Going All Inn (Faire Island Bride Series Book 1)

by Lizabeth Scott

  “I love him so much, Kimmie. I’m not saying adjusting to royal life is all tiaras and glass slippers. Believe me, it’s not. But I’d do anything to be with Milo and our child.”

  Lili does look like the cat that ate the canary. “I can’t believe you didn’t bring my godbaby. It’s hard to believe Bryson is going to be a year old soon.” I glance over to Lili and I know that look. “Lili, what’s wrong? Is it the baby?”

  She swallows and looks around to see if anyone is close enough to overhear. “I’m three days late,” she whispers.

  My hands go to my mouth and I squeal, “Oh, my God! You’re pregnant!”

  Lili slams her hand over my mouth. “Shhhh. I haven’t told Milo.”

  I nod and she removes her hand to reveal a very wide smile. “Lili, Bryson is only nine months old.”

  Her eyes well with tears. “I know. I know. I love our son, but I don’t know if I’m ready for a second. I don’t know how Milo is going to react and I don’t want to be fat again so soon. I haven’t even lost all my baby weight. Do you know how many attractive women Milo deals with on a daily basis? A ton.”

  “Do you hear yourself? That man loves you to distraction, Lili. Do you honestly think he even sees other women in that way?”

  Lili’s shoulders sag and she slowly shakes her head from side to side. “He doesn’t. I know he loves me and I know he would never jeopardize our relationship. It’s just…”

  “Hormones,” I finish for her. Our eyes meet and we both giggle at how ridiculous she’s being. Lili and Milo went through a lot to get their happily ever after. Nothing will ever come between them.

  “What’s up with Bode? I expected to meet him. Has he not come to his senses yet?”

  I sigh and lean back to take a sip of wine. “We were talking just before you arrived. He said he was here to apologize. That’s as far as we got. But you know, he can apologize all he wants, I don’t know if it will make a difference. He hurt me and made me feel like I didn’t matter.”

  Lili huffed. “Big talk from a woman in love. Come on, Kimmie, you are doing it again.”

  “Doing what? I have no idea what you are talking about.”

  “You’re usual MO is to push anyone away that starts to mean something to you. I, however, would not allow you to do that. I stuck like glue and always will. Now Bode, you have strong feelings for him.”

  “And he left me.”

  “So you are the only one allowed to have abandonment issues? I just wonder if he hadn’t gotten cold feet, how long would it have been before you pushed him away?”

  “I don’t know what...”

  “Yes, you do. You know exactly what I’m talking about. You said Bode was married and his wife left because she didn’t like living on the island. Can’t you see his side just a little bit? As much as you don’t like to admit it, being part of the Westmoreland family is a bit intimidating.”

  “But I’m not…”

  “Yes, you are a Westmoreland. Just like your brothers. You have nothing to prove because you already are a Westmoreland. You’ve fought against your family most of your life. So what if you don’t want to be in the hotel business? They aren’t going to love you any less for doing your own thing. Stop punishing yourself for being born. You had nothing to do with the circumstances of your birth and you need to stop blaming your mother. You are wanted, Kimmie. You have never been a mistake. You deserve to be loved. Don’t push Bode away for some mixed-up ideas in your head.”

  I stare into the night as the waves wash ashore. I don’t even notice when Lili gets up and leaves. She left me with too many truths. How could I not have seen it? I’ve held myself apart from my family. Me. I’ve done that. Any divide between us has been my doing. My father, my brothers, even my step mom have only loved me. But I couldn’t accept that. I didn’t feel I’d earned the right.

  Is that what I’m doing to Bode? The ocean waves call to me and I push up from my seat, kick off my shoes, and walk down to the beach. The cool sand beneath my feet grounds me. I’ve not gone far before I see a familiar shape in the distance walking towards me. I speed up because I have an uncontrollable need to touch him.

  We stop inches from each other. His eyes are shining in the moonlight and I can’t look away.

