My gaze returns to Sage. “Somethin’ happening between those two?”
Tyler snickers and steps around the bar to stand by me. “They’ve been seeing one another for a while now.”
Aaron skirts up to the bar and takes a seat. “I hear my brother might be in love.”
My eyes go wide. “Seriously?”
Sage and Aaron both nod in agreement.
“What about you, Aaron? Any new prospects?”
He helps himself to another glass of red wine. “No one yet,” he sighs.
Tyler reaches over and slaps his back, “No worries, I’m sure you’ll find someone soon.” He pulls me into his frame and kisses the soft spot below my ear.
“Love can happen unexpectedly,” I say.
“Yes, it most certainly can,” Tyler agrees.
“When are you gonna make an honest woman outta my girl here, Tyler?” Sage asks.
A smile stretches across his face and he shrugs.
Reed pushes through the crowd and kisses Sage. “Baby, we’re having a boy,” he whispers against her cheek. “I am so damn happy. I wanna take you home. Get you off your feet.”
Sage turns to face me. “You need any help cleaning up?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Do what your husband says, get home and off your feet.”
Aaron pushes off the bar stool. “I should get going too. I’ve got a new doctor coming in tomorrow for an interview.”
He gives me a hug. “I miss our lunches, girl.”
“Me too. Next time I’m in town, we’ll get together.”
“You bet we will.”
The room buzzes with people saying their goodbyes, taking final pictures and lots of promises to get together for coffee, real soon. Reed and his dad start taking some of the gifts out to the car in the parking lot. Doris and my mom, start cleaning up the dirty dishes.
“Mom, seriously, you don’t need to do that,” I say.
“It’s no trouble, honey.” She winks at me and waggles her brows. “We’re happy to help.”
I stare at her for a moment. “Why are you being weird?”
“Haven, can you help me carry these gifts to the car?” Sage asks.
“Yep, I’m on it.”
I gather up as many gift bags that I can hold and follow Sage through the kitchen and out the backdoor. Reed’s telling his dad about the SUV he’s looking at getting because of the safety features.
“We’ll drive it right down to Disney World when junior is old enough,” he says.
Sage rolls her eyes. “He’s got lots of trips planned. Hawaii, Europe and even Australia.”
“Great, take your child to the continent where everything wants to kill you,” I tease.
They climb into their Altima and I watch as Sage and Reed drive out of the parking lot. My head swivels around the empty lot. It was a good day. My chest blooms with happiness.
Spinning around, I twist the handle to go back inside. Nothing happens. I jerk it a few more times. Fuck. “Hey, is anyone there?” My fist pounds against the metal. “I’m locked out. Tyler?”
Nothing. No answer.
I walk around the side of the building to the front and amble up the steps. My hands reach for the door handle and I pull it open. “Well, that was fun,” I mumble.
Passing the hostess stand, I call out, “Tyler, did you lock me out?”
I stop midstride and my pulse pounds at the sight spread before me. The dining room is completely transformed. It’s as if the baby shower never happened.
Red rose petals are scattered across the floor which lead to our table. The one where we shared that first meal. Where a beautiful stranger sat with me and made me feel a lot better.
The fireplace is burning bright and the chalkboard from the easel that sits by the hostess stand is propped against my chair. Glass hurricanes decorate the table, the glow from the candles flicker over Tyler’s face. He’s leaning back in his chair, smiling.
That smile gets me every time. My heart is skipping and thumping against my breastbone.
Tyler stands, and pulls a black velvet box from his pocket. He walks to my chair and flips the board.
My heart is in my throat. His eyes meet mine and all the breath in my lungs rushes out. “Oh my god.”
“Will you marry me?” he asks, dropping to one knee in front of me. His sweet wonderful words match the ones written in chalk on the board.
Tears well in my eyes. I can’t stop staring at him. This is happening, and I’m frozen in my spot.
“Haven March Cardwell, will you marry me?”
Yes. Yes, I will. My brain screams
My knees start to wobble as I take a step forward. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Tyler.”
He stands and slips the cushion cut diamond on my finger and then my arms snake around his neck. “I can’t wait to marry you,” he whispers. “I love you.”
“I love you so much.”
I’m shaking. This is so lovely, it’s painful.
“How did you pull this off?” I ask.
He smiles that slow heart-stopping smile against my lips. “Oh, I had a little help.” His fingers drift along my ribcage.
“Obviously.”
He kisses me again, his tongue slides against mine and I soak up the sensation of his hard body pressed to mine. My heart skips in my ribs as our lips collide.
“I have a confession,” I begin. “I was going to ask you to move in with me tonight. With all the happenings in East Harbour, I thought we might make things official. This is certainly a surprise.”
“A good surprise, right?”
My answer rolls off my tongue with ease, like taking a breath. “More than good—wonderfully beautiful.”
