Romance Me: A Collection Of Standalone & First In Series Books Read online

  Izzy and the other three stood still, waiting for someone to tell them what was going on. Izzy wanted to scream. She knew they'd only been there for a few seconds, but it seemed like an eternity.

  Gemma noticed her impatience. "Let them take care of Drew, then they’ll tell us what is going on."

  Jake sat down and the other three followed, Izzy being the last. The clock still ticked, but their hearts were louder.

  A doctor walked over and looked in their saddened eyes. "We removed his spleen, but he bled internally. Fortunately, we were able to control the bleeding and pinpoint the problem."

  "What happens now?"

  "We wait," the doctor answered in a firm tone. "There is no saying how long he'll be out. There didn't appear to be any head trauma and I'm confident he'll come through when the time is right. It's best to let him rest and take it from there when he wakes."

  Izzy felt a sense of relief rush through her, but wasn't satisfied. "Can I see him?"

  "Are you family?" The doctor asked.

  Hospital rules and policies sucked, Izzy thought. Part of her wanted to lie, but she kept her mouth shut. As the others shook their heads in defeat, Izzy stood tall and faced the doctor. "Please," she cried again. "He means the world to me."

  The man in charge put a hand on her shoulder. "This goes against our policies, but since none of Drew's immediate family are here, I'll allow it, but just you." The others looked up and nodded in understanding.

  "Thank you," Izzy said and took a deep breath. She followed him to the nurse's station and listened as he instructed the head nurse to write it in Drew's chart.

  The door to Drew's room opened and Izzy stepped inside. She couldn't have prepared herself for what she saw.

  Chapter 11

  IZZY LEANED AGAINST the glass separating the ICU room from the others. Her breathing excelled as she watched the nurses hover over Drew's sleeping body. A faint beeping sound filled the air. Izzy looked to the machine making the noise and sighed. Hearing his heartbeat should have been a relief, but seeing tubes inserted into his body caused her alarm.

  "I'll be out of your way in a minute," a nurse smiled at her while the other's walked out. She pulled a pen out of her pocket and wrote Drew's vitals down on his chart.

  Izzy didn't mind the nurse being there. The staff took care of the man she loved all her life. She let the nurse do her job. Izzy pulled up a chair and sat next to Drew. She placed his stiff hand in hers and rubbed his knuckles, the way he used to rub hers. Tears strolled down her face when she realized her touch wouldn't wake him.

  "Is he in pain?"

  The nurse shrugged. "See this IV? It's his pain medication, and he's getting it often."

  It didn’t answer Izzy's question, but she let it slide. Nobody, but Drew, knew how he felt. Izzy leaned down and kissed his cheek. "I'm sorry Drew." She didn't know if he could hear her or not, but she needed to say it. She'd say it a million more times, she was sure.

  "It's been a long day. For both of you." The nurse looked at her watch. "He's going to sleep for a while. You should get rest too." She watched Izzy recline the chair and then she slipped out of the room.

  Izzy faced Drew as she leaned back. She wept. Drew wasn't out of the woods yet and she knew it. Izzy said a prayer and then felt herself nod off. She cursed to herself for being so foolish.

  Alarms from Drew's bedside woke her hours later. She moved a blanket that someone placed on her legs, and jumped up as the room filled with commotion once again. An arm reached out and moved Izzy out of the way. Izzy prayed she was having a nightmare, but the hustle continued.

  "Clear an OR, stat," one doctor ordered.

  "What's happening," Izzy begged someone to tell her. Her presence went ignored, invisible to all medical staff. She panicked and stepped backwards until she felt the hard wall against her.

  They took Drew out of the room in the same manner they brought him into it.

  Izzy numbly walked out to the waiting room. Her family went home, and she never felt so alone. One nurse remained behind the nursing station and noticed her bewilderment.

  "They went home hours ago," she said then glanced down at the phone. "You can call them if you'd like."

  "Can you tell me what happened?"

  "I'll find out for you, honey."

  Izzy's fingers attempted to dial Gemma's number. It took a while for her sister to answer. "Something's wrong," she cried when Gemma picked up. "They took him again."

