Finding Love in Forgotten Cove (Island County Series Book 1)

  Copyright © 2015 Karice Bolton

  ISBN-10:0996540210

  ISBN-13:978-0-9965402-1-6

  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: DepositPhotos: © SolominViktor

  iStockPhoto: ©standret

  Page illustrations: DepositPhotos ID: 34811693 ©Dr.PAS and

  image ID: 32849995 © nafanya1710

  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 find out 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

  To my amazing mom. Thank you for always letting me ramble about ideas.

  And

  To my loyal aunt who has read every single one of my books. It means more than you know!

  And

  To the most amazing husband. Thank you for all the support you’ve always shown as I dream up these stories that can sometimes take a bit of time away from us.

  And lastly,

  To my fantastic readers. Thank you for reading my stories over the years and allowing my worlds to become part of yours.

  Dear Friends and Newly Acquainted,

  Thank you for choosing to read the first book in The Island County Series. I hope you settle right in as you read about Mason and Tori on Fireweed Island. As many of the Beyond Love readers know, Mason Rhodes is Ayden’s twin brother, and it wouldn’t be fair to devote two Beyond Love books to Ayden and none to Mason Rhodes. But I’m getting ahead of myself!

  While Island County is the start of a new series, many will recognize characters popping in from the Beyond Love Series. It’s a fun little twist that I’ve enjoyed writing into the storylines. But you don’t have to have read any of the Beyond Love books to start Island County. That is what I love about this new series. Each book in Island County is a standalone, and Finding Love in Forgotten Cove is the first of many stories to come. Be on the lookout for Love Redone in Hidden Harbor next.

  I want to thank you again for reading about Mason and Tori. I hope you love reading about Fireweed Island as much as I loved writing about their world.

  As always, please feel free to reach out via email, Facebook, or text. Again, I thank you—the readers—for taking the time to read my book and I hope you enjoy.

  Warmest wishes,

  Karice

  BOOKS BY KARICE BOLTON

  ISLAND COUNTY SERIES

  FINDING LOVE IN FORGOTTEN COVE

  LOVE REDONE IN HIDDEN HARBOR

  TANGLED LOVE ON PELICAN POINT

  FOREVER LOVE ON FIREWEED ISLAND

  BEYOND LOVE SERIES

  BEYOND CONTROL

  BEYOND DOUBT

  BEYOND REASON

  BEYOND INTENT

  BEYOND CHANCE

  BEYOND PROMISE

  BEYOND the MISTLETOE

  LUKE FLETCHER SERIES

  HIDDEN SINS

  BURIED SINS

  REDEMPTION

  MIA – Coming Soon

  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

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Excerpt Love Redone

  Excerpt Beyond Control

  Excerpt Hidden Sins

  About the Author

  The last of the students shuffled out of the room, and I leaned against my desk wondering what in the world I’d signed up for. The silence wrapped around me and so did the dawning realization that I’d be stuck on the island all summer. It seemed like a good idea a few weeks ago, but once I arrived, I started having immediate doubts. Maybe teaching tenth grade summer school wasn’t the best idea to keep busy. I had more than enough to occupy myself with managing my dad’s affairs and getting his house ready to sell, but it was too late now. I’d signed a contract, and I needed to make the best of the situation. It was very clear none of the students wanted to be here and I didn’t blame them. Who would want to spend a summer indoors on the island? I needed to come up with a plan to get them interested and keep myself focused along the way.

  Easier said than done.

  I looked around the dull and dingy classroom and eyed the yellowed Shakespeare poster that been on the wall since I’d attended school here, and I didn’t need to count the years to know that had been a very long time ago. The beige walls were spotty from years of touch-up paint, and the only improvement I’d noticed was that the individual scarred wooden desks had been replaced with long, plastic tables. This space was dismal. I totally grasped why the kids wouldn’t want to be stuck inside this room all summer while their friends got to run around the island.

  I’d always loved summers on the island, but that was before my family splintered apart with never the hope of coming back together again.

  I kept in a sigh and began organizing the students’ papers in a folder. So much of this place had stayed the same. It was like going back in time and the only thing that had managed to age during the process was me. Not a very amusing thought since there were moments l still felt like a teenager inside.

  A breeze swept through an open window in the classroom lifting up one of the loose papers from the desk. I reached over and snatched the sheet out of the air and plunked it back down, anchoring it with my empty coffee mug. The sound of a metal ladder clanging along the side of the brick building caught my attention, and I glanced out the window to see the most well-defined stomach peeking out from under some guy’s shirt as he climbed up the ladder. My eyes were glued to his abdomen as he reached up to work on whatever it was he was doing, and it appeared I really had been flung back into high school.

