Meant to Be (Sweetbriar Cove Book 1) Read online

  Elvis.

  He wasn’t . . . He couldn’t be . . .

  But he was. As the familiar chords struck up, Cooper cleared his throat, lifted the mic to his lips, and began to sing.

  To her.

  “Maybe I didn’t treat you, quite as good as I should have . . .”

  Poppy was struck dumb. His voice was deep and rich, and he found her there across the bar, his gaze locked on hers as he sang. The world seemed to fade away around them. Every word, every note—all of them straight from his heart to hers.

  Was this really happening?

  Poppy’s heart was in her throat before the end of the very first verse. She was barely aware of the crowd watching the two of them, all that mattered was right there in front of her: the emotion in Cooper’s eyes as he sang to her, his voice almost catching on the words.

  “Tell me that your sweet love hasn’t died . . .”

  And then the song he’d chosen began to sink in. The regret in those lyrics.

  It was an apology.

  She would have taken a few words from him, any time, anywhere, but he was doing it here, in front of everyone. Admitting he’d been wrong, and promising to make it right. He meant every line, pouring his heart into the song. So did this mean what she’d only let herself imagine: that he was sorry for pushing her away?

  Did he want another chance for them?

  “You were always on my mind.”

  The final words faded away, and then for a long moment, the room was completely silent. Poppy felt the emotion shimmering in the air between them, and then suddenly, there was applause. Whistles and hooting broke through the spell, and Cooper finally looked away, bashful.

  Someone pushed her to her feet. “Go on,” June hissed, nudging her forward, but Poppy held back. Her pulse was racing, heart pounding in her chest, but still, she couldn’t believe it. He’d walked away, and said there was no hope for them.

  So what had changed?

  Cooper cut through the crowd to her. “Hey,” he said softly, and Poppy had to curl her hands at her sides to keep from reaching for him. He was clean-shaven and smart in a sky-blue button-down, and god, looking way too good to resist.

  “Hi,” Poppy echoed. She didn’t want to hope, but it was too late for that. Hope was a thousand wing-beats fluttering in her chest, as if all it would take was a word from him, and she’d take flight. “I, um, didn’t know you could sing.”

  “Sorry,” Cooper looked bashful. “I’m kind of rusty.”

  “No,” Poppy said quickly. “That was . . .” She trailed off, not able to put it in words just yet. And not even sure she should. She gulped and forced herself to ask straight out. “What was that?”

  Cooper took a breath. “That was an apology. At least, the start of one.” He took her hands in his, meeting her eyes with a look that was so full of regret and determination, it took her breath away. “I’m sorry. For pushing you away, for screwing this whole damn thing up. I’m not like you,” he added with a rueful smile. “I never believed in true love, or soulmates. At least, not before you.”

  Oh god.

  It was really happening. Poppy felt the tears stinging in her eyes, but she was too overwhelmed to keep them back. She’d written her share of happy endings, but nothing compared to the way she felt right now.

  The future she’d dreamed of was standing right there in front of her.

  “I love you,” he said, searching her face. His voice was choked with emotion, but he didn’t stop. “I promise, I’m never running from it again. You can count on me, for good this time. Will you give me another chance?” he asked. “I won’t let you down.”

  Poppy managed a nod. “I love you, too,” she said. She was in tears in front of everyone, but she couldn’t care less. Not when Cooper was pulling her into his arms, and finding her lips with his own, and kissing her with enough passion to wipe away the past week without him.

  A kiss to make her forget the lonely nights it had taken to get them there. A kiss to heal every bitter wound.

  A kiss to build a tomorrow.

  She fell into the promise of forever, his lips strong and true against her mouth. And when she finally surfaced for air, the whole room was cheering.

  Poppy blushed, realizing everyone was watching, but Cooper was still looking at her like she was the only person in the world. “Will you stay?” he asked, pressing her hands to his chest. “For the summer, at least. And then, after that, we can do whatever you want. I’ll move to the city, or you can be here—”

  “I’m staying.” She answered without thinking, but the moment the words left her lips, she felt just how right they were. Sweetbriar Cove already felt like home, and the thought of building a future here—with him—filled her with happiness.

