Craven Cove Royalty (Craven Cove)

“It’s nice so far.” Celeste smiles.

It’s so hard to believe my little girl is eighteen now. Where has the time gone?

“Change is coming,” I say as I hand her glasses back to her. Soon she’ll be off on her own and I’ll be all alone. Then what? I don’t even want to think about that. It’s always been her and me against the world, and I’m not ready to let her go. “I’ll meet you at home?”

“Yeah, I’m going to roam around.”

“I know you are, honey.” My girl might be on the shy side, but she’s always been curious. “It gets dark early here, keep that in mind—”

“And stay away from the water,” she finishes my words for me. “We’re on an island. That might be a hard one to stick to, Mom.” She smirks at me.

“I was going to say to turn your phone off silent.”

“Liar,” she calls me out, but only because she knows me. Sadly, if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s lying. It’s a skill set I picked up young in life and has gotten me through quite a few tight spots.

“Fine.” I place a kiss on the top of her head before I head toward the door to leave.

As I get to the entrance, the door opens, and my breath catches. My eyes briefly lock with Rory Crew’s as he holds it open for me. He’s far more handsome in person than the pictures I saw online. He’s also much taller and broader than I’d realized. I step through the door, not bothering to thank him for holding it open for me as I look straight ahead.

Then I do the one thing I know that will drive a man crazy. Especially a rich man who is used to getting everything he wants. I ignore him. I don’t have to glance back to know he’s following me, and I smile to myself. He really is going to make this too easy.

I should know better than anyone, nothing is ever that easy. Especially when it’s that damn good.

Chapter Two

Rory

The time before school starts is always my favorite time of year. Apollo is going to be a senior next week, and then he’s headed to college. This summer felt different because I knew change was coming. This was my last summer with him at home, and I’ve spent as much time as possible soaking it up.

This morning we got out on the water and took the boat for a ride. I need to go into the office today, but I wanted to get coffee with Apollo before that. He told me he has plans to hang out with Jackson this afternoon, so we’re just stopping in for a quick drink before we have to go our separate ways. I made him promise to have dinner tonight with me at least three times this week, and he agreed without much of a fight. He’s such a good kid. He’s my entire world.

There are a lot of wrong turns I made, especially being a single dad his entire life, but seeing him thrive and become an incredible person has been my life's joy. When I was younger, some of the guys at the country club used to try and push women on me, telling me I should be living it up or that I needed to find Apollo a mom. I quit going to the club after that.

My life has been all about my son, and I’ll never ever regret putting him first. With him going to college next year, it feels like I’m losing him, and I’m not ready. He’s always been my little boy, even now when he’s as tall as I am. He’s even managed to get into State without a single ounce of help from me, thanks to the sneaky behind-the-scenes work between him and Principal Nolan. I wasn’t at all surprised he wanted to get in on his own merit, I just hate that he kept it from me until it was a done deal. Maybe I push my agenda on him too much, and maybe I smother him with my attention, but I don’t know how not to love him like this.

“What do you want from the counter? I can order for us,” he says to me as we walk to the front door of the coffee shop.

“Probably just an iced coffee. I’m going to take it and go.” I glance at my watch as I reach for the door. “Are you going to get food?”

As I open the door, I see someone coming and pause. The woman coming out of the coffee shop isn’t from Craven Cove, because there’s no chance in hell I wouldn’t remember seeing her before now. Her blond hair is over one shoulder and looks like spun gold. She’s got on a tight dark blue sweater and jeans with boots. My eyes travel up and down her curves as I stand there completely stunned. It’s like I’ve been hit by a fucking freight train.