Just Be My Love (Saving Sandy series, #1) Read online

  Just Be My Love

  Valentina Turner

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Saving Sandy series book 2

  About the Author

  Copyright © 2020 [Valentina Turner] – All rights Reserved

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication / use of the trademarks is not authorized, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Chapter One

  "I’ve got to go, Jules,” Sandy Carlson informed her best friend. Her eyes darted to the clock on the wall. It was almost 7 a.m.

  A grimace crossed her face. Aunt Karen would have a fit if she didn’t come in early.

  “You have to be at the diner, right?” Jules queried with a touch of exasperation in her voice.

  Sandy rolled her eyes. “You know it.”

  “I still can’t understand why you’re slaving away in that diner when you have a degree in art. I mean, you should be like opening a studio, a gallery or whatever.”

  Sandy giggled at the bemusement in her friend’s voice. Jules didn’t understand that it was something that she had to do for her late mother’s sake. Well, at least that was what Aunt Karen told her.

  “I’ve got to do it for my mom,” she informed her friend for the umpteenth time.

  “Like seriously? Your mom would want you working in a small diner instead of pursuing your dreams?”

  Tears glistened in Sandy’s eyes. Jules wouldn’t understand. She wouldn’t comprehend that it was the proceeds from the diner that saw her through art college.

  Jules’s folks were wealthy. Her father was a successful dentist while her mother was also a successful surgeon. Jules didn’t lack for anything.

  They were totally opposite poles, but still the best of friends. They had met at a restaurant on one of the few occasions Sandy decided to splurge on a decent meal. Surprisingly, they had hit it off even though it was quite obvious they were from different classes.

  Jules had just broken off things with her boyfriend at the restaurant and had gone to the restroom to cry. Sandy had entered the place and saw Jules weeping profusely. She had asked her if she was all right. Jules had cursed men to perdition, and Sandy, amused, had agreed with her. And that had been the start of a budding relationship.

  “I’m sorry, Sandy. I didn’t mean to sound so snotty,” Jules spoke into the silence that fell between them.

  Sandy blinked away her tears and shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, Jules. And you’re never snobbish. As soon as I get an offer for the place, I’m off to Chicago.”

  Jules laughed. “I can’t wait to have you back. I miss you so much. I have to endure my patronizing cousins these days who talk about things I have no idea of.”

  Sandy giggled. “I miss you, too. Gotta go now. Love you.”

  “Love you. Bye.”

  Sandy let out a heavy sigh as she ended the call. She wished she could go back to Chicago as soon as possible. But she had to face the reality of things. There was no way she would be able to leave Colorado for Chicago until she could at least sell the diner or find someone else to help her run it.

  Sandy put on her jacket and let herself out of her small house. If someone had told her a few months ago that she would return to Plyrock, Colorado, she wouldn’t have believed it.

  Aunt Karen had called her out of the blue to tell her that she had to return home to take control of the diner.

  “But Aunt Karen, you’ve been doing a fine job. I can’t possibly take over from you simply because I’m done with school,” she had argued forcefully over the phone.

  “Sandy, I can’t say much now. You have to come back. Please do,” Aunt Karen had relayed in a firm tone.

  However much she argued with her late mother’s sister, the woman had insisted that she return. Unable to protest further, Sandy had grudgingly taken the flight to Denver and then the bus to Plyrock.

  “I’m dying,” Aunt Karen had simply said, stunning Sandy beyond words.

  “What?” she had finally said when she found her voice.

  With tears running down her eyes, her aunt had quietly explained, “Breast cancer. It was in remission, but it’s back. I can’t handle the diner anymore. I need help.”

  Sandy had been too shocked to say anything at first. And then she had burst into tears. Quickly, she had wrapped her arms around the woman who had acted as her pillar of strength ever since her mother died.

  Sandy hadn’t really known her while growing up. Aunt Karen had never failed to send birthday and Christmas messages. But Sandy only got to see the woman when she came to Colorado from Kentucky to help with the diner when her sister fell sick. She had also taken over when Sandy’s mother’s died so that she could go to art college.

  Aunt Karen had told her that she needed to fulfill her mother’s dream of her owning the diner.

  Sandy sighed. She wasn’t sure she wanted to own the diner. She didn’t even want to be in Ply rock which brought back very painful memories. But she didn’t have a choice, as Aunt Karen was unwell and the place would go to the dogs if there was no one to manage it.

  From the first week she returned to the diner, she had placed a "For Sale” sign in front but eventually had to take it off when the threat of a hurricane blew half of it away.

  Now she made it verbally known that she intended selling the place. The regulars always looked at her like she was committing a grave sin. They didn’t understand why she had to leave.

  Sandy undid the chain of her bicycle on her porch rail. If there was one thing she loved about the small town, it was that it was so beautiful and peaceful; she enjoyed riding her bicycle.

