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

Riley gives me an insufferable look. “Daddy, no. It’s because she’s not real. Duh.”


Yet if I said that, I’d never hear the end of it. “Just…go brush your teeth.”


Of course, she balks. “I have to pick up my clothes—”


Otherwise we’ll be here all night, and damn it, I want to spend sometime with Derek if I can. This is officially the last date she’s going on until she gets a boyfriend of her own. 20


When Riley is finally tucked in—teeth brushed, pajamas on, covers up to her chin, and her favorite bedtime story read—I hurry back downstairs to spend what little remains of the evening in Derek’s company. Alone. I’ve had my fair share of dates over the years, but Mrs. Duran was always on hand to take Riley for a few hours or overnight if I needed some privacy. It’s going to take me awhile to get used to her not being around.


Chapter 49