  She didn't remember anything after that. Izzy sat in a chair with her knees up to her chest. She cried nonstop. Gemma and Jake barged through the doors and enveloped her in their arms.

  "Shhh," Gemma tried to calm Izzy down. "He's going to be okay. I just know it."

  Izzy's heart exploded.

  A little while later, the nurse, who remained at the desk, sat next to Izzy. "His lung collapsed. The alarms alerted the doctors that he couldn't breathe. They took him into surgery." She stood and headed back to the desk.

  Gemma and Jake sat down. The waiting game continued.

  Chapter 12

  THE NEXT FEW DAYS WERE a blur. After his second surgery, they brought Drew back to the ICU. Izzy and her family bombarded the doctor.

  "Why is he on another machine?"

  "Can't he breathe?"

  "How long will it be on him?"

  "Is he in pain?"

  The doctor stuck his hand out, palms towards the group. "Calm down. One at a time."

  Izzy rubbed her eyes in frustration. They threw many questions at the staff during the whole ordeal, but seldom received the answers. She took a deep breath, counted to three in her head, then continued with the questions. "Okay," she whispered. "What's with the ventilator?"

  "It's best for him right now. Drew just had major surgery on his lungs and his body went through a lot of trauma. The vent will breathe for him while he heals. Nothing to be alarmed about."

  Gemma and Jake looked at Izzy as she continued to drill the surgeon. "How long will that take?"

  The doctor shook his head. There wasn't a definite answer for the group. "We'll monitor him around the clock. When we feel he's improving, we'll wean him off the machine."

  "When will he wake up?" Izzy knew he wouldn't be able to tell.

  "He's in a medically induced coma, which allows Drew to rest while his body recovers." The doctor glanced down at his watch and grew impatient with Izzy. "May I suggest rest for you three as well?" He tapped Izzy on the shoulder and walked away.

  IZZY'S BODY COLLAPSED into a chair. Her lack of sleep and food turned her into mush. Her eyes wanted to close, but Izzy fought the temptation.

  "Let's go get something to eat, Izzy," Gemma said as she reached for her sister's hand and pulled her off the chair. "You could use a shower too."

  "I can't leave," she retorted.

  Jake wrapped his hand around her other arm and helped his wife pick Izzy up. "You're not going to do him any good by starving yourself. Besides," Jake wrinkled his nose and laughed. "If I woke up next to someone who smelled the way you do, I'd go right back to sleep."

  Izzy knew she couldn't fight her family off. The gurgle of her stomach echoed through the room as if right on cue. "Fine, but let's make this quick." She left her number with a nurse behind the desk and reluctantly followed Gemma and Jake out to their car.

  They drove Izzy to her office where she left her car. She shook her head when looking at it, not knowing what day it was or how long she'd been out of work. Like instructed, she went home and took a quick shower than met them at a diner close to the hospital. Izzy couldn't stand the thought of being away too long.

  The hot water and soap she scrubbed herself with felt great, but nothing compared to the greasy cheeseburger Izzy shoved into her mouth.

  "Slow down, Izzy," Gemma scolded. "We don't need you to choke."

  Izzy couldn't help but devour the burger. She didn't know when she ate last. As soon as the beef hit her stomach, Izzy's eyes grew heavy again. Deciding to leave the fr
ies and pickle behind, she left her family at the diner and returned to Drew's side.

  She held onto Drew's hand to let him know she was there. His eyes opened for a microsecond but then closed again. Izzy's hopes rose. The doctor told her it was a good sign of recovery but didn't mean he was ready to wake. She could expect to see that happen over the course of the next few days.

  Izzy's head rested on the side of Drew's bed. She tried to stay awake, hoping to see his eyes again, but she couldn't fight it any longer. Though she sat in an awkward position, Izzy fell asleep.

  FOR THE NEXT TWO NIGHTS, Izzy slept by Drew's side. The staff assured her they would call when he woke up, but Izzy insisted on staying.

  "Good morning," she heard someone say on the third day.

