Going for the Hole, page 1
Going For The Hole
L.P. Dover
Contents
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
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Epilogue
A Note From The Author
About the Author
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Copyright © 2018 by L.P. Dover
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, in or introduced into retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Edited by Crimson Tide Editorial
Cover Design by Letitia Hasser at RBA Designs
Interior Formatting by T.E. Black Designs; www.teblackdesigns.com
Dedicated to my loving parents who shared
their love of golf with me.
As a kid, I remember driving my mom around in the cart as she played. At that point, I didn’t know how to play, but I loved sitting there and eating white powdered doughnuts while I drove her around. Driving the cart was the main highlight of the day. Maybe not so much when I hightailed it down a hill and knocked my mom out of the cart. Yeah … I know she hasn’t forgotten that either. You should see her holding on for dear life when she’s in the car with me. I’m so glad she’s close to retiring so I can drive her around the course again. 😊
I also want to send a big thanks to my dad who has helped me numerous times on my books. He loves golf and I look forward to his knowledge and advice every time I go out to play.
Keep reading after the end of the book
for a special note from me, L.P. Dover.
Chapter One
Lucas
“You sure this is a good idea?” My brother tossed me a shirt and I put it in my suitcase, along with a month’s worth of clothes.
Sighing, I zipped up my luggage and ran a hand through my hair. Aiden stared at me, his brows furrowed in concern. He looked like our mother with his light blond hair and blue eyes. She’d be giving me the same expression, if she were alive today. Sadly, we’d lost her five years ago.
“Look, I know what I’m doing.” I gestured toward the door. Down the hall was a whole room filled with nothing but my trophies. “I’ve won too many tournaments to count. Hell, I could quit now and be set for life. But I need a break, before I burn out.”
Aiden blew out a huff and threw his arms in the air. “All I’m saying is that you’re on a roll right now. You’re kicking ass in the tour.”
He was right, I was. Competing in the PGA Tour had been the highlight of my life for the past nine years. No one had yet to beat my driving record. I had sponsors, a manager who happened to be my father, and a team of people who worked for me—including Aiden . . . my younger brother of five years, who also happened to be my well-paid caddy.
I picked up my suitcase and walked past him into the hallway. He followed me down the stairs to the front door, where his bags sat, packed up and ready to go. “Are you trying to say you don’t want an all-expense paid trip to Myrtle Beach?” I asked.
A slow smile spread across his face. “I want the damn vacation, brother. Don’t forget, I’m the pack mule who has to carry the clubs for your ass. You wouldn’t make it one hole without me.”
“Exactly.” I burst out laughing, and his grin grew wider.
“I guess you know what’s best.” He looked serious once again. “And I want you to be smart about this. So, if you want to take a break, I’m all for it. Spending a month at the beach sounds pretty damn good to me. I just know our father’s not going to like it.”
My dad had a habit of being my manager first, father second, even though his intentions were good. He’d spent his life on the golf course, earning a name for himself. After my mother died, he passed his clubs down to me, along with his legacy. Aiden enjoyed the sport, but his talent laid with the calculations. He knew exactly what club to give me for each shot, and he was always spot on.
A car door slammed outside, and I opened the front door.
Noah Bradfield, my best friend since elementary school, lifted his arms in the air with the biggest smile on his face. “You ready, cocksuckers?”
Personal trainer by day, he was known by the media as my bodyguard—mostly because he was always around. I didn’t need one though, as I was more than capable of taking care of myself. But he liked the attention, and it broadened his business. Besides, the ladies loved him, and he was fun to have around.
“Hell yeah,” I shouted, tossing him one of my smaller bags. “Since I’m paying, you can load up the car.”
Groaning, he carried my bag to the shiny, black Cadillac Escalade and tossed it inside.
“Dad’s not going to like this,” I agreed, turning to Aiden, “but he’ll have to get the hell over it. I’ve given up nine years of my life. It’s about time I have some fun.” Granted, I belonged on a golf course. Out there, I felt at peace. Competing was a different story though. It could be stressful, wearing me down hole by hole. And lately, the pressure had become too much, especially with all the new blood joining the tournament each year.
Aiden reached down and picked up one of his suitcases. “Let’s put our worries behind us and go have some fun. I’m not going to ruin it for you.”
I patted him on the back. “Thanks, bud. I’d appreciate that.”
He picked up his other suitcase and loaded it in the back of my car. Noah rushed up the front stairs and rubbed his hands together. “So . . . what’s on the agenda tonight? I say we go to some strip clubs, cruise the strip, and get laid.”
