by Kay Lyons
LEAD ME NOT
CHRISTMAS AT HOLLY WOOD
THEIR CHRISTMAS MIRACLE
SECOND CHANCES
SMALL TOWN SCANDALS SERIES:
BRODY’S REDEMPTION
FALLING FOR HER BOSS
WITH THIS MAN
SECRET SANTA SERIES:
SECRET SANTA
SECRET SANTA II: A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER
Books Also Set in Carolina Cove
THE SEASIDE SISTERS SERIES:
THE LAST GOODBYE
LATTES AND LULLABYES
MAP OF DREAMS
WORTH THE RISK
LOST LOVE FOUND
WANT TO READ OTHER BOOKS SET IN MY FICTIONAL COASTAL TOWN OF CAROLINA COVE? CHECK OUT AN EXCERPT OF THE LAST GOODBYE:
Dominic Dunn hit his turn signal and waited for a family of five to cross the sidewalk before he turned into the Carolina Cove Inn lot and parked, dread filling his stomach. Just the sight of the happy families and tourists wandering the sidewalks, lounging on restaurant patios, and enjoying the lively Saturday night left him angry. He should've ignored the letter. Ignored his next-door neighbor and best friend, ignored his boss and coworkers who said he had to honor Lisa's last request and come here.
"Mister? You gonna get out?"
The boy's voice startled Dominic and he turned to see a kid around eight years old watching him. The salt-air breeze blowing through the open windows of his car brought with it the smell of fried foods from the restaurants nearby, and seagulls squawked as they flew overhead.
"Mister?"
"Yeah," Dominic said, only then realizing he'd pulled into a parking place and was literally sitting there with his foot on the brake as he debated his choices of whether to throw the new car in reverse and floor it to get out of Carolina Cove as quickly as possible… or stay the prepaid two weeks Lisa had booked for him before her death.
"Doesn't look like it. Are you drunk?"
A rough-sounding chuckle left his chest. "Do you get a lot of drunk people here?"
"Sometimes."
"I see. Well, I'm not drunk. Just trying to decide if I want to stay here."
"Oh. You got a reservation?"
Did the kid ever stop asking questions? A memory formed, that of his son, Elijah, at the same age. "Yeah, I do."
"Then why don't you wanna stay?"
Dominic glanced at the clock and noted the time. If he left now, he'd add another six hours to his drive from Atlanta. Not how he wanted to spend what was left of the day. Maybe he should spend the night and head back to Atlanta first thing in the morning? "You've convinced me. I guess I will stay."
"I'll show you the way to the office."
"Do your parents know you're out here near the street? You're awfully young to be wandering about on your own."
The kid’s shoulders squared and he lifted his chin to a defiant angle.
"I'm almost ten."
He looked younger, maybe because of his small stature. "Well, almost ten or not, there are a lot of strangers milling around, and it's not safe for kids these days. Are you visiting?" He sounded like an old man talking about "the good old days" but it was true. What kind of parent just let their kid wander the streets in a beach town full of people, some of whom probably waited on the opportunity to grab a kid and head out of town?
"No. I live here. You coming or not?"
The kid had spunk, Dominic had to give him that.
He rolled up the windows of the Porsche 911, killing the powerful engine with another press of a button. He felt a little conspicuous driving the flashy car, but he had to admit he loved the power. Just like Lisa knew he would.
He opened the door and climbed out of the low vehicle, yet another thing to get used to after driving a family-friendly SUV for so many years.
"Wow. You're tall. My mom is too. I hope I'm tall when I grow up."
Dominic locked the car and fell into step behind the boy. "I see the sign for the office. You can head home if you like."
"No. I need to check in anyway." The kid turned around and walked backward, rolling his eyes in classic kid fashion. "Or my mom will freak out and call the police again."
Again? "Does that happen a lot?"
"Her calling the police or freaking out?"
"Take your pick."
"Yeah."
Yeah to… both? Dom bit back another chuckle. Given the kid's intrepid personality, he probably kept his mom busy.
The kid flipped face-forward and Dom watched as the boy ran up the two steps leading to the office. He yanked open the door.
"Mom! Reservation!"
Dom noted the wide southern porch with its rocking chairs and a few chairs and tables before he followed the kid inside, well able to see why Lisa had liked the inn so much if the porch and office interior were anything by which to judge. It was her style of decorating. Beachy but understated.
The office walls were a soft gray with blue and sand-colored accents. There was a comfortable-looking couch and chair in the waiting area, a rope swing hanging from the ceiling in front of a painted mural of the beach and ocean behind, and on the opposite side, a coffee bar, popcorn machine, and snack area with a couple of parlor-type tables and chairs.
"Mom!"
"Samuel, how many times have I told you? No yelling. Inside voice," a woman stated as she appeared from a hallway behind the chest-high desk.
Dominic stilled, uncomfortable with the stomach-punching fact he found her beautiful. He'd guess her age to be early to mid-thirties, tall like her son said, at around five eight. Her auburn hair was scooped back and held at her nape, but curly tendrils framed her face and highlighted striking eyes that matched the blue of the ocean painting behind the check-in area.
"But, Mom, you have a reservation and sometimes don’t hear me."
"A— Oh,” she said, locking gazes with Dominic. “Sorry about that. Welcome to Carolina Cove Inn. I'm Ireland Cohen, the manager."
He forced himself to focus on her name rather than her beauty. "Ireland? Like the country?"
