Another Chance at Love (Another Series Book 1)

by Suzanne Sweeney

  It’s a short ride to Windward and we’re there in no time. There are uniformed police guarding the barricades at the entrance. They move them out of the way the moment the cruiser pulls up. Philip rolls down his window and thanks his brothers in blue as we pull into the park.

  I’ve never been here before and I stare out the window as we drive slowly down the entrance. The park is immaculately cared for with a big, beautiful brand new playground on the left and bocce ball courts on the right. There are picnic tables and grills nearby and it looks like a great place to meet and have fun.

  A little further down and I can see the bandshell. It sits facing the park with its back against the beach. The river is behind it, and there are a number of small boats in view. It must be a lot of fun to listen to the band and watch the fireworks from the water.

  Coming up next is the parking lot, which is filled with emergency vehicles, food and beer trucks. I’m getting more and more excited. Finally, Philip reaches the end. It’s marked by a flagpole and a beautiful memorial sculpture that honors the township residents who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on September 11th.

  Philip stops the car and points toward the bandshell. “Megan is waiting for you guys right over there. You’ll see. She’s sitting on a big blanket with two more blankets spread out for you guys. Tell her I’ll be right there after I park the car.”

  From where we stand, we have the perfect view of the setting sun as it dips beneath the horizon, leaving the sky awash in a blaze of colors found at the heart of a fire. An orange haze casts off the river, reflecting off every ripple. The water gleams in the last rays of the dying light. It’s magnificent.

  Suddenly, the band starts up and after they introduce themselves to the crowd, they lead off with one of my favorites, “Sweet Caroline”. I dare anyone to listen to this song and not join in, especially when the entire crowd chants the infectious, “pah, pah, pah”. These guys are good and they sound amazing.

  Cole and I quickly claim the smaller empty blanket. We don’t need much room. Cole sits down first and I squeeze myself between his knees. I lean back against his firm chest. He wraps his long arms around me and there’s no place in the world I would rather be.

  Brie, Cait, and Declan scurry off to fetch us drinks. While we wait, Philip shows up and joins his wife on their blanket. He sits next to her and places an arm behind her. She answers by lacing her arm through his and resting it behind his back as she rests her head on his shoulder.

  They look so young and carefree sitting together like that. Philip has been my protector for so long, it’s hard to see him any other way. But the fact is, he’s the exact same age as Cole. It’s nice seeing him letting down his guard and acting his age.

  “Does you mother have Connor?” I ask Megan.

  She smiles at Philip before answering. “She does. He’s staying overnight at her house. We have the whole night to ourselves.”

  I watch as she looks up into my brother’s eyes with a mischievous grin. I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of sleeping going on tonight at their place.

  Brie, Cait, & Declan appear with our drinks and we all sit back to enjoy a rare night out together. The Nerds bring jokes, ugly clothes, and unpredictable song selection to the stage. Surprisingly, plaid is in style now, so the band isn't too nerdy—but their taped-up glasses and goofy mannerisms work and I’m hooked. Tonight’s show starts off with songs by Queen, Guns N' Roses, Beatles, DNCE, and even a little Eminem. What’s not to love?

  “How does a stroll along the beach sound?” asks Cole, stretching as he stands up. “It’s a beautiful night and there’s nothing like the way the stars look over the water at night.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  We wind our way through blankets and chairs until we find ourselves hand-in-hand walking along the beach. Slipping off our shoes, we head towards the water’s edge, wading in the gentle waves along the shore.

  We keep walking until we find a small pier that extends over the river. I turn around to discover we’ve wandered rather far from the park. It’s much more quiet here. We can barely hear the music. Only the melodic hum of acoustics fill the air.

  The pier is quite long and once we reach the end, we are completely surrounded by water. Looking over the river, I see groups of small boats gathering near the park, all eagerly vying to find the best location to watch the fireworks.

