by Addison Cole
“You bet!” Elliot reached for a tray. “Andre will be surprised!”
“I’ll get the plates,” Gabe said, following them out.
They set the treats on the table, and everyone gathered around to check them out.
“Oh my! Those look delicious.” Serena reached for one.
Emery pushed closer, reaching around Serena to grab one. “Yum!”
Violet started to glare at them, wanting to give the first one to Andre, but she caught herself and let the girls grab their fill.
“They’re like sharks,” Elliott teased.
Violet laughed and said, “We call them vultures.”
“Hey! We’re prettier than vultures,” Serena said. “We’re…?”
Emery licked her fingers and said, “Forget it, Serena. We’re hot vultures. Chloe, Daph! You have to taste these!”
“Count your fingers,” Drake teased.
Daphne put a tiny piece of a pastry in Hadley’s mouth, and her little girl smiled as she ate it. “Whoever made these needs to move in with me! You made Hadley smile!”
“Me and Violet made them,” Elliott said. “But I’m not moving in with you.”
Everyone looked at Violet, who was reaching between them for a pastry. “What? Elliott did most of the work. I just had the idea.”
Gabe handed her a plate and said, “Don’t let Violet fool you. She and Elliott spent hours making them together.”
Andre reached for Violet as she came to his side, pulling her onto his lap. “You baked? And you’re smiling.”
“Yeah. I’ll miss these crazy women.” She set the plate on the table and put her arms around his neck, feeling luckier, and happier, than she ever had. “I baked for you. You might not have been able to convince Abby to name a doughnut after us, but you sure won me over. I call these delicious pastries Wandering Hearts.”
There was a collective “Aw,” and Violet realized everyone was watching them.
“They’re just like Violet,” Elliott announced. “Hard on the outside and sweet and soft on the inside!”
Everyone laughed—including Violet—until the loving look in Andre’s eyes stole her voice and his words, “You’re perfect, Daisy, inside and out,” stole her heart.
Epilogue
ANDRE TRIED AGAIN to connect a FaceTime call to Desiree and their friends at Summer House. It was Christmastime, and he and Violet had been in Cambodia for two and half months. It hadn’t taken her any time at all to readjust to life in the field. If anything, she’d been rejuvenated by the simplicity and the complexities of it. But she missed Desiree and their friends, and he was thankful for modern technology for that very reason. She was still nurturing those roots she’d discovered, and it was a beautiful thing, watching her blossoming in so many ways.
“I got it, Dais!” he called out as he crossed the yard to where she sat with three children making animals out of clay.
“There they are!” Desiree peered into the screen. “Hi, Andre! How are you?”
“Great. Hold on. I want you to have time with Vi in case we lose our connection.” He turned the phone so Violet could see her, and the three boys got up to inspect the screen.
“Look at you!” Desiree squealed. “Who are those adorable boys?”
Violet touched each boy’s shoulder as she introduced him. “Boran, Chann, and Davany. They like to hang out with us when we’re not working.”
Speaking to the boys in their native language of Khmer, she told them Desiree was her sister. The boys put their hands together in prayer position and bowed as they said hello, also in Khmer. Andre and Violet had been trying to learn the language, and thanks to a very patient translator, they knew just enough to get by.
Emery’s and Serena’s heads popped into view over Desiree’s shoulder. And a second later Chloe and Daphne peered over their shoulders.
“Aw, they’re so cute,” Daphne said as the boys pointed at the phone, chattering so fast Andre couldn’t make out a word of what they were saying.
“You look so relaxed,” Emery said. “Are you still enjoying living there?”
Violet glanced at Andre and said, “I’ve never been happier.”
It was dry, dusty, and warm, and their days were always busy, but with the exception of nights when there were medical emergencies, when they fell into each other’s arms at night, the chaos fell away. Even when they made love ravenously, keeping the night animals awake, there was an underlying sense of peaceful, loving calm that engulfed them. They often lay beneath the stars as they had in Ghana, only this time it was better. There was no fear about what the future held, or how different their lives were, because even without being married, he knew they were forever intertwined.
“How are things there?” Violet asked. “Chloe’s looking a little shaggy. I like it.”
Chloe touched her hair and said, “I’m growing it out. I’m glad you like it.”
“It looks edgy,” Violet said. “What else is happening? Is Des pregnant yet?”
