Turn My World Around by Kait Nolan
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
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
Epilogue
What's Next In Wishful
Other Books By Kait Nolan
Excerpt Wish I Might
Turn My World Around
by Kait Nolan
Turn My World Around
Written and published by Kait Nolan
Copyright 2016 Kait Nolan
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: The following is a work of fiction. All people, places, and events are purely products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is entirely coincidental.
License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. The ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Cover design by Kait Nolan
To everyone who’s ever felt trapped by the mistakes of their past,
This love story is for you.
With love,
Kait
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I have to thank my twitter pal @JAScribbles for putting this bug in my ear after you read Be Careful, It’s My Heart. I would never have thought of pairing these two. Without you, this story wouldn’t exist. As always my undying gratitude to my awesome editor, Susan Bischoff of The Forge Book Finishers. You pushed me to challenge myself as an author, asking me to redeem a character I’d have been content to leave a mean girl. I’m a better writer because of you.
To Kady Weatherford for answering all my thousand questions about Dancing With The Stars and for all those hours we lost to YouTube research.
And to the members of the Squee Squad, who are the great champions of my work. I couldn’t do this without you!
Deniz Bevan, Gabryyl Pierce, Erica Turnipseed, Maria McConnaughy, Rose Kelley, Nancy Nicholson, Angela Zommers, Dawn Foss, Evelyn Nathalia, Naomi Nelson, Susan Bischoff, Barb Redner, Elizabeth Laurie, Cindy Thoennes, Caitlin Mannarino, Faith Wanjala, Annie Allen, Jay Perantoni, Barbara OBrien, Shelby Forbes, Karen Demeyere, Yasmeen Elfar, Alexis Roark, Lisa Orthmann, Vera B. Bolcevic, Carol McCarthy, Jacki N, Janice Richard, Vera Mallard, Leah Hughes, Sandra Mason, Margarita Gayle, Sheryl McNaught, Michael Lang, Irene Shea, Marjorie Mindel, Beth Colon, Pearl Moreno, Michelle Myre, Deborah Hawley, Melissa Riddle, Eunice Aleon, Mark Kyhl, Cathy Glenn, Christine Jordan, Lisa Benison, Connie Nowakowski, Andy Smith, Nicki Conroy, Mignone Chaves, Jessye Chevere, Beverly Pugh, Rebecca Donkin, Paige Ng, Deborah Bennett, Debra Punjabi, Kay Sterling, Theresa Morris, Amara Marcoccia, Elaine Boone, Suzy Perez, Lauren Dabney, Wendy Wright, Bernice Vigne, Meeta Mohabeer, Bert Blume, Andrea Partee, Tracey Landa, Trish C., Lesa Green, Ashley Nunn, Sharon Hughson, Angie McCaslan, Jackie Camire, Lorie Davis, Jo-ann Stenton, Heather Deal, Lynne DiTizio, Kathleen Kirkwood, Corlia Boshoff, Priya Prithviraj, Jami Plambeck, Bonnie Laurenzi, Wendy Jermier, Linda Dillbeck, Jennifer McMaster, Amy Drummond, Amanda Proch, Sinthia Hernandez, Heather Bahm, Fi Axford, Brandy Caywood, Carla Ellison, Reita Frazier, Sanet Steenkamp, Amy Webb, Alisa Price, Kassi Wanamaker, Carey Colton, Carol Fraley, Cori Plastina, Tammy Jordan, Jen Apfel, Annett Krumske, Shayna Tyann, Carol Downer, Donna Rumfelt, Timothy Hendricks, Jessica Ramsay-Taylor, Susan Reis, Marietjie De Waal, Michele Perry, Pamela Mingus, Preot Oaks, Grace Adeleke, Josey Wales, Lacey Frink, Diane Klingman, T Clark, Jeri Denniston, Claire Spencer, Shayna Tyann, Susan Clement, FD Noz, Marci Higgins, Liz Smith, Wendy Edwards, Lisa