All I Ever Wanted

By Erin Moore

Amber Toadvine and Craig James have learned the hard way that one single act can alter a person's life dramatically. Amber's life had been torn apart by a monster who was intent on killing her, and the man she loved leaving her at the alter on their wedding day. Now ten years later, Amber and Craig have to learn to start over and trust again, trying to rebuild the bridge that had been burned down years before. While the monster that had ruined Amber's life before plans to return and finish the job he began years ago.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wings ePress, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9781590882801

Book preview

What They Are Saying About

All I Ever Wanted

Dig out your hankies romance readers. Ms. Moore has penned a top-notch, character-driven novel that also happens to have a darned good plot. All I Ever Wanted is a tear-jerker romance that will have you rooting for Craig and Amber's reunion after years of being apart. The author creates a chemistry between the two that makes this story an irresistible read, one that's difficult to put down, one you'll read into the late hours of the night.

—Nancy Pirri,

The MacAulay Bride

IN ALL I EVER WANTED, by Erin Moore, a mystery evolves of scary proportions. The romance between the two protagonists moves the reader in many ways. To have their love buried for ten years, and return to move the reader from the very first page. This is a heart-wrenching story of true love that Ms. Moore does an excellent job of showing the emotions of the two strong characters. As their past heals, so does the plot of the story unfold to find a crazy man wanting Amber's death. I would recommend this author to anyone that likes a good mystery and romance combined

—Mariah

Romance Reader At Heart

A WONDERFUL STORY OF love, lost and found again. Saying that one should never give up on their hopes and dreams and that love will always find a way to overcome any obstacle in it’s path. Romance and suspense that seem to engross the reader from the start and doesn’t let go.

—Louise Riverio-Mitchell

Denise’s Pieces Reviews

I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED All I Ever Wanted, and it can be all you ever wanted in a book with romance, suspense and all the emotions that go with it. Make sure to keep your eye on Ms. Moore—she has another book out soon and I'm getting impatient. Her first release just made me want to read Moore... Erin Moore that is!

—Ginger Simpson, Author

http://www.gingersimpson.com

ALL I EVER WANTED IS a heart wrenching story filled with hatred, love and all the emotions that fall in between.  As Craig comes to terms with his mother’s illness, Amber’s attack, and the facts surrounding their lives, Ms. Moore portrays their feelings so well that this reviewer was left in tears more than once.  Beyond her ability to fill the reader with emotion, Ms. Moore has given her novel a quick pace filled with a plot that will leave the reader wanting more. ALL I EVER WANTED sports great characters and enough plot to make it a Five Rose novel!  It is with honor that this reviewer rates it one of the best reads in 2004.

Angie from Loves Romances

http://www.loveromances.com/alliever_angie.html

All I Ever Wanted

Erin Moore

A Wings ePress, Inc.

Romantic Suspense Novel

Edited by: Leslie Hodges

Copy Edited by: Lorraine Stephens

Senior Editor: Lorraine Stephens

Executive Editor: Lorraine Stephens

Cover Artist: Laurie Thompson

All rights reserved

NAMES, CHARACTERS AND incidents depicted in this book 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 and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Wings ePress Books

Copyright © 2004 by Erin C. Moore

ISBN:  978-1-59088-280-1

Published In the United States Of America

Wings ePress Inc.

3000 N. Rock Road

Newton, KS  67114

Dedication

Ibelieve that with great people in your life, great things will happen. It’s because of the following people I am who I am, and I’ve achieved what I’ve accomplished.

My amazing husband Chris,

and my beautiful children

Tyler and Allyson.

My wonderful mother, Mary Wolfe,

and my great mother-in-law Patricia Moore.

And last but not least, my fantastic friend,

Sandy Hedges.

Thank you all for believing in me,

encouraging me and most of all loving me.

I love you all, Erin

One

Craig’s day started out well enough. He spent a wonderful morning doing research for his newest historical novel. His good day ended as soon as he entered his apartment—the phone was ringing. Unfortunately, he noticed the answering machine had been left off and knew the phone call might be important. It could be the call he was expecting from his agent, Jim. Rushing to the phone, he answered with a brisk, Yes.

All he heard was breathing. Not in the mood to put up with prank calls, he got upset. He said hello again, and waited only a few seconds before he started to hang up, when suddenly the other person spoke. Jarring him back ten years to the last time he’d heard that voice. The voice haunted his dreams and fantasies. He’d never be able to forget it.