"Yes."
"Unusual name."
"Unusual family," she said by way of explanation. She flashed them both a smile. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long?"
"Not at all. Samuel kept me company."
"Mom, you should see his cool car! I'll bet it goes really fast. Does it?"
"It does."
"Maybe you'll take me for a ride sometime?"
"Samuel."
"I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Oh."
"And even if he wasn't, Samuel, that's not something you ask our guests. We've talked about this, remember?” the boy’s mother said while sliding her son a stern glare.
"Yes, ma'am."
Samuel glanced at Dominic and rolled his eyes, and yet again Dom found himself stifling a chuckle. And wondering at the last time he'd laughed so much in such a short span of time. "Tough break, kid."
"Let's get you checked in. Name?"
"Dominic Dunn."
"Domin—"
His name ended with a gasp and Ireland's eyes filled with tears. She blinked rapidly and managed to keep them from falling, but in that instant, he knew she recognized him—and knew his reason for being there.
CLICK THE LAST GOODBYE TO KEEP READING!
About the Author
Kay Lyons always wanted to be a writer, ever since the age of seven or eight when she copied the pictures out of a Charlie Brown book and rewrote the story because she didn’t like the plot. Through the years her stories have changed but one characteristic stayed true— they were all romances. Each and every one of her manuscripts included a love story.
Published in 2005 with Harlequin Enterprises, Kay’s first release was a national bestseller. Kay has also been a HOLT Medallion, Book Buyers Best and RITA Award nominee. Look for her most recent novels with Kindred Spirits Publishing.
For more information regarding her work, please visit Kay at the following:
www.kaylyonsauthor.com
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Also by Kay Lyons
MONTANA SECRETS SERIES:
HEALING HER COWBOY
IT HAD TO BE YOU
HERS TO KEEP
MILLION DOLLAR STANDOFF
HIS CHRISTMAS WISH
THEIR SECRET SON
THE SEASIDE SISTERS SERIES:
THE LAST GOODBYE
LATTES AND LULLABYES
MAP OF DREAMS
WORTH THE RISK
LOST LOVE FOUND
TAMING THE TULANES SERIES:
SMALL TOWN SCANDAL
THEIR SECRET BARGAIN
CROSSING THE LINE
THE NANNY’S SECRET
SOMEONE TO TRUST
THE STONE RIVER SERIES:
WORTH THE WAIT
NOT BY SIGHT
THROUGH THE VALLEY
LEAD ME NOT
CHRISTMAS AT HOLLY WOOD
THEIR CHRISTMAS MIRACLE
SECOND CHANCES
SMALL TOWN SCANDALS SERIES:
BRODY’S REDEMPTION
FALLING FOR HER BOSS
WITH THIS MAN
SECRET SANTA SERIES:
SECRET SANTA
SECRET SANTA II: A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER
MAKE ME A MATCH SERIES:
ROMANCE RESET
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
THE MATCHMAKER’S SECRET
PERFECTLY MISMATCHED
BY THE BOOK
FAQ
FAQ ABOUT THE MAKE ME A MATCH SERIES:
* * *
Is Carolina Cove a real place?
Carolina Cove is purely fictional; however, it is loosely based on one of my favorite places—Kure Beach, North Carolina. Kure Beach is home to a wonderful pier, a pavilion for special events like weddings and birthdays, swings facing the Atlantic, pelicans Pete and George, coffee shops, restaurants, and more. It’s also close to the North Carolina Aquarium, Carolina Beach, and Wilmington.
* * *
Can I stay at the Carolina Cove Inn?
While Carolina Cove and the Carolina Cove Inn are purely fictional, there are plenty of motels and rentals in the area to enjoy.
* * *
But the pier is real?
Yes! And it has quite a history. Be sure to check out the Kure Beach Pier Cam for a view of Kure Beach and the Atlantic.
* * *
What about the restaurants and coffee shops and places you’ve mentioned in the series?
London’s Lattes is based on two of my favorite local coffee shops in Kure Beach and Carolina Beach. Are there more? Yes, plenty. But those two shops I know well because I’ve visited fairly often while writing these stories. Neither of them on their own was perfect for what I had in mind for London’s, however, so I basically combined the two and ta-da! London’s Lattes was born. But, no, if you go into either of them, you won’t find London’s exact business. Isn’t fiction wonderful?
* * *
Why make up a city? Why not use Kure Beach?
One of the best things about writing fiction is that when a story appears a certain way, you can write it just that way. Carolina Cove and the characters appeared to me in story form and while Kure Beach IS one of my favorite places, I had to change some things to better fit the series as well as steer far away from any real-life persons/families for obvious reasons. Doing so, that meant also changing the name of the city, etc. But, that said, you will find a slew of similarities in the fictional city and the real one. :)
* * *
Where is the dream catcher mailbox?
Unfortunately the dream catcher mailbox is pure fiction and an idea taken from a “beach mailbox” I visited once many years ago. The dream catcher mailbox first appeared in the SEASIDE SISTERS SERIES.
* * *
How did you research the matchmaking aspect?
Oh, the answer to this was fun! Wilmington actually has a professional matchmaker. I interviewed her to get my details straight and learned a lot about a very fascinating business!
MAKE ME A MATCH SERIES:
ROMANCE RESET
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
THE MATCHMAKER’S SECRET
PERFECTLY MISMATCHED
BY THE BOOK
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