Hawthorne Harbor Box Set

by Elana Johnson

  “Adam....” She drew his name out, her voice made more of air than anything else.

  The scraping of the fork against the plate made him shiver, and he looked at his diamond engagement ring smeared with chocolate frosting.

  “What is this?”

  “Oh,” he said. “That’s where that went.” He reached for the ring and licked off the frosting. “I was worried I’d lost it.”

  He looked up and met Janey’s eye. Hers were glassy, bright with unshed tears, and Adam swallowed hard.

  “So since I love you, and you love me, I was wondering if you wanted to get married?” He twirled the ring in his fingers, finding it a bit sticky. “I want to take care of you and Jess, and I think I’d be pretty good at it.” He met Jess’s eye. “Did you tell your mom about me?”

  His face brightened. “No, I didn’t. I kept a secret!” He looked so gleeful that he’d actually kept a secret.

  “What secret?” Janey whispered.

  “I’ve been leaving things on your porch for years,” Adam said. “Matt asked me to look after you two if anything should happen to him, and well, I took it literally.” He shrugged, hoping Janey wouldn’t make a big deal about this.

  “You’re our anonymous angel?” Her eyebrows stretched upward.

  “Yes.” He held her gaze and lifted the ring. “I still haven’t heard a yes from you.”

  She looked at Jess. She looked at the ring. She looked at Adam.

  She opened her mouth, and said, “Yes.”

  Six months later

  “Mom, come away from the window.”

  Janey watched as her oldest sister, JoJo, lovingly guided their mother away from the glass through which she’d been staring for a while. JoJo exchanged a glance with AnnaBelle, but neither of them looked at Janey.

  Everything had to be perfect for today. Why AnnaBelle had kept saying that, Janey didn’t know. She’d already had her big wedding when she’d married Matt. Adam claimed not to care about the grandeur of such things, but AnnaBelle had insisted.

  “He’s the Chief of Police. He’s been single for thirty-nine years. This is huge for our town.”

  Janey fiddled with a flower Gretchen had weaved into her hair. She had enjoyed herself as they visited Wedding Row and hired a photographer, who captured Adam in his uniform perfectly. Their engagements included an array of pictures on the beach he loved and then in the downtown park where they’d both spent countless hours as both adults and children.

  She’d liked designing the announcements and using police blue, and silver, and gold—their wedding colors. Jess had selected the menu and gone with Adam to the caterer. It seemed that if there was food involved, the two of them wanted to do it together.

  She was thrilled they got along so great, and she smiled at herself in the full-length mirror. Behind her, JoJo got their mother seated in an armchair and returned to Maya to finish her makeup.

  JoJo lived in Victoria, just across the waterway, and she did permanent makeup, lashes, and eyebrow microblading from a studio in her home. When Janey had called her and asked her to do all the makeup for the bridesmaids, JoJo had screeched in excitement.

  Sami, Janey’s second-oldest sister, burst into the room. “You should see the park.” She leaned against the door, her face aglow with happiness. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Whoever Sarah is, she deserves a medal. And a raise.”

  “She’s Adam’s secretary,” Janey said. “And yes, she’s a genius.” With Janey’s mother...not as helpful as she used to be, Janey had consulted with Adam’s mom and Sarah about all the wedding preparations. Sarah had worked with Adam for almost two decades, and she wept whenever Janey came into the station. Adam said she’d been crying every time he came to work too.

  “Drew just texted,” Gretchen announced. “Adam’s on his way downstairs now.”

  They’d set up in the storage rooms above her flower shop, because it overlooked the park and provided easy access to parking. Janey had left all the décor to Sarah and Donna, all of the wedding luncheon plans to Adam and Jess. She’d focused on her wedding dress, the announcements, and her bridesmaids.

  She turned and found her three sisters and her mother present. So her father wouldn’t be able to walk her down the aisle this time. She had Jess instead. Her heart felt too full, and her emotions choked her.

  Besides her family, Maya and Gretchen completed her entourage. They’d all been by her side for so long, and she was sure she hadn’t properly thanked them. Tears brimmed and JoJo hissed.