Roth, Andrea Romero, Courtney Ludwig, Melissa Feriancek, Yolandi Henry, Georgina Akins, Mary Sundra, Myla Fujimoto, Lola Gillies, Loes Lotze, Brandy Nelson, Chelsea McNeil, Ava Grant, Patricia Parker, Jo Ladkin, Debbie Knieper, Wunmi Ayodele, Kady Weatherford, Melody Metz, Brianna Harvey-Khowley, Louisa Stewart, Lynn Henning, Georgine Kasprazak, Kathy Broggy, Roger Gisseman, Mary Miltier, Deena Knight, Nancy Kenney, Cynthia Duffee, Patricia Merritt, April Johnson, Gail Frankowiak, Sheila Waldner, Tammy Turnbow, Jean Pierson, Phyllis Souder, Paula Hurdle, Jen Roemershauser, Dawn Sablan, Carol Dominick, Becky Weldon, Theresa Denton, Holly Geer, Cindy Snider, Karissa C, Beth Blackmore, Sharon Shakinovsky, Deb Wagner, Tammie Neuenfeldt, Karen Beliveau, Jodi Lattanzio, Doris Chase, D C, Karan Jordan, Melanie Groff, Lynn Welborn, Eunice Elkins, Michelle Davyduke, Bev Harcourt, Sue Schultz, Loretta Cergol, Karen Call, John Alliapoulos, Lynn Cooke, Beverley Ettinger, Ronalee Coppock, Dawn Kuhn, Diane Harness, Glynneth Mathis, Priscilla Smith, Tracy Welsh, Ann Richardson, Judy Chamberlin, Karen Thompson, Ellen Ondo, Grace Ryan, Jodi Dawson, Dana Mullican, Susy Wolf, Shirley Pea, Joy Hack, Colleen Taylor, Margaret Ball, Yvonne Holste, Theresa Grant, Karen Nelson, Trudie Denton, Barbara Dombrowski, Cheryl Meyer, Charmaine Franklyn, Sharen Sherman, Kathryn Greiner, Rebecca Remley, Beverley MacMillan, Marilyn Burrows, Sue Everhart, Betty Caruthurs, Diane Gacki, Heiddi Zalamar, Richard Fetrow, Charlotte Holt, Kjristi Burningham, Noreen Chase, Karen Wilson, Deb Hazelton, Joyce Beard, Karen Baxter, Karen Cherry, Debra Turcotte, Alicia Muller, Barbara Rincon, Brbara Ultan, Alana Erstad, Jan Kingery, Janet Grindon, C Fannin, Larry Barlow, Rachel Burke, Marj Hodgins, Susan Byrd, Lori Tillman, Kim Bauer, Shaleen Varner, Beth Zone, Tondi Sorenson, Karen Kelder, Arielle Wood, Carol Sobeski, Kirstie Ibrahim, Joyce Insley, Michele Brooks, Jack Brumbarger, Martha Tippett, Kim Garman, Patty Garrett, Carol Kaczmarek, Anna P, Priscilla Patel, Betty Hopkins, Irene Griffin, Aimee Vanduyne, Gail Bell, April Angle, Annette Papageorgiou, Jeannine Muhn, Sue Mehr, Kristine Hoover, Debby Ong, Aren Ar, Anne Dallara, Lynette Elson, Katy Staley, Pam Walker, Sara Zuckerman, Cathy Wittie, Kim Jennings, Paula Pardue, Marian Andersen, Renae Bohnet, Kat Murray, Anne O’Brien, Suan Felts, Rita Aquino, Glenna Durst, Dorinda Perez, Sylvia Cole, Cathy Percae, Jackie Peters, Gisele Nicholas, RoxAnne Simon, Pam Skaggs, Joniara Orr, Martha Vega, Kimberley Goetz, Wenonah Schwedler, Samantha Roseberry, Karen Scheffler, Linda Trappe, Susan Gannon, Marlene Weber, Roberta Webb, Bernice Tresemer, Betty Martin, Narda Snell, Marilyn Ruediseuli, Elsie Thompson, Prathima Shetty, Penny Berry, Taylor Holden, Debbie Tolbert, Dorothy Scorr, Amanda Humphrey, Kimberley Capel, Kelli Prue, Kelly Jesso, Desiree Boettcher, Samie Hill, Dana Redding, Stephanie Smith, Eva Petelin, Jeslie John, Kerry Hackenberg, Cathy Long, Susan Kluchin, Susan Shrode, Cheryl Underwood-Eginton, Debbie Shepler, Marie Rogers, Jeannette Bruun, Anita James, Vicki Hammond, Marie Dehaas, Maria Drakopoulos, Stephanie Alexander, Debbie Keith, Donna Russell, Marilyn Hartz, Carol Pearson, Linda Denouden, Irene Heijser, Mabelisse Gonzalez, Alison Ritchhart, Gloria Kietzke, Anita van Vuuren, Cheryl Kendall, Edith Abraham
Chapter 1
Is there anything more pitiful than a man drinking alone on a Friday night?
