Intercepting Love Read online

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  Intercepting Love

  A Second Chances Standalone Novel

  Copyright © 2014 by L.P. Dover

  Cover design by Regina Wamba of Mae I Design

  Edited by Melissa Ringsted

  Formatting by JT Formatting

  All rights reserved.

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, 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 both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products, bands, and/or restaurants referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Epilogue

  A Note from the Author

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

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  “So how does it feel to be done with school for the summer?” Evan asked.

  With my phone propped up on my shoulder, I shoved the last of my belongings into the back of my Jeep and smiled. “It feels amazing, but I’m having a hard time believing that I’m actually done … well, at least for the time being. It went by so fast,” I replied.

  It was like one minute I was a freshman struggling to make ends meet, and now I was about to do my hospital rotations, making my way to graduating with a medical degree. My rotations, however, weren’t going to be in Raleigh—where I’d spent the last few years at Chapel Hill—they were going to be back at home in one of our local hospitals in Charlotte. Luckily, I already had a job lined up to be one of the private physicians for my hometown NFL team, the Carolina Cougars. I had my brother to thank for it since he was their star wide receiver and it was his idea that I apply for the job. I couldn’t wait to get my medical degree and get started. I’d be able to travel with the team and see new places, all while doing what I loved. It was a dream come true.

  “Yes, it did fly by,” my brother agreed. “Hopefully, I have a few good years left on the team before I have to retire. Oh yeah, just to give you a heads up, I already warned the guys to keep their hands and eyes to themselves when you start coming around. The last thing I want is for one of them to break your heart.”

  Chuckling, I started up my Jeep and pulled out of my apartment parking lot. “Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. I’m taken, remember?” I hesitated for a second before adding, “Or … at least, I think I am.”

  “How long do you think it’s going to last, Kate?” he asked. “Your boyfriend does know that you’ll be travelling everywhere with the team, right? You two will never see each other. I’m sorry, but I don’t see it working out for very long.”

  “I know that, Evan,” I murmured sadly. “I think Scott knows it, too, but we’ll take it one step at a time. I’m on my way to see him now to drop off some things he left at my apartment. I’ll see you at Mom and Dad’s house for dinner tonight, okay?”

  I knew he could hear the trepidation in my voice because the phone went silent. My brother was younger than me by only eighteen months, but ever since we were little he had always been more of a big brother to me. I had a strange feeling I was going to see that side of him a lot when I started working with the football players.

  “All right,” Evan muttered, finally breaking the silence. “Just be careful on your way home.”

  “Will do.” I hung up the phone, setting it in the center console of my car.

  The closer I got to Scott’s house, the more the pain in my chest grew; I knew nothing was going to help the ache go away. I’d always known that leaving was going to be an issue, and when I tried to talk to Scott about it over the past couple of months he would always change the subject. Being the coward that I was I never pressed the issue; I let it slide knowing I had more time to address it. That time swiftly approached and here I was on my way to say good-bye.

  Even though Scott never wanted to talk about it, I could see it in his eyes that he wasn’t happy. Maybe I wasn’t good at relationships. I had no clue how to make things better between us or how to make him smile again. Something was wrong with him, but I had no clue what it was.

  I’d met Scott during my first year of college, and we went out on a few dates every now and again. He was always busy with baseball and I was busy studying, so we never got too serious. At least, not until he became my patient after a torn rotator cuff put him out of commission for a while. It was then we were able to actually spend time together, and it wasn’t long after that when I fell in love with him. I had to believe things would work out between us, even with the distance.

  Pulling into Scott’s driveway, I parked my car and blew out a nervous breath. He lived in a moderately sized, brick ranch style house in a nice little neighborhood not far from campus. I basically lived with him and only ventured to my apartment when I needed something of my own. Squeezing my eyes shut, I desperately tried to hold back my tears, but I couldn’t. Come on, Kate, pull yourself together. Scott and I love each other and that’s all that matters.

  The box sitting in my passenger seat had a few of his shirts, a pair of his sneakers, and his laptop. I was tempted to keep it all just so it wouldn’t feel like we were breaking up. Opening the car door, I threw my blonde hair into a ponytail—so that it wouldn’t stick to my shoulders from the summer heat—and grabbed the box beside of me. Box in hand, I waltzed up to the front door and pressed the doorbell.

  The sound echoed through his house and as I waited for him to get
to the door, my heart literally felt like it was being ripped out of my chest. I didn’t want to leave him.

