Beauty and the Beach: A Sweet RomCom Novella (Claiming Hearts) by Annalise Whelan

Author:Annalise Whelan [Whelan, Annalise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sweet romantic comedy, closed-door romcom, Clean Romance, small town romance, romance novella
Publisher: Annalise Whelan
Published: 2023-07-12T04:00:00+00:00

7

I’m carrying these weird-looking dishwasher pods of Jesse’s when I enter Sea La Vie. It’s my Saturday to work late, and, strangely, I’ve looked forward to my shift all day. If someone had told me I’d be curious about cleaning pods or that I’d look forward to serving scruffy old anglers beer, I’d have called the teller of tales a dirty fibber.

Three ladies in sexy beach attire sit at the bar, all attractive and unique, all laughing while Jesse sets sunset-colored drinks on the bar top. Where are the local regulars? The above-mentioned scruffy fishermen?

I pause, adjusting my expectations to match reality. In the second this takes, my epiphany calls me a fool.

Jesse catches my eye and then his focus shifts to the pods.

I have an overwhelming urge to hide the plastic bag behind my back. Yes, I wonder if the pods are homemade, and I’m curious why he’d go to the trouble, but what is truly embarrassing is how I planned these lame questions. All to gain a little one-on-one time with my boss and beach bar buddy.

The ladies are all mature and elegant-sexy. Jesse is comfortable with them, the way a guy is with women he knows well but hasn’t dated. Yet. I see this in his relaxed smile, and how he touches them lightly on the hand or forearm as they talk. He shoots the brunette with perfect beach waves a wink. I want to growl. I want to howl at the moon.

“Caro,” he calls to me, “come meet the trio.”

The three women swivel on their stools to watch me approach. Satisfaction purrs through my stomach as their eyes widen and their jaws drop.

“Jesse, you’ve been keeping secrets,” the brunette closest to me says and gives him a playful slap on the hand. His eyes crinkle at the corners as he shakes his head.

“Caro is my new waitress, here at the beach strip for a few months.” He gives each of the girls a warning look. “She’s got a boyfriend.”

I almost correct him but stop myself. Rick is my future. He’s who I’m doing this for, so if Jesse thinks of him that way, all the better. “Are you all friends of Jesse’s?”

“Yep, like sisters,” the brunette says. She has expertly lined and shadowed eyes. “I’m Sam, married to Jesse’s friend Tux.”

And where is Tux? I wonder as I shake her hand. Next is Natalie, a girl with light russet hair and a killer figure. A guy comes out of the hallway leading to the restrooms, and Natalie gestures toward him. “This is my husband Matthew.”

Matthew slides an arm around Natalie’s waist and kisses her temple. The guy is quietly good-looking with sandy hair and glasses, but a bright floral shirt contradicts his appearance.

The third girl introduces herself as Sara. She’s a dirty blonde, all natural and prettier for it, wearing a sarong I’d steal in a runway dash. “Tux and my husband—” She cuts off as something behind me catches her attention. I turn as she adds, “Here they are.

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