CHAPTER ONE
Anna breezed into the office of Paradise Cove—resort cottages in the Florida Keys that she owned with her girls, and smiled at her new employee, Carole Jenkins. Now that her three daughters were happily partnered and busy with husbands, babies and their own hectic lives, she’d needed outside help.
“Good morning, Carole.” The young woman was seated at a corner desk, a phone in one hand, her fingers flying over the keyboard with the other. Joan, Carole’s mother, had worked in the New Jersey school system with Anna years before and Anna had finally convinced the two that with dreary winters combined with Carole’s recent divorce, they deserved a change of scenery. And who wouldn’t want to work in Paradise?
Finishing the conversation, Carole turned to her with a sparkle in her eyes that hadn’t been there the previous year when they’d come for a visit.
“That was Kevin Thomas, calling from the airport.”
Anna read the time on her watch. Noon. “He’s early. I hate to keep him waiting.” She’d chosen a Lily Pulitzer green and pink cotton skirt, with a white short-sleeved blouse tucked in to show off her narrow waist. Her new hair cut was young and fresh, and took years off her face. At least that’s what the stylist said.
Turning her head, she caught a glance of herself in the pineapple-shaped mirror fastened to the wall. Her cheeks were flushed and the dangling silver earrings bobbed every time she moved. She laughed at her reflection.
“You seem happy, Anna.”
“I am.” She might be a foolish middle-aged woman, getting her hopes up now after all these years. But she loved being loved, and missed her two dead husbands very much. Besides, Kevin Thomas had sounded positively dreamy over the phone.
“I told Mr. Thomas we’d send someone to pick him up.” Carole stood. “Want me to go? I’ve been sitting at this desk for hours, finalizing a million and one details, and could use the break.”
Feeling slightly guilty, Anna shook her head, enjoying the silky texture of her hair as it brushed against her cheeks. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to greet him myself. We had a lengthy conversation, and I…well, let’s just say we seemed to get along.” She remembered the sound of his voice, his rich laughter, his easy-going teasing manner. They’d flirted a little over the phone, but she really should curtail her excitement—what if he turned out to be a dud?
“Soon as I’m back you can take the rest of the afternoon off, I promise. You’ve been working hard on our new venture.”
Anna and her daughters had inherited the run-down guest cottages in Islamorada four years ago, and they’d all pitched in to refurbish the cottages and make the grounds beautiful once again. Their hard work had paid off in more than monetary ways. Her three daughters had found their wonderful men in Paradise Cove. Strange how life could be sometimes, but Anna believed in fate, and those men had been led here for a reason, and had needed the love of her strong girls.
This week, every cabin was fully booked with their first official wedding—outside the family, that is. Taylor and Kayla had married here, and someday Brittany would too, which was how the idea for catering to weddings had come to fruition. Carole and Anna’s eldest daughter, Kayla, had put together a marketing plan and sent gorgeous pictures of the resort to circulated magazines. Which led to Kevin Thomas’s daughter Nadine booking their cozy waterfront for her destination wedding.
“Nope,” Carole said. “I work nine to five, so the afternoon off wouldn’t be fair. Do you mind if I take a half hour to get lunch at Taylor’s though?”
“Sure, just lock up the office.” The resort guests were out fishing, or on a snorkeling tour. “You know you don’t have to punch a clock around here.”
“If you say so, boss,” Carole said with a cheeky smile. She was Taylor’s age, pretty, with highlighted shoulder-length hair. Her light blue eyes were clear, and she looked strong and healthy—unlike the shadow of a woman who’d come here a year before, terrified of her bad-tempered husband.
Taylor, her middle daughter, owned the Café at the end of their property line, facing Oversees Highway. The large neon pink and green flamingo flickered on and off in the evening, attracting the travelers heading for Key West. Although why they’d want to go there when Islamorada had everything to offer, Anna had no idea. Paradise Cove Cottages was aptly named, for no better place existed.
The past few years had wrought so many changes, grief and yet such happiness too. They’d moved to the resort after her husband’s death and had been in residence less than a few months when Miguel, Juanita and their family who’d almost been lost at sea came into their lives. Sean, a doctor who’d been staying in one of the cabins, had saved them, then fallen in love with Kayla. Taylor had met Colt, her sea captain and soul mate, and was now mother to his son. They had new babies in the family as well. Merica, called Meri, was Juanita’s baby, and she’d been born only eight weeks after leaving Cuba in a makeshift raft. Kayla and Sean had their sweet angel Shauna, who could never replace the little girl he lost from childhood leukemia in his first marriage, but certainly did ease the pain.
So many blessings it was hard to count. Taylor’s dream Café had been doing a robust business since it opened, and now they had this new exciting venture with the weddings.
