Something Discovered Read online

  Something Discovered

  Funerals and Weddings ~ Book Two

  Bernadette Marie

  Copyright © 2021 by Bernadette Marie, SOMETHING DISCOVERED

  All rights reserved. Smashwords Edition

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  This is a fictional work. The names, characters, incidents, and locations are solely the concepts and products of the author’s imagination, or are used to create a fictitious story and should not be construed as real. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  Published by 5 PRINCE PUBLISHING & BOOKS, LLC

  PO Box 865, Arvada, CO 80001

  www.5PrinceBooks.com

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  ISBN digital: 978-1-63112-266-8

  ISBN print: 978-1-63112-267-5

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  Cover Credit: Marianne Nowicki

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Bernadette Marie

  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

  Epilogue

  Something Found

  Something Found

  Please Review

  Meet The Author

  To Stan,

  Who could have imagined I would discover the keys to my future when you walked past me on that fateful August afternoon? I love you.

  Acknowledgments

  T, N, G, S, J: Because of each of you, I have discovered true happiness.

  Mom and Sissy: It has been an adventure discovering what we are capable of. We rock!

  Cate: I discover something new every time you edit me. You continue to be an amazing educator.

  To my Book Hive and Betas: Thank you for always accepting the task put before you.

  To my Readers: Thank you for your outpouring of love and support. I love writing for you.

  Also by Bernadette Marie

  THE KELLER FAMILY SERIES

  The Executive’s Decision

  A Second Chance

  Opposite Attraction

  Center Stage

  Lost and Found

  Love Songs

  Home Run

  The Acceptance

  The Merger

  The Escape Clause

  A Romance for Christmas

  * * *

  THE WALKER FAMILY SERIES

  Walker Pride

  Stargazing

  Walker Bride

  Wanderlust

  Walker Revenge

  Victory

  Walker Spirit

  Beginnings

  Walker Defense

  Masterpiece

  At Last

  * * *

  THE MATCHMAKER SERIES

  Matchmakers

  Encore

  Finding Hope

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  THE THREE MRS. MONROES TRILOGY

  Amelia

  Penelope

  Vivian

  * * *

  THE ASPEN CREEK SERIES

  First Kiss

  Unexpected Admirer

  On Thin Ice

  Indomitable Spirit

  * * *

  THE DENVER BRIDE SERIES

  Cart Before the Horse

  Never Saw it Coming

  Candy Kisses

  * * *

  ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

  Chasing Shadows

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  PARANORMAL ROMANCES

  The Tea Shop

  The Last Goodbye

  * * *

  HOLIDAY FAVORITES

  Corporate Christmas

  Tropical Christmas

  * * *

  THE DEVEREAUX FAMILY SERIES

  Kennedy Devereaux

  Chase Devereaux

  Max Devereaux

  Paige Devereaux

  * * *

  FUNERALS AND WEDDINGS SERIES

  Something Lost

  Something Discovered

  Something Found

  Something Forbidden

  Something New

  Chapter 1

  One of the perks of moving back to Colorado, Alex thought as he pulled his gym bag from his backseat, was being near the team. Who could have imagined when he’d flown out in February to attend their coach’s funeral that he’d be back home for good, and that Sunday mornings would be for playing basketball with the boys again?

  “Yo, Al,” he heard his sister’s voice from across the parking lot.

  He watched as Sarah retrieved her bag and a ball and headed toward him. The additional perk was that he got to spend more time with his sister, too.

  “I can’t believe you still wear those sweatpants,” he teased as she neared him wearing a ratty pair of University of Wyoming sweats.

  “You know I never throw out treasures. Just think if I did, I’d have stopped talking to you years ago.” She nudged him with her elbow.

  “I can’t decide if that’s a compliment or a jab.”

  “Oh, hell, bro, I like you. Now, c’mon. I have a lot of caffeine in my veins and you and your friends need an ass-whooping.”

  And usually it was an ass-whooping they got if they were on a team opposite his sister. Though he and his old teammates had been hailed as some glory team in their time, none of them held a candle to Sarah.

  Five years his junior, she’d grown up as his practice partner. Many late nights had been had in the driveway throwing free throws and layups. Perhaps she owed her skill to him.

  They walked through the front door of the YMCA and toward the gym, where he could already hear his friends razzing one another.

