by Cora Davies
"I used to sing this song to Risa when she was a baby." Hailey almost laughed as Eric pretended like he was going to drop the boombox out of surprise.
"You sang this song to a baby?" Eric cocked his head. "Do you not understand all the words in Basket Case?"
Hailey shrugged. "It's always been my favorite song."
Eric set the boombox down on Hailey's dresser, then crawled across the bed to her. "A lot of things about you make perfect sense now."
He kissed her softly on the nose, then her chin, then her mouth. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to lie down beside him. Eric buried his face in Hailey's hair, and after a few minutes, Hailey was sure he had fallen asleep. She listened to the songs he had picked out, and each one brought a different memory of her life back. Some wonderful memories, some sad. When she was sure he was asleep she whispered, "I love you, Eric."
"I love you, Hailey," Eric said against her neck. The two slipped into a deep sleep.
Epilogue
Eight Months Later
"That's the last of it!" Rebecca yelled up the stairs of the almost empty house. Risa jogged down the stairs and gave her grandmother a hug. "I can't believe she sold it."
"Well," Hailey said from the top of the stairs. "Risa, with you heading off to college and Mom, with you staying with Dana, there's really no reason to hold onto the ranch. I feel like I'm stretched thin as it is."
Hailey joined the other two women at the bottom of the steps. The house was completely empty and ready for the new owners. An undisclosed third party purchased the ranch through a lawyer from Hailey, and they were keeping on all of the staff. The new lead who had taken Jason's place after his arrest would be moving into the house with his family in the next few days.
Hailey was excited for a new family to have a fresh start out here. And she was excited to have her own fresh start. This was Paul's dream, and the more Hailey knew about Paul, the less she was sure she wanted to keep that dream alive. Eric, and even her mother, tried to convince her several times to hold onto the house. Hailey had started down the road of forgiveness for Paul, and they kept telling her she might completely understand one day, why he made the choices he had made. But, that day was not today.
"You two will be living the sunny and wild life out in LA while I'm buried under feet of snow in Detroit," Rebecca teased, jarring Hailey back into the present.
"I told you, there is plenty of room for you, too," Hailey said, almost wishing her mother would come with her. But they both knew Dana needed her help more with her small children than Hailey needed Rebecca.
"I'll come visit every chance I get," Rebecca said. "After all, I have to keep on top of all the exciting artwork Risa will be doing at the California Institute of the Arts."
"I'm going to be a freshman," Risa laughed. "I'll be lucky if they let me have crayons."
The two women stepped outside leaving Hailey alone in the empty house.
"I'm sorry Paul, I tried to get this dream of yours going, but it turns out... it just wasn't me." She walked through the house flipping off light switches. She felt guilty off and on for leaving the house behind. It was like she was selling the last piece of Paul. But she was sure it was better to sell the house to someone who could take proper care of it rather than to stay. Besides, the house held tainted memories of Jason's lies, and Hailey could not walk through the first floor without remembering both of the times she had been attacked.
Jason's daughter had contacted Hailey shortly after Jason's arrest. Hailey was afraid the woman was going to ask her to drop the charges, but she did not. Instead, she shared stories of growing up with Jason and his over-protectiveness. Most of her family members believed it was the reason why Jason's wife had committed suicide. His daughter had been to see him recently, and said he was doing better than expected, but seemed confused about why he ended up in jail.
Hailey pulled the front door shut behind her, and locked up before walking down the short porch. The truck sat in the driveway-the bed filled with suitcases and the last of the boxes. Risa and Rebecca sat in the backseat while Eric sat behind the wheel. No sooner had Hailey hopped in and buckled her seatbelt, then Eric tore off down the dirt road.
"I'm going to miss this road," Eric said reaching over and squeezing Hailey's thigh. She squeezed his back. Shortly after Jason's arrest, Hailey had convinced Eric to use his time in between movies to attend a world renowned rehab facility in Denver. She had visited him as often as they would allow, and when he finished the program, he moved in with her, taking the rest of the year off from work.
"You could always buy a truck and go off-roading in LA. Don't they have tracks somewhere?"
"Not the same, those are planned out, predictable," Eric said flipping down the visor to block the bright setting sun. "Out here, you never know what you're going to get."
Hailey smiled as Eric glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. They were still surprised by each other almost daily.
She pulled out her cell phone and began to return emails, some from her agent Gretel about the new book tour, one from the lawyer about the sale of the house, and one about which dress she wanted to wear to The Passenger's Control premiere. "Black, red, or orange?"
"What?"
"Just pick one," Hailey said hitting reply. She would never get used to the dressing up part of her new life with Eric. They never made her wear gowns and heels when she went on her book tour, but every time she had to attend something for Eric, there were heel blisters involved. She looked at him, admiring the small wrinkles around his eyes. He was so handsome with those damn eye lines. "The dress."
"You don't have to go with me," Eric started the same discussion they had at least a dozen times by now. Hailey had made the decision to be supportive and that's exactly what she was going to do.
"Pick a color."
"Black, you can never go wrong with black. You know, we can hire someone to figure out these details for you. Hannah always figures this stuff out for me. I don't feel like you really get into the whole Cinderella ball gown thing."