“Tell your mom hi. She’ll be working the lunch rush.” Joan, who was close to Anna’s age, a young sixty, helped work the busy hours, as did Kayla.
“Will do!”
Anna grabbed her purse from under the counter, the key to Harmony, the cottage she had in mind for Mr. Thomas, and headed out the door. Her light blue Hyundai SUV was parked in the dusty lane just behind the office, which was attached to her own two-bedroom cottage, Birds of Paradise. Her daughters had all flown the coop and she was left with an empty nest.
Just turned sixty, she had survived two wonderful husbands, but wasn’t done yet. She enjoyed marriage, believed in the power of love, and hoped to meet her next prince charming one fine day. Like today, perhaps. She checked her lipstick in the rearview mirror while waiting at a stop light. The shade of peach complimented her olive skin—thanks to her Greek heritage.
As she drove south to the Marathon airport to pick up her very important guest, she remembered the deep timber of Kevin’s voice when he’d called to make arrangements for his daughter’s wedding. She so hoped he’d be as nice as he sounded. A little flirtation would do her some good. A stolen kiss or two would put an extra nice layer of cream on top of this wedding.
The blessed event would take place in four days, and Miguel was busy turning the oceanfront into a magical outdoor wedding chapel. Rows of tiki torches were set up to enclose the wedding area just beyond the pool—before the mangroves and the beach. Six eighteen-foot pillars, three per side and each decorated with pink and white ribbon, would be put up tomorrow, with Miguel and his crew adding sheer drapes to billow like clouds about the plastic rows of seats as a final touch the day before the ceremony. The tropical weather in the Keys changed abruptly, so nothing could be done too soon.
Anna pulled into the small airport and passed the parking lot when she spotted a silver-haired gentleman standing outside the one-story terminal building. Beside him was a mid-size wheeled suitcase that probably fit into the overhead compartment, and a zipped garment bag over his shoulder. He wore tan linen shorts and a collared Tommy Bahamas shirt in a flowered green print.
She honked and waved as a healthy flush of pleasure shot through her core. Kevin Thomas was a fine-looking man. Tall, slender, just the way she liked them. And he wasn’t bringing his wife, so probably didn’t have one. Nor did he have a cute young thing on his arm, as other men his age might.
In other words, perfect!
Anna parked and jumped out of the car, moving quickly to greet him. Petite, only a little more than five feet tall, she had a slim figure that was still shapely. She caught his admiring glance and offered her hand, along with a flirtatious look. “Kevin? I’m Anna.”
He grinned. “You look just like the pictures on your website. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“And you.” She left his side to open the hatch. “Put your things back here. We’re only a short drive away then I’ll pour us both a refreshing drink.”
“Alcoholic, I hope?”
“Of course,” she laughed. “Is there any other kind?”
“I can see that we’re going to get along.” He put his suitcase into the rear of the SUV and hung his suit bag on a hook. “So, how long have you been living in the Keys?” He climbed into the passenger seat.
“It’s been almost four years now. We, my daughters and myself, inherited Paradise Cove Cottages when my poor husband died. It was his dream, really. His retirement plan. Never got to live it though.” She started the engine and darted a peek in his direction. “How about you? Divorced, widowed?”
“My wife died last year. Cancer.” His eyes misted and he turned his head to stare out at the sea. “We were married thirty years, good years too,” he said. “I miss her very much.”
“I’m sure you do.” She pulled onto the highway, and headed north. “It isn’t easy. I’ve lost two husbands, both wonderful men.”
“Remind me not to get too close. I hope to have plenty of years left in me.”
Anna glanced at him and saw the teasing smile tugging at his full mouth. “Not to worry. I’m not planning on burying a third—you’re safe with me.”
“I will definitely drink to that.” He settled back against the leather seat glancing at the fluffy billowing clouds, blue sky and turquoise water. “It’s real pretty here. Do you ever get tired of summer all year round?”
“Thought I would, but week after week, all my stress melts away. I’ve found real joy in the simple pleasures of life. It’s laid back, but at my age I don’t need a lot of action, and when I do we’re only an hour and a half from Miami.” Anna didn’t mind being older, and in fact, found new strength as she aged. “I’m kept busy running the guest cottages. Believe me, there aren’t enough hours in a day.”
“Well, I can understand that. I’m mostly retired. Work from home now.” Anna knew he lived in Baltimore—he’d mentioned it when he gave her his flight information.
“Do you like it?”
“I wanted to be around my wife more, especially there at the end so it seemed the right thing to do. Keeps me busy, and off the golf course. Three days a week is all I can handle. Not like my future son-in-law. He recently made the pro tour and had his first big win.”
“I heard that. When his name came up, someone thought it sounded familiar, and I Googled him. Very impressive, having a celebrity in the family.”
