Freed

by Phillips, Carly

  She’d found Braden—and in him she’d discovered someone who cherished her for the woman she was, not the one her father wanted her to be.

  She was alive. In love. Freed.

  Epilogue

  Juliette moved into the guesthouse on her aunt’s property, taking over the home Phoebe had once lived in, with the same stipulation, that she pay rent. She hadn’t found her independence only to go backward, and her aunt had understood.

  Braden, meanwhile, put his house up for sale and he hoped for a buyer so he could then find something more to his own liking. He had Phoebe selling his father’s place and Juliette staging it inside, and he hoped for a fairly quick result. In the interim, he went house hunting with Phoebe, in search of a family home, because one day, he wanted just that.

  A family with Juliette.

  They were in no rush. His city girl was just growing her wings and he had no desire to clip them in any way. He knew she was his and vice versa. The right time would come.

  Today, she was rushing around, getting the guesthouse ready for her first family gathering, a Labor Day get-together. This morning they’d visited with his dad, who was having longer periods of forgetfulness. He’d thought Juliette was his mother again. It saddened and hurt Braden, but he had to deal with the painful reality, and he was.

  With Juliette by his side.

  * * *

  As Juliette looked around the pool where she’d invited friends and family, family who were also friends, really, she couldn’t have imagined being in such an amazing place in her life two short months ago.

  Her sisters were here, Halley with Kane and their pup, Phoebe with Jake and Jamie, and Andi had come with her son, Nicky. Juliette and Andi had grown close since Juliette started staging homes, using the gorgeous floral arrangements at Andi’s shop for the homes Juliette worked in. They had lunch together often and they’d gone out for dinners. There were also Realtors who worked for Phoebe that Juliette had become friendly with, as well, who were also here today.

  Juliette had invited her father, with whom she had a strange sort of détente, because he was her parent and he had raised her. He had, of course, declined to come, citing his health, but Juliette knew better. She recognized real illness versus blatant attempts at manipulation on his part.

  As for their mother, she had taken a plea deal to turn in her dealer boyfriend and was once again serving time, but none of the sisters had a relationship with her.

  “Juliette!”

  Her name being called pulled her out of her musings and she recognized Halley’s voice.

  “What’s up?” she asked, turning to her sister.

  Halley and Kane walked over, her face practically glowing. “We have an announcement to make.”

  “Go right ahead,” Juliette said.

  Kane whistled, gesturing to gather everyone around.

  Halley waited until they all stood together and began to speak. “While we’re all gathered together, I have something to tell you.” She paused. “Well, we’re all here but Aunt Joy, but I told her my news before she left. So some of you might have noticed I’m not drinking alcohol tonight and that’s because… I’m pregnant!”

  The crowd broke out in applause. Halley blushed, her smile wide and Kane stood beside her, the couple brimming with happiness.

  “I’m thrilled for you!” Juliette grabbed her sister into a hug before turning her over to Phoebe.

  She stepped back so everyone could congratulate Halley and Kane, knowing what a big step this was for her middle sister. Her time in foster care had been so rough, opening up to the world in general hadn’t come easily for her. Had Juliette found Halley sooner, she might have discovered a much more introverted sibling. Thanks to Kane’s influence and love, Halley was more at peace with herself and the world. And now they were having a baby. It couldn’t happen to a better couple.

  “Fabulous news.” Braden nuzzled Juliette’s neck with his mouth and nose.

  “It really is,” she said on a wistful sigh. She wasn’t jealous of her sister. She had time before she was ready for that kind of step. But she wanted a family one day. With Braden.

  “Come with me.” Braden hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her aside, finding a secluded place near the pool house.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, bracing her hands on his shoulders.

  “Stealing a minute alone with you.” His hazel eyes danced with amusement, something that happened more often now that his father was settled and safe at Horizons and he didn’t have the constant worry on his mind.

  He kissed her lips, nipping with his teeth. “I hate having to share you with all these people.”

  In reality, they were juggling their time together between her work and Braden’s, friends, family, and his visits with his father. They both wished they could spend more hours together but they were making do. He slept over often, which made up for a lot.

