Beating Heart: A Small Town, Single Dad Romance (Magnolia Falls Series Book 4)

We took the boat over to Kingston’s house, and Cutler reached for my hand when I stepped off and onto the dock there. He seemed thrilled to have me and Winnie tagging along, and I was surprised that I’d wanted to come.

But I did.

I was tired of sitting alone and sulking about a life plan that had gone amiss.

It was time to move forward.

And not just by being angry and throwing myself into work.

It was time to move forward by living my best life.

Today was supposed to be my wedding day, and for whatever reason, it no longer felt like a loss. I was exactly where I wanted to be.

“Winnie!” Demi called out when my pup charged toward her, Saylor, and Peyton.

“Dandelion is going to be so happy that you brought her,” Saylor said.

And in a blur, both dogs were running in circles and wrestling around on the grass. Cutler took off after them, and we all laughed at how quickly they seemed to be fast friends.

“Winnie’s never going to want to go back to city living after spending six months here,” Ruby said, giving me this knowing look as she continued. “Trust me. I never thought I’d stay, but this place has a way of growing on you.”

I’m already realizing that.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Demi said, as we made our way to sit on the Adirondack chairs on the patio.

“Cutler, we’re taking out the jet skis,” Nash called after him, and then his eyes found mine. “Are you fine here?”

“Look at you, being all attentive and thoughtful,” Kingston said as he waggled his brows.

Nash flashed him the bird, and everyone chuckled.

“I’m fine. Thank you.”

He dropped his backpack next to my chair, and they all took off and piled onto the jet skis and paddle boards that Kingston had on his dock. I watched as Nash put a life jacket on Cutler and then took his hand and helped him onto the jet ski where he sat in front of his father.

“Are you telling me that you don’t find it sexy, seeing the way that man fathers little Beefcake?” Peyton said.

I smiled and shook my head. “I don’t think there’s a woman on the planet with a pulse that doesn’t find that man sexy.”

“Oh. We’re admitting it now. I like it,” Ruby said, as Saylor handed us each a bottle of water from the cooler before sitting back down.

“Just speaking the truth,” I said. “I’ve never denied that he’s gorgeous.”

“I heard you stayed home sick yesterday?” Demi asked. “No one misses a beat in Magnolia Falls. Oscar Daily let me know you hadn’t gone to work first thing in the morning when he stopped in for his coffee.” We all shared a laugh because the man didn’t have young kids, but he somehow seemed to know everything going on with everyone in town.

I sighed and filled them in on the entire fiasco that was my day yesterday.

“So, today would have been your wedding day?” Saylor had so much empathy in her gaze when she asked the question, it made my chest squeeze.

“Yeah. But I’m happy that I’m sitting here with all of you instead of walking down the aisle. And, in a weird way, after jumping into the water in my wedding gown yesterday, I feel like I’ve got closure with everything.” I chuckled.

“It’s okay if you’re feeling sad today. You can talk to us,” Demi said, as Winnie and Dandelion came over and settled on the patio together, lying down and sprawling out in front of us.

“I’m actually feeling really good. It’s not the wedding or even Collin that I struggle with at this point. In the end, it’s Farah that I’m most hurt by, which doesn’t make a lot of sense. I was planning to spend my whole life with Collin, yet I feel sort of relieved that it all blew up. But getting her call yesterday… that hit me hard.”

“Do you want my opinion?” Ruby asked, and everyone leaned forward, resting their elbows on their knees like they couldn’t wait to hear what she was going to say.

“Sure. I’d love to wrap my head around this.”

“Well, from what you’ve shared, it’s the betrayal that hurt more than the fact that you lost the love of your life, which tells me that he wasn’t really that person for you. But either way, having a man that you thought you would spend the rest of your life with betray you with your lifelong best friend—yeah, that’ll leave a mark. Of course, it hurts.” She took a sip of water, and her gaze locked with mine, as if she were asking if I wanted more.

I nodded. “That makes sense.”