  I needed to get out more.

  Instead of turning my attention away, however, I kept staring at this small gift from above and trundled over to the window as he worked his way up the ladder. Complete disappointment washed over me when his shi
rt fell to cover his stomach, but I still stood at complete attention hoping for one last glimpse. It wasn’t until I heard a woman clearing her throat behind me that I realized how close I’d gotten to the window and the man outside it. I had no idea what had come over me.

  I spun around, and my eyes met with the woman who’d hired me and two other female teachers who I’d seen around the campus.

  Such was my luck.

  As the embarrassment slowly permeated every ounce of my body, I noticed all of the women displayed a sort of knowing smile, but none of them said a word so I stood in place, cheeks flaming. My mind raced in every different direction to come up with a clever comeback, and of course, nothing of the sort came to mind.

  “I was just checking to see what all of that ruckus was about outside,” I stuttered, knowing my fair complexion gave me away. One of the many gifts about being a redhead—I lit up like a Christmas tree. “You know…in case he was in danger or the ladder wasn’t steady. I thought I should get a closer look. It sounded pretty dire.”

  “Indeed. I can understand that,” Rosa replied, still grinning. She was the principal and the woman behind getting me onboard for summer school. Her dark hair was trimmed short, and despite the warmth of summer, she wore a cream linen suit. Most teaching positions went to locals, but she had known my father and understood my situation and for that I was grateful. “We wanted to stop by and see how your first day went. You didn’t run screaming out the doors, which I take as a good sign.”

  I laughed and shook my head. “Nope. Not gonna run. I’m hoping I can get the students interested in history before the summer is over. I only had a couple of texters, and I can’t say I blame them. The weather is beautiful, and I couldn’t imagine being stuck in school all summer at that age.” I smiled and heard the clank of the ladder again as it got moved along the building, but I stayed put, staring directly in front of me. I wasn’t going to fall for that trap twice, but I noticed one of the teachers looked out the window, and it was difficult not to follow her gaze.

  “As the summer goes on, their attention span gets worse,” the other teacher said, stepping out from behind Rosa. She reached out her hand and I shook it. “I’m Samantha. If you need anything, I’m only two doors down.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate that.” I nodded. “What’s your subject?”

  “This summer I’m teaching biology,” Samantha replied.

  The other teacher ripped her gaze away from the peep show outside and brought her eyes to mine. “I’m Tessa and I’m four doors down, across the hall. I teach math.”

  Tessa was in a pair of black capri leggings and an oversized pink shirt. Her hair was in a bouncy ponytail, and her smile made me feel as if I’d known her for years. Samantha, not so much. Samantha followed Rosa’s lead and wore a white tailored suit, and I had the distinct feeling it would only be to my detriment if I asked her for any help or advice. I sensed she was a woman with an agenda and any questions would be a sign of weakness.

  “Well, I hope to be able to get the kids outside,” I started.

  “Off school property? That’s always a hassle and never worth the headache,” Samantha spouted.

  Tessa opened her mouth as if she was going to object, but shut it quickly, locking eyes with me.

  “Stop by the office on the way out, and Martha will get you all the necessary paperwork you need ahead of time if you decide to do that. I think any method that encourages the students to learn is a plus,” Rosa replied, giving me a wry smile.

  Samantha looked agitated and flashed me a cold stare, and it was hard not to chuckle as Tessa rolled her eyes at Samantha’s agitation. The island dynamics were already at play.

  “Well, thank you very much. I appreciate the opportunity to teach this summer,” I said, hoping to tidy up the classroom quickly and get to the house that had so much left to do. Every second I devoted to the home was a second closer to getting off the island.

  “Don’t forget, we have an opening for full-time status this fall,” Rosa reminded me.

  My stomach clenched at the thought of having to stay around any longer than the end of August. It wasn’t that I didn’t have good memories being back here, but there were also plenty of sad ones, and I doubted I was ready to relive any of them, good or bad. The sooner I could get off the island, the better.

  “I appreciate the offer, but I think this assignment fits me perfectly.”

  Rosa nodded, and I smiled as I watched all three women walk out. Only a few seconds passed before Tessa reappeared.

