Bayside Passions (Bayside Summers Book 2)
Page 31
He opened the plastic bubble with shaky hands, which made her heart swell even more. He put his large fingers into the little bubble and withdrew the most gorgeous ring she’d ever seen. Tears sprang from her eyes as she took in the adoring look in Dean’s eyes, and the beautiful ring he held in his palm. There must have been a dozen intricately designed yellow- and rose-gold leaves, intertwined with three thin gold vines. In that ring, she saw life. It was perfectly Dean, simple and elegant, strong and bound in nature. And she couldn’t love it more.
He took her hand in his and said, “My beautiful doll, will you do me the honor of allowing me to love, honor, cherish, and ravish you for the rest of our lives? To father your children and grow your lemons? To be your yoga partner and learn to meditate beside you on the patio we built together overlooking the bay? Sweetheart, will you marry me and let me spend the rest of my life trying to find your inner bliss?”
Tears slid down her cheeks as she nodded vehemently. “Yes. Of course, yes!” She launched herself into his arms and he tumbled to the ground, both of them laughing and kissing as everyone cheered.
“I love you so much,” she said between kisses. “I can’t believe you love me, but I’m so glad you do!”
He smiled and kissed her again. “Don’t you ever doubt it, baby. I am yours, and you are mine.”
“Forever,” she said through her tears. “I was never like those little girls who dreamed of white weddings and forevers. And now I can’t imagine not having forever with you.”
“Aw,” Desiree and Serena said in unison as Dean lifted Emery onto his lap, his strong arms and broad chest cradling her against him.
“You’ve been my forever since the day I first saw you. Now,” he said proudly, “for your ring.”
“The ring!” Desiree exclaimed. She and Serena plopped down on either side of them. Harper peered over Emery’s shoulder, and the guys watched, while Violet circled them, taking more pictures.
Dean opened his hand and pointed at the leaves on the ring. “These are oak leaves. They symbolize longevity, patience, faith, power, and endurance. They also symbolize humble beginnings, which is how I feel we started out together.”
He kissed her cheek, and she couldn’t do more than nod.
“It’s incredible how many things they stand for,” he said. “Just like you, baby. You are the embodiment of everything good and everything possible. Thank you for loving me.”
More tears streaked down her cheeks as a disbelieving laugh fell from her lips. “Thank me? Thank you.”
He slipped the ring on her finger, and with a smirk on his handsome face, he held up a sparkling gold chain she hadn’t noticed was attached to the ring. “Because my girl often loses things…”
Emery couldn’t stop smiling as he laid the glimmering chain over the back of her hand, wrapped it around her wrist like a bracelet, and secured it to a tiny gold hoop, creating a gold leash that ran from her ring to her wrist.
“Oh my God,” she said just above a whisper. “You really do know me.”
“Know and adore you, doll. And my feelings will only get stronger with every passing minute.”
As he pulled her into another kiss, their friends converged on them in mass, sharing congratulations and well wishes as they passed them from one warm hug to the next. When she finally landed back in Dean’s arms, she felt like she was walking on air.
“I hate to spoil the fun,” Desiree said, “but you guys are going to be late for the movie.”
“I had wanted to get to the drive-in early,” Emery said, debating forgoing the movie so they could celebrate, but she’d finally planned the perfect date. She knew they’d be celebrating for the rest of their lives, and tonight was the last night the drive-in theater was open for the season.
“Why early, doll?”
“Because I don’t want anyone to take our spot.” She went up on her toes and whispered, “Rose and the girls clued me in to the best make-out spot. And I might have worn edible lingerie.”
His eyes flamed. “Sorry, guys. We’re taking off. We’ll catch up tomorrow!” He took her by the hand and ran through the gate.
They laughed and kissed the whole way to his truck, and when they finally tumbled into the front seat, he came down over her, taking her in a long, sensual kiss. She came away breathless.
“Who needs the drive-in theater?” he said seductively.
“You mean you don’t want to pop my drive-in-theater cherry?”
She’d never seen a man scramble into the driver’s seat faster. He might be calm, and she might be chaos, but they were each other’s perfect match.
Ready for More Bayside?
Fall in love with Drake Savage and Serena Mallery as they navigate the wild waters of friends-to-lovers in search of their happily ever after.
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Like their Weston and Trusty cousins, the Bradens at Pleasant Hill are fiercely loyal and intensely passionate. Each of the Bradens will have their own book. Start with ANYTHING FOR LOVE, the first book in the Bradens at Pleasant Hill, and fall in love with Beau Braden and Charlotte Sterling!
Click to Buy: ANYTHING FOR LOVE
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The Bayside Summers series is just one of the subseries in the Love in Bloom big-family romance collection. You may enjoy starting with SEASIDE DREAMS, the first book in the SEASIDE SUMMERS series (free in digital format at the time of this publication). Each of my books may be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel, so jump in anytime! Characters from each subseries make appearances in future books so you never miss an engagement, wedding, or birth.
Keep track of your favorite characters with the essential Love in Bloom Series Guide:
www.melissafoster.com/LIBSG
Get your FREE first in series Love in Bloom ebooks here:
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See the full Love in Bloom series here:
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More Books by Melissa
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
THE BRADENS (Pleasant Hill, MD)
Anything for Love
BRADEN WORLD NOVELLAS
Daring Her Love
Promise My Love
Our New Love
Story of Love
Love at Last
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
Bayside Passions
Bayside Heat
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)
Truly, Madly, Whiskey
Driving Whiskey Wild
THE MONTGOMERYS
Embracing Her Heart
Our Wicked Hearts
Wild, Crazy, Heart
Sweet, Sexy, Heart
BILLIONAIRES AFTER DARK
WILD BOYS
Logan
Heath
Jackson
Cooper
BAD BOYS
Mick
Dylan
Carson
Brett
HARBORSIDE NIGHTS
Includes characters from the Love in Bloom series
Catching Cassidy
Discovering Delilah
Tempting Tristan
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
If this is your first Melissa Foster novel, you have an entire world of fiercely passionate and loyal heroes and heroines waiting to meet you! Check out my Love in Bloom big-family romance collection. All Love in Bloom books are written to stand alone, and you can jump in anytime. But you might enjoy starting at the very beginning, with Sisters in Love, the book that started the sensation (free at the time of this publication). Get more information here:
www.melissafoster.com/love-bloom-series
Emery and Dean’s story was so fun to write. I’d like to thank Alex van Frank, C-IAYT Certified Yoga Therapist, for her constant support and never-ending patience with my incessant questions.
If you’d like to see the cottage Dean’s house was loosely based on, take a look at Firefly Cottage in Cornwall, UK. I knew it was perfect for Dean, and it became my inspiration the very first time I saw it.
Nothing excites me more than hearing from my fans and knowing you love my stories as much as I enjoy writing them. 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.
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As always, thank you to Lisa Filipe and Lisa Bardonski for our fun chats and headbanging. 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 main squeeze, Les, who allows me the time to create our wonderful worlds.
Meet Melissa
Having sold more than three 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. 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, digital, and audio formats.
www.MelissaFoster.com
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www.MelissaFoster.com/Reader-Goodies