Love on the Coast by Jennifer Snow

Author:Jennifer Snow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2022-03-07T12:30:15+00:00

* * *

“WHO ARE WE going to meet, Uncle Cal?”

“A new friend,” he told Darcy as they walked along the pier toward the hotel early the next morning. “She’s in town to write a story about Port Serenity and Sealena, so I invited her to come with us. That okay?”

“Sure!” Darcy said, skipping along next to him.

Darcy might not mind, but Callan’s heart was racing at the idea of introducing her to Rachel. He hadn’t dated at all since his sister’s death had left the little girl in his care. In part because he was busy with work and raising the child. But mostly because he didn’t want to introduce Darcy to someone until he knew there was a possibility of a serious relationship.

But he had to make an exception because he’d promised both ladies an outing this morning, and he didn’t want to break his word.

When Rachel exited the hotel, the look of surprise on her face had him questioning the decision. He’d said this was a date. Would she be cool with meeting Darcy? Would she think this wasn’t a date after all?

She smiled and said, “Hey, you must be Darcy,” before bending to extend a hand to the little girl.

Darcy’s eyes widened when she saw Rachel’s silver hoop earrings. “Your earrings are so pretty.” She shot Callan a look. “He won’t let me pierce my ears.”

He laughed. “Your ears are pretty just the way they are.”

Darcy pouted and Rachel leaned closer. “I’ll work on him.” She winked at him as she and Darcy shared a conspiratorial’ grin.

Wow, two seconds and they’d already joined forces against him. A warmness radiated through him that he struggled to keep in check. Rachel was just a tourist. She had no intention of staying in Port Serenity. This attraction was a temporary thing. He’d enjoy their time together, not get too close and say goodbye when she decided to leave. It was the perfect situation for him, really.

“Ready to go?” he asked.

They both nodded and Darcy stepped in between them, taking both their hands in hers. Panic filled his mind as he glanced at Rachel.

“This okay?” he asked quietly.

She nodded and his chest swelled even more as the three of them headed toward Main Street.

Five minutes later, he opened the door to the Sealena Bookstore and Museum and stood back to let the two of them enter. He hadn’t been inside the store in months and it always surprised him just how much Sealena-themed merchandise and history memorabilia the store housed. Local artwork featuring the Serpent Queen was hung on the walls. Beautiful, realistic renderings and more abstract conceptual designs. Statues of all sizes cluttered the shelves and books from children’s stories to coloring books to anthologies of fishermen’s accounts were along the bookshelves.

Hats, T-shirts and sweaters with the Serpent Queen on them hung on racks and there was even a collection of Sealena-themed skin care products on display near the counter.

“Wow, this place is a lot bigger than it looked from the outside,” Rachel said, echoing his thoughts.

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