Bayside Promises

by Stacy Claflin

  Also by Stacy Claflin

  An Alex Mercer Thriller

  Girl in Trouble

  Turn Back Time

  Little Lies

  Curse of the Moon

  Lost Wolf

  Chosen Wolf

  Hunted Wolf

  Broken Wolf

  Cursed Wolf

  Secret Jaguar

  Fall Into Romance

  Lost in Romance

  Gone

  Gone

  Held

  Over

  The Gone Trilogy

  Dean's List

  Indigo Bay Sweet Romance Series

  Sweet Dreams

  The Hunters

  Seaside Surprises

  Seaside Heartbeats

  Seaside Dances

  Seaside Kisses

  Seaside Christmas

  Bayside Wishes

  Bayside Evenings

  Bayside Promises

  Bayside Destinies

  The Hunters: A Collection

  The Transformed

  Deception

  Betrayal

  Forgotten

  Ascension

  Duplicity

  Sacrifice

  Destroyed

  Transcend

  Entangled

  Dauntless

  Obscured

  Partition

  Fallen (The Transformed Prequel)

  Silent Bite: A Transformed Christmas

  Hidden Intentions

  Saved by a Vampire

  Sweet Desire

  Standalone

  The Transformed Series - Four Books

  The Transformed Box Set

  No Return

  Tiny Bites

  Haunted

  Dex

  Contents

  Title Page

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  Twenty-Five

  Twenty-Six

  Twenty-Seven

  Twenty-Eight

  Twenty-Nine

  Thirty

  Thirty-One

  Thirty-Two

  Thirty-Three

  Bayside Destinies

  The Hunters

  Indigo Bay

  Other Books

  Author's Note

  BAYSIDE PROMISES

  THE BAYSIDE HUNTERS

  by Stacy Claflin

  http://www.stacyclaflin.com

  Copyright ©2017 Stacy Claflin. All rights reserved.

  ©Cover Design: Cormar Covers

  Edited by Staci Troilo

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, events, or locales is purely coincidental or used fictitiously. The author has taken great liberties with locales including the creation of fictional towns.

  Reproduction in whole or part of this publication without express written consent is strictly prohibited. Do not upload or distribute anywhere.

  This ebook is for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be resold or given away to others. If you would like to share this book with others, please either purchase it for them or direct them to StacyClaflin.com for links. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

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  One

  Haley Faraway took a deep breath as she stepped into the large, elegant wedding hall. Why had she let her sister talk her into this?

  She pulled some loose blonde hair behind her ear, straightened her back, and followed the noise of conversation. It led her down a sweet-smelling hallway decorated with beautiful summer flowers. She came to a set of already-open double doors leading outside.

  “Are you here for the bride or groom?” asked an usher in a tuxedo.

  Neither. Haley cleared her throat. She had sort of known the bride a long time ago. “The bride.”

  Her heart raced, threatening to break through her ribcage and ruin her new turquoise dress.

  The usher held out his elbow. “Come with me.”

  Haley linked her arm through his and hoped he didn’t notice her shaking.

  He stopped walking next to the seats on the left side. “Do you see anyone you would like to sit with, ma’am?”

  Ma’am? What was she, sixty?

  “No, I’m by myself.”

  The usher walked her a few rows down and gestured for her to take a seat. Haley thanked him and sat on the far end, giving actual friends and family a chance to sit by the aisle the bride would walk down soon enough. Haley adjusted the fabric of her dress, pulled out her phone, and pretended to be busy with it.

  Someone squeezed Haley’s bare shoulder. She glanced up to see the high schooler sporting blue streaks in her dark hair, a nose ring, and an eyebrow piercing. “Thanks for coming.” The tough-looking girl smiled with confidence, but Haley could see straight through her baby sister’s bravado to the insecurity underneath.

  Haley forced a smile. “You’ll do great, Jensyn.”

  She nodded. “I really need this job.”

  “Yeah, you do, but don’t think about that. Just focus on what needs to be done. You’ve always been a hard worker. Just tap into that.”

  Jensyn twirled a strand of blue around her finger. “That was a long time ago, Hales. You haven’t been back to Enchantment Bay since I was seven.”

  Haley squirmed in the seat. She wouldn’t have been back if Mom hadn’t begged and pleaded with her to keep an eye on Jensyn over the summer. Haley squeezed Jensyn’s arm. “And now we finally get to know each other beyond screen time.”

  Jensyn’s gaze darted to the back of the courtyard. “I gotta go. Wish me luck. This is my boss’s wedding. No pressure.”

  “You’re a Faraway. You’ll do great.”

  “I hope so.” Jensyn ran back.

  Haley jumped when her phone beeped with a text. She muted the device and checked the message. It was from Mom.

  How are my girls?

  Good. Jensyn talked me into coming to the wedding.

  She didn’t wear that short leather skirt, did she?

  No. Black pants.

  Oh, good. I can’t thank you enough for watching her this summer. Aunt Elma’s place is worse than I thought.

