Orchids & Hurricane Kisses

by Stacy Eaton

  “You’re an ass, Bruce. He had a death in the family and left the resort the day before I arrived. When it was time for him to come back, the hurricane was bearing down on the island. This wasn’t my fault.”

  “Then you should have stayed.”

  “Stayed? You think I should have stayed on an island that was about to get clobbered by a hurricane to get an interview with a chef who wasn’t even on said island?” I heard my voice rising, just before Rye popped his head out of the waiting room to check on me. “I came home because my daughter was ill, or did you forget that I had a sick daughter?”

  “Don’t use your sick daughter excuse because you couldn’t do your job,” Bruce said.

  “Screw you, Bruce! In fact, screw the whole lot of you! I quit! I can’t believe I let you guys send me down there in the first place with that storm on the horizon. None of you cared one bit about me, you just wanted someone in the thick of the storm to make the story even juicier.”

  “If you quit, Amy, your reputation in the industry will be done, ruined,” he sneered through the phone line.

  “You think I care about that? My daughter just lived through a heart transplant and has a new chance at life, and you think I’m upset about tarnishing my reputation for a cooking magazine? You’re an idiot, Bruce.”

  “Fine, it’s your loss. I’ll expect your resignation sent over by five tonight.”

  “Fine,” I hissed into the phone and hit the end button.

  Rye came to my side and put his arm around my back. “You okay?”

  “They couldn’t care less about Cammie. My asshole of a boss kept asking me if I got the damn interview. He told me I should have stayed through the hurricane.” I suddenly stilled and stared at Rye. “I just quit my job. Oh, my god! I just quit my job!” I began to shake, and he immediately pulled me into his arms.

  “It’s okay, Amy, you’re going to be okay.”

  “But I won’t have insurance.”

  “Does Cammie’s father at least cover her?”

  “Yes, I demanded he carry insurance for her.”

  “Well, that’s what’s important. You’ll find a new job.”

  “I guess,” I murmured. “Holy crap, I just quit my job.”

  “Well, look at it this way. Now you can focus on helping Cammie get better. You can spend more time with her, help her with her recovery.”

  “But I have bills to pay, Rye. I can’t not work.”

  “What if I helped you?”

  “I can’t take your money.”

  “I get that, but could you share my money if we were engaged?”

  I shuffled back. “What?”

  “If we got engaged, would you let me help you?”

  “You want me to pretend to be engaged to you so you can help me pay my bills?” I shook my head. “That’s even crazier than us joking about being married on the island.”

  “I’m not saying pretend, Amy. I’m saying I want you to marry me.”

  My eyes flipped back and forth between his for a few seconds. “You’re serious.”

  “Yes, Amy, I am.”

  “But we barely know each other.”

  He took my hands. “Amy, I was engaged for a very long time, and I thought I knew her really well, but I didn’t know her at all. You, I have only known for a short time, yet I feel like I know more about you than I ever knew about Autumn. I know I love you, I know that I really like your daughter. I know that your sister is in love with my brother. I know that the heart your little girl has in her chest came from my hometown, from someone I knew, where I was involved in the outcome.” He took a second and inhaled and then released it. “I know that I can’t turn and walk away from you, or Cammie, it’s not because I feel like I should help you, it’s because you two are already a part of my life, and I don’t want to walk away. I don’t want to lose you. I want to love you, help raise that Mini-Me of yours, have a couple more babies with you, and spend the rest of my life listening to that incredible laugh of yours.”

  “You do?” My vision wavered as my eyes filled with tears. “You like my laugh?”

  “After everything I just said, that’s what you want me to clarify?” He cupped the side of my face. “I love your laugh, Amy. I love you. Marry me.”

  “You know it might be crazy, but I feel the same way. I was sitting in Cammie’s room wondering what was going to happen next, and everything revolved around you—us—our family. I do love you, Rye, so very much, and yes, I’ll marry you.”

  He pulled me into his arms and kissed me. “Do you think Cammie is going to mind? What if she doesn’t really like me?”

  “You said she was a Mini-Me, right?” He nodded. “Well, then, she’s going to love you as much as I do.”

  Rye laughed and then picked me up and twirled me around. “I love you.”

  “And I love you.”

  We walked back into the waiting room and before I could even blink, Rye announced, “Amy and I are getting married.”

  My gaze went straight to Roan, and I expected to see concern or questions, but instead I saw joy as he stood and pulled Finley to her feet. “I’m glad to hear that because I proposed to Finley last night, and she said yes, too.”

  Chapter 25

  Rye

  It had been six months since I’d met Amy Black, aka, Amy Clandestino, aka, Ameleena Montenegro, and we’d sat near the water and started our twenty questions in the sand—the same sand that I now stood in as my soon-to-be daughter strolled in, looking healthy and strong.

