Secrets at Seaside

by Addison Cole

  Of course, Amy had another reason to be plastered to the window for the last twenty minutes—to ogle her man, who was waiting down on the beach in his dark suit with the other grooms and Jamie, Evan, Blue, and Duke. The grooms all had their suit pants rolled up, but there was something about Tony barefoot and in a suit that had Amy practically drooling. She watched as Sky’s friend Lizzie, a petite brunette with more energy than the Energizer Bunny, ran around the canopy she’d erected and laced with flowers, making sure the ribbons and flowers were secure. Duke and Blue were eyeing her like she was made of wedding cake. Amy wondered if they’d get to see some brotherly competition, and she hoped Sky wouldn’t be too upset.

  Bella leaned against the window frame. “Loving the view?”

  “Uh-huh.” Amy leaned down and petted Joey, who was lying beside her feet with her tongue hanging out of her mouth. She rolled onto her back, and Amy scratched her belly.

  “Maybe you could finish getting ready so we can actually go out there and marry our men.”

  Amy glanced up and smiled at the tease in Bella’s eyes. She looked beautiful. They all did, in their matching off-white tank dresses that stopped just above their knees. Sky and Jessica wore matching pale-pink sundresses. Jessica’s skin was bronze from her honeymoon. She and Jamie hadn’t stopped smiling since they’d returned.

  “If you didn’t force me to sleep without him last night, maybe I wouldn’t be drooling today.” Amy reluctantly turned away from the window.

  “In my day the bride and groom never saw each other the day of the wedding.” Vera sat in an armchair wearing a pretty blue dress and comfortable, stable shoes that resembled sneakers. Jenna laced them with blue ribbons for her. Vera was in her mideighties, and her hair was silver and white and cut in a pixie style. Her skin looked velvety soft despite the wrinkles mapping her cheeks, and when she smiled, her gray-blue eyes warmed.

  “So…” Jenna set a challenging gaze on Bella but spoke to Vera. “So you definitely didn’t sneak out to see your man the night before your wedding.”

  “What?” Bella turned away with a grin.

  Amy bit her lower lip and looked away, too. The girls had all spent the night at Pete and Jenna’s beach house, and the guys had spent the night at Kurt’s, which was just a few miles down the road. Amy had snuck out last night and spent an hour in Tony’s arms out in the dunes. She’d stayed in one of Jenna’s guest rooms, and she didn’t think anyone had known. Now she wasn’t so sure.

  “You snuck out,” Jenna said.

  Bella and Amy both spun around and said in unison, “No, I didn’t.”

  “I might have.” Leanna waved her hand. “You probably heard me. I couldn’t help it. I really wanted to see Kurt, and I knew you guys wouldn’t approve, so I just saw him for a few minutes.” Leanna’s cheeks pinked up.

  “You snuck out?” Jenna asked.

  “Uh-huh.” Leanna smiled. “I’m sorry. We just shared a few minutes…in Pete’s boat barn.”

  “In his boat barn?” Jenna’s eyes widened, but it was the mischievous grin on her lips that made Amy curious.

  “Where were you last night, Jenna? When I got up to go to the bathroom, I didn’t see you.” It was a boldface lie, but she could tell Jenna was hiding something. No need for Leanna to suffer alone.

  “I was sleeping.” Jenna turned away.

  Vera shielded her mouth as if she were sharing a secret and said, “I smell a fib.”

  “Vera!” Jenna laughed. “Okay, fine. I met Pete for an hour in my art studio.”

  “Oh my gosh.” Bella plunked down on the bed. “I met Caden at the edge of the driveway. We’re all cursed.”

  “Yup, because that man out there met me in the dunes.” Amy sat next to Bella. “And it was worth being cursed for.” She burst out laughing, and the other girls did, too. Even Vera couldn’t refrain from chuckling.

  “Well, if we’re telling secrets…” Vera looked up at the ceiling and covered her heart with her hand. “We snuck out the night before our wedding, too.”

  Jessica gasped. “Vera.” She hugged her. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell Jamie. No need to ruin his image of his pristine grandmother.”

  “Oh, the tales I could tell,” Vera said with a playful shrug.

