Beyond Promise

  Copyright © 2015 Karice Bolton

  ISBN-10:0996540202

  ISBN-13:978-0-9965402-0-9

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any printed or electronic form, or stored in an unauthorized retrieval system, or transmitted in any form without permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, incidents, and events either are the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Design: Phatpuppy, Typography: BB Designs, Female model: Anya Kod, Male Model: Steve Alario, Makeup/Hair artist: Nadya Rutman, Photography: Teresa Yeh

  Contact the Author

  To contact the author, please visit her online at http://www.karicebolton.com or via

  Twitter/Facebook/Pinterest @KariceBolton.

  If you’d like to be included on her mailing list to learn about

  new releases, click here or go to Karice Bolton’s website

  You can also text KariceBooks to 313131 to receive a message from her on release days!

  Dedication

  Always to my husband and mom. Love you both so much.

  And thank you to the readers of the Beyond Love Series. I’m so grateful to you all for reading about Brandy, Gabby, and Lily. They have been so much fun to write, and I can’t thank you enough for reading about these women and their lives.

  BOOKS BY KARICE BOLTON

  ISLAND COUNTY SERIES

  FINDING LOVE IN FORGOTTEN COVE

  LOVE REDONE IN HIDDEN HARBOR – Coming Soon

  BEYOND LOVE SERIES

  BEYOND CONTROL

  BEYOND DOUBT

  BEYOND REASON

  BEYOND INTENT

  BEYOND CHANCE

  BEYOND PROMISE

  BEYOND the MISTLETOE – Holidays 2015

  LUKE FLETCHER SERIES

  HIDDEN SINS

  BURIED SINS

  REDEMPTION

  THE WITCH AVENUE SERIES

  LONELY SOULS

  ALTERED SOULS

  RELEASED SOULS

  SHATTERED SOULS

  THE WATCHERS TRILOGY

  AWAKENING

  LEGIONS

  CATACLYSM

  TAKEN NOVELLA (A Watchers Prequel)

  THE CAMP

  AFTERWORLD SERIES

  RecruitZ

  AlibiZ

  UprisingZ–Coming Soon

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Note from Karice

  Excerpt Finding Love in Forgotten Cove

  About Karice

  I glanced around the back room of Gabby’s Goodies and felt at home as Gabby worked away on a wedding cake, and I sat sipping tea and doing absolutely nothing. Even though the outside air was frigid, Gabby had the door propped open to let the heat from the ovens escape the small space. I’d tucked myself in the far corner and breathed in the sugar scent that permeated the air. There was nothing better than being best friends with a baker. I took in a deep breath and smiled a happy smile. Between the almost caramel smell of the falling autumn leaves and Gabby’s sugary confections, I was in my own version of heaven. Not to mention as wonky as my sniffer had been lately, I was relieved to be where scents didn’t torment me.

  “That’s it,” Emily said, walking through the door of the workroom. Emily had quickly become Gabby’s right hand around the shop and they made a great team. Plus, we all loved Emily. “I’ve had it. I think there is some sort of secret, underground network for single men where they all get together and figure out who they can torment next and somehow they pick me again and again and again. Oh, hi, Lily.”

  Emily’s fiery—and often unruly—red hair and olive complexion made most men and women take a second glance because she was just that stunning. Of course, she never stood still long enough to notice others’ reactions, but we did. Emily had been divorced for almost six years, and she’d only recently started to try online dating. So far she wasn’t singing any praises.

  Emily gave me a quick kiss and tied an apron around her waist.

  “Good morning,” I said, giving her an understanding nod.

  “So the morning coffee date didn’t go well?” Gabby asked.

  “What made you say that? It went fabulous.” Emily gave a doleful laugh. “As fabulous as my dates always go.”

  She grabbed a tray of already rolled biscuit dough and began cutting each dough circle out.

  “It couldn’t have been that bad,” Gabby prodded.

  “Within seconds of meeting him, he asked if he could call me Kitty going forward.”

  My brow arched. “Kitty? Why Kitty?”

  Emily’s lip curled in disgust. “Apparently, the fine fellow has a cat fetish and prefers his redheads to be named Kitty.”

  Gabby burst into laughter, “At least he didn’t ask to call you Garfield.”

  I bit my lip and tried to keep in the eruption of giggles that wanted to come out because Emily looked purely miserable.

  “What does a cat fetish entail?” I asked, completely fascinated.

  “You know, I didn’t stick around long enough to find out.” Emily winked.

  “Good call.” I nodded in approval.

  “I’m actually wondering if maybe some people aren’t meant for love. Like maybe there’s a batch of us that are predisposed to hunt out and distract the bad seeds so others don’t get stuck with them. Maybe it’s part of evolution or genetics. Or a public service designed by the man upstairs.”

  “I doubt that,” Gabby assured her. “Although it is an interesting theory.”