  Standing at edge of the pier, I am holding onto the railing and staring out as the waves rise and fall. I feel his hands on my waist and his lips on my neck. His gentle kisses make their way up to my ear as he whispers, “Stay with me.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” I answer, tilting my head back to give him better access to that sweet spot on my neck, just below my ear.

  “Turn around and look at me,” he asks gently.

  I turn and look at him, assessing him with my eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing is wrong. Not one single thing. But I need to know that if something does go wrong, you won’t run.” He’s holding me by my arms and I can tell by the look in his eye that he’s dead serious.

  “I promise.” I throw my arms around his neck and plant a big kiss on his luscious lips.

  He pulls away. “I’m serious, Kenny. This past week has been perfect. You have no idea how much it meant to me for you to get everyone together for my game. I love seeing you with my family. They are very important to me.”

  “I love them, too. And I’m glad you still want me around after spending a whole day with my family. I know my mom can be a lot to take sometimes. I’m sorry I put you through that.”

  “You don’t ever have to apologize to me, I love you. Save your apology for our next fight.”

  Did I hear him correctly? “What did you just say?”

  “I said to save it for our next fight.”

  “No, before that.”

  He smiles. “I said I love you.” He pulls me closer. “I’ve wanted to say those words for a very long time. I’ve been waiting for the perfect day, the perfect place, the perfect moment. But there is no perfect – not when it comes to us. I. Love. You. I know what I want and what I need. I want a life, a home, a family, and I want it with you. But if you don’t feel the same way, you need to tell me now.”

  “Cole, I do love you. I love you so much it hurts.” I lay my head on his chest and stand there, quietly listening to the beat of his heart.

  He holds me tight and we just stand there on, holding on. His hands wander to the small of my back, and then venture a little lower to my posterior. He gives an affectionate squeeze and before I can process what is happening, he lifts me and places me on the railing. My legs automatically spread just enough to allow him in. I release my arms from around his neck, and I grab his shirt, pulling him closer.

  He kisses me and it feels like something is different. It’s not the sweet kiss of a first date. And it’s not the passionate kisses of lust and frustration. It’s deeper, more meaningful. And then, in the middle of our kiss, I can feel it. He’s smiling.

  I feel so many different things all at once – comfort, acceptance, hope, assurance, and one feeling that can only be expressed with one simple word . . . home. I need this man every bit as much as I need air to breathe.

  Again, his hands find my ass and he pulls me nearer. I am perched on the edge of the railing, and I have no fear. I wrap my legs around his waist as a soft moan escapes my lips. My heels press him closer. I can’t seem to get him close enough.

  Our trance is broken with a jolt when the first set of fireworks explodes overhead.

  Cole backs up slightly and looks at me with a smile, rewarding me with that dimple that I never seem to get enough of. He places his hands back on my hips and helps me off the railing and onto my feet. “Will you promise me one thing?” he asks, helping me steady myself on unsure feet.

  “Anything,” I tell him.

  “Promise me you won’t disappear when things get tough. No more Houdini.”

&nbs
p; I look up into his hopeful eyes that shine brightly. “I promise.” And I mean it. “I love you.”

  He grabs my hand, linking our fingers together. Again, I am awed by how well they fit together. My small hand seems to have been made to slip snugly inside his. He pulls my hand up to his lips and kisses it ever so gently. “I love you, too.”

  I look into his eyes, and I see it there, love. Love for me and me alone. I stamp his lips with mine and seal our declaration. “There’s just one more thing,” I warn him.

  “What?”

  “Well, I was just wondering – when will I get to meet your parents?”

  He smiles. “Soon. They’re coming down from Maine for Labor Day weekend. Evan’s parents are having a family reunion and clambake. They do it every year. They’re going to love you.”

  God, I hope so.

  We return to our little group and I feel like a schoolgirl who’s just had her first kiss with a boy behind the bleachers. I feel different – like the whole world has changed. Only no one else knows it.

  Cait and Brie are happily chatting about something, I couldn’t even say what, while Declan and my brother are wolfing down huge mouthfuls of food they must have gotten from one of the food trucks.

