Returning to love, p.1
Returning to Love, page 1
Returning to Love
Starlight Ridge
Book 6
Kat Bellemore
KB Press
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2023 Kat Bellemore
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permissions contact:
kat@kat-bellemore.com
You can also visit Kat at www.kat-bellemore.com
Cover design by OPIUM HOUSE Creatives
Editing by Susan Hughes
About This Book
Love is a young person’s game.
Or so she’d been told.
Thirty years. That’s how long it has been since Jessie Carter and her ex-fiance, Erwin, had a fight so massive that it fueled town gossip for weeks.
Thirty years since she’d given him his ring back.
Thirty years that they’ve had to continue seeing each other, because neither of them managed to leave their small town.
Thirty years of Jessie playing matchmaker for everyone but herself.
And it’s been one week since Erwin showed up on her doorstep, flowers in hand.
It’s too little, too late, by her estimation.
But Erwin is nearing his sixtieth birthday, and all he wants is one chance. One chance to stop their thirty-year feud. Once chance to no longer be alone.
And Jessie is tempted to give it to him.
Also by Kat Bellemore
MADDIE SWALLOWS MYSTERY SERIES
Dead Before Dinner
Dead Upon Arrival
Dead Before I Do
Dead Among Stars
* * *
BORROWING AMOR
Borrowing Amor
Borrowing Love
Borrowing a Fiancé
Borrowing a Billionaire
Borrowing Kisses
Borrowing Second Chances
* * *
STARLIGHT RIDGE
Diving into Love
Resisting Love
Starlight Love
Building on Love
Winning his Love
Returning to Love
Contents
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Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Free Book
Also by Kat Bellemore
About the Author
Subscribe to Kat’s newsletter now to receive a FREE copy of the prequel to her Starlight Ridge series.
Arrested by Love takes place 25 years before Diving into Love, the first book of the Starlight Ridge series. In this novella, you’ll meet new residents, as well as see some much younger but familiar faces.
By joining Kat’s newsletter you’ll also receive emails twice a month with glimpses into Kat’s writing process and her everyday life, as well as occasional sales and giveaways.
* * *
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1
Jessie walked quickly from her home, a basket filled with her world-famous tarts hanging from one arm. They were famous here in the small town of Starlight Ridge, anyway. The scent of lemon escaped from under the towel that covered them, and she had to fight the temptation to sneak a couple. You’d think after thirty years of baking tarts for every town event, every new arrival, and every bake sale that she’d be sick of them. If anything, her love for them had only grown.
“Jessie, where are you headed to in such a hurry?” Grant Mueller called from the doorway of Mueller Market, the only place to purchase groceries in town. He and his wife had owned it as long as Jessie could remember. That was the nice thing about a place like Starlight Ridge. Everyone knew each other, and everyone cared. There weren’t many who moved away, and even fewer who chose to move in.
Today was an exception, though.
“Off to deliver my welcome basket for the young woman who just arrived,” Jessie said, lifting her basket into the air, as if she needed to prove it.
Grant glanced up the road, looking guilty. “Been meaning to get on that. We’ll probably head over tomorrow with some fresh produce. Possibly the next day. Do you think that’s too late?”
As head of the welcoming committee, Jessie always encouraged the town to visit newcomers within two days of their arrival. Any longer than that and she felt it started getting awkward. But if it was just the Muellers, she supposed it would help spread out the visits a little.
“I’m sure she will appreciate the visit, no matter when she gets it,” Jessie said with a smile, and then continued her walk up the road until she reached a small bungalow. It used to belong to Isaac, a resident surfer-slash-lifeguard. Until he’d gone and married Leanne, his childhood sweetheart. They now lived in, and ran, her family’s bed and breakfast.
There had been a couple of rocky years when Isaac and Leanne’s relationship had seemed doomed to fail—one of them running off to Hollywood could do that—and Jessie credited herself for being the catalyst that had helped them finally work things out and walk down the aisle. Her success hadn’t been surprising, considering she was responsible for many of the romantic matches in town.
It was a gift, and one Jessie was more than willing to bestow upon Starlight Ridge. She figured that even if she wasn’t meant for a happily-ever-after, at least she could help others find theirs.
When Jessie knocked on the bungalow’s door, she half-expected Isaac to answer in his board shorts, wearing an easy smile. Instead, she was met with a woman who was quite a bit older than Jessie had been expecting. The woman was probably in her late fifties or early sixties—around Jessie’s age. So, not old. But also not the young woman Jessie had expected to meet.
Jessie’s surprise must have been obvious because the woman gave an uncertain smile, like she was anticipating trouble. “Can I help you?”
Jessie straightened and stuck out a hand. “Jessie Carter. I live down the road, and I would like to formally welcome you to Starlight Ridge.”
