“Almost. I do have to insist on a couple of pictures, though. Her parents will never believe it otherwise.”
“Most likely not, ma’am.”
“And what have I told you about calling me that?”
“Sorry, Nana.” Tessa and her sister called Mrs. Braverman Grandma Vi, but the rest of the cousins called her Nana. Gray had never figured out why.
“Are you ready?” Tessa walked up the stairs behind Gray.
He had to turn to see her, but when he did, his breath caught in his throat.
Gone was her typical ponytail with hair escaping it on all sides. Instead, her blonde hair hung around her shoulders in waves. The navy blue dress must have been Heidi’s, but it looked like it had been made for Tessa.
The way it hugged her curves and gave glimpses of soft skin made Gray swallow hard. “I’m ready when you are.” He managed not to squeak as he said it.
She looked up and smiled. He knew she didn’t want to let on that the sight of him in a suit impressed her, but he didn’t miss the slight widening of her eyes as she scanned him up and down.
“Then let’s go.” Whatever she’d thought when she saw him had once again been carefully hidden behind the cultivated facade few saw behind.
Gray extended his elbow toward Tessa. “Allow me to escort you to our conveyance for the evening.” He wasn’t even sure that was the right word, but he didn’t care.
Tessa snorted. “Whatever.” But she slid her hand into the crook of his arm. “Night, Grandma Vi. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Have fun, kids.” Mrs. Braverman walked with them to the door. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Tessa shook her head. “Whatever.”
Two minutes later, they were out of the Serenity Cove area and headed up Highway P toward Serenity Landing. From there, it was another eight or ten miles toward Springfield before they reached the restaurant.
For the first time in ages, Gray wasn’t sure what to talk about around Tessa. They’d known each other, literally, their whole lives. Well, her whole life because he’d been born nearly a year earlier.
“Are you ready for classes to start?” he finally asked, just to break the silence that was starting to border on awkward.
Tessa shrugged. “I guess. I’ve got a couple of weeks, though. Less than a year until I graduate.”
“It’s a good feeling. Have you decided about grad school yet?” He was starting in a couple of weeks, too, but you couldn’t do much with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in the state of Missouri. He’d been working at a local residential facility for boys, but he was actively looking for something else that would work around his school schedule better.
“No. Not yet. I probably will start classes next fall, but I haven’t officially decided yet.”
That helped break the ice and conversation flowed more easily the rest of the way to the restaurant.
They pulled in behind a dark SUV. A man climbed out of the second driver’s side door as the valet opened the second passenger door.
Tessa gasped. “That’s Lani! Does that mean the guy is your new brother-in-law?”
Gray took another look. He’d only met Prince Harrison once, at the wedding. But Lani waving at him was all the answer he really needed.
Great.
Unless he missed his guess, this was now a double date.
He’s her best friend.
She’s happy the way things are.
Too bad everything’s about to change.
Beaches of Trumanville: Book 3
When Tessa Braverman’s best friend, Gray Beach, attended his sister’s royal wedding without her, she insisted he take her to dinner.
Then he tries to turn it into a date.
And things get awkward.
Until her great-grandfather dies.
When the will is read and Tessa discovers what she’ll have to do to keep the family farm, awkward moves to a whole new level - including what might (or might not) have been a proposal from Gray’s brother.
When she suddenly finds herself married to Gray, she’s pretty sure their friendship is over.
Because Small Town Girls Don’t Marry Their Best Friends.
Unless the family farm is on the line.
Then all bets are off.
Grab your copy today!
Click here for
Small Town Girls Don’t Marry Their Best Friends
About the Author
When she's not writing about her imaginary friends, USA Today Bestselling Author Carol Moncado prefers binge watching pretty much anything to working out. She believes peanut butter M&Ms are the perfect food and Dr. Pepper should come in an IV. When not hanging out with her hubby, four kids, and two dogs who weigh less than most hard cover books, she’s probably reading in her Southwest Missouri home.
Summers find her at the local aquatic center with her four fish, er, kids. Fall finds her doing the band mom thing. Winters find her snuggled into a blanket in front of a fire with the dogs. Spring finds her sneezing and recovering from the rest of the year.
She used to teach American Government at a community college, but her indie career, with over thirty titles released, has allowed her to write full time. She's a founding member and former President of MozArks ACFW and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.
www.carolmoncado.com
[email protected]
The Beaches of Trumanville
Small Town Girls Don’t Marry Hollywood Hunks
Small Town Girls Don’t Marry Secret Princes
Small Town Girls Don’t Marry Their Best Friends
Small Town Girls Don’t Marry Baseball Stars
Small Town Girls Don’t Marry Their Back-Ups
The Monarchies of Belles Montagnes Series
(Previously titled The Montevaro Monarchy
and The Brides of Belles Montagnes series)
Good Enough for a Princess
Along Came a Prince
More than a Princess
Hand-Me-Down Princess
Winning the Queen’s Heart
Protecting the Prince (Novella)
Prince from her Past
Guardian of her Heart (related novella,
Betwixt Two Hearts Crossroads Collection)
Serenity Landing Second Chances
Discovering Home
Glimpsing Hope
Reclaiming Hearts
Crowns & Courtships
Heart of a Prince
The Inadvertent Princess
A Royally Beautiful Mess
The Indentured Queen
Her Undercover Prince
The Spare and the Heir
Beyond Titles & Tiaras
The (Elusive) Princess
It’s (Royally) Complicated
Crowns & Courtships Novellas
Dare You
A Kaerasti for Clari
Love for the Ages
(available free as a thank you to newsletter subscribers - click here to join)
Serenity Landing Tuesdays of Grace
9/11 Tribute Series
Grace to Save
Serenity Landing Lifeguards
Summer Novellas
The Lifeguard, the New Guy, & Frozen Custard
(previously titled: The Lifeguards, the Swim Team, & Frozen Custard)
The Lifeguard, the Abandoned Heiress, & Frozen Custard
Christmas Novellas
Serenity Landing Teachers
Gifts of Love
Manuscripts & Mistletoe
Premieres & Paparazzi
Teachers of Trumanville
Love on Parade
The CANDID Romance Series
Finding Mr. Write
Finally Mr. Write
Falling for Mr. Write
Mallard Lake Township
Ballots, Bargains, & the Bakery (novella)
Timeline/Order
Crowns & Courtships and Novellas
(the first thre
e can be read in any order,
but technically this is the timeline)
1. Love for the Ages
2. A Kaerasti for Clari
3. Dare You
4. Heart of a Prince
5. The Inadvertent Princess
6. A Royally Beautiful Mess
7. The Indentured Queen
8. Her Undercover Prince
9. The Spare and the Heir
10. Beyond Titles & Tiaras
11. The (Elusive) Princess
12. It’s (Royally) Complicated
Small Town Girls Don't Marry Secret Princes: A Small Town Contemporary Christian Romance (Beaches of Trumanville Book 2) Page 18