  “Well, now that we have that out of the way. When I get married I will just skip the whole not-seeing-the-groom routine and take the path to being cursed.” Sky laughed as she grabbed a patchwork backpack from the floor.

  “I made you guys something.” The girls gathered around Sky as she dug through the bag and pulled out light blue garters with tiny silver starfish hanging from the lace edge. She handed one to each of the brides.

  “These are so cute. You made them? Thank you.” Amy threw her arms around Sky’s neck and kissed her cheek.

  “You’re welcome! The starfish are from my mom’s sewing stuff,” Sky explained. “So I think that counts as something blue and something old.”

  Jenna and Bella slipped theirs on while Leanna embraced Sky. “That was so thoughtful. Thank you.”

  “Vera brought you guys something, too. Something old and new.” Jessica handed them each a little velvet bag from her purse.

  “Vera, you didn’t have to give us anything,” Bella said.

  “I know I didn’t. I had one made for Jessica before she married Jamie, and, Sky, I have one with your name on it, too.” Vera reached for Sky’s hand. “No rush, dear.”

  Leanna, Jenna, Bella, and Amy opened the bags and shared a look of disbelief.

  “Vera, I don’t know what to say.” Amy pulled the silver necklace with a pearl charm from the velvet bag. “This is stunning.”

  “My uncle lived in Wellfleet. He was a fisherman, and he dove for pearls. I have a handful of them that he’d given me over the years.” Vera reached for Jessica’s hand and pulled her in close. “I knew when Jessica joined our family that they were meant to be shared, not stashed away in a safe.”

  Jessica touched her pearl necklace. “Thank you, Vera. I will always cherish mine.”

  “I know you will, dear.” Vera looked at the others. “I’ve known you girls practically since you were born. You’re as much family to me as Jamie is. I want you to have them. I feel so blessed to have been invited to share in your special day.”

  The girls moved in for a group hug, and Joey rubbed against their legs.

  “You’re as much our family as we are yours,” Amy said. “Thank you.” She and the others helped each other put on their necklaces; then Amy peeked out the window. “I still don’t see Theresa out there. Do you think she’s standing us up?”

  “No way,” Jenna said. “She’d never do that. She texted a little while ago and said that she’s going to be here in time for the ceremony, but she’s running a little late.”

  “Okay, good. If she doesn’t show up, we can’t get married.” Amy’s stomach felt queasy.

  “She’ll be here, Ames. Don’t worry,” Jenna said.

  “Uh oh,” Bella yelled.

  “What?” Amy said.

  “We have nothing borrowed. Does anyone have anything borrowed?” Bella spun around, waving her hands frantically. “We need something borrowed.”

  “I know!” Leanna grabbed her purse and fished around in it. She pulled out three long ribbons—red, white, and blue—and smiled. “Jenna! Scissors!”

  Jenna ran from the room and came back with a pair of scissors.

  “We’ll cut this up and tie our hair back,” Leanna said.

  “But I just did my hair,” Jenna complained.

  “Oh, come on.” Leanna cut the ribbon. “Don’t be a spoilsport. Turn around.”

  Jenna made a face, then snatched the red ribbon Leanna was holding in her hand and swapped it for the blue one.

  “Give the red and white to someone who doesn’t have OCD. This way it will match my garter.” Jenna turned for Leanna to tie her hair back.

  Sky tied Amy’s and Bella’s, and Jessica tied back Leanna’s hair.

  Vera r
ose from her chair. “You girls are lovely. Just lovely.”

  They all held hands and smiled like goofs.

  “We’re really doing this,” Amy whispered. “We’re brides!”

  “We’re beautiful brides,” Leanna added.

  “And we’re marrying our Prince Charmings.” Jenna squealed and wiggled her shoulders.

  “I just want you girls to know that I can’t imagine a better wedding, or people I’d rather be with on this day.” Amy’s eyes teared up. “You’re my sisters, and I’m so happy that Duke is letting me work three weeks on-site and then four months remotely. I can’t wait to start my life with Tony, and I can’t wait to move here and build our lives together with you guys. I love you guys so much.”