“Do you want my theory on this?” she asked.

“Oh, I love it when Ruby gives us her theories. She’s always spot on,” Peyton said, and they all nodded in agreement.

“Sure. Lay it on me.”

“I think you dated Collin for most of your adult life. He was your only boyfriend, so you had nothing to compare him to. You made plans when you guys were young, and you held up your end of the bargain. Sort of like the mentality, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” She shrugged, and I nodded, following her easily. It all made sense. “You were busy becoming a doctor and working hard, and you settled because he didn’t give you a reason not to.”

“Until he became a complete dickhead and banged your bestie.” Peyton raised a brow. “Hello! Wake-up call. They actually did you a favor, even though it probably didn’t feel that way at first.”

I laughed because there was some truth to her words, but the way they went about it definitely didn’t feel like a favor. “I’m sure they could have handled it better, but I get what you’re saying.”

“You dodged a bullet,” Saylor said.

“Agreed.” Demi squeezed my hand. “And we scored by getting the best doctor in town.”

“Have you started applying to other hospitals yet? I know you said you aren’t planning on staying, but I’m still hoping this town grows on you.” Saylor pushed to her feet and smiled.

“I did hear back from a few hospitals, and I have some interviews set up over the next couple of weeks. But Boston Children’s is my top choice. It’s where I wanted to do my residency, but Collin didn’t want to leave San Francisco because his job was there, and our families were not far, being in Rosewood River.” I shook my head because that decision had all been based around this future that I was so hellbent on having at the time. But, at the end of the day, I allowed that to steer me, and that was on me. I wouldn’t make that mistake again. Moving forward, all decisions will be my own. “Anyway, they called, and I have an interview with them in a few weeks.”

They all squealed and clapped and shared their enthusiasm with me before Saylor went inside to bring the veggie and fruit platters outside for us to munch on.

Something caught my attention in my peripheral, and I don’t know how I knew, but the way Nash shouted my name—I just knew. I was already moving and reaching for the inhaler in his backpack as I sprinted toward the dock.

He pulled up on the jet ski and lifted Cutler off just as I arrived. He was gasping and struggling for air, and I dropped to the ground as Nash set him on my lap and I shook the inhaler.

“This is going to help. We’re going to take four puffs, okay?” I kept my voice calm as his back melded against my chest. I held the device to his lips, and we counted out as he breathed in the medication.

Nash hovered above us, knees bent and eyes panicked.

Water dripped from his body, splashing against my arm, but I kept my focus on Cutler.

With each puff, I felt his breathing slow slightly, but it meant that it was working. Cutler’s little hand wrapped around my forearm as if he wanted to hold me there.

“I’m not going anywhere, I promise. You’re okay. That’s what the medication is for.” My heart raced, but my voice continued to stay calm.

It was important.

Nash’s gray gaze found mine.

He’s okay. This is normal with asthma. You did everything right by bringing him right back here.

I didn’t say the words, but I knew he understood them because he nodded slightly.

I hadn’t even realized everyone had gathered around now, as I’d tuned everything out but Cutler and Nash.

River, Kingston, Romeo, and Hayes were all surrounding Nash, and I glanced over my shoulder to see Ruby, Saylor, Peyton, and Demi all standing there, watching with concern.

I stroked Cutler’s damp hair away from his face as his breathing began to slow.

“He’s okay,” I said, and I could feel the silent relief coming off their bodies. Cutler surprised me when he turned slightly and nestled his head beneath my chin. I wrapped my arms around him. “You’re all right. I promise you are.”

Nash was just watching me. Watching his son. Concern was still laced in that soulful gaze of his as he moved closer and ran a hand down Cutler’s back.

“You all right, buddy?”

Cutler nodded in response but didn’t speak just yet. It was a scary feeling when you couldn’t catch your breath, and my guess was that he was just taking a minute until he felt confident enough to talk.

“What happened?” River asked. “I just saw you pull him out of the water before I even realized what was happening.”

