Anything but Love (Wingmen #3)

by Daisy Prescott

  “Hey, there’s Dan.” Tom ignores his question and walks away before Dan can join us.

  “Cari did an excellent job on the photos. She’s a real talent,” Dan says, clearly impressed.

  “I’ll be sure to tell her you said so.” I no longer see him as a threat, but I’m not blind to the effect he has on her. All the women have crushes on him.

  Every one of them with the exception of Roslyn. She’s staring over Cari’s shoulder at our group. Only it’s not me she’s focused on.

  If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she’s ogling Dan’s ass. The real one in the flesh, not his poster. I scan the party for October, his month.

  There’s a little scuffle on the other side of the lawn. Connie and Sandy are having a heated discussion. When Connie shifts her defensive stance, I see Dan’s poster.

  “Looks like there’s a cougar fight over you, Dan.” I gesture with my bottle.

  “Auctioning the posters is a terrible idea. I’m going to spend a fortune tonight outbidding those two women. Excuse me.” He strolls over to the catfight.

  Roslyn watches his every move. I lift my beer in acknowledgement when her focus shifts to me. She goes pale and spins on her heels in the other direction.

  There must be a full moon or something with how weird people are acting tonight.

  John clears his throat. “I need to let Diane know to bid on my poster. I don’t want my ass hanging above some strange woman’s bed.”

  Left alone, I scan the party for my family. Carter is glowering at Falcon, who’s making Ashley giggle.

  I spot Mom and Dad chatting with Cari.

  Dad’s cleaned up nicely tonight. In jeans and a tucked-in flannel shirt, he holds court like the golden island boy he was.

  I join their group and wrap my arm around Cari’s shoulder before kissing the top of her head.

  “Your dad was telling me about an old sailboat he wants to restore.”

  My jaw drops open. “Really?”

  “I need a project to keep me occupied.” He doesn’t say to keep from drinking, but that’s what he means. He’s trying and making an effort to cut back.

  Let’s hope it lasts this time.

  I want to be optimistic, but it’s day-by-day with him.

  Mom smiles and looks happier than I’ve seen her in years.

  “I’m thinking about going in on the goat business with Carter, too,” Dad says.

  Mom’s smile fades. “We’ll see.”

  Ros interrupts us before I can ask about the goats.

  “Ready for your speech and interview?”

  “No.” I smile at her.

  “Tough.” After she apologizes for stealing me, she leads me to the microphone near the barn doors.

  I give a very short speech and only flip off Donnely once for the catcalling.

  Everyone claps enthusiastically when I announce free calendars for all the guests. Sandy, Sally, and Connie have surprisingly loud wolf-whistles.

  I find Cari’s face and meet her eyes as I end the speech.

  “I’d like you all to meet the woman who made this all possible. She might have hated me when we met, and rightly so, but she’s changed my life for the better in every way possible. Cari, I love you. Someday I’m going to make you my wife.”

  Whoops and cheers erupt as Cari is pushed in my direction. She gives the crowd a small wave and an embarrassed smile.

  Pulling her to my side, I hold her close with my arm. I turn off the microphone before whispering in her ear, “That wasn’t a proposal. I just wanted you to know I plan to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  Then I kiss her.

  Behind my lids I catch the flashes from cameras as people snap photos of us.

  If the pics go viral, I’m fine with it. Let the world see my love for this woman.

  Roslyn politely taps my shoulder, encouraging me to end the kiss.

  “Before you two get carried away, you have an interview.” She looks embarrassed and flustered by our PDA.

  “Okay. Let’s get this over with.” I’d rather find a dark corner and continue kissing Cari.

  “Hold on a sec.” Cari swipes a little bit of lip gloss off the corner of my mouth with her finger. “Okay, now you’re ready.”

  Under Roslyn’s guidance, I’m only going to give one interview at the party.

  Gomez Jeffries flew all the way up from LA to meet me. How can I refuse him?

  We sit in a pair of Adirondack chairs under an old hay barn across the lawn from the main party in the large barn. A fire pit warms the cool October night.

  I rehash my version of the past eight months, skipping the personal stuff with Cari, only confirming she shot the original picture and the calendar. Some personal stuff should remain private. Hell, all my personal shit should stay private. I’ve managed to protect Dad from any of the random news stories. I really thought someone would spill the Kelso family’s dark secrets of bankruptcy, failed business, alcoholism, and the sons working random jobs well into their late twenties like redneck Peter Pans.

  But none of it hit the Internet.

  I guess Dad’s reputation growing up and Mom’s kindness still hold weight in the community. Enough that locals keep their mouths shut when strangers come around asking questions.

  “And that’s how Naked Whidbey got started. For next year we’re planning a 5K fun run.”

  Gomez interrupts me. “Naked?”

  I ignore the excitement in his voice. “With clothes. Don’t think we can get a permit for public nudity.”