  Unlike the busy streets of Chicago, Plyrock didn’t offer much when it came to transportation. Most of the townsfolk rode their bicycles, walked or used their cars. However, they took the bus in the interstate to Colorado Springs which they usually called “the city.”

  As she rode through the quiet, picturesque town with it few inhabitants, she sighed. Spring was her favorite time of the year. The sight and scent of beautiful flowers never failed to amaze her.

  The town was surrounded by huge mountains that served as a sort of cocoon. Most times it was usually cold in Plyrock, offering little amounts of sunshine and rain.

  The diner was already opened for business when she reached there. She rode her bicycle to the back. She removed her coat and her purse in the backroom before stepping into the kitchen where Mrs. Briggs, who served as their cook, was already busy with some fries. They exchanged pleasantries.

  “Sandy,” Aunt Karen called with a firm voice.

  The slim and petite woman with jet-black hair tied in a ponytail, positioned her hands on her hips and gave her a stare.

  Sandy gave her a smile and placed a kiss on each of her cheeks.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked her aunt who defied doctors and still came to the diner every other day to make sure everything was running smoothly.

  “
I was on the phone with Jules. I totally lost track of time,” she explained to her aunt when the woman remained silent.

  “Oh, Sandy, what am I going to do with you?” Aunt Karen let out a deep breath.

  Sandy giggled. “Hug me? I have competent workers, so I didn’t worry.”

  “I know, but they still need a hand to make sure things are running as they should,” her aunt refuted.

  Sandy smiled at Annie and Mary who were already taking orders from the few customers in the place. Peter was already manning the cashier. So there was really nothing to worry about.

  Sandy quickly donned her pink apron to help Cook in the kitchen. She helped to prepare the day’s specials of apple pie to go with a milkshake.

  The regulars, as well as newbies, walked into the place as they did every day. Sandy sometimes wondered if they weren’t tired of their monotonous way of doing things.

  She would have gone crazy if she had to eat the same meal every day. But some of the old folks didn’t mind. Familiarity was comforting to them. So, who was she to judge? They loved Rosie’s Diner and patronized it daily which was why she was still in business.

  Almost all the coffee-brown booths were filled when she heard the bell at the door jingle to admit a customer. Sandy’s brown eyes widened when she took in the tall man. She figured he was about six feet four inches. He was dressed in a black leather jacket, a white shirt and blue denims. His ran his fingers through his ebony hair as his eyes scouted the place in search of an empty booth.

  When his intense gaze fell on her, a sharp gasp escaped from her lips. Her mouth ran dry and she longed to tell everyone to get out of the diner so that she could attend to the stranger alone. She was ready to beat anyone with a stick if they dared refused to leave.

  Sandy shook such ridiculous thoughts from her mind and closed her mouth. The athletically built man with broad shoulders and long, muscular legs walked away from the door and took a seat at one of the booths beside the window.

  With shock, Sandy noted that neither Annie nor Mary had noticed the handsome hunk of a man. They were still busy taking orders from other tables. Were they blind, or was she the only one drawn to the man like a moth to a flame?

  She darted a tongue across her lips when she saw the man pick up the menu with strong, large hands. Powerless to resist the pull, she took a yellow pad and moved away from the counter. As if he was drawing her to him with an invisible rope, she found herself standing in front of him.

  Oh, lord, the man was drop-dead gorgeous! The bluest eyes she had ever seen focused on her and sent shivers of unexpected pleasure up her body. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He had a five ’o clock shadow that made her ache to rub her hand across his firm jaw.

  What is wrong with me? She had never reacted this way to a handsome man before. And she had seen many.

  Her face turned a fiery red when she read amusement in the depth of the man’s lovely eyes. The man was surely used to women ogling him.

  Damn it! I just added myself to the statistics.

  With determined strength, she pulled herself together and lifted her pad to avoid gazing into his eyes.

  “Welcome to Rosie’s Palace.” She cringed and shook her head. “I mean, Rosie’s Diner, not palace ... as this is not a palace ... it would be cool though if it were one and ... we dressed like kings and queens and ...”

  Somebody, please cut out my tongue!

  Heat burned in her face at the realization that she was making a fool of herself. She pursed her lips and stared at him with dismay as he chuckled.

  “I agree with you. It would be absolutely cool if it were a palace. However, since it isn’t, can I get some coffee?”

  The sound of his deep tones shot thrills up her spine. Relieved that he hadn’t thought that she just escaped from a mental institution, she asked, “How do you want it? Black, strong, with milk? With cream? With sugar?”

  When the man stared pointedly at the different options she just mentioned before him, she nodded, wishing that the ground would open up and swallow her at that minute.

  “I would also like an omelet,” he added with amusement in his eyes.

  “Got it,” she simply said and practically ran away from his presence.

  What a butthead! What in the world was wrong with her? Like seriously! Did she just make a fool of herself over a man? She must be coming down with something. It was her rule to stay away from men. Consequently, men never caught her attention, let alone made her ramble continually.

