Love on the Cape: an On the Cape novel, Cape Van Buren

by MK Meredith

  She sure as hell hoped not.

  “I haven’t thrown up for a whole fifteen minutes,” she returned with a haughty raise of her brow.

  He chuckled, his dark eyes dancing with a lightness that was new. “That’s progress then.”

  Grabbing her hand, he brought her knuckles to his warm lips and pressed a kiss onto the platinum band on her ring finger. “Well, you already said I do, so there’s no turning back now.”

  She held his gaze in challenge. “As if I could, and I’ll never let you, so there you go.”

  “So there you go.”

  With a broad grin stretching his chiseled features wide, he kept her hand in his as they turned toward the excited crowd.

  “I think you better welcome our guests before a riot breaks out,” he chuckled.

  Pulling in a deep breath, she checked the contents of her stomach on a brief pause and then shouted, “Ladies and gentlemen of Cape Van Buren, welcome to the one hundred and thirty-eighth annual Fountain of Youth Festival!”

  Loud pops from both sides of the fountain could be heard over the commotion and sent clouds of confetti into the air.

  The crowd’s roar filled the town square at the sight. The Festival was as old as the town itself and as loved. Every February the citizens would brave blizzards and flurries for hot spiced apple cider, turkey thighs, and the North Cove Confectionery’s cupcakes with frosting in the town’s colors of turquoise and gold. Bands from all over the world would play for a chance to sip the legendary waters.

  Larkin turned back to Ryker. “Thank you.”

  “For what?” He raised a dark brow in a way that reminded her of the day they met.

  “For everything,” she answered as her fingers searched beneath her scarf to the space on her chest where her locket rested but only met skin. “I hope Mrs. Peterson’s able to get the locket back to me soon.”

  “What’s going on, kids?” Maxine walked up with Claire and Blayne flanking her—as if the woman needed a posse. Larkin didn’t even try to hide her grin as she kissed her sweet friend on the cheek and hugged the girls.

  “Just kicking the party off. My mind wants a cupcake but I’m afraid my stomach’s not listening,” she said.

  Blayne pointed at her rounding belly. “Auntie’s going to have to have a word with that little munchkin if she doesn’t ease up on the morning sickness already.”

  “She?” Ryker’s cheeks paled and Maxine slipped an arm around her grandson’s waist.

  “She or he, you are going to make a fine father. I am so proud of you.” She smiled up at him then glanced back to Larkin. “Speaking of fathers. Your mom and dad are grabbing cider and heading to the stage for the concert.”

  “Great. I’ll go meet them. Getting off my feet sounds perfect right about now.”

  “Are you getting tired?” Claire’s question was unexpected and very sweet.

  “Yes, and the morning sickness isn’t getting any better. I was barely able to finish my commitment to the festival with how bad I’ve been feeling. Speaking of commitments…” Larkin turned to Blayne. “I’ve initiated the not-for-profit paperwork for the community outreach, but I’m not going to be able to direct the project as I thought I was going to. I wanted to talk to you about it.”

  Blayne’s eyes sparked with interest. “You know I’m your right hand, Lark.”

  “Now hold on just a second.” Ryker interrupted. “I thought we talked about this?”

  There was the scowling face she had come to love. It was all she could do to hide her grin. Sometimes, she said things just to see it once in a while. “We did. You have some old high school, college buddy you want to bring to town. I have a trusted friend already here.”

  She slipped her arm through Blayne’s.

  “I have to agree,” Claire added.

  “Me, too,” Maxine chimed in, handing Claire a brown paper bag. “Here. I believe this is yours.”

  Claire wrapped her hand around the bagged bottle and squealed. She was finally getting her moonshine.

  “Shhhhh!” Maxine admonished. “As much as I am for being the center of attention, this is not the time.”

  Ryker’s eyes bounced between the women as he stepped forward. “Enough. It’s all I can do not to drink that whole damn bottle right now being around you ladies.” He turned to Larkin. “Jay knows how to handle things like this and with his family name, he can get it done faster.”

  Larkin sniffed. “Says you. Blayne’s been in this town for years. Everyone knows her and loves her. She’s been a part of this since the beginning. The town will work harder and faster for her than any out-of-towner you might bring in.”

  He raked a hand through his hair. “He’s not an out-of-towner.”

  “But he lives out of town.” She loved how his brows pulled tight as his frustration rose. It wasn’t nice of her, but he was so damn sexy when he was all worked up.

  “Cupcake, I swear—”

  She planted a kiss on his mouth, effectively shutting down his argument. He immediately wrapped his arms around her and took the kiss deeper than she’d intended. It was becoming a habit. The man’s passion was hard to keep up with but she looked forward to trying. She pressed into him as far as her growing belly would allow until the not too subtle clearing of a throat behind her grounded them back in reality.

  Disentangling herself from the delectable man, she stepped back and peeked at Maxine’s grinning face. Shit.

  “Sorry.”

  “Well, I’m not,” Ryker added. He put a hand out. “Before everyone runs off, I have something for Larkin, and I think it’s something you might like to see.”

  That got everyone’s attention, especially hers.

  “You didn’t have to do anything,” she whispered. Between the Cape, him moving in with her, their very special wedding by the newly built well, the plans for the outreach program, and the new baby coming their way in a few months, she was about as happy as she could possibly stand.

  Her hands rested on her tummy. Archer would have been an amazing big brother. Her throat tightened but she smiled.

  He cleared his throat, suddenly looking nervous in a way she’d only seen once before. The night he’d proposed up in the lighthouse.

  “What is it?”