  "Morning," she moaned. Izzy assumed another nurse or aid had entered the room to take Drew's vitals. It had been that way, two- hour checks, since he returned from his surgery. Her eyes didn't open.

  A hand reached up and rubbed the back of her head. Izzy jerked her head up to find Drew smiling at her. She rubbed her eyes and prayed she wasn't dreaming.

  "Izzy," he whispered.

  Izzy wanted to call out for the doctor, Drew woke up for sure, but she couldn't find the words. Tears of happiness ran down her face. "Drew," she said as she took a deep breath of relief.

  He placed his finger over his lips, telling her to be quiet and listen. "When I was a teenager, I had a job working for the O'Brien family. Do you remember them?" Izzy urged him to save his energy and not talk, but he wanted her to answer.

  She shook her head and tried to recall the name. Izzy studied Drew's face as she recognized the name of the family who once owned 320 Sycamore.

  Drew talked slowly, but continued. "Every day I used to watch as you passed the house. I saw the admiration in your eyes, you couldn't help but gaze at it every time you passed. So, I made a vow back then, that someday I would buy that house for you. When I came back to town to find you, I saw the sign, and that's why I asked you to be my agent. Except you never told me that house was for sale, and I couldn't push it and give myself away. I want you back, Isabella. You are the only true love I ever had. I bought 320 Sycamore for us."

  Izzy couldn't control her sobbing. "You came back to find me?"

  "Your sister told me you were living in West Seneca again," Drew told her. "That's why I moved back, to be with you. I prayed you'd accept me, and when I saw the house for sale, I knew it was meant to be."

  Her vision blurred as tears built up in her eyes. All that time he had a plan. For her. "They accepted your offer."

  Drew smiled as he pulled her close to him. "Of course, they did, I offered them much more than they asked."

  Izzy wiped her eyes and leaned into him. Her lips met his as her heart burst in joy.

  "I love you, Isabella."

  "I love you too, Andrew." Izzy burst out laughing. Nobody ever called him by his full name, not even herself. Drew chuckled the best he could, his body still needed to heal.

  "Will you marry me?"

  "Try to stop me!"

  Chapter 13

  ONE YEAR LATER, IZZY and Drew offered to host the family reunion in the backyard of their dream home. The day was more special to them than to the rest of the family. Their wedding day.

  Drew's recovery took a long time, and part of him still struggled. Izzy hired movers when they moved into the house, so Drew wouldn't over assert himself. She did the unpacking and decorating while Drew recovered. Izzy wouldn't have it any other way.

  The big day arrived. "I do," Izzy proudly said before Drew kissed her in front of their entire family.

  Aunt Laura waited to greet the newlyweds. Her hands immediately reached for Izzy's stomach. "Are you having a boy or a girl?"

  "Both," Drew laughed.

  "Not at once," Izzy assured her aunt and tapped Drew's arm. "There's only one in here, and we want to be surprised."

  Drew and Aunt Laura both rubbed Izzy's baby bump, as Izzy looked across the yard. Gemma smiled from the other side. "I owe this all to you," she mouthed to her sister.

  Drew took Izzy's hand and walked her to the center of the yard where all could see. "I adore you, Isabella Walker, and always will."

  He pulled her close to him and kissed her, a kiss full of passion and admiration. Their family and friends cheered them on. Izzy reached her arms around his neck and matched his kiss with her own. The crowd around her faded away.

  Some people never get a second chance at love, but Izzy and Drew received more than just one second chance. They held each other tight until the sound of the crowd snapped them back.

  "Alright girls," Izzy shouted as she turned her back toward them. "Catch this." Her bouquet flew behind her. Izzy turned her head to catch a peak at the lucky maiden to catch it. She glanced at Drew when the bouquet landed in Clara Morris's hands. The pair laughed.

  "Well my darling, looks like everything turned out perfect." Drew whispered in her ear. "What do you say we let the family enjoy the day, and you and I escape to Hawaii?"

  Izzy looped her arm into his and gleamed. "Let's go."

