Want Me Always (Heron Harbor Book 1)

by Lea Nolan

  "So, like, has your situation changed? I mean, are you still single or has W lost her window?"

  "I am still single. Though some of my friends have tried to fix that. But I'm not ready to move on." The audience sighed. He looked out over the crowd. "Does anyone have a cooking question they'd like to ask?" He laughed.

  Someone showed him mercy by asked a question about macarons.

  He. Hadn't. Moved. On.

  Wren tried not to hyperventilate as her mind spun. This changed everything.

  Even though it'd nearly killed her, she'd left Smith behind that night because she knew she couldn't be the partner he deserved. Too much scar tissue had prevented her from being able to trust him, or any man. But so much time had passed she was sure she'd squandered her chance.

  Now she knew she hadn't.

  But what about all that scar tissue laced around her heart? She'd managed to cut through a lot of it in therapy, but what if some remained? It was liable to choke out any relationship she had. After all they'd been through, she couldn't do that to Smith.

  A voice inside her fought back against her defeatist default. Was she really scarred—or scared? One marred her forever; the other she could overcome.

  The charm bracelet on her wrist jangled and Madeline's words echoed in her brain. Don't let fear keep you from what you want.

  She wanted Smith. She really, truly did.

  The only way to overcome her fear was to take action.

  Without a plan, she rose to her feet and started down the center aisle toward the stage as Smith was describing how to spatchcock a chicken. Halfway down the aisle she'd passed the end of the queue for the microphone. An usher ran up to her.

  "Excuse me, ma'am. The line begins back there." He pointed behind her.

  Ignoring him, Wren kept walking. She'd wasted enough time.

  A woman waiting to ask a question called out to her, "Hey, don't think you're going to cut in front of us."

  Wren didn't give her so much as a look as she kept moving toward the front of the room. Finally a security guard the size of an SUV approached. According to the tag on his chest his name was Clovis. "I'm sorry, little lady. You have to wait your turn like everyone else." His voice was deep and resonant.

  This was not happening. Not when she'd finally screwed up her courage to face down her fear. Drawing a deep breath she yelled out, "I don't know how to cook!" Dammit. That wasn't exactly what she'd had in mind.

  "Then what the hell are you doing at a cookbook talk?" An old man in the row beside her asked.

  His wife slapped him on the arm. "Shh, Stanley, maybe she's here to learn how."

  Clovis crossed his arms. "Am I going to have to carry you out of here?"

  "No, please just give me a second." She turned to the stage and, for the first time in almost a year, came face-to-face with Smith. And holy moly did he look good up close. Her hands shook as she drew a deep breath. "I mean, I've tried to cook. God knows I've tried." Her voice trembled. "But every time something has gone terribly wrong. But I know now that's because I was using the wrong spices, and low-grade meat, and probably a whole bunch of partially hydrogenated oils, and high fructose corn syrup, and all that other bad stuff you're not supposed to put in food."

  Clovis eyed her like she was deranged. "Sir, should I remove her?"

  "No. Let her continue," Smith said, his gaze boring into hers.

  A low murmur rumbled through the audience.

  Wren continued. "I realized I couldn't trust any of those meals because of the ingredients that went into them."

  "But a good meal, made with pure ingredients?" Smith asked, almost tentatively.

  She nodded. "I want to eat that." Her voice broke. "I just don't know how to cook it myself." A tear rolled down her cheek.

  He smiled. "I've got good news for you. I'm a chef. We can make it together."

  The crowd sighed and roared in applause. Flashlights and cameras clicked as Smith dropped his microphone and jumped from the stage then scooped Wren up in his arms. They kissed and it felt as if no time or space had ever separated them. If ever she'd questioned whether they were right for each other, this kiss, this perfect melding of their lips and souls, was a resounding yes.

  When their kiss broke, he embraced her, holding her tight and cradling her head against his shoulder. He smelled so good, and his arms were strong, shielding her against the scrum of cell phones clicking away at their private, but oh-so-public reunion.

  "Are you really here or am I dreaming?" He whispered against her neck.

  "I'm here. I never want to leave you again."

  Smith cupped her face in his palms and looked directly into her eyes. "I'll never give you a reason to." It was his solemn oath to her.

  "I trust that you won't. I love you, Smith."

  "I've waited half a lifetime to hear those words."

  "You'd better get used to them. I'm going to tell you every day."

  "Promise?" He smiled.

  She nodded. "I do."

  "I love you, Wren Donovan. I always have. And I always will."

  Epilogue

  Smith and Wren walked hand-in-hand down Heron Harbor's Main Street.

  She drew in a breath of crisp early fall air. "It's so nice to be home."

  Her words filled his chest with warmth. He gave her fingers a squeeze. "I love hearing you call the island your home."

  Wren turned and wrapped her arms around Smith's neck. "I don't want to be anywhere else."

  Neither did he. Wherever she was, he wanted to be at her side. This woman was everything to Smith. His past. His present. His future.

  After their reunion at his book event in Atlanta, Wren and Smith were inseparable, save for the time it took her to give her notice to the law firm, sublet her apartment, ship her belongings to his house, and inform the partners she was taking her unused vacation leave. She'd joined Smith in Houston and they'd spent the next month together finishing out his tour.

