Whispers at Seaside

by Addison Cole

  “Cue the music!” Evan hollered from the far end of the candlelit aisle, where he stood with a video camera in his hands and Serena and Jana’s sister Harper by his side. Matt hadn’t even seen the two women come over the dunes.

  His heart rate sped up as the “Wedding March” rang out and Serena and Harper took their places on the brides’ side of the altar. They’d modified the procession to suit their group, and Bea, Summer, and Hannah appeared at the crest of the dune in their pretty seafoam-green dresses, each carrying a basket. Matt hoped to one day have a little girl who looked just like Mira. Their mothers stepped up behind them and reached for their hands. Jenna, Bella, and Amy wore similar knee-length dresses. As they made their way down the aisle, the little girls threw rose petals into the sand.

  Sloan and Dustin, both two years old, appeared on the dune in their tan pants and white button-down shirts. Leanna and Jessica took their little boys’ hands and led them down the aisle. Each little boy also carried a small basket, which they’d deemed safer than a pillow with a ring on it.

  Matt squared his shoulders, trying to calm his breathing as he waited for his bride to appear. He dug his toes into the sand to keep from sprinting up the dune to find Mira—the entire wedding party was barefoot. The wait felt interminable. Just when he was sure he’d stop breathing or take off in search of her, she appeared with Hagen at her side, smiling like he was the happiest little boy in the world. He beamed up at his gorgeous mother, holding tightly to her hand and gripping the handle of a basket, which Matt knew contained their wedding bands. Mira’s beautiful dark hair fell in loose, natural waves over her shoulders as she leaned down and kissed Hagen’s cheek. Her short, blush-colored, shimmery wedding dress blew in the breeze. The tank-style dress gathered at the waist in silky layers, accentuating her feminine curves. A ruffle of chiffon danced behind her, delicate and transparent, and as she and Hagen walked down the dune, he noticed pretty white beaded flowers that seemed to sprout from her toes and snake and swirl over her foot to her ankle. When they reached the sandy path that would bring them to the altar, her eyes traveled to Matt’s, and his heart turned over in his chest.

  MIRA WANTED TO remember every second of this evening, from the scent of her gloxinia bouquet and the feel of Hagen’s hand in hers, to the glimmer of happiness in his baby blues. She inhaled the scents of the sea—and our future—and listened to the oohs and ahhs of their family and friends as she and the girls made their way down the aisle. She’d already memorized the layout of the pretty white tables layered in seafoam green and peach, with pretty shell and flower centerpieces Lizzie had made. And as she approached the stunning altar that Matt’s brothers had made and Lizzie had decorated with streams of white, peach, and seafoam-green silk, with greenery and flowers decorating the corners and the peak at the center, it wasn’t any of those things that were etching into her mind. It was the love and bottomless happiness emanating from the man of her dreams, who had worn the sexy black-framed glasses that made her insides go hot. Her heart was clawing its way through her chest to reach him as they took their place across from him. Matt blew her a kiss and mouthed I love you, then winked at Hagen and mouthed the same. If Hagen weren’t holding her hand, she thought she might float right up to cloud nine.

  The brides had each worn short, summery dresses in chiffon and silk, though none of them wore white. Jana wore lavender, and Sky wore teal. Parker’s dress was sky blue, which looked amazing with her long blond hair. Mira had chosen blush, to signify what happened to her every time she looked at her handsome groom.

  Serena stepped up and took Hagen’s hand, bringing him beside her, a step behind Mira. Mira’s heart was beating so fast. Matt’s riveting gaze held her in place throughout the ceremony, until the very moment Theresa said, “You may kiss your brides.”

  Matt swept Mira into his arms and said, “Hold on tight, sunshine. I’m going to kiss you for the rest of your life.”

  They kissed and danced and kissed some more. Mira had never been so happy, and as she and Matt danced for the hundredth time, Hagen and the children played with Sky’s friend Cree, who’d offered to help entertain the kids. She caught sight of Rick and Harper chatting by the buffet table with Theresa and Neil. Matt’s father had a coy look about him, a flirtatious look. The Seaside girls danced with their husbands, and Matt’s siblings were right in the thick of it. This was her new family. Their new family.