  Chapter 19

  Bode

  I bend to pick up a shell from the sand and pull my arm back and let it sail into the sea. I’d stood around and watched Kimberly with her friends and that man until I couldn’t take any more. I’m still determined to talk to her, but I’m going to wait until everyone is gone. Even if I have to sneak into her bedroom. Henrietta will let me in.

  A very familiar figure appears in the distance. I know that shape as well as I know my own. I’ve tasted every inch of it. I take off at a jog to reach her quicker because suddenly I can’t breathe until I’ve touched her.

  My heart is pounding as I draw nearer and I’m not sure it’s from physical exertion. It may simply be because of the look I see shining in her eyes. I stop in front of her and stare at her beautiful face. “Please tell me it’s not too late?”

  “Too late?” she asks.

  My jaw tenses and I speak from my heart. “That guy you’ve been with. I see how he looks at you. He loves you, but he can’t love your more or better than I do. You once told me that you didn’t accept our breakup. Well I’m telling you I don’t accept you moving on.”

  Kimberly gasps and then grins. “Bode, I need to clear something up. I think you have the wrong impression. That guy. His name is Tanner and he’s my brother.”

  “Your brother?” I ask, just to be sure I heard correctly. That was the best and worst news I could have heard. Good, because I know she hasn’t moved on and maybe she’ll give me another chance. Bad, because I treated her brother horribly. I even growled at him.

  She bites her lip and looks up at me. “You love me?”

  I reach out and take her hand in mine. The spark of desire I see on her face makes my heart beat faster. I tip her chin with my finger until she’s staring into my eyes. “I was cowardly and weak. I ran because I was scared you would leave just like Mandy left. I wasn’t enough to hold her here. She never could find her place although, honestly, she never really tried. I see that now.”

  I see the disappointment in her eyes. “I’m not…”

  I press a finger against her lips. “I let every one of my insecurities take hold and pull me under. I have two successful businesses that I started and grew. Not once did I doubt that I could do it. But then you come along and make me feel things I’ve never felt before. You made me want it all—with you. And what do I do? I run away because I didn’t think there was any way I would be enough for you. I cut you out of my life without ever asking what you want. That’s a huge failure on my part.”

  I let my finger drop from her mouth and she murmurs, “Are you asking now?”

  I lean in close until I can feel her breath on my face and my cock twitches in my shorts. “I love you, Kimberly. Madly. Deeply. Forever.”

  The tiny lines at the corner of her eyes crinkle and her lips tremble with emotion. “You love me.” She says again but this time not in the form of a question.”

  I stare deeply into her eyes. “I think I’ve loved you since I found you walking down the road, hitching a ride with a stranger,” I tell her and then admit, “I was just too afraid to trust my own heart. I fucked up so bad pushing you away, and I’m begging you to give me another chance. There’s no one I trust more with my heart than you.”

  I take her face in my hands and kiss her cheeks. She shivers beneath my hands. “I want a life with you, Kimberly. I want a home, and a family, and maybe even a few more chickens. I want to be the guy who is there for the happy times as well as the times we need to hold each other up. I didn’t think I could ever move away from Faire Island, but what I realized is that I can never leave you. I don’t care if we stay here or move away. As long as we’re together. You’re my home.”

  One single tear fa
lls from her gorgeous blue eyes and I catch it with my thumb and bring it to my lips. Kimberly takes a shaky breath and says, “That was a dick move to break things off. It was also poor form to assume I fit the same mold as your ex. We’ll circle back to that one later.”

  “I’m sure we will,” I tell her with a side grin.

  Kimberly laughs and the beautiful sound gives me hope that all is not lost. I feel calmer inside.

  “You really love me?” she asks.

  “Oh, sweetheart. It’s not just love I’m asking of you. I’m asking you for everything. I want… I need to give it all to you.”

  I stumble back, unprepared when Kimberly flies into my arms. She wraps her arms around my neck and burrows under my chin. I sigh because it’s been so long and I love it when she does that. I hug the shit out of her. I may never turn her loose.

