Finally Home

by Helen Scott Taylor

Overview

As manager of the charming Greyfriar House Hotel, Melanie Marshall loves her job and spending time with her young son. But she can never forget what she ran away from: her late husband's crimes and her own terrible guilt. Though lonely, Melanie can't afford to let another man into her life.
But when her boss, gorgeous hotel owner Jack Summers, returns from his supposed wedding without a ring or a wife, Melanie discovers there's more to him than she ever thought. For one, the ex-soccer star is her son's idol. But the closer she gets to Jack, the more she pulls away. She can't share her past. Ever.
For too long, Jack's protected his scarred heart by letting gold-digging women make him think love didn't matter. But a sweet single mother and a soccer-crazy little boy change everything. He knows Melanie has secrets. Secrets she'll have to share if he's to help her realize she's finally home.
54,000 words

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781426894404
Publisher:	Carina Press
Publication date:	02/11/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	141
File size:	620 KB

Read an Excerpt

An awful realization hit Jack as he watched Stephanie, his fiancée, soon to be wife, methodically unpacking his suitcase in their hotel in Barbados.

He didn't want to marry her.

She unfolded a pair of his socks and refolded them her way before placing them in a neat row beside the others in a drawer. She was so controlling and fastidious she'd drive him nuts if he had to live with her full time. She'd take over his home, reorganize everything. And he liked his life how it was.

She glanced up at him, her long blond hair sliding over her shoulders as she angled her head. "Don't just stand there looking gormless, Jack. Pour me a drink."

Jack located the minibar in the corner of their luxury thatched bungalow overlooking a strip of golden sand fringed with palm trees. He poured Stephanie a glass of white wine and a gin and tonic for himself. Then he knocked his drink back in a few swallows and wiped the sweat off his upper lip.

This whole situation was his own fault. He and Stephanie had worked well together on a charity project and stupidly he'd thought they were compatible. He'd been flattered she wanted to date him when every man in the local chamber of commerce worshiped the ground she walked on. His mother hadn't helped. One hint of romance and she was pushing him to get hitched so she could have grandchildren. She and Stephanie had ganged up on him. Neither of them listened to a thing he said, simply plowed on with what they wanted regardless.

He handed Stephanie her drink and she frowned at him.

"Come on, Jack. Get with the program. I know you didn't want to get married in Barbados, but we're here now, so stop sulking." She tapped the screen of her phone. "We have a meeting with the hotel's wedding planner in two hours to go over the final arrangements."

Jack swallowed his sigh. What was a respectable amount of time to be married before he filed for divorce? Christ, Jack, grow a backbone. Divorce was not the solution. He needed to call off the wedding. Now. Before the meeting with the wedding planner.

"Look, we need to discuss this."

"Discuss what?" Her head jerked up, her gaze intense. Her solicitor's gaze. The one that could flay a cat at fifty paces.

"I know it's a bit late to say this, but I think we're making a mistake." He smiled to soften his words.

Stephanie's eyes narrowed, then her tense expression faded and she returned his smile. Not the reaction he'd expected. She sauntered closer and ran her fingers over his chest. "Don't tell me Jack Summers has cold feet." She smiled seductively. "We can't have that. Let me warm up those feet for you, honey."

She hooked a finger in the waistband of his jeans and pulled him towards the bed.

"No!" Jack stepped back and raised his palms. "This isn't the answer." He put some more distance between them. "I really can't go through with the wedding. Sorry."

He cast around for a reason, one that wouldn't hurt Stephanie's feelings. But all that came to mind was his bad experience with his first fiancée years ago, and that was ancient history.

"Oh come on. You don't mean it." Stephanie advanced on him again. He had to grasp her upper arms to hold her back.

"No." It occurred to him that she always did this, used sex to win him over when he disagreed with her. His jaw hardened at the thought. She'd proposed to him in bed when his defenses were down. He wasn't even sure he'd said yes—she'd just assumed he'd agree.