  “Think love is in the air?” Matt asked, glancing in the other direction, at Serena and Brandy talking with Brock, Dean, and Dean’s brother Jett.

  “Which couple?” Mira asked.

  Neil led Theresa to the area where everyone was dancing, and they blended right in.

  “You tell me.” Matt smiled, eyeing his father, and then he nodded toward Drake, who was watching Serena talking with Jett. Drake looked like he was chewing on nails.

  Mira laughed. “What is it about guys wanting what they can’t have?”

  “I don’t know, sunshine. I’ve got more than I ever dreamed of.”

  As the music played and the evening took on a magical feel, Pete and Jenna sidled up to Matt and Mira, followed by Bella, Caden, Amy, and Tony.

  “Check out Pop,” Pete said to Matt.

  “He looks happier than he’s been in a long time,” Matt said. “Did you know he could dance?”

  Pete shrugged.

  “Well, I’m happy for him,” Mira said. “He looks so…”

  “Comfortable?” Bella offered. “It looks like they’ve been dancing together for years.”

  Jenna wrapped her arms around Pete’s waist. “They’re cute together. Don’t you think, Petey?”

  Pete smiled and kissed her.

  “She told us she didn’t know how to dance, remember?” Amy said. “When we asked her if Jana could use the recreation room for her dance studio.”

  “That’s right,” Bella reminded them. “Jana even offered to teach her.”

  When the song ended, Hunter, Grayson, Sky, and their new spouses joined them.

  “How long’s this been going on?” Hunter asked Pete.

  “How do you know there’s anything going on?” Sky asked.

  Pete shushed them as their father and Theresa headed their way.

  “You guys looked great out there,” Mira said. “Theresa, you didn’t tell me you were an ordained minister and an amazing dancer.”

  “I thought you told me you didn’t know how to dance,” Jana said to Theresa.

  Theresa raised her brows. “Did I? Hm. Maybe I’m not an ordained minister either.” She walked away with a slight smirk on her lips, leaving them all slack-jawed.

  “Wait, what?” Mira said. “She’s not a minister?”

  “Oh my gosh. We’re not really married.” Jenna gasped and glared at Bella. “This is all your fault. You had to prank her for all those years.”

  Not married? No. No, no, no. Mira’s heart sank.

  “I…but…ohmygosh.” All the color drained from Bella’s face. “I’m so sorry.”

  “You guys,” Amy said, her eyes wide. “If we’re not married, then we have children out of wedlock. Holy fudgenuggets! My family’s going to flip out. Tony?” She grabbed his arm, her eyes imploring him to fix this mess.

  Tony gathered her in his arms, leveling a serious stare in Theresa’s direction. “We’ll figure this out, kitten. Don’t worry.”

  “We’re not really married?” Mira turned to Matt, feeling lost and on the verge of tears.

  “I’ve got this.” Matt took a step toward Theresa, but Theresa turned and headed back toward them. He put an arm around Mira, and she was glad, because she thought she might crumble to the ground in a million brokenhearted pieces.

  “Theresa…?” Jenna’s voice hung in the air.

  A slow smile crept across Theresa’s lips. “Gotcha!”

  There was a collective exhalation.

  “Of course you’re really married!” Theresa put her hands on Bella’s shoulders and stared into her eyes while the r
est of them tried to put their hearts back in their chests.

  “You know you scared the heck out of us, right?” Bella said flatly. “That was cruel.”

  “Bella, my dear girl, you have been pranking me since you were a teenager, and then this summer…nothing.” Her face went serious. “My summer has been excruciatingly boring without constantly waiting for your clever mind to figure out just how to prank me.”

  Neil hiked a thumb over his shoulder at Theresa. “I like this one.” He reached for Theresa’s hand, guiding her into his arms for another dance.