  He pulled the familiar purple velvet box from Peterson’s Jewelry Box out of his pocket. “I hope this is okay. Since we were getting the chain fixed…” His gravelly words trailed off as she took the box with trembling hands.

  Lifting the lid, she peered inside to find her locket. It sparkled a brilliant gold, buffed and polished by Cape Van Buren’s world-class jewelers.

  “Look at the back,” Ryker said softly.

  She took the necklace from the box, handing the case over to Blayne. Turning the locket over in her hand, her eyes blurred.

  Engraved in the back read: The answer to life’s puzzle is love.

  Her fingers flew to her lips. “Oh, Ryker.”

  “There’s more.”

  She glanced at him through tears in her eyes, then back at the locket and opened it.

  Inside she found new photos. On one side was a baby picture with the title Big Brother Archer and on the opposite side a sonogram picture titled Baby Van Buren. Her chest tightened with so much emotion that she got a little light headed.

  “Oh,” she whispered. It was all she could manage around the lump in her throat.

  “The sonogram’s only temporary until we have an actual photo, but I wanted to help honor the special guardian angel our son or daughter will have. I still have your other photos, I’d never—”

  Larkin stopped him with a kiss. “It’s beautiful. It’s more than everything,” she whispered against his lips.

  And it was.

  She was no longer holding on to the last day she’d spent with Archer, but to the days she’d spend with his little brother or sister, to the memories of Archer’s humor and wit and intelligence that she was sure to see in the little blessing heading their way. Archer was
with her and around her as he’d always been and always would be.

  Ryker pulled her into his side with a possessive grip as she showed the locket to her friends. Cape Van Buren was changing in meaningful and memorable ways.

  And she was a part of it.

  Now that she’d found love on the Cape, she had so much more to give.

  Did you adore Love on the Cape? Want to read Blayne’s story in Honor on the Cape? Then follow me on Amazon to received an email on release day of Honor on the Cape this winter!

  Feed your romance addiction with more books by MK Meredith!

  International Temptation Series

  A strong dose of decadence along with a side of tall, dark,

  and sexy in your favorite travel destinations.

  Seducing the Tycoon (Drago and Chase) bk 1

  Playing the Spanish Billionaire (Meteu and London) bk 2

  Malibu Sights Series

  There's no place like paradise and the happy ever afters

  found in the film industry of Malibu, CA.

  Malibu Betrayals (Sam and Gage) bk 1

  Malibu Secrets (Addi and Roque) bk 2

  What Happens in Vegas Series

  multi author series)

  What happens when a romance convention descends upon Vegas?

  A whole lot of love!

  Seducing Seven (Seven and Blake) bk 9

  St. Helena Vineyards Series

  (St. Helena Vineyards ~ Marina Adair)

  St. Helena…where love grows on the vine.

  Falling for You (Parker and Sage) novella

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  Connect with MK:

  Website: mkmeredith.com

  Twitter: twitter.com/MKMKMeredith

  Facebook: facebook.com/MKMKMeredith/

  Acknowledgments

  To my children and husband, otherwise known as my heart and soul, thank you for believing in me and always knowing I could do this even when I didn’t. I love you. To my big brothers, Tommy, Todd, and Billy—as goofy as I am, you’ve always held me up. To Paula, my sister of the heart, I’m forever in awe of you. And to my mom, who’s continued to mother me from the other side, I hope I have a fraction of your grace. Thank you.

  Thank you to my editor KR Nadelson. It was such a pleasure having you on this journey with me. You really get me, and I loved getting to know you better. To my copy editor Jessica Snyder, you go above and beyond and are forever in my heart. Thank you to Dawn Yacovetta, KC Crocker, and Kristen Johnson for your eagle eyes while proofing this story! Errors are inevitable but with your help my readers will be distracted by a lot less.

  Barbara O’Neal, thank you for your kind words about this story, and thank you for your guidance when I’ve had questions. Your friendship is cherished.

  Thank you to Lucy Gage and Katana Collins for letting me chat with you about the beautiful state of Maine! You two are wicked smart! Lucy, your quick read and feedback were exactly what I needed. Thank you!

  Sara Lunsford! You saved me with your generous heart. Thank you for formatting this book for me in my time of need.

  Thank you, Kyung Min with SyMobius for my incredible Cape Van Buren logo! I absolutely love it.

  Thank you to the Romantics, your love lifts me up, and to my street team, MK & CO, for your friendship and for believing in me. I love everyone in this family, from the very first to the still-to-come.

  One more exuberant thank you to the readers of this book. Experiencing life with you in this way is magical. I hope that at least one scene, one line, or simply one word resonates with each of you. And to my sisters and brothers in the fight against breast and all types of cancer. I know both sides, having lost my mom to breast cancer at a young age, and having survived cancer myself. Now I’m facing a second time, but working on this book has given me something positive to focus on. By book two I’ll be a survivor x 2! My writing is one of the things that carries me through. I have many more books to write.

  Thank you. Hugs, loves, and peanut butter,

  MK

  About the Author

  MK Meredith writes single title contemporary romance promising an emotional ride on heated sheets. She believes the best route to success is to never stop learning. Her lifelong love affair with peanut butter continues. Only two things come close in the battle for her affections: gorgeous heels and maybe Gerard Butler…or was it David Gandy? Who is she kidding? Her true loves are her husband and two children who have survived her SEAs (spontaneous explosions of affection) and live to tell the tale. The Merediths live in the D.C. area with their large fur baby…until the next adventure calls.

  www.mkmeredith.com

  mk@mkmeredith.com