Passionate Kisses 2 Boxed Set: Love in Bloom

by Magda Alexander

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  Thanks so much! Liz

  A Masterpiece Of Our Love

  By

  Nikki Lynn Barrett

  Acknowledgements

  The writing process can be tedious and time consuming, sometimes even frustrating. I have to thank my husband Robert for putting up with my craziness when it comes to writing. If I’m not writing, then I’m thinking about it. He hears all about my fictional characters and I still live to tell about them! Really, he’s been an amazing part of this process. Even if he likes to make me squirm a bit (reading my book while he’s right next to me..!), he puts in so much time and effort to help me make my book the best it can be. Thank you for another cover for me to drool over and show off, too. You really are a keeper! I love you!

  To my family for their continued support. You rock, and I love you! Daddy, here’s my first contribution to your reading goal. You know I’ll raise that number next year if you put this in my hands again!

  Jen Berg … once again, you put so much insight and thought into the beta read, and hey, this time you didn’t even have to fuel my muse with MORE story. I did that on my own! You’re an influence on me!

  Jenny and Nina … this story is a reflection of us in many ways. I hope you know what an inspiration you are to me. We’re a crazy bunch and no one else may understand our wackiness but it’s all right, because we’ve got each other’s backs. Love you both always.

  To my early ARC reviewers - you rock. That’s the sum of it! I love that you took the time to be a part of this process and give me early feedback. So far this book has been so well received and I love that! Definitely doing this with every release!

  Last, but most certainly NOT least - my readers. I can’t do this without you! I love your comments, reviews, and enthusiasm. It’s been an amazing ride and really, it keeps getting better and better, which blows my mind. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  Chapter One

  Rebecca Lange walked along the stone pathway with one burning question in her mind. Would Hunter show? Hope flickered through her like a candle as she pictured him waiting for her with his usual goofy grin. She missed that grin. There was so much about Hunter that she missed.

  Another year, another mystery. Her heart did a nervous dance as she moved a little faster, eager to get there and find out.

  The island hadn’t changed much. One of these years, she wouldn’t be surprised if she came back here to an empty, torn down pile of dirt or some new development that would forever scar the land, taking away it’s natural beauty. Despite the haunting memories she carried about this place, it truly captured the beauty that still resided in the world.

  If she didn’t hate airplanes so much, she’d spend her days flying to various locations with a camera in hand. She’d have to just stick to art, painting the scenes from her mind and exploring the canvas.

  “Rebecca, are you listening to me?” Vince lost his patience with her, heaving a sigh on the other end of the phone.

  “Sorry. I got lost in the memories,” Becca responded quietly, searching the grounds for what she wanted to see the most. Had someone finally taken it down?

  No, there it was. The swing. The decayed wood would break through eventually, and the frayed, worn out rope could put a splinter even through gloved hands. The sunlight streaked through the trees, sending slivers of orange and yellow spotlights on the swing and the ground below it. Night showed signs of fast approach. Despite that, there were a lot of people still enjoying the day’s last moments. In fact, she was surprised when a young girl in pig tails ran over to the swing before she reached it. With a smile, Becca changed directions and headed for a nearby bench. She watched the girl as she kicked her legs to get the movement going. That could have been her, years ago. Young and carefree, before her world crumpled and changed. A wave of nostalgia washed over her as a boy a few years older ran over to the swing and gave the girl a push. His smile was wide. Becca sighed. This only made her miss Hunter even more. Everything reminded her of him. She wondered what had changed. He’d always been there. Then one day, he just wasn’t. No explanation, no reason, no returned messages.

  Becca could have come out tomorrow like she’d planned to do, but something called to her ever since she’d stepped foot on the island. She had even debated coming straight here, but decided to check in at the hotel first.

  Mount Desert Island was a beautiful place. The memories she held of a nearby island were not so beautiful.

  How could a place that held terrifying memories also be one that captured her heart every time? Could it have been because of Hunter? Because of him, they had created some decent memories from this place. If it weren’t for their yearly meetings here, their need to come back and revisit, she’d never have come this far north again.

  But it called to her, even when Hunter never showed the past four years. He’d stopped writing back. He never answered her calls.

  Maybe he’d been able to let go and move on.

  This should be the last year she came back, too. If her grandparents had their way, she’d be married off to Vince soon. He had already shown his true feelings about her coming to the island.

  “Are you walking around? When it’s dark outside?” Vince slammed something down on the other end. An image of him rubbing his temple with a sigh of exasperation filled her mind. He treated her like a child, just as her grandparents did. Just because she’d been traumatized and injured from the stupid crash didn’t mean that she was incapable of things. Why didn’t anyone understand that?

  There had only been one person that ever understood.

  Why did you stop contacting me, Hunter?

  “Vince, it’s not even dark yet. The sun is still shining.” Barely, but it still rang true. “And I’m sitting right now, enjoying the sunset.”

  “How are your knees? Are you wearing your brace? I hate to think of you falling and being stranded out in the middle of that place.”

  There went that condescending tone again. Becca fought the urge to end the call and chuck the phone in the nearby water. Self control won. Instead, she rolled her eyes, almost giggling at the childish gesture that he couldn’t even see anyway.