  “Someone’s got to keep them on their toes.” Theresa shook her head. “Kids these days. They have no idea how to do a prank, do they?”

  Matt lifted his brows. “What the he…?”

  Pete patted him on the back and said, “Welcome to Seaside, bro. Get used to it. There’s never a dull moment.”

  He pulled Mira into his arms, both of them finally laughing at Theresa’s prank. “What would you have done if we weren’t really married?”

  “Cried and eaten half the cake. What about you?”

  “Gotten you and Hagen on the next flight to Vegas to tie the knot. You’re mine, sunshine, and no prank in the world can keep us apart.”

  Ready for more seaside fun?

  Enjoy a preview of Sweet Love at Bayside

  Sweet with Heat: Bayside Summers

  Chapter One

  DESIREE CLEARY STOOD at the end of a jetty at Indian Neck Beach, watching three brawny guys race around Cape Cod Bay on Jet Skis while she FaceTimed with her best friend, Emery Andrews. She had known Emery since first grade, and she was the only person who would understand why, after driving for more than twelve hours, Desiree was standing on that jetty, pretending to be on vacation, instead of facing the woman who had summoned her to Wellfleet.

  “I should have come with you,” Emery insisted. “You’re at the beach, and I’m stuck here teaching yoga and Pilates to people who go home and eat entire pizzas afterward. Not that I’m only thinking of me. I’m just saying. I could be your backbone when you see your mother. You know, make sure you don’t wimp out on telling her how cruel it was to go months without any contact and then send you that email.”

  Emery had a right to be upset. She’d been there for Desiree for more than twenty years, picking up the pieces of Desiree’s broken heart after short, awkward, visits with her mother. Lizza Vancroft had been breezing in and out of her life since Desiree was five years old. Desiree was used to hearing from her mother only once or twice a year, but her most recent email had taken the cake. She’d read the cryptic message dozens of times, as concerned as she was annoyed. I need you to come to Wellfleet and run my art gallery for the summer. It might prolong my life. She hadn’t even known Lizza was ill, much less owned a gallery and had been living in the States.

  “I’ll be fine,” she said, though she wasn’t sure she believed it. After Desiree’s parents had divorced, Lizza had taken off to teach overseas with Desiree’s half sister, Violet, leaving Desiree to live with her father. Some small part of her was still waiting for her mother to make amends for leaving her behind. “I just need a few minutes to get my head on straight before facing her.”

  One of the Jet Skis headed directly for another, swerving at the last second to avoid a collision. “Holy cow. Someone is going to get killed. Look at these guys.” She held up her phone to show Emery the crazy Jet Skiers. “Who does that? It’s so dangerous.”

  “Hot Jet Skiing guys who thrive on danger. My kind of guys, and your perfect distraction.” Emery waggled her brows.

  “I don’t need a distraction. Lizza is almost a stranger to me. It’s like I’m waiting to get bad news from someone I met a few times but don’t really know.”

  “I know. Your mother is as flighty as a fairy, and I’m sure right now you wish you were wired like her and Violet instead of being responsible and organized to the nth degree, like your father,” Emery said. Spot-on, as always. “Then you could be the one who was living overseas working with one nonprofit or another without Internet or a care in the world, like Violet, instead of procrastinating the unleashing of a nest of demons you’ve spent years tamping down.”

  “You’re so dramatic.” Desiree smiled, thankful for Emery’s teasing.

  She had no idea whether Violet would be there when she arrived. Though she and Violet had grown up on opposite sides of the world, they had spent a few weeks together at the Cape each summer with their grandmother. At least they had until they were teens and one or the other had found better things to do, most years whittling those weeks down to just a few days. They’d kept in touch only sporadically during college, and before their grandmother’s funeral last winter, it had been more than three years since Desiree had seen Violet or their mother. But that didn’t mean Desiree hadn’t always wished for a relationship with her sister, despite how different they were.

