Ride or Dye (Curl Up and Dye Mysteries, #6) Read online

  Ride or Dye (Curl Up and Dye Mysteries, #6)

  Copyright © 2018 Aimee Nicole Walker

  [email protected]

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to the actual person, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover photograph © Wander Aguiar—www.wanderaguiar.com

  Cover art © Jay Aheer of Simply Defined Art—www.simplydefinedart.com

  Editing provided by Miranda Vescio of V8 Editing and Proofreading—https://www.facebook.com/V8Editing/

  Proofreading provided by Judy Zweifel of Judy’s Proofreading—www.judysproofreading.com

  Interior Design and Formatting provided by Stacey Ryan Blake of Champagne Book Design—www.champagnebookdesign.com

  All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original publisher only.

  This book contains sexually explicit material and is only intended for adult readers.

  Copyright and Trademark Acknowledgments

  The author acknowledges the copyrights and trademarked status and trademark owners of the trademarks and copyrights mentioned in this work of fiction.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Epilogue

  Other Books by Aimee Nicole Walker

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  To the Dye Hards,

  Thank you for taking this journey with Josh, Gabe, and me. You are my ride or die, and I am forever grateful.

  XOXO

  “THIS KIND OF FEELS like old times,” Chaz softly said during lunch in the kitchenette at the salon.

  “Except you’ll be returning to your house to work on your next best seller instead of the receptionist desk out front,” Mere told him before spooning more chicken noodle soup in her mouth.

  “And Mere is going home to prop up her feet and rest up for the biggest adventure of her life,” I said, pointing to her rounded baby belly. “Speaking of which, I’m going to need you to have her before I go on Gabe’s surprise vacation. We purposely timed the trip for two weeks after your due date. You’re not cooperating, Mere. Uncle Josh cannot miss the birth of his niece.”

  “Ew, not the third person again,” Meredith said. It was a long-running joke between us about a boy she dated in school who had referred to himself in the third person. It always creeped her out. “You’re crazy if you think I want this kid out of me less than you do. I’m ready to go right now, but someone has other ideas. A week past my due date and not even two centimeters dilated.” Mere and Harley decided not to learn the sex of their baby during their ultrasounds, but I knew she was having a girl. I was never wrong either. While others played it safe with neutral colors for her baby shower presents, I boldly gifted her frilly pink dresses with matching shorts to wear beneath.

  “How much longer will they let this drag out?” Chaz asked. “You look…” His words broke off while he searched for the right thing to say.

  “The novelist who can’t find the words, Mere,” I teased.

  “I must look frightening then,” Mere said, smiling broadly at Chaz who squirmed in his seat.

  “I’m just learning to think before I blurt things out,” Chaz said.

  “Where’s the fun in that?” I teased. “Nothing made my day more than when you stepped on your dick.”

  “I don’t think that’s how the phrase goes?” Mere said after a good giggle.

  “It works here,” I countered. “Besides, you might not be married and raising a son with Doctor Dimples if it weren’t for your uncanny ability to say the worst possible things at the worst possible times.”

  “True,” Mere and Chaz both said.

  “You look radiant even if you feel like you’ve been pregnant for nine years instead of nine months, Mere,” Chaz said. “The old me would’ve found a way to screw it up and imply otherwise.”

  “I would’ve known what you meant, sweetie.”

  “This does feel like old times,” I told them. “I wouldn’t say those times were better though. I wouldn’t trade the chaotic home I’ll enter tonight for anything.”

  “Same,” Mere said, rubbing her belly.

  “It is nice just to have time for the three of us, isn’t it?” Chaz asked. “We need to do this more often. We still see each other every Sunday, but it’s not the same.”

  “Come over for dinner tonight,” I said. “We’ll splash around in the pool and grill out yummy food.”

  “The pool does sound nice,” Meredith said wistfully. “The humidity makes this July weather feel like a hundred degrees.” I had invited her to use the pool as much as she wanted, but she didn’t want to impose.

  Chaz glanced at his watch then got to his feet. “I need to head out and pick up Mark and Daniel from basketball camp. This is Kyle’s early night at the animal hospital, so we can make it. What time do you want us there?”

  “Does five or five thirty work for you?” I asked. It would give us time to swim for a while before dinner.

  “Sounds perfect,” Mere said, pushing herself to her feet. “I’m going to head home and take a nap so I’m refreshed for later. It won’t be long before the swimming pool is off-limits for—” Mere stopped suddenly and looked at me with wide eyes. “Oh.” She cupped her hand beneath her round belly and looked down like she couldn’t believe what was happening. “Ohhhhhh.”

  “Oh shit,” Chaz said, looking down at the floor. “Her water just broke. It’s time!”

  “Oh!” Meredith gasped like she couldn’t comprehend it was real. Her soft response turned into a long, keening moan. “Ohhhhhhhhhh.”

  “What’s happening?” Chaz asked. “Should she be in pain already?”

  I rounded the table and reached for Meredith’s hands. The only thing I knew about labor and childbirth was from when our twins were born. Their mother was induced and her labor closely monitored, so I had no idea how to answer his question.