  Don’t worry about us. Just get her house ready to sell.

  You’ll help with that?

  Yes, Mom. The wedding’s going to start soon. Talk later.

  Thanks again.

  Haley stuffed her phone inside her purse and glanced around for any familiar faces. After ten years away from the small town she’d grown up in, everyone and everything had changed. She had done her best to put everything about Enchantment Bay out of her mind during those years. In all that time, she hadn’t kept in touch with anyone, choosing instead to focus on her work as a realtor and spending most of her waking hours working her way up in the company.

  Three chatty couples filed down her row. Haley brought out her phone again, hoping they wouldn’t pay her any attention.

  “Oh, my gosh. Haley? Haley Faraway?”

  So much for that. She slid her phone back into her purse and glanced over to see Elena Todd.

  Her big blue eyes widened. “You
look amazing, girl! I never thought I’d see you again. Not after the way you took off right after graduation.”

  Haley forced a smile. “I’ve been busy.”

  “I heard.” Elena wrapped her arms around Haley. “Is it true you’re a big shot real estate agent?”

  She hugged Elena back with stiff arms. “I wouldn’t say big shot, but I’m doing pretty well for myself.”

  Elena released her hold. “I’m really sorry about your dad. He was so young.”

  Haley nodded. She probably needed to come up with a pat answer to that, as everyone would likely bring up his untimely death. But what was an appropriate reply when a parent was shot and killed in a bar fight? She needed a canned response for the people who asked why she didn't come to his funeral, too. Not that any of it was anyone’s business. "Well, it—”

  “I’m so excited about Dakota’s wedding, aren’t you?” Elena’s eyes shone. “She’s planned so many weddings—even celebrity weddings, did you know that?—I’ll bet hers is to die for.” She turned and gushed over the decorations.

  “I’ll bet it is.” Haley glanced around the stunning courtyard. Soft music played from a couple harpists. Flowers of every color and shape hung everywhere she could see.

  Dakota Hunter was the little sister of Sullivan, best friend of Haley’s high school sweetheart, Jackson. Dakota and Haley had known each other through Sullivan, so at least Haley wasn’t crashing a complete stranger’s wedding just to give Jensyn moral support on her first day of work.

  The music grew louder, and the conversations all hushed. A bridesmaid and groomsman walked down the aisle, arm in arm. Though it took a moment, Haley recognized the bridesmaid. It was Freya Hunter, Dakota and Sullivan’s youngest sister. She had long, thick dark hair and an enormous smile—every bit as gorgeous as every other Hunter sibling.

  The next couple was a girl she barely recognized from high school and Sullivan Hunter. Haley’s breath caught. He’d grown even more handsome over the last decade, and he’d really filled out. Wow, had he filled out. He’d been good-looking back then, but now… It was as though he’d stepped off a runway.

  She stared at him as he made his way down the aisle. Who had been lucky enough to marry him? There was no way he was still single. Haley couldn’t take her gaze away from him as the rest of the wedding party made their way onto the platform.

  Finally, everyone rose. She cleared her throat and tried to forget about Sullivan. He certainly wasn’t a distraction she needed. Keeping Jensyn out of trouble would be a full-time job outside of the difficulties of trying to sell houses in a town she wasn't familiar with anymore.

  Dakota came down the aisle with her dad. Tears shone in his eyes despite the grin on his face. It was nice to know some fathers actually cared about their daughters. Dakota still had the same stunning red hair she’d had as a kid. It was beautifully braided into a crown with small white flowers woven into it. The gown sparkled in the sunlight and flowed behind her as she walked. She was a vision, but her gaze focused solely on her soon-to-be husband.

  Her dad gave her away and then took a seat in the front row next to his wife and the two other Hunter siblings who weren’t in the wedding—Shale, Freya’s twin, and Logan, the oldest of the bunch.

  Haley tried to focus on the ceremony but found her attention kept landing on Sullivan. She’d never thought of him in a romantic way back in high school because she’d only had eyes for Jackson back then. Now she couldn’t help wondering how things might be different if she’d have chosen Sullivan instead of Jackson.

  Not that any of it mattered. She would have fled town right after graduation to get away from her father’s drunken rages and verbal abuse. Tears stung her eyes. It was bad enough that she had to spend the summer in that house full of painful memories. Would everything in town remind her of what she’d run from? She wiped her eyes and sniffled.

  Elena put her hand on Haley’s arm. “I know. It’s such a beautiful ceremony.”

  Two

  “You may kiss the bride.”

  Sullivan Hunter couldn't keep the smile off his face as, just in front of him, his younger sister Dakota became a married woman. Clay lifted Dakota’s veil, pulled it behind her head, and kissed her. Sullivan and the other groomsmen were the first to cheer, followed by everyone else.

  Dakota took Clay’s hand and raised it high into the air. They headed down the aisle, through the doors, and into the hallway. The flower girls followed them, and then the bridesmaids and groomsmen paired off and headed in. Everyone offered hugs and congratulations to the newlyweds.