  “That’s why you love me.” Emery flashed a cheesy smile. “Seriously, though. You need to just go see Lizza and get it over with. And you should probably be glad I’m not there. Because as far as I’m concerned, her email was infuriating, unfair, and heartrending.” Emery’s eyes narrowed. “I’d like to give her a piece of my mind.”

  “So would I,” Desiree admitted. “But I won’t.” A breeze swept off the bay, lifting the ends of her dress. She pushed it back down, catching a glimpse of one of the Jet Skiers slowing to watch her. As if she wasn’t nervous enough today?

  “I know. You’ve got the biggest heart on the planet. We need a plan. You do best with plans.” Emery tucked her brown hair behind her ear and leaned closer to the screen, like she was sharing a secret. “Tonight, after you get your heart torn to shreds, since I’m not there to help heal your mama-wounds, please get yourself a nice bottle of wine and a big man. I promise that will help ease whatever pain she throws your way.”

  “Don’t you mean a big bottle of wine and a nice man?” Desiree asked, as the Jet Skier who was watching her broke away from the others and sped past.

  “Definitely not. You don’t need a nice man. I know you think you want romance and all the mushy stuff like flowers, candy, and midnight walks.” Emery flashed her don’t-even-try-to-tell-me-otherwise scowl. “But trust me. You need a man who takes control, whose kisses turn you inside out and make you forget about your crazy mother.”

  She wrapped her arms around her middle, listening to the roar of the lone Jet Ski cutting tracks in front of her and wondering about kisses that turned a woman inside out. She had yet to experience anything like that, but Emery talked about them like she’d had enough to share. Maybe it was time to expand her horizons.

  “Hello?” Emery said. “Think you can look at me and stop watching the hot Jet Skiers for two minutes?”

  Desiree laughed. “Like you’d ever look at me instead of a guy? Besides, I’m only watching one, because he’s watching me. The other two are long gone.” She held up her phone again, showing her the hot guy with dark hair keeping time with her as she paced the jetty.

  “You’re so lucky. Go take hot Jet Ski guy for a ride and show up late to see Lizza.” Emery waggled her brows. “For all you know, she’s not even at your grandmother’s house waiting for you.”

  That was true. Lizza and Violet still hadn’t replied to her messages. But that didn’t change the fact that Desiree wasn’t a jump-in-the sack-with-a-stranger kind of girl. “That’s just what I need. A reckless adrenaline junkie before seeing Lizza. No thanks.”

  Emery turned away from the phone. “I have to go. My date is here.”

  “You have a date? With who?”

  “One of the reckless, adrenaline-junky Jericho brothers. I’ll let you try to figure out which one.” She blew Desiree a kiss. “Listen, babe. Take my advice. Go for the Jet Ski guy; then you’ll be nice and relaxed when you see Lizza. Call if you need me. Love you!”

  Desiree ended the call, and the guy trailing her on the Jet Ski zoomed past. He made a sharp turn and headed back, eyes locked on h
er, making her heart race. Maybe letting loose for a night was just what she needed. One night of uninhibited anything would be a first. The Jet Ski turned again, taking another, faster pass, the hot guy’s eyes still trained on her. Butterflies took flight in her stomach. He was obviously interested. Maybe…

  He turned again and headed straight toward the jetty.

  Straight for her.

  Uh oh. How long had she been staring at him? What was I thinking?

  She tried to act casual, looking at the boats, the sky, anywhere but at the man on the machine as she made her way along the rocks toward the beach. He fishtailed, spraying water in her direction. She shrieked and turned away as water rained down on her.

  No, a reckless man was definitely not what she needed.

  To continue reading, please buy SWEET LOVE AT BAYSIDE

  More Books By The Author

  Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers

  Read, Write, Love at Seaside

  Dreaming at Seaside

  Hearts at Seaside

  Sunsets at Seaside

  Secrets at Seaside

  Nights at Seaside

  Seized by Love at Seaside

  Embraced at Seaside

  Lovers at Seaside

  Whispers at Seaside

  Sweet with Heat: Bayside Summers

  (Includes future publications)

  Sweet Love at Bayside

  Sweet Passions at Bayside