Seaside Whispers: Matt Lacroux (Love in Bloom: Seaside Summers)

by Melissa Foster

  Matt squared his shoulders, trying to calm his breathing as he waited for his bride to appear. He dug his toes into the sand to keep from sprinting up the dune to find Mira—the entire wedding party was barefoot. The wait felt interminable. Just when he was sure he’d stop breathing or take off in search of her, she appeared with Hagen at her side, smiling like he was the happiest little boy in the world. He beamed up at his gorgeous mother, holding tightly to her hand and gripping the handle of a basket, which Matt knew contained their wedding bands. Mira’s beautiful dark hair fell in loose, natural waves over her shoulders as she leaned down and kissed Hagen’s cheek. Her short, blush-colored, shimmery wedding dress blew in the breeze. The tank-style dress gathered at the waist in silky layers, accentuating her feminine curves. A ruffle of chiffon danced behind her, delicate and transparent, and as she and Hagen walked down the dune, he noticed pretty white beaded flowers that seemed to sprout from her toes and snake and swirl over her foot to her ankle. When they reached the sandy path that would bring them to the altar, her eyes traveled to Matt’s, and his heart turned over in his chest.

  MIRA WANTED TO remember every second of this evening, from the scent of her gloxinia bouquet and the feel of Hagen’s hand in hers, to the glimmer of happiness in his baby blues. She inhaled the scents of the sea—and our future—and listened to the oohs and ahhs of their family and friends as she and the girls made their way down the aisle. She’d already memorized the layout of the pretty white tables layered in seafoam green and peach, with pretty shell and flower centerpieces Lizzie had made. And as she approached the stunning altar that Matt’s brothers had made and Lizzie had decorated with streams of white, peach, and seafoam-green silk, with greenery and flowers decorating the corners and the peak at the center, it wasn’t any of those things that were etching into her mind. It was the love and bottomless happiness emanating from the man of her dreams, who had worn the sexy black-framed glasses that made her insides go hot. Her heart was clawing its way through her chest to reach him as they took their place across from him. Matt blew her a kiss and mouthed I love you, then winked at Hagen and mouthed the same. If Hagen weren’t holding her hand, she thought she might float right up to cloud nine.

  The brides had each worn short, summery dresses in chiffon and silk, though none of them wore white. Jana wore lavender, and Sky wore teal. Parker’s dress was sky blue, which looked amazing with her long blond hair. Mira had chosen blush, to signify what happened to her every time she looked at her handsome groom.

  Serena stepped up and took Hagen’s hand, bringing him beside her, a step behind Mira. Mira’s heart was beating so fast. Matt’s riveting gaze held her in place throughout the ceremony, until the very moment Theresa said, “You may kiss your brides.”

  Matt swept Mira into his arms and said, “Hold on tight, sunshine. I’m going to kiss you for the rest of your life.”

  They kissed and danced and kissed some more. Mira had never been so happy, and as she and Matt danced for the hundredth time, Hagen and the children played with Sky’s friend Cree, who’d offered to help entertain the kids. She caught sight of Rick and Harper chatting by the buffet table with Theresa and Neil. Matt’s father had a coy look about him, a flirtatious look. The Seaside girls danced with their husbands, and Matt’s siblings were right in the thick of it. This was her new family. Their new family.

  “Think love is in the air?” Matt asked, glancing in the other direction, at Serena and Brandy talking with Brock, Dean, and Dean’s brother Jett.

  “Which couple?” Mira asked.

  Neil led Theresa to the area where everyone was dancing, and they blended right in.

  “You tell me.” Matt smiled, eyeing his father, and then he nodded toward Drake, who was watching Serena talking with Jett. Drake looked like he was chewing on nails.

  Mira laughed. “What is it about guys wanting what they can’t have?”

  “I don’t know, sunshine. I’ve got more than I ever dreamed of.”

  As the music played and the evening took on a magical feel, Pete and Jenna sidled up to Matt and Mira, followed by Bella, Caden, Amy, and Tony.

  “Check out Pop,” Pete said to Matt.

  “He looks happier than he’s been in a long time,” Matt said. “Did you know he could dance?”

  Pete shrugged.

  “Well, I’m happy for him,” Mira said. “He looks so…”

  “Comfortable?” Bella offered. “It looks like they’ve been dancing together for years.”

  Jenna wrapped her arms around Pete’s waist. “They’re cute together. Don’t you think, Petey?”

  Pete smiled and kissed her.

  “She told us she didn’t know how to dance, remember?” Amy said. “When we asked her if Jana could use the recreation room for her dance studio.”

  “That’s right,” Bella reminded them. “Jana even offered to teach her.”

  When the song ended, Hunter, Grayson, Sky, and their new spouses joined them.

  “How long’s this been going on?” Hunter asked Pete.