  She wraps her legs around my waist and I slide my hands up her straining thighs. She pulls her head back and looks at me, her eyes glistening with tears. Happy tears, I hope.

  She takes my cheeks in her hands. “I forgive you and yes, I will give you another chance. I will always give you another chance because I love you. If you ever doubt, I’m going to remind you of how much that love encompasses. You’re it for me, Bode, and I’m not letting you get away. Ever again.”

  “I will only ever run towards you, Kimberly. Never again will I run away.”

  The smile on her sweet face gives back all the love I’m feeling and promises of a future together. “I love you, Kimberly.”

  “I love you, Bode,” she says and I can’t wait another second to get my mouth on hers. She opens and moans when I sweep inside and caress her tongue.

  I’m impatient. I want to lay her out on the sand and make slow sweet love to her body, but she deserves so much more than that. I tear my lips away from hers and pick her up as I will when she’s my bride.

  She cups my cheek and asks, “Where are we going, Bode?”

  I kiss her lips. “Home, my love. We’re going home. What I want to do to you requires a bed and a door with a lock.”

  Quietly we sneak inside the Inn, which is hard to do with Kimberly kissing any piece of my skin she can reach. I’m so hard I already don’t know if I can make this good for her. I’ve missed her so badly. A throat clearing has our heads popping up. A very large, angry looking man is standing in the lobby glaring at me as if I’m his next meal.

  Kimberly gasps and jumps from my arms. I try to push her behind me but then I stop cold when I hear her say…

  “Daddy, what are you doing here?”

  He takes a few threatening steps closer and points at me. “I think the better question is what is he doing here?”

  There’s nothing I can do but hold out my hand and say, “Hello, Mr. Westmoreland. My name is Bode Murphy and I am going to marry your daughter.”

  His eyes go to Kimberly and she snakes her arm through mine. I want to look at her, but I know to never show weakness in the eyes of a father.

  I can almost breathe when he breaks eye contact and looks to his daughter and asks, “Is this true, honey bee?”

  This time I do look at her and grin. “Honey bee?” I ask, finding the nickname endearing.

  She shrugs. “Dad always says I am in constant motion like a honey bee. I guess the name just stuck.” She looks up at her father. “I love him, Dad, and even if he asked me right this moment, I’d say yes.”

  My heart pounds in my ears. Mr. Westmoreland is completely forgotten as I turn and take Kimberly in my arms. “I am going to ask you to marry me, but not like this. You deserve a romantic proposal complete with a ring and a promise of my undying love.”

  Kimberly looks up into my eyes from beneath her damp lashes and wraps her arms around my neck. The look of love on her face takes my breath away. It’s a look I want to see daily for the next sixty years at least.

  “I don’t need any of that, Bode, but I understand it's important to you so I’ll be patient and wait. But just so you know, the answer will be yes.”

  I take her face in my hands and press my lips to hers. Neither of us notice when her father leaves or when I carry her to her bedroom. But all the many times I love her through the night? Those we will forever remember.

  What’s up next?

  Love Over Easy Faire Island Brides, Book 2

  https://lizabethscottbooks.com/love-over-easy

  What happens when an award-winning chef with secrets moves to Faire Island and reopens the marina diner? Will her culinary delights be a hit or will she need to reinvent herself and her menu? And how did she end up in jail with the incredibly handsome and mouthwatering sheriff as her captor?

  Behind the Book Stuff

  This is the unedited, straight from me, part of the book where I get to let loose and tell you about what was going on behind the story.

  The idea for Faire Island Brides came to me a few years ago after reading a news article about an island that was in a similar situation. I couldn’t get the idea of how that might actually look out of my head. Then all the possibilities for story ideas started happening. I started planning out this series in 2019. I was ready to start in January of 2020 but I found out my readers wanted a second generation of my first, The Royal Vow series. I hadn’t planned to go there but you spoke and I listened. I pushed Faire Island Brides to the back burner and all through 2020 I wrote in the Royal Heirs world.