  Cooper’s face spread in an enormous grin. “You’re sure?”

  “I’m sure.” Poppy beamed back. It turned out that taking that leap was easy in the end.

  Some things were just meant to be.

  “You guys!” They were suddenly smothered in a hug from Mackenzie. “I knew it! I knew you couldn’t be so pig-headed in the end.”

  “Hey!” Cooper objected, laughing.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Congratulations.” June joined in the celebration. She squeezed Poppy’s hand. “Not to take the credit, but I told you a trip away was exactly what you needed.”

  Poppy laughed. “You didn’t know this was going to happen. Did you?” She paused, wondering. June winked, as they were surrounded by well-wishers.

  “I’ll have to make you blueberry pie for the next book group.”

  “Does this mean you’ll be needing a new construction project?”

  “Maybe you could set your next novel here!”

  Poppy happily soaked it up. She shot a glance at Cooper, and found him smiling right back. Like it or not, the town had played a part in their relationship from the very beginning, and it was sweet to have them all rooting for success.

  “What do you think?” He drew her closer and murmured in her ear. “Regretting your decision yet?”

  She laughed. “As long as they learn to knock, we’ll be just fine.”

  “Knock?” Cooper quirked his eyebrow and gave her a wolfish grin. “Baby, they’ll be lucky if we answer the door for a week.”

  He slid his arms around her, and Poppy didn’t think she’d ever been happier.

  Their story was just getting started.

  26

  Two Weeks Later . . .

  Poppy woke to sunlight streaming in through the windows and the sound of a gull circling over the water. She let out a sleepy yawn. She’d been up late again with Cooper, making up for lost time. Her aunt was on another trip, which meant they’d had the run of the house—and boy, had they made good use of it. She blushed, remembering just what Cooper had done to her on the living room couch, and how his body had felt, that delicious weight pressing her into the cushions.

  She rolled over. The bed was empty beside her, but there was a note on the pillow.

  Morning, beautiful. Early start next door, come by when you’re up.

  She got out of bed and went to the window. The house next door was almost complete now, with navy shutters hanging by every window, and a stately front door. Cooper had been working late all week to install all the final touches, but he hadn’t let her visit; he said he’d wanted to save it until everything was done. And if his note was anything to go by, that day was finally here.

  Her cellphone rang, and Poppy fished it out off the nightstand, smiling when she saw the caller ID.

  “Hey Summer! All set for your visit?” she asked. Summer’s boss at the restaurant had volunteered her to bake for a lavish wedding on the Cape, so she would be driving down tomorrow with all six layers carefully packed in a van.

  “If by that, you mean have I spent the past twenty-four hours creating an epic wedding cake from scratch, then the answer is yes.” Summer sounded tired. “I swear, I wound up dreaming of little sugar
roses. Bags of flour grew legs and started waltzing through my mind.”

  “I’m sorry. But I promise, you’ll have a chance to relax here,” Poppy said. “I’ve planned all kinds of fun stuff for us. It’ll be great.”

  “It’s the only plus side to the gig. I can’t wait to see you!” Summer exclaimed. “And to meet this Cooper of yours. He hasn’t passed my test yet.”

  “There’s a test?”

  “You know, does he adore you? Can he provide constant entertainment and copious orgasms? Will he introduce me to other hot, single guys? The usual.”

  “Yes, yes, and I’m sure. You’re going to love him.” Poppy smiled, glancing out of the window. “I do.”

  “Aww, listen to you, all loved up. I’d hate you if you weren’t my best friend,” Summer said cheerfully. “Anyway, I have to get back to work. Chef Andre is on the warpath, again. Something about the soufflés last night, apparently they weren’t airy enough for his highness.”

  “Quelle horreur!” Poppy laughed. “See you tomorrow. Drive safe!”