Desiree’s cheeks pinked up. “Violet!”
“Not yet.” Rick’s deep voice floated in before his face appeared beside Desiree’s, blocking out the others. “We haven’t started trying yet, but we’re having a lot of fun practicing.”
The boys ran across the grass to join another group of kids, and Andre crouched beside Violet, holding the phone in front of them, and said, “I guess the girls can’t complain about the quality of breakfasts anymore?”
Cheers rang out behind Desiree and Rick.
They talked for another minute with Rick, and then he said, “There are more people here who want to say hi. Love you guys. Be safe.”
Rick stepped away, and Justin’s face appeared, smiling warmly. “Hey, babe. Andre. How’s it going?”
“Good. Things okay there?” Violet asked.
Justin nodded and said, “Yeah. Boy, you weren’t kidding about the gossip around here. These chicks talk about everything.”
Violet laughed. “No kidding. Welcome to the Real Housewives of Wellfleet.”
“Move over, wingman.” Gavin’s face appeared beside Justin’s. “Andre, my man. Violet. Happy holidays!”
“Right back at you,” Andre said. “How’s it going?”
“Not bad. Especially since I finally have a single dude to hang with,” Gavin said with a grin. “There’s too much estrogen in this place…”
“Women of the Cape beware. Do I even want to know…?” Violet mumbled.
Justin smirked. “Trust me, you don’t. But I still miss my favorite girl. It’s lonely over here without your motorcycle roaring down my road every other night, and my studio feels empty, but you know…I’ll get over it.”
“It won’t be empty for long,” Gavin interjected. “But we aren’t banking on that fictional blonde who supposedly got hung up”—he put air quotes around hung up—“in L.A., and isn’t going to come out until spring or summer.”
“Dude, for the millionth time, Harper is real,” Justin said.
Harper hadn’t made it back for their goodbye party, although Ted and Andre’s parents had joined them, along with all the friends from the coffeehouse. Ted and Violet had been FaceTiming as well, and their relationship was growing stronger every time they talked.
“Where are the rest of the guys?” Andre asked.
Emery pushed the men out of the way and said, “Jett is home for the holidays. He’s with Dean and Drake picking up a few things at the resort. I’ll tell them you said hello.” She leaned closer to the screen and spoke just above a whisper. “You should see Daphne drooling over Jett. It’s hilarious. And look!” She thrust her left hand in front of the screen, showing off a beautiful gold wedding band. “We got married! We went to the courthouse. We just couldn’t wait!”
Happiness rose in Violet’s eyes. “Congratulations! I’m so happy for you.”
“That’s fantastic,” Andre said. “We wish you both all the happiness in the world.”
“Thank you,” Emery said with a proud smi
le as she pulled her hand away from the screen.
Serena’s head popped in next to Emery’s. “And, Vi, my waistline thanks you so much for introducing us to everyone at the coffeehouse. I swear I have been there like a dozen times just for those delicious Wandering Hearts. Elliot is always making new creations for me to try, and I love hanging out with Steph and everyone. Oh my gosh, and Dwayne is a riot, the way he shamelessly flirts with Daph and Chloe.”
Andre chuckled.
“Justin!” Violet hollered, and his face popped back into view. “You’d better watch out for those girls. I told you what’d happen if someone hurt them.”
“Wow, Vi. You’re threating me from across the world?”
“Darn right I am,” she snapped.
“Okay, you two,” Desiree interrupted. “Can I please talk to my sister and her man?” She smiled at Violet and said, “I miss you both, and I love you. You’ll be here in March, right?”
“Definitely. In time for Erin’s memorial,” Violet said. “But we’re not sure yet about staying for the whole summer.”
Andre had been working on their schedules, trying to arrange it so they could spend the summer at the Cape, but he wouldn’t know for sure for a few more weeks. Perry was also waiting to hear if Andre would be back to help them out at the Outer Cape Health Clinic next summer.
“We’ll know by March,” he assured them.
“Steph said she and one of her friends might be able to help us out during the summer,” Desiree said. “Just let us know. And, Vi, don’t worry. I can handle everything.”
“She’s got plenty of backup,” Rick said, and then he kissed Desiree’s cheek.
The connection froze, and Violet said, “No!” She sighed and said, “I hate it when that happens.” They waited for it to unfreeze, but after a minute they gave up and ended the call.
