Crashing Together (Silver Bay Book 2)

by Amelia Judd

  They were seated with her family—including the recently engaged Sage and Pax who’d flown in from Costa Rica—at a hand-carved, solid-wood outdoor table custom made by Bennett Industry’s finest craftsmen. Richard had given the table to his wife that morning as a present for her sixtieth birthday. It could seat ten comfortably, twelve if the diners liked coziness.

  Tonight was the culmination of a multi-day celebration of their mom’s milestone birthday, hence the need for the large table. Of course, at the recent rate of family expansion, her mom might need a new table soon. Kat smiled at the thought, dropped a kiss onto her son’s sweet-smelling little head, and then slid one hand to rest on Logan’s muscled thigh.

  Logan lifted her hand in his for a soft kiss. “When are you going to tell them?” he murmured against her skin with a pleased, proud, sexy-as-sin look in his eye.

  “Don’t rush me,” Kat whispered with a wink. “I’ve planned a little speech that’s lovely and really sentimental. I wanna say it at just the right time.”

  He raised a skeptical eyebrow.

  “What? I can do sentimental. I’m totally going to nail this.”

  “Thank you for that wonderful dinner.” Her mom’s smiling voice pulled their attention to the head of the table. “Sharing a meal with my children and grandchildren was the absolute perfect way to spend my birthday.”

  “The celebration isn’t over yet,” Hannah said, standing up. “I just need to add a few finishing touches to your cake before it’s ready. Ty and Grace, do you want to help?”

  With enthusiastic agreement, Kat’s niece and nephew hopped up from their seats—likely happy for the chance to score some frosting from Hannah before dessert was even served.

  “I’ll come too.” Sage pushed her chair back. “I’m going to take that handsome guy with me. I’ve been staring across the table at him all night and can’t wait any longer to get my hands on him.”

  “You better be talking about the kid,” Pax grumbled.

  After shooting Pax a saucy smile, Sage walked around the table, carefully scooped up Bennett, and cradled him in her arms with a wistful expression. The little guy stirred for a moment then relaxed back into sleep.

  “I want one.” She sighed plenty loud for Pax to hear as she walked toward the patio door.

  “Looks like you’re next, mate.”

  “I’m focusing on the wedding first.” Pax gave Logan an easy smile. “There are a few things we need to take care of at La Vida before the ceremony there in December. Like finding a new adventure guide and surf instructor.”

  “Sorry about that, but I’m needed here.” Logan brushed another warm kiss along Kat’s knuckles and eyed her with that sexy, half-lidded look of his that instantly made her best parts take notice.

  “I can see that.” Pax cleared his throat. “Now stop eyeballing my little sister and tell me about your new personal-training facility. I hear it’s a hit.”

  “My schedule is full nearly every day of the week. Seems people are happy to have a place in Silver Bay to work out. They also like that I personalize regimens based on individual fitness goals.”

  “It’s the talk of the town,” Richard interjected proudly. “I train with him three times a week. I haven’t been in such good shape since I was your age.”

  “I go in every Thursday morning for a small group session with book-club friends,” Ann added.

  “A mighty rowdy bunch they are. Your mum’s the only one who behaves.”

  “Well, yes, a few ladies are a bit overzealous,” Ann said, looking away and smoothing her already perfectly smooth hair.

  “Overzealous?” Kat scoffed. “Logan had to enforce a ‘hands off’ policy for your friends specifically.”

  Pax cringed. “Sorry I asked.”

  “What can I say? The ladies love me.” Logan shot him a cheeky grin.

  Kat rolled her eyes and elbowed Logan in the side. “We’ve gotta do something about that ego of yours.”

  “How’s SAS?” Pax asked Kat in a not-so-subtle attempt to change the subject.

  “Great. I’m working on our first major fundraiser. It’s going to be a big fall festival in the town square. Ever since Claire agreed to help, I’ve been securing a ton of great volunteers for the event.”