  “How do you know there’s anything going on?” Sky asked.

  Pete shushed them as their father and Theresa headed their way.

  “You guys looked great out there,” Mira said. “Theresa, you didn’t tell me you were an ordained minister and an amazing dancer.”

  “I thought you told me you didn’t know how to dance,” Jana said to Theresa.

  Theresa raised her brows. “Did I? Hm. Maybe I’m not an ordained minister either.” She walked away with a slight smirk on her lips, leaving them all slack-jawed.

  “Wait, what?” Mira said. “She’s not a minister?”

  “Oh my God. We’re not really married.” Jenna gasped and glared at Bella. “This is all your fault. You had to prank her for all those years.”

  Not married? No. No, no, no. Mira’s heart sank.

  “I…but…ohmygod.” All the color drained from Bella’s face. “I’m so sorry.”

  “You guys,” Amy said, her eyes wide. “If we’re not married, then we have children out of wedlock. Holy fudgenuggets! My family’s going to flip out. Tony?” She grabbed his arm, her eyes imploring him to fix this mess.

  Tony gathered her in his arms, leveling a serious stare in Theresa’s direction. “We’ll figure this out, kitten. Don’t worry.”

  “We’re not really married?” Mira turned to Matt, feeling lost and on the verge of tears.

  “I’ve got this.” Matt took a step toward Theresa, but Theresa turned and headed back toward them. He put an arm around Mira, and she was glad, because she thought she might crumble to the ground in a million brokenhearted pieces.

  “Theresa…?” Jenna’s voice hung in the air.

  A slow smile crept across Theresa’s lips. “Gotchya!”

  There was a collective exhalation.

  “Of course you’re really married!” Theresa put her hands on Bella’s shoulders and stared into her eyes while the rest of them tried to put their hearts back in their chests.

  “You know you scared the shit out of us, right?” Bella said flatly. “That was cruel.”

  “Bella, my dear girl, you have been pranking me since you were a teenager, and then this summer…nothing.” Her face went serious. “My summer has been excruciatingly boring without constantly waiting for your clever mind to figure out just how to prank me.”

  Neil hiked a thumb over his shoulder at Theresa. “I like this one.” He reached for Theresa’s hand, guiding her into his arms for another dance.

  “Someone’s got to keep them on their toes.” Theresa shook her head. “Kids these days. They have no idea how to do a prank, do they?”

  Matt lifted his brows. “What the hell…?”

  Pete patted him on the back and said, “Welcome to Seaside, bro. Get used to it. There’s never a dull moment.”

  He pulled Mira into his arms, both of them finally laughing at Theresa’s prank. “What would you have done if we weren’t really married?”

  “Cri
ed and eaten half the cake. What about you?”

  “Gotten you and Hagen on the next flight to Vegas to tie the knot. You’re mine, sunshine, and no prank in the world can keep us apart.”

  Ready for more seaside fun?

  Get ready for Bayside Desires,

  the first book in the Bayside Summers series

  featuring our new Bayside Resort friends,

  including the sexy Savage brothers!

  With appearances from your favorite Seaside Summers friends!

  Fall in love at Bayside, where sandy beaches, good friends, and true love come together in the sweet small towns of Cape Cod.

  Buy Bayside Desires

  Meet your next book boyfriend, Dylan Bad

  Dylan is one of four fiercely loyal, sinfully sexy, uber alpha brothers, about to fall head over heels for their leading ladies.

  Everything’s naughtier after dark…

  Sinfully sexy bar owner Dylan Bad has a thing for needy women. He’s a savior, a knight in shining armor, and his mighty talented sword has no trouble bringing damsels in distress to their knees. Enter Tiffany Winters, a gorgeous cutthroat sports agent who looks like sex on legs, fucks like she’s passion personified, and wouldn’t let a man help her if she were dangling from a ledge and he was her only hope. One night and too much tequila might change their lives forever. The question is, will either one survive?

  Buy BAD BOYS AFTER DARK: DYLAN

  Have you met the Ryders?

  Get ready to fall in love with Jake and Addy in Rescued by Love

  As the daughter of a world-renowned fashion designer, Addison Dahl enjoyed a privileged life attending the most sought after parties, traveling around the world, and having anything she wanted. Until she broke free and went against her father’s wishes, needing to prove to herself—and to him—that she could make it on her own. Now she’s ready to take her adventures in a new direction and sets her sights on roughing it in the wilderness.

  Jake Ryder followed in his father’s footsteps as a top search and rescue professional. He spends his days saving those in need and his nights in the arms of willing women who offer nothing more than a few hours of sexual enjoyment. Just the way he likes it.

  When Jake’s sister-in-law calls and reports her best friend missing, it’s up to Jake to find her and bring her home. But Addison isn’t lost, and she sure as hell isn’t going to be told what to do by an ornery mountain man with whom she’d spent one torrid night after her best friend’s wedding. Jake has never left anyone behind—will Addison be his first failed rescue?

