Her Forbidden Love Match (A Willow Cove Novel, #1)

by Theresa Paolo

  “Sort of,” Ella said, not sure if she was ready to admit she was going against everything her family held dear by spending time with their sworn enemy.

  “Sort of?” Cami said. “What the hell does that mean?”

  “He’s helping his grandfather with his business.”

  “Oh, who’s his grandfather? I bet we can learn a lot about him with that little bit of information,” Krissy said. “So who is it? Frank? Mr. Olivier?”

  Ella took a breath and let it out slowly. “Joe Prescott,” she said, reaching for her margarita and then the pitcher. She had a feeling she was going to need a lot more to get her through the rest of the night.

  “Joe Prescott!” Krissy exclaimed.

  “His grandson?” Cami added. “You do realize that your grandfathers are enemies, right? It would probably kill your grandfather if he found out you were dating a Prescott.”

  “I know,” Ella said, filling her glass up. “Trust me, I know.”

  “How did this even happen?” Krissy asked.

  “We met on the bus when I was coming back from seeing my dad. I had no idea who he was then, and we talked the entire way back, and he shared his black jelly beans with me.”

  “Your favorite,” Krissy said.

  Ella nodded. “Then we texted all night and he’s just so easy to talk to and so nice.”

  “But he’s a Prescott.”

  Ella had been friends with Krissy and Cami since they were kids. If anyone understood the implications of such a union, it was them. But they also always had Ella’s back even when they didn’t necessarily agree with her. No matter what, they would support her if they thought it would make her happy.

  And for right now, Lucas was making her very happy.

  “He must be some kisser if you’re willing to risk this,” Cami said, running her lip across the rim of her glass.

  “Who said anything about us kissing?” Ella asked, heat rising up her neck no matter how hard she tried to remain indifferent.

  Cami raised an eyebrow and pointed her short burgundy nail at Ella, moving it in a circular motion. “Your cheeks just gave you a way. Now spill. What else have you and Mr. Blue Eyes done?”

  “Nothing,” Ella said and Cami gave her an unconvinced look. “Honestly, we only kissed… But what a kiss it was.”

  “Okay now I want details,” Krissy said. “But first…” She finished quickly putting a taco together, then topped off all the glasses. She took a bite and placed the taco back on the plate. “Okay I’m ready. Spill.”

  Ella picked up the salsa. “I don’t know what you want me to say,” she said, the blossom of heat moving up her neck and toward her cheeks. She couldn’t tell if it was from the alcohol or from the conversation. Normally she didn’t get embarrassed in front of her friends.

  She’d known them since elementary school and they helped her weather the storm with her dad’s arrest and sat with her for hours when her Mom died and years later when her grandmother passed. They witnessed her horrible obsession with High School Musical and how she’d pretend that one day she would marry Zac Efron. Not to mention the bad haircut of 06’ followed by the spray tan gone wrong in 07’. They’d been with her through it all yet talking about Lucas made her blush.

  Cami raised an eyebrow. “That good, huh?” she said.

  “How can you tell?” Krissy asked.

  “She can’t find the words. She’s all flustered and her skin is as red as that time she thought it’d be a good idea to lay out all day with nothing more than baby oil.”

  “I’m not flustered,” Ella said.

  “Really?” Cami asked then pointed to Ella’s plate.

  Ella looked down at the mountain of salsa that was pouring from the small bowl to her taco. “Crap!” she said, turning it upright and placing it back on the table.

  Krissy nodded like she just caught on. “Totally flustered.”

  “All right! It was amazing, like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I mean I’ve kissed guys before—”

  Cami laughed. “Oh, trust us we know.”

  “Hey, I haven’t kissed nearly as many as you have.”

  “Not everyone can be as lucky,” Cami said with a wink. She liked to hook up with the tourists because—according to her—once the season was over so were they. There were no attachments, just a summer of fun, which was kind of what Ella had decided to do with Lucas.

  “I’m taking a page from your book,” she admitted.

  “Oh?” Cami said, finally digging into her taco. “Tell me more.”

  “He’s from California, only here for a short time. We have this great chemistry, and I figured what the hell. Why not have some fun before he leaves?”

  “Good for you,” Cami said.

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Krissy asked, always the more cautious of the group. “I mean he’s Joe Prescott’s grandson. And chemistry is great, but you lead with your heart, El.”

  “Not this time.”

  “I just don’t want to see it get broken.”

  “Honestly, you have nothing to worry about. I know what I’m doing. Besides, for so long I’ve taken care of everyone else and for once I want to do something for me. Is that so wrong?”

  “Absolutely not,” Cami said. “If you want to get down and dirty with Mr. Blue Eyes then I say go for it. What’s the worst that can happen? He gives you a string of orgasms that make you forget your name? Hell, I’d jump on that for less.”

  “We know you would,” Krissy deadpanned, and Cami threw a wadded-up napkin at her head.

  “Thank you, I needed a napkin.” Cami wiped her fingers clean.

  Ella’s phone vibrated, and she picked it up. Lucas’ name flashed on the screen and she tried to bite back a smile, but it was pointless.