  Claire wrinkled her nose. “That’s odd. People are usually quick to volunteer for a good cause. Why does it matter if I’m doing it or not.”

  Kat shrugged. “Probably because it’s the first year of a new event.”

  Logan chuckled beside her. “Yeah, tiger, let’s run with that theory.”

  Claire’s sharp gaze focused on Logan. “Why are you laughing?”

  She shot her attention to Kat. “Why is he laughing?”

  “No reason.” Kat gave Claire a serene smile and elbowed Logan again, only harder this time. “Ignore him. He’s easily amused.”

  “That’s true,” Logan acknowledged with a devilish grin. “But you’re still going to have to tell her sometime.”

  “Yes, dear,” Ann said to Kat. “Claire will need a little time to process her role in the fundraiser.”

  Claire’s eyes widened, then instantly narrowed to focus on each person in turn. “Does everyone know about this except me?”

  Pax shot his hands up in a don’t-look-at-me gesture.

  “Somebody better start talking. Now.”

  “Chill out, Claire. It’s totally no biggie.” Kat grinned, shooing away her sister’s concern with a few flicks of her wrist. “For the showcase event we’re auctioning off dates with some of the town’s most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes.”

  Claire’s expression went from anxious to dumbstruck in about two point two seconds. “And I’m one of the eligible bachelorettes?” she squeaked.

  “Damn. Good thing Cosmo’s not here.” Kat peered around the yard dramatically. “You could’ve blown out the poor dog’s hearing with that last note.”

  “No way,” Claire stated, determination etched on her face.

  “I’m serious. Dogs have very sensitive hearing.”

  “I meant,” Claire gritted out, “no way am I standing on a stage to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Is that even legal?”

  “It’s just one date. Besides it will be good for you. Shake up your routine a little.”

  “Huh uh. Nope. Not happening.” Claire couldn’t seem to stop shaking her head.

  “You’re a bigwig at Bennett Industries and well respected in town. Every other bachelor and bachelorette agreed to participate once I told them you were doing it. If you back out now, the whole fundraiser could fall apart.”

  “I’m sorry to say that Kat’s right,” Richard said, patting Claire’s hand. “As much as it pains me to think of men bidding on a date with one of my daughters, this is an important event for SAS.”

  Claire’s face fell. “I hate being the center of attention. I can’t stand on a stage like an idiot praying that someone, anyone bids on me.” She turned her pleading gaze to her sister. “You should do it, Kat. You’d bring in a ton of money.”

  “Not gonna happen,” Logan stated firmly.

  Claire glared at Logan a moment, then relented. “Fine,” she snapped, turning back to her sister. “There has to be some way out of this.”

  “I’ll tell you the same thing I told everyone else. If you become involved in a serious relationship between now and the auction, you can gracefully bow out.”

  Claire perked up in interest.

  “And I’m not talking about a date or two, sister of mine. I’m talking about a committed relationship that you’ve acknowledged in public.”

  Before Claire could respond, the back door flew open, and Ty and Grace came running out, followed by Hannah carrying an elegant two-tier ivory cake that looked big enough to feed fifty. It had a slightly larger bottom tier with an intricate pearl beading design of pale lavender frosting wrapped around the base. The smaller top tier, however, held the real focal point of the cake—an artistic scattering of large, life-like roses
and lilacs in multiple coordinating shades of lavender and pale-pink frosting.

  While everyone else oohed and aahed over the culinary masterpiece, Claire turned to Kat. “I can’t do it,” she hissed. “Don’t you remember what happened the last time I was on stage in my fourth-grade production of A Christmas Carol? I got so nervous that I threw up all over Tiny Tim. The kids called me the Ghost of Christmas Puke for the rest of the year!”

  “Oh, yeah,” Kat grinned at the memory. “Guess it’s time to face your fears.”

  Claire glared at her in the pale moonlight, then after a beat, nodded toward the head of the table. “Mom’s about to blow out the candles. We’ll discuss the fundraiser later.”