  “Aw, Ames.” Leanna hugged her. “I love you, too.”

  “Me too,” Jenna said.

  “Okay, okay.” Bella rolled her eyes. “We love each other. Let’s go get married!”

  TONY’S MOUTH WENT dry when he saw Amy walking over the dune in her off-white dress. She looked elegant with the simple dress and her hair pulled away from her face. Her smile reached her eyes, and when her eyes met his, his body shuddered with the memory of making love on the dunes last night. She’d been so beautiful, naked and bathed in moonlight. He’d wanted to stay with her beneath the stars until morning, but they’d both known they were breaking tradition by seeing each other. Nothing about their romance had been traditional, and he’d tried to coerce Amy into staying with him using that logic. She’d smiled that adorable smile of hers and shut him up with a sensual kiss. He was putty in her hands, and knew he always would be.

  He watched Evan recording the girls as they came over the dunes with Joey bounding beside them. Lizzie handed each of the girls a bouquet of white roses and fastened a white ribbon to Joey’s collar. She was a feisty little thing flitting about as graceful and unobtrusive as a bird. Tony stole a glance at his best friends, who looked as mesmerized by their brides as he felt. Duke caught his eye and nodded, as if to say, You’re a lucky guy. Tony was so grateful that he and Amy had worked things out. Duke had called him last week to tell him—in case he had any doubts—that he hadn’t been doing Amy a favor by agreeing to the new work schedule. Amy had done him a favor. Tony had never felt as proud as he was at that moment. He knew how wonderful Amy was, but it sure felt good hearing it from someone else.

  The pride he felt now was ten times the pride he’d felt then, as Amy walked across the sand in her bare feet and came to his side.

  “I love you,” he whispered as the others took their places beside them.

  “I love you, too, but have you seen Theresa?”

  Tony nodded toward the dunes.

  Amy turned. “Is that Theresa? I didn’t know she was bringing a date.”

  Everyone turned to look at the couple coming over the dunes. As they neared, there was a collective gasp from the girls.

  “Holy Moses,” Pete said.

  “Bella, I think you’ve been one-upped.” Caden kissed her temple.

  “Oh my gosh. Is that…” Amy’s jaw hung open.

  “Bradley Cooper,” Tony said. “Wow.”

  “Hello, ladies.” Theresa set her eyes on Bella and smirked. “You might know my friend Brad Cooper.”

  “No way.” Bella stepped right up to Bradley and leaned in close, looking over his face from every angle. “Are you really Bradley Cooper or a freaking awesome double?”

  He flashed his famous cockeyed grin and laughed. “I’m him. Terry said you might want to meet me.” Bradley held a hand out in greeting.

  “Terry?” Bella raised her brows as she shook his hand.

  “Yeah.” He looked at Theresa. “Terry used to babysit me. Right, Ter?”

  “Darn right I did.” Theresa stalked past Bella with a satisfied grin on her thin lips. “Shall we get this show on the road?”

  Amy turned to Tony, went up on her toes, and whispered in his ear, “You’re ten times as handsome as he is.”

  He didn’t care if it was the truth or not. Amy said it, and that was truth enough for him.

  The service was short and sweet. Amy and Tony stated their vows, then Bella and Caden took their turn. Once they finished, Jenna and Pete, and then Leanna and Kurt recited their vows. After they’d all gone, the girls looked from one to the other, but Tony didn’t take his eyes off of Amy during the whole service. He wanted to remember the way a few wispy tendrils of hair came loose from her ribbon and framed her face. The scent of the bay breeze as it picked up her perfume, and how her eyes took on a fiery, emerald glow in the afternoon sun. There had been a time that long-ago summer when Tony had dreamed of marrying Amy just like this, on the beach among their friends. He was thinking about how their lives had come full circle when Theresa’s voice brought him back to the moment.

  “Gentlemen, you may kiss your brides.”

  Tony folded Amy into his arms. “I don’t just love you, kitten. I adore you, and I will spend every minute of my life making sure that you know it.”

  She went up on her toes, her warm hands circling his neck.

  “If you don’t kiss me soon, I might have to go see if Bradley wants to.”