  Emily smiled and placed the dough on the cooking sheets, but we could tell she was disappointed. “In all honesty, I noticed that once I started this online dating thing, my paintings got angrier. I used to paint pretty things—flowers, gardens, and birds. Not now. I’ve got so many paintings with furious storms and crashing waves, I don’t even know what to do with them.”

  “It must be therapeutic,” Gabby offered.

  “Maybe, but I think as of this morning, I’m officially off the market. I’m pulling my profile off the websites, and I’m shutting down shop. I’m tired of dating all these donkey asses,” she said it with a grin, but we knew she was serious.

  “Aren’t a donkey and an ass one in the same,” Gabby muttered.

  Emily chuckled and shoved the first tray in the oven.

  I knew how hard it was to date and how easy it was to shut down. All I had to do was think of the nightmare that was my ex-boss’s son—that some had the nerve to call Portland’s Most Eligible Bachelor—and it left me shivering just thinking of how horrible he was. Not to mention my high school boyfriend. But I also knew if I’d thrown in the towel, I wouldn’t have fallen for Ayden, and he was the best thing that ever happened in my life.

  I adjusted myself on the stool and leaned my back against the wall. I hated to see someone give up on love. I rested my hands on my belly and let out a sigh.

  “You know, Emily, if the donkey throws you off, you
get right back up and get yourself on a different one. Not the same one, of course. That would be foolish. Possibly find one that is a little taller, a little more muscular, and isn’t into cats quite as much. Maybe don’t even try a donkey, try a stallion the next time around.”

  “So you’re saying not to set my sights so low?” Emily grinned.

  “Exactly what she’s saying. Stay away from the asses and find yourself a stallion,” Gabby chuckled.

  “I appreciate the pep talk, ladies, but I need a break,” Emily said, feigning exhaustion.

  “How long have you had the profile up online?” I asked, intrigued with the process.

  “Two weeks,” Emily said.

  “And why don’t you tell her when your last date was prior to uploading your profile?” Gabby prompted.

  Emily rolled her eyes and a huge smile tugged at her lips.

  “Well?” I encouraged.

  “Three years. I hadn’t been on a date for three years.”

  My mouth fell open. “Really? And you only gave your online profile two weeks?”

  “I’m not lying when I say I’ve had a long line of duds in that department, but enough about me. Tell me all about this beach wedding you have planned. It’s in Bermuda, right? Are you nervous?”

  I nodded and a flutter sprang through me, but it wasn’t because of the wedding.

  “The wedding planning is going perfectly. That’s the easy part. No nerves there.”

  “Well, that’s good. So many brides are stressed beyond belief.”

  “Tell me about it,” Gabby laughed. “Carla has more ideas than I do about my wedding, and I seem to have to hear about every single one of them.”

  Carla was Gabby’s stepmom, and she was one of the most well meaning event planners out there.

  “Since it’s so far away, I mostly only have to approve items the planner at the hotel emails me, like flower colors and dinner options.”

  “That’s the fun part,” Emily agreed. “So what’s got you nervous?”

  I traded glances with Gabby and let out a deep breath. “Ayden’s got a huge fight coming up. He says it’s his last, but from what I’ve heard about his opponent I’m a nervous wreck. The guy is like a beast. Ayden’s undefeated and an amazing fighter, but I—” I stopped myself. I didn’t want to say it out loud. I didn’t want to jinx his winning streak, but the truth of it was since Ayden and I found out we were pregnant, my priorities shifted and my worries became more pronounced. Since we hadn’t announced that I was expecting, I didn’t detail why I was more worried than usual. Emily already knew I always got nervous when Ayden stepped in the ring.

  “When is the fight?” Emily asked, wiping down the counter with a cloth.

  “It’s three weeks prior to Bermuda. On the off chance that he doesn’t dodge a fist, he should have enough time to heal up before our big day,” I laughed nervously. That was actually the least of my worries. There was something primal driving me to not want him to get into the ring again.

  But I also didn’t want to be one of those fiancées who made their partner change everything about who they were before the relationship. I hadn’t asked him to stop fighting. It was Ayden’s idea.

  “Well, I can understand your worry, hun,” Emily said, shaking the cloth off outside. “But he’s got it down.”

  Gabby nodded in agreement as she worked on rolling the fondant. She’d already managed to place the fondant twigs along the first two layers and was focusing on the third. The cake, like usual, was spectacular. Fondant cherry blossoms canvased the cake, creating an elegant yet natural theme.

  “I wish you were doing my cake,” I told Gabby, trying to change the topic.

  I hated thinking about the fight. It almost made me ill when I thought too long and hard about it.

  “I’m sure the hotel will provide a beautiful cake,” Gabby assured me.

  “Won’t be the same.”

  “Well, you could cancel your tropical wedding and have it right here in the middle of rainy season.” She smiled. “I’m sure Mason’s girlfriend would love to host a beach wedding in Forgotten Cove in the middle of November. Sounds just as wonderful as the sun soaking into our bones in Bermuda.”