  “My knee is feeling fine, and yes, I have my brace on. I called to let you know that I’m here. I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to get off the phone now and take a walk before it gets too late.” Truth be told, her knee did hurt, but she ignored it. She’d take it easy later. She cradled the phone between her ear and shoulder. The swing and the two young kids continued to capture her attention.

  “Please let me know when you’ve made it safely to your room. I hope this is your last visit, Becca. There are no good things to remember there.”

  Easy for him to say. Vince would never understand. She knew he cared, but he really needed to loosen up a bit. Okay, maybe a whole lot, but she’d take anything over no budging at all.

  “I’ll be sure to leave you a message,” she promised. Anything to get him off the line. She would definitely let him know later. Otherwise, she’d have a hundred texts and phone calls throughout the night until she finally answered.

  “Kiss kiss, my dear.”

  Becca made a half hearted kiss sound and disconnected. She tossed her phone in the large handbag and gave her undivided attention to the swing.

  “It’s a beautiful end to the day, isn’t it?” A man, looking to be in his mid-thirties, smiled as he perched on the bench beside her.

  Becca grinned. “It sure is. It doesn’t get better than a sunset overlooking the ocean.”

  “Do you vacation here often, or are you a resident?” His warm eyes searched her face.

  “Vacationing. It’s a yearly tradition with a good friend.” She flicked her gaze back to the swing for a
moment. The kids were still there, the girl giggling as she moved back and forth.

  “It’s my first time out here. Truth be told, I’m a bit nervous. I’m actually going to propose to my girlfriend this weekend.” The man stared in the same direction. “See the kids over there? The little girl is my girlfriend’s daughter. The boy is her neighbor.”

  Becca smiled. “That’s wonderful! Good luck, congratulations and many well wishes.”

  “Thank you. It’s been a rough few years. It’ll be nice to have some good changes coming. Are you waiting for your friend here? How did you come across this place for vacationing? You seem a little nervous, as well.” He was full of questions, but Becca didn’t mind. The conversation and the distraction of the kids on the swing helped keep her mind from wandering off so much. But now that the subject had changed to her, it brought it all back.

  “I’m waiting for a friend of mine. This is our usual meeting spot. I’m a little restless because I’ve been driving all day, but I have bad knees. As much as I want to move around, I’m trying to take it easy.” No need to get into how she wondered if he’d show. She still held that flicker of hope and held onto it tight. “We both have longlasting memories here. We come to reflect.” Sadness crept into her voice.

  “Oh. That sounds a little haunting. I bet there are tons of haunting stories to be told. One of the things that draws me to the coast of Maine is the thousands upon thousands of islands to be discovered. Each one probably has untold secrets. Wouldn’t it be amazing to uncover them? I guess my mind likes to wander. I love learning stories. And this place … well, I’m already finding many. Oh! I see my girlfriend now. Time to get some late dinner. Thanks for the conversation. Have an enjoyable vacation.” The man stood, brushed off his pants and lifted his hand in a wave before jogging over to the shadowed silhouette. The girl bolted from the swing. Her friend followed.

  Becca watched them disappear, the two younger ones joining their hands and swinging them gleefully. She thought back to what the man had said about untold stories. She bet he’d be fascinated with hers, but it was a story she hated to tell. Still, she came back year after year to keep the memory of her family alive.

  The last of the sunlight created a world of shadows. Twilight blanketed the sky. She’d have to leave soon. Safety first. She knew this island, but the night held a different promise. She should have hit the road a lot earlier.

  Just one little push on the swing. Would it even hold her weight? Why it called to her so deeply tonight, she couldn’t say. It’s not like Hunter didn’t know where to find her if he made his way to the island, after all.

  Becca fingered the wooden swing, careful not to press too hard. Without another hesitation, she perched on it and wiggled. So far, so good. It held her just fine. She kicked her good leg to give herself a push. Becca tilted her head back, loving the way the breeze blew through her hair. She lost herself in the moment. If only she was as young and carefree as the little girl who’d been on the swing prior. Becca envied those kids. They still had so much of their youth to look forward to.

  “You and that swing. It never fails. You always have this sense of peace. Why can’t I be an artist like you so I could capture the sights I see?”

  She recognized that deep baritone voice. Becca whipped her head up and almost lost her grip on the side of the swing. Of all the living, breathing, beautiful faces, the last one she expected to see was Hunter Beckman’s. Not after all the years he’d missed their meetings. She’d hoped, but this year she had just about given up. Was it really him, or did her imagination create an image of the man she’d longed to see so badly? There he stood, right in front of the tree. He slid her one of those beautiful grins that lit up his entire face. Becca stopped the swing and shot to her feet. He made it! Hunter was here!

  “Ow!” she cried as her knee gave out beneath her. She’d pushed just a little too much. Hunter caught her and helped her back to her feet.

  “I’m glad you’re that happy to see me, but don’t go hurting yourself on my account,” he drawled, wrapping her in a bear hug. “I can’t even begin to tell you how much I’ve missed you! I’m so sorry I haven’t showed the last few years or that I haven’t called,” he whispered while he combed his fingers through her hair in a gentle gesture.

