Romancing My Love (Love in Bloom: The Bradens) Contemporary Romance
Page 29
Jenna’s eyes were fixated on the guy. That was the Jenna Pete had hoped would talk to him, and now…Now he was getting pretty damn pissed off.
“Those aren’t local guys; they’re contractors,” he warned. “They probably have women in every town around here. Want me to intervene?” Jenna wasn’t his to protect. They’d never even gone out on a single date, but somewhere in his mind, despite his confusion, she was his. Summers to Pete meant six to eight weeks of seeing Jenna, and over the last two years, while his father buried his troubles in alcohol, seeing Jenna meant even more to him. But until this very second, he never realized how much he wanted her, or how much she meant to him. Joey turned her tongue on Pete’s chin. Frustrated, Pete lifted his face out of reach.
Leanna shook her head. “God. Look at her go.”
Look at her go? You think this is okay?
“Pete, have you heard something bad about them? Should we worry?” Amy’s voice was laden with concern. “Bella, maybe we should…”
Pete watched Jenna take her phone from her pocket and type something. A second later the blond guy took his phone from his back pocket and nodded.
“She gave him her number. I can’t believe it,” Leanna said.
“She wasn’t shitting us,” Bella said. “Damn, our girl’s getting her groove on.” She settled back in her seat and petted Joey. “Oh, Pete…tsk, tsk, tsk.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” He clenched his teeth so tight he thought they might crack.
“Nothing.” Leanna smacked Bella’s arm.
Bella set her eyes on him. “A woman like Jenna only comes around once in a lifetime.”
He was just beginning to realize how true those words were.
“Bella, don’t,” Amy warned.
Bella shrugged. “Just sayin’.”
He didn’t know what to make of the woman who was a wallflower around him and a sex kitten around a random dipshit in the street. Jenna sashayed back toward the table with a grin on her face. That was Pete’s cue to get the hell out of there before he was stuck listening to Jenna going on and on about that dipshit. He rose to his feet with Joey in his arms.
“Wait. Don’t leave,” Amy pleaded. “You didn’t get Joey her water.”
“I’ve got to get going.” With Joey in his arms, he headed off the patio. Jenna brushed past him without so much as a word, and it pissed him off even more. He couldn’t escape fast enough.
“Guess who’s going to the Beachcomber tonight? Oh my God. He’s even hotter up close.” Jenna’s voice echoed in his mind as he crossed the street to get Joey a bowl of water from Mac’s.
Holy Christ. Like I needed to hear that shit.
(End of Sneak Peek)
To continue reading, be sure to pick up the next
LOVE IN BLOOM release:
SEASIDE HEARTS, Seaside Summers
Love in Bloom series
Full LOVE IN BLOOM SERIES order
Love in Bloom books may be read as stand alones. For more enjoyment, read them in series order. Characters from each series carry forward to the next.
SNOW SISTERS
Sisters in Love (Book 1)
Sisters in Bloom (Book 2)
Sisters in White (Book 3)
THE BRADENS
Lovers at Heart (Book 4)
Destined for Love (Book 5)
Friendship on Fire (Book 6)
Sea of Love (Book 7)
Bursting with Love (Book 8)
Hearts at Play (Book 9)
THE REMINGTONS
Game of Love (Book 10)
Stroke of Love (Book 11)
Flames of Love (Book 12)
Slope of Love (Book 13)
Read, Write, Love (Book 14)
THE BRADENS
Taken by Love (Book 15)
Fated for Love (Book 16)
Romancing my Love (Book 17)
Flirting with Love (Book 18)
Dreaming of Love (Book 19)
Crashing into Love (Book 20)
SEASIDE SUMMERS (coming soon)
Seaside Dreams
Seaside Hearts
Seaside Sunsets
Seaside Secrets
THE RYDERS (coming soon)
Seized by Love
Claimed by Love
Swept into Love
Chased by Love
Rescued by Love
*Please note: The Bradens (II) and Seaside Summers are releasing in an alternating pattern (Fated for Love, then Seaside Dreams, then Romancing My Love, then Seaside Hearts, etc.)
More Books by Melissa
Chasing Amanda (mystery/suspense)
Have No Shame (historical fiction/romance)
Love, Lies & Mystery (3-book bundle)
Megan’s Way (literary fiction)
Traces of Kara (psychological thriller)
Where Petals Fall (suspense)
Acknowledgments
Writing about the Bradens is one of my greatest pleasures, and while that probably stems from coming from a large family, it’s bolstered by the support and encouragement of my readers. Thank you for insisting that I continue to bring more loyal, sexy characters into the fray. I look forward to eventually bringing you Hal and Adriana’s story, as well as Catherine’s, and catching up on all of the Braden clan.
I’d like to thank all of my supportive friends and family for their endless patience and encouragement. You’re an inspiration to me on a daily basis, and I appreciate your efforts.
It takes a village to bring a book to publication, and I’m so very thankful for the skills and efforts of my editorial and publication team. My editorial team and proofreaders make my work shine with their superb skills. Thank you: Kristen Weber, Penina Lopez, Jenna Bagnini, Juliette Hill, Marlene Engel, and Lynn Mullan. My cover designer, Natasha Brown, deserves accolades beyond anything I can imagine, as she has yet to bonk me over the head with a hammer for my never-ending tweaks and changes. Natasha, you’re a treasure, both in your design skills and your friendship. The technical process behind each publication is something that takes precision and meticulous care, and I am indebted to Clare Ayala for both her friendship and her mad formatting skills. If I had gold stickers, each of these women would be covered in them.
Last but never least, thank you to my husband, Les, and my youngest children, Jess and Jake, for allowing me the time to create my fictional worlds and being interested enough in what I do to talk with me about it on a daily basis. I love you to the moon and back. Twice.
Melissa Foster is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café, and when she's not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa also hosts Aspiring Authors contests for children and has painted and donated several murals to the Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC.
Visit Melissa on her website or chat with her on social media. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups and welcomes an invitation to your event.
Melissa’s books are available through most online retailers in paperback and digital formats.