  And what a month it was. First class hotels, room service, and tons of crazy hot sex that more than made up for the months of separation. The time together had confirmed he'd made the right move jumping off that stage and into her embrace that night in Atlanta.

  Wren trusted him. Trusted in them. They were rock-fucking-solid.

  It was still hard to believe it had all worked out.

  Smith thought about the skinny, baby-faced kid who didn't think he deserved Wren all those years ago. How he'd hoped against hope that somehow his summertime best friend would become so much more. If that kid could see him now, he'd have a stroke. Yet, here Smith was, all grown up with his arms wrapped around the woman of his dreams. And this time she wasn't leaving for a far-away home. As of this morning, Wren lived here permanently, in his house, and slept in his bed.

  It was a fucking miracle.

  The professional side of Smith's life was just as successful. After their public declaration of love at the Atlanta book event, Smith and Wren went viral on social media. For a couple of weeks, they were the Internet's favorite It Couple. The publicity was great for his cookbook and the restaurant, and the Cuisine Network extended his show to a full series. But he’d have thrown it all away to have this chance with Wren.

  With her, life literally couldn't be better.

  Filled with gratitude, Smith kissed Wren, hard and long, right there on the sidewalk. When they finally parted, Wren, breathless, asked, "You want to head home?"

  More than she knew. Crawling into bed with Wren was one of his favorite pastimes. But he had bigger, more important plans. "Not yet." Smith slipped his hand in hers and led her down the sidewalk.

  "Are we going to the restaurant? I suppose the staff misses you," she said.

  Doubtful. The mice had had free rein while the cat was away. They probably dreaded his return. Lucky for them Harbor's Edge was not Smith's destination. "I thought we'd make a different stop first."

  Wren's pretty head cocked to the side. "Like where?" From her expression he could tell s
he suspected he was up to something. Damn. This was the trouble with being in love with a smart woman. He'd never be able to pull anything over on her.

  He grinned. "You'll see."

  Ten minutes later they stood in front of the gates to Fun Town.

  Wren looked up at him and smirked. "You're in the mood for fun and games?"

  Smith shrugged. "It's the last weekend of the season."

  "Oh, right. I forgot." She hooked her arm around his elbow.

  "And it's our anniversary. We came here on our first date exactly one year ago today."

  Wren tapped her chin. "As I recall it wasn't a date. We went as friends."

  "But we kissed." Smith could still remember the taste of her lips. She was so excited they'd beaten those two high school kids at mini-golf, she'd thrown herself into Smith's arms.

  "You kissed me," she teased.

  His jaw dropped. "That's not how I remember it." He might have taken the lead on that kiss but she'd definitely started it.

  Wren tugged him toward the Fun Town gate. "Either way, it was the start of something great. I can't think of a better way to spend the afternoon."

  Little did she know how much better it was about to get.

  Just like last year, Smith and Wren rode nearly every ride in the park, including the Drakon, Gravity Crusher, Paratrooper Parachutes, even the merry go round and Ferris wheel. They ventured into the haunted house but steered clear of the tea cups and Elevator Heart Dropper to spare Wren's stomach and then they played games like ring toss, skee ball, and whack-a-mole until they earned enough tickets to win a giant plush teddy bear they named Edward.

  When they finished their full circle around the park, Wren sighed. "There's only one thing left to do."

  "Oh yeah. What's that?" Smith asked.

  "Get a funnel cake, of course. Even though it won't be as good as yours." She winked.

  Too true, but a trip to Fun Town wasn't complete without her favorite dessert. He smiled. "Your wish is my command. Get a table for us and Edward and I'll be right back." Slipping his hand in his front pants pocket, he brushed his thumb on the small box inside and whistled all the way to the funnel cake stand. A few minutes later he returned to the table with the freshest, most sugar, strawberry, and whipped cream-laden funnel cake money could buy.

  Wren's eye lids goggled when Smith placed the plate on the table in front of her. "That looks amazing."

  "You're amazing." He pulled his hand from his pocket and knelt down beside her.

  He'd planned every second of this day but he hadn't expected the jolt of nerves that shot through his body making his heart race like a thoroughbred. He had to keep it together. It was too late to turn back now. He couldn't even fake tying his laces because his shoes were slip-ons.

  Wren's breath caught and her hands floated to her heart. "Oh my God, Smith."

  He met her gaze. She was so beautiful it nearly made his heart break. If she didn't agree to be his wife, it surely would.

  It was time to go for broke. With trembling hands, he swallowed the lump in his throat and opened the tiny teal box. "Wren, I have loved you forever and want you to be my always. Marry me, please."

  "Yes. A thousand times yes." She leapt off the bench and into his arms.

  A few weeks later, Smith set a ladder in front of Wren's new law office on Main Street next to Town Hall. She'd signed the lease that morning and itched to hang her name above the door and make it official.

  "You don't have to do this. We can hire a guy," Wren told him.

  "There's no way in hell I'm letting some other guy hang your shingle. Isn't this one of the most important milestones in an attorney's career?"

  She nodded with pride. "Yeah."

