by Jean Oram
He must have seen her confusion. "I used to go by my middle name back then—Eirik."
Eirik Black. That was the name she remembered.
How often had she thought of him over the years? Maybe it was because their summer together—and the one after that—had been magical and he'd been the first guy she'd fallen in love with. But it seemed like no other relationship ever came close to measuring up. Not even the good ones.
"I can't believe it's you." With her heart racing erratically, she gave him a quick hug, not quite believing Eirik—Thorsen—was standing in front of her. "How have you been?"
"Good. You?"
Someone cleared their throat, keeping them from reminiscing further. Riley turned to find the last person on her list. "Anna Blake?"
"It is." A smile graced her face for no more than a second before fading to a no-nonsense demeanor.
"Well...welcome to the island." Riley managed a smile, though the woman before her didn't exactly inspire the warm and fuzzies.
Though everyone had their own sense of style, Anna's outfit didn't exactly say summer vacation—business attire head to toe, the woman looked like she was a lawyer. Dark suit jacket, even in the middle of summer, paired with a slim skirt and white blouse, heels that looked better suited to Manhattan than Maine, and blonde hair that was perfectly styled and probably cost hundreds to cut and an hour to style. They hadn't scheduled any corporate events, since most of their summer business came from vacationing tourists.
Riley got a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach as she rechecked the name on her list. Anna Blake. There was no company listed near her name. Not that there would be. She managed another smile, though she couldn't help but wonder if Anna was from Holt Enterprises. "That's everyone. If you'd like to grab a seat on the bus, we'll get going."
Thorsen stepped to the side to let Anna go first, leaving them alone for the moment—if one didn't count the gaggle of romance writers watching their every move. He was only inches away and giving her a smile that had her toes curling, her breath catching, and her pulse doing cartwheels. "I know you'll be working, but I'd love to get together and catch up. It's been ages."
She melted into those blue eyes, her gaze darting to those lush lips of his as her mind and body vividly imagined what it would be like to kiss him after all these years. Giving him a smile, she managed to concentrate long enough to give him an answer, though her voice came out all breathy, betraying the effect he was having on her. "I might be able to swing that."
Chapter Two
Thorsen could barely pull his gaze away from Riley long enough to take in the island. As a seventeen-year-old boy, he'd been absolutely smitten with her, head over heels in love, and their two summers together nowhere near long enough.
And now? He was in no better shape than he'd been back then. The feelings he'd once had for her seemed to hit him like a runaway train, though he wondered if they'd ever really left him. Perhaps he'd just tucked them away in a safe place, knowing that until now, his life was too chaotic to accommodate anything more than a quick hook-up.
And Riley sure as hell was not just hook-up material.
She'd been sweet and cute when they'd been teens, but now she was nothing short of a natural beauty. Her long dark brown hair caught the sun so it shone with shades of red, and freckles danced across her cheeks, making her green eyes sparkle. His only regret was that he'd lost track of her after their last summer together. They'd tried to stay in touch, but Thorsen had been sent back to England to finish his last year of boarding school. The heavy workload and the strict school rules hadn't allowed for many distractions.
Well, this time around, he wasn't going anywhere. He'd spent the years since that last summer thinking about her, wanting her—replaying their one time together over and over in his head, their intimate moment stolen the night before he flew back home to England. There may have been others since then, but he knew no one else would truly do.
He'd dated plenty, but they'd been nothing more than a way to keep his mind off Riley. How many times had he thought of tracking her down? It would have been simple enough to do, and yet she would have been nothing but a temptation he couldn't pursue, given the work he'd been doing for Interpol. Any sort of serious relationship would only have put her in jeopardy, and that wasn't a risk he'd been willing to take.
But now? He'd switched gears professionally, and that meant he could finally think of settling down to a normal life, and go after the one and only thing he'd ever wanted—Riley.
A wave of memories hit him as they rounded the corner in the road and he saw it off in the distance. The Siren Song Inn. The sprawling estate was just as he remembered it.
Originally built during the late eighteen hundreds as a summer getaway and health resort, it had changed very little from its original blueprint. Painted a cheery yellow with white shutters and trim, the Siren was made picture-perfect with flower boxes added to every window while the sea and sky served as an ever-changing backdrop. A farmer's porch wrapped all the way around the building, and rocking chairs afforded the guests a place to sit, so they could enjoy the view with their company. It was everything one could want in a summer resort.
And yet it was so much more.
Though he hadn't been at the helm of the family business long, Riley and the Siren Song Inn had never left his mind for long. Fueled by his memories of the perfect summers he'd spent on Mermaid Isle, it didn't take long for Thorsen to convince the other board members that it would be a sound investment. Days later, they'd made a generous offer on the Siren.