“He wanted to swim,” Nash said, and now those concerned eyes were riddled with guilt. That was the thing with asthma: It could come out of nowhere. And parents would feel horrible and responsible, even though it wasn’t their fault at all. Nash had a plan in place, and he’d stuck to it. In the future, I would recommend carrying the inhaler in a waterproof bag and taking it with him, but he was close enough that he made it back in plenty of time. Cutler’s lips weren’t blue; his color was still there. He just needed the medication for quick relief. “He was jumping around in the water, and he started coughing at first. I could tell something was wrong, so I got him out of there immediately, and I was glad I did, because he started wheezing as soon as I got him on the jet ski.”

“What triggers it?” Ruby asked, as she dropped to sit beside me and kissed his cheek.

“It could be seasonal allergies, the pollen from the trees, or he could have a cold starting. It’s hard to know. And he might not have another flare-up for weeks or months.” I looked up at Nash, who was looking away at the water, deep in thought. I reached for his arm and tapped it, waiting for him to look at me. “You did everything right. He’s fine.”

He nodded and let out a long breath. “I should have brought the inhaler with me.”

“It wasn’t necessary today, but it wouldn’t hurt in the future. You can get a waterproof bag and keep it on you, just in case. But it wouldn’t have made a huge difference. His breathing relaxed immediately. This is a stronger medication than he had before, and it works quickly.”

“Pops,” Cutler whispered.

“Yeah?”

“Stop worrying. I just like hugging my girl, Sunny.” His voice was tired but laced with humor, and laughter erupted around us.

“That’s our boy,” Romeo said.

Kingston sighed and leaned his head back against the dock, as if the relief was overwhelming him. Saylor went and settled on his lap.

And we all just sat there in the sunshine, me holding the sweetest boy on the planet, and all my new friends surrounding us.

Cutler slowly came back to life, and he put his hand on my cheek. “You know you’re my girl forever now.”

I nodded. “I like the sound of that.”

“Damn. Beefcake is locking down his girls even when he’s not feeling a hundred percent,” River said with a chuckle.

We all moved to our feet to make our way back to the yard, because Kingston said he’d get the food going on the grill. And just like that, Cutler was walking with Saylor to go see Winnie and Dandelion.

“Hey, take it easy, buddy,” Nash called out. He and I were the last two still standing on the dock, and the back of his hand grazed mine where we stood, and he just stared at me.

My teeth sank into my bottom lip, and I glanced toward the yard as I watched everyone carry out the food and place it on the big outdoor table where we’d be eating. Cutler was sitting on the patio with Saylor and the dogs. I turned back to look at Nash. “Hey, are you okay?”

He gave me that quick, simple nod I was learning was his way of answering without speaking, but then he surprised me. “Thank you. Thank you so fucking much.”

“Nash.” I shook my head. He was giving me way too much credit.

“Emerson.”

I chuckled. “You did everything right.”

“No. You made this one a hell of a lot better than the last one. There was no ambulance this time. You knew exactly what to do. You’re not only a damn good doctor, but you’re a damn good woman.”

“Well, now you’re just making me blush.”

“I like making you blush.” His tongue peeked out and dipped into the corner of his lips as he smiled. “I know today is a tough day for you, but I’m glad you decided to hang out with us.”

“I mean, you did jump into the water with me yesterday; it’s the least I could do.”

“Yeah. I’m still thinking about what happened out in that water.” He leaned forward and whispered against my ear. His breath tickled my skin, and I squeezed my eyes closed and did everything I could to control my breathing.

“That was pretty fun, huh?”

He pulled back to look at me. “Have dinner with me and Cutler tonight.”

My heart raced at his words. I’d kissed him last night. I was here today.

I wasn’t ready for anything serious. Hell, I didn’t know if I’d ever be ready for anything serious again.

My life was still up in the air.

But I let my heart do the talking. My stupid, silly heart that had led me astray in the past.

But the words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. “I’d love to.”