I was completely astounded when my parents took me up the Bradford driveway.
Before that point, I was convinced that it was Cinderella’s castle hidden behind the ornate gate. I’d had no idea normal people actually lived there. But then again, the Bradfords were far from normal. But I wouldn’t learn that until it was much too late.
Ivy had bounced out the front door and threw her arms around me and dragged me giddily inside like any kindergartener would.
The rest was history.
I got over the shock of the Bradford family’s wealth fast, though I carefully avoided any discussion about finances and the like as we got older. While Ivy lived her lavish life, my parents sometimes struggled to make ends meet. In high school I had to hop from job to job to keep up with my ballet class tuition.
I didn't resent Ivy or any of the other Bradfords for their money. It just felt strange to talk about things like that around them. Maybe that’s because on some level I always knew that we were different. Somewhere in my heart of hearts, I was sure that they deserved friends who could match their opulent lifestyle, and that they would realize that one day.
To be fair, Ivy had always been the furthest thing from stuck up or snobby. None of the Bradfords were like that.
They were all kind and caring. They’d done a lot of good for this town and the people in it. They certainly changed my life.
I never asked them for a thing, but that didn't stop them from including me in their lives from the first second they met me. As Ivy’s best friend, suddenly I was part of a whole new world. I got invited on birthday cruises, summer vacations and ski trips. To Mr. and Mrs. Bradford, I became just another child, but I was always painfully aware of the fact that I didn't truly belong.
Like that first lunch where Ivy and I became inseparable, our first sleepover was another twist of fate as well.
That night was remarkable in many ways, not just because I was able to finally enter the Bradford Cove castle and see what was hidden inside. It was as amazing as I’d always imagined. But it was the prince who lived there who truly swept me off my feet.
I still remembered it like it was yesterday. Ivy and I had watched movies in the home theatre and splashed in the private pool and ate a fine meal in the ornate dining room, and then we retired to Ivy’s massive bedroom. I didn't point out at the time that my bedroom could practically fit in her closet. Later, when she would eventually come over to play with me at my house, she didn't point it out either. Ivy was gracious like that.
That night, we’d fallen asleep curled up in her big bed, but in the middle of the night, I’d jerked awake from a bad dream. My legs were twisted in my sheets and my little heart was racing.
I didn’t remember what the nightmare had been about. But I distinctly remembered feeling like that big old bedroom was going to swallow me whole.
Maybe I was too young for my first sleepover or maybe it was the scary stories Ivy and I told one another before bed. Who knew? Either way, I flew out of that room in a panic while Ivy slept soundly.
In fact, to this day, I'm not sure she knows what happened that night, but it changed my whole life.
The Story Continues…
ORDER BOOK 2 TODAY!
Saltwater Sweethearts
Also by Christina Benjamin
THE BRADFORD BROTHERS SERIES
Palmetto Passion
Saltwater Sweethearts
Country Crush
THE BILLIONAIRE BOYFRIEND SERIES
(All Billionaire Boyfriend Books are sweet romance and are stand-alone novels)
Sebastian: A Clean Billionaire Romance (Book 1)
Cooper: A Clean Billionaire Romance (Book 2)
Donovan: A Clean Billionaire Romance (Book 3)
Eric: A Clean Billionaire Romance (Book 4)
Jacob: A Clean Billionaire Romance (Book 5)
Christmas in Pine Island
YOUNG ADULT
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
HOW TO DATE A TOMBOY SERIES
Tomboys Don’t Wear Pink
Tomboys Don’t Kiss The Quarterback
Tomboys Don’t Crush On The Captain
Tomboys Don’t Love Christmas
DANGERS OF DATING A DIVA SERIES
Kissing The Hero
PREP SCHOOL BOYFRIEND ACADEMY
(All Boyfriend Books are Stand-Alone Novels and can be read in Any Order)
The Practice Boyfriend (Book 1)
The Almost Boyfriend (Book 2)
The Goodbye Boyfriend (Book 3)
The Holiday Boyfriend (Book 4)
The Stand-In Boyfriend (Book 5)
The Maybe Boyfriend (Book 6)
The Accidental Boyfriend (Book 7)
The Summer Boyfriend (Book 8)
The Wedding Boyfriend (Book 9)
The Winter Boyfriend (Book 10)
The Lost Boyfriend (Book 11)
Do you or your kids like to read Middle Grade Fantasy books like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson?
If so check out Christina’s Pen Name - C.J. Benjamin and her completed series: Geneva Sommers
Geneva Sommers and the Quest for Truth (Book 1)
Geneva Sommers and the Secret Legend (Book 2)
Geneva Sommers and the Myth of Lies (Book 3)
Geneva Sommers and the Magic Destiny (Book 4)
Geneva Sommers and the First Fairytales (Book 5)
Want to read for FREE?
Download Christina’s FREE ebook More Than Words today!
Download The Free Ebook Here
About the Author
Author, Christina Benjamin, lives in Florida with her husband, and character inspiring pets, where she spends her free time working on her books, eating chocolate and drinking wine.
Christina is best known for her bestselling Young Adult romance novels, The Boyfriend Series, which proves that book boyfriends are like chocolate... you can never have enough. Check out the Boyfriend Series for fast, fun, YA romance reads. These destination novels let you fall in love in a new city with new characters, every time.
And don't miss her Romance series “The Bradford Brothers” & “Billionaire Boyfriends” for fun and flirty romance reads.
Join her secret Facebook group to beta read, chat about books over a glass of wine and a dessert. Click here to join her Facebook Group.
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For more information visit:
www.crownatlanticpublishing.com
To my readers,
I want to personally thank you for taking the time to seek out this great little indie book. Writing is truly my passion. I believe each of us can find a small part of ourselves in every book we read, and carry it with us, shaping our world, our adventures and our dreams.
Following my dream to write frees my soul but knowing others find joy in my writing is indescribable. So thank you for your support and I hope you enjoyed your brief escape into the magic of these pages.
If you enjoyed this story, don’t worry, there’s plenty more currently rattling around in my rambunctious imagination. Let me and others know your thoughts by sharing a review of this book. Reviews help shape my next writing projects. So if you want more books like this one be sure to shout it from the rooftops (or social media.) ;-)
- Christina Benjamin
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW HERE
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Palmetto Passion: A Sweet Small Town Family Romance (The Bradford Brothers Book 1) Page 18