  Kat huffed out a sigh. Her big sister needed to stop overthinking everything and embrace spontaneity for once in her life.

  Kat waited until cake had been served and enjoyed, then stretched up to kiss Logan on the cheek. “Ready to head home, big guy?” she whispered in his ear.

  Instant heat darkened his eyes to midnight. “Good-oh. I’ll try to wrestle Bennett away from your mum. It might take awhile.”

  Kat watched Logan amble toward her mom. After chatting for a minute, he gently extricated their recently awakened son from his doting grandmother’s arms and gave him a big kiss on his pudgy little cheek.

  Kat’s chest swelled with love. “We’re heading out.” She slipped on her sandals, rose from the table, and walked to stand next to Logan and Bennett. “Everyone can still make it to the cookout at our place Saturday night, right?”

  The family all gave her some sort of confirmation.

  “Topnotch.” She wrapped an arm around Logan’s waist. “Appetizers are at six. The ceremony is at seven. We’ll grill out afterward. See you then.” She nudged Logan to leave, but his big body didn’t budge.

  Sage gasped. “Ceremony?”

  “You’re getting married in three days?” Pax asked, looking a bit shell-shocked.

  “Yip.” Pride rang through Logan’s deep voice as he held Bennett tightly in one arm and wrapped his other around Kat’s shoulders.

  “Oh, how wonderful.” Ann clasped her hands in excitement.

  “ ’Bout time,” her dad grumbled, reaching for another piece of cake.

  “You’re right, Dad.” Kat snuggled against Logan’s side and playful patted his chest. “It is time I made an honest man out of him.”

  After a moment of shocked silence, an explosion of questions and excited chatter erupted as everyone started talking at once. Startled at the commotion, Bennett bunched his adorable face in concern. If they didn’t get the little guy away from here soon, he was going to give his vocal cords one heck of a workout.

  “That’s our cue,” she said to Logan, grabbing his arm and steering him toward the stone path at the edge of the patio. “Sorry,” she tossed to her family over one shoulder. “Gotta go. It’s Bennett’s bedtime.”

  Logan cocked an eyebrow as she hustled him around the corner of the house. “You and I have very different definitions of sentimental, darl.”

  “Sorry. Guess I’m not the sentimental type after all.” She clicked her tongue and winked. “Too bad you’re a man of your word. You’re stuck with me now.”

  Logan grinned down at her, his blue eyes dancing with amusement, patience, and love. “I don’t feel stuck, tiger. But with you and with him,”—he nodded toward their son—“I’ll damn sure always stick.”

  Thank You!

  Thanks for reading Crashing Together! I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope you’ll consider taking a moment to write a quick review. Even one or two sentences about a book can help readers and authors alike.

  Book three in the Silver Bay series, Lucky in Love, features Claire Bennett’s romance and will be available near the end of 2017. If you’d like to receive an email on release day, please join my VIP list.

  Happy reading!

  Amelia

  About the Author

  Award-winning author Amelia Judd writes fun and flirty contemporary romance. She loves to entertain her readers with memorable characters and fast-paced plots that blend humor, heart, and heat.

  After receiving a degree in international affairs, Amelia lived and studied in Belgium for over three years. During her time in Europe, she traveled extensively, earned a master’s degree, and fell in love with writing contemporary romance.

  Amelia now lives in the Midwest with her sports-loving husband, two active kids, and a lovable dog that stays by her side day and night. When she isn’t writing, she’s spending time with family, hanging out with friends, chauffeuring her kiddos around town, sneaking off to the movies, or planning her family’s next getaway.

  If you’d like to receive an email each time Amelia releases a new book, please join her VIP list.

  Connect with Amelia Judd online:

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  Copyright @ 2017 Amelia Judd

  Crashing Together is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Cover design by LLewellen Designs

  Edited by Karen Dale Harris

  Proofread by Daisycakes Creative Services

  Published by Mitchell Davis Press, LLC

  www.ameliajudd.com

  ISBN-13: 978-1-946517-02-9