Everything for You (Unforgettable)

  Everything for You

  FIRST BOOK OF THE

  “UNFORGETTABLE” SERIES

  by

  NATALIE R ALLEN

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or in any medium without the written permission of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, names, incidents, places, and dialogue are either products of the author’s imagination, and are not to be construed as real, or are used fictitiously.

  Copyright © 2020

  Natalie R Allen

  All rights reserved.

  Contents

  Everything for You

  Other Titles

  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

  Other Titles

  available by Natalie R Allen

  It was Always You (Book 2 of Unforgettable series)

  Saved by Love (Book 3 of Unforgettable series)

  COMING SOON

  A Love Unexpected (Book 4 of Unforgettable series)

  Should Have Been Me (Book 5 of Unforgettable series)

  A Chance on Love (Book 6 of Unforgettable series)

  The Ludlow Saga (A love triangle)

  Ludlow (Book 1)

  Towers (Book 2)

  Rivers (Book 3)

  Lockwood (Book 4)

  Fairytale Series

  Secrets of the Beast

  For my sister, Amy. Without her cheering me on, this book would still be a phone conversation. And for my husband. His encouragement has meant the world to me.

  ◆◆◆

  Prologue

  SIMON

  I drove around the last bend to the small lake I was destined for and gripped my wheel a little tighter. Kate would be there with her family. Her older cousin, Bryce, was a friend of mine who knew I was coming, but I didn’t know if she knew. If not, it’d be quite a surprise for her, but hopefully a good one.

  What I wasn’t prepared for was the shock I felt when I saw her standing near the water. She was there, right there. She wasn’t just in my imagination anymore; she was here, to talk to, to touch, to be with. For a moment, I felt like I’d break down as I watched her. But my elation at the sight of her outweighed anything else, and I couldn’t wait a second longer. I parked my truck and eagerly stepped out.

  Kate was facing away from me, bent over to reach for a kayak, and a smile was already escaping me. I’d thought about what I might say if I ever saw her again, but none of it mattered now. I just wanted to be near her.

  I made the last few strides, expecting her to look back and see who approached, but she continued with her task.

  My mouth moved soundlessly as I racked my brain, and finally, I spoke. “Kate Cassidy.”

  Kate stood straight up and froze with her back to me. She had to know it was me, and from her stiff posture, I’d guess she’d had no idea I was coming.

  I was suddenly second-guessing myself. Had she not connected with me the way I had with her over the years? My moment of insecurity had me taking a small step back, and my chest tightened as I waited for her to do or say something.

  Kate slowly turned around, and her beauty struck me like a punch in the gut. She’d always been a cute girl, but she wasn’t the girl I’d left four year ago. The Kate who stood before me now was a woman. Her honey-colored hair was longer than it used to be, hanging near her waist. Kate had curves now, and was beyond anything I’d imagined her to be.

  Her sweet mouth was hanging open in surprise.

  I wasn’t sure if she was going to say anything, so I took a breath, smiled at her, and simply said, “Hi, Kate.”

  Chapter 1

  KATE

  Mom and Dad were singing “Happy Birthday” to me as I watched a bead of wax fall onto my cake. I made a wish and took a breath, blowing until I was out of breath. My parents clapped with a chorus of “Happy birthday, Kate!” I opened the silver locket they’d given to me and smiled at our picture inside. When I looked up to thank them, they were gone.

  I laid in bed and blinked, adjusting to reality. I touched the spot on my neck where my locket used to sit, but it’d been lost for years now.

  My alarm chimed, and I hopped right out of bed. I wasn’t usually one to linger in the mornings; I liked to get my day going. Today we would leave for our Fourth of July camping trip near Aspen, Colorado. We only made the trip once a year, and I always looked forward to the beautiful secluded lake tucked in the mountains.

  I wasn’t the only one looking forward to it. Amy was excited beyond measure with James coming with us this year. My cousin’s boyfriend was nice enough and he treated Amy well, but his brother, Trent, would be tagging along, and I didn’t care for him. Amy had set us up months ago on a blind date, and I’d found out just how full of himself he was. Aside from being conceited, he’d scoped out other women the whole time. I never gave him the time of day again, even when Amy swore up and down that he’d had a good time with me. Trent still tagged along with James when he came to hang out at our apartment, and I tolerated him there. He could be decent at times, but one never knew if it was tolerable Trent, or jackass Trent, who’d show up. And even though I made myself clear where he and I were concerned, he could never quite take a hint. Just last week he’d feigned stretching on the couch beside me so he could get his arm around me. I’d excused myself for bed and hidden in my room until they’d finally left. I didn’t know what it was, but something about the man made me cringe. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how either of those brothers had weaseled their way into our family trip. I’d been looking forward to getting away from work for a few days with just the family. The hospital could get chaotic, and my worry over a few of my patients was weighing heavily on me lately. I hoped all would be well with them while I was gone.