  After about three minutes of silence, I rang the doorbell again and knocked as loud as I could. “Where are you, Scott?” I mumbled to myself. Surely, he’ll want to see me before I go, right?

  Setting the box down, I marched over to my Jeep and grabbed my phone from inside. I dialed Scott’s number and could hear it ringing inside his house, but no one picked up.

  “You better not be ignoring me,” I grumbled.

  Even if he was pissed at me for leaving he would never intentionally ignore me; he wasn’t the type of person to do that. Blowing out an angry breath, I placed my hands on my hips and stalked over to his garage. I knew I shouldn’t do what I was about to do, but I had to see him. No one was around to see me punch in the five digit code to Scott’s garage and sneak inside. His shiny, black Ford Mustang was in its usual place, and normally my Jeep would be beside his … but not today.

  Taking a deep breath, I slowly walked past his car and opened the door that led into his kitchen, nervously biting my lip the entire time. “Scott,” I called out hesitantly. “Look, I’m sorry for barging in, but I didn’t want to leave without saying good-bye. Will you please talk to me? I know things haven’t been the best between us, but I want to see you. I don’t want to leave without knowing we’re okay.”

  I waited for him to speak, but there was no answer … only silence, except for the sound of the television coming from the living room. “Scott,” I called again, standing awkwardly in the kitchen. “Please, talk to me.”

  When no reply came, I decided to seek him out. If he was that angry with me for leaving then he needed to say it to my face so we could work things out. He had always told me how he felt, but for the past couple of months he’d kept his feelings and his anger bottled up. I didn’t know how to get him to talk to me, so I buried myself in my school work and figured it would all work out in the end. I had a feeling it wasn’t going to.

  The living room was vacant when I peeked around the corner, so I slowly made my way down the hall, looking into each room as I passed. Nothing. All that was left was his bedroom, and immediately I faltered, freezing in the middle of the hallway. Dread crept up my spine and my skin broke out in chills. It almost reminded me of the feeling you get when you’re watching a scary movie and something’s about to jump out at you.

  I didn’t like closed doors, especially, when you didn’t know what you’d find behind them. Licking my dry lips, I wrapped my hand around the doorknob and twisted it gently, so afraid of what I was going to find on the other side of the door. Was he with another woman? Is that the reason why he didn’t want to answer the door?

  Please, God, don’t let there be someone else, I prayed.

  However, another woman in his bed wasn’t what I found. He was alone and asleep in his bed. No wonder he didn’t answer his door, I chided myself.

  “Scott,” I chuckled, “it’s time to wake up, sleepy head.” I opened up the window to my right so the sun could shine in and light up the room. When that didn’t wake him up, I went to another one and opened it up as well.

  “I wanted to say good-bye to you before I left,” I continued. “I was thinking maybe we could alternate weekend visits. How about this upcoming weekend I come back here and stay? Does that sound good?”

  When he didn’t answer, I turned around and placed my hands on my hips. “If this is your way of getting me to stay, you know it’s not going to work, Scott. I really want this to work out, but I’m going to need your help. Please talk to me.”

  I stared at him, lying in his bed, and waited on him to move or speak … or do something. Instead, he just lied there with his back to me. Swallowing hard, I took a step closer, and another. His chest wasn’t moving and there was no sound coming from him at all; everything was silent.

  “Scott,” I pleaded. “You’re scaring me.”

  My breaths came out in shallow gasps as I turned the corner of his bed and got a good look at him. Gasping, I closed my eyes and fell back against the wall, trying to mute the scream that escaped my lips by covering my mouth with my hand. Nothing was going to take away the image of Scott’s lifeless body permanently ingrained in my mind. His unseeing hazel eyes were open, staring straight at the ceiling with no shred of life. And there, lying beside of his motionless body, was a pill bottle … and it was empty.

  “Oh my God, Scott, what the hell did you do?” I screamed, my voice unfamiliar to my own ears. Frantically, I touched his face and immediately burst into tears when all I felt was cold skin … death. “Why?” I cried, searching his face angrily. “Why would you do this to me?”

  It was only just yesterday that he was alive and telling me he loved me. Why would he want to kill himself? Backing away from his cold, lifeless body, I closed my eyes and shook my head back and forth vigorously. “I don’t understand. It has to be a bad dream. Oh, please let me open my eyes and it be just a bad dream.”

