“You are where you belong.”
“Home.”
The End
~Sneak Book ~
Anywhere With You
Book Two
by
Danielle Jamie
Since the day I packed everything I owned into the back of a Volkswagen van—yes the cliché hippy van. I saw it once in a photo on Pinterest and fell in love with it. I knew it was the vehicle I needed for my road trip out of Lincoln, Nebraska. I searched Craigslist for months as I worked at the local grocery store in my hometown saving up money to buy the van. Finally after saving up enough to buy the van and have enough for my road trip, I set out on my journey to California and never looked back.
One year later after I walked the stage of my high school and received my diploma I finally found the van of my dreams sure it needed some fixing up but in my eyes it was the stepping stone to my freedom. From the age of seven I lived in foster care. I never knew my dad and my mother never put his name on my birth certificate so when she passed from a drug overdose I had nowhere to go. My grandmother was in a nursing home with Alzheimer's and my mother had no other immediate family to take me in.
I always hoped I’d finally find my forever family but sadly that never happened. When I turned fifteen I gave up on the idea and instead started working to save up for the day I turned eighteen and would finally be able to set out into the world on my free from social workers, and bratty kids who constantly invaded my privacy and stole my belongings.
Now at the age of twenty I’m living my dream. It isn’t glamorous but it’s perfect for me. I’m on my own. I have a roof over my head. I have the best friend a girl could ask for which is my little mini dachshund I rescued last year from the local shelter. Her name is Blue and she is the only family I have or need. I live in Newport Beach, California in a small apartment above a diner I work for. It’s not much but the way I look at it I’m walking distance to the beach and it’s better than living in my van.
I live and breathe surfing. I took lessons when I first moved here from a guy I met at the beach one day. We ended up dating for a year but he moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting so now I’m currently single.
Right now the sun is shining and more than likely there’s some killer waves down at the beach but instead of taking advantage of this beautiful summer afternoon, I’m at work taking orders and pouring cup of coffee after cup of coffee. I have an hour left for my shift and then I’ll finally be able to get out of here and join a few of my friends for a few hours of fun in the sun followed by dinner at our favorite sea side restaurant that serves the best in freshly caught seafood.
Until then I’ll have to be satisfied with getting to enjoy the warm rays as I go outside to the outdoor seating and take orders.
With my notepad in my apron I walk out of the air conditioned diner and into the warmth and sunshine. The outdoor seating is made up of a bunch of picnic tables with large umbrellas in the middle for shade. It’s the seating of choice when it isn’t too hot outside during our lunch and dinner hour. Right now it’s packed with people at every table. Most are our regulars with a few being more than likely tourists.
As I make my way around with a coffee pot in my hand, I give a few tables refills before approaching a table that is empty all but one person. He’s dressed in dark jeans, a concert t-shirt and a black Hurley ball cap. Must be he’s one of those dark emo people. Me I’m the total opposite. Everyone who knows me says my name suits me perfectly because I’m warm, colorful and like a ray of sunshine. I’m probably the happiest person you’ll ever meet. Even with everything I’ve been through I don’t find it reason enough to let it get me down.
The way I look at it there’s always tomorrow. Today may suck. But you always have tomorrow to look forward to. Make tomorrow better than today and things will always be looking up.
“Hi, I’m Summer and I’ll be your waitress today. Can I start you off with a cup of our favorite house blend coffee?” I ask Mr. Dark and Brooding, sweetly, flashing him a mega-watt smile.
He glances up at me over his menu at first looking disinterested and dropping his eyes back down the list of food item, but then quickly snapping them back up to mine. I feel my heart flutter in my chest and butterflies flutter frantically in the pit of my stomach as a small, stunning smile spreads across his lips.
Now that I can see his face which he was hiding a moment ago beneath his hat, I have to say he is the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. For a moment I try to place his face because it seems familiar for some reason but I can’t place from where.
“Why, hello Summer. I’m Killian, and I’d love a cup of coffee.”
Pouring his cup I try to steady my shaking hand. I feel his eyes on me only making me that much more nervous. I meet hot surfer type guys all the time here. Normally they’re the type I go for, but there’s just something about this Killian guy that makes my heart skip a beat with just the slightest smile.
“Here you go, Killian. Cream and sugar are on the table. Do you know what you want or would you like some more time?”
Leaning back he give me a cocky smirk as he sets the menu down on the table. “I’ll have a bacon burger with fries—and possibly a date with the most beautiful girl in all of Newport Beach?”
I choke out a cough in between laughing. Wow. He is bold. Nothing like putting a girl on the spot.
I glance around nervously trying to look anywhere but at him because my cheeks are burning from blushing so hard. Crossing my arms I smile down at him, “Burger and fries coming right up...and my shift ends in an hour.” With that I spin on my heels and walk quickly back inside to hand in his order and try to catch my breath as I wrap my head around what just happened out there.
I glance around the nervously trying to look anywhere but at him because my cheeks are burning from blushing so hard. Crossing my arms I smile down at him, “Burger and fries coming right up...and my shift ends in an hour.” With that I spin on my heels and walk quickly back inside to hand in his order and try to catch my breath as I wrap my head around what just happened out there.
Acknowledgments
Special thanks again to my family for accepting the laundry not being done or put away so I can get my writing done. Love you so much!
My Indie family, you continue to grow and I couldn’t be more thankful for you all. I have this chance to work with authors I love and new author friends. I love you all!
My Ladies – thank you all for still being a part of my life. Although we don’t talk or chat as much I know you are there and you know I’m here for each other.
My Indie Author group Ana L. Zaun, Antoinette Villelli Candela, Carey Heywood, Author Chelle C. Craze, E.k. Blair, Eugene Dinescu (CEO), Julie Hill, Author L Chapman, Megan Hand, Melissa Collins, Michele Stratton, Mindy Guerreiros, S Moose and Suzanne Soneira.
My awesome beta readers who tell me the love my characters and my story. Pam Schaffer, your help and support is endless. Megan McDonald, I thank you for reading and loving it.
My editor, Jennat Beyond the Cover Editing. Lady to kick ass up to the last second of my need to finish and publish and the very last minute. I’ll try to stop doing that. I’ll try
My cover designer, Kari at K23 Design. Thank you so much for everything!
Ada Frost for helping me through the hell of formatting on the release day from HELL! <3
The ladies of the HERS group for jumping on this crazy train with me – THANK YOU!
-Check out the pages of my fellow HERS series authors pages and make sure to check out their upcoming addition to the series -
The Happy Endings Resort Series FB Page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Happy-Endings-Resort-Series/793762117371160
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Danielle Jamie
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Antoinette Candela
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Liv Morris
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Kari March
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Renee Ericson
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Neeny Boucher
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Heather Gunter
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Brandy Lynn
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Isabella Bearden
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Nickie Seidler
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The Inheritance (Happy Endings Resort Book 1) Page 10