  “Pity.”

  Moving on. “We have a coffee blend, too. All proceeds go to prostate cancer charities.” This has gone smoother than I imagined. Gomez is pretty nice in person. When he’s not fanboying over me and cooing over Cari like she’s the queen of the universe because she’s my girlfriend.

  Gomez blinks at me while his phone’s recording light glows. A silence extends between us until I squirm from the awkwardness.

  “Any more questions?”

  With a shake of his head, he pushes the off button. “Can I ask you something off the record?”

  “Sure.” After I see the gleam in his eyes, I brace myself.

  “Do you have any of the mugs still around?”

  Next to me, Cari snorts. I give him my new media smile. “I think I can find one for you.”

  “One more favor?” Gomez grins at Cari. “Can I get a selfie with the three of us?”

  Ohmylanta, sweet girls.

  I’m (almost) speechless.

  My eyes have seen the glory of our HAG in person.

  He’s sweet, charming, and smells of coffee, fresh air, and man.

  Bonus: He’s donating all the money from the calendar to prostate cancer research.

  The man might be as perfect as his ass.

  I almost don’t even care he’s smitten with the lovely and charming Caribou Caldwell, aka the luckiest girl in the world.

  There should be an ’80s style made for TV movie about this love story.

  The cuteness factor? Off. The. Charts.

  The sexual energy? Let’s just say it’s a real shame there’s not a sex tape.

  Yet.

  Come on, a boy can dream.

  Plus, the man makes the world’s best cup of coffee. His beans must be magical.

  #wingmenblend

  *Happy swoony sigh*

  Unless that sex tape surfaces, that’s all she wrote, my pretties.

  Until then . . .

  Smooches,

  Gomez

  OUR JEEP BOUNCES over the bumpy road, jostling Cari and I around. I hold my backpack on my lap with one arm. The other hand grips Cari’s.

  “You’re going to break my fingers if you don’t loosen your grip,” she says through gritted teeth as we hit a pothole the size of Washington.

  Thousands of miles from home, we’re traveling to visit our first farmer-partner in Costa Rica. The Morales’ farm is all shade-grown coffee and they’ve been a leader in sustainable farmin
g that protects from deforestation and wildlife habitat destruction.

  Roslyn’s sponsorship and endorsement deals paid off big. Cari’s working as a photographer, turning down more jobs than she can take. I’m so proud of her.

  Naked Whidbey is . . . well, it’s insane. Our calendar is a huge hit. To date, we’ve raised close to a million dollars for cancer research. The new branding and roasts pushed Whidbey Joe into another league. Turns out, we’re big in China now. Huge. A little more than a year ago, I couldn’t imagine this life.

  The driver slows and turns off the main road toward a huge gate flanked by stone walls. Two generations of successful coffee growing means the Morales’ house and farm are both huge in an old-world hacienda kind of way.

  Carlos’ family comes out of the large house to great us. There are seven people all smiling and speaking rapid Spanish at us. A grandmother with a wide grin grips my arm with her bony, wrinkled hands. She smiles up at me, revealing cataracts clouding her pupils. Deep lines from years of smiling and laughing frame her eyes and cheeks.

  I pat her hand and tuck it underneath my elbow as she leads me into the house. Inside is much darker than the colorful yellow-washed stucco of the exterior. Shutters block the hot sun making the large rooms cooler.

  The old woman leads me to a wooden chair at a long table and gestures for me to sit.

  I oblige her and wait while she goes into another room.

  “I think you have an admirer.” Cari kisses my cheek and sits down next to me.

  “I’ve told you again and again, the ladies love me.”

  “Yes, honey. Although I’m sure Señora Morales is charmed for reasons other than your ass,” Cari whispers.

  My admirer returns, clutching something in her arms. I should be offering the family gifts, but I know it would be rude to not accept anything she wants to give me.

  “Gracias.” I attempt to take the bundle from her.

  Her arm tightens around the flat object. I can’t understand her dialect enough to decipher her words, so I smile and nod.

  She pats my hands before opening the material wrapped around my gift.

  Cari lets out a very loud and unladylike snort over my shoulder.

  Señora Morales hands me a pen to sign the multiple copies of the tabloids I’m holding. All are folded open to the page featuring the photos that changed my life.

  With a huge grin, she pats my cheek and speaks rapidly.

  Beneath my smile, I’m afraid for Carlos to translate.

  He chuckles and responds to his grandmother. She pinches my cheek and taps the paper.

  “What did she say?” Cari grins like a fool.

  “I can’t repeat it.” I swear Carlos is blushing.

  Cari nods and points to the picture. She and the grandmother have a conversation involving hand gestures and wide smiles, followed by giggling.

  “I don’t think a translation is needed,” I say through my teeth as I continue smiling.

  “If it makes you feel better, the magazines aren’t all for her.” Cari places the first one in front of me. “Some are for her friends and daughters.”

