Life's Next Chapter by Sarah Goodman Read Free Book Online

drywall and haul it outside. As I make my way to the dumpster, I can’t help noticing Kate sitting in her truck. I want to run up to her and tell her all the sweet things a woman like her deserves, yet my feet are planted to this ground and I can’t move. I can’t find the words to say—how does a man like me tell her those things? I have so many skeletons in my closet. I’ve never had a connection like this with a woman. The closest I’ve been to a woman are random fucks, to scratch away the itch. But I look at this woman, and I want it all with her. But, every time I’m around her it’s like my brain and mouth can’t work together, and I have no idea what to say. I feel like shit for scaring her when I was having one of my PTSD episodes, and I fucking hate such stupid shit stirs it up. I know I’ll carry the scars with me forever, but it doesn’t stop me from wishing it would all just go away.
    Ever since Monday night, I can’t stop thinking about her. And after way too many hours to count, I realize I want to make her as happy as she was in that picture with her douche ex-husband. If I can ever find my balls, maybe I’ll find the courage to talk to her. I want a chance, even though I feel I’m not good enough for her; I carry more baggage than a Boeing 737. Then I meet Kate, who is beyond beautiful, and can have any guy begging on his knees for her, and my insecurities come out. She’s a doctor, for Christ’s sake. She has her own practice, a gorgeous home, and two ridiculously cute daughters. I think the best thing her bastard ex ever did for her was to cheat on her. She’s too damn good for him; hell she is too damn good for any man.
    Walking back into the clinic, Brody’s packing up all his crap. “You’re bailing on us, already?” I taunt.
    “Dude, you know I don’t demo. I draw everything up and tell you what to demo, remember?”
    I snicker, “Yeah, I remember; you can’t chip your nail polish.”
    He slings his man purse over his shoulder and shakes his head. “Fuck you, Luke, I won’t even go there. See you tomorrow.”
    “Later.” I take some more drywall out to the dumpster as Brody drives off. Now that I’m alone, I vent all my bottled up frustrations out on the walls and beams. This is the part of my job I love. This is better than couch therapy. Once the drywall is knocked away, I switch my focus and hack away at the studs. One by one the studs fall, and within a couple hours, I’ve taken out four walls. I can feel the stiffness pulling in my shoulders. Needing a drink, as well as a break, I grab an armful of studs and walk out to the dumpster, on my way to the cooler in my truck for a Gatorade. Kate pulls up as I’m chugging the last of the Gatorade, and I wave at her, again. Finally, she raises her hand to me. Damn, I feel like such a schmuck.
    As I head back into the clinic for another round of debris, Kate’s girls jump from the truck and start running around it, chasing each other, while Kate starts unloading groceries from the bed. Watching her climb into the bed of the truck and grab boxes is so damn intoxicating. Her shorts ride up where I can see the swell of her ass cheek. My dick’s starting to twitch. Before I can lose the little bit of nerve I have, I hurry over to help. “Kate, want some help?” Of course, she bends over just as I open my mouth then she squats and turns to look at me.
    “Hi, Luke. Umm, just groceries, but if you want to help, I’d appreciate it. Here.” She smiles as she hands me the world’s largest box of Fruit Loops, a huge tub of Goldfish, and a lifetime supply box of tampons, which I grab without flinching and head to the house. I pass her on my return trip, and she gives me a smile that just completely melts my heart. I grab a huge tub of laundry soap, two milk jugs, and a box of fruit snacks. She’s already breaking down boxes when I enter her kitchen.
    “Are you planning on feeding an army?”
    She shakes her head. “No, I hate