Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“Call me if you need anything,” he told her.
“I will.”
She watched him jog toward his property and didn’t take her eyes off him until he’d rounded the corner.
“When’s the wedding?”
Devorah turned sharply to face her friend. “Uh . . .”
Laila laughed and took a sip of her coffee. “He’s got it bad. You’ve got it bad. By the way, in case you’ve forgotten, my favorite color is lavender, which is the perfect color for a late-spring, early-summer wedding.”
Devy stepped toward Laila and put her hand to her forehead. “Do you have a fever? Did you fall and bump your head last night? Should I call Link?”
Laila batted her hand away. “We all see it. You’re just blinded by the crap Chad did to you. Hayden doesn’t care that your divorce was final weeks ago. He wants to be with you.”
“You forget, he’s a widower.”
“No one’s forgotten,” Laila said. “When you find your soulmate, nothing else matters.”
“And you think he’s my soulmate?”
Laila nodded. “I know he is. It’s time for you to see it.”
Devorah turned back to where Hayden had been. Did she believe in soulmates? She wasn’t sure, but she knew Chad wasn’t the one she was meant to be with. He’d been convenient, a means to an end to get out of town and piss her father off. She never wanted to say she regretted Chad because of Maren, but part of her wondered what her life would be like if she hadn’t left Oyster Bay. Chad had convinced her that nothing good came of the people who stayed.
He was wrong.
She looked at her best friend and smiled. Later, after the festival was over, she’d tell Laila about how Hayden and Conor had asked her and Maren to move in with them. Right now, she wanted to hold on to the news a bit longer because she wanted it to be their news and not Oyster Bay’s.
By the time the parade was over, Devorah was exhausted. She wanted to go home, crawl into bed, and sleep until the next morning, but she couldn’t. She had promised two kids and a grown man they could go to the carnival. It was the last place she wanted to be.
Hayden, Conor, and Maren came toward the Oyster Festival headquarters, looking as cheery as the day was bright. The kids said hi, while Hayden kissed her good and proper for all to see. Everyone in their booth hooted and hollered, while Conor and Maren made gagging noises.
Perfect.
“Did you kids enjoy the parade?” Laila asked them.
Maren nodded. “I’m going to be Pearl of the Ocean when I’m old enough to enter.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Laila said. “Your mom will teach you everything she knows. What about you, Conor?”
“All the fire trucks were cool, and the candy. I don’t want to be Pearl of anything, though.”
Laila looked at Devorah and smiled. “I think it’s about time we have something for the guys. Clam of the Ocean.”
Everyone laughed, while Conor grimaced.
“The name needs work, but I think we should do it,” Devorah said.
“I’m not wearing a crown, ever,” Conor added with a shake of his head. “No, sir.”
“Come on,” Hayden said, giving his hand a tug. “The rides are screaming our names.” Hayden walked away with both kids, leaving Devorah to finish with business. When she was done, she told everyone she’d see them tomorrow, bright and early.
When she caught up with the kids and Hayden, she stayed back for a second and watched them. Conor walked next to Hayden, while Maren and Hayden held hands. Every few seconds, Hayden would stop and point to something, or he’d look at what the kids were gesturing to.
The sight of him with her daughter, treating her as his own, made her fall hard for him. She’d been on the cusp for a long time but was now fully over the edge. He was there too. She just didn’t know what they were waiting for. If he asked, she’d marry him tomorrow.
In the time since they’d returned to Oyster Bay, Hayden McKenna had been a constant in her life. Someone out there knew they needed each other.
“Hayden!” Devorah yelled loudly to get his attention. He turned and smiled.
She ran to him and, when the timing was right, jumped into his waiting arms. “I thought you should know before we move in together,” she said as her hand caressed his face, “I’m in love with you.”
His smile was brighter than the lights from the carnival rides. “It’s about time,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for you to catch up ever since we played seven minutes in heaven back in middle school.”
Devorah laughed. “Yeah, well . . . I’m ready for the sequel.”
Hayden tightened his hold on her and pressed his lips to hers. The timing of their kiss was perfect and magical as fireworks shot into the night sky.