Welcome to Pembrooke
the complete Pembrooke series
Jessica Prince
Copyright © 2019 by Jessica Prince
www.authorjessicaprince.com
Cover design by Jill Sava from
Love Affair With Fiction
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Contents
A Note From the Author
Discover Other Books by Jessica
Sweet Sunshine
Prologue
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
Epilogue
Coming Full Circle
Prologue
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
Epilogue
A Broken Soul
Prologue
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
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Epilogue
Sneak Peek of Wildflower
Discover Other Books by Jessica
About Jessica
A Note From the Author
The Pembrooke series is the perfect small town series. It has just the right amount of heat, emotion, angst, and laughs to keep you flipping the pages.
Welcome to Pembrooke will take you through the ups and downs of three couples in Pembrooke, Wyoming. There will be second chances, unrequited love, and so much more!
So hang on and enjoy the ride!
Love,
Jess.
*P.S. - this series is a spin-off from my book, Wildflower.
Discover Other Books by Jessica
HOPE VALLEY SERIES:
Out of My League
Come Back Home Again
The Best of Me
Wrong Side of the Tracks
Stay With Me
CIVIL CORRUPTION SERIES
Corrupt
Defile
Consume
Ravage
THE PICKING UP THE PIECES SERIES:
Picking up the Pieces
Rising from the Ashes
Pushing the Boundaries
Worth the Wait
THE COLORS NOVELS:
Scattered Colors
Shrinking Violet
Love Hate Relationship
Wildflower
THE LOCKLAINE BOYS (a LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP spinoff):
Fire & Ice
Opposites Attract
Almost Perfect
The Locklaine Boys: the Complete series
THE PEMBROOKE SERIES (a WILDFLOWER spinoff):
Sweet Sunshine
Coming Full Circle
A Broken Soul
GIRL TALK SERIES:
Seducing Lola
Tempting Sophia
Enticing Daphne
Charming Fiona
STANDALONE TITLES:
One Knight Stand
Chance Encounters
Nightmares from Within
DEADLY LOVE SERIES:
Destructive
Addictive
Sweet Sunshine
Book 1
She’s a romantic at heart.
Chloe Delaney had three very specific wishes, growing up. She wished to stay settled in the small mountain town of Pembrooke, where she grew up, to one day be her own boss, and to fall in love with a man who would be willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. With her roots firmly planted in Pembrooke’s soil and her bakery, Sinful Sweets, thriving, two of her wishes have already come true. When a handsome single father moves to town, she’s certain she’s found the man to fill the role of wish number three. The only problem is, you can’t force a frog to turn into a prince.
He isn’t the Prince Charming type.
When Derrick Anderson moved from Jackson Hole to the small town of Pembrooke, he did it determined to wipe the slate clean. After eight years spent trapped in a miserable marriage, he’s made a vow to never take the plunge again. He wants to be untethered, not tangled up in the strings that come with a committed relationship. He has his daughter, his career, and an ex-wife hell bent on making his life unbearable. His plate is already full. The only problem is, he didn’t have a plan in place to protect his heart from her.
Neither of them were prepared for the course their lives would take. But once a rollercoaster begins to move, you can’t just climb off, now can you?
The only thing they can do is strap in, hold on tight, and enjoy the ride.
Prologue
Chloe
I’ve never had the best of luck when it came to men. No matter how hard I tried, I always seemed to pick poorly. If there was a loser, a poser, a thief, or a cheater in my vicinity, I had a gift for snuffing them out.
That was the only reason I could think of as to why I was so embarrassingly hung up on Deputy Derrick Anderson. He wasn’t a loser, a poser, a thief, or a cheater — as far as I knew — but he was completely and undeniably unattainable.
Maybe that was why I was so pulled to him.
“You know,” my best friend Harlow started, “if you’d just talk to him you’d see he’s a normal guy, and you
wouldn’t have to be so socially awkward every time he’s in the same room.”
I looked over into my friend’s smiling eyes and glared. “I’m not socially awkward,” I insisted. “And I’ll have you know I have talked to Derrick. Plenty of times.”
“Oh, yeah?” she laughed.
“Yeah,” I replied somewhat angrily before turning my attention back to the people milling around Harlow and Noah’s backyard. It was Fourth of July weekend, and I swear to God, it seemed the entire town of Pembrooke was stuffed into their yard for a fun, family barbecue. But I only had eyes for one person.
Unfortunately, he didn’t even notice I existed.
“Well, if it’s any consolation, I totally think you two would look adorable together.”
That got Harlow another glare, because, really? The truth was Derrick Anderson was so far out of my league, he’d need a map to find me. That was, if he even had any interest in looking, which I doubted he did.
“You have to say that, you’re my best friend,” I grumbled.
“I mean it!” she insisted. “You’re cute! I’d totally do you.”
“And I’d totally watch,” her husband Noah chimed in as he walked by us with a platter of hamburgers ready for the grill. “Seriously, let’s make this happen. Name a time and place.” It was so nauseatingly sweet the way he stopped to plant a hard kiss on his wife’s lips before continuing on his journey.
I brought my beer to my lips and took a refreshing gulp. I didn’t know if it was the summer heat outside, or the fact that Derrick had taken off his t-shirt during a sweaty game of football with Harlow’s little brother Ethan and some of the other barbecue-goers, tucking it into the back of the pants, but suddenly my mouth was parched.
Jesus, he was so perfect, all hard muscles and chiseled lines, my fingers itched to draw him. Problem was, I couldn’t draw for shit. Looked like there wouldn’t be any Leo DiCaprio via Titanic reenactments going on any time soon. Bummer, ‘cause that was totally one of my fantasies.
