Love, Laughter, and Happily Ever Afters Collection (Eight Fun, Romantic Novels by Eight Bestselling Authors)

by Violet Duke

  Her eyes popped open, and she marched to her old room.

  It didn’t matter what Gabriel used to be, was right now, or would be in the future. Coming home to Holland Springs had nothing to do with him.

  She threw open the door and stepped inside. The room was tastefully done in soft greens and rich creams, two of her favorite colors. Little splashes of pink and yellow made the room extra homey.

  But the picture of her holding a newborn Ivy seemed to mock her from the mantle over the fireplace. Her lips twisted, and her jaw clenched.

  It’s the right thing, Summer.

  But it hurts.

  I know it does, but I’ll help you, every step of the way, if you want.

  Gabriel. It was his fault she’d given up Ivy like she had. It was his fault that she allowed him to see her in a weak moment. Otherwise, she would have never let Rose adopt Ivy. She would have found a way to make herself a better mother… to make herself love a child who no longer knew her. A child who looked so much like the man who’d helped her, who’d found her in a diner while she counted tips and how many days were left before she had to pay rent again.

  Darius.

  Though she hadn’t loved him, she had liked him and the way he treated her, like she mattered and deserved respect. She’d admired him and the sacrifices he’d made while in the ARMY. When he’d died in a roadside bomb, a piece of her died along with him.

  The image of mother and child blurred. Summer blinked, and tears ran down her cheeks.

  No matter what, she’d never let herself be that weak again.

  CHAPTER TWO

  THE NEXT DAY, at precisely nine AM, Summer reopened Carolina Dreams. She’d been up since dawn, reacquainting herself with the apothecary shop. Everything was as it should be, neatly labeled, and stored in the back and across the street, according to the second letter Rose had left for her.

  Summer glanced around the office, taking in the new desk, new desk chair, new computer, and plethora of family pictures. She ran a finger along the edge of a frame. Ivy, Rose, and Sasha posed in the pictured. Ivy wore a tutu, a bow in her hair, and a sweet smile.

  Summer flipped the picture over.

  The bells on the door rang, and she walked to the front, standing behind the massive counter made of wood and glass. This would be her battle station, the place where she could draw power and throw containers of shampoo at customers if she had to.

  God, she hoped she didn’t have to.

  Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as the first, second, third, and fourth customer walked inside, made their purchase, and left. All with a wave and a smile.

  All said things like:

  It’s nice to meet you.

  I love your store.

  This is exactly what I’ve been looking for.

  Say hello to Rose.

  Tell her we miss her.

  For the next three days, the pattern repeated with even more customers, until it felt as though the bells over the door played Carol of the Bells due to all the activity.

  By the time three o’clock rolled around on Wednesday, Summer was mentally exhausted, but she couldn’t close until the tall redhead finished shopping. The woman kept giving Summer looks, but for the most part, Summer thought it was merely curiosity and not hostility.

  “Could you help me, please?” the woman called out.

  Summer moved to the corner of the store, to where the scented lotions and body washes were displayed. “Is there a certain scent that speaks to you?”

  The redhead gave her an odd look, her green eyes a touch frosty. “Speaks to me?”

  “Have you smelled any of them, and have a particular favorite or two?” Summer asked, trying again. Unlike Rose, she didn’t immediately grab the scent she knew would complement the customer, because she preferred the customer to come to their own conclusions—with a little guidance, of course.

  “They all smell nice, but I want to find one that will drive my boyfriend wild.”

  Ah, so that was the hesitation. Summer smiled. This was something she loved, though, no one would have believed her. “First things, first. Tell me about him—his favorite dessert, the color of his eyes and hair…his favorite time of day to… kiss you.” All romantic things to know about a lover in Summer’s opinion. At that moment, Gabriel came to mind. Effortlessly, she answered every one of those questions about him.

  Favorite dessert, lemon pound cake. The color of his eyes, darkest blue with a ring of black at the center. Hair just as dark, and silky to touch. As for kissing her, he had always said he loved kissing her during the summer sunset, because it was as close as he could get to kissing her at nighttime, without breaking curfew.

  “His favorite dessert is lemon pound cake. Dark blue eyes, black hair, and—”

  Summer’s hand froze, hovering over a blue bottle. Please don’t let her say at sunset. Please, please, please.

  “He doesn’t have a favorite time of day, not that I’ve ever heard. He just kisses me whenever.”

  Summer exhaled, and then glanced at her customer. It wasn’t Gabriel. She was silly to think it was, or even to think of him at all.

  The redhead blushed and tipped up her chin. Summer felt a bit sorry for her, because she got the impression the woman hated that her boyfriend didn’t have a favorite time of day to kiss her.

  Despite what people thought about her, including her sisters, she couldn’t stand to see innocent people in pain or feeling bad about themselves. She knew what it was like.

  “I think that’s perfect, really,” Summer said, trying to put her at ease. “His favorite time of day is all day. You’re so lucky to have a man like that…Um, I didn’t catch your name.”

  “I’m Elise Dumas, the not-so-new head librarian.” Elise stuck out her hand, and Summer shook it, and then let go.