Chuckling, I laid my arm over his shoulders. “Sounds like a plan.”
Chapter Two
Ashley
“You should start feeling better tomorrow.” I ruffled Jacob’s chestnut-colored hair and he smiled up at me through his tears. His dimples made my heart melt. The poor thing had strep throat, and I’d just given him a penicillin shot. They hurt like hell, but it was the fastest ticket to feeling better.
Jacob’s mother lifted him in her arms. “Thank you, Dr. Locke. I know it’s after hours.”
I waved her off. “It’s quite all right. Give us a call if he gets worse.”
She nodded. “I will. We’re just going to go home, eat some Popsicles, and watch movies.”
Jacob’s face lit up and he hugged her tight. “Yay, no homework!”
My nurse, Britney, escorted them down the hall with her angelic smile and bright pink scrubs. She had an effortless way with kids, which was the reason I’d hired her to be my assistant.
As I headed toward my office, I unbuttoned my lab coat. Normally, I’d be eager to get home by this point in the day, but today I didn’t mind working late, since I had the next ten days off.
“Dr. Locke?”
I turned around and Karen at the front desk held up the phone. She was a close friend of my mothers, and a great receptionist. “Dr. Locke’s on the phone.”
“Which one?” I asked, chuckling. There were three of us, but technically only two now. My father had retired, leaving me and my older brother to run the practice.
Karen grinned. “It’s your brother.”
“I’ll take it in my office.” It was the phone call I’d been waiting on all day.
Soon, he’d be marrying a former NFL star’s daughter who was a couple years younger than me and never worked a day in her life. She loved my brother more than anything—which was why I liked her—but the woman didn’t know what it was like to live in the real world. And when she asked if I’d be her maid of honor, I couldn’t say no. Unfortunately, being a bridesmaid meant I had to endure the bachelorette week. It couldn’t be just a weekend for her; it had to be an entire week. Worse, I had no clue what she had planned.
Once in my office, I draped my lab coat over my chair and sat down. Line two flashed on my phone and I took a deep breath before picking it up. “Hey, Cam.”
“Hey, sis. How was the office today?”
“Busy. If you weren’t such a lazy ass, you could’ve helped me,” I teased.
r /> He burst out laughing. “It would have been a little difficult, considering I was out in the middle of the ocean all day.”
“All right, rub it in. But in all honesty, it wasn’t bad. You know I can handle this place on my own.”
For his bachelor week, he decided to go deep sea fishing with his buddies before they all joined us the following week for the wedding. I could hear his friends laughing and carrying on in the background. “I know you can, Ash. Thanks for working late tonight.” Cameron cleared his throat. “I guess you know why I’m calling. I figured you’d want to hear it from me first, before you speak to Olivia.”
I bit back my groan and rested my head on the desk. “What am I in for this week?” Usually, my weekends consisted of healthy food and wine, not partying or going to strip clubs. However, I did have a feeling we were going to be visiting a club owned by Olivia’s cousin, the guy who also happened to be one of my patients, and extremely good-looking. He’d been trying to get me to visit there for months.
Cameron cleared his throat. “Well, it’s something that might interest you. I know you haven’t done it in a couple of years.”
There was only one thing that Olivia and I had in common . . .
“She wants to go golfing?” I asked, not really believing it. I used to be pretty good at it, but golfing was the last thing I expected her to want to do before her wedding. I figured she’d want to go away to a tropical island somewhere.
A laugh escaped his lips. “Yep. You’re all staying at the Emerald Dunes Golf Resort. That way she can be there to handle any wedding stuff that might come up. She thought a few days of golf would help her relax. Not to mention, they have the best spa around. Play a round of golf each day, and then soak up in the spa. How does that sound?”
Not too bad, actually. Luckily, one of Olivia’s three bridesmaids was a friend of mine, Harper Welch. The other two were her sorority sisters. Harper had been our neighbor and childhood friend growing up. We were inseparable, even when we’d all went away to college. “I’m sure I’ll manage,” I assured him. “I know Harper and I will have fun.”
“I’m counting on it.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “Tell Harper I said hello.”
“Will do. We’ll have to all get together for dinner once the wedding chaos subsides.”
He chuckled again. “Definitely.” A group of guys shouted in the background and he sighed. “I gotta go. Have fun.”
“You too.”