  Their voices carried down the hall, and it brought a smile to Alex’s mouth.

  He’d been gone since he’d graduated from college. Luck had given him a job in Philly, which eventually moved him to Jersey before he landed in Boston. Seeing the guys, who were brothers to him, was rare until last February when Alex had returned to Colorado for Coach’s funeral. The five of them picked right back up where they’d left off.

  As he turned the corner to the gym, he smiled. Craig was now married to Coach’s daughter, and they were expecting a baby. Ray was a divorcée with two kids and it was his week with his kids, Alex noticed, when he saw Connor and Charlotte running through the gym bouncing a ball.

  Toby tied up his fancy high tops, which Alex thought was out of character for the millionaire C.E.O. Other than his house and his car, nothing said the man was worth a lot. He was humble to the core.

  Bru
ce, who lived in Alex’s basement, in the house he’d bought from Craig when he’d decided to relocate back to Colorado, saw them walk through the door. And, as was the norm, he bee-lined for Sarah, bear hugging her and planting a noisy kiss on her cheek, before winking at Alex because he knew it drove him crazy.

  Yes, this was his crew. He’d been back permanently for three months, and he’d fallen into a groove—they all had. As if the past decade since they’d graduated had never existed, they’d all melded right back into the team, and Alex was grateful to have them.

  Toby looked up at Alex as he set his bag on the bench. “How’s your mom doing?” he asked sincerely.

  Alex smiled. “Great. After she recovered from her surgery, there’s been no stopping her.”

  “That’s good to hear.” Toby stood up and swapped places with Bruce who sat down next to him.

  “Do you bring your sister every week just to torment me?” he asked as he slipped his feet into his high tops.

  “You know if you ever made a move on her she’d flatten you.”

  Bruce wiggled his brows. “She’s in love with me. Always has been.”

  “In your dreams.”

  “She keeps me happy in my dreams.” Bruce laughed and Alex shook his head. If Bruce ever laid a hand on his sister, he’d kill him. But for today, he’d take the ribbing.

  Alex took his time putting on his shoes and just listening to his friends. When he’d finally looked up again, he saw Craig’s wife Rachel walk through the door, and in tow was her best friend Catherine.

  She caught Alex’s casual glance, but whatever flashed in her eyes, it didn’t give him warm fuzzies.

  Catherine Anderson had always been a mystery to him. She was extremely protective of Rachel. That was understandable. Rachel had been surrounded by horny teenagers her entire life, since her father was a college basketball coach, and he had the team over often. Catherine had never much been one of Alex’s fans, and he probably deserved that dishonor.

  When Craig was out of the scene, after they’d graduated from college, Alex had moved in on Rachel. Though he’d been hopeful, it hadn’t ended with him and Rachel in any kind of romantic partnership.

  But in the last year, since Rachel’s dad died and she’d fallen back in love with and married Craig, Catherine was around more, and they’d had their friendly exchanges. Hell, she’d even accepted his invite to his party over the Fourth of July.

  Her eyes darted away, and he realized now he’d been staring. Well, no wonder the woman was creeped out by him. It was too bad too, he thought as he joined the others in the center of the court. Catherine had been on his mind a lot lately, and he’d like to try and mend that friction between them.

  The teams were divided and Alex lined up for the tipoff.

  Just as he jumped for the ball, his fingertips grazing it and sending it forward, he realized Catherine had stood from her seat to remove her coat and the ball flew right into her face.

  Chapter 2

  Everything flashed red and then went to black. Catherine felt the impact of the ball, blinked once, and staggered backward.

  A set of arms came around her before she fell back into the bleachers, and eased her to her seat.

  She could taste blood, and then she could feel it run over her lips.

  “Take this,” Rachel’s voice said as a towel was thrust into her hand.

  She held it to her face.

  “Ease your head back a bit,” another voice said, and she recognized it at Alex’s. His voice was in her ear, and she knew it was his arms that had caught her.

  As she tried to take in a breath, she realized it was hard to do because everyone surrounded her. When she fully opened her eyes, there were six sets watching her, and she could hear Ray talking to his kids on the other side of the gym, telling them to sit down, stay out of the way, and be quiet for the moment.

