Exclusive Pelican Beach Print Bundle (Paperbacks)

She’s recently divorced. He’s a widower. Will a chance encounter lead to true love?

If you like sweet romance about second chances then you’ll love The Inn At Pelican Beach!

At the Inn, life is filled with the unexpected. Payton is left to pick up the pieces after her divorce is finalized. Seeking a fresh start, she returns to her home town in Pelican Beach.

Determined to move on with her life, she finds herself caught up in the family business at The Inn. It may not be her passion, but anything is better than what her broken marriage had to offer. Payton doesn't wallow in her sorrows long before her opportunity at a second chance shows up. Is there room in her heart to love again? She’ll soon find out!

In this first book of the Pelican Beach series, passion, renewed strength, and even a little sibling rivalry are just a few of the emotions that come to mind.

Visit The Inn and walk hand in hand with Payton as she heals and seeks to restore true love.

Get your copy of this clean romantic beach read today!

I leaned over the balcony staring at the ocean, while longing to wash my sorrows away. The sound of the crashing waves was like
medicine to my shattered soul. At forty-two, with no children, and a finalized divorce, I was left alone to pick up the pieces. My ex-husband, Jack, was off indulging in his new life as a bachelor. For now, at least. The divorce papers didn't seem to impact him much whenever he missed me and wanted to come home.

This time I was fed up. My parents needed help with the family business at the Inn. The Pelican Beach area was an upscale community with all of the relaxing pleasantries of living near the water. Whenever the summer season rolled around, the beach clubs and rentals were booked to maximum capacity. Moving
back home was just what I needed to heal old wounds and get a fresh start.

"Aunt Payton, can I have some candy?"

I was startled, not realizing that my niece was standing right behind me. 

"Maggie, sweetie, let's check with mom first. I think it's almost time for dinner."

"Okay, but I bet mom won't care if you say yes." 

"I'm not falling for your tricks, little
one." I bent over and gently grabbed Maggie's cheeks and kissed her. 

“You almost got me in trouble the last time we were together. Come on. Let's go inside and see what Gram is preparing for dinner."

I slid the glass doors open and joined everyone in the family room.

My parents’ cottage home was like a
picture-perfect getaway. The recent renovations brightened the walls with white shiplap, low hanging fans, and wooden beams on the ceiling. The sheer curtains blew in the wind, and the beach themed decor made it all the more inviting.

"Abby, you might want to keep an extra eye on your daughter." I teased, taking the opportunity to playfully snitch on my niece when we went inside. 

"Uh, oh." Abby glanced at Maggie and gave her a look of disapproval while standing with her hands on her hips. 

"What did she do now?" She asked.

"Nothing yet. She's warming up, though. I'd keep an eye on her."

Maggie knew her Mom wasn't really upset with her. She lowered her head and looked up in slight amusement.

"Maggie, go with your brother and get washed up for dinner."

With the mannerisms of an angel, she replied, "Yes, ma'am."

We all knew to watch that little smile. The kids ran off, challenging one another to see who could get to the bathroom first. I watched as my sister Abby turned and gave my outfit the once over. 

"Payton, you look like you need a little sisterly TLC."

I looked down at myself, observing a slightly disheveled, but totally comfortable, jogging suit.

"Why? Is something wrong with my
outfit?"

Getting carried away, Abby said, "Your outfit, your hair, your…"

"Okay, okay. I get it. Look. I'm fine.
Besides, we're just hanging around the house. I'm not trying to impress
anybody."

"No fooling." She teased.

It's not that I didn't care about my appearance altogether. At about 5'5”, weighing one hundred twenty pounds, I think I carried myself rather well. I usually kept my hair in a ponytail or a bun. Sometimes I wore it out. If I'm heading out, I throw on some yoga pants and my signature lip gloss. It was still a feminine look, in my opinion.

"I have an idea. Let's give each other
make-overs later on after dinner." Abby asked.

I rolled my eyes and let out a deep sigh that made somewhat of a hissing sound.

"Oh, Payton. It will be so much fun.
Pleassse?"

I tried shifting my attention to the big
television screen above the mantle.

"Seriously, Sis. The last thing we want you to do is to come back home and mope around. It will be so uplifting."

"Mmm, hmm." 

"Come on. Mom is excited to have all of us together again. Even your wicked sister Becca is going to take time out of her busy schedule to be here this weekend. You know she's going to walk in here looking like something straight out of a magazine."

"Are you two still at odds?" I asked.

"Oh no, not us. We're peachy."

"I know what that means."

With a smirk on her face, Abby replied, "You know your sister."

