Meg (Beach Brides Book 1)

by Julie Jarnagin

  Meg

  Beach Brides Series

  by

  Julie Jarnagin

  Copyright © 2017 by Julie Jarnagin

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Edited by Robin Patchen, Robin’s Red Pen

  Cover Design by Raine English, Elusive Dreams Designs

  www.ElusiveDreamsDesigns.com

  Grab your beach hat and a towel and prepare for a brand new series brought to you by twelve New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors…

  Beach Brides! Fun in the summer sun!

  Twelve heartwarming, sweet novellas linked by a unifying theme.

  You’ll want to read each one!

  BEACH BRIDES SERIES (Meg)

  Twelve friends from the online group, Romantic Hearts Book Club, decide to finally meet in person during a destination Caribbean vacation to beautiful Enchanted Island. While of different ages and stages in life, these ladies have two things in common: 1) they are diehard romantics, and 2) they’ve been let down by love. As a wildly silly dare during her last night on the island, each heroine decides to stuff a note in a bottle addressed to her “dream hero” and cast it out to sea! Sending a message in a bottle can’t be any crazier than online or cell phone dating, or posting personal ads! And, who knows? One of these mysterious missives might actually lead to love…

  Join Meg, Tara, Nina, Clair, Jenny, Lisa, Hope, Kim, Rose, Lily, Faith and Amy, as they embark on the challenge of a lifetime: risking their hearts to accomplish their dreams.

  This is Meg’s story….

  When a reality dating show producer finds a message in a bottle from the perfect female contestant, he must convince her to choose one of the contenders and figure out how to keep from falling in love with her himself.

  Find all of the Beach Brides at Amazon!

  MEG (Julie Jarnagin)

  TARA (Ginny Baird)

  NINA (Stacey Joy Netzel)

  CLAIR (Grace Greene)

  JENNY (Melissa McClone)

  LISA (Denise Devine)

  HOPE (Aileen Fish)

  KIM (Magdalena Scott)

  ROSE (Shanna Hatfield)

  LILY (Ciara Knight)

  FAITH (Helen Scott Taylor)

  AMY (Raine English)

  Prologue

  Meg’s message in a bottle…

  To the person who finds this message,

  I know tossing a message in a bottle out to sea is a little crazy, but my friends talked me into writing this note to the man of my dreams (if he actually exists). I blame agreeing to this on the piña coladas and too much sun, but what do I have to lose?

  So, if you’re out there, dear man of my dreams, I hope you’re up for a big adventure because I’ve learned life has a funny way of surprising me. If by some crazy chance you find this message, email me. Who knows? It could lead me to my true love!

  Bon Voyage,

  Meg

  AlnaCommunityTheatre@...

  Chapter One

  All alone on the back row of the theater, Meg Mullen sat in a red velvet chair and watched a white-haired woman audition for the part of Miss Hannigan.

  A familiar knot formed in Meg’s stomach. If she couldn’t find a way to bring in more money soon, Annie would be the community theater’s final production.

  The vacation she’d taken with her book-club friends had been amazing, but now she was back to reality. Even after ticket sales, fundraisers, and spending every spare minute filling out grant applications, they still didn’t have enough money to pay the bills.

  Meg loved her position running the theater, but being out of a job wasn’t the biggest problem. What would happen to this wonderful, wacky group of people who’d worked together in the theater and become like a family? What about the kids in the after-school and summer programs? What about the people in town who’d come to rely on traditions like their annual production of A Christmas Carol? To outsiders, this run-down building might not look like much with its faded red curtain and creaky floors, but to Meg and a lot of other people, it was everything.

  In paint-splattered overalls, their set designer plopped down beside her. “I thought I saw you hiding in the shadows back here.” Raymond motioned toward the stage. “I’d say she’s Oscar worthy.”

  Meg gave a half-hearted smile. “I think this is going to be a great production.” But the words put a lump in her throat.

  He nudged her. “You okay, kid? You’re usually in the front row when we start working on something new.”

  She nodded. “Just not in a front-row mood today.”

  The little hair he had left stuck out on the back of his head. “Maybe it isn’t a good time to ask you this, but I need a little extra in the budget for the set. I’ve patched up a few of our older pieces one time too many, and they’re falling apart.”

  After his wife passed away, Raymond, a plumber by trade, had rarely left the house except to work. Since he’d started helping at the theater, he’d developed an entire network of friends.

  “Unfortunately, you’re going to have to do more patching,” Meg said.

  He studied her. “No problem. Thought I’d check. You sure you’re okay?”

  She sighed, not knowing how much to tell Raymond and the rest of the volunteers. Maybe they needed some warning before they had to close down for good. “Money is tight right now. Really tight.”

  “Ah,” he said. “But you’ll figure it out, kid. You always do.”

  Tears she hadn’t been expecting rushed to the surface, and she shook her head. “I don’t know.” She was failing Raymond and the entire town of Alna.