  “Don’t you dare cry before the formal pictures,” she said. “And definitely not before kissing him.”

  Janey’s lower lip shook, but she managed to keep the tears contained. She didn’t want to create more work for JoJo, who focused on Maya like she’d never get her makeup done properly.

  “Adam is in position,” Gretchen announced.

  “I’m almost done,” JoJo said, swiping and swooshing a brush in a circular pattern over Maya’s face. “Okay. Finished.”

  Maya opened her eyes and stood, her silver dress glinting in the sunlight coming in through the window.

  Janey had been laced into her wedding gown for a half an hour, and she lifted the skirt to make sure it didn’t get too dirty before the I-do’s were said. Her heart beat fast in her chest.

  “There were no first looks when Matt and I got married,” she said as she carefully stepped down the stairs.

  “It’s easy,” Gretchen said. “You stand where Alicia tells you, and you wait for Adam to turn around. She’s telling him what to do right now. He’s the one doing all the work.” She held the back door of the flower shop open so Janey could step into the alley. “You just stand there and look beautiful.”

  Janey smiled at her and let her gaze wander across the street. Blue balloons in every shade drifted lazily back and forth with the lilt of the air currents. A huge arch had been made of silver, white, and navy blue balloons—their altar.

  She couldn’t see Adam or Alicia, and her heart ba-bumped in a strange cadence.

  “This way.” Gretchen led the ladies across the street and into the park. Past the fountain and away from where the festivals had their food booths set up. A grove of trees sat just ahead, and Janey finally saw Adam in all his police uniform glory, his brother brushing something from his shoulder.

  Alicia completed the trio, and she was indeed instructing Adam in something.

  Drew looked at his phone and then over his shoulder, said something to Alicia, and came toward them. Alicia followed a moment later. Adam remained standing right where he was, tall and broad, with a new haircut.

  “Where’s Jess?” she asked when Drew got within earshot.

  “He’s with Joel,” Drew said. “They’ll be over in a few minutes. Right now, we just need you and Adam.” He smiled at her in a soft, brotherly way, and Janey returned the gesture.

  “Thanks for taking care of him,” she said.

  “Yeah, of course.” He turned toward Alicia, who started giving directions for how Janey should stand, and where, and if she should have the bouquet or not.

  When she was finally ready, she turned back to Adam, who waited only ten paces away. The desire to look into his eyes, kiss his lips, almost overwhelmed Janey, and she couldn’t wipe the smile from her face.

  “All right, Adam,” Alicia called.

  Adam turned around and walked slowly toward Janey, drinking her in with every step.

  “Smile!” Alicia said, and Adam complied.

  Janey giggled, and though Alicia yelled, “Slowly, Adam. Slowly,” as her camera went click, click, click, Adam practically ran the last few steps and swept her into his arms.

  They laughed together, and he set her back onto her feet. “Wow, you’re beautiful.” He inhaled slowly as he dipped his head toward her.

  “Good,” Alicia said. “Almost a kiss. Not quite.”

  He leaned down, his mouth a breath from hers. Clickety-click. Janey touched her lips to his, unable to resist.
>
  The kiss only lasted a moment, and he stepped back, holding both of her hands. “Beautiful dress.”

  “One arm around her,” Alicia called. “Pull her right into you, Chief. Yeah, like that. Janey, push that hip out.”

  She took the picture and lowered her camera. “All right. Best man and maid of honor.”

  * * *

  Two hours later, Janey fussed over Jess’s bow tie, though it was absolutely perfect.

  “Mom.” He brushed her hands away. “It’s fine.”

  “I’m so nervous,” she said.

  “Why?” He looked at her, genuinely confused. “It’s Adam, Mom.”

  She glanced from the canopy where she and Jess waited toward the crowd that had gathered for the wedding. Adam had literally invited the whole town. As Chief of Police, he’d felt like he had to. And a lot of people had come. She could barely see his shoulders near the balloon arch, and everything seemed about ready.

