Seaside Sweets

by Melissa Chambers

  Blake put his arm around Seanna. “We’re gonna get home, too.”

  “Of course you are,” Sebastian said.

  Blake said something into Seanna’s ear, then they kissed and pulled apart. Blake nodded at Bo and they walked outside.

  “Are you doing anything tomorrow?” Blake asked.

  “Nothing I know of.”

  “Wanna watch a game?”

  “What game?”

  Blake shrugged. “I don’t know. Any game.”

  Bo rested his ass against his truck. “Look man, don’t sweat it. You’re back for good. There’s plenty of time for us to sit and stare at a television together. Go spend time with your woman. You’ll be sick of one another here in a few years. We’ll catch up then.” Bo gave Blake a smile for reassurance.

  Blake shook his head. “I hated leaving without telling you. I just couldn’t run the risk of you trying to get me to stay.”

  “I know. I get it. And I would have tried, so that was wise.”

  “As much as I hated being away, I think I needed that distance to get back into it.”

  Bo nodded. “Makes sense.”

  Blake gave Bo one of those looks that made him emotional. “I don’t know what I would have done without you this past year,” Blake said. “You helped pull me out of a hole.”

  Bo shrugged, that wire pulling around his chest again. “I didn’t do anything. You’re the one who did the work to climb out.”

  Blake’s eye got a little watery. “Thank you.”

  Bo and his brother Dale had never been close. That was probably Bo’s fault. It was hard for anyone to get between Bo and his sister Shayla. But Blake felt more like a brother to Bo than his own. Bo liked helping people, especially people he loved like family. Watching Blake go from a solemn, sullen guy to this person in front of him now whose personality was almost unrecognizable to him was serious heartwarming stuff, almost too much for him right now.

  Bo backhanded him in the arm. “Go on home. Nobody can stand to look at the two of you anymore.” Blake grinned like an idiot, and Bo pointed at his mouth. “What is that thing on your face, by the way?”

  Blake’s hand went to his face a second before recognition registered. He tossed up his hands. “I can’t help it. I’m in love.”

  Bo rolled his eyes and shook his head. He shoved Blake. “Get out of my goddamned sight.”

  They went back inside where everyone was helping Cassidy clean up. Bo jumped in, moving the tables and chairs back into place. When it looked like everything had been done, they all started coordinating rides to the movie. He nudged Chase. “You up for Love by Spain?”

  “I think I’ll pass. What about a beer at Alligator Alley?”

  Bo was always up for a beer at Alligator Alley. It was a mile from his house in Panama City Beach, where he belonged. He loved his friends over on 30A, but the redneck in him needed to keep his roots grounded every once in a while.

  They headed that way, Bo dropping his truck off at home. He didn’t like to drink and drive even a mile, and tonight he had a feeling he was going to have a few.

  Chase pulled into a space in front. “You okay tonight?”

  “Yeah, of course. Why?”

  “I don’t know. It’s like you and Blake have switched personalities or something.”

  Bo pointed at Chase. “I was not a grinning idiot before.”

  Chase smiled. “Nah, that’s me.”

  “Damn right.”

  “Seriously,” Chase said. “You okay lately?”

  “I’m fine. Just…I don’t know. I’m envious, I guess.”

  “I think what those two have is rare.” Chase nudged Bo with his big old fist. “It’ll be your time soon. Hang on, is today your birthday?”

  “Fuck no,” Bo lied.

  “It is, isn’t it?”

  “How would you know that?”

  “’Cause I remember that now from last year. It’s the same as my brother’s.”

  “How come you’re not out celebrating with him?” Bo asked.

  “He’s with his girlfriend. How old are you today, anyway? Eighty-nine?”

  Bo didn’t even have a good comeback. “Thirty-five.”

  “Ah, you’re just a baby. I’m thirty-seven.”

  “I can tell by your gray hairs.”

  Chase put his hand to his head. “Hey, at least I’ve got a bunch of hair.”

  Bo stared at the bar in front of them. “Are we gonna be sitting here on my fortieth birthday, hopeless as we are tonight?”

  “How are we hopeless?”

  “Don’t you want kids and all that?”