  He laughed as their mouths connected, and he kissed her until he felt her body go soft against him and felt the strength in her grip ease. She came away breathless. Eyes still closed.

  “Brad who?” she whispered.

  “That’s my girl.” He swooped her up into his arms.

  The others were hooting and hollering, and all Tony could think about was carrying her back to his cottage and loving her as husband and wife.

  “I have to throw my bouquet,” she reminded him with a shy giggle.

  “Where are you going?” Bella hollered when they were halfway to the dunes.

  Tony groaned and carried her back to the group. He’d been hoping to steal her away, bouquet and all.

  “So I wanted to carry her home. Shoot me.” Tony laughed.

  “Show-off,” Pete said.

  “Come on, girls, bouquet time!” Lizzie shooed them all into a line.

  She and Sky stood behind them, arms in the air.

  “Theresa, aren’t you going to jump into the mix?” Bella asked.

  “Oh, goodness no.” Theresa took a step backward. “I think I’ll watch, thank you very much.”

  “Girls, stand a little closer together,” Evan directed.

  The girls giggled as they moved in close.

  “Perfect, now I can see everyone, including Blue, Brad, and Duke, who seem to be standing as far away from the bouquet throwing as possible.” Evan laughed.

  “This whole wedding thing might be contagious,” Blue teased.

  “You should be so lucky,” Tony called out.

  Amy, Bella, Leanna, and Jenna counted in unison. “One. Two. Three!” They tossed their bouquets over their shoulders and spun around just in time to see Lizzie catch one and Sky catch the other three bouquets.

  “Looks like someone’s in line to find her forever love,” Jessica said.

  Sky’s eyes widened. She tossed all three bouquets to Lizzie as if they’d burned her hands. Lizzie fumbled to keep from dropping them.

  “Nice catch.” Blue put his hands beneath the bouquets in case she dropped them.

  Jenna elbowed Amy and nodded at Sky, who was talking with Brad, while Blue and Lizzie were laughing about some private joke.

  “Wow. Things change so fast around here. What’s next?” Jenna asked.

  Amy jumped into Tony’s arms. “I don’t know about you losers, but I’m gonna ride the longboard.”

  Tony carried her toward the dunes. “You are a dirty, dirty girl, Mrs. Black.”

  “Correction, I’m your dirty, dirty girl.”

  Please enjoy a preview of the next Sweet with Heat novel

  Nights at Seaside

  Chapter One

  “I CAN’T BELIEVE in a few short weeks the apartment and the tattoo shop will be completely renovated. Blue, you’re amazing!” Sky Lacrou
x shoved her favorite poetry book into her patchwork purse and locked the front doors of her shop. She waited for a few people to pass before stepping back on the busy sidewalk to admire it. She still had to paint the exterior and the sign above the door and wait for the interior renovations to be done, but as she took in the narrow building she now owned, pride swelled inside her chest.

  Inky Skies was located on Commercial Street, the busiest street in the artsy community of Provincetown, Massachusetts. It was sandwiched between her friend Lizzie Barber’s flower shop, P-town Petals, which was painted light blue with flowers and greenery climbing up the columns out front, and the bright purple game store, Puzzle Me This. Sky planned on painting Inky Skies bright yellow, and as Blue Ryder, one of her best friends, threw his arm around her and dragged her away from the shop, she felt like she was walking on a cloud. Now, if only the universe would magically step in and find her the perfect man to share her joy with.

  Yeah, right. Like that was going to happen in a primarily gay and lesbian community, especially with the way she worked all the time. Not likely. Her brother Hunter fell into step on her other side. Definitely not likely with these two guarding me closer than Fort Knox.

  “Are you still planning a big grand opening, even though the shop has been open since you bought it?” Blue asked. He’d been one of Sky’s best friends since she’d moved back to the Cape from New York three summers ago, to run her father’s hardware store while he went into rehab to deal with an alcohol addiction. Thankfully, her father had remained sober after rehab and was back to running his store, which had enabled Sky to move out and fulfill her dream of opening her own tattoo shop. Two months earlier she’d purchased the tattoo shop where she’d been working part-time, and Blue, a specialty builder, was renovating both the shop and the apartment above it for her.