  Sullivan waited and then threw his arms around his sister and squeezed tightly. “Finally, the wedding planner gets her wedding.”

  She squeezed him back. “And we have you to thank for introducing us.”

  He laughed. “Well, I was just trying to help my buddy get a job. All this,”—he gestured with his hands around the wedding hall—“that was you two.”

  Dakota kissed his cheek. “Still, it wouldn’t have been if not for you.” She turned to their parents, who had just come inside.

  Sullivan turned to Clay with a serious expression. “You’d better treat her right.”

  Clay broke into a grin and hugged him. “Sully, you know better than to worry about that.”

  Sullivan returned the embrace. “True, but you can’t blame a guy for watching out for his sister.”

  He chuckled and shook his head.

  Logan Hunter came over and patted Sullivan’s shoulder. “Don’t let my little brother intimidate you. You’re one of us now.”

  Sullivan stepped back to let the happy couple receive more congratulations.

  After a few minutes, one of the wedding planners waved everyone out of the hallway. “The reception hall is ready. No sense in standing around here.”

  Freya Hunter came over to Sullivan as they headed for the reception. “Another married Hunter. Feeling the pressure yet?” She pushed him playfully.

  He stood taller. “Not at all. I’m perfectly happy focusing on the business.”

  “I can’t believe Dad finally retired. I know he always talked about it, but it seemed like he was hanging onto it.”

  “He’s happier helping Mom with the coffee stand.”

  Freya sighed. “They’re so cute together. I hope Nico and I will be adorable like them.”

  “Don’t worry, you already are.”

  She beamed, and then someone pulled her away into a different conversation.

  He grabbed a glass of punch and took in the scene before him. It was hard to believe both of his sisters were now married women. Next, Mom would want the brothers to follow suit. She was already dropping subtle hints. Their younger brother Shale had been married but was now dealing with being widowed. He still seemed down about it much of the time. Sullivan doubted he’d date, much less marry, any time soon. Logan, like Sullivan, was pretty much married to his work. Logan was a successful lawyer and Sullivan was now Enchantment Bay’s only real estate agent since their dad retired and sold him the business.

  Sullivan loved selling houses—helping people’s dreams come true.

  Cruz Hunter, Sullivan’s tattoo artist cousin from California, came over and gave him a fist pump. “Hey, man. You gonna be the next Hunter to marry?”

  “Don’t hold your breath.”

  Cruz leaned against the table and took a tiny sandwich. “Are you still stuck on—?”

  “Don’t.” Sullivan narrowed his eyes. “That’s a name we don’t mention. And I’m completely over her.”

  “Okay.” Cruz finished the sandwich. “So, how’s business?”

  “Good, so far. Dad stepped down not long ago, but he did a good job of preparing me. It was a smooth transition.”

  Talia came over and grabbed Cruz’s arm. “Hi, Sully. Come on, Cruz. Let’s grab a table.”

  “Talk to you later.” Cruz waved to Sullivan as his beautiful wife dragged him away.

  Sullivan was glad his family members were finding happi
ness, but he was in no way ready to hand his heart over to be stabbed with a knife again. It seemed like he and his brothers didn’t have everyone else’s luck with women. He just needed to get through the reception, and then everyone would leave him alone about the whole thing.

  He scanned the room and saw his two brothers sitting at a table together. Sullivan went over to join Logan and Shale.

  Logan sipped from his champagne flute. “How many people are making bets on which one of us will be next?”

  Shale groaned.

  Sullivan leaned against the table. “I’m sure plenty are.”

  Logan put down his drink. “I’m happy to have my work as my mistress.”

  “You and me both,” Sullivan agreed. “Enchantment Bay is growing, and with it, real estate sales. And they only have one place to go. I, for one, don’t have any interest in letting some pretty face distract me from my clients.”

  Shale arched a brow and pulled some dark hair from his eyes. “I heard another realtor is in town.”

  Sullivan froze. Everything spun around him. He had to have misheard. “What? Who?” How could this happen so soon after finally buying Dad’s company?

  “No idea.” Shale shrugged. “Someone at the fire station was asking me how you felt about competition.”

  “I’m not worried about it,” Sullivan said. “Everyone knows who handles real estate in Enchantment Bay. Besides, I’ll crush any competition. That I promise…” He cracked his knuckles.

  “Oh, chill out,” Logan said.

  “Are you kidding?” Sullivan exclaimed.

  “No.”

  Sullivan glared at his older brother. “Just stay out of it. You don’t get it.”

  Logan and Shale exchanged a glance.

  “What?” Sullivan snapped.

  Shale rolled his eyes. “Just you and your temper again.”

  “Whatever.” Sullivan dug into his food and ignored his brothers.

  A few minutes later, a slender blonde in a sleeveless turquoise dress entered the reception hall alone. She glanced around as though lost. Sullivan didn’t recognize her, but she seemed familiar. His annoyance melted away as he tried to place her.