  How’s Taco Tuesday?

  “Is that Mr. Blue Eyes?” Krissy asked.

  “Maybe,” Ella said, her smile reaching new lengths. She typed back a quick reply, ignoring the two pairs of eyes staring her down.

  Delicious. She put her phone down, but when Cami tried to swipe it, she scooped it back up.

  “You’re no fun,” Cami said.

  “He just asked how dinner was.”

  “Boring,” Cami said and before Ella could react, Cami had her phone and was typing a response.

  “What are you typing?” Ella asked.

  “Just helping you move things along.”

  “Cami…”

  “Almost done.” She tapped a few more times. “There. Perfect.” She held the phone out to Ella.

  In a rushed panic she opened the text chain and her eyes widened and jaw dropped.

  “You didn’t.”

  Cami smiled. “I did.”

  “What did you write?” Krissy asked.

  “You know what else was delicious… that kiss. I can’t stop thinking about it.”

  “Cami!” Krissy exclaimed while Ella typed back feverishly.

  Sorry that was my girlfriend. She hit send as fast as humanly possible. She thinks she’s funny. She added.

  Her phone vibrated again, and she held her breath as she opened the message.

  Does that mean you’ve been talking about me?

  She was going to kill Cami.

  Maybe.

  I’ve been thinking about you.

  Really?

  Yes. Meet me tonight by the lighthouse. When you’re done with your friends, of course.

  “What is he saying?” Krissy asked.

  “He wants me to meet up with him tonight.”

  “Then what the hell are you still doing here?” Cami asked.

  “It’s Taco Tuesday. I haven’t missed a single one in six years, and I don’t plan on missing one now because of some guy.”

  “A guy who leaves you speechless and apparently, from your reaction, kisses like a god. If you don’t go, I’ll go for you.”

  Krissy pushed her glasses back into place. “You did say you wanted to have fun.”

  Ella couldn’t argue ther
e but even if it was fun she felt like there still needed to be a few boundaries. “I don’t want him to think I’m some sad little dog that will come running at his beck and call.”

  “Then just get control of the ball, and get it back in your court,” Cami said.

  “And how do you suggest I do that?”

  “Easy,” Cami said, holding her hand out for the phone. Ella hesitated, and Cami laughed. “I’ll play nice. Promise.”

  Ella reluctantly handed the phone over and watched with bated breath as Cami typed a response for her. She honestly felt like she was a teenager all over again, right down to her friends helping her speak.

  “You know what,” Ella said, grabbing her phone back before Cami could send. “This is silly. I’m an adult. I got this.”

  “You sure?” Cami asked.

  “Yes.”

  Ella looked down at the screen. It’s not like he was demanding she drop everything to see him. He just put it out there and even made sure to mention when she was done with her friends, so it’s not like he was trying to take her away from her tradition. He was honoring her previous plans, just asking her to extend her night.

  She should probably say no. If she got home too late, Tony would question her, but he’d been working so much in his studio that most nights he’d pass out on the couch he set up in there. If she was lucky, tonight would be no different.

  Twenty-six years old, and she was worried about sneaking into the house. Maybe it was time she finally moved on and got her own place then she wouldn’t have to put any of this into account. It’d been six years since her grandmother passed away. Her grandfather would never fully recover, but did he really still need Ella to take care of him?

  With a deep breath she typed the response that’d been on her mind from the minute she saw his text. She took a healthy sip of her margarita and hit send.

  I’ll be there.

  A few seconds later her phone vibrated.

  I’ll be waiting.

  Chapter 9

  Lucas waited for Ella at the same spot with a blanket and a bag of black jelly beans that he had to order online and pay an exorbitant amount in shipping, but he didn’t mind.

  The moon hung bright in the sky, shinning down onto the water’s surface, making it look like a trail of glitter.

  The lighthouse jutted above the water, and the waves crashed around the piece of earth it sat upon. The sound was soothing, making Lucas forget about the stresses of saving Joe’s business. He thought owning and managing a start-up was stressful, but as stressful as it was, he kept it neatly packed away with the business side of his brain. He didn’t make his relationships with his employees personal. He focused on what was best for the business and had no problem letting go of the dead weight that didn’t help propel him toward his success.

  Now he couldn’t help thinking that he had gone about it all wrong. Yes, his business was successful and ran like a well-oiled machine, and yes, he liked his employees, at least for the most part, but they weren’t a big happy family like Joe was with his employees. Unless he counted Brian and Leo but they were on the same level as him and he had a personal relationship with them before the company started.

  He didn’t even know if his office manager was married, no less had kids. He didn’t ask, because honestly, he always thought it was none of his business, and it would just get in the way of the end goal. Now he couldn’t help but wonder.

  “Look at you high-jacking my spot,” Ella’s voice came from behind him, and he turned just as she fell to her knees in front of him.

  “I hear this is the best place in town.”

  “It is.”

  Her mouth dropped open then lifted into a beautiful smile that brightened her entire face. “Are those what I think they are?” she asked, pointing to the bag.

  “Little beans of happiness all for you,” he said.