  “When you get married, you’ll understand.” She gazed at her son. “Are you ready for this? Lots of changes ahead.”

  He shrugged, some of his surly teenage behavior in the movement. “It’s fine.”

  “Your bedroom is bigger.” They were moving in with Adam, as his house was bigger, had a better yard for the dogs, and sat closer to the beach he loved so much.

  Judge Young, one of Adam’s acquaintances on the City Council, emerged from under the balloon arch, and Janey’s mouth went dry. “It’s time.”

  Jess linked his arm through hers and smiled at her. “I’m glad you’re marrying him, Mom.”

  “Me too, Jess. Me too.”

  The wedding march started, piped into the park by the town’s amplification system tethered to the street lamps and park lights. A long, black carpet had been laid as an aisle between the rows and rows of chairs.

  Janey supposed she should be used to all the people staring at her by now, but the weight of all those eyes still got to her. She hoped she wouldn’t trip, and she kept a tight grip on Jess’s arm.

  He delivered her to Adam, who gave Jess a fist bump before twining his fingers between Janey’s. “My love,” he whispered before facing the judge.

  Janey had never felt so cherished by such simple words. But when Adam said he loved her, Janey knew it was true. Love and joy seeped through her, and the warmth from Adam’s body beside hers made everything in the world absolutely right.

  When it was her turn to say yes, she said it loud and clear, hoping the person in the very back row would be able to hear her. When Adam said it, his voice caught on the S-sound, and she squeezed his hand.

  “You may kiss your wife,” Judge Young said, and Adam bent her over, a twinkle of laughter in his eyes.

  “I love you,” he whispered, his lips only millimeters from hers.

  “I love you too.”

  He kissed her, and Janey didn’t care if the time she’d had with him was all she got. Every second had been precious, and while she hoped for many, many more, she felt lucky to have gotten what she already had.

  “Mom,” Jess hissed, and Adam finally stopped kissing her. He helped her straighten and he lifted their joined hands in the air to thunderous applause.

  * * *

  Read on for a sneak peek at THE FIREFIGHTER’S SECOND CHANCE, featuring a firefighter and the artist girlfriend who skipped town years earlier. Available in Kindle Unlimited.

  Yay! Janey and Adam got their happily-ever-after! Best second chance romance, ever, right? If you thought so, please tap here to leave a review for this book.

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  Sneak Peek! The Firefighter’s Second Chance Chapter One

  “Hey, Uno.” Bennett Patterson took a moment to bend down and pat the Dalmatian that greeted all the firefighters when they came into work. The dog had been a gift from Fire House Two to Fire House One when their previous dog had passed away.

  Bennett had spent a fair bit of time training Uno how to jump into the fire truck, where to ride, and what to do on the job.

  Not that they had many of those in Hawthorne Harbor. But hey, Bennett and all the other firefighters were prepared, right down to their canine mascot.

  He sighed as he straightened, not quite sure if he was ready for his overnight shift. He did like sleeping at the station, because at least then he wasn’t home alone.

  Not alone, he thought as he went to put his food in the fridge. Charles was on tonight too, so he’d cook dinner, and Bennett’s mouth was already watering.

  And he wasn’t really alone at home. He had Gemma, the big, black Labrador retriever to keep him company. He’d gotten the dog when she was a puppy, right after his marriage had dissolved.

  Bennett pushed away the thoughts and took a deep breath. This, right here. Fire House One. This was where he belonged, and where he wanted to be, even if the possibility of getting a job more interesting than saving a cat from a hot tin roof was slim to none.

  Heck, he probably wouldn’t even get to save the cat.

  Normally, he didn’t mind. He’d work out, and read a little to Uno. The Dalmatian didn’t care that Bennett took a little longer on some words as he tried to get his dyslexia to cooperate with his brain. He’d maybe call Jason, his best friend, over at the police station and see if they could go out on a patrol. Something.

  Somehow, Bennett would find a way to fill the hours.

  “There you are.” Charles Hiatt appeared in the kitchen too. “You ready for tonight? I brought ribs and brisket.”