“Oh my God!” Harlow laughed loudly. “Look at you! You’re totally smitten!”
I reached over and slapped her arm. “Shut up!”
“Okay, okay,” she grumbled, poking out her bottom lip in a pout as she rubbed her arm. “I’m just teasing. But seriously, Chlo, you’re gorgeous. Derrick would be insane not to want you.”
I let my eyes travel over my friend’s perfect frame. Even with a massive pregnant belly, there was no denying how stunning she was. All long, lean legs, flawless olive skin, and perfect, shiny dark hair. Harlow could have been a model, no doubt.
But me? Well I was short with round hips, a bubble butt, a big chest that was the bane of my existence, pale skin that fried with the smallest amount of sun, and unruly, reddish blonde hair. On top of all of that, I had a teeny tiny little potbelly I couldn’t get rid of no matter how hard I tried. And owning a bakery did nothing to help that.
I loved my pastries, so sue me.
“Harlow…” I started, but she cut me off, hearing the doubt in my voice.
“Don’t you Harlow me!” she chastised. “You’re gorgeous — you are!” she snapped when I rolled my eyes. “Any man, and I mean any man, would be lucky to have you. You hear me?”
I felt a smile curve my lips despite my misgivings. Harlow was just so damned passionate. “I love you,” I told her, leaning in to wrap my arms around her. She returned the embrace, squeezing tightly.
I heard an excited “Yes!” shouted from across the yard and turned my head to see Noah, his eyes on me and Harlow, with his arms raising up in the air in triumph.
“Not happening!” Harlow shouted back.
“Damn it!”
I laughed and took another pull from my beer as Harlow stood and made her way to her husband, her big, pregnant belly making her waddle adorably.
I finished off my drink and turned back to the football game going on a few yards away. God, Derrick really was the best looking man I’d ever laid eyes on. Then he threw his head back in laughter at something Ethan said and those looks just got even better. As I stood and walked to the cooler for another beer, my movements must have caught his eye. When he turned and offered me a sweet smile, my insides melted and my heart picked up a frantic pace.
But more than that, I began thinking what if.
What if Harlow was right?
What if he was interested in me?
What if I did have a shot?
What if, what if, what if.
In that moment, I started to hope. It was enough to get my feet moving in Derrick’s direction just as the football game came to a pause.
“Hey there, sunshine,” he grinned as I made my way to him. Just like every time I heard that name from his lips, I shivered with pleasure. I wasn’t lying when I told Harlow that Derrick and I had talked. We had. Our conversations just never held anything of substance. But that could be easily changed, right? All I had to do was push past my insecurities and awkwardness, and make that happen.
“Hey Derrick,” I offered nervously. “Having fun?”
He lifted one sculpted arm and brushed a bead of sweat from his forehead. The strong muscles in his bicep bulged beautifully and I was hit with a wave of yearning to reach out and run my fingers over his tan, glistening skin. “Yeah, it’s been great.”
Looking down at the cold bottle in my hands, I picked at the label with my thumbnail as I garnered up the courage to say what I truly wanted to say.
I sucked in a deep breath and dug deep for courage. “So, I was thinking… I don’t know if you’re busy… it’s cool if you don’t have time, but…” Jeez, Chloe, get your shit together and just ask him out already! I berated internally.
Before I even had a chance to finish that thought, Derrick spoke. “Yeah, sure. Sounds good.”
My gaze shot up at his distracted tone to find that his eyes weren’t even on me. Looking over my shoulder to see what held Derrick’s attention, I saw Tammy Bradford, the town doorknob, smiling at Derrick seductively. When I looked back at Derrick, the corner of his mouth was quirked up in a knowing grin as he kept his focus pinned on Tammy.
A sharp pain stabbed through my chest as my stomach dropped. And standing there in front of my insane crush, I felt my hope die a slow, agonizing death.
Derrick patted my arm and moved to step past me. “’Scuze me, Cathy, I’ll be back in a few.”
Cathy? What the hell?
He didn’t call me sunshine out of endearment. He did it because he couldn’t remember my actual name!
“Uh... y-yeah. See ya,” I stuttered as I fought to keep from bursting into tears. I couldn’t remember a time in my life where I’d ever felt more humiliated than just then. And I’d had a boyfriend clean out my checking account in college, for Christ’s sake!
This was so much worse.
My bottom lip began to tremble as I made my way through the large backyard and along the side of the house. My vision swam with unshed tears that I refused to let fall. Embarrassment and heartbreak fueled each of my steps as I made it to my car, thankfully, undetected.
I was such a fool to think someone like Derrick would ever be interested in someone like me.
As I put my car into gear and pulled away from the happy sounds of the party, my tears finally brimmed over and fell. All I could think was that I’d never make that mistake again.
1
Chloe
One Month Later
My feet were killing me. But that was par for the course when you started your day at four in the morning. Such was the like of a bakery owner. I rose long before the sun and spent hours baking away before ever opening the doors. It was exhausting, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I’d worked hard to build everything around me, and I was extremely proud of my little bakery, Sinful Sweets. I’d poured my heart and soul into the place, and it showed the moment you walked through the door.
The atmosphere was warm and inviting. I’d handpicked everything from paint color to décor all by myself an
d loved how it turned out. That didn’t mean I wasn’t dead on my feet come four o’clock.
And I still had three more hours until closing. The best gift I’d ever given myself was the massive, industrial espresso machine. Sure, I claimed it was for the bakery, and I made a mint off the coffee drinks the customers ordered. But mainly, it was my source of fuel for my long days.
Welcome to Pembrooke: the complete Pembrooke series Page 1