“Thank you.” The woman smiled and took Jessie’s hand in hers. “My name is Barbara, but everyone calls me Barb.”
That was a lovely name, and if Jessie was being honest, she was a little jealous that her own mother hadn’t thought of it. But there was something a little off about Barbara. After a brief moment’s consideration, Jessie determined that it was her smile. It seemed forced—almost as if she wasn’t thrilled to see Jessie.
But that was ridiculous, so Jessie brushed it off as Barbara being nervous about moving to a new town. It was difficult, not knowing what to expect. Which was where the welcoming committee came in.
“It’s lovely to meet you.” Jessie held out the basket of tarts. “This is just the first of many welcome baskets you can expect to receive over the next couple of days. I know relocating can be overwhelming, but when you move to Starlight Ridge, you gain more than just new neighbors. You can consider us family.”
Barbara took the basket from Jessie and lifted the towel. “Oh, these smell amazing. Did you bake them yourself?”
Jessie tried not to look overly proud when she said, “Why yes, I did. Not to brag, but these tarts are quite well known in these parts.”
“Well, they look absolutely divine.” Barbara replaced the towel. “I should probably set them in the fridge with Erwin’s shrimp. They do need to be refrigerated, don’t they?”
“Erwin’s shrimp?” Jessie said, dumbfounded that she hadn’t been the first to deliver her basket. She was always first.
“Oh, I know that the shrimp needs to be kept cold. I meant the tarts.” A pause. “Erwin is his name, isn’t it? The owner of the restaurant, Seaside Bay? He stopped by about half an hour ago.”
The nerve of that man. He knew that as head of the welcoming committee, Jessie was always first to welcome new residents. His cloak and dagger antics had worsened over the years, and Jessie didn’t know what to do with him anymore. She’d tried the civil approach, but he’d only shrugged and carried on, like he couldn’t care less.
There had been one point, many years earlier, when he had cared. A great deal.
But those times were over, and the man had become nothing but a thorn in Jessie’s side.
“Jessie?” Barbara asked tentatively, like it hadn’t been the first time she’d said her name.
Jessie shook herself from her thoughts. “Yes, his name is Erwin. And no, the tarts don’t need to be refrigerated. In fact, they prefer room temperature. Just make sure to eat them in the next couple of days, and they’ll be fine.”
“Wonderful.” Barbara gave a polite smile, and then silence fell over them.
Jessie had hoped Barbara would carry the conversation—she didn’t want to be perceived as nosy—but when the quiet had gone on long enou gh to be awkward, Jessie asked, “What brought you here to Starlight Ridge?” She’d asked around, and no one seemed to know anything about the mysterious stranger. They’d even gotten her age wrong by a few decades.
Barbara hesitated, like she wasn’t used to such personal questions from complete strangers. She’d have to get used to that. “I finally retired, and I knew I needed to go somewhere new. After my husband passed away last year, well, I couldn’t escape fast enough. I needed somewhere quiet. Somewhere I could hear myself think.”
Jessie understood that feeling well. Yes, she and Barbara were going to be good friends, indeed.
“You came to the right place,” Jessie said. “Starlight Ridge is exactly what you need. Aside from tourist season. But as long as you stay away from the boardwalk during the summer months, you should be fine. Why don’t you come to my place for dinner tonight, and then we can meander over to the sunset stroll and I can show you around? The sunsets here aren’t to be missed, and the whole town gathers together each night, just to catch one of God’s little miracles. I can save you a permanent spot next to me, if you want. I’ve always spent the evenings alone, and it would be nice to have someone to talk to.”
Had that come across as needy? It probably had. But Jessie was so excited to have someone her own age move in—and who was single, no less—that it was difficult to harness it.
Barbara was still smiling, but it was strained. Jessie hadn’t been imagining it, after all. “I’m sorry, but Erwin already invited me. For both dinner and the sunset stroll. Next time, though.”
“Erwin?” Jessie stared, dumbfounded. The man didn’t go out of his way to make friends, and she doubted he had gone on a date in decades. Probably since they—
Well, never mind that.
Jessie supposed there weren’t a lot of options in Starlight Ridge for people like them. People who were older and single. Good for Erwin. It would do him some good. Maybe even take his crankiness down a few notches.
“Is there anything about him I should know?” Barbara asked. “Tips or tricks? I’m so nervous—I haven’t been on a date with someone other than my late husband in forty years. We were high school sweethearts.” Her expression turned anxious. “You know, come to think of it, I’ve probably only been on a date with one or two other people in my lifetime. I don’t know why I said yes. He caught me off guard. New town. New people. New experiences.”