  Now I’m diving into this fun and happy series. It is very much needed after the drama of the Royal Heirs series. Yes, you will get book 6, Tempting Fate, at the end of the year. You can find out more info on Tempting Fate HERE or https://lizabethscottbooks.com/tempting-fate.

  There are several scenes in this book that had me in tears as I was writing. The chicken scene was one of them. I grew up on a farm so I do have a history with chickens. A few years ago a friend, who is an author, asked me about chickens for one of her books it amazed me she had no idea how they reproduced. That wasn’t her question by the way but we got to talking and it evolved.

  I stuck that conversation in the back of my rolodex mind to pull out when needed. I thought it fit perfectly for Kimberly. I can just see Kimberly waking up to a chicken’s beady eyes and rolling off the bed. And then when she collected eggs and put them in a box for Henrietta to sit on had me laughing out loud. Kimberly actually thought they were going to hatch. Ahhh, that was fun.

  I had a hard time putting Kimberly in the uninhabited dirty inn that first night. I mean, I wouldn’t have stayed there. Would you? But Kimberly is a very strong woman and to me, she needed to take charge and not have an issue with staying in a spooky old inn. When the knocking started, I would have sprinted out the door. But Kimberly stuck around and dealt with the issue.

  Did you have a favorite line in the story? I do and I had no idea what I was writing until I read it. When Kimberly and her new friends are at the bar and she says she couldn’t carry a tune even if it was in a Michael Kors bag. That cracked me up.

  And I loved how the men of the community introduced themselves to Kimberly by giving her their attributes for why they would be a good catch. That really confused her and she thought it was an island custom.

  This twist about the papers found in the newel post. You will be getting more clues throughout the series. Hey, did you know that’s a real thing? Long ago when someone paid off their mortgage, they would hide the deed in the newel post. I found that out from one of my beloved HGTV shows. But I couldn’t have Kimberly find the deed. She needed something curious and a beginning point for building on.

  Well, I hope you enjoyed your first introduction to Faire Island. I have lots more yummy goodness planned. If you enjoyed the story, please consider leaving a review on Amazon, Goodreads and/or Bookbub. That will help other readers find me and this story. Of course, word of mouth or socials are awesome too. I’d love it if you mentioned me and this story to your friends!

  Guess who’s now on TikTok? This girl! You can find me at: @lizabethscott

  Thank yo
u so very much for spending a few hours reading my book and I’m looking forward to sharing the next one with you.

  XOXO,

  Liz

  You Might Like

  The Royal Heirs Series

  Over Ruled

  Silent Surrender

  Royal Surrender

  Surrender to Love

  Undeniably His

  Tempting Fate

  Faire Island Bride Series

  Going All Inn

  Love Over Easy

  Heart & Soul Series

  Cuddle Buddies

  The Royal Vow Series

  Sweet Royal Beginnings

  Sweet Surrender

  Sweet Denial

  Sweet Seduction

  Sweet Temptation

  Sweet Destiny

  Hearts of Gold Series

  A Sheik for Rose

  A Star for Annie

  A Cowboy for Mary

  Dirty Ankle Series

  You Promised Me Forever

  Kissed Series

  Snow Kissed by the Billionaire

  Chased by the Billionaire

  Sun Kissed by the Billionaire

  French Kissed by the Billionaire

  Love at White Oaks

  Heartbreaker

  Troublemaker

  Mastermind

  Hothead

  Love in Transit

  Ticket to Forever

  Ticket to Pleasure

  Ticket to Desire

  Ticket to Romance

  Connect with Liz on

  Website: LizScottBooks.com

  Facebook: LizabethScottAuthor

  Twitter: @LScottBooks

  Instagram: lizabethscottauthor

  BookBub: bookbub.com/authors/lizabeth-scott