Discovering Love on Cranberry Lane (Island County Book 11)

by Karice Bolton

  This was my idea of heaven. My three favorite men in the world were all within holding distance, and I couldn’t be happier. As we climbed onto the elevator, Aaron lifted his head and looked around before he crashed on his uncle again.

  The elevator came to a stop, and we stepped into the hall with the bellhop behind us. When we’d found our room and Dwayne opened the door, I was in shock.

  “I figured a two-bedroom suite might be a good idea.” Dwayne got a mischievous sparkle in his eyes, and I held in a chuckle as he tipped the man helping with our luggage.

  I walked into one of the bedrooms and laid Colby on the bed. He moved his arms a little and then completely fell into his deep sleep. Dwayne brought in Aaron and did the same before we snuck out into the living area.

  “This is really lovely,” I said, walking over to the slider overlooking the water.

  “It is.” Dwayne rested his hand on my back, and I knew I’d discovered what I never knew I was looking for.

  Love.

  “Thanks for planning this for us. I’m sorry I’ve been so busy with the restaurant. I know you’re just as busy with your work and—”

  “It makes me happy.” He smiled, bringing me into him. “We’ll let the boys sleep another hour or so, and then we have reservations downstairs.”

  I looked down at my jeans shorts and sweatshirt from riding in the air-conditioned car. “Should I change?”

  He smiled. “With those short shorts, I think you look incredible, but it’s up to you. It’s a steakhouse.”

  “Yeah. I probably should hop in the shower, I guess. Try to look a little presentable.”

  Dwayne kissed me softly behind my ear, and I suddenly wanted to be nowhere but in his arms.

  “You make it very difficult to function in this world,” I teased, and a wicked look spread across his face, which drove me even crazier.

  “It’s a blessing and a curse.” He stepped back from me and winked.

  If the boys weren’t in arm’s reach and able to wake up at any second, I would’ve invited him into the shower with me.

  As it was, when I stumbled into the bathroom, I was utterly in awe. We were definitely staying at a resort and spa. The marble floors flowed into marble walls, and the tile shower took up the entire end of the bathroom.

  I turned on the water and waited until the steam rolled out before I stepped under the steady stream.

  Closing my eyes, I thought back to how much my life had changed over the last year. I’d moved to Fireweed Island, stood up to my ex-husband, fell in love, and gained a little boy who I looked at as my son. Colby gained a brother and a best friend.

  As I rinsed the soap off, I heard wrestling and giggling in the other room and knew the boys had woken up. I quickly finished the shower and dried off before putting on a dress and heels.

  By the time I entered the living room, the boys had already built a pillow fort and Dwayne was crawling around with them. When I stepped into the room, Dwayne whistled and stood.

  “You look incredible.” He smiled, and every part of me lit up. There was just this way that he looked at me that made me feel like I was the most important person in the world. “I’d better go clean up myself.” He glanced at Colby and Aaron, who were rolling around on the floor. “Boys, be good.”

  I laughed, knowing the term good was relative.

  When I heard the shower turn off, I wrangled Colby and Aaron. “Okay, fellas. We need to find you both something to wear other than dino shorts and flip-flops.”

  Aaron groaned, and Colby perked up as we wandered into their bedroom and dug into the suitcase.

  I pulled out a pair of khakis and a red polo for Colby, and I found a pair of black chinos and a white polo for Aaron. I left the room, and they both got dressed, meeting me in the living room when Dwayne reappeared.

  “You ready?” I asked, and Dwayne nodded.

  He glanced at the boys and grinned as we all took off toward the elevators.

  “I’m going to eat so much steak, they’re going to have to go to the farm to get more,” Aaron announced.

  “I’m going to eat so much…” Colby started and scowled. “They’re just going to run out.”

  Aaron giggled, and the elevator dinged.

  It was a short ride down to the lobby, and I followed a hurrying Dwayne.

  “Are we late or something?” I asked, reaching for his hand.

  He laughed and slowed his pace. “Sorry. Just hungry.”

  “You and the boys.”