  “You know I wanted to have this party as a thank-you for the way everyone opened their homes and their hearts to me when I arrived in Rosewood Bay. It’s a short party and they’ll be gone soon enough. Then we can have the whole place to ourselves. Even Aunt Joy is away on a trip. You know what that means.” She waggled her eyebrows at him.

  “Yeah, skinny-dipping at night.” He bumped his hips against hers, letting her know, with the strength of his erection, he appreciated her plan.

  She grinned and slicked her tongue over his lips. “I love you,” she told him.

  “And I love you. Now go. Mingle.” He tapped her on the ass and urged her to go back to the party.

  After another kiss, she headed back to join her family and friends.

  Juliette walked over to where Andi and Phoebe were talking, coming in mid-conversation.

  “So I hear there’s a new teacher for Nicky’s grade,” Phoebe was saying. “His name is Mr. Davenport.”

  Andi’s eyes grew wide. “Kyle Davenport?” she asked, sounding surprised.

  “As a matter of fact, yes.” Phoebe looked at her with a curious expression. “Do you know him?”

  “From a long time ago,” she murmured, sounding sad, almost wistful.

  “Well, I hear he’s hot,” Phoebe said. She nudged Andi with her elbow. “You never know. He could be the right guy for you.”

  The other woman rolled her eyes. “I don’t date,” she said. “I’m too busy with Nicky and work.”

  Juliette frowned, as did Phoebe.

  “And you know I think that’s a crock,” Phoebe said. “You’re gorgeous and have a great personality. You could get any guy you want and he’d be lucky to have you.”

  Juliette winced, knowing something in Andi’s past had caused her to erect walls when it came to men. Other than the little Kane mentioned about his sister, that she was better off now than she’d ever been when married, Juliette didn’t know anything about Andi’s past. And her new friend was as closed as a clam.

  And right now she was flushing red at Phoebe’s insistence on the subject.

  “Why don’t we talk about something else,” Juliette suggested. “Is Jamie excited about going back to school?” she asked Phoebe.

  “He wants to see his friends. Schoolwork? Not so much.” Phoebe laughed. “Typical, I guess.”

  “Excuse me,” Andi suddenly murmured and walked away, leaving them alone to continue their conversation.

  Juliette looked toward Andi, worried about her sudden mood shift and departure. She hadn’t wanted to push her, but in her heart, Juliette agreed with her sibling. Andi deserved to be as happy as Phoebe was with Jake, as Halley was with Kane, and as Juliette was with Braden.

  She caught sight of him talking to Jake. He met her gaze with a wink of his own and she sighed happily.

  Juliette’s life had never been so full. So perfect, she thought, and headed over to join the man she loved.

  Next up in the Rosewood Bay series – Andi’s story. Order DREAM today by clicking here and read a short excerpt below.

  DREAM
/>   Welcome to Rosewood Bay …

  As a little girl, Andrea Harmon hoped to marry the man of her dreams and live happily ever after. Instead she picked the high school bad boy who got her pregnant, then married and secretly abused her for years. Now, as an adult, Andi wished she’d listened to her best friend Kyle Davenport, who warned her about picking the wrong guy. As a result of her choice, she lost her closest pal and the life she could have had. Divorced now, she’s raising her son who means everything to her and she tells herself it’s enough. Until she meets her son’s new teacher …

  Kyle Davenport is back in town and Andi’s life will never be the same. Because he’s the man who used to be her everything and she’s missed him. He’s also now a charming, sexy guy who doesn’t know her painful secret. And she intends to keep it that way.

  Kyle never understood why Andi pushed him so far away he left town to get over her. She was his best friend but also his first love, not that she knew it at the time. Now that he’s back, he becomes determined to break through her walls and find the girl he used to know. And see what kind of future they can share. They’re sexually combustible and on their way to becoming a family when Andi’s ex returns and threatens the beautiful life she’s building. But this time Andi isn’t going gown without a fight and Kyle refuses to lose her again.

  Order DREAM today by clicking here.

  Chapter One

  Andi Harmon enjoyed afternoon parties, as they were rare in her life. As a single mom, full time manager of the town’s floral shop, In Bloom, and exhausted human being, she didn’t get out much for fun. Her brother, Kane, and his wife, Halley, were hosting the event for Halley’s recently found sister. And since they lived on the beach, Andi now stood overlooking the gorgeous bay, talking to Phoebe, another of Halley’s sisters, and Juliette, the guest of honor.