  “I’m fine,” Catherine managed through gritted teeth. “Everyone back up.”

  She sat up, still holding the towel to her face.

  Everyone moved but Alex. “I’m so sorry. I’ll go get you some ice. Do you need to go to the hospital?”

  She assessed the situation for a moment. “I’m fine. This will stop shortly. But yes, I’d like some ice.”

  He nodded. “I’ll be right back.”

  She didn’t know if she’d need the ice or not, but at least it got him out of her way so she could decide just how bad she’d been hurt.

  It wasn’t the first time she’d been hit in the face with a ball. Hell, she was a softball player, a catcher. She’d taken plenty of balls to the face. This stung, and made her bleed, but it didn’t mean she’d suffer over it.

  Pulling the towel from her face, she realized her nose still bled. Tipping her head back slightly, she pressed the towel back to her face.

  Alex rushed back into the gym with an icepack wrapped in brown paper towel. “Here.”

  “Hold on to it for a moment,” she said, closing her eyes to keep calm.

  He sat down next to her. “Shit, I owe you big now.”

  “No kidding.”

  “I’ll buy you dinner,” he promised.

  “If I have two black eyes, I’m not going to want to go out in public.” Then the thought occurred to her, two black eyes were not going to be an option. “I have a job interview tomorrow.”

  “Shit. Shit!” Alex bit out the words. “Cath, I’m so sorry.”

  She hated that shortening of her name—usually, except when Rachel said it. Why when he said it, especially in that moment, did she find it endearing?

  Maybe it was because in that moment, it seemed as if Alex were more vulnerable than she was, even with a bloody towel pressed to her face.

  “You all just go play your game. I’m going to be fine. I’ve had this happen before,” she encouraged them.

  Slowly they all walked back onto the court, but again, except Alex.

  His dark eyes were filled with worry, and didn’t the humble side of him pique her interest?

  “Can I get you anything else?” he asked.

  “I’m going to take you up on that dinner. I sure as hell am not going to want to cook tonight. But you’ll have to bring it to my house.”

  “It’s a date,” he said and a worried little smile crossed his lips as he headed back out to the court.

  Rachel scooted closer to her as Catherine pulled the towel away from her face, checked for fresh blood, then she put the ice pack on the bridge of her nose.

  Rachel studied her. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Freak accident. I’m fine.”

  “You’re going to let him into your house?”

  “He let me into his.”

  “Yeah, but you seriously just invited him over.”

  Catherine narrowed her gaze at Rachel over the ice pack. “If I have to go into a job interview tomorrow with black eyes, then I’m damn well going to get dinner out of it.”

  “With Alex?”

  “With Alex,” she said firmly, though even she felt the sting of it.

  The game began again, but Catherine could see that it wasn’t going to be the same hour of fun she’d witnessed in weeks past. Alex’s attention was directed toward her.

  * * *

  When the ice pack was no longer cold, she removed it from her face. She could feel the stiffness around her nose. As soon as she got home, she’d assess the situation. When the hour the group had reserved the court for was almost up, Catherine rolled up the towel and slipped it into her bag with the ice pack.

  They called the game, and Sarah, Bruce, and Ray had won for the week.

  Catherine watched as Craig moved to his wife and helped Rachel to her feet. He rested his hand on her swollen belly, and kissed her sweetly. Catherine had to admit, she was still getting used to seeing them together again, even after seven months. There was a part of her that couldn’t believe Rachel had gotten involved with Craig again, but Rachel had always been more resilient than Catherine had. Heartache, depressio
n, and near death experiences were all in a day’s work for Rachel. Not that she didn’t take those things seriously, she sought professional help. But Catherine would always feel the need to protect her.

  “Are you going to be okay?” Rachel asked Catherine one more time.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Okay, we’re headed to my mom’s for lunch. Are you sure you don’t want to join us?”

  Catherine shook her head. “Especially now,” she laughed. “Have a good day. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  Rachel hugged her, and then with Craig’s arm around Rachel’s waist, she waved goodbye and headed out of the gym.

  Catherine picked up her bag and waved as Sarah headed toward the gym to get in her workout. It humored her. Playing basketball and working out were the last things on Catherine’s mind.

  “I don’t know whose towel I bled all over,” Catherine said to the four men still in the gym taking off their shoes.