  “Summer Holland, by the way. I’ve just moved back to Holland Springs.”

  “I know who you are, and I want you to stay away from Gabriel,” Elise said firmly.

  This time, Summer’s entire body froze. “What?” she managed to croak. Maybe there was another Gabriel in Holland Springs, and Elise didn’t mean the Gabriel Summer knew at all.

  “Gabriel Edwards and I are dating. Seriously dating. I would appreciate it if you would stay away from him. Or if you do need his help, go ahead and get it, then leave.”

  Red-hot fury boiled inside of Summer, melting all the frozen parts of her. She stepped away from the display and toward the woman beside her. “I didn’t come here for his help.”

  “Did you come here for him?”

  Yes. “No.” Never, she swore to herself, ignoring the woman inside of her who missed the man who always put her first. Summer barely held on to her temper, although she wasn’t mad at Elise. She was mad at herself, for having such conflicting thoughts over him. Just like always.

  “I know I’m not the first woman he ever loved, but I want to be the last one, so I’m begging you, please stay away.” Elise let out a shaky breath. “He’d choose you over me, I know this. So, I’m asking you, woman to woman, to respect our relationship, and stay the hell away.”

  Before Summer could say another word, Elise fled the store, leaving Summer standing there. So that was why Gabriel hadn’t been by. He was in love with someone else.

  Claws of jealousy ripped at her heart.

  Trudging to the front of the store, she let the pain overtake her. How could he do this to her? How could he have let her found out like this? Usually, Gabriel would have been here on the first day she made an appearance, but after three days and counting, she had come to the conclusion he wasn’t coming.

  Now she knew he wasn’t coming—not that it mattered.

  He didn’t matter, she reminded herself. She ignored the pain
in her heart. The only thing that mattered was family, and he wasn’t family. He would never be her family.

  But Gabriel used to be your family, a little voice in her head reminded her. She told that voice to shut the hell up.

  After flipping the ‘open’ sign to ‘closed’ in the window, she moved to the door and slumped against it, rubbing her temples. She needed to take the rest of the week off, and think long and hard about what had prompted her to come back to Holland Springs in the first place.

  A knock almost made her jump out of her skin. “I’m closed.”

  The knock came more vigorously this time, and Summer’s lip curled. She managed to unlock and yank open the door at the same time, ready to curse the person behind it.

  “What the he—?” The curse died on her lips.

  Jemma Leigh stood there, smile on her face. “Ready for that muffin?”

  Dumbstruck, Summer stared.

  “You thought I forgot, didn’t you?” Jemma Leigh asked, but she wasn’t looking for an answer. “I have been looking forward to this all week. Janie Leigh is at Momma’s and Jeremy’s on the boat, so I don’t have to be in a hurry. Isn’t that great?”

  Summer had two choices.

  One, she could slam the door in Jemma Leigh’s face and ruin any chance of a potential friendship, a friendship that Jemma Leigh seemed determined to start. Or two, she could go eat a muffin and catch up on all the town’s gossip, especially on one resident of Holland Springs in particular.

  Though it wasn’t the best reason to befriend Jemma Leigh, it was an honest one—for Summer at least.

  “Let me get my purse,” Summer heard herself say.

  Jemma Leigh did a little jumpy clap and wrapped her arms around Summer’s neck.

  Summer grunted, her hands fluttering in the air, uncertain where to land. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had hugged her.

  Letting go, Jemma Leigh stepped back. “We’re going to be such great friends, Summer Holland. I know it. The Hollands aren’t the only ones with the sight.” She winked at her, looking pleased as anything with herself.

  And just like that, Summer would never let Jemma Leigh know the only reason she agreed to have coffee was so that she could pump the town’s sweetest gossip for information.

  *

  IT WASN’T EASY to sit in full public view of everyone in town, but Jemma Leigh had insisted on being seated outside. A large, yellow umbrella kept them nicely shaded, and the poppy seed muffin Summer ordered was delicious.

  “My momma always said, A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips,” Jemma Leigh sighed, and then ate another bite. “But she’s not here, and I don’t even care.”

  Summer glanced at her. “Why should you? You look great.”

  Jemma Leigh blinked, and Summer wanted to snatch the words back. She never willingly complimented anyone. If she wasn’t a hardass, then who would she be—sweet, kind, and loving? Ha. Fat chance of that ever happening again.

  “I do work out every day,” Jemma Leigh said. “And Jeremy is very happy with how I look, too.”

  Summer nodded and kept her mouth fully occupied with eating instead of being complimentary.

  “So much has changed since you’ve been gone. Daisy Barnes landed herself an honest-to-goodness earl. She’s a countess now—have you ever?”

  No, Summer hadn’t ever, but she could bet Rose had seen that one coming a mile away.

  “She’s moved to England, and then Zoe Ambrose is expecting. Those Romanovs are something else, but I think our local boys are good enough for us, don’t you?”

  Summer thought she should nod, so she did, and that encouraged Jemma Leigh to keep talking. She talked about everything and anything. About her daughter, her dog who wouldn’t listen, and how the real estate market had picked up a titch—what kind of measurement a titch was, Summer had no idea, but up was good. The only person Jemma Leigh didn’t talk about was Gabriel, but that spoke volumes in Summer’s opinion.

