Bookshop near the Coast, page 1
Bookshop near the Coast
Blue Heron Cottages
Book Three
Kay Correll
Zura Lu Publishing LLC
About the Book
Bookshop near the Coast
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Collette owns the Beachside Bookshop in the charming town of Moonbeam. She’s an avid reader and the shop is her dream come true. She has everything she’s ever wanted or needed, right?
Mark comes to town for a highly suggested vacation. Okay, more like a vacation required by his boss after an incident at his workplace. An incident he feels is his fault.
He stays at Blue Heron Cottages and Collette befriends him. Wouldn’t you know the one person he starts to like, owns a bookshop. Only… he’s definitely not a book person. She’s well-read, well-traveled, and so smart. He’s… none of those.
Collette can tell that Mark is hiding something, but nothing she says or asks gets him to open up. His reaction to a horrible accident right in front of Sea Glass Cafe confirms her suspicions.
But Mark still won’t talk and she’s convinced there’s no future for them if he can’t be honest with her. And Mark isn’t sure he can share his terrible secret.
Oh, and there’s a wedding in the book, too. But who’s getting married? One of your favorite couples!
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Try book three in the Blue Heron Cottages Series
Memories of the Beach - Book One
Walks along the Shore - Book Two
Bookshop near the Coast - Book Three
Restaurant on the Wharf - Book Four (coming March 2023)
And more to come!
Contents
Kay’s Books
Prologue
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
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Epilogue
Also by Kay Correll
About the Author
Copyright © 2022 Kay Correll
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any matter without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental
* * *
Published by Zura Lu Publishing LLC
This book is dedicated to my brother who died way too young. He lived life to the fullest, was loved by many, and will be so missed. Rest In peace, Ken.
Kay’s Books
Find more information on all my books at my website.
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COMFORT CROSSING ~ THE SERIES
The Shop on Main - Book One
The Memory Box - Book Two
The Christmas Cottage - A Holiday Novella (Book 2.5)
The Letter - Book Three
The Christmas Scarf - A Holiday Novella (Book 3.5)
The Magnolia Cafe - Book Four
The Unexpected Wedding - Book Five
* * *
The Wedding in the Grove - (a crossover short story between series - with Josephine and Paul from The Letter.)
* * *
LIGHTHOUSE POINT ~ THE SERIES
Wish Upon a Shell - Book One
Wedding on the Beach - Book Two
Love at the Lighthouse - Book Three
Cottage Near the Point - Book Four
Return to the Island - Book Five
Bungalow by the Bay - Book Six
Christmas Comes to Lighthouse Point - Book Seven
* * *
CHARMING INN ~ Return to Lighthouse Point
One Simple Wish - Book One
Two of a Kind - Book Two
Three Little Things - Book Three
Four Short Weeks - Book Four
Five Years or So - Book Five
Six Hours Away - Book Six
Charming Christmas - Book Seven
* * *
SWEET RIVER ~ THE SERIES
A Dream to Believe in - Book One
A Memory to Cherish - Book Two
A Song to Remember - Book Three
A Time to Forgive - Book Four
A Summer of Secrets - Book Five
A Moment in the Moonlight - Book Six
* * *
MOONBEAM BAY ~ THE SERIES
The Parker Women - Book One
The Parker Cafe - Book Two
A Heather Parker Original - Book Three
The Parker Family Secret - Book Four
Grace Parker’s Peach Pie - Book Five
The Perks of Being a Parker - Book Six
* * *
BLUE HERON COTTAGES ~ THE SERIES
Memories of the Beach - June 23, 2022
Walks along the Shore - Sept 13, 2022
Bookshop near the Coast - Jan 10, 2023
Restaurant on the Wharf - March 2023
Plus more to come!
* * *
WIND CHIME BEACH ~ A stand-alone novel
* * *
INDIGO BAY ~ A multi-author sweet romance series
Sweet Days by the Bay - Kay’s Complete Collection of stories in the Indigo Bay series
* * *
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Prologue
Three Months Earlier
* * *
Mark Wheeler grabbed a box from the stockroom and hauled it out into the front of Mason’s Hardware Store. He carefully unpacked it, sorting through the items and placing them where they belonged. Neatly. In order.
He paused and rearranged a shelf a customer had obviously messed with. He never would have left it like that.