  Buy RESCUED BY LOVE

  Get ready to fall hard for Nash Morgan and Tempest Braden

  in WHISPER OF LOVE

  From New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster comes a new sexy romance, WHISPER OF LOVE, in which Tempest Braden, a music therapist, sets her sights on Nash Morgan, a reclusive artist, and single father, with a secret past.

  Buy WHISPER OF LOVE

  Book List

  LOVE IN BLOOM SERIES order (FREE Ebook)

  Love in Bloom Series Guide (Detailed Ebook)

  Love in Bloom Series Guide (Black & White Print Book)

  Love in Bloom books may be read as stand alones. For more enjoyment, read them in series order. Characters from each series carry forward to the next.

  SNOW SISTERS

  Sisters in Love

  Sisters in Bloom

  Sisters in White

  THE BRADENS (Weston, CO)

  Lovers at Heart

  Destined for Love

  Friendship on Fire

  Sea of Love

  Bursting with Love

  Hearts at Play

  THE BRADENS (Trusty, CO)

  Taken by Love

  Fated for Love

  Romancing My Love

  Flirting with Love

  Dreaming of Love

  Crashing into Love

  THE BRADENS (Peaceful Harbor, MD)

  Healed by Love

  Surrender My Love

  River of Love

  Crushing on Love

  Whisper of Love

  Thrill of Love

  BRADEN WORLD NOVELLAS

  Daring Her Love

  Promise My Love

  Our New Love

  THE REMINGTONS

  Game of Love

  Stroke of Love

  Flames of Love

  Slope of Love

  Read, Write, Love

  Touched by Love

  SEASIDE SUMMERS

  Seaside Dreams

  Seaside Hearts

  Seaside Sunsets

  Seaside Secrets

  Seaside Nights

  Seaside Embrace

  Seaside Lovers

  Seaside Whispers

  BAYSIDE SUMMERS

  Bayside Desires

  THE RYDERS

  Seized by Love

  Claimed by Love

  Chased by Love

  Rescued by Love

  Swept Into Love

  SEXY STAND-ALONE ROMANCE NOVELS

  Tru Blue (Set in Peaceful Harbor)

  Wild Whiskey Nights

  BILLIONAIRES AFTER DARK

  WILD BOYS

  Logan

  Heath

  Jackson

  Cooper

  BAD BOYS

  Mick

  Dylan

  Carson

  Brett

  NICE GIRLS

  Phoebe

  Francine

  Nicole

  Genevieve

  HARBORSIDE NIGHTS

  Includes characters from the Love in Bloom series

  Catching Cassidy

  Discovering Delilah

  Tempting Tristan

  Chasing Charley

  Breaking Brandon

  Embracing Evan

  Reaching Rusty

  Loving Livi

  Standalone Books by Melissa

  Chasing Amanda (mystery/suspense)

  Come Back to Me (mystery/suspense)

  Have No Shame (historical fiction/romance)

  Love, Lies & Mystery (3-book bundle)

  Megan’s Way (literary fiction)

  Traces of Kara (psychological thriller)

  Where Petals Fall (suspense)

  Acknowledgments

  One of my greatest joys is writing about Cape Cod, and when I told my Fan Club that the Seaside Summers series might end after Seaside Whispers, I had to run into a closet and hide from the backlash. The series is not ending, but, my dear readers, you have my awesome Fan Club members to thank for our Seaside Summers spin-off, Bayside Summers! Bayside Summers promises to be fun, flirty, and sinfully sexy—you’ve met a few of the daring cast of characters in Seaside Whispers. And of course you’ll also see our Seaside Summers friends in the Bayside series—they are neighbors, after all! For information on Bayside Summers, be sure to follow me on Facebook and sign up for my newsletter.

  www.MelissaFoster.com/Newsletter

  facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor

  There’s nothing more exciting for me than hearing from my fans and knowing you love my stories as much as I enjoy writing them. Please keep your emails and your posts on social media coming. If you haven’t joined my Fan Club, what are you waiting for? We have loads of fun, chat about books, and members get special sneak peeks of upcoming publications.

  facebook.com/groups/MelissaFosterFans

  I am indebted to my meticulous and talented editorial team. Thank you, Kristen, Penina, Juliette, Marlene, Lynn, Justinn, and Elaini for all you do for me and for our readers.

  Having sold more than a million books, Melissa Foster is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café, and when she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa has painted and donated several murals
to the Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC.

  Visit Melissa on her website or chat with her on social media. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups and welcomes an invitation to your event.

  Melissa’s books are available through most online retailers in paperback and digital formats.

  www.MelissaFoster.com

  www.MelissaFoster.com/Newsletter

  www.MelissaFoster.com/Reader-Goodies