  Amy and I shared an apartment in Denver, near my aunt’s house, and we were supposed to meet the family there in an hour. Amy was like a sister to me, and while she had many good qualities, punctuality wasn’t one of them.

  “Amy, are you up yet?” I called. She was my opposite in a lot of ways—bold, bubbly, and a night owl rather than an early riser. I shuffled to her room and opened the door.

  Amy lifted her blonde head from her pillow. “Hey.”

  “We’d better get a move on or we’ll be more late than usual.” I winked, and she laid her head back down, groaning. I slapped her behind. “Come on, get up.”

  Amy pulled the blanket over her head.

  “Fine, I guess I’ll have to keep James company this weekend.”

  My empty threat worked—she shot right out of bed.

  Parker was pleasant company in the back seat of my uncle’s truck. Similar to Amy, he had his sister’s charm and charisma, which kept me giggling as he spoke about his current girlfriend. He stretched his legs toward me, trying to gain a few more inches of legroom. Even at nineteen, with Parker’s tall height and superhero-like build, he took up most of the back seat as it was. I scowled at his big feet now resting on top of mine and narrowed my eyes at him.

  Parker grinned handsomely. “Come on, Katie, I’m dying here.”

  I rolled my eyes and adj
usted my legs to give him more room.

  He stretched further and leaned his blond head back with a content smile. I chuckled quietly and looked out my window, watching the haze of green as the forest flew by. My uncle Borys was prattling on about how he knew a guy who was going to give him a deal on parts for his side-by-side 4-wheeler. Aunt Chantelle humored him, nodding along, but I could tell her mind was somewhere else.

  We were on the final stretch of dirt road before making the last bend to camp, and my head filled with memories of this place. When my parents had been alive, we’d gone camping here with a much larger party. Aside from my parents and me, there had been my Aunt Chantelle, Uncle Borys, my older cousin Bryce, Amy, and Parker.

  Some family friends had always joined us as well; Charles and Donna Curtis had been high school friends of our parents, and their two children, Simon and Olivia, were two of my favorite people.

  Simon Curtis. The thought of him made me ache.

  My heart sped the closer we got to camp; I did love it here, but the sentimental memories were everywhere.

  We passed a fallen aspen tree, and Simon’s eleven-year-old face flashed in my mind. It was the first time I’d felt connected to him. Even as young as I’d been, the memory was still a special one for me. I closed my eyes, thinking back…to twelve years before.

  We’d been at camp for only one day, and I was miserable. It was the Fourth of July; my parents had died nine months ago, and this was my first time back without them.

  Amy tried to get me to play with her and the other kids, but I didn’t want to. For hours I sat on the large rock my dad used to have me sit on whenever he took me fishing. I watched as the summer breeze caused the water to shiver, and remembered how much fun my mom had been when she’d swim with me. She’d told me that one day I’d be big enough to jump from the cliffs at the other end of the lake.

  I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around my legs, hugging them to me. I heard the other kids’ laughter in the distance, and it upset me. Why had this happened to me? Why did my parents have to die?

  Later that evening, I was too sad, sitting with everyone around the popping campfire. Simon was the only one without a smile on his face. He looked at me with concern, and I felt tears drip down my cheeks. I didn’t want everyone to see me crying, so I quietly got up and slipped away.

  Taking cover near a fallen aspen tree, I leaned back against the rough trunk of a pine and wrapped my arms around my legs, crying freely.

  I heard a rustling close by, and Simon came hesitantly into view. He watched me for a moment and sat down, putting an arm around my shoulder. “I’m sorry you miss your mom and dad, Katie.”

  “How did you know that’s why I am sad? Everyone else always asks me what’s wrong.”

  He had a grim smile. “I just know. I’m sorry.”

  “I’m all by myself.” I sniffed.

  “I’m here with you.”

  I looked curiously at the boy I’d known all my life. He’d always been nice to me and included me when we all played together.

  Simon frowned. “I don’t like seeing you sad.”

  It was nice that he cared. I remembered back to my birthday; I’d made a wish for a brother. Maybe, in a way, my wish could still come true. The thought made me smile a little, and I looked timidly at Simon. “Would you be my family now, like Bryce and Parker?”

  He smiled at me. “Sure, Katie.”

  Something else I’d lost, I thought solemnly.

  Simon’s smile fell. “What’s wrong?”

  I hesitated. “Would you call me Kate?”

  He looked confused, but then he smiled. “Your parents used to call you that, didn’t they?”

  I nodded as I picked up a pinecone and fiddled with it. “But that doesn’t have to be gone too,” I said in earnest.

  “Why don’t you ask your family to start calling you Kate?” he offered.

  I shook my head and looked at him. “No, just you.”

  Simon smiled a half smile, and I decided I liked that smile best. He adjusted his arm over my shoulder and patted it. “Okay, Kate.”

  After that day years ago, it had always been Simon I’d felt most connected to. He understood me and always watched out for me. I’d looked forward to camp all year, every year, knowing I’d see him again. It was the only time I ever saw him. His family lived in North Carolina, and we’d lived in Denver.

