Hearts of Avon

“Wow! Immediatly from the start you can feel the story moving and what followed was even better and kept me hooked! Nicely done… an entertaining story that reads with ease.”

  – YGPAC

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  In Avon, a beach town along the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Ben is falling fast for the beautiful and intelligent Caroline, even as they both deal with her stalker ex-boyfriend who has followed her south on vacation.

  As Ben learns the depths of the other man's madness his and Caroline's relationship runs into another wall, level 3 Hurricane Irene moving quickly toward the Outer Banks. When the storm arrives, all of their lives will be drastically changed.

  How will they learn to cope with the consequences? When they are tested with a disaster on the brink of their comprehension, how will they pick up the pieces of their lives?

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  “This is a page turner. The story is believable… visual and easy to follow.”

  – Roslyn Alexander, author of “I Am” Through The Ages

  Breakwater Harbor Books presents by Scott J. Toney

  Chic-Lit

  Hearts of Avon

  Christian Fiction

  Lazarus, Man

  Fantasy

  The Ark of Humanity

  Eden Legacy

  Poetry

  Dusk Crescence

  Hearts of Avon

  Scott J. Toney

  Breakwater Harbor Books, Inc.

  Scott J. Toney and Cara Goldthorpe, Co-Founders

  www.breakwaterharborbooks.weebly.com

  Copyright © 2013 by Scott J. Toney

  All Rights Reserved

  Cover by David Lockhart

  Author email – [email protected]

  Cover Artist email – [email protected]

  First Paperback Printing, February 2013

  Acknowledgments

  I cannot express my thanks deeply enough to Ivan Amberlake, who is an impeccable editor and whose friendship is valuable beyond words.

  David Lockhart, my best friend and cover designer, has created a stunning work for Hearts of Avon’s cover. His talent is immense and I am honored to have his artwork for the covers of my books.

  My beautiful wife Laura is what drives and inspires me. She brings heart and substance to my works by being by my side, holding my hand and loving me fully, as my equal.

  Annabel, you keep my writing compass morally steady. I keep you in mind as my words fill the page, and hope one day when you read my books you’ll know daddy has filled them with inspirations and love.

  Dedicated to Laura, for being the intelligent, beautiful, strong, caring woman of my dreams. Words cannot express my thanks to God for bringing you to my life. I would not be the man I am or have the passion I do without you. This book is written for you. My love is in its pages.

  When we wish on stars, dreams come true. But I do not need stars, because I have you. Hold my hand, dance with me, and I will give you the moon.

  1

  What would life be like if you had lived? Ben wondered. Gulls sang somewhere in the distance and he smiled as he enjoyed the day.

  Benjamin’s heart had always been a part of Avon, ever since his mother had died there of cancer when he was a young boy. He still lived in that same beach house with his father and the two made their living by selling paintings up and down the shore. He loved his home and felt connected to his mother on the beach in the evening sun.

  Ben closed his eyes; listening to the ocean beat against the beach, feeling its salty mist spray him in the wind. Sunlight warmed him as he sat near the shoreline, digging his hands into the sand.

  Click! The faint noise came from close by and he opened his eyes, turning to look in its direction.

  There, standing next to the stilt beams of the neighboring house, stood the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. How did he not see her coming up on him? Sunlight shone around her form and her red top and skirt flowed in the breeze. A moment passed between them, and she smiled while holding her camera at her side. Before he could speak she turned and ran down the beach away from him.

  “Wait! What’s your name?” he called to her.

  Who was this beautiful girl? If he let this moment pass he may never know.

  Ben stood quickly, stumbling in the sand as he ran. “Wait!” he shouted, but she didn’t look back.

  He ran after her, past kids flying kites and a couple holding hands. Gulls sang overhead.

  The girl ran up a dune of sand in the distance toward a light blue beach house and Ben’s heart dropped. Was this where she was staying? He hoped so, because if she was staying somewhere beyond that point he would never find her.

  He picked up speed as he neared the house and his bare foot cracked into a driftwood log, sending him crashing into the sand.

  “You’re coming with me!” a strong male voice shouted over the dune.

  “No… we’re not together. I can’t, John, I… I just can’t.”

  Was that her? Was that the beautiful girl who had taken his picture?

  “You won’t leave me! I won’t let you! You’re mine and I’m taking you back!”

  “No, John!” the female shrieked.

  “You’ll realize you love me!”

  That was it… it was all that Ben could take. No girl deserved to be treated like that. He didn’t care who it was anymore, he was going to help.

  He dug his arms into the hot sand and stood, walking toward the buff, black haired guy who had the girl’s wrist clutched hard in his. A recent scar ran down the side of his face.

  It was the same girl.

  “Let her go!” Benjamin yelled to him.

  “Or what?”

  “Or I’ll make you let her go!” Ben was nearing the car they were in front of now.

  “Who is this, Caroline?” John asked.

  “If she says she’s through with you then she’s through! She doesn’t want you and I can see why!”

  John shoved Caroline aside and was coming toward him now.

  Ben’s heart beat heavy in his chest. He couldn’t leave. He would have to confront him and braced to stand his ground. “Go.”

  “John… I’ll go,” Caroline spoke with fear in her voice. “Leave him alone. This is between us.”

  John was taller than him and was coming up the sand toward him. “No! This boy’s made it clear he wants this between me and him!”

  John threw a punch, but Ben dodged to the side and avoided his fist. With his heart racing, almost as a reflex, Ben clenched a fist and crushed it into John’s stomach, unable to move him. A second later, John cracked his fist into Ben’s head and he collapsed in the sand, darkness consuming his sight and sand stinging his eyes. John’s foot thrust against his ribs.

  “Get up sissy! Who’s ordering who now? You want her? Stand up and fight!”

  Bile rose in Ben’s throat as sunlight swam in his eyes.

  …have to get up… he thought, half conscious, as another punch from John’s foot landed in his side.

  “What’s going on out here?” a woman’s voice came from close by. “John? Get off my property before I call the police!”

  “I’ll be back!” John’s voice came from somewhere above him. “Leave my girl alone, boy, or next time I’ll give you more than bruised ribs and a sore skull!”

  There was commotion as more voices came and Ben heard the sound of a car pulling out of the driveway.

  A soft hand touched his face. “Are you alright?” Caroline asked.

  Darkness swelled around him and everything fell away.

  2

  Why, John? Caroline thought while sitting in a spare bedroom of her Aunt’s beach house, The Ocean’s Whisper. The waves outside crashed
rhythmically against the shore. You were so handsome and strong… What happened to the you I first met? It seems so long ago.

  Three years ago she met John when she was in high school. He was two years older than her and the fact that an older boy liked her helped draw her to him. You were charming and funny. You loved me… or at least I thought you did. With a sigh Caroline braced her head with her hands. Tears streamed down her face and were soaked up by the carpet below.

  Now he was controlling and abusive, not so much physically, but he had been mentally abusive for some time. He controlled who she was friends with, what she ate, even how she spent her money. Somehow she had justified it all, for the sake of being with him.

  And then you hit me. Caroline took her sleeve and wiped her tears away. I won’t take any more. I’m never going back to you, John. I deserve better. She lifted her head, looking at the guy who had stood up for her. I don’t even know your name. She had seen him on the beach in the sun and thought he was asleep. You looked so handsome lying in the sunlight. I never thought you’d wake up and see me.

  Caroline breathed a deep breath. She had been