"I'm more of a put on what's clean kind of gal."
"I know," Eric said smiling at her again. "I love that about you."
***
Hailey and Eric were back on board his family's jet after spending the evening at Dana's house for dinner. Rebecca was staying with Dana for good. Risa was staying with Dana for another week, then would fly out to Los Angeles to stay with Hailey and Eric until school started in the fall.
Hailey had been to Eric's house a few times now, and each time was blown away by how large it was, and how many people worked there. She was extremely nervous to meet Hannah the first time after Raymond had filled her head with horror stories about the woman's treatment of Eric's previous girlfriends. When they arrived, Hailey had hoped to change into something more presentable than her old jeans, Rob Zombie t-shirt, no makeup and a messy ponytail, but Hannah had greeted them at the door. The woman surveyed her, then led them inside going over Eric's schedule without another glance at Hailey.
Later on that night after dinner with Eric's parents, Hailey craved chocolate and knew dessert was not likely to be served. She sneaked into the kitchen to see what she could find and overheard Eric's mom and Hannah talking. As much as she did not like eavesdropping, she heard her name and could not help but stop as she passed the partially opened door to the parlor.
"This one might actually stick," Hannah said. "She doesn't look like one of those spoiled second generation money types out for his money."
"I agree," Eric's mom said. "She's actually quite adorable and pleasant to talk to; unlike that last one."
Both women made disapproving noises, and Hailey scurried by with a giant grin on her face.
A jerk of turbulence brought her back to the present as Eric entered the room from the cockpit. "We'll be alone the rest of the flight now."
"Oh, nice," Hailey said wiggling her eyebrows.
"Now, hold on a minute horndog." Eric was l
aughing as he took the seat beside Hailey's. "There are a couple reasons why I asked to be alone with you. Yes, that's one, but let me get to the others first."
"First," Eric pulled a manila envelope out from under Hailey's chair. "A gift for you."
"What's the occasion?" She felt butterflies in her stomach. The last time she had seen a manila envelope in connection with Eric, it had ended them before they really had a chance to begin.
"The occasion is part two. I want to make sure this is okay first."
Hailey ripped open the envelope and a key fell into her lap. She pulled out the paperwork and found a deed to a house. No, not a house. A ranch.
"You bought that place to feel closer to Paul, and I would hate if a couple of assholes took that away from you. You don't have to do anything with it. Ever-if you don't want to," Eric spoke as if he was nervous, no longer looking at Hailey in the eyes. "I've hired enough staff to run it for the rest of our lives if you want. But, I don't want to ever force Paul out of your life. I don't want you to think I would ever try to erase him-which is what I was afraid I was doing when I asked you to move in with me."
Hailey felt tears well up in her eyes. She had never received anything so thoughtful in her entire life. "Thank you so much, Eric. It means so much to me."
Eric took the papers from her and slid them back under her seat. He took her hands into his. "I want you to always be happy."
"But, what is the occasion? It's such a large gift, I can't-" Hailey stopped speaking. Eric had climbed out of his seat and knelt on the floor on one knee. Small black box in his hand. She shook her head.
"No? I haven't even got to ask yet, and you're saying no?" Eric feigned a hurt expression and Hailey could not help but laugh.
"I'm not saying no. I'm just in disbelief. Fairy tale time," Hailey said. She felt surreal. Her whole life was surreal these days, but in this moment, she really could not wrap her head around what was happening. "Only, you know, a thousand miles in the sky instead of in a tower. Oh, and instead of a dress I have a hole in the knee of my jeans. And you have this little bit of egg in your hair that Dana's toddlers tossed at you, and I forgot to tell you."
Eric shook his head and smiled. He leaned his forehead on Hailey's knee. "Get it out, please. This is supposed to be perfect."
"No," Hailey said and he looked up at her in surprise. "It's perfect, because it's real. It isn't a movie."
Eric lifted his head from Hailey's knee and pulled her in for a kiss. It was greedy, passionate, and rolled all the moments of their past year together in one perfect moment. Eric pulled away. "Stop distracting me."
"Sorry not sorry." Hailey grinned, and she felt like for the first time in as long as she could remember it stretched from ear to ear.
"Hailey Rogers, I've never met anyone like you in my entire life, and I never will meet anyone like you again. I thought I had this whole complete fanfuckingtastic life before I met you, but the minute you stepped in that living room with Herb the accountant, I knew I had been missing you my whole life. The time we spent apart made me feel like part of my body had been ripped away from me. I was lost without you, and only could think of everything I wanted to tell you at the end of every day. I don't want to ever go through that again. I don't want to be alone, I don't want to make major decisions without talking to you, and I don't want to have that feeling that makes me think I'm missing a vital organ. That really doesn't sound as romantic as it did when I planned it, but-"
"Yes," Hailey whispered, grabbing Eric's face in her hands. "I felt the same way when we were apart. I can do it alone, but I don't want to."
"Let me ask first," Eric said, but Hailey could see his shoulders relax now that he knew what her answer would be. "Will you do me the honor of being my wife?"