Tucker McGee pondered that from his seat at the bar of The Mudcat Tavern. In the wake of wrapping up an ugly divorce trial and a property dispute this week, he’d wanted to unwind with his friends. But those days of regular socializing seemed to be over. Brody had been back from Portland for almost a mo
But his other friends had been just as scarce. Cam was busy being half of Wishful’s power couple, saving the town alongside his fiancée, Norah Burke, the new city planner. And poor Piper was busy puking her guts up, though her first trimester was past. She and her new husband, Myles Stewart, were sticking close to home until she was more human again. Hell, even his law partner, Vivian, had tied the knot earlier this summer with her long-term beau, Darius Greeley. That left Tucker high and dry, feeling like the last single guy in Wishful, and wishing the beer in his hand was a plate of pie.
Be honest. It’s not about pie—it’s about the owner of the hand that delivers the pie. Corinne with the wounded eyes.
Tucker took another pull on his beer. When, exactly, was the right time to make a move on a woman who was busy trying to rebuild her world from the ground up? He’d been trying to figure that out for the better part of a year, which had resulted in a lot of pie and an extra six miles a week on the treadmill at the gym. No date, though. He hadn’t asked. Not because he was some kind of pansy afraid of rejection, but because he didn’t want to be the rebound guy. But biding his time hadn’t gotten him anywhere.
Irritated with himself, Tucker finished off the beer. He didn’t even like his own company tonight.
“Tucker, my darlin’, you are just the man I was looking for.”
He swiveled on his stool to find Norah cutting a swath through the Friday night crowd. Cam was nowhere to be seen. Tucker slid off the stool and gave her a hug. “And where is your other half this evening?”
“Taking advantage of the long summer hours to finish up a job for Mamie Landon. She got it into her head to turn her backyard into a Zen garden, complete with Asian-inspired pergola.”
“Better Cam than me. The heat index was over a hundred today.”
“Welcome to August in Mississippi.”
“Buy you a drink?” Tucker asked.
“I’m buying because I have a favor to ask.”
Tucker recognized the gleam in her dark eyes. She had another grandiose scheme in the works. Norah Burke never did anything small, which meant whatever she had in mind would probably be a good distraction from his lack of a love life.
“I’m intrigued. What’s the favor?”
“Drinks first.” She lifted a hand to wave at the owner of The Mudcat, who was working taps behind the bar. “Hey Adele! Can I get whatever hard cider you’ve got on tap and another of what Tucker’s having?”
“Coming right up.”
Drinks in hand, they retreated to one of the high top tables along the far wall.
“Okay, spill it. What have you got up your sleeve?”
“You do volunteer work at the women’s shelter, right?”
Not the segue he’d been expecting. “Yeah. I offer up free legal services. Divorces. Restraining orders. That kind of thing. Why?”
“Well, you know they’re really in need of a bigger place, right? They want to be able to take in more women with children, and right now the house simply isn’t big enough.”
That was true enough. The shelter was, unfortunately, bursting at the seams—a sad testament to the need for its services.
“You want to do a fundraiser,” Tucker said.
“I want to do a fundraiser,” she confirmed.
“What did you have in mind?” Please don’t say a bachelor auction. As much as he wanted some companionship right now, the kind of women who’d be bidding on him at a fundraiser like that were not a road he wanted to travel down again.
“Well, you know how Dancing With the Stars is in its bajillionth season, right? Way more popular than the showrunners ever expected it to be.”
“Yeah...”
“I want to do a local version. Dancing With Wishful.”
Tucker frowned. “How would that work?”
“Same kind of format as the show, with some minor modifications. The Babylon is hosting the competition in its ballroom. There will be—well, I don’t know how many performances since I haven’t nailed down all the dancers yet—but maybe four or five shows. One a week. We’ll sell tickets to those. The whole thing will be streamed live online, and people will be able to vote for their favorites each week, just like on the actual show. There will be some built-in revenue on the site, via ad space and the like. And there will be a panel of three judges, like on the show, too.”
“People tune in to watch Dancing With the Stars because there are pro dancers and famous people.”
