstable. They might’ve decided to take things into their own hands instead.

Brad’s face paled and he nodded. "I know. I’d never be able to forgive myself if anything like that happened to one of my patients.

Emilia approached me cautiously. So you’ve been here this whole time, sitting on the floor?

I nodded. The news paralyzed me. I felt lost and confused. Closing my eyes, I squeezed them hard, hoping to keep the tears at bay. And worse . . . I felt alone.

Oh, Aubrey. Emilia hugged me tight. You know you’re not alone. I’m your best friend. I’m always here for you. I wouldn’t have left the house looking like a zombie if I didn’t love you.

That was for damn sure. Emilia always brought a smile to my face. I know. This whole thing made me think about my parents, and how much I miss them. And reminded me that I’ve no one else. You’re pretty much the only family I have left. Actually, there was one more person I was thinking about, have never forgotten, really.

Sniffling, she let me go, and Brad joined us. You have me as well, and our family, he added, nodding over at Emilia.

Tears fell down my cheeks. Thanks. That means a lot.

What are you going to do now? Emilia asked. I take it you didn’t go to the meeting.

I shook my head. Now that I had time to think about it, I didn’t even care about the meeting, the next film, my career . . . It was as if everything became clear. Grinning wide, I grabbed my phone off the floor, and noticing the battery had died, plugged it into the charger. I had a ton of phone calls to make. I didn’t, I replied. But you know what? There’s something else I want to do more.

3

AUBREY

A bucket list, huh? I know it’s horrible what happened to you this morning, but right now, I’m completely jealous. Emilia sat on my bed and helped put my clothes into my suitcase as I tossed them to her. Brad had already left to go back to his office. I’m not sure he was recovering from the misdiagnosis as well as I was—for me it was a life-changing event. And one I didn’t realize I needed.

I peeked my head around the closet door. You could always come with me.

Lips pursed, she looked at me and snorted. I wish, but I’m waiting on an important phone call to tell me I got the movie role. Now that you backed out of being the director, the cards aren’t exactly in my favor.

You’ll get it. I have faith in you. I tossed her a pair of pants, and she put them in my suitcase.

She smiled. Thanks. I really like that part. I’m hoping I get it.

It was a hard call to make backing out of the movie deal, but I didn’t regret it a single bit. In fact, seeing the passion in Emilia’s eyes about the role she was up for and her anxiety over getting it made me realize all the more it was time to move on. That was then, and now I was going on an adventure. To live life to the fullest, and travel around the world among the other hundreds of things I wanted to accomplish. I had yet to figure out all I wanted to do, but there was plenty of time for that.

Emilia slid off the bed and grabbed my notebook off my bedside table. It was the one I used to write down all of my director’s notes. She hopped back onto the bed and opened it. You need a game plan, Aubrey. Let’s get this bucket list started. Depending on if I get the role or not, I might be able to join you on some of these adventures.

I hopped onto the bed next to her. That would be amazing. If there’s anything I learned from this morning, it’s to not waste time. I don’t want to miss out on anything anymore.

Emilia’s expression became so serious as she met my gaze. Do you really believe that you’ve missed out on life? You’ve accomplished so much.

There was a whole other part of me that she didn’t know. She knew about me losing my parents, but everything else I’d kept to myself. Em didn’t even know that I was a dental assistant about to get married a month before I packed up and moved to California. It was a part of my life that I regretted more than anything, and I wasn’t about to dredge it all back up now.

I have accomplished everything I’ve always wanted. Being a successful movie director was all I thought I wanted. My mom used to tell me that if I believed in myself, I could make anything happen. I’d give all I had for her to be able to see what I’ve done.

Emilia squeezed my hand. Believe me, she knows. I’m sure your parents have looked down on you from time to time. They’d be proud.

If only that were true. I hope so, I murmured.

She winked. All right, let’s get this list started. You’ve already slayed your dream, so we don’t have to worry about writing that down. Opening the notebook, she turned to a clean page, and wrote Aubrey’s Bucket List on the top line. What all do you want to do?

Excitement bubbled in my chest. The list was endless. Let’s see, I began. I’ve always wanted to visit Banff National Park up in Canada. It’s mid-August so it’s the perfect time to go up there and do some hiking.