  When we’d reached the restaurant, Dwayne gave his name, and the hostess smiled as she led us through the restaurant. As we walked along, I saw the beautiful sunset beginning across the waterfront and let out a happy sigh.

  We walked completely through the dining area and through another hall.

  “Just outdoor seating,” Dwayne explained.

  I squeezed his hand and nodded. “That’ll be nice.”

  The boys giggled behind us, and I looked over my shoulder to see them both drop their expressions. We reached a set of closed double doors, and I glanced quickly at Dwayne, wondering if we were headed in the wrong direction.

  The hostess stood to the side and pushed a button on the wall that automatically opened the doors.

  I looked up again at Dwayne, who refused to look in my direction as a room full of people yelled a happy Surprise.

  Colby looped his hand around mine and led me into the room where Becca, Jewels, Sophie, his parents, and countless other friends from Fireweed waited eagerly for us to enter. I scanned the room in complete shock and spotted my parents, who were both smiling as we stepped into the room.

  Silver and pink Mylar balloons floated everywhere I looked, and matching pink rose bouquets dotted the tables. Silver candleholders flickered, and my heart squeezed with happiness.

  I turned to Dwayne and smiled. “I’ve never had a surprise birthday before.”

  He grinned as the boys stood by his side. “Happy Birthday, Claire.”

  “Thank you. I love you, Dwayne.” I waved at Becca, who was wiping away a tear, and my world went into slow motion as Dwayne got on one knee and each boy took one of my hands.

  “Claire, ever since you came into my life swearing about stallions and wildly pushing your cart down the pasta aisle, I knew there was something special about you.”

  Becca sniffled, and Jewels patted her back.

  “Hearing your laughter each morning has made my life so complete, I never want to get out of bed.”

  I looked down at Colby, who was beaming and squeezing my hand with his tiny one.

  “I know our lives are running in a million directions, but what I know more than anything is that I want our lives to run in the same direction for the rest of time. There is no family like ours, and I couldn’t imagine not having you in my life forever. You’ve shown me that there’s light during my darkest days and reminded me what it means to love again. Discovering you, discovering the love that we share, has been the happiest time in my life.”

  My eyes misted over, and I blinked away the tears as Colby gave my hand to Dwayne’s.

  “Claire Swanson, will you marry me?”

  Without a second passing, I kneeled so I could kiss the man who changed my life as he slipped a ring on my finger, and I squealed a deafening Yes!

  Dwayne slid his arms around my waist as we both stood up, and Colby and Aaron each grabbed onto me, hugging me wherever they could.

  As Dwayne held me tight, my eyes fluttered open to see a room full of love, a room full of family of our creation, and I couldn’t ask for anything more.

  “I love you, Sheriff,” I whispered, trying not to cry because I knew what the sheriff had given me was more than anything I ever thought possible. Not only had I discovered love, but I’d also discovered myself.

  “I love you more,” he whispered.

  “Impossible.” I shook my head.

  “Not impossible.” He smiled. “Fact.”

  I bent down and picked up Co
lby as Aaron clung to Dwayne, and I knew I’d discovered my happiness and I’d never let them go.

  ***

  I hope you loved reading about Claire and Dwayne as much I loved writing about them! The next book in the Island County Series is coming soon! Imagining Love will feature Harmony from this book. Want to be notified when it's released? Sign up for my newsletter here! Keep reading for an excerpt from Mr. Mistake, which is also set on Fireweed... Enjoy!

  Mr. Mistake Excerpt

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” I looked at my three best friends from childhood and shook my head. “We’re not bringing that up. Not today. Not ever.”

  “Why?” Winter asked, wiggling her brows. “Think we’re onto something, Tessa?”

  Winter’s brown hair was swept into a braid, and her blue eyes sparkled with an intensity that told me I was doomed. She still had a trace of clay along her wrist, which told me she’d been at her potter’s wheel all day and needed an outlet.

  Nothing like being tricked into a dinner with friends, which was really a guise for another torture session to vent about relationships.

  Or the lack thereof.