THE END
Dear Classy Reader,
Welcome to Mayfield and Smyrna Hills, where the bourbon flows and the neighbors know everything about you—almost. I hope that you enjoyed your first visit. Because there’s more, so much more that I have to tell you about the residents of these two small towns.
Beautiful March . . . I fell in love with this story when it was just a WIP called, House of Horrors. Obviously, it needed a much better title. Thus, Beautiful March was born with its double meaning and symbolism. Did you pick up on that? I bet that you did.
I’m pleased to tell you that Sweet Agony is the next book in this collection! You met Brant, Haven’s older brother, and you know this guy has a story to tell. His girlfriend cheated on him with his boss! The nerve! Then he goes off to Hawaii to meet Wes, the youngest Cardwell sibling. And what is the story between him and Caroline Stratton?? I know, and I want you to know.
So, that’s the news . . . Sweet Agony is coming → October 2019!
But first, I need you to meet your next swoony AF hero → Ander Nicholas Gabriel Camran, the Crown Prince of Sardones. That’s right, Royal Gentleman is COMING! I cannot wait for you to meet him this JULY!
That’s all for now. If you loved all the emotion of this book, I think you’ll love my second-chance sports romance, The First Lights. Set in a small town in Montana with plenty of feels and a dash of angst, it’s guaranteed to give you a book hangover.
And if you’re looking for another friends-to-lovers romance, I suggest Healed by You → fake relationship for two famous friends. #Pineapples
Thank you for reading. Until next time, byyyyeeee!
Xoxo,
Christy
The Scripted Duet
Unscripted
Perfectly Scripted
The Harbour Series
Bound to Me
Healed by You
Return to Us
Standalone Novels
Fifteen Weekends
Wicked Gentleman
The First Lights
Beautiful March
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Haven and Tyler’s story, and especially writing Tyler’s backstory from childhood, was something that touched me deeply. In many ways, BEAUTIFUL
MARCH is the book that I’ve worked my entire writing career to craft.
None of this is possible without my husband, Kevin. You are the best. You REALLY are.
Enormous thanks to my editor, Missy Borucki. Your belief in my writing and my career is what keeps me going, especially on those hard days. And I’m eternally grateful for those Judge Judy GIFs when I miss my deadline by two weeks.
Rach & Fabi, I honestly don’t know what I’d do without the two of you. Your friendship means everything to me. I’m so grateful Fabi, that you’re just a message away and always willing to listen and offer some great feedback. Rach, I LIVE for our FaceTime chats, especially at 5 a.m. #SoapyThighs4Life
Cary, You’re the bomb. You’re insanely talented and I’m so lucky to call you my friend. I’m glad to have you in my corner cheering me on.
Stacey Lynn, You are one of my most favorite people in the world. You mean a lot to me and I cherish our friendship. #SistersOfSaltiness lol
Michelle, My Boo for life! I just love ya so much. Thank you for your friendship.
Christine, my PA extraordinaire, thank you for keeping me off social media while I finished this book. More importantly, for handling all things for the release of this book. I’m so grateful to have you on my team.
Tracey Motz and my KP Bunco gals, thank you for inspiring the theme-related bunco scene. I love playing the dice with all of you.
Thank you, Patti, for updating me on The Young and The Restless when I couldn’t find the time to watch . . . lol #SummerNewmanIsTheWorst
Michelle and K, thank you for cleaning up this story and making it pretty and shiny for all of booklandia.
Christina and Alicia, thank you both and the Classy Lit Chicks for supporting me. I cherish the time we spend together and you are so much more than readers to me.
To my readers, my friends and the book community, you’re the reason I get up every morning, sometimes in the middle of the night, to write. Thank you, I couldn’t do it without you.
Please connect with me in my private reading group, Christy’s Classy Lit Chicks, where we chat about everything from pop culture to books and everything in between. Casual Conversation for the #ClassyAF Reader. Don’t let FOMO happen to you.
Christy Pastore is a bestselling author of Romantic Comedy and Literary Humor romance reads. She writes sexy, contemporary romance books that contain bold heroines and swoony gentleman with a naughty side. Writing has always been a part of Christy’s life. Her first writing gig was for a celebrity entertainment website. Later she went on to create her own blogazine and media company combining her love of writing with fashion and marketing.
When’s she not writing flirty and dirty books you’ll find Christy browsing the internet for the latest celebrity gossip, obsessively watching Instagram stories, binge watching her favorite shows or daydreaming.
She appreciates a good vodka soda with a twist of lime or a nice glass of wine. She’ll never turn down chips and salsa, margherita pizza or Mexican food. And yes, you can always ask her for advice on fashion and style trends.
Christy lives in central Indiana with her husband and their lovable English springer spaniel, Bailey.
She believes books, especially love stories are an escape from the real world.
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Beautiful March Page 25