  “I met Elise Dumas,” Summer finally blurted, unable to take it any longer.

  “Oh?” Jemma Leigh glanced away, taking a deep sip of coffee. “She’s nice.”

  Nice wouldn’t be how Summer would describe her. “She’s dating Gabriel. Seriously dating him, and warned me to stay away.” For the second time in a matter of minutes, Summer wished she could snatch her words back. Why was she telling this to Jemma Leigh of all people?

  Because you once actually liked the thought of friends.

  When she’d been with Darius, the other soldiers’ wives had been friendly to her, none of them thought the worst about her, or if they had, they’d never said it. So, it wasn’t as though Summer didn’t know how to make friends. She was just really rusty at it. And wary.

  Completely, absolutely wary, because in this town, everyone knew her by reputation only, and the women here let her know it by shunning her and her family.

  A frown marred Jemma Leigh’s forehead. “That’s pretty direct, and a little presumptuous, but she’s a Yankee, so she’s a little different, and we have to take that into account. Bless her heart. And far as I know, none of you Holland girls, with the exception of your momma, have ever been involved with men who were married or otherwise engaged.” Her brow smoothed. “I’d be happy to have a talk with Elise and—”

  “Thank you, but no.” Tears pricked at Summer’s eyes, and she couldn’t claim not to know why. Jemma Leigh wanted to defend her. Her throat grew thick. She needed to leave before she did something dumb, like promise to have coffee again or trade phone numbers.

  “I have to go let Blackbeard out,” Summer said, jumping to her feet. She grabbed her purse and sunglasses, shielding her eyes with the latter.

  Jemma Leigh tipped back her head. “It was really nice having coffee with you. Most people think I’m nothing but boobs and blond hair—which I am, but you listened to me. Well, Jeremy does too, but he also likes boobs and blond hair so he might be a little biased.”

  Could this day get any worse?

  Summer didn’t want to be thanked. She’d been purposefully quiet to keep their one-sided conversation going. She’d been a user, like Gabriel had always accused her of being, when they’d get into a particularly nasty fight. So she did what any Holland woman would have done in the same situation.

  “Let’s have coffee again tomorrow.”

  Jemma Leigh smile was brighter than the sun when she accepted.

  CHAPTER THREE

  GABRIEL SCRUBBED his hand across his face, stood up, walked to the door of his office, and then made himself go sit down behind his desk.

  He wouldn’t go down there. No way, no how. There was no way he’d walk the two blocks to Carolina Dreams and confront Summer, mostly because he wanted to confront her.

  It was best he didn’t concern himself with her at all. He’d made a promise to Elise, and he was determined to keep it. He owed it to her.

  “Yeah, because only doing something because you think you owe them has always worked out so well for you, Edwards,” he muttered.

  Noah Sawyer walked in Gabriel’s office, sitting in the nearest chair. “You look amazingly happy right now.”

  Gabriel rolled his eyes. “Thanks.”

  “Care to go out with Carlos and me tonight? Sort of a pre-bachelor party before the bachelor party.”

  “You can’t wait two more days?”

  “Might make hump day better.” Noah rubbed his chin. “This morning, Stacey decided to break things off to go find herself.”

  “Oh, man.”

  “With the pool guy.”

  Gabriel sucked in air through his teeth. “Ouch.”
/>   “Better to find out now, then years down the road, I guess,” Noah said. “Rose Holland warned me.”

  “Everyone warned you,” Gabriel pointed out. Noah’s ex had never wanted an exclusive relationship, but she’d tried. And failed, apparently. “Who did Rose recommend?”

  Noah grunted. “You first.”

  “I don’t need Rose’s advice.”

  “Says the guy who used to date her sister and then tried to date Rose herself,” Noah reminded him.

  “I never dated Rose. I just didn’t like Romanov sniffing around her,” Gabriel snapped.

  Noah held up his hands, palms facing out. “Sorry for bringing up a sore point. But yeah, I get you on the Romanovs. First your ex, and then your other ex’s sister. Don’t suppose you ever dated Daisy Barnes?”

  Gabriel laughed. He couldn’t help it. “No. Even if I had wanted to, I think Bella would have kicked my butt.”

  “Speaking of little sisters, would you be upset if I asked her out?”

  Gabriel leveled Noah with a look. He’d known his buddy since freshman year of college, and Noah had moved to Holland Springs from Charlotte to help start up their software company. Originally, Noah had been the money behind their company, Gabriel the people person, and Carlos the main brain.

  “If your intentions are good, then no, I wouldn’t mind. But if you’re looking for a rebound, I’d appreciate it if you’d stay away and find someone whose fiancé didn’t run off to marry another woman the day before he and Bella were supposed to secretly elope.” There were very few times Gabriel had been driven to the brink of violence since he’d been adopted by the Edwards’ family. Peter leaving Gabriel’s sister to marry his own father’s widow was one of them.

  Noah’s eyes widened. “Thanks for the warning. I’ll think of a different way to get over Stacey.”

  “Serving others always makes me forget about my problems,” Gabriel said.