  Bennett grinned at his fellow firefighter. “Totally ready. Did Melinda make any of that potato salad?”

  “As a matter of fact.” Charles lifted a blue bowl the size of a watermelon, and Bennett grinned.

  Charles opened the fridge and started moving things around inside it to make room of the vat of potato salad. “Did you see the note from the Chief?”

  “Nope, I just got here.” Bennett wasn’t going to let Charles know about his internal pep talk, or the fact that he was bored out of his mind in this job.

  It was a job, and one Bennett wanted, despite certain drawbacks.

  “Inspection by Monday.” Charles shoved the bowl inside and closed the fridge in a hurry, grinning like he’d just solved the problem of childhood hunger.

  Bennett groaned. “Inspection?” That meant hours of cleaning the station. Not so much as a single dog hair should be found, and wow, Uno lost a lot of hair.

  “Oh, come on.” Charles grinned and clapped one giant hand on Bennett’s shoulder. “It’ll give us something to do, at least.”

  Bennett nodded, already mourning the loss of a lazy afternoon ride in the police cruiser, maybe with enough time to stop down at the beach for a snack.

  “You didn’t bring Gemma?” Charles looked around as if the dog was simply playing hide and seek.

  “I let Nelly have her this time.” Bennett turned away from Charles and opened the cupboard where the cleaning supplies were kept.

  “That kid.” Charles chuckled as he took the broom from its spot in the corner. “You’re going to spoil her, and then you’ll be sorry.”

  Bennett shrugged, not really caring if he spoiled the cute five-year-old who lived next door. Her parents loved Gemma too, and this way, everyone got to enjoy the dog and only Bennett had to take care of her. Sort of. The Yardley’s would certainly care for Gemma for the next two days until Bennett returned home. It was like they’d come to a joint custody arrangement for the black lab. So what if it had all come about because Nelly-the-five-year-old had the biggest blue eyes on the planet? Blue eyes Bennett hadn’t been able to say no to. Her parents either, apparently.

  As he wiped and scrubbed, dusted and swept, he listened to Charles hum and then sing. Uno followed them everywhere they went, and Bennett’s bad mood quickly moved into something more positive.

  “Hey, are you still handy with a hammer?” Charles asked after they’d sat down to lunch.

  “Somet
imes,” Bennett said, looking at his friend. Charles seemed made of shades of brown. His eyes were the darkest, just a step or two below his hair. His skin sat a shade above that.

  “Melinda wants to expand our back deck. I told her you might be able to do it.”

  The prospect of another carpentry project brought a tingle of excitement to Bennett’s fingertips. He tried to ignore how a deck had lifted his blood pressure.

  “I can come look,” he said casually. “When we get off tomorrow.” He really wanted to go right now. If a call came in—he wasn’t holding his breath—it would forward to their cell phones.

  “Great.”

  Chief Harvey walked in, sniffing like he was part bloodhound. “Place smells great, guys. You must’ve gotten my note.”

  “Yes, sir,” Charles said, practically saluting with his barking voice.

  Bennett rolled his eyes and took another bite of potato salad, reasoning that he had a job, friends, a dog, and this delicious salad. He didn’t need anything else.

  But the void he’d felt in his life these past few months simply wouldn’t budge, even when he stuffed himself full of potato salad and then, later, ribs.

  * * *

  The white light woke him a split second before the shrill ring of the telephone. Bennett sat up, all his senses on high alert as that blinding light continued to flash and the phone got covered with the sound of an alarm.

  “Finally,” he said, pulling on his pants, then his fire suit and boots. He grabbed his hat and made it into the truck bay four steps ahead of Charles.

  “What’s the call?” he asked. “Come on, Uno. Load up.”

  The Dalmatian jumped into the truck and Bennett followed.

  Charles read a meaningless address to Bennett, who though he now lived in Hawthorne Harbor had grown up in Bell Hill. Besides, he didn’t know every residential address.

  “Neighbor reported flames,” Charles said, starting the truck, which roared to life and sent vibrations down Bennett’s spine.