  Her cell phone vibrated. Raymond patted her knee. “Let me know what I can do to help. We’ll figure it out.”

  She nodded, wishing she could be as confident as Raymond. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and answered it.

  “Meg Mullen? This is Elliot Campbell, Gold Ring Productions.” The voice was deep, the tone, sure-of-himself.

  She stood and headed into the lobby. “How can I help you?”

  “I’m calling because I believe fate brought us together.”

  Fate? She doubted that. “Excuse me?”

  “I was having a terrible day. Everything—and I mean everything—was going wrong,” he said, his words falling on top of one another.

  Was this a telemarketer? If so, it was the weirdest sales call she’d ever gotten. “That’s too bad.” She meant the words. She knew a lot about those kinds of days, especially lately. She climbed the stairs toward her office.

  “So, I took a walk on the beach.”

  Didn’t sound like too bad of a day if he was by the ocean. “Must be a rough life—living on the beach.”

  “I don’t live on the beach, but I am working on Enchanted Island for the next three weeks.”

  Enchanted Island? Had she met him when she and her friends had been there a few weeks ago? She didn’t remember an Elliot. And she certainly hadn’t given any random guys her number.

  Maybe one of the girls had done it as a joke. “I’m sorry, Elliot, but I really need to get back to work.” She stepped into her office with its out-of-style furniture and the water-stained and sagging ceiling tiles.

  “This will only take a few minutes,” he said. “I found something of yours.”

  “Like in lost and found?” she asked. “What is it?”

  He was silent for a moment. “Have you ever put a message in a bottle?”

  She stopped. She’d almost forgotten about the message. S
he never thought anyone would find it, especially not just a few weeks after she’d thrown it out to sea as part of a dumb pact with friends. “Did you find anyone else’s?”

  “No. I only found the one. Now, can’t you see this was fate?”

  Yeah. It was fate all right. The bad luck kind. All her friends’ bottles had gone out to sea, destined for something exciting, and Meg’s had simply washed back to shore. Typical. “I didn’t put my phone number on that message.”

  “I don’t like email. It’s so impersonal. A quick Google search of your email address took me to the web page of the Alna Community Theater. You’re the director there. It didn’t exactly take CIA level intel to get this phone number. It’s listed on the contact page.”

  She really should start thinking more about online security. Except for college and a few years afterward, she’d lived in this small town all her life. Locking her doors at night was the extent of her safety measures.

  “Meg, the moment I read your bio and saw your photo on the website, I knew this was meant to be.”

  “Meant to be?” This guy was starting to freak her out. If he could get her phone number, had he found her address too?

  “I think you’d be perfect for this season of One True Love. We’re about to start filming.”

  The relief exploded in a laugh. “The dating reality show? That’s what this is all about?”

  “My female lead dropped out at the last minute. Then, I found your message. I know you’re the one who should have been here all along.”

  She’d met guys like Elliot when she’d moved to New York. Smooth talking sharks. “I’m not interested.”

  “You’d get to spend two weeks on the island. All expenses paid,” he said as if he were a game show host.

  Despite herself, she smiled. Her week there with her friends had been heaven.

  “The other week of filming would be in Alna,” he said.

  Here. In Alna. No way. She didn’t need a camera crew snooping around in her real life. “As fun as that sounds—”

  “And you’d have the opportunity to meet the man of your dreams—just like your message said.”

  A free vacation was one thing, but there was no way she was signing on for some sleazy reality show. “What makes you think I can take three weeks away from my life here? I have a job to do. We just started auditions for Annie.”

  He laughed. “Even small-town community theater productions have directors. I’m sure he or she can handle it without you.” His tone rubbed her nerves like sandpaper.

  Who did this guy think he was, calling and insulting her theater? “This place is important. They need me here.”

  “We can use all of this in your background story. And after the show, you won’t need that job, because you’ll be famous.”

  “Famous? From a reality show?” Likely story.

  “Maybe not Julia Roberts famous, but more than local community theater famous.”

  She gritted her teeth. “What if I don’t want to be famous?”

  He scoffed. “Meg, I’ve been in this business for a while now, and if it has taught me anything, it’s taught me that everyone wants to be famous.”

  A lump of regret formed in her throat. “You’re wrong about that. I, for one, have zero interest in being famous.”

  “Be honest,” he said, his tone lighter. “Haven’t you ever wanted to get out of Alna, Oklahoma?”

  “I’m happy exactly where I am. Thanks for the offer, but I’m not interested.” She ended the call.

  Elliot’s words irritated her more than they should have. As if staying in Oklahoma labeled her a failure. Sure, every woman had dreams at some stage of her life. But Meg would never chase fame again. She’d closed the door on that part of her life a long time ago.

  Chapter Two

  If Elliot’s phone call with Meg Mullen had told him anything, it was that she was his star. If she looked even remotely like the photo he’d seen online, he would be happy. But it wasn’t just about her appearance. He could find plenty of gorgeous women who actually wanted to be on the show. When they’d talked two days ago, Meg had displayed a combination of strength and sweetness. The fans of the show would eat it up. Men would fall in love with her and women would want to be her.