  “I just think it’s silly stuff.” I waved my hand to dismiss the topic and summon the bartender. “I’m super happy. I have a super life. I have a super job. I have super friends, most of the time.” I eyed Winter suspiciously. “Things are super, and this other stuff is silly stuff.”

  “Silly stuff?” Winter laughed. “Well, that’s just super.”

  “Our love lives are not silly. Pathetic, maybe.” Samantha giggled. “But not silly.”

  “Okay, maybe I used the wrong word, but I think bringing something up from when we were sixteen is…” I chewed on my lip briefly and drew a breath. “Unnecessary.”

  Samantha pointed at me, and I tapped my foot nervously, wondering when the bartender would show up. The bartender and I had locked eyes minutes ago, and he gave me the nod, and now I was stuck listening to something I didn’t want to face because he got sidetracked. I had a bad feeling about where this little reunion Winter had so suddenly organized was about to go.

  “So, you’re saying bringing up dating stuff is not so super.” Samantha winked at me and nodded, giggling. She unclasped the top two buttons on her blouse and let her hair down.

  We’d decided to meet at this dive bar in the heart of Seattle, close to where Samantha worked as an executive assistant. Since it was Wednesday, I’d hoped it meant we’d all be acting like civilized adults and going home at a decent time for work the next morning. Or at least, that was what I’d hoped until I arrived and saw the mischievous looks on Winter’s, Arie’s, and Samantha’s faces.

  I glanced around the crowded Seattle bar and held in a groan. The exposed brick walls were splattered from decades of spilled drinks, and the smell of stale beer lingered in the air.

  Seattle was a fun town, but it always left me exhausted and wanting to go back to Fireweed Island, where I now lived.

  Fireweed was a short ferry ride from the city, but it felt worlds away, and I’d never been so grateful for being dumped and abandoned by a guy because it happened on a great island where I now taught high school and loved every second of it. I’d admit the place was short on single men, but I didn’t mind being a single woman. I had the freedom to do what I wanted when I wanted to do it.

  What was better than that?

  “All I’m saying is that digging up some childhood game is unnecessary because we’re above all that.” I sat back in the booth, feeling like I’d finally gotten my point across. “We’ve all moved on.”

  Besides, I really didn’t want to bring up what I’d written down so many years ago. It seemed so juvenile and perfectly thought out like a sixteen-year-old would write.

  “But have we?” Samantha asked with a smirk.

  “You don’t think it’s silly or unnecessary.” Winter sat back on the creaky wooden bench. “You’re scared. You’re scared that I’m right. Besides, we promised each other that we’d bring it up if we turned thirty and were single.” She tapped the table as the bartender wandered over.

  His blue eyes caught mine, and I’d be the first to admit that he was good-looking, but he was a player. It was nearly stamped on his forehead.

  When I glanced at Winter, I realized either she didn’t see the stamp, or she was destined to repeat fate time and again.

  “What can I get started for you beautiful ladies?” He grinned, and I noticed the dimple in his left cheek.

  Winter’s weakness.

  Dimples.

  This night wasn’t looking good for her, or maybe it was looking great for her.

  She giggled and blushed. “I’d love a gin and tonic.”

  “Bringing back the oldies.” He smiled, and she giggled some more.

  Winter knew how to flirt. She knew how to bring a man to his knees. She knew how to leave them wanting more. And she also knew how to pick the wrong ones.

  Well, apparently, that was a common thread that bound us all, or we wouldn’t be sitting here about to dredge up an old teenage pact.

  Samantha and I traded a worried glance when the bartender kneeled in front of Winter and slid her a folded napkin.

  Here we go again.

  She opened it up, blushed some more, and grinned before he stood back up and took the rest of our orders. The moment he left, she leaned in and sighed.

  “He’s cute.” She sighed again, and Arie patted her back.

  “And it looks like you might get to do something about it,” Arie teased, and Winter rolled her eyes, knowing full well she was going to dial that number sometime soon.

  “Anyway, before we were so rudely interrupted,” Samantha picked up where Winter had left off.

  Winter had a habit of being easily distracted, but I never got distracted. I was just never interested.