Emilia nodded and scribbled it down on my list. Great. I’m writing it down. Where else do you want to go?

I want to go to the Turks and Caicos to snorkel, the Pike Place Market in Seattle, the Minnesota State Fair to get Sweet Martha’s chocolate chip cookies.

Emilia burst out laughing. You and those cookies. You’ve been talking about them for years.

Exactly. There was no reason to put it off. I’m not doing that ever again. If I want to do something, I’m going to do it—life is too short.

She looked over at me as if she’d never seen me before. I like this side of you. It’s as if you’re a completely different person.

A brush with death will do that to you, I said with a slight laugh, even though there was no humor to it. Emilia was right though, my life had become a fine-tuned machine. One that even the most type-A overachiever would be jealous of. Now my life is going to be about living. I pointed to the list. I want to visit the Grand Teton National Park, and learn how to speak with an Australian accent.

Snickering, she shook her head and wrote it down. You’re too much.

I also want to learn how to play golf, dance in the rain, make a difference in someone’s life, and maybe even possibly fall in love with someone. Sadly, with the hours I had been working none of this had even been possible. Wistfully, my mind wandered, remembering that I had fallen in love with someone once—

"Now that I’m all for. You’ve barely dated. She set the pen down and looked over at me. Out of all the years I’ve known you, you’ve only gone on like five dates."

Shrugging, I hopped off the bed and disappeared into my bathroom to get my toiletries together. That way she couldn’t see the truth on my face. I just haven’t found anyone I click with. A lot of the men around here are arrogant jackasses. They weren’t like the men from my hometown, where they were hardworking, strong, and respectful. It took me a long time to realize that I wasn’t going to find that here in Hollywood. And to realize that’s what I wanted.

That’s true, she exclaimed. It’s probably why I’m still single as well. These Hollywood guys are all snakes.

Yeah, but you get a little bit of action in your movies. I’ve seen you kiss a gazillion hot A-list celebrities.

She snorted. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be. A lot of them can’t kiss. I’m either drowning or they have bad breath. The next time that happens, I’m going to eat a whole damn bag of Funyuns and see how they like it.

I tossed my head back and laughed. That was too hilarious. I was going to miss her on my travels. I wish I could be there to see that.

Emilia appeared by the bathroom door. Where are you going to head off to first?

I was planning on doing a huge circle around the US and Canada before I even attempted to go overseas. I think I’m going to head up to Seattle, then go into Canada. Once I get done there, I’ll go to the Minnesota State Fair to get my cookies since the fair starts in three weeks.’ Then, after that, I’ll figure it out.

She held out my phone. You might want to book your plane ticket then before you back out.

I took my phone and smiled. I’m not going to back out. This is the real deal.

Her eyes glistened. How long do you think you’ll be gone? I don’t know what I’m going to do without you.

You said it yourself, you’re going to join me when you get the chance. I’m going to hold you to that. I hugged her hard. I’d never really traveled by myself before. While traveling and filming movies I always had the crew with me. Now I was going to be all alone. It was exhilarating and a little scary too. I’d be saying goodbye to the life I’d worked so tirelessly to build, which was about to come to an end. A new beginning awaited me.

4

AUBREY

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Ispent four days in Seattle, exploring every square inch of Pike Place Market and taking a tour of the Space Needle, before getting a flight out to Canada. Being able to come and go as I pleased without having to worry about my schedule was foreign to me. And I liked it. Banff National Park was amazing. I met a young newlywed couple from Ireland who happened to be staying at the same hotel and joined them for dinner three out of the five nights I was there. After that, I made it a point to add another entry to my bucket list: . . . befriend at least one person at each of my stops.

The people that ’I’d met were real; they reminded me of where I grew up. I started thinking more about my friends from high school—and the guy I’d always believed to be my soulmate. I missed my home, and him more than anything. Traveling was exciting, but making me more melancholy too—. . .making me want things that were long gone. Ever since I started my journey, I’d been logging my experiences in a journal. For the past two hours, that was all I’d done. It was like every time I put the pen to paper, my hand would have a mind of its own. I kept writing about the things I’d missed out on—love being the main one. Visions of Cole would pop into my head, and I’d lose myself in the memories. Cole Haywood. I couldn’t