“Well, we’ll see about that. I hope he’s not jet-setting around the world and leaving my daughter home too much. I’d like to see grandchildren soon. Before I get too old to stoop down and pick them up,” he said, flashing a smile.
“You don’t look like you need to worry about that. Not for a great many years at least.”
“We hope.” He stretched out his long legs. “I hear fishing is the big thing down here.”
“You better believe it is.” She grinned, noticing how his gaze kept returning to her trim ankles and shapely calves. “My son-in-law runs a chartered boat service off of our docks and he takes our guests out. If you’d like to book something I’ll give him a call.”
“I might do that, but Nadine is driving down from Miami with her friends, and Michael is supposed to arrive this evening, so I’ll play it by ear.”
“I can’t wait to meet your daughter. How many children do you have?”
“Just the two. Cameron’s the youngest, twenty-five. He’s an investment banker. Graduated from University of Maryland and got his masters at Columbia.”
“You sound very proud of him.”
“I’m proud of both my kids. He’s bright, an all-around good guy. Quite the athlete too. Played college tennis, and is a hellova basketball player.” He shrugged his big shoulders, and made a self-deprecating face. “There I go again, bragging.”
“And Nadine?”
“My daughter loves to travel and has been a flight attendant for the past seven years. I always worry about her flying.”
Anna snuck another look at his strong profile. “I’m trying to figure out what you do. You’re in excellent shape, so I don’t take you for a computer techie.” He said he golfed, but what else? “I know a lot of people work from home now. Less commute, and cheaper for the companies too.”
“I was a news reporter. Now I’m a freelance writer. Mostly technical stuff.”
“Oh, that explains it.”
“Explains what?” He frowned, the wrinkles on his brow deepening. “I’m dull? Boring?”
“No!” Anna laughed. “Educated. Well-dressed.” She’d noticed his pricy designer loafers, and expensive looking watch. “You had a big job.”
“Not that big.” He smoothed the pleat in his linen shorts. “Times are tough for journalists with everything splashed all over the Internet. But I had my day.”
She bet he had. Would he be up for new adventures? “Here it is,” Anna said, pulling off the highway onto the dirt road. “Paradise Cove Cottages. That’s my daughter’s café right there. Great for breakfast and for lunch. And you can walk from your cabin.” She kept her hands loose on the wheel as she slowed to five miles an hour. “I put the bridesmaids and the best men in the two-bedroom units, and your daughter, the groom and yourself in the singles. If that’s all right?”
“Sounds great.”
“They’re all just a short stroll to the beach.” She pointed to her left. “This is our office, and I live in the cabin right behind. Now that all my girls are married or nearly so, I’m on my own.”
She admired the silver in his hair, the confidence in his posture and felt happy to have an attractive man her own age to talk to. “Here’s your cabin. Why don’t you get settled? We always have a happy hour at the pool—it’s our big event with frou-frou drinks and Taylor’s fabulous appetizers.” She gave him a promising smile. “Unless you’d like to have that drink I mentioned before the others arrive? We can get to know each other. Don’t get many single men here, and when we do they’re usually half my age.”
“You can’t be a day over fifty.”
“You charming man.”
“I haven’t eaten,” he said with a slow smile. “Want to do lunch with me? Then I’ll say yes to that drink.”
Her stomach fluttered at what might be. “Excellent idea. Let’s meet at Taylor’s in what? Half an hour?”
“Perfect.” He took his luggage from the back and unlocked the cottage door. She’d chosen Harmony because of the blue interior…the fact that it was close to hers was secondary.
Anna turned the SUV around, parking in front of the office. She poked her head in and waved to Carole, who was typing something into the computer. “I’ve got Kevin situated in his cabin. Any word from the girls?” They were driving together from Miami, where they’d had their bachelorette party, and were probably hung over after a late start.
“They called to say they’d be arriving by five. I told them about our happy hour, and heard a lot of groaning and giggling.” Carole rolled her eyes. “Hope they can drive all right.”
“Me too.”
“How was the airport run?”
“Fine. Light traffic, and Kevin is a lovely man.” Anna went inside to stop letting out the air conditioning. “It’s really something to have a minor celebrity getting married here. Quite a feather in our cap. We have to make sure that absolutely nothing goes wrong.”
“It won’t.” Carole looked up from the keyboard. “I play a little golf myself and often watch Sunday golf on TV. I saw him win that Honda Classic. He’d been a Monday qualifier and surprised everyone, playing the game of his life. It was freaking amazing how he beat out the number one player to win that tournament. Not only was it a really big pay check, but he was the new darling in the golf world.” Her face glowed. “This is so exciting. I’ll make sure the wedding goes without a hitch.”
Anna nodded. “Yes, we want it to be perfect.”