  “I say we look back into history, our history, and figure out what in the world we’re doing wrong. Maybe that pact from all those years ago jinxed us.” Samantha reached for her purse.

  The mere mention of the pact made me cringe.

  “It’s pointless,” I assured her. “I don’t even remember what I wrote. I didn’t even remember we had a pact until you brought it up.”

  And I didn’t. Kind of. Well, I remembered it, but I didn’t build my entire failed-dating career due to those tiny vows. Only part of my dating career could be attributed to those, and I would never admit it to my best friends.

  “Well, I remember my part of the pact clearly.” Samantha cleared her throat and took a sip of her drink that the bartender dropped off. “Too clearly, and I think that I need to finally acknowledge that I might have been wrong.”

  I gasped. “Samantha Beau wrong? That’s ridiculous.” I giggled and looked lovingly at her.

  Samantha had the sweetest heart, and I cursed the men who trampled it. Repeatedly.

  Again.

  And again.

  “You’re saying your sixteen-year-old self might have been wrong about lifelong love and relationships?” Arie laughed. “Can’t imagine that.”

  “Don’t be a know-it-all,” Winter joked, and Arie laughed some more. “And for your information, we were smart enough to know that we’d need to revisit things by now if relationships hadn’t worked out for us, so here we are.”

  “And you’re giving me a week? My thirtieth is so close, I can taste it.” I glared at her.

  “I’m just glad I didn’t participate in your hocus-pocus of a pact.” Arie beamed, sitting proudly with a wine glass in hand.

  “Because not participating in the pact has clearly helped your love life,” I said sarcastically.

  “Clearly.” She grinned, scowled playfully, and let out a sigh. “I’m divorced. Yes. But I’m sure that Mr. Right is just around the corner.”

  “The only thing I saw around the corner was an alley full of homeless people and a bold assortment of brightly colored tents.” I grimaced. “So sad. Although you do like camping.”

  Arie scowl
ed. “I’m not into finding an urban camper as my Mr. Right, but thanks.”

  Winter shook her head. “No. That’s exactly what I’m saying. What if we’re wrong? What if we’ve had dating and men wrong this entire time? We’re not getting any younger, ladies. What if Mr. Right doesn’t exist?”

  I rolled my eyes. “I don’t even know what you’re talking about. I’m happy with my life, and I don’t need a man to make me complete.”

  “Close your eyes,” Winter began, “and imagine waking up in the morning, rolling over, smelling coffee wafting through the air, and opening your eyes to see Mr. Wrong staring right back at you.”

  I shuddered, blinking my eyes open. “Sounds like a nightmare.”

  Winter laughed. “Yeah. It came out wrong.” She glanced at Samantha. “You try.”

  “I think instead of searching for Mr. Right, we need to start looking for Mr. Wrong.” Samantha pulled out yellowed papers from her purse and slapped the pages on the table, and every nerve in my body tingled with worry.

  “Still not buying it.” I smiled.

  “Here’s yours, Tessa. And yours, Winter, and… mine.” Samantha slipped us all the crinkled pages, but I refused to look down.

  “Go ahead, look at it,” Samantha prompted, and Winter’s eyes fell to her sheet.

  “What I can’t believe is that you still had all these.” I laughed, still refusing to look down at the pact.

  I knew what was on it. An ode to a crush I knew I’d never get, promised myself I never wanted, and had the wherewithal to show I could stick to my guns.

  Samantha shrugged. “I thought I might need them for a scandalous bribe or something someday.” She grinned mischievously. “You know, in case I needed someone to babysit my imaginary kids at a moment’s notice.”

  “Sounds about right.” I laughed.

  “What does yours say? What type of man did you vow you’d never marry?” Winter asked, staring at me with wide eyes.

  Even when she was annoying, she looked frustratingly cute, which was why I always got into trouble with these ladies. Each friend was so different, yet we’d all bonded over life events, goals, dreams, changing dreams, and heartaches. Winter was the Bohemian of us all, enjoying pottery and somehow managing to turn that into a business. Samantha was goal-oriented and enjoyed working in the corporate world. Last but not least, Arie went to vet school and worked in a local animal shelter as their vet.