Yes, may I speak to Craig James?

He sat down, not knowing what else to do. Why would she call after all these years? After everything she had put him through? He hadn’t forgiven her, and she probably knew it. He also knew he’d never be able to forgive her for her one unthinkable sin. Speaking, he said in a cold, harsh voice.

Oh, a slight pause, this is Amber Toadvine.

I know who it is. He sounded mean and nasty, but he didn’t care. She deserved it. He knew ten years was a long time, and he should forget old grudges. But it was hard to forget the one person you cared about the most, betraying you in the worst possible way. Old wounds never heal—he’d found out the hard way.

Okay, her voice hardened and became brisk. Amber’s style was to be just as rude as he could be. I’m calling on behalf of your mother.

My mother? What about her? Dread crept up his spine, giving him chills.

She’s sick in the hospital, asking for you. A long silence followed. Craig stared at his feet speechless, for he hadn’t known his mother was ill. He knew whatever Amber had to say next he was going to dread. We don’t expect her to live much longer. You need to come home.

Craig couldn’t think straight. His first thoughts were of his mother. What was she ill from? He wondered why he hadn’t been told. Then another thought passed through his mind. He hadn’t thought of Simpsonville as his home in ten years. Not since the night he left Amber and his mother. His wedding day. He doubted he’d ever be able to call the place home again. What’s wrong with her? he asked, not sure if he was ready for the answer. He couldn’t keep the squeak out of his voice, but he didn’t care.

Cancer.

Amber said it so matter-of-factly it gave him pause. It made him furious, since he hadn’t heard anything about cancer. Cancer?! Why haven’t I been told until now?

I guess it’s because you don’t speak to your mother.

His breath left him in one big whoosh. He didn’t know how she knew about him being estranged from his mother, but she did and it infuriated him. Of all the people to know about his relationship with his mother, and to be calling him on her behalf, why did it have to be Amber? That’s none of your business. He said, for lack of anything better to say.

You’re right. Her brisk calm attitude never left, I don’t honestly care. But I do care for Ruth. She asked me to call you—believe me I’d have never done it for anyone else.

Ruth. She called his mother Ruth, not Mrs. James, as everyone else did. Before he could ask her about her breach in manners, she spoke again. Can I tell her you’re coming home?

Yes, he paused. He didn’t want to ask her, but he needed to know. Amber, the name he spoke ten years ago in love, now felt foreign to his tongue. Is she really bad off?

She paused for so long that he sensed she didn’t want to tell him the truth. He knew she would though—for an unknown reason he suspected Amber couldn’t lie to him about it. He almost wished she’d never told him.

The cancer is beyond remission and there is nothing left to do. The doctor gives her only a week to live.

I CALLED CRAIG FOR you. Amber looked at the dear woman who, years ago, she started to consider her second mother. She wanted to curl up in a ball and cry for yet another loss she was about to suffer in her life. Ruth, who used to be so lively and energetic, could barely talk. She lay in bed all day, knowing the only way not to suffer was death. She wondered how she did it. Amber knew if she had been in the same position, she’d want death to come quickly. She knew about suffering, she was an expert on it. There’d been times when she had wanted her life to end.

Taking Amber’s hand, Ruth said in a low, raspy voice, thank you. She gave her hand a faint squeeze before dropping it.

He’ll be down tomorrow. Amber said, and she watched Ruth nod, then fall asleep instantly. The morphine kept her sleeping most of the time—of course it was better than the alternative of being in constant pain.

Ruth had known how much it was asking of Amber when she asked her to call Craig. Amber had hoped to never speak to, or of, him again in her life. Under these circumstances it couldn’t be helped. Amber would do anything for Ruth, and the only thing she’d ever asked of Amber was to call her son. With Ruth on her deathbed, Amber couldn’t refuse; it wasn’t much to ask of her.

Amber went to the chair she’d slept in for nearly a week, ever since the day the paramedics rushed Ruth to the hospital where she’d been admitted. The doctor expected her to die here. Amber hadn’t left her side, wanting to make sure she was never alone. Craig hadn’t been around in the last ten years, and he was Ruth’s only family. So, Amber filled in, glad to help in any way possible. She decided she’d leave in the morning, hoping to avoid having to face Craig. As she drifted off to sleep, she promised herself to stay strong for Ruth and as far away from Craig as she could.