Barbara stepped back from the door, looking like she might hyperventilate, and Jessie rushed forward, resting a hand on Barbara’s arm. Jessie’s gaze landed on several other baskets sitting on the counter. Erwin hadn’t been the only one to beat Jessie to welcoming Barbara.
She was losing her touch.
“You shouldn’t feel pressured into something you’re not ready for,” Jessie said, turning her attention back to Barbara. “He’d understand.”
“Would he, though?” Barbara asked. “I have no idea because I don’t know anything about this place. Or this man. I’ve been in town less than six hours, and there’s been an endless barrage of people and baskets and invitations. I wanted quiet. I wanted to be alone. And this is not it.”
When Barbara’s gaze landed somewhere beyond Jessie, she glanced over her shoulder. Adeline was coming up the road, basket in hand.
“If it helps, Addie is bringing you the best chocolate truffles you’ll ever eat,” Jessie said, her voice weak.
She’d never had anyone tell her that the town’s gifts weren’t wanted—that their welcome wasn’t needed. The town wasn’t intruding—they were being inclusive. Making the newcomer feel at home.
Weren’t they?
“I don’t even have a phone number for Erwin,” Barbara said, her voice rising in pitch. “He said he’d pick me up here at six-thirty.”
Oh, that was a problem.
“He doesn’t have a cell phone,” Jessie said with an apologetic smile. “Doesn’t believe in them. But you could call the restaurant.”
That didn’t help Barbara’s anxiety. If anything, she now looked like she was going to throw up.
“Or I can stop by his place and deliver the news for you,” Jessie hurriedly added. “No problem. I’ll just tell him that you’re a bit overwhelmed with so much change and to try again in a week or two.”
Barbara held up a hand while shaking her head. She seemed to have calmed a bit, and her lips were pressed in a tight line. “No. I’ll call and tell him myself. But I’m not rescheduling. Not in a week. Or two. Or three. I’m sure this is a lovely place, but it’s not for me. Maybe when my husband and I were young and starting a family—it could have been nice. But I need quiet. Disconnect. A place to just…be. This isn’t that place.”
Jessie blinked rapidly, attempting to understand what was happening here. Barbara wouldn’t really leave after arriving just that morning, would she?
“We can give you space,” Jessie insisted, attempting some damage control. “This hill is the quietest one in town. You’ll get a fantastic view of the ocean each morning, and the bungalow was meant for only one or two people, so you’ll never feel obligated to invite guests over.”
Barbara released a long breath and gave Jessie a kind smile, but Jessie already understood its meaning before the woman spoke. “You all seem like lovely people, but if this hill is the quietest in town, I’m going to have a problem.”
Adeline appeared in the open doorway, as if proving her point.
“Knock knock,” Adeline said. Her gaze landed on Jessie, and her eyes crinkled in amusement. “I wanted to welcome you to Starlight Ridge, but it looks like you’ve already met our fearless leader.” She extended her basket toward Barbara. “I’m Adeline.”
“Thank you. This is lovely,” Barbara said, taking on the air of a gracious host as she accepted the chocolates.
“And there’s plenty more welcome gifts coming your way,” Adeline added. Jessie wished she wouldn’t have. “In fact, I can guarantee you’ll receive another three within the next twenty minutes. You won’t have to shop for food for another week.”
And that was the final nail in the coffin.
Barbara was struggling to keep her smile. “How kind,” she squeaked out.
Jessie left the bungalow, knowing she’d never see Barbara again. It turned out that they weren’t meant to be the best of friends—or even casual acquaintances.
Because by the following morning, when the next wave of welcome baskets had made their way to the bungalow, Barbara was already gone.
No one had seen a moving truck or a vehicle of any kind. But she, and all her belongings, had disappeared.
2
Erwin Peterson was a lot of things. Saxophone player. Restaurant owner. Old enough to receive a senior citizen discount.
But he hadn’t realized that naive had been on that list. Or self-deceiving.
He hadn’t thought he’d been imagining things when the new woman in town, Barbara, had smiled at him the way she had. It had been a long time since anyone had looked at him like that.
Too long.
About thirty years, give or take.
And she had agreed to go out to dinner with him.
Miracle of miracles.
Barbara had called Erwin at the restaurant only a couple of hours before he was due to pick her up for their date. At first he’d thought she was canceling. There had been a hesitancy in her voice, and she’d struggled finding the right words. Thankfully, he’d been able to read between the lines when she’d admitted that she hadn’t been on a date with anyone but her late husband since high school.
Erwin had assured her that he was nervous too, and that this was a no-pressure date. Just two people getting something to eat and taking in the sites. The smoke alarm had then gone off in the restaurant’s kitchen, and he’d had to give a hurried goodbye and hang up, glad they had gotten things cleared up.
