From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Corinne Michaels comes a new story in her Salvation series…
I was poised to become partner at my law firm even before I became secretly engaged to my boss. After being humiliated by him on my wedding day, I can’t face working for him any longer. So I quit, waving my middle finger on my way out.
Now the only things I’m poised for are unemployment and loneliness.
When an opportunity with Cole Security arises, it seems like the perfect way to run, all the way to Virginia Beach. I wasn’t expecting my childhood sweetheart to be there. I definitely wasn’t prepared that when we saw each other again, Benjamin Pryce would be so grown-up. So gorgeous. So Navy SEAL-ish.
And still the same guy who broke my heart when I was fifteen–and could do it again.
They say if you’re fooled once, shame on them. The second time, it’s on you. The third time, it’s going to be me that runs… unless he can convince me to stay forevermore.
With EVERMORE—a standalone novella in partnership with 1001 Dark Nights—author Corinne Michaels delivers another story in the Salvation Series world. A woman humiliated on her wedding day seeks to start anew, only to run into her childhood sweeheart at her new workplace. So excited to share a sneak peek below!
For the first time in my adult life, I don’t know what to write.
I don’t have a plan or an idea on where to go. There are no rules right now. I can do anything, live anywhere and choose something other than what I always thought.
Some might feel very liberated. I feel like I can’t breathe. The lack of order isn’t welcome.
A year ago, my list was solid and workable. Now, there’s too much uncertainty. Is marriage even what I want? Then there’s the fact that all I keep thinking about is Ben. Each time I go to write, he is the first thing I want to put down, which is fucking insane.
Harold never made my list. He was just who was going to fill in that slot.
A knock at the door causes me to jump.
“Shit,” I mutter, pushing the book under some papers so he doesn’t see it, and I try to collect myself as I walk to the door.
I close my eyes, hand on the door handle, release a deep breath, and smile. “Hey,” I say as I open it.
“Hello, gorgeous.” Ben’s deep voice washes over me. “These are for you.”
In his hand is a beautiful bouquet of daisies.
Daisies. “How did you…?”
“Are they not your favorite anymore?”
“They are, but I can’t believe you remembered.”
Ben looks at me like I’m a wounded animal. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Because it’s been so long. Because my stupid fiancé didn’t even know daisies were my favorite. Each year, I’d get lilies or roses as he’d tell me he knew how much I loved them—which I didn’t. I hate lilies. They’re too strong in fragrance and give me headaches. Roses are pretty, but that’s what you put on a casket. Morbid, I know, but after my Nana passed away, roses became associated with death.
Daisies, though, they’re bright and airy. They’re what little girls pick petals from and dream of love. They make me smile.
“It’s just…very sweet. Thank you, Ben.” I lean up on my very tippy toes and press a kiss to his cheek. “Come in, I made food.”
He looks as though he wants to say more, but he nods and enters the house.
Jackson and Catherine’s place is cute and quaint. It’s a little beach bungalow a few blocks off the beach. They bought it a year ago when Catherine was visiting on one of their walks to the lighthouse. She said it was fate and needed it. Jackson, not being able to ever resist his wife, bought it immediately and spent two weeks fixing it up.
While the size isn’t anything great, it has the most spectacular view of the lighthouse where she fell in love with Jackson Cole.
“I haven’t been here since I got my place,” Ben says as he looks around.
“What do you mean?”
Ben’s smile makes my stomach clench. “I lived here before I found my place. Jackson and Cat sort of use this for the Virginia Beach crew as temporary lodging when we’re not sure we’re staying.”
“But you did.”
He takes a step closer and nods. “I did. Are you planning to?”
My initial though is, yes. Yes. I want to stay. I feel more alive since being here than I have in my whole life. More than that, I want him. I want to know why he was the first thing I kept thinking of when I was going to make my list.
“Do you want me to?”
“Yes.”