WHEN AMBER AWOKE THE next morning, she knew her wish hadn’t come true. Craig walked into the room, and having sensed a presence, she’d awakened with a start. Standing in the doorway staring at her, he didn’t move. His expression was comical, like he’d been goosed. Surprised to see him, too, she stayed where she was in the chair, staring at him. She noticed he hadn’t changed much; still as handsome as ever. His sandy blond hair, always kept so neat, and his dark brown eyes had been her favorite feature. His eyes could look black when he was angry. His features were distinctive, sharp cheekbones, straight nose, and a square jaw, not model-handsome, but classically attractive. She felt herself being drawn back into the spiraling vortex of her feelings for him.

Shaking her head hoping to clear out the disturbing thoughts, she finally stood. Straightening her clothes, she picked up her belongings. Heading for the door, she walked right past him—he had yet to move since entering. She stopped next to him, but didn’t look at him. Tell Ruth I went home. I’ll be back tonight, probably around six. She left not saying anything else.

CRAIG HAD BEEN SHOCKED to come in to his mother’s room and see Amber sleeping in a chair. He stood frozen to the spot, unable to move until she left. He barely nodded acknowledgement to her statement, even though he knew it didn’t matter. She hadn’t looked at him when she spoke. Amber looked like an angel, and he hated to admit it. She hadn’t changed much in ten years, only her hair. Still the magnificent golden honey he loved, but longer. It flowed around her shoulders, soft and inviting. In high school she’d worn it chin length. He had called her his little pixie. Well, she wasn’t a cute pixie anymore, she was a grown woman. One he felt sure starred in many men’s wet dreams. She was sexy as hell with her hair disheveled and falling around her face. Amber was the woman in his kinky dreams. She’d been haunting him for years, and he hadn’t even realized it.

Craig didn’t know how long he stood and stared at her. He’d not been able to help it, and he blamed it on the shock of finding her there. Amber had looked peaceful and content sleeping in the chair. He knew she had to be uncomfortable, but she didn’t look it. Her face relaxed in sleep didn’t look as though she had aged in years, but her eyes gave her away when she woke up. Craig could see the small changes in her appearance; particularly the look of wariness when she realized someone had entered the room. After realizing it was him, the intensity of her ice blue eyes turned to hate, making him believe she could freeze a person cold.

He heard a movement behind him and it brought him out of his fantasy world. Turning around he came face to face with the reality of how sick his mother actually was. She didn’t look like the person he’d last seen ten years ago. She was much thinner and frail looking. Her skin didn’t have a healthy color to it at all; instead, it had a yellowish tint. He was not prepared to face this kind of illness, and he didn’t know how to cope with it. He sat next to her bed and waited. He felt helpless, full of self-loathing and remorse. He had literally shut his mother out of his life because of Amber. It was one of the stupidest things he’d ever done and now he wished he could take it back, but knew he couldn’t.

His mother stirred and turned her head toward him. He had to lean over to hear her when she spoke; it was no more than a whisper. Where is Amber?

She went home, she’ll be back tonight.

His mother nodded, and fell back to sleep. He started fuming then. His mother obviously didn’t care if he was there or not, just about Amber. Craig calmed himself with the realization that Amber had been the one his mother expected to see, and she probably didn’t recognized him in her drugged stupor. The thought made him feel better.

He picked up his mother’s hand and held onto it as he tried to figure out the connection between the two women. Amber apparently spent the night in the old uncomfortable chair, and he wouldn’t have been surprised to hear she’d been sleeping there for a while. He didn’t understand, and didn’t have any of the answers. Did he really want to know? He didn’t think so. He hated having Amber thrown in his face, and the past dragged up. One of the reasons he’d left Simpsonville in the first place was because he couldn’t escape Amber and what happened between them.

Craig sat beside his mother for another hour and she still hadn’t awakened. Getting restless, he went for a walk. He figured he’d find out the extent of her condition, since he’d gotten bored sitting around waiting. He went to find the doctor, and realized he didn’t even know the name.

Thankfully, the physician found him. Mr. James?

Craig looked at the balding older gentleman who was wearing a white jacket with a stethoscope around his neck. His mother’s doctor, he hoped. Yes.

I’m Dr. Winters. He held out his hand to Craig and they shook, I’ve been taking care of Ruth for years now. Amber said you’d be here today, and I thought you might want to know your mother’s condition.

Craig nodded his head, thank you, I’d like to hear what’s been going on. Craig didn’t care what the doctor thought of his not being around the last few years, he just needed to know the truth.

Let’s go somewhere private.

Once again Craig nodded and