  “Ohhhhhh,” Meredith moaned again. “It hurts so bad. There’s so much pressure.” Meredith bursting into tears spurred me into action.

  “Mere, have a seat to relieve the pressure. I’m going to call Harley and have him meet us at the hospital. Okay?”

  Meredith cried out in pain and clutched her abdomen. “No time, Josh.”

  “What?” Chaz and I asked at the same time.

  “She’s coming now!” Meredith exclaimed.

  “Ha! You agree that you’re having a girl.”

  “You convinced me, Jazz.” Meredith released a series of short breaths. “I love this salon, but I never pictured having my baby here.”

  “Here? Right now?” I asked, sounding much calmer than I felt. The line from Gone with the Wind echoed in my mind, but I put a modern spin on it. I didn’t know jack about birthing babies.

  “I think so. God! This hurts so fucking much.”

  “What’s going on?” asked a voice I never thought I’d be happy to hear.

  “Trent!” I said in relief. Thank God he had a hair appointment. He did a rotation in obste
trics and was present when Sally Ann gave birth to Adrianna. “Meredith’s water broke, and she’s in a lot of pain. She says there’s a lot of pressure too.”

  “Pressure? Do you feel like your body is trying to push the baby out?” he asked, squatting down beside her.

  “Mmm hmm,” Meredith said, biting her lip. I moved around to the other side of her to hold her hand, hoping it would give her some comfort.

  Trent looked over his shoulder and addressed Chaz. “Will you please ask Dare to dial 9-1-1 and have them send an ambulance. It’s better to err on the side of caution than assume she can ride in a car without mishap.”

  “And call Harley,” I told Chaz.

  Trent looked back at Meredith and offered her a composed smile. “You’re going to be just fine, honey. I know this is awkward, but will you let me examine you to assess how close you are to delivering this baby?”

  “Like I care who sees my vag at this point,” Mere said, turning in her chair. I repositioned mine too so she could recline against my chest. That way I could offer her comfort without seeing the aforementioned vag. I’d look if she needed me to, but we had a trained professional on hand.

  “I can’t wait to meet your daughter,” I whispered in Meredith’s ear as she tried to breathe through the pain. I hoped to distract her just in case she found the idea of Trent removing her underwear and looking up her dress more awkward than she let on.

  “You’re so sure, aren’t you?” Mere asked.

  “I’ve never been wrong before,” I reminded her.

  “Whoa, that’s a lot of hair,” Trent said suddenly.

  “What the fuck?” Meredith asked.

  “Damn, Trent,” I snarled. “You try lawn maintenance with a baby belly in the way.”

  “Not on her…um, vagina,” he stumbled. “I was talking about the baby’s head. She’s crowning.”

  “Holy fuck!” Mere said.

  “Try to breathe through the urge to push, Meredith. It’s a fifteen-minute ride in the ambulance to Goodville. No offense, Josh, but I’d rather have a more sterile environment to deliver a baby.”

  “None taken,” I replied honestly.

  Meredith let out an ungodly shriek and gripped my hands hard enough to break them as Chaz rushed back into the room. Chaz screeched to a halt because he had a bird’s-eye view of Trent kneeling in God only knew what on the floor between Meredith’s legs. He nearly got knocked over when Tucker Garrison barreled into him.

  “I heard the call come over my radio,” Tucker said.

  “Hey, Tuck,” Meredith said. “I feel a burning sensation, but I can’t say that I’m on fire.”

  “She still has her sense of humor,” Tucker said as he maneuvered around Chaz and squatted down beside Trent. “I’m a trained medic for the fire department, honey. I’ve delivered babies a few times. The ambulance is on the way. I can hear the sirens, but they won’t make it in time.”

  “Nope,” Trent agreed. Then he and Tucker started trading medical jargon like on the television shows. Tucker got up, and Chaz joined him to help round up the things Trent needed.

  “It burns so bad,” Mere cried. “I didn’t even have any warning. I had more Braxton Hicks than normal, and my back ached more than usual.”

  “Those probably weren’t Braxton Hicks, and it sounds like you’ve been having back labor pains. It’s not uncommon,” Trent said. “The amniotic fluid acted as a cushion, so you weren’t aware you’ve been in labor all this time.”

  “I’m so sorry, Mere,” I said, kissing her temple. “I know this wasn’t how you wanted to bring your little darling into the world.”

  “You’re here, and that helps.”

  “I’m here too,” Chaz said when he and Tucker returned. He shut the door to give her privacy then came around the table so he could hold Mere’s hand. “We’ll get through this together.”

  Mere let out an agonized cry and her body tensed in my embrace. “Oh my God! She’s coming!”

  “Head is clear,” Trent said in a calm but urgent voice.

  Meredith let out another long groan then went slack against me just as Trent said, “It’s a baby girl.” The most beautiful sound in the world is a newborn baby crying after taking their first breath. “She’s a beauty, Mama. I’m going to guess around eight and a half pounds.”

  Tucker handed Trent something that looked like a clamp and a pair of scissors he removed from a sterile bag. Then they carefully cleaned our baby girl with one towel and snuggly wrapped her up in another before handing her to Meredith.

