When best friends Jamie Eckert and Derek Duran realized they were in love, they took their relationship to the next level. But then Derek's budding music career took off, and so did Derek. Twenty years later, Jamie still lives in the small town of Ashbury, Virginia, where he grew up. He's grown up and moved on -- now he owns the family funeral home business and is raising Riley, his precocious six-year-old adopted daughter. But emotions Jamie thought long buried are stirred up again when he gets an early morning removal call. The deceased is Derek's mother and Riley's babysitter, Mrs. Duran. Now Derek's back in town for the funeral, and he turns to Jamie for support ... in more ways than one. Angry at Derek for not keeping in touch, and angrier at himself for still loving the man who left him behind, Jamie is torn between his professional duty and his feelings for Derek. Will he be able to put aside his past with Derek to carry out Mrs. Duran's final wishes? Or is Derek interested in rekindling their relationship after all this time?

Not Another One Hit Wonder

When Derek looks to me for help, I lower my voice and admit, “Don’t worry, she’ll tell you what she wants you to do. Just go along with whatever she says and always let her win, and you’ll be her friend for life.”


As Riley tugs on his hand, pulling him towards the dining room, Derek mutters, “You owe me for this.”


“Hey, I’m making you dinner,” I remind him.


He doesn’t have to entertain Riley for long—the roast and potatoes is done and all I need to do is heat up the collard greens and mushrooms before we’re ready to eat. Though Riley knows she doesn’t have much time, she still balks when I make her clear her stuff off the table. She grumbles and moans the whole time, too.


“Keep acting up,” I tell her, bringing out the plates. I hand them to Derek to help her set the table. “You can go to bed without any dessert tonight, if you want to.”


Chapter 45