Why did customers do that? If they looked at something but didn’t buy it, couldn’t they just put it right back where they found it?
He glanced at his watch. An hour until closing time.
Ian walked up to him. “Want me to finish that? Didn’t you say you had a date tonight?”
The high school boy was fit and tanned and seemingly tireless. A good worker. They’d been lucky to hire him almost six months ago. The boy reminded him of himself at that age—which was more years ago than he liked to count.
Although Ian was the star quarterback for the high school team and Mark had never been a star anything. Summerville had a homecoming game this weekend against their biggest rival. Ian had talked of little else for the last few weeks. He was hoping some scouts would be at the game since he was still looking for a scholarship to college.
Mark glanced at his watch yet again. “I do have a date. But it’s after work.” He was ridiculously nervous about it. He couldn’t remember the last time he had a date. This was someone his boss, Mr. Mason, had insisted on fixing him up with. Why did people do that? Try to find dates for him? He was perfectly happy with his life the way it was.
He’d arranged to meet the woman at the diner. It wasn’t fancy, but a comfortable place for him. Which was exactly what he needed if he was going to have an actual date.
“No, really. Why don’t you go home and get ready?” Ian hefted a box, set it on a shelf, and laughed. “I know, I know. Make sure I sort these out by size when I stock the shelf. Don’t worry, I will.”
He looked at his khaki slacks and shirt. The shirt had Mason’s Hardware Store embroidered on the chest. He hadn’t even thought of going home and changing. He’d just planned to go like this.
Ian eyed him. “Really. Go change.”
“I guess I should. I’m pretty much off my game with dating.” As if he’d ever been on his game with women.
“I can lock up.”
“You sure?”
“I’m positive. We’re not busy. I’ll finish stocking the shelves and lock up at seven.”
Ian was very responsible and had offered to close up before. And Mr. Mason had let him, so Mark knew it was okay. Still, it seemed irresponsible to leave early. He never left early.
Ian shook his head, grinning. “Go. Seriously. You need to change. Get out of your work clothes.”
He held up his hands. “Okay, okay. I’m leaving. Don’t forget to turn on the alarm.”
“I won’t.”
Here he was, taking dating advice from a high schooler. Then again, Ian always seemed to have a girl on his arm, so he was probably exactly who Mark needed to listen to.
He quickly went home and put on navy slacks and a red knit shirt, then tugged off the red shirt and pulled on a white one. After slipping on loafers instead of the comfortable sneakers he wore to work, he debated shaving again. His heavy beard left a bit of a five o’clock shadow on his face. He glanced at the time and quickly ruled out the shave.
With one last look, he tamped down his nervousness and headed out to walk to the diner. Once inside, he greeted Marge, the waitress who had worked here fore
He sat at the table, glancing at anyone who walked past the window. A lone woman—but she had dark brown hair. A couple holding hands. The Ferguson family. He sat there for fifteen minutes.
Twenty. Thirty.
Marge came over. “Want to order?”
The heat of embarrassment crept over his cheeks. “Nah, I’m good. I think I’ll head out now.” He tossed some bills on the table. “Thanks, anyway.”
He got up and strode out of the diner. It figured. He finally had a date, and she ghosted him. Just perfect.
What did you expect, Mark? Did you think someone would really be interested in going out with you?
He chased away the voice as a commotion down the street caught his attention. A frown crept across his mouth as sirens sounded in the distance. And was that the town police car with its lights flashing in front of the hardware store? His heart started hammering in his chest. He gulped a deep breath, then raced down the sidewalk toward the store.
Chapter 1
“Hey, Vi. Can you sit down for a minute?” Rob motioned to the kitchen chair.
“I’m kind of busy. Can it wait?” Violet eyed her brother. He looked… nervous? Guilty? What’s up with that? She reluctantly sank onto the chair and stared up at her him, waiting.
He grabbed the chair across from her, spun it around, and sat down. He eyed her closely—never a good sign—and took a deep breath. “I have some news.”
“And?” She cocked her head to one side, willing him to just get on with it.
“I found a place. I mean, a place to move to. I bought a small cottage.” He rested his forearms on the back of the chair. “But don’t worry, it’s not too far from here.”
“You’re moving out?” He’d been talking about it since… well, since he moved in with her to help restore the resort. But she’d gotten used to him being here all the time, even if he could be pretty annoying. Bossing her around. Always having an opinion on every little thing.