  “You know, I’ve been thinking about fully restoring and modernizing my dad’s boat. We could sail away on it next summer. Find an uninhabited island. Live simply.”

  “I’m all for sailing, but I don’t think either of us could last a week on a deserted island.” She kisses me softly on the corner of my mouth.

  “Why? Think of all the alone time. No companies to run. No photo shoots. So peaceful.”

  “Lack of coffee.”

  She makes an excellent point. I’m about to argue with her about load capacity on the boat and how we wouldn’t need to pack clothes when I realize I don’t want to run away from the world with Cari. I want to explore it with her by my side. This trip is only the beginning. With the additional profits at Whidbey Joe and my endorsement money, we can travel anywhere.

  I make a note to research all the nude beaches around the world. Private beaches.

  Sand, sun, naked Cari?

  The perfect trifecta.

  Thank you for reading!

  I know there are millions of books out there. I appreciate that you took the time to read mine.

  Please leave a review on Goodreads or your favorite retailer.

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  You’ll receive a free gift when you subscribe!

  Modern Love Stories:

  We Were Here (prequel to Geoducks)

  Geoducks Are for Lovers

  Missionary Position

  Happily Ever Now (coming Winter 2017)

  Next to You

  A sports Rom-Com standalone

  Wingmen:

  Ready to Fall

  Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat

  (a boxed set of Ready to Fall & Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat)

  Anything but Love

  Better Love (coming Fall 2016)

  Short Stories:

  Take Two (Maggie and Gil)

  Take the Cake and Run (John and Diane)

  Take for Granted (Jo and Ben)

  Take it Easy (Tom and Hailey plus John and Diane)

  Give and Take (a crossover between Modern Love Stories and Wingmen)

  Bewitched

  A magical Halloween novelette set in Salem, Massachusetts

  To keep up with my latest news and upcoming releases, sign up for my mailing list

  You’ll receive a free gift when you subscribe.

  To all my readers, the first thank you is for you. Readers bring stories to life and inspire me to keep going. Thank you for leaving a review or telling a friend about my books.

  A huge thank you to my husband. Back to back releases in a single month were stressful and you helped me survive. Thanks for doing all those dishes, making me food, getting me out of the house, and giving your feedback, which always makes my writing better.

  Thank you to Mukilteo Coffee on Whidbey for being my inspiration for Whidbey Joe’s. I loved visiting your operation and talking coffee. This book is mostly fueled by Happy Hippie.

  Whidbey is one of my favorite places on the planet. To the lucky residents of Whidbey, you may see familiar places, businesses, people, and stories woven throughout these pages. As always, thank you for the inspiration.

  To all my readers in Daisyland, I love our online club house! Thanks for Forearm Fridays, Silver Fox Sundays, and Man Bun Mondays.

  To the bloggers and reviewers, thank you for all of your passion and support for my books and all Indie authors.

  Gratitude to the people who helped transform a crazy idea into a book: Julia Kent, for brainstorming and feedback on a messy first draft; editor Melissa Ringsted for correcting grammatical sins; proofreaders Marla Esposito and Elli Reid for their attention to detail; Renee at RE Creatives, for the beautiful cover and the Wingmen rebranding; CA Borgford at Perfectly Publishable, for making the inside of my books so beautiful.

  I’m blessed to have Fiona Fischer, Jessica at Inkslinger PR, and Flavia Viotti and Meire Dias at Bookcase Literary Agency on my team. Thanks for keeping me sane!

  Hearing from my readers is the best part of publishing. I can be reached on social media or at daisyauthor@gmail.com.

  xo

  Daisy

  USA Today Bestselling author Daisy Prescott lives in a real life Stars Hollow in the Boston suburbs. When not writing about people falling in love, she can be found traveling, gardening, baking, and talking about herself in the third person. Her novels include the Modern Love Stories series, the Wingmen series, and several short stories. She’s also working on expanding the world of Bewitched this fall.

  FIND ME HERE:

  Mailing list | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

  What’s coming up next, Daisy?

  I’m so glad you asked!

  Two Wingmen and a Baby, a short story featuring John, Tom, and Baby Day, releases on July 26th exclusively in
the Red Hot Sizzle boxed set!

  July was a crazy month for me. I have two novels releasing. Anything but Love and Next to You, which came out on July 5th. Be sure to check that one out if you like friends-to-lovers, romantic comedies, and/or sports romances. It stars Stan, a South African rugby god in Aspen and his free-spirited best friend, Sage.

  I’ll be writing up a storm in August. As of right now, I’m planning to expand the Bewitched universe with another short novella for September. In October I’ll have a brand new Wingmen novel out. Any guesses as to the couple who will be featured? I’ll be announcing the title, characters and blurb soon! Add it to your TBR on Goodreads.

  Lots of exciting things happening!

  xo

  Daisy