  For the rest of the night, I can’t keep my hands off Cole. Whether I’m holding his hand or simply resting it on his lap, we both seem to need this constant skin-to-skin contact.

  I wake to the most glorious smell in the entire world – bacon. I swear, the gods in their wisdom could remove all the chocolate from the world and I would be perfectly fine with that, so long as they leave behind plenty of bacon.

  I traipse down the stairs and find Cole standing at the stove. His hair is a mess and he needs to shave. I know how tired he is because I’m exhausted, too. Despite that, when he sees me, his face lights up. I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his waist. “Good morning, my love,” he speaks softly in my ear.

  Stepping onto my tiptoes, I whisper back, “Good morning, baby. I love you, too.”

  Cole’s wearing nothing but an old tee and a pair of boxers, not to mention the big smile that seems to be permanently plastered across his face. And I know that I’m the one that put it there.

  I pad around his generous kitchen in my bare feet. I open up the cabinet and stretch to retrieve two coffee mugs. I can sense him watching me as I move around his space. I grab the pot of coffee and raise my eyebrows at him.

  He nods.

  I stand beside him as I fill his mug and catch him eyeing my legs below my shirt, the only piece of clothing I’m currently wearing.

  “See something you like?” I ask as I lean across the island counter reaching for the sugar bowl.

  “Yep,” he answers, leaning towards me to take it.

  “Sugar?”

  “Yep.”

  “Cream?”

  “Yep.”

  “Is that all you can say?”

  “Nope.”

  “Gimme something, then. Anything.” I giggle, walking back around to my side of the counter.

  Once again he watches me as I arranged myself in the chair.

  “How about this?” he says, turning around with a plate full of bacon. I watch him move across the kitchen and come to stand behind me. I freeze, feeling his hands gently brush my hair away from my shoulders and slip down to my hips. His mouth—his ever-loving mouth—barely touching the shell of my ear, and he whispers. “Hungry?”

  I stare back, barely breathing. I try to play it cool, so cool, but I can’t stop the grin sneaking across my face. My mouth drops open and my eyes go wide, torn between bacon and actual kitchen sex. Before I can decide, his mouth moves more purposefully, pressing into the skin just below my ear and making my brain burn and my girly parts dance a jig.

  His hands grip my hips, and he turns me toward him—to face that body and grin—I quickly compose my face, trying desperately to keep it together.

  “Well?” he whispers, bending down to kiss the hollow of my neck with breathtaking precision. His hair tickles my nose, and I fight to keep my hands to myself.

  One of his hands snakes around to the small of my back, while the other grips the back of my neck. “Hungry?” he asks one more time, pulling my hips to the edge of the chair. “I want you,” he breathes, and then brings his mouth to mine.

  My hands slip into his hair, tugging and twisting and trying to pull his entire body inside my own.

  He groans into my mouth, I feel his tongue touch mine, and I fall apart at the seams. I sigh, the tiniest whimper, and it becomes harder and harder to kiss him due to the giant grin overtaking my face.

  He pulls back a little and laughs. “You sure look happy.”

  “Keep kissing me, please,” I insist, bringing his face back to mine.

  “It’s like kissing a jack ’o’ lantern. What’s with the grin?” He smiled down at me with a grin that looked as wide as my own.

  “We’re in love, Cole. Grinning is implied.” I sigh contentedly, messing with his hair.

  “And here I am thinking it’s all to do with my kissing,” he answers, kissing me again, gently, sweetly.

  “Okay, Stretch, I think we need to eat first.” I suggest, pushing him away. I can’t keep my hands on him for too long or we’ll never eat.

  “If you insist.” He smiles. “But eat quickly. I have plans for you.” He takes a big swig of his hot coffee. “And none of them involve bacon.”