  I’ve got to stay away from him.

  She handed the man’s order to Annie and lied that she had a headache. She went to the back room to spend some time alone.

  Thoughts of her mother flooded her mind as she sat on the gray, worn-out couch. It was the very first piece of furniture her mother got when she was able to pay the rent for the place. Even when she was able to afford new furniture, it had remained there as keepsake.

  Tears stung her eyes. Her mother had loved the place and had been proud to own it. But not Sandy. She could never see the place as her own. The town also could never be called home even though she grew up here.

  Sandy’s thoughts were interrupted by her aunt. She quickly blinked back her tears. She was aware that her aunt worried about her a lot. Given her condition, Sandy didn’t want her to.

  “Are you all right, Sandy?” Aunt Karen placed a hand on her shoulder.

  “Yes, I’m fine, Aunt Karen. I was just remembering Mom and how much she loved this place.”

  A wistful smile spread across the older woman’s face. “Truly, she did. And she wanted you to love it as much as she did.”

  Not willing to get into a conversation that would send guilt shooting through her again, she asked, “Did you want me for something.”

  From the look her aunt gave her, Sandy recognized that the woman knew why she was being evasive.

  “Annie and Mary could sure use your help right now with the serving.”

  Sandy jumped to her feet, and then her steps faltered as she remembered the tall dark and handsome stranger. She would just have to ignore him and focus on her job.

  With that resolve, she reentered the diner and hurried to a table to take an order. When she raised her head from writing on her pad, it was to see the handsome stranger watching her with penetrating eyes. For an instant, her pencil stopped moving on the paper. Her mouth ran dry again.

  It was an effort dragging her eyes from his mesmerizing stare, but she eventually did. Flushed, she struggled to listen to the order.

  As she walked to the kitchen at a fast pace, she resolved not to look in the man’s direction again. Her resolution became useless when she had to pass by the stranger and caught a whiff of his musky smell. Even in a place filled with the aroma of bacon, eggs, hash browns, hamburgers and so much more, she was still able to grasp the tantalizing scent of the man.

  If you don’t snap out of it right now, Sandy, you’re going to make an utter fool of yourself again. And then you’ll get hurt.

  A pang hit her heart at those words. Right from when she was a teenager, she had sought to protect her heart from men. And she had succeeded thus far.

  Was it at twenty-two that she would break the promise she made to herself? Definitely not!

  Her vow still stood.

  She would never change her resolve no matter what.

  Men were bastards!

  Chapter Two

  Take your eyes off her, Seth.

  Seth Banner struggled to take his eyes off the waitress. He was aware that he was disconcerting her with his deep stare, but he couldn’t stop himself.

  She was some looker! And he had the feeling that she had no idea that she was stunning. There was an innocence about her that was captivating. Her heart-shaped face, delicately carved eyebrows, pert nose and rosebud lips had him mesmerized. Her honey-brown eyes could eat a man whole.

  Seth ached to remove the bond at her nape and run his fingers through her chestnut hair. The glorious ma
ss on her head beckoned to him. He was certain that the luxurious tresses would fall across her shoulders and most likely end halfway down her back.

  Damn! He had never had it this bad for a woman. One look at her when he walked through the door and bam! He was blown away. But used to hiding his feelings, he had quickly schooled his features and sought out a booth.

  When she had approached him to take his order, he figured it was fate doing its thing. He had noticed the way she gawked at him, and even though he had been amused, he had felt joyful within. She, too, felt the chemistry between them.

  She wasn’t wearing a name tag like the other two waitresses. She wasn’t even wearing a uniform, only an apron. Was she some kind of head waitress or what? He noticed the other waitresses deferred to her.

  Seth lifted his gaze and saw her attending to a customer. From within, he willed her to look at him again, but she didn’t. Disappointment ran through him.

  She was obviously trying to deny what she felt. He ought to finish his omelet and leave. But then he wouldn’t be able to see her again.

  So, he continued to eat as slowly as he could, just so he could carry on watching her. For some reason he couldn’t understand, she brushed by him but didn’t look in his direction.

  He wondered if he had imagined her attraction to him. No. He shook his head. She had felt the bolts of electricity that ran through him as well when their eyes first met and held.

  He wished he could get her attention. She seemed so busy; he didn’t want to disturb her. But he desperately needed to talk to her.

  Swiftly, he finished his coffee and raised a hand in the air her to gain her attention. From the flicker in her eyes and the sudden tenseness in her body, he registered that she saw it. But then, she ignored him.

  Seth gritted his teeth when one of the other waitresses came up to him with a sunny smile on her face.

  “Can I get you anything,” the dark-haired woman with rosy cheeks asked, lifting her pad.

  Seth’s eyes were still trained on the woman who was making his heartbeat rise steadily as he said, “Yes. That waitress.”