"I know both of my sisters!"

"Well, whenever all three of Mom's girls get
together, it's worth sprucing up a little bit. Don't you think?"

"Abby, surely you have something better to do?" 

"I'll quit if you say yes."

Begrudgingly, I gave in. "All right already. Let's just move it to Friday night. I have to be up bright and early to help at the Inn tomorrow." 

"Deal!"

Just then, our mother, Helen, walked into the room. 

"What kind of deal are we making?"

"Payton agreed to get a make-over by yours truly." 

"Abby! Your sister hasn't been back for two minutes, and you're already trying to fix her up. Some things haven't changed since you two were little."

"Mom has a point, Abby. You always used to torture me like a doll when we were kids." 

"Oh, stop it. I always made you look
glamorous, and you know it,”  she teased.

"Glamorous?" I flipped my hair back and modeled across the room to mock Abby's description of the experience. Somehow we managed to see it differently.

Mom, on the other hand, took great delight in having us together again. "Look at you two having fun just like old times. I love it. Just wait until your father gets home. He's going to be just as happy as I am."

"I love it too,” Abby agreed. "I'm glad
you're back, Sis. I'll have to find reasons to make my way over here every week just to pluck your nerves."

"Thanks, Ab. Looking forward to it. Hey, how is my brother-in-law these days?”

"He's better than ever. At the top of his A-game, as he would say."

"Is he joining us for dinner?"

"He can't make it tonight. He's working late. The firm is preparing for a huge trial. You know how that is."

"Sounds like a lot of long, sleepless nights." I replied.

"Exactly."

I hesitated before responding. "Well, I know Wyatt's a good man. Just make sure he doesn't get in the habit of having too many of those long, sleepless nights."

"Payton Matthews, watch your tongue. Your sister's marriage has absolutely nothing to do with what you went through."

I immediately felt guilty and shifted my tone.

"You're right. Sorry, Abby."

"No need to apologize. I know you didn't mean any harm by it."

"I just don't understand it." I walked
towards the kitchen counter to begin helping with dinner prep.

"I thought I was doing all the right things as a wife. I had all of his meals ready after a long day, I cleaned the house, and did everything I could to create a loving home. It seemed like all I received in return were late nights and more and more time apart." I explained, trying to fight back the tears. 

"It's going to be okay, Sis. It may not seem like it right now, but you are going to heal from this and be stronger than ever."

"She's right, Payton. You'll get through this.” 

Our conversation was interrupted by the sound of glass shattering on the floor. Everybody chimed in unison.

"The kids!" 

Abby left the kitchen heading in one direction while simultaneously, the doorbell rang.

"Good grief. Shut the oven off for me, Payton. I'm going to see who's at the door."

No sooner than I turned off the oven and patted my face dry, my niece ran into the kitchen.

"Aunt Payton, where's Gram?"

"She went to answer the front door, Maggie. Is everything okay?"

"Aidan knocked her flowers on the floor. It was an accident. Now he's crying cause he thinks Gram will be upset."

"Oh, I'm sure Gram won't be upset. We just have to teach him to be careful, that's all."

Abby returned to the kitchen to get a broom.

"Maggie, you have to set a good example for Aidan. Next time tell him no running around the house. Okay?"

"Yes, Mama."

Helen returned to the kitchen, looking like a nervous wreck. "Payton, do you have a second?"

"Sure."

She motioned for me to step out in the hall.

"Jack is at the front door."

"Are you kidding me?"

"I wish." Mom frowned. "I can send him away if you want me
to."

"Unbelievable. I'll take care of it."

I walked to the front door, but didn't say a word as Jack stood on the other side of the threshold.

"Hi, Payton."

I looked at him but didn't speak.

"I was hoping I could talk to you."

"There's nothing to talk about, Jack. We're divorced now, remember? I signed the papers that you served weeks ago. Case closed."

"I know. I was foolish. That's why I'm here to apologize and to try and make things right."

I looked at him as if he'd lost his mind.

"Let me get this straight. You were out there living another life outside of our marriage, but I forgave you. Then you did it again and had the nerve to serve me with divorce papers. Now you want to make things right?"

"I know it looks bad."

"Oh, it's bad! So bad you don't know if you're coming or going. You can't tell up from down or left from right. But I'll tell you one thing I'm very clear about. It's over between us, Jack!"

Slamming the door felt good before re-opening to leave one last impression.

"Do yourself a favor and don't come back here again. Leave me and my family alone!"

The final slam was empowering. This was just what I needed to propel me into the next chapter of my life.

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