  “If by all that, you mean a wife…no. What, do you?” Bo frowned, and Chase nudged him. “Let’s get on inside. You never know. The women of our dreams could be right there on the other side of that door.”

  “If they are, fifty bucks says they’re headed back home in a week.”

  Chase rested his hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. “Nah, you can keep that bet. Come on. I’ll buy us a couple of beers to cry into.” They got out of the truck and headed toward the door. Chase let Bo go ahead of him. “I’ve got a good feeling about this night.”

  “That and a quarter might get you a stick of gum,” Bo said.

  Chase stopped. “No, I mean it. Something good awaits us inside of here.”

  Bo rolled his eyes, but that little bit of hope that kept his wheels spinning lit a flicker in his heart…that or he had indigestion from the pizza earlier.

  Chase held his arms out and looked up at the sky. “Universe, I urge ye to bring forth suitable women to us here tonight. Let them be beautiful, if not by the face, then by the heart. We now enter this fine establishment, where your blessings await us.”

  Bo eyeballed him. “You’re about the goofiest bastard I’ve ever known. You realize that, don’t you?”

  “I’m good with that title. You ready, Casanova?”

  Bo smiled at his friend, and pushed open the door.

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  Find out whom Bo meets on the other side of that door…

  Seacrest Sunsets now available at Amazon!

  Acknowledgements

  Most people who know me have been hearing the words Seaside Sweets ad nauseam over the course of the past eight years. This book is the second book I ever tried to write, and has served as a tool for me as I’ve honed my writing skills over the years. The name of this manuscript included a V10 by the time I finally finished it, so yes, it was rewritten (at least) ten times! I know Seanna, Blake, Bo, Sebastian, Ashe, Desiree, Marigold, Chase, and Cassidy better than my own family. The idea of abandoning them at this point was completely out of the question, so I hope you, the reader, will continue to enjoy these characters in more books in this series.

  With a book stretching over the span of years this one did, you can bet there are a lot of people to thank including four different critique groups and probably more beta readers than I’ll be able to remember at this point, but let me try…

  My writing husband, Greg Howard, has for sure heard the words Seaside Sweets more than anyone on the planet. Thank you for being with me from the start and continuing to take this writing journey with me even though you are soaring higher than a seagull at Seaside Beach.

  Thank you to Lindsey Anderson who invited me to my first critique group and probably has read more versions of this book than anyone. You have such wonderful insights and are a treasured colleague to me.

  Victoria Austin, Jessica Calla, Ellen Hairr, Cate Hart, David Kovach, Anna Landry, Rae Ann Parker, Beth Pattillo, D.B. Sieders, and Charissa Weaks, thank you for plotting with me, broadening my perspective, and redirecting me when necessary.
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br />   Jessica Calla, I want to be you when I grow up! Your industry knowledge and knowhow are perpetually saving my behind! Thank you so much for your help and for always cheering me on!

  Big thanks go to Camille Kirby for advising me on medical terminology and walking me through the steps to treating a head wound.

  Kristen Kovach and Natalie Sexton, thank you both for your cover advice and expertise!

  To my editor, Trish Milburn, thank you for your keen insights and excellent grammar skilz!

  To my husband, Jody, who listened as I read him this entire book years ago in its sad little infant state and told me how much he enjoyed it. Every writer needs a champion like you. Thank you for all the writing time over all the years. There are always parts of you in my heroes. How could there not be? I love you like a romance heroine loves her hero.

  About the Author

  Melissa Chambers writes contemporary novels for young, new, and actual adults. A Nashville native, she spends her days working in the music industry and her nights tapping away at her keyboard. While she’s slightly obsessed with alt rock, she leaves the guitar playing to her husband and kid. She never misses a chance to play a tennis match, listen to an audiobook, or eat a bowl of ice cream. (Rocky road, please!) She’s a member of RWA and serves as the president for the Music City Romance Writers. In addition to the Love Along Hwy 30A series, she is the author of The Summer Before Forever and Falling for Forever (Entangled Teen).

  Also by Melissa Chambers:

  Seacrest Sunsets (Love Along Hwy 30A #2)

  Seagrove Secrets (Love Along Hwy 30A #3)

  The Summer Before Forever (Young Adult)

  Falling for Forever (Young Adult)