  As time went on and we got older, my feelings for him had changed into something stronger, deeper. I’d wanted to confess my feelings to him so many times, but I’d waited too long, and he’d left me. His family and mine had had some kind of fight the year I was sixteen, and they’d left that day. We’d heard nothing from Simon or his family again.

  I took a few slow breaths as we rounded the bend and the lake came into view. It was so pretty, but it didn’t quite hold the appeal it had when I’d been young—first with the loss of my parents, and then Simon.

  My aunt’s voice broke into my thoughts. “Katie, why don’t you help me get the trailer together while the boys unload?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Chapter 2

  I stretched when I stepped out of the truck, breathing deeply to smell the familiar mountain air. The lake was quaint, settled back against a small mountain which was covered with a forest of pines and aspen trees. Little patches of wildflowers dotted the forest floor, and the wild grass swayed lightly in the breeze.

  After the chaos of getting camp together, everyone wanted to go for a ride around our favorite trail we called “the loop.”

  “Here, Katie.” My uncle tossed me the wheeler key. “Back this off the trailer, will you?”

  I caught the key and walked up the ramp to the driver’s side. Thunder sounded in the distance as I reached for the handle and grimaced; I really didn’t want the rain today.

  It wasn’t until I saw Parker hop in the wheeler with Bryce that I realized I was going to get stuck on the back of Trent’s 4-wheeler. I was standing there, watching everyone else take their seats, and I bit my lip to keep from groaning out loud. I glanced discreetly as Trent was looking back and forth between the free-wheeler and me. Understanding dawned on his face, and a satisfied smile settled on his lips. There was no denying he was a handsome man with his blond hair falling just right over his forehead, the sharp curve of his jaw. Even with his head cocked to the side and him smirking at me, he was handsome, but I wasn’t so easily pulled in by him. He’d done nothing to prove himself worthy of a second date, or anything else with me.

  I stood there contemplating staying behind on my own, but I really did want to go. Maybe if I made some boundaries clear between us, he’d lay off. Although, I wasn’t sure what more I could do to make my uninterest clear.

  I took a deep breath and let it out as I shuffled forward and reluctantly climbed on behind Trent. He looked over his shoulder at me as I scooted as far back as I could while still feeling safe. Trent worked his way back until my legs were touching him. I scowled at the back of his head.

  “Go ahead and hold on to me. I know you’re dying to,” he called over his shoulder.

  He had it wrong if he thought I was going to hold myself that close to him. The last man I’d clung to on a 4-wheeler ride had been Simon, and I wasn’t about to replace the memory of him in my arms with Trent.

  “Just drive,” I replied with a hint of impatience as I gripped the bars on either side of me.

  The ride was pretty with aspen and pine trees hugging both sides of the trail. The cool air whipped past us, causing my hair to twist and twirl around me. I reached up, gathering my tangles, and tipped my head back. I looked above as a canopy of trees swallowed us in shadow. After a moment, an odd sensation settled over me, one that was becoming too familiar. The last while, I’d felt like my life was dull. The monotony between work and home was causing me to be restless. Something was missing from my life, and I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. I liked my nursing job and the people I worked with. I really didn’t have much of
a social life outside of my family, and I was usually content with that. In moments like this, though, I was yearning for something more, something to fill the emptiness. Until recently, I hadn’t had this unsettled feeling since I was sixteen. It was odd that I’d be experiencing it again.

  As we made the trail back to camp, I wondered if I shouldn’t talk with Aunt Chantelle about my recent bouts of restlessness and melancholy. She was a perceptive woman—whether that was due to being a mother or just a personality trait, I couldn’t say. Either way, she knew me well, after having me as a daughter for twelve years now, and she’d have advice for me, I was sure.

  When we returned, I drove my uncle’s truck to the main road, where I could get cell service, and made a call to work. There were a couple of patients I wanted to check on who were important to me. Samantha and Samuel were five-year-old twins, sick with an odd illness. The doctors weren’t sure what to diagnose them with, so the sweet brother and sister were basically living in the pediatric wing of the hospital. When I’d left work yesterday, they hadn’t been doing too well, and I wanted an update. Jesse, my favorite coworker and a good friend, put my mind at ease when I spoke with him. He assured me the twins were doing as well as could be expected, but he’d let me know if there was a major change.

  “You deserve this week off, Katie,” he said. “Don’t worry about things here.”

  I smiled; he was good to reassure me. “I’ll try and enjoy myself.”

  “You do that. And hey, you never know, maybe this’ll be the year…”

  I snorted into the phone and ran my hand lightly over the steering wheel. “Don’t count on it. You know I haven’t seen Simon in years. And even if he did, it wouldn’t do me any good. I’d probably keel over from the shock of it.”

  Jesse barked a laugh, and I held the phone away for my ear to recover from the loud noise. “I’m being paged, Katie. I have to go. Have a good time, and I’ll see you next week.”