“You going to be okay living here alone?” He furrowed his brow.
“What? Of course. It will be nice to get you out from being underfoot all the time.” She put on a brave smile. “It’s about time.”
He shook his head, and his eyes said he didn’t believe her. He knew her too well. “I just need my own space. A place where Evelyn and I can go. A bit more privacy.”
“Of course you do. A grown man can’t live with his sister forever. And I don’t need a babysitter, either.” She rose from her chair, turned her back on him, and went over to the kitchen sink, surprised at how upset she was. She knew he wouldn’t stay here forever, but still, as time went by, she’d gotten used to sharing the owner’s suite with him.
He stood up. “I know you always act tough and say you can do it by yourself, but if you ever need my help, you know I’m here for you.”
“And I’m there for you. Like when you’ll have no idea how to furnish your new place.” She still kept her back to him.
“Evelyn offered to help me with that.”
“Oh.” She swallowed her disappointment. Not that she really had free time to help him. She was busy with the resort. And she’d be busier now that he wouldn’t be here. Thank goodness she had Aspen working here now.
“I’ve got to run. Meeting Evelyn at the cafe, then we’re going over to Belle Island to the antique store. She said we’d probably be able to find some nice pieces of furniture there. But how about you and I have dinner tonight?”
“It’s Friday. I have happy hour to run here at the cottages.”
“That’s right. I lost track of the days. Maybe tomorrow?”
“Sure. Maybe.”
The chair squeaked behind her then she felt his hand on her shoulder. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” She spun around and put on her best nonchalant look.
He nodded, his eyes skeptical. “Okay. I’ll see you later.” He walked out the back door and she sat back down on the chair. This would be okay. It would. She was used to being on her own. And hadn’t her plan been to buy the resort and run it all by herself anyway?
He was just so darn handy with repairing things. And she’d miss chatting with him over coffee, and if she dared to admit it, she’d miss his teasing and the exasperating way he always had an opinion on every little thing.
But she couldn’t blame him for wanting his own place and not sharing the owner’s suite attached to the front office of the resort. A grown man should have his own place.
If only she didn’t feel so deserted.
She jumped up. Enough feeling sorry for herself. She had happy hour to prepare for. As usual, she’d invited some people from town to come join her. The cottages were almost all full, so she should have a fairly good-sized crowd. She’d even run into the Jenkins twins and invited them. Jackie and Jillian. Though, she couldn’t tell them apart. They’d been busy gossiping about a new shop scheduled to open on Magnolia Avenue near Parker’s General Store. No one quite knew what was going into the new shop, but if anyone could find out, it would be the Jenkins twins.
She hurried out into the office. One more guest to check in. It was nice to have the cottages almost full for a week in this off-season month. She did love running the cottages. And she could do it without Rob’s help. And his constant opinions. She could. And no way was she going to tell him how much she’d miss him…
Mark Wheeler stepped inside the office at Blue Heron Cottages. The air-conditioning was a welcome relief from the unusually hot day Florida was foisting upon its unsuspecting residents. Usually, by this time in September, the days had cooled off, at least a bit, after the rainy, humid summer.
A woman looked up from the desk and flashed him a warm, welcoming smile. “Good afternoon.”
He stepped up to the desk. “Hi, I have a reservation. Mark Wheeler.”
“Ah, yes, Mr. Wheeler. A two-week stay in the blue cottage.” She checked him in and handed him a key. A real one, not one of those fancy keycard ones. Good. The keycards always seemed to make him fumble. Afraid he wouldn’t work them right and get locked out. Not that he went out of town much to stay in a hotel, but still.
“I’m Violet, the owner. Glad to have you choose the cottages for your vacation.”
He just nodded.
“We have a bookshelf over there if you want to borrow a book for your stay.”
He glanced in the direction she motioned. He wouldn’t be needing those.
“And the Wi-Fi password is Heron789. Capital H on heron.”
He repeated the password three times, trying to remember it.
“But it’s listed on a sheet on the counter in your cottage. There’s a folder, too, of restaurants and shops. Oh, and there’s a beach umbrella in the closet off the front room if you need one, and some beach chairs.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
She smiled. “Just call me Violet. Everyone does.”
“Thank you, Violet.” She certainly was friendly and helpful. Maybe she’d have some idea of how he could fill his days for two entire weeks.