The line went silent, and my cell phone beeped inside my purse. There were two missed text messages. One from Harper, and the other from Olivia.
Harper: Looks like we’re playing golf the whole week. I suck at it!
I texted her back. She didn’t suck at it. Actually, she was pretty good, or at least, she had been when we last played a couple of years ago.
Me: You’ll do fine. It’s been just as long since I played, so we can be bad together. 😊
Harper: Kill me now. I’ll meet you at the resort. Say around 9 tonight?
Me: See you then!
I closed out and read the one from Olivia next.
Olivia: I’ve decided on a spa and golf WEEK! Hope you’re ready for some fun. Call me!
Taking a deep breath, I called her back, trying my best to get into the bachelorette frame of mine.
“Hey girl,” she greeted excitedly.
“Hey.”
“You ready for a wild week at the beach? I know it’s last minute, but you have a suite with your name on it.”
Her enthusiasm made me smile. I did need an extended vacation away, so I was sure as hell going to make the best of it. “I can’t wait.”
Chapter Three
Ashley
The second I saw everyone in the hotel lobby, my focus landed on Harper. She looked amazing in her off-the-shoulder, green silky blouse; it contrasted perfectly with her rosy skin tone and auburn hair. She met my gaze and shrugged. The other two bridesmaids, Sophia and Allie, were dressed in T-shirts that read Bridesmaid. It was obvious they’d planned the T-shirts without telling me or Harper.
Sophia had taken it hard that Olivia asked me to be her maid of honor, which was why she loved to throw me her uber bitch death glare as often as humanly possible. Under normal circumstances, I could get along with just about anyone, but Sophia and Allie were straight up she-devils from hell. I’d never come across two women who were so mean and spiteful. They needed a friend like Olivia to balance them out.
Harper walked away from the group and held out her arms. “Should we be offended?” she asked teasingly.
I hugged her and couldn’t help but laugh. “Not at all. We were part of the cool crowd in high school and college. Let them be miserable together.”
She burst out laughing. “They’ll grow up, one day. The stuck-up bitch act can only get you so far.”
“I hope so. I don’t understand how Olivia can be friends with them.”
She shrugged. “They were in the same sorority. Sisters for life.” Her eyes rolled, and she smiled. “I don’t give a rat’s ass about loyalty. If I was ever in a sorority and my sisters were complete and utter thundercunts, I wouldn’t have been friends with them.”
“That’s why you have me.”
Wrapping her arm around my shoulders, she squeezed. “Exactly. I wouldn’t trade you for anything. Well, maybe for your Prada shoes I could be swayed to give you up . . .”
“Hey.” I pushed her playfully. “I’m never letting you borrow those again.” I snuck a glance over at Olivia and the others, at their carefree smiles. It was as if they didn’t have a worry in the world. They were about five years younger than us – still in college – and beautiful as ever with their perfectly applied makeup and manicured nails.
There’d been a time I was like that, but with all the hours I worked at the clinic, it was hard to find the time to let go. The second I took over my father’s practice, he’d stressed how important it was to keep a good reputation. Which meant no wild and crazy nights at the clubs, even if I was still single. Most of the guys I dated were in the medical field and had as much personality as a wet mop. My ex, Daniel, was a lawyer and somewhat normal, until of course I found out what a whoremonger he was. The man hid his philandering well. Guess that was why he made such a successful lawyer.
Olivia waved at me and rushed over, flinging her arms around my neck. Her dark hair hung down her back, all silky and smooth, while her blue eyes twinkled in the light. There was so much excitement on her face, I couldn’t help but smile. It filled me with happiness to know my brother found someone who loved him as much as she did. “You’re here. We’re going to have so much fun.”
“I’m counting on it,” I said, trying my best to share her enthusiasm.
She let me go and nodded toward the hotel bar. “Oh, I plan on making sure you do. Cameron said it’s been forever since you’ve been out on the town. Just because you’re a doctor now, doesn’t mean it has to control your life.”
I snorted. “Tell that to your future father-in-law.” As far as taking time off, my father didn’t mind stepping in at the practice to lend a helping hand. Even my mother would work the phones if we needed her to. She was so busy helping with the wedding, I’d barely spoken to her in days.
Winking, Olivia looped her arm with mine and we started toward the bar. Harper walked along beside us, while Sophia and Allie already had their drinks. “I will,” Olivia stated adamantly. “The same goes for Cameron too. I’m glad he’s out fishing with the guys. Seems like forever since he’s done anything like that.”