  If his instincts were right, the network executives would be thrilled with the ratings she’d bring in. After breakup rumors leaked before the final episode of the last season had even aired, the network had mentioned the show might need a more experienced producer. He had to make sure this season went off perfectly, or he’d be out of a job.

  Elliot drove the rental car past two old men sitting on a bench in front of a barbershop and a huge mural of two prairie dogs on the library wall. This little town would be great for the hometown visit episode. They’d have plenty of usable camera shots to get that quirky, small-town feel.

  When the last woman he’d cast had confessed she had a boyfriend of two years and that he’d proposed, he’d thought they’d never find someone else in time. Then, he’d found the bottle and realized everything was falling into place. Almost as if his father had sent the message as a gift from heaven.

  The show didn’t need another wannabe actress living in Hollywood. They needed Meg, the small-town girl looking for true love. It couldn’t have been better if he’d written the letter himself.

  The old sign on the theater looked right out of a movie set. It had gold letters surrounded by lights and a white marquee underneath.

  He parked at the side of the building and followed the cracked sidewalk to the double doors. When he stepped inside, he found the theater dim and quiet. The red-and-gold patterned carpet was worn but clean, and the walls looked recently painted. A small concessions area against the side wall held an antique popcorn maker.

  “Hello?” he called out. “Anyone here?”

  Footsteps came from the stairs tucked in the corner of the room. A woman in a green dress and flats smiled at him. Her brunette hair was pulled back on the sides. “Can I help you?”

  She was even more beautiful in person. Those big brown eyes had stories to tell. He couldn’t leave here without convincing her to come with him. “Meg!” he said like they were old friends. “Elliot Campbell. It’s great to meet you in person.”

  She stepped back. “The man from the reality show? What in the world are you doing in Oklahoma?”

  Spreading his arms wide, he smiled. “I came to see you, of course.”

  She shook her head. “This is getting out of control.”

  Uh-oh. She wasn’t going to make this easy on him. “You didn’t answer my calls or my messages.”

  Crossing her arms, she glared at him. “Because I told you I wasn’t interested.”

  Maybe he should have warned her first, but if he had asked her if he could visit, she would’ve said no. “I need you, Meg, and once I get my mind set on something, I don’t give up.”

  “And once my mind is set against something, I don’t give in.”

  He chuckled. She looked so sweet, but she could dish it out. He couldn’t get enough of the fire in her.

  She cocked her head. “You’re younger than I pictured.”

  It was something he dealt with every day in his job—with cameramen, the talent, the studio. “I’m twenty-eight with seven years of experience. My father started the show. I took over two years ago.” When his father had died, it had been left up to Elliot to keep his production company running. No one thought he was ready to take over, but his father had said he had full faith in him before he’d passed on.

  She gave a slight nod. “People often think I’m younger than I am too. I guess we’ll appreciate it someday.”

  According to her bio, she’d graduated college with honors five years ago, so she was probably about his age. “We have loads of people who apply for the show every year. Help me understand why you’re so against this.”

  She pushed a strand of hair off her face. “I have better things to do with my time than to be on some chee
sy reality show…no offense.”

  “None taken.” He was used to it. “You keep saying you don’t want to be on a show, but it’s hard for me to believe that, especially coming from a woman who got her degree in acting.”

  She opened her mouth, but he cut her off.

  “It was in your bio. I’m not a crazy stalker.” The acting thing was only another point in her favor. One True Love wasn’t scripted, but they did have to do retakes of the things they missed, and a little acting experience would go a long way.

  She cocked her head. “You flew from the Caribbean to Oklahoma to see me and surprise me at work. Sounds kind of crazy to me.”

  “Crazy, maybe.” He flashed his best Hollywood smile. “But I’m not a stalker. My job is to entertain viewers. I believe having you on our show would make it an amazing season. I’m simply doing my job.”

  “And I’m doing mine. And it’s here.”

  She couldn’t take a few weeks away from this little theater? There had to be more to it than that. “When you were going to school for four years, you never had dreams other than”—he took in the room, the tiny lobby, and the musty smell—“This?” Her face turned red, and he rushed ahead. “No offense intended.”

  “I think it’s time for you to leave, Elliot. I happen to be in the middle of a very busy, very stressful time at work.”

  Maybe he’d overdone it. “If this is about money, we’ll pay you a stipend that should more than cover the time lost on the job.”

  Her expression softened. “That might pay my bills, but it won’t pay the theater’s bills.”

  She didn’t get it. Being cast on One True Love wasn’t like getting a role at a community theater or even a commercial or two in Hollywood. “This show will open up all kinds of opportunities. You won’t have to work here. You won’t have to worry about their money problems. One of our past contestants has a gig hosting a morning show and another started her own line of makeup.”