The fact that Riley was the manager seemed serendipitous. If he'd had any doubts as to whether or not to buy the quaint inn by the cliffs, that was enough to have him signing on the dotted line.
Not that Riley could know he was the head of Holt Enterprises—not yet anyway. Given his complicated dealings with Interpol, only the members on the board and a handful of lawyers knew of his standing and his involvement at Holt. And, he'd like to make sure it stayed that way. Though he might no longer be actively working with Interpol, it made little difference to the enemies he'd made over the years.
Not even Anna Blake knew she was sitting on the bus with one of her bosses—though what exactly she was doing on the island remained to be seen. He suspected his cousin, Mark, was behind it.
Mark had been hoping Thorsen would remain a silent partner, so he could gain control of Holt. Unfortunately, his cousin had been sorely disappointed, and given that they'd never liked each other much to begin with, the tension between them had only grown in the last few months.
Buying the inn had been a controversial move, but it would be even more so if it didn't soon turn a nice profit. Though Thorsen held controlling interest in Holt, he still had board members to appease, and the last thing he wanted was a coup—one Mark would happily lead with torches and pitchforks.
Having inherited his position in the company, every business decision he made was being questioned and scrutinized, and too many unhappy board members could mean losing control of his family's company. He owned the largest percentage compared to the other members; however, their sum total could override him in a decision. It was a precarious position to be in.
The bus pulled to a stop, though Thorsen held back and let everyone else get off first with the hope of getting Riley to himself, even if for a moment. A trio of women ogled him quite blatantly, but he just had to smile, flattered. Once he and Riley were the last two on the bus, he moved towards the exit where she stood.
She gave him a tentative smile. "I'm afraid you might get more of that...we've got a romance writer's conference going on, and let's just say, the ladies like their leading men and have a wild imagination."
He barked out a laugh. "That explains it then. Do you do a lot of that sort of thing here at the inn?"
"It helps keep the place full. We've managed better than most places with the slow economy, but..." Worry clouded over her eyes and her shoulders slumped, though she was quic
k to recover. "It's all good. This place has been around too long to not adapt and survive."
"I'm glad to hear it." He smiled and followed her off the bus.
Several inn employees were there to help them with their luggage and to check them in, and it didn't take long before he had his key card in hand. He lingered until she had a free moment, still desperate to talk to her some more. "I know you're busy, but I don't suppose I could interest you in dinner? Maybe tonight—unless you already have plans. It's been far too long, Riley."
"Tonight?" Mulling it over, she bit her bottom lip, making him want to kiss her.
"It's just dinner between old friends, darling." He was now worried she'd say no. "We could do it another night if you need to check with your boyfriend—or are you not supposed to mingle with the guests?"
That got him a laugh. "No boyfriend to check in with, and given that I'm here twenty-four-seven, my social life would be a black hole if I couldn't hang out with the guests. But work's a bit complicated right about now."
"Go on, Riley! Let the poor man take you to dinner." One of the romance writers nudged her while passing by, though the group of writers didn't look like they were going anywhere in a hurry.
He could see her mulling it over, and it left his gut in knots. After wanting her all these years, she had to say yes. "You still have to eat, right? Maybe leaving work behind for an evening is exactly what you need."
"Well, dinner usually consists of me grabbing something on the run between events we're hosting or while doing paperwork." Looking down, she laughed and shook her head. "I know—it's sad, isn't it?"
It was clear Riley poured everything she had into running the inn, and probably never stopped or slowed down enough to take a moment for herself. "All the more reason to say yes."
The light in her eyes had his heart pounding against his chest, making him want to steal the kiss that was over a decade too late. And then the romance writers backed him up once more, urging Riley on until she rolled her eyes at them with a smile. "You're right. Someone else can run this place for a night and dinner would be...really nice. Seven in the lobby?"
"Sounds perfect." He grabbed his bag and wandered towards the stairs, pausing for a moment at the group of women. "My sincerest thanks, ladies."
They were all giving him mischievous smiles that made him think it'd be good to have the writers as allies. "It's our pleasure."
He noticed Anna lingering, her lips pursed and her gaze stern as she took note of his exchange with Riley. It left him wondering if the board decided to send Anna to evaluate the hotel so they could decide on what changes they'd need to make. But Anna could be a huge problem for him since the board had made it quite clear that he was not to come to the island until their lawyers closed the deal on the inn. According to the board, inheriting his family's share of the business did not mean he'd also inherited their business sense.
Mark and the board may have hoped to continue running things, but it didn't sit well with him. He may not have an MBA, but he was far from being an idiot. And if they were purchasing the Siren because of his interest in it, then he wanted to make his own assessment of the place—whether they wanted him here or not. He wouldn't interfere, and they wouldn't know he was here.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
One Sweet Summer by Cali MacKay is available for purchase on Amazon!