  CHAPTER 32

  IT’S OUR LAST FULL DAY TOGETHER and as much as it pains me, I have to spend a good portion of it at work. But Cole understands. He takes advantage of the last day of his own freedom by helping Adam do some work at the house. He wants to baby-proof the entire house and needs a hand. Apparently, Adam is good at a great number of things, but installing baby gates and hide-a-cord fixtures isn’t among them.

  It’s a gloomy day and there’s rain in the forecast. Dark clouds fill the sky, completely obscuring the sun. The waves are rough today and the lifeguards have hung a warning flag on the beach to dissuade swimming.

  That means that the bookstore is quiet for once, giving me a chance to tidy up a bit. I’ve been meaning to go through the books, reorganize a few shelves, and restock a pile of misplaced books and magazines. I would so much rather shoppers leave unwanted books on a counter rather than slip them onto a random bookshelf, but some things cannot be controlled.

  Cait has a meeting scheduled today and she’s being a little shady about it, frankly. All I know is that she will be out of the office for more than a few hours, but she promises to only be a phone call away if needed. She won’t say more than that.

  As for Brie, I insist she go home. The coffee shop is dead and she could use the break. Besides, her shift manager, Jay, is on duty.

  “I’ll sleep in October,” she argues, banking on the fact that things will slow when the summer tourists go home. I don’t want to remind her that October is also the start of pumpkin spice latte season.

  It takes a little persuasiveness, but I finally get her to leave.

  Just as I begin to shelve the last box of newly arrived books, the in-house music starts playing one of my favorite Twenty One Pilots songs and I scurry back to the office to crank up the music.

  I step out of my small office and stop dead in my tracks. My heart is beating wildly at the sight before me. Standing in the middle of my bookstore, wearing a baseball hat, sunglasses, and dripping wet from rain is the last person I expected to run into.

  It’s her. The photographer. She’s here, waiting for me.

  I reach into my back pocket, checking for a phone. Empty. It’s sitting on the counter by the register – the last place I used it.

  I look around, mentally calculating how many steps it would take to get to the register. Of course I could turn around and head back to the safety of my office, lock the door, and call the police. That is exactly what I should do.

  But before I can pivot, she holds up a large manila envelope. “Wait,” she asks softly. “I do
n’t mean to frighten you. Can we please talk?”

  There’s something in her voice that makes me pause. And her hand trembles slightly as she raises the envelope higher.

  She’s scared.

  If I call the police, she’ll be long gone before they get here. If I have any chance of finding out what’s going on, I’m going to have to find out myself. Right here and right now.

  I take a deep cleansing breath and plant my feet firmly on the ground. “What’s in the envelope?” I ask.

  “Here.” She takes a step towards me.

  “Stop!” I bark, holding up a hand like a crossing guard and stopping her mid-step. “Stay right there,” I warn her. “What do you want?”

  She nods and steps back. “Like I said, I just want to talk. I have something to give you.”

  Oh, how I wish the girls were here. They would recognize this intruder in a heartbeat. And they would be at my side even quicker. But as luck would have it, I’m alone.

  I take a few cautious steps towards the coffee shop and notice Staci and Josie behind the counter. “Staci,” I call out, “could you cover for me in the bookstore for five? I need to take break.”

  “Sure thing, boss,” she replies with a smile, completely unaware of what is transpiring right before her.

  I throw my shoulders back, step into the shop, and sit down at a table hoping to appear more confident and collected than I am feeling. I choose one close to the door and in full view of the few customers milling around.

  Taking my cue, the photographer follows and sits down across from me, placing the envelope on the table between us. She slides it towards me slowly. “Look inside.”

  Guardedly, I take the envelope and run my fingers across it. It’s flat. I untie the clasp and slide out the papers. There’s at least two dozen full-size pictures. The first few are of me taken here at work. I immediately recognize the one taken on the day I first noticed her a few weeks ago.

  But as I dig deeper, I see some that are even more unsettling. There are photographs that show all aspects of my life. I feel like I’m being violated all over again. After I skim through the countless pictures of Cole and me hugging, kissing, and cuddling, I find pictures of each of us alone.