  She hung up, pleased they would be spending time together soon. It had been surprisingly easy to pack her life in New York away and ship it all out here—she’d found a subletter no problem, and they’d even hired a moving truck for all the books she couldn’t bear to leave behind—but putting hours between her and Summer was the one sour note. Still, it was only a short trip away, and she was sure Sweetbriar could tempt her friend out more often—especially now that summer was filling the beaches and bringing a salty tang to the warm breeze.

  Poppy dressed in jeans and a light sweatshirt, then poured a Thermos of coffee and headed next door. The front door was open, and when she stepped inside, she found a calm expanse of polished hardwood floors, gleaming honey-gold in the sun. “Hello?” she called.

  “In here!”

  She followed Cooper’s voice into the back, where a large, open-plan kitchen opened up on a breakfast room with a wall of windows. “Cooper!” she exclaimed, looking around. “This is amazing!”

  “You like it?” Cooper came to greet her with a kiss. Poppy looked around in awe.

  “Are you kidding? The light . . . and this view!” There was nothing between the house and the bay, just lush grass leading down to a white picket fence, the dunes, and the sparkling ocean. “It’s incredible.”

  “There’s a view from every room,” he said, showing her to the family room, with cute built-ins and French doors out to the porch. “I managed to restore these cabinets from the originals,” he added, clearly proud of his handiwork. “And all those arches and cornicing are original, too.”

  Poppy shook her head in amazement. “I can’t believe it. It seems like only yesterday this was all just bare foundation and joists.”

  “And noise,” Cooper said, grinning.

  “That too,” she laughed, remembering their first meeting.

  “Come on, let me show you around.” Cooper took her hand and led her through, pointing out the gorgeous marble in the kitchen, and all the historical details he’d taken such pains to preserve. He really was an artist, Poppy realized, seeing just how many tiny decisions had gone into making such a magnificent space. It was homey and spacious all at once, and she couldn’t help but feel envious that some lucky person would get to call this home.

  “This is my favorite room,” Cooper said with a smile, as he took her upstairs and opened the door to the master suite. “It faces east, so you get sunrise every morning.”

  “Oh my god,” Poppy breathed, taking in the amazing windows. She wandered closer, out onto the balcony overlooking the whole bay. “If I lived here, I would never get out of bed!”

  “Good.” Cooper wrapped his arms around her from behind. “I’ll hold you to that.”

  Poppy twisted around. “What do you mean?”

  “I thought we could live here,” he said casually, like he was suggesting they go for breakfast, or watch a new show on TV tonight.

  She blinked, stunned. “Are you serious?”

  Cooper kissed her gently, then pulled back with a smile. “I knew from the start that this project was different. It’s not just another house to me. It’s a home. And . . . I’d like it to be our home. If you want.”

  Poppy couldn’t believe it. “Yes!” she exclaimed. “Oh my god, yes. But, are you sure?” she checked, before she could run away with the idea. “I know we’ve been spending every night together, but moving in is a big step. I don’t want to rush you.”

  “There’s no rush.” Cooper held her closer, so she could rest her head against his chest. “As far as I’m concerned, forever can take its sweet time.”

  She let out a breath, soaking in the feeling of his embrace, and the steady beating of his heart. He was right, she realized happily.

  They had forever now, and she would savor every minute of it.

  THE END

  Thank you for reading! If you’d like to stay in Sweetbriar a little longer, keep scrolling to read the first chapter of the next book in the series: ALL FOR YOU.

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  Welcome to Sweetbriar Cove, the small town where true love is guaranteed!

  Book 2:

  ALL FOR YOU

  Summer Bloom lives for adventure -- and buttercream bourbon frosting. As a high-end pastry chef, she spends her days (and nights, and weekends) whipping up sweet treats, but when an unexpected detour leads her to the dilapidated bakery on Blackberry Lane, she decides to take a chance on her dreams and leave it all behind for a new life in Sweetbriar Cove. She has everything she needs for baking bliss — she just isn’t expecting her new landlord to melt her heart, as well as her chocolate truffles...