"Yes," Hailey said as she jumped to her feet. Eric stood beside her and pulled the diamond ring from the small black box. He took her hand and slid the ring down her finger. Hailey studied the ring, it was small, simple, and the diamonds were inset. "It's beautiful. The most beautiful ring ever."
"The lady kept trying to get me to buy this big rock," Eric used his fingers to show a large circle. "But I knew it wasn't your style."
"No, you don't have to explain it. You know me. You know me as well as anyone has ever known me. It's perfect."
Eric raised Hailey's knuckles to his lips and grazed a kiss on them. "Now, onto the third reason I wanted to have you all to myself, Mrs. James."
Eric pulled Hailey over to the small couch on the other side of the small cabin. He lay her down, then bent over her. He kissed her, at first gently and lovingly, then deepening to that possessive kiss only Eric could do. Hailey felt the electricity shooting through their bodies as they became connected, entwined as one body. Hailey moaned and cried out, looking at the stars outside the small cabin window as he brought her body to a climax making her feel as high as the stars themselves.
"I love you, Eric James." She moaned as his length pressed deep inside her.
"I love you," he whispered into her ear and she felt him reach the same moment of happiness she was in.
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A Christmas Affair: A Seaside Cove Romance Preview
Chapter One
"Deck the halls with balls of holly!" Rachel joyously sang at the top of her lungs.
"I don't know if those are the right words," Molly laughed, holding out another string of white lights to Rachel.
If Molly Smith was honest, her best friend and employee was quite a bit off key. She didn’t say anything to Rachel about her singing voice, though. How could she when she was helping Molly decorate her tiny store for Christmas? Off the clock, too.
"They feel like the right words Mols." Rachel smiled at her and she reached down from the stool to take the strand. "I think this one will make the lights connect all the way around the room now."
Molly stepped back and looked around the tiny two-room shop which made up Seaside Gifts from the Shore. She believed there was always a light happy air in her building, created by the many handmade items sold in the store crafted by men and women from the town. In an area where most of the lower income families were comprised of fishermen and housewives, a lot of crafters were happy to bring in extra money by selling their creations. Selling through Molly's store was more time efficient for them than setting up booths by the shoreline during tourist season.
Everywhere she looked there were seashell magnets, necklaces, and picture frames. Paintings and photographs by local artists. Handwoven baskets, hand bound journals, and pottery in unique designs. At this time of year, there was even a table set up by the local crochet artist Dawn full of delicate hats, cowls, and mittens. The wealthier locals went wild over her use of soft hand spun yarns.
Most seaside tourist towns found the winter months to be a quiet season with low profits, but in Seaside Cove, it meant tourist season was about to have its second wind. Main Street was transformed into Dickens Village every evening in December, all the way until Christmas Eve. This was the fourth year since the Dickens Village started, and Molly's second year on the Dickens Council. She felt the responsibility to ensure her shop was one of the first decorated the day after Thanksgiving.
Molly breathed in the scents of peppermint, cider, and Christmas trees floating through the air. She inspected the stockings hung over the artificial chimney, each with a different employee name or friend on it. She turned every ornament hanging on the tree so its price tag was easy to spot.
Everything was going to be perfect.
Everything except for one thing.
"Molly, are you going to talk to him?" Rachel's face was pressed against the glass of the front window, and she was twisting a long blond lock of hair around her finger. At almost six-foot-tall, Rachel had to stoop to look out
the window.
"I don't know who you’re talking about." Molly busied herself exchanging the regular pens in a Christmas kitten mug with Christmas themed pens.
"Jack Frost," Rachel said sarcastically and cupped her hands around her eyes to see outside better.
"I thought Jack Frost liked winter?" Molly felt herself blush. Jack Millings. As far as she could tell, he was Mr. Anti-Christmas these days.
Rachel waved Molly over. "Did you see what he put in the window? Didn't you pass out the Dickens fliers to everyone?"
"Of course I did!" As much as Molly wanted to ignore Jack, she knew she could not put him off forever. She sidled up next to Rachel to look outside. Instead of seeing across the street to Jack's though, she only saw her own blue eyes and auburn hair in the reflection of the window. "I can't see."
Molly reached over and flicked off the lights in the main room gasping at what she saw. A large growing sign proclaimed "Merry Beer-Mas" surrounded by what looked like beer bottles hanging off Christmas lights. "I know he got the flier, and it said Dickens and other Christmas decorations, not beer lights! I'm going over there right now."
Molly unlocked and pulled the door open with a jerk and hopped back as frosty air blasted into the room. Molly immediately slammed the door shut. "Maybe tomorrow."
"Oh come on, just go get it over with.” Rachel grabbed a few warm items from the crochet table and thrust them at Molly.
"Those are for sale." Molly rubbed her arms. "We can't just run outside in them."
"He's violating the Main Street Council code." Rachel threw her hands in the air making Molly laugh. Rachel was behaving exactly how Molly wanted to.
"Well, the start of Dickens Village isn't even for a few days. Maybe he is just messing with us?"
"You, messing with you," Rachel laughed. "I'm pretty sure he's looking for a reason to get you over there."
"I doubt it." Molly felt her face flush again. "Jack has barely said a word to me since high school."