  “You’re here now.” Becca threaded her fingers together around his neck. “This was going to be my last time. I needed to give it one last shot before attempting to let go.” All of the fear, anger, hurt and frustration she’d carried for the past few years faded. All she wanted was to hold on to Hunter and keep him there. He was really here! The rest, she’d figure out later. Right now, she couldn’t be happier to be hugging him.

  “I’m so glad I caught you then. I see that others have discovered the tranquility of our meeting spot.” Hunter pulled back and studied her. “You look so good! How have you been, Becca?”

  He looked great for sure. Maybe a little worn out, but Hunter’s appearance hadn’t changed much. He’d let his dark brown hair grow a little and he had a hint of a five o’clock shadow. Otherwise, he was the same old sweet, good looking man she’d always known.

  “I-I’m good.” Standing so close, being held in Hunter’s arms as he continued to hug her, she couldn’t breathe. He overwhelmed her with his presence. He hadn’t changed. He still found a way to make her heart beat faster. Something about him always gave her a sense of being safe.

  He had been the one to pull her from the wreckage. Before the crash, they hadn’t spoken to each other the entire ride. He’d been too busy playing a video game. She had been coloring. Funny, the bits and pieces she remembered about that night. Most of it had vanished. Only fragments of that life remained in her mind. She wished she could remember a whole lot more than she’d been given.

  Leaves rustled as a breeze dragged in the salty scent of the ocean and the moss from the trees. The air grew chilly. Crickets began their nighttime harmonizing.

  “What do you say we grab a late dinner and catch up? Did you check in at Range’s already?”

  “Yes to dinner and to catching up and yes, I’ve already been in my room.” She tore her eyes away from Hunter’s face to gather herself. He let go of her and took her hand. They walked away from the swing as fog rolled in. The blanket of clouds coming up against the shore reminded Becca of that night. Then again, almost everything on the island reminded her of that night.

  Why did she do this to herself? Was it really just to find a way to meet Hunter again? Should she have let him go, along with the memories that made up of this quaint little place? Nothing would ever bring her family back. Maybe her grandparents had a point, as much as she hated to admit that they might just be right after all.

  “How long are you staying?” Becca inquired. Another gust of wind ruffled the hem of her skirt. She should have worn jeans and brought a jacket. Goosebumps broke out on her arms. She’d been so set on getting over here to see if he’d actually show that she hadn’t put much thought on the night’s sudden weather change. She should have.

  “A week,” Hunter replied. He stopped and faced her. “You’re cold? Here, take my flannel.” Before she could protest, he shrugged out of the shirt and draped it over her shoulders.

  She smiled at his thoughtfulness. With Hunter, it never felt like hovering. It always felt like he truly cared. That’s the kind of thing she longed for. Not like with Vince. He was fifteen years her senior and it showed. She cared for Vince, but not in the way he or her grandparents hoped. Every way she looked at it, Vince didn’t make marriage material for her. Sure, he came from money and had a solid career, but Becca knew that he could never be the man for her. Not when she longed for true love. As an avid artist, she had very vivid images in her mind of real love. She tried to tell Vince about them once and show him on canvas. He’d barely even acknowledged it. She wanted someone that showed interest in her hobbies and dreams, not someone who called her art trivial and then blew it off.

  “Thank you, Hunter.”

>   He slid an arm around her shoulders. “I’ve missed you so much. I don’t even know where to begin. I’m just glad something told me to come back. You came back every year, didn’t you?” Sadness resonated in his voice. Would he tell her the reason for his absence the past few years? Did their almost-kiss four years ago scare him off? Not that she dared to ask. No way did she want to sound childish or needy. It definitely crossed her mind a thousand times. He’d called to let her know he made it home as he always did after they parted, but after that, she never seemed to be able to get a hold of him.

  “I have. My grandparents fight it stronger every time, but I’ve come back.”

  “Are they still strict and stuffy?”

  Becca burst into laughter at Hunter’s boldness. He never did care to hold back. He told it like he felt it. “Yes. They haven’t changed much. They’re trying to marry me off to a well-to-do man.”

  He rested his hands on her shoulders, freezing her right where she stood. He inched his face closer. “Do you love him?” Why did his voice sound so edgy?

  “I care about him, but love? No. I don’t feel that kind of love for Vince.”

  “Tell me about him.” He released his hold on her and grasped for her hand, beginning their trek back to Range’s.

  “He’s nice. Older than me,” Becca said, then paused.

  Hunter laughed. “You’re finding it difficult to have great things to say about him. Is he that bad?”

  Becca hadn’t meant to sound so crass when it came to discussing Vince. Despite her feelings, or rather, lack thereof, he’d been fairly good to her. “No, he’s not bad. He’s just not the man for me. He acts just like my grandparents do, very protective and overly cautious. He disagrees about my coming here, too.”

  “Is that why you planned this to be your last year?” They rounded the corner. The sign to Range’s Inn and Diner lit up the night. The D was only half lit as it buzzed, the threat of the letter going completely dark evident.