  Hidden

  Chapter 1

  A TEAR RAN DOWN CASSANDRA’S cheek as her mother knelt to kiss her. "Run, Cassandra, run." The last images of her mother ran clearly through Cassandra Frame's mind. "Run," she pleaded again. Cassandra stood still, shook her head and squeezed her mother's hand. "I'll always love you," her mother whispered. Cassandra took off as fast as her tiny feet could run.

  A gunshot stopped Cassandra in her tracks. "Mommy," she screamed, and made a beeline to return to her mother's side. A man stepped out of the shadows and pulled her away from the light. "Mommy," she cried again.

  The man squatted down beside her and covered her mouth. She didn't feel he was dangerous, somehow, she knew he was there to help her. "Stay back here and be quiet," he warned. Cassandra shook her head and attempted to pass him. He held her back and wiped a tear from her eye with his thumb. Cassandra looked in to his electric blue eyes and they seemed to soothe her. She took a deep breath and nodded in agreement. "I'll be back," he said. "I promise."

  The memory of her mother's death caused Cassandra's eyes to pop open and she realized the danger that surrounded her. A blinding beam of light shone through a broken window and her eyes flinched. She looked around and tried to figure out where she was. The room was small and dirty, tiny particles of dust danced around in the sunray, and a musky scent filled the air.

  Cassandra attempted to sit up, but found her wrists and ankles tied. The more she tried to move them, the more the rope dug into her skin. A wad of clothe was shoved into her mouth, as much as Cassandra tried to push it out with her tongue, the rag wouldn't budge. She squirmed and almost fell off the dingy bedding she laid on. Her vision blurred, and her head weighed more than she ever remembered. Cassandra blinked to clear her eyes. A stranger stepped toward her from the darkened corner of the room, and she wondered why she didn't notice him before.

  She tried to scream, but her cries were muffled by the rag. The stranger approached as Cassandra wiggled her way back against the wall. "I'm going to take this out of your mouth," he told her. "If you scream, I'll shove another needle in your ass." His words confirmed what Cassandra thought, she'd been drugged.

  He leaned close to Cassandra as he reached for the knot behind her head and she couldn't help but look in his pools of blue. She blinked again; they couldn't be as blue as the eyes in her dream. His breath burned into her skin as he fumbled with the knot. As she looked at him, something called out to her. There was something other than his eyes that mesmerized her. As the man's brawny body inched closer to her, she noticed his squared jaw and dark brown crew cut. Cassandra looked in his eyes and felt her soul being pierced. She tore her gaze away from his eyes and ignored the rising temperature of her body as he leaned back and pulled the rag with him.

  Her tongue felt like sandpaper scraping her lips. "Water?" She begged. Cassandra's throat and dry mouth burned as she spoke
.

  The stranger walked to the other side of the room and came back with a bottle and placed it in her hands. Cassandra attempted to bring it to her mouth, but her tied hands shook and water spilled out onto her chest. Finally, she placed the opening in her mouth and she took a sip. Her throat closed, and the liquid fell down her chin. The stranger watched but didn't help. She tried again. Water moistened her lips but stung like a bitch as she swallowed.

  "Who are you?" Cassandra asked after drinking half the bottle. The stranger untied her wrists and ankles but didn't reply. She considered running for help, but every attempt to move failed. Her jelly-like body fell back on the bed as the room spun around her.

  The mattress smelled of urine, but Cassandra was too tired to care. She curled into a ball and went back to sleep. "There wasn't a man there," she heard her therapist yell at her.

  Cassandra woke but kept her eyes closed as she thought about all the therapy sessions she attended throughout her lifetime. The doctor, and her father, told her many times that the man she thought she saw the night her mother died did not exist. Cassandra knew he did and he had eyes that matched her abductor's.

  When she opened her eyes, the room was dark except for a small lamp coming from the other side. Cassandra looked around and prayed she'd find a way to escape. The stranger slept slouched on a chair, she listened closely to his shallow breathing and when she heard him begin to snore, she knew she needed to make a move. She sat up on the makeshift bed and inched toward the edge. Cassandra slid her feet over the side to stand up but woke the stranger in the process.