  Emily brought over a croissant and set it down in front of me. “Go ahead. You look hungry.” She eyed me suspiciously so I returned the favor, giving her a once over with a wry grin firmly planted on my lips.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Nothing at all.” Her eyes dropped to my hands that were resting on my nearly flat stomach and I rolled my eyes. To prove my point that I had no idea what she was getting at, I reached over and took a bite of the croissant. The flaky crust melted in my mouth as I stared blankly at Emily.

  “This hits the spot. Thank goodness I ran those five miles this morning,” I lied.

  “Would you like me to make you a triple mocha?” Emily asked. “I know how you love your caffeine and you must be exhausted after the run.”

  Playing dirty, I see. “No, the tea is perfectly fine.”

  “What kind of tea?” Emily asked.

  “Passion fruit.”

  Emily nodded “Interesting. No caffeine. Have you gotten your wedding dress yet?”

  Nice try, my friend, but I wasn’t going to let it out. I hated to keep secrets and was possibly the worst at it in the world, but I wasn’t going to say a word, regardless of the fact that Emily already guessed. It was actually nice sharing this news with only Ayden for as long as we could. It was our own private moment that happened to extend over several months.

  I stood up from the stool and stretched as Emily scooped cookie dough onto a metal tray. I was supposed to meet Ayden at his brother’s house on Fireweed Island. Actually, it wasn’t exactly his brother’s house. It was a home Mason shared with his new girlfriend, Tori. I really wasn’t sure who owned what. There were a lot of complicated things that went down between the two of them, and I didn’t really follow the dirty details, but the important part was that they had a guestroom and didn’t mind us spending a weekend now and again. Mason had remodeled the entire home and it was beautiful.

  “I should get going so I don’t miss out on lunch. I’m starving.”

  “You just had a croissant,” Emily replied smiling.

  “Lily’s appetite always amazes us all,” Gabby said, and I knew the unsaid secret was no longer a secret, but I refused to confirm or deny.

  I gave Emily a quick hug and walked over to Gabby, squeezing her in between twigs.

  “Enjoy your weekend on Fireweed.”

  “I will. Ayden’s been out of town all week at a trade show and I’ve missed him like crazy.”

  “That’s right,” Gabby said, forming the next twig. “Weren’t you supposed to go with him?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, but there was a bit of a distribution issue on our latest launch so I needed to stay back and get that straightened out. Nothing like sponsoring a party and having no product to hand out. Anyway, I got some trucked in from a different distributor and all was saved. And I have to admit the party was pretty fun.”

  “Where was it at?” Emily asked.

  “The actual party was at the convention center in Seattle. They were holding a women’s science and technology fair and we sponsored the after party.”

  “You never cease to amaze me,” Gabby chuckled. “I didn’t even know there was a women’s science and technology fair.”

  “That’s what I do.”

  And I loved my job, but I couldn’t wait to see Ayden. We’d originally planned a week together in Boston while we attended the trade show so I was kind of annoyed I didn’t get to go, but I had my own fun at the party we hosted back in Seattle. It was a CosPlay party where people could dress up as their favorite video game or comic book or anime characters. I was a little out of my element, but I loved every second of it. I might even have to put my costume back on for Ayden this weekend. If he was lucky.

  My gut said he was going to be very lucky.

  I gave a qui
ck wave to Emily and Gabby and walked through the bakery and out to my car. The chill in the air made me tighten up my scarf as I stood and looked out over Puget Sound. The water glittered in the October haze, and my heart skipped a beat at the thought of seeing Ayden. I loved that even though we were quickly approaching our one-year anniversary of being together, I literally couldn’t keep my hands off him or my mind pure of thought when he popped in. I glanced at my phone and was surprised to see a missed text from Ayden.

  Are you tormenting me on purpose by keeping me waiting? Can’t wait to see you. X

  My entire body warmed and I quickly texted him back. I thought back to the very first time I saw him in a different light. No longer just my best friend’s brother, but someone more endearing, layered and complex who wanted to know me and try to understand me. Another flutter flitted through my body, and I knew that the weekend was going to be incredible.

  Ayden was standing on the front porch, his blond hair getting tousled in the wind as his eyes connected with mine, and I wanted nothing more than to be held in his arms. I spotted his brother in the garden on the side of the house, trimming dead perennials, while his girlfriend pruned one of the shrubs. It made me chuckle to see Mason so in his element. I was happy he’d found someone, and Tori was a lot of fun to be around.

  “You look sensational,” Ayden almost growled. His arms snaked around my waist.

  He brought me tightly into him, and I felt the strength of his embrace. There was no reason to worry about the fight, yet it was at the tip of every conversation and on the surface of every thought.

  “What’s wrong?” he whispered, sensing my unease.

  I shook my head. “Sorry. Nothing.”

  The worst thing I could do was convey my fears and make him lose focus during training. The contracts were already signed. He was stepping in the ring regardless, so the least I could do was keep quiet and allow him to concentrate on winning.