A note from the author, Jean Oram
I hope you enjoyed Whiskey and Gumdrops. If you'd like to read more about the characters in this series, sign up for my mailing list to get email updates straight to your inbox (as well as other goodies like giveaways and more!). (That's at: www.jeanoram.com/signup ) And for an up-to-date, complete list of my books please visit my website and blog at www.jeanoram.com.
Do you have questions, feedback, or just want to say hi? Connect with me:
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I'd love to hear from you!
Thanks for reading,
Jean
Jean Oram grew up in an old schoolhouse on the Canadian prairie. She didn't realize she wanted to write until one day she sat down, giggling, and declared, "I'm going to write a novel!" And she did. But this isn't it. That one was kind of a disaster because she didn't even know how long a novel should be, but she learned a lot and had fun. You can learn more about Jean and her hobbies—besides writing and chasing her two kids and three pets around the house and the great outdoors—on her website at www.jeanoram.com.
This book is wholeheartedly dedicated to my late mother:
Ellen Dick
August 9, 1944 - August 15, 2013
My mom: life and adventure cheerleader, writing supporter, artist, best friend, amazing secret keeper, and so much more. You are dearly missed each and every day.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Blueberry Springs reader Joanne Costello for naming Mandy's cat. She chose Portia's name and without Joanne, Mandy's cat would have been named Fluffinator. Or worse. Much worse.
As well, a HUGE thank you to my husband for continuing to smile and believe in me. Thank you to my daughter for making the most awesome fan art. And to my son for making sure I got lots of writing breaks. As well, thank you to my mother-in-law for taking the munchkin when I needed to get edits done.
In the writing world, thank you to those who have paved the indie path before me and shared your knowledge. Thank you to the epub group, and the secret Facebook writing club (you know who you are). As well, thank you to Jemi, Cali, and Lucy for your keen eyes and ideas at the drafting stage. And thank you to Lucy Wright for squeezing in a beta read when I wasn't sure about Mandy and Frankie. And, lastly, a thank you everyone can appreciate—Bev Rosenbaum for her fine-detailed edits. Any errors are mine—not hers!
The Blueberry Springs Collection:
Book 1: Champagne and Lemon Drops Available for FREE on all major online booksellers.
Will Beth be able to win back her fiancé when he asks for a break? Or will the process of winning him back teach her things about herself that will ultimately lead her to another man?
Book 2: Whiskey and Gumdrops This is it, baby!
Book 3: Rum and Raindrops (Coming Spring 2014)
Did nature guide Jen really start the forest fire threatening Blueberry Springs? And what will she do about the smoking hot fire inspector who is on her case and looking a lot like the man she's always dreamed of sweeping her away?
* * *
Lastly, I'd love to hear what you thought of Whiskey and Gumdrops. Drop a few lines about this book on your favorite online retailer's site, your blog, Facebook, Twitter, to your family and friends, or anywhere! You can also email me at [email protected]. Your feedback is always appreciated.
Thanks for reading,
Jean
P.S. If you review books on your blog, check out jeanoram.com where you can find cover images, book links, etc.
Table of Contents
Whiskey and Gumdrops
Copyright Notice
Chapter 1: Mandy and the Skunk
Chapter 2: Mandy Looks for Change
Chapter 3: Blueberry Cruise
Chapter 4: Mandy and the Race
Chapter 5: So Who is the Chicken?
Chapter 6: The CEO Calls
Chapter 7: The CEO Comes to Town
Chapter 8: Is That a Yacht or a Dinghy?
Chapter 9: Mandy Gets Legal Advice
Chapter 10: Frankie Puts His Money Where Her Mouth Is
Chapter 11: Mandy Confronts the Dragon
Chapter 12: The Quitting Party
Chapter 13: Is it All Falling Apart or Just Mandy?
Chapter 14: Mandy and the Avalanche Tunnel
Chapter 15: Mandy Tells Frankie the Truth
Chapter 16: Mandy Tries to Save the Financial Day
Chapter 17: Mandy and the Fall Fair
Chapte
r 18: Blowtorch Comes to Town
Chapter 19: Mandy and the Felon
Chapter 20: Well, She's Not in Jail
Chapter 21: Happily Ever After?
Rum and Raindrops—A Sneak Peek of Book 3 in Blueberry Springs
Guest Author Sneak Peek: Chasing Justice by Danielle Stewart (A Piper Anderson Novel)
Guest Author Sneak Peek: One Sweet Summer by Cali MacKay (A Mermaid Isle Novel)
About the Author
Dedication
The Last Page