“People will tune in to watch this because we’ll be pairing beloved town figures with the town’s best dancers. That’s where you come in. I want you to be one of our pro dancers.”
“Oh really?”
“Tyler and Brody already agreed. Piper begged off because growing a human is hard. But she offered up the names of a couple of other people I should ask. You’ve been in court all week, so I haven’t made it to you until now. Think about it, Tucker. You nobly gave up your role as Phil in White Christmas to get Brody and Tyler back together. Now’s your chance to show off those happy feet of yours for all to see.”
A spark of inspiration flared in his brain. “And who would my partner be?”
“To be determined. I wanted to have all my pros lined up before I started asking local businesses to sponsor someone, so I know how many I need. Cam volunteered to sponsor himself on behalf of the nursery, so he’s dancing with Tyler.”
“And you have the double whammy of him being an elected official.” Tucker nodded. “People will tune in to see City Councilman Pretty Boy. What about you, Miss City Planner?”
Norah laughed. “Please. I know my limitations. I nearly broke your feet when you tried to dance with me last year. Surely you’ve learned your lesson.”
As it was an undeniable truth that Norah possessed not a shred of natural rhythm, Tucker was privately relieved. And that potentially left the door open to a crazy plan. He did love a crazy plan. “What about Mama Pearl?”
Norah clapped her hands in glee. “Dinner Belles is the center of everything in this town. If you can talk her into dancing, the public would love it!”
“Oh, so I’m on recruiter duty now, am I?”
“You’re the one who brought it up. Besides, you’re a smooth talker, Tucker. If anyone can do it, you can.”
He was, and Norah was falling right into his hands. “You could do it, too. I’m reasonably sure no one has actually said no to you about anything since you moved to town.”
“True, but I’ll be busy sweet talking everyone else. Can I count on you? To dance and to work on Mama Pearl?”
Tucker loved to dance, loved to perform, and it would give him yet another legitimate excuse to drop into the diner. And if he could get Mama Pearl on board, it just might give him the opportunity to break this stalemate he’d been in with her sad-eyed waitress. He lifted a hand in salute. “I’m your man, General Burke.”
~*~
“Only twenty more minutes and we are done! Girl, give me a high five.”
Corinne Dawson slapped Malika Hobbs’s uplifted hand before returning to her patient charts. The next twenty minutes were all that stood between them and the completion of the clinical hours required for their nursing program. With finals finished, this was the last requirement for graduation. Thank God. The last two semesters of juggling online classes, clinical hours, and her job as a waitress at Dinner Belles had meant little sleep and even less time with her son. But the end was in sight.
“We should totally go out for drinks to celebrate. Or ice cream. A big ass banana split,” Malika continued. “And then a three hour nap.”
The idea of that nap almost made Corinne whimper. “I wish. I’ve still got a shift at the diner when I leave here.” Another eight hours on her feet after eight here at the hospital. She’d forgotten what
The younger woman stuck out her lip in a pout. “With clinicals done, when am I going to see you?”
It gave Corinne warm fuzzies that her classmate still wanted to see her. She hadn’t exactly been welcomed back to Wishful with open arms when she’d come slinking home, a divorced single mom, eighteen months before. Friends had been hard to come by.
“You could both apply for jobs here at the hospital.” Rosemary Newsome reached past them both to pluck a chart out of the rack.
Corinne looked at the charge nurse. “I didn’t think they were hiring.”
“They weren’t. But they will be. It’s a good gig. Hard work, but part of the job perks is that the hospital will pay for you to continue your education. You come in as LPNs, you can work your way up. Two years working here for every year of schooling.”
A means of furthering her education without going deeper into debt? With that kind of option, she could afford to finally move out of her mom’s house, get her own place and start paying off all the debts she’d accrued trying to get back on her feet since the divorce. “Where do I pick up an application?” Corinne asked.
“The posting will go up in a few weeks. You can swing by HR then, put in an application. They’ll have it online, but better to have your face seen. We’re old school around here. Then the board will interview candidates,” Rosemary said.
“The hospital board?” Corinne asked.
“That’d be the one.”
Damn it. Of the nine board members, Corinne knew at least three of them would turn her application down on the spot. She’d been back long enough to know nobody had forgotten high school and no one cared about giving her a chance to make up for her less than sterling behavior. But maybe it didn’t have to be a unanimous decision. She’d just have to make sure she was the best candidate for the job.