  Cammie carried a handful of beautiful, purple orchids in her hands as she walked barefoot in the white sands toward me. On each side of her were our closest friends and a few family members who had made the trip to bear witness. There weren’t two hundred people here like at my wedding to Autumn. No, the ten people who had made the trip all cared deeply for us. Chris Landry and his family were here along with Joanne, Cammie’s healthcare helper, my parents made the trip, and of course, Roan and Finley. Only, they weren’t in the crowd.

  Roan stood beside me, looking as joyous and nervous as I was. Behind Cammie were Finley and her sister, Amy, walking arm in arm down the makeshift sand aisle. My brother and I had fallen in love at almost the same time—with sisters—so it seemed only right to marry them at the same time, too.

  We were one big, happy family now. The only thing that was missing was Jenson, their brother, and both Roan and I worked on that all the time. At first, we thought it would be easy to find him, but then the leads dried up, and we hadn’t been able to find anything else the last few months. We’d found Finley and Amy and had brought them together, and until we knew what had happened to Jenson, we weren’t giving up.

  Cammie and Amy came to live in Cricklewood Cove, and at first, Amy had wanted to sell her condo, but since we all loved the beach so much, we decided to keep it for summer vacations. She was helping Robin Landry with marketing and copy text for Heart of the Family Catering, and while she wasn’t doing interviews, she was starting to learn the wedding business and had a knack with difficult brides.

  Last month, during a checkup at Celebration Hospital, Cammie had finally gotten to meet Maggie Borrows. It had been an emotional moment for all of us when she put the stethoscope to Cammie’s chest and heard her son’s heart beating strong. Since then, Maggie and Cammie had gotten to know one another a little better. Maggie was even going to start tutoring Cammie to prepare her for public school.

  While I had purchased a fancy engagement ring and wedding band set, Amy had suggested that, today, we use our original wooden rings, and I loved that idea. I loved it so much that I’d taken Roan and Finley to the vendor earlier and had them pick out similar ones.

  Yeah, Finley and Amy weren’t twins, but they were sisters, and they were marrying twins. Maybe it was weird, but to us, all of us, it was perfect. Today was perfect, not a cloud in the sky, and no hurricane on the horizon—proverbial or otherwise.

  Someday we’d find Jenson, and maybe he’d have that teddy b
ear. Maybe we’d finally figure out what those odd keys went to, or maybe they would forever be a mystery—but today, I wanted to enjoy the joy, and my brother’s happiness, and the possibilities of the future with my wife and my daughter. I’d even talked Amy into packing the white outfit that I’d bought the last time I was here. I had yet to see her in it, and if there was ever a time to wear it, it was on our real honeymoon.

  The End

  Don’t worry, Jenson’s story is in development, and my hope is to bring this family all together in late 2018.

  About the Author

  Stacy Eaton began her writing career in October of 2010 and as each year goes by, she releases more and more novels. Stacy recently took an early retirement from law enforcement after over fifteen years of service, with her last three in investigations and crime scene investigation.

  Stacy resides in southeastern Pennsylvania with her husband, who works in law enforcement, and her teen daughter who is working toward her second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and on the choral and cheerleading squads at school. She also has a son who is currently serving in the United States Navy.

  Stacy is very involved in Domestic Violence Awareness and served on the Board of Directors for her local Domestic Violence Center for three years. She continues to volunteer with them when she has time.

  Be sure to visit www.stacyeaton.com for updates and more information on her books.

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  Also by Stacy Eaton

  Paranormal Romance

  My Blood Runs Blue

  Blue Blood for Life

  Garda ~ Welcome to the Realm

  Domestic Violence – Crime – Suspense:

  Whether I’ll Live or Die

  Barbara’s Plea

  You’re Not Alone

  Romantic Suspense

  Second Shield

  Second Shield II: The Return

  Liveon ~ No Evil

  Distorted Loyalty

  Six Days of Memories

  The Heart of the Family Series:

  Mistletoe & Cocoa Kisses, Book 1

  Roses & Champagne Kisses, Book 2

  Orchids & Hurricane Kisses, Book 3

  Contemporary Romance

  Tempt Me Too

  Finding the Strength

  The Celebration Series:

  Tangled in Tinsel, Book 1

  Tears to Cheers, Book 2

  Heathens & Hearts, Book 3

  Rainbows bring Riches, Book 4

  Sweet as Sugar, Book 5

  Making Mom Mad, Book 6

  Sparklers and Spankings, Book 7

  Raffles to Rattles, Book 8

  Flirting with Fireworks, Book 9

  Working Under Wheels, Book 10

  Masquerading after Midnight, Book 11

  Blessings and Beans, Book 12

  Velvet and Vows, Book 13

  The Twisted Love Series

  Co-Written with Amy Manemann

  Love Lorn, Book 1 (Manemann)

  Love Torn, Book 2 (Eaton)

  Love Inked, Book 3 (Fall 2018)

  Heal Me Series:

  Cured, Book 1 (August)

  Revived, Book 2 (September)

  Mended, Book 3 (October)

  The Sometimes Series:

  Sometimes You Win, Book 1

  Sometimes You Lose, Book 2

  Sometimes You Play the Game, Book 3