  She threw herself into his arms and kissed him. He had to fight the urge to flip her beneath him, show her just how much he wanted her. He had meant what he’d said to her about waiting. He didn’t want to cheapen what they had by jumping into things too quickly, but now looking at her, long brown hair, styled in soft curls and eye makeup that brought out the black specks in her eyes, he was kicking himself.

  He wanted her more than he ever wanted anything before, and waiting was pure torture. Still, it was important they took it slow. He wanted to be someone she could remember with a smile and not recall with sickening regret.

  She ran a hand through his hair. “You seem tense. You okay?”

  He rested back on his elbows, glancing out to the infinite body of water. “My grandfather’s problems aren’t an easy fix like I thought they would be.”

  Ella lounged beside him, taking the bag of jelly beans with her. “I’m sorry.”

  “I want to help him, but I don’t know what to do at this point. I feel like a total failure.”

  “You’re not a failure,” Ella said, and bless her heart for trying, but those were just words. Anybody could say them; it wouldn’t change the truth.

  “Thanks, but I still feel like one.”

  She rolled onto her stomach, propping her chin on her hand and looking up at him with those big beautiful eyes. She held out a jelly bean, and he took it from her hand with his teeth.

  “Why do I have a feeling this goes much deeper than that?” she asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s not just about helping Joe; it’s about proving to him you can like maybe it could help make up for all those years you weren’t in his life.”

  “Do you have a psychology degree I don’t know about?”

  She laughed. “Definitely not. We might have only known each other for a really short time, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know you. You’re like me. You wear your heart on your sleeve; you just have a better way of hiding it than I do.”

  “I don’t, though,” Lucas said. “At least not until I came here.”

  Ella smiled, and it was the perfect combination of adorable and sexy. “Willow Cove has that effect on people.”

  Lucas laughed. “No kidding.”

  “So what’s the problem?” she asked, and while he probably should hesitate in telling her, he trusted her.

  “Joe’s broke. He hasn’t turned a profit in over four years, and I have a few options that’ll get him through this season, but as far as long term, I don’t have any answers.”

  “I had no idea,” Ella said.

  “No one does as far as I can tell. Not even his own employees.” He ran a hand through his hair and let out a breath. “Joe doesn’t have much. The restaurant is his life. And now I have to find a way to save it.”

  “What about a fundraiser? The town would surely chip in. We look out for one another. Feud or not, I’d be happy to help. We could do a raffle and have the local businesses donate or we could see about setting up an event to help raise money.”

  Lucas shook his head. “Joe’s too proud. He would never ask for help or want people to know he needed it. I don’t think he’d ever forgive me if I let his secret out. I shouldn’t even be telling you, granddaughter of his sworn enemy. So please, can you keep this between us?”

  “Of course. I would never say anything.”

  He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Thank you.”

  She nuzzled into his side, and he loved how perfectly she fit there. “We’ll figure it out,” she said.

  We. He liked the sound of that. But how much longer could they go on like this? They were adults for fucks sake, and they were sneaking around like teenagers. He could admit it was fun, but he wanted to tell the world how much he adored this beautiful woman in his arms. He wanted to hold her hand as they strolled through the pier, share an ice cream sundae at Scoops, and kiss her whenever he had the urge. It was pure torture seeing her every day across the street in those sexy as hell dresses and tiny shorts.

  He wanted to scream from the ro
oftops that Ella Moretti was his girl, and he didn’t give a damn what anyone thought. But this wasn’t his town, and it wasn’t his place to make that stand. Not if it could hurt Ella in anyway. Though he hoped her fears were merely inconsequential and that her family wouldn’t make her choose. Because he knew if it came down to it, she would choose them, and he would lose her forever.

  ***

  Ella could feel the tension rolling off of Lucas, and she wanted to do something to help clear his mind. “Come on,” she said, holding her hand out to him. He looked at it for a second before glancing up at her.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Take my hand and find out.”

  He slipped his much bigger hand into hers, and with all her might, she pulled back, helping him to his feet. She stumbled slightly but was steadied by his strong hand wrapping around her waist and holding her in place.

  Unable to resist his adorable smirk, she lifted up on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his. She liked that she could kiss him whenever she wanted… at least out here on the beach away from the prying eyes of the rest of the town. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to do so anywhere else in Willow Cove without World War III erupting.

  It wasn’t just her family either. Lucas’ grandfather had called her family delinquents. Not that he was completely wrong, but his words had been hurtful. Not that he seemed to care. Neither side could see beyond their hatred of each other; they were blinded by this stupid feud that Ella wished she could find a way to finally bring to an end.

  “Grab the blanket,” she said with a sassy wink. If they couldn’t be together in the outside world then she was going to make the time they did have together as memorable as possible.

  He tilted his head, and she spun away and started to walk. The cool air of late spring wrapped around her as she moved farther down the beach. Lucas caught up with her seconds later, the blanket draped over his arm. “Are you going to tell me another depressing story?” he asked.

  She laughed. “You mean another romantic story?”

  “If that’s what you want to call it.”

  “No more stories. I want to show you something.”