  As soon as I opened my eyes, the tears blurred my vision. Unfortunately, it didn’t stop me from seeing something that would forever haunt me for the rest of my life. With shaky fingers, I picked up the piece of paper that was on his nightstand and read the words inside.

  I was too late.

  And it was all my fault.

  Two Years Later

  “Am I doing okay, Dr. Townsend?”

  Chuckling, I rolled my eyes and tilted my head back only to be met by Luke’s mischievous green gaze and sardonic smile. “I think you’re doing more than okay, but something tells me you might have known that a couple of weeks ago,” I told him slyly, getting to my feet.

  Luke Collins was my brother’s best friend, and for the past four months I’d been helping him recover with physical therapy after he broke his leg during a motocross race. From the looks of his progress I’d say he didn’t need me anymore, but he swore up and down he did.

  He was twenty-five years old—the same age as me—and sexy as hell with tousled dirty blond hair and piercing green eyes. The last thing I needed was to get involved with my brother’s best friend; especially since he was the same guy that had women falling all over him everywhere he went. Still, it didn’t stop me from admiring the view of his well-toned, tanned abs as I slowly got to my feet. His dark blue gym shorts hung low on his hips, showing off that sexy ‘v’ that women loved so much on men and all I wanted to do was run my fingers through the indentions.

  Luke had always come on strong with me, and in turn I’d pushed him away, knowing that all we would have was a relationship based on sex. We were completely different; I was reserved and responsible … he wasn’t. He was wild and full of life; the way I wished I could’ve lived. However, it wasn’t exactly my style to be promiscuous and party all of the time like him. There were moments when I wanted to give in, to let loose of my inhibitions and have fun, but I hadn’t given in to the temptation … yet.

  I was on the border of it though.

  Clearing my throat, I bit my lip and reached for my bag. “In fact, Mr. Collins, I’d say you’re more than ready to start racing again. However, I humored you and stayed on for an extra two weeks per your request.”

  Luke grinned and moved closer, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind. I tensed at first, but then melted into his touch. It had been so long since I’d felt the arms of a man around me. Was I stupid to give in to him when I knew it wouldn’t mean anything to him? Closing my eyes, my skin broke out in chills as his warm breath tickled the side of my neck and even more so when his dark chuckle echoed in my ear.

  “Oh, I know you knew, sweetheart, but I wanted to have you all to myself for a little while longer. The agony of having your hands on me and not being able to do anything about it was the best fucking torture ever. It makes me jealous to think about your hands all over those football players,” he said, his voice just above a whisper in my ear.

  I scoffed and smacked him on the arm, bumping him with my hip so I could wriggle ou
t of his hold. “You’re insane,” I teased. When his arms loosened, I turned around to face him; his lips achingly close. “I think you were in too much pain in the beginning to enjoy my touch, and for the most part, so are the players when I’m evaluating them. Besides, I’m sure you had plenty of women here to help you in your time of need.”

  “Is that really what you think of me?” he asked. “Do you think messing around with women is all I do?”

  I expected him to joke around with me like he always did, but surprisingly, he didn’t. Instead, his smile vanished and he stepped closer, minimizing the distance between us and gazing down at me with somber green eyes.

  Sighing, I shrugged my shoulders and smiled, hoping to lighten his sudden change in mood. “I don’t know, Luke. I know you’re a great guy. You’re talented, funny, a wonderful athlete, and you’re extremely good looking. I also know your ways. I’ve been to your races, and I’ve seen how you are with women … and how they are with you. You’re a ladies’ man and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just the way you are. Why do you care what I think about you anyway?”

  I had a feeling I already knew the answer, and by the skeptical look in his eyes he could see right through me.

  “Really, Kate? You honestly have no idea? Have you not listened to anything I’ve said to you the past couple of months?” When I averted my gaze, he grasped my chin and gently held me in place. “Why won’t you answer me?”

  “Fine,” I gave in, glaring up at him. “Yes, I’ve listened to you, but you were so subtle I didn’t think anything about it.”

  He scoffed incredulously, “It’s because I didn’t want to come off too strong. With some people it works, but with you …” He paused to take a deep breath. “With you it’s different.”

  Surprised by his words, I just stood there and stared. He didn’t even sound like the Luke I knew. It almost made me think he and my brother were playing a joke on me. Luke was the type of guy you took home for the night and had wild, passionate monkey sex with … nothing else. I never pictured him as a serious relationship type of guy, and if I was honest with myself, I had no clue if I even wanted that.