  “Hello, sweet angel,” Meredith cooed. “I’ve been dreaming about you for so long. I must say, the reality is even more precious than the dream of you.”

  The kitchenette door burst open, and EMTs rushed in with the gurney. Gabe was on their heels but shielded his eyes so he wouldn’t see anything Meredith didn’t want him to see.

  “Everyone okay in here?” he asked in his authoritative voice that always made my dick hard.

  “Victoria and I are doing great,” Meredith said.

  Trent cleaned up in the sink while the paramedics positioned Meredith and her baby on the gurney for transportation. “I’m riding along too,” he told the paramedics. “Just as a precaution,” he assured Meredith when she looked concerned.

  “Hey there, Tori,” Gabe said, brushing a finger against her downy cheek. “I’m going to pick up your grandma, and we’ll meet you at the hospital. Does Harley know?”

  “He’s on his way to Goodville,” Chaz said. “Deanna picked up Mark and Daniel and will call John. I think she’s heading to the hospital too.”

  “Adrian went to pick up Sally and the kids.”

  “I love you all so much,” Meredith said tearfully. “Does Mama know you’re coming to get her?”

  “She commanded I come pick her up and said I better bring a car equipped with sirens and flashing lights. It was all I could do to get her to wait for me instead of rushing over here.”

  “I hate that she missed Tori’s birth,” Meredith said. “She won’t get another chance either because I’m done!”

  “I think every woman says that,” Trent told her.

  “At least the mothers of the children I’ve delivered,” Tucker agreed. He extended his hand toward Trent. “I’ve seen you around town, but I’ve never introduced myself. I’m Tucker Garrison.”

  “Trent Love. It’s good to meet you.” I admit I was impressed he left off his official title, but it would seem a bit overkill at this point. It seemed like Trent finally learned the arts of subtlety and humility.

  “Dr. Love?” Tucker asked. A sly grin spread across his face.

  “I never thought about how my name would sound to people when I decided to go to medical school. I could retire already if I had a penny for every time someone made a joke about Dr. Love making house calls.”

  “You chose your career wisely. Oh, you probably want your hand back,” Tucker said when he realized he still held Trent’s hand. I could see the electricity arcing between them.

  “Glad you were here,” Gabe said when the men separated hands. He also extended his hand to Trent who accepted with a good-natured grin. Gabe then rolled his eyes when he caught Mere, Chaz, and me gawping at him in stunned silence.

  “Glad I could help.”

  “We’re ready for transport,” one of the EMTs said.

  “We’ll see you real soon,” I told Mere.

  “Are they okay?” Dare asked once the coast was clear. He had a mop in one hand and bucket in the other. “I’ve already rescheduled your afternoon appointments.”

  “I’m going to miss your thoughtfulness and efficiency among many things when you’re gone,” I told him.

  “I haven’t left yet,” Dare reminded me.

  “It’s only a matter of time before your design business takes off,” I assured him. “You will be missed around here.”

  “Thanks, Josh.”

  “Ready to pick up Mama Richmond, Sunshine?” Gabe asked.

  “G
o on,” Dare assured me. “I’ll clean this up.”

  “I’ll help,” Tucker said. “I have industrial strength cleaner to sanitize the area.”

  “Thanks, Tuck,” I told him. “I’m giving you free haircuts for a year for what you did today.” I would do the same for Trent.

  “It’s not necessary, Josh.”

  “See what happens if you try to pay me,” I warned.

  Tuck held his hands up in surrender. “I’m still giving you a tip.”

  “I wouldn’t if I were you,” Gabe told him. “Just accept his gratitude, Tuck. It will go so much easier on you.”

  Gabe and I headed to his SUV after the ambulance left with Chaz following behind it. When we turned onto Mama Richmond’s street, she was waiting for us at the curb.

  “It’s about damned time,” she said when I opened the front passenger door to get out so she could ride up front with Gabe. “Better hurry your skinny ass up and get in the back seat, or we’ll leave you behind. I can’t believe I missed it. Tell me everything.”

  “Her water broke and Mere said, ‘Oh. Ohhhh. Baby’s coming.’ And then she was just here. The whole labor and delivery couldn’t have lasted more than a few minutes.”

  “Was she beautiful?” Mama Richmond asked Gabe.

  “Breathtakingly beautiful,” Gabe replied. “I forgot how soft babies’ cheeks are, and it’s giving me ideas.” I met his eyes when he glanced into the rearview mirror. “She has so much hair, Mama.”

  Gabe’s comment reminded me of one of the funniest moments of my life. I laughed so hard I had to clutch my belly. When I could finally catch my breath long enough to speak, I told them about Trent’s comment and how we misunderstood what he meant.

  Mama Richmond laughed until she cried. “I’m never going to let her live it down,” she said, wiping her eyes.

  “‘You try lawn maintenance with a baby belly in the way.’ You’re priceless, Sunshine,” Gabe said. “I bet Trent was embarrassed.”

  “Everything happened too fast for him to be embarrassed, but I bet it changes once the adrenaline rush fades.” I hoped I was around to see the look on his face.