Page 86 of Grand Escape

“No, I came in early to work to check on a delivery, took a run, and now I’m going back to work.”

“You’re still bartending?”

“Yep, but I start my new gig in a few weeks. I’m nervous I won’t like it, but this will let me travel back to the US with Adam. He only has a three-month visitor’s visa now.”

I knew what Adam wanted because he’d told Dad, but I was pretty sure Rylan was in denial.

“Do I hear wedding bells?” I asked.

“Uh, no.”

“We’ll see.”

With that, Rylan stood tall and finished her coffee. “I gotta go, jog back, and get a shower. Are you free this Friday or do you work?”

I was actually off for the night at the restaurant, but my parents were taking Weezie. I’d planned to take a bath and read a book, but I wasn’t about to tell Rylan that yet.

“Why?”

“Oh, we’re going to have some cocktails and apps. Can you escape and come?”

“Oh, that sounds so nice,” I said, unable to control my desire to have some adult time.

Then Rylan dropped the bomb.

“Cal’s flying in. Adam wants him to have a good time since he’s shouldering a lot of the workload. Which I know is BS, but you know Adam. He’s always indebted to his family.”

Sadly, after she said Cal’s name, everything else sounded like gibberish as my brain fought to find an excuse for begging off on Friday.

Rylan must not have noticed because she said, “See you around seven,” and flicked her ponytail and was out the door.

The chimes above the door didn’t even knock me out of my haze.

Cripes. Cal was coming back to Grand Cayman.

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For another second chance love story, turn the page to meet Mick and Margo in Faded Sunset.

“You aren’t that woman. As far as I’m concerned, Tommy broke your vows when he hurt you. You deserve happiness, and I want you to get it soon. Grab all of it.”

~ my friend, Sheila

Margaret Long’s world looks bright and shiny on the outside. Married to a successful attorney, she lives in a mini-mansion with her husband and their perfect daughter. No one would imagine how dim and dark her life really is. With a fractured heart and a broken body, she wonders how to break free.

The day Margaret happens to meet Mick Grantham is serendipitous. With a huge appetite for success after rescuing his mom from a violent situation, he now feeds that hunger by rebuilding broken businesses, not people. Although Margaret has a vibrant personality, her fragile exterior brings out his compassion, drawing him into her world.

It’s a dangerous situation, especially with Margaret’s outspoken daughter involved, who is wiser than her years. Someone is likely to get hurt, but Margaret and Mick’s attraction can’t be helped until changing circumstances force them to a halt.

Not all happy endings are born easily, but those won through adversity are often the most satisfying.

Margaret

“Another round?” James asked, his emerald-green eyes staring directly at me, but he didn’t really see me.

Yes, he saw me—the prettied-up, fun-loving, fake version of me—not the broken-down woman who lived in hell. This came as no surprise because it was exactly the look I’d been trying for before I cozied up to the bar at the Oak around ninety minutes ago.

I’d been hungry—no, desperate—for someone to take a good look at my facade and roll with the person they freaking got.

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