  She glanced out to where the boys, her 9 year old son, Nicky, and Phoebe’s 13 year old son, Jamie, were down by the water. She kept an eye on the kids as she talked to Phoebe about their upcoming school year. Juliette, who was new to town and didn’t have any children, just listened.

  “So I hear there’s a new teacher for Nicky’s grade,” Phoebe was saying.

  Andi knew the district would need to replace Mrs. Briggs, who was pregnant and had given notice that she wouldn’t be returning, but Andi had been out of the loop regarding a replacement. As a small district, they only had grade per year, so whoever the new person was, that would be her son’s teacher.

  “His name is Mr. Davenport,” Phoebe continued.

  Andi’s heart stopped at the last name. “Kyle Davenport?” she asked, her heart in her throat.

  “As a matter of fact, yes.” Phoebe looked at her with a curious expression. “Do you know him?”

  “From a long time ago,” she murmured, unwilling to put something extremely personal to her out for discussion. She was a private person, had learned to be of necessity.

  The last time she’d seen or spoken to Kyle had been to ask him to go away, to leave her alone, and not bother her ever again. Her heart squeezed at the memory of how she’d turned her back on her best friend. And though she’d had the most pure reasons in the world and had only been protecting him, he hadn’t known that. He’d just been aware of her rejection.

  “Well, I hear he’s hot,” Phoebe said, unaware that the more she spoke about Kyle Davenport, the more uncomfortable Andi became.

  Phoebe nudged Andi with her elbow. “You never know. He could be the right guy for you.”

  If Phoebe only knew the truth. Kyle had been her everything, from the time they were young until she’d gone and become infatuated with Billy Gray, high school quarterback and the guy every girl wanted to date. Be careful what you wish for, she thought now, because she’d caught Billy’s attention, and nothing had ever been the same.

  She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly chilled despite the warm day. “I don’t date,” she said, wanting this conversation to end. “I’m too busy with Nicky and work.”

  Juliette frowned at her abrupt comment, as did Phoebe.

  “And you know I think that’s a crock,” Phoebe said. “You’re gorgeous and have a great personality. You could get any guy you wanted and he’d be lucky to have you.”

  “Why don’t we talk about something else,” Juliette suggested, obviously catching on to Andi’s discomfort. “Is Jamie excited about going back to school?” she asked Phoebe.

  “He wants to see his friends. School work? Not so much.” Phoebe laughed. “Typical, I guess.”

  Shaken by the news that Kyle was not only back in town but would be her son’s teacher, Andi stopped listening to the conversation. She needed a few minutes alone to process and pull herself together.

  “Excuse me,” she murmured and walked to the far side of the back porch and leaned against the railing, breathing in the fresh salt air and exhaling again.

  Kyle had become a teacher? She sifted through what she remembered about him in her mind. A lover of books, good with his younger brother, and kind… Yes, she could see him becoming an educator, working with kids. The times she’d run into his mother, they’d avoided talking about Kyle. Martha probably understood that the issues and the pain ran deep. But whatever Kyle’s mom knew about what had happened between them, she’d always been kind to Andi through the years.

  Now she had to come face to face with her past and the lies she’d told. She wouldn’t blame Kyle if he still hated her for being so cruel to him when they were XXX(age). As much as she’d like to make things right now, to explain why she’d turned him away, that would be admitting how weak she’d been when it came to Billy, the horrible things she’d put up with while married to him.

  And those were secrets she never planned to reveal.

  Order DREAM today by clicking here.

  About the Author

  Carly Phillips is the N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of over 50 sexy contemporary romance novels featuring hot men, strong women and the emotionally compelling stories her readers have come to expect and love. Carly’s career spans over a decade and a half with various New York publishing houses, and she is now an Indie author who runs her own business and loves every exciting minute of her publishing journey. Carly is happily married to her college sweetheart, the mother of two nearly adult daughters and three crazy dogs (two wheaten terriers and one mutant Havanese) who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. Carly loves social media and is always around to interact with her readers.

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