by Beth Merlin
“I guess not.” I sank the shovel into the sand and began tossing sand up and up and over our heads. Nothing. I dug a little deeper, but still no treasure. “It was a good theory, but I think we’ve struck out again,” I said, passing Todd back the shovel.
“Maybe it’s the gold hole and we have to dig a little deeper.”
“Or the fools gold hole and we should give up on this completely.”
“Oh ye of little faith. Let me give it a go.”
Todd plunged the shovel into the hole lifting out several large heaps of sand. On his third thrust we both heard a loud thump as the shovel made contact with a hard object.
“You see,” he shouted.
Todd and I dropped down onto our knees, using our hands to dig out the wooden box jammed deeply into the ground. Finally, when we uncovered the chest completely, Todd was able to use the shovel to pry it out of the sand.
I stood back and away from our prize. “I can’t believe you were right. Maybe you should do the honors of opening it?”
“You’re the one who found all the clues, you open it.”
“Are you sure?”
He stood up off the ground. “Jo, I’m dying from the suspense, just open the damn thing.”
I kneeled back down and brushed sand off the top and sides of the chest before lifting the lid and peeking inside.
“The suspense is killing me. What’s in there?” he asked.
I looked up at him. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but all that’s in here are everyday items. Tea. Soap. That sort of thing.”
“One man’s trash…” he teased.
Suddenly, the conversation Todd and I had about Blackbeard the Pirate one of the last mornings of the Boot Camp came rushing back to me. “Todd…did you?”
“Maybe?” he said with a wicked grin. “Take a second look through the chest.”
I pushed the items around and there, wedged underneath a stack of candles, was a black velvet ring box.
I stood up and turned around to face him. “Todd Aldrich, is this what I think it is?”
He held his hands open, and I passed him the ring box. He cracked the case open to reveal a platinum band with a button-shaped lustrous pearl surrounded by pave diamonds before getting down on one knee.
“Remember, when sand injures the oyster, the oyster responds by becoming a strong, resilient, beautiful pearl. Joanna Kitt, my strong, resilient, beautiful girl, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
As colorful kites and parasails trailed the skies and rolling dunes gave way to large waves crashing down on the endless stretch of golden sand of Topsail Beach, I threw my arms around his neck. I didn’t need the iron clad provisions of any contract to give my answer. All I needed was to look into his loving face — a man who saw the real me for better or worse, a man who appreciated my flaws as well as my strengths, and a man who I knew would love me through it all.
“Yes… yes.”
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Breakup Boot Camp by Beth Merlin
Looking for another Beth Merlin Romance to dive into? Check out the Campfire Series!
If you love Sophie Kinsella and Emily Giffin, you’ll love this heartwarming debut from a fresh voice in contemporary chick-lit that offers a lighthearted and fun take on friendship, love, and how to recover from past mistakes.
For twenty long years, Gigi Goldstein has been pining away for her best friend’s guy. She knows it’s wrong and it has to stop, but she hasn’t been able to let go ever since they all met on the bus to summer camp back when they were 7 years old. The same week that her best friends finally announce their wedding date, Gigi loses her high-profile design job. With all of her dreams unravelling, she runs to the last place she remembers being happy.
Taking the Head Counselor position at Camp Chinooka, Gigi hopes to reclaim the joy she felt as a camper, but the job isn’t all campfire songs and toasting marshmallows. Gigi’s girls are determined to make her look bad in front of the boys’ Head Counselor—the sexy but infuriating Perry—and every scrap of the campground is laced with memories.
When Gigi finally realizes she can’t escape the present by returning to her past, she’s forced to reexamine her life and find the true meaning of love. But will she be able to mend fences and forgive herself before she loses her one real shot at happiness?
Acknowledgments
Leaving the world of The Campfire Series was harder than I imagined when I signed on to write Breakup Boot Camp. But I knew it my heart this would be a fun story to tell if I just allowed myself to let go and explore the new locations, characters, and storylines. I wanted to push outside of what had become my writing comfort zone, and though it wasn’t easy I am really proud of how the book ultimately came together.
I need to thank my editor and friend Danielle Modafferi for talking me off at least a dozen ledges. Working with you is the icing on a pretty great cake.
The fans of the Campfire Series who have shared such kind words and feedback along my journey allowing me to have the confidence to continue on.
And of course, my husband who supports me in everything. Finally, for my Hadley Alexandra who at 5, is old enough to just have realized mommy is a writer and is prouder than anyone.
About the Author
Beth Merlin, a native New Yorker, loves anything Broadway, romantic comedies, and a good maxi dress. After earning her JD from New York Law School, she heard a voice calling her back to fiction writing, like it had during her undergrad study. Amidst her days in The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs, where Beth majored in Political Communications, she found herself wandering into Creative Writing classes, and ended up earning a minor in the field. After 10 long years laboring over her first manuscript, her debut novel, One S’more Summer, released May 2017. International bestselling author Kristin Harmel called it “a fast paced, enjoyable read”.
When Beth isn’t working on new novels, she’s spending time with her husband, daughter, and Cavipoo, Sophie. Find Beth at on Twitter (@bethmerlin80), on Instagram (@bethfmerlin), or at The Firefly Hill Press website (fireflyhillpress.com)
And keep up to date on all of Beth’s future releases, book bargains, sneak peeks, giveaways, special offers, & so much more by subscribing to our newsletter!
Copyright © 2019 by Beth Merlin
Rights held by Firefly Hill Press, LLC
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, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, Subject Line: "Attention: Permissions Coordinator," at company's email address below.
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Print ISBN: 9781945495267
E-Book ISBN: 9781945495373
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