  “Just ignore Samantha. That’s what we all do. She knows Rosa is going to be retiring in a few years and has decided to make it her mission to be the next principal. Not gonna happen if you ask me, which you didn’t.” Her grin widened, and I noticed what a pretty plum color her lips were naturally. In order to get anyone to see mine, I had to paint several coats of gloss on top and hope that I didn’t lick it all off before the morning was over.

  “I figured something had to be going on.” I glanced out the window without even thinking and saw that the ladder had been moved but was still in view.

  “It’s always a treat when he shows up,” Tessa chuckled.

  “How often does he show up?” I asked.

  “Not often enough.”

  I laughed and reached up to close the window as the mystery man began stepping down the ladder. My fingers fumbled as I dropped the blinds right before his face appeared in the window. I could shut the window later.

  “You won’t be disappointed,” Tessa explained, wiping my board down for me.

  I wondered if she knew I hadn’t closed the window yet.

  “With what?”

  “The whole package,” she mused.

  “Package?” I asked, trying to act as if I had no idea what she was referring to.

  “The guy outside. He’s the complete package. One hundred and ten percent perfection.”

  I shook my head. “Doubtful. No man ever is and if they are, it’s only a mirage. I’ve sworn off men completely—no matter what kind of package appears.”

  Tessa threw up her hands and shrugged her shoulders. “I’m tellin’ ya. He’s really got it going on. And he’s a twin.”

  I couldn’t help but chuckle at her latest revelation. As if being a twin was a benefit. My chest tightened, and I dropped my gaze to the desk, pushing away the guilt that flooded through me.

  “Does he work at the school?” I asked.

  She shook her head, her ponytail extra springy with the excitement of relaying the bits of gossip. This was one of the many things I remembered about living on the island. Word always traveled fast about a person. “He works for some construction company on the mainland.”

  “Aww… I see.” I smiled as her words hit me. I’d forgotten how most of the islanders referred to Seattle and the general vicinity as the mainland. It was an entirely different world over here. The pace was slower and the smiles kinder. Maybe being here was what I needed for the summer, a way to escape the reality that had so stubbornly presented itself time and again back in New York.

  “But I’ll tell you this, whenever the construction contract is up for renewal, all of our moods change as we wait to hear who’s won the bid. It happens every two years, and I can tell you it’s a real mood shifter around here. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he wasn’t the main reason so many of us sign up to teach summer school.” She winked.

  “It’s not for the betterment of the students?” I teased.

  “Well that too. But he’s a strong second. And most of the repairs and maintenance around the campus are done in the summer. I always make sure my classroom is in tip-top shape before summer school ends and fall quarter begins.” She was almost beaming and I couldn’t help but laugh. Being around Tessa was a definite mood lifter.

  “I can’t imagine why,” I replied, still smiling. “But his workout regimen certainly seems to be working well for him.” I couldn’t believe those words tumbled out. I would absolutely die if the man on
the ladder knew I was in here even having a discussion like this. I wasn’t easily impressed, and I never really talked about men or the fact that I noticed them to anyone. It wasn’t my style and within a matter of hours on my job here, I got caught red-handed ogling over some stranger’s six-pack. Not my finest hour and certainly not the gossip I wanted circulating around the island. There was already enough misinformation running rampant about my family here. I needed to stay buttoned up and not let myself make any mistakes. It was the least I could do to honor my father’s memory.

  Tessa was on her way out the door. “If you don’t have any plans tonight, I’ll be over at Mudflat Tavern around seven, munching on…”

  “The famous fresh-cut french fries with chili and cheese sauce?” I interrupted.

  “How’d you know?” she asked, turning around to face me.

  “I grew up here and that was the only reason we ever went to Mudflat,” I said grinning, as the memories filled me with unexpected comfort. Even though there was a tavern in the name, it was a family restaurant, one that my family frequented quite a lot.

  There was outside seating on a deck that overlooked the Sound. The restaurant even had a pier for boats to dock and pick up orders to go. I remembered one of the times I’d been there, I was running my hand along the old wooden deck railing when a splinter rammed right under my skin. It wasn’t a typical splinter. In fact, it looked more like a knitting needle once my father managed to get it out of my palm. When it happened, I didn’t say a word, but my dad knew immediately because I stopped moving, and my already pale face had competed with Casper to take home the award for most ghostly appearance. That was right before I fainted from the pain. Needless to say I got free cheese fries for life. Not that I would hold them to it after all these years… but I never trusted wood railings after that.

  “So you understand their addictive quality?”