Andre set the phone on the blanket and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry, babe.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “It was great seeing everyone. I was just thinking, when we were overseas before, I had no one to call, no one to go home to. I didn’t even really know what home meant, or what it would feel like. And now I’m with the man I love every day, and I have a sister and more friends than I could have ever imagined possible just a FaceTime call away.” She straddled his lap, her green eyes glittering with mischief. “Do you know what else I have?”
He grabbed her butt and said, “A fantastic backside?”
She smiled and pressed her lips to his.
“And an amazing mouth?” he said against her lips.
“Yours isn’t too shabby either.”
He nipped at her lower lip, and she laughed. The sweet, carefree sound filled him up inside. “What else do you have?”
“Perspective,” she said softly. “I finally know the true meaning of home. It isn’t about whether I spent my childhood there or how many years I’ve lived somewhere. It’s a feeling of safety, and unconditional love, and as long as you’re by my side, I’m always home.”
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Bestselling author Kurt Remington lives to write. He spends twelve hours a day in front of his computer, rarely leaving the seclusion of his beach-front property, where he’s come to finish his latest thriller—that is, until free-spirited Leanna Bray nearly drowns in the ocean trying to save her dog. Kurt’s best-laid plans are shot to hell when he comes to their rescue. Kurt’s as irritated as he is intrigued by the sexy, hot mess of a woman who lives life on a whim, forgets everything, and doesn’t even know the definition of the word organized.
Leanna’s come to the Cape hoping to find a fulfilling career in the jam-making business, and until she figures out her own life, a man is not on the menu. But Leanna can’t get the six-two, deliciously muscled and tragically neat Kurt out of her mind. She tells herself she’s just stopping by to say thank you, but the heart-warming afternoon sparks an emotional and unexpectedly sweet ride as Kurt and Leanna test the powers of Chemistry 101: Opposites Attract.
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Sweet with Heat Big-Family Romance Collection
Sweet with Heat: Weston Bradens
A Love So Sweet
Our Sweet Destiny
Unraveling the Truth About Love
The Art of Loving Lacy
Promise of a New Beginning
And Then There Was Us
Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers
Read, Write, Love at Seaside
Dreaming at Seaside
Hearts at Seaside
Sunsets at Seaside
Secrets at Seaside
Nights at Seaside
Embraced at Seaside
Seized by Love at Seaside
Lovers at Seaside
Whispers at Seaside
Sweet with Heat: Bayside Summers
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Sweet Passions at Bayside
Sweet Heat at Bayside
Sweet Escape at Bayside
Sweet with Heat: Oak Falls
The Corner of Heartbreak and Forever
Stand-Alone Women’s Fiction Novels
by Melissa Foster (Addison Cole’s steamy alter ego)
Chasing Amanda (mystery/suspense)
Come Back to Me (mystery/suspense)
Have No Shame (historical fiction/romance)
Megan’s Way (literary fiction)
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Acknowledgments
I hope you loved learning more about Violet. While researching her craft, I had the pleasure of speaking with Tiffany Carmouche, an amazing sculptor and speaker. Thank you, Tiffany, for answering my endless questions with patience and professionalism. I have taken creative liberties in the story, and any crafting errors are my own, not a reflection of Tiffany’s expertise. You can find out more about Tiffany on her website, www.TiffanyCarmouche.com.
Nothing excites me more than hearing from my fans and knowing you love my stories as much as I enjoy writing them. Chat with me on social media, and be sure to sign up for my newsletter to be notified of new releases.
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As always, thank you to all of my friends and fans who have talked me off the ledge while writing Violet and Andre’s story. Heaps of gratitude go out 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. And as always, I am forever grateful to my family and my own hunky hero, Les, who allows me the time to create our wonderful worlds.
Meet Addison
Addison Cole is the sweet alter ego of New York Times and USA Today bestselli
ng and award-winning author Melissa Foster. Addison enjoys writing humorous, and deeply emotional, contemporary romance without explicit sex scenes or harsh language. Addison spends her summers on Cape Cod, where she dreams up wonderful love stories in her house overlooking Cape Cod Bay.
Visit Addison on her website or chat with her on social media. Addison enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups and welcomes an invitation to your event.
Addison’s books are available in paperback, digital, and audio formats.
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