  Grayson Reid knows better than to fall for his impulsive new tenant. He keeps his life quiet and drama-free, but there’s something about Summer he just can’t resist. He’s learned the hard way that a woman can turn your whole world upside down, but her kisses - and those croissants - are too tempting to ignore. He’s determined to keep the lid on their romance, but soon, their chemistry is heating up the kitchen - and he doesn’t want to play it safe any more.

  Can this headstrong pair mix the right ingredients for love? Or will their passion burn out before they can find their happily-ever-after?

  Available to order now!

  The Sweetbriar Cove Series:

  1. Meant to Be (Feb 2017)

  2. All for You (May 2017)

  3. The Only One (August 2017)

  4. I’m Yours (November 2017)

  5. Holiday Kisses (A Christmas Story) (Dec 2017)

  6. No Ordinary Love (Feb 2018)

  1

  Summer Bloom needed a vacation from her life. Golden sands… A sparkling ocean… She’d even settle for a cocktail with a little umbrella floating in it if it meant she could sleep past dawn and relax someplace without chaos, ten-flame burners and a tiny sadistic Frenchman yelling at full volume.

  “Order up on three!”

  “Fire six Benedict, three salmon, two crab!”

  The noise of the busy restaurant kitchen clattered around her. It was brunch prep on a Saturday morning, and all hands were on deck. Sous-chefs diced onions and whisked hollandaise, busboys raced around fetching clean silverware, and the wait staff pored over the menus, but Summer kept her head down and focused on packing up her baking supplies. After two weeks of twelve-hour shifts, she finally had the weekend off, and she wasn’t going to let anything drag her back into the fray. Even if the substitute pastry chef was screwing up the crepes.

  Summer paused, watching as he added egg whites to the bowl. Didn’t he realize the batter would tighten up the minute it hit the pan—

  Nope!

  She dragged her gaze away. It wasn’t her problem. For the next forty-eight hours, she was off the clock – tough crepes be damned!

  Summer loaded her frosting utensils into her bag and headed for the back door, but she was only a few s
teps from freedom when Chef Andre moved to block her path.

  “Where are you going?” he demanded. He was a small man in stature, but he more than made up for it in volume – and ego. “I need ten dozen strawberries hulled for the duck glaze tonight!”

  “I’m going to Cape Cod, remember?” Summer replied. Andre looked blank. “You volunteered me to do the cake for the Kenmore wedding,” she added, trying to keep her tone even. ‘Volunteered’ wasn’t exactly the word she would have chosen, but she knew the Kenmores were the restaurant’s biggest investors. “I have to drive up to make the delivery. If I don’t leave now, I’ll be late for the reception.”

  “Then go, go!” Andre shooed her away, before turning his attention back to the kitchen, like a mountain lion searching out his next prey. “Lewis!”

  Summer quickly darted past, letting the door bang shut behind her. The back alleyway may have smelled like rotting dumpsters, but to her, it was the sweet scent of freedom. She carefully unlocked the produce truck she was borrowing for the trip, and checked the back of the van. Six layers of perfectly-frosted cake sat, packed into individual padded boxes, plus enough ingredients for any last-minute emergency fixes. Not that there could be any. This was her famous sweet summer peach cake, and required days of preparation to get the flavors just right. She’d been up all night making sure every bite would be perfect, and now she just had to get herself – and the cake – through the five-hour drive without either of them falling apart.

  Simple?

  Summer hit the road, heading leaving the loud, smoggy New York streets behind as she headed out of the city and along the freeways up towards the coast. She played the radio loud, skipping between Top 40 stations as the signal dipped in and out, and with every passing mile, she felt her tension ease. Her shoulders unknotted, her pulse slowed, and by the time she crossed the Sagamore Bridge onto the curling bicep of the Cape, she almost felt close to human again.