  "Then we'll do it together."

  Wren loved that about him. They worked together like real partners.

  Smith climbed the ladder and reached down for the wrought iron bracket. As she handed it up to him, the afternoon sun glinted off the diamond in her gorgeous engagement ring and made her smile.

  She still couldn't believe how much her life had changed.

  She'd shed that awful job and worse bosses, and moved from a city that while perfectly hospitable, had never felt like home. And now she was opening her own law practice with an office on Heron Harbor and would soon be looking for a second location on the mainland. She'd settled into Smith's beautifully renovated house and was taking point on decorating with a goal of being ready to host their first Thanksgiving for his mother and siblings, Raven, and with any luck, Lark might show up, too. And of course she'd started planning their wedding, and an Italian honeymoon.

  If she hadn't lived through years of heartache, she'd think she was living in a fairy tale. But after all that pain she deserved to be this deliriously happy.

  Smith screwed the bracket to the building just above the front door, then reached for the painted plaque. Before she passed it to him, Wren hugged it close to her heart. This sign meant so much to her. Opening her own practice was a dream, one she never imagined would come true. She'd always thought she'd work for someone else. Now she charted her own destiny.

  Wren hoisted the placard up to him and watched as he hooked it to the bracket. He jumped off the ladder and together they gazed at the black sign with gold letters.

  Wren E. Donovan, Esq.

  Attorney At Law

  Smith wrapped his arm around her waist. "I'm so proud of you, babe."

  "I'm proud of me, too."

  Wren could feel the weight of his stare on her. She turned and read his thoughts from the expression in his eyes. "Don't look at me like that."

  He chuckled. "Like what?"

  "Like after everything that's happened, you're still amazed I gave up my life to come here."

  He threaded his fingers through hers. "I am. This is a small town. It's nothing like life in the big city."

  She turned to face him. "I wasn't living in Atlanta. I was existing. This is my home."

  "You sure you won't get bored? There isn't much to do in the off-season what with most places being closed."

  She stroked the soft fleece of his jacket over this chest. "Oh, there are a few places we can go."

  Smith arched his brow. "Like where?"

  "There's a certain observation hut at the bird sanctuary. Very secluded, especially in the off-season."

  A low rumble rolled in his throat. "That's a good place. But it might get a bit chilly, especially when I strip off your clothes." He pulled her waist against his.

  Wren drew in a quick breath. "Good point. Hmmm. The storage room in Harbor's Edge is pretty big. And close. We could be there in two minutes."

  Smith bent his head and nuzzled her neck. "And the prep guys would be there in fifteen to start their shifts."

  "Damn." The sensation of his tongue on her neck drove her crazy. It suddenly occurred to her that potential clients might disapprove of seeing her make out with Smith on the sidewalk. If love bothered them, she didn't want their business. Still, the professional thing to do was to take this love-fest elsewhere. "How about a cozy cottage near the ocean? Recently renovated. Huge king-sized bed in the master bedroom."

  "Too far away." He nipped at her skin.

  Wren struggled for breath. He was right. Her office was seconds away, but it lacked furniture. Like that mattered. "What about a brand-new law office floor?"

  Without a word, Smith grabbed the key from her jacket pocket and opened the door, then scooped her up in his arms and carried her over the threshold. "That's the second-best idea you've had."

  She laughed. "What was the first?"

  He kicked the door closed with his foot. "Wanting me always." He set her down gently.

  She rose on her tip toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Oh Smith, I wouldn't have it any other way."

  Thank you for reading! I hope you loved meeting Smith and Wren! If you enjoy small-town beach reads full of heart and heat, you’ll love the next Heron Harbor novel, CLAIM ME NOW. This is a sexy mistaken iden
tity and enemies-to-lovers romance about Wren’s sister, Raven, who’s forced to ride out a storm with a sexy stranger named Jack. You have to see what happens when Raven realizes Jack is responsible for her life falling apart!

  CLICK HERE TO ORDER CLAIM ME NOW!

  “A fun, fresh, witty romance full of warmth and surprises. Nolan makes your heart soar and cheeks hurt from smiling. Fabulous!”

  —NYT Bestselling Author Rachel Harris

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  THE HERONE HARBOR SERIES CONTINUES

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  Raven Donovan isn’t looking for a relationship. She’s married to her job and vice president of her company. So she’s blindsided when a corporate takeover leaves her unceremoniously unemployed. Reeling, she retreats to her family’s beach house on Heron Harbor Island and drowns her sorrows in a bottle of tequila. And then a tall, dark, and gorgeous stranger walks through the door...

  Jack Baines has it all–money, a good job, and he’s the heir to one of the largest mergers and acquisitions firms on the East Coast. With his latest conquest under his belt, he should be flying high. But as much as he enjoys the thrill of the hunt, firing people takes a toll on him. So he heads to the beach for some alone time, never expecting to find a half-naked, black-haired beauty in his rental.

  With a storm raging outside, Raven and Jack end up sharing more than just the house. A scorching night turns into a red-hot weekend that reveals how much they have in common–including Raven’s ex-company. That revelation threatens everything they’ve found unless they fight to build something new...together.